Rear view mirror

As I've said before...
In the car of life,
the rear view mirror does not matter
throw it out
for, what has happened has happened
we cannot do anything about it
learn from it then put it away
always move forward
never backward
life is life...
enjoy it
become it
live it...
today!
:-)

Truly happy

Attachment to material things is the single most destructive act to our "emotional" well being. To be "free", we must be free of the desire and the need of "things". When we are completely free of these desires, of these attachments to the material, then and only then, we will be at one with ouselves, about ourselves and within ourselves: We shall have achieved peaceful introspections and become "truly happy".

:)

sanely insane

In an insane world,

the sane
are
the insane :)
and
the insane :)
are
the sane!

mmmmm.....

Might as well Dance!

Too many people put off things that bring them joy because they don’t have time, don't have it on their schedule, forgot it was coming, are too busy working or are just plain too rigid to depart from their routine.

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. The other day,
I stopped the car and bought a triple-Decker. If my car had hit an iceberg
on the way home, at least I would have
died happy.

How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence
while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television?
When they ask to play
Do you say, “not now, tomorrow”?
What if tomorrow never comes?

I cannot count the times
I called my brother and said, "How about lunch?"
He would usually respond with, "I can't" or "maybe next week" or "it’s Monday.” Usually, though, it was “I don’t have the time."
We never did get together for that lunch.
He died a few years ago.

I was thinking the other day
about all those people on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner
that fateful night
in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more
flexible.

Americans cram so much into their lives. Americans have to fill every minute of the day with "something” to do. Everyday is planned out. Because of that, we live on promises
to make the time, when the conditions are “perfect”, when
the time is right!

Sure, we'll go and visit our parents when we get the kid a new shirt. We'll entertain when we replace the old TV. We'll go on a second honeymoon when the kids move out. We’ll move to a better place when we have more money.
Do it…NOW! There is no perfect time like
today.

Ever told your child, "We'll do it tomorrow when
I have more time." And in your haste, not
see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die?
Ever call to just say
“Hi”?

If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make,
who would you call and what would you say?
And what are you waiting for,
the right time?

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of "I'm going to do," "I plan on doing," and "Someday, when things are settled down a bit..."

When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend,
she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind and
an open schedule. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Roller blades or to
live in the woods!

Have you ever played with your friends kids' playing on a merry go round or
stood in the rain during a summers downpour?
Ever follow a butterfly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun fading into the night?
Or do you run through each day
on the fly?

When the day is done, do you lie in bed with the next day's chores running through your head...worried about
how to do it all?

When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift... thrown away....
life is not a race. Soooooo…

Take the time to Make the time to..
Watch that sunset… Smell the flowers…Do nothing…
See the sunrise... Follow that butterfly…Soar with the Eagles…Make that call...
Turn off the phone…Drive around aimlessly…Throw out the planner…
Play!...

Life is today, for tomorrow may not come.
Enjoy it. Be the DJ
This is your life…your life song

"Life may not be the party you want it to be,
but as long as it’s your song……you
might as well dance! "

:)

World events and personal change

Recent headlines: Burma Monks rise up again. This reminds me of the relationship between worldly events and our selves as individuals.

When an individual seeks change and wants to grow as a person and/or help facilitate the growth of their soul, the initial thought is to look outward for help and ideas. This is normal as we all need, initially, a guide to our journey: A starting point from one who has already started the journey and is further along the path of change. However, eventually, we will come to the realization that real growth can only be attained from within. Outside help only goes so far because the real change must start and happen from within us.

Using Burma as an example: The people of Burma want change. They plead for help from the outside world but they know that true change will only happen when it comes from within their country. Only they can affect this change and only they can bring about this change, from within. Outsiders can have some influence and offer some guidance, but for true change to hold, it must come from the people of Burma. They must be committed and must stand strong against the resistance to their efforts.

The recent uprisings for change that began in September (earlier, actually) and were brutally stopped in October, offer a personal lesson. Many people within Burma and around the world thought that with the crackdown, the attempt at change had ended. Many believed that the junta had successfully defeated all attempts at change. Some Burmesians (?) even admitted defeat saying, “The violence is too much. We cannot defeat the sword. We can not change. I fear for the life of my family and myself” This is understandable as no one really wants to die or see their loved ones murdered. Violence and resistance against change can be very strong and morally defeating. However, they must look at the big picture.

The Buddhist Monks of Burma know this. They rose up AGAIN. The Monks rose up again and are looking evil in the eyes. The are staring down possible death. They realize that to make change, it is not easy. They know that to make real change, personal sacrifice is sometimes called upon. This is why they are rising up again, even if it means death. They know that in order to bring about change for all the people of Burma, it will not be easy and that personal sacrifice must some times be made. They are putting the good of all above the physical well being of themselves as individuals. They know the easy path is usually not always the best path. They know the easy way is usually not the most fruitful path. It is a hard journey to undertake. To quit is easy. To say, “I tried” is easy, but to pick up the pieces and continue, is hard. But they do it. The monks know that the results will be “life changing” for the health of all the Burma people.

These lessons apply to personal change as well. Those who want to make change within themselves will initially look for help from others in the form of books, or seminars or in confirmations from friends of their quest or even from blogs! This is normal. However, for us to really make change, it MUST eventually come from within. This is not always easy. It never is. Initially, we might face ridicule or misunderstanding from those closest to us (and we all want acceptance) as we attempt to change and/or grow. Or we might fall from the bike of change and want to give up when we initially don’t succeed. We might want to quit when we feel like we are not accomplishing anything. This is the easy way, the easy path I talked about. Change is hard to accomplish. It takes commitment and determination. (Character traits I lack by the way!). It takes time. But change can happen. It does happen. Many people have accomplished it. The path may different for all of us and the journey will be full of pitfalls and detours. However, if you hang in there and keep plugging away, change will come. It is in us. It is a part of us. It can happen and it will happen. Just remain true to yourself and your commitment to growth. If others can face certain death to obtain change, then surely we can face the trivial ups and downs we must confront in order to succeed and gain a happy and healthy life along our path of power. The power to change is within each and every one of us. YOU CAN DO IT.

For as the sky around me is cold and grey, I know that on the horizon … is warmth and sunshine!

(Personally, I, and I’m sure many of you are too, am pulling for the people of Burma in their quest for freedom. If you want to read more about the situation, please check out my other site, www.burma-myanmar-news.blogspot.com, for articles, pictures and some good links to the Burma protests.)

:)

No Time....

I saw a show on TV the other day and of course, it got me thinking...

It was about this couple and how they have "no time" for life and their 2 kids. That is...

Their day starts at 6am, make breakfast, wake up the kids, get dressed, drop the kids off at day center, go to work, grocery shop at lunchtime, pick up the kids in the pm, get food at McDonald's, be home at 730pm. Kids take bath, go to bed at 830pm. Repeat next day. Does this sound familiar to you?

What's rong with this picture about their daily life? Are they really happy? To me, many things are "rong" but I will only mention 2 important aspects.

First of all, this has got to wear down the parents health. All this running around causes undue mental stress that will eventually wear you down. Might even cause you to snap and hit your spouse/kids or worse. How sharp will you be to deal with your kids? Can you really handle it when the kids ask all the q's that kids do or will the daily grind cause you to unnecessarily snap at the kids for some innocent remark or action? How does it affect your relationship with your spouse when you are both worn out mentally and physically? All negative aspects.

Another thing, look at the schedule. How much time is there for the kids? Their kids are only with them for about, what, 2 hours a day? How much of this limited exposure is actually quality time? Or is it just "hurry up kids" time also? What effect does this have on the kids long term?

I don't know about you, but I want to spend quality time with my son. Even if its just being next to him doing nothing. I want to raise him, teach him about the world, be there to share in his curious mind and not have some, well intentioned as they may be, stranger raising them. Also, to deal with and give your children the due proper respect that they deserve, you have to have a clear mind. Daily stress causes a lot of issues between parents and kids and this shows up later in the children's' lives. (Look at your own relationship with your parents) You can read in the paper or see it on the nightly news, on a daily basis, about how it's causing a lot of kids to "act up" and/or lose it. Kids NEED time with their parents (and I need time with my son!) Think long term, people!

Are we here to work or to live? Yea, I know we have to work in order to pay our bills and buy things but where is the balance? What is the limit? To me, most people put too much priority on obtaining "material goods". (I'm not talking about the poor souls who have to work 2 or 3 jobs just to survive) It seems like, for these people, their priority is in "buying things" to feel good about themselves, to look good on the outside or to keep the kids happy. I think this is a major problem in society as a whole, but even more so in the states than anywhere else on earth and its spreading like a disease!.

Myself, I only work enough as I have to in order to pay the bills and have some left over to "splurge" once in a while. I prefer spending my time being with my wife and son. THEY are my priority along with my nuclear family and my friends. Material things like new cars, new and bigger TV's, the latest toys, nice furniture etc...are secondary to TIME with family and friends. I have many friends in the states who do not have time to spend with their family or friends because they are too busy working. They do not have time to visit other "friends" nor do they have time to be visited. Hurry, hurry hurry! They work more and more to make even more money to buy more "goods" to make themselves feel good. Unfortunately, this does not help the situation: stress, stress, stress. Sorry, but your family and friends, your "real friends", don't care whether you have the latest fashions or "junk". No, they care about you, the real you not the one behind the shiny mask.

Materialism over all! I don't have anything against "things", but it's the priority that is messed up. Our body, mind and soul do not need an over abundance of material goods. Our children do not always need the latest or biggest ... whatever. To be really happy and healthy, we need more time with our family, with our kids and with our friends. Slow down and MAKE THE TIME!

I sometimes ask people, "when you are on your death bed and reflect back on your life, will you remember the material stuff or will you remember, or regret, the time spent with family and friends?" I believe most people will reflect on their family and friends.

Look at the "big picture".

Work to live not live to work.

right or rong?