Learning from failed attempts at something allows us to continue advancing our knowledge and skills.
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
“There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.”
—Thoreau
I try and do good, but that does not mean I am excused from striking at the root of my own depravity.
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
Certainly (in my mind) the most mystical instrument is the flute. More than any other it creates a transcendent mood. The flute goes back to 33,000 years B.C. The first flute was made from vulture bone. Music is in our DNA.
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
Anything done well takes work. The reward that comes upon completion more than compensates for the effort.
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
All it takes to be healthy is yoga, meditation, a healthy diet, practicing mindfulness, and showing gratitude and compassion to others. Simple, right?
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
Too many people go through life without questioning what path they are on. You may not ever get an answer to that question, but it is enough to keep asking.
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
We are positively biased in our favor. That is, we tend to remember the positive things about ourselves and forget those things that speak less favorably about us. The trick is to keep a healthy balance between the two.
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
You can not simultaneously be both the smartest person in the room and the dumbest person in the room In other words, you shouldn’t go around extolling how wonderful you are while blaming others for your personal failures.
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
In my Journal Entry titled “The Letter” on November 13th, I provided a translation of the thoughts of a young man I ran into. He graciously gave me a letter he had proudly composed. It was a confusing composition because the man is developmentally disabled. Despite that handicap, he wrote a stirring piece that was obviously intended to relieve his own burden while at the same time changing the minds of those fortunate enough to read his words.
The translation was provided by Grammarly’s AI copy-editing feature. The AI engine did a good job of taking a difficult-to-read piece of writing and turning it into a coherent work. While this demonstrates the power of AI, it does not reflect my own interpretation, which I humbly present below:
There are many people in the world who have been mistreated, even hated. One could not blame them if after having repeatedly endured this abuse, they begin to feel hatred toward their abusers. This pattern has to be broken for the world to become a safer place for all of us to live. When others feel pain because of our actions, we are moving in the wrong direction. Turning the table, and sharing pain back is not the answer, even if it is understandable on a primal level. We should be, we are, more evolved than that. The answer has to be, to find a way to show empathy and compassion to those who are suffering in some way. Even those whom we may find ourselves disagreeing with deserve this effort from us. With practice and patience, we can get better at sowing compassion, as individuals, and as a society. It begins with compassion, that is the bridge that fords the river of hate and allows us to reach the other side, the side where we allow ourselves to show love. Love freely given permits those who see themselves as victims to begin to look differently at themselves, and at everyone around them. This will make all of us better humans.
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
“This life is more than flesh and bone.”
—Buddy Guy
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
Remember Armando Galarraga! One out away from a perfect game, the batter hit a slow roller back to the mound, Armando fielded it and threw the batter out at first to complete the perfect game — except the umpire called the batter safe. Perfect game down the tube. After the game, the umpire admitted his error, and acknowledged what it had cost Armando. When asked the next day if he was angry, Armando replied: “I am too happy to be angry.”
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
The secret to life is to live long and ski. Cycling is not too bad either.
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
Thoughts are just thoughts until you put them down on paper. Once you see them, they become real. Perhaps that is why I admire writers.
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
Writing in my journal is like going to church. It fills me with promise. I’m glad I do it seven days a week. I’m like the old maiden who goes to church every morning and then proceeds to go about her business for the rest of the day.
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
What is Thanksgiving all about? Shouldn’t every day be a day of giving thanks? That proposition seems to require a “yes” answer.
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
Reading “Walden” is what inspired this project. My goal is to write more clearly than Thoreau — sadly not as poetically or eloquently — it is safe to say that his eloquence would be hard for most persons (myself included) to match. He tended to often incorporate the use of hyphens in his writing, which I now tend to use myself (and probably overuse, just as he did). Matters of eloquence aside, I admire his use of run-on, but grammatically correct sentences, even though they are distracting to the modern ear… mine anyway.
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
When I can no longer write I want my journals burned. They are not meant to be read. They are simply a form of exercise, a rowing machine for my mind.
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
I suspect history will show the last two decades were the height of capitalism, to the detriment of the wage-earning man.
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
I think my next challenge will be: “A Year of living novelly.” I’m not sure yet exactly what that will entail. I suspect it probably does not include writing a novel — although it could — I think it is more likely to mean a year of thinking in novel terms. Meanwhile, I will continue to live thoughtfully and ask questions of cold-call scammers and fly-by-night insurance brokers. You never know, you could make a new friend… I’m certainly learning a lot about the demographics of telemarketers.
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
“Some times in our lives, we all feel pain, we all feel sorrow. If we are wise, we know there’s alway’s tomorrow.
—Keb’ Mo’
That’s what friends are for.
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
I have no words to express how grateful I am for who I am, where I am, and what I am becoming. I look forward to all that remains in store for me.
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
We are all flawed. The most important thing we can do is recognize that.
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
“Life is more than flesh and bone.”
—Buddy Guy
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
I do not know what the rest of my life holds in store for me. None of us do. That is the mystery. That is the discovery.
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.
I love to write by hand…
Perhaps this is as good as my handwriting gets. Perhaps it will never be better despite my desire to make it perfect. Perhaps someday I will write the perfect word with perfectly formed letters.
I suppose when that day comes it will be time to stop writing…
Material on this site is presented in chronological order. To view content by subject use the ARCHIVE link above.