An elderly man wrote this in the hospital before he died....
What do you see nurses? . . . .. . What do you see?
What are you thinking . . . . . When you're looking at me?
A crabby old man . . . .. . Not very wise,
Uncertain of habit . . . . . With faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food . . . . . And makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . . . . . 'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . . . . The things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . A sock or a shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . . . Lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . .. . . The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? . . . . .. Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse . . . . . You're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am. . . . . . As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, . . . . . As I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . . . . . With a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters . . . . . Who love one another.
A young boy of Sixteen . . . . With wings on his feet..
Dreaming that soon now . . . . . A lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . . . My heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows . . . . . That I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . . I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . . .. And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . . . . With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons . . . . . Have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me . . . . . To see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future . . . . . Shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing . . . .. . Young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . . . And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . . And nature is cruel.
Its jest to make old age . . . .. . Look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles . . . . . Grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . .. . . Where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . . . . . A young guy still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . My battered heart swells.
I remember the joys . . . . . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . .. . . Life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . . . . Gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact .. . . . That nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people . . . . . Open and see.
Not a crabby old man . . . Look closer . . . See ME!!
I AM A SONIC BOOMER, NOT A SENIOR... In this blog, I am writing to and for those who believe that the Boomers will change what the word Senior means. I also believe that Boomers will change what retirement means in our society. The blog is also for those who are interested in what life after retirement may look like for them. In this blog, I highlight and write about issues that I believe to be important both for Seniors and working Boomers.
Showing posts with label behaviour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label behaviour. Show all posts
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Another Senior vs Boomer change that is upon us
The following is from Boomers A trip into the heart of the baby boom generation, and the entire article is a great read, but I thought this section was interesting. I suggest you read the entire article for some interesting ideas.
Middle age, edging toward old age, presents many unique challenges for men, and these momentous changes—biological, social and cultural—become greatly magnified when around 5,500 men cross the threshold of 50 every day. For nineteen years, beginning in 1996 and until 2015, roughly two million men can be expected to traverse annually the journey across the age 50 horizon.
Toward Relevance and Reinvention
Although late middle age has been traditionally associated with predictability, quiescence and gradual withdrawal from mainstream society, Boomer men are poised to shatter these stereotypical expectations, challenging, for example, barriers to employment for those over age 50 or 60. The softer side of maturity is a quest for reinvention and self-actualization. Boomer men have spent decades focused on their responsibilities as employers, employees, fathers, husbands, partners, and business and civic leaders. The stage of life after 50 presents renewed opportunities to reach for greater idealism and relevance in life. It’s a time to discover life anew, and this perpetually seeking cohort will pursue later life with questions, a search for meaning, and by finding ways to bring life into perspective while leaving behind meaningful contributions to society.
Middle age, edging toward old age, presents many unique challenges for men, and these momentous changes—biological, social and cultural—become greatly magnified when around 5,500 men cross the threshold of 50 every day. For nineteen years, beginning in 1996 and until 2015, roughly two million men can be expected to traverse annually the journey across the age 50 horizon.
Toward Relevance and Reinvention
Although late middle age has been traditionally associated with predictability, quiescence and gradual withdrawal from mainstream society, Boomer men are poised to shatter these stereotypical expectations, challenging, for example, barriers to employment for those over age 50 or 60. The softer side of maturity is a quest for reinvention and self-actualization. Boomer men have spent decades focused on their responsibilities as employers, employees, fathers, husbands, partners, and business and civic leaders. The stage of life after 50 presents renewed opportunities to reach for greater idealism and relevance in life. It’s a time to discover life anew, and this perpetually seeking cohort will pursue later life with questions, a search for meaning, and by finding ways to bring life into perspective while leaving behind meaningful contributions to society.
Friday, August 27, 2010
You Just Never Know
Flowers are words even a baby can understand.
At the opening night of the theater play, it is customary to give the members of the cast flowers to say great job and to signify your appreciation for the work they have done to make your evening memorable. It would be nice if we showed our appreciation for the people who make our days memorable. Not with flowers, perhaps, but with words of thanks and words of praise for a job well done.
We come in contact every day with people who, while doing their job, make us feel welcome, who serve us, who answer our questions and help us, yet, I think very few of us, take the time to say thank you. I know that some of you would say, these people are only doing their jobs and so why should I recognize them, unless they go out of their way. We never know what burdens the others have to carry and so we can I submit make their live better by saying thank you or giving praise.
The following story was sent to me, I think you might enjoy it.
You Just Never Know
Author Unknown
Bill worked in a factory on a production line, he was a big, awkward, homely guy. He dressed oddly with ill-fitting clothes. There were several fellow workers who thought it smart to make fun of him.
One day one fellow worker noticed a small tear in his shirt and gave it a small rip. Another worker in the factory added his bit, and before long there was quite a ribbon of cloth dangling. Bill went on about his work and as he passed too near a moving belt the shirt strip was sucked into the machinery. In a split second the sleeve and Bill was in trouble. Alarms were sounded, switches pulled, and trouble was avoided.
The foreman then summoned all the workers and related this story:
In my younger days I worked in a small factory. That's when I first met Mike. He was big and witty, was always making jokes, and playing little pranks. Mike was a leader. Then there was Peter who was a follower. He always went along with Mike. And then there was a man named Murray. He was a little older than the rest of us - quiet, harmless, apart. He always ate his lunch by himself.
He wore the same patched trousers for three years straight. He never entered into the games we played at noon, wrestling, horseshoes and such. He appeared to be indifferent, always sitting quietly alone under a tree instead. Murray was a natural target for practical jokes.
He might find a live frog in his lunch box, or a dead spider in his hat. But he always took it in good humour. Then one autumn, when things were quiet in the factory, Mike took off a few days to go hunting. Peter went along, of course. And they promised all of us that if they got anything they'd bring us each a piece.
So we were all quite excited when we heard that they'd returned and that Mike had got a really big buck. We heard more than that. Peter could never keep anything to himself, and it leaked out that they had real whopper to play on Murray. Mike had cut up the buck and had made a nice package for each of us. And, for the laugh, for the joke of it, he had saved the ears, the tail, the hoofs - it would be so funny when Murray unwrapped them.
Mike distributed his packages during the lunch break. We each got a nice piece, opened it, and thanked him. The biggest package of all he saved until last. It was for Murray. Peter was all but bursting; and Mike looked very smug. Like always, Murray sat by himself; he was on the far side of the big table. Mike pushed the package over to where he could reach it; and we all sat and waited.
Murray was never one to say much. You might never know that he was around for all the talking he did. In three years he'd never said more than hundred words. So we were all quite astounded with what happened next. He took the package firmly in his grip and rose slowly to his feet. He smiled broadly at Mike - and it was then we noticed that his eyes were glistening. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down for a moment and then he got control of himself.
'I knew you wouldn't forget me,' he said gratefully, 'I knew you'd come through! You're big and you're playful, but I knew all along that you had a good heart.'
He swallowed again, and then took in the rest of us. 'I know I haven't seemed too chummy with you men; but I never meant to be rude. You see, I've got nine kids at home - and a wife that's been an invalid - bedridden now for four years. She ain't ever going to get any better. And sometimes when she's real bad off, I have to sit up all night to take care of her. And most of my wages have had to go for doctors and medicine.
The kids do all they can to help out, but at times it's been hard to keep food in their mouths. Maybe you think it's funny that I go off by myself to eat my lunch. Well, I guess I've been a little ashamed, because I don't always have anything between my sandwich. Or like today - maybe there's only a raw turnip in my lunch box. But I want you to know that this meat really means a lot to me. Maybe more than to anybody here because tonight my kids' ... as he wiped the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand ... 'tonight my kids will have a really good meal.'
He tugged at the string. We'd been watching Murray so intently we hadn't paid much notice to Mike and Peter. But we all noticed them now, because they both tried to grab the package. But they were too late. Murray had broken the wrapper and was already surveying his present. He examined each hoof, each ear, and then he held up the tail. It wiggled limply. It should have been so funny, but nobody laughed - nobody at all.
But the hardest part was when Murray looked up and said 'Thank you' while trying to smile. Silently one by one each man moved forward carrying his package and quietly placed it in front of Murray for they had suddenly realised how little their own gift had really meant to them, until now.
This was where the foreman left the story and the men. He didn't need to say any more; but it was gratifying to notice that as each man ate his lunch that day, they shared part with Bill and one fellow even took off his shirt and gave it to him.
THINK, BE KIND ALWAYS...YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT SOMEONE IS FACING IN THEIR LIVES!
At the opening night of the theater play, it is customary to give the members of the cast flowers to say great job and to signify your appreciation for the work they have done to make your evening memorable. It would be nice if we showed our appreciation for the people who make our days memorable. Not with flowers, perhaps, but with words of thanks and words of praise for a job well done.
We come in contact every day with people who, while doing their job, make us feel welcome, who serve us, who answer our questions and help us, yet, I think very few of us, take the time to say thank you. I know that some of you would say, these people are only doing their jobs and so why should I recognize them, unless they go out of their way. We never know what burdens the others have to carry and so we can I submit make their live better by saying thank you or giving praise.
The following story was sent to me, I think you might enjoy it.
You Just Never Know
Author Unknown
Bill worked in a factory on a production line, he was a big, awkward, homely guy. He dressed oddly with ill-fitting clothes. There were several fellow workers who thought it smart to make fun of him.
One day one fellow worker noticed a small tear in his shirt and gave it a small rip. Another worker in the factory added his bit, and before long there was quite a ribbon of cloth dangling. Bill went on about his work and as he passed too near a moving belt the shirt strip was sucked into the machinery. In a split second the sleeve and Bill was in trouble. Alarms were sounded, switches pulled, and trouble was avoided.
The foreman then summoned all the workers and related this story:
In my younger days I worked in a small factory. That's when I first met Mike. He was big and witty, was always making jokes, and playing little pranks. Mike was a leader. Then there was Peter who was a follower. He always went along with Mike. And then there was a man named Murray. He was a little older than the rest of us - quiet, harmless, apart. He always ate his lunch by himself.
He wore the same patched trousers for three years straight. He never entered into the games we played at noon, wrestling, horseshoes and such. He appeared to be indifferent, always sitting quietly alone under a tree instead. Murray was a natural target for practical jokes.
He might find a live frog in his lunch box, or a dead spider in his hat. But he always took it in good humour. Then one autumn, when things were quiet in the factory, Mike took off a few days to go hunting. Peter went along, of course. And they promised all of us that if they got anything they'd bring us each a piece.
So we were all quite excited when we heard that they'd returned and that Mike had got a really big buck. We heard more than that. Peter could never keep anything to himself, and it leaked out that they had real whopper to play on Murray. Mike had cut up the buck and had made a nice package for each of us. And, for the laugh, for the joke of it, he had saved the ears, the tail, the hoofs - it would be so funny when Murray unwrapped them.
Mike distributed his packages during the lunch break. We each got a nice piece, opened it, and thanked him. The biggest package of all he saved until last. It was for Murray. Peter was all but bursting; and Mike looked very smug. Like always, Murray sat by himself; he was on the far side of the big table. Mike pushed the package over to where he could reach it; and we all sat and waited.
Murray was never one to say much. You might never know that he was around for all the talking he did. In three years he'd never said more than hundred words. So we were all quite astounded with what happened next. He took the package firmly in his grip and rose slowly to his feet. He smiled broadly at Mike - and it was then we noticed that his eyes were glistening. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down for a moment and then he got control of himself.
'I knew you wouldn't forget me,' he said gratefully, 'I knew you'd come through! You're big and you're playful, but I knew all along that you had a good heart.'
He swallowed again, and then took in the rest of us. 'I know I haven't seemed too chummy with you men; but I never meant to be rude. You see, I've got nine kids at home - and a wife that's been an invalid - bedridden now for four years. She ain't ever going to get any better. And sometimes when she's real bad off, I have to sit up all night to take care of her. And most of my wages have had to go for doctors and medicine.
The kids do all they can to help out, but at times it's been hard to keep food in their mouths. Maybe you think it's funny that I go off by myself to eat my lunch. Well, I guess I've been a little ashamed, because I don't always have anything between my sandwich. Or like today - maybe there's only a raw turnip in my lunch box. But I want you to know that this meat really means a lot to me. Maybe more than to anybody here because tonight my kids' ... as he wiped the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand ... 'tonight my kids will have a really good meal.'
He tugged at the string. We'd been watching Murray so intently we hadn't paid much notice to Mike and Peter. But we all noticed them now, because they both tried to grab the package. But they were too late. Murray had broken the wrapper and was already surveying his present. He examined each hoof, each ear, and then he held up the tail. It wiggled limply. It should have been so funny, but nobody laughed - nobody at all.
But the hardest part was when Murray looked up and said 'Thank you' while trying to smile. Silently one by one each man moved forward carrying his package and quietly placed it in front of Murray for they had suddenly realised how little their own gift had really meant to them, until now.
This was where the foreman left the story and the men. He didn't need to say any more; but it was gratifying to notice that as each man ate his lunch that day, they shared part with Bill and one fellow even took off his shirt and gave it to him.
THINK, BE KIND ALWAYS...YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT SOMEONE IS FACING IN THEIR LIVES!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
The Universe is watching :-0
I received this email message and I would like to comment on some of the ideas contained within.The message is in italics my thoughts are not. The idea of the universe watching us and helping shape our lives is from Dr. Mohsen Kermanshahi work on universal theory and you can go to the link to read more about this interesting idea.
Having the courage and patience to put out the vibrations of what you desire as to opposed to where you are in the present, is the hardest thing you will ever have to do. Keep in mind WHERE you are and WHO you are in your life right now is based on your past intentions, thoughts, feeling and actions. Choice Theory says that you can change your future by changing your current thoughts, feelings and actions.
The idea that who we are currently is a result of past thoughts, intentions, feelings and actions is interesting but not realistic. The idea that we can control our future by changing our thoughts, feelings, in my mind puts way too much influence on the role of the individual and does not take into account societal influences. Our actions can help determine some parts of our future if other influences are on our side as well.
Remember that your current life situation is nothing more than the outcome of past thoughts, feelings and actions. They have nothing to do with what you are capable of or who you are capable of becoming unless you continue to make decisions based on those results. If you do, you will continue to create the same things over and over again in your life.
Here is an interesting way of looking at your life. If you look at your current results, you can see what you have been up to for the past five years or so. What you have been thinking, feeling and acting upon is reflected in your current results. Look at your body, your bank account, your house, your car, your relationships, your job or lack thereof and what vibrations you have been offering, because your results are nothing more than a feedback mechanism - a mirror of what you have been thinking, feeling and acting.
Think about a mirror for a moment. A mirror does not judge, it does not say if something is "good" or "bad", "right" or "wrong". It does not edit or delete. A mirror just reflects back whatever is put in front of it. Do you follow this metaphor?
The universal mirror is exciting because when you get what you desire you know you are on your game. When you have less than pleasing results, that's just the universal mirror reflecting back to you where you have the opportunity to adjust your thinking, feeling and actions. Getting upset because you have messed up your life in any area is wasting precious time. The mirror is there to give you a wake-up call. It is saying "Hey, you're broke. Are you ready to do something about it?"
Seeing the universe as a mirror that reflects back at us what we are doing, is combining the idea of individual responsibility and a higher power that will sweep us up to success if we think right, act right, and do right. The question that springs to my mind is what is right or correct thinking in this universal flow or do we have the ability to influence our reality. Dr.Kermanshahi defined Reality as follows: Reality is what we sense and beyond plus what we feel and beyond, so some of his followers have taken this to mean that we can shape reality. Perhaps we can, but this means we can only shape our own reality, not the reality experienced by others.
Do I get upset when I experience less than pleasing results? Absolutely. But the difference between now and my past is I am willing to let it go. I use the experience as a wake-up call to find a better way. And I always find a better way, because I am looking for it. You can do the same.
Today will bring you a new awareness, a lesson or a manifestation that you are making progress - IF YOU LOOK FOR IT! No matter how large or small, please record it in your Evidence Journal. It will only take a few moments and will AUTOMATICALLY put you in the Flow.
I agree that one should be aware and if the results you want are not what you get, then perhaps you need to look for a better way to do but that you will not be automatically placed in the flow of the universe. Life opportunities are all around us, but many of us do not have the ability to see these opportunities, because of the paradigm in which we live our life's. It is not easy to change that paradigm, it is hard work and will take a long time and without help some of us will not change. But that may be a good thing.
Having the courage and patience to put out the vibrations of what you desire as to opposed to where you are in the present, is the hardest thing you will ever have to do. Keep in mind WHERE you are and WHO you are in your life right now is based on your past intentions, thoughts, feeling and actions. Choice Theory says that you can change your future by changing your current thoughts, feelings and actions.
The idea that who we are currently is a result of past thoughts, intentions, feelings and actions is interesting but not realistic. The idea that we can control our future by changing our thoughts, feelings, in my mind puts way too much influence on the role of the individual and does not take into account societal influences. Our actions can help determine some parts of our future if other influences are on our side as well.
Remember that your current life situation is nothing more than the outcome of past thoughts, feelings and actions. They have nothing to do with what you are capable of or who you are capable of becoming unless you continue to make decisions based on those results. If you do, you will continue to create the same things over and over again in your life.
Here is an interesting way of looking at your life. If you look at your current results, you can see what you have been up to for the past five years or so. What you have been thinking, feeling and acting upon is reflected in your current results. Look at your body, your bank account, your house, your car, your relationships, your job or lack thereof and what vibrations you have been offering, because your results are nothing more than a feedback mechanism - a mirror of what you have been thinking, feeling and acting.
Think about a mirror for a moment. A mirror does not judge, it does not say if something is "good" or "bad", "right" or "wrong". It does not edit or delete. A mirror just reflects back whatever is put in front of it. Do you follow this metaphor?
The universal mirror is exciting because when you get what you desire you know you are on your game. When you have less than pleasing results, that's just the universal mirror reflecting back to you where you have the opportunity to adjust your thinking, feeling and actions. Getting upset because you have messed up your life in any area is wasting precious time. The mirror is there to give you a wake-up call. It is saying "Hey, you're broke. Are you ready to do something about it?"
Seeing the universe as a mirror that reflects back at us what we are doing, is combining the idea of individual responsibility and a higher power that will sweep us up to success if we think right, act right, and do right. The question that springs to my mind is what is right or correct thinking in this universal flow or do we have the ability to influence our reality. Dr.Kermanshahi defined Reality as follows: Reality is what we sense and beyond plus what we feel and beyond, so some of his followers have taken this to mean that we can shape reality. Perhaps we can, but this means we can only shape our own reality, not the reality experienced by others.
Do I get upset when I experience less than pleasing results? Absolutely. But the difference between now and my past is I am willing to let it go. I use the experience as a wake-up call to find a better way. And I always find a better way, because I am looking for it. You can do the same.
Today will bring you a new awareness, a lesson or a manifestation that you are making progress - IF YOU LOOK FOR IT! No matter how large or small, please record it in your Evidence Journal. It will only take a few moments and will AUTOMATICALLY put you in the Flow.
I agree that one should be aware and if the results you want are not what you get, then perhaps you need to look for a better way to do but that you will not be automatically placed in the flow of the universe. Life opportunities are all around us, but many of us do not have the ability to see these opportunities, because of the paradigm in which we live our life's. It is not easy to change that paradigm, it is hard work and will take a long time and without help some of us will not change. But that may be a good thing.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
A Story About Love, Wealth and Success
A woman living in downtown Ontario, Canada came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard.
She did not recognize them.
She said "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat."
"Is the man of the house home?" they asked.
"No", she replied. "He's out."
"Then we cannot come in", they replied.
In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened.
"Go tell them I am home and invite them in!"
The woman went out and invited the men in.
"We do not go into a house together," they replied.
"Why is that?" she asked.
One of the old men explained: "His name is Wealth," he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, "He is Success, and I am Love."
Then he added, "Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home."
The woman went in and told her husband what was said.
Her husband was overjoyed. "How nice!!" he said. "Since that's the case, let's invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!"
His wife disagreed. "My dear, why don't we invite Success?"
Their daughter was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: "Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!"
"Let us heed our daughter's advice," said the husband to his wife.
"Go out and invite Love to be our guest."
The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, "Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest."
Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: "I only invited Love, why are you coming in?"
The old men replied together: "If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would've stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever he goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!"
She did not recognize them.
She said "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat."
"Is the man of the house home?" they asked.
"No", she replied. "He's out."
"Then we cannot come in", they replied.
In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened.
"Go tell them I am home and invite them in!"
The woman went out and invited the men in.
"We do not go into a house together," they replied.
"Why is that?" she asked.
One of the old men explained: "His name is Wealth," he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, "He is Success, and I am Love."
Then he added, "Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home."
The woman went in and told her husband what was said.
Her husband was overjoyed. "How nice!!" he said. "Since that's the case, let's invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!"
His wife disagreed. "My dear, why don't we invite Success?"
Their daughter was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: "Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!"
"Let us heed our daughter's advice," said the husband to his wife.
"Go out and invite Love to be our guest."
The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, "Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest."
Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: "I only invited Love, why are you coming in?"
The old men replied together: "If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would've stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever he goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!"
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Don't forget to smile
I like to think that I have learned a lot of things from living my life. It seems my years have been filled with a whole lot of good things with a few really hard things in between. I have had the privilege of knowing a lot of really great people and I've enjoyed countless memories with each of them. I have been happily married for quite a few years and I've been blessed with two wonderful children. I feel pretty good today, but not every day seems to go this well. Some days life is hard, the people I love the most are annoying, and it is on those days that I remember the advice that my mother often gave me growing up. When I was having a bad day she would say, "Don't forget to smile. Nothing is as bad as it seems.'
I've found that piece of advice helpful on countless occasions as I've grown. The older I've gotten the more I've learned to face every day in life with a smile. Good days and bad days alike I try to face knowing that for the most part, life tends to work itself out and return to normal after a little while.
Think about your life. Do you have reason to smile today? Can you find positive things to focus on regardless of the hard things that might be happening? I hope so. I truly hope that you are able to learn that whatever happens in life, living with a smile is a great thing.
I've found that piece of advice helpful on countless occasions as I've grown. The older I've gotten the more I've learned to face every day in life with a smile. Good days and bad days alike I try to face knowing that for the most part, life tends to work itself out and return to normal after a little while.
Think about your life. Do you have reason to smile today? Can you find positive things to focus on regardless of the hard things that might be happening? I hope so. I truly hope that you are able to learn that whatever happens in life, living with a smile is a great thing.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Golf and other interesting pasttimes
Over the last eight years or so, I have embarked on a summer golf journey with some of my friends. The core of the group has been doing the summer trip for 26 years, so I am a relative newcomer. I enjoy the time with the guys for a week of golf, fun and relaxation.
Over the years the size of the group and the membership of the group has varied from 12 to abut 18 guys, and the issues we discuss, debate and solve have changed over the years. None of the issues we discuss resolve around current politics, religion, or other pressing issues in the news. We talk about old friends, family, new friends, relationships, how our golf game went that day. The day to day politic of live is swept away in a river of fun and friendship.
After the trip it takes a while to recover and to want to think about playing golf again, but that time is now, so tomorrow we are off to face the latest challenges on the course, on the course we can focus on being with good friends, trying to best oneself and enjoying the wind, sun and scenery.
Since returning from this years trip, I have been busy catching up on my reading--not the readings I have to do for the university courses or the school courses, but reading for pleasure. I have rediscovered my love of reading that I had as a teenager.
When I was a pre-teen and young teen, we came to town once a week to get groceries and other supplies but we always stopped at the regional library and I remember loading up with books, (Science Fiction and mysteries were my reading pleasure of the day) and I remember with excitement opening the book and staying up late to finish the latest chapter/or book.
Reading for pleasure was a highlight of my life for many years, but as I grew older and focused on work, I lost the pleasure that reading brought to me. I enjoy the break away from responsibility that being on the golf tour brings and the week after that allows me to catch up on my love of reading.
Over the years the size of the group and the membership of the group has varied from 12 to abut 18 guys, and the issues we discuss, debate and solve have changed over the years. None of the issues we discuss resolve around current politics, religion, or other pressing issues in the news. We talk about old friends, family, new friends, relationships, how our golf game went that day. The day to day politic of live is swept away in a river of fun and friendship.
After the trip it takes a while to recover and to want to think about playing golf again, but that time is now, so tomorrow we are off to face the latest challenges on the course, on the course we can focus on being with good friends, trying to best oneself and enjoying the wind, sun and scenery.
Since returning from this years trip, I have been busy catching up on my reading--not the readings I have to do for the university courses or the school courses, but reading for pleasure. I have rediscovered my love of reading that I had as a teenager.
When I was a pre-teen and young teen, we came to town once a week to get groceries and other supplies but we always stopped at the regional library and I remember loading up with books, (Science Fiction and mysteries were my reading pleasure of the day) and I remember with excitement opening the book and staying up late to finish the latest chapter/or book.
Reading for pleasure was a highlight of my life for many years, but as I grew older and focused on work, I lost the pleasure that reading brought to me. I enjoy the break away from responsibility that being on the golf tour brings and the week after that allows me to catch up on my love of reading.
Friday, July 16, 2010
dreamers
The following is adapted from the Inner Bonding Website
The world needs the dreamers, those people who have faith in themselves and the world and who can see the possiblilites of life. However many of us are held back and even though we dream, we fail to act on those dreams. There are many reasons not to act, here are a few that our self talk may say to us to destroy our dreams:
I cannot do that.
I am too old.
It is too late.
It is pie in the sky.
It is not that important.
Subconsciously we hold our dreams back when there are deep unhealed false beliefs that are telling us that we have some kind of limitation. We are not good enough. We are not talented enough. It is not our time yet. Or we need to work very hard.
When we were very young, we expressed our dreams and visions freely, and some of us, instead of being supported got squashed, judged or ridiculed by our caregivers, teachers or friends.
Were you told?
How you dare to ask for that?
I do not have this and that.
I had to give up so much.
Who do you think you are?
Stop dreaming. Hard work is the only thing that matters.
As children we had a choice to either pursue our dream and lose others, or forget our dream and lose ourselves. Most of us had to go with a second choice. Once we silenced our dreaming self, also a source of our creativity and magic, it goes into hiding and stops sharing. This is one of the reason why so many people say: I do not know what I am passionate about. What if I do not have passion at all? I do not know what brings me joy. What if I have to work really hard to figure it out?
If you want to reconnect with your dreaming self you need intent and discipline. You must be willing to stop following dreams that belong to others. You must be willing not to fall under the spell of people who are telling you what you need to do and how. No matter how hard you try to follow what others are telling you still joy and magic will be lacking from your life.
You must be willing to heal false beliefs and become an adult that the child needed to begin with. The adult who is loving, caring, attentive, gentle, curious, supportive and safe. Dreaming self will not show up after a few times when you were in a good and supportive mood. Remember it went hiding as there was no consistent support and safety. However if a loving adult offers a loving hand many times it will accept it. You will experience a boost of joy and good energy. Suddenly you will know what you like, and what you REALY like. There is clarity, and all kind of ideas pop up in your mind. You will remember all the things that you have put aside with explanation: Once time is right.
Sometimes dreaming self needs your permission to fully shine the light out. Here is the permission that Ivanka Jankovic has written to her dreaming self since she was still very hesitant to fully express herself.
Sweetie you do not need to hide any more. Your hiding is over. I give you permission to be who you are. You can have anything you want. You can share anything with me. You can express your dreams. I will fully support you, and I will listen to you. I will be there every step of the way. I am interested to hear what you would like to share.
It is your time now to play, enjoy and relax. You do not need to wait for anyone else until their dreams come true. You are not responsible if they get triggered and feel threatened. People who do not embrace their dreams, will always get triggered by someone who dares to dream and I will handle those situations. You just need to be fully yourself. Shine out your light. We are welcoming you. You are safe, loved and supported.
When you reconnect with your dreaming self and start following your deep dreams Spirit steps up to help. You will meet people that are on a similar path and love to support others and their authentic dreams. And that is true magic and remember you can then join in and experience the magic of the moment.
The world needs the dreamers, those people who have faith in themselves and the world and who can see the possiblilites of life. However many of us are held back and even though we dream, we fail to act on those dreams. There are many reasons not to act, here are a few that our self talk may say to us to destroy our dreams:
I cannot do that.
I am too old.
It is too late.
It is pie in the sky.
It is not that important.
Subconsciously we hold our dreams back when there are deep unhealed false beliefs that are telling us that we have some kind of limitation. We are not good enough. We are not talented enough. It is not our time yet. Or we need to work very hard.
When we were very young, we expressed our dreams and visions freely, and some of us, instead of being supported got squashed, judged or ridiculed by our caregivers, teachers or friends.
Were you told?
How you dare to ask for that?
I do not have this and that.
I had to give up so much.
Who do you think you are?
Stop dreaming. Hard work is the only thing that matters.
As children we had a choice to either pursue our dream and lose others, or forget our dream and lose ourselves. Most of us had to go with a second choice. Once we silenced our dreaming self, also a source of our creativity and magic, it goes into hiding and stops sharing. This is one of the reason why so many people say: I do not know what I am passionate about. What if I do not have passion at all? I do not know what brings me joy. What if I have to work really hard to figure it out?
If you want to reconnect with your dreaming self you need intent and discipline. You must be willing to stop following dreams that belong to others. You must be willing not to fall under the spell of people who are telling you what you need to do and how. No matter how hard you try to follow what others are telling you still joy and magic will be lacking from your life.
You must be willing to heal false beliefs and become an adult that the child needed to begin with. The adult who is loving, caring, attentive, gentle, curious, supportive and safe. Dreaming self will not show up after a few times when you were in a good and supportive mood. Remember it went hiding as there was no consistent support and safety. However if a loving adult offers a loving hand many times it will accept it. You will experience a boost of joy and good energy. Suddenly you will know what you like, and what you REALY like. There is clarity, and all kind of ideas pop up in your mind. You will remember all the things that you have put aside with explanation: Once time is right.
Sometimes dreaming self needs your permission to fully shine the light out. Here is the permission that Ivanka Jankovic has written to her dreaming self since she was still very hesitant to fully express herself.
Sweetie you do not need to hide any more. Your hiding is over. I give you permission to be who you are. You can have anything you want. You can share anything with me. You can express your dreams. I will fully support you, and I will listen to you. I will be there every step of the way. I am interested to hear what you would like to share.
It is your time now to play, enjoy and relax. You do not need to wait for anyone else until their dreams come true. You are not responsible if they get triggered and feel threatened. People who do not embrace their dreams, will always get triggered by someone who dares to dream and I will handle those situations. You just need to be fully yourself. Shine out your light. We are welcoming you. You are safe, loved and supported.
When you reconnect with your dreaming self and start following your deep dreams Spirit steps up to help. You will meet people that are on a similar path and love to support others and their authentic dreams. And that is true magic and remember you can then join in and experience the magic of the moment.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Thoughts on this video on Creative Revolution.
As I watched this video that shows an officer intimidating and arresting a young girl for blowing bubbles, many thoughts went through my mind. I would like to share them with you.
The male officer is, in my mind a symbol of what is wrong with our police. He would have fit into the Nazi death camps and I think quite happily herd women and children to their deaths in the showers. He is a typical Fascist who uses, and from his attitude shown on this video, apparently enjoys using fear, intimidation, threats and abuse of power to try and control people.
His comments are absurd in the extreme, telling the young woman that if a bubble touches him she is assaulting him and then talks about caustic (chemical) harm. What BS. If I was related to him, I would be ashamed of his actions.
What also bothered me is that he is a sexist in the extreme and as a man, I have no time for little boy bullies who use their power to abuse women. He not only used his power to arrest the young lady after verbally abusing her but he took the time to make the female officer next to him, who the bubbles were directed at look like an incompetent and weak officer, which I suspect was his intention. I would hope that the female officer took the fascist aside and let him know not to interfere with her work and that she reported him to her superiors for his sexist actions. She had the situation under control, he took her control away and made her look small. I suspect he is the type of man/boy who routinely bullies all women that he comes in contact with and I suspect that he would be the type of boy/man who thinks that when a woman says no she is actually saying yes.
His actions were a disgrace but he will not be disciplined nor will any action taken against him, the only hope is that enough people see the video and that he is treated like the fascist he is, but I suspect that his buddies on the force will laugh and think this is a big joke and reward him for his actions. This kind of behaviour is not acceptable and he should be fired as he brings the concept of law and order into disgrace.
The good folks at G20Justice.com have identified a number of police involved in allegedly illegal behaviour and have identified this officer as
Name: Adam Josephs (Male)
Badge #: 731
Involved In: Fun police. Potential Illegal Searching, Detainment and Arrest of women blowing bubbles.
George Harvey Collegiate Institute '79
Facebook page states occupation as "I collect Human garbage."
His facebook page is a reflection of a smug, egotistical, fascist, who has no understanding of the role of the police in our society and who sees his job as one where he can, I suspect take great pleasure in causing pain and suffering to those he took an oath to serve and protect. He should be fired!
The male officer is, in my mind a symbol of what is wrong with our police. He would have fit into the Nazi death camps and I think quite happily herd women and children to their deaths in the showers. He is a typical Fascist who uses, and from his attitude shown on this video, apparently enjoys using fear, intimidation, threats and abuse of power to try and control people.
His comments are absurd in the extreme, telling the young woman that if a bubble touches him she is assaulting him and then talks about caustic (chemical) harm. What BS. If I was related to him, I would be ashamed of his actions.
What also bothered me is that he is a sexist in the extreme and as a man, I have no time for little boy bullies who use their power to abuse women. He not only used his power to arrest the young lady after verbally abusing her but he took the time to make the female officer next to him, who the bubbles were directed at look like an incompetent and weak officer, which I suspect was his intention. I would hope that the female officer took the fascist aside and let him know not to interfere with her work and that she reported him to her superiors for his sexist actions. She had the situation under control, he took her control away and made her look small. I suspect he is the type of man/boy who routinely bullies all women that he comes in contact with and I suspect that he would be the type of boy/man who thinks that when a woman says no she is actually saying yes.
His actions were a disgrace but he will not be disciplined nor will any action taken against him, the only hope is that enough people see the video and that he is treated like the fascist he is, but I suspect that his buddies on the force will laugh and think this is a big joke and reward him for his actions. This kind of behaviour is not acceptable and he should be fired as he brings the concept of law and order into disgrace.
The good folks at G20Justice.com have identified a number of police involved in allegedly illegal behaviour and have identified this officer as
Name: Adam Josephs (Male)
Badge #: 731
Involved In: Fun police. Potential Illegal Searching, Detainment and Arrest of women blowing bubbles.
George Harvey Collegiate Institute '79
Facebook page states occupation as "I collect Human garbage."
His facebook page is a reflection of a smug, egotistical, fascist, who has no understanding of the role of the police in our society and who sees his job as one where he can, I suspect take great pleasure in causing pain and suffering to those he took an oath to serve and protect. He should be fired!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Every day is a blessing
One of the people I work with said to me this morning that everyday that she 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 are 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 ideal 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.
The Buddhist quote for the day: 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...
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 are 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 ideal 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.
The Buddhist quote for the day: 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...
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