NEVER-SAY-DIE SPIRIT

 

 

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 'When the archer misses the mark, he turns and looks for the fault within himself. Failure to hit the bull's eye is never the fault of the target. To improve your aim -- improve yourself.' 

--- Gilbert Arland

 
How many times in life do we miss our mark? Plenty, I am sure. That covers about every goal, dream, challenge we put out there. It touches most every area of our human and mundane lives. It causes our grief, sorrow, disappointment, frustration, misery. All these over fallen dreams.....  over missing the mark.

I know somebody whose story is about missing marks and it's also a story about trying it one more time or several times and each time much harder than the one before. Did she finally make it? Well, the last time I checked she's still at it shooting more arrows aiming for the mark. Looking like she has more arrows inside her sheath, more than the average number a sheath can hold it seems. I admire her spunk.

So what makes a person go at something so doggedly, determinedly, persistently, bullheadedly, or in some maybe stupidly (when the object doesn't match the effort in value)?

Nope, this time this piece won't be about self-improvement or courage. You already know that. This is about that friend's 'never-say-die' spirit. It's that tiny kindling flame inside which won't take 'no' for an answer. It stands on the foundation of hope and the fierce belief that something is worth fighting for. It's believing in one's dreams  ---- that one dream that will never die.

She will make it yet.... will still be aiming for a dream... even if she grows to be a hundred years old at it. Sometimes it breaks my heart to see her. But when I look into her eyes....  I become a believer.

Have a great day, folks; never mind the weather.
Remember ...  'don't let anyone rain on your parade'.
God bless you with so much more than your heart can hold!

COME AWAY WITH AS MUCH AS YOUR CONTAINER CAN HOLD

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My good friend sent this quote to my inbox as he usually does almost everyday. So I've created a folder just for him; every quote he sends is deposited there. Then when the writing muses push me to write I go visit the folder and see what would ring the writing bell in my head. Occasionally the folder would undergo a sorting process: weeding out those which I think would be off my radar. Meaning if it does not bang that writing bell in my head then it's a no-go. Because I believe there is no better rule of thumb in writing than this ----- Write from the heart! Or with your heart! In short, when the heart does not feel it --- don't write it.

So this is what my friend sent me this morning........

"Some of us are like wheelbarrows  -  only useful when pushed, and very easily upset." ---- Jack Herbert
 

Wheelbarrow  - a small cart with a single wheel at the front and two supporting legs and two handles at the rear, used typically for carrying loads in building-work or gardening.

It does not run on its own; somebody has to push it. Can you imagine wheelbarrow lives? Well, sometimes one does need a push to get on with doing something but that's a different kind of push. In the absence of the sterling qualities of resourcefulness or initiative, it can be said that no amount of wishing will get them there .... wherever or whatever it is they want to be or achieve.

Is there hope for wheelbarrow lives? Probably if they attach an engine or a motor to their wheelbarrow. Seriously, when one recognizes where he is at - when he comes to a slump in his life - and admits its harsh reality and then revamps his way of thinking... that now will inject that much desired push to move forward.....but this time he does it to himself. As a friend defined it .... 'it's an internal job'. Meaning nobody can do that for him; he alone  should work on his own transformation. It may be slow work but truly rewarding in the end. (Thanks, Mr. Quote Man, for the quote.)

Still on the subject of wheelbarrows but on a different thought. Remember the book I was reading last week? Here's a lovely line from page 23.................

"Think bigger thoughts; paint grander dreams.You can go to a gold mine with a tiny wheelbarrow or a huge one,  and you will come away with as much gold as your container will hold."  --- Mr. Everit, a character in the book 'What I Learned From The Richest Man In The World' by Alan Cohen.

Bigger thoughts, bigger dreams, bigger wheelbarrow.
Makes great sense, right?
That works too with blessings.
I've got a wheelbarrow this B-I-G!!!
Get yourself one, too... if not BIGGER!!!
Have a great weekend!  :-)

SO WHAT KEEPS A BIRD UP IN THE AIR

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Have you ever wondered what keeps a bird up in the air in flight....? Is it the aerodynamics of its wings (the study of the properties of moving air, and especially of the interaction between the air and solid bodies moving through it)  ... or of the kindness of the wind giving it its necessary lift? But honestly to those who believe, it's more than just aerodynamics or the wind that keeps it up there. It's bigger than both!

Try following that thought and you will come to a wonderful awakening.... realization.... enlightenment.... understanding.... of creation, its creatures, and of life.

What you choose to believe will certainly define the quality of your life. Have read something like that in a book somewhere sometime back. But it stuck in my mind since and had helped me understand some odd challenges at certain stations in my life as I looked back. Suffice it to say that a better understanding of what transpired raised the value of the lesson or lessons placed there by some Unknown and which were meant to be learned. Thus have reaped its benefits far more than desired or expected. I came out much wiser (I hope).

What keeps us at life is more than just being smart.. intelligent... lucky... hardworking... privileged... and other things more attached to being human. Just like the bird up in the air in flight, it's not just the aerodynamics or the generosity of Mr. Wind that keeps it up there. It's bigger than that!! As something bigger is at work in our lives.

Good morning, everyone. Have a great day!
Go joyfully to your day and be blessed. He's just waiting to bless you. :-)

UPGRADING YOUR LIFE IS AN INSIDE JOB

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You know what, there isn't really much one can do with a rainy day. Oh, maybe you can cook up a nice dish... or paint something new and creative... or take down a book you probably have enjoyed reading for the __th time.... or watch a movie on DVD -- something you may have seen for the __th time too!! Have I mentioned all of the options? I guess not. Because we each deal with a rainy day in so many different ways wherever you are in the world. Oh well! :-)

Well, this time I got out my file of old notes. But first to explain why I have a 'file of old notes'.....  You see, I have this tiny habit of writing down anything I have heard or read which would ring a big bell in my head. Wherever I may be ... Starbucks or some other coffee shop which has a convenient magazine stand for its cafe habitues, or in some restaurant with great writings on its walls as part of its decor, or in a book store browsing through rows and rows of books and stumbling upon a nice phrase or line, or in a movie theater listening to a character's dialogue which strikes that big bell in my head. They're all down on paper, that's for sure. And which explains why I always have a note pad or notebook inside my tote bag... and two pens. Why two? Just in case one runs out, the other fills in quite conveniently.

Now that's the 'why' of it, the 'what for' is simply to feed the writing bell in my head. As you may have guessed it correctly, it then translates into the posts I write here or in the blog.

So this one was written on a piece of paper, a page off the familiar note pad beside my bed,.... and to quote

"There are two ways you can change your life", he answered. "You can change your environment or you can change your mind.  Sometimes you can change your environment.  Always you can change your mind.  It's the one thing you have always power over.  Successful people find ways to shine where they are." -------  the character Mr. Everit in the book 'What I Learned From The Richest Man In The World' by Alan Cohen.

Further, Mr. Everit says (on that same chapter) that.....  "Upgrading your life is an inside job.  If you make cosmetic changes only, you're just rearranging chairs on the deck of a sinking ship".
Unquote.
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By the way, get hold of the book if you can. It's a terrific read, rain or shine, with pen in hand or none. Blessings, everyone! :-)

IT STILL IS A LOVELY DAY

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Woke up to a rainy and cold morning today. So what does one do on a day such as this? Well, that would depend on your mood, right? We each have our diverse ways of coping with it.  All good as we wait for the rains to stop while looking forward to Mr. Sun's  coming out  bright and warm.

For me, I would try to find something to read. Not a book this time because I don't feel like sitting hours reading one, not this time anyway. Found this old newspaper (I didn't bother to check its date) and leafed through its pages casually hoping that something would catch my attention which now  was tipping dangerously towards boredom.... and even closer by every minute that passed by.

And then I found this....  allow me to quote ----

'If you have something good to share, share it because these small acts of kindness may inspire people to do good.  If you just rant, nothing will happen.'  --  Rey Bufi, founder of the Storytelling Project

That's a good point, don't you think?

I also found this on the same paper's Daily Gospel corner. Something on a similar note... which says -----

'Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable,  if anything is excellent or praiseworthy ----- think about such things.'   ---  Philippians: 4-8

As I put down the paper I looked out the window and saw the rains had finally stopped. The day looked gloomy with gray skies and hid Mr. Sun who I strongly suspect might have been fidgeting behind it wanting so much to come out but isn't allowed to... yet.

And then I heard this brave wonderful bird perched on a tree in my neighbor's yard across the street..... he thinks it's still a great day chirping merrily away --- A lovely bird song. I agree it is a lovely day! 

You see, it's what you put into your day which makes it what you want it to be. The weather has nothing to do with it actually. It really is all up to you.

Have a lovely day, too. God bless you all!

POSITIVITY EFFECT -- A BLESSING OF AGE

Thanks, Beverly. You have put out one most terrific fantastic amazing post I have ever seen here in fb. Thanks for this lovely share, dear friend. Keep 'em coming!

I think I'm going to repost the text below to be easily read. Can't read much of (original) light blue text; it's faint and bland and isn't eye-catching... so I'll darken it a bit. Because this is one piece of wisdom I think everybody must see and understand, men and women-young and old alike. So here it is again..........


  “Knowing what to overlook is one way older adults are typically wiser than young adults. With age comes what is known as "positivity effect". We become more interested in positive information, and our brains react less strongly to what negative information we do encounter.” ---- Meg Jay,

And some friends wonder why I don't get angry at things I should be angry with. Well, now we know that it depends on what things. I must admit that taking such an attitude has worked to reduce stress in huge measure over many things which could easily push my anger button. Of course there is such a thing as righteous anger, but let's reserve that for another post. Meantime, I'm good where I'm at... where life is like a garden of roses. Why roses? Just like the plant.....  The thorns are still there but the flowers now more vibrant and gorgeously beautiful. Lovely life!
 
POSITIVITY EFFECT --- that's a good thought and attitude, don't you think so too??

FAITH MAKES YOU SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY

A long-time online friend sent me this.......... (He always considers every note sent as a gentle nudge to write. Well, I have to honestly admit that he succeeds most of the time. Thank you, dear friend.)

"More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of."  --- Tennyson

That's true. I should know;  my anchor through life. But I have learned too that one must also understand that God answers prayer not always in ways we choose or want but in ways which we need. Also that God works with His own time and reason and why He asks us to be of good faith....  because without it we would despair in our prayer not understanding how this God works. It may look easy to the onlooker but it isn't. Faith is always a struggle. Because human nature wants it ...'now please' but faith says ...'perhaps later.' 

But He is a Magnificent God and there are no if's and but's to it. Blind faith? No, it's faith honed by experience which understands and despite some inconvenience and discomfort to it loves the Giver just the same. Admit it, without Him, we are nothing... down in the dust, nada, kaput, zero. I still believe in miracles....  happens everyday. In fact, you and I -- we're miracles. Science can't give a better explanation to who we really are. A power machine, that's what we are. God put in everything that we would need to live a life of Light and Power by creating us in His image.

Don't sell yourself short, you are not junk nor mediocre. You are his MASTERPIECE. We all are! Even that guy you see on the pavement... dirty, withered, tattered clothes, and begging for food. See him not as a human being gone wrong....  but as one of God's children (God knows how to take care of him). And if you think about it, we are no different from him --- we too beg for something or some things at some time or other in our selfie temporary mundane lives.

We are not junk; you are not junk.  See your self as God sees you --- Precious!

You might also want to see this.......

Human Suffering And God
God Always Finds Us

So then let's enjoy our day. It's our birth right in Christ. Be of good faith and prayer.

A FURRY TEACHER AND INSPIRATION

Let me see, tonight a lot of things ran through my mind edging each other for attention wanting to see itself on print. But I hemmed and hawed .. even devised excuses, flimsy as it really were, not to write. To further escape the push I picked up the book (remember the one I bought last Friday? - The Art Of Thinking Clearly) and sat down on the bed to read it. Na-ah didn't work either. Because what I was reading even presented fantastic reasons to write! The book was that good that I wanted to share it with you but feeling unequal to the task I declined. (Well, sometimes I get that feeling or is it just a passing mood.) Yeah, another time perhaps, besides I'm not finished with the book yet. Why not paint? I asked myself. I have been trying to since last week but here's the truth, it takes more than just the desire to finally get out the colors and canvass to paint. And I wouldn't budge an inch in that direction either, so no go on that one.

So I decided to watch something on TV. Sat on the couch and turned on to different channels hoping that one would catch my eye. Finally..... saw Rachel Ray cooking up her 30-minute dish --- it looked simple and doable so I stayed and watched.

After a while a furry presence grazed my leg, slowly came up the couch, sat beside me so close that nothing could squeeze itself between us, and nudged her head to my side. I looked down at Maxie's pretty brown eyes. She gazed back at me softly and gently with a sparkle in her eye like she understood. And I believed she was telling me.....  'it's okay, you don't have to do anything today.... just relax, enjoy the moment.... just breathe...'  And my soul was restored .... and finally found serenity .. tranquility. Precious. I love my dog.

Had something like this before with

Buddy and Lucky - Golden Moments

..... and MY ALONE TIME

WE SEE THINGS AS WE ARE

  

Have read this quote and it nudged me to thinking ........

 "We do not see things as they are.  

We see them as we are."   
---  The Talmud

Info: The Talmud (Hebrew for “study”) is one of the central works of the Jewish people.

Let's if that is true.....

We read the newspaper and see the world and the bigger life lived out there. We read about killings, kidnappings, abuses, cheaters, conflicts and wars, etc. and too on the other side of the spectrum the do-gooders. We react to whatever catches our eyes, mind, and heart. In total, from what we have experienced in our lives are formed or shaped our personal insights, perceptions, beliefs, feelings, emotions, the presence or absence of understanding and compassion, or the strength or lack of religion. These naturally influence or dictate how we see the events of the world... or of the parade of people before us... or on matters of heaven and hell... or of life in general.  We operate off this foundation and which defines our reactions or responses to that external world of which we see.

You may be pissed off at the world's chaotic and messy events.... because you believe in order.  As I myself would see the world coming to an awakening which could bring it to hope for a better world... because I believe in hope.  We separately and collectively in our respective reactions and responses see the world as WE ARE. A person of order and a person of hope.

These define our responses to and towards our external world.
I think I have learned something here.
:-) Have a good day, folks!  Blessings await you.

SMILE - AND GIVE IT TO THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE

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"If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning "Good morning" at total strangers."   --  Maya Angelou, writer


She's right, you know. The people you love dearly deserve the best of you. And you know what else, I'd put family at the top of that list called 'people you love'. Because win or lose, succeed or fail your family will be there with you.... for you.