“If you can’t say something nice, Don’t say nothing at all”
I am not sure what made me do research on where the phrase “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” originated from but I was surprised to find out that Mrs. Rabbit reminded Thumper that this is what his father told him in the Walt Disney movie Bambie. You can see the video clip here.
According to Walt Disney, mother and father rabbits teach their youngsters kindness, the use of gentle words and actions (anti-bullying manners). The Movie Bambie was released in 1942.
I found the article fascinating as it explains, that the three youngsters who become friends Thumper, Bambie, and Flower (the skunk) also exhibit another moral lesson in the virtues of tolerance and an easy disposition. Link to text here.
I found an equally surprising lesson reflected in Albert Einstein’s quote below.
“Everyone is a Genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid” ~Albert Einstein~
What makes people dwell on differences and challenge, protest, and attempt to set themselves apart from others instead of learning and teaching to coexist with others in a peaceful manor?
There is a beautiful song 525,600 minutes. How do you measure a year in the life? Do you want to find yourself with only a few minutes left in your life only to look back and see that you used so many of your minutes up angrily protesting against someone doing or simply attempting to live differently than you chose to do?
When we are taught or choose to compare ourselves with others and believe we are superior to, and greater than our peers we choose to live negatively. Criticizing others, always attempting to appear better than others, not being supportive or showing interest in others well being and success, leads to a negative, angry, stressful, restless, and irritated existence.
When we are taught or choose to be comfortable in our own skin, appreciate and encourage the differences of others, find our own special uniqueness’s follow and develop those to the greatest potential and support others in their choices and differences, we will lead a peaceful, harmonious life filled with Joy and Peace and free from restlessness, agitation, and anger.
Everyone has a choice in life. You can choose to bring Joy and Peace into your life and others, or you can choose to create distress and anguish within yourself and others. Those who live their lives in Love, wishing no harm for others will prevail. Living in fear and lies will never bring you Peace and Joy.
The world would be so much more enjoyable if everyone chose to learn from and about each other rather than judge and condemn each other because of differences.
No moment is ever wasted if it is spent communicating with another soul. When we exchange words in kindness without expectation we receive great rewards from the Joy that we experience from interacting and showing respect to another human soul.
In order to comprehend the deepest understanding of Love we need to totally be free from shame by standing in total and complete truth. At this level it allows us to feel worthy of accepting Divine Love, Respect and Understanding, it is only then that we feel complete and can in turn share this level of Love and Respect with every living being on earth.
With Respect, Hope, Joy and Love, Carmela
Carmela Snelbaker 