Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Accentuate the POSITIVE

You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between

You've got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith or pandemonium
Liable to walk upon the scene…
©1944 Johnny Mercer

This old song typifies the approach some take in their social presence, and these days Facebook may be the face of this sentiment. Grinning with thumbs-up, “look how wonderful me and mine are faring,” and “smile, smile, smile!”

The other side is simply called Headline News. This accounts for most of what we consume as news-worthy: terrorism, spectacular crimes, the public disgrace of famous individuals and the general cries that the sky is falling. That’s the “pandemonium” that walks upon the scene.


I have concluded that the reason I often feel out of place is that I am, congenitally, in-between.

When we write stories, a balance brings wisdom and insight. This is where “Mister-In-Between” is sorely needed.

I love Mister-In-Between. I’m his Missus, or his Miss, or whatever goes in between. Ms./Miz?

Maybe we can start the In-Betweeners movement. You know, for those whose homes are neither squeaky clean nor messy. For those who like their food neither bland nor super spicy.
And most of all, for those who seek balance.

The Jewish philosopher Maimonides (1135-1204) called for moderation in all things. This centuries-old guidance still holds.

14 comments:

Barbara Etlin said...

Ovid thought that way, too:
"Safety lies in the middle course." :-)

These days, with all the political shenanigans, I find myself agreeing more with Mr. Mercer. I change the channel when a certain politician makes speeches and I spend a lot of time listening to "Just For Laughs."

Mirka Breen said...

Now, even more, I'm with Ovid and Maimonides.

janlcoates said...

I suppose that includes most of us - and we could add "neither young nor old," to include even more in the movement. I'm in!

Mirka Breen said...

You and I--
That's a start ;D

Kelly Hashway said...

Balance is good. Admittedly, I'm not the best at finding it though.

Mirka Breen said...

Oh, no. If you're not, Kelly, I don't know who is.

Evelyn said...

I agree, Mirka. Especially when it comes to politics. I'm definitely a moderate and really wish we had a candidate who represented those of us in the middle. With life in general, I don't think we should be superficially smile, smile, smile. But sometimes when life gives us hard challenges, it helps to focus on the good things in our lives even if they're difficult to find. As for the news, I really wish they'd focus more on the good in our world.

Janie Junebug said...

Not fat nor thin. Not brilliant nor stupid. Not really, really old nor really, really young. Yup. I'm in between. I'm kinda fussy about my house though.

Love,
Janie

Mirka Breen said...

Well, we'll allow some passions in the In-Betweeners Club, Janie. I'm a bit lopsided on the neatness scale.

Janie Junebug said...

I appreciate you making allowances for me. It's my OCD. I can't help it.

Yanting Gueh said...

I love a good balance of working out then eating chocolate cake. I love a good balance of writing out stuff and reading in images. I love a good balance of work and naps.

And I've stopped going on FB unless someone sends me a private message. No more scrolling. No more ingesting too-much information.

Mirka Breen said...

With you on the first three^. I need to do something about the fourth...

Johnell said...

Well said. We definitely need less extremes. Moderation is an unheralded virtue.

Mirka Breen said...

The IN-BETWEEN is definitely the way to walk alone without a dedicated tribe, unheralded, as you said.