One thing I’ve learned quite thoroughly over the last year is that things are almost never what they seem.
On one particular occasion a couple of months ago, I walked into a situation at work having already determined my stance on the issue. I’m so incredibly glad I didn’t make a ruling until I heard both sides of the story. I would’ve been extremely mistaken!
Bill, a friend of the family, served in World War II, and while he was overseas, he decided one evening that he really wanted a cup of coffee and a donut. (I can definitely relate to that being one of the best snack combos ever!) He headed over to the Mess Hall and grabbed his snack. It was a beautiful evening, and the sun was just starting to set. On his way back he decided to take a moment to soak it all in while he ate, so he found a log to sit on. It was perfect…except that when he went to brush off the snow and sit down, he saw a German belt buckle. He wasn’t hungry anymore!
Have you ever had what you thought was an intense email or text message exchange with a family member, friend, or coworker, and then connected with that person face-to-face afterwards? I sure have – and let me tell you, the way the email or text read was definitely not how they meant it. I’ve gotten a lot of good laughs that way! And let’s not even get started on dictating text messages via Siri. Siri almost always twists my words!
A favorite show of my mine is the Carbonaro Effect. The viewer gets an inside look at how and why things happen – all in good fun, of course. The show is named after its creator and host, Michael Carbonaro. Michael has some acting in his portfolio, which has made this show so entertaining. What also makes it great is that the material is always new. Each episode has different illusions, venues, and folks for whom he performs. It’s genius, really, because he’s created a show that combines all the elements like comedy, human behavior and reality, and of course, mystery. The best books I’ve read and movies I’ve seen are the ones where I can’t tell what’s coming next, which is why this show is so great. Things are truly never what they seem when it comes to this show!
Thank goodness for people that have gone before us who can be the good example, mentor us, and teach us things like taking a step back, slowing down, not making assumptions, and reminding us not to take life too seriously. If you don’t have one of these wonderful people in your life, I encourage you to find one. If you do, hold on tightly!
Picture this: You’re looking out across the Alaskan ocean and find an iceberg that barely peers out of the water. If you could zoom out a bit to add a view of what’s under the water, you would discover the massive base of the iceberg. Even though the only part that can be seen from the surface is the tip of the iceberg, it’s what’s beneath the waves that makes the difference.
☕️ Journal Java
- When something isn’t what it seems, what is your go-to reaction?
- How do you feel when an outcome is different than what you expected?
- Think back to a time when you didn’t react to a situation how you would have liked. Why did you react that way?