Scary, isn't it? The jungle is a very scary place. There are things in there that can
hurt you, that can kill you, that can maim you. A wise person would do well to stay away
and leave the discoveries of the jungle to someone else. Know what else is scary? Very,
very scary? Your mind. You can manipulate your mind to believe all kinds of scary things.
I am ugly. I am useless. I am fat. I am stupid. I am depressed. I am poor. I'm not creative enough.
I'm suicidal. I am lonely. You name it. Just keep telling yourself things like I have no friends.
Nobody likes me. None of which, of course, may be true, but like all habits, say it often enough.
Say it long enough. Personalize these negatives frequently enough, and yes, you believe every
word. Maybe if people don't like you, it is because you complain a bit too often. Maybe if people
don't want to be around you, it is because you have to be and feel like you are number one all the
time, leaving no room for others. Maybe if you would speak less of yourself and about you and
embrace others more. Maybe if you would compliment more and complain less. What brought about these
revelations? Just observing others and perhaps just as important listening to others. My walk
in and around the jungle today caused me to think about a conversation I had with a friend. He said
that his sister did her best to manipulate others with her negative attitudes and constant
complaints. She made about five thousand dollars a month in retirement, yet she complained constantly
about not having any money. Yet she would support others less willing to support themselves. It was
as if she was willing to buy company if she can complain about it. She would complain about being
bored, yet would not seriously entertain any suggestions that she used her creative side
and exercise her talents daily. She would feign suicide attempts and desires so frequently that
soon one tended to ignore her pleas as just another method to gain sympathy. He went on to say,
don't get me wrong, he added. I'm not making less the honest cries for help by those who
attempt suicide. I'm talking about the cries that are used as tools to manipulate. He went on to
say that each day she would have a new physical melody with facial expressions and gestures to
match, then complain how expensive her medication was. She would take pills for just about everything.
She had pills for depression. She had pills to go to sleep. You name it, she had the pills to do it.
My friend said that if you try to talk about others and their problems, that would irritate her to
no end because that was a suggestion that she and her problems were no longer the most important
topic of discussion. Here's the question for you. Do you know anyone that reminds you of my
friend's sister? No? Oh well. It was a beautiful day out here and quite frankly, recalling the
conversation my friend was depressing. It was affecting my mind and interfering with my appreciation
of this absolutely beautiful day. Once I regained control of my own thoughts, my own mind, my own
attitudes, my own love of being and around nature, all was well again.
By the way, may I use this opportunity to compliment rather than to complain? I wish to thank you very
much for taking time out to watch my videos. I really, really, really appreciate it. Thank you very much.
