TODAY'S QUOTE:
"The future enters into us, in order to transform us, long before it happens.".... Rainer Maria Rilke
This is so very true. For the past few years I've lived this quote with a complete awareness of all unfolding events. I clearly saw an emerging pattern as I traveled one measured footstep to the next. I've stumbled more times than I like to admit, but I never really stopped moving forward. I may not have always known what was ahead, but I always understood what lay behind.
A person can only play hot potato with their life for so long then one of two things just naturally occurs. You either take a firm grip on the lifeline and tug with all your might or release hold forevermore. These seem to be our only possible options. We all reach that place sometime during our lifetime, whether we admit being there afterward is the only uncertainty.
Confessing it to yourself would be a bitter enough task if letting go was the choice made, declaring it to anyone else seems even more brutal. I know few brave enough to publicly avow a willingness to simply exist in a world that offers so many possibilities.
The ones who opt to really live have no reason to conceal their choice. The attempt would be quite useless anyway, since it radiates from every atom. In a real way it's a sacred human metamorphosis. That condition is defined as a striking change in appearance... or character... or circumstances. Humans receive all three, the degree of which is produced in equal measure to however much awareness we experience.
Validation gives everything a depth that you cannot achieve in any other fashion. Staying wide-eyed isn't a cake walk. Seeing things so vividly is empowering, but it's also frightening beyond belief. It feels a bit like watching magic and knowing that by intense concentration you're somehow connected to its outcome. It's around you and of you in such a wondrous way; others feel it too when they allow themselves the pleasure.
People plug into each other and it isn't hard to tell the difference between a negative and a positive based outlet. A fountain or a drain is the same principle. We're all one or the other and it's at that crossroads that we e ach choose which will be our legacy. I guess it takes less energy to flip off a light than it does to turn it on... but living a life without any illumination is a very steep rice to pay for taking the path of least resistance. Think about it.... let it ride.... then You decide!!!!
Monday, October 30, 2006
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Small Pleasures And Tiny Successes
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Life is made up of small pleasures. Happiness is made up of those tiny successes. The big ones come too infrequently. And if you don't collect all these tiny successes, the big ones don't really mean anything.".... Norman Lear
When a person finds joy in the little things life becomes quite magical. There is no need for the constant race for the brass ring when golden nuggets lay scattered everywhere. Delight felt at small pleasures only makes the big ones all the more treasured. It is a child-like quality, but there is nothing childish about being awed by the world and all its treasures, both big and small.
God did an excellent job. I look around at the landscape and feel honored to be here. Sometimes it is hard to find the beauty inside of humans, but it is there in all of us in some fashion. If we would look more closely at one another then maybe it would be easier. You can stare at a sunset or a butterfly for however long it lingers within eye-shot. But if you stare at a human too long you invite a black eye. We just don't make as much eye contact as we ought, life is too fast paced for long lingering glances... unless we slow its rotation.
Decreases in speed are hard to make without feeling as if you are suddenly in an altered dimension, separated from the rest of humanity. But, who are we racing? Each other? Ourselves? Who's gonna judge the winner? The losers will be easy to point out. They will be on riverbank, and seashore. They will be strolling shaded forests paths and bench sitting in quiet gardens. They will be the ones gently smiling or giggling out a merry symphony.
I will be with them. The only way to find the joy in simple things is to get acquainted with some. A sunbeam can make your heart soar. A rainbow can take your breath away. Did you know that? I bet most who read here know it well, at least that is my hope.
If you want to race... trot on by me, please. In life is it really a good thing to get to the finish line first? Read that again realllll slowwwww.... and then.... as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
"Life is made up of small pleasures. Happiness is made up of those tiny successes. The big ones come too infrequently. And if you don't collect all these tiny successes, the big ones don't really mean anything.".... Norman Lear
When a person finds joy in the little things life becomes quite magical. There is no need for the constant race for the brass ring when golden nuggets lay scattered everywhere. Delight felt at small pleasures only makes the big ones all the more treasured. It is a child-like quality, but there is nothing childish about being awed by the world and all its treasures, both big and small.
God did an excellent job. I look around at the landscape and feel honored to be here. Sometimes it is hard to find the beauty inside of humans, but it is there in all of us in some fashion. If we would look more closely at one another then maybe it would be easier. You can stare at a sunset or a butterfly for however long it lingers within eye-shot. But if you stare at a human too long you invite a black eye. We just don't make as much eye contact as we ought, life is too fast paced for long lingering glances... unless we slow its rotation.
Decreases in speed are hard to make without feeling as if you are suddenly in an altered dimension, separated from the rest of humanity. But, who are we racing? Each other? Ourselves? Who's gonna judge the winner? The losers will be easy to point out. They will be on riverbank, and seashore. They will be strolling shaded forests paths and bench sitting in quiet gardens. They will be the ones gently smiling or giggling out a merry symphony.
I will be with them. The only way to find the joy in simple things is to get acquainted with some. A sunbeam can make your heart soar. A rainbow can take your breath away. Did you know that? I bet most who read here know it well, at least that is my hope.
If you want to race... trot on by me, please. In life is it really a good thing to get to the finish line first? Read that again realllll slowwwww.... and then.... as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
Saturday, October 28, 2006
The Hardest Tumble
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"The hardest tumble a man can make is to fall over his own bluff.".... Ambrose Bierce, 1842-1914, American Author/Editor/Journalist
Bluffs are deceptions that are often accompanied by an implied ultimatum of one sort or another. When we use either a bluff or ultimatum it puts instant pressure on someone else to react in a certain fashion. And any human placed under pressure can explode in the most disastrous ways. Pretenses used to frighten someone into a state of submission are weapons that often backfire. In games of chance or just life in general it's always safer to place bets on a winning hand.
If your position is strong there's no need to resort to subterfuge. If your position is weak no amount of bluffing will ever gain you more than a momentary victory. The wisest option is always to bet on a winning hand. Any form of manipulation is instantly tainted. Winning isn't everything. A battle won at any price often costs a loss of the entite war. Bet on a sure hand and live to fight another day. Bluff too hard and give that right away. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!
"The hardest tumble a man can make is to fall over his own bluff.".... Ambrose Bierce, 1842-1914, American Author/Editor/Journalist
Bluffs are deceptions that are often accompanied by an implied ultimatum of one sort or another. When we use either a bluff or ultimatum it puts instant pressure on someone else to react in a certain fashion. And any human placed under pressure can explode in the most disastrous ways. Pretenses used to frighten someone into a state of submission are weapons that often backfire. In games of chance or just life in general it's always safer to place bets on a winning hand.
If your position is strong there's no need to resort to subterfuge. If your position is weak no amount of bluffing will ever gain you more than a momentary victory. The wisest option is always to bet on a winning hand. Any form of manipulation is instantly tainted. Winning isn't everything. A battle won at any price often costs a loss of the entite war. Bet on a sure hand and live to fight another day. Bluff too hard and give that right away. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!
Friday, October 27, 2006
Speculators
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"A speculator is a man who observes the future and acts before it occurs.".... Bernard M. Baruch, 1870-1965, American Financier and Statesman
A speculator is someone who risks losses for the possibility of considerable gains. I guess in every way that really matters, I fit into that category. Gamblers will wager their last dime for fortunes sake. The roll of the dice or the flip of the cards only takes a moment, and in that brief slice of time lives are in the balance.
I don't have the stomach for placing my livelihood into Lady Lucks hands, just the very thought gives me chills. I risk nothing material, yet wager all that I have for the sake of an emotional windfall. In my own way I hit the jackpot finally. It took more guts than I realized I even possessed... it's been a very wild ride, indeed. And I'd do it all again in a heart-beat to have what I have now.
Love sometimes demands that we crawl out on the tiniest of branches. And it makes us quite desperate with hope that the person we love isn't armed with evil intent and a sharp saw. Free-falling in that fashion is brutal. I know well the agony of laying prone because I put my faith in the wrong person. I 'spect many who read here share similar experiences.
Some people shrivel up emotionally and grow bitter after their very first unexpected tumble and sudden stop. Fear keeps them forevermore out of trees, off of limbs, and away from saw-blades. Other's erect thick walls to keep people out as a way to feel safe. Prisons as sturdy as any built with stone and barbed-wire are jails for souls forever punished by being cell-mate to the pain that incarcerated them in the first place.
One person may try to blend into the scenery, while another seeks attention; even negative stroking seems better than none in some people's twisted estimation. Most acting out is simply pain struggling for some sort of relief. I often wonder why I didn't adopt all of these symptoms, I've certainly had enough reasons. I've had more than my fair share of momentary binges, but none of them suited me for the long run.
It's the future that I staked all or nothing against. But I never lost sight of the possibility of losing; it was and still is the trying that matters most. Invest in yourself somehow, but don't forget what's at stake. Decide that what if's aren't the legacy you want to be imprisoned inside of during your golden years.
If you have walls, tear them down. If you're in prison, storm the gates. If you blend in, try standing out. If you're acting out channel that energy into something worth while. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
"A speculator is a man who observes the future and acts before it occurs.".... Bernard M. Baruch, 1870-1965, American Financier and Statesman
A speculator is someone who risks losses for the possibility of considerable gains. I guess in every way that really matters, I fit into that category. Gamblers will wager their last dime for fortunes sake. The roll of the dice or the flip of the cards only takes a moment, and in that brief slice of time lives are in the balance.
I don't have the stomach for placing my livelihood into Lady Lucks hands, just the very thought gives me chills. I risk nothing material, yet wager all that I have for the sake of an emotional windfall. In my own way I hit the jackpot finally. It took more guts than I realized I even possessed... it's been a very wild ride, indeed. And I'd do it all again in a heart-beat to have what I have now.
Love sometimes demands that we crawl out on the tiniest of branches. And it makes us quite desperate with hope that the person we love isn't armed with evil intent and a sharp saw. Free-falling in that fashion is brutal. I know well the agony of laying prone because I put my faith in the wrong person. I 'spect many who read here share similar experiences.
Some people shrivel up emotionally and grow bitter after their very first unexpected tumble and sudden stop. Fear keeps them forevermore out of trees, off of limbs, and away from saw-blades. Other's erect thick walls to keep people out as a way to feel safe. Prisons as sturdy as any built with stone and barbed-wire are jails for souls forever punished by being cell-mate to the pain that incarcerated them in the first place.
One person may try to blend into the scenery, while another seeks attention; even negative stroking seems better than none in some people's twisted estimation. Most acting out is simply pain struggling for some sort of relief. I often wonder why I didn't adopt all of these symptoms, I've certainly had enough reasons. I've had more than my fair share of momentary binges, but none of them suited me for the long run.
It's the future that I staked all or nothing against. But I never lost sight of the possibility of losing; it was and still is the trying that matters most. Invest in yourself somehow, but don't forget what's at stake. Decide that what if's aren't the legacy you want to be imprisoned inside of during your golden years.
If you have walls, tear them down. If you're in prison, storm the gates. If you blend in, try standing out. If you're acting out channel that energy into something worth while. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Individual Life
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"The life of the individual only has meaning insofar as it aids in making the life of every living thing nobler and more beautiful. Life is sacred that is to say, it is the supreme value to which all other values are subordinate.".... Albert Einstein
Making the world a better place is something that everyone has the power to do, yet not all of us make much of an effort. Our orbit may be limited, but our reach is a lot longer than we realize. When we gently touch another human their spirit reacts in a positive fashion then they pay it forward... and so on... and on... and on.
One caress multiplies into the next in an almost unending flow and in the most natural way the world we inhabit becomes a gentler place. We can choose to send out positive or negative, but in either case we are al lot like human sponges. We really do reap whatever we sow and only have ourselves to blame when we let the negative overrule the positive. We either breath life into things or we suck the life out of them... just don't be a sucker... it's just that simple.
Hell, some things are just naturally irritating. The smallest little bit of nothing can make us into blubbering idiots if we give it the least amount of encouragement. Most times I just laugh at the small shit; living through life and death issues has a way of rearranging our priorities. But... I'm as human as anyone else and sometimes the small shit gets on my last nerve.
When anything has me by the short hairs, I do my best not to spread the spew on people who don't deserve to share. In fact... I don't very often spew on even the one's who do merit a fair share of bull-shit. I have found that I get little or no comfort from arguments with folks who could care less anyway. I worry most about how I can cope and let them wallow in their own mire.
I may take a walk and have a silent chat with myself. Pointing out just what an upset really costs is a sure way of leaving it laying somewhere along the trail back home. Or I read a good book. Or I mop a floor. Or I smell some roses. Or I take a bubble bath. Hell, there have been times when I exhausted that list and had to begin again before the attitude adjustment took effect. The real cost is to each of us. And no matter what happens we have the ability to bounce back if we only refuse to lay where life lands us when things go amiss.
So grab a book instead of a neck. Take a walk instead of a punch. Mop a floor instead of wetting your face with tears of regret. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
"The life of the individual only has meaning insofar as it aids in making the life of every living thing nobler and more beautiful. Life is sacred that is to say, it is the supreme value to which all other values are subordinate.".... Albert Einstein
Making the world a better place is something that everyone has the power to do, yet not all of us make much of an effort. Our orbit may be limited, but our reach is a lot longer than we realize. When we gently touch another human their spirit reacts in a positive fashion then they pay it forward... and so on... and on... and on.
One caress multiplies into the next in an almost unending flow and in the most natural way the world we inhabit becomes a gentler place. We can choose to send out positive or negative, but in either case we are al lot like human sponges. We really do reap whatever we sow and only have ourselves to blame when we let the negative overrule the positive. We either breath life into things or we suck the life out of them... just don't be a sucker... it's just that simple.
Hell, some things are just naturally irritating. The smallest little bit of nothing can make us into blubbering idiots if we give it the least amount of encouragement. Most times I just laugh at the small shit; living through life and death issues has a way of rearranging our priorities. But... I'm as human as anyone else and sometimes the small shit gets on my last nerve.
When anything has me by the short hairs, I do my best not to spread the spew on people who don't deserve to share. In fact... I don't very often spew on even the one's who do merit a fair share of bull-shit. I have found that I get little or no comfort from arguments with folks who could care less anyway. I worry most about how I can cope and let them wallow in their own mire.
I may take a walk and have a silent chat with myself. Pointing out just what an upset really costs is a sure way of leaving it laying somewhere along the trail back home. Or I read a good book. Or I mop a floor. Or I smell some roses. Or I take a bubble bath. Hell, there have been times when I exhausted that list and had to begin again before the attitude adjustment took effect. The real cost is to each of us. And no matter what happens we have the ability to bounce back if we only refuse to lay where life lands us when things go amiss.
So grab a book instead of a neck. Take a walk instead of a punch. Mop a floor instead of wetting your face with tears of regret. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
One Step At A Time
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Take a deep breath, count to ten, and tackle each task one step at a time.".... Linda Shalaway
I'm a perfect, yet so imperfect example of this quote in action and inaction, if you know what I mean. Today's date is 11-11 and this post date is 10-25, which makes me behind by anyone's calculations. Even grading on a curve won't help me here.
I thought about just scrolling past all the yesterdays, finding today, and starting over from there. Often times that is all we can do to correct a tilted situation. But... damn'it I worked so hard choosing these quotes, loading them on my calendar, then loading them here. Well, I just figure there's no sane reason to reload a gun that hasn't even been fired.
Redoing is such a pain in the ass, anyway. It resembles food handling too much to be anything except an irritating chore. By the time you pick stuff up off the shelf... place it in your cart... put it up on the counter... put it back in the the cart... l0ad it in your car... unload it at home... then put it all away... well the thought of dragging any of it back out to cook makes most sane people want to eat out. My writing is a joy, so turning it into a chore just defeats the purpose.
You who read here are stuck with me in about fifteen more yesterday's until I can stumble through to an eventual today and get back on track. My mother's illness slowed me down some. We all have times like that, so please don't disregard the dates that don't match. Yesterday's have lessons to teach all of us, and these quotes are gentle one's. I'm sorry that you have to pay for them by reading my dribble. But... this is life, after all... and nothing is free. Thank You ALL for your patience. And as always.... think about it.... let it grow.... then decide!!!!
"Take a deep breath, count to ten, and tackle each task one step at a time.".... Linda Shalaway
I'm a perfect, yet so imperfect example of this quote in action and inaction, if you know what I mean. Today's date is 11-11 and this post date is 10-25, which makes me behind by anyone's calculations. Even grading on a curve won't help me here.
I thought about just scrolling past all the yesterdays, finding today, and starting over from there. Often times that is all we can do to correct a tilted situation. But... damn'it I worked so hard choosing these quotes, loading them on my calendar, then loading them here. Well, I just figure there's no sane reason to reload a gun that hasn't even been fired.
Redoing is such a pain in the ass, anyway. It resembles food handling too much to be anything except an irritating chore. By the time you pick stuff up off the shelf... place it in your cart... put it up on the counter... put it back in the the cart... l0ad it in your car... unload it at home... then put it all away... well the thought of dragging any of it back out to cook makes most sane people want to eat out. My writing is a joy, so turning it into a chore just defeats the purpose.
You who read here are stuck with me in about fifteen more yesterday's until I can stumble through to an eventual today and get back on track. My mother's illness slowed me down some. We all have times like that, so please don't disregard the dates that don't match. Yesterday's have lessons to teach all of us, and these quotes are gentle one's. I'm sorry that you have to pay for them by reading my dribble. But... this is life, after all... and nothing is free. Thank You ALL for your patience. And as always.... think about it.... let it grow.... then decide!!!!
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
The Sisterhood
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"I only really understand myself, what I'm really thinking and feelings, when I've talked it over with my circle of female friends. When days go by without that connection, I feel like a radio playing in an empty room.".... Anna Quindlen
I call it the sisterhood... it's that special connection women have toward each other. Nobody understands me quite as well or loves me as unconditionally as my sisters. On paper I don't have any female siblings, but in reality I have dozens. Some much closer than others, but all beloved to me.
There are thousands I do not know who possess qualities that would also guarantee them a special spot in my adopted family. In one way or another we are all linked in a unique way. Some of us are bonded by joy, some by sorrow, each connection linked by a bridge of indestructible material. I see it as a bond that can support any weight.
Whenever I'm frightened... or sad... or happy... or mad... or lost, I can always find just what is needed to restore my balance in a chat with a very special few. I love all my sisters, yet it is hard not to simply adore the very few who need no words to tell them how bad I ache or why. When there are no apt words available it is a real comfort not to need them. Out of all of them I do have a very favorite who feels the very same about me... a twin soul and although I don't love her any deeper than the other's I certainly love her quite differently.
Salute sisters, old and new. Love all ya' girls, and simply adore my special few. Take the love and pay it forward. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!
"I only really understand myself, what I'm really thinking and feelings, when I've talked it over with my circle of female friends. When days go by without that connection, I feel like a radio playing in an empty room.".... Anna Quindlen
I call it the sisterhood... it's that special connection women have toward each other. Nobody understands me quite as well or loves me as unconditionally as my sisters. On paper I don't have any female siblings, but in reality I have dozens. Some much closer than others, but all beloved to me.
There are thousands I do not know who possess qualities that would also guarantee them a special spot in my adopted family. In one way or another we are all linked in a unique way. Some of us are bonded by joy, some by sorrow, each connection linked by a bridge of indestructible material. I see it as a bond that can support any weight.
Whenever I'm frightened... or sad... or happy... or mad... or lost, I can always find just what is needed to restore my balance in a chat with a very special few. I love all my sisters, yet it is hard not to simply adore the very few who need no words to tell them how bad I ache or why. When there are no apt words available it is a real comfort not to need them. Out of all of them I do have a very favorite who feels the very same about me... a twin soul and although I don't love her any deeper than the other's I certainly love her quite differently.
Salute sisters, old and new. Love all ya' girls, and simply adore my special few. Take the love and pay it forward. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!
Monday, October 23, 2006
Frightening Ideas
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones.".... John Cage
The deepest ruts are always constructed of old petrified notions we are just too bull-headed or frightened to abandon. A mind caught up in how things have always been done, never achieves an awareness of just how wonderful change can be, or how empowering. Doing things just a bit differently makes all the difference in the oddest fashion. A snowball rolling downhill can cause an avalanche. And humans are more powerful than any snowball. It must be the rolling that makes all the difference.
Ruts are predictably flat and over crowded. No room there for even a half-hearted tumble, let alone a decent roll. Final freedom demands firm alterations of all programmed movements. Most times we are the ones holding ourselves rutward. Go find a hill. Lean forward and free-fall into life. Why not????
For many years I was more fearful of things staying the same than I ever was of alterations to the status quo.
Hell, nobody with half a brain wants things to stay horrid when just a few steps forward will change everything. I stepped forward and the momentum has carried me to the place I rest in nowadays. The thought of the past being my future is not something that occurs to me anymore.
Why should I bother with worry over what could never happen in a million years? Why would I waste any time fretting over the impossible? I will just continue to lean forward and allow life to move me on to better and better tomorrows until joy is where I abide twenty-four, seven. And I can say with confidence that I am very near my dreamed of destination. All that is left is the settling in that comes naturally to every relocation. I just need my stuff, the rest is already here.
That seems the wisest plan. I could have gone off course and missed my mark altogether, but I thank God that was not my fate. I took a few detours that I would not repeat if I could go back, but none of them were the mistakes made by a rut-dweller.
Tumble on snowballs. See you at the bottom of the hill. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones.".... John Cage
The deepest ruts are always constructed of old petrified notions we are just too bull-headed or frightened to abandon. A mind caught up in how things have always been done, never achieves an awareness of just how wonderful change can be, or how empowering. Doing things just a bit differently makes all the difference in the oddest fashion. A snowball rolling downhill can cause an avalanche. And humans are more powerful than any snowball. It must be the rolling that makes all the difference.
Ruts are predictably flat and over crowded. No room there for even a half-hearted tumble, let alone a decent roll. Final freedom demands firm alterations of all programmed movements. Most times we are the ones holding ourselves rutward. Go find a hill. Lean forward and free-fall into life. Why not????
For many years I was more fearful of things staying the same than I ever was of alterations to the status quo.
Hell, nobody with half a brain wants things to stay horrid when just a few steps forward will change everything. I stepped forward and the momentum has carried me to the place I rest in nowadays. The thought of the past being my future is not something that occurs to me anymore.
Why should I bother with worry over what could never happen in a million years? Why would I waste any time fretting over the impossible? I will just continue to lean forward and allow life to move me on to better and better tomorrows until joy is where I abide twenty-four, seven. And I can say with confidence that I am very near my dreamed of destination. All that is left is the settling in that comes naturally to every relocation. I just need my stuff, the rest is already here.
That seems the wisest plan. I could have gone off course and missed my mark altogether, but I thank God that was not my fate. I took a few detours that I would not repeat if I could go back, but none of them were the mistakes made by a rut-dweller.
Tumble on snowballs. See you at the bottom of the hill. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Cruel Opportunities
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Cruelty, like every other vice, requires no motive outside of itself; it only requires opportunity.".... George Eliot, 1819-1880, English Female Novelist (pen name of Mary Ann Evans)
The cruelties performed by one human against another are not limited to enemies; sometimes the worst damage is done by the very people who claim they love you the most. I was a victim of this twice in my lifetime. And for a time, I feared it was a pattern I was doomed to repeat. Remaining alone seemed the only alternative.
I know better now. Never again will a harsh voice or rough hands be acceptable in anyone I share space with on any level. Love should never be painful in intent. Loving is an honor not a punishment. Comfort comes from those who love us, and if it does not... they love us very poorly or not at all, not really.
Brutality is not a loving gesture. A raised voice or hand demands submission, and it is nigh to impossible to adore what inspires fear and agony. I loved the man my husband could have been and in many ways he finally became that man. But in the process I walked through a fire whose heat remains warm enough to scorch my soul and blister my feet if I allow my mind to linger on that long ago inferno.
The past is gone. No measure of wishes can change what is done. Delete just does not apply. There is no rewind available in life and fast forwarding wastes precious time. I do not have any more to spare on lost causes. I fully appreciate my reality now and the future has most of my undivided attention nowadays. Looking backward never gets you ahead once its lessons are truly learned. Living every moment to its fullest is the only way to give real honor to whatever strength was fairly earned from whatever came before the here and now.
I received a flash movie today that I sent to my mate and I share it here. If you know such a man share it with him as a way to say how much you treasure his true strength. If you do not know someone who fits this description use it as a pattern for the kind of man you wish to meet. If you are such a man you have my respect. If you are not such a man I wonder why not. Maybe this will inspire whatever changes needed to deserve to be called a man with real strength. Check it out in either case. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
Click on the link below. Turn up your speakers, and enjoy the scenery.
http://www.inspiringthots.net/movie/strength-man.php
"Cruelty, like every other vice, requires no motive outside of itself; it only requires opportunity.".... George Eliot, 1819-1880, English Female Novelist (pen name of Mary Ann Evans)
The cruelties performed by one human against another are not limited to enemies; sometimes the worst damage is done by the very people who claim they love you the most. I was a victim of this twice in my lifetime. And for a time, I feared it was a pattern I was doomed to repeat. Remaining alone seemed the only alternative.
I know better now. Never again will a harsh voice or rough hands be acceptable in anyone I share space with on any level. Love should never be painful in intent. Loving is an honor not a punishment. Comfort comes from those who love us, and if it does not... they love us very poorly or not at all, not really.
Brutality is not a loving gesture. A raised voice or hand demands submission, and it is nigh to impossible to adore what inspires fear and agony. I loved the man my husband could have been and in many ways he finally became that man. But in the process I walked through a fire whose heat remains warm enough to scorch my soul and blister my feet if I allow my mind to linger on that long ago inferno.
The past is gone. No measure of wishes can change what is done. Delete just does not apply. There is no rewind available in life and fast forwarding wastes precious time. I do not have any more to spare on lost causes. I fully appreciate my reality now and the future has most of my undivided attention nowadays. Looking backward never gets you ahead once its lessons are truly learned. Living every moment to its fullest is the only way to give real honor to whatever strength was fairly earned from whatever came before the here and now.
I received a flash movie today that I sent to my mate and I share it here. If you know such a man share it with him as a way to say how much you treasure his true strength. If you do not know someone who fits this description use it as a pattern for the kind of man you wish to meet. If you are such a man you have my respect. If you are not such a man I wonder why not. Maybe this will inspire whatever changes needed to deserve to be called a man with real strength. Check it out in either case. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
Click on the link below. Turn up your speakers, and enjoy the scenery.
http://www.inspiringthots.net/movie/strength-man.php
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Humbugs
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"What humbugs we are, who pretend to live for Beauty, and never see the Dawn!".... Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865-1946, American Writer
Humbug is defined as communication (written or spoken) intended to deceive. This quote accuses some of us of misrepresentation, but I believe most humbuggery of this sort is meant to soothe ourselves more than to trick anyone else.
Every human has a natural love of beauty of some sort, yet too few of us create all that much in the space in which we orbit. We are all capable, but life often overburdens us with negatives that shadow even the most picturesque landscape. It is simply impossible to see the stars while a storm rages overhead.
Ducking for cover is meant to be used for preservation not illumination. Personal safety naturally takes precedence over the contemplation of beauty, yet it is the very people who live in shadow that need its soothing balm the most. Wonders both large and small surround each of us, noticing them amid the clutter takes energy we do not always possess.
Take time to explore the positives when there is a break in your stormy season. Utilize just a moment to point out a vivid image to someone who is hard pressed to find one on their own. Expand your own horizons by profit sharing any treasures. Beauty is enhanced when illuminated... heightened when shared... multiplied by the value we place in it... and eternal once placed inside our memory.
Look around in any chosen direction. Bright gems gleam amid the debris. Stuff your trunk full to overflowing. Fill your pockets. Pay it forward and expand its reach. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
"What humbugs we are, who pretend to live for Beauty, and never see the Dawn!".... Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865-1946, American Writer
Humbug is defined as communication (written or spoken) intended to deceive. This quote accuses some of us of misrepresentation, but I believe most humbuggery of this sort is meant to soothe ourselves more than to trick anyone else.
Every human has a natural love of beauty of some sort, yet too few of us create all that much in the space in which we orbit. We are all capable, but life often overburdens us with negatives that shadow even the most picturesque landscape. It is simply impossible to see the stars while a storm rages overhead.
Ducking for cover is meant to be used for preservation not illumination. Personal safety naturally takes precedence over the contemplation of beauty, yet it is the very people who live in shadow that need its soothing balm the most. Wonders both large and small surround each of us, noticing them amid the clutter takes energy we do not always possess.
Take time to explore the positives when there is a break in your stormy season. Utilize just a moment to point out a vivid image to someone who is hard pressed to find one on their own. Expand your own horizons by profit sharing any treasures. Beauty is enhanced when illuminated... heightened when shared... multiplied by the value we place in it... and eternal once placed inside our memory.
Look around in any chosen direction. Bright gems gleam amid the debris. Stuff your trunk full to overflowing. Fill your pockets. Pay it forward and expand its reach. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
Friday, October 20, 2006
When In Doubt
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"When in doubt, tell the truth.".... Mark Twain
The truth will set you free. But lies will always tangle you up in tight little knots. Which is the choice of the wisest among us, no matter what the issue? The simple fact is that even a brutal truth is much better than any lie ever spoken. Lying is not one of my bad habits... and I do have my fair share. Telling one feels completely unnatural... hearing one is often painful... and living one almost stole my lifetime for no good cause.
I do not deal well with lies... and I do not deal with liars at all once they show their true colors. One falsehood serves as fair warning, the second is a certain ending of whatever could have been. Dealing with reality demands my full attention, coping with the truth simply takes all the strength I can muster. Bull-shit stinks plenty bad enough without me stirring it up, trying to find a thread of fact among a mountain of fabrications.
Even a white lie can have repercussions we never considered when we were spinning it inside our heads. Out of misplaced kindness we often do others a real disservice. If I ask you if I look fat in something and I do, please tell the truth. If you allow me to look foolish what kind of favor are you granting.
Just because it is an unpleasant truth does not mean it has to be said with the force of a sledge hammer. Even negatives can be voiced in a positive fashion that benefits everyone involved. Blunting the tip so it is not able to fatally pierce someone's heart is one thing, twisting it out of focus completely is a real injustice.
People sometimes mark their maps or change direction because of things said by people they love or respect. How respectable and loving is it to lie? Being the reason someone else becomes lost in a land of fantasy is criminal. I have been a victim of that more than once and I do not praise the people who misled me.
Tell the truth. Demand it from others. Voice it gently. Hear it fairly. Be strong enough to do both well and the total trust of your peers will be your certain reward. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!
"When in doubt, tell the truth.".... Mark Twain
The truth will set you free. But lies will always tangle you up in tight little knots. Which is the choice of the wisest among us, no matter what the issue? The simple fact is that even a brutal truth is much better than any lie ever spoken. Lying is not one of my bad habits... and I do have my fair share. Telling one feels completely unnatural... hearing one is often painful... and living one almost stole my lifetime for no good cause.
I do not deal well with lies... and I do not deal with liars at all once they show their true colors. One falsehood serves as fair warning, the second is a certain ending of whatever could have been. Dealing with reality demands my full attention, coping with the truth simply takes all the strength I can muster. Bull-shit stinks plenty bad enough without me stirring it up, trying to find a thread of fact among a mountain of fabrications.
Even a white lie can have repercussions we never considered when we were spinning it inside our heads. Out of misplaced kindness we often do others a real disservice. If I ask you if I look fat in something and I do, please tell the truth. If you allow me to look foolish what kind of favor are you granting.
Just because it is an unpleasant truth does not mean it has to be said with the force of a sledge hammer. Even negatives can be voiced in a positive fashion that benefits everyone involved. Blunting the tip so it is not able to fatally pierce someone's heart is one thing, twisting it out of focus completely is a real injustice.
People sometimes mark their maps or change direction because of things said by people they love or respect. How respectable and loving is it to lie? Being the reason someone else becomes lost in a land of fantasy is criminal. I have been a victim of that more than once and I do not praise the people who misled me.
Tell the truth. Demand it from others. Voice it gently. Hear it fairly. Be strong enough to do both well and the total trust of your peers will be your certain reward. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!
Thursday, October 19, 2006
A Thin Dangerous Stream
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.".... Arthur Somers Roche
A healthy attitude is vital to peace of mind and silence of the soul. Positive fuels positive, while negatives feed their own, and the choice is always ours to make. Letting worry rule the roost is such a dangerous option. Chicken Little simply cannot be relied upon to do anything except run in circles and predict gloom and doom.
We often reinforce our doubts, yet too seldom encourage our hopes and dreams. The purity of what is soul based deserves all the assistance we can muster. Panic and depression should never be given any ground to build upon, given even an inch they build skyscrapers that overshadow everything for miles around.
It would be unnatural to expect that worry could not find admittance just because we bar the door. Doubts are like wisps of smoke that travel through any crack in our armor. If we leave that puff of smoke alone it will create a spark and in no time at all a blazing inferno will erupt. It is much wiser to blow that wisp of doubt away with a gust of hope than to simply wait and become consumed by the flames.
Channel your thoughts. Produce a river that flows in the direction you wish to travel. Build a reservoir of confidence. Sail upon gentle waters under your control, instead of simply drifting aimlessly upon a stormy sea of doubts and fears. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
"Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.".... Arthur Somers Roche
A healthy attitude is vital to peace of mind and silence of the soul. Positive fuels positive, while negatives feed their own, and the choice is always ours to make. Letting worry rule the roost is such a dangerous option. Chicken Little simply cannot be relied upon to do anything except run in circles and predict gloom and doom.
We often reinforce our doubts, yet too seldom encourage our hopes and dreams. The purity of what is soul based deserves all the assistance we can muster. Panic and depression should never be given any ground to build upon, given even an inch they build skyscrapers that overshadow everything for miles around.
It would be unnatural to expect that worry could not find admittance just because we bar the door. Doubts are like wisps of smoke that travel through any crack in our armor. If we leave that puff of smoke alone it will create a spark and in no time at all a blazing inferno will erupt. It is much wiser to blow that wisp of doubt away with a gust of hope than to simply wait and become consumed by the flames.
Channel your thoughts. Produce a river that flows in the direction you wish to travel. Build a reservoir of confidence. Sail upon gentle waters under your control, instead of simply drifting aimlessly upon a stormy sea of doubts and fears. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
One Major Rule
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"I have one major rule: Everybody is right. More specifically, everybody including me —has some important pieces of the truth, and all of those pieces need to be honored, cherished, and included in a more gracious, spacious, and compassionate embrace.".... Ken Wilber
Amen to that!!!! We not only need to respect the opinions of others, but also value our own enough to feel they are equally as valid. Too often we dismiss our own wishes in favor of other people. Sometimes that is the right thing to do, but the reason should never be because we doubt our wishes are as important.
Life and death issues call upon us to sacrifice time and energy for someone else's sake. That is a valid reason to think that their issues out weigh our own. But just because someone is louder or fiercer at putting their point across does not make it any righter or more valid than ours. And giving in to placate a bully only sets up a pattern of behavior on both sides that locks any doors leading toward compromise.
And compromising never means giving in to unreasonable demands. If we are dealing with someone who has no respect for our opinion a true meeting of the minds is impossible. Point of view is unique to each of us, comparing them broadens everyone's perspective. So next time around make yourself a real part of any interaction and open some eyes to what makes you special. Chances are your perspective of your own worth will increase with each and every application of the one major rule in today's quote. Apply it often and be gentle with yourself. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
"I have one major rule: Everybody is right. More specifically, everybody including me —has some important pieces of the truth, and all of those pieces need to be honored, cherished, and included in a more gracious, spacious, and compassionate embrace.".... Ken Wilber
Amen to that!!!! We not only need to respect the opinions of others, but also value our own enough to feel they are equally as valid. Too often we dismiss our own wishes in favor of other people. Sometimes that is the right thing to do, but the reason should never be because we doubt our wishes are as important.
Life and death issues call upon us to sacrifice time and energy for someone else's sake. That is a valid reason to think that their issues out weigh our own. But just because someone is louder or fiercer at putting their point across does not make it any righter or more valid than ours. And giving in to placate a bully only sets up a pattern of behavior on both sides that locks any doors leading toward compromise.
And compromising never means giving in to unreasonable demands. If we are dealing with someone who has no respect for our opinion a true meeting of the minds is impossible. Point of view is unique to each of us, comparing them broadens everyone's perspective. So next time around make yourself a real part of any interaction and open some eyes to what makes you special. Chances are your perspective of your own worth will increase with each and every application of the one major rule in today's quote. Apply it often and be gentle with yourself. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
Monday, October 16, 2006
Changes
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Change your thoughts, and you change your world.".... Norman Vincent Peale
The brain is such a powerful tool, too often under-used or under-fed, yet it is capable of so much more than the obvious. But... without control over what enters... then whatever direction it takes once inside, we are at the mercy of a tyrant. Jumping through hoops held out over steep drops is a common practice of any of us who just let our minds drift. And that makes about as much sense as sky-diving without a parachute.
Minds left to idly wander go places not worth visiting and always create such havoc in the process. But, a bit of protection goes a long way. Our computers are never left unprotected, yet too many of us leave the fire walls down inside our minds. We suffer the same sort of melt down when overloaded inside our human computer as a mechanical one. Why stuff your circuits with bull-shit negatives that only blue screen the brain?
A thought has no merit just because we think it, a lot of notions are better dismissed as soon as they appear. Some are profound and of worth beyond their weight in gold. Some are simply bothersome pop ups that should be instantly closed and forgotten. But without careful evaluation of the treasures and instant tossing of the debris, they all get wadded up together in a mighty tangle.
A gridlock of the brain is not a pleasant experience. The more you allow your mind to ramble the more it will voice nonsense that upends any hope of measured thought. Without control how can we ever expect to.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
"Change your thoughts, and you change your world.".... Norman Vincent Peale
The brain is such a powerful tool, too often under-used or under-fed, yet it is capable of so much more than the obvious. But... without control over what enters... then whatever direction it takes once inside, we are at the mercy of a tyrant. Jumping through hoops held out over steep drops is a common practice of any of us who just let our minds drift. And that makes about as much sense as sky-diving without a parachute.
Minds left to idly wander go places not worth visiting and always create such havoc in the process. But, a bit of protection goes a long way. Our computers are never left unprotected, yet too many of us leave the fire walls down inside our minds. We suffer the same sort of melt down when overloaded inside our human computer as a mechanical one. Why stuff your circuits with bull-shit negatives that only blue screen the brain?
A thought has no merit just because we think it, a lot of notions are better dismissed as soon as they appear. Some are profound and of worth beyond their weight in gold. Some are simply bothersome pop ups that should be instantly closed and forgotten. But without careful evaluation of the treasures and instant tossing of the debris, they all get wadded up together in a mighty tangle.
A gridlock of the brain is not a pleasant experience. The more you allow your mind to ramble the more it will voice nonsense that upends any hope of measured thought. Without control how can we ever expect to.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
Saturday, October 14, 2006
A Guiding Force
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"By learning to contact, to listen to, and act on our intuition, we can directly connect to the higher power of the universe and allow it to become our guiding force.".... Shakti Gawain
Intuition is a soul based ability. Knowing what lives deep inside is not something that just happens haphazardly. We each have to journey there and find our soul's voice then honor it by listening closely to all things, large and small. No matter what issue we face it possesses solutions that will bring about internal peace and external balance. And there are no hidden agendas to puzzle over, unlike most voices that chatter in our ear.
A guiding force centered in the deepest part of our soul is a leader worth following. That gentle, yet fierce portion of self should be ruler of all things. Leaving any other layer of self in charge places the whole under the complete control of a tyrant. Every single bit of useful information is soul-stored.
Downloads of anything that will bring about balance to any separate level or harmony to all is an automatic human feature. With tools available we can weather any storm, but having them does not guarantee their use. We have to be hands on or risk crashing and burning at every turn.
It seems so foolish to not make good use of what is a God-given database. Being clueless about what will bring us peace is pointless self-destruction. The information is right at our fingertips. The courage and strength needed to reach for it is often inspired from a mighty desperation born in a soul that feels itself being executed. That is where mine came from and once I tapped into it, it has continued to bless me with its magical fortitude.
So what if the journey to reach core depth is difficult? Why fight against what is simply a natural consequence of however much debris we have placed in our own path? What a foolish waste of time and energy it is to complain about our self-made messes. Wiser by far to just begin cleanup in as cheerful a state of mind as possible.
That sacred journey is one each of us have the same opportunity to make. There are no man-made limitations to reaching our chosen internal destinations. Issues of financial worth or location upon the planet have no impact on success or failure. If we do not reach the depth needed for total peace it is only because we stopped digging.
Grab a shovel... or use a spade... find a spoon... or dig with your bare hands if necessary. But, for God's sake... do not be satisfied to live a life that only skims the surface of what is possible. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
"By learning to contact, to listen to, and act on our intuition, we can directly connect to the higher power of the universe and allow it to become our guiding force.".... Shakti Gawain
Intuition is a soul based ability. Knowing what lives deep inside is not something that just happens haphazardly. We each have to journey there and find our soul's voice then honor it by listening closely to all things, large and small. No matter what issue we face it possesses solutions that will bring about internal peace and external balance. And there are no hidden agendas to puzzle over, unlike most voices that chatter in our ear.
A guiding force centered in the deepest part of our soul is a leader worth following. That gentle, yet fierce portion of self should be ruler of all things. Leaving any other layer of self in charge places the whole under the complete control of a tyrant. Every single bit of useful information is soul-stored.
Downloads of anything that will bring about balance to any separate level or harmony to all is an automatic human feature. With tools available we can weather any storm, but having them does not guarantee their use. We have to be hands on or risk crashing and burning at every turn.
It seems so foolish to not make good use of what is a God-given database. Being clueless about what will bring us peace is pointless self-destruction. The information is right at our fingertips. The courage and strength needed to reach for it is often inspired from a mighty desperation born in a soul that feels itself being executed. That is where mine came from and once I tapped into it, it has continued to bless me with its magical fortitude.
So what if the journey to reach core depth is difficult? Why fight against what is simply a natural consequence of however much debris we have placed in our own path? What a foolish waste of time and energy it is to complain about our self-made messes. Wiser by far to just begin cleanup in as cheerful a state of mind as possible.
That sacred journey is one each of us have the same opportunity to make. There are no man-made limitations to reaching our chosen internal destinations. Issues of financial worth or location upon the planet have no impact on success or failure. If we do not reach the depth needed for total peace it is only because we stopped digging.
Grab a shovel... or use a spade... find a spoon... or dig with your bare hands if necessary. But, for God's sake... do not be satisfied to live a life that only skims the surface of what is possible. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
A Guiding Force
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"By learning to contact, to listen to, and act on our intuition, we can directly connect to the higher power of the universe and allow it to become our guiding force.".... Shakti Gawain
Intuition is a soul based ability. Knowing what lives deep inside is not something that just happens haphazardly. We each have to journey there and find our soul's voice then honor it by listening closely to all things, large and small. No matter what issue we face it possesses solutions that will bring about internal peace and external balance. And there are no hidden agendas to puzzle over, unlike most voices that chatter in our ear.
A guiding force centered in the deepest part of our soul is a leader worth following. That gentle, yet fierce portion of self should be ruler of all things. Leaving any other layer of self in charge places the whole under the complete control of a tyrant. Every single bit of useful information is soul-stored.
Downloads of anything that will bring about balance to any separate level or harmony to all is an automatic human feature. With tools available we can weather any storm, but having them does not guarantee their use. We have to be hands on or risk crashing and burning at every turn.
It seems so foolish to not make good use of what is a God-given database. Being clueless about what will bring us peace is pointless self-destruction. The information is right at our fingertips. The courage and strength needed to reach for it is often inspired from a mighty desperation born in a soul that feels itself being executed. That is where mine came from and once I tapped into it, it has continued to bless me with its magical fortitude.
So what if the journey to reach core depth is difficult? Why fight against what is simply a natural consequence of however much debris we have placed in our own path? What a foolish waste of time and energy it is to complain about our self-made messes. Wiser by far to just begin cleanup in as cheerful a state of mind as possible.
That sacred journey is one each of us have the same opportunity to make. There are no man-made limitations to reaching our chosen internal destinations. Issues of financial worth or location upon the planet have no impact on success or failure. If we do not reach the depth needed for total peace it is only because we stopped digging.
Grab a shovel... or use a spade... find a spoon... or dig with your bare hands if necessary. But, for God's sake... do not be satisfied to live a life that only skims the surface of what is possible. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
"By learning to contact, to listen to, and act on our intuition, we can directly connect to the higher power of the universe and allow it to become our guiding force.".... Shakti Gawain
Intuition is a soul based ability. Knowing what lives deep inside is not something that just happens haphazardly. We each have to journey there and find our soul's voice then honor it by listening closely to all things, large and small. No matter what issue we face it possesses solutions that will bring about internal peace and external balance. And there are no hidden agendas to puzzle over, unlike most voices that chatter in our ear.
A guiding force centered in the deepest part of our soul is a leader worth following. That gentle, yet fierce portion of self should be ruler of all things. Leaving any other layer of self in charge places the whole under the complete control of a tyrant. Every single bit of useful information is soul-stored.
Downloads of anything that will bring about balance to any separate level or harmony to all is an automatic human feature. With tools available we can weather any storm, but having them does not guarantee their use. We have to be hands on or risk crashing and burning at every turn.
It seems so foolish to not make good use of what is a God-given database. Being clueless about what will bring us peace is pointless self-destruction. The information is right at our fingertips. The courage and strength needed to reach for it is often inspired from a mighty desperation born in a soul that feels itself being executed. That is where mine came from and once I tapped into it, it has continued to bless me with its magical fortitude.
So what if the journey to reach core depth is difficult? Why fight against what is simply a natural consequence of however much debris we have placed in our own path? What a foolish waste of time and energy it is to complain about our self-made messes. Wiser by far to just begin cleanup in as cheerful a state of mind as possible.
That sacred journey is one each of us have the same opportunity to make. There are no man-made limitations to reaching our chosen internal destinations. Issues of financial worth or location upon the planet have no impact on success or failure. If we do not reach the depth needed for total peace it is only because we stopped digging.
Grab a shovel... or use a spade... find a spoon... or dig with your bare hands if necessary. But, for God's sake... do not be satisfied to live a life that only skims the surface of what is possible. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
Friday, October 13, 2006
Enemy Fire
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"The fire you kindle for your enemy often burns yourself more than him.".... Chinese Proverb
I believe it is ALWAYS the one who hates and plots revenge that is most damaged. Often they are the only ones hurt by the negatives they hug so closely inside. Hate is a poison that seeps into every available space. It destroys healthy tissue like acid, doing harm that often can never be fully repaired. To dose yourself with it is foolish, but many do so without a second thought.
It is not unusual for the hated to be totally unaware of how ate up we are, and even if they do know our agony is their joy. The purest kind of revenge is to cope, overcome, and thrive in spite of whatever they put you through.
Nothing is more irritating to the ones who knock us down than to see us rise up even stronger. Nobody likes to be easily dismissed, especially the ones who stand on us to seem taller. But nobody is more worthy of dismissal than those who wound without regret.
Take a moment to reflect before swallowing any poison. Let the damage end at bruises to your pride or a humbler attitude to the spirit. Bruises heal and the human spirit gathers strength from brutal lessons. Rise above the hateful. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
"The fire you kindle for your enemy often burns yourself more than him.".... Chinese Proverb
I believe it is ALWAYS the one who hates and plots revenge that is most damaged. Often they are the only ones hurt by the negatives they hug so closely inside. Hate is a poison that seeps into every available space. It destroys healthy tissue like acid, doing harm that often can never be fully repaired. To dose yourself with it is foolish, but many do so without a second thought.
It is not unusual for the hated to be totally unaware of how ate up we are, and even if they do know our agony is their joy. The purest kind of revenge is to cope, overcome, and thrive in spite of whatever they put you through.
Nothing is more irritating to the ones who knock us down than to see us rise up even stronger. Nobody likes to be easily dismissed, especially the ones who stand on us to seem taller. But nobody is more worthy of dismissal than those who wound without regret.
Take a moment to reflect before swallowing any poison. Let the damage end at bruises to your pride or a humbler attitude to the spirit. Bruises heal and the human spirit gathers strength from brutal lessons. Rise above the hateful. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Inside Answers
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. Your answers lie inside of you.".... Denis Waitley
Every puzzle piece is there somewhere, but it will not put itself together automatically. The perfect answer may be buried under a mountain of questions, but it exists. The right solution might be laying at the very depths of an ocean of doubt, but it is there. This is not an instant quick fix equation, but a life quest for self and the balancing of all its many layers. Enter at your own risk... maybe, but to not gain access is certain peril to any hope for a life rich with possibilities.
Stay planted where you are and where you are is where you will always be... if it is all you ever have is it enough? As good as it gets has NO limit unless you set one. Why in heavens name would anyone want to limit joy or put a cap on bliss? It is your right and responsibility to live as fully as possible. It can be such a magical journey if we allow it or it can be a nightmare if we insist. The choice is ALWAYS ours.
So much more is up to us than most of us ever realize. Creating a reality you can really live inside of takes time and effort, otherwise you only end up with whatever is dealt. Life is not a game of chance or an experiment in futility UNLESS that is how you create it with choices made and actions taken.
Create something worthwhile, color it bright, and walk through it with confidence... any other posture invites negatives to attack. No limits... no doubts... no regrets... no lie! Be all you can be and then some. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then You decide!!!!
"What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. Your answers lie inside of you.".... Denis Waitley
Every puzzle piece is there somewhere, but it will not put itself together automatically. The perfect answer may be buried under a mountain of questions, but it exists. The right solution might be laying at the very depths of an ocean of doubt, but it is there. This is not an instant quick fix equation, but a life quest for self and the balancing of all its many layers. Enter at your own risk... maybe, but to not gain access is certain peril to any hope for a life rich with possibilities.
Stay planted where you are and where you are is where you will always be... if it is all you ever have is it enough? As good as it gets has NO limit unless you set one. Why in heavens name would anyone want to limit joy or put a cap on bliss? It is your right and responsibility to live as fully as possible. It can be such a magical journey if we allow it or it can be a nightmare if we insist. The choice is ALWAYS ours.
So much more is up to us than most of us ever realize. Creating a reality you can really live inside of takes time and effort, otherwise you only end up with whatever is dealt. Life is not a game of chance or an experiment in futility UNLESS that is how you create it with choices made and actions taken.
Create something worthwhile, color it bright, and walk through it with confidence... any other posture invites negatives to attack. No limits... no doubts... no regrets... no lie! Be all you can be and then some. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then You decide!!!!
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Intentions
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.".... Douglas Adams
Intentions are such an important factor in life. Pure intent adds unlimited power to any undertaking. And it can also lessen the sting of any mistakes we make along the way. If your intent is never to hurt anyone then unintentional wounds are easier to heal and forgive.
I am at the moment just where I intended to be, both in an external and internal kind of way. The internal is much more important. I could be at home anywhere as long as I maintain this almost flawless inner balance. I am comfortable inside myself, so it seem the path I chose years ago has led exactly where intended.
What leads to any location worth being at is a road with purpose. I intend to keep growing and keep following the path I travel on now, this journey is going to last a lifetime. Find your path. Check your intentions. And as always.... think about it.... let it grow.... then decide!!!!
"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.".... Douglas Adams
Intentions are such an important factor in life. Pure intent adds unlimited power to any undertaking. And it can also lessen the sting of any mistakes we make along the way. If your intent is never to hurt anyone then unintentional wounds are easier to heal and forgive.
I am at the moment just where I intended to be, both in an external and internal kind of way. The internal is much more important. I could be at home anywhere as long as I maintain this almost flawless inner balance. I am comfortable inside myself, so it seem the path I chose years ago has led exactly where intended.
What leads to any location worth being at is a road with purpose. I intend to keep growing and keep following the path I travel on now, this journey is going to last a lifetime. Find your path. Check your intentions. And as always.... think about it.... let it grow.... then decide!!!!
Monday, October 09, 2006
We Will Receive
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"We will receive not what we idly wish for but what we justly earn. Our rewards will always be in exact proportion to our service.".... Earl Nightingale
The implications and interpretations of this quote are almost limitless to someone like me. I will list some of my conclusions so you can see how my mind functions. Most scripts can be easily flipped to apply in a much broader sense to more than their intended target. And this one started doing cartwheels the moment it entered my brain.
First of all, I am so grateful that idle wishes do not come true. We often think such mean or silly notions when irritated. Busy-bodies would have faces full of noses, liars long noses, bullies no voices, and some toads would really once have been frog princes if idle wishes made during times of my greatest frustration were granted.
And some others would be headless, due to brain explosions I would have caused. It may be better for the world to be rid of the ones with brains who refuse to use them, but I certainly am not qualified to be the judge in that insane contest. Hell, if God leaves their heads attached I guess there must be some hope for their redemption.
We all have asinine notions sometimes, granting of them would eventually leave us all disfigured in some fashion. Free use of the imagination is an easy way to silently protest against all sorts of mundane irritations. It is a pressure point of certain release. I use it often, but would find only horror in the granting of any idle thought that occurred to me under stressful conditions.
Receiving what we justly earn is a comforting promise on many levels. Working toward a positive goal and finding success is what makes life so very rich. There just is no negative to building upon that positive. But this script can be flipped to become a terrible promise to anyone who does negative. A kind of live by the sword, die by the sword prophesy.
Getting what you deserve just cuts both ways. If a person goes through life taking by foul means then receiving what they justly earn is a guarantee of a terrible reward. The used and abused can find some comfort in that aspect of this quote. I know I sure do, did and always will use this concept when considering retaliation and revenge.
I believe that any attempt on my part to settle the score will only lessen their final punishment and make mine greater. Deciding to leave it to a higher power seems best no matter how I look at it through that point of view. Justice may not always be swift... but it is always certain.
Equal measure of rewards for services rendered means we earn by what we contribute. Getting paid a fair amount for what we do is something everyone understands. We always seek that ideal when looking for employment. But in real life we may very rarely reach that lofty goal. When I worked as a nurses aide the level of difficulty of the job was much higher than the money I received. And the work I do here pays nothing at all.
If currency were satisfaction and fulfillment then I have become rich by both jobs. And so when contemplating a job well-done that seems underpaid it is often necessary to look deeper than the obvious. In fact, it is wise to always look more deeply at every thing that touches your space. Some real treasures can be overlooked if we stay on surface level as we travel.
We are like the surfer who glides across the top of the water, riding the crest of the wave. At first glance that is all there is, but underneath there is a magical limitless world. Do not be satisfied to just skim across the top of life. Fall in and snorkel from time-to-time. You may be shocked by what you find if you really look. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!
"We will receive not what we idly wish for but what we justly earn. Our rewards will always be in exact proportion to our service.".... Earl Nightingale
The implications and interpretations of this quote are almost limitless to someone like me. I will list some of my conclusions so you can see how my mind functions. Most scripts can be easily flipped to apply in a much broader sense to more than their intended target. And this one started doing cartwheels the moment it entered my brain.
First of all, I am so grateful that idle wishes do not come true. We often think such mean or silly notions when irritated. Busy-bodies would have faces full of noses, liars long noses, bullies no voices, and some toads would really once have been frog princes if idle wishes made during times of my greatest frustration were granted.
And some others would be headless, due to brain explosions I would have caused. It may be better for the world to be rid of the ones with brains who refuse to use them, but I certainly am not qualified to be the judge in that insane contest. Hell, if God leaves their heads attached I guess there must be some hope for their redemption.
We all have asinine notions sometimes, granting of them would eventually leave us all disfigured in some fashion. Free use of the imagination is an easy way to silently protest against all sorts of mundane irritations. It is a pressure point of certain release. I use it often, but would find only horror in the granting of any idle thought that occurred to me under stressful conditions.
Receiving what we justly earn is a comforting promise on many levels. Working toward a positive goal and finding success is what makes life so very rich. There just is no negative to building upon that positive. But this script can be flipped to become a terrible promise to anyone who does negative. A kind of live by the sword, die by the sword prophesy.
Getting what you deserve just cuts both ways. If a person goes through life taking by foul means then receiving what they justly earn is a guarantee of a terrible reward. The used and abused can find some comfort in that aspect of this quote. I know I sure do, did and always will use this concept when considering retaliation and revenge.
I believe that any attempt on my part to settle the score will only lessen their final punishment and make mine greater. Deciding to leave it to a higher power seems best no matter how I look at it through that point of view. Justice may not always be swift... but it is always certain.
Equal measure of rewards for services rendered means we earn by what we contribute. Getting paid a fair amount for what we do is something everyone understands. We always seek that ideal when looking for employment. But in real life we may very rarely reach that lofty goal. When I worked as a nurses aide the level of difficulty of the job was much higher than the money I received. And the work I do here pays nothing at all.
If currency were satisfaction and fulfillment then I have become rich by both jobs. And so when contemplating a job well-done that seems underpaid it is often necessary to look deeper than the obvious. In fact, it is wise to always look more deeply at every thing that touches your space. Some real treasures can be overlooked if we stay on surface level as we travel.
We are like the surfer who glides across the top of the water, riding the crest of the wave. At first glance that is all there is, but underneath there is a magical limitless world. Do not be satisfied to just skim across the top of life. Fall in and snorkel from time-to-time. You may be shocked by what you find if you really look. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Past Evaluations
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Evaluation of the past is the first step toward vision for the future.".... Chris Widener
Looking back at where you have been gives you landmarks to use in calculating how far, and in which direction you have traveled to get to your present location. No truly wise decisions about what comes next can be made without careful study of what came first. Was it the chicken... or the egg?
The odds for a correct answer are only 50/50 without tracing it back to its origin. And when your future is in question it seems wiser to tilt them in your favor whenever possible. Planning ahead demands looking behind even if the prospect is less than pleasant. After all, nothing worth having ever comes free of charge.
But investing in yourself is such a worthy cause, viewing any fee as just payment instantly earns a discount or adds interest. Paying more than is demanded is foolish, yet I have known many people who bankrupt their future by overpayment to the past. And I bet you know a few too... why add your name to that list?
A lot of valuable information is filed away in days gone by, examining it objectively often takes the distance that only time can guarantee. When yesterday is faced with some measure of detachment it reveals all its treasures proudly. Half-hearted peeks will only give you a small portion of the bounty, so do not waste time and energy on lame attempts.
Whatever positives it holds are buried under negatives... that is just the way it works. Reach past the bad, scoop up the good, then take bold steps toward the bright light of tomorrow. Seek insight there, not shelter. Harvest whatever wisdom you can then walk away safe in the knowledge that your days of toiling in a field of broken dreams are truly done. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!
"Evaluation of the past is the first step toward vision for the future.".... Chris Widener
Looking back at where you have been gives you landmarks to use in calculating how far, and in which direction you have traveled to get to your present location. No truly wise decisions about what comes next can be made without careful study of what came first. Was it the chicken... or the egg?
The odds for a correct answer are only 50/50 without tracing it back to its origin. And when your future is in question it seems wiser to tilt them in your favor whenever possible. Planning ahead demands looking behind even if the prospect is less than pleasant. After all, nothing worth having ever comes free of charge.
But investing in yourself is such a worthy cause, viewing any fee as just payment instantly earns a discount or adds interest. Paying more than is demanded is foolish, yet I have known many people who bankrupt their future by overpayment to the past. And I bet you know a few too... why add your name to that list?
A lot of valuable information is filed away in days gone by, examining it objectively often takes the distance that only time can guarantee. When yesterday is faced with some measure of detachment it reveals all its treasures proudly. Half-hearted peeks will only give you a small portion of the bounty, so do not waste time and energy on lame attempts.
Whatever positives it holds are buried under negatives... that is just the way it works. Reach past the bad, scoop up the good, then take bold steps toward the bright light of tomorrow. Seek insight there, not shelter. Harvest whatever wisdom you can then walk away safe in the knowledge that your days of toiling in a field of broken dreams are truly done. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Let Us Look
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around us in awareness.".... Leland Val Vandewall
Awareness has many layers, both external and internal levels must be mastered to live to the fullest degree possible. Self exploration is a big portion of that equation. Soul comprehension empowers in ways nothing else ever could; the act of getting acquainted with ourselves is a sacred journey. Too few take it, even though it is a path with pure purpose beyond compare. No other destination is quite as magical.
There is so much more to it than simply viewing the landscape in which we travel. Knowing our surroundings is wise. But if that is the only thing we pay any mind to, our entire journey will be spent traveling in tight little circles that lead absolutely nowhere.
Self-awareness is mandatory to any lasting change. In fact, knowing why we do the silly little things we so often do is the first step toward altering any pattern of behavior. Admitted habits are more easily broken. Every action has a reason, many are simply reactions... reflex moves inspired by a sharp rap upon sensitive nerve endings.
Negatives are almost always pain produced. Acknowledgement of the "who's" makes self-destruction so much more difficult. Once a weapon is identified it can be instantly disarmed then slowly dismantled. Self-protection is so much simpler when the enemy is not well-armed and roaming free.
True self-preservation begins inside each of us then travels outward. We just do not allow attacks upon places we view as sacred. The deeper we go the safer we become, reaching core depth provides the most protection... and the most wisdom.
Almost every negative action is self punishing in nature. Validate the reason and it instantly loses its strangle hold. Look for the hidden treasure inside, it truly exists in each of us... no matter our circumstances. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
"Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around us in awareness.".... Leland Val Vandewall
Awareness has many layers, both external and internal levels must be mastered to live to the fullest degree possible. Self exploration is a big portion of that equation. Soul comprehension empowers in ways nothing else ever could; the act of getting acquainted with ourselves is a sacred journey. Too few take it, even though it is a path with pure purpose beyond compare. No other destination is quite as magical.
There is so much more to it than simply viewing the landscape in which we travel. Knowing our surroundings is wise. But if that is the only thing we pay any mind to, our entire journey will be spent traveling in tight little circles that lead absolutely nowhere.
Self-awareness is mandatory to any lasting change. In fact, knowing why we do the silly little things we so often do is the first step toward altering any pattern of behavior. Admitted habits are more easily broken. Every action has a reason, many are simply reactions... reflex moves inspired by a sharp rap upon sensitive nerve endings.
Negatives are almost always pain produced. Acknowledgement of the "who's" makes self-destruction so much more difficult. Once a weapon is identified it can be instantly disarmed then slowly dismantled. Self-protection is so much simpler when the enemy is not well-armed and roaming free.
True self-preservation begins inside each of us then travels outward. We just do not allow attacks upon places we view as sacred. The deeper we go the safer we become, reaching core depth provides the most protection... and the most wisdom.
Almost every negative action is self punishing in nature. Validate the reason and it instantly loses its strangle hold. Look for the hidden treasure inside, it truly exists in each of us... no matter our circumstances. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
Friday, October 06, 2006
The Saving Grace Of Hope
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Man can live for about forty days without food, and about three days without water, about eight minutes without air ... but only for one second without hope.".... Hal Lindsey
Losing hope truly is fatal. You may still inhale and exhale afterward, but really living is not possible without hope to get you through the rough times. I vividly recall how very close I came to the point of total hopelessness before a brief series of notions instantly reawakened me from my zombie like condition.
Jump-starting at 40 was brutal, yet beautiful. And that journey is far from over. I continue growing because of almost dying on that long ago day. It was the best birthday present I have ever gotten. I cannot imagine receiving any that would equal it in value. Priceless is truly a hard act to follow.
Gift yourself with a new perspective. Present yourself with a better tomorrow, by realizing that settling for the status quo is not wise if it is less than you deserve. Settling is for dust. Look at where you are then simply say... more years of this... then the nursing home... then the cemetery and see if your satisfaction stays centered upon what is your reality at the moment.
Mine did not. My birthday in 1993 held those images and my soul screamed for more. I have fed it a banquet every single day since then and it does not bellow with hunger nowadays. Eat to your contentment but fill the plate yourself, it is the only way to get all the nourishment you require. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
"Man can live for about forty days without food, and about three days without water, about eight minutes without air ... but only for one second without hope.".... Hal Lindsey
Losing hope truly is fatal. You may still inhale and exhale afterward, but really living is not possible without hope to get you through the rough times. I vividly recall how very close I came to the point of total hopelessness before a brief series of notions instantly reawakened me from my zombie like condition.
Jump-starting at 40 was brutal, yet beautiful. And that journey is far from over. I continue growing because of almost dying on that long ago day. It was the best birthday present I have ever gotten. I cannot imagine receiving any that would equal it in value. Priceless is truly a hard act to follow.
Gift yourself with a new perspective. Present yourself with a better tomorrow, by realizing that settling for the status quo is not wise if it is less than you deserve. Settling is for dust. Look at where you are then simply say... more years of this... then the nursing home... then the cemetery and see if your satisfaction stays centered upon what is your reality at the moment.
Mine did not. My birthday in 1993 held those images and my soul screamed for more. I have fed it a banquet every single day since then and it does not bellow with hunger nowadays. Eat to your contentment but fill the plate yourself, it is the only way to get all the nourishment you require. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
Thursday, October 05, 2006
A Deadly Silence
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.".... Martin Luther King, Jr.
I know this to be as true as any statement I have ever read. What is left unsaid can do as much or more damage than anything uttered at any volume. The fact is... silence is louder than we realize. And since it implies agreement it can make other people assume that you do not care about things that affect them deeply.
Take for instance the times in my marriage when I was silent out of fear and my oldest children suffered. When I protested the abuse was more intense, he sometimes used them as that kind of a weapon. But I doubt they accept that as any excuse, not that I am trying to make excuses at this late date. I did the best I was able at the time and fully realize how I failed them both.
It took years for me to gentle him; first I had to find my voice then I had to learn to use it effectively. In the meantime our two oldest saw sides of their parents that left lasting wounds. They saw his rage and my fear... his roars and my silences... we were both cowards in our own fashion. I changed finally and found enough courage to fix things, but by then the damage was done.
The fact that I was abused too is no excuse. The fact that I am sorry is little comfort, but it is God's truth. I have moved on, far past the past... yet in a real way they linger still, caught in the bad times. They witnessed my metamorphosis and his as well, each looked with wonder at who we became, but in a real way my silence cost them more than anything.
So do not linger for years inside the prison of silence, especially if there are others trapped there with you. Voice for them the demands you have trouble making for yourself. Free them no matter the cost to you, it is only fair that each of us deserves more than to be locked inside someone else's nightmare. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.".... Martin Luther King, Jr.
I know this to be as true as any statement I have ever read. What is left unsaid can do as much or more damage than anything uttered at any volume. The fact is... silence is louder than we realize. And since it implies agreement it can make other people assume that you do not care about things that affect them deeply.
Take for instance the times in my marriage when I was silent out of fear and my oldest children suffered. When I protested the abuse was more intense, he sometimes used them as that kind of a weapon. But I doubt they accept that as any excuse, not that I am trying to make excuses at this late date. I did the best I was able at the time and fully realize how I failed them both.
It took years for me to gentle him; first I had to find my voice then I had to learn to use it effectively. In the meantime our two oldest saw sides of their parents that left lasting wounds. They saw his rage and my fear... his roars and my silences... we were both cowards in our own fashion. I changed finally and found enough courage to fix things, but by then the damage was done.
The fact that I was abused too is no excuse. The fact that I am sorry is little comfort, but it is God's truth. I have moved on, far past the past... yet in a real way they linger still, caught in the bad times. They witnessed my metamorphosis and his as well, each looked with wonder at who we became, but in a real way my silence cost them more than anything.
So do not linger for years inside the prison of silence, especially if there are others trapped there with you. Voice for them the demands you have trouble making for yourself. Free them no matter the cost to you, it is only fair that each of us deserves more than to be locked inside someone else's nightmare. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
The Force Of Kindness
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"When we are devoted to the development of kindness it becomes a movement of the heart so deep and subtle it is like a movement of the sea close to the ocean floor, all but hidden, yet affecting absolutely everything that happens above. That is the force of kindness.".... Sharon Salzberg
The forces that direct us are fine tuned during our lifetime, good or evil grows according to what we feed our primal nature. Circumstances twist and turn as they unfold. When allowed, we are also twisted and turned inside out by the situations we live through. But renting space to incidentals is not mandatory.
We can pick and choose our poison, or take an antidote afterward, but the wisest among us vaccinate against the deadliest known negatives. We can opt to use positives to fuel the momentum that propels us out of dangerous territory. And kindness is a very powerful fuel.
We can earn unlimited mileage by using it, for every gallon expended our tank refuels twice that measure. Thoughtfulness simply empowers everyone involved in the exchange.
To improve the quality of your journey develop as much positive fuel as possible. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
"When we are devoted to the development of kindness it becomes a movement of the heart so deep and subtle it is like a movement of the sea close to the ocean floor, all but hidden, yet affecting absolutely everything that happens above. That is the force of kindness.".... Sharon Salzberg
The forces that direct us are fine tuned during our lifetime, good or evil grows according to what we feed our primal nature. Circumstances twist and turn as they unfold. When allowed, we are also twisted and turned inside out by the situations we live through. But renting space to incidentals is not mandatory.
We can pick and choose our poison, or take an antidote afterward, but the wisest among us vaccinate against the deadliest known negatives. We can opt to use positives to fuel the momentum that propels us out of dangerous territory. And kindness is a very powerful fuel.
We can earn unlimited mileage by using it, for every gallon expended our tank refuels twice that measure. Thoughtfulness simply empowers everyone involved in the exchange.
To improve the quality of your journey develop as much positive fuel as possible. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Knowing
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected".... Swedish Proverb
Time is not an enemy, in fact the proper use of it makes it a cherished friend. It promotes clarity of thought and action when we do not knee-jerk into any unwise reactions to things that happen. When we insist upon jumping the gun before it is raised high enough chances are that we will shoot ourselves in the foot.
Life makes walking-wounded out of us all often enough; seems foolish to rush it along and add to any disability. Slower travel allows us a broader view of the landscape. It is much harder to become trapped by pitfalls if we see the danger ahead.
Time is a gift. Forethought is a strength. Wisdom is always the dividend earned from any investment in time spent wisely. Taking your time and wasting it are not the same animal. One serves you well, the other serves you not at all... choose how you spend the precious gift of time. It is not gifted in an unlimited supply; once gone it simply cannot be replaced. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
"The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected".... Swedish Proverb
Time is not an enemy, in fact the proper use of it makes it a cherished friend. It promotes clarity of thought and action when we do not knee-jerk into any unwise reactions to things that happen. When we insist upon jumping the gun before it is raised high enough chances are that we will shoot ourselves in the foot.
Life makes walking-wounded out of us all often enough; seems foolish to rush it along and add to any disability. Slower travel allows us a broader view of the landscape. It is much harder to become trapped by pitfalls if we see the danger ahead.
Time is a gift. Forethought is a strength. Wisdom is always the dividend earned from any investment in time spent wisely. Taking your time and wasting it are not the same animal. One serves you well, the other serves you not at all... choose how you spend the precious gift of time. It is not gifted in an unlimited supply; once gone it simply cannot be replaced. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
Monday, October 02, 2006
A Really Happy Man
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"If you observe a really happy man you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son, growing double dahlias in his garden. He will not be searching for happiness as if it were a collar button that has rolled under the radiator.".... W. Beran Wolfe
Happiness is so different from what people often imagine. Searching for it is a common human occupation, but most look in places where it would never inhabit space. We all have the same power to possess it in abundance if we alter the bad choices that keep us fumbling to find that one thing or person to gift it to us
Contentment is not a location you can find on any map. It is not contained inside of any walls constructed by man. It cannot be bottled or prescribed. It is not for sale or rent. Nobody is lugging around your fair share just waiting to shower it on you when you chance to meet. If you find it, it will not be because of another person... more often than not it will be in spite of one though.
Happiness is a soul-fed state of mind; if you do not seek it from the inside out you will never find its peaceful satisfaction. Nobody deserves a treasure if they are not willing to do more than imagine its discovery. Joining all the layers of your being requires a strong leader with unconditional love and unselfish devotion to the whole. Our soul wants what is best for all. It can still the heart, quiet the mind, and overcome any unreasonable demand of the body. The resulting peace inspired by having every portion of self in better balance is priceless.
Peace is true happiness. Harmony is the souls symphony. Tranquility is the souls gentle breathing. Symmetry is the souls natural order. Look inside and listen closely; it will lead you there with soft whispers. Travel down the path with heart to your soul delight and find a truly happy home. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
"If you observe a really happy man you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son, growing double dahlias in his garden. He will not be searching for happiness as if it were a collar button that has rolled under the radiator.".... W. Beran Wolfe
Happiness is so different from what people often imagine. Searching for it is a common human occupation, but most look in places where it would never inhabit space. We all have the same power to possess it in abundance if we alter the bad choices that keep us fumbling to find that one thing or person to gift it to us
Contentment is not a location you can find on any map. It is not contained inside of any walls constructed by man. It cannot be bottled or prescribed. It is not for sale or rent. Nobody is lugging around your fair share just waiting to shower it on you when you chance to meet. If you find it, it will not be because of another person... more often than not it will be in spite of one though.
Happiness is a soul-fed state of mind; if you do not seek it from the inside out you will never find its peaceful satisfaction. Nobody deserves a treasure if they are not willing to do more than imagine its discovery. Joining all the layers of your being requires a strong leader with unconditional love and unselfish devotion to the whole. Our soul wants what is best for all. It can still the heart, quiet the mind, and overcome any unreasonable demand of the body. The resulting peace inspired by having every portion of self in better balance is priceless.
Peace is true happiness. Harmony is the souls symphony. Tranquility is the souls gentle breathing. Symmetry is the souls natural order. Look inside and listen closely; it will lead you there with soft whispers. Travel down the path with heart to your soul delight and find a truly happy home. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Know Where You're Going
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"If you don't know where you're going, it doesn't matter if your alarm doesn't go off in the morning.".... Denis Waitley
Humans who travel without any direction simply spin in place until they loose all ability for forward motion. Getting back on track can be a brutal task for them; motivation is not a strength they possess in such a weakened state. They have to rediscover hope before any direction can be chosen or any miles with meaning can be traveled.
Hope is illusive. There are times when it simply must be manufactured. Act until it is fact really works, but it is a heavy burden to carry if you are walking wounded. In life, it is almost impossible to overcome any situation you view as completely hopeless. The importance of point of view cannot be stressed enough here... we create with action (or inaction) the reality we first create inside of our own minds.
How you perceive things makes it your reality, no matter what anyone else thinks or believes. Once it is cemented in place inside a brain then it is factual for that person. That is why it is vital to direct your mind toward positives, even if you have to climb a mountain of negatives to reach safe territory.
Doubts breed like healthy rabbits inside any mind left to its own devices. Feed it with even the smallest grain of hope and it will multiply in the same fashion. The crop produced depends directly upon the kind of seeds you plant, so sow positives. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
"If you don't know where you're going, it doesn't matter if your alarm doesn't go off in the morning.".... Denis Waitley
Humans who travel without any direction simply spin in place until they loose all ability for forward motion. Getting back on track can be a brutal task for them; motivation is not a strength they possess in such a weakened state. They have to rediscover hope before any direction can be chosen or any miles with meaning can be traveled.
Hope is illusive. There are times when it simply must be manufactured. Act until it is fact really works, but it is a heavy burden to carry if you are walking wounded. In life, it is almost impossible to overcome any situation you view as completely hopeless. The importance of point of view cannot be stressed enough here... we create with action (or inaction) the reality we first create inside of our own minds.
How you perceive things makes it your reality, no matter what anyone else thinks or believes. Once it is cemented in place inside a brain then it is factual for that person. That is why it is vital to direct your mind toward positives, even if you have to climb a mountain of negatives to reach safe territory.
Doubts breed like healthy rabbits inside any mind left to its own devices. Feed it with even the smallest grain of hope and it will multiply in the same fashion. The crop produced depends directly upon the kind of seeds you plant, so sow positives. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
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