I have given this question much thought and now I really need to explain what I do to counteract the negativeness with positive. I have noticed that we live in a very negative world and that we need to have insight and search for the positive that is there if we only take the time and seek it out and use it.
What do I mean by that? Let me tell you about someone I know who is disabled and who is physically different in appearance due to their disability. First, here is how one can turn what might be a negative situation into a positive one.
My friend was in a public meeting place when a 10 year old boy approached him and said: "Why do you do this?" Then he proceeded to show him what he was doing. He then again repeated his question "Why do you do that?" My friends head and body shakes and jerks because of a medical condition know as Cerebral Palsy. He has spastic movements which makes his disability very visible to others.
My friend looked at the young boy and said; " I was born this way and I have a condition called Cerebral palsy and I can't stop shaking and jerking because my body is different then yours. This young boy took his hand and said; " I wish you could have a healthy body like mine."
This is a positive experience and it could have become negative if my friend had taken it in a negative way. It shows that those who are different or disabled take the time to explain to young children that there are people who have a body that is different but they still need to be loved and respected because they have feelings. Children are loving and they only learn what they are taught and see adults do. If we adult can learn anything from my friend it is this, If we are positive and maintain a positive attitude then it could rub off on those who we come in contact with.
Now Please allow me to give you another experience that could have easily been a negative experience. My friend and I had decided to go for dinner on Saturday. We go out to a family restaurant and we are eating and across from us are two boys. One was about 14 years old and his brother seemed to be about 11 years old. Their parents were with them and they were talking and kissing and totally oblivious to what their sons were doing.
These two boys had cell phones with a camera in them. I was eating and talking with my friend and when I glanced at there table, I noticed the boys looking at my friend and laughing. I didn't think much about it at first and then soon the youngest boy kept laughing and soon he started to make jerky movements and was looking at my friend and laughed.
Next I saw their cell phones and aimed straight at friend. They were taking his picture and laughing and imitating his movements. I was trying to distract my friend from seeing this but he saw it and just kept eating as if nothing was going on. Then I noticed my friend staring back at the boys and not saying anything nor looking angry or upset about the situation and as he was staring he just kept eating and talking as if nothing was wrong. My friend was staring at the father and soon got his attention. My friend never said a word but soon the father scolded the sons and took their cell phones away from them.
Now think about this, What would you have done? After leaving the restaurant I had wondered if my friend would mention anything about it. He soon said; "you saw what was going on didn't you?" I told him I did, and then asked the question that was going through my mind all evening. Didn't that bother you, I asked.
"Sure it did" he said, "but why let them know that." "First of all I was hungry and I paid money for good food and I wasn't going to waste it. Second, these were young boys and they need to be taught that they were not going to chase me away because of how they were treating me. Third, to make a scene would just be more embarrassing and draw more attention to a negative situation." My friend soon explained that by staring at the boys, they would start to feel uncomfortable, he also wanted to get the father's attention and that is what he did.
Now my question to everyone is "What would you have done if this was you? How would you have handled yourself in this situation? My friend took a very negative situation and turned it into a positive one. He enjoyed his meal and at the same time may have helped the father to learn to teach his sons some manners. My friend remained positive and conquered the negative. I asked him how he remains so positive when the world treats him so negative? Here are some of the things he told me:
