True Value Gives Meaning

So let us reflect on what is truly of value in life, what gives meaning to our lives, and set our priorities on the basis of that.  The purpose of our life needs to be positive.  We weren’t born with the purpose of causing trouble, harming others.  For our life to be of value, I think we must develop basic good human qualities – warmth, kindness, compassion.  Then our life becomes meaningful and more peaceful – happier.
—     Dalai Lama
.
On This Day In:
2023	Preparation Meets Opportunity
2022	Until One Day…
2021	Thinking About Faux News
	Am I Ever Going To Listen? (I Would Tell Myself)
2020	First Place
	Perseverance
2019	Insha’Allaha Bukra
	No More Tears (Or Fog)
	Too Busy Thinking About My Baby (Too Busy Thinking About My Baby)
2018	Lost Time
2017	Are You Talking To Me?
2016	Here, Desire Is Purified
2015	Hopefully Just Visiting
2014	Fond Memory?
2013	Distress, Hope, Trust
2012	Creating Interlocking Fragility
2011	Four Stories And A Gospel
	What Have You Burned Lately?

Read Full Post »

Strength And Weakness

I am sure those of you who have sons feel the same way, but there is something about daughters and their fathers.  And I was thinking, I would want my daughters to know how much I love them, but I would also want them to know that being a strong man includes being kind.  That there is nothing weak about kindness and compassion.  There is nothing weak about looking out for others.  There is nothing weak about being honorable.  You are not a sucker to have integrity and to treat others with respect.
––     President Barack Obama
.
On This Day In:
2023	Have You Posted To Your Blog Lately?
2022	So THAT’s Why…
2021	I Welcome The Questions
	6:00 AM (I Got You Babe)
2020	Increasing Importance
	And Now Joe
2019	But Yours
2018	And Smile More Often
2017	He’s Keeping The Light On For Us
2016	The Results Of Trying Too Hard
2015	Make Me Look
2014	Fresh Drink
2013	Good Business
2012	Unsure Spirit
2011	A Lost Valuable

Read Full Post »

You Know Not

Journey
Be Kind,
For you know not the strength of your words,
On the heart.
Be Thoughtful,
For you know not the strength of your understanding,
On the Mind.
Be Brave,
For you know not the strength of your courage,
On the Journey.
[The above poem is from one of the blogs I have followed for several years:  FORGOTTENMEADOWS:  thoughts from my mind to yours
The blogs location is:  https://forgottenmeadows.wordpress.com/
The link to the specific post is:  https://forgottenmeadows.wordpress.com/2020/03/09/journey-2/
Disclaimer:  I make no claim of ownership to the original post or to the poem.  The poem is being presented without prior permission or authorization from the site owner.  If they request removal or modification of this post, I will, of course comply.
Please visit the original site if you have some spare time.     —     kmab]
.
On This Day In:
2023	Active Waiting
2022	Attentively Waiting
2021	Emergent Novelty
	Dancing With Me (Lady In Red)
2020	A Steep Price Ahead
	Möbius
2019	Eureka!
2018	Learning About My Humanity
2017	Laugh Or Shake Your Head
2016	The Expected Cure
2015	Of Two Minds
2014	Pride And Remembrance
2013	Repeating Bad Memories
2012	No Sooner
2011	Just Cheesy!
	Are You Illin’?

Read Full Post »

Gather Love

A tree is known by its fruit;  a man by his deeds.  A good deed is never lost;  he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.
—    Saint Basil
[Originally found on one of the blogs I follow:  https://ram0singhal.wordpress.com/
The specific post is:  https://ram0singhal.wordpress.com/2023/12/08/tree-of-kindness/
Please visit the original site if you have some spare time.    —    kmab]
.
On This Day In:
2023	You Get What You Pay For
2022	Historians, Not Librarians
2021	Inshallah
	Leave No Doubt (God Only Knows)
2020	A Choice
2019	Fill It Up
2018	Can We Talk About Me? (I Wanna Talk About Me)
2017	About Change
	Gordian
2016	Are Your Prayers Functioning?
2015	Expressing Love
2014	Cyclical Attitudes
2013	Footprints
2012	Broken Resolutions
	Bin It

Read Full Post »

Three Of A Kind(ness)

Kindness is a language which the dumb can speak and the deaf can hear.
—     C. N. Bovee
Kindness lets life begin anew.
—     Romano Guardini
Kindness is being well disposed toward life, our neighbor and our self.
—     Anonymous
.
On This Day In:
2022	My Intentions Are Good
2021	False Freedom And Failure
	Doing It On The One (Wants To Get Funked Up)
2020	Call Me!
2019	A Perfect Description Of #IncompetentDonald
2018	Beating Feet Again
	A Bad Bet
2017	Living Memory
2016	December
2015	That’s Gotta Leave A Scar
	It’s All About Me (…Not!)
2014	Bull’s-Eye Next
2013	Change ÷ Time
2012	High Anxiety
2011	To Be, Do
2010	In the Arena…
	Not An Island, Today…

Read Full Post »

How About: Just Be Kind…

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
―     Socrates
.
On This Day In:
2023	Good Reading
2022	How About: Just Be Kind…
2021	Try To Choose Wisely
	Found It (Oakland Stroke)
2020	We Have A Window
2019	No Escape
2018	Except When It Is From The Oval Office
2017	Bad Karma
2016	Poor Management Choices
2015	Is It Still Dark Out?
2014	Rule One
2013	Spelling God’s Name
2012	Love Your Life And Sing
	Feeling Under the Weather?
2011	Cheers, Friend!

Read Full Post »

What Really Hurts

If you were to bother to read my books, to behave as educated persons would, you would learn that they are not sexy, and do not argue in favor of wildness of any kind.  They beg that people be kinder and more responsible than they often are.  It is true that some of the characters speak coarsely.  That is because people speak coarsely in real life.  Especially soldiers and hardworking men speak coarsely, and even our most sheltered children know that.  And we all know, too, that those words really don’t damage children much.  They didn’t damage us when we were young.  It was evil deeds and lying that hurt us.
—    Kurt Vonnegut
Letter to Charles McCarthy
16th November 1973
From:  “Kurt Vonnegut: Letters“
Edited by Dan Wakefield
Found at one of the sites I follow:  “Letters of Note“
The site is located at:  https://news.lettersofnote.com/
The specific post is:  https://news.lettersofnote.com/p/most-letters-from-a-parent-contain?s=r
Please visit the original site if you have a spare minute or two…    —    kmab]
.
On This Day In:
2023	Almost Spring
	With Some Fava Beans And A Nice Chianti
2022	What Really Hurts
2021	Republican Governors Don’t Help
	We’re Coming To Your Town (We’re An American Band)
2020	With Friends Like This…
2019	Still Better Than Third
2018	A Tough Row To Hoe
2017	Just In Case
2016	Republicans Eat Their Young
2015	Still 99%
2014	Affirming The Wall
2013	Maintain The Freedom
2012	All Good
2011	Fountains Of Life
	Staying Alive

Read Full Post »

True Measures

The true measures of a church are not “how many” but “how loving,” not “how relevant” but “how real”.
—     Robert Lewis
.
On This Day In:
2023	8 to 12 Hours Per Day
2022	True Measures
2021	Moments With You
	I Remember I Told My Sorrow (Just Can’t Get You Out Of My Mind)
2020	A Post-Valentine Thought
2019	A Little Magic
	‘Cause It Makes Me Feel Happy (Send Me On My Way)
	The Mark Against Your Name
2018	Nice To Meet You
2017	All Nations & Religions
2016	Given The Choice
	Why Is He Wearing Red?
2015	Within The System
2014	None But…
2013	Obviously Longer
2012	A Childhood Poem
	Who Are You Callin’ Leather-Faced?
2011	In No Particular Order
	The Need For Proof

Read Full Post »

Suggestions…

Walk
Love
Read
Think
Garden
Stay Safe
Be Patient
Shop Local
Wear A Mask
Open Your Heart
Educate Yourself
Hug Someone In Your Bubble
Call Your Parents (or Children)
Practice Tolerance
…Just Be Kind
[And if none of the above are possible for you:  A slice of pizza, a glass of red wine and listening to some music is nice, too.    —    kmab]
[Most of the above list has been “borrowed” from one of the blogs I follow:  “I Didn’t Have My Glasses On“
The specific post which contained her list can be located at:  http://ididnthavemyglasseson.com/2020/06/27/just-be-kind/
Please check out the original blog if you have a free moment…    —    kmab]
.
On This Day In:
2023	Now And Later
2022	Big And Bad (In A Good Way)
2021	Suggestions…
	Dichotomy (Sharp Dressed Man)
2020	Until November… Then Vote
2019	Start With Health And Friends
	Iterum Vale Tres*
2018	Tweets From The Disrupter-In-Chief
2017	Do We Still Listen To Her Silent Lips?
	Not Now, Not Ever
2016	Why Do You Write/Blog?
2015	Can Your Repeat The Question, Please?
2014	On Faith
2013	My Name Is Charles Stein
2012	Faiths And Sorcery
	Made And Kept Free
2011	Multi-Source Learning

Read Full Post »

Short, Swift, Haste

Life is short.  Be swift to love!  Make haste to be kind!
—   Henri F. Amiel
.
On This Day In:
2023	Don’t Blink
2022	The Fight Continues…
2021	Short, Swift, Haste
	Another Friend’s Passing (Tapestry)
2020	Can We At Least Set The Bar Higher Than An Incompetent Liar In The Oval Office?
2019	Uncertain Times
	And Government Shutdowns, Too
2018	Satisfied
2017	In The Mind
2016	Dreaming
2015	The Best Medicine Is Also Contagious
2014	Eyes Off
2013	The More Things Change…
2012	The Delicate Moment Of Giving
2011	Ready, Shoot, Aim!!

Read Full Post »

Everyone I’ve Ever Met

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
—    J. M. Barry
.
On This Day In:
2022	More Like 60 To 70 Years
2021	Hold That Thought
	Got Love? (Let’s Hang On)
2020	Everyone I’ve Ever Met
	A Secret Chord (Hallelujah)
2019	A Big “IF”
2018	Silence Presence
2017	Feeling Small Standing In Front Of My Shelves
2016	Show Willing
2015	If He Only Knew…
2014	Dared To Love
2013	Strong Kung-Fu
2012	Two Tribes
2011	Made Any Assumptions Lately?

Read Full Post »

Better Sooner Than Later

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.
―    Ralph Waldo Emerson
.
On This Day In:
2022	“Tends To” Is Not Always
2021	The Beauty Of Life
	Seeds
2020	Better Sooner Than Later
2019	Possibilities And Challenges
	And Miles To Go Before She Sleeps
2018	What I Tell You Three Times Is True
2017	And So On
2016	Kept
2015	Envy * 2
2014	Destiny For The Talented
2013	I Do Not Fear It
2012	Until Found
2011	Reducing Goods To Data
	The Fog Of Civilization Building

Read Full Post »

I Struggle With One At A Time

To be able under all circumstances to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue.  These five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness and kindness.
—    Confucius
.
On This Day In:
2023	You Choose To Be One
2022	Strumming And Changing Chords
2021	B U
	Blueprint Blue (Peg)
2019	I Struggle With One At A Time
2018	An Infectious Political Cancer
	Site Update / Poems Page Evolution
2017	Our Thirst
2016	History Favors The Victor
2015	This We’ll Leave Them
2014	Sounds Like Faux News To Me
2013	Reasons
2012	American Libertarianism
2011	The Goal

Read Full Post »

Where I Write

Write injuries in sand, kindnesses in marble.
—    French Proverb
.
On This Day In:
2022	If Only I Could…
2021	Become Daily
	Just Pickin’ (Doc’s Guitar)
2020	So, You Think You Know The Answer?
	The One You Come Running To (Let’s Stay Together)
2019	His Promises, OUR Hopes
2018	Where I Write
2017	At Last, An Honest Philosopher…
2016	Fake It ‘Til You Make It
2015	Hell Toupée
2014	Corrected And Amended
2013	Too Few
2012	Three Characters
2011	Universal Payment
2010	Privatizing the TSA?  (An old – and long – post, but still relevant!!)

Read Full Post »

Reflections

You cannot see wisdom, but you can see its reflection.  Its reflection is happiness, fearlessness, and kindness.
—    Sylvia Boorstein
.
On This Day In:
2023	What The World Needs Now…
2022	Relegated To Study Hall
	5 – 40hrs
2021	And Initiative Gets You Started
	Here’s My Story (Runaround Sue)
2020	#IncometentDonald Says The Economy Will Rebound Quickly
	A Family Horror Story
2019	A State With No Business
2018	Reflections
2017	Opposites Attract
2016	Completely Unreasonable
	Starting To Be A Reacher
2015	Avengers Assemble II
	But If I Had To Perish Twice…
2014	Turning Pages
2013	We Are All Accountable
2012	American Sign Language
2011	Happy Disproof
2010	Book Review – Managing Your Government Career

Read Full Post »