They are Who They Are I’ve written before about how we don’t have to like people to love them. But (at least for me) this can be an easy trap to fall into. It is nobody’s job to make sure Jonathan Manske is happy or to make sure things are done the way Jonathan likes […]
Laughing at Ourselves
November 4, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Laughing at Ourselves A good measure of self-kindness is our ability to laugh at ourselves. Self-judgment will have us beat up on ourselves. Yesterday I locked myself out which required Kendrick to drive across town and bring another key. Although I did not enjoy inconveniencing him, I did not beat up on myself. (Years ago, […]
Divisiveness and Unity
October 30, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Divisiveness and Unity Yesterday I sat in on part of the Talakag municipal council meeting. They were discussing a boundary dispute with the neighboring municipality, Kalilangan. However, they were speaking Cebuano, so I had no idea what they were saying. But I could observe. One woman presented some information. She seemed friendly, at ease, and […]
Different does not equal bad
October 27, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Judging vs judgmental
October 22, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Judging vs Judgmental We can judge without being judgmental. Judging is forming an opinion or coming to a conclusion about someone or something. Judgmental tends to mean having an excessively critical point of view. For example – I can judge that I wouldn’t do business with a person based on what I’ve observed. I become […]
Free Solo – “Thank God that’s over”
October 19, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Free Solo – “Thank God that’s over” I recently saw the movie, Free Solo. It is about Alex Honnold and his quest to be the first person to free-solo El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. (Free soloing is climbing without ropes). After he succeeded, his girlfriend said, “Thank God that’s over.” When I heard that, […]
Trained in condemnation
October 2, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Trained in Condemnation The world had trained us to condemn (ourselves and others). Kids hear things like, “you are a bad boy or girl.” Schools emphasize what we got wrong. We have heard and said “bad” and “wrong” so many times. Consequently, we have learned to think in terms of good and bad and right […]
No offense meant
September 20, 2018 by Leave a Comment
No Offense Meant I overheard a conversation today where the guy said, “no offense meant” and then he used a racially derogatory expression to a member of that race. Obviously, if we ever think “no offense meant”, we are about to say something that is going to be offensive. And, the best plan here is […]
First choices and first impressions
August 10, 2018 by Leave a Comment
First Choices and First Impressions Regardless of the first impression (or second or third or…) someone makes, we still get to choose how we look at that person. We can look through eyes of love, kindness, and compassion. Or, we can look through other eyes. Much Love, Jonathan Help me out please ~ if this […]
It is not up to us whether the fish bite
August 8, 2018 by Leave a Comment
