Life and Random Thinking

How to Let Go of Yesterday

Posted on April 26, 2016 by dfolstad58

Moving forward. Sometimes an event happens that changes our lives. We can’t help but revisit the event as if we could change it but we know it is done, history now in a sense. No matter how unfair or unjust, we must let go and move forward, for ourselves.

Dr. Eric Perry’s Blog

darkk-nes “There’s an important difference between giving up and letting go.” ~Jessica Hatchigan

1. Recognize that we have a choice
Whenever we get stuck in the past, most likely it is because we are being bombarded by intrusive thoughts. These intrusions appear as regret, anger, hatred, resentment or sadness. When we get caught by this web of negativity, it is extremely difficult to remember that we have a choice. We can choose to break free from this cycle by realizing that each thought has an energetic value. Negative thoughts chain us to past memories only to weaken us.

2. Understand why we hold on
Dwelling on the past can actually feel good to us. Hating someone because they wronged us can feel very satisfying, because we feel like we are getting back at them through hatred. In reality, we are the one’s adding to our own suffering. We hold on to the past because we find comfort in what…

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It’s not a joke, maybe :)

Posted on April 26, 2016 by dfolstad58

electric I’m going to admit something, I’m not ashamed, it’s a fact ~ I’m a procrastinator. I’ve put off being honest about it, too long. I guess I was procrastinating 🙂

When I watch TV they often have ads for drugs to help people. You know the type of ad This type – Wise&%$ is recommended by doctors for people who open their mouths and embarrass themselves. Wise&%$ is not for everyone, and can have side-effects – loss of job, raised eyebrows from significant other, embarrassment, sleepless nights, burnt toast, sleeping on the couch. Before using Wise&%$, see your doctor. See if Wise&%$ is right for you.

No tv drug ads for procrastinators though. I think we’re a big group. We put things off to the last minute, small jobs can take forever.

I have a smallish patch of grass in my yard, visualize a large area rug area. Prone to weeds I

Not my lawn!

realized last year I needed to kill the weeds and start over. Probably because I procrastinate in digging out the weeds! I digress. So last fall this area was divulged of green life so I could replant grass. Last fall!

Finally about ten days ago I knuckled down and bought top soil, grass seed and fertilizer and planted new grass there. In just 10 days I am starting to see real progress, my bald lawn is starting over!

I should have started last fall, or March this year but I finally have and I have had quick results, really no surprise to me, with many of my projects they are quickly fruitful- regardless I’m glad to be started, and as usual the voice in my head (the one that wags a finger when it speaks) says ” that wasn’t so hard. What took you so long?

I’m sure none of my readers are procrastinators. Most of you probably keep meticulous lawns, weed by the hour to keep it perfect, do your computer back-ups daily or weekly, change your furnace filter every month, and on and on.

But if you’re like me, a procrastinator, it is tough making change, it’s no joke.

I’m on the job.

Thankfully I learned my lesson, and from now on I won’t put anything off, – certainly next week, or maybe the week after.:) I’m a new man or rooster.

Posted in humor, Uncategorized | Tagged grass, idea, lesson, procrastinate, wisdom | 5 Comments

Don’t Be Afraid to Make the Cut.

Posted on April 18, 2016 by dfolstad58

A wonderful analogy – happy pruning!

spearfruit

Every fall, in our garden and our yard, some plants require cutting back. Some are cut back to the ground to protect them from the cold winter that will be approaching soon.

Image Provided by: spearfruit.com

Others are cut back to a smaller size to prepare them for the next spring’s arrival. The last couple of months of this past year we were extremely busy and I did manage to cut back some plants before the winter coldness hit.

Image Provided by: spearfruit.com

In late winter, additional cutting back will take place of those plants, mainly bushes that will soon start to display new growth. They must be trimmed in order to maintain their current size and make room for new growth.

Image Provided by: spearfruit.com

With a new year, come new beginnings, new ideas, new relationships and new changes to our lives. Some changes we make through our New Year’s…

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Too Much Make Believe

Posted on April 18, 2016 by dfolstad58

I planted grass in my back yard nearly a week ago. Not sod. I threw an abundance of grass seed and covered it with lawn soil and then I did a little jig before I watered it, hoping the grass fertility gods would bless my bare ground.

I have been faithfully keeping it moist and I wondered to myself I could have bought sod and then just watered that for a few weeks.

It dawned on me, I wanted to see the little blades poke up because I actually planted grass. Sod is wonderful, but it is make believe if you think you planted grass. Sod is laying down a rug, not planting grass.

Way too much make believe out there.

Teenagers are growing up thinking they “did dishes” when all they did is load the dishwasher. Make Believe dishwashing.

All ages are thinking they made breakfast when they popped frozen waffles in the toaster and microwaved pre-cooked bacon. Make Believe cooking breakfast.
I re dave sr young member my tadpole years and my home was filled with the aroma of baking bread, my Mom baked everyday it seemed. No wonder because fresh baked bread and home made jam evaporated quickly between myself and my hollow legged friends. Real deal bread and melt in the mouth butter and jam.

My Dad even taught me to make my own kite, he bought the balsa wood and the string sure, but after that it was home made. I look back at that with pride that he took the time to do that with me, it took way more time than a bought one. Home made kite and Dad time.

It seems to me that now days are filled with screens and electronic doo dads that aren’t an improvement in every situation. .

I tried an electronic version of Monopoly once. Make Believe Monopoly, no thanks.

Samsung Texting I worry if in this age of Tweets, and Facebook – are we in danger of Make Believe relationships?

I love looking across at the faces and into the eyes of people I care about when I play Monopoly, or Sequence. That’s real to me, it wouldn’t be the same on Skype or connected by a screen.

Can a Make Believe emoji hug, replace the tug on my heart when I hold someone I love in my arms? No. Sure I love to stay in touch with persons far away just like we all do but I think humans crave the dimension of touch in our relationships

May your day today have a real hug, a rib cracking, toes off the ground hug remind you that life is about relationships, real ones, not make believe. Just Too Much Make Believe and not enough of what really lasts.

Posted in family, Thinking Out loud, Uncategorized | Tagged make believe, memories, put down the device, real experiences, simple life, wifi | 13 Comments

Take a Leap

Posted on April 9, 2016 by dfolstad58

: smiling in the rain

: now you’re showing off

: takes guts

: friends give you a push

One of the problems with growing up, besides just about everything, is you forget how to just do things without thinking about it too much.

As a youngster, I just did things. Swam, jumped, somersaulted, and bike rode without giving too much thought about “maybe’s”.

As we get older We spend too much time imagining failure instead of imagining success. Of course, we need to be careful, and planning yada yada is prudent but many times I just see people talk themselves out of success when there isn’t any risk involved.

That lake looks freezing cold? Darn tootin! But if the risk is just that you will shiver for ten minutes, then stop jawing and take a plunge. It’s a lake,not a jacuzzi.

So what is the big deal about failure anyway? Who ever just swam at the first try,or rode a bike without never falling over, or never fell over doing a headstand?

I suspect it is like me and dancing. I know for a fact that Mr. Ed (the horse that talked) has better moves than me. I had a girl dance with me once and when the song was over she said something like well your dancing sure ain’t the attraction.

Over the years I danced once a year or less, sort of a favor to the human race. Where did I get the notion anyone except me noticed?

Okay I can’t dance, and will fail every time but now I fail and have fun doing it, I still feel like eyes are staring, fingers are pointing, and people are giggling. But now my contribution to mankind is a humorous distraction. I’m there to dance cuz my wife told me to, and that’s that, what’s more she told me to enjoy myself doing it.

Moral of the story, do what will make you happy, if you want to paint, go for it. If you want to do tai chi, or yoga. Go for it. We all start with failure and go on from there. Don’t stop.

Ted Roosevelt said – The tragedy is not in failing, the tragedy is never attempting. He also said in his Man In The Arena speech – ” those who fail, their place will never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

Plunges are necessary in life sometimes. Take a Leap for Success.

Posted in humor, Thinking Out loud, Toastmasters, Uncategorized | 14 Comments

All Emergency vehicles responded

Posted on April 9, 2016 by dfolstad58

my iron horse

I look at the headlines around the world and I feel fortunate. There are no terrorist concerns in my hamlet sitting between Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake like the jelly in a jelly donut.

In fact I feel peaceful as I sit here with my longish grass needing to be cut, weeds needing to be dug out, and bees buzzing around the cherry and plum blossoms.

That tranquility was lost this morning when All Emergency Vehicles Responded. Today as I was waiting to cross an intersection, at my stop sign, a person’s life was seconds away from tragedy.

I looked to my left and I could see a cyclist coming down the curb lane quickly, the lime green jacket highly visible. I could wait for the rider to pass and I looked across the road at the traffic on the other stop sign where oncoming vehicles were also waiting for a break in traffic.

That is when time seemed to slow down. The oncoming driver was on their cell phone and was crossing the street.

I was holding my breath as the cyclist tried to stop, glanced off the front of the vehicle and hit my stationary vehicle causing the bike to upend spilling the rider over my hood and onto the road in front of my vehicle.

The offending vehicle drove away leaving their licence plate on the road.

I helped the cyclist to her feet and to the side of the road. Witnesses gather, the bike is removed from the front of my car.

All Emergency Vehicles Responded, fire department, ambulance, and RCMP (the police).

The cyclist will ride again. That driver will never talk on the phone again while driving I hope. It was so close to being much, much worse.Shaking I realize how seconds, or half seconds were the difference between life and death today for that young lady. (She went to the hospital and was released shortly after making sure it was ok; I know because I saw the ambulancee driver in town later somewhere else.)

Let’s keep it peaceful, enjoy the outdoors, and be careful out there. I hope that your summer will be free of Emergency responders and mine also.

lifesaver candy