Daily Mood Quote

June 16, 2012

Never trust anyone who says, “Trust me, I'm your friend.” Actions speak louder than words.

~Unknown Author

My husband says this quote is harsh and to a small degree, I agree with him. But, for now this is how I feel and only time will heal the hurt that someone I once looked up too, trusted and admired (more than any member of my own family, the family I grew up with) created. I have forgiven people who have hurt me, or my family if it was an accident; but what this woman did was no accident, it was with malice- it was deliberate, intentional, and shameful. I wonder if theses are the lessons she teaches the children in her religious education program? Lessons like: It's okay to lie, cheat, spread rumors (without knowing the facts, asking the questions, or just simply ignoring the truth) about people, as long as you give money to the church, or go to confession each week. Is that what it takes today? Sorry to say this, but that is hypocrisy. Saying one thing but doing another. People tried to warn my husband and I about her, they tried to tell us she was a hypocrite, a liar, she said one thing but did another, was never a person of her word. They tried to tell us, but oh no, we didn't believe them. In fact we vigorously defended her. She was a friend, a trusted friend. Well, “with friends like that, who needs enemies” right?

Now, back to our discoveries... Upon entry of the home through the front door, we noticed that the house was dirty, walls had been scraped up, carpets had been stained and vinyl in entry way was scraped and torn. There was also a yellow stain on the floor, where the entry way carpet used to be. Who lets a carpet sit that long? This was at first glance. Then we proceed to the laundry room and found no reason for concern (yet). Ran both the washer and the dryer, they seemed to both work for the brief tryout.

The hallway from the entry way has a closet, filled with things that belonged to the previous tenant, our new landlord. This hallway which lead to the kitchen includes a doorway to the laundry room and a doorway to the garage, which has a screen door on it (unusual) but nevertheless both doors work, although latch is rusty and loose on the screen door. There were dirty marks and scratches from the move out on the walls and floors. The vinyl flooring in front of the refrigerator has dark scrapes and tears.

We then moved to the kitchen, and noticed on the counter top there was only one remote for the garage door opener (this is a concern because normally an automatic garage door has two openers). A microwave was also left on the counter, this was be placed in the garage for the landlord, who said she would return for her things. We continued with the inspection and noticed the refrigerator was the same refrigerator we saw several months earlier. When you opened the refrigerator doors (noticed during the viewing of the home several months earlier) the bottom was still torn up, rusting and separating from inside the refrigerator and freezer doors. The bottom of the refrigerator (underneath the drawers) looks as if it had never been cleaned; this one was going to take time to clean (at least three to four hours of serious elbow grease). Then we checked the burners of the stove and they seem to be in good working condition. We are excited about this stove because food cooked by gas stoves seem to taste better than food cooked by electrical stoves (that is just how we feel). We did not run the dishwasher, we had no reason to at the time, no dishes, yet. Anyway the landlord said, she never used it because she lived alone, didn't have a lot of dishes to wash. We believed her and assumed it worked. Why would she lie to us? Then we opened up all the cabinets and discovered many missed items, we boxed them and placed them in the attic for our landlord to pick up. We then turned on the water and got sprayed from the water purifier, which was exciting. The sprayer had to be removed. Upon removing it we noticed it had mold, so we disposed of it, and replaced it with a regular aerator.

Then we opened up the windows in the kitchen and found mold and discoloration on the trim. We took pictures and then checked other windows; they were also discoloring, molding and rotting. We didn't know if this could be fixed; we would have to look it up.The kitchen bay window on the (east) right side had a broken closing mechanism, cannot open the window to full extension, or the mechanism separates from the window. Screen also has multiple holes. Looking at the kitchen floor, we noticed stains, dings, and dents. Along with a few centipedes, and a couple of potato-bugs. Bugs will have to be taken care of right away, because we have a very low tolerance for bugs, especially our youngest daughter. Upon an initial view of the kitchen walls – they seemed fine, no glaring holes or other problems. Although looking at the dining room walls, we asked the question, “who moved her, the CareerBuilder.com monkeys (well, okay, chimps)? They were marked up with dirty pencil marks and small holes.

By this time my husband and I were remembering the movie The Money Pit with Tom Hanks (Walter) and Shelley Long (Anna), when Walter said, “Ahh, home crap home!” And we haven't even gotten to the good stuff yet...Want to see why my daughter could never sneak out of her room at night? See more tomorrow.

Here's something novel; writing about this is helping reduce the hatred demon. Like Shrek in the movie Shrek (played by Mike Myers) always says, “Better out than in, I always say.”

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Daily Mood Quotes - January 17, 2012

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 242 – January 17, 2012

“The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.”

~Flora Whitemore

First let me begin by explaining why I did not post yesterday. I realized that there were so many quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., flying about the Internet yesterday, that my little effort may have appeared disingenuous. I have quoted him often and respect his legacy too much to try and leverage his day of remembrance with obligatory quotes. It's that simple. It was also a day that I really had a tough time being even remotely positive, for other, personal reasons.

So, yesterday I closed a door or two in my personal life. Sometimes you have to do that. Its not a reflection on character, or experience to say “enough, I'm done with this.” Everyone has a line. I found mine yesterday. I dealt with a situation which I had invested much time and love and genuine sacrifice, but I realized it was to no avail. That was a profoundly emotionally painful experience and it stopped me in my tracks for a while. What is done is done and a door to the past which had caused me much pain must close. I really am not ready to discuss it further at this point. Like Forrest Gump said, in the movie Forrest Gump (played by Tom Hanks), “That's all I've got to say 'bout that.” It's time to open the door to the future. That door is one of limitless possibilities, even if that means starting back at the bottom again. But then again, what is a climber without a mountain? Just a person with a bunch of expensive, useless toys....

The big question is which new door to choose and which to forgo? I feel like I'm on Let's Make a Deal! I'l take door number..... Better think a bit before I answer. I'll try and leverage my experience and choose better this time. That's the thing about life that I really appreciate, no matter where you are no matter when you are in life  (15, 35, 45 or in my case 47) you can choose a new direction, plot a new course, open a new door. It just takes a bit of courage, a bit of hope and the wisdom to weigh the risks and the responsibilities and consequences of stepping through. The more you learn the better your chances. Then, to quote the old NIKE ad “Just do it!” Although, my personal favorite, the old Navy saying, “It's not just a job, it's an adventure!!!” The same applies to closing old and now useless doorways that you have passed through. If you aren't going back, just close it. Onward, upward and ever forward...here we go again.

What door will you choose today?

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Daily Mood Quotes - December 11, 2011

Daily Mood Quote

Day 219 – December 11, 2011

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Gee whizz, I really hate to wax political, its such an unseemly mess and there are way too many blogs dedicated to polarized sides of any political issue. But, I must tell you that I have been distantly following the Republican Presidential primary, with indifference and a healthy dose of skepticism. I know that historically these things are at very best a popularity contest, won by the candidate who is willing to bend the lowest and pander to the fears and greed of socially disconnected, special interest groups. For the past thirty years, the Republican party has progressively distanced itself from anything that remotely resembles the genuine will or needs of the people of the Unites States of America. Ostensively, the party's leaders have been focused almost exclusively on the narrow financial interest of a small group of self-serving, ideologists (I would say idiots, but...) that have bastardized the American ideal and transplanted it with a twisted, mono-partisan and greed driven perspective. I hasten to remind, that when Mr. Gingrich was Speaker of the House, the split between parties became a gaping chasm. His rhetoric is corrosive, destructive and completely ignorant. If you don't believe me, check this out. If it sounds a bit harsh I can't really apologize, because it isn't nearly as harsh as the viewpoints expressed by him.

The following recent statements are from the front running Republican Presidential Candidate Newt Gingrich.

"Really poor children in really poor neighborhoods have no habits of working and have nobody around them who works so they literally have no habit of showing up on Monday. They have no habit of staying all day. They have no habit of 'I do this and you give me cash,' unless it's illegal."

“I think that we’ve had an invented Palestinian people who are in fact Arabs, and who were historically part of the Arab community,” said Gingrich. “And they had a chance to go many places, and for a variety of political reasons we have sustained this war against Israel now since the 1940s, and it’s tragic.”

Ummm. “Stupid is as stupid does” as Forrest Gump (played by Tom Hanks in the movie Forrest Gump) would so eloquently profess. It really needs no further explanation, or comment. However, I say what's on my mind (it is a daily mood quote), so here it goes. First of all, no child rich or poor, aspires to poverty, for that matter I suspect neither do their parents. He has blithely disrespected and turned a blind eye to millions, not thousands, but millions (if not billions globally), of working poor; the honest, hardworking people who have not had the advantages, that I might add, where given to him to start their lives. Need examples? What about the children of working single moms who have two, or sometimes three jobs and yet still struggle to make ends meet? What about the children of split shift working fathers who may work sixty hours a week and are not paid a fair and equitable wage for their efforts because of the inequities of the system? What about those, through no fault of their own, are unemployed and can't find work? Does he know how fast savings evaporate, when you are unemployed and trying to keep a roof over your head, while trying to feed those “poor” children? Poor can come at you fast and hard, without mercy. But, I guess he wouldn't know that having almost his entire life paid for, from his teen years on. And, I might add, for the most part, paid for by the tax money wrenched away from the “poor” people he just spit on.

Dalai Lama said, “Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace” well, these two statements demonstrate true slavery to ignorance. Is this really the best America has to offer for Presidential candidates? Are you freakin' kidding me (thanks Mike C.)? What kind of peace can an idiot like this make? What I find so surprising is that Mr. Gingrich has a PhD and taught History and Geography at West Georgia College in the 1970's. Apparently, he learned nothing but how to twist the arms of political contributors and manipulate the easily swayed. I think a quote from Maya Angelou would be appropriate here, “My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and more intelligent than college professors." I think that says it best.

To end my little rant: In my opinion, Newt Gingrich is a political prostitute, pandering for money to advance his campaign's “war fund.” He'll say or do anything, without thought to the consequences, to achieve his goals. Do you honestly think the rest of the world's memory is as failing as our attention deprived voters? Can you image what would happen, if he spoke like that at the United Nations? He does not represent the nation. Nor should he ever... Mr. Gingrich, shame on you and your ignorance.

Will you think before you speak today?

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Daily Mood Quote - September 20, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 140 – September 20, 2011

People live longer today than they ever have. They live happier lives, have more knowledge, more information. All this is the result of communications technology. How is any of that bad?

~Tom Clancy

On the surface I can agree with Tom Clancy, there is a great benefit to better communications and more widely available information. The caveat is that the information most people pay attention to is only the surface information and they draw conclusions based on very little and often very sketchy information. One lesson, I have worked very hard to teach my children is; before you accept something as gospel (the truth, or fact based) do your research, find out what kind of information is out there, and what is being said or claimed, as being the “be all and end all” of information. Some of my children have learned this lesson; others, well let's leave that for another blog. Who knows maybe it will be “The funny side of parenting: the reasons we have grey hair.”

Anyway back to communications; with the advancement of technology going nearly as fast as the speed of light, it is very hard to keep up with all the information. Trust me as you age, it is harder to care about how fast technology is going, because it is becoming impossible to keep up with it. You buy a cell phone and by the time you finish reading the manual to use all the bells and whistles it offers, someone has begun a campaign for the next, latest, greatest and newest cell phone. More bells and whistles and a bigger operations manual to read. We need to live longer just to be able to process all the new information that's being thrown at us.

Seriously, being able to share important information has never been easier and global conversations are happening every day, that helps us move forward as a world community. That is good. Unfortunately with the good comes a host of... well not so good. The Internet is now full of scams, identity thefts, electronic espionage of counties and organizations. It's just sad; seems like it's human nature to take a good thing and screw it up. History is full of good discoveries and innovations that have been turned to “the dark side” (Thanks George Lucas, but FYI my husband coined that term way back in the early 60's, long before Star Wars and Chewbacca was even a fuzzy idea).

The point is everything that is new and good, comes with baggage. Lao Tzu noted this 2500 years ago and we haven't really changed a bit. He said, “Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill, keep sharpening a knife and it will blunt.” So too with advanced communications; sometimes its too much and you hit a saturation point, then errors start to happen. Information overload spills into lives and suddenly people are hooked, to their cell phones (aka: digital leash), an internet connection, TV 24/7 news feed, plus other things too unsavory to mention and the important things in life begin to slip. Subtly at first, but that's how the “dark side” works. But, then it's sooooo hard to walk away, for even a little time. “Just turn it off” becomes a terrifying concept. I have recently read that in offices around the nation, up to 30% of an office worker's day is wasted on personal internet use and email. If that's you, please go back to work: I'll wait for you to read this when you have some free time. I love that you read this blog and our reader numbers are growing, but please do so responsibly. I want you to keep your job. Goodness knows they're hard to find these days. 

In the movie The Matrix, with Keanu Reeves (Neo), Morpheus (Lawrence Fishburne) said, “Throughout human history, we have been dependent on machines to survive. Fate it seems, is not without it's sense of irony.” Good things usually came with unintended consequences. That's just how it is. Do yourself a favor take a walk _open mined and unplugged, enjoy the scenery and experience for just a few moments life outside the techno-bubble.  I like what Gordon Brown said, “Take, therefore, what modern technology is capable of: the power of our moral sense allied to the power of communications and our ability to organize internationally. That, in my view, gives us the first opportunity as a community to fundamentally change the world.” As long as we are changing it for the better. That's all I've got to say 'bout that (Thanks Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump).

How will you responsibly communicate today?

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Daily Mood Quote - September 9, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 129 – September 9, 2011

Frustration, although quite painful at times, is a very positive and essential part of success.

~Bo Bennett

I refuse to believe that taking the day off yesterday, is the reason for all my frustration today. I enjoyed my day off yesterday, the rain, conversations with my husband and the quite moments the day offered. It was nice and I needed it. Today, however tells a different story. I am having a low vision day and because of it, I ran into the wall a few times, the stationary bike a few times and I tripped over Chester the dog. These days happen, mostly at inopportune times and it makes coping with everything a little frustrating, because I can't seem to clear up the vision, no matter how often I wash, rub or blink my eyes. This usually happens after I spend a day reading. I had a lot of reading to do for homework, so this eye nuisance is poorly timed right now. My husband tells me, I need to balance the time reading with some time of resting, with my eyes closed. Sounds good, but this master's program has a lot, an awful lot of reading. It will be interesting to see if my eyes hold out, I am less than 9 months from graduation.

When I read this quote, I knew it was the quote for me because this nuisance with my yes can be quite frustrating and painful (trying running into a wall or trip over a dog), but I'm not a quitter and I refuse to quit because of my eyes. There is a phrase, “mind over matter” the joke is, “if you don't mind, it doesn't matter” I try to remember that and keep moving ahead. Wilma Rudolph, the first American woman runner to win three gold medals at a single Olympics said, “Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit.” This is important to me because 10 years ago in my living room, my sister-in-law chided me, in a very rude manner that, “I was nothing but a high school drop-out” and “I would never be anything but a high school drop out.” That hurt. It hurt because she knew the circumstances and reasons why I didn't finish high school. She also knew it wasn't my choice to quit. At that moment in time, I made the decision to get a college degree, I did and I graduated Magna Cum Laude. Now, I'm getting a Master's degree. My only hope is my eyes hold out and go the distance. This one is out of my hands.

There is not doubt that today has been a frustrating one, the bruises on my shoulder show that, but as Dorothea Brande said, “All that is necessary to break the spell of inertia and frustration is to – act as if it were impossible to fail.” Getting this degree has been hard, making the deadlines, getting all the reading assignments completed, doing the research. Ohhhh the research... but Jimmy Dugan (played by Tom Hanks) said it best in the movie, A League Of Their Own, when trying to convince Dottie Hinson (Geena Davis) to not quit the team,“It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great.” I believe it will be great when it's complete. Looking forward to a better eyesight day tomorrow.

How will you deal with your “frustration” today?

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Daily Mood Quotes - August 19, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 108 – August 19, 2011

Your attitude can make a world of difference.

~Unknown Author

In the movie Forrest Gump, Forrest (played by Tom Hanks) said, “Mama (played by Sally Fields) says they was magic shoes. They could take me anywhere.” and in the movie, those shoes did take Forest everywhere, school, college, the Army, a table tennis champion, a shrimp boat captain and a dad. All because he believed what his mother told him. “Attitude: what you believe.” I believe attitude is the difference between a good day and a bad day. From relationships to raising children, attitude can guide your destiny. It is the vehicle that takes you where your going. And, like any vehicle, it requires maintenance, fuel and reasonable care. There will be days when your attitude will "run-like-a-top" and you will be achieving, moving and doing at the top of your game. Then, there will be days, where your attitude breaks down and requires repair, refueling and even a day of rest (reasonable care). When we ignore it, the breakdown can be far reaching and even more destructive than a purposefully bad attitude. A broken down attitude usually gives rise to feelings of failure, ineptitude and hopelessness. Hope is the very cornerstone of a healthy attitude. We talked about that in an earlier blog.

Yesterday, during a visit to a nearby school, I noticed the sign from which today's quote is taken. I wondered if the kids who walk through the school everyday notice the sign, or know what it means? I have heard from students that they don't read the signs on the wall, but I'll bet those signs just being there everyday with a positive message helps. I guess to the student body, it's just nice wallpaper. But environment does count and every little reminder conscious, or subconscious can act like attitude maintenance. That said, I also think that while in that “environment,” the school staff needs to restate and reinforce that positive attitude message, at every reasonable opportunity (this goes for parents too). But, temper it with a bit of common sense. If “Little Johnny” blows a test, let him know that grade counts and "that's that;" but there is always the next test to do better. I think these positive affirmation signs are awesome, but, we must also teach and display them in our behavior, for the positive affirmations to have any meaning. In our own lives that same position holds true. A person can surround themselves with positive reinforcement signs, comfort food and friends that offer solace; but in the end, its the doing of the "positive" that creates and maintains a positive attitude. Waiting for someone to give it to you, like walking by the signs on the wall, can only do so much. Don't get me wrong, attitudes are not “steady state” items. They bend and flow like the other rhythms of our life, but with a little effort, (maintenance) we can take those rhythms to a higher register and then even our bad attitude days will be better than most. “That's all I have to say about that.” (Thanks Forrest).

How will you maintain your attitude today?

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Daily Mood Quote - July 24, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 82 – July 24, 2011

Because if you have a strong foundation like we have, then you can build or rebuild anything on it. But if you've got a weak foundation you can't build anything.

~Jack Scalia

On July 17, Day 75 of the Daily Mood Quotes blog, Tim Robbins said, “Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.” Flexibility, the first “F” in a series of principles that we try to live by. We didn't start out by naming these principles and bending our lives around them, this has been a gradual evolution. We have come to these connections and associations over time, decades. Life's work in progress.

The second “F” is “Foundation.” The reason we put it second is because the first “F” is so critically important in today's ever changing, rapidly evolving world. However, flexibility without foundation can be like a leaf blowing in the wind. When the leaf is anchored to the foundation of the tree, it has purpose and potential. It's able to contribute to the overall health of the tree and is in turned nourished and protected by the tree. Its connectivity to the “bigger picture” helps it to fulfill its first best destiny. While on the tree, it can blow, bend, twist and nod in the strong winds and gentle breezes of life (flexibility). But, once it departs the tree (its foundation), the purpose is lost and the leaf, driven by the wind will eventually wither and die. Make no mistake the universe wastes nothing and its energy is absorbed and recycled. But, at the point it leaves its foundation, its net positive contribution ends. It is doomed to entropy.

The foundation I'm speaking of isn't based in any particular religion or belief structure, it is built into our very humanity. We needed to learn to get along, long before formal religions. Individual contributions are good and important, but without a foundation of civil behavior, we wouldn’t even be here. The foundations of family, consideration and working with others, plus the understanding that we are but a step in a longer process are key foundational elements for life. Just like the leaves, we are unique, individual and beautiful in our own manner. But when we connect, we are both nourishing to and nourished by a larger purpose. We can find our first best destiny.

In the movie, The Money Pit with Tom Hanks and Shelly Long, Philip Bosco as head contractor Curly says to Walter (Tom) and Anna (Shelly); "No, this wasn't an easy one, but the foundation was good, I'll say that... And if that's okay, then everything else can be fixed."

The “storms of life” (thanks Randy Travis) can blow us this way and that, and they can even tear at our very fabric from time-to-time. But if we hold fast to our foundation, well like Curly said, “then everything else can be fixed.” My husband says “The sun always shines after a storm.” and if you hold fast to a good foundation you'll be around to see it.

Are you connected to a good foundation today?

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The next “F” will be released Sunday, July 31, 2011

Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quote - July 7, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 64 – July 7, 2011

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.

~Helen Keller

I have often asked myself the question, do people, who have never faced adversity; true adversity, not a broken nail, in their life, understand the difficulties they put upon someone when they pass judgment on those who are different? Today's blog is a personal story and its a bit grumpy. Be forewarned.

It was November 12, 2002, when I was told I was loosing my eye sight. It would be gradual and slow, but it would be noticeable. Over the years, I, along with my husband, have found creative ways to see, to read, to graduate with honors from college, to maintain a 4.0 in grad school and live life daily. It isn't easy, but it is worth it. Outwardly, I look like anyone else, well-mannered and courteous. I try to dress nice and always look presentable. I also wear a pair of glasses to make the big picture a little less blurry, most of the time. Picking out details in that big picture, even up close, is very difficult, so I have learned to enjoy the “scenery”. Sunsets are amazing, a bit like a Monet painting.

When it comes time to read, I add a second pair of glasses over the pair I am wearing. This little trick permits me to see the pages clearly enough to read, study and participate in class discussions. Without another viable solution, I got creative. This works for me, even my ophthalmologist said, “That's very creative and smart.” To the point of our story, I am smart, creative, educated and I have a lot to offer any employer. But, after 434 resumes submitted and many interviews locally, the word has spread that I “wear two pair of glasses” GASP! at the same time. I have heard through conversations with friends and even HR professionals in my area, that the pervasive local irrationality is, “If you have low vision (now), you must have low intelligence.” The interview usually ends when the glasses go on. As if one had anything to do with the other. It's kind of like saying; Beethoven suddenly couldn't compose, since he lost his hearing. Although his best work came after. He had sharpened his ability to focus. I have interviewed with hospitals (you think they would know better), banks, retail establishments and small businesses. It doesn’t seem to matter that I might be the smartest cookie on the sheet. I am different and because I have something people cannot readily see, they don't understand. Nor do they want too. I have passed the tests and have the skills, education and experience, so after two years one simple conclusion remains...

The most difficult part of this process hasn't been losing my eye sight, it has been in comprehending and accepting the attitudes of others. Quite the shocker! I simply wasn't raised to discriminate, I grew up in a racially, financially and socially mixed neighborhood, so I find I have to work to understand the discrimination. In the movie Philadelphia, Joe Miller (played by Denzel Washington) defending Andrew Beckett (played by Tom Hanks) said, “The Federal Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination against otherwise qualified handicapped persons who are able to perform the duties required by their employment.” he continued to say, “This is the essence of discrimination, formulating opinions about others not based on their individual merits, but rather on their...” For me, the fact that I do something just a bit differently, I wear two pair of glasses at once, causes elimination from consideration for a position almost immediately. In this economy it's tough enough to find a job, but when you add petty discrimination, it becomes all but impossible. So be it, enough whining.

The thing I want to convey isn't that my situation is difficult. It is. What I want to talk about is resolve and character. We all are given gifts and burdens and every once in a while it's OK to take a look at both honestly. My husband says “Adversity doesn't build character. It reveals it.” Helen Keller says “...only through trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” Well, my soul is well built and my character laid bare to the world. I guess I'm ready for the success. Like Beethoven, my best work is yet to come. When we look inside and view our strengths and our weaknesses, we must be honest and fair about both. I can't see so well, but I can think and do... and so I shall.

What will a look inside reveal about yourself today?

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Daily Mood Quote - June 28, 2011

Daily Mood Quote

Day 55 – June 28, 2011

Do not worry if you have built your castles in the air. They are where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.

~Henry David Thoreau

A few days ago my husband made a statement in public that has stuck with me ever since he said it. He said, "You're either fortunate or your not. You can be prepared, you can be educated, you can be intelligent, but things can still go wrong." He continued to say, "Those who believe that their good lives are by there own doing, don't understand that they are fortunate." He went on to say, "you can do everything right and still things can go wrong. Fortune makes the difference and I don't mean money."

If you look at the history of the world, you have intelligent people, working earnestly, with good intent all over the globe and by accident of time, geography, civilization or culture, there are those who are fortunate and those who are not. It has nothing to do with who they are, or whether they are good or bad. It also has nothing to do with their dreams. There is a saying "crap happens" (my husband has a stronger word, I don't want to use that one) and it happens to the educated as well as the uneducated, the intelligent, the prepared, the rich and the poor. The question is, are you fortunate or not? This can change in an instant and without your consent. I had a good job, but another company bought the company I worked for and I lost my job, in one of the toughest job markets around. It happens. There it is, crap happens.

In the new movie Larry Crowne with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, (scheduled to be released this Friday, July 1, 2011), a yet to be identified actress (I have only seen her profile in the trailer) said, "you are never to old to learn." Sometimes that means going back to school like Larry Crowne and "me." Sometimes that means learning from the unfortunate situations that life brings us. We may need to learn empathy, understanding, or even compassion for those to whom we formerly didn't give a second thought. The official movie descriptions says, "sometimes clouds have silver linings” and my husband says, "sometimes the rains those clouds bring, help us to grow." Although that's cold comfort when you are being poured on. Remember the rain too shall pass. Be patient and press onward and don't allow the dissenting opinions of others, who may be fortunate now but lack understanding, to stop you from building your castles in the air. Even if that means starting with only a dream.

What "castle" will you dream of today?

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Daily Mood Quote - June 3, 2011

Daily Mood Quote

Day 30 – June 3, 2011

“Chaos in the midst of chaos isn't funny, but chaos in the midst of order is.”

~Steve Martin

When you have a dog, kids and/or a spouse, then you have in addition to chaos, desperation, confusion and frustration (a healthy mix), all at the beginning of the day. It's Friday, the last day of the week. We usually look forward to this day with anticipation for the weekend, when alarms don't go off, there's no car pooling to school and no protesting, “Mommmmm, I have nothing to wear today!” The eyes begin to roll, because you know this only means, they haven't found anything they like to wear. “Houston, we have a problem” as said by Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell in Apollo 13. And so begins the compromising and “the great apparel search of 2011”. Ughh!

Just to keep thing interesting, Chester, our big, goofy dog, greeted us this morning by inexplicably throwing up (good thing it was the kitchen floor, that's an easy clean). Still, that doesn't go over well at “O-dark thirty AM”. Why all these things and why do they always happen first thing in the morning? Who knows, but one thing is for sure “It's always something” (thanks Roseanne Roseannadanna portrayed by the late Gilda Radnar on Saturday Night Live).

I believe it's all in how you approach the situation, or the day in this case. My husband says, “That which starts out rough, ends up great. Chaos carries in its turbulent winds a gift. But, getting ahold of that sucker is tough sometimes”. Does that mean this is going to be a Fan-damntastic day? I sure hope so ...WOOHOO, I just cannnn't wait. Why do dogs eat grass anyway?

How will you handle the “ always something” in your day today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quote - June 2, 2011

Daily Mood Quote

Day 29 – June 2, 2011

“Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.”

~Author Unknown

“The only disability in life is a bad attitude”

~Scott Hamilton

Today is a two quote day. Both quotes are directly related to the mood I am having today. It's not really a mood, it's just...BLAH. Yes, just BLAH, there is nothing good and nothing bad, it's just there. Colors seem a little less bright. The blue sky, singing birds, the sunshine, and the good music are all there, but I have a “I am just not interested” feeling today. I do care, but I just “feel” like I don't. So, today will be one of those days where I have two options; lock myself in a room with a good book and have no contact with anybody, or force myself to interact and find the good, the funny, the best in the day.

We are all responsible for our actions and accountable to ourselves for how we treat ourselves and others. Just because we have “off mood” days, doesn't mean we have the right to project that mood onto the world, or cause someone else to have an “off day” too.

It's our attitudes that make the difference and they have to be cultivated. On days when we wake up with a BLAH, or a negative mood, the trick is to not beat yourself up about it. We are all human. Those are the days, we need to dig a little deeper and work a little harder to find the good. It certainly takes a little more work to find the good than it does to find the bad, but the effort yields much better fruit.

There are those who are eternally optimistic, like Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump, but that is the exception, not the rule. We are human, not robots or cyborgs. Our emotions, including our moody and bluesy days, are valuable parts of the tapestry of our life. Its how we deal with those days, that helps to ensure a healthy crop of experience to draw upon, when truly challenging days come our way.

Like Tom Hanks said as Forrest Gump (not Forrest Grump), “My mamma (Sally Fields as Mamma Gump) always said. Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.” We really don't know what tomorrow holds, but one thing is for sure: A BLAH mood of today, doesn't take away the great possibilities of tomorrow.

What does your “box of chocolates” hold for you today.

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quote - May 27, 2011

Daily Mood Quote
Day 23 - May 27, 2011

“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.”
~Unknown

Today, I dedicate this blog to great friends.

Friends are buds, pals, sisters, brothers and the person who loves your good days, endures your bad moods, and shares the laughter of your life. I believe in this world, everyone has a best friend, maybe two or three. Though some of us may not have had the good fortune to have met our best friend yet and occasionally, some of us haven't yet realized the best friend standing next to us. To the ones who have found their best friends, you have found the greatest gift (next to having children and true love) life has to offer.

I have such a friend, in fact, I have a couple of them. In a month, I will celebrate a 30 year friendship with my best friend.  A while ago, someone ask me, "How do you keep a friendship for 30 years?" I laughed and told her, "the success of our friendship comes from the fact that we have never lived in the same city, or state since I become an adult." Thank goodness for unlimited calling minutes.  She is older than I, only by a couple of years,  but don't tell anyone… That's a 30 year secret and she reminds each year that I am catching up.

She (name withheld to protect the friendship) has been my friend for the longest period of time, and our friendship is truly golden. That said, I am fortunate to have more than one "best friend." Each from a different era of my life. Some of my best friends happen to be male and quite platonic, despite what Billy Crystal as Harry said in When Harry met Sally to Meg Ryan (Sally), "Men and women can't be friends because the sex part always gets in the way." This is not true, men and woman can be great and lifelong friends, without the sex part. I have such a friend, whom I served with many years ago and though much time has past, we are still best friends. He and I are friends "like peas and carrots", (thanks Tom Hanks). Very different to be sure, but best friends never the less…

So, here's to best friends, both known and yet to be found. Thank you for the memories we have shared and those yet to come, for the laughter that has made my cheeks hurt, the times we needed to lean on each other and the memories I will cherish a lifetime.

To Friends…

To whom will you extend the hand of friendship today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote
Thank you for reading.