The Generosity Project

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Designing A Day

May we have the day we create; not the day we deserve.

In a world of cynicism, retribution, disasters on repeat, animosity, and perils, we can forget that it is also a world of optimism, forgiveness, glimmers on display, goodwill, and havens. Yes, the world is often a terrible place. But, at the same time terrible things are happening on one side, good things are happening on the other. What we focus on is what we get more of. That in no way means we should ignore the terrible things. Instead it means that when we see terrible things, we shouldn’t become their hostage. We can be captured by the images, words, and emotions being dumped on us, or we can use them to guide us in making our world a better place. We can focus on the solution. The outcomes of today are not predetermined.

The small things do matter. Creating change is not the same thing as seeing change. We rarely get to see the long-term chain of action and reaction that our choices create. All we can do is make each choice and let the ripples flow as they will.

What harm does it do a person to live with optimism rather than pessimism, to choose peace in place of unnecessary conflict, to speak with kindness instead of cruelty? Wisdom is understanding limits and boundaries, responses and resolutions. To be strong is to understand ourselves and each other. Weakness is borne of fear, pushing away what is new or different without reflection.

The more joy we live in from moment to moment, the more chance we have of creating joy around us. Creating our best selves anew each day is one small, but very important, way we can create positive change in the world around us.

Epistle of St Paul to the Romans 12: 21  Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good.

2 responses to “Designing A Day”

  1. Bob Lynn Avatar
    Bob Lynn

    I really enjoyed your post – it’s thoughtful and honest about the mess and hope that runs through daily life. The line “May we have the day we create; not the day we deserve” pulls back the curtain on what you’re working towards: not just coping, but making something fresh, even when things seem pre-scripted by fear or uncertainty. You’re spot-on that focusing where we direct our attention doesn’t just shift perspective, but changes what rises up around us, for better or worse.

    You’re clear that looking away from the terrible stuff isn’t the answer- but that there’s a risk of becoming hostage to it all, letting despair set up camp in our minds and habits. I’m curious: when you catch yourself getting pulled under by the riptide of bad news, what’s your tactic for resurfacing and finding a way to act, not just react? You touch on this briefly – using what’s happening as a guide – but I wonder how you make that switch in practice. Is it a conscious, almost daily decision, or more a habit you’ve built over time?

    You mention that creating change isn’t the same as seeing change, and I’d love to go deeper on that. Sometimes when we’re out here doing the “good” things – being kind, keeping our focus on peace – it feels a bit like shouting into the void. Are there particular situations where you’ve seen the ripples from your choices spill out in unexpected directions, or even come back around in ways you never could have guessed? Or, more importantly, are there times when you’ve found it hard to trust that those ripples are moving at all?

    Optimism, peace, kindness – these get thrown around as universal fixes in lots of self-help circles, but you don’t treat them as a cheap exit from real problems. You’re right: it takes real strength to choose that way, not weakness. But I’d be keen to hear your thoughts on those moments when optimism feels like a luxury, or when choosing peace feels like the harder road. How do you hold onto that line between “not ignoring the terrible” and “not being overcome by it”? Especially when, for some of us, “overcoming evil by good” can feel less like a bold stance and more like a slow, daily plod. What keeps you moving forward then?

    There’s a push in your post for making and remaking ourselves – for finding small joys and passing them on. It’s hopeful, but not naive. I’d be interested to hear you talk more concretely about what that looks like in the grind of ordinary life – especially for those of us not naturally wired to see glimmers everywhere. What do you do when the day just feels like it’s happening to you, not the other way round?

    Reply
    1. S.Bechtold Avatar
      S.Bechtold

      Such excellent questions. You’ve sent me down an entirely new side path, thank you. I’m terrible at just answering questions but hopefully my pursuit of these ideas over the next week might bring some clarity. I can always use more clarity.

      Reply

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