Money would make it easier but ….

Posted on June 7, 2013 by dfolstad58

Many years ago, before I had grey hair and my love handles my wife and I were volunteers with a church group to an orphanage in Baja, Mexico. Even as I write this I remember the warm nights, the air heavy with silence, the road was soft sand, no gravel to the orphanage and the skies were wide open. It wasn’t just the geography that makes the trip memorable 30 years later though. It wasn’t the food either, it was all pretty basic grub at the orphanage and the most striking memory in that respect were the chilies in the bowls at each table and that the Mexicans at chilis as part of their meal like i would chomp down one of our delicious BC apples. However BC apples are not super spicy, and just a bit of these chiles was too much for me to eat even if I chopped it up fine with my rice. Regardless the mexicans at the orphanage ate them whole and ate them plenty.

Not the geography, and not the food is the subject of this post though. The memory that I tucked away then, in 1980, and often remind myself of has to do with my vehicle getting stuck in the sand. I don’t know how it happened but my tires had spun their way into the soft sand on a road that went right by a shack. I mean a literal shack and outside this shack was metal barrel which was for cooking on by throwing wood inside it and lighting it on fire.

Cappadocia, Turkey

There we were, spinning tires, when out of the shack tumbled a very beautiful and happy family. I can’t tell you how many in the family, I only remember now the smiles, and I remember my impression how content they were. They laughed at our predicament and gave us a little push and we were out of our little rut. No gratuity requested or required, I don’t know if they knew we were volunteers, but there were no tourist spots anywhere close. I was a newlywed, and I remember saying to Sue (my new bride) – let’s never forget this day, happiness has nothing to do with money, it all has to with an attitude of being content.

At last I’m here, still reading? Money would make life easier… but it isn’t essential to being happy. I remember the smiles, and really in our lives the real joy comes from being loved, and accepting ourselves. Nothing wrong with a nice house and some toys sure but they don’t guarantee happiness as the overdoses of celebrities, and continual striving by millionaires seems to indicate.

Thanks for reading my blog, I hope you enjoyed it, share it, and leave a comment. Your feedback inspires me.

Maybe you will like this post also from “some of my favorite posts” category.

https://dfolstad58.wordpress.com/2012/04/07/avoid-the-top-5-regrets-in-life/

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Posted in Thinking Out loud, Uncategorized | Tagged Chili pepper, contentedness, Happiness, memories, Orphanage, Shack | Leave a comment

Ostrich Living

Posted on May 25, 2013 by dfolstad58

I have a bad habit of having multiple books on the go at a time. I guess as bad habits go, it’s not disastrous but I am wondering now if it is the ostrich in me. I have to bury my head in something else at times.

Sarah's Key By: Tatiana de Rosnay

For example, I find I can only read a few pages of “Sarah’s Key” at a time. The story is so sad, that is fortunate that the author has written it so the reader isn’t smothered in the ugliness of unfairness of war, and torture of innocents.

It caused me to think how important that we remember these sad events of World War II despite the discomfort, and unease it inflicts on our hearts.

It also makes me happy for my lighthearted reading, and reference type books that keep my balance so that I can sleep at night without thinking about terrible historical events like genocide.

How can I learn from this book in my life right now?

Possibly it is this, I recently wrote about sweatshops, this is an ugliness that is happening right now. This could be an ugliness that I am unconsciously supporting, and so are you.

Sweatshops and child labor: The price of fashion?

I don’t think we try to be ostriches in our lives, but it can happen and it often takes something really ugly to get us all collectively to look around. I guess that is the positive side to the Bangladesh building collapse – Collectively we have pulled our heads from the sand and we are saying as consumers we don’t want to be ostriches anymore. We want laws enforced, and we want to be informed consumers, and we want to influence corporations for positive treatment of workers. This is where I think millions are at now, we are aware, we are supportive, we want change, watch out clothing, shoes, and other industries – the ostrich has their head out of the sand, and I hear ostriches have a vicious kick. – see the link above – Beads for Life – Eradicating Poverty One bead at a time.

Bead For Life - Uganda Girls

Posted in Thinking Out loud, Uncategorized | Tagged Bangladesh, Bird, consumer awareness, History, Ostrich, Oudtshoorn, Shopping, sweatshops, Wikipedia, World War II | Leave a comment

True law of attraction story: “A penny for your condo?”

Posted on May 25, 2013 by dfolstad58

This is a cute story, and who am I to say about understanding the universe? I do know the universe continues to surprise me, good and bad. Thank heavens for all the good.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

I only open my mouth to change feet !

Posted on May 23, 2013 by dfolstad58

I believe in a recent post I inadvertently opened my mouth and actually put both feet in! I was talking about how I coped spending long periods of time hospitalized (long ago) and being away from my family.

cool images

My attitude change worked for me, or whatever you want to call my approach. But talking it over and thinking about it later I realized that I may have implied denying or masking how you feel and pretending to be happy. I believe that being positive, and thankful is always a good choice but absolutely recognize that feelings should not be denied, masked, or disrespected. I am a buffoon who can type for giving the wrong impression.

My post was about what I did to cope, I was extremely sad, and at the bottom of an emotional pit so I pulled myself together with humor, and positive outlook.

Everyday be honest with yourself, and be an amazing you. Don’t expect perfection, don’t berate yourself for not being what you think you are supposed to be. Lower the bar of expectations from yourself and celebrate that you can be honest and content being you, after all lots of people love you just like you are!

I found myself humming this song again the other day, forgive me for sharing the song again!

Posted in Thinking Out loud | Tagged attitude change, buffoon, positive outlook, wrong impression | 2 Comments

Take the smile vitamin every day, or twice a day

Posted on May 13, 2013 by dfolstad58

Long long time ago, a lesson was learned by me. That lesson was to laugh, to smile, even when on the inside I felt the opposite.

Vancouver General Hospital Centennial Pavilion (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The year was 1986, and it was the third year in a row, that I was back at Heather Pavilion, at Vancouver General Hospital. This year I arrived in April and I stayed until nearly October. It was a long five months, and I rode out highs and lows as I received a kidney transplant, it worked really well and then failed despite best efforts.

All the tests, treatments, blood tests, sleepless days, and lack of privacy, but eventually rejection. So after five months of effort, and new hope I found myself 50 pounds lighter, and back on dialysis.

I endured it all but not alone. My wife, my parents, my closest and dearest friends all experienced it with me.

“A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life.” – William Arthur Ward

I had to learn to make it easier for them, and for me. So I told jokes, and made the nurses, doctors, students and visitors all laugh. I learned that you need to smile and laugh. You need to help others and yourself by smiling outside and it isn’t fake at all after you start. It really helped, and it even had it’s physical benefits I am sure. After all, I survived, and not everyone did that year.

“Laugh as much as possible, always laugh. It’s the sweetest thing one can do for oneself & one’s fellow human beings.” – Maya Angelou

We all have things that we need to deal with, life is change, and it will change until we die. My lesson was to not let life rob me of each day, or the chance to smile, the opportunity to encourage someone else while injecting myself also with the smile vitamin.

Sure there will be times when you have to be silent, and just be there but climb out of those holes and don’t linger there, either for yourself or those who support and care for you.

A smile is a good place to start, even when you don’t feel like it maybe especially when you don’t feel like it.