WAGS 27.01.21: The Opposite - YAD DRAWKCAB LANOITAN

   

            We find ourselves in a serious situation! No, not the Covid Pandemic. It is given that THAT is serious. I mean that since the State of Emergency current rules, we are limited to daily saunters round our local area - ergo - nothing to write a real WAGS Blog about.. 

Should we return to WAGS WASPS - if we can find any willing contributors.?  Email or WhatsApp me or John if you have anything to get off your chest, or have heard or read somewhere, and think it may be of interest to others in the group.

           What is more until today - 31st January - nothing had come to me that might be worth sending on.

Then it hit me. I saw an announcement on Google that January 31st each year has been designated as National Backwards Day!. You can read about it HERE.

           Soon after I was doing my Daily Calm meditation - even if according to the precepts of National Backwards Day I should have been dancing, or raving and thinking noisy thoughts, and Tamara coincidentally, came up with this:.

I recently discovered that since 1961, January 31^st has been recognised as Backwards Day. When I found this out, I immediately thought of an old Seinfeld episode titled "The Opposite".   In case you missed it, the scenario is that the lovable underachiever, George Kostanza contemplates his life and realises that nothing is going well. He decides to do everything the opposite of his better judgement, in the hopes of better results. Under this approach George tells an attractive woman that he’s unemployed and lives with his parents but she finds his candour refreshing and appealing.  In a job interview, he boldly criticises his prospective boss, but he gets the job. At every turn he defies his instincts, does the opposite of what he views as common sense, and life rewards him. It’s easy to go through life making the same choices over and over and falling into old habits and patterns. We do what’s familiar but the result is we can find ourselves stuck. To get unstuck the best thing to do is to step back and approach things from a new angle; a different perspective even from the opposite outlook like George Kostanza.   If you notice yourself feeling stuck and falling into the same old  patterns that aren't proactive, try viewing your challenges through a different lens. Look at your obstacles from someone else’s point of view; someone you admire: a good friend; maybe even a child. Ask a friend for their perspective; do some Journal writing, perhaps analysing your tendencies and patterns. See if they serve a purpose or if you’re ready to make a change. Shake up your habits; rattle your patterns; inspire a new way of thinking; take an improv class or an art class; read a book on a topic you know nothing about; visit a neighbourhood you've never explored. With fresh perspectives we’re more likely to come up with new solutions to old problems.

      As Albert Einstein is believed to have said, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again,  and expecting different results". 

 Something to ponder in lockdown as we move through these stressful days!

If you are at all interested in Stress relief and soothing meditation, you may like to download the Calm App  to your Smartphone and try it out as a Guest for 30 days. I have been using it for almost 3 years, and I am sure you have noticed how calm and rational I have remained!!

     HERE is the link if you want to try it.

And for your delight here is the excerpt from Seinfeld, entitled `The Opposite`.

Stay Safe and Stay Calm