Blogger: Nancy Fraioli – “The Queen of Ageless Wisdom”

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Thinking begins with a single thought. Running through my mind, at this very moment, are images of Rodin’s “Thinker” in various sizes; infant, early childhood, high school/ college and adulthood.

What was Rodin thinking about as he created his massive Thinker? First, the public believed Rodin was depicting The Gates of Hell describing his poem. The statue was also known as The Poet. Rodin wanted his Thinker to be nude and patterned his Thinker after Michelangelo’s statue called “Il Penseroso. So, first he was a Thinker, then a poet and lastly, a creator! The Thinker also represents Philosophy. This huge sculpture seems to be lost in thought but his powerful body suggests a capacity for action and has become one of the most famous sculptures known.

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Now, that I’ve paid due respect to Rodin and his work of art, I’d like to use another point of view that centers completely around thinking as a process. Thinking is one of our most valuable reasoning powers. What do you think?

At the outset, I asked you, the reader, to visualize the Thinker in four sizes. The point is to
conceive thinking at various ages. An article which I’ve read concerning fetal development; it’s in the third trimester the baby’s brain rapidly develops. So, thinking, remembering and feeling are taking place.

Now, let’s visualize an infant in his/her crib or playpen. The infant may roll around, bump and thump across the crib and eventually pull himself/herself up and kneel or stand. I’m sure, if you are a parent, you may have witnessed these movements. My point is what happens to the infant when he or she flops over? Are they startled? Or amused or frightened? I ask because this could be the beginning of how an infant learns responses. How the parent reacts! Does the parent show encouragement or smother the child with comfort or fear? As the infant moves from stage to stage, he learns what he/she can do, also little ones are gathering knowledge and youthful wisdom. They know how to react to their parents responses. They are learning about fear, doubt and positive responses as well. Mostly, they are perceptive and will begin to manipulate those in charge of them. As the infant advances to adulthood, his life’s blueprint has been set. You think? Are you with me?

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No, I’m not a Doctor or in the medical field but I’ve always have had a deep interest in the process of thinking. I like to do my own thinking. Following others ideas is not always wise. They may lead me to where I really don’t want or should not go. Of course, I’m always open to new ideas but I want to be in charge of my God given thoughts.

So, Auguste Rodin, I salute you and your famous Thinker! Forgive me for dragging your
enormous Thinker through the growing years but I find that it’s a good experience to revisit the thinking developmental steps. Remember what we have been told, and still are, about the base, the structural ground foundation! Strong roots and superstructure lend to firm and sturdy beginnings.

Now that I’ve laid my substructure for thinking, I must defend my ideas and opinions why being a positive thinker definitely outweighs a negative one. Certainly, both cross the mind, the brain! But the final choice must lean toward the undeniable plus side! The only time I want to see the + (plus) and – (minus) signs are on a battery! But batteries, after a time do die!

Our brains, our minds, are our most valuable commodities. We have a responsibility to
ourselves, and all others, to use our thinking gifts properly. We, too, have an accountability to keep ‘watch’ that others never exploit those who may not be able to express their thoughts.

My defense for positivity remains! I am using a songwriter of the 40’s, Johnny Mercer’s song, “You’ve Gotta Accentuate the Positive and Eliminate the Negative….” a 40’s wartime ‘feel good’ song! Purposely written to make Americans feel good! Because the war was dragging everyone down emotionally! This song was a mood lifter for our country! So, music is a miraculous lifter! Music, Plays, motivational speakers all lend to the positive thinking side of life. On an everyday level, be careful who you listen to and whom you surround yourself with!

If I find a moment, and that’s all it takes to slide down to negativity, I turn to Carol Burnett and Tim Conway and his “Elephant story!”

deb2Or Lucille Ball’s antics or a feel good singer like Linda Eder or Abbott and Costello story! Of course, I have to hang on, more than ever, to my God life line! Everyday living is not for wimps!! Every day is twenty-four hours of combat! The brain, while we sleep, is relaxed and it cleans itself up! It’s always ready to do battle for us.  Treat it with respect! Give it breaks of laughter, love and positivity! It’s your best friend! Become a positive thinker and throw out a lifeline to those who seem to be sinking into negativity.
And, please remember the famous question: What are you thinking???

I want to shout out a big “Thank You” to Janis Gaudelli and her bloggers on the Daily Feels. These writers extend and expose their hearts, life stories and emotions, for us and to us so we can better understand both sides of the coin: positive and negative! We learn from each other. We are all like beautiful blocks of marble…we, too, can carve out our best work!

Thank you Rodin! Of course, Michelangelo and his vision, his idea, his thinking of The David locked up in that block of marble. Unlock yourself! Accentuate the Positive side of you!

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Nancy Fraioli is a retired Benefits Asst. from Town/Village of Harrison, NY. She’s alive and well, residing in Sarasota with her daughter and family and enjoying the Floridian lifestyle daily.

Her passions are writing, reading books of philosophy, children’s stories and poetry. Her deep love is living, learning and sharing how faith, meditation, and music guide her daily life. And she loves to lunch with the ladies!

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