Never give up; you never know until you try.
I thought we could all use a chuckle today. Last week, I ran across the following: Let's eat Grandpa! or Let's eat, Grandpa! Correct punctuation saves lives. There are several variations. Check out http://www.buzzingkidsworld.com/funpunct.php
http://www.buzzingkidsworld.com/punctexamples.php
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Running For Your Life in Spike Heels
Never give up; you never know until you try.
It's 90 degrees outside, with 70 percent humidity. You feel as if you're a Thanksgiving turkey roasting in the oven, yet the moist heat nearly suffocates you. The sun beats down mercilessly as your feet, in pointed-toe, spike-heel shoes a size too small, hit the pavement--right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot . . . Each footfall feels as if someone is trying to pound you into the ground by conking you on the head with a giant hammer. Searing pain stabs through your whole body, yet you must keep running. Someone is chasing you with a knife, intent not on killing you, but on ending your life as you know it, making you live in constant physical agony, and the resulting emotional pain, the rest of your days. You just know that any second now your ankles are going to turn and you'll be facedown on the nearly bubbling, griddle-hot asphalt, moments away from feeling the sharp knife rip into your flesh. You're screaming for help, but none comes. Those who hear you look at you, pity on their faces, shaking their heads as they yell, "I'm sorry, but I don't know what I can do."
A friend shared something with me the other day, and I knew, in part, exactly where she was coming from. She has been in a situation that has required her to do something completely out of her comfort zone, her interests, and her training. She has been trying to make the best of it, but she is essentially forcing a square peg into a round hole. In short, she's miserable, trying desperately to find a way out of her predicament.
Many of us have been where she is. We've been in relationships that meant compromising our desires and/or beliefs. We've worked in jobs that meant the same thing. I think it's happening more now, with the slumping economy; many people have taken jobs they hate, or that don't pay enough, just to have money coming in.
(Understatement alert) Those situations are never easy, and they're never fun. I've written before about how frustrating and painful it is trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, but my friend's situation, and ones I've been in, can be much worse. They can seem more like the above scenario or even, if they're ongoing situations, like being forced to run a 10 k race, on asphalt, in too-small, pointed-toe, spike-heel shoes in full sunshine when it's 90 degrees with 70 percent humidity.
What I've done when faced with unspeakably painful circumstances was to keep going, "running" through the pain, groping for a way out until I found one. I yelled for help, even when the only help available was people encouraging me to keep going. That's basically what I shared with my friend. I listened, empathizing, and offered a few possible options.
It sucks, but sometimes the reality is that we just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other until we get to a better place.
It's 90 degrees outside, with 70 percent humidity. You feel as if you're a Thanksgiving turkey roasting in the oven, yet the moist heat nearly suffocates you. The sun beats down mercilessly as your feet, in pointed-toe, spike-heel shoes a size too small, hit the pavement--right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot . . . Each footfall feels as if someone is trying to pound you into the ground by conking you on the head with a giant hammer. Searing pain stabs through your whole body, yet you must keep running. Someone is chasing you with a knife, intent not on killing you, but on ending your life as you know it, making you live in constant physical agony, and the resulting emotional pain, the rest of your days. You just know that any second now your ankles are going to turn and you'll be facedown on the nearly bubbling, griddle-hot asphalt, moments away from feeling the sharp knife rip into your flesh. You're screaming for help, but none comes. Those who hear you look at you, pity on their faces, shaking their heads as they yell, "I'm sorry, but I don't know what I can do."
A friend shared something with me the other day, and I knew, in part, exactly where she was coming from. She has been in a situation that has required her to do something completely out of her comfort zone, her interests, and her training. She has been trying to make the best of it, but she is essentially forcing a square peg into a round hole. In short, she's miserable, trying desperately to find a way out of her predicament.
Many of us have been where she is. We've been in relationships that meant compromising our desires and/or beliefs. We've worked in jobs that meant the same thing. I think it's happening more now, with the slumping economy; many people have taken jobs they hate, or that don't pay enough, just to have money coming in.
(Understatement alert) Those situations are never easy, and they're never fun. I've written before about how frustrating and painful it is trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, but my friend's situation, and ones I've been in, can be much worse. They can seem more like the above scenario or even, if they're ongoing situations, like being forced to run a 10 k race, on asphalt, in too-small, pointed-toe, spike-heel shoes in full sunshine when it's 90 degrees with 70 percent humidity.
What I've done when faced with unspeakably painful circumstances was to keep going, "running" through the pain, groping for a way out until I found one. I yelled for help, even when the only help available was people encouraging me to keep going. That's basically what I shared with my friend. I listened, empathizing, and offered a few possible options.
It sucks, but sometimes the reality is that we just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other until we get to a better place.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Did You Know?
Never give up; you never know until you try.
Did you know that there used to be more than 26 letters in the English alphabet? I love words, and I love trivia, so in the interest of sharing both, check out the link below.
http://hotword.dictionary.com/ampersand/?qsrc=3086&__utma=1.407092772.1341843815.1341843815.1341843815.1&__utmb=1.3.9.1341843834092&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1341843815.1.1.utmcsr=(direct)|utmccn=(direct)|utmcmd=(none)&__utmv=-&__utmk=65817518
Did you know that there used to be more than 26 letters in the English alphabet? I love words, and I love trivia, so in the interest of sharing both, check out the link below.
http://hotword.dictionary.com/ampersand/?qsrc=3086&__utma=1.407092772.1341843815.1341843815.1341843815.1&__utmb=1.3.9.1341843834092&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1341843815.1.1.utmcsr=(direct)|utmccn=(direct)|utmcmd=(none)&__utmv=-&__utmk=65817518
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The Senility Prayer?
Never give up; you never know until you try.
I recently ran across "The Senility Prayer," which I think I'd never heard of before. http://www.thisfunsforyou.com/htdocs/funpages/senility.php
I think it was meant to be taken as humorous, but you know me; just as I can usually find the "funny" in things, I can also usually find the "serious" as well. The prayer asks God that you be able to forget people you never liked. While there are definitely some people I would like to forget, I have to admit that I've learned something from at least some of them. I've learned how I want to behave--or not behave. I've learned compassion. I've learned a little about how God must feel when I conduct myself in a less-than-Christ-like manner.
How about you? What have you learned from people you'd like to forget?
I recently ran across "The Senility Prayer," which I think I'd never heard of before. http://www.thisfunsforyou.com/htdocs/funpages/senility.php
I think it was meant to be taken as humorous, but you know me; just as I can usually find the "funny" in things, I can also usually find the "serious" as well. The prayer asks God that you be able to forget people you never liked. While there are definitely some people I would like to forget, I have to admit that I've learned something from at least some of them. I've learned how I want to behave--or not behave. I've learned compassion. I've learned a little about how God must feel when I conduct myself in a less-than-Christ-like manner.
How about you? What have you learned from people you'd like to forget?
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Be a Happiness-Causer
Never give up; you never know until you try.
Oscar Wilde said, "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go."
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/happiness.html
Oscar Wilde said, "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go."
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/happiness.html
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Better Than Underdog
Never give up; you never know until you try.
Allow me to introduce you to my canine friend, Underdog!
http://www.toontracker.com/totaltv/underdog.htm
If you were a cartoon-watching, American child between 1964 and 1973 (or you've seen reruns on Cartoon Network or elsewhere,) you may remember Underdog, the animal version of Superman. As a testament to how television sounds and images can stick with you for years, to this day, I still occasionally bolster my courage by jokingly quoting the furry little superhero's catchphrase, "No need to fear--Underdog is here!"
Yes, I realize that I just admitted to quoting a cartoon character. I'm sure I'm not the only one, though I may be the only one who'll admit it in a public forum. My regular readers probably aren't the least bit surprised by my disclosure; you know there is a method to my madness.
Like many people, I sometimes use humor to defuse tension. I've written before that my sense of humor is dark, twisted, and irreverent, and it becomes even more so when I'm stressed. Feeling fearful stresses me. (How's that for a 'duh' statement?) When fear tries to rear its ugly head, I think of Underdog, and I think of One Who is a million times better than Underdog. Unlike Underdog, He's infallible. Jesus is always there, always equipped, always equipping me with what I need--just when I need it. Jesus is truly man's (woman's, child's) best friend.
Allow me to introduce you to my canine friend, Underdog!
http://www.toontracker.com/totaltv/underdog.htm
If you were a cartoon-watching, American child between 1964 and 1973 (or you've seen reruns on Cartoon Network or elsewhere,) you may remember Underdog, the animal version of Superman. As a testament to how television sounds and images can stick with you for years, to this day, I still occasionally bolster my courage by jokingly quoting the furry little superhero's catchphrase, "No need to fear--Underdog is here!"
Yes, I realize that I just admitted to quoting a cartoon character. I'm sure I'm not the only one, though I may be the only one who'll admit it in a public forum. My regular readers probably aren't the least bit surprised by my disclosure; you know there is a method to my madness.
Like many people, I sometimes use humor to defuse tension. I've written before that my sense of humor is dark, twisted, and irreverent, and it becomes even more so when I'm stressed. Feeling fearful stresses me. (How's that for a 'duh' statement?) When fear tries to rear its ugly head, I think of Underdog, and I think of One Who is a million times better than Underdog. Unlike Underdog, He's infallible. Jesus is always there, always equipped, always equipping me with what I need--just when I need it. Jesus is truly man's (woman's, child's) best friend.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Apologies and post--Huh?
Never give up; you never know until you try.
My apologies to you all. I thought I'd scheduled posts for the last couple weeks, but something happened. They didn't post! I didn't check to be sure they posted, and when I went to schedule next week's I discovered the goof. My apologies! Here's what should've posted earlier this week:
A friend of mine had a birthday last week, so I guess I've had him and his family on my mind. His sister used to quote the following a lot:
A friend of mine had a birthday last week, so I guess I've had him and his family on my mind. His sister used to quote the following a lot:
"I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant." (Thanks, Robert McCloskey)
Even when we use "I-Statements," misunderstanding is rampant in human communication. We project our own hopes, feelings, prejudices onto the other person. They do it to us. It happens. Where we "are" and where we have "been" will "color" our perceptions as surely as a three-year-old will "Crayola-fy" color the living room wall with her crayons.
Be on guard, because Satan will happily take this little fact and run with it, causing as much havoc as possible. We have to listen to what's behind the words to get the full picture, and we have to be very self-aware to understand how we receive others' words. Ernest Hemingway said, "When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.”
Listen!
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