Ponder Pond

St. Valentine

Rumors

Womens History

Ponder Pond is a place to stop and take a break ... and think about things that are a little bigger than most thoughts. Have you been pondering? Send us your thoughts.

Growing Good Weeds From Bad Weeds
by Kim Thomas
When you think about a rumor, do you always think of something bad? Did you know that rumors can also be helpful, and make someone feel better about themselves? Now, the reverse of a rumor is FACT (or the absolute truth)….and since almost all truths are colored by PERSPECTIVE… very few opinions include ONLY the facts of a situation.

SO….YOU can choose to grow a beautiful PURPLE weed, instead of a little grizzly gray one! Just like a weed, rumors spread very quickly….and they usually grow in size! I am sure you have had a rumor spread about you, just as you have certainly spread a few (Oh, just little ones!) and so you know what good and what damage they can do. Rumors are sort of like the game of "Telephone" that you used to play with your friends…. The message changes, as it is passed along, and the end result can be totally different from the original words that were spoken!

Do you know someone who is known by a rumor, like "Oh, she's the one that…." That person might be "branded" by a rumor that simply grew through gossip or a misunderstanding. Rumors are not always bad, however, and you can really make someone's day, by starting a rumor about their thoughtful nature, their great storytelling ability or their great singing voice! People love to be known for their good qualities, and something like "they enjoy fooling people" can become a special gift rather than a weakness…. "What a great person she is to have around on April Fools Day!"

You can even take a full-fledged rumor and turn it in to a wonderful compliment! Use your imagination! How can you make a person WANT to be a better person? By making their challenges a compliment! If someone is too loud for your tastes, call them "enthusiastic" (and then tell them they ought to be a cheerleader, with all that energy)! It might make BOTH of you smile!

Using words like funny, instead of loud, or sweet instead of shy can make a huge difference in how a girl sees herself through her friend's eyes. We all know how important a friend's opinion of you can be! Making our friends feel good about themselves is a wonderful feeling! So, the next time you feel like talking about someone, pick their BEST feature, (or if you MUST talk about their most unlikeable trait, then challenge yourself to find a positive way to say it)! Instead of "She wears TOO MUCH makeup"... you can say "She is such a COLORFUL person!!" Or how about "She is so INTERESTED in everyone!" instead of "She is such a gossip!"... Enjoy your weed-growing power…use it for good, and all the good things you have said about other people will most likely be said about you! "She is such a great friend, she makes me feel so good about myself!" Imagine the smiles you will grow in your garden!

Have you been pondering? Send us your thoughts.