Daily Ramblings – Spiritual Saturday – Giving

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family, Friends, Gifts, Giving, Good memories, Good times, Togetherness

As we give of ourselves, of our patience and love, to someone else who needs it more, something changes inside us. Something flows in, a flow of good feeling. A spiritual upliftment occurs both in us and in the person receiving the love.

—Harold Klemp
The Language of Soul

Have you ever thought about your favorite moments in life? I do from time-to time, and none of them involve money, an award, or anything else material. My best memories are with family.

I remember playing Scrabble with the family when I was a kid. I remember learning how to play card games. I remember my grandfather teaching how to play chess. The best memories I have are those where I spent time with someone else.

When we give of ourselves, we open ourselves up. It is an expanding practice. It makes us feel good and the person receiving the gift to feel good. Sometimes, just giving someone the time of day on the phone is enough. Maybe they’re having a rough time of it and need to vent. Maybe they just did something terrific and don’t have anyone else to tell. These little moments are the most precious to most people.

There is one circumstance when I was thrilled when I received something. It was when my late grandmother sent me a gift in the mail, while I was in the Army. What meant a lot to me is she never missed a birthday–ever. I also knew she didn’t make a lot of money from Social Security and other things, and it meant so much that she would still take the time to get me something. Toward the end of her life, she used to send homemade chocolate peanut butter cups. Sometimes they would show up all melted, but it was truly the thought that mattered.

My mother is the same way. She never, ever, misses a birthday. Even when I was deployed in the Middle East, she got me birthday and Christmas presents. Another time, my wife and I decided to put together a cheese and meat plate and sit behind our home next to the pool and listen to jazz. We didn’t say anything to one another. We just sat there, enjoyed the music, nibbled on cheese, meat, and crackers, and enjoyed our moment together in complete silence.

I hope each of you has a terrific Saturday!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Thank you!!!

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Comments, Friends, Interaction, Likes, loyalty, Thank you, yearly goal

Well, folks. I hit my 800 follower goal 4 months early. Thank you so much for following my blog. It started in 2016 and I’m so glad that I hit this goal. Thanks for spreading the word, hitting like, and responding to my posts with a comment here and there.

I’ve made some great friends on this platform, have been excited, pissed off, saddened, and experienced every other emotion reading the works of others. The talent I see in book writing, poetry, video making, photography, and just outstanding writing is what brings me back every day to this special place.

If any of you would like to see other content, different categories, etc., feel free to leave a note in the comments.

Again, Thank You so much!

Here’s to 1,000 followers.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Spiritual Saturday – Friends

Tags

Buddies, family, Friend, Friends, Friendship, Saturday, Spiritual

As I write this post, one of my Mother’s friends is visiting. It’s great to see her hang out with other women, because frankly, hanging out with two guys all the time (Dad and I) is boring. Guys don’t talk like women do, at least Dad and I don’t.

Friends are those folks who know us. They know who we are, how we tick. Friendship lasts a lifetime, or they fade when we move, and forget to stay in touch. Today, that seems impossible, but I imagine it happens, particularly when a friendship really wasn’t to begin with.

I don’t have many friends, but the ones I have are lifers. My best friend is my wife, but I also have a significant group of folks in AZ that I stay in touch with. Our society is very mobile today. I moved back home to help my folks. One friend moved to Boston, another to Las Vegas. Still another moved to AZ as I was leaving. Things change, people change, but friendship remains.

Friendship is the best, isn’t it?

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Spiritual Saturday – Focus on the Positive

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family, Friends, Good, Good weather, Grateful, pets, Positivity, Thankful

It is so easy to think about bad things. I think this is because our brains are wired to seek out danger. It’s a survival mechanism.

That being said, stressing out about things we do not control can really throw us into a tizzy. So, why not flip the coin and concentrate on the good things in life? Some of the things we take for granted are those same things we notice when they go away or stop working. Things like good health, a steady Internet connection, a computer that works, and a car that gets us from one place to another.

Think about the finite reality we call life? So little time, yet so much, if we use it wisely. Reading, writing, learning, loving, experiencing. Get everything you can out of life. Exploring new places, doing things you’ve never done, and loving like there is no tomorrow.

In Michigan, we have been experiencing a heat wave. In the last few hours we have finally gotten some rain. I can hear the pitter patter on the roof. It should cool things down a bit, and give the grass, flowers, and plants in my Mother’s garden some much-needed watering.

One of my daily practices is to be thankful for even the smallest things. It makes me feel great, and it gets my day started the right way. I express my thanks for God, my family, my friends, and many other things. If you haven’t tried this practice, start simply by writing down three things that bring you joy each day. If you want to really go for it, do this in the morning when you arise and right before you go to bed. It’s terrific!

Well, that’s all I have for now. I wish all of you a great Saturday!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Spiritual Saturday – Happy 4th of July!!

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4th of July, Barbeque, Celebration, family, Fireworks, Fourth of July, Friends, Holiday, Independence Day

Today is the day we celebrate the independence day of the United States. It’s a day for fireworks, barbeque, and family. This year is a little different because everything is closed, but the feelings are the same. It’s a great day to celebrate America!

For those of you who live in the States, Happy 4th!

I hope each of you has a great day of good food, family and friends.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Spiritual Saturday – You Can’t Change Other People.

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Andrew Carnegie, bugging, change, Detachment, Friends, Friendship, nagging

“You cannot push anyone up a ladder unless he be willing to climb a little himself.” – Andrew Carnegie

Have you ever tried to convince a friend or family member to go to the gym? It is like pulling teeth. Have you ever tried to get someone to give up smoking or drinking too much? Again, the same result.

People change when they’re ready to change. You can’t make them go any faster. People go at their own pace.

Instead of trying to change people, let them be who they are. If you don’t like who they are, drop them as a friend. Trust me, you’re doing them a favor. No one wants to be nagged or bugged to do or be something different. Love them for who they are.

I struggled with this for a long time. I finally gained an understanding of this in the last few years. You really have to let other people live their lives. Let them have their own opinions, pursue their own dreams, and keep their bad habits (if they have any). When you’re a true friend, you don’t care about the other person’s faults. You like the whole person–bad habits and all. A true friend will reciprocate.

Have a great Saturday, folks!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursday – Grateful for my Teachers

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Books, Colleagues, Friends, leaders, Life, mentors, Parents, Professors, Teachers

All of us have had teachers in one shape or form that contributed to who we are today. I’ve had some great ones. I had great teachers in grade school. I had terrific professors in my undergraduate and graduate studies. The best teachers I’ve had were my parents, my leaders in the military, and life itself.

My parents taught me how to treat family, how to be a man, and how to treat a woman. My teachers gave me insights into the topics I was studying that you could not get from a book. They demonstrated how the book knowledge could be applied to the “real world”.

My military leaders taught me what service was about. They taught me how to take care of my equipment, learn my job, and lead others. They also taught me things that couldn’t be measured—things like honor, discipline, keeping your word, and being honest, even when things get screwed up.

One group I didn’t mention are the group of teachers I have not met. These are the authors of all the books I’ve read to date. Teachers like Covey, Allen, Guise, Twain, Einstein, Hawking, Aristotle, Nietzsche, Tolstoy, Tolkien, and so many others.

All of us have had great teachers in our lives. Life is the final one. Life tends to blindside us. We learn from the cuts and bruises life dishes out. We learn things like being thrifty, planning, always striving for something better, but the most important lesson of all—we learn to treat other people with decency and respect.

I love learning. I love learning from the greats. Whether it is a book, a quote, a video, or in-person advice, our teachers have helped us achieve what we are achieving today. Today, I am grateful for every one of my teachers. I would not be where I am today without them.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Spiritual Saturday – Let People Be Who They Are

Tags

family, Freedom, Friends, good will, Responsibility, Spiritual Saturday, warm love

Our freedom stops where someone else’s starts. This line is called responsibility.

—Harold Klemp
The Language of Soul

People irritate us. Let’s be honest. Your husband, wife, mother, father, brother, sister, or long-time friend. They all do things that bug the crap out of us. The part we forget: We do things that bug the crap out of them too. Love people for who they are.

Now love has a few different levels, so to speak. Your love for your close family and friends is emotional and nostalgic. The relationships are close because you have so many shared experiences. Those outside of this circle get our good will. Many use the word love, but it is more about good will or a lack of feeling altogether. Sure you feel bad for someone that has experienced loss or a traumatic situation, but you aren’t as effected as you would be if a close family member or friend experienced the same thing.

As human beings, we are naturally empathetic. When you read about a family in your area dying in a house fire, you would naturally feel bad for the family. If the same disaster happened to your immediate family, it would be devastating.

You can’t control other people. People will do what they will do. All of us have blind spots. We all have that thing we could improve on. We don’t need to rub this in someone else’s face. In most cases, they’ll resist the change you suggest that much more, or they may increase what they do to bug you even more.

Let your loved ones breathe. Let them pursue the life they want to. Love them for who they are. Love them for the things that bug you. Love them for their idiosyncrasies, their flaws, their eccentricities. These things make them unique. They are endearing if you look at them in this fresh light.

When Harold talks about freedom stops where someone else’s begins, this is what he means. You should let no one impose change on you. The same follows for you and others. You do not have a right to make someone do something they do not want to do. So lighten up. Let your family and friends breathe. People will surprise you. They change. But they change when they want to and at the pace they are comfortable with. Mind your own garden. You and they will be a lot happier.

Until next time…

Dave

 

 

 

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursday – The Numbers are Going Down.

Tags

Coronavirus, family, Friends, Guidelines, health, Safety, Thankful, vulnerable

After watching today’s White House briefing, I was encouraged by Dr. Birx’s analysis of the models we have now, based on the numbers they are receiving from healthcare providers across the area. New York’s numbers are still high, but their cases are going down. Only time will tell.

That being said, I am thankful for the American people for sticking with the guidelines that have been provided. According to Dr. Birx, these lowered numbers (about 60,000, instead of the earlier numbers between 100,000 and 200,000 deaths). 60,000 deaths is still high, but it’s a much better number than the scary numbers that were put out a week ago.

I’m also thankful that all of my family in Michigan and Arizona is safe and healthy. I talked to a colleague of mine who is an ESL teacher in Vietnam. His grandmother died from the coronavirus, and his aunt is on a ventilator. Due to travel restrictions he can’t get home. Bad news indeed.

Finally, I am thankful for all the healthcare professionals, military, first responders, scientists, and other members of our critical supply chains continuing to go to work at great risk to themselves. I’m also grateful for the folks who work in our grocery stores, convenience stores, and restaurants (the ones that are still open for pickup or drive-thru). What a great collection of heros.

Please continue to stick with the guidelines that have been put in place. They are working. I realize being stuck at home is a pain, but if it saves the lives of those in our society that are most vulnerable, it’s worth it. I hope all of you continue to stay safe, stay informed, and follow guidance provided by our government.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Spread Your Wings Sunday – Week of April 5, 2020.

Tags

Concern, Connecting, family, Friends, Friendship, Love, Reaching out, Staying in Touch

I’m only offering one challenge this week. This is it:

Challenge: Reach out to all of your family members to make sure they are OK.

I know most of you are already doing this, so it may not be too much of a challenge, but for those who have estranged family members, who live far away, would appreciate a call. Promise.

My stepmom is in Mexico. I used Google Translator, reached out on Facebook messenger, and she was so glad to hear from me.

Here’s the thing. I would hate to lose any of my family members without having a chance to touch base with them. There are so many stories in the papers, blogs, and books that highlight how horrible it is to lose someone and miss the opportunity to say you care for them. I hope this doesn’t happen to you. Take a minute and reach out. It doesn’t take long, it’ll prevent you from worrying, and the other person will feel great.

Well, that’s all I got today. Have a great Sunday!

Until next time…

Dave