Press on

When the bricks crash down around you... press on.  When you no longer have the answer ... press on. When things no longer seem to make sense ... press on.

There is no hope in giving up.  There is no satisfaction in settling.  There is no blue sky when you're blue.

When you get knocked down ... take another step.  When someone makes you feel less than you are ... take another step.  When you question all that surrounds you ... take one more step...

Press on!

Listening: Tesla - Mechanical Resonance
Reading: Henderson the Rain King - Saul Bellow

Do you really care?

When someone is having difficulties what are we to do?  When we offer help and they don't take it, how do we respond?  Are we supposed to do something anyway?

Not sure how to help.  We are a proud people and don't take help very well.  We act as if we are ok and don't want to allow others to help for fear of criticism.

Haven't we all been in need of help?  So why do expect others to be any different?  Isn't part of life not just about receiving help but allowing others to help?

Listening: Def Leppard - Hysteria
Watching: Star Trek Voyager

What a long strange trip it's been

We've all found ourselves exactly where we are today.  The problem is we don't know exactly how we got there.  The little course adjustments that we made inadvertently along the way didn't seem like they would amount to make yet, here we stand.

The trip may have been strange but does that mean it's not that enjoyable?  Absolutely not.  Over the years, have met pain that was enjoyable so a strange trip ought to be somewhat fun.

So ask yourself, just a few questions.  Did you get here by choice or be absentia?  Most of us find ourselves wherever we are because of the choices we abdicated.

Listening: Tesla - Into the Now
Reading: Henderson the Rain King - Saul Bellow

What kinds of children do you want to raise?

Find it amusing how many times people complain about their children.  Hate to break the news to you but they are who you raised them to be.  It seems, in a weird and twisted way, that once they hit a certain age we wash our hands of them and say, "it's now all up to them."

Sorry to say but the values that you instilled in the when they were children are the same values they hold dear as they grow older.  Of course, you can't control what career they take.  Or who they marry.  Or even whether or not they graduate college.

The one and only thing you can do for them is to instill the important values that will give the the foundation to make good decisions in life.  The rest, as they say, is up to them.  But don't ever believe that if they start making bad decisions it is all their fault.  The foundation you laid is what gives them the capability to make sound decisions in life.

Listening: The Cult - Sweet Soul Sister Limited Version
Reading: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man - James Joyce

Memory is a tough thing to keep

It must be age or maybe it's stress but remembering everything is harder than it used to be. We have to keep lists. Have iPhones to help us remember.

We all seem to be rushing around everywhere and it seems a lot of the little stuff gets forgotten. Maybe no one else has the same problem.  We try pills.  Mental exercises. All sorts of stuff out there to help.

Actually wonder if reducing the stuff we rush around for might be the cure. Maybe it's the stuff itself that is making us forget. Wondering when forgetting the big stuff is coming?

Listening: Inside the Magic podcast
Reading: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man - James Joyce

Sense? of Humor (Redux)

Love the term "sense of humor". It implies that everyone has one as they would any of the senses. That can't be further from the truth.

Most people have the ability to be humorous. The problem is most people couldn't tell when they are. It is that ability to know a humorous situation whether caused by them or by someone else that we call a "sense". But again we can't really call it a sense if not everyone has the capacity.
It is interesting that the more we pay attention in life we realize that others with the capacity for humor are those that achieve the most success. Is it because they are funny or is it because they look for the good or amusing things in life?

Have to believe it is the later. Being funny is a direct result from having a great attitude. And if you lack a good attitude you will never achieve success!

Listening: WSJ
Reading: Henderson the Rain King - Saul Bellow

Never what you expect

Just had a very interesting experience that helped drive this point home.  Even when we think that there is no real opportunity, sometimes if you stick with it, the door will be opened.  Expectations are such an interesting thing.

It is a simple lesson to be learned.  Just keep after it.  No matter what your expectations are just keep going.

The effort is almost always worth it.  Whether or not the opportunity pans out, you always have the learning experience.  So just realize it's never what you expect.

Listening: The Cult - Sonic Temple
Reading: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man - James Joyce