Jenny Evans Dunham

Several years ago, I wrote an article called, “Is Your Firework Burning Down Someone Else’s Home?” It shared an experience that my family and I had number of years ago when we lived in an apartment complex. On the evening of July 4, people were shooting off fireworks and, unfortunately, one landed in the roof of the apartment building directly behind ours. You can imagine the fear we experienced as we stood outside watching the fire department put out a fire that damaged several people’s homes. All of us who were watching were afraid that our building might be next. Needless to say, it took the fun out of fireworks for us that year.


The same thing happens in our everyday lives. When we allow ourselves to experience negative thoughts and feelings, we affect other people whether we realize it or not. If I’m having a bad day, I may react negatively toward you. Now you’re having a bad day because of me. I’ve allowed my “firework” to burn down your “home.”


I’m reading another great book which relates to this idea. How Full is Your Bucket? talks about how the words we say affect people–either positively or negatively. I haven’t finished reading it yet but I can already tell it’s a book I can highly recommend. By choosing to use some of the techniques mentioned in the book, you can have a positive effect on the lives of everyone around you.


So, as you watch fireworks displays this weekend and enjoy time with your family and friends, remember that everything you do also affects other people. Make the decision to affect people positively and not negatively. When you do that, everyone benefits.