What would I care about if I go after my wife? I can’t take my things with me. I know from dust I come and from dust I return. So what do I want to leave someone after I die–not much. The only thing I care about and hope I can leave in good hands is my journals and poetry. I would like to think at least a poem or two or three would outlive me. Money can’t buy happiness. Bill Gates, at one point, was the richest man in the world. So what does he do but pour billions in a foundation so, maybe, he can make a difference. Each person wonders if he/she will leave any kind of legacy. And there are multiple ways of doing that. It could be the memories your children have of you who in turn impact others. Memories of you may not die so quickly. Sometimes anyway. Many people when they approach the end of their life wonder about the legacy they will leave behind. At least I do.
Tags: Bill Gates, billions, can't take things with you, death, end of life, foundation, from dust to dust, journals, make a difference, money can't buy happiness, my wife, poem, poetry, rich, your children's memories of you, your legacy
Posted in children, death, God, life, love, money, relationships, time, wisdom, writing, your job/mission/profession |
For the long haul follow your passions. Every person can do a lot of things competently–some more than others. If you want to follow your dreams, follow your bliss, the things you get excited about and would do even if it produced no income. Then you will impact others so follow your passions. Only then will you truly be successful and enrich the world you live in including those around you.
Tags: enrich the world, follow your bliss, follow your dreams, follow your passions, God, truly successful
Posted in balance, beauty, God, knowledge&learning, life, money, time, wisdom |
A shower is really a privilege. Most of the world does not even have plumbing–much less a shower. I had to remind myself of that. Just about every American has a shower but some act as (if, though ???) they are poor, which they are not. In fact in the last house I lived for fifteen years I did not have a shower just a tub so having a shower now is really a privilege.
Tags: not poor, plumbing, shower is a privilege, taking a shower, tub
Posted in balance, life, local, money, time, wisdom |
‘Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.’ I think these were words uttered by Thomas Jefferson. A check and balance system is necessary for government. That means a free press. Open dissent is always important. It forces you to consider another point of view. Someone is always going to try to take your freedom away. That is a fact. That is why eternal vigilance is so important. I never forgot the ‘Pogo’ cartoon which said ‘I have met the enemy and it is me.’ Everyone has to do their part. Each person has a role in a democracy. You can’t ignore your role. One of the most important ones is your vote. It matters. Sometimes an election is won or lost by mere votes so never forget that. Exercise your freedom to vote. We have to make our politicians responsive to our needs and not let big money dictate their votes in the legislatures-state and federal. A politician fears the wrath of the public and the last thing he/she wants to lose is your vote. And they do read the letters you send them. ‘Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.’
Tags: big money, check and balance system, democracy, do your part, election, eternal vigilance, federal, free press, freedom, freedom to vote, government, legislature, open dissent, Pogo cartoon, politicians, politics, price of freedom, state, Thomas Jefferson, your vote
Posted in balance, health, knowledge&learning, life, money, politics, time, wisdom |
Why do your clothes have to look new all the time. I have been hesitating to wear my bright orange cap because the brim is frayed. I just wore it out. I thought that was ridiculous. Who cares it looks worn? Why can’t we wear out clothing. It was one of my favorite hats. It has the name of a state park one of my best friends and I fished/camped the last five years. The hat reminds me of him. Today it matched my outfit so I will wear it despite what any one thinks. I like the hat. And that is enough for me.
Tags: brim on hat is frayed, favorite hat, friends, new clothes, why can't we wear out clothing, your clothes
Posted in balance, beauty, humor, knowledge&learning, life, local, money, relationships, time, wisdom |
Everything is by grace. Today is a good day to count my blessings. I am not in dialysis. My kidney function has stabilized (the last three years). It is not good but it is livable. My wife loves me. And my two sisters and my brother-in-law (and a friend) sent me birthday cards (and one check). There is so much to be grateful of–two well running cars and a roof over my shoulders. There is no pressing financial needs. And I am surrounded by animals I love (in fact, there are eleven in this house). I love watching the birds out my window. And now I am waiting for the first hummingbird to find the nectar I just put out. My life is not perfect but it is good. I am aware God does not owe anything. Everything is by grace. And He owns everything.
Tags: animals I love, be grateful, bird feeding, bird-watching, birds, birthday cards, birthday check, cats, count my blessings, dogs, everything-is-by-grace, God, God does not owe anything, God owns everything, grade, house, hummingbird, kidney function stable, my birthday, my brother-in-law, my friend, my life, my sisters, my wife, nectar, not in dialysis, pets, two cars
Posted in balance, beauty, birds, God, health, life, local, marriage, money, nature, pets, relationships, seasons, time, wisdom |
It is easy to take technology for granted. Our modem went out. And all of a sudden I could not go online, check my mail. It was going to be a few days before I receive a new modem from Century Link. And I was feeling something was missing and I could not wait until i received the replacement modem. I took it for granted, that I could go online every day. Fifty years ago there was no Internet or even an affordable home computer. And I don’t have one of those fancy cell phones that are really computers. I never forgot my sister balking to go into an area if there was no cell phone reception. The world is really connected. And it makes no difference. Wars are going on all over the world. Communication has not really improved.
Tags: cell phones, communication, computer modem, home computer, internet, my sister, online, technology, war, world is connected
Posted in balance, knowledge&learning, life, local, money, relationships, time, wisdom |
Two days ago we bought a mattress that might outlive me. It had a twenty-five year warranty. That fact did not escape me. This is the second mattress we bought in the last year. The other one was just too hard for my wife. I am hoping the new one she will be able to sleep in and not have pain. She has a bad back. Now we have to sell the other one.
Tags: mattress too hard, new mattress, twenty-five year warranty
Posted in health, humor, local, marriage, money, relationships, time |
My Dad was dead twelve years and I was still angry at him. I still remember the last conversation I had with him and he said he was more impressed with the million dollars his future son-in-law made selling his company than anything I did. My writing did not matter to him. I tried to tell him, maybe, my words might have more effect on people than my future brother-in-law’s money. It was to no avail. Money meant more to him than anything else. I never got “the blessing” from him. And even today, years later I was still angry about his rejection of who I was. He was the one person I wanted to please. And even now the hurt and pain has not gone away.
Tags: "the blessing", angry, brother-in-law, hurt and pain, million dollars, money, my Dad, my words, rejection, son-in-law, wanted to please, writing
Posted in balance, death, God, love, mental health, money, relationships, time, wisdom |
My Dad was dead twelve years and I was still angry at him. I still remember the last conversation I had with him and he said he was more impressed with the million dollars his future son-in-law made selling his company than anything I did. My writing did not matter to him. I tried to tell him, maybe, my words might have more effect on people than the money my future brother-in-law made. It was to no avail. Money meant more to him than anything else. I never got “the blessing” from him. And even today, years later I was still angry about his rejection of who I was. He was the one person I wanted to please. And he just could not do it. And even now years later the hurt and pain had not gone away.
Tags: "the blessing", angry, hurt and pain, I wanted to please him, last conversation with my Dad, million dollars, my Dad, my writing, rejection
Posted in death, God, life, love, mental health, money, relationships, time, wisdom |
It is so easy to take your blessings for granted. Today I was grateful I could also buy some bananas along with a gallon of milk. It is near the end of the month and we are running out of cash. I was grateful I could buy what I could. It is always revealing what you would buy if you are down to your last dollar. It is so easy to take your blessings for granted. God owns everything. I had to remind myself of that.
Tags: banana, blessings, cash, God, God owns everything, gratitude, milk, take for granted, your last dollar
Posted in balance, God, life, local, money, time, wisdom |
I used to be addicted to playing pinball machines. I would be coming home from collecting money from my paper route customers. It was 42 cents for a week of newspaper delivery and many of my customers would give me two quarters and tell me to keep the change so I often would have a pocket full of change, particularly quarters. Before I went home, I would often play pinball at the local candy store. That is what you called them back in those days. You know it was a long time ago. Playing a game of pinball only cost a quarter. And not only that you got five balls per game. Today one game costs 50 cents and you only get three balls. Inflation, indeed! Of course the days of five balls per game and a quarter each game go back almost fifty years. I am dating myself. I, also, remember when gasoline was 33 cents a gallon. All those days are long gone. Of course, those days you made a whole lot less a week. In 1970, I made an $100 a week and thought that was a lot. Then tickets to the Fillmore East were $3.50, $4.50 and $5.50. Those were the days.
Tags: 1970, 33 cents a gallon, candy store, Fillmore East, gasoline, inflation, newspaper, NYC, one quarter, paper route, pinball machines, playing pinball
Posted in life, money, music, time |
