personal agendas

first of all, i know i'm not perfect.  second of all, i almost always only care about my feelings.

HOWEVER, usually my feelings are centered around making others happy.  this can be a good thing, tho in many cases i end up in that familiar spot right inside the door.  you know, that spot where people wipe their shoes?

that being said, knowing that one of my strengths is also one of my biggest weaknesses, i just have to say that nothing drives me more nuts than people caring only about their own agendas.  GRR!!  i really get upset at this.  it's been way worse since i moved to salt lake.  not that everyone in montana, idaho, and north dakota are pristine examples of purity, but it seemed so much calmer and nicer there.

perhaps the difference is that the average person is allotted so much patience a day, and that patience gets worn down faster in a city?  i don't know.  

i don't have any great examples right now, i wish i did.  i just know that i'm every day bombarded with the feeling that everyone is in it for themselves.  every day i feel like i'm yearning for signs of compassion.  sometimes it feels like compassion is easier for people to hand out on a big scale, than on just the regular ol' every day scale.  and for me, it's the average every day scale that matters.  that's the scale that defines our person.

not that huge acts of charity or compassion aren't important.  i'm reminded of the story of the rich man and the widow's mite from the bible.  (not a perfect analogy of what i'm talking about, but perhaps you can get the picture.)  sometimes it's the little things that make a difference.

like deciding you can get home 10 whole seconds later, so you don't have to tail the car in front of you.  letting the person standing behind you in the checkout line with only 3 items check out before you.  like smiling at someone who is in your way instead of being impatient.

it feels like everyone in this world wants to be understood by family, friends, and even strangers, but rarely does a person want to understand or give the benefit of the doubt to those around him/her.

i can go on for hours, but if you're reading my blog, i want you to come back for more opinions or stories i have, and i fear that you won't come back if i ramble too much.  just maybe think about what i wrote and how maybe you can be a little less selfish.  (not that i think you are selfish, but everyone can be a little bit better, right?)

i hope you will, and i will too.  and if you are from salt lake city, spread the word.  i'm losing my mind here!!