Monday, June 27, 2011

Finding Poetry in the Prosaic

A plain white bowl containing produce. I can look at it any way I choose. But I choose to see it as beautiful. Colorful. Nourishment. Deliciousness.

I could also say, those damn tomatoes were $3.50 a pound. The lemons, 3 for a dollar. The avocados, 4 for $5.00 - as if that's a bargain! Oh, and the tablecloth has a big honkin' stain on it from an AA event held at my house where someone knocked over a candle and failed to mention it to anyone.

But, I am gainfully employed, so I actually had the money to purchase those items. And I am grateful my tastes run to that type of food rather than a donut or french fries. I have friends who come and visit - and one of my friends helped me to scrape the candle wax off the tablecloth and the jute rug beneath the table. Another blogger gave me a tip for getting rid of the stain on the cloth (thanks Syd!).

Do you know that when I got sober and read the big book, I had to look up the word "prosaic?" I thought it was a special kind of "steel girder," with tons of atomic particles spinning around! I was surprised to learn that it meant "ordinary." Or also "Having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty."

I am sponsoring a woman who gets angry and calls people such things as "f***ing b****" etc. I recently suggested to her that she stop imprinting her brain with such harsh labels for people, that it would make it difficult to turn her thoughts around. I suggested she instead think to herself - "gosh, that person is not telling the truth" or "gee, she seems to be talking about me to her friend, I wonder if that is really the case or if I just think so." She looked at me like I was nuts.

But I think it is all about how we think of things and what we call them. Our words and our labels are important. They make a lasting impression on our souls.

So, I think I shall go forth, back to my workplace for this week. I will do the best job I possibly can and try to be a positive peer to all I meet. Perhaps my smile will make a difference to someone I run into today.

I get to do this as a sober person. Thank God.

9 comments:

Syd said...

A very good idea about turning our thoughts and words around so that I don't speak of others in a derogatory manner. Having compassion for others has helped me to see that each of us has some good.

JeremyRT said...

I'm very glad I read this this morning. I too am back at the day job that I don't love, but today I will practice changing my labels a bit

Bwendo said...

Taking the heat out of our language makes us less volatile and slower to rise to action. This is good. Quiet calm words make for for similar actions.

Lou said...

The sponsor story is kind of funny. It seems everyone is talking like that at my work. It was once a very professional environment without any swearing. Not anymore...

steveroni said...

...and life goes on. Amen
PEACE!

Mary LA said...

I so agree with you here: we all need to strengthen that desire to move away from condemnatory and judgemental thinking about others, making space for relatedness.

Love the bowl of fruit and veg.

Pammie said...

I wince when I hear that kind of stuff. It's just word violence to me.

Linda said...

Thanks so much for this post, Mary Christine. It was right here when I needed it. Always a good reminder to change my thinking.

Mary Christine said...

Linda, thanks for visiting and your comment. It was good for me to go back and read this post.