Th'Muse

  We seem to believe that if we don't explain ourselves, we aren't being polite.   "I'm sorry, I can't do that because. . . . . . . .. (fill in some 'excuse').   It isn't a requirement to share your reasons for refusing anything.   In fact, it weakens your refusal.   Now, if you prefer the inquirer to understand something about you more fully, esp perhaps for a future similar request, by all means explain, but don't over-explain.   Share, but no need, usually, to apologize.  You are the only one who must believe, agree with, prefer, your refusal.   A simple, "No thank you."   or, "I'm not available", or "No."  can suffice.  Watch your tone however, if you do not wish to be thought unkind, uninterested or mistaken.  Smile, add a "thank you for the opportunity", or "perhaps another time' if you feel the need to soften a negative response.  Just be certain.   What about spam caller...

   If you are anything at all like me, time is a problem.  It moves too fast!  It evaporates too quickly.  It insists on changing your mind, your body, your circumstances.  It also heals, and holds anticipation, and refuses to budge when you REALLY want it to.  Time is its own master, or . . .is it?  I've heard the idioms,  Common Time Idioms Time flies — Time seems to pass very quickly. (Example: "Time flies when you are having a great time.") In the nick of time — Doing something just before it is too late or right at the last possible moment. (Example: "We arrived at the station in the nick of time.") Beat the clock — To finish a task or succeed before time runs out or a deadline passes. (Example: "She rushed to beat the clock before the office closed.") Kill time — To do something aimless or keep yourself busy while waiting for something else to happen. (Example: "We had to kill time at the airport for three hours.") Time is money — ...

divine discontent and the devil’s dissonance   Have you ever berated yourself, for not being perfect?  Doing the perfect thing, looking the perfect way, making the perfect reply. . . ? While certainly, it is important to check in, and be just a bit discontented with imperfections, it can go too far.   There is a balance between wanting to improve oneself, a worthy goal, and allowing that discontent to become emotional dissonance.   Neal A. Maxwell says,   we can distinguish “between divine discontent and the devil’s dissonance.” [The Devil] "uses the circumstances of life to drag us down so that we think less of ourselves than we should. He would have us look  at how far we have yet to travel and the challenges en route, in the desire that we might give up in a state of discouragement and hopelessness. " ~ Elder David S. Baxter Whether or not you believe in an evil power, the world can do the same.   I have curtains in my family room. ...