Would you rather be a super nice person and be depressed all your life, or be happy and a total *sshole? (Credit goes to Cyranny for this question, aired on one of her “Cyranny’s Quickies” posts.)
I’m actually finding it impossible to answer this question. Being a super nice depressed person serves the general public but would make me and my family miserable. Being happy but a total *sshole leaves room for joy but screws the general public. Aaarrrggghhhh! I am literally unable to choose between these options.
Have you ever made someone cry?
Yes. It wasn’t a good feeling.
Are you a dreamer or a go-getter?
If I had to pick one I’d say a dreamer. Once I zero in on something I’m pretty dogged about getting there but a lot falls into the daydreaming category for me.
If you were in a band, what instrument would you play?
Definitely guitar. This would require a magical download of instrumental knowledge into my very-non-musical-instrument brain, though.
Do you feel gratitude is necessary?
Absolutely. Without gratitude we run the risk of falling prey to entitlement or selfishness. Gratitude gives us a healthy perspective on life’s blessings and challenges.
Sparks from a Combustible Mind hosts Share Your World.
I’m glad you didn’t answer the first question. It is irrelevant because no one is totally one or the other. Even people we think are total *ssholes can have a redeeming quality or two – not that I want to spend time with any of them. FYI, to me, the hardest thing about learning to play the guitar (just for fun and nothing fancy) was building up callouses on my finger tips.
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It really was that “or” that got me. Maybe if they’d asked which way you leaned? Because I think most of us tend towards one or the other but you’re right, very few people are entirely one way.
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I’d like to cultivate a balance of compassion and assertiveness. Seems to be an ongoing search.
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Laura, great post and question. I like your answers, but to me the framework of the choices are not mutually exclusive. You can be a nice person and still push back on folks when needed. The art is in the “how.” This is a key lack in today’s society – civil discourse. We can disagree without being disagreeable. I had to recently push back on a few bloggers who liked to name call as a replacement for argument. I said you are obviously a smart person, but when you name call you demean your argument and, quite frankly, I stop reading.
Take care. Keith
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I agree with the concept of civility in disagreement. The part I struggle with these days is how to reconcile civil disagreement with people who hold a view so contrary to my own that it’s irreconcilable. Less a disagreement over whether healthcare is a right or privilege of employment because that can be a reasoned discussion; more when we don’t agree on things like the danger implicit bias presents for my Black son. Some things I can’t agree to disagree on…and where does that leave me then?
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Laura, first sorry I have been missing. I thought I had followed you, but either I didn’t or the WordPress fairies kicked me off. In your situation, the best thing is to find something to agree on as a start – term limits, less money in politics, etc I have even had success with Trump is his own worst enemy and he needs to not opine on every topic – even his own followers agree with that. But, we will not agree on everything or many things with some. As an independent, I will rub some progressives the wrong way on some issues, just as I will rub a MAGA supporter the wrong way. Sadly, the latter will be over truth vs fiction while the former will be over policy differences. Keith
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So with you with these answers.
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🙂 Thank you.
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Thank you Laura for Sharing Your World! You have such a wonderful perspective on things! ❤ Marilyn said in my comments section that being a mother (parent) and making someone cry go hand in hand; it's a thing that comes with the job. It isn't a nice feeling whoever is doing the crying IF it's angry or sad tears and not tears of joy. One blogger shared a tears of joy story which really spun the whole scenario around! Have a great week!
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Oh, I do love that tears of joy concept. I know I’ve made my kids cry. Interestingly enough, the first thing that popped into my head was when I made my mom cry when I was a teen. That’s a long memory right there.
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Good answers! I have not yet attempted this one, because that first question has me completely stymied. I think you did a good job with it.
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I really do hate the ones where I just can’t settle on an answer. It feels like cheating to say I just don’t know.
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I love your gratitude response.
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Thank you, Sadje.
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You’re welcome my friend
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Nicely answered.
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🙂
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