Are we there yet?

So, we're into our 9th month of defeating COVID-19. These words made me laugh but there's a lot of truth mixed in to consider. . .comic relief needed 

·        So let me get this straight, there’s no cure for a virus that can be killed by sanitiser and hand soap?

·        Is it too early to put up the Christmas tree yet? I have run out of things to do.

·        When this virus thing is over with, I still want some of you to stay away from me.

·        If these last months have taught us anything, it’s that stupidity travels faster than any virus on the planet, particularly among politicians and bureaucrats.

·        Just wait a second – so what you're telling me is that my chance of surviving all this is directly linked to the common sense of others? You’re kidding, right?

·        People are scared of getting fined or arrested for congregating in crowds, as if catching a deadly disease and dying a horrible death wasn’t enough of a deterrent.

·        If you believe all this will end and we will get back to normal just because we reopen everything, raise your hand. Now slap yourself with it.

·        Another Saturday night in the house and I just realised the trash goes out more than me.

·        Whoever decided a liquor store is more essential than a hair salon is obviously a bald alcoholic.

·        Remember when you were little and all your underwear had the days of the week on them. Those would be helpful right now.

·        The spread of Covid-19 is based on two factors: 1. How dense the population is and 2. How dense the population is.

·        Remember all those times when you wished the weekend would last forever? Well, wish granted. Happy now?

·        It may take a village to raise a child, but I swear it’s going to take a whole vineyard to home school one.

·        Did a big load of pajamas so I would have enough clean work clothes for this week.

Grumpy old men

Listening to music, relaxing with my friends, watching people are great pastimes and allow me the luxury of watching and thinking. I have noticed that I am seeing more and more of the idea of the cranky old man. We have seen him on TV, in movies, and in cartoons. Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau do a great version of him in the movie Grumpy Old Men. This character seems to dislike everybody and everything. Step on his lawn or get in his way at the store, and you will know it. Make a mistake to ask him about the government or taxes, and your ears will burn for a week. Not wearing a face mask. British author Carol Wyer has a different name: "irritable male syndrome."  This character is always portrayed as retired, but he is not living a rewarding retirement.

I have seen the stereotype in many places, but not very much in person. The people I see and interact with in the seminars that I give on wellness and the members of my senior’s association tend to be incredibly positive. I wonder why writers, and others think that so many “old” people become bitter and negative?  There is a perception that those who are enthusiastic about life, stay positive and keep fit as they age are a rarity.  This is a sad commentary on how society sees ageing. People I know do make deliberate decisions to not complain about their aches and pains because they know they have to get on with life and perhaps do it a bit slower. However, we still see the world as a beautiful place, but it does take work.

 

For the most part, the seniors I know do not end up inflexible and intolerant. Those that do may be suffering from undiagnosed depression.

The one thing about depression is that the person that is depressed can't see it. The depressed person believes they are seeing the world as it really is (terrible) and usually it's the people around them that notice and urge them to get help. If someone doesn't have people around them that care about them enough to insist, they get medical and professional help it can just go on and on never being resolved. This not a “do it yourself” condition. A person with depression cannot just buck up and look on the bright side, count their blessings and so on. The upside is that it can be successfully treated so do not give up, it has made a heck of a difference to our life. A poem by Dylan Thomas that, I think speaks for many of us who are ageing and who are fighting to keep the world a better place is below:

 

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,

Because their words had forked no lightning they

Do not go gentle into that good night.

 

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright

Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,

And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,

Do not go gentle into that good night.

 

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight

Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

And you, my father, there on the sad height,

Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

For those who are 55 yrs. old and above, please read this.

·        Between 55 and death. It's time to use the money you saved up. Use it and enjoy it. Don't just keep it for those who may have no notion of the sacrifices you made to get it. Remember there is nothing more dangerous than a son or daughter-in-law with big ideas for your hard-earned capital.

 

·        Warning: This is also a bad time for investments, even if it seems wonderful or fool-proof. They only bring problems and worries. This is a time for you to enjoy some peace and quiet.

 

·        Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren, and don't feel bad spending your money on yourself. You've taken care of them for many years, and you've taught them what you could. You gave them an education, food, shelter, and support. The responsibility is now theirs to earn their own money.

 

·        Keep a healthy life, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise (like walking every day), eat well, and get your sleep. It's easy to become sick, and it gets harder to remain healthy. That is why you need to keep yourself in good shape and be aware of your medical and physical needs. Keep in touch with your doctor, do tests even when you're feeling well. Stay informed.

 

·        Always buy the best, most beautiful items for your significant other. The key goal is to enjoy your money with your partner. One day one of you will miss the other, and the money will not provide any comfort then, enjoy it together.

 

·        Don't stress over the little things. You've already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don't let the past drag you down and don't let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now. Small issues will soon be forgotten.

 

·        Regardless of age, always keep love alive. Love your partner, love life, love your family, love your neighbor, and remember: "A person is not old as long as they have intelligence and affection."

 

·        Be proud, both inside and out. Don't stop going to your hair salon or barber, do your nails, go to the dermatologist and the dentist, keep your perfumes and creams well stocked. When you are well-maintained on the outside, it seeps in, making you feel proud and strong.

 

·        Don’t lose sight of fashion trends for your age but keep your own sense of style. You ’ve developed your own sense of what looks good on you – keep it and be proud of it. It ’s part of who you are.

 

·        ALWAYS stay up to date. Read newspapers, watch the news. Go online and read what people are saying but keep an open mind. Remember everything you read online is not the truth. Make sure you have an active email account and try to use some of those social networks. You'll be surprised at what old friends you'll meet.

 

·        Respect the younger generation and their opinions. They may not have the same ideas as you, but they are the future and will take the world in their direction. Give advice, not criticism, and try to remind them that yesterday's wisdom still applies today.

 

 

·        Never use the phrase: “In my time.” Your time is now. If you ’re alive, you are part of this time.

 

·        Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly. Life is too short to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people, it'll rub off on you and your days will seem that much better. Spending your time with bitter people will make you feel older and harder to be around.

 

·        Do not surrender to the temptation of living with your children or grandchildren (if you have a financial choice, that is). Sure, being surrounded by family sounds great, but we all need our privacy. They need theirs and you need yours. Even then, do so only if you feel you really need the help or do not want to live by yourself

 

·        Don't abandon your hobbies. If you don't have any, make new ones. You can travel, hike, cook, read, dance. You can adopt a cat or a dog, grow a kitchen garden, play cards, checkers, chess, dominoes, golf.

 

·        Try to go. Get out of the house, meet people you haven't seen in a while, experience something new (or something old). The important thing is to leave the house from time to time. Go to museums, go walk through a park. Get out there.

 

·        Speak in courteous tones and try not to complain or criticize too much unless you really need to. Try to accept situations as they are.

 

·        Pains and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Try not to dwell on them but accept them as a part of life.

 

·        If you've been offended by someone – forgive them. If you've offended someone-apologize. Don't drag around resentment with you. It only serves to make you sad and bitter. It doesn't matter who was right. Someone once said: "Holding a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die." Don't take that poison. Forgive, forget, and move on with your life.

 

·        Laugh. Laugh away your worries Remember, you are one of the lucky ones. You managed to have a life, a long one. Many never get to this age, never get to experience a full life.

 

·        My valued friends enjoy a peaceful life at this point in your life A the song says...Don't worry... be happy. 🥰😘

 

Thank you to *Anonymous* who created this list.

Every day is a blessing

Reading the reports that are coming out of the USA are scary. These are not the reports of the Pandemic, but the response to the ideas of physical isolation that is meant to save lives, hat some on the right are putting out.

”TV and radio personality Glenn Beck is urging older Americans to return to work to keep the economy going despite the coronavirus infection risks.

“Younger people, he said, could stay home to protect themselves from the virus that causes COVID-19 while older people ― who the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says are more prone to the most serious cases ― should keep working.”

Beck seemed to be following the lead of Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick who, earlier that day,

”...went on Fox News to argue that he would rather die than see public health measures damage the US economy and that he believed 'lots of grandparents' across the country would agree with him”, reports The Guardian.

“My message: let’s get back to work, let’s get back to living, let’s be smart about it, and those of us who are 70-plus, we’ll take care of ourselves,” Lt Gov Dan Patrick, a 69-year-old Republican, told Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Monday night.”  

This is scary, but in we have to have a positive attitude. One of the people I know said to me this morning that every day that he is breathing is a good day, and laughed. I have been very lucky in my life to have met and worked with some wonderful people who have had to overcome many illnesses. Many of these people believe that having a good attitude helped them survive and defeat the illness that they faced. I believe they are partially correct, attitude is an important part of how we deal with life.

I counsel that we cannot control how others behave, all we can do is control how we react to the behaviour. However, if one is sick, or tired, or depressed then our ability to control our own reactions is limited. I have a friend who believes that balance is one of the four (Spirituality, Health, Relationships and Work) important aspects of life. 

Easy to say, hard to do, I am not a spiritual person, so I find it hard to work that aspect into the balance that I seek. I strive to balance, relationships, health, and work so perhaps I am not a square, but a triangle. I think the idea of spirituality residing outside of one's self is interesting but not relevant to many of my generation. I believe that if one should seek spirituality within, by the way, we see ourselves and how we interact with others and our environment. Many of us are on the phenomenal plane and in the pursuit of pleasure, but the pursuit of pleasure sometimes brings pain. Maybe we should be searching for Bliss.

On the phenomenal plane, we seek pleasure and the avoidance of pain. On the noumenal plane, we know the absence of both - which is Bliss. - Why Lazurus Laughed by Wei Wu Wei.

How to Write a Compassionate Condolence Letter

This was written by Deborah Quilter published November 1, 2019 in Next Ave

I thought this was a powerful piece on a difficult topic so I thought I would share some of what she has written. For the full story go here

When someone dies, courtesy dictates that we write our condolences. These letters can be some of the hardest thoughts we will put to paper. Write with sincerity and compassion. Tell a story about the person, but avoid delving into troubled or complex relationship.

Condolence letters must be written. They are greatly valued by those who receive them, and the most important thing is that you write and send them, even if you feel inept.

That said, there are good practices. Here are some tips on how to write a thoughtful condolence letter:

The Easy Part: Timing and Stationery

Proper condolence notes are handwritten and addressed, but the note can be typed and printed on ivory paper. Blank cards are also appropriate.

But,  Brooklyn, N.Y. funeral director Amy Cunningham, owner of Fitting Tribute Funerals. urges, “Do not let searching for the right paper slow you down or interfere with your ability to get this done. If you know you’re not going to handwrite it, type it.” If you have reached the desperate point where an email might be all you can manage, be consoled that it is somewhat appropriate — and better than nothing.

Mail your condolence soon after the news is received, but it’s also fine if it arrives late. “There’s no such thing as a belated condolence letter,”

You might even consider sending more than one. The poet Emily Dickinson understood that grief comes in waves, so she didn’t write just a single note, but rather a sequence of notes. She knew that grief doesn’t have an expiration date and people can mourn months or even years later. Dickinson would often include fresh or pressed flowers with her notes.

Finally, be prepared: Cunningham has a special box with notepaper, pens and stamps so she is ready to write a condolence whenever the need arises.

What to Say… And What Not to Say

If you are stumped about what to say, Cunningham advises that you acknowledge the death and share a memory or anecdote. Write with sincerity and compassion. Tell a story about the person, but avoid delving into troubled or complex relationships. “Saying anything about how the deceased has changed you or what effect they had on your life can be powerful,” she said.

Sometimes, quoting appropriate poetry can help.

While you might want to make the bereaved feel better, providing comfort should not be your goal. “Maybe they can’t be comforted because the pain is so searing,” Cunningham explained. If you insist on comforting, you’re hanging yourself up again and it might make you give up.

Avoid these phrases:

Don’t say: “I am sorry for your loss.” This is a soft rule — so don’t be hard on yourself if you use the phrase — but Cunningham finds it clichéd. Say “I am here for you.” It’s a stronger statement. Or say: “I want to hear all the stories.”

Don’t say: “passed away.” Say “died.” This is another soft rule, according to Cunningham. “People say ‘passed away’ all the time. But saying someone died is more accurate, and people are moving toward greater honesty and accuracy,” she noted. “Why mince around?”

Don’t say: “I know how you feel.” You can’t assume to know how someone is grieving. A death from Alzheimer’s can be a relief, but even if the death is expected, you can’t assume the bereaved are relieved. Grief encompasses many emotions and people can experience a multitude of feelings in a single day.

Don’t say “It’s God’s plan” or “He’s in a better place” to a secular person. You can say: “He’s at peace now” or “The suffering is over.”

Don’t say, “Time will heal.” Similarly, don’t dictate a timetable for their healing.

Don’t say, “Tell me what I can do.” That throws everything into the bereaved person’s court at a time where he or she may be overwhelmed with grief and doesn’t need another task. Instead, say what you will do, i.e., pick up groceries.

Don’t mention your own losses. The focus should be on the bereaved, not you.

Don’t go off topic. A condolence letter is not the time to bring up unrelated business, like vacation plans.

Don’t make the condolence letter seem like a review of the person. People commonly leave sympathies on Facebook and this can have unfortunate results. Cunningham recalled a woman who complained that people were posting condolences that sounded a lot like Yelp reviews, “Great woman, very loving. 5/5 stars.”

Difficult Situations for Condolence Writing

In addition to not knowing the person who died, there are other situations that can make condolence-writing even harder:

·       The person died by suicide or succumbed to alcoholism or drug addiction

·       You were not on good terms with the deceased or the family member you are addressing

·       The death happened to a family member of a colleague you work with, but don’t know well

But even in sticky circumstances, there are ways of coping gracefully. If someone had a fraught relationship with his alcoholic mother who died, separate the sickness from the parent. You could say, “She gave birth to you and I’m so glad. How wonderful that you exist because of her.”

If someone had a bad relationship with her father, it’s best not to take the risk of saying, “I know you and your dad really had a bad relationship.” Or, “I know you and your dad really struggled with your relationship.”

Don’t even go that far, Cunningham cautioned. “Because in that moment — even though they hated their father — they don’t want anyone else to say that.” You can’t guarantee the comment will be well received, even if you two had dinner last week and she was complaining how horrible her relationship with the father was. “It might come off as minimizing their loss,” Cunningham said.

When in doubt, stay neutral. Don’t worry if your condolence letters are boring; it’s fine to say something like: “I remember you telling me about how your dad used to walk you to school.”

If you are writing a condolence letter to a work colleague, you can say, “I’d like to hear your mother’s story at some point. Let’s go for tea,” Cunningham suggested.

Just Do It

Probably the most important thing about condolence writing is that you do it.

If you find yourself incapable of lifting your pen, remember: It doesn’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to be a wonderful writer.

What matters is that you take the time to extend your heartfelt sympathy to someone who is experiencing a loss.

Deborah Quilter is an ergonomics expert, a certified Feldenkrais practitioner, a yoga therapist and the founder of the Balance Project at the Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. She is also the author of Repetitive Strain Injury: A Computer User's Guide and The Repetitive Strain Injury Recovery Book.

Focus, Pocus

Have you ever had to get on with a task or a job and found you could not concentrate, while an Italian student came up with a wonderful process to help him concentrate on getting a task done. Here is how he did it, and how you may be able to use his idea.

Get a basic timer and then pick a task you want to concentrate on. Remove obvious distractions (like turning off your phone).

The first few times you try this I recommend that you set the timer for 5 minutes, then give the task at hand everything you have. If your mind starts to wander, snap yourself back and remind yourself you need to maintain this level of concentration for just a few more minutes. 

Five minutes may not seem like a great deal of time, but it is when you are trying to focus. After you have trained yourself to focus for five minutes and are comfortable doing this, increase your timer to 10 minutes and work on the task for that amount of time, without losing your concentration. (If 10 minutes is too long, move your timer to 7 minutes.) The idea is to have success at being focused for a short period of time.

When you have mastered the 10-minute concentration time then give yourself a break. Over a period of a week, the idea is to move from a focus time of 5 minutes to a focus time of 30 minutes.

I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much you get done and how easily you train yourself to become highly and productively focused. As you do this, you are actually training your brain to block out distractions and increase your ability to concentrate for extended periods of time without a timer.

Time Management Skills

Don't let people that time management skills are complex, they are not. The difficulty is all of us are complex, and we have to determine which skill serves us best. Usually, when we slip and fail at a task, we feel sad, pessimistic, stressed, and our determination is challenged. Our attitude toward failure is what determines how fast we resolve to move ahead. It may only take a minute to screw up something, but it can take a lifetime to fix it. 

One saying I like to use is "Keep it Simple Smart" or KISS. If we keep our approach to time management with the idea of keeping everything simple, we are in a better place.

Keeping it simple is one method of thinking smart.  Simple thinking can be more defined as thinking that frees us from all the elements that contaminate our minds. Elements such as dishonesty and pride. Simple thinking is when we hold more of a humble attitude that believes in a modest station in life. This is one interpretation, but other explanations define simple thinking as a lack of required information and expertise or not psychologically or culturally sophisticated.

Many times I am prone to generalize in my thinking. I know this is a sign of simple laziness. Generalizing is a form of making irrational decisions. So, I think it is best not generalize or avoid complex issues when it comes to managing time. 

Keeping it simple helps us to stay sharp in any situation. Having a clear mind when it comes to preparation and organization helps us complete steps to our long-term goals. 

A focus on keeping things simple can make a difference when a bad situation arises. Most problems are not as difficult as they may seem. When a problem develops, rather than stressing and worrying about it, focus on the problem and analyze it carefully to find a resolution. By focusing on breaking the problem down into its component parts, more than one solution may be found.

If we have a tendency to overgeneralize, we may not see the central details that can end the problem.  Overgeneralization tends to waste valuable time and often leads to bigger problems. 

When we train our minds to stay focus on the "Keep It Simple, Smart" approach we are on a well-rounded path to victory and our time is managed respectively. 

If you have a problem with remembering your responsibilities, don’t be ashamed to use aids such as posted notes, or email alerts,  whatever you need so that you will see them daily. Focus on what fits and works best for you.

Your last adventure

As we start on our newest adventure, we should take some time to think that for every physical adventure, besides the possibility of reward, there's the possibility of loss. We have, before we start, weighed the odds, and determined that the risk of success outweighs the risk of failure. That's what makes it an adventure. 

What makes starting on a spiritual journey different is that for every spiritual journey, there's only gain. Once we realize that we gain more confidence in our spiritual journey and know we are not going to fail. Our spiritual journey, we believe will make us a better person. We believe this no matter how far along the journey we progress.

But for some knowledge that they will be successful in this journey totally spoils their adventure. People are interesting as some of us love the idea that there is a risk of failure to add to our sense of adventure and some will not embark on a journey if we are guaranteed a success. However, just a reminder that all physical adventures are really spiritual adventures, that many of us forget. Everything you do makes you more, interesting is it not?

As you think about retirement, think of it as a new physical adventure as well as a spiritual journey. By doing so, this may reshape how you plan for retirement. If we think of retirement as only a physical adventure or journey, we prepare by making sure we have saved enough for our physical needs, do we have money for shelter, food, medical expenses, luxuries like travel, hobbies and friends. We worry if we think we don’t have enough.

However, retirement is also a spiritual journey but one that many of us do not prepare for, as we work. Once we retire, we move from being an important person at work to just a person. We are also moving toward the last phase of our life, without adequate preparation for making peace with others and knowing how to say goodbye. This lack of preparation is one that does not hurt us until the last stage of retirement, and when the realization that we are unprepared hits us, it may be too late. So, as you prepare for retirement consider both your physical and spiritual needs.

Did you know?

Staying young is a goal of many of my generation. We work hard at denying that we are old, and many pursue the latest dream, gadget, potion or book that will keep us young. 

You don't have to chase the latest and greatest fad because there is a simple secret that I will share with you now that will keep you young. Here it is:

Did you know that for every smile you smile, more than you give will come your way?

That for every "thing" you think of, it moves closer to you?

And that for all the love you give, the younger you'll look, the happier you'll feel, and the bouncier you'll walk?

Always go for more bouncy! Love is all you need.

Did I wake up this morning?

This is from Patrick. There are a million different ways to measure success.

For most people, the concept of “success” is about how close or far you are from achieving a certain goal.
How close am I to losing that extra weight?
How close am I to paying off that credit card?
How close am I to landing a new job?
How close am I to ...?

This morning, I want to remind you that I have a much different measure of success. A much simpler one, yet one that all of us take for granted.

Did I wake up this morning?

That’s it!

If you woke up this morning, drew a breath and opened your eyes… CONGRATULATIONS you were given the gift of another day of life!  And if you think about it you’ll remember that NO ONE owed you another day of life and no one can guarantee that you’ll get another one tomorrow.  So I’d say that makes today pretty successful already!

If things look different, think

When something difficult or painful happens, always look to see what it makes possible that wouldn't have otherwise been possible.

Like a new adventure, a closer friendship, or chocolate in your peanut butter.

Everything makes you better.

Discovering Self

As we move into the last stage of our life, some of us begin a Self Discovery, which generally proves to be really exciting and amazing.

When you start to analyze yourself, there is the discovery of self, which may have been lost to you as you progressed through earlier stages of living. As you begin this search various questions should be raised:

·       Will I be able to abandon my comfort zone?

o   This means that you have a comfort zone and that you recognize that you have one.

o   If you are going to abandon your comfort zone, your behaviour changes in given situations which may upset some of your friends and family. Most times a person’s behaviour becomes repetitive and familiar to those around him/her but when it is a matter of self-discovery you start exploring and discovering about yourself, which can upset others unless you tell them what you are doing.

·       What are my requirements for happiness, and what exactly do I want from those requirements?

o   Your thought process changes are altered and some thoughts are dismissed out of your life. So, you should be open and prepare for your former beliefs to become less meaningful.

o   Self Discovery will help in discovering a person’s personal truth.

·       Am I willing to go where I have never been or where I fear to go?

o   When you start your path of Self Discovery, you will face such situations from where you want to escape from or courageously try to solve.

o   Avoiding a situation that has caused you pain or grief will be foolish, ridiculous and dangerous. Your inner soul will insist that you confront all prevailing situations so that you can translate and understand them.

o    So, you need to abandon fear or at least learn to control it. This is not easy and to do this, you should be committed to the path and the work needed to finish your task. Fear pretends to protect you from pain instead; it may be a great hurdle in your growth and development.

Your subconscious mind is ready to move forward but suddenly your sub-conscious realize that you are embracing and seeking to a new level of life. You change according to various habitats, which become a vital part of the growth process. Sometimes it happens that you are eager to move to another place, another state or another plane of existence.  

 When the act of consciousness is expanded in your life, trust is really important. You have to step out of the restricted understanding and broaden your perspectives about life and themselves. When discovering self a person should have a wider perspective about themselves and needs to trust those around him/her to make sure they help you on your journey and are there for you at the end of the journey

The calm before the storm

Hey, you've retired or you are thinking of retiring?  It's OK. Everything is fine. You've always been guided. Friends and family are watching you and you are still adored. You've made great stuff happen when you were working,  and you will make more great stuff happen again in retirement. 

You've changed lives. You've changed your own. You've moved mountains and done the impossible. You've been scared and you overcame. You've been knocked down and you rose back up. And you've been lost, or so you thought, only to discover it was just the calm before another storm of creativity, love, and fun.

The decision to retire is the calm before the storm, enjoy as another storm of creativity, love and fun descends on you.

Three quotes to inspire

Three quotes to inspire:

"When the doors of perception are cleansed, things will appear as they are.  Infinite."  William Blake   

"An instant of life taken by itself as it is deeply probed becomes a doorway to infinity. The minutiae of life will appear even more clearly to be the guides to eternity."   -  Russian novelist Andrey Bely

"It may look like a wreck, but go at it as though it were an opportunity, a challenge. If you bring love to that moment -- not discouragement -- you will find the strength is there. Any disaster that you can survive is an improvement in your character, your stature, and your life. What a privilege! This is when the spontaneity of your own nature will have a chance to flow.

Then, when looking back at your life, you will see that the moments which seemed to be great failures followed by wreckage were the incidents that shaped the life you have now. You'll see that this is really true. Nothing can happen to you that is not positive. Even though it looks and feels at the moment like a negative crisis, it is not. The crisis throws you back, and when you are required to exhibit strength, it comes."- Joseph Campbell

My wish for you

As you move into the next adventure in your life, I wish for you flowers and sunshine, gentle breezes and clear skies, calm seas and rainbows. 

But, perhaps most of all, I wish for you the glorious breadth of experiences you are now poised to receive, so that these tidbits are mere icing on the cake of a life that's rich in adventure

Job satisfaction

It's funny don't you think, that when we link job satisfaction to financial compensation alone, we are never paid enough.

Yet, when we see "work" as a way to dance with life, meet new people, and unleash the creative tiger within, we realize that we are very rich, indeed. 

Supporting Our Luminaries

Read the entire post here 

The following was written by  Greta on the Occupy Canada website in August, It is time to share it again

There has been much discussion over the years regarding those in Anonymous who step forward (or are thrust forward) and those who encourage, promote, and assist them.  Most of us in the collective seem to feel that words like "leader" and "follower" are anathema to all for which Anonymous, the idea, stands.  I am here to propose that, since humans need to label things, and since we need terminology for that labeling, instead of using "leader" and "follower" we use "luminary" and "supporter".  I have explored the definitions, connotations and origins of these words, which I  will present below.  Disclaimer:  Any context in which I speak of Anonymous as "we", I am expressing MY OPINION of what the idea and ideals of Anonymous mean and/or hold true.

I shall start with the word leader.  The Oxford Dictionary definitions are: 

     1. The person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country

          1a. An organization or company that is the most advanced or successful in a particular area

          1b. British A member of the government officially responsible for initiating business in Parliament

     2. The principal player in a music group

     3. British A leading article or editorial in a newspaper

     4. A short strip of non-functioning material at each end of a reel of film or recording tape for connection to the spool

     5. A shoot of a plant at the apex of a stem or main branch

     6. Printing A series of dots or dashes across the page to guide the eye, especially in tabulated material

The etymology is derived from the word lead: "to guide," Old English lædan "cause to go with one, lead, guide, conduct, carry; sprout forth; bring forth, pass (one's life)," causative of liðan "to travel," from Proto-Germanic *laidjan (cognates: Old Saxon lithan, Old Norse liða "to go," Old High German ga-lidan "to travel," Gothic ga-leiþan "to go"), from PIE *leit- "to go forth."  The first ten synonyms of leader are: chief, commander, director, head, manager, officer, ruler, boss, captain, and chieftain.

Now for the follower definitions:

     1. An adherent or devotee of a particular person, cause, or activity

          1a. Someone who is tracking a particular person, group, organization, etc. on a social media website or application

     2. A person who moves or travels behind someone or something

Its etymology is derived from follow: Old English folgian, fylgan "follow, accompany; follow after, pursue," also "obey, apply oneself to a practice or calling," from Proto-Germanic *fulg- (cognates: Old Saxon folgon, Old Frisian folgia, Middle Dutch volghen, Dutch volgen, Old High German folgen, German folgen, Old Norse fylgja "to follow"). Probably originally a compound, *full-gan with a sense of "full-going;" the sense then shifting to "serve, go with as an attendant".  Fan, enthusiast, admirer, devotee, lover, supporter, adherent, disciple, apostle, and supporter are the first ten synonyms listed for follower.

To me, when we say no leaders, we mean no commanders or directors for certain. We are not here to be a new variety of sheep, with someone telling us what to do and when to do it, which ties into the word follower. The first synonym is fan which is the root of fanatic. As far as I know, we are a collective, not a mob. We hold personal responsibility an important part of human evolution. We CHOOSE whether or not we wish to join an op, protest, work within the system or without. The organizers of these actions do not tell us what to do, they advise us of what they are going to do.

Whereas the definitions for luminary are:

     1. A person who inspires or influences others, especially one prominent in a particular sphere

     2. An artificial light

          2a. literary A natural light-giving body, especially the sun or moon

The etymology of luminary is direct: late Middle English: from Old French luminarie or late Latin luminarium, from Latin lumen, lumin- ‘light.’ The first ten synonyms are: celebrity, dignitary, notable, personage, superstar, eminence, leader, lion, name, and notability.

To be used together with supporter, which Oxford defines thusly:

      1. A person who approves of and encourages someone or something (typically a public figure, a movement or party, or a policy)

          1a. A person who is actively interested in and wishes success for a particular sports team

     2. Heraldry A representation of an animal or other figure, typically one of a pair, holding up or standing beside an escutcheon

Supporter is derived from support and the etymology of it is: meaning "that which supports, one who provides assistance, protection, backing, etc." is early 15c. Sense of "bearing of expense" is mid-15c. Physical sense of "that which supports" is from 1560s. Meaning "services which enable something to fulfil its function and remain in operation". Synonyms for supporter were: ally, defender, follower, patron, proponent, support, abettor, adherent, bearer, and booster.

So a luminary provides light, inspires and influences. This is what we do, ALL of us. Plus, it adds a dimension of meaning with the fact that many of our luminaries have had to step out of the dark of Anonymity into the light of notoriety and publicity. "Services which enable something to fulfil its function and remain in operation". This describes how we assist and encourage each other towards common goals.

Therefore, I will conclude with a proposal to all who paticipate in, write about, or discuss Anonymous to start using luminary and supporter in the place of leader and follower in all future communications.

Peace,

Greta