Three Zebras and an Ass January 31, 2013
Posted by nrhatch in Happiness, Humor, Mindfulness, Word Play.Tags: Ass, Happiness, Humor, Mindfulness, Word Play, Zebra
56 comments
Three zebras wandered a dirt road enjoying the day, convivial conversation alternating with companionable silence.
An enormous ass ambled over to them and began to bray. Loudly.
The ass, delighted to have an audience for his grievances, complained about the weather, the surface of the road, the cost of carrots, his mother-in-law’s tongue, the state of the barn . . .
As the ass dumped his ponderous pile of dung at the zebras’ hooves, the zebras did their best to cheer him up.
To no avail.
No matter what the zebras said, the ass insisted that HIS view of the world was the right view of the world.
Zion smiled, “At times, we must choose between being right and being happy.”
“Poppycock! I’m happy BECAUSE I’m right! It just annoys me when people are rude and don’t apologize for being boorish. Why just the other day . . . ”
With that, the ass launched another stale tale.
Ziggy grinned, “We see the world behind our eyes.”
The ass snorted, “What utter nonsense! I see things exactly as they are.”
Zodiac pricked up his ears, “I expect you’re right . . . most asses do see things exactly as they are.”
Satisfied, the ass ambled off in search of another audience. As soon as he was out of sight, the zebras burst into fits of convulsive laughter.
“What an ass!”
Aah . . . that’s better!
Smile . . . For No Good Reason January 30, 2013
Posted by nrhatch in Happiness, Life Balance, Mindfulness, Simplify Your Life.Tags: Anger, Attitude, Happiness, Life Balance, Mindfulness
31 comments
A brief excerpt from Smile for No Good Reason by Dr. Lee Jampolsky:
We have all experienced what it is like to be having a perfectly fine day and have a situation or crisis arise that sends us into a tailspin. It may be something small like a traffic jam making us late, or something more severe like the loss of a job. Our response can seem automatic.
Though at first it may be difficult to accept, freedom depends on recognizing that you’re not upset because of what occurred, you are upset because of how you perceive the situation.
* * * * *
Let’s imagine that you have a favorite coffeehouse that you frequent. The staff knows your name and always has a warm and friendly greeting as you walk through the door.
An extremely grumpy woman whom you have never seen before serves you this particular morning. She appears preoccupied rather than caring about you or what she is doing. As she pours your hot coffee a good portion spills in your lap. Despite your jumping in shock, no apology follows.
Your experience is anger: both toward the waitress and the owner, Joe, for hiring such an incompetent person.
Then, a friend of yours at the next booth says, “Isn’t it great that Joe hired her!”
“Great! Are you out of your mind? She just spilled hot coffee in my lap and walked away,” you reply with your best indignant voice.
“Oh, you didn’t hear the story?” your friend whispers.
“What story?” you angrily reply, still drying off your new slacks, wondering how you will go through the day looking as though you wet your pants.
“Yeah, Joe didn’t know her from Adam. He read in the paper that her husband had died last month in a car accident. Apparently her husband’s health insurance stopped, and she was looking for another job in order to pay for her sixteen-year old son’s chemotherapy for leukemia,” your friend responds.
Now, you still have hot coffee in your crotch, but are you still angry?
Unlikely.
The only thing that shifted was your perception and attitude. Through discovering a reason to be compassionate, your entire experience changed.
When you are upset remind yourself the cause of your discomfort is your own attitude. This is freedom.
Aah . . . that’s better!
To read more and for ordering information: Smile for No Good Reason by Dr. Lee Jampolsky
Remember: How you relate to the issue IS the issue.
Get Off The Nail January 29, 2013
Posted by nrhatch in Happiness, Life Lessons, Mindfulness.Tags: Change, Happiness, Life Lessons, Mindfulness
31 comments
One day, a salesman drove up to a farmhouse to ask for directions.
As he greeted the elderly gentleman sitting in the side yard, an old dog at the farmer’s feet lifted its head and let out a low moan.
When the salesman started to ask for directions, the dog lifted its head and moaned again.
As the dog moaned a third time, the salesman asked, “What’s wrong with your dog?”
The old man looked at the dog and said, “He’s lying on a nail.”
“Lying on a nail?”
“Yep. Bothers him enough to complain about, not enough to make him move.”
Source: e-mail from unknown author
* * * * *
How often are we like that old dog? Staying put rather than making necessary changes?
* The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are. ~ J. Pierpoint Morgan
* And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~ Anais Nin
Remember to Spit Out the Seeds! January 28, 2013
Posted by nrhatch in Gratitude, Happiness, Humor, Life Balance.Tags: Gratitude, Happiness, Humor, Life Balance, Misery, Sophocles
45 comments
Ego concerns like fear, anger, guilt, and resentment get in the way of our happiness:
* We hang on to things for days that we could (and should) brush off in minutes, robbing ourselves of peace of mind and creating unnecessary suffering.
* We perpetuate pain, and keep it alive, by replaying our hurts over and over again.
* We overreact to minor annoyances, and share them with others, fueling negative mental states (anger, jealousy, rage, envy, greed, hatred).
* We walk around in a state of perpetual disappointment because others are not who and how we want them to be.
Instead of challenging our thought patterns and changing them, we attempt to change others ~ expecting THEM to meet OUR expectations. When they don’t comply, we grow discouraged, disheartened, and disappointed . . . drowning in self-created despair and dismay.
The greatest griefs are those we cause ourselves. ~ Sophocles
Whenever we choose to hang on to the past, rather than letting it go, we are robbing ourselves of the joy, peace, and happiness we could be feeling right here, right now.
The tragedy of life is not so much what we suffer, but rather what we miss. ~ Thomas Carlyle
Hardship is inevitable . . . misery is optional.
When life hands you lemons, remember to spit out the seeds . . . at the first opportunity!
Aah . . . that’s better!
Enjoy Every Moment You Can January 25, 2013
Posted by nrhatch in Happiness, Health & Wellness, Life Lessons, Mindfulness.Tags: Cancer, Happiness, Health, Mindfulness, Parotid gland, Tumor
59 comments
When I had a parotid gland tumor . . . I had to wait 3 months for the surgeon I wanted because he was changing hospitals.
Due to the tumor’s proximity to facial nerves, it could not be biopsied.
Odds were in favor of it being a benign tumor, but . . .
Anyway, I decided that if I had cancer, if I was going to die, I was going to enjoy the time I had left without worrying about the future.
It worked! Those 3 months were among the BEST months of my life.
When people asked me how I could be so HAPPY with that uncertainty hanging over my head, I said, “If I’m going to die, I’m going to enjoy this time.”
On the morning of surgery, I was chipper and happy despite the early-ness of the hour . . . even without my customary cup of coffee.
The nurses frowned, pointing out the serious nature of the coming events.
I laughed, “I know. It’s serious business, this surgery. I might die. All the more reason to enjoy the NOW.”
“We are HERE and it is NOW . . . what else is there?”
Stay positive. Imagine best case scenarios. Enjoy every moment you can.
Aah . . . that’s better!
Related posts: Hold On To Your Worry Beads (The Folia) * Could We Just Not? (The Ramblings)
Resonant Chamber & Pipe Dream January 17, 2013
Posted by nrhatch in Happiness, Music & Dance, Synchronicity & Mystery.Tags: Animusic, Happiness, Music, Music Box, Synchronicity & Mystery
35 comments
“Resonant Chamber” combines a beautiful melody and mesmerizing artistry . . .
And here’s “Pipe Dream” . . .
Aah . . . that’s better!
For more information on computer animated music, visit animusic.com
Sinbad and Lovegood January 12, 2013
Posted by nrhatch in Gratitude, Happiness, Life Balance, Mindfulness.Tags: Gratitude, Happiness, Life Balance, Mindfulness
48 comments
Captain Sinbad and Captain Lovegood set sail from the Port of Happiness on a sunny day in separate ships.
Both captains had years of experience at the helm, weathering storms and navigating unfamiliar territory on land and at sea.
There, the similarity between them ended.
Captain Sinbad focused his attention on all the bad experiences he had encountered on past voyages, holding them front and center in his mind. He piloted his ship with one eye glued to the rear view mirror at all times.
Captain Lovegood used a different approach, allowing the past to recede from view except when recalling it would be to his immediate advantage in piloting his ship through a difficult passage.
As they set sail, Captain Lovegood hoisted anchor and charged ahead with alert curiosity and wonder, ready to embrace new adventures and experiences.
Captain Sinbad failed to fully raise his anchor or release the mooring lines that held him fast to the shore. As a result, he and his crew made little headway.
On sunny days with a lively breeze, Captain Lovegood and his crew soared across the water, enjoying everything the present moment had to offer ~ the wind, the waves, the creaking timbers, and the salt kissed air.
Not so, Captain Sinbad. He never relaxed into the moment. Instead, he oscillated between re-living past storms and worrying about imagined storms ahead. No matter how perfect the moment at hand, Captain Sinbad missed it ~ lost as he was in the past and the future.
When another ship came into view, Captain Lovegood called out a hearty greeting, expecting the ship’s captain to be friend, not foe. Tossing out the bowline, Lovegood invited the passing sailors to come aboard and share life experiences and a few laughs with his crew. The captains exchanged weather warnings and other pertinent info ~ alerting each other to what might lie ahead.
Not so, Captain Sinbad. He viewed every passing ship and its crew as a potential threat. If they drew too close to the side of his vessel, he took immediate offense and ordered his crew to fire off a few warning shots from cannons ever ready to chase passing ships away.
As Captain Lovegood and his crew traveled from the Port of Happiness to the Rock of Gibraltar, they enjoyed smooth sailing, delighting in the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes that greeted them as one moment of the journey unfolded into the next. Relaxed and happy, they weathered passing storms with ease.
In contrast, Captain Sinbad’s crew grew disheartened and weary from the paranoia, fear, and worry which Captain Sinbad wore like a badge of honor even on the fairest of days. Exhausted and tense, the crew grew sloppy. The slightest gale caused chaos and confusion on board, blowing Sinbad’s ship farther and farther off course.
Before reaching port, his crew jumped ship, leaving Captain Sinbad to fend for himself. With no one to assist, the once able captain ran aground at the Rock of Gibraltar, sinking his ship in the process.
After disembarking, Captain Lovegood and his crew regaled those they met with tales of their delightful voyage from the Port of Happiness. Asked about the storms encountered, they scoffed, “Those? Why they were nothing more than a bit of hot air ~ mere puffery ~ easily negotiated.”
After dragging his soggy self to shore, Captain Sinbad told a far different tale of the “same voyage.” His version included repeated attempts by pirates to overtake his ship and steal his cargo and dark storms which threatened everything he and his crew held dear.
On your journey through life, which captain do you want at the helm?
When We Get Stuck December 24, 2012
Posted by nrhatch in Bulletin Board, Gratitude, Happiness, Mindfulness.Tags: Flow, Happiness, Holiday, Mindfulness, Newsletters, Tigger
62 comments
I’ve been writing annual missives for thirty years.
Sometimes, the words flow easily.
Other years, it’s a struggle to balance joys and sorrows.
This year, I got stuck, mired in memories.
To get unstuck, I flipped through 29 previous newsletters, noting the constant opening and closing of doors ~ births, deaths, marriages, graduations.
That’s life.
Like it or not, the arrival and departure of people, places, and things (friends, jobs, pets, homes, and hobbies) form the fabric of our lives ~ each milestone and experience woven into a seamless tapestry with no clear delineation or demarcation to mark the passage from one moment to the next as we live in the NOW.
2012, like a toddler throwing a tantrum while navigating the terrible twos, has been filled with difficult moments and not-so-subtle reminders that the only constant in life is change.
Dad died. Mom can no longer live alone. A house filled with memories must be sold. Tigger has diabetes. My sister is still seeking a cure for vision and mobility issues. Hurricane Sandy re-arranged the East Coast. A lone gunman stepped into a school and opened fire, killing 22 students and teachers.
Life, like time, flows in a single stream. We cannot double back, detour around rough patches, or request a “do-over.” There’s no “rewind” button. We cannot press “pause.” This is IT.
We live it . . . or we miss it.
Even when we are standing still, mired in memories of what was, life continues to ebb and flow around us . . . gaining momentum as we age.
But, just as Y2K did NOT signal the end of the world, neither will 2012.
Life will keep flowing forward and we will flow with it, doing our best to live happily ever after on a moment by moment basis . . . enjoying family reunions, playing miniature golf with nieces and nephews, relaxing on the beach.
We are HERE and it is NOW . . . what else is there?
Aah . . . that’s better!
Dashing Through The Mall December 15, 2012
Posted by nrhatch in Gratitude, Happiness, Special Events, Word Play.Tags: Christmas, Happiness, Holidays, Lights, Love, Shopping mall
87 comments
Dashing through the mall with a wobbling shopping cart
Cindy stopped to pause . . . beneath a bright red heart
Heart ~ Heart ~ Heart
It radiated love . . . and good will toward all
Even those stuck shopping in the crowded mall
Oh . . .
Crowded malls, crowded malls, crowded night and day
Oh what fun it is to PAUSE as Spirit Lights The Way
Hey!
Crowded malls, crowded malls, crowded night and day
Oh what fun it is to PAUSE as Spirit Lights The Way
Cindy looked around . . . as three carolers drew near
Ready to sing out and spread bright Christmas cheer
Tra ~ La ~ La
As shoppers gathered round, they began to sing
About a drummer boy and the gift he gave a king
Oh . . .
Crowded malls, crowded malls, crowded night and day
Oh what fun it is to SING as Spirit Lights The Way
Hey!
Crowded malls, crowded malls, crowded night and day
Oh what fun it is to SING as Spirit Lights The Way
The bells around the mall . . . chimed with festive air
Making spirits bright and lifting worldly cares
Ha ~ Ha ~ Ha
Love is a force for good . . . at any time or place
The present of the present fills our hearts with grace
Oh . . .
Crowded malls, crowded malls, crowded night and day
Oh what fun it is to LAUGH as Spirit Lights The Way
Hey!
Crowded malls, crowded malls, crowded night and day
Oh what fun it is to LAUGH as Spirit Lights The Way
Aah . . . that’s better!
Written for: Susanna Leonard Hill’s Pretty Much World Famous 2nd Annual Holiday Contest ~ entries must be submitted by 12/19/12.
Aah . . . It’s Here! December 13, 2012
Posted by nrhatch in Happiness, Home & Garden, Life Balance, Mindfulness.Tags: Christmas, Happiness, Holidays, Life Balance, Stress
35 comments
*
* *
Aah!
It’s here.
A time of year
Filled with good cheer.
Enjoy the flicker of candle light
While carols softly play in pine-scented air.
Instead of shopping all day until you’re dropping at night
Dial back the frenetic and frantic pace to ease your stress and care.
Joy
Love
Peace
Are seldom found ”For Sale” at the mall.
‘Tis the Season to make a Joyful Noise to drown out the Holiday Honking:
* Wreaths at Colonial Williamsburg (Living The Seasons)
* Friends Worth Waiting On (boy, dog, mud puddle) (Apple Pie & Napalm)
* 12-12-12 (a reminder to notice the good) (Me! Me! Me, me, me!)
* They See Me Rollin’. They Hatin’. (The Ramblings)
Aah . . . that’s better!
