Unveiling The Wisdom of Old Sayings
Old Sayings
Have you ever considered the old sayings and phrases spoken by generation after generation? “You reap what you sow,” “food for thought,” “I knew you’d outgrow him someday,” and “sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.” (Eww!)
I heard thousands of those little tidbits of knowledge growing up, but at the time, I didn’t think about their meaning…until now.
As I think about all the wasted time I wasted not listening to the advice of my parents and grandparents, I realize that if I had thought about the old sayings long ago, I may have avoided some of the mistakes I made.
Of course, while it is important to learn as you go (can you remember telling your parents that you need to make your own mistakes?), I’m a big believer in the idea that one can learn way before one’s time. I mean, why make mistakes? Isn’t much of the knowledge of a blunder already proven through history? Isn’t that why schools teach children the history of our people, our ancestors, so we learn not to go down the same beaten path?
On a lighter note, it tickles me each time I come across one of the old sayings that give me time to pause. I may have heard it a hundred times, over and over again, as a child. I ponder them much more than I did back in the day. I now realize that the answers to many of my questions were right before me! I chose not to listen with intent but to listen with purpose.
The next time you hear one of those old sayings: “A rolling stone gathers no moss,” “son of a gun” (I will let you look that one up), or “sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me,” or “can’t isn’t a word” (as my mother so lovingly told me many times), think about the true meaning behind the words.
Another theory that comes to mind is the idea that there is more than one meaning to those particular words. For example, “food for thought” always meant to take what was being said and think about it. Now, I have decided that it can mean something else entirely. For instance:
“Food….for thought!”
Consider perhaps that you are feeding your thoughts, your mind, with whatever you put in it. If you think negatively, you are probably eating garbage. Not literally, but yes, literally…and mindfully. What you think about, what you talk about, is the food you put into your thoughts and in your body…and…this is the energy you place out into the world…the universe, frankly.
The Secret, as told by Rhonda Byrne, when she discovered the secret laws and principles of the universe, and as practiced by many life coaches today, one of which I’m very fond of, Pam Rettig of Well Being and Abundance, what you put out there becomes your reality. What you think about manifests its way into your life.
Just imagine every scary, negative, dreadful thought you worry about or think about coming true. Scary, indeed!
So as you ponder through your day, especially the ones with drama, trauma, and agony, consider the thought that you can make change happen to your day, simply by how you approach it. If you can muster up the courage (and I know you can) to try positive imaging, I know you can make a difference in your day, your tomorrow, and the next day. The trials and tribulations don’t vanish into thin air, but you will see simple changes to what transpires ahead. Perhaps, if you believe enough, massive changes will come your way!
So try it, won’t you? Think of one simple thing you want out of your life. Let’s say…”I want to see orchids in my life.” Boom! They will begin to present themselves. Not in that exact moment, of course (you’re no genie in a bottle), but trust me, you will start to see something new happening in your life. I did this orchid example five years ago, and they surround me everywhere. This is why I named my company White Orchid Publishing. I’ve been told that the meaning of an orchid is new beginnings, which fits well with my journey.
So what do you want: A particular trip, a new job, a specific flower or sweater…a certain color? Create a vision board to put pictures and words of all the wants and must-haves in your life. For now, come up with just one thing you want to see happen, one thing you want to appear in your life, and make it simple, like my flower example. Now go live life and wait to see if it reveals itself.
Many will say that if you add something to your subconscious, it comes to fruition, and I agree to a certain extent. If I want a new job, I’ll go look for one, or if I want a new trip, I’ll book it. But what if this idea of envisioning what you want is accurate…and you decide that it was utter nonsense to change your thinking, expecting good things to come to you? Wouldn’t you want to kick yourself for not doing it sooner?
Just food….for thought.
*Authors of all the sayings are unknown.