Day Twenty Seven

Rule 27

“Whatever you speak, good or evil, will somehow come back to you. Therefore, if there is someone who harbours ill thoughts about you, saying similarly bad things about him will only make matters worse. You will be locked in a vicious circle of malevolent energy. Instead for forty days and nights say and think nice things about that person. Everything will be different at the end of 40 days, because you will be different inside.”

Wait, so now I have to not only see the good in all people, but I have to actually say nice things about them, too? 

It's surprisingly not that hard to find something good about someone, even if it's just one thing. Can you think of one person who is completely, irredeemably despicable? Maybe you can, fortunately I can't think of anyone I actually know in person. Moving past disagreements is very liberating, staying in a deadlock of anger is just taxing. Not worth it. 

To me, this rule = karma's a bi*ch. [You know, whenever I say that, a part of me thinks, "well how very sexist!" Hmph. Why isn't he a jerk? But then the phrase, "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" comes to mind, and the idea of universal justice being a feminine force suddenly appeals to me. Maybe it's time to reclaim the word bi*ch from bad rap songs. Own that bi*ch.]

Since we're talking about words, I want to talk about swearing. Love it or hate it, there's no denying it's taboo for most. It makes some people uncomfortable. Other people can't say 2 words without swearing. Have you ever seen a little kid swear? It's shocking yet comical at the same time, and the way they enjoy doing it proves that it's the height of liberation.

I will never forget the first time I was exposed to prolific swearing. My mom and I had gone to the cinema to see "Casino" (great cast, it looked like a good idea). Oh. My. Goodness. Every other word out of Joe Pesci's mouth was f*ck. And there I was, 14 years old, sitting next to my mom. Awkward! 

A lot has changed since then. When I had kids, I became strictly PG, but you can't hide who you are for long, even from your kids. And once the floodgates open... I really wish I didn't relish it so much, but it's therapeutic. Especially while driving. Or all the time, really. And yet, I have a hard time typing swear words. I'm not sure why the discrepancy, but in the interest of not completely alienating the more sensitive of you, it's probably for the best. I'm a reserved potty mouth, if there is such a thing. I make up a lot of terms, don't I? 

So yeah. Try not to talk sh*t about others, because karma's a bi*ch and she's coming for you, yeah she's coming for you... 

*Whistles*

Even if you think you hate someone's guts (start thinking about one such person right now), try to think of one decent thing about them, visualize the bad as a big red ball and push it far away. Hold on to that one nice thing. I'm not saying you should go back to trusting someone who's hurt you and who is clearly a jacka$$, no. I'm saying this so you don't hold on to your anger towards them, and as a consequence poison your own life. Break the "cycle of malevolent energy", free yourself from it. At the very least you'll be rid of that negativity, and at best, you will gain a friend.