Did You Hear About ___??

"You can tell more about a person by what he says about others than by what others say about him."

Ah, gossip: literally, one of those things that you can't stand to live with, yet you'd rather not live without.  When was the last time you heard a really juicy story about someone, and you were tempted to immediately pass it along?  Of course, it's possible that you exhibited amazing self-control and opted out of passing it along (good for you!), but more often than not, we find ourselves in a mad rush to tell the nearest person what we've just heard.  These stories are often lengthy, riddled with details (whether they're 100% true or not), and we don't often hesitate to add our own spin.

Let's try this again: when was the last time you heard a really wonderful/uplifting story about someone, and you were tempted to pass it on?  Yes, I know, we've all heard these great stories and have felt compelled to share them, but the tales usually don't come till a while later: "Oh, speaking of jobs... I forgot to tell you, Sally got that job she's been working for!"  These stories are usually short, free of many details, and downright dull. 

Wouldn't our world be a better place if we spent more time elaborating on the good things in people, rather than spreading bad news about them?  I was reading through a book of poetry last night, and I happened upon a poem called "I Know Something Good About You." I got to thinking how much simpler life could be if we would spend more time sharing pleasant thoughts, and less time spreading those viral negative stories.  Below are a few lines from the poem (you can read the entire poem HERE if you like -- it's not long, but worth reading). 

"Wouldn't life be lots more happy

If the good that's in us all

Were the only thing about us

That folks bothered to recall?

Wouldn't life be lots more happy

if we praised the good we see?

For there's such a lot of goodness

In the worst of you and me!"

Next time you start to feel that urge to gossip, control yourself for a second.  As tempting as it might be to share the dirt on So-and-so, try to think of something positive to say about them.  I'm a firm believer in karma-- what goes around, comes around.  Say something pleasant; the positivity will come back to you ten times over.