Experiences, not stuff. I’ve tried hard to focus on having experiences with my kids rather than just buying them “stuff”. Today was one memory they will have for a long time. We spent the day at a fun water park in Old Forge NY. We splashed and slid and laughed for 8 hours.
It was a blast, the kids loved it. I loved it. That’s all that counts.
23 Signs You’re Secretly An Introvert
Introverts get a bad rap, but it’s all good!
The past couple months have presented me with some unprecedented challenges, some of which have shaken me to my core. At times I’ve had a hard time sleeping, and list my appetite.
I’ve had a few near-misses with panic attacks. Some day’s I’ve struggled to get out of bed.
But I keep going. Some day’s it’s literally putting one foot in front of the other.
I have doubts. I have fears. Some moments I fear I will lose my mind.
But it doesn’t stop me.
I hope it makes me stronger. But it doesn’t matter. I have to keep going, for myself, for my kids, for my pride and honor.
This coming week will be the biggest challenge yet. I don’t know what will happen. I am thankful to have a few supportive people in my corner so I won’t be facing it alone.
It’s been a tough couple months, but it’s not over. It’s time to get serious.
This is one of my favorite stories. When I first encountered it several years ago I couldn’t stop reading it. To this day I remain stunned by its simplicity and shocked at how much it has changed my life.
We are not mindless victims of circumstance. We always have choices. It’s easy to get into a fight, or to lash out in anger, or to take offense at words carelessly hurled at us.
It’s not easy to reject insults or hate that is pushed on us, but it’s worth the effort.
From Kindness: A Treasury of Buddhist Wisdom for Children and Parents (Condra Enterprises, 2005).
One day, the Buddha and a large following of monks and nuns were passing through a village. The Buddha chose a large shade tree to sit beneath so the group could rest awhile out of the heat. He often chose times like these to teach, and so he began to speak. Soon, villagers heard about the visiting teacher and many gathered around to hear him.
One surly young man stood to the side, watching, as the crowd grew larger and larger. To him, it seemed that there were too many people traveling from the city to his village, and each had something to sell or teach. Impatient with the bulging crowd of monks and villagers, he shouted at the Buddha, “Go away! You just want to take advantage of us! You teachers come here to say a few pretty words and then ask for food and money!”
But the Buddha was unruffled by these insults. He remained calm, exuding a feeling of loving-kindness. He politely requested that the man come forward. Then he asked, “Young sir, if you purchased a lovely gift for someone, but that person did not accept the gift, to whom does the gift then belong?”
The odd question took the young man by surprise. “I guess the gift would still be mine because I was the one who bought it.”
“Exactly so,” replied the Buddha. “Now, you have just cursed me and been angry with me. But if I do not accept your curses, if I do not get insulted and angry in return, these curses will fall back upon you—the same as the gift returning to its owner.”
The young man clasped his hands together and slowly bowed to the Buddha. It was an acknowledgement that a valuable lesson had been learned. And so the Buddha concluded for all to hear, “As a mirror reflects an object, as a still lake reflects the sky: take care that what you speak or act is for good. For goodness will always cast back goodness and harm will always cast back harm.”
Last night I posted a quick blog post about the recent protests over police killings, and wondering why no one protests the nonstop killing in Rochester.
Unfortunately another person was killed in Rochester last night. And there were no protests today. It barely made the news.
Just another day in Rochester. I imagine the victim’s family and friends care.
It’s sad. It’s hard to understand. Maybe there’s no point in protesting something that happens regularly. Maybe people feel powerless to stop the killings.
I don’t know. But I wish I was wrong.
The recent shootings of police officers and black males has caused a nationwide uproar, perhaps rightfully so.
My adopted home of Rochester (NY) is one of the most violent cities in NY state. Killings are a weekly affair in Rochester, mostly black males killing other black males.
It’s depressing, it’s maddening, it’s incomprehensible.
Sometimes after a shooting a few people will get on TV and declare that it has to stop, but nobody says much. The killing continues unabated.
This past weekend there was a huge protest in Rochester for Black Lives Matter, 70+ people were arrested. Streets were blocked off. It wasn’t necessarily violent, but it was surprising to see all those people out protesting something that happened far from here.
Why aren’t there massive protests when local people are killed every week? Why won’t people stand up and get involved and root out the problem?
People certainly have the right to protest, and we all have a reason to be angry and frustrated with recent events, but sometimes it seems that we forget that we can make an impact locally.
After the protests are over what will change? Will we make it through the coming week without another killing in Rochester?
When the next life is taken for no reason will anyone protest? Will anyone except the victim’s family even care?