It seems to becoming more evident to me than ever that generally speaking we are losing our way as a people in being respectful. I’m not trying to sound old fashioned but I’m going to anyway about this topic. I was raised to be respectful. That doesn’t mean you agree with anyone but it does mean you treat others as you would want to be treated. (the golden rule ain’t so golden anymore)
So I am curious as to why it appears, to me anyway, that generally speaking people are much less cordial and respectful. Again, although this appears to be an indictment of everyone it’s not really meant to be that at all but more so a trend I am seeing. I, in fact, try to not surround myself with people who are disrespectful so likely if you are reading this it doesn’t apply to you. (How’s that for a save?)
This also may be a phenomena taking place more regionally to me but people are fast becoming all about me in their approach to most anything. If you walk in a grocery store and let someone pass by you in an aisle you are an exception. Most people move through stores as if they are all alone and no one else matters. Drive any distance across our fruited plains and you will also see this displayed on the roads. Speed limits are basically ignored unless a blue and white is parked in the median. Turn signals are merely suggestions and typically about the only time you might get a smile or a wave on the roads from a stranger it is one of those special pieces of sign language that I decipher as being number 1.
I recently had an exchange online from an individual that is obviously an atheist and tried my very best to be respectful only to get disrespected, bashed and received a supersize plate of condescension. I don’t know this person and frankly don’t ever want to know him but he is evidence of just how people’s hearts seem to be turning.
I guess my quandary is not so much what I am observing but how it can be changed. Can it be changed? Is this the path we are headed down? What sort of future does this diminished respect have for us? Am I over-exaggerating? Am I just crazy? (OK, don’t answer the last question)
This may seem as though I am whining and there could be a little truth to that but I think there is more to it than that. I go out of my way to be respectful and considerate because I was raised that way and yet I see so many people throughout my day that do not show any of those traits. I will stay the coarse and do my best to continue to smile and be respectful (even at DMV) and I invite you all to do the same!
Monday, May 7, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
On April 15th, 2010 there was an event that perhaps did not shake the world or get high amounts of publicity but it shook and changed my world forever. My Dad passed away. You see he was not an ex-President or royalty or even a celebrity but he was indeed my hero and I can safely say was many others as well.
He was a man that although at times live a hard life, lived it with integrity and faith. You always knew that the two most important sides of this man were his family and his faith. He could be tough sometimes but he was always fair and he was generous on many occasions. He could fix anything and had very keen analytical skills. He was sharp as a tack and if you ever dared to go down the path of battling wits with him you better be ready to get your butt handed to you.
We were pretty diametrically opposed on matters of politics or at least that’s what he seemed to profess but the more I would talk to him one on one the more we agreed rather than disagreed. I think many times he just enjoyed throwing out the hook and snagging me in a discussion and it was more his enjoyment in getting a rise out of me. I would define him as a Kennedy Democrat.
I have some very special memories of this man especially later in life when he actually did seek out my council after the death of his wife. I had, unfortunately, some experience losing a spouse that way and I think we had some very poignant discussions that I will never forget.
I could fill a book with memories but I prefer to keep many in my heart alone. So you see this man, while not worldly famous, will never be forgotten by me and many more. Dad, you made me who I am, yes both the good and the mischievous part, and while we never verbalized this enough I am sure you knew I loved and admired you and I really look forward to the day I see you again……
He was a man that although at times live a hard life, lived it with integrity and faith. You always knew that the two most important sides of this man were his family and his faith. He could be tough sometimes but he was always fair and he was generous on many occasions. He could fix anything and had very keen analytical skills. He was sharp as a tack and if you ever dared to go down the path of battling wits with him you better be ready to get your butt handed to you.
We were pretty diametrically opposed on matters of politics or at least that’s what he seemed to profess but the more I would talk to him one on one the more we agreed rather than disagreed. I think many times he just enjoyed throwing out the hook and snagging me in a discussion and it was more his enjoyment in getting a rise out of me. I would define him as a Kennedy Democrat.
I have some very special memories of this man especially later in life when he actually did seek out my council after the death of his wife. I had, unfortunately, some experience losing a spouse that way and I think we had some very poignant discussions that I will never forget.
I could fill a book with memories but I prefer to keep many in my heart alone. So you see this man, while not worldly famous, will never be forgotten by me and many more. Dad, you made me who I am, yes both the good and the mischievous part, and while we never verbalized this enough I am sure you knew I loved and admired you and I really look forward to the day I see you again……
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Progress? Really???
Droids and 3D HD televisions and iPads oh my! While I manage a communications division of a company and deal with technology of many varying types I am still amazed how far technology has come in such a short time. I see it every day in my world but then when I get home and actually have time to consider the advancements that have been made it really is quite mind boggling.
Do you remember when flat screen TV’s were introduced how everyone was so amazed how this would revolutionize the TV industry? Even when they were coming on the market could anyone have known the continuous evolution that would happen? Do you know that in about 3 years it will be the 20 year anniversary of when the HD format was approved by the FCC? How about this fact; over 60 years ago the first color TV standard was approved? How about recording formats? We started with betamax introduced by Sony almost 40 years ago and went then to VHS, then DVD and now Blue Ray with other technologies not far off. Companies seem to spring into existence with every new technology and if they don’t stay cutting edge they are soon replaced with new companies.
I wonder if technology is actually growing too quickly for us to really get a hold off what is happening. In other words, I wonder if we aren’t setting ourselves up for our own demise by wanting to advance so quickly that we never really understand the ramifications. I’m sure Oppenheimer was made aware with great clarity after introducing a nuclear bomb as he stated the following quote from the Bhagavad Gita: "Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”
I don’t profess to know any answers about the issues I raise. I am merely an observer of some of these issues on this spinning rock but it seems the older I get, the more I reflect on what has taken place and how what we do affects what is to become. I think as a society we are so wrapped up in how to improve everything that we never really sit back and appreciate anything and that to me is the saddest thing about all of our advancements. We simply don’t appreciate what went into every step to where we are now. It is my humble opinion that the term progress is an oxymoron. In my mind, if you don’t acknowledge and consider every step you took to get where you are now and only live in the moment you are completely missing out on what your life has meant. The old saying comes to mind life is not about the outcome so much as the journey.
So consider your life. Consider where you started out and all the trials and tribulations, all the successes and some of the failures and come to appreciate what the journey has been and not just how comfortable you are now. Your life is simply not measured, nor should it be, by where you are as you sit here and read this. It should be more than that. You must consider the sum of the parts. It is my hope that you come to this realization and learn to thank your God for not what is in your bank account at this moment (although some might have a problem thanking him for that) but more so thanking your God for every breath you’ve taken and every day that has made up your life.
Do you remember when flat screen TV’s were introduced how everyone was so amazed how this would revolutionize the TV industry? Even when they were coming on the market could anyone have known the continuous evolution that would happen? Do you know that in about 3 years it will be the 20 year anniversary of when the HD format was approved by the FCC? How about this fact; over 60 years ago the first color TV standard was approved? How about recording formats? We started with betamax introduced by Sony almost 40 years ago and went then to VHS, then DVD and now Blue Ray with other technologies not far off. Companies seem to spring into existence with every new technology and if they don’t stay cutting edge they are soon replaced with new companies.
I wonder if technology is actually growing too quickly for us to really get a hold off what is happening. In other words, I wonder if we aren’t setting ourselves up for our own demise by wanting to advance so quickly that we never really understand the ramifications. I’m sure Oppenheimer was made aware with great clarity after introducing a nuclear bomb as he stated the following quote from the Bhagavad Gita: "Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”
I don’t profess to know any answers about the issues I raise. I am merely an observer of some of these issues on this spinning rock but it seems the older I get, the more I reflect on what has taken place and how what we do affects what is to become. I think as a society we are so wrapped up in how to improve everything that we never really sit back and appreciate anything and that to me is the saddest thing about all of our advancements. We simply don’t appreciate what went into every step to where we are now. It is my humble opinion that the term progress is an oxymoron. In my mind, if you don’t acknowledge and consider every step you took to get where you are now and only live in the moment you are completely missing out on what your life has meant. The old saying comes to mind life is not about the outcome so much as the journey.
So consider your life. Consider where you started out and all the trials and tribulations, all the successes and some of the failures and come to appreciate what the journey has been and not just how comfortable you are now. Your life is simply not measured, nor should it be, by where you are as you sit here and read this. It should be more than that. You must consider the sum of the parts. It is my hope that you come to this realization and learn to thank your God for not what is in your bank account at this moment (although some might have a problem thanking him for that) but more so thanking your God for every breath you’ve taken and every day that has made up your life.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Remember When???
Remember When
I have been waxing nostalgic lately and thought I would assemble some remember one liners about the past so here goes.
Remember when people were just thankful to have a job?
Remember when penny candy was a penny?
Remember when there was no such thing as a microwave?
Remember when you shared a phone line with multiple neighbors?
Remember when the only car phone was on the Jetsons?
Remember when if you had one car in your family you were pretty fortunate?
Remember when you walked to school? (And safety was never questioned)
Remember when TV dinners went into the oven and were covered with tin foil?
Remember when kids were in more trouble at home when getting in trouble at school?
Remember when Ridalin didn’t exist? (and somehow kids survived)
Remember when you respected your elders?
Remember when organic food was just food?
Remember when your Dad’s video camera had a light tree that looked like something out of Yankee Stadium?
Remember when you had maybe 3 TV stations to choose from depending on how your antenna was faced?
Remember when record albums were really albums.
Remember when a hotdog was just a hotdog? (And we didn’t care)
Remember when kids played outdoors and LOVED it!
OK, that’s it for the moment…..feel free to add your own.
I have been waxing nostalgic lately and thought I would assemble some remember one liners about the past so here goes.
Remember when people were just thankful to have a job?
Remember when penny candy was a penny?
Remember when there was no such thing as a microwave?
Remember when you shared a phone line with multiple neighbors?
Remember when the only car phone was on the Jetsons?
Remember when if you had one car in your family you were pretty fortunate?
Remember when you walked to school? (And safety was never questioned)
Remember when TV dinners went into the oven and were covered with tin foil?
Remember when kids were in more trouble at home when getting in trouble at school?
Remember when Ridalin didn’t exist? (and somehow kids survived)
Remember when you respected your elders?
Remember when organic food was just food?
Remember when your Dad’s video camera had a light tree that looked like something out of Yankee Stadium?
Remember when you had maybe 3 TV stations to choose from depending on how your antenna was faced?
Remember when record albums were really albums.
Remember when a hotdog was just a hotdog? (And we didn’t care)
Remember when kids played outdoors and LOVED it!
OK, that’s it for the moment…..feel free to add your own.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Union Vs. Marriage
This is a topic that sends many running for cover. It is an emotional issue and although viewpoints tend to be very polarizing, I don’t feel like it should be ignored. The topic is gay unions.
I know the arguments on both sides. Some would also say I am arguing semantics and if you feel that way there’s not much use in reading on because I don’t think of it simply as that. You have two words that seem to be the crux of the controversy; marriage and union. Some would say there’s no difference. I would say there’s a hugs difference. You see I have a faith background that has taught me that the bible is the word of God and that fact alone makes me understand that marriage is a sacrament, a sacred bond between a man and a woman. If you believe you are a Christian and you hold the bible to be the ultimate law then you can not deny this. If you do deny this fact then you hold man’s beliefs and culture to be the supreme law.
This is not an indictment against homosexuality. That really is a different discussion altogether. This is taking a sacred event and calling it whatever you want to satisfy human emotions and so called progressive culture.
I think this discussion is really a reflection of what is happening to our world and what is happening to people of faith. We do not define God’s laws as much as we would like to do that. In other words you either live under a set of rules and laws or you make them up as you go just to make life easier for everyone.
As far as the term civil union I do think that is an appropriate description of what it is gays are involved with. That does not discount their love for each other but merely defines what their bond is. I don’t believe they should be denied the legal aspects of what marriage provides but to call it a marriage in my mind is not correct.
So I know I’ve ticked off about half of the people that read my drivel because this topic has split society. I can hear many saying so what’s the big deal? To me it is a big deal specifically because to me God’s word is a big deal.
I don’t pretend to know all the answers but I do know what I believe and as distasteful as it is to some whom would rather I just shut up and go along I will share my opinion. The one really great thing left in our country (at least as this time) is that we are free to express our thoughts without fear of retribution. That could be changing but for now it still exists and as long as it does you will have to suffer through my thoughts.
I know the arguments on both sides. Some would also say I am arguing semantics and if you feel that way there’s not much use in reading on because I don’t think of it simply as that. You have two words that seem to be the crux of the controversy; marriage and union. Some would say there’s no difference. I would say there’s a hugs difference. You see I have a faith background that has taught me that the bible is the word of God and that fact alone makes me understand that marriage is a sacrament, a sacred bond between a man and a woman. If you believe you are a Christian and you hold the bible to be the ultimate law then you can not deny this. If you do deny this fact then you hold man’s beliefs and culture to be the supreme law.
This is not an indictment against homosexuality. That really is a different discussion altogether. This is taking a sacred event and calling it whatever you want to satisfy human emotions and so called progressive culture.
I think this discussion is really a reflection of what is happening to our world and what is happening to people of faith. We do not define God’s laws as much as we would like to do that. In other words you either live under a set of rules and laws or you make them up as you go just to make life easier for everyone.
As far as the term civil union I do think that is an appropriate description of what it is gays are involved with. That does not discount their love for each other but merely defines what their bond is. I don’t believe they should be denied the legal aspects of what marriage provides but to call it a marriage in my mind is not correct.
So I know I’ve ticked off about half of the people that read my drivel because this topic has split society. I can hear many saying so what’s the big deal? To me it is a big deal specifically because to me God’s word is a big deal.
I don’t pretend to know all the answers but I do know what I believe and as distasteful as it is to some whom would rather I just shut up and go along I will share my opinion. The one really great thing left in our country (at least as this time) is that we are free to express our thoughts without fear of retribution. That could be changing but for now it still exists and as long as it does you will have to suffer through my thoughts.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Pain......
Pain. Not a word that evokes positive feelings. I have been thinking, ok enough head shaking, and I have decided that the main problem with our society is that everyone will do anything possible to avoid pain. Pain is a part of life. Without some type of pain you have no way to judge triumph.
I say this not because I want myself or anyone I care about to deal with pain. I say it because I know that it is inevitable and the way we succeed is by overcoming pain and learning from pain not by avoiding it altogether. Everyone knows the adage that he (or she to be pc) who doesn’t learn from the past is doomed to repeat it. One more saying is the definition of insanity is to repeat an action over and over expecting different results. Think about it….how many times does the average person break their right leg in a lifetime? I’m thinking that most people (Evel Knievel excluded) that do it once learn from the pain.
Now that is the most overt and obvious kind of pain. There are others much more subtle and I would suggest that in many ways the most damaging. We are now living amongst a growing number of humans that think pain should not be a part of life. There can be no winners and losers. Everyone should be a winner. Once that notion takes hold than really mediocrity is born. Why would anyone give extra effort to be better if there was no reward? Losing isn’t fun. It never was meant to be. Losing is a part of learning how to win. To be fair, I have been accused, and rightly so, of being too competitive. If you grow up in a little larger family you better learn to be competitive. Some learn better than others. They generally tend to win more. Have I learned from all of my mistakes? God no but if I do repeat a mistake who can I blame for the outcome? George Bush? OK not gonna do it……..(little George Bush impression there).
I have always had a problem with some of the games played by our very young crumb crunchers in where there are no winners or losers to protect their self esteem. I would suggest that you teach a child how to be a winner and their self esteem will be much more genuine and teach a child how to deal with losing and their self esteem will also be more honest. By the way I also am against outcome based education…..I don’t care how you add it up but if you tell a child 1 plus 1 equals 3 you are setting them up for failure. Life is not about feeling good all the time about yourself. If you really want to feel good about yourself learn something new and yes even learning something new can be a lesson from some sort of pain.
That’s my sermon today. You can live your life trying to avoid pain….or you can be even more successful by learning from mistakes…..and yes pain.
I say this not because I want myself or anyone I care about to deal with pain. I say it because I know that it is inevitable and the way we succeed is by overcoming pain and learning from pain not by avoiding it altogether. Everyone knows the adage that he (or she to be pc) who doesn’t learn from the past is doomed to repeat it. One more saying is the definition of insanity is to repeat an action over and over expecting different results. Think about it….how many times does the average person break their right leg in a lifetime? I’m thinking that most people (Evel Knievel excluded) that do it once learn from the pain.
Now that is the most overt and obvious kind of pain. There are others much more subtle and I would suggest that in many ways the most damaging. We are now living amongst a growing number of humans that think pain should not be a part of life. There can be no winners and losers. Everyone should be a winner. Once that notion takes hold than really mediocrity is born. Why would anyone give extra effort to be better if there was no reward? Losing isn’t fun. It never was meant to be. Losing is a part of learning how to win. To be fair, I have been accused, and rightly so, of being too competitive. If you grow up in a little larger family you better learn to be competitive. Some learn better than others. They generally tend to win more. Have I learned from all of my mistakes? God no but if I do repeat a mistake who can I blame for the outcome? George Bush? OK not gonna do it……..(little George Bush impression there).
I have always had a problem with some of the games played by our very young crumb crunchers in where there are no winners or losers to protect their self esteem. I would suggest that you teach a child how to be a winner and their self esteem will be much more genuine and teach a child how to deal with losing and their self esteem will also be more honest. By the way I also am against outcome based education…..I don’t care how you add it up but if you tell a child 1 plus 1 equals 3 you are setting them up for failure. Life is not about feeling good all the time about yourself. If you really want to feel good about yourself learn something new and yes even learning something new can be a lesson from some sort of pain.
That’s my sermon today. You can live your life trying to avoid pain….or you can be even more successful by learning from mistakes…..and yes pain.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
2012
So it’s a brand new year. 2012 is upon us and now everyone usually attempts to take stock in what they need to change. Most don’t succeed in changing anything but at least I suppose they recognize what changes they should make. Some make valiant attempts to make changes that sometimes last a month or two. I guess I fall in the some category most of the time….does that make sense? Why am I asking you? It’s not as if I’m going to get an answer. Who am I talking to anyway?
OK so back to the topic; New Year’s resolutions. I wonder when they started to become fashionable. I did a little research but found little in the way of historical data about the origins of New Year’s resolutions however it certainly sounds like something our so called progressive culture has adopted. Here are the five steps listed to making successful resolutions:
1. Make it specific.
2. Make it realistic.
3. Make it known.
4. Make it measurable by time.
5. Make it fun and rewarding.
These sound like reasonable steps. It would seem that if you follow these guidelines you can achieve your resolutions. My fundamental problem is after reading and re-reading these steps I pretty much have decided I will fail. I’m sorry, that may not be completely true, but that sure looks like a lot of work. One interesting tidbit I read was that people who have had success in the past at sticking to resolutions have about an 80% chance of repeating their success. One thing that concerns me about that fact is I can’t even REMEMBER what last year’s resolutions were. That doesn’t seem to bode well at my success this year.
So I must look at the usual list of suspects in my resolutionary quest. (New word there….kind of slick don’t you think?) There I go again asking questions to no one. The list is weight loss, drink less coffee, exercise more, fix basically everything on our house and oh did I mention weight loss? I am anticipating with great disdain the onslaught of fitness center commercials as well as weight loss miracle pill commercials. If you have it and there is a pill for it, it would seem many Americans will buy it. I have a weight loss pill I want to market. It is a pill you hold between your teeth that takes about 10 hours to dissolve. That should just about do it. The drink less coffee resolution should not be as difficult although I did get one of those K Cup machines for Christmas and it is great so that may put the Kibosh on the whole coffee reduction. Exercise more and weight loss kind of dovetail so although I haven’t been as successful in the past I really am looking at and incidentally, have made a few changes even in 2011. The house…..ah yes the house. Well it is a work in progress and will be for some time. To call this a resolution is really a misrepresentation. It should be more a shuffling of priorities. It is not something I should try to change ……more so something I absolutely MUST work on.
I am now officially done talking about this. My fervent hope is that all of you who read this do indeed have a successful 2012 and if that includes making some changes that you can stick with and live by you are likely ahead of 90% of the rest of us!
OK so back to the topic; New Year’s resolutions. I wonder when they started to become fashionable. I did a little research but found little in the way of historical data about the origins of New Year’s resolutions however it certainly sounds like something our so called progressive culture has adopted. Here are the five steps listed to making successful resolutions:
1. Make it specific.
2. Make it realistic.
3. Make it known.
4. Make it measurable by time.
5. Make it fun and rewarding.
These sound like reasonable steps. It would seem that if you follow these guidelines you can achieve your resolutions. My fundamental problem is after reading and re-reading these steps I pretty much have decided I will fail. I’m sorry, that may not be completely true, but that sure looks like a lot of work. One interesting tidbit I read was that people who have had success in the past at sticking to resolutions have about an 80% chance of repeating their success. One thing that concerns me about that fact is I can’t even REMEMBER what last year’s resolutions were. That doesn’t seem to bode well at my success this year.
So I must look at the usual list of suspects in my resolutionary quest. (New word there….kind of slick don’t you think?) There I go again asking questions to no one. The list is weight loss, drink less coffee, exercise more, fix basically everything on our house and oh did I mention weight loss? I am anticipating with great disdain the onslaught of fitness center commercials as well as weight loss miracle pill commercials. If you have it and there is a pill for it, it would seem many Americans will buy it. I have a weight loss pill I want to market. It is a pill you hold between your teeth that takes about 10 hours to dissolve. That should just about do it. The drink less coffee resolution should not be as difficult although I did get one of those K Cup machines for Christmas and it is great so that may put the Kibosh on the whole coffee reduction. Exercise more and weight loss kind of dovetail so although I haven’t been as successful in the past I really am looking at and incidentally, have made a few changes even in 2011. The house…..ah yes the house. Well it is a work in progress and will be for some time. To call this a resolution is really a misrepresentation. It should be more a shuffling of priorities. It is not something I should try to change ……more so something I absolutely MUST work on.
I am now officially done talking about this. My fervent hope is that all of you who read this do indeed have a successful 2012 and if that includes making some changes that you can stick with and live by you are likely ahead of 90% of the rest of us!
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