Grace

It's an ephemeral quality, grace.

It's selflessness, wrapped in courtesy and a willingness to adopt other's perspectives as valid.  All of that done with the conviction of knowing the right thing to do, but never needing to it be right - to have it acknowledged as such.  A silent, knowing movement towards a conscientious life. Days lived with gratefulness and appreciation for the world around us, understanding that challenges are simply opportunities to shine. Grace is worth striving for, and terribly hard to achieve.

It's been on my mind a little lately, this idea of acting with grace.  I'm not sure it can be taught - though it can be modelled.

Grace seems to be the opposite of how we act as individuals and together as a society, so very often.  We engage in oneupmanship, compete unnecessarily and generally strive to get ahead at the cost to the next person.  The law of the jungle and survival of the fittest ?  Perhaps.  But a life lived without appreciation, days spent bitter, competitive and self-centered is time squandered.  They reflect a wasted chance to do better for ourselves, our fellow man/woman and the world around us.

The world is full of differences. Opinions vary and some may not be your cup of tea but many are insightful regardless. Decisions and judgements you disagree with are chances to learn how other's view things and even acts based in cruelty or mean-spiritedness help you keep your compass pointing in the direction you want, through visibility to how not to do things.  

Try grace out today.  Give it 10 minutes and see if your day isn't better as a result.