Life and Random Thinking

The Things that Money can’t buy

Posted on February 21, 2020 by dfolstad58

Valentine’s Day is past but here I am, LATE, adding my thoughts – thanks for your patience. 🙂

heart-snow Valentine’s day for my mind is a cutesy day invented by card companies, florists, and restaurants in the name of romantic love.

Valentine’s day is also about chocolate – but any day in my opinion is a good day for chocolate.

In North America it is the tradition for men to shower their beloved with chocolate on Valentines but it is the opposite in Japan – read here. There the ladies do the gifts of chocolate to the men and there are two types of chocolate giving. I like it! – equality!!

Listening to the Beatles –

Can’t Buy Me Love is a song I was listening to on Valentines Day this year and a certain line struck my attention – I don’t care too much for money, money can’t buy me love.

Too much is key in my mind. Money after all is important, but by itself, it’s not much at all when it comes to buying the most important things in life

Too Much Money also doesn’t buy health

MONEY or HEALTH – all of us, myself included would choose health in a microsecond, especially if we have experienced poor health.

Ironically many people are at their wealthiest stage of their lives when their health takes a serious downturn – if they could trade money for health, they would.

Too Much Money can’t buy happiness

I think most of my readers will respond that their happy memories of their life don’t revolve around money.

Happy memories and the stories that I treasure the most revolve around people and experiences with people.

I am thinking about moments that I will never forget with my parents, my wife, daughter, son and now my son-in-law.

An adequate amount of money, and a positive attitude takes you further towards happiness in my mind that just a plum bank account.

The ironic thing is if you have health and money- you can overlook their importance but if that changes negatively- you might have trouble thinking about anything else

perception 101

Unpack that smile in your heart and be happy every day.

Happiness is said to be a choice, and based on the posts that I read regularly, and some wonderful comments from readers over the years – most people do their best to make the choice to be positive, to smile, to be kind, and see their cups more than half full when they wake up.

Certainly there are tough patches always in life, but there is more miles of smooth road trips than flat tires I hope in your life, and hopefully even better roads ahead in your journey.

I don’t care too much for money
For money can’t buy me love
Can’t buy me love, oh
Everybody tells me so

Thanks for reading, and commenting – I will continue to try to post a few times a week. Each time I post I hope I on the right wavelength with you – your comments and suggestions are appreciated.

In today’s post, this is what I was thinking on Valentines Day and it’s just my out loud thoughts, – David

Posted in music related, Thinking Out loud | Tagged Beatles, can't buy love, Happiness, health, journey, Money, Music, Valentine's Day | 15 Comments

Surprised at the front door

Posted on February 11, 2020 by dfolstad58

I’m thinking out loud today,

I stood at the front door two days ago, and staring back at me, from my neighbour’s yard was a brown doe, her neck twisted back and staring at me with those big deer eyes, she seemed to be saying “yes?”

Deer in our yards along the street is common, and with snow on the ground, they frequent yards with the evergreen bushes. Seeing deer sashay across my driveway, is normal but this deer was alone and different.

She stood there on only three legs, her right leg off the ground and sticking backward parallel to the ground.

Stunned I could see her right rear foot was missing, self amputated?

frequent visitors

Possibly it became frozen to the ground and she was forced to break her foot off to escape. I don’t know why…. but it was absent.

The deer showed no distress, merely mild interest in me, then she turned her head and resumed her chewing.

But I was surprised at my front door and the image of this contented deer would not leave my mind.

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Laying awake later, I envisioned this deer and how placidly she accepted her three legged situation. I am definitely reading into it, I know, but it’s how I felt.

I believe that nature instinctively know what people call the Serenity Prayer.

God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

It’s all about how we respond, read about the Cockroach Theory here.

“Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do”

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever in whatever way they like. – Lao Tzu

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Dave – thanks for reading. This post was how I interpreted that beautiful doe as she calmly ate her lunch; despite her missing foot, she showed courage and acceptance.

Posted in Thinking Out loud | Tagged acceptance, changee, Deer, serenity, surprised, three legged | 14 Comments

Against the odds, time for a trip

Posted on February 10, 2020 by dfolstad58

A celebration trip with family took place recently,

but then I came home and got sick – I have been UP and Down. My chest has been sounding like a dog’s squeaky toy, but no more fever.

Why celebrate?

I have wanted to celebrate because I am again healthy enough to travel, thanks to a miraculous gift. For a few years my health has been rescinding, forcing me to stay at home, and then worse forcing me to resume dialysis, but April 2019 I was blessed with a new kidney transplant. (fireworks!)

Against all odds – read link here. Please investigate. 🙂

Leaving this behind, not that hard.

After waiting an appropriate time since my surgery, it was time to celebrate with the ones who are the closest to my heart when I am lying in the hospital. So I flew away to Hawaii with my family.

I had a great time together with them, enjoyed warm weather, took family pictures, and was astonished by unexpected close encounters with Maui’s humpback whales, and a water snake!

The pictures right now are recent and I like them, but in ten years when I pull them out, they will be priceless.

It was fun to be together! A special gift.

All that will be left is the stories, is a recurring theme of mine and I hope that I will continue to make new stories for awhile yet!

Mark Twain said ” Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.”

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Thanks for reading, as always I enjoy receiving your suggestions and feedback. Sorry no pictures of whales, I could have got some great photos but I was busy being blown away with the happiness of the experience and sharing it with family- Dave

Posted in family, health, travel | Tagged celebration, family, Holiday, maui, memories, regret, stories, whales | 22 Comments

January 25, 2020 – Celebrate !

Posted on January 25, 2020 by dfolstad58

More than one reason to appreciate January 25

January 25, 2020 – Chinese New Year (aka Lunar New Year 2020) – the year of the Rat.

RAT Symbolization -The rat meaning indicates wealth, abundance, and fertility, similar to the rabbit meaning. Don’t fear the rat spirit animal because this symbolizes an abundant period that will soon take place!

My two #1’s on holiday – both giving directions! hugs!!

A Lunar New Year is (as is January 1) a perfect opportunity for reflection, and gratitude.

It’s an opportunity to make a list of opportunities that you said YES to in the past twelve months.
It’s an opportunity to make a list of opportunities that you said No to in the past twelve months.

Then you may look at those lists and reflect on the decisions you were proud of, and anything you might want to change or just one thing.

It’s also an opportunity to ask yourself this question….

Is the year I am going to.……..? (Fill in the blank, it could clean your garage, get fit, join Toastmasters, take a night school course, run a marathon, or whatever you would like to achieve in the next 12 months)

Then you can answer your question, as in “This will be the year that I will ….. or not.

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January 25, 2020 – is also Robbie Burns Day.

Robert Burns was the national poet of Scotland, and you know his work but maybe you didn’t know it. He wrote the song – Auld Lang Syne (aka Times Gone By) full lyrics click here

Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
And days of long ago!

Chorus:
For times gone by, my dear
For times gone by,
We will take a cup of kindness yet
For times gone by.

How’s your Scottish? – Do you know the meaning of this?

I’ll gie ye a skelpit Lug! – it’s I’ll give you a slap on the ear.

Maybe you have used this blessing of Robbie’s before eating –

Some hae meat and canna eat, — And some wad eat that want it; But we hae meat, and we can eat, Sae let the Lord be thankit.

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Lillian Folstad

Robbie Burns day always has had a special significance for me, it was my mom, Lillian’s birthday.

– Love you always Mom! (heart)

My Mom would say that each day really is a day to celebrate, it’s a privilege to be alive and hopefully live a long healthy life.

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winnie 2 Enjoy this quote by Winnie the Pooh talking to his friend Piglet

(Winnie the Pooh ) What day is it?

“It’s today” squeaked Piglet.

“My favorite day” said Pooh

Enjoy your favorite day, every day. – Dave

Posted in family, Thinking Out loud | Tagged celebrate every day, Lillian, lunar new year, mom, my favorite day, robbie burns day, winnie the pooh | 16 Comments

Life in the White Lane

Posted on January 21, 2020 by dfolstad58

It’s been a few days since I have posted, so I thought I would post what I have been up to. Keeping out of trouble, mostly anyway, and that includes shovelling snow.

Actually these photos ares from a couple days ago, I woke up to a gift from the north pole. Snow is not a big problem for me unless I need to drive on the highways, in town it is just a minor nuisance including when my car doors and windows get frozen closed.

It took nearly 90 minutes to clear the driveway, and the following few days added a tiny bit more. It felt good to warm up inside by the fireplace, and yes .. have a coffee.

However in the last few day the temps have changed from minus 16 Celsius to plus 5 Celsius expected today, quite a nice jump. Yay!

Big help has been my neighbour, who uses his bobcat to clear the road, not just in front of his house. Muchos Gracias to him.

So much improved that yesterday, after a nice long walk, I ventured out with on the bike with #1 son. It was a tad sloppy with snow still around, and puddles but no mishaps and it felt awesome to be back out.

It’s only been a month but I can already see the days are getting longer, starting to feel that optimism that comes with spring. I saw and heard quite a few birds out there yesterday encouraging the snow to melt. It’s working !

Have a terrific day, and thanks for reading ! – Dave

Posted in family, okanagan related, Thinking Out loud | Tagged cold, life, melting, Snow, Spring, winter | 15 Comments

Every trip starts at your own front door

Posted on January 12, 2020 by dfolstad58

J.R.R. Tolkien said much the same thing in Lord of the Rings –

“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

Frodo is of course Tolkien’s hero, he inherits the One Ring from Bilbo Baggins and sets off on his quest to destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom.

(Click Frodo or Bilbo to learn more about their story)

Frodo, and Bilbo were both hobbits, friendly, furry, stout and timid inhabitants of Middle Earth less interested in adventures than regular meals;

Breakfast – 7am.

Second breakfast – 9 am.

Elevenses – 11 am.

Lunch – 1 pm.

Afternoon tea – 3pm.

Dinner – 6 pm.

Supper – 9 pm.

Regardless of their sedentary life,

both Bilbo and Frodo took the unknown path leading from their front door to adventure, and personal growth.

Maybe 2020 is the year I could ask “What would Bilbo do?” 🙂

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life, a long and windy road

Heraclitus the Greek Philosopher was the one who said –

“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” and also

“The Only Constant is Change”

I’m no hobbit, but I have a front door, and change is inevitable –

I am in the driver’s seat for my life and a year from now I am going to be different no matter what –

but how much different is up to me.

It’s up to me, and knowledge that the changes I want do take time I have started a path of eating healthier, and will be working toward me I want to be next year, healthier and fitter than I am today.

Thanks for taking the time to read, your comments and suggestions are welcome – Dave

Posted in health | Tagged bilbo, change, door, fit, frodo, health, healthier, hobbits, personal growth | 6 Comments

Life and Random Thinking