I appreciate the confidence that comes through in a work when the writer does not feel the need to overly explain his points. He believes what he writes and writes it. Then it is up to posterity to decide whether they find value in it. Some may call this overconfidence or arrogance, but unless you have to defend your ideas to a dissertation board, or a classroom, or an instructor, a bit of arrogance in your beliefs may not such a bad thing. People will disagree with you, even if you well support your argument, but they will trounce you if you don’t believe in what you write.
Tag Archives: Life
Saith Me… Understanding Your Opponent
Understanding your opponent is vital, misunderstanding your opponent is detrimental to success. Information inaccurately sourced or evaluated can lead to great struggle and strife; can lead to confusion and defeat. Avoid quick assessment or popular belief, dig deeper and be prepared to admire your opponent even as you prepare to defeat them.
Run, Walk and Hobble to Success
Obstacles, physical and physiological, can’t always be planned for in advance. Sometimes it takes running, walking, and hobbling to make it to the finish line. The speed in which we finish the race is never as important as the obstacles we tackle on the journey. If we overcome the obstacles, we have success. If we have enjoyed the journey, we have won.
Saith Me… Anxiety
It is not the need to be liked which causes me anxiety, it is just I don’t want to be disliked for being me.
It Begins
Today I begin my Master’s Degree. No cautious dip in the pool, but rather a headlong dive into deep water. Sink or swim it is a dream finally realized. A dream to navigate the second half of my life without floundering when my children swim away from home.
Frustration Boils Over
Living in a world where good news is hard to find can lead to a feeling of frustration. At some level, most rational humans recognize that tough times are part of life. In our personal lives we overcome our frustration by looking for the positive amongst the negative, you know the rose in spite of the thorns. We smile at puddle jumping kids, fuzzy kittens and babies. We take heart that our frustrations are temporary, knowing fully well that the negative will make the positive seem all the sweeter when it comes.
War, recession and disease can adversely affect the levels of individual frustration spurring the growth of collective frustration. Collective frustration can then lead to action. The American Revolution is a case of collective frustration turned to action. Where collective frustration differs slightly from individual frustration is in the constant build up due to media coverage.
In a household, it does not benefit the members to harp on what cannot be changed or changed quickly. A wise family soon learns to downplay the negative and highlight the positive. Sadly this wisdom is not present in the collective populous, at least not today. While many would like to blame the media for the escalating the levels of public frustration, the truth is they are a creature that must be fed by others. Corporations, lobbyists and yes, politicians feed the media beast. In some cases the media is fat on the information being fed to them by those with an agenda, and in other cases they have become scavengers searching for tasty morsels dropped unintentionally by those in the limelight. The public becomes the hungry chicks awaiting the food and keeping the demand high. Regardless of how the media obtains their food, their information is the result of the attitudes and desires of those seeking fame, fortune or power.
With each negative story, the collective frustration grows. Soon with pitchforks in hand, a mob forms looking to take action. In 2008, frustration due to war and recession led many to vote for a change, but opposition to the voice of change was great. Whether due to political affiliation, ideology, or chance of birth, rather than being a symbol of hope, the president became a symbol of division. Even within his own party, unity was not achieved and hope diminished. This led to a rally of frustration in 2010. Sadly, hope was not the objective of this rally, and more frustration was the result.
Now as we approach a new presidential election, frustration is boiling over as can be seen in the Chick-fil-a controversy. Boycotting or supporting Chick-fil-a allows the frustrated populous a way to expend their frustration, and as long as the pitchforks are left at home, no lasting harm will be done. Some will argue this point saying there will be an economic impact on the franchise, but it is just as likely to be a positive one as to be a negative one. When the rallies are over, maybe those mobilizing to protest or support Chick-fil-a will feel better, feel a sense of action and accomplishment when the day is done. Hopefully this will allow them to feel they have been part of a positive movement. Maybe they will again be able to find the beautiful rose and not just the painful thorns. The pot of public frustration might then return to a simmer rather than a boil.
In Search of a Good Rock
I think I need a vacation from the foolish remarks, ignorant attitudes, and rude comments of others. Does anyone know of a good rock to hide under?
Comforting words from a survivor.
This week I was invited to speak at a PREVENT training event.
I was asked to speak about my experiences and how I have been able to use those experiences in a positive way to contribute to preventing such things happening again in the future.
I have amended my speech to protect individual identities and protect confidentiality, but I thought I would share it with you and also some of my reflections following the event. It was certainly a thought provoking two days and I have lots to think about after listening to the other speakers and participants at the event.
The role of those impacted in preventing extremism
On 7th July 2005 I left the house early to take a journey that would change my life forever. My intended destination was Angel Islington. Of course I never expected it to be a life changing business…
View original post 2,118 more words
Pray for Comfort
Today the tragedy in Aurora, CO came too close to home. We feel isolated where we live, but Aurora is not so far. It is were my husband works. It is where we shop.
Today we learned that a young woman my son knows was wounded. We learned that most of his friends lost someone this week or are standing vigil for those hanging on to life.
My son was only a toddler when the Columbine shootings occurred. That tragedy could not touch him. He remembers clearly 9/11 even though he was young. But this horror has touched his world, and will change him.
We are the lucky ones, we hurt inside, but we were not in the nightmare. I ask you to please pray for those who were there that night, pray for their families and close friends, pray for their rescuers. Pray that their suffering is comforted, that the nightmare will fade and the healing will begin.
__________________________
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
King James Version of the Bible
__________________________
To Try and Fail is Still the Better Choice
Wednesday morning one of our outdoor cats caught a baby bunny. He knew he shouldn’t have as soon as he saw my daughter approaching, and he dropped his catch before taking off to hide. The bunny, a cottontail, was only a week or so old, eyes not yet open. His name is Pip since he has such a little squeak, and we knew it was unlikely he would survive.
We raise big, fluffy Angora Rabbits. They grow to be 7-10 pounds and are bigger than our cats. When they are born, they are tiny but no where near as tiny as Pip. The baby bottles we have used on the Angoras are bigger than Pip. Pip is as tiny as his squeak.
Pip did well on the first day, and there was hope. The danger for rabbits, baby rabbits especially, is that they will hop, or violently twitch, and break their backs. Hungry baby rabbits twitch and spasmaticly jump when they sense it is feeding time. Sadly, even with great care, they can harm themselves. Pip showed no signs of broken bones, and his back legs worked well.
By day two, Pip was actively eating. His belly would get large and then he would get sleepy. After a bit of cuddling, he would take his nap in his shoe box home, just feet from my desk.
Today has been a long day. The world is a crazy place. People we know, members of our community are hurting. Some are gratefully praying because their children changed theaters last night and were safe as dawn shed light on a tragedy. Others give long distant support to their children as friends in the hospitals are visited.
Today has been a very long day, and I sit here writing with Pip on my chest, knowing that his little body just can’t fight much longer. So I keep him near, praying the beat of my heart will give him comfort, knowing his life is in God’s hands. I knew when I held him on Wednesday that saving him was a long shot, but it is still better to try and fail the to never try at all.
Pip is such a little squeak, but he is God’s and the tears running down my face do not negate the blessing God has given me as I have cared for Pip. If Pip should live beyond today, it will be God’s will. If today Pip breaths his final breath, it too, will be God’s will.
Pithy Ponderings 