Playing with skunks

You can't play with a skunk and not stink

---

It's interesting what you can learn about people by looking at what they surround themselves with. What's that old saying?... "You can judge a person by the company they keep."

Well if anyone wanted to learn more about me, there are a lot of things that could be looked at...

• what media I watch or listen to - easily determined by the DVDs and CDs found in my home and car.
• television shows watched, or computer games played
• the food in my refrigerator and cupboards
• clothing worn or found in my closet and drawers
• books on my bookshelf (both virtual e-reader, and hardbound)
• history of websites I visit

All of these (and many others) easily show how and what I choose to spend my time with - because that is the company that I keep. Eventually people become what they surround themselves with.

Lately I've been experimenting with doing more cooking at home. So far so good, no one has gotten food poisoning or died. Yet. One thing I've taken more to heart lately is experimenting using sauces or marinades to enhance the flavor of foods... to immerse or bathe foods in different substances. There is a correlation (at least in my mind there is) between food and those elements in which I immerse myself.

Jim Rohn, a motivational speaker and author said:

You must constantly ask yourself these questions: Who am I around? What are they doing to me? What have they got me reading? What have they got me saying? Where do they have me going? What do they have me thinking? And most important, what do they have me becoming? Then ask yourself the big question: Is that okay? Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.

He also said:

You are the average of the five people you hang around with.

What influences and habits in my life are a result of the five people I hang out with the most? Do they help me improve and better myself, or is the opposite of that more true? In turn I also have to ask... what is my influence in their lives?

Have you ever noticed that people often start talking or behaving like their friends? As a literal example: over 25 years ago I had a friend from London, England. We spent a lot of time together, and quickly I discovered that my American/Utahn accent would fade in her presence... I was attempting to speak using an English accent (or a close approximation of one). This was not done to mock or disparage, merely an unconscious acquired action on my part, picked up from "hanging around" her. Of course it didn't help that I was completely fascinated by an English accent - thinking it to be quite brilliant!

President Gordon B. Hinkley said:

All of us are the products of the elements to which we are exposed.

What would happen if everyone were to surround themselves with - immerse themselves in - great thoughts, feelings, books, music, etc.? Dare I say that the toxic waste found in our lives would fade, only to be replaced by the good, more peaceful and beautiful things in life? Ah, that sounds "quite brilliant"!

Forever I am grateful for all the positive and uplifting influences in my life - past, present and future. As a side note, just so you know, I look fantastic wearing black and white!! But honestly hope to avoid hanging out with skunks, or becoming one myself!!

p.s. - sorry for being skunky
and not posting anything on my blog for over a month.