Archive for the ‘Things to Think About’ Category

Newer Entries »

What is Serendipity?

November 5, 2015

What is serendipity? According to Merriam-Webster, it is “Luck that takes the form of finding valuable or pleasant things that are not looked for.”

Travel obviously is one opportunity for serendipity – discovering a new place to dive on the island of Kauai or seeing a double rainbow over the Columbia Gorge, things like that. Things that are not looked for . . . it could be financial, such as an unexpected inheritance or one of your children just announced they are going to have a baby. For me, a rufous-towhee (obviously) is always serendipity and a very good sign that things are looking up and the start of a great day.

How about this story, to be very specific about a “serendipitous event” (say that fast 10 times in a row). Over the weekend I was out doing a walk. The weather was decent (not raining), not too cold or too hot, and I was walking not too far from my home on a familiar route. Ahead I could see the big hill I was going to climb and thinking about the reward of the great view of my city at the top. But along the side of the street was “free stuff”, you know how people will put stuff out with a sign. As I passed the collection of mostly uninteresting stuff, I spied a coffee cup that caught my attention.

DSC_0806

Heron Cup (front view)

As I’m sure you know if you read my blog, I’m a bird fancier, especially raptors, herons, and other species. Seeing a heron in real life of course is always a treat. Anyway, I grabbed the cup out of the stuff and strapped it to my fanny pack so I could continue my walk. Oh, almost forgot, here’s the  back of the cup. Note what it says.

Heron Cup (back view)

Heron Cup (back view)

You can enlarge the image if you want, but here is what’s on the back of the cup. I’ll leave the interpretation up to you. One brief comment about the fifth bullet, that one clinched it for me – I always enjoy a good pun.

  • Keep a keen lookout.
  • Don’t be afraid to get your feet wet.
  • Be patient.
  • Look below the surface.
  • Enjoy a good reed.
  • Go fish.

Links:

Great blue heron (Thanks to arkive.org and the photographers who took the great photos.)

Things to Think About (Scroll through this category in my blog just for fun)

Mason Williams: Classical Gas

Posted in People and Places, Random Reflections, Things to Think About | 1 Comment »

More Favorite Quotations

October 31, 2015

I have a sidebar called Favorite Quotes, but I wanted to post these in the main blog stream to draw attention to them. I had seen the James Joyce quote somewhere, and I got off on a rabbit trail looking for it in Bartleby.com, which has a bit of everything, but I couldn’t locate the Joyce quote. Then I remembered the Brainy Quote site, much easier to navigate in my opinion, and quickly found the Joyce quote:

Illustration/quote from brainyquote.com

Illustration/quote from brainyquote.com

Here are a bunch more quotes. Read and enjoy. I included the specific link to the site for each quote if you are interested in learning more about the author. The quotes aren’t organized in any specific way.

“Do right. Do your best. Treat others as you want to be treated.”

“It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.”

Lou Holtz

“Don’t lose sight of feeling good about yourself and you will never hunger for true friends and a rich life.”

“Believe in yourself. Think and say: ‘I am. Therefore, I am! Friends accept me for what I am, not for any materialism on or about me, whether ragged or luxurious.'”

Richard Rex (friend, writer)

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”

Man Feeding Gulls

Man Feeding Gulls

Theodore Roosevelt

“I am as bad as the worst, but, thank God, I am as good as the best.”

Walt Whitman

At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst.

Aristotle

“Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it’s business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don’t love what you’re doing and you can’t give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You’ll be an old man before you know it.”

Al Lopez

“The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.”

Mark Twain

“Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people.”

Carl Jung

“To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift.”

Steve Prefontaine

“The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.”

Buddha

“If you will hold to my teaching, then you are my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

Jesus Christ

Ducks on Creekside Marsh

Ducks on Creekside Marsh

This is the precept by which I have lived: Prepare for the worst; expect the best; and take what comes.

Hannah Arendt

I have made the choices that work best for me. I know I cannot please everyone, and that’s fine.

Marlee Matlin

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.

e. e. cummings

Where is Quanaquato?

Where is Quanaquato?

Tags:, , , , , ,
Posted in Things to Think About | Leave a Comment »

Birthday Blog: February 23, 2015

February 24, 2015

I think I can blame my birthday and various media for inspiring this blog.

  • A broadcast news item about raising the flag at Iwo Jima (see the Wikipedia piece).
  • Bachman Turner Overdrive’s Taking Care of Business coming out of my PC speakers.

OK, get over it, I’m old school, it’s a Dell desktop, and the music is coming out of external speakers my son was nice enough to install, small but with an impressive bass response. Thanks, son!

I won’t name all the songs I was listening to, but there were 3 BTO, 3 Canned Heat, and 3 Chicago tracks, obviously music I like. One of the Canned Heat tracks was Let’s Work Together (Let’s Stick Together). I believe it’s on Disc 2 of Uncanned: The Best of Canned Heat album if you’re interested. Music and images (Iwo Jima) is a segue . . . possibly.

Today was a pretty darn good birthday. Even work was kind of fun – go figure, eh! I got happy birthdays from my Facebook friends, which I was checking out on my lunch break of course. I liked it and got a little buzzed about having 34 people wish me a happy birthday! I should try to move along in this modest literary exercise, tomorrow is another workday. Perhaps you glanced at my 2015 Preview – here are a few snippets to wet your curiosity.

“Who is Peter Finch?” – The title of this upcoming post should be, “Who is Howard Beale?” because he is the character that Peter Finch played. You should at least google it or read the imdb.com summary of the film. Better yet, buy a copy or rent it on Amazon. The movie was highly acclaimed, winning several academy awards that year. But why was he shouting “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore.” Remember it was a “satire”, but you should look up the definition if you aren’t familiar with that word.

An even better question is, “why aren’t we mad as hell and shouting I’m not going to take it anymore”? For now, I will mention just this one more thing, which is a carryover from my college days at a military school. People used to say things like, “Your head is so far up your _ _ _ that you need a glass belt buckle to see where you’re going.” Now as I recall more clearly, that was often what an upperclassman (usually a sophomore) would say to an underclassman (a freshman) when the cadet couldn’t answer a question about some obscure fact related to the college. Do we as Americans have our heads up our _ _ _ _ _ about what’s going on?

Remember my blog post on December 21, 2014, about mindfulness – try this just for fun. The next time you’re in a serious conversation with someone, really listen to what they’re saying and try to respond, rather than, while they’re talking, thinking about your own ideas and what you want to say. More in my next installment about mindfulness.

I’m about done. Two more items to complete the segue from the two bullets above. The Canned Heat songs (titles and music) speak for themselves, as does the Iwo Jima photograph. Think about it. There are six people raising the flag in the famous photograph, five Marines and a Navy Corpsman. Three of the Marines were killed in action over the next few days. Any flag raisers out there? God I hope so!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raising_the_Flag_on_Iwo_Jima

Tags:, , , , , , ,
Posted in People and Places, Things to Think About | Leave a Comment »

Mindfulness – What is it, is it Important?

December 21, 2014

Merriam-Webster: The quality or state of being mindful; the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one’s thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis; also, such a state of awareness.

I was watching a piece on 60 Minutes about “mindfulness”, and I thought I’d share some insights that might interest you. The link to the 60 Minutes broadcast is below.

If you look in my blog under Things to Think About, I posted “Doing Nothing: It Might Save Your Life” in October of last year. I admitted to being a Type A personality. I also admit to not being an expert on stress reduction or someone who practices yoga on a regular basis. However, I am learning about how important it is to lighten up, loosen up, and simplify my lifestyle, and hopefully to practice mindfulness spontaneously, which is the point of this blog post.

Rather than try to summarize the Anderson Cooper piece that aired on 60 Minutes on December 14, 2014, I’m providing the link to the script of the video about the mindfulness retreat and Cooper’s dialog with Jon Kabat-Zinn.

I guess for me the main take-aways were Kabat-Zinn’s ideas on mindfulness and how practicing it can help a person reduce stress, be healthier, and lead a more contented and happy life.

Here are a few more take-aways before I close, not my original ideas but quotes from others and ideas from other sources.

  • From a relative’s blog: “. . . if we wake up every morning and dedicate ourselves to doing and being good, this brief practice will no doubt lead to positive results. Through defining your intention for the day, your actions will have better results”.
  • From a Buddhist teacher named Kongtrul Rinpoche: “We are born with built-in abilities toward self-reflection and self-awareness which are our tools for personal growth”.
  • Last but not least, something that Kabat-Zinn said during interviews with Anderson Cooper about practicing mindfulness. It’s not in the script, but it was something to the effect – “If you’re thinking its something you should start practicing, you’re missing the point. It’s not a big should, it’s not like, oh, now I gotta do one more thing that I have to put in my life, that I have to be mindful. It’s not a doing but a being, and being doesn’t take time”.

Websites: http://www.mindfulnesscds.com/

Tags:, , , , , , ,
Posted in People and Places, Random Reflections, Things to Think About | 3 Comments »

The Blogger’s Dilemma: What’s the Hook?

July 22, 2014

The “hook” is a journalistic reference to the part of an article that grabs and holds the reader’s attention. Without a hook, the article may only get skimmed or not read at all. The hooks for any of my blog posts hopefully will get your attention long enough to have you benefit from what is written, to learn something, or perhaps be entertained. That’s a tall order, and admittedly, sometimes I just write for the pleasure of writing. I do like poetry too, and dabble in it just for the fun of it.

Ferns proliferate.
Ferns are cool and lush.
Ferns catch the rain.
Ferns catch the wind.
Ferns catch the light.
Ferns are a green carpet.
Ferns take root.
Ferns fill the void in the earth.

Did I mention that this is also an experiment for me or better said an audience survey? I have always approached social media hesitantly thinking that I may not want the world to read my writings, baring my soul. Perhaps if my subject matter is consistently informative, inspiring, and entertaining, then it will have served a purpose, and I should not worry about baring my soul. So, I’ll go with that. I suppose “Rule#11” was an introduction to my blog, and this post sets the tone for future blogs.

I will end with some thoughts from a Silent Unity publication that I read every day. The following is an excerpt from the Daily Word reading, July 20, 2014. Actually, I’ll give you their definition of “affirmations” first.

“Affirmations are positive statements of Truth. Each time we pray affirmatively, we are lifted into a consciousness of Oneness, calling forth the divine activity within us.”

Here’s the affirmation for July 20th:

“Divine Order: I joyously participate in the orderly unfoldment of good.

Divine order is always at work. It is the eternal and exquisite process by which all things come into existence. My very life is evidence of the graceful movement of God.

Each one of us is an essential participant in Spirits orderly creation. We each have a role to play in the creative process – the dynamic and continuing manifestation of God’s infinite good.

I surrender to divine order by aligning myself with Spirit. Through a regular practice of prayer and meditation, I intentionally open my life as a channel through which God’s order, love, and light radiate into the world.”

The Bible verse given is Romans 1:20. My fingers are tired, so you’ll have to look that up. This was all of the July 20th reading, not just an excerpt.

Tags:, , , ,
Posted in Things to Think About | 1 Comment »

Doing Nothing

October 8, 2013

It might save your life!

I was sitting in a chair in my back yard with my feet propped up on another chair. It was late in the day with the light failing, but the failing light was magnificent and refreshing. I had moved the chairs into the direct sunlight to enjoy it more. By the way, I live in the great Northwest – sometimes I call it the great “Northwet” – so the sunshine was a treat on this Fall day. The dog was walking around in the yard and would occasionally wander over to have his head scratched. It was a sublime, very relaxing moment.

But, you ask, how is it that someone who values doing nothing so highly is spending time at his keyboard creating this blog entry and on the very same evening that he was doing nothing in his backyard? To further stretch my credibility about this “nothing” concept, in all honesty I must confess to being a type A personality. I’m the person who can’t sit still for two hours to watch a movie, or the person who always has one more thing on his to-do list that absolutely cannot be put off until later. Members of my family and my friends will attest to my type A personality.

OK, so play along with me on this for a while, just relax, and think about it – doesn’t it make sense that doing nothing could very easily reduce your stress level. Sure, there are tons of self-help books out there to support this idea, but my recommendation is that you just give doing nothing a try – no cell phone, no MP3 player, no TV, no book. Get comfortable and just sit. After you have stopped doing nothing, you can send a comment about this blog post, no obligation of course, but I’d like to get your feedback.

Tags:, , , ,
Posted in Things to Think About | Leave a Comment »

13 Lucky Truths

September 17, 2013

What do I know with absolute certainty?

This modest blurb was actually an exercise suggested by a relative. She suggested the exercise in her book, Let Go of the Rope, that I was reading, in the Appendix in a section titled “13 Lucky Truths”. Before you start, find a place where it’s quiet, where you can relax and meditate and focus on your breath if you choose. Once that’s done, don’t delay, just start answering the question. It should only take 5-10 minutes at the most. Here are my “truths” – I only did 10 – write down as many as you want, just don’t take all day, it should be spontaneous.

1.   It is OK not to love God, but it’s better if you do love God.
2.   Life is too short to waste on unfulfilling pursuits.
3.   Smiling is more fun than frowning, and it takes less energy.
4.   Be up front in all your relationships.
5.   It is OK to get mad occasionally; just don’t stay mad.
6.   If you help someone, someone will help you.
7.   It is OK to be happily married.
8.   Never stop saying I love you to your loved ones.
9.   Learn to like yourself and be happy with your lot in life.
10. Winning is great, but it is OK to lose.

By the way, you can order the book on Amazon.

Tags:, , , ,
Posted in Things to Think About | 1 Comment »

America – I Like the Old America, What about You?

July 29, 2013

I was working on my thoughts for this post Sunday night (7/28/13), and I realized I needed to sleep so I could get up and go to work tomorrow . . . but stay tuned for the rest of the story in a day or so. It will be worth the wait, trust me!

America, Part 2: August 1, 2013

Something on Facebook, a post from an old acquaintance from my high school days, literally old (about my age), inspired me to write this blog post. I forget exactly what his post said, you know how we blitz through things on our computers – actually, I was on my Kindle. Anyway, I had this strong desire to post a blog about America.

Do you remember the movie “Network” with Peter Finch and Faye Dunaway (released in 1976)? Here’s the tweet-length synopsis:

“A TV network cynically exploits a deranged ex-TV anchor’s ravings and revelations about the media for their own profit.”

The scene that sticks in my mind and the reason why I’m even mentioning it is the scene where Howard Beale (Peter Finch) opens a window in his office building and says “I’m madder than hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore.” Are you madder than hell and not willing to take it anymore?

Stay tuned for the next installment!

America, Part 3: August 3, 2013

I have to pause to answer a question posed by a friend – think of this as an interactive blog. The question is: so what part(s) of Old America do you like better than now?

The short answer is that I like the traditional values and sense of community that I experienced when I was growing up. A neighbor was someone you talked to often and invited over to your house or someone you helped when they needed a hand.

I’m thinking about this a lot. I haven’t written us (America) off and there are many examples of caring communities who demonstrate these values, who volunteer themselves to help when help is needed. I just read an article in the August 2013 Reader’s Digest by Phillip Caputo titled “What Unites These States?” He and his wife traveled across country to find out the answer to that question. You’ll have to read it to find out the answer, but I was encouraged by the article.

Maybe the government, the media, the doomsayers, and the conspiracy theorists have colored my perception of the current state of good ole USA. And maybe we’re not so bad off in terms of our grass roots values as a people, but I’m thinking that our values need to be looked at, thought about, and evaluated. What is truly important to us and where are we going as a nation, as Americans?

More to come.

America, Part 4, For the Record: August 12, 2013

Whew! What a summer, actually, what a year! You ever have one of those periods in your life when it seems like it’s all happening at once without a break? No matter, here’s my entry for today.

In our current political climate, there are many forms of dissent and some very prolific dissent – left, right, peaceful, and radical. Just surf the Web or turn on your TV. I’m not advocating dissent, at least not in an extreme form. What I am suggesting is that people speak their minds about what America means to them. Jeffersonian democracy or Hamiltonian democracy, what is your preference (please excuse the rhetorical question)? Remember, Thomas Jefferson’s belief that the government that governs best governs least and Hamilton’s belief in centralized power. Too much of one leads to anarchy and too much of the other leads to tyranny. Oops, I’m politicizing and I told I myself wouldn’t do that, so I need to get back on track now. For the record, I’m not advocating liberalism, conservatism, or any other “ism”. I’m just trying to take America’s pulse on how its people feel about grass roots values and our future.

Next: A Journalistic Approach

Tags:, , , , , , ,
Posted in Things to Think About | 3 Comments »

Prosperity & Responsibility

February 24, 2013

“Look up toward the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” (Anonymous)

When you first look up on a clear night, you may see only dark, but the longer you look the more starts and constellations you see.

Similarly, if you look for or seek prosperity even if you’re really focused on it, you may not always find it, perhaps not ever. But if you look for the good in your life, the more you will see. In a sense, you become heir to health, wisdom, and other blessings that can fill your life, things that are truly “priceless” unlike the MasterCard commercial.

When you take responsibility for your life, you participate in life and contribute to it and (importantly) you contribute to the lives of others. By doing so, you accept the gift of life, give thanks for it, and live it in fullness.

Tags:, ,
Posted in Things to Think About | Leave a Comment »

Here Comes Your Train

February 13, 2013

If you only had 23 minutes to write it all down before you left this earthly existence, what would you write? Would it be a lot of “I love you’s” and “goodbyes” or perhaps a belated last will and testament that might not survive probate? Perhaps it would be a brilliant and scathing diatribe on the failure of the American political process?

I am a writer so I think I would write at least one page if not more. I think most people would not have much to say, thinking, “Jeez this is it, I’m done, what’s left to say”. I often wonder about condemned people, what they think about before the last neural firing winks out. Think of all the good dying scenes in movies. Personally, although I served in Vietnam, I’ve never in my entire life seen anyone die, including my parents.

Well, this was my “23 minutes” so I’ll say goodbye and to those who I love, “I love you”.

Not to worry, I’m still here as long as I can keep typing and running, just pondering what it might be like at the end.

Tags:, ,
Posted in Things to Think About, Waiting for the MAX | 1 Comment »

Newer Entries »