Some time ago I learned of a mantra from the US Marines. It says, "There are no such things as problems, only opportunities."
That kind of sums up my approach to life. Everybody has obstacles. Everybody has disappointments. Everybody has things that are out of their control go crazy.
What defines me is what I do with it. If this obstacle is of my own doing, I can learn from it. I can not do it again. If said obstacle is of someone else's doing, I can try doing it differently. There is always another approach. There is always another way to do things. Even if it means just having an new attitude.
Another mantra from the Marines, MUAR. Maximum use of available resources. A paper clip could save your life.
Rita and I sell dolls in order to pay the bills and survive. We often experience downturns in business. Its what happens. What we have to do is look at all our assets and decide what we can do to make more money. We can make different dolls. Use different outfits. Try different lighting for the pictures. Try different backgrounds etc. etc.
The point I am making is we have to be possibility thinkers. Rev. Robert Schuller once said a prayer that went something like:
When face with a mountain,
I climb over.
I will tunnel under,
I will travel around,
I will fly over,
With God's help, I can do anything.
Kind of sums it all up for me. David
As always, your comments and thoughts are always welcome. Feel free to chime in. D
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Country words of wisdom
A LITTLE COMMON SENSE FROM AN OLD COWBOY ...
Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.
Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.
Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
Words that soak into your ears are whispered… not yelled.
Meanness don’t jes’ happen overnight.
Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads.
Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.
You cannot unsay a cruel word.
Every path has a few puddles.
When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
The best sermons are lived, not preached.
Most of the stuff people worry about ain’t never gonna happen anyway.
Don’t judge folks by their relatives.
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
Live a good, honorable life… Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
Don ‘t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t bothering you none.
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a Rain dance.
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.
Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin’.
Always drink upstream from the herd.
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in.
If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around..
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.
Most times, it just gets down to common sense.
~ Michael Traveler, author of Michael Traveler, author of Postcards from the Backroads Read more about it here or find out how to get your own copy ... https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=664597670237581&set=a.305771519453533.75925.276064969090855&type=1&theater)
A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
Words that soak into your ears are whispered… not yelled.
Meanness don’t jes’ happen overnight.
Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads.
Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.
You cannot unsay a cruel word.
Every path has a few puddles.
When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
The best sermons are lived, not preached.
Most of the stuff people worry about ain’t never gonna happen anyway.
Don’t judge folks by their relatives.
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
Live a good, honorable life… Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
Don ‘t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t bothering you none.
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a Rain dance.
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.
Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin’.
Always drink upstream from the herd.
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in.
If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around..
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.
Most times, it just gets down to common sense.
~ Michael Traveler, author of Michael Traveler, author of Postcards from the Backroads Read more about it here or find out how to get your own copy ... https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=664597670237581&set=a.305771519453533.75925.276064969090855&type=1&theater)
Sock it to me!
This morning I read an article about a woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer. After all the treatments the cancer came back with a vengeance. She was told it was terminal. Instead of letting it get her down, she preferred to live the time she had with all the gusto she had led her life.
Her motto is "Dum vivimus vivamus," which means, "While we live, let us live." To me that is incredibly profound. We get one life. One roll of the dice. One hand to play. It is ours to do with as we please.
External factors may judge some of your life. Parents, social standing, race, economics, etc. can all play a part. But what gives us joy is how we react, behave, to all that. Some are born rich and are incredibly miserable. Others are dirt poor and happy as a clam.
It is what is inside that makes the difference. I want to live my life as fully as I can. Today, I will make dolls with Rita. I will make her some dinner and try to make her feel special. I will call someone. I will play a game of scrabble. This all makes me happy.
Today, I will make my life the best I can. Sock it to me! David
As always, your comments are always welcome. Feel free to chime in. D
Her motto is "Dum vivimus vivamus," which means, "While we live, let us live." To me that is incredibly profound. We get one life. One roll of the dice. One hand to play. It is ours to do with as we please.
External factors may judge some of your life. Parents, social standing, race, economics, etc. can all play a part. But what gives us joy is how we react, behave, to all that. Some are born rich and are incredibly miserable. Others are dirt poor and happy as a clam.
It is what is inside that makes the difference. I want to live my life as fully as I can. Today, I will make dolls with Rita. I will make her some dinner and try to make her feel special. I will call someone. I will play a game of scrabble. This all makes me happy.
Today, I will make my life the best I can. Sock it to me! David
As always, your comments are always welcome. Feel free to chime in. D
Monday, May 19, 2014
Brains...
You have brains in your head
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
In any direction you choose
Dr. Seuss
What a wonderful author. I spent many hours reading his books as a child. They were fun and imaginative. I read them today in awe at his poetic and literary talent. They are timeless.
This brings to mind a quote that has been around for a while and haunts me to this day.
"What could you accomplish if you knew you could not fail?"
This quote pushes Rita and I in our business. It helps us to overcome fear. It challenges us to do better, to try new things. We are challenged to take different approaches we might have not tried.
I wonder where the feet in my shoes will take me today? David
As always, your thoughts and ideas are always welcome. Feel free to add your stories and/or comments.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
In any direction you choose
Dr. Seuss
What a wonderful author. I spent many hours reading his books as a child. They were fun and imaginative. I read them today in awe at his poetic and literary talent. They are timeless.
This brings to mind a quote that has been around for a while and haunts me to this day.
"What could you accomplish if you knew you could not fail?"
This quote pushes Rita and I in our business. It helps us to overcome fear. It challenges us to do better, to try new things. We are challenged to take different approaches we might have not tried.
I wonder where the feet in my shoes will take me today? David
As always, your thoughts and ideas are always welcome. Feel free to add your stories and/or comments.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Its just me. Little old me.
Recently I read an article about ADHD. It spoke to how others perceive you and react to who you are. If you don't fit in their box, if you don't behave as they do, if you are quirky, you may get shunned.
“Some people will only love you as long as you fit in their box. Don’t be afraid to disappoint.”
I have had people that didn't appreciate my sense of humor. I have been close to people that could not understand how I could walk into a room and forget why I was going there.
I will be talking to Rita out on the porch, see a pretty bird, and completely forget what I was saying.
I have come to understand some of it. It gets frustrating.
BUT!!!! I am proud that I can enjoy the beauty of this world. I can enjoy the day He has given me.
And I can be proud of me. I can be happy in my own skin. Blemishes, faults, and all.
Its just me. Little old me.
“Some people will only love you as long as you fit in their box. Don’t be afraid to disappoint.”
I have had people that didn't appreciate my sense of humor. I have been close to people that could not understand how I could walk into a room and forget why I was going there.
I will be talking to Rita out on the porch, see a pretty bird, and completely forget what I was saying.
I have come to understand some of it. It gets frustrating.
BUT!!!! I am proud that I can enjoy the beauty of this world. I can enjoy the day He has given me.
And I can be proud of me. I can be happy in my own skin. Blemishes, faults, and all.
Its just me. Little old me.
Friday, May 16, 2014
You have to...
"You have to be willing to let go of the future you had planned to be able to enjoy the life you deserve." Author unknown
This is so true for me. I had planned to save the world with groceries. I felt as though I was destined to be in that industry all my life. Little did I know that my life could be SO much better working from home with my sweetie.
I wake up, make the coffee, check the computer, Rita wakes up, we talk, and get started. No commute. Fourteen steps to my chair. I love it.
If we had not made the decision to make dolls, I would still be running the grocery rat race. It was clear to me that needed to end.
I look up from working and there she is. The love of my life. And she chooses to spend the day with me. Little old me.
By being willing to make a change, my life is immeasurably better. What's in store for you?
David
As always, comments are encouraged. Feel free to respond. :-)
This is so true for me. I had planned to save the world with groceries. I felt as though I was destined to be in that industry all my life. Little did I know that my life could be SO much better working from home with my sweetie.
I wake up, make the coffee, check the computer, Rita wakes up, we talk, and get started. No commute. Fourteen steps to my chair. I love it.
If we had not made the decision to make dolls, I would still be running the grocery rat race. It was clear to me that needed to end.
I look up from working and there she is. The love of my life. And she chooses to spend the day with me. Little old me.
By being willing to make a change, my life is immeasurably better. What's in store for you?
David
As always, comments are encouraged. Feel free to respond. :-)
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Fire and ants.....
Fire season is upon us! The last three days have brought triple digit heat, very strong winds, low humidity, and happy-go-lucky arsonists.
The winds have caused some minor damage to our house. A window panel above the wondow A/C unit blew out. Quite forcefully. Thank God for duct tape!
The media are covering some of the many fires in and around Southern California. Its crazy out there. Dozens of homes are gone. Just plain gone. Everything. Lives are shattered. Hopefully these folks are resilient. I know that people come together in times of disaster. They rebuild, but they will never be the same.
This scares the daylights out of me. Rita and I live in the middle of a wildlife refuge. We are in a very small group of homes, surrounded by brush and vegetation. A fire could roar through all that in minutes.
And then there are ants. I hate 'em. Ugh. With the high heat, they move in for the summer. They get all over the kitchen. I do my best to keep it clean, but they can find the tiniest little thing and feed on it. A pain in the kiester. Damn.
If I have to choose, I'll take the ants. At least I will still have a home when I clean up. I am grateful.
David
The winds have caused some minor damage to our house. A window panel above the wondow A/C unit blew out. Quite forcefully. Thank God for duct tape!
The media are covering some of the many fires in and around Southern California. Its crazy out there. Dozens of homes are gone. Just plain gone. Everything. Lives are shattered. Hopefully these folks are resilient. I know that people come together in times of disaster. They rebuild, but they will never be the same.
This scares the daylights out of me. Rita and I live in the middle of a wildlife refuge. We are in a very small group of homes, surrounded by brush and vegetation. A fire could roar through all that in minutes.
And then there are ants. I hate 'em. Ugh. With the high heat, they move in for the summer. They get all over the kitchen. I do my best to keep it clean, but they can find the tiniest little thing and feed on it. A pain in the kiester. Damn.
If I have to choose, I'll take the ants. At least I will still have a home when I clean up. I am grateful.
David
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