TO ENJOY LIVING = BE HEARD + TAKEN SERIOUSLY

My BROTHER and FRIEND HANK -

2012-01-29T23:13:00.000-08:00

My Brother and Friend Hank -

---My brother and Hank both told a story to me about things that they both have done…concerning animals.

---Hank once found a mocking bird that had a broken leg. He took the bird home and made a splint for him. The mocking bird mended and was part of his family. Hank was married at the time. He speaks of the bird riding in his car. He would perch on the steering wheel. Hank said that the biggest problem with all that is that when he turned the wheel the bird would have to compensate for all that. Hank says that the streets in North Carolina aren’t very straight.

---I told my brother, Peter, Hank’s mocking bird story in an email. Peter told me in a quick email that that he soon sent back.

---When he was working one morning as a campus policeman for a college in Massachusetts, he saw a skunk with a yogurt container on his head. The skunk couldn’t shake the container off. NOT able to see, the skunk was in and out of the street. Peter says that he knew that soon the skunk would be hit. Knowing Peter as I do, his next step didn’t surprise me. His partner was another story…HOWEVER!

--Peter got out of the car and slowly approached the skunk. I’m sure that he spoke quietly and reassuringly…the whole time. He had a special-type voice he would use at times like this. What was even better is that he genuinely likes animals.

---A skunk in fear is really nobody’s first choice of an encounter to have. Fear is what starts them spraying…in the first place. AND...THEN THAT SMELL! After a short time, he had the situation well in hand. I wondered what he would have done if he was sprayed by the skunk…but, before I asked he said, ‘’It would have been terrible if the skunk had been hit by a car.’’ I know that he thinking of the ‘’poor ole skunk.’’

---Oh, yeah! The reason I am not surprised by any of this – Peter has a way of putting others first. So does Hank, at times, for that matter. They are at those times much like many of our nurses and others who work and volunteer at Laguna Honda. It may NOT resemble EDEN all the time…But, SOMETIMES IT DOES! Be Well.
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They both heard the ''HELPLESSNESS'' of the animal and took it seriously.

Creature Comforts USA - Art

2011-11-27T10:48:00.000-08:00

ART IS A SPIRITUAL PATH by Pat B. Allen

2011-11-24T19:09:00.000-08:00

Contributed by a friend - Annora C. Crumpled title is my fault.

The VALUE of FUN

2011-11-19T10:19:00.000-08:00

The Value of FUN

---Having fun is very important when it comes to being healthy. A good attitude is very important to our wellbeing, and here is the kicker…NO matter what condition we find ourselves. How we see life…has much to do with the way we handle whatever it may be that we happen to be saddled with.
---This recipe depends much on how we envision ourselves. If we take everything personally and find we are serious most of the time…we are probably uptight and restrict our own freedoms in someway. We are not spontaneous much of the time and feel like we are in check by someone or something. Or, it could be the other side of the coin where we need to control the way others act. We don’t allow them to be very spontaneous.
---Taking things in stride is a must for good health. If we find we DON’T get bent out shape over everything, we probably do better in the blood pressure department. Keeping stress to a minimum works to our benefit. Remember that we usually get angry when life doesn’t turn out like we think it should. Relaxing on that whole process is a good thing.
---Doing things we enjoy is a big key to happiness. You only have so many waking hours each day…why not fill them with things that you like. Remember that a good attitude always feeds in positively to your health. Upgrade your happiness if necessary. If you find that the only fun you have is at someone’s expense…maybe work on that. The benefits to yourself and others will be appreciated and you will improve your health in the process. Have Fun.

BONDING!

2011-11-14T09:38:00.000-08:00

Bonding

---If you have ever been to the horse races than you will know what I mean. Even when you have only bet $2.00 on a horse you find yourself cheering on the horse at the finish line. If the horse wins…you win. If he loses you may feel that, also.

---You have somehow bonded yourself to the horse. For a time, you may even feel that the $2.00 has bought the horse in someway. It is easy to get caught up in the winning and losing.
---We have natural bonds in our lives. Folks that we have already bonded with. Usually our mother, father, siblings, relatives, children, grandparents, girlfriends, boyfriends, spouses, etc. The bond is usually with someone we care about.
---When we bond with someone, we usually want the best for them. We are usually able to hear their needs. We, also, find there is great joy in fulfilling them. When we are in the presence of a good deed we experience the joy, too. I think that is one of the things Gandhi meant when he said ‘’100% effort is 100% reward.’’ This goes to all staff and volunteers…as well as residents. Give yourself a great gift this holiday season. ‘’Bond with someone.’’ Remember - The gift isn’t always in dollars and cents. You will be glad that you did. Be Well.

BONDING - The ''STROKE'' GUY

2011-11-14T03:48:00.000-08:00

HE'S BLIND - WANTED TO WRITE CLEARLY...AGAIN!

2011-07-20T18:25:00.000-07:00

Frank A's Success Story -

---Recently, Frank A., had a dilemma in his life. Frank, in case you don't know him, has a robust Irish brogue and a presence that fills a room. One of the reasons that Frank is at the hospital is that one day he acquired a fever, and lost his eyesight in the process.
---One of the ways that Frank communicates is in writing notes to his friends. Frank's dilemma was one in that, being totally blind, the writing, itself, was hard to read. He would print in big, block letters trying to be clear, but as soon as the pen left the page, the problems would begin. Being blind, he would put the pen back where he thought it belonged, but it always was NOT in the correct spot. The reader ALWAYS found reading Frank's notes a challenge, at best. Even his children.
---Frank was determined to be heard along these lines. Writing notes and communicating his ideas, were very important to him. Thankfully, Frank was heard...and was hooked up with Occupational Therapy. Gina D., as his therapist. It took a little time, but, the improvement is there. The before-and-after of his writing is, comparatively, like day-and-night. It is so much clearer and easier to read. The squeaky wheel GOT its grease. Frank's onetime dilemma, is now a Real Success. Frank was heard and, now, can leave that frustration behind. He can, again, communicate with his notes. Frank made this championship story available to us all. Take Care.
.

Knowing This Will IMPROVE Your Life - -

---I have been searching for a lot of years, and finally found something that we ALL seem to have in common...(other than the obvious). It is contained in these two points:
.
1] We ALL want (need) to be heard + taken seriously
2] We ALL want (need) to do what we enjoy doing
.
---Unless the first point is satisfied, we may NEVER find what we truly enjoy. Whether we are staff or resident, there is really no one who doesn't do better when both of these points are in place. Take a few minutes to examine your own life, to see if this fits or not.
---An example would be - Frank A's Success Story, above. As a reminder, Frank, who is blind, wanted to be able to write notes, clearly, to family and friends. Frank was heard and taken serious. That's why the story is a Success Story. Frank does what he enjoys. He writes clearly, now.
---You will find that this dynamic works for everyone. When the two points are in place for staff/resident or anyone at ALL, we are well on our way to finding our own voice and doing our own thinking. Take Care.
---

THOUGHT-PROVOKING, Lightly Comic A

2011-04-04T21:53:00.000-07:00

MY LEFT-HAND...AGAIN

2011-02-12T22:02:00.000-08:00

Left-hand...again

---Here is something that I haven't written about for awhile. It is about my hand and self-acceptance.
--- I think we can agree on the following:

Everyone wants (needs) to be heard + taken seriously
Everyone wants to do what he enjoys

----I wish to say, here, that one gets stuck on the first point, and most times can't go on to the second point. Until one is heard, he will basically find that what he does, concerns, mostly with his being heard. That is to say, until one has the need to be heard, met, one finds that he is usually stuck trying to be heard. But, once free, he can then begin naming, more realistically, his needs and preferences.
---What I wanted to hear is that it is okay to have one hand. It is alright to be myself. It took over 30 years for me to hear this. I spent time in mental hospitals with this need. I had to be convinced that is okay to be like I am. This really is the dynamic that has governed much of my life. This is number 1. This is what I needed to hear. This is what others had to hear, also, so they could affirm me, along these lines. Being heard, I was then freed.
---When one is truly freed from the need to be heard, then he can more fully participate in 2]. Doing what I enjoy becomes more natural, now. One is generally happier and more able to find, pick and choose, those things that one likes to do. My life has improved very much.
---My case may seem like an extreme case, but I have learned that everyone has something they are dealing with. This doesn't depend on what social class you may belong to, resident and staff, alike. We all have something that we would rather not have.
---Overnight successes, are few and far between and usually have a short lifespan. One usually has to pay his dues, to embody all this. But, learning lessons is what life is all about, anyway.

As I have said before - ''Through acceptance...what you see as a great CURSE, can be a great BLESSING''
Self-Esteem + Self-Acceptance (Click)

PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY

2011-02-11T06:45:00.000-08:00

DAVID and GOLIATH (REVISITED)

2011-01-01T20:42:00.000-08:00

DAVID and GOLIATH -
(REVISITED)

---David is the winner in the relationship. He beats the giant, Goliath. David stones Goliath, until he topples. Though, much smaller in stature, David comes out on top.
---But, are these the kinds of relationships we are looking for? Is every relationship based on winning and losing? I would say that if it is thought that that is all there is, you are in for quite a roller-coaster ride.
---A more satisfying relationship, would be one of mutual respect and concern. If David sat down and talked with Goliath, they may strike up a friendship. They may find they like spending time together, and in the process, may become friends. They may find they have much in common and have lots of things to talk about.
---We find that David NO longer has a need to fight Goliath, and, vice-versa. Their differences have been resolved, through honest communication. They have broken bread, together, so to speak. They are NOT enemies, any longer. Now, they have become friends. Take Care.

MERRY CHRISTMAS - A STAR IS CREATED

2010-12-24T19:02:00.000-08:00

THE NAMI ARTICLE -

2010-09-29T12:11:00.000-07:00

---A couple mistakes, but the article appeared, today. The NAMI people must have made the mistakes in the re-typing. Click on article to see larger version.

INSIDER ARTICLE -

2010-08-18T17:35:00.001-07:00

---The article ''importance of self acceptance on your mental health,'' is going to be in the publication Voices put out by the people of NAMI. That is the national alliance of mental ioillness. I am very grateful and happy that this is happening. Scroll if you care to read it. Below is the article WITHOUT the mistakes.

IMPORTANCE OF SELF ACCEPTANCE ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

2010-08-16T22:56:00.000-07:00

Importance of self-acceptance on your mental health

''There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.'' Shakespeare

---Acceptance plays a big role in our lives as we line up our needs and preferences. Self acceptance is a huge key to our personal happiness. What follows is my own story.
---I was born missing four fingers on my left-hand. There is, basically, a thumb, there. I spent a lot of time hiding my hand, being afraid that if people knew the real me, it wouldn’t be ‘’good enough.’’ Somehow, I thought that a false version of me would be better. I was very much mistaken.
---I hid my hand from practically everyone. I was very good at it. But…what I’m really saying is that I was very good at NOT being myself. I ended up in the mental health system due to antics related to this idea. I was hospitalized. I was placed in a mental hospital…really, all due to thinking it was NOT good enough to be me.
---At one point, I believed that healing would come in the form of growing fingers…in some way. I thought that healing would be in making me look like everyone else. Once, again, I was incorrect. Healing is ACCEPTING YOURSELF AS YOU ARE. It really doesn’t happen any other way.

---What one has in common with others is the fact that everyone has something that they would RATHER NOT HAVE…and, are hence, dealing with. People learn their life lessons in dealing with its acceptance.
---There was a change in my attitude. Instead of thinking I would benefit from being something or someone, else, I realized that the best that I can be is to be myself. But, that, then, just opens the door.
---I next realized that it is important to find out what that means. It doesn’t mean that you suddenly do whatever you want and forget everyone else. It becomes a journey of self-discovery…uncovering what it all means. You are able to watch yourself unravel, sloughing off those unnecessary things we all seem to carry - to hide from being ourselves. (I remember hiding my hand from a blind man). What I once saw as a great curse is now a great blessing. ACCEPTANCE is the key.
---I believe that mental hospitals are filled with people who have NOT accepted themselves. They are filled with people who think that if you really got to know them or if you even cared enough to get know them…you would be very disappointed in the findings. They have NO value and NO worth. They are mistakes…in someway. This misconception and ignorance has been handed down, through the generations, since time began. We see here how well-placed positive affirmations from others can be a big plus.
---If you are still not convinced, the challenge would be this - Try it. Try accepting yourself as you REALLY are. Remember that the longer you resist the truth, the more it will persist…AS A PROBLEM. Even if it is just being honest with yourself about one thing about yourself…that is a good place to start. Take Care!

Self Acceptance - ''The ROAD to HAPPINESS''

A COMPETITIVE ATTITUDE -

2010-07-18T16:22:00.000-07:00

A COMPETITIVE ATTITUDE

We ALL Have An Attitude
Some Are Subtle,
Some Are Overt
Anytime We Think We Are
A Victim Of The Man,
We Have An Attitude.
But, Nowadays,
Even The Man Has A Man
We Are Kept In Check
By Each Other
And Are Bound To Move
Only As Our Attitude, Allows
We Move Up and Down,
Hither and Yon,
As We Eke Out Our Existence.

Anger Happens,

All Hell Breaks Loose!
Living Like This
I Am NOT Surprised
We Don’t Have More Fun

SAVING FACE - The POEM

2010-07-12T18:06:00.000-07:00

SAVE FACE

I Only Like Things That Make Me Look Good
Saving Face Is My Main Concern
I Want To Get Approval For Liking What I Like
I Like To Like The Right Thing
It’s Very Important To Me
You May Think I’m Just Joking
The Waters Of Approval
Run Very Deep
And I’m Always Checking To See
If I’m Doing Okay

---Here is a poem that I wrote in 2007. It appears in the book, ''CONSIDER THESE...''

SCHOOLHOUSE EARTH - Learning Life Lessons

2010-06-24T20:22:00.000-07:00

Schoolhouse Earth:
Lesson 1

---I’m sure you all remember Buckminster Fuller’s ‘’Spaceship Earth’’ where he likens the earth itself to being a kind of rocket ship hurtling through space. Well I’d like to change the image of a rocket ship into a schoolhouse…earth itself is giant school where we learn life lessons, until we LEARN life's lessons, hurtling through space.
---The idea came to me from something that was said in the Poetry Class. Daphne, mentioned the term ‘’earth school’’ in a poem that she had written. I had heard the term before as I am sure that some of you have. And then I got to thinking what are life lessons that we all have in common - but seem to learn at our own pace.
---One that comes to mind almost immediately is one of - a] Don’t take yourself too seriously and/or his sidekick for me b] Don’t take everything/anything too personally. Both can raise havoc in any kind of relationship you may be in. Learning to distance yourself from people’s comments allows one to look more objectively at what is happening other then immediately taking ‘’offense’’ and getting ‘’defensive.’’ It turns into a fight of who is right and who is wrong…instead seeing the comment objectively and then benefiting from it.
---Remember the great Erma Bombeck line - ‘’if you can laugh at it, you can live with it.’’ No matter how one sees his time spent on planet earth, that seems like a good one to learn. Oh, yeah, here is another - ‘’keep it simple.’’ Another valuable lesson I learned by doing the opposite. Take Care.

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http://teachingstheater.blogspot.com/
Click the link OR continue reading below.

Waiting For GODOT -

2010-06-12T21:44:00.000-07:00

WAITING FOR GODOT -
(REVISITED)
.
---This is a PLAY, by Samuel Beckett. It was immediately deemed a classic by many people. It is essentially a dialog among soldiers, waiting for someone or something named Godot, to show up. Godot never shows. They are stuck talking amongst themselves, while they wait.
---A new story should have the title, ''REALIZING GODOT.'' It is the condition where one realizes that GODOT, is already present. He has been, here, WAITING - FOR US, to have the realization that he has been, here, all along.
---The story of, ''Waiting For Anything,'' suggests that we may recognize the ''thing,'' when it shows up. One may go through many things, in the midst of antipation. One may imagine anything may happen, when WHATEVER IT IS, we think, arrives.
---When we REALIZE, we may then say that such-and-such, has always been among us. We are just catching on to the fact that HE has always been here.
---We can then say that, ''GODOT IS WAITING for us to REALIZE that HE/SHE or IT, (however it speaks to you,) is already here.'' And that fact, my friends, is much, more accurate. Take Care.
.
In, actuality, GODOT is just here. Waiting is a concept that we relate to.

BENEFIT of POSITIVE SELF-EXPRESSION -

2010-03-14T14:01:00.000-07:00

FACING THOSE THINGS THAT BOTHER US -

---There are many different ways to positively express yourself. One way is to share some of what is inside with someone else. This is a good way to affect the system, positively.
---Most resident’s at the hospital, have a frustration just from dealing with health issues. Unfortunately, we reinforce NOT expressing that frustration instead of teaching the resident how to deal with that frustration. He learns many things that DON’T express the frustration and, has to deal with things that create more frustration. Suddenly, he has more than he started with.
---We must learn that it’s okay to have the frustration and be with it, instead of NOT having it. Many, if not most of us, don't feel what we're feeling. We try to go someplace else, and distract ourselves from feeling bad. We would get through our frustrations and grow at a faster pace if we weren’t so hell-bent on avoiding certain feelings…especially the more painful ones.
---They say, ''our toughness comes from our ability to face our embarassments and pains.'' And, ''the quickest way around something, is to go through it.'' We are less defensive and don’t blame others as much when we face uncomfortable things. Remember that it is more difficult in thinking about facing something than, actually, facing it. That's how we GROW.
---We then accept our own responsibility in situations. We find ourselves thinking for ourselves and are that much closer to finding and speaking with our own voice. We do everything with greater conviction. We have changed the negative of feeling badly into part of our new ''tougher'' self by this process of self-expression. It is certainly nice to get what we want, but in reality it is good to be able to survive the other side, also. Take Care.

''We can't always get what we want, but if we try sometimes, we may get what we need.'' The ROLLING STONES

FOOD FOR THOUGHT...

2010-02-02T18:38:00.000-08:00

FOOD FOR THOUGHT...

2009-11-29T19:55:00.000-08:00

---Goes With DAVID + GOLIATH (above)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT...

2009-08-09T19:35:00.000-07:00

FOOD FOR THOUGHT...

2009-08-09T19:26:00.000-07:00

OLDER + WISER? - Bobby Darling Duo

2009-07-07T09:38:00.000-07:00

---Bobby Darling Duo - MrStrokeGuy

Poodles Jr., pays a visit. In a certain way, she is a ''blast from the past!''

The PARTY of LIFE

2009-05-23T21:25:00.000-07:00

The PARTY of LIFE -

I Was Asked To Arrange
The Party of Life
I Called Jugglers, Clowns, and Singers
And, Animal Trainers, Too

The Erudite and The Passive
Will Be There
The Happy and the Sad
The Celebrities and The No-Names,
The Who's Who and Who's NOT!

I E-mailed Everyone
YOU Are Invited, Too
I Hope That YOU Received Your Invitation

The When and The Where,
And, Even The Time -
Well, That Was All VERY Easy
It Lasts As Long As You Like
And, You Don't Have To
R.S.V.P.

Come, Dressed As Yourself,
That's Important!

It ALL Hangs In The Balance!
Your PARTY, WITHIN, May Soon BEGIN
At Any NOW YOU DECIDE

DREAM TEAM - We ALL Have One

2009-04-11T21:28:00.000-07:00

DREAM TEAM -
(Create Your Own)

---I'm sure you remember the Dream Team. They were the basketball team that played in the Olympics. They were gathered from the professional basketball teams, around the country. I think they won every game they played. The year was 1992, for the original team.
---I was thinking of our situation, at the hospital, and I'll bet we ALL have a DREAM TEAM, of our own. They would be chosen from our list of likes and dislikes. They don't have to be basketball players or anything of the sort. They are made up of the nurses, doctors, porters, etc., that we work with on a daily basis. They are chosen from the people who impressed us the most. Probably, those that we have worked best with or had the best experience.
---This list would not necessarily have to be concocted from the best that the therapy staff has to offer, but just be workers that you had a rewarding time with. Even, if you have had a bad time of it, I will bet there are some that you are happier to see, than others.
---Think back on your days spent, here. Put together a Dream Team, of your own. Don't get stuck seeing if the possibility to get them back into your present situation, is there or not. Think upon what they brought to your relationship. This may help with the sorting of your needs and preferences. Be playful and creative. Let yourself go. The less held back you allow yourself to be, the more honest and vitalized you will see yourself, with this process. Take Care.
-
Without a doubt, I had the hospital in mind when I wrote the above article, but, you can easily translate it - Out of ALL the people you have ever associated with, create a DREAM TEAM.

PARROT AUDITION + MEDITATION

2009-01-22T18:11:00.000-08:00

.
ENJOY! The ''STROKE'' GUY.
I think that sitting quietly, is a great and beneficial thing. A singing parrot is another story.

The STRAIGHT DOPE on HOPE - VIDEO

2009-01-12T20:47:00.000-08:00

.
---The HOPE-DOPE. A Poem. First YouTube of 2009. I think it is self-explanatory, but I could be wrong.
.
Bobby Darling + Dr. Divine make a guest appearance.
.
YouTube Search - MrStrokeGuy

The BUCK STOPS...HERE!

2009-01-05T20:12:00.000-08:00

The BUCK STOPS...HERE

---When a running back drops the football, his teammates do NOT all call his attention to it. It is NOT his soul obligation to jump on the fumble. If a fumble occurs, EVERYONE tries to jump on the ball. NOT just the player who drops it.
---A team works as a unit, and works at doing the ''right thing.'' It is EVERYONES responsibility. Much is NOT accomplished when EVERYONE is busy assigning, who is to blame. People are saving-face in the process of assigning blame. They are essentially saying that if you find a mistake, it is HIM and NOT ME. The responsibility lies elsewhere.
---If a player needs a reprimand, it is the job of the coach to correct him. He or she should approach the situation as diplomatically as possible, and find what needs to be fixed...and work toward fixing it. Then the next time that situation comes up, we are NOT surprised by it, and EVERYONE is more aware of what their job is. In this way we will see the whole team improve as time goes on. Take Care.

Really About Saving Face While Working, Closely, With Others..

TABLE TALK - ENJOYMENT!?!

2008-12-17T09:57:00.000-08:00

TABLE TALK - POEM

Have You Ever Noticed That
When We Do Things We Enjoy,
We Have NO Problem With Our Focus?
It Gets Our Attention

Doesn't Enjoyment Gives Quality
To Time Spent?
When We Don't Like What
We're Doing, We Can't Wait
To Be Through With It

Whether It Be An Object,
Or, Relationship
Or, Anything At All,
Doesn't Our Concept Of Time
Depend On
How Happy We Are?

Many Go From
Pillar to Post
Doing What They Like
And, Doing What They Don't

Doesn't It Make Sense
To Do What We Enjoy?
Is This The Way
To Live Happily Everafter?
How Do We Learn To Like Things?

Pass The Biscuits...PLEASE!.

Table Talk video - Not accepted by YouTube.

http://www.mediafire.com/?xgitzmwnvil

A KIND OF A RESOLUTION - VIDEO + POEM

2008-11-16T18:16:00.000-08:00

A Kind of RESOLUTION - Poem

I Try To Be TRUE To Myself
The Relationship Is Pretty Good,
l'm NOT Complaining

I May Make Mistakes,
Here and There
But, I'm Learning That - That's Okay

It's A Big Relief NOT
Having To Be Perfect,
All The Time.
Allowing Yourself To Mess-up
Is A Wonderful Thing

Perfectionism Was Good, When I Had It.
But, The Jury Could Still Be Out On That

Accepting - Who You Are And
Where You Are At
Is Where I've Learned -
Healing Begins

What Did We Learn...From ALL This?.

YouTube Search - MrStrokeGuy

DO YOU WONDER IF YOU'RE ''GOOD ENOUGH?''

2008-10-30T16:49:00.000-07:00

GOOD ENOUGH?

---Of course, you are good enough. There is no one better than you...but, also, no one worse. Everyone, in reality, is just who they are.
---We are made up of many things. We may possess talents that others do not...but, then again, I am sure there are talents that exist that we DON'T have.
---When we are jealous of someone, or someone is jealous of us...we are usually speaking of the fact that he/she may possess an attribute or talent we wish we had. My advice would be to figure out what it exactly is you are looking for and how one would go about having that. Then you could then work toward having it...ALSO.
---I think it is important to list the things you may want, and list the things you may need. I would suggest you pick and choose, carefully, because I'll bet that a lot of things one thinks he/she needs would fall into the, ''I THINK, I need category,'' and really just be things that you prefer or want. (Most NEEDS fall into the food, clothing and shelter, realm.)
---When one has his needs straightened out, his wants and preferences are much more realistic. One may discover that the pony that was much needed at one time...is really not so much of a priority.
---To sum it all up - people may have cultivated different tastes and we must honor that. But, we realize that most of us are, basically, the same, like a basic computer...it is just the different add-ons, that account for much of the reasons for our differences. ''One man's meat may still be someones poison.'' Take Care!

CATASTROPHIZING

2008-08-23T19:58:00.000-07:00

Catastrophizing - ''Do you look for the FLAW in EVERYTHING?''

---Do you catastrophize everything? Do you think that something is wrong with everything? We know that nothing is usually perfect, (if it seems it is...just wait awhile. It won't be.) So, finding the flaw in every plan and idea, sounds like a good thing. Let's see.
---When we catastrophize...we think in the ''what if's,'' a lot. What if this happens or that happens? We are continually looking for the shoe to drop. Or, the other shoe. We aren't satisfied for too, too long. We are waiting for the flaw to kick in. It is ''Murphy's Law,'' in action.
---But, this is very important. We don't have to look at what happens as something that interferes with our enjoyment of everything. If we know that what we are doing is the right thing to do, then there is no problem. It is at those times we allow our circumstances or situations, govern how we feel, then the problems arise. It then seems time to realize, we are on an emotional roller coaster ride and see ourselves as pretty much the victim...in most cases. If no one is hurt in the process, and we see others jump on the bandwagon and know that all is positive, then we are more sure, we have a winner.
---If we begin trampling on someone else in the process, and they counter our move, then we have problems. We may have to re-examine our motive and what we are doing.
---It is better for us to involve ourself with people and places that keep things positive. When we start our ''harmless,'' joking, be sure that the brunt of your harmless joke - is laughing, also, and that your comment won't be misconstrued. It is easy to make someone look bad, so we will ''feel,'' good. This is a short-term fix...at best. If you take care of things on this end, you will see yourself catastrophizing a lot less.

---When we have a need in our life, it gives us an opportunity to exercise our INGENUITY. Take Care.

MUSTAKE or LEARNING?

2008-07-10T16:17:00.000-07:00

Mistake or Learning?
.
---When we make a mistake, do we fall into the trap by telling ourself, ''how stupid we are,'' or do we look at it as an opportunity to grow? Mistakes, are no more than a training tool we use to improve. We don't make mistakes, intentionally...but they are filled with things to learn, when we do.
---It is very unhealthy to be afraid to make mistakes. To spend a lot of time, pretending that all is well, when it isn't...gets us nowhere. We stagnate, that way. We do much better when we can ''own-up'' to what we do or have done. We feel better, too. We see, in this way that, ''telling the truth has made us free.''
---This is the way we, ''pay our dues.'' We don't pass the buck, as often, and take responsibilty.
If we worry that we may look bad, we usually don't tell the truth. I don't know of anyone who enjoys looking bad. But, taking yourself TOO SERIOUSLY, can be worse for you. One becomes very rigid and hardened, that way. Be flexible and elastic. As, Erma Bombeck, used to say, ''if you can LAUGH at it, you can LIVE with it.''
---The next time you make a mistake or do something wrong, realize that it is just part of the learning process. We ALL know about making mistakes, because we have ALL made them. Be good to yourself and own up to it...at least to yourself. You will see that it will reap rewards, eventually. When You KNOW YOURSELF...Then You KNOW What Is Right To DO. Take Care.
.

WITHOUT LAUGHTER -

2008-06-17T21:25:00.000-07:00

The BEST Time I Ever Had...
Without LAUGHING

I Was Assigned To A
Metaphysical Bookclub
We Would Read The Books and Discuss Them
Interpret Them Every Which Way

Soon, I Was Asked To Lead The Group
People Would Seem To Struggle
With Passages Very Clear To Me

How Could ''Killing The Buddha,''
Make Sense or
400,000 Prostrations
Before an Icon
or Death to the Ego
or Suffering, When God is Love
or Better, Yet
Why Do Some Understand This
And Some Do NOT?

Maybe, The Virgin Birth is
A Zen Koan
or Just
A Spiritual Concept

These Are SIMPLE To
A Poetic Mind
But NOT So To
A ''VERY'' Literal ONE

AMEN
.
This is, basically, the same stuff I know to be true, also.
http://teachingstheater.blogspot.com/

CREATIVITY - TEDtalksDirector

2008-04-15T19:49:00.000-07:00

''If you are afraid to make a mistake...You will never be creative.''
Over 200 Videos Under TEDtalksDirector.
YouTube

''ALTERNATIVE'' THEATER

2008-03-26T16:41:00.000-07:00

CAVEAT EMPTOR -
.
''Alternative'' Theater
http://joeedf.blogspot.com

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE - The BEATLES

2008-03-07T21:30:00.001-08:00

,
The Picture is a Little Much!

LOOK MA...I'm FLYING!

2008-02-10T18:54:00.000-08:00

Look MA - I'm FLYING!!

2008-02-07T22:24:00.000-08:00

Look MA, I'm FLYING -

(Video Above)

I Have Had It With This Nest.
I'm Leaving!
I'll, Probably, Be Back
But, It Will Just Be To Visit

The House Is Different, Now.
I'm Different.
There Are Times We Agree
And, There Are Times We Don't

You Pushed Me Out, You Know,
With All Of Your Bloody Help.
You Were, Probably, Doing Your Best
Now, It's Time To Do MY Best

The Years Have Gone By
And - Blah, Blah, Blah.
Well, I'm Back, Now. But, Its Just For Awhile.
I'm Here For That Visit, I Was Talking About

I'm Doing This And That,
And Such And Such.
I Still Make Time For My Stuff.
It Doesn't Sound Like Much
But, It Keeps Me Busy
I Don't Know Where The Time Goes

There Is One Thing I Want To Say.
I Know It Has Been Said Before.
But, Did You Notice
Something Different, About Me, This Time?

It'll Happen, Again, When I Leave This Place.
(PAUSE)

Ma!! Are You Watching, While I Take Off?
(PAUSE)

LOOK MA - I'M FLYING.

(In VIDEO - I am singing with Bobby Darling and Ed F.)

The FAMILY PLAYBOOK -

2008-02-05T20:54:00.000-08:00

My ''PLAYBOOK''

(My Dad: A Major Contributor)

---I think every family has one. It is the way that each family, meets the challenges it faces. We have each member of every family with his own particular way of going about things, and we have a larger ‘’family’’ playbook, that usually holds the parameters that each member of the family, tends to follow.
---The way we respond to situations is usually found in the Playbook. It may have its variations, as each member is NOT exactly the same.
---Of course, the idea of the Playbook comes from the NFL. It contains, allegedly, a different way that those involved may react and counter whatever situation is presented to them on the field of battle, much like we ALL do. It is the general way that players respond and react to one another.
---You may find yourself sounding like your mother, or some aunt or uncle. If it ALL goes according to an evolving process toward the better, it seems we would improve the ‘’Book,’’ as we go along. Each generation receives an ‘’updated’’ version.
---My brother and I, may do many of the same things our Mom and Dad did, but we also have adapted, thus changed the Playbook, to fit our particular styles. The one we were given is being changed to fit, who WE ourselves, are.
---The ‘’Playbook’’ is NOT a static thing, but is continually a work-in-progress, to be as flexible as necessary. It is just that generally, OVER TIME, changes are made. This is to say, that we are free to respond to anything, anyway imaginable, it’s just that we resort to what we know and what works. We do basically much the same things and change slowly.
---His children have a Playbook that is much the ‘’same,’’ but ‘’different.’’ Their kids have one and so on and so on.

.
--- Remember: It isn’t the STRONGEST, or the SMARTEST, that does the very best. It is the one who ADAPTS, most freely. One adapts towards being more LOVING and FREE. Be Well.

BIO-graphy

2008-02-01T15:43:00.000-08:00

BIOGRAPHY
(NUTSHELL VERSION - A Chronological Roadmap)

1. Born - April 1, 1951 - MA.
Missing 4 Fingers
on Left-Hand
.
2. Grammar School - 1956 - 1965
Gates Lane School
Woodland St. Prep
.
3. High School - 1965 - 1969
St. Peter's CCHS
.
4. College - 1969 - 1974
Northeastern University
.
5. Franconia Notch (First Band) -
1973 - 74
Original Material
.
6. Bobby Darling Show - 1974 - 78
Comedy, Parody, Songs
.
7. Enlightening Experience -
Saturday, Oct., 1976
.

8. Jesuit Priesthood Candidate -

1977 - 1980

Didn't Join.

.
9. Left MA. - Didn't Tell Anyone
March, 1981
.
10. Hitch Hiked across USA -
1981 - 82
.
11. Psychotropic Medication
April, 1982
.
12. Existential-type Anger - 1993

(Finally, felt on the road to recovery)
.
13. Coma - 1997
Came Out of Coma, No
Longer Needing Psycho -
Tropic Medications.
.
14. Stroke - June 2, 2002.
Movement Disorder - Rt. Side
Residing in Hospital [Nursing Home]
.
15. Computer in Hospital -
April 2004
.
16. January, 2007. Re-established Contact
w/family and friends in MA.

MAKING SHARING MORE POSITIVE -

2008-01-25T11:50:00.000-08:00

Making Our SHARING More POSITIVE -

---What do we usually share? When we meet someone we know a bit, we tend to begin telling that person - our latest event. We are NOT going to start with people who begin with gossip.
---We share what is happening with us. In the process, we are also conveying our slant or vision of things.
---We can easily make a very negative sounding experience be very positive if we add - what we have learned, or may learn, in the process. This gives reason to the fact that we have negative experiences, in the first place.
---If we do this consistently enough, we will unveil those things that we avoid, and do NOT readily face. I can guarantee that if one stays with this process, one will eventually see the molehills return from the mountains one has made them into, and life will become a more level playing field. Life will become much easier to navigate and negotiate.

Adding What We Have Learned, Makes A Negative, Be Positive.

(Darth Vader Mask on loan - The Henry A. Collection)

NOT All Sex, Drugs and Rock+Roll -

2008-01-22T21:48:00.000-08:00

Not ALL Sex, Drugs and

Rock+Roll - In The 60's

.
---The sixties seemed like a time that many things began to change. It is really difficult for me to say for sure, as this was the period of time that most kids my age, change, anyway.
---Sex, Drugs and Rock+Roll, was a way the young could express themselves, that was different then the older generation. If S, D and R+R were popular among the older folk, things may have played out a little different.
---One thing that I've noticed myself to have embraced is the idea of breaking down walls and bridging gaps - between Authority and Underling. (They both have worn many names, but I think you get the picture.) I, somehow, like the idea of, We Are ALL In This TOGETHER. I like us ALL being on the same page. It certainly cuts down on the separation we may feel between us and we don't seem as quick to judge anothers behavior.

We Are ALL Cut From The SAME Gib -
---You can respect someones knowledge on a subject, but realize that he is cut from the same gib as yourself. People are allowed to share what they know, because it is needed to be known. There is NOT a ''need,'' for a false hierarchy to maintain civility. People are nice, because they are nice. Civility, maintained as it has been, is pretty much based on FEAR - for the most part.
---When the walls that separate, tumble down...fear is wiped away, in the process. We are closer to a oneness and more on the same page.

LION lays down with LAMB - PEACE PREVALES

2008-01-20T10:55:00.000-08:00

LION lays down with LAMB.

.
---We have the Lion laying down with the Lamb. This only happens when their is PEACE. When the two different factions have ''worked-out'' their differences, and mutual respect replaces the way that one was perceiving the other, before this took place.
---Many of the stories one finds, in-and-out of the bible, have this dynamic. They, actually, like one another, now. It is an example of Love bringing the two sides together, in a peaceful setting.
---The more that we like the things that we do , Love grows in a situation, and the closer that the parties become. The Relationship tends toward a unity, with Love working as the catalyst. Love is ALWAYS the Great Unifier.

.
---To those who want to read into this further, we can, also, see that Love brings together the dualism within ones ownself. We begin by accepting and learning to like ourselves and who we are and, before we know it, the inner conflict, tends to resolve itself. Peace prevales. The LION and the LAMB can now lay down, within. The pairs of opposites that one may have found himself contending with, have come together in a peaceful way. The person who has done this, exudes a peace to ALL he meets.

It's IMPORTANT To Like What We Do -

2008-01-15T20:12:00.000-08:00

Let's Like What We Do -

The Many Professions We Have Today,
We Still Need People To Do Them.
People Bring Themselves To The Workplace
With Differing Attitudes and Capacities.
Everyone's Different.

An Exact Match Doesn't Always
Happen on the Job.

There Are A Lot Of People
Doing Things They Don't Like
And, They Are NOT Very Good At.
Many People Would Be Suited
For Something Else.

We Take Jobs We Don't Want,
We Do Things That Don't Please Us.

Somehow, Paying The Rent
And Making Ends Meet,
Replaces Self-Discovery

If We Stop A Minute To Find Ourselves,
And Find What We Like To Do,
We Minimize The Problems
We Create -

PEOPLE!! PEOPLE!!
It's IMPORTANT To LIKE What We Do!!

(In Most Cases - Much Easier Said Than Done)

Do You SABOTAGE Your Own FUN?

2008-01-10T20:57:00.000-08:00

You May

Sabotage Your Own Fun -
.
---When you have an ''idea,'' do you think of the different ways it may be possible? Or, are you like most people and think that the idea is impossible and there is NO way I could get it accomplished, anyway. I'll let someone else do it. If it is meant to be, someone else will have to do it.
---This is a recipe for Boredom if there ever was one. You end up spending a lot of time ''waiting.'' One has Fun when One is involving his whole self in what he is doing. His whole self is enthusiastic and passionate and his attention is focused on the subject and he doesn't want to drift. He is, ''hitting on all cylinders,'' like a car. And, we know it works better that way.
---What if Thomas Edison, for example, thought his ideas were just nonsense and impossible. He made a huge contribution to the way we live. There were many before him and since him.

---Everyone of us have ideas about something and the way we would like to see things. We could be seeing something new or improve on something that already exists. Since ''Necessity is the Mother of Invention,'' I'll bet everyone with a NEED, has an idea.
---Granted, many wouldn't fly, as they say, but some may. This is a technique to get you to exercise your mind. The point is - that it flies for you. There is no right or wrong, it just strengthens your creativity and imagining power and ability.

---Let your mind go free, even for a second and if you are honest about it, I'll bet it felt good. If you were afraid to be out of control or something like that, it shows you you have many things you fear. Be playful and learn. It will be fun if you can, lighten-up. I, GUARANTEE, you will be doing yourself a favor. Bite-the-bullet a bit. If you are afraid at first, take it slow. Eventually, it gets easier. After awhile, you will be swinging for the fences.

100% Effort is 100% Reward - Ghandi
[FEAR is an awful tough thing to be afraid of. UNDERSTAND what we FEAR and it gets better.]

(Picture by Mom of Henry A.)

MISTAKES -

2008-01-04T22:08:00.000-08:00

MISTAKES: We've ALL Made Them

.
---We all seem to know what this means, but we don't seem to know the implications of it. We are so quick to note that whatever it is that has happened, is first and foremost - Not Our Fault. Then we can seem to breathe easier.
---As long we are not personally responsible, for what has happened - Everything Is Alright. If the way things are, can't be hung on me, than there really is NO problem.
---The funny thing is, that, I would probably agree. But, that doesn't mean that it is okay to do that. Well, then where does the buck stop?

---Being Afraid To Make Mistakes - Very UNHEALTHY. I think that we have to stop trying to pass the buck. Let it end right here. Don't worry about whose fault it is, and use that energy for something more constructive.
---Maybe, you can make the result, or victim, of what is wrong, to be alright. Maybe, you can be sure that whatever it is that you're doing, has NO negative implications to someone else. NOBODY is victimized.
---In this way, we take responsibility for our own actions and we see them through to the point that no one is hurt in the process. When we care about the outcome, the process becomes important. Whenever everyone involved is happy, or at least - understanding of what's going on, we ALL seem to do better. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable. We ALL know about mistakes. Be Well.

We Don't Make Mistakes, Intentionally, But, They ARE Filled With Things To Learn, When We Do.

BEAR of little BRAIN -

2008-01-04T21:41:00.000-08:00

Winnie The POOH
.
---''In the morning sunshine, in the evening twilight, a small Bear travels through a Forest. Why did we follow him when we were so much younger? He is, after all, a Bear of little Brain. But is a Brain all that important? Is it really Brain that takes us where we need to go? Or is it all too often Brain that sends us off in the wrong direction, following the echo of the wind in the treetops, which we think is real, rather than listening to the voice within us which tells us which way to turn?''
.
---Abstract cleverness of mind only separates the thinker from the world of reality, and the world, the Forest of Real Life, is in a desparate condition now because of too many who think too much and care too little.
.
The TAO of POOH, is a book by Benjamin Hoff.

This Is NOT My Own.

MAKING A HOUSE - A HOME

2008-01-04T11:52:00.000-08:00

Making A HOUSE Into A HOME -
.
---When does a house become a home? It is usually when it is inhabited by a ''warmth,'' of some kind. We feel wanted and accepted, there. We feel that we belong.
---A house is a structure and can be as cold as can be. If their is nothing that we relate to, it will always remain - a house.
---As soon as there is something (or, could be someone,) in or about the house that we care about, or have a feeling toward, we suddenly have a relationship. The structure, now, has meaning. In this way - A House becomes A Home.
----This same process - works on the self.

''WARMTH,'' Changes A House Into A Home.

Making A House A Home - The MOVIE

http://www.mediafire.com/?0vjdcnczaky

DIFFERENT PREFERENCES -

2008-01-03T11:58:00.000-08:00

Must Have Been Too Hot!

(A Version of the LION laying down with the LAMB)

MELLOWING OUT -

2007-12-25T11:51:00.000-08:00

Mellowing Out

.
---Things aren't as urgent as they once were. I am finally understanding, the old adage - ''Live and Let Live.'' I may still have some ''ways'' to go, but I think I am getting better at it.
---I, at one time, felt it was my duty to educate. To tell others what they should or should NOT do. I would suffer the consequence of my NOT doing this. This has been one of my own, personal, ''should-be-doings.''
---I like to think that I have made a difference. My goal for a long while, now, is to make people truly happier, than they were, to begin with. I believe that people tend to be better in, all arenas and encounters, that occur, when they are happier. I enjoy sharing whatever clarity that I may have.
---When people are in this state-of-mind, their lives do NOT seem so humdrum. They seem to be closer to the, ''top-of-their,'' game.
---From my own standpoint, I see myself using MORE comparatives, as opposed to superlatives.

Accepting Things As They Are, Reaps Benefits.