Be A Fountain, Not A Drain
How awesome is that thought?
"Be a fountain, not a drain."
I don't do tattoos, but if I did, I'd be tempted to sketch those six words across my hand. (For the record, I don't have anything against your tattoos, I just happen to be missing a toe and that story will trump any visit I make to a tattoo artist!)
The "are you a fountain or are you a drain?" idea came courtesy of Twitter and the mind of writer, Chuck Wendig, and, quite frankly, it rattles my brain.
I want to be a fountain!
Fountains are refreshing, life-giving, faithful. People make wishes in fountains; adults sit by them and children play in them. People's nerves are calmed and their souls are soothed just by being near fountains.
Not so with drains.
Drains sap your strength and make you uncomfortable. Do you remember feeling scared when you swam over pool drains when you were little? UGH. (Who am I kidding? Pool drains still freak me out a little.) Drains instill anxiety and dread.
Everyone knows drains are awful.
I asked my 10-year-old if I told her someone was "like a fountain" or "like a drain" what I meant. The first words from her mouth were, "fountain people are happy, but drain people are always sad."
Wisdom.
However, I don't think any of us are purely one or the other. I think we practice those dispositions. We work fountain and drain attitudes like they are muscles and whichever receives the most attention, wins. (Pardon the mixed metaphor!)
When I'm acting like a drain, I am...
CriticalImpatientRudeSelf-ServingInsensitiveAngryOut of Control
How would you like to be sitting in traffic with me?
However, when I'm acting like a fountain, I am...
EncouragingPatientNiceConsiderateThoughtfulJoyfulSelf-controlled
No wonder fountains are happy; that's a great list!
How would your relationships benefit if you were a more consistent fountain? Do you think your friends would notice? Would your marriage benefit? How would a fountain-esque disposition impact your kids, siblings, or parents?
Even in a work world, think about this idea. Do your business activities suffer because you're a drain (remember, people dread drains!)? How would they change if you were more like a fountain?
This week, pay attention to your attitude because you're not a neutral player. You're either building your fountain "muscles" or you're not...
"Be a fountain, not a drain."