Am I A Stranger In My Own Life?

Striving to grow, sometimes I am surprised and disappointed to learn who I am in terms of my shortcomings and how far I have yet to grow.

For example, yesterday Anne and I had the great joy of joining our son Kevin, our daughter in law Melody and their two beautiful little children, Brody 6 and Gannon 4 at the boy's swimming lesson. It was so much fun to laugh with and offer encouragement to the boys and their little friends during and after the lesson.

Just before leaving, Anne and I bought Brody a bag of Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies he chose from the vending machine, and bought Gannon a bag of Doritos chips, which was his choice. But in hindsight I felt that I had been over-bearing throughout the time we were there, as I dominated the conversations, including with some of the other families, who were just there to see their loved ones swim.

Perhaps this is due in part to my lingering displeasure with myself from the time several weeks ago I attended Gannon's Mother's Day celebration, held at a Lutheran Church where he attends pre-school. The celebration including the singing of some religious songs.

Despite my self-perception of being tolerant of others, I voiced my criticism of the church for indoctrinating little children, which I had not realized was in effect a criticism of Kevin and Melody for sending their child there. I also engaged another couple in conversation during the time their child was on stage with a large collective of other children, singing in unison.

This couple had recently relocated to Los Angeles and were lonely, but I had no business in engaging them in conversation at that point in time, which distracted them and others, including Anne and Kevin from hearing the music.

My self-perception sometimes is too self-complimentary at times when it has no basis in reality and it is a truth I must face if I am to grow. The fact is, I deeply care for the well-being of other people but I do them a disservice if my actions are blinded by ego and thoughtlessness.

Dick
The title for these thoughts was borrowed from a wonderful insightful song lyric by Sheryl Crow, "Everyday Is a Winding Road." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khrx-zrG460&feature=artistob&playnext=1&list=TLan3jWN4-7UU