Monday, April 30, 2012

GRATITUDE - April 30, 2012

I AM GRATEFUL FOR A GREAT MUSIC TEACHER.

Patient...working with a 64 year old deaf guy that can't (and probably won't) read music who wants to just learn to play electric bass along with his favorite rock songs.


My original goal was to learn how to play 10 songs.


I now have 14 I can play from memory and another 18 that need from a little to a lot of practice to be able to play without my notes and another 16 that I have started, but got distracted after the first lesson... aiming now for 50 songs from memory...and then go on tour...well , maybe not that far...


Norman can play every song there is and only needs to listen to a suggested song to learn a couple of times and can then write out the bass part in tabs for me to practice.  Amazing.


I am thankful I got him for my teacher....you know, it is never too late to be a Rock Star.


Rock Star Bob -  Another Day in Paradise Band covers Smoke on the Water.


rlw



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Sunday, April 29, 2012

GRATITUDE - April 29, 2012

I AM GRATEFUL FOR MY WITNESSING REAL GRATITUDE.

If you read the bio or know me, you are aware of the minor health issues I have had with Cancer, my heart, vision, hearing, blah, blah, blah.   That said, I feel so fortunate to have the level of physical activity I am currently enjoying.


Lest I be inclined to whine about a pulled muscle or a sore back or the lack of inspiration to make an eight hour work day a twelve hour workday or my "need" to take occasional naps on weekends, I don't need to look far to see those far worse off than I am.


I rarely (I would say never, but can't do that now) give money to homeless people, but I did today. I am a believer in the "them that don't work, don't eat" (exceptions are elderly and children) and generally turn a deaf ear to an apparently healthy adult begging for money.  


Today, I was in the left-turn lane at the stoplight off a major thoroughfare turning into a shopping complex that houses 'Home Depot' - home builder supply store.  It was pushing one hundred degrees and I was feeling beat down like a dirt-dog after a fairly grueling day remodeling an investment property of ours and was off to buy more supplies for the seemingly, never-ending money-pit project.


There in the median, with a cardboard sign (it was upside down, so I can't say what the message was) was a truly hapless individual.  Physically deformed to the point it was difficult to watch him struggle back and forth along the rocky median strip, making himself visible to each of the cars stopped at the light.


I have made this trip hundreds of times and there is almost always a homeless person at this "trapped at the light" location...like fishing in the waiting pool at the base of the fish ladder dam during salmon-spawning season.


I, as most of the motorists in line do, ignore the beggars, turn up the radio and avert eye contact. 


Today was different. 


I was no longer a 64 year-old, balding, legally blind, deaf, daily-meds to keeping my ticker from bursting out of my chest, Cancer survivor (that may not the be correct term for someone still here after 4 years of post chemo/radiation treatment...but it is one I choose to use)...I was a healthy, energetic, fully functioning, gainfully-employed adult American male and grateful for the distinction.  I was overwhelmed by thankfulness at how good I felt and who I was at that moment in time.  I may get my turn in the future to be less capable than today, but today, I was capable.


Capable of undoing my seat belt and getting my wallet out.  
Capable of gathering some bills and rolling my window down. 
Capable of extending my fully-functioning left arm out the window of a car that I own free and clear.  
Capable of using the four fingers and thumb of my left hand to grasp the "extra" money and make it visible to the human being that God did not grace with the same benefits as he did me.


Not very capable of watching him struggle towards me limping and dragging a worthless left leg behind him.


Not so capable of watching him struggle to hold his pitiful, greasy, crumpled  'upside down' cardboard pleas for assistance (He was one foot away - so I probably could have figured out the message - even with my 20/1250 vision) while reaching for the bills with his "good" arm.


Barely capable of meeting eyes for a split second...just long enough to witness his version of Gratitude.  


At that moment, I realized that my daily attempts of expressing gratitude were pretty pitiful and lame in comparison.


Today, it wasn't just his physical disabilities that prevented him from reaching the money in my outstretched hand in a timely manner, before the light turned green and we all would push the pedal down to get on with our take-it-for-granted lives.


Every car in front of me had a arm stretched out with dollar bills gently swaying in the breeze.


Most of the cars I could see in my rear-view mirror had the same human compassion example extended toward one less fortunate.


The light turned green. No one moved.


The light turned red again.


The light turned green again and this time the cars started to move forward, but at pace slow enough so they could each stop and offer their monetary assistance to this man, so he wouldn't have to walk to us.


No one raced their engines.  No one honked their horn.


I am thinking that each of us...drove our shiny new, expensive cars away from this experience with a bit more Gratitude in our lives than we have had in many a day.


I did.  Lessons in a life well-lived are available to each of us daily.


Today I am thankful for the opportunity to witness Gratitude in its finest form.


rlw

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Saturday, April 28, 2012

GRATITUDE - April 28, 2012

I AM GRATEFUL FOR SIMPLE BLESSINGS.


"Gratitude means thankfulness, counting your blessings, noticing simple pleasures, and acknowledging everything that you receive. It means learning to live your life as if everything were a miracle, and being aware on a continuous basis of how much you’ve been given. Gratitude shifts your focus from what your life lacks to the abundance that is already present. In addition, behavioral and psychological research has shown the surprising life improvements that can stem from the practice of gratitude. Giving thanks makes people happier and more resilient, strengthens relationships, it improves health, and it reduces stress.


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Friday, April 27, 2012

GRATITUDE - April 27, 2012

I AM GRATEFUL FOR MY PROBLEMS.







I am grateful for all my problems.  After each one is overcome I become stronger  and more able to meet and defeat those still to come.  I grow as a person through each difficulty.
rlw





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Thursday, April 26, 2012

GRATITUDE - April 26, 2012

I AM GRATEFUL FOR BEING SURROUNDED BY CREATIVE, SMART, AND INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE.

This is a post from my three handsome grandson's beautiful mother, Jen Pierce....


"A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" 


Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you, but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" 


Still the hands were up in the air. "Well," he continued, "what if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants this $20?" Still the hands went into the air. 


"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. "Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value: dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who love you." 


The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE. You are special--Don't ever forget it."


How true...is your hand still up?  Mine is.  Be thankful for your indomitable spirit.


rlw


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Wednesday, April 25, 2012

GRATITUDE - April 25, 2012

I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS A REVIEW OF A LIFE WELL-LIVED.

...although I am sad to say this experience was a funeral celebration for a high school friend from 40+ years ago.


The reception hall was overflowing, including people in chairs pulled up to the open doors onto the patio.  Great tributes to John Sabel. A good husband to KC- a good friend to many.


He loved life, his love, his friends, good food, great wine and inspirational music...it doesn't get much better than that.


The tributes were heartfelt - more than just a few tears were shed.


This quote is a tribute to John and to a life well-lived:


"When you came into this life you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.
Your life will have been well-lived if, when you leave this life, you are smiling and all around you are crying..."


This was certainly true today.  John - you are missed. All those present today left inspired to be better people for your example and for having been privileged to have known you.


For John - Little Feat/Dixie Chicken


rlw

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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

GRATITUDE - April 24, 2012

I AM GRATEFUL FOR  A NICE WARM AND DRY PLACE TO SLEEP.

If we just stopped and tried to add up all the things (and non-things) we should be grateful for every day of our lives...the list would be endless.


Think about your circumstances..


Would you prefer to sleep in an abandoned refrigerator box down by the river tonight (before you say yes...there is an  85% chance of rain and the temps will dip 20 degrees)?


Would you prefer to have your only meal today be a leftover, slightly moldy, sandwich from the dumpster?


Without any details, think about indoor toilets, toilet paper, hot water, running water, clean water, any water at all, nice clothes, warm clothes, clothes that fit (unless you had too many moldy sandwiches), any clothes at all, contact lenses, glasses, access to a dentist, a toothbrush, nice shoes, shoes that fit, any shoes at all....all this in a space of a few minutes and we aren't even dressed and out of the house yet....EVERY DAY.  Do you leave the house this morning filled with gratitude after a full hot breakfast, hot shower, nice shoes, stylish and expensive outfit, groomed and ready for the day as you exit your 3BD/2.5 Bath, two-story home in a nice suburb and walk (yes, with two legs and two feet) over to your Toyota Prius and off you go, popping out the iPod to switch to the CD player..


How lame is it for any of us (connected to the internet, on our iPad, smartphone, PC, MAC) reading  (or writing) this and feel bummed that our life was not perfect today.  How many people in the known universe would trade lives with you, straight up, no questions asked.  


I am thinking if we did not take for granted the thousand of gifts we have and could develop the permanent 'attitude of gratitude' daily -  we would experience nirvana right where we are standing, sitting, jumping, dancing, hoppin' & boppin'....just sayin'...


When you are at that first inconvenient red light tomorrow (on your way to work-if you have a job)...use the time to admire your clean, pressed (you do have an iron and a washer & dryer with hot water and electricity - right?) clothes, shoes, car (that runs) and the beautiful red light (because you can see and you aren't color blind), - look in the vanity (good word) mirror...do you have hair (cancer patients would love to have your bad hair day), whoa, - look (with eyes that work)  - you actually have teeth that aren't rotted off at the gum line and (turn down Aerosmith on the plugged in iPOD) and say out-loud (if you still have a voice box and the education and hearing to understand how to make words with sound)..


"Wow, I have a lot to be grateful for!  Damn, I'm lucky.  Thank you God, for making the light red, so I could take that one precious moment in my day to reflect on the gifts I have all around me.  Thank you!"




Oh, wait - before you turned 'Dream On' off...did you really listen to the words:


Everytime that I look in the mirror
All these lines on my face gettin clearer
The past is gone
It went by like dust to dawn
Isnt that the way
Everybody's got their dues in life to pay



Sing with me, sing for the years
Sing for the laughter and sing for the tears
Sing with me, if its just for today
Maybe tomorrow the good lord will take you away



Now- before you put your car in drive and the light turns green..pop in Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World and LISTEN to the words...



I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
and I think to myself, what a wonderful world

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
the bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
and I think to myself, what a wonderful world

the colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands, saying, "how do you do?"
they're really saying, "I love you"

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
they'll learn much more, than I'll ever know
and I think to myself, what a wonderful world

yes, I think to myself, what a wonderful world



I could go on and on about this one hour in our day (we get 23 more as well, as a new set tomorrow), but the internet has only so much band width...just sayin'...


rlw




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Monday, April 23, 2012

GRATITUDE - April 23, 2012

I AM GRATEFUL FOR FEELING SAFE IN MY HOME.


We all wish to be safe in our homes.
Some people have personal bodyguards.
Some have elaborate alarm systems.
Some have firearms.
Some have Rottweilers or hulking German Shepherds.
Some have ancient Japanese weapons of self defense and are trained as ninjas (my sons would always opt for this selection).


I guess it really depends upon what you need protection from to make the right choice.


I love good food.  Sometimes I love it too much and consume a tiny bit more that perhaps is advisable.  Some might say that I can be a pig.


So, what does a pig have to be worried about?


ANGRY BIRDS


(if you don't have a smart phone and are not prone to wasting your valuable time on free downloads - this post will make no sense...contact me and I will explain it).


I have an ever-vigilant guard cat that would love to see a flock of birds (angry or just mildly curious) just try to get through our home defenses.


I am thankful for Daphne - my personal guard cat.  She is always on the look-out for those feathered menaces.


rlw

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Sunday, April 22, 2012

GRATITUDE - April 22, 2012

I AM GRATEFUL FOR NOT BEING SICK OR DYING TODAY.




Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.... Buddha quotes 




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