"All The Art Of Living Lies In A Fine Mingling Of Letting Go And Hanging On".
What a balancing act living is. Sometimes I let go when I should be hanging on and hang on when I should be letting go. I don't always know when it is time to let go. The 70er I get the letting go usually gets easier and the hanging on harder.
There are many things that I don't want to let go of, yet no longer have the mental or physical energy to hang on to. In those cases letting go although it bring pain, it also beings relief. I have held to so many things long past the time that I should have let go. Big things like real estate, relationships, furniture, even clothing. I wanted so badly to hang on to my youth, I probably still do, even now that I know the advantages of letting go.
I was visiting my old home in Fenelon Falls last weekend, it is now my son's and his families home. After 2 years of this house becoming my son's. I was really able to let of it. In doing so I was able to enjoy it so much more. The responsibility of owning something is now heavy for me. I am much lighter and freer when I let go.
Hanging on to the illusion of being in control was a really difficult one for me, until I realized that it was that, an illusion. My life is controlled by the fates just as everyone else's is. Sometimes life is kind and warm and there will be times when it will be cold and cruel; time is a great leveler. The longer I am here the more I see that everyone of us goes through our times of hanging on and letting go.
Afternoon Thoughts
Thursday, May 24th, 2012...............1:27p.m.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Whats Bugging Me Today
Sometimes little things really make me crazy. I was at Walmart today to get fresh fruit and vegetables. I normally go there 2 or 3 times a week. The reason I shop there is because pears are 79 cents a pound instead in $1.49 and apples are apples are considerably less than in my neighborhood grocery chain.
When I checked out today I was asked if I would like to donate a dollar to some children's charity, I was asked the same question the last few times I have shopped there...I find it really frustrating when I say NO, mostly it is frustrating because there is no point in in talking to the cashier, she is told what to do and say, her pay cheque depends on following orders.
I would like the opportunity to speak with someone in authority in Walmarts huge chain of command. This is what I would tell them. " I shop at Walmart because I have a limited income, not because I am so wealthy; if I had unlimited money I would probably be at some gourmet organic shop buying my fruits and vegetables. I realize that your approach at intimidating people by asking for donations while there are people all around me p5robably works on many but it doesn't work on me so PISS OFF".
I am a generous woman and I decide where and when I help people. For many years I have helped people, both financially and through other means. I have invested thousands of dollars in women. A lot of those dollars going to Dentists and Denturists, because women living at the poverty level have such a difficult time affording any kind of oral health and when a woman is deprived of teeth it does something terrible to her self esteem. I have never mentioned the money I have invested in women, that was something between the women involved, myself and the dentists and denturists. I don't give to charities who's CEOs make more than most us ever will.
There that is off my chest.
Thursday, May 17th, 2012..........3:49p.m
When I checked out today I was asked if I would like to donate a dollar to some children's charity, I was asked the same question the last few times I have shopped there...I find it really frustrating when I say NO, mostly it is frustrating because there is no point in in talking to the cashier, she is told what to do and say, her pay cheque depends on following orders.
I would like the opportunity to speak with someone in authority in Walmarts huge chain of command. This is what I would tell them. " I shop at Walmart because I have a limited income, not because I am so wealthy; if I had unlimited money I would probably be at some gourmet organic shop buying my fruits and vegetables. I realize that your approach at intimidating people by asking for donations while there are people all around me p5robably works on many but it doesn't work on me so PISS OFF".
I am a generous woman and I decide where and when I help people. For many years I have helped people, both financially and through other means. I have invested thousands of dollars in women. A lot of those dollars going to Dentists and Denturists, because women living at the poverty level have such a difficult time affording any kind of oral health and when a woman is deprived of teeth it does something terrible to her self esteem. I have never mentioned the money I have invested in women, that was something between the women involved, myself and the dentists and denturists. I don't give to charities who's CEOs make more than most us ever will.
There that is off my chest.
Thursday, May 17th, 2012..........3:49p.m
Monday, May 14, 2012
Rabbi Rami Shapiro
Here is a quote from a man that I admire.
"To me religions are like languages' no language is true or false; all languages are of human origin, each language reflects and shapes the mindset of the civilization that speaks it; there are things you can say one language that you cannot say, or say as well in another, and the more languages you know the more nuanced your understanding of life.
Judaism is my mother tongue, yet in matters of the spirit I strive to be multi lingual. In the end, however, the deepest language of the soul is silence."
Amen Rabbi. You have a new fan.
Monday, may 14th, 2012..........11:21p.m.
"To me religions are like languages' no language is true or false; all languages are of human origin, each language reflects and shapes the mindset of the civilization that speaks it; there are things you can say one language that you cannot say, or say as well in another, and the more languages you know the more nuanced your understanding of life.
Judaism is my mother tongue, yet in matters of the spirit I strive to be multi lingual. In the end, however, the deepest language of the soul is silence."
Amen Rabbi. You have a new fan.
Monday, may 14th, 2012..........11:21p.m.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
"Is The Universe Friendly" Albert Einstein
I think this may be one of the most important questions, if not the most important question ever asked. And the fact that Einstein didn't know either makes it even more so.
Sometimes I think it is like asking is water wet? Or more importantly is it good or bad that water is usually, but not always wet?
There have been ties in my 70 something years that I have felt that the Universe was friendly. When I heard my small children laughing and playing. And recently when my two youngest children, now very much adults, singing and whistling. Over a year ago my youngest son was visiting my daughter and helping with some household renovations. I was sitting here on the computer, when I heard my daughter singing as she prepared dinner in the kitchen, as I sat and listened I became aware of my son whistling in the part of the upstairs that was under renovation. My whole body was smiling and I was sure that the Universe was friendly. However, I have witnessed my daughter in distress with anxiety and my son in great distress with addictions battleing addictions. At those times I wasn't at all sure that the Universe was friendly. I have pictures of my first born smiling happily with his wife and children and I have listened to his words when something unexpected and unpleasant happens in his life.
I have been present when a healthy new born child entered the world and I was there when a baby was born with only hours to live. I know people who are ready, more than ready to die, and I have sat at the deathbed of those who were full of fear and in agonizing pain.
Like Einstein, I don't know. It is still a question: "Is The Universe Friendly'?
Sometimes I think it is like asking is water wet? Or more importantly is it good or bad that water is usually, but not always wet?
There have been ties in my 70 something years that I have felt that the Universe was friendly. When I heard my small children laughing and playing. And recently when my two youngest children, now very much adults, singing and whistling. Over a year ago my youngest son was visiting my daughter and helping with some household renovations. I was sitting here on the computer, when I heard my daughter singing as she prepared dinner in the kitchen, as I sat and listened I became aware of my son whistling in the part of the upstairs that was under renovation. My whole body was smiling and I was sure that the Universe was friendly. However, I have witnessed my daughter in distress with anxiety and my son in great distress with addictions battleing addictions. At those times I wasn't at all sure that the Universe was friendly. I have pictures of my first born smiling happily with his wife and children and I have listened to his words when something unexpected and unpleasant happens in his life.
I have been present when a healthy new born child entered the world and I was there when a baby was born with only hours to live. I know people who are ready, more than ready to die, and I have sat at the deathbed of those who were full of fear and in agonizing pain.
Like Einstein, I don't know. It is still a question: "Is The Universe Friendly'?
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
But For The Grace Of God???
I am part of an organization where this slogan is used a lot. It is considered considered a wonderful thing to say, to believe. I am sure that it has brought relief and good feelings to many and that's a good thing I guess. I am a firm believer in whatever gets you through the day.
For me personally I admit I do not know if there is a God or not. Many times I have wished that I had a strong conviction one way or the other, but really I don't know.
Sunday while driving home from a convention of this self help program, I was listening to CBC as usual and I heard an interview with Michael Shermer. Mr Shermer is involved with his own organization having to do with skepticism. He brought up his own thoughts on this often used phrase
"But for The Grace Of God". Here is a scenario; If a hurricane swept though my community and the houses on either side of me were destroyed and mine was untouched by the storm, many may say the God was watching out for me and I guess that is good, except that when I or anyone else says that what we are saying is that God obviously wasn't watching out for the other people. Apparently I mean more to God than they do, and that doesn't put Him/Her/It in a very good light.
Quite often I find myself embracing the dogma of this program and mouthing their words, mostly because I want to belong, I want to be a part of and I am a part of. Yet my mind continue to ask the question and to doubt. On many levels I think doubt is a good thing, it keeps my mind open and I keep learning and searching out new ideas.
Afternoon Thoughts
Tuesday May 8th, 2012.........1:20p.m.
For me personally I admit I do not know if there is a God or not. Many times I have wished that I had a strong conviction one way or the other, but really I don't know.
Sunday while driving home from a convention of this self help program, I was listening to CBC as usual and I heard an interview with Michael Shermer. Mr Shermer is involved with his own organization having to do with skepticism. He brought up his own thoughts on this often used phrase
"But for The Grace Of God". Here is a scenario; If a hurricane swept though my community and the houses on either side of me were destroyed and mine was untouched by the storm, many may say the God was watching out for me and I guess that is good, except that when I or anyone else says that what we are saying is that God obviously wasn't watching out for the other people. Apparently I mean more to God than they do, and that doesn't put Him/Her/It in a very good light.
Quite often I find myself embracing the dogma of this program and mouthing their words, mostly because I want to belong, I want to be a part of and I am a part of. Yet my mind continue to ask the question and to doubt. On many levels I think doubt is a good thing, it keeps my mind open and I keep learning and searching out new ideas.
Afternoon Thoughts
Tuesday May 8th, 2012.........1:20p.m.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Spending Your Days On The End Of Strings Somebody Else Is Pulling
Yesterdays quote was by Howard Thurman. He was an influential author and the first minister of a fully integrated church in the American South. He was a descendant of slaves in the U.S.
About his his quote "Spending your days on the ends of strings somebody else is pulling"; this is something that I have done for a lot of my life, probably a lot of us have. We all do it as children, we really don't have a lot of choice and during those young years we need someone to meet our needs and keep us safe. As life goes on we do it with schools, teachers, peer groups and the entire social system.
After that a lot of us do it for our employers. We justify and rationalize our actions and our boring, repetitive days while we make enough money to keep our families. We become part of our communities through Church's and other organizations. We adopt these policies and beliefs, even when we disagree with the dogma of these organizations we usually don't voice our own beliefs. We don't "rock the boat". Rocking the boat can have serious, scary consequences; we can be ostracized and shunned by the peer group we have embraced.
As someone who has rocked the boat quite often, but not nearly as often as I should have; I know the feeling of being shunned and avoided by others. One of the advantages of being A 70 Something Woman is that it really doesn't matter that much anymore, not that it ever mattered that much to me, but I played nice most of the time and conformed when it felt like I had no choice.
I spent to much time: "Spending My Days On The End Of Strings Someone Else Was Pulling".
Thank you Karen for sending me this quote.
Afternoon Thoughts
Friday, May 4th, 2012....1:08 p.m.
About his his quote "Spending your days on the ends of strings somebody else is pulling"; this is something that I have done for a lot of my life, probably a lot of us have. We all do it as children, we really don't have a lot of choice and during those young years we need someone to meet our needs and keep us safe. As life goes on we do it with schools, teachers, peer groups and the entire social system.
After that a lot of us do it for our employers. We justify and rationalize our actions and our boring, repetitive days while we make enough money to keep our families. We become part of our communities through Church's and other organizations. We adopt these policies and beliefs, even when we disagree with the dogma of these organizations we usually don't voice our own beliefs. We don't "rock the boat". Rocking the boat can have serious, scary consequences; we can be ostracized and shunned by the peer group we have embraced.
As someone who has rocked the boat quite often, but not nearly as often as I should have; I know the feeling of being shunned and avoided by others. One of the advantages of being A 70 Something Woman is that it really doesn't matter that much anymore, not that it ever mattered that much to me, but I played nice most of the time and conformed when it felt like I had no choice.
I spent to much time: "Spending My Days On The End Of Strings Someone Else Was Pulling".
Thank you Karen for sending me this quote.
Afternoon Thoughts
Friday, May 4th, 2012....1:08 p.m.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
- Howard Thurman (1900-1981)
"There is something in every one of you that waits and listens
for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide
you will ever have. And if you cannot hear it, you will all of your life
spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls."
for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide
you will ever have. And if you cannot hear it, you will all of your life
spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls."
- Howard Thurman (1900-1981)
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