Category Archives: Wisdom

Oct12

Short Story Saturday #1 The Future

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I am starting a series of very short stories with a positive theme. Please enjoy and your comments are always welcome.

Once upon a time, just a week ago I found a winding road. Since I have nothing else to do I walked on it. The beginning of the path was easy; there were no bushes or rocks to trip on, just smooth dirt. Confident I could continue unencumbered I trekked on.

As I walked the light became a little less so I had to adjust my eyes to the the light. I tripped on an upturned tree root and fell on my knees. Ouch that really hurt. I got up and brushed myself off. I wasn’t bleeding anywhere so I continued. The trees became thick with only trickles of light. I hobbled carefully on the road that was becoming increasingly unpredictable. Boulders, vines, downed trees and unrecognizable sounds were invoking fear and uncertainty in me. Why did I walk down this path in the first place? I can’t turn back because the way is no longer clear. I must go forward.

It occurred to me this is the road to my future. Each obstacle is just a teacher on this path. I must learn to be unattached to the outcome of each obstacle.

Lightened from the burden of fear I walked on and went over, under, around or through each obstacle laid in front of me. It didn’t take long to find the end of the winding road.

There is was, exactly what I was looking for, my future in my own way.

Oct7

Affirmations #29 Limitations

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I declare richness and fullness for my life.

I now choose to move away from the limiting beliefs that have been denying me the benefits I do desire.

I release all negative patterns that have contributed to fear of loss, being harmed, of poverty.

I release those negative patterns that have brought me pain, loneliness, self abuse, undeservingness and any other nonsense that may be lingering in some dark corner of my consciousness.

Louise Hay – Heart Thoughts

Limiting beliefs are usually hidden from our awareness. Write and say these affirmations and what you believe with come to the surface. Write each one 10 times say them many times during the day and at bedtime and in a mirror.

Sep29

Affirmations #21 Self Esteem

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My high self esteem enables me to respect others and beget respect in turn.

I am free to make my own choices and decisions.

I am a unique and a very special person and worthy of respect from others.

My high self esteem allows me to accept compliments easily and also freely compliment others.

I accept others as they are and they in turn accept me as I am.

self-help-and-self-development.com

If your self esteem is a bit damaged, replenish it with these affirmations. Write them 10 times each, say them many times during the day especially in the morning and bedtime, also in the mirror.

Sep19

Thoughful Thursdays #34 Dis/comfort

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Our minds are hardwired to seek comfort so there is a constant battle within us to reach out and extend ourselves or curl on a couch and watch a movie.

There is a place for comfort especially if we need to rejuvenate.

But it’s just as important to stretch into being uncomfortable. It’s actually the only way to grow. Just reading books or watching movies is the intellectual approach to a subject. But risking a new experience is what builds us out to be grater human beings. New experiences are the hands on approach to growing. With new experiences the world. For example, if you volunteer at a hospital you will look at illness in a new way. Visit the museum: look at the way previous civilizations lived. There are many similarities ad differences by looking at the past.

Here’s something to try: make a vow to yourself that one time a week for one hear you will try something, new preferably something that makes you uncomfortable.

If a year is too much try for one month.

OK I’m not trying to make this easy for you. You have to make a little effort.

If you try you will be amazed at how you will grow, mature and be a good example for others to follow.

Happy Hunting for new stuff to do.

Aug29

Thoughtful Thursdays #31

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As some of you know I have a very big dog. His name is Rocky and he is 133 pounds. This past Sunday night we were at the dog park. There were many dogs there including one that my dog occasionally plays with. The other dog (who is almost as big as mine) likes to dominate my dog. They end up playfully defending themselves until the other dog decided that he had enough and lopped off a quarter size piece of his right ear. Blood was streaming everywhere and I alerted the other dog owner. Initially they were apologetic and offer5ed to pay the vet. Then they wanted me to pay half. The husband and wife owners of this dog at this point started to get nasty and accused my dog of first starting a fight. They knew full well that their dog was the culprit. I threatened them by saying I would report their dog to animal control.

Since it was late on a Sunday we had to find an emergency vet. We found one and the other dog owners said they would pay the entire vet bill. They did not come with me to the vet and when the vet called for payment they refused to pay the sedative portion of the bill. They ended up paying $400 of the vet and I paid $146. These people were conniving, took advantage of me and are irresponsible dog owners.

Part of me wants to get even, the other part of me wants peace. I doubt it they will come to the part again if they see me and my dog there. I could call animal control and make a complaint or I could just let it go.
I have decided to let it go. Getting even is a useless attempt at trying to control the happiness or unhappiness of others and an attempt to relieve my frustration and anger.

I have the right to my frustration and anger. However, I have decided to leave it alone. because just knowing and believing “what goes around comes around” is enough for me. I believe if I act against them it will come back to me and I know their lying will come back to them.

My dog was well taken care of at the vet and very healthy in spite of losing part of his ear. He now has an interesting battle would, a conversation piece and I can go on with a clean conscious.

Can’t wait to get back to the park.

Aug22

Thoughtful Thursdays #30

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Everything starts with a thought.

Ever notice when you are upset with something your thinking is out of control. You find yourself spiraling down an abyss of negativity and can’t pull out of it. You feel angry, helpless, hopeless and unable to focus. The obsessive thinking starts and before you know it you are drained and unhappy.

There’s good news and only good news. These are only thoughts and thoughts can be changed. You are the power and authority in your world and at anytime you can change your mind.

I know you are not convinced because your ego is addicted to the drama of the situation.
Try this; based on the Queen of Affirmations philosophy of Ms. Louse Hay, her belief and mine, are that staying focused on what is positive will bring the best results.

Here are some affirmations. Write them 10 times each, your mind with fight you but you are the boss not your mind. In a short time you will calm down and feel better.

I open new doors to life.

I always have a choice.

I am worthy of all good.

I release all tension, I release all anger and I release all resistance.

I forgive all past experiences.

I love and accept myself.

These are just a few positive affirmations; there are tons of affirmations in books and on the Internet. Find some that resonate for you and use them.

So,

What Are You Thinking?

Aug8

Thoughtful Thursdays #28

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e.e. cummings said: “To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting”.

When I read this it was almost too much to bear because it was true. It is a fundamental truth that no one talks about or even realizes till it’s almost too late. The truth is that society has set up rules so that if you don’t follow a particular like-minded tribe you will be lost and alone to the point of death. This mentality comes from the ancient survival mechanism in our brains that looks for safety. And it’s also has a clear undercurrent of power and control of a group under the guise of safety. I don’t know about you but I have been a loaner most of my life and I know that lost and empty feeling of not fitting in. I fooled myself for a long time with relationships, jobs, incredible ideas, trusting those I should not have and fabulous fashions but they all faded. The only thing left is me. Warts and all.

I have had sweeping changes and disappointments galore and guess what, I have survived. I still stand-alone and I enjoy being alone as much as I enjoy company.

Society has its own truths. I would never give up my truth to be myself. No matter what.

Be forewarned that acting true to yourself brings lots of jealousy and criticism. It’s a small price to pay for your own happiness. Be content and improve yourself regardless of what others think.

It will take a great deal of courage but you can do it. When there’s opposition, express it by doing something creative. Writing, painting, running what ever makes you happy.

Is this selfish, you may ask. No, because how can you be functional and productive when you have that feeling of uneasy boredom, are unhappy and living by habit?

No one can do your life the way you do so be proud of you and your life.

Aug3

A Better You

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Is this really possible? How many times have you tried a new behavior only to dump it after a short time? There are few things in life that are so hard to do. But there is a way to be a better you, an easier way.

 

To be a better you just do loving acts of kindness and give good wishes. It’s simple, easy and makes an incredible difference in your relationships and life.

 

 Wherever you can silently send peace and good wishes to someone you interact with or your community, world, those who are suffering.  If there is a situation or person who is completely intolerable: remain neutral. Have no opinion. Be objective and send only peace. See the difference it makes. Acts of kindness and silent good wishes change the air, change the electrical current of events, it will cause good to come back to you. This is powerful stuff. Powerful, spiritual, tangible, rich, deep and eye raising. 

 

 So no need to stress how to force your self to be a better person because there is a simple and easy way to be a better you and have good things flow your way.

 

 Try it for a while and you will not give it up so easily.

 

 Om!!!!!

 

Jul17

Bit By a Dog

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I have a wonderful dog. My dogs name is Rocky. He is 130 lbs and is a mixed breed of Lab and Rottie. He is smart and strong and loveable.

On Sunday in the early evening we were at the dog park. Since it was so hot my dog was sitting and relaxing. A lady came in with a pit and a shar pei. She stood in front of my dog and took the leash off her shar pei. For whatever reason the shar pei attacked my dog. Rocky was taken by surprise and got up to defend himself. In the meantime she was trying to get her dog under control and I was trying to get my dog under control. As I reached for my dog her dog swooped in to bite my dog but my hand was in the way. Instead he bit me. It hurt. I told her the shar pei bit me and she was genuinely concerned. She said if I needed anything she would pay for it. I was so impressed by her show of responsibility.

I washed off the bite, Rocky was fine and I was the only casualty. On Monday morning I went to the doctors. She said I did not need antibiotics because it was not infected. The pain was a result of the bruising from the bite and I consider myself very lucky it was not worse.

From this event I am reminded how powerful dogs are and how important it is to respect them and be cautious. My dog is so strong that I have to always were sneakers to support my balance. I have fallen many times because he will run after a cat or bird and I am no match for him when he runs. One time I fell and broke a rib. So for a long time now I just put him in the car and drive a mile to the dog park to avoid this kind of problem.

Rocky is a very good boy but he is still a powerful animal. His job is to be a guard dog and is very protective. He knows his job and does it well.

I have no bad feelings toward the dogs or the owner because that’s the risk of owning any dog. Even a little one can do damage.

So I leave you with this: Dogs are super creatures.
They are loyal, kiss a lot, like a child and need us as much as we need them. Great protectors, teach us the cycle of life and great conversation pieces. Are a lot of work but worth it.

Give a your dog a hug today, if you don’t have a dog, hug someones dog, but ask first.

Jul11

Thoughtful Thursdays #24

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I realized that I have no enemies, only teachers. Each perceived enemy, obstacle and unnerving situation is a growth spurt in the timeline of my life. Each seeming bad person, organization or situation is really the wonderful opportunity to participate in having things fall apart right in front of me and participating in pulling them back together again.

We do ourselves a great injustice by not looking at uneasy situations as a teaching. By looking at it as a teaching we will not run away or look for an escape. Instead we can be objective, be in the moment and in an instant the situation comes into perspective and passes in its own time.

Here are some suggestions for dealing with things that are not working:

1. Stop your mind from racing
2. Be objective
3. Don’t look for an escape
4. Even if you are terrified stay in the moment
5. Respect yourself by having the courage to be still
6. Notice your feelings and thoughts but don’t react to them
7. Finally, just let go

Most of the time our days ordinary. On those days we can practice doing the things that make us happy inside of us not outside of us.

Know that everyday is a chance to change, to make choices, and move into a position of personal strength. So when bad things happen you won’t be so derailed. Learning to be calm in the face of adversity takes time. Don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t happen right away. Life will always help you by putting these nasty situations in front of us until we learn not to run away.

If I haven’t convinced you and you still want to run away then start jogging.

You are stronger than you think.