If I were in a confessional in the 1960s I would have started off with "Bless me Father for i have sinned it has been a week since my last confession...." This blogging stuff is sort of a confessional if one were to tell the truth, "the whole truth...." But We are selective what we share. I confess I am not a practicing Catholic anymore. But I certainly enjoy the fairs/festivals that they put on to raise funds for a new roof or something worthy like supporting their school or congregation. I enjoyed taking my grandchildren to such a fair on Friday night.
My grandson is 12 and his buddies are older. He felt appreciative that I sent him on his way with some tickets to go on a few rides and some money to buy food to hang with his friends. I was appreciative that his buddies acknowledged me with hugs and sincere handshakes and that the food was reasonably priced. I was also glad to watch my granddaughter on some rides that were too risking for my middle-aged neck, but I got to enjoy going on the merry-go-round with her and watch her do a few dances to an Irish jig band.
I remember my Catholic upbringing very well. It was good, wholesome and very meaningful. The meaning of life can be dulled as we get older because it is hard to keep up. It takes more time to read, write, clean, cook, run errands, etc. But one thing I intend to keep up with is technology and to learn from the young people who have a handle on how to use the Internet. I believe there are wholesome people out there who are making a difference and leading the way for others to live as God has planned for us and that is with a purpose until our last breath is taken.
My purpose seems to be evolving, and I am not sure where the "Artist's Way" will lead but here is a clip from a young many who has inspired me. I hope that he will inspire you too:
http://www.whoismikewatts.com/4-hour-work-week-by-timothy-ferriss.html/comment-page-1#comment-73
There is a new world for us in the future, and our future develops from what we do today. "Do Something" today that will help you get closer to what you think is your purpose.
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Monday, October 04, 2010
Sunday, September 27, 2009
I Did It My Way
I just want to be me through and through-- no holds barred! I have spent the day listening to music that makes me feel good and that inspires me to live my dreams. I would rather be dead if I could not listen to my music when I want to or sing when I want to or get up and dance when I feel like it. I am no longer frustrated with a situation; I am letting go.
I like to be happy, and if things don't always go according to how I expect, I still want to treat people with grace and kindness. I know people can get a lot more with honey than vinegar. But I do not want to be a mouse in a kitchen corner barely making a pip or squeak. I do know that there are some battles not worth picking and that people need to just be. Be who they are. Exist.
If I were to critique every move they make, that is not fair to them and vise versa. One of my main goals in life is to be kind and kind-er all of the time. To be revered, ultimately, is to be empowered. Attraction: sometimes the very thing we are attracted to are the qualities we do not have in ourself. But, somethimes (more often than not) the obesrvations we make that we find distasteful are the very things we have in ourselves. So the truth seems to hurt.
If we don't like negativity in others, should that not mean that we also do not like that trait in ourselves, hum? Well, I think that it is true. So how do we get past our own criticisms and change our own faults or learn to accept that fault in others?
At N E rate, I would like to face up and start each morning making people feel good even if they did not give me the right direction, best service or assistance. What sweat is it off my neck to allow them to be human and just roll with the ups and downs of the circumstance? No sweat, no sweat at all to be sweet to everyone. There is no need to bully, boss, scold, raise one's voice, roll our eyes and other things to indicate distaste. If I actually had to taste a lemon it is hard not to make a face.
So how do we kindly let someone know that we are uncomfortable, embarassed or threatened by what they do? If we use our normal voice without facial expressions, we are not believed. It is when we raise volume, stomp our foot or show outrage that we usually get the reaction we desire (cater to me or I will raise a stink). Humh.
I think that if enough humans learned to respond appropriately to boisterously-gruff people, maybe they would learn to not throw tempertantrums. [Who on earth has the stamin for this? Not me, I am no Mother Teresa] Does that mean we treat them like parenting books advise us to treat toddlers. Heck no. We are talking about grown-ups. I have heard it is effective to set boundaries and consequences if a line is crossed.
But what does this put at risk? The end of a business or partnership, loss of a client or relationship? Sad to say usually yes. (Unless your a married couple who has this figured out.)
A fact of life: People do not have to tolerate negative vibrations. But, if you can't get out of the kitchen with the person change the kind of heat you are cooking with: Kill 'em with kindness. Coals, hot ones at that, are what kindness can feel like to people who want to ruffle your feathers or get their way by protesting. They tend to be the ones that get more upset, and then eventually, they leave you alone, quit or stop doing business with you. And, you won't mind if they leave when they are abusive whenever they have entered your environment. I always like to see the sign at a counter, "We reserve the right to refuse service."
How can a person stay mad at you if you are nothing but kind? Well they can because it is just who they are. When they continue to be that way, then I guess you have to look for another kitchen to work in. In the mean time, still be kind. Hold your head high and know that you did nothing wrong. [And know that to them, they probably did nothing wrong either.] It's a matter of styles and strategies. Find one that fits you strong enough that you will not be shaken by another persons way of manipulating a situation.
Search for the people who lift you up and lift up others around them. If the checker is having a hard time, show some empathy. If the waitress forgets your request, be gracious since you are not in their skin at that moment.
For God's sake, can't we just be nice no matter what. If a business really messed up, what good does it do to get mad? Does it lower blood pressure like a pressure cooker that is released at it's boiling point? Maybe a little, but the pressure is still high enough to make a screaming scene until the pressure is safely released. Become a slow cooker, and allow your organ meats (mind & heart) to soften your soul and still keep your flavor and savvey. Allow people to lift your lid now and then to smell your aroma and stir your consistency and taste if you are bitter or sweet. The cook might be able to add an ingredient to help your recipe for peace. With any luck you won't stick to the pot by getting too hot.! Or not. It is really up to each of us to handle how we stew. I hope this help give folks food for thought.
I like to be happy, and if things don't always go according to how I expect, I still want to treat people with grace and kindness. I know people can get a lot more with honey than vinegar. But I do not want to be a mouse in a kitchen corner barely making a pip or squeak. I do know that there are some battles not worth picking and that people need to just be. Be who they are. Exist.
If I were to critique every move they make, that is not fair to them and vise versa. One of my main goals in life is to be kind and kind-er all of the time. To be revered, ultimately, is to be empowered. Attraction: sometimes the very thing we are attracted to are the qualities we do not have in ourself. But, somethimes (more often than not) the obesrvations we make that we find distasteful are the very things we have in ourselves. So the truth seems to hurt.
If we don't like negativity in others, should that not mean that we also do not like that trait in ourselves, hum? Well, I think that it is true. So how do we get past our own criticisms and change our own faults or learn to accept that fault in others?
At N E rate, I would like to face up and start each morning making people feel good even if they did not give me the right direction, best service or assistance. What sweat is it off my neck to allow them to be human and just roll with the ups and downs of the circumstance? No sweat, no sweat at all to be sweet to everyone. There is no need to bully, boss, scold, raise one's voice, roll our eyes and other things to indicate distaste. If I actually had to taste a lemon it is hard not to make a face.
So how do we kindly let someone know that we are uncomfortable, embarassed or threatened by what they do? If we use our normal voice without facial expressions, we are not believed. It is when we raise volume, stomp our foot or show outrage that we usually get the reaction we desire (cater to me or I will raise a stink). Humh.
I think that if enough humans learned to respond appropriately to boisterously-gruff people, maybe they would learn to not throw tempertantrums. [Who on earth has the stamin for this? Not me, I am no Mother Teresa] Does that mean we treat them like parenting books advise us to treat toddlers. Heck no. We are talking about grown-ups. I have heard it is effective to set boundaries and consequences if a line is crossed.
But what does this put at risk? The end of a business or partnership, loss of a client or relationship? Sad to say usually yes. (Unless your a married couple who has this figured out.)
A fact of life: People do not have to tolerate negative vibrations. But, if you can't get out of the kitchen with the person change the kind of heat you are cooking with: Kill 'em with kindness. Coals, hot ones at that, are what kindness can feel like to people who want to ruffle your feathers or get their way by protesting. They tend to be the ones that get more upset, and then eventually, they leave you alone, quit or stop doing business with you. And, you won't mind if they leave when they are abusive whenever they have entered your environment. I always like to see the sign at a counter, "We reserve the right to refuse service."
How can a person stay mad at you if you are nothing but kind? Well they can because it is just who they are. When they continue to be that way, then I guess you have to look for another kitchen to work in. In the mean time, still be kind. Hold your head high and know that you did nothing wrong. [And know that to them, they probably did nothing wrong either.] It's a matter of styles and strategies. Find one that fits you strong enough that you will not be shaken by another persons way of manipulating a situation.
Search for the people who lift you up and lift up others around them. If the checker is having a hard time, show some empathy. If the waitress forgets your request, be gracious since you are not in their skin at that moment.
For God's sake, can't we just be nice no matter what. If a business really messed up, what good does it do to get mad? Does it lower blood pressure like a pressure cooker that is released at it's boiling point? Maybe a little, but the pressure is still high enough to make a screaming scene until the pressure is safely released. Become a slow cooker, and allow your organ meats (mind & heart) to soften your soul and still keep your flavor and savvey. Allow people to lift your lid now and then to smell your aroma and stir your consistency and taste if you are bitter or sweet. The cook might be able to add an ingredient to help your recipe for peace. With any luck you won't stick to the pot by getting too hot.! Or not. It is really up to each of us to handle how we stew. I hope this help give folks food for thought.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Nine Missions in Seven Days
I know that I only get to the blog when I truly have something to share. ' Hopefully there are readers here every now and then to hear.
This Thanksgiving, my daughter, grandkids and I took a trip up the California coast to see as many missions as time would permit. My grandson is in 4th grade, and his class wasn't doing any projects though they were studying California History. My daughter knew how valuable it was for her to see the misions when she was his age. She feels compelled to provide "Living History" experiences for her children. I appreciate this; my parents gave this to me, and I must have done something right too: Misssions yesterday, State Parks today and National Monuments tomorrow. It's important to see as many as we can with the little lifetime we've been given. So many people never get out of their hometown. The world is our oyster...
We are blessed to live in such a young land. It was almost sureal to realize that the Interstate 101 road just 230 years ago was a dirt path way for wagons, and horses carrying pioneers and Indians. The el Camino Real bells were a day's ride apart or with in earshot of each other. That what seems like ancient times is now congested with traffic at main juntures like Sepulvida in Burbank, to Malibu Canyon Rd, then again in Santa Barbara. To ride it at night now and see all of the new automobiles glowing with DVD players in the back seats to entertain relatively weary travelers seems like living science fiction. Can you imagine what Father Junipero Serra and the settlers would think if they saw the territory they established then now?
Imagine riding along this road to the Doobie Brother's tune "China Grove" on an 8-track or the radio with the wind in your hair of a Mustang convertable. Trust me, we feel on top of the world in control and all is at our fingertips. Two hundred years from now we will seem like stone age men. That's what 18th century men were compared to us. They worked with mud to make bricks and hand made rope to raise stones to steeples with cast iron bells that ring certain tones to tell time and call out warning to the villagers. They rejoiced in their archaic ways. I personally, don't own a cell phone. I wondered where all these people have come from today. When God said "Multiply...." we sure took him literally. Who is left that is directly related to these pioneers. Where is our family history? Who knows? Who keeps track of their ancestory.
I know this, whether we are blood relate or not, we are definitely connected. The artifacts housed in these historical buildings are gifts to us. They make us rich when we witness them. The problem is that there are many people who don't get far on these roads to really see what came before them or even where they may have came from. This is a sad affair for our children. If I was rich I would offer field trips to many locales to help the youth of today see with their own eyes how far we have come in just 200 years. I wish I knew which Indian is part of my blood, or who may have shed their blood for me.
I know too, from this trip, life is shorter than we care to admit. We visited friends whom we have not seen in nearly 10 years. When I measure life in terms of their children having grown up already or with kids of their own too, and I see that they have gray hair and to hear that their parents have passed on, well, hell, it's almost over. I am saddened because I have missed a life time with these people already. So I am keenly aware that I have to make the most out the little time I have left. I know I cannot possibly accomplish as much as I would like, but something that leaves a legacy for at least my family should be a valuable like what Father Serra left. So with that in mind, pictures (digital or otherwise) will make way now for videos and blogs on the Internet. It is new age, and I do not want to be left behind. I do not want to be old and say " I am not of this world any longer, or that I do not know what happened to the world." I want to be a part of every cutting edge all the way to the end. I want to live my life to the fullest as if it may end sooner than I am willing or ready, because that is the true reality of it all.
We are less than powder in narrow capsule, swallowed whole in one gulp. I don't want to just be a candfle snuffed out after a dime is donated and a prayer is offerred for my soul. I want my life to matter more to my Great-great-great grandkids. So those of you who have a prayer for strangers, pray that my life will matter for many who come after me. I know we will be long gone, but I want to leave something that many will remember.
So in the weeks to come I want to lay out our trip here and tackle one mision at a time to express the history that I appreciate about each mission we saw as a family. Though we do not practice our ancesteral Catholitheism, I still wanted to tell my grand children how their great and great-great grandmother practiced it.
This Thanksgiving, my daughter, grandkids and I took a trip up the California coast to see as many missions as time would permit. My grandson is in 4th grade, and his class wasn't doing any projects though they were studying California History. My daughter knew how valuable it was for her to see the misions when she was his age. She feels compelled to provide "Living History" experiences for her children. I appreciate this; my parents gave this to me, and I must have done something right too: Misssions yesterday, State Parks today and National Monuments tomorrow. It's important to see as many as we can with the little lifetime we've been given. So many people never get out of their hometown. The world is our oyster...
We are blessed to live in such a young land. It was almost sureal to realize that the Interstate 101 road just 230 years ago was a dirt path way for wagons, and horses carrying pioneers and Indians. The el Camino Real bells were a day's ride apart or with in earshot of each other. That what seems like ancient times is now congested with traffic at main juntures like Sepulvida in Burbank, to Malibu Canyon Rd, then again in Santa Barbara. To ride it at night now and see all of the new automobiles glowing with DVD players in the back seats to entertain relatively weary travelers seems like living science fiction. Can you imagine what Father Junipero Serra and the settlers would think if they saw the territory they established then now?
Imagine riding along this road to the Doobie Brother's tune "China Grove" on an 8-track or the radio with the wind in your hair of a Mustang convertable. Trust me, we feel on top of the world in control and all is at our fingertips. Two hundred years from now we will seem like stone age men. That's what 18th century men were compared to us. They worked with mud to make bricks and hand made rope to raise stones to steeples with cast iron bells that ring certain tones to tell time and call out warning to the villagers. They rejoiced in their archaic ways. I personally, don't own a cell phone. I wondered where all these people have come from today. When God said "Multiply...." we sure took him literally. Who is left that is directly related to these pioneers. Where is our family history? Who knows? Who keeps track of their ancestory.
I know this, whether we are blood relate or not, we are definitely connected. The artifacts housed in these historical buildings are gifts to us. They make us rich when we witness them. The problem is that there are many people who don't get far on these roads to really see what came before them or even where they may have came from. This is a sad affair for our children. If I was rich I would offer field trips to many locales to help the youth of today see with their own eyes how far we have come in just 200 years. I wish I knew which Indian is part of my blood, or who may have shed their blood for me.
I know too, from this trip, life is shorter than we care to admit. We visited friends whom we have not seen in nearly 10 years. When I measure life in terms of their children having grown up already or with kids of their own too, and I see that they have gray hair and to hear that their parents have passed on, well, hell, it's almost over. I am saddened because I have missed a life time with these people already. So I am keenly aware that I have to make the most out the little time I have left. I know I cannot possibly accomplish as much as I would like, but something that leaves a legacy for at least my family should be a valuable like what Father Serra left. So with that in mind, pictures (digital or otherwise) will make way now for videos and blogs on the Internet. It is new age, and I do not want to be left behind. I do not want to be old and say " I am not of this world any longer, or that I do not know what happened to the world." I want to be a part of every cutting edge all the way to the end. I want to live my life to the fullest as if it may end sooner than I am willing or ready, because that is the true reality of it all.
We are less than powder in narrow capsule, swallowed whole in one gulp. I don't want to just be a candfle snuffed out after a dime is donated and a prayer is offerred for my soul. I want my life to matter more to my Great-great-great grandkids. So those of you who have a prayer for strangers, pray that my life will matter for many who come after me. I know we will be long gone, but I want to leave something that many will remember.
So in the weeks to come I want to lay out our trip here and tackle one mision at a time to express the history that I appreciate about each mission we saw as a family. Though we do not practice our ancesteral Catholitheism, I still wanted to tell my grand children how their great and great-great grandmother practiced it.
- Ventura
- Santa Miguel
- Santa Cruz
- San De Carlos (Carmel by the Sea)
- San Juan Bautista
- San Luis Obispo
- La Purisima
- Santa Inez
- Santa Barbara
AS THIS YEAR CLOSED TO AN END, I just HAD TO CALL A CHILDHOOD FRIEND from porochial school. I FOUND MYSELF BURSTING INTO TEARS while TELLING HER THAT I MISSED HER. (IT'S AS IF WE SAID SO LONG FAIR WELL JUST YESTERDAY.) I NEW WHEN SHE MOVED BACK EAST WHEN WE WERE 13 YEARS OLD THAT WE WOULD BE LUCKY TO SEE EACH OTHER 5 MORE TIMES IN OUR LIFE TIME. WE HAVE SEEN EACH OTHER 3 TIMES. WE MAY NOT EVEN GET TWO MORE TIMES TO HUG; WE ARE IN OUR MID 50'S now.
We were raised Catholic, and the roots run deep, and I do appreciate having that personal history. I do want to have another reunion for our 8th grade graduating class. I hope God blesses me with the funds and energy to make it happen again in our capsulated life time. We are due for our 40th reunion this summer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
