Learning to be "considerate"

Today I heard that some doctor was criticizing Governor Chris Christie (New Jersey's Governor) about his weight. This doctor said she worries about the Republican “dying in office.” Well, she should mind her own business and be more considerate. To me this was an inappropriate comment. But this happens everyday. People make hurtful statements about others all the time.

Today my husband told me that in the bus a group of teenagers were very loud and rude and ready to fight with one another. He normally bikes to work, but due to the weather he decided to take public transportation. I'm sure he regretted this decision. When you ride buses and other means of public transportation in Philadelphia, it's common to encounter inconsiderate people that yell, curse, act irrationally and are simply obnoxious. They truly have no consideration or respect for others. It is really frustrating and sad. Especially when many of them are young people with no manners, that treat each other with such disrespect.

The truth is they don't value or respect themselves, and by yelling, cursing and wanting everyone to hear them - they are letting us know how insecure and in need of attention they are. Sad, isn't it? They have to attract negative attention, because this is all the attention they get. They have to resort to this annoying behavior to make themselves heard. At home they probably never received positive reinforcement, love, respect, and attention. Ehow.com mentions that "when people are considerate of each other, they make interactions proceed more smoothly. It's important for everyone to learn to be thoughtful of the people around them in order to avoid misunderstandings and hurt feelings."I completely agree! You feel so much better when you are kind and considerate to others.

Read more: How to Be Considerate | eHow.com 

What you do (how you act) and what you say, affect others in a positive or negative way; and then, it affects us in a positive or negative way. How we act and how we behave do have consequences, and these consequences bounce back to us (just like a boomerang). We must be mindful of our behavior, of our interaction with others, of how others perceive us, of how we affect others and try our best to improve ourselves.

There's a cute story about a father and a child walking in the mountains, and the son discover the "echo" for the first time. The lesson the father imparts to the child is the following: "People call this echo, but really this is life. It gives you back everything you say or do. Our life is simply a reflection of our actions. If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart. If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence. This relationship applies to everything, in all aspect of life; life will give you back everything you have given to it." 

Life is an echo
What you send out - comes back
What you sow - you reap
What you give - you get
What you see in others - exists in you
Remember life is an echo
It always gives you back what you give out
Life is a mirror of your actions
So give goodness

Life is a mirror of your actions.
If you want more love, give more love!
If you want more kindness, give more kindness!
If you want understanding and respect, give understanding and respect!
If you want people to be patient and respectful to you, give patience and respect!

Call it karma, or call it whatever you want - but this is how life works! It's very sad that so many people don't get this. That so many are oblivious about how they make others feel, and how rude and inconsiderate they are. Maya Angelou once said (one of my favorite quotes):

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." 

Let's keep this in mind...