BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY
I hear Phil Collins’ Both Sides of the Story. ‘We need to hear both sides of the story’, he sings. There’s more than one side to the story. Your side, the other side and maybe a third side.Why do we need to hear all the sides? Perhaps to make informed decisions? Then again, it is a special feeling to tell your side and be heard. The story of the elephant and the six blind men may be humorous but is a reflection of life. Each blind man telling a part of the story from their perception of an elephant. Each story making a complete picture that helps our understanding of a magnificent creature. We see things in part and sometimes need help to fully grasp the whole picture. Asking critical questions can bring out whole new perspectives and a balanced view. Who has power in this situation?Are there biased views?…
WHAT I WISH I KNEW EARLIER AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL?
Can we chat about things we wish we knew earlier? Things for instance that could have saved us time and heartache chasing projects that were not suited to our values and personality. I wish I knew earlier that less is more and learning never grows old. Less is more means less clutter and the creative use of things and not impressing the Joneses for me. It does not mean poor and deprived. Permit me to illustrate with Moses and the children of Israel. God gave the children of Israel one type of food “manna’ for forty years, while they were in the wilderness. Forty years is a really long time by the way. Most of us probably think that because they were in the wilderness, the Israelites lacked. But something makes me think different. Here’s what I think. They said to Moses in Exodus 17:3 when they needed water at…
ARE YOU INSPIRED?
Have you encountered someone who has accomplished much even with being given little? It is so easy to quit and they could have quit. The environment may not always have been right either and they could have stopped growing. To keep at excellence often takes work.Asking the right questions and seeking answers can make all the difference. Patricia Porter, is a woman mechanic who builds small airplanes and teaches women to build and fly airplanes in Ghana. Teachers accomplish so much shaping precious lives and perhaps, you remember one such teacher today? Inspiring others to be better is a brave thing to do especially as it can be a thankless job. It helps to love what you do as that can get you far during tough times. Now is always a good time to start and hey, you cannot be stopped, right?
THE SCARS CAN BE BEAUTIFUL?
This post is inspired by a message. Every action has a likely outcome and it is necessary to put some thought to action. The understanding I get is that we need to think about and understand plausible results of every action. It is also important to think through before acting. Is this always easy or possible though? We are limited as humans, right? Limited in knowledge. Not to mention the curves and twists life presents. But we also have been given power of thought and resources to create the life that we want. So I would ask, what kind of life do I want? What must I do differently? No one wants to be “stuck on stupid”. Like a river flowing through unpleasant rocks and chinks in its path stays on its course and creates the beauty we see, we want to stay on course. What more, life flows…
CHEERLEADERS AND AFFIRMATIONS?
Cheerleaders at a sports event usually have one goal.To cheer their squads to victory. It may even look like their team is losing, but still they cheer. They know to not give up until the final whistle. It is not over until it is over; so they clap, dance, perform outstanding routines, chant catchy phrases, entertain and motivate spectators to join in cheering the team to victory. A cheerleader knows that a cheerful spirit is everything that a broken spirit isn’t. They do a good job using words so skillfully. “Stronger than steelHotter than the sunJohnnie (player’s name) won’t stop‘til he gets the job done!” “Rockets, stand up!We are fast and got the game.Rockets, here to winSay it loudGo Rockets, go!” We all could use some cheer and our words and affirmations have power to fire us up to win life’s challenges. “I can do all things through Christ that…
FIERCE AND INSPIRED?
Deshun Wang, is the 79-year-old, who walked the runway with younger models. He is dubbed, the hottest grandpa in the world. He had to have had the posture and confidence to achieve this. No? Ernestine Shepherd at 81 was a famous bodybuilder. Amazing to learn that she did not begin exercising until she was 56. Should it matter when one starts, as much as that one starts? Daphne Selfe, was still going strong, modelling at age 90, saying that eating well, smiling and pushing herself, are her motivations and retiring is not for her. She’s my girl. To stay healthy, beautiful and motivated for so long is no easy feat I imagine. Heck, some folks just about give up long before and convince themselves that it is their right to do so too. How can we be fierce and inspired like the triad above? Celebrating one another, I think.…
ETIQUETTE AND GIFT GIVING?
There is pretty much etiquette around anything that involves style and elegance. Gift giving is no exception if one wants to make an impression. Personally, I want the receiver to be wowed every time with my gifts. Not because it may have been expensive but the attention, preparation and presentation involved. Gift giving is a thought-filled process it seems. For instance, a gift should not hint at something disagreeable. Perfumes in some cultures are intimate gifts, and may leave the receiver wondering if the giver is trying to communicate something about their personal style if given inappropriately. A curious fact for me was discovering it is taboo to gift shoes in some cultures. What! I love shoes. But I have learned that gift giving is culture- influenced too. Gift cards, candles, flowers, scarves and stationery make good gifts for when one is uncertain. Opt for their taste and sense…
ABSURD OR EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE?
I got stung by a bee. A first. I was sitting quietly at a bazaar and boom; the bee stings me. My thoughts about bees was always of sweetness.Now I think, I will never quite look at honey and bees the same way.The timely involvement of Mallory, Chidera, Annie May and the kind server with the ice pack saved the day. Next, there was a mini concert and a guy carrying bottles of water. It was easy to think he was hawking them. Yours truly was looking to buy. He replied he wasn’t selling. Moments later, guess who is called onstage? You guessed it, ‘water boy’ is a performer taking water to the band boys, and what a performance it was! Awkward moment there for a minute. No? What can I say? Modesty and serving others are still gorgeous traits. This quote from one of the poets at a…
WHAT IS THE PERFECT LIFE?
Words on a t-shirt, ‘the perfect life… see Paris and die’ inspired this post. What is the perfect life?Perhaps, it is to experience Paris before dying. Or to always have everything go smoothly on the path to achieving excellence which would be really nice if it were always possible.But there are those sometimes pesky stops. For some, the perfect life may be quitting a dreary job, selling everything and riding off into the sunset to see where the road leads. Yet for others, being in a loving relationship is the perfect life. In a complex world, with flawed people, loving makes life and living extra special. History has accounts of bravery and selfless acts of love. Some so extraordinary and sacrificial, we tell of them repeatedly. Just knowing that someone has your back is really special and comes close to perfection as we can get in an imperfect life.…