Make a "Cranky" Promise to Yourself...Being Real

As I waited in line at Costco, yesterday, among people pushing, complaining, staring at items in baskets, glaring at the back of your neck, and squeezing to push their baskets in front of you barely saying "excuse me". Really is a lesson in promises to yourself and a place for live feedback. 


As I was moving slowly with the "herd to checkout" I noticed the words on a man's pure white tee shirt, as he was checking out, it read "CRANKY" accross his chest.  It made me laugh because I rarely get cranky (but don't push me) and this situation ignited a spark of thinking differently for the rest of the day. 


Here we are in the first month of a new year, with promises made, resolutions starting to fade, and people being who they are "being real".


As the day went on that word "CRANKY" haunted me. Clearly it was present to teach me something so I looked it up in the dictionary and thesaurus. Below are the four thesaurus descriptions, that sure enough, played out right before my eyes all while I was in line (great place for people watching and behavior observation) we absorb more that we realize. 


Cranky:


1 Difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design
2 Easily irritated or annoyed 
3 Given to complaining a lot
4 Different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion


As you can see, I highlighted the fourth description because I can identify all these patterns in everyone. It takes all three to equal the forth with all people, ideas, innovation, jobs, etc. whether you work alone or with a group, learn or teach, talk or remain silent. These four remain a constant.


No matter the length of time, space, or type of situation, as soon as I "blink to think" about it I see it...thoughts become things.

Promise Yourself...
~ author unknown

Promise yourself to be so strong
That nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity
To every person you meet.

To make all your friends
feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything
And make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best,
To work only for the best, to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
As you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past
And press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times
And give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself
That you have no time to criticize others.

Or be too large for worry,
Too noble for anger, too strong for fear
And too happy to permit the presence of trouble....


This is the perfect time to Make a Cranky Promise to Yourself and Be Real because no matter how far you want to go or what you actually do in life depends on YOU being real with yourself and others BE:


Tender with the young,
Compassionate with the aged,
Sympathetic with the striving 
Tolerant of the weak and strong.

Whether you experience doubt or choice as someone points that directly at you. You'll experience all of these emotions in you life. So make a point to: get out your bike and ride it, find that kite and fly it, use your eyes and photograph to capture it, blink to think for yourself...be Cranky! Remember it has nothing to do with age but everything to do with time and space.


So what do you think about Making a Cranky Promise to Yourself and Being Real it's very do-able don't you agree?


image: california winter day by Bette, google image: heart of birds, poem promise yourself google