01 Tuesday Jan 2019
Posted in Ted Talk, Uncategorized
For the first Ted Talk Tuesday of the New Year, here is a short talk provided by Dan Dennett. He explains that cute, sexy, sweet, and funny are all wired in to our brains because of evolutionary processes. It is a short and funny video.
Until next time…
Dave
29 Saturday Dec 2018
Posted in Spiritual Saturday, Uncategorized
Over the next few days I’m going to be reviewing 2018. I’m also going to be formulating what I want to do with my 2019. If you’ve never done this kind of exercise, I’d highly recommend it. The first challenge I ran across when I began my annual habit of re-reading good books I’ve found, was what areas to focus on?
Here are the areas I use to formulate a New Year:
Physical
Mental
Spiritual
Social
These are just some thoughts you may be able to think about for your own review and goal setting. I like to work through exercises like this because they help me to capture what really worked previously, what didn’t work, and what I can do to keep moving forward in my life. I think the most important aspect of this exercise, along with others, that bring some semblance of order and meaning to my life.
We all want to wake up energized and anxious to get to work. As a retiree, this has become a really important thing for me. I want my retired life to be profitable, meaningful, contributing, and fulfilling. These things represent different things to different people. I would challenge you to really assess what you value. What you want to achieve. What you want to do with yourself in the next year.
As promised, I’ll be posting my finalized plan for 2019 on the 31st of December. This was a good year. Next year will be better because I’ve built a solid foundation of writing, exercise, spiritual pursuits, and social activities. This year will be better because I am better. I have learned a great deal over the last year and look forward to begin applying all I have learned/re-learned.
I hope all of you have a terrific New Year’s Day! Take some time over the next few days and really think about all of your experiences in the last year. What did you learn? What do you want to apply to your future?
I’m excited to begin the new year and begin executing all of the things I am contemplating. I hope you have some time to figure out what you want and institute a plan that will bring all of your goals to fruition.
Until next time…
Dave
28 Friday Dec 2018
Posted in Funny Friday, Uncategorized
26 Wednesday Dec 2018
Posted in Uncategorized
Tags
Christmas, Contentment, Enjoyment, family, Friends, Joy, Love, Planning, reflection
Well, the family has gone home! It was a great two days, hanging out with my sister and her boyfriend. It was nice opening presents. It was awesome watching some movie favorites, like Raiders of the Lost Ark.
I enjoyed the holiday season this year because it was so great to revisit Phoenix and reconnect with friends and family there. It was also nice to come home and enjoy family, my Mom’s roast duck and all of the goodies I enjoy eating during the holidays.
Now it’s time to continue the celebration as we approach the New Year. This week, like the previous week will result in altered postings because I want to focus on the holidays and worry about the schedule again at the commencement of 2019.
I hope all of you had a great time with your families and friends and are looking to create the best year yet in 2019. I hope all of you have a safe and joyous New Year’s celebration.
All the best to you and your families during this precious time of the year.
Until next time…
Dave
16 Sunday Dec 2018
Posted in Series Sunday, Uncategorized
“Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.” – Bruce Lee
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/bruce_lee_383809?src=t_forgiveness
This month’s character trait will be forgiveness.
When I think of forgiveness I think about all of the people that may have done me wrong in the past. I also think about the people I’ve hurt. Interestingly, as I think about this character trait or virtue is how I also need to forgive myself. I think we forget about the one person we never forgive and that is ourselves.
I forgive myself for the mistakes I’ve made in my life. I forgive myself for things I’ve done that are harmful to myself.
I forgive all who have hurt me. I forgive all who have betrayed me. I forgive all that have broken my trust. I forgive all who have taken advantage of me.
For the rest of this month, I’m going to write letters (not send them anywhere) and forgive everyone personally for any wrong I feel they have done to me.
If you have a hurt that is still bothering you, take some time to forgive them. Once you’ve let go, you should feel a lot lighter. Holding onto past hurts and holding grudges is really unhealthy. Let this stuff go and get on with your life.
Until next time,
Dave
17 Saturday Nov 2018
Posted in Spiritual Saturday, Uncategorized
“The key to success is to keep growing in all areas of life – mental, emotional, spiritual, as well as physical.” – Julius Erving
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/spiritual
How do you know what to pursue when you are setting goals? Should you only pursue those goals that provide you with the ability to make more money or should you invest in your time to your church, synagogue, or mosque? Should you spend time learning more or work more on your physique in the gym?
I recommend that you pursue a balanced life by pursuing the four areas “Dr. J” provides us in today’s quote. Dr. Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People agrees. We should learn new things (mental), cultivate and sustain relationships (emotional/social), pursue a life of service and goodness (spiritual), and build strong and healthy bodies.
We are all different. We possess certain skills and abilities. This characteristic is not limiting; it is liberating. We all have the opportunity to do great things in our lifetimes. We have the ability to improve our knowledge and skills, we have the ability to create, we have the ability to improve our physical bodies (regardless of age). We can also improve our relationship with our loved ones, future friends, and God.
When you begin adding to your list of goals, take a quick look at your list. Is it balanced? Is it pursuing multiple areas to improve, all of which are synergistic in nature? Some that can learn new things will always find employment or be enabled to provide for himself. Being rich is vacant, if your body is broken, you have no one to share your wealth with, and you ignore the finiteness of your life. At some point, you will leave everything behind. The only thing you will leave this Earth with is you, the toys, loved ones, things you know, and all the rest will be left behind. Pretty dark thought, right?
If you take any one of these areas and improve that while ignoring the others your life will be pretty vacant. I’m not suggesting that we shouldn’t specialize in areas where our strengths already exist. I’m suggesting that each area should have some of our efforts. This provides us with a balance in our lives and allows us the ability to truly live a rich life.
If you are healthy, your brain will work better and allow you the ability to pursue all of the things you want without limit. If you are intelligent, you can learn new things. You can also apply that knowledge to the other areas. If you have a strong social network, you will be more resilient when life’s “surprises” show up at your door.
Religious beliefs, in my opinion, bring everything together. Regardless of your path, believing in something greater than yourself, pursuing a life of love, charity, and service are valuable goals. This is also one area where improvement is not something you can measure. It is more about consistency and practice. If you are a Christian, your daily acts will be guided by your denomination. If you are a Buddhist, Muslim, Zoroastrian, Taoist, or Eckist, each faith has requirements. These requirements could be meditation, reading of holy books, celebrating certain holidays, and following certain creeds or rules required by your religious pursuit.
Each week look at each one of these areas and determine what actions you can take to move each of these areas forward. What could you learn? What exercise could you participate in? Who would you like to spend time with? What spiritual events are required of you this week by your path?
I use Sundays to take inventory. Then I set out and begin putting my week together, looking for opportunities to grow in each of these areas for the week. Nothing huge, just little things that move me forward.
I hope you are having a terrific Saturday! Enjoy your weekend!!
Until next time…
Dave
04 Sunday Nov 2018
Posted in Series Sunday, Uncategorized
Tags
Ben Franklin, Character, Consevative, Discrimination, Liberal, Open Minded, Politics, tolerance, Traits
“Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.” – John F. Kennedy
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/john_f_kennedy_133845?src=t_tolerance
This month I’m going to work on another character trait—tolerance. In some cases, I am pretty close-minded, particularly when it comes to politics. I want to open my mind to other’s ideas. So, starting this month I’ll be reading, watching, and listening to the other side. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still voting straight Republican across the board, but I want to be informed about the other side’s ideas and views as well.
Subsequently, I have begun listening to NPR, The Rachel Maddow Show, and The Daily podcasts—just to hear the other side of things. I also listen to Tim Ferris, Rush Limbaugh, and Ben Shapiro. I also want to read more broadly. I have been using Google News for my daily update and read articles by the Washington Post, The New York Times, and other Left-leaning news outlets.
Tolerance is much more than just politics. Tolerance is also about letting other people be. I am pretty liberal when it comes to abortion (A woman can do whatever she wants with her own body—none of my business), liberal when it comes to drug use (people can put whatever they want into their bodies—again, I don’t care).
I really want to exercise my critical thinking to truly understand the other ideologies out there. I think oppressing or persecuting others, because of their beliefs, is not something I want to be a part of. Each of us believes what we do because of our upbringing, our life experience, and our social interactions.
We have so much division in this country and I am just OVER IT. I believe we are all interested in a society and world that are free from oppression, persecution, and allow people to pursue their interests freely. Wish me luck!
Another installment for this series will arrive on the first Sunday of December.
See you then!
Dave
16 Thursday Aug 2018
Posted in Uncategorized
Tags
Hey all!
I’m headed to Canada for a few days and will forego the typical posting schedule I follow. Daily Ramblings will be back up for business on Monday!
Have a great weekend everybody!!
Until next time…
Dave
03 Friday Aug 2018
Posted in Uncategorized
Folks, I just hit 420 followers!
I really appreciate you following this blog and really appreciate each of you who have taken the opportunity to take a look. If you are enjoying this so far, send anyone you know that you think might benefit from my words. I’ve set a goal for 500 by year’s end. I need all the help I can get.
Until next time…
Dave
29 Friday Jun 2018
Posted in Uncategorized
Tags
Hello, readers!
I’m heading to my sister’s tomorrow for a nice weekend. I won’t be posting my spiritual Saturday and normally don’t post on Sunday.
I just wanted to let everyone know.
Until next time…
Dave
