Passion.
It is a driving force behind success.
When I was younger, I would play games passionately--and I would win. Now, it seems I do not really care if I win or lose--and the passion is gone. I lose a lot more. Which certainly makes one of my grandchildren happy.
A Wikipedia definition of passion:
Passion ( from Latin verb patior meaning to suffer or to endure) is an emotion applied to a very strong feeling about a person or thing. Passion is an intense emotion compelling feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for something. The term is also often applied to a lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity or love. Passion can be expressed as a feeling of unusual excitement, enthusiasm or compelling emotion towards a subject, idea, person, or object. A person is said to have a passion for something when he has a strong positive affinity for it. A love for something and a passion for something are often used synonymously.
Passion is the feeling in my gut that tells me I really care about what is happening. That could be something with my family, church, recreation or job.
I am a passionate person.
Sometimes I get blinded by my passion--but
I do best when I am working on that passion because I find that when there is no passion "burning in my belly" I really don't care about the outcome. I become apathetic.
I love working with other passionate people. It makes life fun, even if we disagree because it tells me that they care as much as I do about getting something right.
What am I passionate about?
Well, I'm not going to share--but you can probably guess by reading some of my blog entries.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Mailboxes
Mailboxes are part of life and I suspect that most of us check them six days a week.
Why? Because mail is delivered six days per week and we don't want to miss anything important.
I have noticed lately though, that I am recycling more and more of the items that the USPS mail carriers so diligently deliver.
Lots of junk.
I have started stopping by the recycling bin to drop off the unwanted items before even going back inside the house.
It is amazing how a stack of mail can be reduced to two items in about 30 seconds.
I wonder what it is that triggers me to open some of the items? Some go into the bin unopened, while others at least get a peak inside before being recycled. There is something about the ones that get opened that call to me. Is it the promise that there may be something of value inside? I don't know--more it is the fear that I'm discarding something important disguised as junk mail.
Think of the waste in productivity and resources associated with all of the junk mail. It boggles my mind.
Most all of the stuff is not only unwanted it was unrequested. And, unless I take action it will continue to arrive daily in my mailbox.
I'm not sure I want to stop it--think about it. I hate empty mailboxes almost as much as I dislike ones full of junk mail.
It is perplexing. At least if there is mail in the box there is hope that something exciting or important will reside within--in addition to the periodic bills which come interspersed throughout the month.
And so, I will continue my afternoon trek to the mailbox full of the realization that most of what I receive is going to be discarded, but that there is mail in the mailbox is more important that reducing the junk.
I'm not sure that is the best answer--but it's where I am.
Why? Because mail is delivered six days per week and we don't want to miss anything important.
I have noticed lately though, that I am recycling more and more of the items that the USPS mail carriers so diligently deliver.
Lots of junk.
I have started stopping by the recycling bin to drop off the unwanted items before even going back inside the house.
It is amazing how a stack of mail can be reduced to two items in about 30 seconds.
I wonder what it is that triggers me to open some of the items? Some go into the bin unopened, while others at least get a peak inside before being recycled. There is something about the ones that get opened that call to me. Is it the promise that there may be something of value inside? I don't know--more it is the fear that I'm discarding something important disguised as junk mail.
Think of the waste in productivity and resources associated with all of the junk mail. It boggles my mind.
Most all of the stuff is not only unwanted it was unrequested. And, unless I take action it will continue to arrive daily in my mailbox.
I'm not sure I want to stop it--think about it. I hate empty mailboxes almost as much as I dislike ones full of junk mail.
It is perplexing. At least if there is mail in the box there is hope that something exciting or important will reside within--in addition to the periodic bills which come interspersed throughout the month.
And so, I will continue my afternoon trek to the mailbox full of the realization that most of what I receive is going to be discarded, but that there is mail in the mailbox is more important that reducing the junk.
I'm not sure that is the best answer--but it's where I am.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Jack-O-Lantern Season
They are appearing everywhere.
Pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns.
At stores, on doorsteps, almost everywhere imaginable.
We even have one on our doorstep to welcome people to the house. Or is it guarding the place to keep intruders and evil away? It is hard to know.
While we think of Halloween and its relationship to Jack-o-lantern pumpkins as uniquely American, sadly, it is not so. Jack-o-lanterns originally began in Ireland and turnips or potatoes were used the carve the scary faces. After the pumpkin was discovered in America, that became the vegetable of choice for obvious reasons.
If you have never heard of story of Stingy Jack, click the link above and read it--it is fascinating. Apparently, according to tradition, Jack went toe-to-toe with the Devil and won--or so it seemed.
Probably most people have no idea where the Jack-o-lantern tradition originated--in an Irish turnip.
But now, pumpkins are everywhere to keep Stingy Jack's wandering spirit as well as other evil spirits away.
Our Jack-o-lantern is fabricated. I'm not sure it is endowed with the same protection powers. But it is part of the seasonal tradition. And it makes me smile. And we can reuse it annually--which I like.
And they are everywhere it seems.
So, if you see Stingy Jack's spirit wandering on your front lawn, make sure you light your Jack-o-lantern to keep him and his evil friends away from your doorstep.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Autumn Smells
Autumn has a unique smell.
It is probably the smell of leaf mold on the wind--which at the same time is familiar and makes me sneeze.
That, coupled with the cooler crisper air is one of those dead ringer "it's autumm" signals for me.
Smells are very powerful. I think they are being over used now though. Everytime I turn around there is a new candle or spray object in the house putting out seemingly pleasant odors that mostly make me sneeze.
I noticed the autumn smell this afternoon while going to the cafeteria for lunch. I just caught me and made me realize that it really is autumn here in Maryland.
I also know that there is a very clean, almost odorless smell associated with snow as it lays new fallen on the ground. I don't particularly enjoy it, but I have noticed it.
I looked at the pool cover the yesterday and thought about the water underneath, waiting for springtime.
And it reminded me of the smell of water being splashed upon hot concrete. It has a particular odor to it was well--one that calls for me to jump in the pool and enjoy the day.
So smells are a part of our overall experience that sometimes we do not take time to catalog. They can't be stored slike so many digital images--but we do remember them and can quickly be transported back in time in our minds to a different place.
Some smells make us think of home--like pumpkin pie or baking bread.
Some smells tell us there is a problem, like the smell of burnt hair or hot brake fluid.
Some smells are for information like the smell of radiator fluid leaking on the ground (I hate that).
But the smell of autumn is unique--it is just, autumn. Refreshing and complex.
So I will enjoy it as I watch the sun set too early and the flowers dim and wither knowing that springtime is one day closer.
It is probably the smell of leaf mold on the wind--which at the same time is familiar and makes me sneeze.
That, coupled with the cooler crisper air is one of those dead ringer "it's autumm" signals for me.
Smells are very powerful. I think they are being over used now though. Everytime I turn around there is a new candle or spray object in the house putting out seemingly pleasant odors that mostly make me sneeze.
I noticed the autumn smell this afternoon while going to the cafeteria for lunch. I just caught me and made me realize that it really is autumn here in Maryland.
I also know that there is a very clean, almost odorless smell associated with snow as it lays new fallen on the ground. I don't particularly enjoy it, but I have noticed it.
I looked at the pool cover the yesterday and thought about the water underneath, waiting for springtime.
And it reminded me of the smell of water being splashed upon hot concrete. It has a particular odor to it was well--one that calls for me to jump in the pool and enjoy the day.
So smells are a part of our overall experience that sometimes we do not take time to catalog. They can't be stored slike so many digital images--but we do remember them and can quickly be transported back in time in our minds to a different place.
Some smells make us think of home--like pumpkin pie or baking bread.
Some smells tell us there is a problem, like the smell of burnt hair or hot brake fluid.
Some smells are for information like the smell of radiator fluid leaking on the ground (I hate that).
But the smell of autumn is unique--it is just, autumn. Refreshing and complex.
So I will enjoy it as I watch the sun set too early and the flowers dim and wither knowing that springtime is one day closer.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Monday Musings - October 18, 2010
1. Election season is in full swing. The candidates are buying up the airtime for campaign ads. I can't wait until the beer commercials return.
2. It seems that if I stop by the recycling bin on my way back from the mailbox that I wind up with a lot less junk in the house. And there really isn't all that much important mail anyway.
3. Last week something really miraculous happened--the miners in Chile were rescued after 69 days under ground. We need to remember that good things happen too and not get so focused upon the bad things happening around us.
4. I heard a compelling testimony about forgiveness during church yesterday--and it reinforced my belief that too many people are looking for revenge rather than freeing themselves from the trap of hatred and forgiving those who transgress against them. According to Lewis Smedes, "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you."
5. October is more than half over--just yesterday it seemed I was complaining about closing the pool.
6. Passion. It dawned upon me that passion is what often separates successful people from those who are less successful.
7. Cars never break when it is convenient. And the corollary to that is that when you're running late and need to be somewhere, the gas tank is empty.
8. I wonder how many things that I think need to be done, really aren't all that important?
2. It seems that if I stop by the recycling bin on my way back from the mailbox that I wind up with a lot less junk in the house. And there really isn't all that much important mail anyway.
3. Last week something really miraculous happened--the miners in Chile were rescued after 69 days under ground. We need to remember that good things happen too and not get so focused upon the bad things happening around us.
4. I heard a compelling testimony about forgiveness during church yesterday--and it reinforced my belief that too many people are looking for revenge rather than freeing themselves from the trap of hatred and forgiving those who transgress against them. According to Lewis Smedes, "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you."
5. October is more than half over--just yesterday it seemed I was complaining about closing the pool.
6. Passion. It dawned upon me that passion is what often separates successful people from those who are less successful.
7. Cars never break when it is convenient. And the corollary to that is that when you're running late and need to be somewhere, the gas tank is empty.
8. I wonder how many things that I think need to be done, really aren't all that important?
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Birthdays and Football
It ha been a birthday celebration weekend. First Chris and then Jeremy celebrated birthdays. Although Jeremy's birthday isn't really until Tuesday--we went out with him and Nicole last evening to Fed Hill to enjoy some evening libations.
Today--mixed in with football, was celebration day.
The centerpiece was the cheesecake that I made for Chris.
We actually lit the candles twice so everyone could blow them out--well, Lucas just kind of watched. But they really had a lot of fun.
Then we ate cheesecake!
It was yummy and helped to soothe the wounds left by an ugly Cowboy loss at the hands of the Vikings.
Mostly it was good to have everyone together for another afternoon as we planned to start the week together.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Autumn Morning
It was a beautiful morning this morning.
I got to sleep in past 7am and wake up gently rather than to the blaring of my alarm.
I didn't have to be at the racquetball
court or at work. It wasn't even like yesterday when I took the day off and wound up in Annapolis at the car dealership before 10am to get Chris's car fixed, when I thought I was going to have a completely different day.
Today was going to start differently I thought--yeah, I would be at the grocery store before 8AM getting the items I needed to make and bake my kick-butt cheesecake which Chris asks for as her birthday cake. We are having the party tomorrow during our Sunday family football gathering.
And then--another hour making the cake followed by hours of baking and post-baking activities associated with this labor intensive cheesecake which I noticed has 520 calories per slice. Ugh! No wonder why I usually have a slice as a meal and I only bake it once per year.
As I was doing all of this and taking Makayla out for her required periodic outdoor activities, I noticed a mum in the garden.
It is one that we put there because it came back after the winter in one of the pots and needed a spot to grow.
It was just spilling color into the world and doing its part to make everyone smile.
Much of the rest of the garden has already surrendered its color to the forces of cold and darkness--but this mum, cheerfully sitting in the front of the garden near the driveway, reminded me that the world is full of color and wonder--sometimes you just need to be open to seeing it.
The color is there--I know it in my head, but sometimes I don't let it into my heart.
There is a tree at the top of the street that is always the first to don its autumnal colors. And I noticed yesterday, that it had begun to fully transition from the green of summer to the orange and red of Autumn. The other trees here are not far behind now.
I still look out my window and see green, mostly. But by next week I expect to see yellows and oranges.
Colors of life to offset the quickening darkness--it is so dark now in the morning when I got to work and even when I play racquetball and come out of the gym I can only see traces of the coming dawn in the sky.
Colors that remind me that on the other side, there is springtime waiting to embrace me with its cool warmth and brightly colored flowers.
Winter is like a doorway--from this year to the next. It is a passage that I make every year, to get me ready for the similar journey I will make someday on my own.
I just need to see the colors and the joy that is there and not focus on the darkness.
I'm not afraid of the darkness--I just prefer the light.
And all of this from running out to the grocery store for cream cheese to bake a cheesecake.
Where did I leave my coffee?
I got to sleep in past 7am and wake up gently rather than to the blaring of my alarm.
I didn't have to be at the racquetball
court or at work. It wasn't even like yesterday when I took the day off and wound up in Annapolis at the car dealership before 10am to get Chris's car fixed, when I thought I was going to have a completely different day.Today was going to start differently I thought--yeah, I would be at the grocery store before 8AM getting the items I needed to make and bake my kick-butt cheesecake which Chris asks for as her birthday cake. We are having the party tomorrow during our Sunday family football gathering.
And then--another hour making the cake followed by hours of baking and post-baking activities associated with this labor intensive cheesecake which I noticed has 520 calories per slice. Ugh! No wonder why I usually have a slice as a meal and I only bake it once per year.
As I was doing all of this and taking Makayla out for her required periodic outdoor activities, I noticed a mum in the garden.
It is one that we put there because it came back after the winter in one of the pots and needed a spot to grow.
It was just spilling color into the world and doing its part to make everyone smile.
Much of the rest of the garden has already surrendered its color to the forces of cold and darkness--but this mum, cheerfully sitting in the front of the garden near the driveway, reminded me that the world is full of color and wonder--sometimes you just need to be open to seeing it.
The color is there--I know it in my head, but sometimes I don't let it into my heart.
There is a tree at the top of the street that is always the first to don its autumnal colors. And I noticed yesterday, that it had begun to fully transition from the green of summer to the orange and red of Autumn. The other trees here are not far behind now.
I still look out my window and see green, mostly. But by next week I expect to see yellows and oranges.
Colors of life to offset the quickening darkness--it is so dark now in the morning when I got to work and even when I play racquetball and come out of the gym I can only see traces of the coming dawn in the sky.
Colors that remind me that on the other side, there is springtime waiting to embrace me with its cool warmth and brightly colored flowers.
Winter is like a doorway--from this year to the next. It is a passage that I make every year, to get me ready for the similar journey I will make someday on my own.
I just need to see the colors and the joy that is there and not focus on the darkness.
I'm not afraid of the darkness--I just prefer the light.
And all of this from running out to the grocery store for cream cheese to bake a cheesecake.
Where did I leave my coffee?
Friday, October 15, 2010
Happy Birthday Chris(tina)
This is a special birthday card blog (yeah, I am buying a real card, too!) to my partner of too many years to count.
If you factor in that we were 15 when we met, that would make it about 40 years that we have been a thing! And we have been married over 35 of those 40 years. Which is waaaaay to many to think about on a regular basis.
Did you ever think about how we use words to describe people on a regular basis? Well, I did and I want to share a few words about my wife--
Anyway--Chris is the world's best Mom, wife, confidant, physician, psychologist, party planner, grandmother, friend, ER Tech, house vet, L&D volunteer, Offutt Aires member, animal rescuerer, turtle spotter, wine drinking buddy, beach comber, house cleaner, project planner, interior decorator, wily shopper, sister, daughter, aunt, sister-in-law, cousin, niece, grand daughter, civil rights defender, faith-filled believer, worship team member/leader, Dallas Cowboy fan, god-mother, adviser, and lover. (I'm sure I missed a few)
Now each of those words has at least one story attached to it--that I could never even think of trying to recount--but be assured--I'm sure you would agree with my assessment. OK, maybe that she is in the top 10 in these categories.
It is her day. Wish her Happy Birthday (and mean it!). And no, I'm not revealing how old she is or isn't.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Miracles do happen
Any questions? Just ask the miners who just were rescued from deep in the earth after 69 days.
Can you imagine smelling fresh air for the first time in over two months? To be in sunlight?
To see your family?
To burst from the earth after a ride up in a very small looking capsule and to be free?
It is a miracle.
We should celebrate with the miners, their families, and everyone who had a part in the rescue--and that latter item includes everyone who prayed for their rescue.
Some are calling it the greatest rescue since Apollo 13.
Wow!
Can you imagine smelling fresh air for the first time in over two months? To be in sunlight?
To see your family?
To burst from the earth after a ride up in a very small looking capsule and to be free?
It is a miracle.
We should celebrate with the miners, their families, and everyone who had a part in the rescue--and that latter item includes everyone who prayed for their rescue.
Some are calling it the greatest rescue since Apollo 13.
Wow!
Gap Filler Pop-pop
Other duties as assigned.
That is a phrase which is often associated with job descriptions to allow for flexibility in assigning duties and getting tasks done.
Yesterday afternoon I assumed the "other duties as assigned" part of the grandparent job description. I became the after school childcare gap filler.
I never really thought of myself as that--but in fact, the other duty was childcare with my oldest grandson, Ethan.
I re-planned my day to get to work a bit earlier so that I could depart a bit earlier to retrieve Ethan from the neighbor.
It was a beautiful day and I learned a lot about the parking lot at work at about 3pm. It is busier then than at any other time it seemed. It took me and extra 5 minutes to get out of the lot due to pedestrian traffic and cars.
Actually I was looking forward to spending quality alone time with Ethan. We have always gotten along really well and I remember when he was a little baby, I was the first person his mother trusted to watch him for an afternoon--I don't remember the details of that day--but he was a snugly baby and we spent a few hours asleep together on the sofa.
In short the experience yesterday was great for both of us--and I'm told he was really looking forward to time with Pop-pop. I hope I didn't disappoint him--and I don't think I did. We were pretty relaxed and things seemed to go very well.
I was nice when Nicole and Jax arrived--but E and I pretty much stayed on the sofa, chillin' and Jax joined us for a bit. Which was nice, too.
So for a few every other Wednesdays--E and I will be spending time together and the Pop-pop other duties as assigned expansion will likely be as enjoyable for both of us as it was today. Sometimes it is nice to be flexible and willing to try out new things--the results can be very rewarding.
In this case it was easy, just chillin' and spending time together with Ethan
That is a phrase which is often associated with job descriptions to allow for flexibility in assigning duties and getting tasks done.
Yesterday afternoon I assumed the "other duties as assigned" part of the grandparent job description. I became the after school childcare gap filler.
I never really thought of myself as that--but in fact, the other duty was childcare with my oldest grandson, Ethan.
I re-planned my day to get to work a bit earlier so that I could depart a bit earlier to retrieve Ethan from the neighbor.
It was a beautiful day and I learned a lot about the parking lot at work at about 3pm. It is busier then than at any other time it seemed. It took me and extra 5 minutes to get out of the lot due to pedestrian traffic and cars.
Actually I was looking forward to spending quality alone time with Ethan. We have always gotten along really well and I remember when he was a little baby, I was the first person his mother trusted to watch him for an afternoon--I don't remember the details of that day--but he was a snugly baby and we spent a few hours asleep together on the sofa.
In short the experience yesterday was great for both of us--and I'm told he was really looking forward to time with Pop-pop. I hope I didn't disappoint him--and I don't think I did. We were pretty relaxed and things seemed to go very well.
I was nice when Nicole and Jax arrived--but E and I pretty much stayed on the sofa, chillin' and Jax joined us for a bit. Which was nice, too.
So for a few every other Wednesdays--E and I will be spending time together and the Pop-pop other duties as assigned expansion will likely be as enjoyable for both of us as it was today. Sometimes it is nice to be flexible and willing to try out new things--the results can be very rewarding.
In this case it was easy, just chillin' and spending time together with Ethan
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