What’s It to You?

I have been tossing around ideas for a new post.  I had some, threw them away, had others and saved them for a rainy day.  Then, I read this UpWorthy article:

McEnroe speaks out!

Read the article, watch the video (please, it’s hilarious), then finish this.

I don’t really know this older tennis veteran talked about in the article and video.  I really don’t care to know her. I have said, time and again, I don’t judge people.  She is allowed to voice her opinion, no matter what I think of it.  Other than she is hurting people.  Her fame with a tennis racket does not give her the ability to be a life judge of everyone else.  Moreover, what the game is today does not take away from what she thought it was in days gone by.  The biggest fact is:  the world is moving toward acceptance of same-sex marriage and LBGTQIA+ views and acceptance.  I see this as no different than people telling me how good it was before computers. “Computers are taking the jobs from good people and giving them to machines.”  These are the same people who are upset because food prices keep going up as well as most other things.  But, fact is, computers are keeping most prices lower than if we still had myriads of humans running those machines and tasks.  Same thing, acceptance, will help everyone move into the next generation and feel good or better about life.

I am a mostly retired person, doing some writing and a bit of work here and there, trying to make things work on my salary.  This ex-tennis pro is so much wealthier than I am.  She should find it easier to forgive and forget…shouldn’t she?

Do you accept the changes in this world as far as technology and sexual empowerment and expression are concerned?  What’s it to you?

Namaste,

Scott

WE should all know this…

I am concerned about the spread of Islam.  There has seemed to me to be something up about all of this…here is a very interesting video…

The History in Islam in a very short time…

Namaste,

Scott

Remember…

Passing it on…please read!

https://erikakind.wordpress.com/2015/11/23/god-did-not-mean-to-solve-our-problems/

Namaste,

Scott

Looking Back, Looking Forward

I read a post by James Radcliffe about “As I Get Older“.  It has been highlighted should you wish to read the original.  I decided, being 57 instead of 37, there might be a different slant on the post should I write one similar.  So, here it is…

I am happy with my life.  There are problems, to be sure.  The list is (not totally finished, but for the most part):

1.  I suffer from Diabetes.
2. I have bad arthritis in my right hip (left one is replaced).
3. My feet are somewhat numb, are somewhat in pain, and swollen much of the time.
4. I am disabled and can no longer work for a living.
5. My Dad had a stroke and is suffering from the loss of a kidney.
6. I had a major hemorrhagic stroke in May 2010.
7. I am divorced twice.
8. I am out of shape.
9. I have double-vision.
10. My memory is spotty at times.

There are the top ten, anyway.  So, I do have reason to be cynical, suffering, nasty, angry, and whatever else many people would feel in my spot.  But, as I said earlier:  I am happy with my life.

I don’t know just how many reasons there are for this, so I will just write and see – let’s travel that road together.

#1  I have worked many different jobs in the course of my 29 years of working.

I have done major working as a Security Officer, a Computer Technician, a Computer Programmer, a Computer Systems Manager, and a Teacher.  I have also worked as a Newspaper Routeman, a Substitute Teacher, a Janitorial Person, a Restaurant Server, and a Restaurant Assistant Manager.  Plus, there have been the odd jobs as a Salesman, Babysitter (high school), and several others I cannot think of at the moment.

Through all of these, there were times I hated and times I loved.  However, in all of them, I found a decent amount of pride and joy to know I had the capabilities to be hired to do them and I did them as best I could.  This has been a wealth of information to draw on when talking to people and trying to help my students.

#2  I have been many places.

I sang in high school and did so quite well. Now, my singing performances are restricted to the shower and an empty car with the radio in the background.  But, because of this, I went to All-State Choir, I sang at choral contests, and I even ran a small (4 people) group who sang in churches a few times.  The biggest single thing I did was to go with Varner Chance and the “Sounds of Hope” choir/orchestra to about 18 countries in one month and sing there.  Again, all of this has given me volumes of material to use to help people with and to focus on when I am down.

#3  I have learned to be alone.

Being divorced twice is not a record and it is not necessarily something to be proud of.  However, it has given me two opportunities:  First, I have gotten to “start over” several times.  This has allowed me to be able to learn from previous mistakes and try again.  Difficult?  Yes!  But, I am now doing okay with my life and myself.  The same can be said for all the jobs I have had.  They allowed me to start over.  The biggest thing I have learned (and it took all 57 years) is I am fine by myself.  I can live, function, and enjoy life as a single person, one who is not even dating.  I would enjoy dating again, perhaps even marrying again, but, for now, I am fine.

#4  I can cook and clean.

This sounds a bit trite, but with all the things going on in my life so far, I do count decent cooking, cleaning, and following recipes as something of importance.  I know many men who, because they are single, have to go out to eat, order take out, or find someone to date who can cook.  I can take care of myself.

#5  I have a widespread education.

My formal education comes from the fact I have an BA in English with minors in Religion and Psychology, An MA in English, and advanced certification in Elementary Teaching and Special Education Teaching.  My daughter tells me I have nearly as many hours in education as she does for her PhD.  Again, this spread has given me many different viewpoints and, when coupled with the wide range of reading I have done, I can help people more and more from many areas of life.

#6  I have two wonderful children.

My greatest accomplishment has been to raise two children of whom I am very proud.  Divorce (especially two) can often cause major setbacks in children’s lives; however, my children have turned out wonderfully.  My daughter is married, lives in a nice home, and is a practicing Psychologist with a PhD.  My son is out in Oregon and making excellent money as a Computer Consultant with is both well-liked and much wanted by his community.  There is nothing that compares to being able to say this and stand up tall and proud because:  they both love me very much.

Okay, 6 instead of 5.  They are different reasons, however, I imagine James Radcliffe will alter his choices just a bit in 20 years.  Perhaps not, we shall see.  In my case, I am comfortable with life and, because of my previous stroke and my beliefs, I am comfortable with death (though I hope he stays away for a long time yet!).

Namaste,

Scott

The 3 Quote 3 Day Challenge – Day Two

Nomination Accepted!!!

 

I had decided not to do much about being nominated anymore.  I have been nominated for a whole lot of awards and was cluttering the blog page up with them.  Short of putting in an awards page (thought that sounded a bit high and mighty), I was just going to stop.  However, when Tonysonblogger nominated me for the 3 Quote 3 Day Challenge, I read the rules and was fine with it.  I don’t post anything permanently on my blog page.  The rules:

1) Post who nominated you

2) Post a different quote each day for 3 days (at least, that’s how I understand it)

3) Nominate 3 other bloggers.

Nominations:

1)  Truth and Cake (also the one I took my first quote below from)

2)  A Ghost Dancer (Wow!  Read her story!)

3)  Only Bad Chi  (A wonderfully fun and great person)

 

Here is quote 2, my mantra:

Everything works out in the end;  If it hasn’t worked out, then it isn’t the end.

See you all tomorrow.

Namaste,

Scott