Fat Pants Skinny Pants

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has "fat pants." Those you have on hand for when you discover you've gained a few pounds and your "normal" pants are suddenly fitting a little too snug-ly. Fat pants are usually very comfy--loose fitting, non-constricting. Of course, as welcoming as they are comfort-wise, symbolically, they are often thought of with disdain. "Ugh, I have to wear my fat pants today--how depressing!"

Yesterday I had one of those glass half-empty-now-half-full moments. My former fat pants became my new "skinny pants." In the not too distant past I had gained enough weight that even my fat pants no longer fit. But recently my change in eating lifestyle has resulted in a tipping of the scales in the other direction--what a nice change! Last night I fit, once again, into those comfy, well-worn, jeans that used to be my "fat pants." Ta-da! Now they are a symbol of progress, and a concrete form of inspiration to encourage me in my continued endeavors. My new "Skinny Pants!"

Sure, one could choose to look at them with similar disdain as before....did you forget those used to be your fat pants? How can they be skinny pants??? That makes no sense at all....

Sense or nonsense, we often have a choice in how we see reality and attribute meaning to things--and today I am choosing to celebrate my new skinny pants, and look towards more to appear in my not-too-distant future!

Mantra

"Be strong, speak true, and spread the peace."

Melissa Etheridge fans will recognize these familiar words. I have been touched by them this week. When faced with adversity, there is always a way through it if we remember to be true to ourselves, to be honest with one another, and to value integrity as an absolute necessity.

I believe in the subversive power of love, gentleness and the still, small voice of truth. I have always been a lover of oxymorons. I view reality as a complex entity made up of many layers--and oxymorons help illustrate seemingly contradictory elements as, in fact, mutually inclusive of one another. How can something gentle and quiet be powerful? Those who work for justice via an ethic of nonviolence know and understand the effective power of letting Truth speak for itself. Peace can't be brought about by anger, war, or any other form of conflict. Instead, we must find a way to deflate such things through more subersive means.

I learned during a library workshop on "dealing with difficult people" that an effective way of communicating with a loud and frustrated customer is to consciously lower your voice. Arguments usually escalate when each person's voice gets louder and louder, leaving both parties talking over one another instead of listening to one another. Instead, if you lower your voice, the customer's voice will usually lower in response, without the individual even thinking about it. It also encourages active listening as the customer must make more of an effort to hear the quieter voice. Then, you can hope to have a productive conversation. Speaking truth does no good if there is no one around to hear it.

Thank you, Melissa, for your powerfully simple words. You Rock!

Kristy Simpson

Have you been simponized yet? Here's what I look like after uploading my photo. Look out Springfield...here I come! The original photo used for my simpsonization can be found on Terri's blog (see the "Before and After" post--documenting my recent Mary Kay makeover, compliments of Terri).

The Still, Small Voice (of Truth...)

Tonight we watched The Interpretor for the first time. Quite a thriller--I definitely recommend it if you have not yet seen it.

Towards the end of the movie, a quote is read from a book by one of the characters. I found it rather profound and worth sharing (the context of the quote is an African country being torn apart by genocide and violence):

"The gunfire around us makes it hard to hear. But the human voice is different from other sounds. It can be heard over noises that bury everything else. Even when it's not shouting. Even if it's just a whisper. Even the lowest whisper can be heard over armies, when it's telling the truth."

Words have power. The human voice has power. Truth has power--perhaps the ultimate power.

Our lives today are filled with a cacophony of noises and distractions that make it hard to hear--and to listen--to what is true. What does truth sound like? Do you recognize it when you hear it? What truths does the human voice utter? Personally? Locally? Nationally? Globally?

Most importantly...are we listening?