A short summary of how I went the last couple of days..
HIT: When someone ordered a "decaf double ristretto soy cinnamon latte", I simply smiled and thought "I guess we all have different taste" (note: this would have usually sent me straight into a corner, hugging my knees, slowly rocking back and forth until the nasty coffee visions leave my head)
MISS: I kicked over a "CAUTION - CLEANING IN PROGRESS" sign because it was in the way and no one was cleaning. (why did I do that? I never kick things. Was this the beginning of the built-up anger my mates were talking about?)
HIT & MISS: In the midst of conversation with my friend Evey, I blurted out a panicky "OH NO!" and covered my mouth with my hands. Evey looked confused and slightly worried. "I am saying unkind things about someone!" I said. "I can't do that anymore with my resolution!"
According to Evey, it was awkward to stop our conversation mid sentence. So I kept my mouth shut while she finished the conversation by herself.
Since the kick-off of my project, I have been getting really positive responses from people. This makes me happy, and more determined to keep going.
Other people have been less excited. My mate Gary summed up the world we live in, according to him:
"The world doesn't revolve around love, Marilyn. It's about sex and nuclear weapons."
This makes me sad, and more determined to keep going.
Also, I am such a newbie to this blogging thing. I wonder if there are other blogs with a same sort of intention? People that are trying to make the world a better place in their own microscopic way? Or projects, or websites? I would love to get a bit more involved in this online world, so if anyone has suggestions, please let me know.
Now.
What I have realized, is that "giving love" is a very broad subject. I might get lost during the next six months if this is my only guideline. I have therefore decided to set weekly assignments for myself. They will all be a way of "giving love", but in a more practical way.
This week's assignment:
GIVE COMPLIMENTS.
Give a compliment to a minimum of two people every day. Preferably people you don't know, and even more preferably: people that aren't particularly nice to you. Find something nice about them (EVERYONE has a nice characteristic) and tell em about it.
Notice their reaction. Does it change their behaviour in any way? Do they laugh it off? Do they return the pleasure?
I will get back to you guys at the end of the week and tell you all about my findings. Feel free to do this assignment yourself! I would really enjoy hearing what other people are experiencing :) (we're in this together!)
Write again soon :) xx
3 comments:
Hey Mereltje, lovely project. A little naive maybe, but (probably because of that) very admirable.
And about your assignment, I love it! I always try to compliment people on small things (like how they smell good, or that they are wearing awesome shoes), and even though you get some weird why-is-this-complete-stranger-talking-to-me?!-looks, most people really like it and you get a lot of nice reactions.
I'll keep following you, and if I find anything similar on the web, I'll let you know! xx
i've tried to live the love resolution for many years now...not always easy! i guess it comes down to if one believes in karma, thus believing that everything that happens to us is of our own making, and therefore 'loving it' equals embracing the responsibility for what occurs. sad that people think it's naive...the world would be a far better place with more such naivety. love you, m
Thanks for the support guys, really appreciate it.
And, yeah, you know what, I would much rather be seen as naive than bitter :)
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