Thursday, March 06, 2008

A Guest in My Own House pt 2

It’s been an interesting week. I’ve realized things like:

I’d never call a guest stupid or an idiot no matter what they did.

I’d add special touches such as garlic bread to a meal of veggie chili.

I’d offer to froth heated milk or soymilk and add a touch of cinnamon for a guest’s morning coffee.

If a guest was scared or worried about something, I’d do my best to reassure the guest he/she had the skills and courage to handle whatever the challenge might be. I might help the guest brainstorm possibilities and I’d never call the guest stupid or a coward.

I’d make sure the pillows were fluffy and the sheets soft and that the house was warm enough for my guest.

If my guest slept late, I’d assume he/she was tired and needed the sleep NOT that the guest was lazy or stupid for doing so.

I’d think about fun things my guest might like to do.

I’d encourage my guest to have fun.

I’d make sure there was nice hand soap in the bathroom and lots of towels.

I’d ask my guest what he/she wanted to read or watch on television or DVD—not decide based on what I thought my guest should read or see.

I’d listen if my guest needed to talk something out and I would encourage my guest to believe in him/herself and I'd never call my guest stupid.

Do you see a pattern here? I sure did! It’s interesting how often I caught myself slipping into old patterns and interesting how good it felt to begin to treat myself as if I were a guest in my own house. How about you? Are there any ways you would be nicer to a guest than you are to yourself?

Sending blessings and safe and gentle (((((((hugs))))))),
April_optimist

9 comments:

Enola said...

Hmm this is a good point. I'd never treat anyone else like I treat myself. I need to ponder that some more.

Anonymous said...

these are mind opening posts about the guests in the house! these are just so very true and a perfect way of telling ourselves we deserve to treat ourselves just as considerately and kindly.

thank you very much

keepers

Anonymous said...

You know I never thought about it this way until I read your words...but we are guests in our own house..the vessels called bodies that we dwell in during this life.

Maybe if we think that way we will always "be good to ourselves"

Thank you for such sage thoughts!

I hope you will continue to do all of those things for yourself!!

(((Hugs))) to you too!

Kim said...

My first thought was that I'd like to be a guest in your house! But very true.....I need to give this more thought.

Marj aka Thriver said...

I'm actually getting better at this. I guess one advantage of having parts is that I attend to them and do nice little things for them (parts of ME) that they especially like or find comforting.

Another great post to consider for the BLOG CARNIVAL AGAINST CHILD ABUSE (both posts, actually). HURRY! THE DEADLINE IS MIDNIGHT TONIGHT!

AbuseAndForgiveness said...

I love this! A number of years ago I heard a psychologist on TV say that we should treat our children as well as we treat our guests. She said for example, "We would never yell at a guest to 'Get your feet of the coffee table!'"

I never thought of this in terms of ourselves. Good point!

Kahless said...

Hi April,
you make a good point; I need to start treating me as well as I treat guests.
x.

April_optimist said...

Thank you everyone. This has been a powerful lesson to learn--and I'm still learning it. I swear the Universe has been testing to see if I really get it! (See my latest post.)

Welcome Perfect and Healandforgive!

Marj aka Thriver said...

I'm so glad we got to use these posts for the Blog Carnival Agasint Child Abuse. You rock, as usual! :)