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Monday, January 7, 2013

Count Your Qualities


After reading a book, my daughter and I usually choose a trait of character to add on our sheet of “character list” we have created. Characters that are good for anyone to possess, such as, be kind, be a good listener, be independent, and be “bucket filler” and not a “bucket dipper” (bully)... Often, when she comes home from school, I would ask how she did in school, if she had to exercise any of her traits; her response would judge mostly as expected for a five-year old. Of course, she answers proudly yes mommy that she was kind, she was good, and she was “a bucket filler,” but also would not fail to mention who among her friends were not, which then reminds me to add on our list, “do not be a tattle tell”.
We are all born with certain qualities. They make us who we are as individuals, but we do not all possess the same characteristics. What one person has others may not have. Some of these traits come with age or maturity. For some of us, like my daughter, we do not realize that we lack certain trait until we are exposed to the need of it. Some of us build character through the production of endurance from suffering, and others through the wisdom gained from life’s experiences and joy. Thus, until we find ourselves in situations that allow us to express certain features of ourselves, we would not know and enjoy fully their benefits.
Although, we ought to be grateful for who we are and for the good qualities we possess, we should always be hungry to gain more and better characteristics in our life. When situations arise, we should allow ourselves to awake and develop the characteristic traits, which until then, were remained dormant inside of us.

©January 2013, Natacha Michel  

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