Good Times, Bad Times

What's the old saying; stop the world I want to get off?

Reading the newspaper every morning I realize now puts me in quite a horrid mood. Here I am trying to start the day and seeing only bad or worse headlines with my breakfast cereal. My son recently had to do a project for school where he had to look at the newspaper and find one good/inspiring story and one bad/disaster type story and contrast them (where they were placed in the paper, the tone of the news etc.) We were very hard pressed to find any "good" stories.

I am going to try to stop reading the paper in the mornings (except for the comics) to see if it makes my outlook any brighter. It may be seen as closing my eyes to the suffering in the world, but I find I am almost hungering after these types of stories. I am like those spectators at car accidents, unwilling to leave the scene. Once the bizarre need to see these stories lessens, as I don't think it totally disappears, then I'll start up again

Working Man

Working too hard sometimes has the unintentional effect of turning a person into two people. The work person who is steady, dependable, always smiling and "gets things done" and the other person who goes home and opens and closes the fridge door seventeen times looking for the same item.

The Finer Things

A bottle of wine, good food, superior friends with excellent conversation and the children occupying themselves. Paradise.

Sit and Write

One of the most difficult aspects of this blog has been to actually write anything that may be of interest to anyone. It sometimes takes a while to get the engine running and often it just splutters and fails.

In order to kick-start the writing I went back and re-visited the aims I had when initially starting this space and I realized that I don't have to actually write anything interesting at all...and I certainly don't have to write something that may interest someone out there (assuming there is anyone out there).

I just have to sit and write.

So here you go.

Political Movement - Part 2

Yesterday's title to the post I made not only came from within the posting but from travelling the blogoshpere and seeing how many political writings there are out there.

It seems to me that they're only preaching to the converted or talking to themselves, and so the mis-interpretation goes on.

Political Movement

The internal politics of a large company is an awesome sight to behold. Just don't get caught in the way.

The Four G's

I used to work in a job that involved dealing with the public in a very public place.

All sorts of people would approach me for assistance and many would tell me their stories.

An elderly black man once came up to me and asked me a question.

"Do you know the secret to success in life" he asked.

I should have said yes and hoped for him to move on but I replied in the negative.

He said "Four words. Guts, guile, gall and glamour."

Then he smiled and walked away.

Fault Lines

There is an axiom that says what we find most at fault in others is the fault we actually see (or don't yet see) in ourselves. I would add that sometimes we also find fault in others due to something we lack in ourselves.

How then to stop finding fault in others:

1 - acknowledgment - there is an issue
2 - allowance - this is my issue
3 - revealing - this is the issue
4 - understanding - this is why I have the issue
5 - letting go - this is what I can do about the issue

Take her for a spin, let me know how she handles.

The Supreme Humourist

Of course, ever since I complained about dreaming too much I can't recall any of the myriad number of dreams I've had.

Methinks there is a presence in the universe with a very unique sense of humour.

The Last Page

And sometimes when I've stared at the computer screen much too long, I click here.

Us and Them

The kids tested my/their limits today. Multiple times. In fact they blew right past the limits and headed into interstellar space.

It's quite amazing how we can allow someone so pint-sized to rule our emotional condition. I mean, here we are, experienced adults, with stressful working lives that don't cause us to lose control as much as when a tiny miniature us pushes the right button. Suddenly all the strategies go out the window and we become them.

I know, I know, it's just part of growing up.

Just The Way You Are

I've noticed that with some people the more immersed they become in a book the more their personality changes to reflect some aspect of the book.

For example I've noticed that if I read too much fantasy or science-fiction I am more apt to daydream or take on primitive chivalric actions.

I've noticed a friend becoming more austere and severe when she started to read Through the Narrow Gate, a book about Karen Armstrong's time as a nun.

But in some traditions they would say we become the things we are.

Do Unto Others

"It is always difficult to forgive people we have harmed."

Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase p.146

To all those who fit the bill (you know who you are).

Inspiration

Going over the last few posts I realize I'm falling into the bloggers trap. Just about every blog out there has this samey "I'm so sad", "Why won't she go out with me", "Boo-hoo, look at me I'm so cool because I'm so jaded, depressed etc." tone to it.

I'll try to do better, I promise.

Feelings

Today's feeling - Grab the covers and pull them over my head while the world passes by.

Life

Life is like that.

One moment of pure beauty and peaceful movement.

Then, chaos and disaster.

Then peace and beauty once again.

This time with scars.

Questions?

An opportunity arises.

Now, how to go about figuring out what to do.

Questions:

What do you need, I mean really need, to maintain the life that makes you happy. Better yet, what do you need to be fulfilled. Why take this opportunity, what does it mean to you personally and professionally. How will it change you and if it does is this change what you really, and I mean really, need.

At the end of the day you need courage and faith in yourself to grasp opportunities but the questions above help you to understand the why.

Nothing Much

When all is said and done...good night!

Sport

Last night I witnessed a man yelling at two boys just after a football practice. The boys were around eight years old.

He wasn't yelling about their lack of enthusiasm for the practice or disregard for the coach's instructions. He was yelling at them because they kept calling over to where he was sitting and trying to draw his attention to what they were doing.

I'm not sure if the inner emotion that led to the outward display of anger was motivated by embarrassment but I'm sure it wasn't motivated by love of sport.

More like lust of sport.

The Middle

Middle of the week and already wish it were Friday.

Projects at a standstill. Office politics to play. Higher-ups to appease. Meeting after meeting after meeting, then ten minutes to actually get any work done.

Some of the perils of the modern work environment.

Oh, give me clear, transparent colleagues and guidelines and I'll give you productivity.