In this amazing Country of diversity where we are allowed to have different opinions, customs, practices and beliefs, there may be times when getting along requires a little bit of extra effort. The following adapted from ‘The New Book of the Art of Living” by Wilferd A. Peterson, has some good perspectives.
“The Art of Getting Along”
- Sooner or later a wise person discovers that life is a mixture of good days and bad, victory and defeat, give and take.
- They learn that your size is often measured by the size of the thing it takes to get your goat… that the conquest of petty irritations is vital to success.
- That he the he who loses his temper usually loses.
- That carrying a chip on your shoulder is the quickest way to get into a fight, and wastes valuable energy.
- That ‘passing the buck’ acts as a boomerang.
- That carrying tales and gossip about others is the easiest way to become unpopular.
- That everyone is human and they can help to make the day happier for others by smiling and saying “Good morning!”
- That giving others a mental lift by showing appreciation and praise is the best way to lift one’s own spirits.
- That the world will not end when the fail or make a mistake: that there is always another day and another chance.
- That listening is often more important than talking, and that they may be more likely to make a friend by letting the other person tell their troubles.
- That all people have burnt toast for breakfast now and then and that they shouldn’t let their grumbling get them down.
- That people are not any more difficult to get along with, in one place than another and that “getting along” depends about ninety-eight percent on their own behavior.