There are annoying days, tedious days, nasty days, boring days and very painful days! Our attitudes can make them either easier or more difficult for us to deal with . Yet, Our attitudes are truly not magic wands, Our saying that a day is good oe bad, wonderful or yucky does not INSTANTLY change the events weather, actions, people you are deal with, amount of money yo have or do not have or anything else.
Many will tell you to think of something positive but that, at least to me, does not tend to work for very long. If I'm really unhappy or displeased.Distracting myself does not last for very long, I'm very stubborn and opinionated!
I start to work to improve my mood in a gray or unpleasant circumstances by reminding myself of an absolute truth- time keeps moving. All things that I deal with begin, continue on for a while and will end. So, You have a victory in knowing that you will outlast the grayness of this moment. One of the things that I'm working hard on presently is learning to be my best and do my best in every situation and circumstance no matter what. Anything you practice you become better in doing. So, I'm gaining in being prepared for some future thing that I will do by continuing the exercise of doing well right now!
Sometimes the best thing we do all day is being a good teammate and doing all that we can to encourage others. Smiling in the tough times, being as relaxed as possible and being as kind and as friendly as possible to others can have a great, stimulating and lasting impact. If nothing else, You just might be the one positive reason that someone looks forward to going to work on Wednesday at the last moments of a dreary Tuesday! The appealing thing to look forward about going to work or school when that next morning arrives may be just seeing, being around and being connected to you!
Gray days will happen, are rteal and cannot be simply blinked away! We can deal with them well if we act as well as we can with where we are, who we are and with what is readily available to us.
- Johnny -
Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Time Rationing and Yielding,
On Capital Hill, making sure that you have enough time to say what you need to say can be a rather important issue.As we know, There are 100 Senators and 535 Representatives in Congress.When a member of either body wishes to speak, he or she raises his hand to be recognized. Once recognized, The member asked to be allowed so much time for his or her remarks- enough time to say what they need to say in the way that they wish to say it.
At times, A fellow member of the body, one who agrees with the member who is speaking may ask that the member yield- give up- all or a portion of their remaining time so that they may speak. The member has the right to agree or to decide not to yield to his/ her fellow Representative or Senator. This is clearly an exercise in time management and a way that clearly demonstrates that time on the Hill is considered to be a valuable and vital resource!
I know that I CAN be a time waster. I know that I also rush through activities and try to get an unreasonable amount of activities done in a ridiculously tiny amount of time. This causes stress, anxiety and tension. This places us on as course to fail or to be highly frustrated.
Kind people, in order to appear to be cooperative, will agree to do far more than they can possibly accomplish, This is a non-productive practice. It becomes a certainty that you will NOT be able to keep your promises and commitments.
We all most certainly KNOW and recognize that time can't be manipulated. We all proceed into the future at a rate of one second per second. Therefore, It is intelligent and prudent to assign the time that will be sanely needed to do what must or what is desirable to do.
Having good skills in the practicing of Time Rationing and Time Yielding is an outstanding way to live a full life, a productive life and a caring life!
- Johnny -
At times, A fellow member of the body, one who agrees with the member who is speaking may ask that the member yield- give up- all or a portion of their remaining time so that they may speak. The member has the right to agree or to decide not to yield to his/ her fellow Representative or Senator. This is clearly an exercise in time management and a way that clearly demonstrates that time on the Hill is considered to be a valuable and vital resource!
I know that I CAN be a time waster. I know that I also rush through activities and try to get an unreasonable amount of activities done in a ridiculously tiny amount of time. This causes stress, anxiety and tension. This places us on as course to fail or to be highly frustrated.
Kind people, in order to appear to be cooperative, will agree to do far more than they can possibly accomplish, This is a non-productive practice. It becomes a certainty that you will NOT be able to keep your promises and commitments.
We all most certainly KNOW and recognize that time can't be manipulated. We all proceed into the future at a rate of one second per second. Therefore, It is intelligent and prudent to assign the time that will be sanely needed to do what must or what is desirable to do.
Having good skills in the practicing of Time Rationing and Time Yielding is an outstanding way to live a full life, a productive life and a caring life!
- Johnny -
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Why are you improving your life?
Human beings can be strange, A person may be very difficult to deal with. He or she may act -out and be rather disturbing to be anywhere near.. They have proven over the years to be demanding of you and trying. You have heard them, at moments when all seems worst for therm, tell you with great emotion and conviction that they intend to change and improve themselves. You back them and offer love, friendship and support. The crisis passes,things seem better and they go back to their old ways and behaviors.
Now, at some point, That individual decides that they can't stay as they are- that they have reached the point of being "sick and tired of being sick and tired"! So, They start living better and decide to discontinue old and bothersome ways, habits and practices. Now, How might you react if the person who is in the process of "transforming" asks you if you notice that they are improving. They ALSO want to hear you tell them how proud you are of them and how pleased you are by their efforts.
People do need to understand that people who have dealt with obnoxious behavior and large numbers of broken promises may not be quick to embrace the person who is finally getting their life together. It takes a lot to get over the hurt and disappointment. God forgives and forgets readily. It seems to be more difficult for mortals to do so.
A child will be treated well when he or she asks , " Did I behave well today, Daddy? " or " are you pleased with me today, Mommy?" Adults do not often get similar responses when they behave properly and decide to do the NEXT right thing!
For Adults, Behaving well and treating others well is doing well. Sometimes, It needs to be enough that knowing that you are doing right and well needs to serve as its' own reward!
- Johnny -
Now, at some point, That individual decides that they can't stay as they are- that they have reached the point of being "sick and tired of being sick and tired"! So, They start living better and decide to discontinue old and bothersome ways, habits and practices. Now, How might you react if the person who is in the process of "transforming" asks you if you notice that they are improving. They ALSO want to hear you tell them how proud you are of them and how pleased you are by their efforts.
People do need to understand that people who have dealt with obnoxious behavior and large numbers of broken promises may not be quick to embrace the person who is finally getting their life together. It takes a lot to get over the hurt and disappointment. God forgives and forgets readily. It seems to be more difficult for mortals to do so.
A child will be treated well when he or she asks , " Did I behave well today, Daddy? " or " are you pleased with me today, Mommy?" Adults do not often get similar responses when they behave properly and decide to do the NEXT right thing!
For Adults, Behaving well and treating others well is doing well. Sometimes, It needs to be enough that knowing that you are doing right and well needs to serve as its' own reward!
- Johnny -
His/ Her Welfare is HHS' s Concern ?
Years ago, A musical group, The Hollies had a hit song -He Ain't Heavy- He's my brother. The inspiration for this song was from imagery from the famous boy's orphanage , Boys Town, The Founder of Boy's Town, Father Flanagan,saw a picture of an older boy carrying a younger boy on his shoulders on a magazine cover back in 1927.The younger boy is his younger brother. When asked if he was uncomfortable with the weight on his shoulder, The older boy smiles and says, " He ain't heavy, He's my brother."
Edward Flanagan was taken by the imagery which he saw as perfectly describing the mission and work of Boy's Town. He asked for and was given permission to use the image and concept.It was changed slightly as the older boy NOW said, "He ain't heavy, FATHER, He's my brother.". The idea now was that the older boys looked out for, were concerned with and acted as willing mentors to the younger boys.
The 1969 Released Hollies song broadened the concept to looking out for each other, being willing to care about each other, support and help those of us who are overwhelmed at this moment and are in need of both assistance, friendship and support. When I was in college, A friend of mine changed a line in the song from "His welfare is MY Concern" to " His Welfare is HEW's Concern". HEW is the old Federal Agency, The Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The name and function of this agency was shifted when the Department of Education was created during President Carter's Administration. The Current Agency is called the Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS). My friend later said, " I changed the line because the Government cares for people not their friends and neighbors. The rest of us have our own problems and our own lives to worry about."
The Feds have to care because the rest of us don't, won't or can't care. Is that really the truth in Our 2011 America. I know that times are indeed most rugged and difficult. I know extra money does not seem readily available . Yet, Are we really, either by necessity or wont, blind and deaf and simply unaware of the truly needy around us? I really do not believe that this is true for any of us. Right now, I live on SSI and SSDI and the margin of funds available to me seems extremely thin. Yet, It still seems that I waste money. So, I'm guessing that we all have a little EXTRA money that we can CHOOSE TO USE to benefit the truly overwhelmed and needy!
It isn't much but I provide two fifteen dollar check each year to my associate pastor that are used to buy a Christmas present and a birthday present for a child living in a difficult situation. I just provide the money and the associate pastor buys the gift, It is a way of giving this young person a special bit of sunshine and knowing that he or she matters,
I will say that I do not believe that pieces of paper ( cash or checks) pieces of metal and plastic cards solve EVERYTHING. I just do not believe this to be so! A kind word, spending time with someone, inviting someone to your home or to go with you to see a movie or to attend a sporting event can be a way to be loving and supportive. Challenging a person to do more, to try harder and to not stop striving to become the best that he or she can become is also loving, caing and supportive as well. When HEW or HHS provides your welfare, They are constrained by possible protest actions and political correctness concerns from a delivering a message which asks or requires what you do what you are ABLE to to better yourself!
So, His or Her welfare IS indeed thankfully my concern. It is a rich blessing to acknowledge the undeniable REALITY that this is so!
- Johnny-
Edward Flanagan was taken by the imagery which he saw as perfectly describing the mission and work of Boy's Town. He asked for and was given permission to use the image and concept.It was changed slightly as the older boy NOW said, "He ain't heavy, FATHER, He's my brother.". The idea now was that the older boys looked out for, were concerned with and acted as willing mentors to the younger boys.
The 1969 Released Hollies song broadened the concept to looking out for each other, being willing to care about each other, support and help those of us who are overwhelmed at this moment and are in need of both assistance, friendship and support. When I was in college, A friend of mine changed a line in the song from "His welfare is MY Concern" to " His Welfare is HEW's Concern". HEW is the old Federal Agency, The Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The name and function of this agency was shifted when the Department of Education was created during President Carter's Administration. The Current Agency is called the Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS). My friend later said, " I changed the line because the Government cares for people not their friends and neighbors. The rest of us have our own problems and our own lives to worry about."
The Feds have to care because the rest of us don't, won't or can't care. Is that really the truth in Our 2011 America. I know that times are indeed most rugged and difficult. I know extra money does not seem readily available . Yet, Are we really, either by necessity or wont, blind and deaf and simply unaware of the truly needy around us? I really do not believe that this is true for any of us. Right now, I live on SSI and SSDI and the margin of funds available to me seems extremely thin. Yet, It still seems that I waste money. So, I'm guessing that we all have a little EXTRA money that we can CHOOSE TO USE to benefit the truly overwhelmed and needy!
It isn't much but I provide two fifteen dollar check each year to my associate pastor that are used to buy a Christmas present and a birthday present for a child living in a difficult situation. I just provide the money and the associate pastor buys the gift, It is a way of giving this young person a special bit of sunshine and knowing that he or she matters,
I will say that I do not believe that pieces of paper ( cash or checks) pieces of metal and plastic cards solve EVERYTHING. I just do not believe this to be so! A kind word, spending time with someone, inviting someone to your home or to go with you to see a movie or to attend a sporting event can be a way to be loving and supportive. Challenging a person to do more, to try harder and to not stop striving to become the best that he or she can become is also loving, caing and supportive as well. When HEW or HHS provides your welfare, They are constrained by possible protest actions and political correctness concerns from a delivering a message which asks or requires what you do what you are ABLE to to better yourself!
So, His or Her welfare IS indeed thankfully my concern. It is a rich blessing to acknowledge the undeniable REALITY that this is so!
- Johnny-
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
I Am....
an idealist, a dreamer and a romantic.
a Yankee fan, a Cowboy fan and a Capitals fan.
a teacher, endlessly curious and constantly questioning.
an American, An Earthman and an inhabitant of the Milky Way Galaxy!
I am a believer in Jesus Christ!
I am someone who wants to live well, live passionately and live to serve!
a Yankee fan, a Cowboy fan and a Capitals fan.
a teacher, endlessly curious and constantly questioning.
an American, An Earthman and an inhabitant of the Milky Way Galaxy!
I am a believer in Jesus Christ!
I am someone who wants to live well, live passionately and live to serve!
Being Polite
How much does it cost to - Hold a door open for someone, to make eye contact with someone when you shake his or her hand? How much does it cost you to say "Please" when you ask someone else for something? How much does it to say excuse me when you interrupt someone in conversation?
It costs the speaker of these kindnesses virtually nothing. Yet, The kindness that you endow someone else with by doing so is truly a priceless gift of gentleness and respect!
- Johnny -
It costs the speaker of these kindnesses virtually nothing. Yet, The kindness that you endow someone else with by doing so is truly a priceless gift of gentleness and respect!
- Johnny -
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Importance of learning to STOP complaining.
It's annoying, it sounds pathetic and as if your life is controlled by anyone and everyone except for the person who is droning on and on and on! Yuck, It is called c-o-m-p-l-a-i-n-g! It is tiresome, boring and MANY see it as the perfect perfect reason for having anything to do something.
Complaining, sadly has far too often ME!!!! - Johnny ! It is something that I am working VERY MUCH to be rid of INDEED to free myself of. What complaining is is asking some, likely and ultimately God Himself to change something that I am not pleased with and change it to my liking! It is a thinly disguised form of brattiness- an adult engaging in the worst form of acting out- a temper tantrum.
Sometimes the most effective for of self-valuing is something not always talked about in the literature of therapy- self tough love! You know that you cannot change anyone but yourself- so it is folly to demand that others twist and contort themselves- make their lives less pleasing to them -in order to advantage you- No intelligent adult is going to play along with that! I know,very clearly, that taking a short-term action that provide a result I like RIGHT NOW could have a long term boomerrang effect at a future time. The result I like and the boomerang outcome that will later arrive are truly a package deal- so I really cannot complain about the pain caused to me when the boomerang strikes- I, realsticallly, KNEW that the boomerrang was going to arrive!
I can always choose wisely and sometimes either decide to do without or plan to soldier through the " not wonderful times" without complaining. Accepting and living with a bad result and making the best of it or working to fight to either get beyond what has occurred or working to bring about a change that will bring about a pervasive change in my circumstances are , indeed, mature and wise alternatives to live a better life- a life that others will want to be invested in and be involved in! Complaining is a weak and pathetic way to respond to life's tough times. I deserve to be seen as weak and pathetic when I decide to complain!
- Johnny -
.
Complaining, sadly has far too often ME!!!! - Johnny ! It is something that I am working VERY MUCH to be rid of INDEED to free myself of. What complaining is is asking some, likely and ultimately God Himself to change something that I am not pleased with and change it to my liking! It is a thinly disguised form of brattiness- an adult engaging in the worst form of acting out- a temper tantrum.
Sometimes the most effective for of self-valuing is something not always talked about in the literature of therapy- self tough love! You know that you cannot change anyone but yourself- so it is folly to demand that others twist and contort themselves- make their lives less pleasing to them -in order to advantage you- No intelligent adult is going to play along with that! I know,very clearly, that taking a short-term action that provide a result I like RIGHT NOW could have a long term boomerrang effect at a future time. The result I like and the boomerang outcome that will later arrive are truly a package deal- so I really cannot complain about the pain caused to me when the boomerang strikes- I, realsticallly, KNEW that the boomerrang was going to arrive!
I can always choose wisely and sometimes either decide to do without or plan to soldier through the " not wonderful times" without complaining. Accepting and living with a bad result and making the best of it or working to fight to either get beyond what has occurred or working to bring about a change that will bring about a pervasive change in my circumstances are , indeed, mature and wise alternatives to live a better life- a life that others will want to be invested in and be involved in! Complaining is a weak and pathetic way to respond to life's tough times. I deserve to be seen as weak and pathetic when I decide to complain!
- Johnny -
.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)