Small Town Talk

Today I had planned a blog that has nothing to do with what I’m about share but sometimes your plans shift. Looking forward to sharing that one later this week!

If you are like me and grew up in a small town you’re familiar with some of the “givens” of small town life. Gossip, rumors, busy body mentality… the list goes on. In my teenage years and early twenties this really bothered me. Really really really bothered me. And, it still bothers me but for different reasons.

I am not a perfect person – I don’t live a perfect life. Do you? None of us do. What bothers me about people who choose to start rumors/lies or want to try and cause dissension and strife is this… why are you doing/saying what you are doing/saying? Are you unhappy with your life? Are you jealous? Maybe you are someone who has pretended to be my “friend” or maybe we are related or maybe I don’t even know you. This is one reason I’ve always hated Facebook and social media in general. But, it really doesn’t matter because hurtful words/actions won’t change my attitude. It won’t kill my joy. It won’t stop me from sharing my journey. It won’t kill the fire that God has placed inside of me and it won’t change your circumstances either.

I don’t think many people want to be mean for the sake of being mean so it must mean you are dealing with things in your own life that cause you to lash out at others, begrudge another person’s happiness, or judge a situation you do not fully understand. We’ve all been there – but we all don’t stay there.

My answer for this type of behavior is different than what it used to be and that’s simply to tell those people this… I am praying for you. And, I love you. Genuinely. Life is difficult and we all have things we are going through. Mine may be small compared to yours, but it doesn’t make it any less important to God. I enjoy good conversations so if you feel like we should have one I would love to talk to you.

I would encourage you to look around your life and tend to your garden. We all have flowers and we all have weeds. Mine are different than yours but they can all be used to beautify the life we have been given and can be used to enrich the lives around us.

What can you do to be more uplifting and positive for those around you? It’s a lesson we all need reminding of every day. Find the joy in your life. Bring happiness to others. Choose only words that are kind, uplifting, and encouraging. Your tongue has more power than you will ever know.

Remember: “What others say about you says more about them than you. What you say about others says more about you than them. What do your words say about the kind of person you are?” –Michael Josephson

until next time… xoxo, patty lauren