Life is full of challenges. Life is full of ups and downs. Life is not perfect or dull. I guess in some ways this is all good for it definitely makes life interesting and helps keep us on our toes.
There are times that WE as a couple, or WE as family, or WE as friends, or even WE as strangers are in a "different place". Knowing how to recognize, appreciate, support, etc. this is sometimes one of those life challenges.
There are times when some may like to or have to live in"spur of the moment" rather "planned" events while other we or they care about may like to or have to have those "planned" events rather leaving things to chance or "spur of the moment". These different places can cause some challenges or conflicts but the willingness to compromise or at least recognize the others situation makes these different places easier to visit (and deal with).
I am writing this to perhaps help others see that there are other sides but mostly to help myself with my own internal conflicts of wanting to be able to plan (so as to have something to look forward to for more time than a minute) and feeling that it is not always the best for me to plan then have to disappoint myself or others. I do like to plan and have something to look forward to but I also like the spur of the moment times (wellllll......only when they work out - dah).
This week I believe I will be encountering both "the spur of the moment" (today) and the "planned" (hopefully on Monday). Anyway, different places for different people.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Happy Valentine's Day
Not sure if this story really falls under the category of "what is really on the other side?" but in away it does.
Ed and I do not normally celebrate Valentine's Day as we do not feel we NEED to show or express or prove our love on a certain day. Yes, it can be a romantic day but it can also be a sad day - our way (although not for everyone and not necessarily the right or best way - but it is our way) works for us. We have no expectations therefore have no disappointments. No NEED to make this year better than last because more than likely one year will be about the same as another - and that is fine. BUT.......
Every now and then, one or both of us will surprise the other. (So, I guess this may be where "what is really on the other side?" comes in - the surprise element of will we celebrate or not.) We like it this way because the surprise element makes it more meaningful (for us) and more special.
Although it is very early, it has already been a nice day. Ed and I have special places in the house where we will leave notes, messages, card, and/gifts so that the other can find them the first thing in the morning. We never really know what might be on the other side those places.
Very early this morning, by the computer, I found a loving and romantic card, a box of chocolates (like I need them - wait....they are dark chocolate....that's good for you, right? Right. Yeah....I can have my chocolate and eat it too.), and two small bottles of Bailey's.
I have left the following for Ed: a loving and romantic card, dark chocolate bars (good for when his blood sugar is low) and a small bottle of Bailey's.
Yes, there is a common theme here. For about the last two weeks, we have been enjoying a late afternoon drink (of Bailey's) to help us wind the day down. It has been nice. Something special we do - enjoy a drink and talk about the day.
Love is in the air....Happy Valentine's Day.
Ed and I do not normally celebrate Valentine's Day as we do not feel we NEED to show or express or prove our love on a certain day. Yes, it can be a romantic day but it can also be a sad day - our way (although not for everyone and not necessarily the right or best way - but it is our way) works for us. We have no expectations therefore have no disappointments. No NEED to make this year better than last because more than likely one year will be about the same as another - and that is fine. BUT.......
Every now and then, one or both of us will surprise the other. (So, I guess this may be where "what is really on the other side?" comes in - the surprise element of will we celebrate or not.) We like it this way because the surprise element makes it more meaningful (for us) and more special.
Although it is very early, it has already been a nice day. Ed and I have special places in the house where we will leave notes, messages, card, and/gifts so that the other can find them the first thing in the morning. We never really know what might be on the other side those places.
Very early this morning, by the computer, I found a loving and romantic card, a box of chocolates (like I need them - wait....they are dark chocolate....that's good for you, right? Right. Yeah....I can have my chocolate and eat it too.), and two small bottles of Bailey's.
I have left the following for Ed: a loving and romantic card, dark chocolate bars (good for when his blood sugar is low) and a small bottle of Bailey's.
Yes, there is a common theme here. For about the last two weeks, we have been enjoying a late afternoon drink (of Bailey's) to help us wind the day down. It has been nice. Something special we do - enjoy a drink and talk about the day.
Love is in the air....Happy Valentine's Day.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Just when we thought.....
Just when we thought our children were not listening to us, they surprise us.
From the time our children (our precious babies) are born we are telling "to do" or "not to do" "this and that". We out and out TELL them. We make suggestions. We give them advice. We show them "how to" or "how not to" do something.
There are times when our children roll their eyes and make sarcastic remarks when we talk to them. "I know. I know. You do not need to keep telling me." We may think (remember - what we think may not really be) our children are not paying attention (did we really know what was on the other side of his growing brain?) but then later on in life they surprise us.
Our son keep surprising us. He really did learn from the lessons we thought. He really did hear us when we spoke to him. He really is a wonderful adult.
From the time our children (our precious babies) are born we are telling "to do" or "not to do" "this and that". We out and out TELL them. We make suggestions. We give them advice. We show them "how to" or "how not to" do something.
There are times when our children roll their eyes and make sarcastic remarks when we talk to them. "I know. I know. You do not need to keep telling me." We may think (remember - what we think may not really be) our children are not paying attention (did we really know what was on the other side of his growing brain?) but then later on in life they surprise us.
Our son keep surprising us. He really did learn from the lessons we thought. He really did hear us when we spoke to him. He really is a wonderful adult.
Seen but not heard.....?
There is an old saying that "children should be seen but not heard." Well, perhaps in some cases this is true but that also goes for some adults. Some adults while okay to be seen should probably not speak therefore not be heard.
Sometimes (some of) our youth are better heard than some adults. Sometimes we can learn from our youth. Like another saying "out of the mouths of babes."
Food for thought.
Sometimes (some of) our youth are better heard than some adults. Sometimes we can learn from our youth. Like another saying "out of the mouths of babes."
Food for thought.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Words
Words. Written.....read......spoken.....heard. Words can be multifaceted. A single word may have more than one meaning; for example the word L E A D. Just think about a series of words; just think how many meanings they might have.
The writer may have one idea in mind when writing and the reader may or may not read the words the same way as the writer intended. When speaking, words may be spoken with a certain meaning but heard differently. Words are complex. Sometimes we may not really know what was on the other side of the writer or speaker.
The writer may have one idea in mind when writing and the reader may or may not read the words the same way as the writer intended. When speaking, words may be spoken with a certain meaning but heard differently. Words are complex. Sometimes we may not really know what was on the other side of the writer or speaker.
Appearances are not everything
Appearances are not everything. I use the word "appearances" for a lack of a better word at the moment. Appearances do not always tell the true story. There may be times when you (or I or the person on the street) have control over your own personal appearance - the way you dress, the way your hair is combed (or styled if you can or are talented enough), etc. - but there are times you do not have control.
When you have control you have made your own choices to dress or be the way you want. You may or may not care what others think. You may or may not being trying to make a good impression. But you have the control and you have made your choices for better or worse.
When you do not have control very often it is because you do not have the resources - whether it be financial, opportunity, knowledge, or other.
We all, at one point or another, judge others. Sometimes we judge them to our own personal standards and sometimes to society's. We really should not be so quick to judge. First we need to look at ourselves (inside and out) then we need to think.
The same goes for other appearances. Neighbors can be very caring or very judgmental. One (or more) neighbor may have a perfect green and mowed lawn with a white picketed fence and freshly sided exterior while another may have gutters hanging (due to the weight of years of snow or heavy rains) and the lawn is brownish and not always mowed. But do we always know what is going on in the interior of those houses? No.
The neighbor with everything perfect may be a loving family who volunteers and goes on frequent family trips or may be the most dysfunctional family on the block. The neighbor with the hanging gutter may just be lazy and do not care about appearances or they may be going through some rough times - financially, healthwise or any combination.
Appearances are not everything.
When you have control you have made your own choices to dress or be the way you want. You may or may not care what others think. You may or may not being trying to make a good impression. But you have the control and you have made your choices for better or worse.
When you do not have control very often it is because you do not have the resources - whether it be financial, opportunity, knowledge, or other.
We all, at one point or another, judge others. Sometimes we judge them to our own personal standards and sometimes to society's. We really should not be so quick to judge. First we need to look at ourselves (inside and out) then we need to think.
The same goes for other appearances. Neighbors can be very caring or very judgmental. One (or more) neighbor may have a perfect green and mowed lawn with a white picketed fence and freshly sided exterior while another may have gutters hanging (due to the weight of years of snow or heavy rains) and the lawn is brownish and not always mowed. But do we always know what is going on in the interior of those houses? No.
The neighbor with everything perfect may be a loving family who volunteers and goes on frequent family trips or may be the most dysfunctional family on the block. The neighbor with the hanging gutter may just be lazy and do not care about appearances or they may be going through some rough times - financially, healthwise or any combination.
Appearances are not everything.
I had no idea
I read something earlier today that touched a spot in my heart. Someone I have know for many years apparently went through some rough times and needed help. Instead of being tossed aside help was received and appreciated beyond words.
Now some years later, this person has a chance to give back to the same people who had helped so many years earlier.
I had no idea what was going on. And although I do not know the details but that is okay. I know what is most important. Appreciation, caring, love and passion have guided this person to a new place in life.
God bless.
Now some years later, this person has a chance to give back to the same people who had helped so many years earlier.
I had no idea what was going on. And although I do not know the details but that is okay. I know what is most important. Appreciation, caring, love and passion have guided this person to a new place in life.
God bless.
We May Think.....
We may think we know what is really going on on the other side of.......
the room
the door
the phone
someone's house
someone's mind
a blog or posting................etc.
but do we REALLY know what is going on?
In many cases the answer is NO. In some cases the answer is YES. And still in others, the answer is MAYBE.
So what we may think may not be.
the room
the door
the phone
someone's house
someone's mind
a blog or posting................etc.
but do we REALLY know what is going on?
In many cases the answer is NO. In some cases the answer is YES. And still in others, the answer is MAYBE.
So what we may think may not be.
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