Prideful Reflections

Is being prideful good or bad, healthy or unhealthy?  I have wondered this over and over in my life.  I have come to the conclusion that pride is healthy when expressed for others and unhealthy when expressed about self in an arrogant manner.
It is cool to see people express pride for their child's academic accomplishment, an athlete's prize, a religious milestone, a couple's pregnancy announcement, personal achievement or anything that reflects positive pride of earning.
However, it is not fun to listen to people boast of job promotions, expensive material possessions, etc. from an arrogant stance.
When you look in the mirror, do you see prideful arrogance or prideful joy?

So, on that note, the quote of the day is:

"Sometimes, you need to look in the mirror to see who is actually being reflected back." tc

Tough Skin

I met this fearless little lizard outside my door the other day.  She was sun-bathing on a rock in the radiating afternoon heat. As I approached her, she moved off the rock but stayed close by. She was brave yet, cautious.  I snapped a few photos and then left her to her warm rock.
I began thinking about the poses that people strike when in defense. The common position that most people take in areas of uncertainty is that they postulate many different scenarios about the future. Oftentimes, people dramatize the situations into absolutely unrealistic possibilities.  If we learn to stay more level-headed and think before reacting, we may find that using caution in the place of fear, allows for our tough exterior to take the brunt of the blow and not harm our insides.

So, on that note, the quote of the day is:

"Smile. It is never as rough as you think it will be." tc