The ThunderStorm

You are such a wonderful person....

Life with you is like a day at the beach … perfect weather, family and friends are there; playing in the water, grilling and joking around… at the beach with a light breeze on a warm sunny summer day.

Life doesn’t get any better….

THEN, suddenly, out of nowhere, a thunderstorm rolls in and within a minute, all hell breaks out and everything changes…. the rain pours down, thunder and lightning all around, family and friends running for cover… the party is over. Mood ruined.

That DARK CLOUD is always on the horizon… always in the corner of my eye, ready to rear its ugly head…the change in mood, ready to roll in at a moments notice, without warning … to ruin everything…

So is life, WITH YOU…..My Luv…...the thunderstorm
:)

RIP Dad

Rising from the depths of the deep blue sea
Souring majestically beyond the red, white and blue sky
As it’s earthly journey has reached the end
This soul flies on

Once, not long ago
Or so it seems
This soul entered earth’s plane
A soul so vibrant so eager

Eager to learn
Eager to play
Eager for joy and
Eager for life’s game…..

The printed word became his playing field
Baseball to basketball to football
He knew them all
For the game was his game

And now the time has come
Time to begin anew

It's goals accomplished
It's earthly light diminished
Friends touched
Touched by friends

The tears are dry and gone but the smiles remain
Remembering…the good times had
The abundance for life
Never slowed…just kept on growing
For this soul I called Dad

Serenity and peace achieved
Stormy weather past
A light breeze is now behind him
And smooth seas surround him

As night turns into day unto night
This blinding sun, which years ago rose
Has set into the deep blue sea

For the sea is his friend
As it has always been….

RestInPeace, Dad
RIP…….

jbm :(

JZ....little things

Stay focused on the Big Picture
and "the little things in life"
will remain just that….
Little Things !!

-jonZEN

:)

Dirty Dishes

Sometimes, during the daily hustle and bustle to get through our day, we forget those who are nearest, dearest and most important to us. We lose track of our priorities. It happens.

Example: When your child (or spouse etc.) wakes up in the morning, be sure to smile at them and say “hi!” When you get home from work or when they come home after school, be sure to stop what your are doing for a minute, smile at them and say “hi”, again, when you see ‘em. Don’t force it but let it come naturally and honestly from the heart. Let them know and make them feel (it) that they are the most important part of your life (hopefully they are); least of all, make them feel that they are more important than the “dirty dishes”!
:-)

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!
:-)

spirits in material world

We are spirits in

a material world.

--sting

:)

What others think

What others think of you matters
to the degree
that it matters,
to you!
---jbm
:)

Life can be hard

Life can be hard

to live life is easy....

jbm

:)

Be as Children

According to the bible,”To enter the Kingdom of God (Heaven), you need to be as children are”, or something to that effect (it’s been a while since I last read the bible). What exactly does that mean? Some of my thoughts on this saying....

I believe it means that we must view the world and live life as children do: without hate, without racism, embracing life, enjoying nature, laughing often and playing. Children don’t worry about amassing material goods as they make do with what they have and use their imagination to play life.

When it rains, don’t complain about it. Embrace it as part of nature. Go outside and stand in the rain. Enjoy and feel the rinsing, refreshing rain water as it comes down on you. It has the power to cleanse you of your negative thoughts, if you allow it. Go ahead and jump in that puddle. Get wet. Get dirty. Enjoy all the forms of weather that nature offers us.

Enjoy and appreciate all people. Kids don’t refuse to play with another kid because of their color, sex or race. (That’s taught to them by grownups!) Enjoy all the various cultures of the world. Embrace and encourage diversity. We all have something to offer and to learn from each other.

Play! Kids know how to play under all circumstances. Usually, no matter what’s happening around them, they want to and will play. Playing keeps the stress level down and makes you happy.

Enjoy nature. How often do kids find something knew outside, some new bug or cloud or animal or bird and it just amazes them? Let nature and its various forms overwhelm you with amazement. Remember, we, in all our various body shapes and sizes, are a part of nature...

Laugh! Probably the number one thing about kids is their ability to laugh at everything and to even laugh at what is considered the wrong time! There is something to be said about this because laughter may be the key to a happy life. Laughter! It’s been proven that laughter is good for your health. It makes you healthy and it makes you feel good. So get out there and laugh at everything (just about) but especially, laugh at yourself. Don’t be so serious.

So, be as children. Embrace the philosophy and enjoy diversity, explore all the various forms, shapes and colors that nature has to offer and keep an open, positive mind. Enjoy your life here on earth, appreciate the environment around you and “play” as much as possible. Doing this, you shall become healthier, happier and you just might also be given that golden key to the kingdom above! (or is it actually inside all of us ...)
:)

3rd world time

"You go to a 3rd world country thinking you might see poor, depressed people but most of the people, they have family, they love each other, and they have good quality time together. They have more time than we do. They appreciate what they have and don’t dwell on what they don’t have. They take the time for their friends and family. They enjoy life. We're so stinking busy, we don't take time to enjoy what we have and we don't take the time for our friends and family like we should. Sometimes, I think they have it better than we do..."
-anonymous
:)

Back to Work

Well, it had to end sooner or later. “All good things must come to an end”, they say. Oh really? Do they have to end? For me, its work. Or, back to work, to be more precise. After being laid off last year, planning and moving to a new country, I’m back to work after a year off. Bummer! It’s been a great year though! The time off allowed me the opportunity to reflect on my thoughts and concentrate on “self” improvement. I can still work on these but will now have less time to do it.

It’s not that I don’t mind working. Heck, I’ve been working since the age of 13 and I’m now in my 40’s so I know a thing or two about working! No, working is not the issue: I just prefer not to! I have more important things to do with my life than getting up everyday, going to some business and making money for some one else or for some billion dollar firm. No, that’s not my idea of life. We are not here to “work”, so others can profit. Now, if I “work”ed for a non-profit where helping people was the name of the game, I would be more excited about going back to work. I tried that route last year after being laid off. I applied for many different positions with a variety of non-profits with the idea of trying to find a “job” where I would be part of “making a difference in people’s lives.” A “job with meaning”, as they say...which would not be a “job” to me by any stretch of the imagination because its something I enjoy doing: helping others, helping them see the good in life so they, too, can enjoy it. Unfortunately, I either never received a reply or got a not qualified response from all my applications.

I always felt that the not qualified response was a bit odd. I mean, I applied for positions where I could help make a difference in peoples’ lives and what better qualifications than to be a person with a life!! (Ok, some call me a Dog and some say I have no life but that’s another story!!) Seriously, my job search the last few years has been to find work, in any capacity, with helping out those who are less fortunate or are struggling with life. I guess having a heart and a burning desire to help doesn't mean anything anymore. My preference would be to work with helping kids, abused women or single moms. I believe these people need the most help, are in vulnerable situations and are perhaps the most victimized in humanities quest for power. Not that others who also need help are any less deserving of it but, for me, it’s always been, I guess, about helping the underdogs or those who get the least respect. Children will always have a place in my heart. I find it a shame and feel really sorry for those kids who, for whatever reason, are not able to fully enjoy their childhood days by simply being children because of their unfortunate situation. Abused women probably factor in to the equation due to the fact that I’m a man and a man who does not believe in violence. So this touches two nerves. Single moms: I see them all over and have a heavy heart for them as well. We know how hard life can be whether you are single or if you have a partner to help out but it has to be almost impossible nowadays if you are alone...raising a kid! Raising children should be the most important task we as humans have but it apparently has been delegated to the “later” file. Personally, I don’t think (I know) that our government, politicians or those big bad major companies help out these people enough. These struggling people are marginized and pushed to the back of the line behind the wants and wishes of the rich, the powerful and the greedy who if they had their way, “those people” would just “go away”. That is not taking care of the people as I believe should be the first priority of any government toward its citizens.

Yes, I live in a dream world when it comes to what our government or the people of the world should do but don’t we all, in one way or another? Dreams are what make us and shape us. Dreams become the fiber of our morals. Dreams are what we work on in life. And my dream just got pushed back a bit, again, as I re-enter the “working world”!

In my new working world, I will once again be working on defective cells phones in a warehouse. Exciting, huh! I feel vibes of jealousy from you all..... Yep, a nice boring, monotonous, non-challenging position; just what a (young!) creative, sincere, thinking mind needs to dull the senses.

If it sounds like I’m starting to complain about going back to work, well it’s probably true. After all, it was great to have the time off. For one thing, it allowed me the opportunity to start this blog and attempt to express, in words, my views and what I think about our life on earth. It also afforded me the opportunity to meet, through your blogs, some really interesting and, I think, nice people like Jim, Sieg, Sophia and Rambler, among others.

More importantly, though, the time off enabled me to spend much much valuable time with my growing 12 yr old son. YOU CAN’T PUT A $$ ON THAT!! I would never trade this time spent with my son. I love him very very much and think the world of him. He is just plain awesome! Luckily, I had this opportunity to play with him, watch TV with him, talk to him; mostly just BS but also some life learning conversations that hopefully will shape his views a bit. Most importantly, though, for him and me, was the opportunity to just plain spend the time together: day in and day out, for the last year. I was/am there for him at this important stage of his life. It was great and I will always cherish the time we had together. I think he will too when he is older. I wish other parents had the opportunity to also spend more quality time with their kids because this is part of the problem in many households in today’s over worked, fast paced, “I don’t have time” American society: Not enough quality time for or with their children. Both parent and child benefit immensely from this time together.

Unfortunately, my decision to get back to work was based on the almighty dollar or Euro, as it is over here. My family and my, soon to be a teenager, son have material needs that can only be met by my “earning a living”. I have no problem with that and understand this need of theirs. Of course, if I had a choice, I would rather not work (who would?), spend my days thinking/writing, being with my son and still be able to monetarily provide for them, so if anyone out there wants to “help” me in this situation...my ego is nie so big!

Over the last year, I’ve provided for my son mentally but now it’s time to provide for him materially. All kids need to experience and learn about materialism as a child or it may become the focus of their adulthood. Remember, it’s not necessarily materialism itself that corrupts but how it’s used and where the priority of obtaining it is placed. I am attempting to teach my son the difference and if we don’t let children experience the world of materialism and teach them properly, wisely about its place in life while they are young, it could easily become their one and only motivating factor later in life and I do not want that for my son. Now, he can have a well balanced understanding of life.

Stepping back from the rat race or as John Lennon put it; “I’m just sitting here watching the wheels go round” is vastly underrated. May you all, some day, enjoy it.

("Watching the Wheels" concerns Lennon's dismissal of those who were confounded by his "househusband" years, 1975-1980. During this period, he stayed away from the music industry and raised his son Sean with Yoko. The song's second verse seems to contain an allusion to Plato's "Allegory of the cave". In it, Plato believed that one can only learn through dialectic reasoning and open-mindedness. Humans had to travel from the visible realm of image-making and objects of sense, to the intelligible, or invisible, realm of reasoning and understanding. "The Allegory of the Cave" symbolizes this trek and how it would look to those still in a lower realm. Plato is saying that humans are all prisoners and that the tangible world is our cave. The things which we perceive as real are actually just shadows on a wall. Just as the escaped prisoner ascends into the light of the sun, we amass knowledge and ascend into the light of true reality: where ideas in our minds can help us understand the form of 'The Good'.)

Peace Luv and Health to all....
Enjoy watching the wheels...I do....

JBM

Good Karma

I N S T R U C T I O N S F O R A GOOD L I F E

1. Great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three R’s:
Respect for self,
Respect for others and
Responsibility for all your actions.

4. Not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship.
7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate
steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone, by yourself, every day.
9. Keep your mind open to change, but don’t let go of your values.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and
think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for a good life.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the
current situation. Don’t bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
17. The best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up
in order to get it.
19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

20. Be yourself.

:) anonymous

simple pleasures

Remember,
life's most simple pleasures
are very often the best.

:)

Move on to 2008

To bring in 2008

As usual, many people will begin 2008 by pledging to stop something personal. That may be to stop smoking, or to eat healthier or to lose weight. These time honored commitments, however honestly attempted, are rarely followed through to a positive conclusion. There is a better way.

The best way to bring in 2008 is to let go of 2007. However, before letting go, take the time now to reflect back on 2007.

First, look at the “negatives”. What went wrong? What bad decisions were made? What bad moves were made? What would you do over if you had the chance to change something? Now I believe that we make the best decisions possible at the time based on our situation, so I don’t necessarily consider them “bad” choices. On the other hand, looking back at our choices, we can always find decisions made that upon reflecting on them, were not the wisest choices made and we would change them if we could. But we can’t. Let’s call them “learning lessons” and I, personally, have had many learning lessons! We all do. That’s life. That’s being human.

Next, to end the backview on a positive note, look at all the good things that happened to you in 2007. Look at all the positive choices and decisions you made that turned out for the better. I’m sure there are many of them too. Take the time to reflect on and enjoy them. Even the littlest of choices can have major impacts on our lives so enjoy the smallest and simplest of these choices. Remember, you could have chosen the opposite route. Be proud of the good decisions you made.
So, that’s it. Very simply put: leaf back through the book called 2007. What went wrong and what went right. Bad choices and Good decisions. Look good, hard and HONESTLY at them. Learn from the mistakes and build on the positives. Then turn the page. End of chapter. MOVE ON!

These same lessons can be applied to our daily lives. At the end of everyday, reflect honestly on what you did and the choices made. Learn from the mistakes and build on the positives. Remember, we are only human. Then turn the page on the day, put it behind you and MOVE ON!

:)

Growth of Tiger Woods

Now matter how powerful, rich or famous we become, we are still the same in the inside. We still have the same concerns and feelings (unless your a bush-ite!). Below is from Tiger Woods. Perhaps you've heard of him....

Tiger Woods recently discussed how he grew as a person this year. When asked to identify the most important thing he had learned this year about golf, he replied with the following:

"Not necessarily golf-wise, but life-wise, I think I've grown quite a bit this year," he said. "After my dad passed away last year, Earl Woods died at age 74, I played well, but was not really feeling all that great about my life in general."

"I felt like I hadn't really appreciated having Dad around. I didn't talk to him as much as I should have. I didn't call him, didn't see him, wasn't there enough. I felt that I didn't do enough for him."

"But when I had daughter this year, I wanted to take in every moment and appreciate everything. And I think that's where my life has changed. I appreciate everything now. And no doubt I played better as a result. But it's sad. One thing I regret is that it took the fact of my dad's passing for me to fully understand and realize how good my life was with him. I wish I had been able to appreciate how good it was when he was there."

Family and friends: appreciate them now.
:)

on the 8th day, God created....

...and on the 8th day, God created christmas break....
With that in mind, I will be out of the "office" for a bit, without my laptop.

So, I hope you all enjoy the holiday season in your own very special way. For me, its a celebration of life, a life of love and a love of life. Share it with your family, friends and fellow bloggers.

Be safe and arrive alive.

JBM

(the best gift off all is the gift of love, friendship and a smile to a stranger)

:)

In the Beginning....pt 1

Man demands a beginning and a boundary, so in the beginning there was a sea of spirit, and it filled all space. It was static, content and aware of itself. Then it moved. It withdrew into itself, until all space was empty, and that which had filled it was shining from its center, a restless seething mind. This was the individuality of the spirit; this was what it discovered itself to be when it awakened; this was GOD.

Souls were created for companionship with God. The pattern used was that of God Himself: spirit, mind, individuality; cause, action, effect.

First there had been spirit; then there had been the action which withdrew spirit into itself; then there had been the resulting individuality of God.

In building the soul, there was spirit, with its knowledge of identity with God; there was the active principle of mind; and there was the ability of experience; the activity of mind separately from God. A new individual, issuing from and dependent upon God, but aware of an existence apart from Him, thus came into being.

To the new individual, there was given, necessarily, the power to choose and direct its own activity; for without free will it would remain a part of God. Mind, issuing as a force from God, would naturally fulfill his thoughts, unless directed otherwise. The power to do this-to direct otherwise the force of mind-is what man calls free will. The record of the free will is the soul. The soul began with the first expression which free will made of its power, through, the force of mind. The first thought which it generated of itself, the first diversion of mind force from its normal path, was the beginning of the soul.

The soul was the greatest thing that was made; it had free will. The measure of the soul is the limitless activity of mind and the grandeur of it’s imagination.

The nucleus of the soul was in balance, positive and negative force in equal power, producing harmonious activity: the positive initiating, impregnating, thrusting forward; the negative receiving, nourishing, ejecting. The steps of this action were the stages of thought: perception, reflection, opinion.

The plan for the soul was a cycle of experience in which the new individual would come to know creation in all its aspects, at the discretion of will. The cycle would be completed when the desire of will was no longer different from the thought of God and the soul would return to its source as the companion it was intended to be.

The return of the soul is the return of the image to that which imagined it and the consciousness of the individual--its record, written in mind--is not destroyed. The Ego, which is the desire to do other than the will of god, is, however, relinquished. When a soul returns to God it becomes aware of itself not only as a part of God, but as a part of every other soul AND everything.

To be continued....
(from the readings of Edgar Cayce)

Thinker not doer

I'm a THINKER, not a "doer"
Some call me a dreamer
(your just dreaming, get real!)

Some say Thinkers are lazy and that "doers make the world go around"...
However,
Thinkers give “doers” the ideas... :)… and
Without ideas, “doers” would have nothing to uh … do!

Both are needed for change.

I learned a long time ago that I was a Thinker and not a “doer”
I accept it. I accept the agony that goes with it for
Thinkers bear the mental burden
of the world but

Thinkers change humanity...........

:)

Jon said....2

Today

is to enjoy tomorrow

Tomorrow

is to worry about

Today

--- Jon

:)

Jon said...

In the car of life,
there are no rear view mirrors
(and it’s an import!)

--- Jon

:)