My Zen.
That's right. I'm personalizing some Zen for myself. I'm using it to help improve my mental health. Specifically, the way I look at things. And then judge them.
Yes. I am guilty of judging. Not so much really big things (I don't judge people based on things like race and religion and it's easy, I've just never done that) but just the little every day judgements that I almost don't catch as being judgmental.
Like passing judgement on how another person drives. Or their choice of hair color. Or how they discipline their kids. Or...you see what I mean?
Anyway, when I 'Zen' my thoughts, I become aware of the judgement that follows my observations. And this is going to help me stop passing judgement. In theory.
Like when I see a female with bright orange or purple hair and I say or think something like, "EW! That's so ugly! What WAS she thinking?" Now I will remind myself that that thought wasn't very Zen and I let it go. I mean, who cares what color someone decides they like for their hair? Does that really need to be judged. Personal preference? It's her choice. Let it go. Easy peasy.
Or the man walking down the sidewalk with his shirt off. Exposing that
And when I talk to my dad and he tells me about the new cheeseburger pizza at Pizza Hut and I remark, "EW! That's just disgusting! People don't need to eat crap like that! Are they trying to kill people?!" Whether folks need it or not is NOT for me to decide. Nor is it up to me to determine Pizza Hut's motivation behind the pizza. Or for my dad to decide either. He was agreeing with me.
But then there are things that I just can't help myself. I judge. Harshly.
Like yesterday at the pond. There was this cutesweet lab with her owner. She's still a pup and I've talked to the owner before and he always seemed like a nice guy.
Anyway, he would throw a toy into the pond and cutesweet lab would go in after it and bring it back (which I tried to get Tucker to watch because while he will chase a ball or Frisbee he will then take it further from you instead of bringing it back so you can throw it again). Until she picked up a smell. And cutesweet lab wanted to smell it- imagine that...a dog who wants to smell something.
Well owner man didn't want cutesweet lab to smell the smell and he told her"NO!" in a loud voice. Cutesweet lab continued to smell, of course (because that's what dogs do). And then stupid ass owner man took that toy and started hitting cutesweet lab in the head. I judged. And I judged loud.
See? Things like that I just can't stop judging.
Like the mom who was letting her kids run around Wal-Mart like a bunch of wild things (judgement) and then yelled at one when he ran into the shelf and knocked something over. Really, lady? (judgement) Really?! (more judgement) Yeah. I judged. I judged her for letting her kids run around like a bunch of wild things. And then for yelling at the one who knocked something over. Idiot (even more judgement).
Sometimes I just cannot stop myself. But I'm hoping that getting my 'Zen' on will help me recognize, realize, control, stop. It will help my mental health. Make me a better person. Keep me positive.
Of course, that's more likely to stop when people stop acting like morons. And start doing right by their kids, their pets, and other people in general. Sheesh.
This is the twenty-sixth AND FINAL day of the A-Z April Challenge. I thought I might try a theme this year and focus on my personal journey to health and fitness, including weight loss.
Today's letter is Z and my word for the day is ZEN.
