Winning Words 12/9/11
“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters. (Epictetus) E was a Greek Stoic who lived over 2000 years ago. He believed that fate determines the things that happen to us, but it’s our reaction to them that makes the difference. Could he be the one who first said: “If life hands you a lemon, make lemonade?” I like that idea… a Stoic who was a positive thinker. Any reaction to that? ;-) Jack.

FROM PRJS IN MICHIGAN: Xeno Vincent Peale lives nearby!!!////FROM JACK: For every action, there's a reaction. I can count on you. I've always been interested in paradox. NVP is a paradox.

FROM SF IN MICHIGAN: I like this one too: 'Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. YOU are in charge of your Attitude.'////FROM JACK: Certain things become second nature to us. Having the right attitude can be one of those "things."

FROM HAWKEYE GEORGE: mega dittos! :-)////FROM JACK: That must mean that you agree.

ROM OUTHOUSE JUDY: Totally agree with his way of thinking. Even a small incident can knock you down if you let it, or can lift you up. It all depends on how you look at the situation. He was right on!////FROM JACK: I continue to be amazed that philosophies expressed so many years ago can be relevant today.

FROM TAMPA SHIRL: That is easier said than done. But we all learn how to live that way with our positive outlook on life in general.////FROM JACK: I remember hearing a teacher say, "Anything worth doing is worth doing well." Not only does that advice apply to assignments, but also to the thinking process.

FROM SAINT JAMES IN MICHIGAN: It's amazing, but the mind and one's will can take a "bad" thing and turn it into a "good" thing. The mind is extremely powerful, and can make you believe anything you want to. Look at Hitler, Mussolini, and other powerful people and how they convinced themselves of their beliefs... ////FROM JACK: Adolph and Benito aren't the only ones who misread good and bad. Morality is something that we all have to work on.

FROM RG IN ARIZONA: This is the fundamental basis of Freedom and Responsibility. We have the free will to choose our responses given our circumstance --- not necessarily the free will to choose our circumstances. Viktor Frankl wrote of this regarding his concentration camp experience. His circumstance of being Jewish, in Germany, during the WWII period, and in a concentration camp was a circumstance beyond his authority of control. He notes his freedom to respond to that circumstance as crucial to his manner of existence in such a circumstance. Christianity seems rooted in a similar way. We have free will (freedom) and as such, choose our responses to one another at every turn. How we choose (works) will certainly identify what it is we truly believe (faith). For Faith without works is dead (phony, pretend). As Jesus said, "If you love me keep my commandments." Adam and Eve were told they were not permitted to eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. This was their circumstance. Additionally, they were free to respond in an opposing manner to this...and they did. We, too, are commanded to love one another in the same manner as Jesus loves us. We are free to respond in an opposing manner as did Adam and Eve -- or we can remain mindful of our given commandment by the One whom we call Christ and choose to act (respond) freely and by willful choice, to love one another as Jesus loves us. Merry Christmas!////FROM JACK: Free Will always seems like a good idea, until you realize that you have to take responsibility for your decisions. Some people miss the point of the Adam & Eve story when they think that it's only a storyaboutf the world's first inhabitants. The story is really a mirror for each of us.

FROM DM IN MICHIGAN: Which brings me to …..my family is dealing with a lot of sour lemonade right now!!!
////FROM JACK: I quoted Mick Vujicic earlier this week. Through no fault of his own, he had to drink some "sour lemonade." With his mind, he chose to work at turning the bitter into the better. I don't know how he did it, but he did it. Some people really amaze me. Mick isn't the only one. Gloria Gaynor sang: "I will survive." You will, too.

FROM PLAIN FOLKS CHESTER: A Stoic is a positive thinker turned inside out. All of the parts are there, you just need to rearrange them.////FROM JACK: Stoics may not want you to know it, but they have feelings, too. We aren't always who we seem to be.

FROM MOLINER JT: My fate of 13 months ago reminds me of what the Advent and Christmas season is all about. AS Tiny Tim said "God Bless us one and all".////FROM JACK: Those on TV's "Survivor" program have nothing on you. Keep on keeping on.

FROM CWR IN B'MORE: .....makes sense to me.....in fact, I've made a lot of lemonade.

FROM BLAZING OAKS: My husband was an admirer of another Stoic, Xeno, (Zeno?) who said" The Masses are asses...the few will always rule". There are times when I think Xeno was right! This Stoic was REALLY right. Good to keep in mind, and try to react intelligently and positively. How hard can it be? Ho-Ho-Ho!~!... ////FROM JACK: I think that the political ads are directed toward the masses. The more times changes, the more they remain the same.