Life is a Choice.

I have a little social experiment for you to try out over the next several days.... just for fun and just to see what awareness level you have. Feel free to pass this social experiment on to anyone you wish for your own or their enlightenment. I made this up myself, so there is no scientific basis for it. Keep score and compare with those in your acquaintance:

1) Name a hobby or interest you have that brings you enjoyment (outside of family) that you engage in regularly and after doing it, you are smiling and enjoy sharing your experience with those you talk with. Give yourself 10 points for each hobby.

This hobby can not be exclusively and its sole purpose in the purchase of things, returning purchased items or planning to purchase things. If you cannot think of one hobby, score minus 25 points.

2) Over the next 2 days, note any conversation, from yourself or others, where the topic includes other people from the point of view that they are stupid, dumb, morons, ignorant or any other derogatory perspective. If you notice any comments from others, add 5 points for each comment you hear and don't engage in or elaborate on (give yourself a 10 point bonus if you offer another, more positive, point of view different from that expressed.) Score minus 5 points if you agree with them and add your own.

Score minus 25 points for initiating any comments about others that fall into the above category.

3) Over the next 2 days, note any conversation, from yourself or others, where the topic includes how much they hate their job, how much they have to put up with at their jobs, how someone is really stupid who they have to work with (items from #2 can be a double score here) or generally how much personal dissatisfaction there is in the employment of their jobs or the people they come in contact with throughout their day.

Same scoring as number 2 above. This does not include comments made in jest, good humor or as part of enjoying life and all its peculiar personalities and quirks that bring smiles no matter who is a part of the conversation.

4) Give yourself a 50 point bonus for brightening someone's day with a compliment (deserved or not).

Take away 50 points every time someone gives you some good news from their life or something good happened to them and you do not congratulate them on their good news, express sincere excitement for their good fortune or in your own mind have nothing but good wishes towards them to find all the happiness they can.

Take away another 25 points if you thought, "Nothing ever goes wrong for them. They don't know what I have to live with."

FINAL SCORE: if you are in the positive numbers, then you are living a generally happy life. You wish others good will and happiness as well. You feel you have a lot to share with others that can bring them happiness. You are saddened when others are talked about in a derogatory manner and you hope some day, conversations could include the best side of people, in spite of their imperfections.

If you are in the negative numbers, your focus is on the half glass of water and you wonder why they bothered to bring it at all. You have no problem cutting down others behind their back, even those you may call "friends" when they are present. With no hobbys or interests, you feel life is boring and meaningless, unless in the company of a few select people, most of whom agree with your point of view. You feel like, "what's the use?" and so you spend the majority of your time complaining about anything or anyone that crosses your path.

There, now wasn't that fun? You can make a game of this. Pass it around. Compare scores. If you are in the positive numbers, you are reminded of how short life really is. That kind words and good thoughts tend to make others want to be around you.

If you are in the negative numbers, you're thinking, "Who does this jerk think he is? What gives him the right to have some high and mighty view of the world? He has no idea what life is like. He can take this social experiment and stuff it" and then wonder why people choose not to be around them unless they have to be or are in a family where they'll feel awkward of they refuse their company.

I don't really want a reply.... just your score.

Just your score.

Life really is a choice