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Photo credit: catcherintheryephotography |
Fifth grade was an exciting journey down an unfamiliar road, with stops along the way at places like "Multiplying Fractions" and "Understanding the Magnitude of the Revolutionary War." As to be expected, there were a few bumps along the way.
Sadly, one of the hardest bumps to cruise through was the "I-don't-understand-why-she's-being-mean-to-me/She-hurt-my-feelings" bump. OYE!
Raising girls is hard, being a girl is hard, facing a mean girl with bravery on your shoulders and goodness in your heart is hard. And no matter how many conversations I have had with Lilly, reassuring her that things get better and girls get nicer as they get older, I knew I was only telling her a half truth.
I have been on the receiving end of some pretty hurtful stuff recently; catty comments and blatant snubbing from women I respected as my peers. It's been a little disconcerting and a lot sad.
And as I have waded through the emotional torrents of it all--seeking a way to forgive and learning to let things go--I have thought often of Don Miguel Ruiz and his book, "The Four Agreements."
When I was in college I went through a "hippie phase." It involved lots of incense burning and hemp wearing and poetry writing. I dove head first into reading and studying Eastern philosophy as well as lots of other “self improvement" books. One that was gaining in popularity while I was in college was the book, "The Four Agreements.”
The author, Don Miguel, was born into a family of healers and raised in rural Mexico by a healer mother and a shaman grandfather. (Shaman = medicine man.) The family had high expectations for Don Miguel and carried a deep hope that he would carry on their family's legacy of healing, teaching, and spiritualism. He chose, rather, to study western medicine and become a surgeon.
A near death experience following a horrific car accident changed Don Miguel’s life and path. Once recovered, he devoted himself to the mastery of the ancient, ancestral, Toltec wisdom; studying with his wise mother and completing an apprenticeship with a powerful shaman in the Mexican desert. He eventually became a shaman himself.
In 1997, he published his book about the four agreements (or four principles) to practice in order to create love and happiness in your life. The second agreement is my favorite, and is one I'm working to understand and accept everyday:
“Don’t take anything personally.”
Don Miguel writes, "Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality...When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering."
Nothing others do is because of you. That is powerful stuff. It’s not really about you--the hurtful words and actions, the anger, the insensitivity, the judgement. Once we recognize that and then come to embrace that fact, we experience more peace and freedom in our lives. Freedom from worry, freedom from doubt. Freedom from insecurities. Freedom from hurt feelings and pain.
And with freedom comes joy.
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Photo credit: catcherintheryephotography |
I'll remember to tell myself the same thing.
I love you Mama Leisha. You are a wonderful example and it is hard raising these kids to be strong and kind and to try and build up their self-esteem when so many things around them seems to want to tear it down. You are so right that it doesn't seem to get easier as we get older and it is always a good reminder to not take things personally.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE YOU!!!!
DeleteYes! This is right on! It is so hard to not take offense, or to tell my daughter it's going to be OK, when I have so many doubts that it won't in my own mind. Growing up Japanese Canadian, I saw people snub my parents, everywhere, even at church. Then had it done to me. And now with my daughter and all of her special needs (there are just so many) and the bullying she went through. I just want to yell to everyone to be kind! But it's true. I don't know myself if in a moment of stress or exhaustion I've caused offense. I don't know what people have going on in their own lives, or what challenges they are facing. Thank you for this, it's a reminder I need also.
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DeleteMy friend commented on my IG post about this and said “hurting people hurt others.” Isn’t that so wise?! It’s true, you don’t know what others are facing. Which is why, as hard as it is to do sometimes, you have to let it go.
My friend commented on my IG post about this and said “hurting people hurt others.” Isn’t that so wise?! It’s true, you don’t know what others are facing. Which is why, as hard as it is to do sometimes, you have to let it go.
ReplyDeleteYou ARE my spirit animal. And I love this. And you. And your positive energy that you share so freely. Raising a girl is one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. It’s beautiful to see them learn and grow and thrive despite the “mean girls”. ������
ReplyDeleteYou are a wonderful woman and mama! I love you!
DeleteLove you!! Can't imagine anyone who would want to snub such an amazing person... but then again, it's about them and not you. <3 Also adore the 4 Agreements. Powerful stuff when put into practice. And aren't we just so glad that we aren't tweens again? Some lessons are tough, but your kiddos are lucky to have you guiding them.
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