Don't Take It Personally

I do not know how long I will leave this up but I like to have mile markers so I can occasionally see that I have moved forward, a it is not always clear.

My landlady gave me the book Four Agreements to read. It is essentially about all the agreements we have made with ourselves and society as true when some may not be or may not be serving us in a positive way. Then it posits four agreements that we should make that will make everything all better. They are:

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
2. Don't Take Anything Personally
3. Don't Make Assumptions
4. Always Do Your Best

OK, I get that but I have a bone to pick with Don't Take It Personally. I tend to be very literal, so maybe I have missed the point. I know this is partially about being impervious to insult and negative opinion but if I read the author right, he means anything.

What about love? Is love ONLY a reflection of our own needs and has nothing to do with the other person? If love is not personal, what is the point? And if it is personal, how can the removal of love not be taken personally too?

The more I learn the less I know and I do not get this. It may just be a reflection of my shallow nature (and I am not supposed to take my own opinion of myself personally either) but I am stumped.

On the other hand, this is supposedly ancient wisdom passed down by the now popular ancients, the Mayans. And, if they were so wise, where are they now? Upon reflection, it looks more like generalized truisms rather than deep truths. And can a 150 page pamphlet really condense the complexities of what makes us human, happy and contented into an easy no fail formula? So, I will take it for what it is and try to not take the negative stuff personally and grapple with the rest of it as it hits me.

Go ahead, tell me I am too old to still be wrestling with this stuff. I won't take it personally... :)



And on a more practical note, I twice locked my keys in my car this week. Both times at home. The first time I had to call an expensive tow truck because in the move I misplaced my spares. The second time I knew where the spares were, but was locked out of the house. And I realize that I may lock them in the car when I am away from home and I have yet to renew my AAA.

So as a solution, I taped the key to the car door onto the gas tank opening since on my car the gas tank door does not have to be opened from inside the car.