Embracing Hate

It's strange how rethinking one aspect of your life will lead to a double-take on other aspects too. With a rediscovery of peace and contentment from which to operate, I've been examining my perceptions and language. Does what I feel tie up with how I speak and see the world?

My focus fell recently on the word "hate". One we bandy around quite willingly, but which is a pretty strong expression of emotion if you think about it. Yet I can't find a place for hate in my life anymore. So instead of using that particular word to express dislike or similar, I'm trying to dig down to the root of what I feel and find another way to say it.

I've often stated "I hate the south-easter wind!", but I've realized that hating something such as the wind is a complete waste of emotional energy... :-) I certainly dislike being battered around and having the garden blown to bits - but I live in the Cape, what do I expect? It's just wind - and it does blow the pollution to all hell and gone. Also nice and cooling on those after-work walks. See, my attitude has changed already! :-)

I'm working on the hate-word in other areas too. I don't hate anyone, but there are things I can't or don't agree with, and some folk I find it hard to get along with. I've come to see it more as a difference in outlook, personality and choices than something to be despised and loathed. And, as I've often said - each to his own path, so will let others simply walk the road they see fit and not run after them to walk mine.

I could say I hate my job - but that's also not true. I like many aspects of it, the salary comes in handy, and the minor irritations are just that - mere grains of sand in the shoe and not a lopped-off limb. There are even parts of my job that I love, which may be why I'm here so early these days, or it could just be I have a lot to accomplish. The fact is I've learnt a lot working here, had chances to grow and become more than what I was a few years ago. So no, I don't hate my job.

It's interesting how changing just a single word in your vocab, going deeper to find what's behind it and assigning a more apropriate term - how that can change an entire outlook. And how much better your perspective becomes.