Daily Mood Quotes - December 8, 2011

 Daily Mood Quote

Day 216 - December 8, 2011

Nothing gives a person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.

~ Thomas Jefferson

I believe that somehow the concept of why this particular holiday season exists has been completely lost in the tidal wave of consumerism and mass marketing that has enveloped our nation. Everywhere I have been over the last three days I have seen and noted more miserable faces and impatient people than I could have ever imagined. They are on the roads and sidewalks, in the stores and even at holiday events. I have to ask, where did patience and good cheer go? I understand that we all have busy lives and there are expectations of us to be here, or there, to do this, or that and many have very foolishly embraced the concept of “I'll rest when I'm dead” as a mantra for modern living, but “in the course of human events (Yes, I borrowed that from the Declaration of Independence),” we have unwittingly transformed a season of thanks into a season of anger and angst. The problem is that it isn't just the normal family holiday infighting, or other small squabbles, that is causing this angst; that's just life. Its the guy in the Escalade SUV behind you, waving his fist furiously and tailgating all the way into the store's parking lot, then running by you into the store, or the shopper with carts full of gifts (you know they are gifts, because no 40 year old needs a Pillow Pet), who while cursing, plows over an older lady who might be moving a bit slower than light speed. I have personally witnessed both in the past two days.

Granted, I have been a bit distracted myself with my father's frail condition and the weight of the holidays bearing down, but gee whiz, I'm convinced things have gotten completely off track in regards to the Christmas season. I see lots of holiday “action,” with little or no holiday spirit out there. It misses the point completely. Its sad and more than a bit disconcerting. Its like giving somebody an ultra lousy birthday party, by doing everything completely opposite of their wishes. Do you think this is what Jesus of Nazareth had in mind when he said “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you (NIV)”? Doesn’t make sense does it? Yet, invariably from the end of November to the end of December it seems as if otherwise decent people embrace the foulest and lowest of behaviors; all to get the deal, get the gift and shove in line ahead of the other guy...for Christmas!!! It really baffles me. 

There have been people giving Christmas gifts for two thousand years and in some way shape or form, they will be presumably doing so for the rest of human history. Who do they think they are getting “ahead of” and how does that relate to the meaning of the holiday? I really don't think the three wise men raced each other to get “there” first, but what do I know. All I know is that it seems like a really crappy way to celebrate anything, let alone a birthday. And for the record, I do not hold the “organized churches” to blame here. There is something else that drives this schizophrenic social behavior and it/they may be found cowering around the feet of Charles Dickens' “Christmas Present” apparition (the story is as relevant today as it was when written). They are the twin specters of "want" and "ignorance" and they have been silently, yet virulently with us all these long centuries, since before any organized religion, before the Nazarene walked on earth and before Dickens' story. I believe, they are artifacts of our early evolution that have hung around like viral DNA and have found ways to undermine and ruin humanity's best attempts at civilization. We need an antidote for our own baser psychologies. “Want:” is anything we don’t have and believe will somehow make things “better,” or equal to someone, or something else. “What a crock! (thanks Three Men and a Baby).” “Ignorance:” she soothes the mind and tells us “it's okay, what you don't know can't hurt you.” But in fact ignorance is a congenital liar who cannot tell a truth. They are both vestigial functions that creeped into our brain structure, when we as a species, began to pull ourselves out of the mud. It is one thing to be motivated, we need that, but the stop switch isn't working yet. And, we can't process everything all the time, there is just too much, but a door to tightly shut keeps both light and sustenance out.

So, with that said, I can't say I have an answer. But, I suspect that author James Allen may have had at least a clue when he combed through history and said. “The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom.” So, where is the tranquility gene?

How will you “be calm” today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quotes - Movember 7, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quote

187 – November 7, 2011

Human nature is above all things lazy.

~Harriet Beecher Stowe

Today, I am on a tirade. Yes, a tirade, read, don't read you choose, there's a lot to say (you're being forewarned). There is nothing in this world that frustrates me more than lazy people and I think this morning errands and communications via e-mails where “the straw that broke the camel's back.”

From the clerk who wouldn't check for milk in the back room of the grocery store, to lazy teachers (yes, that issue is still on-going), to lazy drivers who obviously never learned where the turn signal is on the steering column of the car. UUUGGGHHHH, it's Monday. An interestingly enough, my pharmacist was kind enough to inform me that we spend 1/7^th of our life on Mondays; about 14.29% for those of you who don't want to do the math. To quote my teenager, “Well Duh!” It makes me want to stay in bed and try to sleep through Mondays, If only I could, especially if Mondays continue to be as disagreeable as this one. I guess a lot of folks think the same, judging by how they behave on Monday morning. I guess the price of a good Sunday is a rough starting Monday. I hope that's not the case.

My husband and I have arrived at a point where we agree; we don't get it. How can people, especially people who have jobs, be so lazy in doing their jobs and in their personal behavior? I'm pretty sure the nearly 14 million unemployed would love to have those jobs and probably even do them well, because they understand what life is like for the unemployed. I am amazed how much people with jobs take for granted. It's not like they're better educated or harder working, just lucky and I don't think they quite “get” that. Especially a few teachers I know of who bragged about their years as a teacher, when clearly the behavior towards students, and student's parents screams “I'm only here to collect a paycheck and do the bare minimum, because my union protects me.” Do you know how many people I have known used the protection of the union to save their jobs while they screw-off, or even flat out steal from their employers? It's amazing what people get away with by “hiding behind” their union contract to keep their jobs. Shameful....

On the other side of the coin, I will be interested to see how many companies (it happens every year, like clockwork), lay-off people over the next six weeks. The holidays are coming you know, and it seems to spur companies to let people go, so the top executives can get a bonus, for doing... well nothing good, that's for sure. What a sorry looking mess we have made of our once thriving economy.

In the movie The Big Lebowski, Maude Lebowski (played by Julianne Moore) asked The Dude (played by Jeff Bridges) “What do you do for recreation?” I suppose there was still disposable income for “common man” recreation in 1998. Today, we have to decide between electricity and food, then occupy Wall Street, because the ones that need the jobs, those that are willing to put in an honest days work, can't find the jobs, or are denied the jobs because of age, (yes, discrimination), education (yes, because they have one), or because they are a transplant (yes, they moved to your town and you want them out). And all the while, so many who still have a job, seem to receive paychecks for just kind of standing around and doing nothing. It's important to note that I'm not talking about all the people, (I'm sure there are still plenty of decent, hard working, honest folks out there), just the ones I dealt with today and maybe someone you dealt with or are dealing with today. Way to go, you make us proud to share our country with you... “NOT!”

It is a little frustrating to have so much to offer, thanks to a good education and experience and watch those who really shouldn't have a job, screw off, lie, cheat, steal, and so much more; then turn and have the attitude that nothing can happen to them, or their job, because they are related to someone somewhere or a favor is being honored (I call this “the political system”), or the union protects them. Like Tom Selleck (Peter) said in Three Men and a Baby, “what a crock!!!” No wonder we have problems.

How will you overcome laziness today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading.

Daily Mood Quote - May 20, 2011

Daily Mood Quote

Day 16 – May 20, 2011

Learning to trust is one of life's most difficult tasks.

~Isaac Watts

This quote comes because of a story my husband shared with me this morning. A local radio station ask the question, “Should woman allow men to change their baby girl's diapers?”

Well, I have several schools of though on this: First, what in the hell has gone wrong with our society? I don't pretend to have the answers, but I wonder if there isn't something in the water here? Overwhelmingly, (10 to 1 ratio), woman said, “No I would not let my husband change our daughter's diapers.” WHAT??? I have grown children now, so diaper changing isn't a part of our life anymore (until the grandchildren arrive, then pappy’s changing diapers). However, I was tripping the light fantastic when my husband took the lead on the care of our children when they were young, including diaper changing. It meant I got a break.

So, the question is, “Why do these woman think like this?” Is it they don't trust their husband to do a good job? This is reasonable, because sometimes guys can be ham handed (clunky). When my husband listened to this story and upon hearing the women's comments, his first thought was, “Do they (woman) think that all men are recalcitrant pervs?” I understand the media has really beat that drum for the last couple of years and public awareness is riding very high. But really, dad's now can't change their own children's diapers? Again, What??

In the movie, Three Men and Baby with Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg and Ted Danson, the baby was a little girl and the men were all working professionals, single and no children ,or experience (or so they thought). Mary arrived on the doorstep and life became chaotic. While they were squeamish about changing a diaper, I don't remember anybody getting up and leaving the movie theater because men were changing a diaper, it was actually funny! But, I do remember Tom Selleck saying “I'll pay you $1,000 to change the diaper.” Has society really changed that much in 24 years? I don't think so. I do believe we can be so overwhelmed by the negative, that we forget the positive and we begin to doubt even ourselves and good judgement. Trust has to start with ourselves. When self doubt creeps in, it tends to overflow common sense and drown out the voice of reason. Then emotions and fears take over.

Married life is all about teamwork. That includes changing diapers, cooking and cleaning. We are all equal and accountable for our actions. Men no less than women and women no less than men. If a man excluded a woman from a vital child rearing activity, she would scream sexism and probably a few other choice words. Seems like that might be happening in reverse these days. At least out here in the middle of the country. It boils down to trust yourself and marry someone you can trust. Well duh!

What does teamwork look like to you today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote