Friday, August 26, 2011

Calm in the Face of a Storm

Interestingly, I find myself sitting across a person who is blowing a head gasket. They are animated, red faced, huffing and puffing. I suspect this is most likely their nature, yet at the same time I can see the frustration mounting as I refuse to play the game.

I will not become hysterical, nor teary eyed at the commentary. Oh, I can listen perfectly well to what you are saying.

My taking notes, and mirroring your statements has you taking pot shots at my integrity, my behavior, my vernacular and my race.

So what? I articulate when I am ready. I respond in kind as I see fit.
This may come as a surprise, but I have news for you. I have freewill.

I choose to remain calm in the face of your storm.
Omnipotent as you may believe you are in your role as superior human being
I hate to be the one to burst your bubble.

Yes, I may have caused some distraction, and yes--I admit there are two sides to every story. But it's clear tact and diplomacy are not your strong suits. And the reason you are having difficulty communicating with me is two fold. Firstly--you are having a temper tantrum, and secondly this conversation is more a rant.

Bash me as you will.
List my infractions.
Carry on as you will.
You may be god in your domain.
You may believe your own lies.
You may be just as ugly inside as on the outside.
You may be triggered, and angry and pissed off.

Kindly, I will let you be. You've insulted me enough for the both of us.
Thank you for everything.
The truth does indeed, set you free.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Everyone Means Well

Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.
~Albert Einstein


What a great quote! In my heart, I believe everyone means well. Even the condescending folks that feel the need to speak down to you. It's more likely they are not even aware they come across that way.

I've made a decision. There is no room for negativity in my life.

It's true, not every encounter inspires.
Not every instance will leave you feeling supported and valued.

People project their stuff.
You could very well be on the receiving end of their stuff.

The good news is, you get to choose your response.
Sure, some disappointments can and will derail you (for a time) if you let it.
There may be a message in the subtext, meant only for you.
What is it that you will you take from this experience?

Maybe it's an instance you should ignore.
Letting go of highly charged situations is recommended.

Maybe it's riddled with meaning, an opportunity to heal, a chance to practice compassion with another, or with one's Self.
Again, you get to choose how you will respond, if in fact you do.


I leave you now with a few quotes that for me, provide definite food for thought.
Have a most wonderful day regardless what occurs.
Remember...You too are a Genius!


Do the best you can, with what you have, where you are.
~Theodore Roosevelt

We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.
~Anais Nin

People who express gratitude create pools of generosity in the world
around them. ~Martha Beck

Whenever two people meet there are really six people present.
There is each man as he sees himself,
Each man as the other sees him-
And each man as he really is. ~William James 1842-1910

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

A Love of Books

My favourite quote by Jorge Luis Borges is:
“I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library”.

I am someone who loves to read. I have a love of books. Any kind of book. According to a recent entry on Wikipedia, their definition of a classic bibliophile is “one who loves to read, admire and collect books, often amassing a large and specialized collection”. I couldn’t agree more.

I grew up in home where books were considered dust collectors, and we as a family owned very few. I see myself making up for lost time, with my vast personal home library. Everything I need to know I can find on those bookshelves. (And the internet of course, but my collecting started before the web became what it is today). Think of it as a place of instantaneous information at my fingertips without ever having to leave home. Joy.

Reading a book is pure escapism and entertainment. It’s learning. It’s pleasure. All wrapped up into one. They say, do what you love.
I love to read.

I am happiest when I have a dozen titles on the go. I have little stacks of books just waiting for me to relish. Could say I am an avid and voracious reader.

I’ve discovered a great website www.alibris.com that carries used, new, and out-of-print books. Joy.

Browsing garage sales, used book stores, and recently the book department at Value Village, I am getting my fill. More joy.

My greatest find was picking up a few hundred used books some years back. I sometimes dream of owning a used book depot to share my love for reading while collecting donated books that will keep them in circulation and out of landfills.

There is nothing like being immersed in a great read.
There are times when I’d rather read the book than watch the movie version.

If I could describe my love of reading to you, it would be comparable to breathing. It’s just essential to existing. If I had a mission, it would be to spread the joy of reading to everyone.

Books provide answers to many questions. They are unending sources of knowledge and power. For this reader, it’s that passion, that joy of reading again, taking me places. Stories affect. Words Imprint.
I grow and am changed by what I discover in the text between those covers.
Holding a book is a viseral tactile experience that can never be replaced by a digital book.

Ebooks and eReaders will not kill the joy of reading in my estimation. For me it’s about ease of use. I can carry a dozen or more books at one time if I load up my eReader. My purse will not weigh a ton and should I choose to, I can borrow an ebook from the library with a few clicks of the mouse and not even have to get up or leave the house to do this when I am in couch potato mode. (Pluses not minuses in my book).

Reading is being alone with my thoughts with my book as a constant companion. It’s how I stay informed and connected to my emotional self. What are you reading? Does it evoke similar feelings in you? Will you have the time to finish it?

All I can say is one can never have too many books. One just needs to set aside the time to vacuum them periodically.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

The Water Pipes are Frozen

This bout of extreme cold weather has left me with water pipes that are frozen. As I wait for the guy to arrive and solve this problem for me, I am forced to reconsider my relationship with water itself.

Luckily, I have great neighbours next door. They are happy to fill my buckets, pots and my Brita jug with cold water.

The fireplace is gas, so I’ve devised a method of placing dutch ovens atop to heat the water. I still find myself turning on the taps on autopilot. You do get so used to having running water in the bathroom, in the kitchen.

It’s the same with hydro. You flick a switch and the lights are on. The stove heats up. The microwave instantly reheats last night’s leftovers and warms up the room temperature cup of coffee you left sitting on the counter while you schemed.

This is my latest foray into the idea of conservation. The power outage a few years back was also an awakening. As is this situation.

It’s true you can’t do everything yourself. You do need the help of others from time to time. I thought to steam the exposed pipes with a boiling kettle of water as I eased my anxiety. Knowing full well, the water pipes run along the exterior wall of the house, I hope this will make some small difference. Maybe it will, maybe it won’t. But I need to do something to kill time while I wait for the guy to arrive.

I’m not the kind that usually panics. I do have to rely on my creative and critical thinking skills to see my way thru this situation.

Things like, leaving filled pitchers near the sinks. Leaving a filled bucket (or two) of precious H20 in the bathtub for easy access to fill the toilet tank. I am not taking for granted just how fortunate I am that I have a home with taps. I live in a time where there are others who have less, no access to the creature comforts I have come to expect and automatically am used to having.
And while it would be easy to focus on the negative aspects of not having water, I will just use this experience to test my resilience, and patience. My latest mantra is: relief is not that far away. The phone rings. The guy is on his way.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Back on Track

There are those who think I've lost my marbles.
There are those who think there were no marbles at all to begin with.
(Isn't that right, BW?)

So in light of all that has occurred--
I direct this to my greatest critics. (and you know who you are)

Actually--it all matters not.
My potential exists.
As does yours.

Time to proceed.
Time to move on from what was.
Time to make some plans.
Time to invite a miracle.

It's great to be back on track!

Friday, June 11, 2010

Don't Believe Everything They Tell You

Today I called a creditor to make payment arrangements regarding my account. After taking a small financial hit, I wanted to ensure my account remained in good standing despite my situation.

The CSR recommended I let the account go 'delinquent' before they could do anything for me. Did I hear that correctly? Do not make a payment, then we can help you.

Right. Screw up my credit. Great advice. Obviously the person on the other end of the phone was merely (a) doing their job or (b) going thru the motions with the appearance of doing their job or (c) had no idea who they were talking to.

If I want to damage my credit score, I can do it on my own.
Being advised to is an entirely different matter.

That's how we do things, the representative said. Indeed.

I called again. As this so-called advice did not sit well with me. Spoke with another individual who made the same recommendation. It's the only way, so-in-so advised.

After requesting a supervisor, the demeanor changed. Clearly I wasn't going to heed this bad advice. The supervisor won't tell you anything I haven't, she cooed.

I insisted upon speaking to one, regardless. Reluctantly I was passed to someone who actually assisted me with options, available programs to participate in and described in great detail what would be viable arrangements in no nonsense terms.

Had I not persisted--I might have shot myself in the proverbial foot.

Don't believe everything they tell you.
Trust your gut instincts.
Keep asking your questions until you feel satisfied you've explored all the options.

Then and only then should you chart your next course of action.
Caveat emptor. Indeed.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Today's Wisdom is from Pronoia by Rob Brezsny

I love sharing snippets of wisdom that I have discovered.
Today's is no exception.
Maybe this will provoke your thoughts, maybe not.

I am a huge fan of quoting quotes from others.
My favourites will always appear here. Enjoy!

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Today's Wisdom is from Pronoia by Rob Brezsny:

Thousands of things go right for you every day, beginning the moment you wake up. Through some magic you don't fully understand, you're still breathing and your heart is beating, even though you've been unconscious for many hours. The air is a mix of gases that's just right for your body's needs, as it was before you fell asleep.

You can see! Light of many colors floods into your eyes, registered by nerves that took God or evolution or some process millions of years to perfect. The interesting gift of these vivid hues is made possible by an unimaginably immense globe of fire, the sun, which continually detonates nuclear reactions in order to convert its own body into light and heat and energy for your personal use.
*
The preceding oracle comes from my new book, PRONOIA Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings.

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Take care til next time! Hamiltonwriter