DO-ABLE FITNESS: Health-Fitness-Beauty for Body-Mind-Spirit. We ...

Hello everyone,

It is great to connect with you again, and I hope you all are doing well.? Thanks again for all the emails you have sent me and sharing how my blogs have encouraged and helped you.? I am deeply touched by your kind and caring words.? I believe we heal as we help others.? We fill a void in our lives when we seek to fill a void in others? hearts.

I am motivated to share my thoughts and feelings about bullying and hatred.? It seems to be in the news a lot lately.? I have always been a defender of those who are bullied, a protector of those who are victimized, a supporter of those who are oppressed, an encourager of those who are demoralized, a source of empowerment for those who are weak.? Sadly, there will always be hateful and selfish people in life.? Unfortunately, a world without sadness and evil may never exist.? Despite this depressing truth, we can make a difference.? Let?s reject evil and embrace love.? Each of us can be instruments of goodwill, making a positive impact and influence in this world, and it starts with those closest to us.

Lest I sound idealistic and Pollyannaish, I believe we need more love in the world.? If each of us has more love in our heart, mind and soul, life would be so much more fulfilling, meaningful and beautiful.? A lifestyle of loving our fellow human beings can enhance our relationships, health and quality of life.? Love does not mean ignoring evil, allowing abuse, rejecting healthy boundaries or letting someone do whatever he or she wants ?that might be a topic for a future blog.

It bothers, angers and saddens me when I see someone treated disrespectfully and hatefully.? None of us deserves to be treated like dirt or garbage.? We are all precious, important, and worthy of dignity.? If we have differing opinions with someone, we can agree to disagree agreeably.? Not seeing eye to eye with someone on whatever issue is not an excuse, reason or justification to hurt or hate someone.? Martin Luther King, Jr. said, ?Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.? Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.?? Let?s love sparingly, deeply and sincerely, because when we do this, we start to truly live!

Bullying, racism, sexism, and other forms of hatred reflect fears, insecurities, hurts and/or lack of knowledge.? Perhaps, we were injured by someone, so we believe the stereotypes about him or her.? Perhaps, we lack confidence or have a bad self-image, so we demean or diminish someone?s worth to feel a false sense of security.? Perhaps, we want to protect ourselves and our loved ones from dangers, but we demonize and vilify an entire group of people.? Perhaps, we do not want to deal with the root problems of an issue, so we blame someone else and use him or her as a scapegoat.? Perhaps, we do not know much about someone and we de-humanize him or her.

To heal from the ways we tend to embrace, embody and emit hatred, I encourage all of us to do some self-introspection.? I pray we purge ourselves from those fears, insecurities, hurts and ignorance, so we are free to love.? Let?s fill our hearts, minds and souls with genuine love for others.? Let?s treat others the ways we want to be treated.? Black, white, brown, red, yellow or any permutations of these skin colors; poor or rich or anywhere in between; young or old or anywhere in between; educated or unschooled or anywhere in between, gay or straight or anywhere in between, fit or obese or anywhere in between, beautiful or homely or anywhere in between (by societal standards), powerful or unassuming or anywhere in between?let?s respect each other, let?s love each other!? Let?s enjoy our diversity and respect our differences.? Remember, we can agree to disagree, but let?s do that agreeably.

For those of you who have been bullied, slighted, discriminated, injured or violated by someone who was controlled by hate, I am sorry.? My heart, prayers and LOVE go out to you!? You are not alone!? Together, we can heal, be restored and become tools for compassion.? No matter how wealthy we are, no matter how attractive we are, no matter how erudite we are, no matter how influential we are, no matter how talented we are, no matter how strong we are, no matter famous we are, no matter how generous and philanthropic we are?it is all rubbish if love and humility does not reign supremely in our hearts.? Mother Theresa said, ?It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. ?It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving.?

Love never fails!?

Etienne

Source: http://www.totalpurpose.com/living-out-loud/525

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