The poem below was written by a high school junior back in 2015. At first you might see it as full of pessimism and feel concern for the girl’s mental health. But as you’ll see, she is really a genius!
Today was the absolute worst day ever
And don’t try to convince me that
There’s something good in every day
Because, when you take a closer look,
This world is a pretty evil place.
Even if
Some goodness does shine through once in a while
Satisfaction and happiness don’t last.
And it’s not true that
It’s all in the mind and heart
Because
True happiness can be attained
Only if one’s surroundings are good
It’s not true that good exists
I’m sure you can agree that
The reality
Creates
My attitude
It’s all beyond my control
And you’ll never in a million years hear me say
Today was a very good day.
By Chancie Gorkin
Doesn’t that make your heart ache for her? What a sad perspective. Whether you get your news and information from CNNastan, one of the NBC companies, Foxachusetts or simply from social media, the way we see the world truly is shaped for each of us by what we allow in our heads and conversations.
As I mentioned before, the high school girl who wrote the above poem really is a genius. When I was a little boy, my mother taught us a childrens’ song with the lyric that went something like this:
“If you chance to see a frown,
Do not let it stay.
Quickly turn it upside down
And smile that frown away.
Now let’s reconsider Chancie Gorkin’s poem from another perspective. Let’s simply turn it upside down read it in reverse, from the end to the beginning word for word.
Today was a very good day
And you’ll never in a million years hear me say
It’s all beyond my control
My attitude
Creates
The reality
I’m sure you can agree that
It’s not true that good exists
Only if one’s surroundings are good
True happiness can be attained
Because
It’s all in the mind and heart
And it’s not true that
Satisfaction and happiness don’t last
Some goodness does shine through once in a while
Even if
This world is a pretty evil place.
Because when you take a closer look, There’s something good in every day
And don’t try to convince me that
Today was the absolute worst day!
What a great lesson! She used the exact same words and the exact same sentences but by reading them in reverse order, by looking at them with a different perspective, instead of gloom and despair, the message completely changed. I have determined to read the second perspective each day and so should you.
Smile a little longer, work a little harder, love a little deeper and please call us to get enough final expense insurance so that your family knows how you feel about them. Just taking care of this little step in your personal estate planning will make you feel good; because you are not doing it for yourself, you are doing it for those you love!
