Halloween

Well here we are and it is almost time for Halloween again. Halloween is a funny thing in Australia. Till about 30 years ago it never really existed but then started to take off as an American Holiday and because of all the sweets involved became very popular with Children. But what is, or perhaps even better, what was Halloween all about?
It originally was a religious festival that has now become largely a non-Christian event in practice. Which may indeed be quite appropriate and right. After all it was a pagan religious festival and not Christian in the first place, but built on Celtic pagan festivals.
According to an item on the NET: “By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas.”
So that is how Halloween got its beginnings and its name. But what does it mean to you? And is it worth trying to reclaim it’s intended Christian beginnings? Or should we happily let it return to being a simple pagan event?
There is nothing wrong with using existing events or objects and giving them Christian significance. As long as that Christian significance is properly maintained and not allowed to degenerate or disappear completely until one is left with an empty “religious Shell” Like Halloween now seems to be.
What say You though? Should we try and reclaim Halloween for Christian celebrations and remembrance? Or should we in fact allow, if not strongly encourage, its demise? Over to you now.

Harmony and the Everly brothers.

The Everly brothers were very big on the popular Music scene in the 50’s & 60’s and were popular for their famous harmonies together, so much so that they set the trend for many imitators. Unlike some, like the Righteous brothers, the Walker Brothers and our Very own Allen Brothers; the Everly’s really were brothers and not just a group of strangers pretending to be Brothers. And unlike the Allison’s (also not real brothers, but who sounded like the Everly’s) the Everly’s didn’t sound like anyone else but had their own unique sound. A sound that also inspired and influenced many others including the Beatles and the Beach Boys, just to mention two.
Yes the Everly brothers were an inspiration to many with their own harmonious sound. Yes the Everly bothers sang harmoniously together but sadly did not live in harmony together and eventually split up and went their own separate ways to little real later solo successes. They did reform a time or two, but always for the money and thus the reforms never lasted for long.
How about you? How harmoniously are your really living/working with those around you, whether real family or not? Are you in true harmony in all aspects of life or are you too just coming together for the money? If so, no matter what success you are currently having it too will not last. What say you now?

Taking A Break Now!

Here is some wisdom from the “Wise Words” selection that I receive daily. This one from 01/09/08 called: “Learn to walk away!” It says the following:
“One of the hardest things to do is 'take a break' without feeling guilty and selfish; or worse, feeling like a failure because everything on your 'to do' list didn't get done. Here's a news flash: there will always be more to do! One of your biggest challenges will be learning the difference between setting high standards for yourself - and setting unrealistic, impossible ones.
We claw our way to success then discover we don't like the pressures that go with it. So what should we do? Learn to walk away! Jesus did. "The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all they had done. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.' So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place" (Mk 6:30-32 NIV). Jesus understood that if you don't take a break - you'll break!
So: (a) make a list of the things that only you can do, then delegate the rest or let them go; (b) learn to take small steps and celebrate small accomplishments for that's what life is made of; (c) don't allow the stuff that's still undone, to undo you. (d) Strive for balance; don't become addicted to what you enjoy; (e) don't allow overachievers to put you into overdrive. You're in for the long haul. You win when you pace yourself; (f) take time for the people who matter, otherwise you'll lose them. Busyness is a destroyer of relationships. All the success in the world won't compensate for the joy and treasure of your family and your loved ones!”
All the above, shows that we all need a break sometime and so I am heeding that advice and taking mine now, and I am walking away for a couple of weeks for a break and will be back regularly early in November with the blogs, but maybe intermittently in between, but not till next Sunday at the earliest.
Hopefully I will return refreshed from my time away. But whatever, that is enough about me for now! What about you? Do you too need to learn from the above advice and walk away from some things now?
Remember, even Jesus took his disciples away from the crowds to have a rest. Let us all learn from his example and rest before we burn out. Even if our work isn’t as physically exhausting as some others, it still does not make it any less exhausting, so learn from others and walk away yourself some times, even if only for a week or two, before it is too late and you unnecessarily burn out. Over to you now.

Looks Or Qualifications?

This “For Better or For Worse” comic Strip by Lynn Johnston, has the Husband, who is a Dentist, talking to his wife about the possible replacement of His “Oral Hygienist” who has just resigned. He said that he has narrowed the 5 applicants down to two. And “One has great references, loads of experience, & is making a career of her work ...” His wife asks, “And the other one?" To which the husband becomes all hot and bothered under the collar, and replies, “… Looks like Shania Twain ...”
Again very funny in a cartoon, but how often do we take this same mentality over into life? Not just with people but with objects too, where we take the pretty over solid and reliable, and end up paying for it later when the pretty does not always last, and falls apart, while the solid continues on, giving solid and reliable service?
So today, if you too are tempted to go for the pretty over the reliable, please think again. The ultimate choice is yours and yours alone, but do think seriously about it before you make the choice, for you will have to bear the consequences for your decision.

Moving on from Melodrama.

Another blog originating from my original blog asking, “Are You A Tad Over Melodramatic Too?” and its follow up, “A Tad Too simplistic, perhaps?”
In the follow up blog, I attempted to deal a little more fuller with how to deal with someone who was a tad over melodramatic, in a little more detail than I did in the original, but again, in my attempt to keep these blogs simple, did not go far enough and thus I received the following response.
“Hi Walter: It's me again. The next statement which needs unpacking is the part where you say, " but eventually, we will have to try and move them on, even if not as quickly as my original simplistic view indicated."
The critical question is, "Whose best interest is being served by 'trying to move them on"? Yours or theirs?
That will take some very careful thinking, best done with a loving and critical (in the best sense of the word) friend. This is the stuff of Clinical Pastoral Education. Cheers again: ***”
These blogs do not allow me the space to go into in any real detail in what is obviously a very complex matter, and one in which, in extreme cases should be left to professionals, who know more on the subject than me.
However, in ordinary everyday work case situations, one may have to deal with someone who is habitually, a tad over melodramatic and bringing everyone else down with them.
In such a case, it would be in everyone’s interest, theirs, yours and the work place’s, for some attempt to be made to help them deal with their problem. And if this can be done on an informal friendly basis, rather than in some clinical sessions, the better it would be for everyone I believe.
That said I would still agree that their welfare, rather than your, or anyone else’s, should be the number one priority, and also that your help will be limited by your own abilities. Again my advice is really only for mild situations, rather than trying to make you a professional councillor. Again over to you.

A Tad Too simplistic, perhaps?

In my previous Blog, I asked the question, “Are You A Tad Over Melodramatic Too?” Even though I was asking about yourself, I did also offer some simple advice on how to deal with such people when you come across them. However, in keeping my advice simple, I have over compensated somewhat, as has been pointed out to me by someone who has been in the business longer than me. So to correct my over simplistic advice from yesterday, I offer His advice to you with my complete endorsement and appreciation.
“Hi Walter: This goes to the heart of a philosophy (or theology) of pastoral care. There is much that could be said and I will try not to do that.
The caricature of pastoral care is the Catholic priest saying to the newly pregnant 15 year old, "I know how you feel!"
I am sure you will know that this is wrong and unhelpful. Empathy - which you hint at by saying 'Don't laugh at them.' is certainly the right first response. However, moving too quickly to "try and show that there are worse situations than that, that they could be in etc." insults their intelligence and mostly shows you are not listening well enough to them. You are more likely to be on about your own agenda, which is probably that you are uncomfortable at their pain or too busy laughing at their perceived stupidity to care properly.
Here endeth the lesson! Cheers: ***”
As we both pointed out clearly, we do have to take their responses seriously, and to listen to them fully, but eventually, we will have to try and move them on, even if not as quickly as my original simplistic view indicated. As My friend correctly pointed out, our agenda has to be in helping them get through and over their perceived problem as quickly and as painlessly as possible, and not for any other reason; and certainly not from any personal agenda. What say you now?

Are You A Tad Over Melodramatic Too?

This “For Better or For Worse” comic Strip by Lynn Johnston, has the Husband, who is a Dentist, lamenting to his workmate over a cup of Coffee that, “This is it Ted … It’s finally happened …After all this time.. & all we have been through … she’s leaving me. I tried to treat her well … I thought I’d given her everything!”
At this point Ted, quite concerned for him, and with tears in his eyes, puts his arms around his friend to comfort him, then his friend continues on with, “ Where am I going to find another oral hygienist like Marie?’ To which Ted just gives him an exasperated look.
Yes I know from personal first hand experience how hard it is to find, let alone replace good staff, but it is not the end of the world either. Yes I do know that this is only a comic strip, but I have also experienced quite a few over melodramatic responses like this one too, so it is a real experience that you will face one day, even if you have been lucky enough to escape it so far.
So how should you respond to someone in this situation? Firstly don’t laugh at them, but don’t feed into their melodramatic moment either. Secondly, try and show them that there are worse situations than that, that they could be in and that they should be thankful it is not worse. Thirdly, try and show them both, an example of someone in a worse situation than them who needs real sympathy, and then finally try and point them in a positive action to get them moving again and focusing on the future and not the present problem.
Now I think the above advice wise but if you don’t wish to follow it, that is up to you, but this blog is not meant to be about others who may be over melodramatic, but as the title indicates, what about You?
Are you also one of these naturally over melodramatic people, like in this comic strip? If you are then my advice to you is basically the same as that given above. Realize and accept that things that you won’t like, happen all the time, and also accept when they do, that they are usually not half as bad as you initially imagine. Then move on with some positive action to remedy the situation without dwelling on the problem itself.
Yes, if life deals you a curve ball, deal with it and move on positively.

A little quiz about the music of Tommy Roe.

Come on everybody, it is time to get jam up and jelly tight about one of my earliest Music favourites, Tommy Roe. The folksinger/ pop star had a string of classic and not so classic songs and covers of other people’s hits, during the 50’s, 60’s & early 70’s. In the music arena Tommy was a working class hero and well known as a stir it up and serve it musician. Likewise, Tommy was also known to have had an eye for, and becoming quite dizzy over the ladies and was well known for having said hooray for Hazel. And he thought Pearl and Heather honey was yummy, yummy, yummy, but is perhaps best known for the liaison he had with that sweet little Sheila, Sweet Pea. He also hung around with for a while with Stagger Lee and even Jack and Jill for a while, until it was suspected the latter two got into some hanky panky in the fields of crimson and clover. He was also known to like some sugar sugar in his coffee.
Okay how many song titles were you able to pick out? If you know anything about Tommy Roe you should have been able to get 2 or 3 of his songs, and if you know anything of the music of that era you should also have picked out at least two covers, plus a couple of other titles are fairly obvious, so see how many you can guess. I took these titles from some of my CD’s and even I didn’t know all of them originally. As a fan of Tommy’s I knew 7, and could guess at least 3 covers. So see if you can top ten of the seventeen titles hidden in the first paragraph here. No prizes for doing so. Just the pleasure of knowing you beat me. If you can? Answers only available upon answering.

Do you take credit for others efforts?

This is another inspired by a “For Better or For Worse” comic Strip by Lynn Johnston. This one has the mother hand their toddler over to her husband with a “stinking” smelly nappy for him to change. Which he dutifully does, all the time with his nose screwed up and His eyes running from the stench. When the change is completed, he dutifully hands her back to her mother who cheerfully states, “Amazing, isn’t it - how changing someone else’s baby is so unpleasant…. But it doesn’t bother us to change our own!” To which her husband just stares at her in stunned silence!
Very funny in a cartoon but not so funny in real life when someone unfairly takes the Credit for you hard work is it? But how often do we, you and me, do that to others I wonder? So today I ask, is there something that you have taken credit for that you now need to give due credit to the real person or person’s responsible? Yes before we can accuse or criticize others for doing something like that to us, we first need to correct ourselves don’t we? So to whom today do you have to give true credit to, and will you do it now?

How to cheer people Up.

On the way home from Church yesterday afternoon, we stopped in briefly on a family away sick with the flu. And I must say that it has been a while since I have seen a sadder and sicker bunch. Their son who had been away house sitting for a week didn’t look too bad and seems to be the only one who has avoided the flu so far. The rest all looked terrible, and this, 3 weeks in for most of them!
Still you should have seen how their faces lit up as they read the Cards that the Sunday School Children had done for them, during Sunday School. It was a real joy to behold and watch their faces light up as they read those simple hand drawn cards done by children from 3 to 10 years old.
This led me to wonder at the marvel of our human spirit, that no matter how sick and lousy we may feel, it takes little more than a simple gesture to lighten up someone’s world again, albeit sometimes, ever so briefly.
So today’s question is, “Who do you know now, that you could brighten up their lives, even if only for a brief moment, with a simple Card or phone call, or even a quick visit?” I will leave that thought with you for now.

The “Real” Passion in Passion Fruit.

Now some of you may not know what passionfruit is as it is also called in some places Granadilla, (which is technically another type within the same species).
However although there are over 500 subspecies within its Genus and found as natives all over the world, (Including at least 4 sub species unique to Australia), the Passionfruit is native to South America and the word, nor the fruit, has anything to do with love and romance of the Human kind, but rather of the love of God in sending His son to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind.
For you see, the early Spanish missionaries there used the flower of the plant as a teaching aid when explaining the crucifixion of Christ. The filaments in the centre represent the crown of thorns, the plant’s tendrils were whips, and the petals and sepals were the disciples, etc.
So the passion fruit is another everyday item that was named for a purpose long forgotten and because of other meanings of the word, the original name is often interpreted with the wrong motives and objectives altogether.
Again just another warning to us not to jump to conclusions when we hear a word and think of only one meaning for that word, when like the passion fruit, it may have a completely different and even almost opposite meaning.
So, what words or pictures are you currently “seeing”, through just “one eye” and what words or pictures do you now need to look at with both eyes to get the full picture? Over to you to answer that one now.

* Extra From Wikapedia: "Passion" does not refer to love, but to the Christian theological icon of the passion of Christ on the cross. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Spanish Christian missionaries discovered this flower and adopted its unique physical structures, particularly the numbers of its various parts, as symbols of the last days of Jesus Christ and especially the Crucifixion. For example: the radial filaments which can number more than a hundred and vary from flower to flower were taken to represent the Crown of Thorns. The ten petals and sepals can represent the ten faithful apostles. The top 3 stigmata can represent the 3 nails and the lower 5 anthers the 5 wounds. The flower has been given names related to this symbolism throughout Europe since that time. In Spain, it is known as Espina de Cristo (Christ's Thorn). In Germany it was once known as Muttergottes-Schuzchen (Mother-of-God's Star). Popular culture being what it is, however, passionflowers and especially passionfruit are frequently used with sexual or romantic innuendo, giving rise to such uses as a one-time soft drink named Purple Passion.

Are You Guilty Of Hypocrisy Too?

This is another inspired by the “For Better or For Worse” comic Strip by Lynn Johnston. This one has two mothers talking together, and one says to the other what a good husband the other has, to which the other replies, “I know. I just wish I could get him to do more of the chores.” To which the other lady asks, “Like what?” to hear, “I dunno … Dishes, laundry.” To which the fist lady replies, “ But you HATE the way he does dishes and Laundry.” To which the other replies, “Yeah – but I appreciate the gesture.” To which the first lady just stands there stunned.
I personally don’t find this particularly funny, because I have seen it happen in real life, more than once, where people complain about others never offering them help, and then been there when help was indeed offered, only to be refused. So the next time you complain that someone won’t help you, make sure that they really won’t help you, and that it is just not that you only want their help if it is done your own way, otherwise you too run the risk of looking like a hypocrite to your friends and/or workmates.

Do you take credit for others efforts?

This is another inspired by a “For Better or For Worse” comic Strip by Lynn Johnston. This one has the mother hand their toddler over to her husband with a smelly nappy for him to change. Which he dutifully does, all the time with his nose screwed up and His eyes running from the stench. When the change is completed, he dutifully hands her back to her mother who cheerfully states, “Amazing, isn’t it - how changing someone else’s baby is so unpleasant…. But it doesn’t bother us to change our own!” To which her husband just stares at her in stunned silence!
Very funny in a cartoon but not so funny in real life when someone unfairly takes the Credit for you hard work is it? But how often do we, you and me, do that to others I wonder? So today I ask, is there something that you have taken credit for that you now need to give due credit to the real person or person’s responsible? Yes before we can accuse ort criticize others for doing something like that to us, we first need to correct ourselves don’t we? So to whom today do you have to give true credit to, and will you do it now?

Do not Leave the leaves alone.

Another inspired by the “For Better or For Worse” comic Strip by Lynn Johnston. This one has the husband just finished raking up a huge pile of leaves in the backyard and while his back was turned, his young son crawled into the pile of leaves to play.
When his father saw this, he screamed at his son angrily to get out of there, having gotten down on his knees to yell at his boy. His son guiltily flicks a few leaves at his angry father, who suddenly relents and the next thing you know both are tussling and having fun rolling in the leaves.
Yes I know that it will mean extra work for the father to re-rake the leaves etc, but I think sometimes we too need to learn a lesson from this cartoon dad, and just relax sometimes and have a little fun, even if it does mean a little extra work for us later. So as you go through life today, are there some leaves in your life that you should perhaps happily let get scattered again, even just for a few moments?

Always Something To Do.

This is another inspired by the “For Better or For Worse” comic Strip by Lynn Johnston. This one has the husband standing out in the yard with the wind blowing a few leaves around and sniffing the air, and thinking to himself, “Aaaahhhhh – what a wonderful time of the year! Crisp, cool winds, colorful leaves …. No planting, no weeding, no mowing, no bugs, no … “ At which point his wife walks up and silently hands him the leaf rake.
Yes it seems that just when we think that there is nothing for us to do, it seems that someone can always find something for us to do, can’t they?
Forgetting for a moment about finding something for somebody else to do, what about yourself? Even though you may have caught up with all the other seasonal things, what else is there that you could or even, should be doing now? I will leave it to you now to think about that.

Blowing Raspberries.

Another blog inspired by the same “For Better or For Worse” comic Strip by Lynn Johnston, as yesterday’s blog. Remember that one had a Mother & her 5-year-old son, walking with her toddler girl in a stroller, and meeting an elderly neighbour who immediately made a big fuss over the little girl in the stroller, completely ignoring the boy.
Then as she walked away, the little boy blows her a large raspberry to display his annoyance at her ignoring him completely.
Now I wonder how many of us feel slighted every day and wishing we too could blow raspberries at those who slighted us, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Well if you do, I would like to encourage you to stop and think carefully before you do. As it may be that they are totally unaware of their slight in the first place, and then simply blame your response as being an example of your rudeness and share your rudeness with others and thus it will be you and not they, that come out of this with Mud all over you and your good name. So if you really cannot ignore their slight of you, go to them privately and explain the problem and try and work it out, before going to someone else, like a parent or supervisor, to try and work things out, if necessarily.
Likewise, what about those you may have slighted too, again whether intentionally or unintentionally? So today, I again ask you to just stop for a moment and to take your eyes off of your own situation and just look around at those that you might have offended along the way, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and whether you, instead of having them blowing raspberries at you, can reach out to them and try and resolve the problem between you both, without either side needing to resort to raspberries. What say you now?

Do you have selective focus too?

Another blog inspired by the “For Better or For Worse” comic Strip by Lynn Johnston. This one has a Mother, & her 5-year-old son, walking with her toddler girl in a stroller, meeting an elderly neighbour, who immediately makes a big fuss over the little girl in the stroller completely ignoring the boy. Then as she walks away, the little boy blows her a large raspberry to display his annoyance at her ignoring him completely.
Now I wonder how often we are like that older lady, and become so completely absorbed on one object or person, so that we totally, even if unintentionally, ignore all others and all other things around us, to our own and even their, oblivion?
So today, I ask you to just stop for a moment or two and to take your eyes off of your own "special obsessions” for a few moments, and just look around at the other things also happening right now, right around you. By all means, be involved in your own special interests, but do share some of your time and enthusiasm for the other things around you too. You may be surprised at all the other “Special things” that you may have missed right around you. Both to your own hurt and to theirs too! Have a great day as you lift up your eyes and look around you anew!

Does your child or Family member need to borrow $25 off of you?

Recently received the following e-mail with the title, “Daddy, can I borrow $25??” I pass it on as is and untouched and with no following comment other than to add here that I hope that you are as encouraged by it as I am. Walter
“Can I Borrow $25?
A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.
SON: 'Daddy, may I ask you a question?'
DAD: 'Yeah sure, what it is?' replied the man.
SON: 'Daddy, how much do you make an hour?'
DAD: 'That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?' the Man said angrily.
SON: 'I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an Hour?'
DAD: 'If you must know, I make $50 an hour.'
SON: 'Oh,' the little boy replied, with his head down.
SON: 'Daddy, may I please borrow $25?'
The father was furious, 'If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish.... I don't work hard everyday for such childish frivolities.'
The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.
The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions..... How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?
After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think:
Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $25.00 and he really didn't ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door.
'Are you asleep, son?' He asked. 'No daddy, I'm awake,' replied the boy.
'I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier' said the man. 'It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $25 you asked for.'
The little boy sat straight up, smiling. 'Oh, thank you daddy!' He yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills. The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father. 'Why do you want more money if you already have some?' the father grumbled.. Because I didn't have enough, but now I do,' the little boy replied.
'Daddy, I have $50 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.'
The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he begged for his forgiveness.
It's just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that $50 worth of your time with someone you love..
If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of hours, but the family & friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.
From my house to yours. From my home to yours - enjoy. Thanks.”

Counting your age by days and not years.

Recently stumbled across a site on the Web: www.peterrussell.com/odds/worldclock.php. On it he mentioned that: “A few years back I began counting my age not in years, but days.
The day is the natural cycle of our lives. The cycle of light and dark, wakefulness and sleep, has more significance than the cycle of the seasons. Indeed, in equatorial latitudes, you hardly notice the passing of the seasons. The day is what counts.
Each day is a complete unit in itself. At the end of each day I can look back and take stock. How have I been? What have I learned? What can I be grateful for?
I can hold a day's experience in mind quite easily. Trying to go back and take stock of a whole year is much harder. Numerous incidents and discoveries are inevitably forgotten.
I also find it far more meaningful to think that I have lived through nearly twenty thousand days this life, rather than 50 years. And it reframes the future. I have -- probably -- thousands of days still to come. Thousands of new days to discover, enjoy and learn from. “
Further he added about, “Living Each Day in the Present. It is easy to go through our days on semi-automatic, caught up in doing and thoughts about the past and the future, not experiencing the present moment in its fullness.”
This mindset has a lot to recommend itself as a general principal, but I am not too sure that I actually like the thought of going around telling every body that at the time of writing/posting this, I am /was 21,1106!
However I do feel that it is probably good for us to take stock of our present situations a little more often than we do, even if not every single day. And that sometimes the time to change things is now, today, rather than waiting for another birthday or year, to come around before we consider things again. Because by that time, we may have forgotten or it may just be too late then to do anything meaningful or helpful.
Likewise I too think that sometimes we do “go through our days (& our lives) on semi-automatic, caught up in doing and thoughts about the past and the future, not experiencing the present moment in its fullness).
So tonight, when you come to the end of this day, will you look back and take stock of not only your day but of your life too? And ask yourself the following questions? How have you been today? What have you learned today? What can you be grateful for today?
Often we look back at the negativeness of our day and even our Life, but forget to think about and give appreciation for all the good things too. Often, numerous good things, incidents and discoveries are inevitably forgotten and unappreciated as we only focus on the bad things that have happened. So starting today, won’t you start living each day, one day at a time and focus on the good things and go out and discover, enjoy and learn from the new things in your life, leaving the past for the past. Again what say you?

A Town called Chicken.

I know that a time or to I have been called Chicken but this was the first I have of a town being called Chicken, but there you are. On the Alaskan side of the Canadian Border on the appropriately named, “Top Of The World Highway”, stands the small town of Chicken with its population according to a census 8 years ago of 17 people.
It is an old gold rush town, which was named back in 1902 after the ptarmigan fowl that was very common then. Originally it was intended to call it Ptarmigan*, but the founding fathers could not agree on how to spell the word, and so the compromise was reached and hence it has been called Chicken ever since.
Now I know that sometimes compromise is a good thing, but somehow in this case I think it would rather have taken the chance with the odd misspellings of Ptarmigan, than the more spellable, but plain ”chicken”.
What say you? Sometimes compromise is good and wise but sometimes it is also the easy way out, and thus sometimes should be avoided too, for the slightly harder but more preferable alternative, don’t you think.
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* From the Net.
“Ptarmigan, common name for three species of bird that make up a genus of the grouse subfamily, found in mountain and tundra areas around the northern hemisphere. One bird, the white-tailed ptarmigan, is confined to high mountains of western North America. The willow ptarmigan and the rock ptarmigan are circumpolar, and are among the very few nonmigratory birds of the Arctic. Ptarmigan are notable for having a moulting cycle unique among birds, in that they assume a white plumage in winter, in addition to the usual spring and autumn plumages. Their toes, which are at best sparsely feathered at other times, become heavily feathered in winter, creating efficient “snowshoes”. One population of willow ptarmigan—the red grouse of Great Britain— does not develop the white winter plumage.”

Innovative Shower suit.

Reading in the Herald Sun on Sept. 23, I came across an item about a new Australian invention: A suit that you can clean while you are in the shower! There is no need for soaking, dry cleaning or even soap, thanks to the revolutionary design of this shower suit created by the research and marketing company, Australian Wool Innovation.
I have not heard of this product before, but apparently the Japanese have taken a yen to it and orders for 170,000 have been taken and it is expected to sell well through out Asia. Sadly if you want one, you will have to go to Asia to get one, for despite being made here in OZ, it won’t be released to our market for another 18months or so.
A classic case of going where a ready-made Market is available before trying the local Market. Is that what you do? Seek out the proper markets for your product? Or simply try to sell it where you are? In good times or when things are scarce that may work, but when you are facing a tough or tightening market you have to use a little more strategy in your marketing don’t you?
So in closing, how are you going now? Are you selling to the correct, even if only a niche, market where your product would be desirable? Or are you trying the open market where there is little genuine interest in your product amongst everything else on the market? Something for you to chew over for now.

Nannies Facing Hard Times Now.

Recently glancing through the paper I came across an article in their financial section stating the plight of some Nannies in the U S, now that financial hard times have hit the financial sector and many people in it are being laid off and so are their Nannies, and/ or their pay package/structure is being lowered. However even in this, it states that it is the lower grades of Nannies that are suffering most, but the higher quality nannies and especially the British ones, are still in high demand The article in the Herald Sun on Sep.23 said, “ The market changed three or four years ago. The newly rich with eye watering mortgages didn’t come shopping for nannies in this country, they went to Eastern Europe…. The nannies from there are cheaper but not nearly as good as ours. It is those people who will suffer first…. The whole world still comes to Britain shopping for the great British Nanny.”
This bit of information highlights a general rule in life, in that when things are scarce or money plentiful, anything will pass the muster, but when things are plentiful or money is scarce, only the best will survive. Which are you? Cheap and available? Or great but slightly more valuable?
Remember to give of your best at all times and if you do that even if you loose your job in Hard times you will have the advantage in getting another. Keep smiling.