I like standing by the window and looking out to the wonderful world outside. Interesting things can reward you immeasurably if you look enough and pay close attention.
- The mother pulling her little kid by the hand urging him to hurry in their walk to somewhere. Gee, those little feet surely cannot be expected to catch up with the huge steps of an adult, an impatient one in this case.
- The taho (soya) vendor calling out his wares down the street in a fine baritone voice. He gets a lot of practice calling out with that voice every morning. Maybe he should consider a singing career?
- The neighbor down the far end of my block passing by in his car with furrowed brows. Whatever it may be causing him much concern, I hope that he still gets to see the brighter side of his day.
- The wind blowing down the tops of lush trees lined up across the narrow pebbled street. When Mother Nature weaves her magic, it is wise to stop look and listen. She is sending you a message of peace, tranquility, hope and comfort.
- The maya birds flitting from branch to branch chirping merrily. They don’t work for wages, but look how happy they are. There must be somebody they look up to for care and love.
- The constant barking of my other neighbor’s dogs from their cages – wanting to be let out I suppose. Dogs shouldn’t be caged in; they should be free to serve you with their devotion and loyalty. Dogs are a man’s best friend oftentimes even better than humans.
- The warm sun beating down happily from blue skies without a care in the world. That, Mr. Sunshine, is the mood I’m in!
This is a fine morning -- not that the world has solved its problems or that my friend next door has resolved his old issues in his home or that I’m worry-free – but it’s more because I’m feeling good with the day. Oh I’m quite sure that things could turn out differently as the day moves along but that’s fine with me. Who says that life was supposed to be predictable anyway?! Anyway, standing here by the window feeling good almost always sets the stage for thoughts hip-hopping into my mind. Here are a few scooped up from that bucket.
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Do or do not. There is no try. (Yoda, character in the movie, The Empire Strikes Back)
This line fascinates me most. It seems so simple, isn’t it? He makes it sound so easy. ‘Love that small guy. Don’t we always start out considering first so many odd things before making decisions? It’s like being at the door of opportunity but having only one foot in. I think it’s fear that’s mainly eating us up – fear of the unknown, of rejection, of failing, of being different, of someone’s displeasure, of losing, of censure -- So many fears, normal maybe, but we cower in its presence - but should it? Like the little guy says ‘Do’ and discover the surprises in store for you. ‘Do not’ and miss out on what should be yours to enjoy. ‘Try’ is a feeble attempt at neither sanity nor wisdom. The middle ground is not always the safer ground.
In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence. (Laurence J. Peter)
Oh but do I know that! Taking on too much doesn’t fill out a good evaluation or performance report card. Yes, because you are surely bound to fail in one some or several of the tasks you’ve taken on for yourself. Remember what’s said that ‘no one can serve equally well several masters all at the same time’? You may succeed in one yet fail poorly in another. Imagine that doubled up or trebled. That’s catastrophe right up your door. Don’t spread yourself thin. Focus on what you know and do best and give it your best shot. To excel in one is much more impressive than bungling up a lot of projects given you. Besides who’d care for a guy who’s a jack-of-all-trades but a master-of-none?! I’d rather have a few ‘masters’ on my team than a dozen ‘jacks’ who can’t finish even one.
There is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior, like the wish to scatter joy and not pain around us. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Emerson is on the subject of ‘manners’. The peace-maker and joy-giver is indeed a person of impeccable manners. Doesn’t always speak his mind or push his own views when he knows that it could possibly rub the other person the wrong way, hurt him or make him feel bad about himself. Is careful not to embarrass or annoy or disconcert anyone no matter how right he may seem to be to himself; always is considerate of the other person’s set of beliefs, insights, and perceptions. Tolerates and understands people’s diversity and differences; unselfish and generous in his thoughts ways heart and soul. In every word and deed truly a gentleman (or gentlewoman) gentle to the core. Does that make that person a freak? No! But rather it makes him a treasure find in our world sadly thriving with the other kind who insensitively and meanly scatters fear and pain around him.
If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself, tell yourself that you are not a poet enough to call forth its riches; for to the creator there is no poverty and no poor indifferent place. (Rainer Maria Rilke)
‘We are creators’ – Read this somewhere long ago. That’s a good line to remember too, especially when you feel down in the dumps or up with a bland boring day or when challenges are nil and hard to find or when you think there’s nothing else you can do bout a situation. That line tells us that we can turn things around using our innate and inherent -- creativity. If you’ll ask Mr. Webster, he’ll tell you that it’s – ingenuity, cunning, intelligence, inventiveness, cleverness, resourcefulness, and imagination. Wow! We’re all that? And it’s right here in our hands to work out something better for ourselves? So who’s been telling us all this time that it’s out there whatever-it-is that we need to be to make good?! So why then don’t we do that? Why do we instead bewail the poverty of our days and times when it isn’t so hopeless and dire as we perceive it to be? Who’s been pulling the wool over our eyes?! We can do something about bad days and bad lives; transform it --from poverty to immense wealth in experiences, challenges, opportunities, riches, learning, and wisdom? Why not give that a thought. And while you’re at it, think about this too --- We are indeed ‘creators’ as we are created in the image of God – THE Creator of all things then and now!
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Hmm, I smell coffee in the kitchen. Oh yes, nothing but a good hot cup of coffee to crank up a day with -- so then ciao for now. See you in the next ‘ish! God bless.
posted on Saturday, March 03, 2007 6:12 PM
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