One of the first things I learned when I moved to the south was that you can say absolutely anything about anybody as long as you say “bless her (or his) heart” at the end. “Oh she dyed her hair again??? bless her heart….” “He does WHAT for a living?? Bless his heart….” We can assassinate anyone’s character, choices, family, or livelihood…. bless their hearts!!

Tonight it occurred to me that sometimes “principles before personalities!!” can be recovery “code” for “bless her heart!”… OMG he said THAT at the meeting?? Oh well, principles before personalities, right??? wink wink…..

A friend of mine has been writing recently about her epiphany that the ‘principles before personalities’ was to put principles before HER personality, not everyone else’s –  the deal is, that I have a set of principles that can teach and allow me to live as one among my fellows – to “play nice with the other kids.” These principles apply not only to my life in spiritual fellowship, but to my interactions with my family, how I perform at work – they apply everywhere that I am willing to apply them.

I am blessed with a way of life that teaches me how to take action rather than react. How to consider the greater good instead of looking out only for myself. If I can remember to place principles before MY personality on a daily basis I can be one of many and be happy about it.

Who knows….. if I practice long enough maybe you will never hear anyone say “you know that woman named Beth??? Bless her heart……”