School seems a long time ago. I hated it generally, and I think the school of life offers more. The qualities that I have been tested with and set to learn are: patience, to be non- judgmental and to retain positive thinking.
Patience was probably the first quality put in my way. School had to be borne. Enquiry was not encouraged; in fact you were discouraged from any individual thought. Rote learning from antiquated, racist history books was the norm. English was a breath of fresh air, as poetry held sublime thoughts and allowed one to dream. I majored in dreaming.
My parents were unique probably for their day. Both were the most non-judgmental people I knew. They loved life and people of all persuasions and colour. It wasn’t until I was put amongst narrow- minded people that it made me cling to what I knew. Bigoted, narrow- mindedness, (much as the Australian Government of today), makes me cringe and hold to my own values.
Positive thinking really does make life run smoothly. Worry causes stumbling blocks. Allowing the Universe it’s way, ‘going with the flow’, such clichés hold value. As a child I had no confidence; school did not engender such a helpful life step as positive thinking, this was something I had to learn for myself. Life provides this opportunity. http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/04/02/prompt-land-of-confusion/
Barbara Pyett 
I do like your analogy! Yes, it’s wonderful when you feel in the flow!
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“I majored I’d dreaming.” I love that line. Your parents sound wonderful! I do believe there is something that works when you “float like a leaf” in life’s stream rather than flail about against the current and use all that energy to no avail. Of course, fighting against injustice is a different matter; that’s not what I mean. . . in my personal, daily life. . . the leaf and the stream.
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Another person owning up to some non-judgemental parents here. My Mum and Dad have always taken everyone as they are. I try to do the same and I hope I will be able to teach my son to do so, too.
Cheers
MTM
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I’m sure your son will look back as we are doing, and be grateful!
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Aw shucks. Thanks. I hope so.
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: )
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My parents were equally non-judgemental, and yes, it was rare. They also taught us to believe we could do whatever we set our minds to. Gender inequality didn’t enter my head until years later.
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I think we’re the really lucky ones, to have had good parents.
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As far as I’m concerned, I teach my son what he really needs to know in life; I teach him about positive thinking and confidence and making his own choices, school merely tops up what we give him ☺️
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He’s a lucky boy!
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Thank you 🙂
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“I majored in dreaming.” Awesome line.
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Thanks Mr. Atheist, I assume you did too?
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The world would be a boring old place if we all thought the same way!
I should perhaps put up another bit of my ‘Enduring Threads’, so you can see how that difference has coloured my way of looking at the world! It has been enhanced by difference.
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🙂
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🙂
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I like the way you think, Barbara ! – except that it makes me feel guilty for being an intolerant old bugger … :-\
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Thanks for your visit, yes, Math wasn’t my favourite either!
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