Instructive Deconstructions

I was waiting for my discussion circle to show up, about to conclude our reading of "Sacred Instructions" When I saw a list above the server in the library of Unitarian-Universalist wisdom, Ten Things to Remember: The past can't be changed. Opinions don't define your reality. Everyone's journey is different. Judgments are not about you. Overthinking will lead to sadness Happiness is found within. Your thoughts affect your mood. Smiles are contagious. Kindness is free. It's OK to let go and move on. In my Taoist way, I took notes, while transliterating the yin side: The past can't be changed. But can it be redeemed? Opinions don't define your reality. But feelings do. Everyone's journey is different. So your journey is not replaceable. Judgments are not about you. They are about us using punishing weapons before trying empathic, and diplomatic, listening tools. Overthinking will lead to sadness, and bureaucracy. But under-feeling will not lead to gladness, or democracy. Happiness is found within. While sadness remains without; and both are found in felt conversation of climates within and without. Your thoughts affect your mood. Your climate effects your feelings about what you can and cannot do about your mood. Smiles are contagious. So are frowns. Kindness is free. Meanness is prohibitively expensive. It's OK to let go and move on. It's also OK to hang and move in to win/win hopes and move through mutual detachment issues, histories more curiously reattaching together through mature listening skills.