Finding things wrong with someone is like shooting fish in a barrel

It is very easy to criticize. I love the quote from Michelangelo that the CEO, Michael Strong of Flow -a Not for profit says in response to the habit of finding fault"Criticize by creating"
If you don't like something go it one better. If you are so sure that you can do it better try.
I feel that it is ignoble- that is- the opposite of nobility to always finding fault with people, institutions and companies.
It is not that there is not a lot to criticize. It is true that without watchdog groups and individual consciences there would be little social change or improvement.
It isn't that I am pointing to- it is the habit of consistently finding what is wrong with this picture without the balancing movement of appreciation and acknowledgment of what is good and true and wholesome.
So let me start with me:

On this blog I want to say thank you to all those who have influenced our lifestyles for the better. C. Everett Koop for taking a stand on tobacco as the Surgeon General, the pioneers of exercise- like Ken Cooper- Mr Aerobic exercise, Adelle Davis, Jack La Lanne, the first people in the integrative medicine movement like Dr Andy Weil and a special thanks to John P Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods. I assert that John and his colleagues at Whole Foods have revolutionized the way we think about what we deserve in food, "fast" food, and the myriad products that we are exposed to because Whole Foods supports entrepreneurs in the natural foods industry in so many ways.
John is a great example of someone who it is easy to find fault in- the blog entries, the hoopla surrounding his faux pas/indiscretion/mistakes- I am not one who can comment on the veracity or hype of the inquiry- what I can speak to is his leadership of one of the best companies in the world and his sparkling example of visionary, conscious capitalism.
I felt like an onlooker to a pack of hungry junkyard dogs looking for ways to bring him down when the news hit.
It is the same garbage that we will be subject to for the next nine months in the election cycle- just watch the ratio of facts and deep, thoughtful inquiry compared to judgement,labeling, "expose" and sparse information blown into stories.
I feel so strongly that part of being a noble person or having a noble cause includes the power of creation and taking the risk to try to do something well if you are not satisfied with things the way they are now.
My encouragement to you is to fast for one month on criticism. Notice when you are habitually jumping to finding fault and ask yourself- "what would I do better and can I demonstrate that in my actions today?"
Shooting fish in a barrel is not very much fun or interesting. Try doing something truly challenging- find something inspiring in what people are up to right now.

Butterfly docents are Noble too

Yesterday I went to the Pacific Grove sanctuary for the Monarch Butterflies as they cluster- 10,000 at a time. The orange and black filled the air. Two Docents gave lively vignettes about the tagging process- just imagine yourself at dawn in the Monterey cold air tinged with ocean salt and your taking each individual Monarch from his scrum and placing a round tag on its wings and then blowing warm air on it so that its wings will open again and they can fly away.
The Docent's seemed to me an example of Nobility of purpose put to a reason that is small but inspiring nonetheless.
There are so many examples of people who spend thier time doing small acts of kindness, courage, grace and love with no thought of being on stage or recognized by others- no applause for these two who braved the cold and were hanging out with a creature that could not vote or pay them a salary.
I like the saying that you will see a miracle when you believe in it, not that miracles happen when you believe. You have to look for the Noble- it is there.
I worked with two women at a High tech company recently who were so unselfish and looking for ways to show that there was good in people through the medium of adult learning courses- they were working in an environment that was not at all conducive to optimism but they chose to be a demonstration of positive well being regardless of the external circumstances.
My point? Take this new year and look for the kindness, the compassion, the generosity in others. Or be the one who loves no matter what.