Friday, May 6, 2011
The Road Less Traveled
by Kit McCallum
How often we must bear the challenges of life;
The endless roller coaster between happiness and sorrow;
The constant ups and downs of daily strife.
And always the question remains .... why?
Life is not an easy road for most;
It twists and turns with many forks in the road,
Although always, and inevitably, we are given a choice ...
Do we turn to the right ... or the left?
Do we take the high road ... or the low road?
Do we take the easy path ... or the difficult one?
Decisions are not easy for those struggling for direction ...
And sometimes the many choices and signs become overwhelming.
While standing at a crossroads in life,
The urge is to take the most comfortable path;
The road with least resistance ...
The shortest or most traveled route.
And yet, if we've been down that comfortable road before;
Have gleaned its lessons in life, and learned from our experiences;
Do we yet again follow the known?
Or does our destiny lie in another direction?
The fear of the road less traveled is tangible and all too real;
It manifests itself in many ways,
And tends to cloud the issues that might otherwise be clear.
It is in these times of confusion,
That we must seek peace and solitude;
Time to contemplate on our life,
Our experiences and our choices past;
Time to look back, and reflect on what we have learned
Without fear or confusion.
For only each of us knows our own personal thoughts;
Our unique past and personal history;
The experiences that brought us to the crossroads we now face.
We can always learn a small degree from others experiences,
And yet ... no one person can walk in our shoes,
Others know not, the trials and tribulations faced in private ...
For each is individual ... unique ... and personal.
And that is why ... while standing at a crossroads,
Only "we" can formulate the decision for ourselves;
The true direction that lies within;
The choices we must deliberate on with clarity and wisdom.
For it is only through personal reflection,
That we can now choose our destiny;
... Our next adventure;
... And the future we will embrace.
How often we must bear the challenges of life;
The endless roller coaster between happiness and sorrow;
The constant ups and downs of daily strife.
And always the question remains .... why?
Life is not an easy road for most;
It twists and turns with many forks in the road,
Although always, and inevitably, we are given a choice ...
Do we turn to the right ... or the left?
Do we take the high road ... or the low road?
Do we take the easy path ... or the difficult one?
Decisions are not easy for those struggling for direction ...
And sometimes the many choices and signs become overwhelming.
While standing at a crossroads in life,
The urge is to take the most comfortable path;
The road with least resistance ...
The shortest or most traveled route.
And yet, if we've been down that comfortable road before;
Have gleaned its lessons in life, and learned from our experiences;
Do we yet again follow the known?
Or does our destiny lie in another direction?
The fear of the road less traveled is tangible and all too real;
It manifests itself in many ways,
And tends to cloud the issues that might otherwise be clear.
It is in these times of confusion,
That we must seek peace and solitude;
Time to contemplate on our life,
Our experiences and our choices past;
Time to look back, and reflect on what we have learned
Without fear or confusion.
For only each of us knows our own personal thoughts;
Our unique past and personal history;
The experiences that brought us to the crossroads we now face.
We can always learn a small degree from others experiences,
And yet ... no one person can walk in our shoes,
Others know not, the trials and tribulations faced in private ...
For each is individual ... unique ... and personal.
And that is why ... while standing at a crossroads,
Only "we" can formulate the decision for ourselves;
The true direction that lies within;
The choices we must deliberate on with clarity and wisdom.
For it is only through personal reflection,
That we can now choose our destiny;
... Our next adventure;
... And the future we will embrace.
Loss
Sometimes we have something
Without truly knowing
What we have
Sometimes we hold something
Without knowing completely
What we hold
Sometimes we are given something
Without fully appreciating
What we are given
But that knowledge usually comes
When we realize
What we have lost
-Javan
Without truly knowing
What we have
Sometimes we hold something
Without knowing completely
What we hold
Sometimes we are given something
Without fully appreciating
What we are given
But that knowledge usually comes
When we realize
What we have lost
-Javan
True and Genuine Love is...
So many of us question love.
I - for one - will be the first to stand up and admit that I don't have all the answers.
I wish I did....
But, I will - proudly - give many thanks to this world I know...
For the great love that I have come to know along the way.
With that being said, I would like to say...
That true love makes a man walk miles through the bitter cold of winter for just a brief look at the woman he loves.
True love is when you wake up every single day and the one you love seems more beautiful than yesterday.
True love is when the greatest joy you have is making life better in whatever smallest way for the one you love.
True love brings comfort and happiness through life's hardest tests.
True love is not a word, but a feeling borne deep in the soul.
True love is knowing that nothing in the world is perfect, yet the one you love seems perfect in every way.
True love is when you no longer can even imagine loving another the way you love the one you're with.
True love forgives the mistakes your lover makes.
True love is when you look in your lovers eyes and see a sparkle and reflection of what Heaven is all about.
True love is when a mere kiss can bring you the greatest passion you've ever experienced.
True love is knowing that in an ever changing world, you and your lover change together.
True love holds a man and woman together through the mightiest of storms.
True love is understanding.
True love builds each other up instead of tearing each other down.
True love is the sunshine after the rain.
True love can bring the biggest man to his knees and fill the tiniest woman with the strength of a dozen oxen.
True love is always standing on the foundation of trust.
True love is when your lover remains the most beautiful in your eyes no matter any physical ailment that comes to them.
True love is when you hold each other together at night and are truly thankful for being blessed with one another.
True love is when you see your lover sleep and whisper in their ear: "I love you so much," for the chance that they will hear you in their dreams.
True love is when you get off work late and stop at the store on the way home to buy doughnuts and chocolate milk so that your love wakes up, knowing that you thought of them when you were apart last night.
True love is walking in the rain to meet your lover on the way home... because you missed them so much and just couldn't wait to hold them in your arms.
True love is all of this...
Yet so much more.
-Danny Watson
I - for one - will be the first to stand up and admit that I don't have all the answers.
I wish I did....
But, I will - proudly - give many thanks to this world I know...
For the great love that I have come to know along the way.
With that being said, I would like to say...
That true love makes a man walk miles through the bitter cold of winter for just a brief look at the woman he loves.
True love is when you wake up every single day and the one you love seems more beautiful than yesterday.
True love is when the greatest joy you have is making life better in whatever smallest way for the one you love.
True love brings comfort and happiness through life's hardest tests.
True love is not a word, but a feeling borne deep in the soul.
True love is knowing that nothing in the world is perfect, yet the one you love seems perfect in every way.
True love is when you no longer can even imagine loving another the way you love the one you're with.
True love forgives the mistakes your lover makes.
True love is when you look in your lovers eyes and see a sparkle and reflection of what Heaven is all about.
True love is when a mere kiss can bring you the greatest passion you've ever experienced.
True love is knowing that in an ever changing world, you and your lover change together.
True love holds a man and woman together through the mightiest of storms.
True love is understanding.
True love builds each other up instead of tearing each other down.
True love is the sunshine after the rain.
True love can bring the biggest man to his knees and fill the tiniest woman with the strength of a dozen oxen.
True love is always standing on the foundation of trust.
True love is when your lover remains the most beautiful in your eyes no matter any physical ailment that comes to them.
True love is when you hold each other together at night and are truly thankful for being blessed with one another.
True love is when you see your lover sleep and whisper in their ear: "I love you so much," for the chance that they will hear you in their dreams.
True love is when you get off work late and stop at the store on the way home to buy doughnuts and chocolate milk so that your love wakes up, knowing that you thought of them when you were apart last night.
True love is walking in the rain to meet your lover on the way home... because you missed them so much and just couldn't wait to hold them in your arms.
True love is all of this...
Yet so much more.
-Danny Watson
Mother Theresa
People are often unreasonable, illogical,
and self-centered...
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind,
people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives...
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful,
you will win some false friends and some true enemies...
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you...
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building,
some could destroy overnight...
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,
there may be jealousy...
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow...
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough...
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis,
it's between you and God,
It was never between you and them anyway.
~~~ Mother Theresa ~~~
and self-centered...
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind,
people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives...
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful,
you will win some false friends and some true enemies...
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you...
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building,
some could destroy overnight...
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,
there may be jealousy...
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow...
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough...
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis,
it's between you and God,
It was never between you and them anyway.
~~~ Mother Theresa ~~~
Thursday, May 5, 2011
One Bright Shining Star
This is one of two poems I just came across - written just after losing my wife! Years ago! I hadn't read them until just now! Wow! What a low point for sure...
Tonight,
I take a moment
And stop
On the path
I've walked...
It's been a long and hard journey -
So many mountains to climb -
Oceans to cross...
I'm so very tired...
I can feel the winds of yesterday,
Kissing my skin like a long lost friend;
I can hear the songs of a thousand songbirds,
seeming to whisper in my ear:
"Everything's going to be alright."
And, in the distance
I can see the end
Of this long and hard journey,
And it makes me
Continue on -
No matter the pain...
I turn to look behind me,
Onto every single step I've taken
On this path of life.
I can see all the faces
And all of the places
I've met along the way...
The winds seem to whisper in my ears:
"You're almost done."
And the stars seem to dance to a song
No one can hear.
I see a bright shining moon.
Every single footstep seems to glow
In the darkness of a world
Many cannot see...
I feel a solitary tear
And it's warm on my cheek
As it slowly
Makes it's way
Down my
Face...
I take a picture out of my heart,
It's tattered and faded;
From a time
Left far behind.
I can see you in my dreams
And sometimes they make me warm
In a cold, cold world...
But,
Mostly,
It makes me feel tired
And alone...
I cried out the stars,
Hoping just one angel could hear me.
I whispered onto a passing current of wind:
"Why?"
It's a long and hard journey -
So many obstacles along the way.
Still,
I could always look back on
Yesterday
With a smile...
Until,
One autumn day in September.
I remember it all too well...
I look up to the stars -
They seem to dance in my tears;
And,
I bow my head in silence.
I take this moment in my hands
And I hold it close to my heart...
I recall the first moment
I looked into your beautiful eyes
And it was as if
I had seen
Just a glimpse
Of Heaven...
You held me in your arms
And I held you -
And no world existed
Except what we claimed
As ours...
We laughed and loved,
Hoped and dreamed;
Life could not be more beautiful...
Our love was like a carefree Sparrow
Capturing
A single current of wind.
We soared and floated,
Leaving the cares of a world behind.
Your smile brought me peace -
The world was truly a beautiful place...
You and I -
We saw so much
Of a world we didn't quite understand.
But,
We had one another
And,
That was enough...
I held your face in my two hands -
Wiped away your tears -
"This can't be the end."
It was...
Even though apart,
You were so close in my heart -
A part of my soul.
And when the time came -
I was counting down the days
Till I could hold you
Once again
In my two arms...
One month to go...
God called you home...
And,
I remember that day well...
Because...
I saw in the heavens,
Through the tears I cried;
A brand new star
That shined extra bright
On the world we lived...
It's been nine long years,
And, I'm still walking -
Searching -
For some place
Or some face
That will bring me home
To you...
Jeg elsker dig, min kone, med alle min hjerte.
Tonight,
I take a moment
And stop
On the path
I've walked...
It's been a long and hard journey -
So many mountains to climb -
Oceans to cross...
I'm so very tired...
I can feel the winds of yesterday,
Kissing my skin like a long lost friend;
I can hear the songs of a thousand songbirds,
seeming to whisper in my ear:
"Everything's going to be alright."
And, in the distance
I can see the end
Of this long and hard journey,
And it makes me
Continue on -
No matter the pain...
I turn to look behind me,
Onto every single step I've taken
On this path of life.
I can see all the faces
And all of the places
I've met along the way...
The winds seem to whisper in my ears:
"You're almost done."
And the stars seem to dance to a song
No one can hear.
I see a bright shining moon.
Every single footstep seems to glow
In the darkness of a world
Many cannot see...
I feel a solitary tear
And it's warm on my cheek
As it slowly
Makes it's way
Down my
Face...
I take a picture out of my heart,
It's tattered and faded;
From a time
Left far behind.
I can see you in my dreams
And sometimes they make me warm
In a cold, cold world...
But,
Mostly,
It makes me feel tired
And alone...
I cried out the stars,
Hoping just one angel could hear me.
I whispered onto a passing current of wind:
"Why?"
It's a long and hard journey -
So many obstacles along the way.
Still,
I could always look back on
Yesterday
With a smile...
Until,
One autumn day in September.
I remember it all too well...
I look up to the stars -
They seem to dance in my tears;
And,
I bow my head in silence.
I take this moment in my hands
And I hold it close to my heart...
I recall the first moment
I looked into your beautiful eyes
And it was as if
I had seen
Just a glimpse
Of Heaven...
You held me in your arms
And I held you -
And no world existed
Except what we claimed
As ours...
We laughed and loved,
Hoped and dreamed;
Life could not be more beautiful...
Our love was like a carefree Sparrow
Capturing
A single current of wind.
We soared and floated,
Leaving the cares of a world behind.
Your smile brought me peace -
The world was truly a beautiful place...
You and I -
We saw so much
Of a world we didn't quite understand.
But,
We had one another
And,
That was enough...
I held your face in my two hands -
Wiped away your tears -
"This can't be the end."
It was...
Even though apart,
You were so close in my heart -
A part of my soul.
And when the time came -
I was counting down the days
Till I could hold you
Once again
In my two arms...
One month to go...
God called you home...
And,
I remember that day well...
Because...
I saw in the heavens,
Through the tears I cried;
A brand new star
That shined extra bright
On the world we lived...
It's been nine long years,
And, I'm still walking -
Searching -
For some place
Or some face
That will bring me home
To you...
Jeg elsker dig, min kone, med alle min hjerte.
The Darkness That Surrounds Me
WOW! I wrote this poem - drunk in a hotel room just after I lost my wife!!! I just came across it!!! WOW! I was at such a low place back then!!!
I can see you tonight
In the darkness of this hotel room;
I can hear your voice -
Whispering to my heart
And soul...
I light up a cigarette,
Take a drag;
I watch as the smoke seems to dance
To a sweet song
From my past...
I take a sip of Vodka,
And it goes down rough;
Escaping to an oasis of peace
That never seems to be enough...
The lights are out,
I'm writing to the glow of a computer screen;
And the world goes on
Outside this hotel room...
This is my life,
And this is my time
To do what I will;
Money in my pocket
And lots of memories
To fill...
I take another drag of my cigarette,
Exhaling into the darkness that surrounds me;
I wanted to quit smoking yesterday,
But didn't have the strength
Nor the motivation...
It is here I feel free,
In the darkness that surrounds me;
One solitary man
Searching for something
That I just can't see...
I've watched summers come and go,
Reflections on winter's changing snow;
Every spring I've went to the mountains
Trying to find some peace
In the hope of a new tomorrow...
I've sat around a blazing campfire
Under a starlit sky;
Whispers spoken to those I cannot see:
"Can you please
Just tell me
Why?"
Lovers without love,
Children without hope;
So many people on this long and winding road
Carrying such a heavy load...
It's here that I feel close,
No troubles to see;
Within the darkness
That surrounds
Me...
I've walked a million miles
It seems;
And I've dreamed a million dreams.
I've seen a sparkle of Heaven
In a newborn child's eyes;
And I've heard the song of Angels
From a thousand distant skies...
I learned to laugh
Through the tears of sorrow;
And through broken times
I could always see the hope
Of a brand new tomorrow.
As a child I cried out
From behind stone walls and iron bars:
"Can someone please hear me
And heal these painful scars?"
In time,
I learned to see;
The light of God
In the darkness that surrounds me...
Peace, hope and beautiful love,
After the darkness
A beautiful dawn;
And no matter the troubles,
A reason to carry on.
I can see you tonight
In the darkness of this hotel room;
I can hear your voice -
Whispering to my heart
And soul...
I light up a cigarette,
Take a drag;
I watch as the smoke seems to dance
To a sweet song
From my past...
I take a sip of Vodka,
And it goes down rough;
Escaping to an oasis of peace
That never seems to be enough...
The lights are out,
I'm writing to the glow of a computer screen;
And the world goes on
Outside this hotel room...
This is my life,
And this is my time
To do what I will;
Money in my pocket
And lots of memories
To fill...
I take another drag of my cigarette,
Exhaling into the darkness that surrounds me;
I wanted to quit smoking yesterday,
But didn't have the strength
Nor the motivation...
It is here I feel free,
In the darkness that surrounds me;
One solitary man
Searching for something
That I just can't see...
I've watched summers come and go,
Reflections on winter's changing snow;
Every spring I've went to the mountains
Trying to find some peace
In the hope of a new tomorrow...
I've sat around a blazing campfire
Under a starlit sky;
Whispers spoken to those I cannot see:
"Can you please
Just tell me
Why?"
Lovers without love,
Children without hope;
So many people on this long and winding road
Carrying such a heavy load...
It's here that I feel close,
No troubles to see;
Within the darkness
That surrounds
Me...
I've walked a million miles
It seems;
And I've dreamed a million dreams.
I've seen a sparkle of Heaven
In a newborn child's eyes;
And I've heard the song of Angels
From a thousand distant skies...
I learned to laugh
Through the tears of sorrow;
And through broken times
I could always see the hope
Of a brand new tomorrow.
As a child I cried out
From behind stone walls and iron bars:
"Can someone please hear me
And heal these painful scars?"
In time,
I learned to see;
The light of God
In the darkness that surrounds me...
Peace, hope and beautiful love,
After the darkness
A beautiful dawn;
And no matter the troubles,
A reason to carry on.
What To Do With Old Landscape Photography Negatives
If you are one of those people with boxes of old negatives in your basement or hall closet, you are not alone. Photography has been a popular hobby with people ever since the invention of the first camera. One problem that professional and amateur photographers alike have always faced is deciding the proper way to preserve their art once it has been shot and developed.
The good news is that if you are one of those people with boxes of old negatives and pictures old enough to be in the historical archives, many companies offer 35mm slide scanning services, and digital photo restoration. Scanning a negative not only allows for the development of the image, but also enhanced digital clarity, even for the oldest negatives. Photo restoration can also repair sun damage and scratches.
While there are many companies that offer these services, here are some things that you should look for when choosing a photo restoration and slide scanning service: High resolution is very important so having 3000 dpi slide scanning services for 35mm slides, as well as 110,120,126,127, and 200 format slides is optimal. Also having state of the art slide scanners and scanning equipment is crucial.
Industry standard automated dust and scratch removal, utilizing programs such as Kodak Digital ICE. The slide scanning services that you choose should include a manual color rotation, cropping, red eye removal, rotation, and additional dust and scratch removal as points of service. Quality slide scanning image processing performed by qualified technicians who employ a trusted photo restoration program, such as Adobe Photoshop.
Additional photo scanning services, preferably 600 dpi photo scanning services for both priceless, antique photos, as well as newspaper clippings, postcards, and other medium is important. An experienced photo scanning and slide scanning, photo restoration service should also be able to offer its customers black and white slide and black and white negative scanning. The option to view and choose prints online, preferably with the understanding that you will pay for only the prints that you select.
Competitively priced services. Some companies outsource work to other countries in order to save their customers money and time, while others choose instead to do work in house, and are usually more expensive. Landscape photography involves a section or portion of scenery seen from a single viewpoint as the subject of the image.
Typically, people and animals are not shown in a landscape portrait, unless they are included in the composition to illustrate scale. Some photographers disagree as to whether man made structures, the coast, and cities should be included in a landscape, since a landscape is designed to showcase natural features.
The good news is that if you are one of those people with boxes of old negatives and pictures old enough to be in the historical archives, many companies offer 35mm slide scanning services, and digital photo restoration. Scanning a negative not only allows for the development of the image, but also enhanced digital clarity, even for the oldest negatives. Photo restoration can also repair sun damage and scratches.
While there are many companies that offer these services, here are some things that you should look for when choosing a photo restoration and slide scanning service: High resolution is very important so having 3000 dpi slide scanning services for 35mm slides, as well as 110,120,126,127, and 200 format slides is optimal. Also having state of the art slide scanners and scanning equipment is crucial.
Industry standard automated dust and scratch removal, utilizing programs such as Kodak Digital ICE. The slide scanning services that you choose should include a manual color rotation, cropping, red eye removal, rotation, and additional dust and scratch removal as points of service. Quality slide scanning image processing performed by qualified technicians who employ a trusted photo restoration program, such as Adobe Photoshop.
Additional photo scanning services, preferably 600 dpi photo scanning services for both priceless, antique photos, as well as newspaper clippings, postcards, and other medium is important. An experienced photo scanning and slide scanning, photo restoration service should also be able to offer its customers black and white slide and black and white negative scanning. The option to view and choose prints online, preferably with the understanding that you will pay for only the prints that you select.
Competitively priced services. Some companies outsource work to other countries in order to save their customers money and time, while others choose instead to do work in house, and are usually more expensive. Landscape photography involves a section or portion of scenery seen from a single viewpoint as the subject of the image.
Typically, people and animals are not shown in a landscape portrait, unless they are included in the composition to illustrate scale. Some photographers disagree as to whether man made structures, the coast, and cities should be included in a landscape, since a landscape is designed to showcase natural features.
An Introduction To Black And White Photography
You know, there is something that is definitely more artistic about black and white photography. I know I am getting a little away from the overall concept of digital photography. But as a photographer, you will no doubt run into the phenomenon that is black and white photography.
I can remember vividly a photography named Michael Zagaris who is the team photographer of the San Francisco 49ers. He said that he was just captivated by the use of black and white photography. The way the light and the shading are so much more evident. This helps contribute to the overall feeling and emotion of the moment that the black and white photo captures.
Some of you may be saying to yourselves that color photography has surely taken the place of black and white photography, and I would say that for the most part you are correct. An interesting note here is that black and white photography still holds a degree of nostalgia in most photographers, amateur and professional alike.Perhaps one reason for this nostalgia is of course that photography was first taken on black and white film. Not only that, but many photography students are tasked with taking black and white photos when they are in their first photography classes. I know in my first digital photography class I was astounded at the very idea. Only later when the photos were developed did I truly start to appreciate black and white photos.
Therefore if you are an amateur or even experienced photographer, I would encourage you to give black and white photography a try. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the level of sophistication it takes to really pull off a great black and white photo. After that you may be able to take in some advanced photos such as adding one stream of color. You may have seen these kinds of photos before when the photographer allows one color to be very evident in a black and white photo. For instance I can remember a picture of a little girl in a black and white photo, but the coat she was wearing was bright pink. It was great moment to capture.
As for taking the black and white photos themselves, more advanced digital cameras have gray-scale mechanisms that allow to this. Also you can have the color picture converted by using a digital photography software such as “Photoshop.” Give yourself a chance in black and white photography. I think you will be pleasantly surprised in the results.
I can remember vividly a photography named Michael Zagaris who is the team photographer of the San Francisco 49ers. He said that he was just captivated by the use of black and white photography. The way the light and the shading are so much more evident. This helps contribute to the overall feeling and emotion of the moment that the black and white photo captures.
Some of you may be saying to yourselves that color photography has surely taken the place of black and white photography, and I would say that for the most part you are correct. An interesting note here is that black and white photography still holds a degree of nostalgia in most photographers, amateur and professional alike.Perhaps one reason for this nostalgia is of course that photography was first taken on black and white film. Not only that, but many photography students are tasked with taking black and white photos when they are in their first photography classes. I know in my first digital photography class I was astounded at the very idea. Only later when the photos were developed did I truly start to appreciate black and white photos.
Therefore if you are an amateur or even experienced photographer, I would encourage you to give black and white photography a try. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the level of sophistication it takes to really pull off a great black and white photo. After that you may be able to take in some advanced photos such as adding one stream of color. You may have seen these kinds of photos before when the photographer allows one color to be very evident in a black and white photo. For instance I can remember a picture of a little girl in a black and white photo, but the coat she was wearing was bright pink. It was great moment to capture.
As for taking the black and white photos themselves, more advanced digital cameras have gray-scale mechanisms that allow to this. Also you can have the color picture converted by using a digital photography software such as “Photoshop.” Give yourself a chance in black and white photography. I think you will be pleasantly surprised in the results.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
If Just One Person Smiles At Me...
Thank you Alicia for inspiring me to write this!
This morning, I posted the Pulitzer Prize winning photo of a young Sudanese girl laying on the ground with a vulture in the background. It was taken by photographer. Kevin Carter, who fifteen months later took his own life. I just logged in to find a comment by my friend, Alicia, expressing sympathy, and saying that she wishes she "could just scoop that little girl up under one arm and Kevin under the other, and hold them tight and care for them, and let them know it's gonna be okay."
What a beautiful expression of love!
Along with Kevin's photo, I also posted a photo of a quote by a suicide victim who took his life by jumping off the Golden Gate bridge. It is an excerpt from his suicide note where he stated that if just one person smiled at him he wouldn't kill himself.
Now, flashback to ten years ago when my son, Zach, and I had just gotten back from a trip to town. He was just five years old at the time. We got into the house and he asked me why I had so many friends? It took me a minute to find and compose the perfect answer for a five year5 old, and I had to because this was all about social interaction and a golden rule I wanted him to adhere to.
And, this is what I said:
"When I smile and say hi to someone, it's because I really care about that person. I may not know them but to me they are my friend because the world is a lot better if it's filled with your friends. Did you notice how not everyone says hi back, and some people smiled really big as if they hadn't seen me in a long time?
When I say hi to these people, maybe it was the nicest thing that anyone has done for them in a long, long time. Maybe by me being nice to them with this little smile and a hello, I made them happy. Maybe one or two of them were having really bad days and maybe they were gonna do something bad because they thought nobody cared. But, by me smiling at them, they knew that someone cared about them..."
Of course, my boy was asking why I say hello to just about everyone I pass in my daily life. And, to a five year old it would seem like I was friends with everyone we passed.
Okay! Back to Alicia's response, and the reasons I post "depressing" stuff like that.
It's not to make you sad!
No! I post this for the same reasons I am motivated to produce some of my most important videos - so that you are reminded that each of us as individuals can make our world a better place. So that we know that no matter what's happening in our lives - it can always be worse. We all have something to be truly thankful for and somewhere along the way, most of us forgot this.
Kevin, the little Sudanese famine victim, and that guy who jumped off the Golden Gate bridge all have one thing in common and I hope you get this right now! Their lives had to have meant something! If nothing else, even to illustrate the point I am trying to make right now, which is that each one of us has inside our hearts the ability to stop things like this from happening! You are the one that can make our world better!
"But Danny, the world is screwed! Too far gone! There is nothing I can do to make things better! Why would I want to help this messed up world - all I ever got out of it was crap!"
I've heard it all, and it's thinking like this that makes the world what it is!
I also posted a photo with a quote stating that if you are reading this you should be thankful because there are literally millions of people in this world who do not have the resources to learn how to read. So, whether you agree or disagree with what I'm saying here, you even reading these words is truly something to be thankful for. And that, my friends, is the first step towards making the world a better place.
Nope! I refuse to believe that the tragedies in our lives are for no reason!
It's okay to cry when you see or hear about tragic events. But, wouldn't it be better if you could stop a future tragic event from happening?
Think about it.
Be thankful for whatever littlest thing that you are blessed with and share that with those you meet every single day!
Smile! Say hello to strangers! If you have an extra few bucks, an extra can or two of food, a coat, blanket - whatever - do you realize how much that would mean to someone who doesn't have anything? Even the simplest act that doesn't cost you a dime - that smile - could be the one thing that completely changes someone's life!!!
"If one person smiles at me on the way, I will not jump."
A better world begins with you! Because if just one of you do a kind act that results in another kind act, and so on and so on...
You don't need to be a genius to know that somewhere along the line - you saved someone's life.
Pay it forward!
This morning, I posted the Pulitzer Prize winning photo of a young Sudanese girl laying on the ground with a vulture in the background. It was taken by photographer. Kevin Carter, who fifteen months later took his own life. I just logged in to find a comment by my friend, Alicia, expressing sympathy, and saying that she wishes she "could just scoop that little girl up under one arm and Kevin under the other, and hold them tight and care for them, and let them know it's gonna be okay."
What a beautiful expression of love!
Along with Kevin's photo, I also posted a photo of a quote by a suicide victim who took his life by jumping off the Golden Gate bridge. It is an excerpt from his suicide note where he stated that if just one person smiled at him he wouldn't kill himself.
Now, flashback to ten years ago when my son, Zach, and I had just gotten back from a trip to town. He was just five years old at the time. We got into the house and he asked me why I had so many friends? It took me a minute to find and compose the perfect answer for a five year5 old, and I had to because this was all about social interaction and a golden rule I wanted him to adhere to.
And, this is what I said:
"When I smile and say hi to someone, it's because I really care about that person. I may not know them but to me they are my friend because the world is a lot better if it's filled with your friends. Did you notice how not everyone says hi back, and some people smiled really big as if they hadn't seen me in a long time?
When I say hi to these people, maybe it was the nicest thing that anyone has done for them in a long, long time. Maybe by me being nice to them with this little smile and a hello, I made them happy. Maybe one or two of them were having really bad days and maybe they were gonna do something bad because they thought nobody cared. But, by me smiling at them, they knew that someone cared about them..."
Of course, my boy was asking why I say hello to just about everyone I pass in my daily life. And, to a five year old it would seem like I was friends with everyone we passed.
Okay! Back to Alicia's response, and the reasons I post "depressing" stuff like that.
It's not to make you sad!
No! I post this for the same reasons I am motivated to produce some of my most important videos - so that you are reminded that each of us as individuals can make our world a better place. So that we know that no matter what's happening in our lives - it can always be worse. We all have something to be truly thankful for and somewhere along the way, most of us forgot this.
Kevin, the little Sudanese famine victim, and that guy who jumped off the Golden Gate bridge all have one thing in common and I hope you get this right now! Their lives had to have meant something! If nothing else, even to illustrate the point I am trying to make right now, which is that each one of us has inside our hearts the ability to stop things like this from happening! You are the one that can make our world better!
"But Danny, the world is screwed! Too far gone! There is nothing I can do to make things better! Why would I want to help this messed up world - all I ever got out of it was crap!"
I've heard it all, and it's thinking like this that makes the world what it is!
I also posted a photo with a quote stating that if you are reading this you should be thankful because there are literally millions of people in this world who do not have the resources to learn how to read. So, whether you agree or disagree with what I'm saying here, you even reading these words is truly something to be thankful for. And that, my friends, is the first step towards making the world a better place.
Nope! I refuse to believe that the tragedies in our lives are for no reason!
It's okay to cry when you see or hear about tragic events. But, wouldn't it be better if you could stop a future tragic event from happening?
Think about it.
Be thankful for whatever littlest thing that you are blessed with and share that with those you meet every single day!
Smile! Say hello to strangers! If you have an extra few bucks, an extra can or two of food, a coat, blanket - whatever - do you realize how much that would mean to someone who doesn't have anything? Even the simplest act that doesn't cost you a dime - that smile - could be the one thing that completely changes someone's life!!!
"If one person smiles at me on the way, I will not jump."
A better world begins with you! Because if just one of you do a kind act that results in another kind act, and so on and so on...
You don't need to be a genius to know that somewhere along the line - you saved someone's life.
Pay it forward!
Cat Stevens - Oh Very Young (photo slideshow)
Oh very young from ne033x on Vimeo.
"Oh Very Young" is a song by Cat Stevens. It was released on his 1974 album Buddha and the Chocolate Box. The song, which expresses an older person's wistful appreciation of the idealism of youth and the inevitable disillusionment of maturity, reached number 10 in the U.S. charts.
Hope is distinct from positive thinking, which refers to a therapeutic or systematic process used in psychology for reversing pessimism. The term false hope refers to a hope based entirely around a fantasy or an extremely unlikely outcome.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
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