I did a quick search on the old adage, "catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." This column turned up. By Charlie Maffei, aka Charlie the Matchmaker.
"Many of you have probably heard of the old adage, "You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar." This was one of the first rules of life that my mother taught me, and you'd better believe I have perfected it. I learned at a very young age that life was just easier if you put a smile on your face instead of a scowl when approaching the world. Along with this lesson I learned to let the little things go. If someone did something that could be perceived as rude, I would just flash them a smile and carry on.
Someone emailed me recently with the same sentiment, saying, "Being nice to nice people is great, but being nice to those who are not nice to you is how the world becomes better. We should not want to defeat or humiliate those we don't agree with but to win their friendship and understanding."
More and more lately in
my matchmaking business I've been encountering negative, angry people who cannot understand why they cannot find happiness. I try to work with them to explain that happiness is a choice that they have to make for themselves. Yes, you can control your own outlook on life! You can wake up every day and be a grump
or put on a smile and look at life with a cheery perspective.
Now, don't get me wrong: I am not saying that I never get angry, but as I get older I am learning more and more to envelope myself with positive energy instead of a anger. I have friends and acquaintances who state adamantly, "I am a happy, positive person, too!" My question today is simply, "Are you?" "