Thanks for reading this. One of the big things that has been happening in my life this year has to do with my ability to be thankful in all circumstances. I used to be quite an ungrateful person, and i'm definitely not out of the woods yet, but I know that I have made some progress in this area.
One Thessalonians Chapter Five and Verse 18.
Often in life we think that if we could change our job, or move to a new city, or something like that, then life might be better. I know people who have done all of these things and are still miserable. That's because they are trying to change how they feel by changing what they do or where they are... Sometimes a change in scenery can give us a kick start, new lifestyle or new perspective, which is great, but often people do these things because it is much easier than facing their problem, and changing themselves. The best way to change yourself is by changing yourself, not by changing your job or house. It is the best way, but also the hardest.
I'd say it's about the hardest thing anyone will ever do. Opposing yourself and talking back to yourself. Take my ungratefulness for example. Only in the last couple of months have I noticed that I am thankful in most cirumstances, possibly all of my average daily circumstances. I havn't had anything major to confront so i'm not sure how I would handle that, but I am quite stoked that I seem to be saying thankyou regularly throughout my day. Even when my back was stuffed, I was genuinely thankful that my arms and legs were fine and that I could at least do something. I was also grateful that I had enough money to go to the physio and that my boss gave me time to go. I was in pain, but I was still happy and laughing about it! That's a good way to be I think!I hope I can keep it going!
But it wasn't always this way. A couple of years ago I would whine about everything and feel like the world was against me, but I decided to change my attitude and worked very hard at trying to be thankful until now where it has become a much more natural mindset.
So if you are negative and depressed, that sucks, but the only way to change is to do something about it. No amount of complaining will make other people fix you. You are not a child any more, you are an adult and you had better start acting like one. It's your life, so you make the decisions. Stop blaming others for your situation. Your life is your responsibilty, no one else will do it for you. The sooner you realise this, the sooner you can get on with living, and not just letting life pass you by.
You know that song "Thankyou very much for your kind donation...thankyou very much, thankyou very, very, very much..." Well I was singin the same tune in my head just before, except the words were changed to "Thankyou very much in my situation, thankyou very much, thankyou very, very, very much"
You don't have to be thankful that you hate your life, that's stupid, but you could be thankful that you can read this, think about it, make a coffee, feed yourself, walk, breathe, know where your next meal is coming from, have family and friends, have strength to get up and go to work, have had some cool experiences in life, the list is endless...and only cut short by your limited perspective.
"Without vision, the people perish" In this case, as soon as you lose your vision, or healthy perspective, then you lose sight of the many things you have to be thankful for. And then you perish, or die on the inside... God, life, other people and you are waiting for you to choose to be thankful. Always look on the bright side of life... Its hard at first but gets easier the more you choose to do it.
Thanks for reading:)
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Getting offended
I get quite frustated when people get offended at things. The latest public uproar stems from Paul Henry's comments about Susan Boyle being a retard. Offences come at us all of the time, and it's our choice whether we take the offence and get angry, self-righteous and defensive about it. When people don't like something and they publically cry about it, I wonder if they actually realise how childish they look! I work in the trades so the predominant culture there is for people to hassle eachothers workmanship, or fat belly, or working slack 9-5 office hours etc... So if there was ever a place to take offence, my working environment would be up there. You can work really hard for days and then have people turn up and not like what you have done. And they tell you.
So it would be quite easy for me to get offended at work, and I have a few times, especially when I don't get enough sleep the night before. The school of hard knocks is good if you can graduate from it!
I used to get offended quite easily, and it made life very hard. But when I learned that being offended was entirely my own decision, and that I didnt have to get offended if I didnt want to, things took an upward turn. And life is so much easier now, especially my relationships. I have found that forgiving people can be quite hard work sometimes, and that it is actually much easier to just not even get offended in the first place. Cut it off before it grows and then you don't have to worry about forgiving people all the time.
I also learnt that taking offence is a sign of immaturity. (prov 19:11) I read my bible sometimes and it tells me good things like that! You should read one too. Better than any self help book out there. I don't want to be immature so I decided that, right or wrong, another person can say what ever they like about me or to me etc and I will not even worry about it. Sure, easier said than done, but the more you do it, the easier it gets.
If someone calls me fatty or says I have doane a bad job or something, I simply do a quick check in my head. Is anything they are saying true? Maybe it is. Ok, i'll do something about it... Or maybe there's nothing really true in what they are saying, in which case, I will just say to myself... Yeah, another comment from someone who didn't give much thought to what they said, or maybe they've had a bad day, or maybe they just want some attention, I wonder if I can help them out etc... No big deal...
Then I pretty much forget what they even said. Unimportant...
Much easier than saying... How dare they! Thats not fair, I try really hard and then they hassle me, who do they think they are... look at them... pot calling the kettle black there! Hypocrite, last time I talk to you and do something to help you out. Loser, cant wait to tell everyone what a loser you are... angry downward spiral of thinking... which my moods, emotions and feelings quickly follow downwards as well.
One reason that being a Christian is good is because you can trust God to stick up for you! You don't have to fight to prove you are right. What other people think about is not really important because you know that the unseen character is what will shine through in the end. You dont like me? Who cares! You gossip and judge me? I dont like that, but really, who cares! The truth comes out in the end, and I don't have to fight and strive to prove anything to anyone! God does that for me, ahhh, peace... No one's perfect, get over it and move on!
The real problem is that people don't know who they are. If you have healthy self-esteem and an accurate view of yourself, people can say whatever they like about you and you won't be bothered. But if you are unsure of yourself then people's comments can offend you because you are still trying to prove to the world who you are, and when other people suggest something different, your fighting reflex wants to stick up for you, take offence, and prove them wrong.
"Like a sheep before his shearers, He was silent".
Don't get offended! Grow up!
So it would be quite easy for me to get offended at work, and I have a few times, especially when I don't get enough sleep the night before. The school of hard knocks is good if you can graduate from it!
I used to get offended quite easily, and it made life very hard. But when I learned that being offended was entirely my own decision, and that I didnt have to get offended if I didnt want to, things took an upward turn. And life is so much easier now, especially my relationships. I have found that forgiving people can be quite hard work sometimes, and that it is actually much easier to just not even get offended in the first place. Cut it off before it grows and then you don't have to worry about forgiving people all the time.
I also learnt that taking offence is a sign of immaturity. (prov 19:11) I read my bible sometimes and it tells me good things like that! You should read one too. Better than any self help book out there. I don't want to be immature so I decided that, right or wrong, another person can say what ever they like about me or to me etc and I will not even worry about it. Sure, easier said than done, but the more you do it, the easier it gets.
If someone calls me fatty or says I have doane a bad job or something, I simply do a quick check in my head. Is anything they are saying true? Maybe it is. Ok, i'll do something about it... Or maybe there's nothing really true in what they are saying, in which case, I will just say to myself... Yeah, another comment from someone who didn't give much thought to what they said, or maybe they've had a bad day, or maybe they just want some attention, I wonder if I can help them out etc... No big deal...
Then I pretty much forget what they even said. Unimportant...
Much easier than saying... How dare they! Thats not fair, I try really hard and then they hassle me, who do they think they are... look at them... pot calling the kettle black there! Hypocrite, last time I talk to you and do something to help you out. Loser, cant wait to tell everyone what a loser you are... angry downward spiral of thinking... which my moods, emotions and feelings quickly follow downwards as well.
One reason that being a Christian is good is because you can trust God to stick up for you! You don't have to fight to prove you are right. What other people think about is not really important because you know that the unseen character is what will shine through in the end. You dont like me? Who cares! You gossip and judge me? I dont like that, but really, who cares! The truth comes out in the end, and I don't have to fight and strive to prove anything to anyone! God does that for me, ahhh, peace... No one's perfect, get over it and move on!
The real problem is that people don't know who they are. If you have healthy self-esteem and an accurate view of yourself, people can say whatever they like about you and you won't be bothered. But if you are unsure of yourself then people's comments can offend you because you are still trying to prove to the world who you are, and when other people suggest something different, your fighting reflex wants to stick up for you, take offence, and prove them wrong.
"Like a sheep before his shearers, He was silent".
Don't get offended! Grow up!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Looking good
I have been thinking about the word "Paradigm" for a couple of days, what it means, what my paradigms about certain things might be etc.. In my searching, I came across some interesting things like this commentary on part of Steven Covey's book, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People". The way we see the problem is often the problem itself! I like that. Two people might have exactly the same problem but their lives could be completely different from eachother because of the way they each see that problem. It's not what you look at, it's what you see that is most important and we can have a choice in that. So here's some cut and paste for yo.
The Power of a Paradigm Shift
Covey has the best example of a paradigm shift: he was traveling in a subway, a man gets in with his two sons, the sons are running all over the place bothering the people, this continues, so he finally gets irritated enough to ask the father why he doesn't do something to control his kids. The father replies, "We just got back from the hospital where their mother died. I don't know how to handle it and I guess they don't either."
Suddenly you see the everything differently. That is the power of a paradigm shift. They are the same kids yelling and screaming in the subway, but you look at them and understand them in a different way.
I was at the swimming pool the other day and saw a family of three leaving out the door. The little boy suddenly stopped and stood looking through the glass at the swimmers in the pool who were still swimming. The father yelled back to him, "Come on, what are you doing, just staring at things again? Let's go!" I thought about the paradigm that the father had of his son: "stupid, slow kid who's always doing something he isn't supposed to." Now what if the school counsellor were to call the father up the next day and tell him, "We have just received the test results back from your son and have discovered that he has impressively high IQ. He is a genius." The next time his kid stood staring at something, I wonder if the father wouldn't go back to him inquisitively and say, "Tell me what you are thinking about son. What do you see?"
Our behavior results from our paradigms of the world. The classic example of the old woman/young woman picture which Covey includes in the book is a good example. You can look at the picture and see an old woman or you can look at the picture and see a young woman. Depending on what you see is what you are going to say about "that picture."
The Principle-Centered Paradigm
In this book, Covey wants to express to us how we can base our behavior on a paradigm of the world which is centered on our unchanging principles instead of being centered on what happens in the world, what others do, what we do, how we feel, how others feel, the stock market, and the vicissitudes of life.
The Way We See the Problem Is the Problem
If you have a problem, the actual problem is that you are looking at it as a problem. It could be something else, such as an opportunity. When it rains lemons, make lemonade. You just need a paradigm shift.
The Power of a Paradigm Shift
Covey has the best example of a paradigm shift: he was traveling in a subway, a man gets in with his two sons, the sons are running all over the place bothering the people, this continues, so he finally gets irritated enough to ask the father why he doesn't do something to control his kids. The father replies, "We just got back from the hospital where their mother died. I don't know how to handle it and I guess they don't either."
Suddenly you see the everything differently. That is the power of a paradigm shift. They are the same kids yelling and screaming in the subway, but you look at them and understand them in a different way.
I was at the swimming pool the other day and saw a family of three leaving out the door. The little boy suddenly stopped and stood looking through the glass at the swimmers in the pool who were still swimming. The father yelled back to him, "Come on, what are you doing, just staring at things again? Let's go!" I thought about the paradigm that the father had of his son: "stupid, slow kid who's always doing something he isn't supposed to." Now what if the school counsellor were to call the father up the next day and tell him, "We have just received the test results back from your son and have discovered that he has impressively high IQ. He is a genius." The next time his kid stood staring at something, I wonder if the father wouldn't go back to him inquisitively and say, "Tell me what you are thinking about son. What do you see?"
Our behavior results from our paradigms of the world. The classic example of the old woman/young woman picture which Covey includes in the book is a good example. You can look at the picture and see an old woman or you can look at the picture and see a young woman. Depending on what you see is what you are going to say about "that picture."
The Principle-Centered Paradigm
In this book, Covey wants to express to us how we can base our behavior on a paradigm of the world which is centered on our unchanging principles instead of being centered on what happens in the world, what others do, what we do, how we feel, how others feel, the stock market, and the vicissitudes of life.
The Way We See the Problem Is the Problem
If you have a problem, the actual problem is that you are looking at it as a problem. It could be something else, such as an opportunity. When it rains lemons, make lemonade. You just need a paradigm shift.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Too much good is bad
I don't know what to write. I havn't had any interesting insights in the last few days. I've been working quite hard out in the heat and to be honest I am feeling really worn out. My back feels better though. That was getting to be ridiculous, but thankfully mountains of cash given to the right person can fix any problem. Thank you physio and massage therapist. The bit I really love is how we pay hundreds of dollars a year to ACC and then when we need them, we have to pay with our own money anyway. I love how life is fair like that. Good system. At least my taxes go to worthy causes. Prisoners eat better than I do. Good on them. They deserve a good feed at the end of the day.
Tired. Can only manage short sentences. Boy it's hot. Not quite 40deg, but still hot.
I guess the one thing I have been thinking about a little bit today was around the topic of too much of a good thing is usually a bad thing. There's lots of things that are bad for us, and lots of things that are good for us. But if we do too much of those good things then they become bad for us. Sleep, food, wine, exercise, work, socialising, sun, thinking, talking, music... are all good things. But if we have too much of these then they become bad for us. Everything in moderation, including moderation. Too much sleep and the world would be like a big group of students. Nothing getting done, but lots of nice looking bed hair. Too much food and the world would look like a planet full of overweight Americans. Too much wine and the world would look like a bunch of Aussie teenagers. The list could go on. I like getting my shirt off at work, coz it's so hot (the temperature, certainly not my body) and that sun is good for my vitamin D and healthy looking appaerance, but if it's off for too long, then I look like a lobster, get melanoma and eventually, will age like the man from the Dolmio Grin ads.
No one wants that do they?
Also, there has to be a balance between doing lots of good stuff. Like when you are eating healthy, it's good to have a day off to have a treat or two. Exercising should always include a day off in between or as often as you deem appropriate. Even alcoholics have a day off every year and followers of the Consumer Religion even take a day off at Easter.
It's ok to not be perfect and always maintain perfection in your life. There's only one person who was and is perfect and if we try to live up to that standard then we are self deceived idiots. Excellence is a good thing to aim for, but excellence isn't perfection. Once you realise that you don't have to be perfect and live up to impossible standards, a real freedom comes into your life. Jesus earnt all the brownie points for us! So as long as we are honestly doing our best as is humanly possible, there's nothing wrong with making mistakes as long as we learn from them. If you eat healthy for a while but then eat fish n chips for a few days, so what! Yeah it's not a good thing, it's not what I want my life's diet to be like, but it's also not the end of the world.
I'm writing this for people like me. Perfectionists. Who think perfection can be attained by lots of effort, but every time I don't reach it, I beat myself up. I sometimes need to tell myself that "Good enough is actually good enough".
God fills in the gaps for us, and makes us perfect in His sight. Do your best and then relax. Then do your best again...
Gee, I don't think that blog makes any sense. I am spaced out. Too much exercise today...
Tired. Can only manage short sentences. Boy it's hot. Not quite 40deg, but still hot.
I guess the one thing I have been thinking about a little bit today was around the topic of too much of a good thing is usually a bad thing. There's lots of things that are bad for us, and lots of things that are good for us. But if we do too much of those good things then they become bad for us. Sleep, food, wine, exercise, work, socialising, sun, thinking, talking, music... are all good things. But if we have too much of these then they become bad for us. Everything in moderation, including moderation. Too much sleep and the world would be like a big group of students. Nothing getting done, but lots of nice looking bed hair. Too much food and the world would look like a planet full of overweight Americans. Too much wine and the world would look like a bunch of Aussie teenagers. The list could go on. I like getting my shirt off at work, coz it's so hot (the temperature, certainly not my body) and that sun is good for my vitamin D and healthy looking appaerance, but if it's off for too long, then I look like a lobster, get melanoma and eventually, will age like the man from the Dolmio Grin ads.
No one wants that do they?
Also, there has to be a balance between doing lots of good stuff. Like when you are eating healthy, it's good to have a day off to have a treat or two. Exercising should always include a day off in between or as often as you deem appropriate. Even alcoholics have a day off every year and followers of the Consumer Religion even take a day off at Easter.
It's ok to not be perfect and always maintain perfection in your life. There's only one person who was and is perfect and if we try to live up to that standard then we are self deceived idiots. Excellence is a good thing to aim for, but excellence isn't perfection. Once you realise that you don't have to be perfect and live up to impossible standards, a real freedom comes into your life. Jesus earnt all the brownie points for us! So as long as we are honestly doing our best as is humanly possible, there's nothing wrong with making mistakes as long as we learn from them. If you eat healthy for a while but then eat fish n chips for a few days, so what! Yeah it's not a good thing, it's not what I want my life's diet to be like, but it's also not the end of the world.
I'm writing this for people like me. Perfectionists. Who think perfection can be attained by lots of effort, but every time I don't reach it, I beat myself up. I sometimes need to tell myself that "Good enough is actually good enough".
God fills in the gaps for us, and makes us perfect in His sight. Do your best and then relax. Then do your best again...
Gee, I don't think that blog makes any sense. I am spaced out. Too much exercise today...
Saturday, November 21, 2009
What a load of rubbish
I like picking up rubbish. I don't really know why. After all, it's not exactly the most exciting thing to do is it. Some people like to throw rubbish. Out the car window, or leaving it behind after a picnic etc. Just because they don't want the inconvenience of responsibility. Why should they be responsible anyway? Doesn't the world know how important they are! Someone else will pick it up because I am the centre of the universe.
So I was wondering why. Why do I have this underlying compulsion to pick up other people's rubbish, garbage, trash, etc? And it got me thinking about how much I love nature. Or in particular, how being out in nature makes me feel. I love being in the great outdoors, whether it's riding my bike, swimming in the river, walking, lying on the grass in the park, or snoozing in the sand dunes... Nothing brings a clearer perspective and inner peace in to my life like contemplating about things bigger than me, in an environment that is clearly bigger than I am.
And then wham! A McDonald's paper bag rolls in to view and I feel my anger rise. Goodbye inner peace and perspective. Why must people be so lazy, arrogant and selfish?! What's the point of trying to be a better person and helping others if they won't even put their trash in the bin. We live in a beautiful world and it is the pride and arrogance symptomatic of the trash biffers that is the main reason behind the world's problems. (please note that I am judging them, so I am no better!)
anyway...
I'm not saying that dropping rubbish is causing all of our world's problems, even though some environmental problems are a direct result of littering. Such as polluted waterways etc. What I am saying is that the attitude people have when they drop rubbish without caring is what is causing most of the world's problems.
So next time you think about dropping, or leaving rubbish somewhere, consider this. I am making the world an uglier place, both physically of course, but also because of my ugly attitude towards other people. Way to ruin things for the rest of us who just want the world to be a better place.
So it's not that I enjoy picking up rubbish per se, but my attitude when I choose to do it is making the world better for myself and those around me. I reckon that could be why I enjoyed getting detentions at school.
So I was wondering why. Why do I have this underlying compulsion to pick up other people's rubbish, garbage, trash, etc? And it got me thinking about how much I love nature. Or in particular, how being out in nature makes me feel. I love being in the great outdoors, whether it's riding my bike, swimming in the river, walking, lying on the grass in the park, or snoozing in the sand dunes... Nothing brings a clearer perspective and inner peace in to my life like contemplating about things bigger than me, in an environment that is clearly bigger than I am.
And then wham! A McDonald's paper bag rolls in to view and I feel my anger rise. Goodbye inner peace and perspective. Why must people be so lazy, arrogant and selfish?! What's the point of trying to be a better person and helping others if they won't even put their trash in the bin. We live in a beautiful world and it is the pride and arrogance symptomatic of the trash biffers that is the main reason behind the world's problems. (please note that I am judging them, so I am no better!)
anyway...
I'm not saying that dropping rubbish is causing all of our world's problems, even though some environmental problems are a direct result of littering. Such as polluted waterways etc. What I am saying is that the attitude people have when they drop rubbish without caring is what is causing most of the world's problems.
So next time you think about dropping, or leaving rubbish somewhere, consider this. I am making the world an uglier place, both physically of course, but also because of my ugly attitude towards other people. Way to ruin things for the rest of us who just want the world to be a better place.
So it's not that I enjoy picking up rubbish per se, but my attitude when I choose to do it is making the world better for myself and those around me. I reckon that could be why I enjoyed getting detentions at school.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Go Away.
I went away over the long weekend and I had a really great time. Apart from getting a bit seasick on the ferry and having a couple of early mornings, I was incredibly blessed to be in Wellington for one of the most important nights in New Zealand sporting history. Even if you have some sort of psychological disorder and don't get in to sports that often, you could not help but get carried away with the emotion of a country coming together like it did on the weekend. This isn't a small global sport like rugby or cricket, this is bigger than the olympics. This is football, the world game. This was an incredible game, crowd and result. I will never forget it as long as I live. And yes. I took my shirt off and danced in my white boxers. I can hear the religious stiffs tutt-tutting. God still loves me. And Rory Fallon! Thank you Jesus!
Just got me thinking about how important it is to have a break from the monotony of every day life. I havn't had a single day off this year, apart from a conference, which is hardly relaxing. In fact, I havn't even had a cold for over three years. So not even a sick day! Some people aren't so fortunate. One of the benefits of growing up on a farm and always being dirty I guess! Built up a good immune system. Some people just need to let their kids get dirty and stay dirty I reckon. That's if they get off their cellphones and Wii for a few minutes and play outside. Another symptom of a modern society with no real problems, which forces us to make problems up just to keep us busy. Some researchers have coined the term "Affluenza". A hybrid of "affluence" and "influenza" where people get sick because life is too easy, clean and under control. Without any real problems like hunger, life threatening situations, poverty etc, people get depressed and anxious over small, unimportant things. I'm not talking about when people live in terrible situations that can seem impossible to change. Like depression, family violence etc. I am talking about people who have a generally good life and get busy doing things that don't matter! If you have a good life, then help someone who doesn't. Put your organic food and biodegadable cleaning products away. Stop conjuring up more things for you to worry about just to distract yourself from what you know you really should be doing.
I think that was an off the topic rant! Oops, ok, I will see if I can steer the ferry back on course.
One reason why it is so important to take breaks is so that you can regain a clear perspective on life. If you always do what you always do, then you'll always see what you always see. I just made that up. Bit like another popular quote except I changed it. Pat on the back. Thanks.
Back to the story...
"Without vision the people perish". If you have a bible then you might recognise that one. Another way to look at that would be to say that if you have nothing to look forward to then you will slowly die on the inside. Most of us have something that we really want to do, or want our life to be like etc... and that is great! But if we get so busy doing our everyday lives then we can forget those things that used to get us enthusiastic about life. Noel Gallagher once wrote "The dreams we have as children fade away". Sadly this is true for many of us. But I think if we can remember to take regular breaks and "re-create" ourselves, those dreams can stay with us, or be rediscovered from deep inside us.
I was so enthusiastic before this trip away! Because I had something to look forward to. Imagine a life full of those sorts of things. Not things that other people enjoy so you pretend to enjoy them too, but things that YOU really enjoy. I suppose it's a vicious cycle isn't it. If you have a busy life then you probably don't have time to stop and remember what it is that YOU actually enjoy, so when your time off arises, you opt for the easy option of doing whatever everyone else likes to do. But surprisingly you are not fulfilled or recharged. So you continue to keep busy to ignore those feelings some more. You never get anywhere in life until you know who you are and what you enjoy. And because you are unique, it may just be different from anyone else! It's ok to be different by the way. I'm not talking about when people rebel and try to be different on purpose, that's a teenage thing that some people never grow out of. I'm talking about knowing who you were made to be and enjoying that.
Well that was a bit all over the place. Probably a few too many creative juices flowing after my break. Bit hard to organise them all. Sorry about that! I suggest you diary in one night a week, or as often as you can, to stop and think about what you like doing when you were a kid. You are still that person, so it might give you some direction towards what YOU like to do now! If you get lost it helps to go back to the beginning and start again. I made that one up too. I like doing that:)
Just got me thinking about how important it is to have a break from the monotony of every day life. I havn't had a single day off this year, apart from a conference, which is hardly relaxing. In fact, I havn't even had a cold for over three years. So not even a sick day! Some people aren't so fortunate. One of the benefits of growing up on a farm and always being dirty I guess! Built up a good immune system. Some people just need to let their kids get dirty and stay dirty I reckon. That's if they get off their cellphones and Wii for a few minutes and play outside. Another symptom of a modern society with no real problems, which forces us to make problems up just to keep us busy. Some researchers have coined the term "Affluenza". A hybrid of "affluence" and "influenza" where people get sick because life is too easy, clean and under control. Without any real problems like hunger, life threatening situations, poverty etc, people get depressed and anxious over small, unimportant things. I'm not talking about when people live in terrible situations that can seem impossible to change. Like depression, family violence etc. I am talking about people who have a generally good life and get busy doing things that don't matter! If you have a good life, then help someone who doesn't. Put your organic food and biodegadable cleaning products away. Stop conjuring up more things for you to worry about just to distract yourself from what you know you really should be doing.
I think that was an off the topic rant! Oops, ok, I will see if I can steer the ferry back on course.
One reason why it is so important to take breaks is so that you can regain a clear perspective on life. If you always do what you always do, then you'll always see what you always see. I just made that up. Bit like another popular quote except I changed it. Pat on the back. Thanks.
Back to the story...
"Without vision the people perish". If you have a bible then you might recognise that one. Another way to look at that would be to say that if you have nothing to look forward to then you will slowly die on the inside. Most of us have something that we really want to do, or want our life to be like etc... and that is great! But if we get so busy doing our everyday lives then we can forget those things that used to get us enthusiastic about life. Noel Gallagher once wrote "The dreams we have as children fade away". Sadly this is true for many of us. But I think if we can remember to take regular breaks and "re-create" ourselves, those dreams can stay with us, or be rediscovered from deep inside us.
I was so enthusiastic before this trip away! Because I had something to look forward to. Imagine a life full of those sorts of things. Not things that other people enjoy so you pretend to enjoy them too, but things that YOU really enjoy. I suppose it's a vicious cycle isn't it. If you have a busy life then you probably don't have time to stop and remember what it is that YOU actually enjoy, so when your time off arises, you opt for the easy option of doing whatever everyone else likes to do. But surprisingly you are not fulfilled or recharged. So you continue to keep busy to ignore those feelings some more. You never get anywhere in life until you know who you are and what you enjoy. And because you are unique, it may just be different from anyone else! It's ok to be different by the way. I'm not talking about when people rebel and try to be different on purpose, that's a teenage thing that some people never grow out of. I'm talking about knowing who you were made to be and enjoying that.
Well that was a bit all over the place. Probably a few too many creative juices flowing after my break. Bit hard to organise them all. Sorry about that! I suggest you diary in one night a week, or as often as you can, to stop and think about what you like doing when you were a kid. You are still that person, so it might give you some direction towards what YOU like to do now! If you get lost it helps to go back to the beginning and start again. I made that one up too. I like doing that:)
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Appreciation is Back!!!
I have a sore back. No surprise to my friends there. Continuous whinging and manipulation for another back rub are a staple diet for those in my circle of friends. Of course me being the selfish person that I am, I never give them back.
What I have at the moment is a bit more than the ordinary sore back that I usually carry around because of the physical nature of my job,(Or does it carry me around?.. anyway..). This one is apparently a "chronic back fatigue". Thankyou for that apt description Mrs Physio. Kind of like a long term build up of back badness. I have been experiencing varying degrees of discomfort throughout the day, for the last three weeks or so. The pain ranges from a mild throbbing all the way up to pins and needles down my legs, sharp pains that make my eyes water and I have fallen over a couple of times when moving around. Coupled with my prideful stubbornness that refuses to ask for help, or take a sick day, this really is a pain in my etc... literally.
This got me thinking. We take our health for granted. We take many things for granted and we often don't realise how good we had it until it is gone. My back, for example, holds me up and basically enables me to do anything I want. Walk, run, lift, boogie-on-down, you get the point.
If I had understood and appreciated what my back was doing for me all these years, then I would probably have been much more careful with it and looked after it and been much more thankful for it. But because I abused it, took it for granted and hardly ever maintained it's health, its strength has been taken away from me and now I have to work really hard, in pain, financially etc, to restore it back to health.
As you know, if you ever bought a new car, it DEpreciates in value over time until it is worth a fraction of its original price. Imagine if you bought a new car and it began GAINING in value over time! Well that's what appreciation does. The more you stop taking something or someone for granted and start appreciating them, the more they feel their value increase. Every human is infintely valuable to God, but most of us don't feel that way all the time. By showing someone that you appreciate them, they can start to FEEL a bit more valuable. Like they deserve to. That's the power of appreciation.
What, or who, is there in your life that you take for granted? It is a far better thing to do to be thankful for them and to appreciate them, than to suddenly have a mess to clean up because you didn't put the effort in.
Oh, by the way, this wasn't a manipulative effort to gain more friendly back rubs. I am trying to stop doing that!;)
What I have at the moment is a bit more than the ordinary sore back that I usually carry around because of the physical nature of my job,(Or does it carry me around?.. anyway..). This one is apparently a "chronic back fatigue". Thankyou for that apt description Mrs Physio. Kind of like a long term build up of back badness. I have been experiencing varying degrees of discomfort throughout the day, for the last three weeks or so. The pain ranges from a mild throbbing all the way up to pins and needles down my legs, sharp pains that make my eyes water and I have fallen over a couple of times when moving around. Coupled with my prideful stubbornness that refuses to ask for help, or take a sick day, this really is a pain in my etc... literally.
This got me thinking. We take our health for granted. We take many things for granted and we often don't realise how good we had it until it is gone. My back, for example, holds me up and basically enables me to do anything I want. Walk, run, lift, boogie-on-down, you get the point.
If I had understood and appreciated what my back was doing for me all these years, then I would probably have been much more careful with it and looked after it and been much more thankful for it. But because I abused it, took it for granted and hardly ever maintained it's health, its strength has been taken away from me and now I have to work really hard, in pain, financially etc, to restore it back to health.
As you know, if you ever bought a new car, it DEpreciates in value over time until it is worth a fraction of its original price. Imagine if you bought a new car and it began GAINING in value over time! Well that's what appreciation does. The more you stop taking something or someone for granted and start appreciating them, the more they feel their value increase. Every human is infintely valuable to God, but most of us don't feel that way all the time. By showing someone that you appreciate them, they can start to FEEL a bit more valuable. Like they deserve to. That's the power of appreciation.
What, or who, is there in your life that you take for granted? It is a far better thing to do to be thankful for them and to appreciate them, than to suddenly have a mess to clean up because you didn't put the effort in.
Oh, by the way, this wasn't a manipulative effort to gain more friendly back rubs. I am trying to stop doing that!;)
Monday, November 9, 2009
Real Men Watch Rugby
I reckon if I lived in a flat full of guys and they didn't want sky sport, then it would be highly likely that while I was watching Dan Carter kick the Wobbalies off the park, they would be spending their their time organising a trip to the Sydney Mardis Gras. I will come out and say it. If you are a male and you don't like watching sport then you have a gender identity problem. I don't care which sport, although a male who likes netball could possibly miss the man-boat. I wonder who will bite on this one. hehe
I have absolutely no problem with sensitive guys. It is a great quality. But if your man button is not pushed by watching an afternoon of warfare on the pitch then I think you may have bought into the lie that being a man is wrong. Oh it's an easy one to believe in our post-feminist culture which openly demands gender equality on the surface, while underneath, preaches that "Men are the root of all evil and the world would be better off without them". While I give credit to those females who are able to read this, a world without men would mean no reproduction and would be gone in one generation! No more people anywhere. No females... No males... If that isn't gender equality then I don't know what is! We're all dead! I see a flaw in your plan, but sadly, guys who don't like watching sports have been hoodwinked by your deceitful eyelash flashing.
If I denounce ManSport watching and placate the inferior gender, I unwittingly become one of them. Possibly even physically. So this is a call to all men out there, (I'm hopeful that you know who you are). It's time to decide. Man or nothing. Bite the bullet and choose to be who God created you to be. Grab the remote and turn over from Project Runway to the rugby. Just because it's crap and American and bad for your entire being, doesn't mean it is good for you... Rugby will make you feel good and your life will be far better. Your language and confidence will suddenly become far more attractive to everyone. Drop the cynical attitude, like the Kiwis drop an up 'n' under, and embrace yourself as a strong, powerful man. Although real men don't hug so it will have to be a metaphorical embrace.
xxx ooo
I have absolutely no problem with sensitive guys. It is a great quality. But if your man button is not pushed by watching an afternoon of warfare on the pitch then I think you may have bought into the lie that being a man is wrong. Oh it's an easy one to believe in our post-feminist culture which openly demands gender equality on the surface, while underneath, preaches that "Men are the root of all evil and the world would be better off without them". While I give credit to those females who are able to read this, a world without men would mean no reproduction and would be gone in one generation! No more people anywhere. No females... No males... If that isn't gender equality then I don't know what is! We're all dead! I see a flaw in your plan, but sadly, guys who don't like watching sports have been hoodwinked by your deceitful eyelash flashing.
If I denounce ManSport watching and placate the inferior gender, I unwittingly become one of them. Possibly even physically. So this is a call to all men out there, (I'm hopeful that you know who you are). It's time to decide. Man or nothing. Bite the bullet and choose to be who God created you to be. Grab the remote and turn over from Project Runway to the rugby. Just because it's crap and American and bad for your entire being, doesn't mean it is good for you... Rugby will make you feel good and your life will be far better. Your language and confidence will suddenly become far more attractive to everyone. Drop the cynical attitude, like the Kiwis drop an up 'n' under, and embrace yourself as a strong, powerful man. Although real men don't hug so it will have to be a metaphorical embrace.
xxx ooo
Friday, November 6, 2009
Annoying Others
I take great pleasure in annoying other people. Sometimes I only have to be myself and people get irritated. Other times I have to annoy them on purpose. Either way, I will hope for a pleasing result. It is a great game and I recommend you try it. Over time you should accumulate more and more tactics to fit into your "Bag of Annoyance" Here are some of my tips on how to annoy other people. I may be stirring up a hornets nest, by handing out ammunition to my friends, but because I have a strong sense that they couldn't possibly be any more annoying, I don't think I am in for too much trouble;)
Asking questions then walking away and not waiting for the answer.
Telling people about my day before they have even asked.
Bluntly changing the subject in a conversation to something I know they don't care about.
Singing songs but always getting the lyrics wrong on purpose.
Tapping along to an imaginary song when other people are trying to talk to you.
Innappropriate voice volume eg. talking loud in room level conversations, by whispering in loud places, and by yelling in a normal conversation.
Speaking and mumbling sentences but only saying real words every third or firth word, the rest of the sentence is just gibberish designed to confuse the listener.
Whistling songs out of tune, especially in high pitched and obnoxious ways.
Patroninsing laughter. Force yourself to laugh at things that aren't even remotely funny. Laugh as if it is the best joke you have ever heard. The faker the laughter the better!
Don't finish sentences.
Ask people to "wait there for a sec" while you leave, and never return.
Stand too close to people and keep moving inwards when they step back.
Pushing all the floor buttons in an elevator, when you are getting out.
Hide people's food when they turn around momentarily.
Oh there are so many, I havn't even got to the practical joke section. I do not condone rudeness or severely inconveniencing others, but a bit of fun is definitely ok with me!
So why not try one of these out and let me know how it goes!
Also, I would like to say one more thing.
Asking questions then walking away and not waiting for the answer.
Telling people about my day before they have even asked.
Bluntly changing the subject in a conversation to something I know they don't care about.
Singing songs but always getting the lyrics wrong on purpose.
Tapping along to an imaginary song when other people are trying to talk to you.
Innappropriate voice volume eg. talking loud in room level conversations, by whispering in loud places, and by yelling in a normal conversation.
Speaking and mumbling sentences but only saying real words every third or firth word, the rest of the sentence is just gibberish designed to confuse the listener.
Whistling songs out of tune, especially in high pitched and obnoxious ways.
Patroninsing laughter. Force yourself to laugh at things that aren't even remotely funny. Laugh as if it is the best joke you have ever heard. The faker the laughter the better!
Don't finish sentences.
Ask people to "wait there for a sec" while you leave, and never return.
Stand too close to people and keep moving inwards when they step back.
Pushing all the floor buttons in an elevator, when you are getting out.
Hide people's food when they turn around momentarily.
Oh there are so many, I havn't even got to the practical joke section. I do not condone rudeness or severely inconveniencing others, but a bit of fun is definitely ok with me!
So why not try one of these out and let me know how it goes!
Also, I would like to say one more thing.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Redhead Cult: Beware
While Destiny Church dominates national headlines and John Campbell gives himself an angry ulcer, an even more sinister threat is swooping underneath the radar. Under the guise of a pop-music video, Jesse Sheehan quietly infiltrates the hearts and minds of ordinary redheaded New Zealanders. Be very careful of this extravagantly afroed, guitar wielding leader. Judging by all reliable media sources, Jesse Sheehan aka "Bishop of the Fire" by those closest to him, is hellbent on world domination.
Campbell Live has already captured footage of dozens of hardcore followers marching behind Bishop in an angry and robotic fashion, and has obtained documents pertaining to a "First Vegetables Offering". The first vegetable was rumoured to be the humble carrot. The small North Island town of Ohakune has been quick to distance itself from Bishop's actions.
"We love our carrots in Ohakune" a spokesperon said. "They help us see in the dark. I only hope that those Redheaded New Zealanders who have fallen in behind Sheehan will be able to see clearly in the darkness that this man has conjured up in their lives".
Asked whether he thought this Red Army would pose a significant national threat, the spokeperson was hopeful. "All we need is more people like Bishop to King Checkmate Tamaki to take the Red Army leaders in and teach them how to be good fathers and family men. That would be the only way to quench this wildfire, which is already threatening many homes".
We attempted to contact the Red Army leaders today, but were turned away at the door. The Red Army Media Liason Officer later commented: "Leave us alone, it's not our fault we have a recessive gene that has been ridiculed for centuries by the insecure masses. Let us make our video and then please, buy our cds. We are not an army, we are a collection of musicians and interested parties tied by our bond of having red hair. Stop picking on us. It is bordering on rascism".
Needless to say, the police and military will be keeping a close eye on this latest phenomena. The only thing worse than an angry ginger is dozens of angry gingers wanting to be taken seriously. I'm glad I don't live in Scotland.
Campbell Live has already captured footage of dozens of hardcore followers marching behind Bishop in an angry and robotic fashion, and has obtained documents pertaining to a "First Vegetables Offering". The first vegetable was rumoured to be the humble carrot. The small North Island town of Ohakune has been quick to distance itself from Bishop's actions.
"We love our carrots in Ohakune" a spokesperon said. "They help us see in the dark. I only hope that those Redheaded New Zealanders who have fallen in behind Sheehan will be able to see clearly in the darkness that this man has conjured up in their lives".
Asked whether he thought this Red Army would pose a significant national threat, the spokeperson was hopeful. "All we need is more people like Bishop to King Checkmate Tamaki to take the Red Army leaders in and teach them how to be good fathers and family men. That would be the only way to quench this wildfire, which is already threatening many homes".
We attempted to contact the Red Army leaders today, but were turned away at the door. The Red Army Media Liason Officer later commented: "Leave us alone, it's not our fault we have a recessive gene that has been ridiculed for centuries by the insecure masses. Let us make our video and then please, buy our cds. We are not an army, we are a collection of musicians and interested parties tied by our bond of having red hair. Stop picking on us. It is bordering on rascism".
Needless to say, the police and military will be keeping a close eye on this latest phenomena. The only thing worse than an angry ginger is dozens of angry gingers wanting to be taken seriously. I'm glad I don't live in Scotland.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Weather Poorcast
I work outside. So it is a nightly ritual to go online or watch the weather news to see what i'm in for the next day. Rain? Sun? Wind? etc. It is very important. Should I wear my shorts or should I wear my shorts? Do I need to wear my woolly hat. Or if it's going to be sunny ,then I can look forward to enhancing my sockline tan. The contrast of my white feet with brown legs is something to behold. It is compulsory to wear footwear when you board a plane and earlier this year I boarded a plane barefoot because the attendants thought I was wearing white shoes.
There would be no problems here if they actually managed to transmit accurate weather forecasts. Because I work outside, I have a fairly good idea as to what the weather is actually doing, so I think I can speak with some authority on this. Today for example, all major channels said that there would be some drizzle or spots of rain, but NO, I worked in the sun all day with my shirt off. I am sunburnt. There was barely a cloud in the sky and a nice breeze. This is the case MOST days. Apart from the semi-nakedness. That is saved for special occasions, such as when they predict rain. Then I know it will be sunny. Severe weather predictions are usually pretty accurate, but that is the exception. 99% of the days I work are sunny or mostly sunny. Occasionally there is a bit of drizzle or a few spots of rain. This does not correspond to the weather forecasts!
I would say for every 10 days that they predict rain, there would be a maximum of 1-2 days when it actually happens! What a joke. Why do they do this? Tourists would look at the weather map and think twice about coming here. But actually it is fine! Literally. Is this just another symptom of our fear based media, making things seem to be a much bigger deal than they really are? The weather news would be boring if it was always accurate. "Fine in the south, a few clouds here and there". That's all I need. Stupid news sensationalism is costing our country millions in lost tourism.
I wonder if you could take a time travel trip twenty years in to the future what you might hear at 6:55pm weekdays. A typical fine day with some high cloud may be described as: "Partly cloudy with chance of meteors and acid rain, you will burn in three seconds so don't go outside. Severe hail possible, chance of tornadoes and tsunami. Fine spells increasing with chance of major volcanic eruption. Take your umbrella.
Just give me the weather as it is! Stop covering all of your bases so you don't annoy anyone! Clearly that politically correct approach isn't working!
There would be no problems here if they actually managed to transmit accurate weather forecasts. Because I work outside, I have a fairly good idea as to what the weather is actually doing, so I think I can speak with some authority on this. Today for example, all major channels said that there would be some drizzle or spots of rain, but NO, I worked in the sun all day with my shirt off. I am sunburnt. There was barely a cloud in the sky and a nice breeze. This is the case MOST days. Apart from the semi-nakedness. That is saved for special occasions, such as when they predict rain. Then I know it will be sunny. Severe weather predictions are usually pretty accurate, but that is the exception. 99% of the days I work are sunny or mostly sunny. Occasionally there is a bit of drizzle or a few spots of rain. This does not correspond to the weather forecasts!
I would say for every 10 days that they predict rain, there would be a maximum of 1-2 days when it actually happens! What a joke. Why do they do this? Tourists would look at the weather map and think twice about coming here. But actually it is fine! Literally. Is this just another symptom of our fear based media, making things seem to be a much bigger deal than they really are? The weather news would be boring if it was always accurate. "Fine in the south, a few clouds here and there". That's all I need. Stupid news sensationalism is costing our country millions in lost tourism.
I wonder if you could take a time travel trip twenty years in to the future what you might hear at 6:55pm weekdays. A typical fine day with some high cloud may be described as: "Partly cloudy with chance of meteors and acid rain, you will burn in three seconds so don't go outside. Severe hail possible, chance of tornadoes and tsunami. Fine spells increasing with chance of major volcanic eruption. Take your umbrella.
Just give me the weather as it is! Stop covering all of your bases so you don't annoy anyone! Clearly that politically correct approach isn't working!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Snobbery
I love driving out in the countryside for many reasons. One of those reasons is that people wave to eachother, often for no reason other than they are friendly and think of other people. Nowhere is the contrast so evident than when I am driving in Merivale. (A suburb in Christchurch where people have lots of money but never seem to work). Now this is not a blog to bash the financially well endowed amongst us. Thats not cool. Who knows where money comes from or how hard someone has worked etc... But what I do get annoyed about is how some people don't wave when you give way to them on a narrow street for instance. Common courtesy, manners, politeness. Sure, they were probably too busy looking down their nose to notice me making way for their Merivale Tractor, that's fine, I have a nose and sometimes I like to look at it, it is interesting how it sort of sits there and sticks out a bit, but failing to wave at others who have literally gone out of their way for you is the height of rudeness.
I counted in this past week, a dozen or so times where cars moved out of the way, and waited for other cars to go through narrow parts of some streets in Merivale. I always smile and wave to say thanks, but I was up to about ten before I received a smile and wave in return. Now, That is rudeness. I am not expecting a smile / wave combo. One will do. A smile OR a wave. I understand that women have a hard enough time driving as it is, I don't expect them to dish out a courtesy combo. Only experienced drivers should try that one. But it is very easy to make a single-act-acknowledgement, and there really is no excuse for not doing this. Please-thankyou-handwave. The common manners that are in place in all other areas of Christchurch and the civilised world. Except in Merivale. Pick up your act. You are a disgrace.
Having said that, I know of some areas where a smile and a wave results in severe road rage. That is probably worse than complete snobbery. In order to keep myself clear of this road rage I will not be driving my car through the front doors of Destiny Church.
I counted in this past week, a dozen or so times where cars moved out of the way, and waited for other cars to go through narrow parts of some streets in Merivale. I always smile and wave to say thanks, but I was up to about ten before I received a smile and wave in return. Now, That is rudeness. I am not expecting a smile / wave combo. One will do. A smile OR a wave. I understand that women have a hard enough time driving as it is, I don't expect them to dish out a courtesy combo. Only experienced drivers should try that one. But it is very easy to make a single-act-acknowledgement, and there really is no excuse for not doing this. Please-thankyou-handwave. The common manners that are in place in all other areas of Christchurch and the civilised world. Except in Merivale. Pick up your act. You are a disgrace.
Having said that, I know of some areas where a smile and a wave results in severe road rage. That is probably worse than complete snobbery. In order to keep myself clear of this road rage I will not be driving my car through the front doors of Destiny Church.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Kill Me Now
I am sick to death of the media informing me almost daily of the latest thing that will kill me or cause cancer or deform my brain cells to the point where I would even support the "anti-smacking bill". I have done my own research and found out that the most dangerous thing on earth that kills people at an unprecedented rate is the actual act of "living" Last time I checked, it had a 100% fatality rate. living kills me. Oh dear! Should I refrain from living then? Burnt toast kills me, smoking kills me, cell phones kill me and blow up petrol stations, driving kills me, other people kills me. I'd better hurry up and die before something kills me!
There is a constant stream of the latest killers parading through our headlines. Go to the Middle-east, you will die. Swine flu will kill you!!! That's if Bird Flu and microwave radiation don't get you first. This topic is very close to my heart as The Y2K bug took out several members of my own family. They were crushed under a falling stockpile of food and water. In the news today I was informed that sex, alcohol and fat will kill me. Cool! So what you are telling me is that the building blocks of our western society itself will kill me. I don't want to get out of bed. Air pollution will kill me, the sea will soon rise and flood my city, and don't get me started on meteors. They killed all of those nice dinosaurs don't you know!
Hey I know! What about something good? Is there anything in this world that isn't an inherently evil, relentless, psychopathic killer? I have found that there are plenty of things that one can enjoy in life, you just have to remember that the news is not actually true! The world is not as bad as we are told it is! There is sometimes about as much truth in the News as there is in so called "reality tv". So if I were you, I would go right ahead and leave that Glad Wrap on your food as you reheat it in the microwave, because fear is the opposite of faith and is no good for anyone.
So stop watching the news and get on with living. Wait that's bad advice.
There is a constant stream of the latest killers parading through our headlines. Go to the Middle-east, you will die. Swine flu will kill you!!! That's if Bird Flu and microwave radiation don't get you first. This topic is very close to my heart as The Y2K bug took out several members of my own family. They were crushed under a falling stockpile of food and water. In the news today I was informed that sex, alcohol and fat will kill me. Cool! So what you are telling me is that the building blocks of our western society itself will kill me. I don't want to get out of bed. Air pollution will kill me, the sea will soon rise and flood my city, and don't get me started on meteors. They killed all of those nice dinosaurs don't you know!
Hey I know! What about something good? Is there anything in this world that isn't an inherently evil, relentless, psychopathic killer? I have found that there are plenty of things that one can enjoy in life, you just have to remember that the news is not actually true! The world is not as bad as we are told it is! There is sometimes about as much truth in the News as there is in so called "reality tv". So if I were you, I would go right ahead and leave that Glad Wrap on your food as you reheat it in the microwave, because fear is the opposite of faith and is no good for anyone.
So stop watching the news and get on with living. Wait that's bad advice.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Man and Woman Brains
Women and men have many different characteristics. I learnt that from television... Womens minds live in a big one roomed warehouse, whereas mens live in a house with dozens of different rooms. Men can compartmentalise and focus on one thing at a time, while women can multitask and have more stuff happening at once. This is why men can have something difficult going on in their lives but seemingly not care about it. That couldn't be further from the truth. Men have the same feelings as women, but a big difference is that men can wisely, or unwisely, leave the boiling pot or open fire unattended in the lounge while they go out to the shed to do something else. A woman usually has to stay in the same room while she tries to do that different task or activity. So no matter how hard you try to distract yourself from something, it is much more difficult if that thing is in the same room as you. Men are lucky in this way! This is the upside to being poor multitaskers. We have to close off one area of our thinking house and go into another room to do the next task, such as work, or socialising etc, while women have to stay in the same room, for example, the kitchen... I am joking...If we try to understand eachother then we can make things easier for the other person. I would like to be much better at this.
Some men have more insulation between rooms than others. I have parts of my brain stuffed with pink batts. Some of you know that already...no jokes please. As long as I remember to close the door and focus on one thing at a time, then things are fine. It's when I leave the door open and worry about things I shouldn't that things get hard. Some women have a carpeted room, others have polished wood floors where everything echoes around and becomes very loud, unclear and overwhelming.
The good news is that you can refurbish your house. Don't like hearing people in the room next door, then get some pink batts of self discipline and focus installed. Takes a bit of time and can itch you in the wrong places, but it is worth it in the long run. And ladies, if your room is all echoey and confusing, get the Carpet Installer around and get Him to roll out some shagpile. Underlay is beneficial too.
You could try refurbishing your house by yourself, but it is much easier when your friends and family help you. Even easier when you get the Qualified Tradesman to help you. You can find The Good Tradesman in the Holy Pages, under "New Testament".
You can be transformed by the renewing of your house. It takes hard work and discipline,it is not easy.
Maybe it's time to go and clear out the attic, or vacuum the floor. Could you do with a new coat of paint or some bigger windows. Just because your house has had orange glass doors since the 70s, doesn't mean that it is the best thing for your now. Get with the times, stop holding on to your past and freshen up your home. You will feel much better once you have made some changes. Clean the windowsbecause when you have dirty windows, the light inside your home is dark and depressing! You can pick up some window cleaner in all sorts of places. We all live in different houses, but one thing is the same. Once your windows are clean and your vision is clear, everything seems brighter.
Some men have more insulation between rooms than others. I have parts of my brain stuffed with pink batts. Some of you know that already...no jokes please. As long as I remember to close the door and focus on one thing at a time, then things are fine. It's when I leave the door open and worry about things I shouldn't that things get hard. Some women have a carpeted room, others have polished wood floors where everything echoes around and becomes very loud, unclear and overwhelming.
The good news is that you can refurbish your house. Don't like hearing people in the room next door, then get some pink batts of self discipline and focus installed. Takes a bit of time and can itch you in the wrong places, but it is worth it in the long run. And ladies, if your room is all echoey and confusing, get the Carpet Installer around and get Him to roll out some shagpile. Underlay is beneficial too.
You could try refurbishing your house by yourself, but it is much easier when your friends and family help you. Even easier when you get the Qualified Tradesman to help you. You can find The Good Tradesman in the Holy Pages, under "New Testament".
You can be transformed by the renewing of your house. It takes hard work and discipline,it is not easy.
Maybe it's time to go and clear out the attic, or vacuum the floor. Could you do with a new coat of paint or some bigger windows. Just because your house has had orange glass doors since the 70s, doesn't mean that it is the best thing for your now. Get with the times, stop holding on to your past and freshen up your home. You will feel much better once you have made some changes. Clean the windowsbecause when you have dirty windows, the light inside your home is dark and depressing! You can pick up some window cleaner in all sorts of places. We all live in different houses, but one thing is the same. Once your windows are clean and your vision is clear, everything seems brighter.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Beached As
I find it to be quite ironic. Australians mocking our accent by using a beached whale. "I'm beached as bro". There's two reasons why I find this to be ironic. Firstly, there is the famous Australian beach culture. Secondly, last time I checked the fat country index, Australia was listed as the most obese country in the world. behind old Uncle Spam. So putting those two points together, I think that there would be a much higher chance of finding a beached whale in Australia, than anywhere else in the world. I might add that on my recent trip to Sudney, I stayed well clear of the beach to avoid being harrassed by Greenpeace.
My beached whale analogy follows closely with the joke: Your mum's so fat that every time she goes to the beach, Greenpeace turns up, pours water on her and tries to refloat her in the ocean. But i'm sure you intuitives would have already got that and will be rolling your eyes and groaning at the pain of a joke having to be explained. However, Sensates are people too;)
As NZers, we need to plot our revenge. I suggest using a NZ icon to mock the Australian accent. Possibly a sheep, or a talking pavlova. However, looking at Australian beaches, it's pretty obvious who has the love affair with pavlovas...
My suggestion would be: Shaun the Sheep stars in "Crikey, I'm Fat As a Galah Mayte". "Bast gat uf tha paav mayte, staat doen some langths aat tha pooooel".
My beached whale analogy follows closely with the joke: Your mum's so fat that every time she goes to the beach, Greenpeace turns up, pours water on her and tries to refloat her in the ocean. But i'm sure you intuitives would have already got that and will be rolling your eyes and groaning at the pain of a joke having to be explained. However, Sensates are people too;)
As NZers, we need to plot our revenge. I suggest using a NZ icon to mock the Australian accent. Possibly a sheep, or a talking pavlova. However, looking at Australian beaches, it's pretty obvious who has the love affair with pavlovas...
My suggestion would be: Shaun the Sheep stars in "Crikey, I'm Fat As a Galah Mayte". "Bast gat uf tha paav mayte, staat doen some langths aat tha pooooel".
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Rest
I like Sundays. One thing that has remained a constant companion for most of my adult life is the Sunday afternoon nap. I used to have a reputation for falling asleep on the couch with all forms of noise generation bombarding my senses. Mostly the 'hearing' sense of course. A lot of it came in non-sensical forms, such as infomercials, or Murray Mexted's rugby commentary, but no matter what form it took, it was always a sleep aid.
Just like watching a game of netball. Yawn. Even thinking about watching a game of netball...
I will have to say though, that motor racing takes the cake as the best Sunday afternoon nap soundtrack. Particular favourites must be the V8 Supercars. Needless to say, the recent 161 lap Bathurst race was an excellent companion for my Sunday afternoon nap. In fact, my afternoon nap began some time before lunch and continued unhindered for about 7 hours. Which begs the question, 'how can an afternoon nap be experienced in the morning?' Well, I will share my thought on that one shall I? I think that you can have a Sunday afternoon nap in the morning because the Sunday afternoon nap is as close to omnipotent as any non-God phenomena can be. And omnipotence transcends time itself! The S.A.N., (for those of us in the profession), has the life-renewing properties unmatched by any other activity known to a single, unmarried man. You enter the activity as a tired, overworked, pathetic individual, and you emerge as a person whose very existence on this planet persuades the moon itself to hang around the Earth for a bit longer. Dreams and perspective are renewed. Anxiety and stress levels decrease, hair is flattened, and excess saliva is carefully removed, and soaked away into the couch, forever.
As always, the Greenies, hemp cardigan wearing, deodorant despising, healthy people amongst us will cry 'why are you not outside enjoying the sun? Who wants to be inside on a day like this?' Yes, I am inside with the tv on, supporting big cars to burn large amounts of fossil fuels, melting the icecaps and destroying tiny island nations, but I have some things in my favour. I live in a house with windows through which the sun shines all of it's goodness. Your amazing outside world doesn't have a monopoly on sunshine so you can't trick me with that one. So back your three-wheeled volkswagen car up buddy. I have the mother of all Gran's Remedys to fix my stinky carbon footprint odour and that is the mighty Nana Nap!
So, there are some unexpected long term benefits to the Sunday Afternoon Nap. Destroying tiny island nations can't be such a bad thing. After all, most of these heretical cultures commit a very unwise sin of trying to have the S.A.N. every day! As with every sinner, they find excuses for their sins, such as "it's too hot to work, so we had to snooze". Too much of a good thing is often a bad thing. If you have too many lollies then your teeth will rot. If you try to inject the Sunday Afternoon Nap into other areas of your week, then you will become a lazy disgrace of a human being. Rest is important every day, but the all powerful S.A.N. should never be removed from its Sunday afternoon throne. Find some other restful activities for the remainder of your week, because sleeping at work, while an admirable and much sought after quality, is often frowned upon by uptight employers.
Just like watching a game of netball. Yawn. Even thinking about watching a game of netball...
I will have to say though, that motor racing takes the cake as the best Sunday afternoon nap soundtrack. Particular favourites must be the V8 Supercars. Needless to say, the recent 161 lap Bathurst race was an excellent companion for my Sunday afternoon nap. In fact, my afternoon nap began some time before lunch and continued unhindered for about 7 hours. Which begs the question, 'how can an afternoon nap be experienced in the morning?' Well, I will share my thought on that one shall I? I think that you can have a Sunday afternoon nap in the morning because the Sunday afternoon nap is as close to omnipotent as any non-God phenomena can be. And omnipotence transcends time itself! The S.A.N., (for those of us in the profession), has the life-renewing properties unmatched by any other activity known to a single, unmarried man. You enter the activity as a tired, overworked, pathetic individual, and you emerge as a person whose very existence on this planet persuades the moon itself to hang around the Earth for a bit longer. Dreams and perspective are renewed. Anxiety and stress levels decrease, hair is flattened, and excess saliva is carefully removed, and soaked away into the couch, forever.
As always, the Greenies, hemp cardigan wearing, deodorant despising, healthy people amongst us will cry 'why are you not outside enjoying the sun? Who wants to be inside on a day like this?' Yes, I am inside with the tv on, supporting big cars to burn large amounts of fossil fuels, melting the icecaps and destroying tiny island nations, but I have some things in my favour. I live in a house with windows through which the sun shines all of it's goodness. Your amazing outside world doesn't have a monopoly on sunshine so you can't trick me with that one. So back your three-wheeled volkswagen car up buddy. I have the mother of all Gran's Remedys to fix my stinky carbon footprint odour and that is the mighty Nana Nap!
So, there are some unexpected long term benefits to the Sunday Afternoon Nap. Destroying tiny island nations can't be such a bad thing. After all, most of these heretical cultures commit a very unwise sin of trying to have the S.A.N. every day! As with every sinner, they find excuses for their sins, such as "it's too hot to work, so we had to snooze". Too much of a good thing is often a bad thing. If you have too many lollies then your teeth will rot. If you try to inject the Sunday Afternoon Nap into other areas of your week, then you will become a lazy disgrace of a human being. Rest is important every day, but the all powerful S.A.N. should never be removed from its Sunday afternoon throne. Find some other restful activities for the remainder of your week, because sleeping at work, while an admirable and much sought after quality, is often frowned upon by uptight employers.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Follow
I have recently attained three new blog followers. They are my first three blog followers. Hello Vicki, Gimlinz and El Duke. I could hardly contain my excitement when I realised that three people are actually interested in what I might say next. Either that, or they hit the wrong button. But I don't believe that is the case, for I am an optimist...
Isn't it interesting how our feelings hinge on what other people think about us? For some of us, every door in our house hinges on others opinion of us, while others may just hear the cat door squeak down the back, in the laundry. Either way, a varying degree of our moods and emotions are in the unpredictable hands of other people. Is it supposed to be this way? After all, some of us profess to "not care what other people think about me". The religious, perfect person, would say that the only opinion they care about is God's. Sure, that is an admirable quality to have, and one that I hope to get more into my character, but for now, let's just imagine that none of us are perfect. Hard for some of us I am sure. How do we handle others opinions of us?
Well I came across a literally life changing quote a couple of years ago. The quote goes something like this: "What you think about me is none of my business". In other words, it would be great if other people like me, respect me etc, but it's none of my business even if you do! Conversely, my thoughts are private. What I think about you is private. So why should I be trying to figure out what you think about me when I don't want you knowing all of my private opinions? Even the most illogical, deluded atheist can agree with that logic!
Imagine if my life revolved entirely around what other people thought about me. I would spend large amounts of energy trying to see my reflection in the face of others. AM I OK??? What if they had had a bad day? What if they didn't understand me? I would quickly become a shallow, nervous wreck. Up and down like the waves. I don't want to live like that. I would rather look into the Perfect Mirror and keep reminding myself what I have seen. Sure, encouragement is an amazing gift that we all receive far too sporadically and ingenuinely, and we should also be giving to others as often as we can, but we should never rely on the encouragement from others to feel good about life. See what God said and did for you and remind yourself as often as you can. En- Courage yourself. In the original greek language, "encourage" literally means "full of courage". When you are feeling brave nothing can stop you! So start encouraging yourself, and don't pay too much attention to what others think about you. Sometimes they may have a good point, and we should always try to be as humble an teachable as we can, but the opinions of others should never control how we feel.
It can be a nice treat though:)
Isn't it interesting how our feelings hinge on what other people think about us? For some of us, every door in our house hinges on others opinion of us, while others may just hear the cat door squeak down the back, in the laundry. Either way, a varying degree of our moods and emotions are in the unpredictable hands of other people. Is it supposed to be this way? After all, some of us profess to "not care what other people think about me". The religious, perfect person, would say that the only opinion they care about is God's. Sure, that is an admirable quality to have, and one that I hope to get more into my character, but for now, let's just imagine that none of us are perfect. Hard for some of us I am sure. How do we handle others opinions of us?
Well I came across a literally life changing quote a couple of years ago. The quote goes something like this: "What you think about me is none of my business". In other words, it would be great if other people like me, respect me etc, but it's none of my business even if you do! Conversely, my thoughts are private. What I think about you is private. So why should I be trying to figure out what you think about me when I don't want you knowing all of my private opinions? Even the most illogical, deluded atheist can agree with that logic!
Imagine if my life revolved entirely around what other people thought about me. I would spend large amounts of energy trying to see my reflection in the face of others. AM I OK??? What if they had had a bad day? What if they didn't understand me? I would quickly become a shallow, nervous wreck. Up and down like the waves. I don't want to live like that. I would rather look into the Perfect Mirror and keep reminding myself what I have seen. Sure, encouragement is an amazing gift that we all receive far too sporadically and ingenuinely, and we should also be giving to others as often as we can, but we should never rely on the encouragement from others to feel good about life. See what God said and did for you and remind yourself as often as you can. En- Courage yourself. In the original greek language, "encourage" literally means "full of courage". When you are feeling brave nothing can stop you! So start encouraging yourself, and don't pay too much attention to what others think about you. Sometimes they may have a good point, and we should always try to be as humble an teachable as we can, but the opinions of others should never control how we feel.
It can be a nice treat though:)
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Rain
I love watching the rain. I can think of very few things which bring me a feeling of peace like watching the rain. Yes, it is raining now. Yes I am watching it. Ever since I was a young whippersnapper, the sound of rain on my tin roof was enough to stop anything else going on in my mind, if even for just a few moments. I'm not alone in this either! Everyone knows someone who loves the sound of the rain on the roof!
But why? "It makes me feel all cosy and warm inside my house" is a common response. I feel the same. But that sort of answer is never enough for me though! I always have to know why. Why do you feel cosy? Like an annoying little child wants to know
So I pondered some other things in relation to this experience. For me a huge part of it is a feeling of powerlessness that comes from the revelation that I don't control the rain! There is something that I am not in control of! We all spend our lives in a constant struggle to control our experiences, relationships, environments and anything else that might be going on, and this is tiring! Hence why so many people find huge relief through religion, and the act of "giving control of their lives to their god(s)". Ah, I don't have to try harder, I can just ask God and He will be in charge. Often I sit and stare out the window because this is how I understand my powerlesness in the shadow of God. When I see birds hanging around, the leaves rustling in the breeze, the scent of flowers through an open window, and yes, the rain falling all around me, I cannot help but surrender and for a moment, trust something bigger than me.
Which brings me to my second point. I feel safe. Once I surrender and trust, I feel safe. Safe and cosy. Yes, I may be trusting the roof, to stop me getting wet, but I am sure that there is more to it that. If God can control the rain, then I am pretty sure that He can handle my problems, while I take a break from my stubborn and futile self-reliance! Then the rain stops. Do I still trust God? Sometimes. Maybe I should live somewhere where it rains a lot. I hear Auckland is nice this time of year;)
The End
(As a warning for those who don't know me so well, I often speak sarcastically, ironically, tongue-in-cheekily, and sometimes cynically. Please don't take everything at face value, and definitely don't take offence:) I live in an inner world that is coloured strongly by my intuitive nature, that some people have trouble following) Right that's enough explanation of myself, I have lost my rain of thought.
But why? "It makes me feel all cosy and warm inside my house" is a common response. I feel the same. But that sort of answer is never enough for me though! I always have to know why. Why do you feel cosy? Like an annoying little child wants to know
So I pondered some other things in relation to this experience. For me a huge part of it is a feeling of powerlessness that comes from the revelation that I don't control the rain! There is something that I am not in control of! We all spend our lives in a constant struggle to control our experiences, relationships, environments and anything else that might be going on, and this is tiring! Hence why so many people find huge relief through religion, and the act of "giving control of their lives to their god(s)". Ah, I don't have to try harder, I can just ask God and He will be in charge. Often I sit and stare out the window because this is how I understand my powerlesness in the shadow of God. When I see birds hanging around, the leaves rustling in the breeze, the scent of flowers through an open window, and yes, the rain falling all around me, I cannot help but surrender and for a moment, trust something bigger than me.
Which brings me to my second point. I feel safe. Once I surrender and trust, I feel safe. Safe and cosy. Yes, I may be trusting the roof, to stop me getting wet, but I am sure that there is more to it that. If God can control the rain, then I am pretty sure that He can handle my problems, while I take a break from my stubborn and futile self-reliance! Then the rain stops. Do I still trust God? Sometimes. Maybe I should live somewhere where it rains a lot. I hear Auckland is nice this time of year;)
The End
(As a warning for those who don't know me so well, I often speak sarcastically, ironically, tongue-in-cheekily, and sometimes cynically. Please don't take everything at face value, and definitely don't take offence:) I live in an inner world that is coloured strongly by my intuitive nature, that some people have trouble following) Right that's enough explanation of myself, I have lost my rain of thought.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Hello and welcome, to myself.
Hi, this is my first blog, written because I have a job to go to in the morning which I am not entirely passionate about. What's so special about that? Sadly, nothing. I would say most people in our culture would have similar, if not as frequent, dissatisfactions with their life-sapping occupations. I would say because many people are doing a job that they are not made for. But that is a topic for another day. If you were looking for the answers to your life crisis, I cannot promise to answer them. But of course, in a completely un-PC fashion, I will rant about things that the majority of people will take for granted or overlook. Not insignificant things, but on the contrary, things of deep value to every human life, that fall in to the "too hard basket" in our fast paced society. I think people in general, are far too shallow and results focussed. I on the other hand care far more about depth and authenticity and the process, or journey. I am a human being, not a human doing, and I am not alone in holding those values. Sorry about that. So, I must head to bed now, as the 9-5 slave trade requires that I have a certain level of energy, enthusiasm and verticalness attributed to my persona. Falling over at work does not pay well, unless you are a stunt double. I am excited about this.
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