Daily Ramblings – Thinking Thursday – Wrestling with Fate

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Adapting, Ancient Greece, Bankruptcy, Dan Finkel, Disaster, fate, Learning, Life, Separation, Sickness, Situations

I hope you enjoyed this short video and had some fun with it. It is a math problem and one that requires a knowledge of factoring.

Here’s another video explaining the origin of Fate in Ancient Greece.

So, can we change our “fate”? I would say yes, but it depends on the individual. Some folks are so mired in the belief that their fate is permanent and unchanging that they never escape its grip. Others, however, adapt, overcome, and recreate their futures by changing themselves.

We’ve all heard the statements “doomed to fail”, “everything he touches turns to gold”, or “it was in the cards they were dealt”. Can you change all of this? Of course we can. We can change the way we think about things. We can accept what is, and be grateful for the lessons life brings, regardless of what these lessons are.

We also have an innate freedom to choose. We can choose how we “react” to our circumstances. In one case, a person may feel doomed, down and out, or even defeated. In another case, a person could feel blessed, on top of the world, and learn something.

So if you ever feel like life is dealing you a bad hand, step back and think about the things you are learning. Sometimes we learn about what not to do, rather than what to do.

I have learned that life is what you make of it. Being separated from my wife sucks, but it has also taught us that marriages are unique. What works for us, may not work for others. When my wife tells people she is married, and they realize that we are in different states, so many people are taken aback. We are so programmed to define things this way or that. For us, it works. My wife can continue to pursue a career she loves, and I can help my mom with dad, who needs help doing everything, even getting dressed each day. We love one another, and give the freedom to one another to do what we need to do.

This is just one example of dealing with fate. Was this situation my and my wife’s fate? Who knows? I really don’t care. We have learned a way to circumvent this challenge by using Facetime, writing letters, and getting together at different times of the year. She knows I am always here for her, to help whenever trouble strikes. She is also here for me. She answers the phone whenever I call. She talks with my Mom and Sister whenever the opportunity arises.

There are so many things that can happen to us that we cannot predict. We can’t predict whether we will get sick. We can’t predicat a financial calamity. We can’t predict a natural event destroying our home and life. All we can do is make the best of our situations as they arise, knowing that all is exactly as it should be.

Well, that’s it for today, folks.

I hope you have a terrifc Thursday. Remember: Things are done for us, not to us.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Ted Talk Tuesday – Novelty

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Exciting, Experience, Kenneth Chabert, Learning, memories, new, Novelty, Out of the Ordinary, Ted Talk

For many, life is a routine. We get up. We work. We eat. We spend time with friends and loved ones. We go to bed. We start it all over again the next day. Where’s the spice? Where’s the unique experience?

Watch this Ted Talk about the need for unique experiences by Kenneth Chabert. It highlights the importance of new experiences, learning, doing new things, and seeing new places. Novelty is the spice of life. It keeps us awake, aware, and gives us experiences that will last a lifetime.

Have a great Tuesday, folks!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Routines

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motivation, Learning, Accomplishment, Routine, Social, Spiritual, Exercising, To-do, app, security

Routines are motivating because if they are set up right, you hit all the things you have set out for yourself to do each day. I use Covey’s way of balancing out my life by hitting 4 key areas: Mental, Physical, Social, and Spiritual. Mental is taken care of by my daily learning and reading. Physical is taken care of by sleeping, drinking plenty of water, exercise, and eating right. Spiritually I do a dream and experience journal, do my spiritual reading, do my spiritual exercises, and work through my spiritual discourses. Socially, I interact here with you, on my different social media feeds, and with family and friends. I also get a lot of social interaction when I game. I also have weekly, monthly, and annual things to track. My routine covers all the bases, and keeps me on track. I use an app called Toodledo to track all of the things I need to do and literally let this app tell me what’s next.

For some this may seem tedious. It is tedious at times, but the feeling of accomplishment and knowing I am doing all I need to do overcomes these feelings of tedium, when they arise from time-to-time.

There will always be something that throws a wrench in the daily routine, but for the most part, my flexible schedule allows for interruptions and wrenches.

If you do not have a routine currently, simply write down some things you would like to do each day that help build you up. Read a little, write a little, learn a little, exercise a little, do something spiritual (walking in the woods, closing your eyes and contemplating, reading some poetry, etc.). Have some system to remind you of these things each day. Then, simply do them. At first, you’ll struggle like I did. But over time, they will all become habits and you’ll just do them on autopilot.

The motivation kicks in when you have the security that all of your important things are getting done, you are building something, and you aren’t missing anything that you need to do.

Well, that’s all I got for today.

Have a great day, folks!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Spiritual Sunday – Problems

Tags

Divine Creativity, Financial, health, Learning, Love, Opportunity, Relationships, Solving Problems, Spiritual, Sri Harold Klemp, wisdom

Each problem we control takes us one step closer to self-mastery.

Sri Harold Klemp – The Spiritual Life

We all have problems from time-to-time. Some are simple nuisances, while others can stick around for a while.

Relationship problems, financial problems, physical problems, and even spiritual problems. Problems, problems, and even more problems.

What I have discovered over the last few years, is that problems are defined by us. What we consider a problem, may not be an issue at all for someone else. Think about one of the problems you currently define as a problem. Is it really a problem? Or is it something that is specific to you?

How do we solve problems? We research to find the answer, trying to see if someone else has run across the same thing and use their solution. We go to an expert that we pay to solve our problem for us. We pray, meditate, or contemplate the problem to see what it is trying to teach us. When it comes to relationships, we could meet with a counselor of some sort, we could talk to other people about the person we are having trouble with, or we could change ourselves to accommodate the other person. Or, we could sever the relationship.

Problems usually can be avoided by certain practices. We can avoid most health problems by simply taking care of ourselves through diet, exercise, and rest. Some physical problems cannot be avoided. We will all get old. Since we are living longer, we have more time to develop cancer, lose our teeth, get Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease, or suffer from Dementia. Women all experience menopause in their senior years. These are problems that are unavoidable. They will come and we will have to deal with them. When it comes to these types of health problems, we simply have to adapt to them. We cannot avoid them, but only adjust our lifestyles to them.

We can avoid most financial problems by paying attention to our bank accounts and not overspending. We can save our money, invest, and plan for future problems, like medical bills, and other unforeseen issues.

We can avoid relationship problems by keeping our word and doing what we promise, listening, and keeping our nose out of other people’s business. Do not impose your thoughts and ideas or jump in to help unless asked. Many people do not want advice or help. They simply want to be listened to.

Relationship problems are normally past karma that has to be worked off in this lifetime. Sometimes, we simply have to give up our ego, and make amends. Other times, it is best we simply rid ourselves of the person, particularly if they have betrayed us. Once trust is lost, the relationship is over in my book. Others, like children, or other relatives tend to be more persistent. But, like other relationships, if abuse or betrayal is involved, there is no ethical reason a family member needs to remain in your life. If you have an abusive parent or sibling, simply move away or avoid them altogether.

My wife has an in-law that is always insulting and demeaning to her whenever they meet. Her daughters love their grandma, but my wife simply will not tolerate that anymore. So, she simply severed the relationship. She does not try to inhibit the daughters from meeting with nana and doing things with her, but my wife will not associate with her anymore. Problem solved.

Here’s a short video by Sri Harold Klemp about Divine Creativity and solving problems:

Many have written entire books about solving problems. You can find hundreds of them online or in your local bookstore. Think about what God is trying to teach you, when a problem arises. Is it because you did something to cause it? Was it something someone else did? Is it karmic in nature? Each problem is rooted somewhere by a cause–one of our own making or one of someone else’s. Regardless, there is always a solution. When one door closes, another one opens.

May the blessings be!

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Ted Talk Tuesday – How Will AI Change the World?

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creativity, Writing, Learning, Innovation, Ted Talk, Artificial Intelligence, AI, TedEd, Art, convenience, TED

I hope you enjoy this video. I am very interested in AI, particularly now that it has even become part of the video gaming world. Call of Duty has had AI agents since the launch of Call of Duty MW 2. They introduce a whole new layer of complexity in the game, particularly now that they mimic real players. There are times I have had trouble telling the difference between the two!

AI has also changed the way we create art, write, and a whole slew of other things. I don’t know about you, but I embrace these changes, because they are coming whether we want them to or not. Some pundits say AI will ruin education, destroy creativity, and a whole lot more. Personally, I think it is a tool to be used like anything else.

I hope you have a great Tuesday, folks. I also hope you learned a little today. That is what this day is all about.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Thinking Thursday – Reflection

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Clarifying, Exercise, journaling, Learning, Organizing, reflection, Thinking, Translating, Writing

When was the last time you sat down and thought about your life?

Many of us are moving at warp speed. We rush to work. We rush home from work. We rush to get dinner and chores done. Then we plop on our couch and watch a show or movie, read our Facebook newsfeed, or watch videos on TikTok, Snapchat, or Instagram. Then we go to bed to start all over again.

Reflection can occur as you journal, which is why I think journaling is such a great habit. Journaling allows us to gather all those random thoughts, reactions to situations in our lives, and anything else rattling around up there and translate it into words on a written page or typed on a digital one. The time we take to think about what we are feeling, where we are, where we want to go, and where we’ve been is healthy and it helps us clarify and define what is important to us.

“Journal Notepad” by Cathryn Lavery/ CC0 1.0

Reflection can also occur when we take a walk, run, or exercise. Exercise can be quite mundane, particularly if you walk or run the same route. You see the same things; you hear the same things. When boredom kicks in, the mind wanders. You think about what happened today. You think about what you need to do. You think about what you’d like to do. Ideas come. The exercise coupled with this boredom is the perfect storm for reflection. I tend to do a lot of reflecting when I am watching a show that I’ve seen over and over again. The different scenes spark thoughts about this or that.

“Woman Walking” by Matt Bango/ CC0 1.0

Listening to music is also a great time for reflection as different songs will bring up memories, motivate us, and spark our creativity. I tend to have a difficult time thinking when I’m listening to any music with vocals. The kind of music that helps me during my reflective periods is labeled focus by Apple Music. They are instrumental, low-key, and inspire me to think. I’m listening to some of this music now as I write this posting.

“Free listening to music image“/ CC0 1.0

When is the best time to reflect? It really depends on you and your schedule. My best times are early morning when the rest of the house is asleep. I find this time to be very healing. I also find the peaceful calm of the early morning helpful to inspire pondering what is possible. I daydream if you will, while I journal and work out some sticky thoughts that need unravelling.

Sometimes it comes easy. Sometimes not so much. So, I write in my journal what comes to mind and always reread the previous day’s notes to see if I can reword something that is clearer now or jump into a new topic or stream of thought. I find the consistency of journaling is what makes it easy to capture everything because I never miss a day.

Reflection can also be captured by recording something on your smartphone using one of the apps for recording. I do this if I’m on a walk or working out. I don’t like to miss ideas or thoughts, so I capture everything and then listen to them when I have something to write or type with.

Here’s a short video that discusses the importance of reflection.

Well, that’s it for today, folks. I hope you have a great Thursday!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Reading, Watching, and Learning – Change is Change

Tags

change, Learning, Reading, Thinking Thursday, Watching

I’ve been troubled by this particular day for some time. Why? I’m sure many of you are pretty “over” my weekly synopsis of readings, watchings, and learnings. I know I am. I can’t really tell you much about the books I’m reading because I don’t want to ruin it for anyone else.

The same goes for what I watch. It’s hard to tell you about a show when you may have put it on a watchlist and again, I ruin it for you by dropping a key scene or plot point.

So, I’m going to change this back to Thinking Thursday. It’ll be on a topic in the news, an interesting Ted Talk, or some other piece that I find out on the web and want to talk about.

I think this will be a refreshing change.

Well, as always, have a great Thursday, folks.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Reading, Watching, and Learning – CODMW2 Blog, CODM Blog, Generation Kill, and MS Excel

Tags

CODM, CODMW2, Generation Kill, HBO, Learning, MS Excel, Reading, Watching

I’ve been reading a lot of gaming blogs this week, because there were so many changes in season 3 (CODMW2) and season 4 (CODM). New weapons, new game play, and new maps. I re-watched a 7-part series on HBO called Generation Kill. It’s about a Marine Force Recon unit entering into Iraq during the Iraq War. I’m continuing to go through the MS Excel course and happy to say I’m only a few lessons away from finishing it.

The weather is terrific in Michigan. It’s still a bit chilly, but for those of us who are cold-blooded, me included, it’s polo shirt weather.

This will be short one today. I’ve got some extra stuff to get done today, so I’ll leave you with this: Read and Learn. It is by far one of the best habits I’ve established. It is great to learn new things and read both fiction and nonfiction. I love stories and kick myself for not reading more of it earlier in life. I love a good story. I also enjoy non-fiction and really enjoy history.

Happy Wednesday, folks. That’s it for today.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Reading, Watching, and Learning – Facts and Fallacies, Kitchen Nightmares, and World History

Tags

Crash Course, Curiosity Stream, Kitchen Nightmares, Learning, Thomas Sowell, Thursday, World History

Well, it’s been a terrific week. I hope yours has gone well too.

If you’ve never read Thomas Sowell, I highly recommend it. I’m currently reading him and boy does he have a way of opening up your mind. Next up is Gordan Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares. What an entertaining show this is.

Next up is World History, courtesy of Curiosity Stream. Currently we are looking at the world trade system and how it evolved. Fascinating stuff.

We are quickly approaching the end of the week. I’m going to move off topic a bit to wish you and yours a great weekend. Take some time to plan something special for yourself and your loved ones. Will it be a movie, eating out, heading to the gym as a family, or just driving around and taking in the landscape? Take the time and make it special. It’s a great time to be alive.

Well, that’s all I have for today, folks. Hopefully I’ve given you some great ideas for books to read, things to learn, and what to entertain yourself with. Learning for me has been a life-long passion. I love learning new things and boy, with all the technology that is out there, there is so much.

Have a great Thursday, folks!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Jordan Peterson Lectures

Tags

Jordan Peterson, Learning, Maps of Meaning Lectures, motivation, Personality Lectures, University of Toronto

For those of you who have been following my blog, you know I love learning in every form. I like learning about trivial things, learn new skills, and learn about history, particularly military history.

I wanted to bring up Jordan Peterson because he has some recorded lectures on Personality that are fantastic. These lectures were recorded while he was at the University of Toronto. He was also a professor at Harvard in the earlier part of his career. If you enjoy Psychology, this is a real treat.

I’m watching his lecture on existentialism right now, talking about Dostoyevsky, Solzhenitsyn, and Niche. Here are the links to his lectures on Personality and his lectures on Maps of Meaning. Both of these are easily around 30-40 hours of lectures. They are outstanding.

Personality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0xBOMWJkgM&list=PLYiqiGXyix6-Np9ONLHdHgRlHayGh4mXD

Maps of Meaning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8Xc2_FtpHI&t=5s

Both of these lectures are so packed with information that you will likely be like me and have to watch them a few times before you capture everything. This is my third time through, and they are still very engaging.

I hope you get a chance to watch these. Learning to me is very motivating. I’m motivated because I know I will have a new ability, skill, or mindset. I’ll have a new foundation to grow from. Knowing how transformative learning can be, I’ll likely be learning new things until I leave this world. It makes me feel more alive than when I am not learning.

I hope you have a great Monday!

Until next time…

Dave