On Hate & Happiness: Which Elevator Are You Riding?
“Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives: where we focus our attention.” Greg Anderson
On Hate & Happiness: Which Elevator Are You Riding?
The elevator we choose to ride is up to us and it symbolizes our decision to embrace light and love or hatred and close-mindedness… You get to choose… hate or happiness?
Recently, I went up to Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York for a tour and one of the stops was at the Tang Teaching Museum. They had some very interesting exhibits but the one that struck me most, by its originality and humor, was Peter Edwards Elevator Music 17 – Spector, 2010 installation. The installation was part of the 10th Anniversary celebration of the Tang Teaching Museum and will remain, with other exhibits, on campus till February or so.
Essentially, Elevator Music 17 – Spector, 2010 showcases a light based sculpture in an elevator with accompanying sound all created by sound artist and instrument builder Peter Edwards. The lights change color and the effect is quite surreal; like something from outer space. According to a piece in TimesUnion news on the installation, “Spector is made of plastic orbs, electronics, micro-controllers, hardware LEDs, aluminum and microphones.”
Looking at that installation, I had an aha moment; it reminded me of the correlation between the elevator image and the up and down rides we call life. Now, I was going to post about the effect our own inner dialogue has on us when we ride the elevator of life. What angry or uplifting things do we self talk about? What type of conversations do we have with ourselves and how do they translate into our daily lives? I was reflecting on this notion of elevators as symbols of the ups and downs of our journey and often filled with people along the way that are happy or hateful; oblivious or engaged.
US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords via Wikipedia
I was going to share my thoughts, on our inner elevator dialogues, and share the pictures I took of the installation with a couple I got elsewhere, when I read about the terrible shooting of US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and several others in an Arizona supermarket. Such senseless acts of violence bring us back to the critical need for conversations on what our society is becoming; particularly what our political system is becoming and how we need to collaborate in peaceful, thoughtful dialogue across the nation.
According to news reports (BBC, NYTimes, CNN, NPR, etc), six people lost their lives, the congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, is in critical condition and several others are hurt. All because they were in a supermarket when the gunman decided to commit such a hateful crime. I know people are hurting and many are riding up and down in elevators without light or hope; dealing with job and health-care loss, housing issues, and the ensuing stress and depression many are now living with. However, we must pause before we act and we must consider the pain and horror our actions will inflict on innocent bystanders, our families and the families of the maimed.
Regardless of where you stand on this terrible incident that is becoming a conversation about choosing political sides, I beg you to consider those who lost their lives, and those who were hurt and realize that until we set aside our petty hatreds and treat each other with dignity and respect, even when we disagree with each others point of view, we are destined to get caught in the crossfire of hatred and dreadful acts of violence.
Please choose your elevator carefully… We all matter!
What are your thoughts? Do share! My condolences to the families of the deceased, prayers and healing light to Congresswoman Giffords and the other survivors of this tragic shooting.
Positive Motivation Tip: What you focus your attention on, you become… embrace happiness not hatred. 🙂
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PHOTO CREDITS: Picture of Gabrielle Giffords via Wikipedia, Peter Edwards Elevator Music 17, Spector – 2010 via Times Union news.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
Like you, I am very distraught over this latest act of insanity in Arizona. I kept thinking about the ‘Rally for Sanity/ and, or Keep Fear Alive’ in Washington D.C. last Oct. John Stewart’s short speech(http://www.examiner.com/celebrity-in-national/rally-to-restore-sanity-jon-stewart-s-closing-speech-full-text) at the end was so incredibly moving in its simplicity. With a video of people merging into the Lincoln Tunnel behind him, he made such sense of it all. If you haven’t seen it or read the text, please do.
My prayer is for the insanity to end NOW. That the sacrifice of those innocent people in Tuscon not be in vain. Wake-up America!
Thanks for this post Elizabeth.
Thank you Barb! I will check out the video and study it… These events remind us again why provisions for mental health care is critical to our society. It is so sad that these tragedies bring the need for what should be a given for all. So, so sad 🙁
E
Truly tragic and what worries me is how many other distressed, mental healthcare deprived folk are out there?
We live in very complex times; trillions of dollars lost in the markets, job, healthcare and housing loss.
A divisive political system where the haves seem to think the havenots should get nothing.
That the republicans want to overhaul the president’s healthcare bill in thes difficult times irks me.
Why deprive the struggling of this basic need? I can never fathom the hatred of those inpower who care less because they are not affected by the downturnm
My prayers go out to all affected by yesterday’s tragedy. It was a terrible thing.
B
My prayers go to all those affected by this tragedy too… I do pray the bill stays and that everyone gets the medical help they need.
Blessings,
E
I was surprised when I heard about this. It’s truly horrible.
I concur… horribly tragic.
E