I took a two hour nap when I got home, and when I woke up I had graham crackers and milk for dinner. It was beautiful and sunny today and I drove home with the top down, for what will certainly be one of the last top down evenings of the year. Driving past the golf course I thought how it would be to bust one down the 10th fairway, but let's be honest, no more than I practice, I'd probably dribble one off the heel of the club. The greens looked beautiful, though, and I'll have to remember to start earlier next spring and play a little more. I went to Sparky's for lunch today, ordered a slice and three humongus bread sticks, with a small Pepsi. I don't drink soda very often--it's a dietary disaster, but I love the fizz. Every once in a while you have to have a little fizz in your life. I enjoyed every swallow and in a week or so I'm going to have another one. Tomorrow I'll work out, but tonight it was nice to do nothing and take a nap.
The Beaver fans are taking over the blog. I'd try to banter with them but it's three against one and I have no chance. Plus they have bragging rights right now, after an impressive victory over the cheaters from USC, made doubly worse by the fact the Ducks play the Trojans this week in the Los Angeles Coliseum after the Beavers have them "mad as hornets" as Coach Bellotti put it. It will be twice as difficult to beat them down there, particularly after an eight-day layoff following a loss. They'll be focused and furious, a bad combination for any opponent. Much different than playing them Thursday night at home. But we'll see.
I'm worried about the American economy, after record losses on the stock market, the failures of several large bank and mortgage firms, and the decision by Congress to reject the President's bailout plan. I'm not a political person, but the signs seem worrisome and a troublesome echo of the most desolate hours of American history. It's a time where wisdom and leadership are desperately needed, and this year's election seems more important than ever. I would never tell anyone how to vote, but I hope everyone considers the choices carefully.
Whenever there is trouble in the world, faith, friends and family become more important than ever. Wednesday I am taking the fine young man Roger to Taco Del Mar for dinner. He sent me a story he wrote last night, about one of his favorite subjects, zombies. Roger has always had a vivid imagination and he's clever and funny, and the energy and humor in his story were infectious. I am so proud of that kid. He and Stephanie are the two things I have done right in my life, although their mothers deserve far more credit than I could ever take. Still, it a joy to be around both of them, smart, funny, handsome and beautiful, independent and aware. I enjoy their company so much. It makes growing old almost worth it, to see what fine people they have become.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
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This is the Way the Transformation Begins
"Some men see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were and say "Why not?"
George Bernard Shaw, Robert F. Kennedy
This is the way the transformation begins.
It begins in me.
It begins now.
It begins with small incremental changes and shifts in attitude
it begins with positive action
failing forward
and suddenly I start looking at the world and my place in it in a new way. I speak differently and dress differently and project a different energy, and the world opens up like a glorious pink azalea bush, eight feet tall and blooming like mad.
photo by Kajo123 from the website flickr.com
Good morning!
An engineer builds a bridge and every bolt and weld has to be exactly right; every measure has to be perfect, or the bridge collapses or fails to take its place. Fantastically detailed blueprints have to be laid out. Impact statements have to be filed, sediment has to be studied, years of effort, months of planning, and a man-made marvel rises in the sky. Park somewhere and take a good look at a bridge, and think of all the skill and knowledge and hard honest work it took to create it. Consider how a few thousand years ago we were living in caves.
It is not so with a dream. Some people are remarkable dreamers and dreams spring whole from them, or they can leap up from bed and pages of creative genius flow out of their pen, intricate and perfect. Most of us though are baby dreamers, new at it and tentative to the trust the power of what we wish for.
Start the dream! Whether you want to go to nursing school or college or learn to play the guitar, take a first step, now, even in the wrong direction. Don't wait for the blueprint to come to you, the environmental impact statement, the permits and the 200-page budget and legislative dream approval. Rough it out, sketch it on a napkin, tell a friend, and take action. Your dream begins the moment you step out in first moment of believing, and the result can touch a thousand souls. Listen to Jim Valvano: never give up, never surrender. Believe in the audacity of action and your fantastic potential for change and new opportunity.
It is not so with a dream. Some people are remarkable dreamers and dreams spring whole from them, or they can leap up from bed and pages of creative genius flow out of their pen, intricate and perfect. Most of us though are baby dreamers, new at it and tentative to the trust the power of what we wish for.
Start the dream! Whether you want to go to nursing school or college or learn to play the guitar, take a first step, now, even in the wrong direction. Don't wait for the blueprint to come to you, the environmental impact statement, the permits and the 200-page budget and legislative dream approval. Rough it out, sketch it on a napkin, tell a friend, and take action. Your dream begins the moment you step out in first moment of believing, and the result can touch a thousand souls. Listen to Jim Valvano: never give up, never surrender. Believe in the audacity of action and your fantastic potential for change and new opportunity.
The Hawthorne Bridge at sunrise, Portland Oregon. Photo by Joe Collver, from flickr.com
Genuine happiness and success start with an attitude of abundance
Make it a daily practice to begin your day with five minutes of thankfulness. You can even do it in your car on the way to work. Do it in your own way, whether it's thoughtful reflection or a prayer or singing out loud, but focus on your rich, amazing, abundant life.
Feeling grumpy or resentful or worried instead of thankful? Change direction! Consider the incredible gifts you have--mind, body, spirit, senses, your family, your friends, your clothes, your car, and the breakfast you enjoyed this morning. By the standards of 99% of the world, Americans are incredibly, amazingly rich. You truly have no idea how richly blessed you are until you start thinking about it. Even the heart that beats within you and the lungs that breathe your air are an intricate and amazing miracle.
Some of my favorite movies are ones that feature a once-defeated character waking up to an absolutely new day: "It's A Wonderful Life," the various versions of Dicken's "Christmas Carol" and "Groundhog Day." How exhilarating it is for George Bailey to wake up and realize his life isn't over, it's just beginning, and that today truly is a brand new day.
"It's a Wonderful Life"
George returns home to everything he ever wanted.
4 comments:
Gee thanks Dad, you're pretty cool too. If you want to come up this weekend we might be able to go to the fair or something. Kourt had been in trouble for lying and attitude lately and Tom leaves again on Sunday for another trip. Thanks for finally giving the Beavs their due, even though it took you FOREVER. I wish the Duckies luck against the big cheaters of the Pac, I actually hope they beat them.
Me
Okay today's blog is more like it!
Let's put it this way — you and I, and those around us, have little influence over the eocomy as individuals. Collectively, we can keep working, saving, buying, etc. and keep the economic machine running. If we all pull back, it (bad economy) becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Wur business ha suffered, a lot. For the first time in years, I am taking a rather dire sitation in stride.
Taking the advice of another person who left me with some nuggets of wisdom, I simply ask myself one question: What is the worst outcome? From an economic standpoint, the business goes belly up and I am left with no money, no income, and no financial future. Now that I know the worst-case scenario, I know a few other things: a) the sun will come up in the morning; b) I have people that love me; and c) college football will still be very important! With OSU playing at Utah, and Oregon "kicking a hornet's nest in LA," who cares if the economy is on the fast track to the toilet? What do you want, the Dow Jones to go up 500 points or a Duck win at USC?
Besided, good or bad economy, you still have those pesky Beaver fans to set straight!
On a more serious note, I remember by grandparents telling stories about when they livee through the Great Depression. The key to the whole story is that they lived through it.
If we all end up broke, we can share stories in the bread lines. I say that a bit jokingly, but the reality is, we may or may not encounter very ugly economic times ahead. If we do, let's thank God that we have each other to share a few laughs with.
Some great comments from the Beaver fans--your team has no doubt inspired you.
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