I started writing this blog in November, 2010. My "New Years" resolution was to write this blog and expound upon issues that dealt with life, love and addiction. One year. Well, I kept it up now for about 15 months and I've gotten some good feedback from folks, which I appreciate.
I started the blog to promote my new CD, "12 Steps And A Winding Road"... and also, to try and "make a difference" in someone else's life. I hope I have succeeded, at least to a small degree.
My first blog was called, "Barn Building". It was inspired by something my son Nate told me about the Amish and how, whenever adversity strikes in the community, or if they simply need it, they get together and work together to make a positive difference. A lot of the time they get together to "build a barn" for someone in the community. Nate told me that he was taking a year of barn-building,... just making himself available to anyone who needed a hand, if he was able to do it. I thought that was pretty admirable. It motivated me to try and do the same thing with my music.
So, this past year I've sort of "put myself out there", making myself available to people, especially as far as my music ministry goes. I've had some good response, but I must admit, for the most part, as I mentioned in a previous blog, I've also had a lot of doors that simply didn't open. Am I disillusioned? Yea, I am somewhat. But, I made a commitment to at least try, and I'm still as willing as ever to be of service.
I wrote a blog called, "The One Thing Rule", about having one thing that you make a commitment to accomplish. That "one thing" might be accomplished in a day, or a week, or a month, or even a year.... but, it is something that you keep on your radar and try to do. If it's a year then you have to handle it in bite-size chunks so it doesn't overwhelm you. That's the way it was the year I recorded the 12-Steps CD.... a bit here and a bit there until I finally got it done.
This year my goal is to get rid of "stuff" in my life that doesn't need to be there. The baggage that somehow all of us acquire that sort of "weighs down" our lives. I want to live a bit more "clutter free".
Do you know what your "baggage" is? Most of the time it's simply "stuff", but, it might even be a relationship with someone who is dragging you down. People can do that. Addicts are told that they need "new playmates" and a "new playground". This is important if they are to achieve any success at sobriety. But, even if you don't consider yourself an "addict", there might be the possibility that, at least in some regard, you might want to consider changing playmates or playgrounds, just for the sake of good health or sanity. This doesn't mean necessarily that you desert your friend(s) altogether. It might simply mean that you need to distance yourself from a particular relationship that is hindering your physical or mental health. Something to think about anyway.
So,... whatever it is that you are trying to accomplish, whether it's building a barn, keeping sobriety, setting any particular goal,.. it's good to remember to keep your eye on the ball....so it doesn't knock you in the head...
If you know of someone who might be interested in my 12-Step music CD, I have made it available on Ebay and plan to keep it on there as long as it seems feasible to do so. You can go to ebay and simply type in the words: 12 Steps And A Winding Road
Thanks again for all your good comments over the year. You've been an encouragement to me.
I may change things up a bit and, though not altogether stopping the blog, I may just limit it to times when I think I have something useful to say and not simply put it out there every week.
If you have some suggestions I'd love to hear them....
Showing posts with label accomplishments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label accomplishments. Show all posts
Friday, February 25, 2011
Monday, September 20, 2010
Contentment
Contentment: defined as.... "The state of being content. Satisfied. Ease of mind".
Boy, that sure tells me a lot. Glad I looked THAT up!.....:-)
I happened to catch part of a program on the telly (that's British for "television")... over the weekend. It was about a bazillionaire who lived most of his life on a specially-made yacht. It was like a floating city. His wife was being interviewed and she took the camera crew on tour of the whole place. Her and her husband's living quarters were over 3500 square feet. (It was their "personal space" on the yacht. They could entertain myriad guests who had their own bed/bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, whatever....
The filming crew went up on top of the ship and had a brief interview with the husband. He was showing them how he had built his own "golf course" on the yacht. It was a part of the deck that would come up mechanically from somewhere below. It was a putting green. He could stand out there on the "green" and hit golf balls out into the ocean. They had hired-hands who had little speed boats that would go out and place markers in the water so he could see how far he had hit the ball. They (the "servants", would place the markers out in the ocean and cheer him on when he hit the ball close to the markers. If he played a golf game with someone, whoever hit closest to the markers would win each "hole". He looked into the camera and said, "Whenever I have a guest on-board and we play "golf", I always win.... because (they) know who writes the checks!"
That statement reminded me of an episode of The Twilight Zone where this guy on the show dies. He loves to play pool and he ends up in an amazing pool-room, playing the game he lived for. He thought he had died and gone to heaven. The problem was....he never lost a game.... never. No matter how poorly he played. He finally exclaimed, "If this is how it's going to be for eternity I wish I "hadn't died and gone to heaven!".... The other guys in the room just looked at him and said, "What makes you think this is Heaven?.....
King Solomon was the richest man who ever lived. He wrote a book which is included in the Bible. It is the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon writes: "I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet, when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 2:10)....
Often it is easy to watch a show like the one I watched over the weekend and be envious of someone who has so much..... who "apparently" has so much. Is this guy really happy with all his wealth, all his opulence... his mornings of fresh-squeezed orange juice and Eggs Benedict delivered to his quarters by servants every morning?...
Maybe so. I don't know. It's too easy for me to judge him and his wife and their imported granite table-tops and polished mahogany interiors.
Is this happiness? Is this the picture of contentment? Is this what we should all be striving for?..... more and better "stuff"?....
Solomon himself came to this conclusion later on in his life. "So I hated life,... I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool?".... (Ecc. 2:17)
I compare this to what the Apostle Paul wrote about his own life when he was writing to the his friends in the city of Philipi. "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."... ) Phillippians 4:11.
Contentment is a state of mind. For the addict, contentment is (or should be), waking up every morning in peace, being able to "not" spend his/her day chasing the "high" of addiction. To live a life of internal peace. That is the purpose of the 12-Step Program. To ultimately bring us to a place of finding peace with our Higher Power, our Creator,... the One who knows exactly what we need in life, for He is the One who created us, who knows our very thoughts, our very longings. For the rich man, like Solomon, his "addiction" is chasing after the seemingly perfect life of "things", more things, finer things, and "accomplishments", ....climbing the "ladder of succes". It seems all well and fine, except when a person actually gets to the top of the ladder, all that's found there is "empty space".... a standing in mid-air with nowhere else to go...but back down.
All of us, at some point, need to evaluate our own lives. What are we seeking? What are we "after"? What do we need to make us "content"?
Personally I think it's all about trying to fill a "God-Shaped" hole in our souls that we are born with. That's the conclusion the Apostle Paul came to, and he had found that contentment. Though he wasn't a rich man materially, Paul had something in his life that money couldn't buy, ... a personal relationship with God, Who abundantly supplied every need.
Is this the secret of real life? No one else can answer that question for you, but it might be a wise thing to actually take time-out to ask the question.
Like the man on The Twilight Zone episode, perhaps the real definition of "hell" is actually getting everything we (think) we want......?
Boy, that sure tells me a lot. Glad I looked THAT up!.....:-)
I happened to catch part of a program on the telly (that's British for "television")... over the weekend. It was about a bazillionaire who lived most of his life on a specially-made yacht. It was like a floating city. His wife was being interviewed and she took the camera crew on tour of the whole place. Her and her husband's living quarters were over 3500 square feet. (It was their "personal space" on the yacht. They could entertain myriad guests who had their own bed/bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, whatever....
The filming crew went up on top of the ship and had a brief interview with the husband. He was showing them how he had built his own "golf course" on the yacht. It was a part of the deck that would come up mechanically from somewhere below. It was a putting green. He could stand out there on the "green" and hit golf balls out into the ocean. They had hired-hands who had little speed boats that would go out and place markers in the water so he could see how far he had hit the ball. They (the "servants", would place the markers out in the ocean and cheer him on when he hit the ball close to the markers. If he played a golf game with someone, whoever hit closest to the markers would win each "hole". He looked into the camera and said, "Whenever I have a guest on-board and we play "golf", I always win.... because (they) know who writes the checks!"
That statement reminded me of an episode of The Twilight Zone where this guy on the show dies. He loves to play pool and he ends up in an amazing pool-room, playing the game he lived for. He thought he had died and gone to heaven. The problem was....he never lost a game.... never. No matter how poorly he played. He finally exclaimed, "If this is how it's going to be for eternity I wish I "hadn't died and gone to heaven!".... The other guys in the room just looked at him and said, "What makes you think this is Heaven?.....
King Solomon was the richest man who ever lived. He wrote a book which is included in the Bible. It is the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon writes: "I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet, when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 2:10)....
Often it is easy to watch a show like the one I watched over the weekend and be envious of someone who has so much..... who "apparently" has so much. Is this guy really happy with all his wealth, all his opulence... his mornings of fresh-squeezed orange juice and Eggs Benedict delivered to his quarters by servants every morning?...
Maybe so. I don't know. It's too easy for me to judge him and his wife and their imported granite table-tops and polished mahogany interiors.
Is this happiness? Is this the picture of contentment? Is this what we should all be striving for?..... more and better "stuff"?....
Solomon himself came to this conclusion later on in his life. "So I hated life,... I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool?".... (Ecc. 2:17)
I compare this to what the Apostle Paul wrote about his own life when he was writing to the his friends in the city of Philipi. "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."... ) Phillippians 4:11.
Contentment is a state of mind. For the addict, contentment is (or should be), waking up every morning in peace, being able to "not" spend his/her day chasing the "high" of addiction. To live a life of internal peace. That is the purpose of the 12-Step Program. To ultimately bring us to a place of finding peace with our Higher Power, our Creator,... the One who knows exactly what we need in life, for He is the One who created us, who knows our very thoughts, our very longings. For the rich man, like Solomon, his "addiction" is chasing after the seemingly perfect life of "things", more things, finer things, and "accomplishments", ....climbing the "ladder of succes". It seems all well and fine, except when a person actually gets to the top of the ladder, all that's found there is "empty space".... a standing in mid-air with nowhere else to go...but back down.
All of us, at some point, need to evaluate our own lives. What are we seeking? What are we "after"? What do we need to make us "content"?
Personally I think it's all about trying to fill a "God-Shaped" hole in our souls that we are born with. That's the conclusion the Apostle Paul came to, and he had found that contentment. Though he wasn't a rich man materially, Paul had something in his life that money couldn't buy, ... a personal relationship with God, Who abundantly supplied every need.
Is this the secret of real life? No one else can answer that question for you, but it might be a wise thing to actually take time-out to ask the question.
Like the man on The Twilight Zone episode, perhaps the real definition of "hell" is actually getting everything we (think) we want......?
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Mid-Life Crisis
Recently I spoke with a friend of mine who said he thought he was going through a mid-life crisis. I guess he could be... if he lives to be 100. I think an actual mid-life crisis should occur around the age of 35, since most folks life average is around 70 years.
So.. I asked him this question: "How is this presenting itself in your life?" "What do you mean?" He replied. "Well, are you thinking of having an affair?. Taking an around-the-world hot air balloon journey? ...Joining the circus?....What?"...
"No, no... not that. It's just that I'm sort of restless. I'm thinking about buying a sports car and fixing it up...really cool looking sort of thing. . Perhaps just drive it around... I don't know.... just thinking about stuff."
I've seen those older guys driving around in their sports cars, sometimes convertibles, with the top down,... the whole diamond earring in the ear routine, ...shirtless... (heads up... that's really not a good look for most over 50's... over 40's?...)... Actually, most guys over 30, especially if you really like beer.)
My friend asked me if I had ever experience the whole mid-life crisis thing and, if so, what did I do about it. After thinking about it I had to come to the conclusion that I had never actually "had" a mid-life crisis... I guess. I mean, I never had the inclination to buy a sports car or get tattoos or earrings or have an affair.... or ride around shirtless. You can all thank me for that one.
I don't mean to make light of what some guys (and gals) go through emotionally when they reach a certain age. I do have some age-related feelings about getting older. They just haven't pushed me over the edge (yet). I would say that, if anything, the feelings I have about getting older have mostly to do with "accomplishments". When I turned 50 I went back to college to get a degree in Addiction Counseling. It wasn't a major degree, just an Associates Degree, but, it was important for me because I had dropped out of high school back when I was young and stupid and smoking a lot of pot and taking those funny pills that make you think your socks are turning into bullfrogs and the evergreen in the front yard is actually a beautiful woman....
As I get older I do have these feelings of not making a difference anymore. When the kids are grown and have flown the nest and the job I've worked for 30 years no longer inspires me to hit it hard like I did when I was 30... When I haven't accomplished some of the things I set out to accomplish... the goals I set for myself. Getting a better education was one that I accomplished recently and that made me feel a lot better about myself. It seems life is a lot about setting goals and then stiving to reach them somehow.
When I think about me, or anyone else, going through what they call a mid-life crisis, I'm inclined to think that a lot of it has to do with feeling no longer "useful" (the fact that it rhymes with "youthful" is probably more than coincidence. I think we all want to feel like we make a difference, and, most of us believe that we do, or are too busy with kids and jobs to think about it, especially when we're younger. Then, as we get older, we start to get these nagging questions: "What am I doing with my life anymore?"... "How much longer do I have to accomplish my goals"?.... "Why can't I remember what I had for lunch?"....
Personally, I decided a few years ago to just put one foot in front of the other... go back to school and get a degree.... record some new songs that coincide with that degree and put out a new CD of Addiction Recovery Music.... perform some concerts for folks that usually don't get the opportunity to attend concerts that deal with heart issues, (addiction, alcoholism, homelessnes),....start writing a blog that allows me to share some of my life experiences and hopefully inspire some thoughs about life, love and the pursuit of happiness....
I'm inclined to think that we react to growing old(er) in various ways. I believe the mid-life crisis is simply the desire to re-capture our youth, to try and go back in time. We can do crazy things like have affairs, buy exotic cars, act like we're 25 again and start rock-climbing or bunge jumping off bridges.... We can try to numb themselves by drinking and drugging, or, as it is with some people..... not think about it at all. I guess it depends on the person.
I think, as long as we're still breathing, we're all able to make some changes in our lives that will help us feel our lives arent being wasted. Hopefully, as we've grown older, we have some wisdom to pass down to the younger generation(s). Even trying to help others avoid some of the mistakes we've made is, perhaps, a vital contribution to someone's life and could be making a big difference.....
I know I'm sort of rambling as I write this blog. It's sort of a relief valve for me. It was either that or buy a sports car and get a tattoo... but if I did that my wife would kill me.
...... Hey, wait a minute!... Then I wouldn't have to worry any more about mid-life, end-of-life stuff..... hmm..... I hope I made the right decision here.....
Anyway, if you have any comments about your own feelings about getting older,.. or mid-life crisis issues, I would love to hear about them.. you can email me at: coloringmoses@yahoo.com or make a comment here on the blog site. Hope you all have a great week!....
So.. I asked him this question: "How is this presenting itself in your life?" "What do you mean?" He replied. "Well, are you thinking of having an affair?. Taking an around-the-world hot air balloon journey? ...Joining the circus?....What?"...
"No, no... not that. It's just that I'm sort of restless. I'm thinking about buying a sports car and fixing it up...really cool looking sort of thing. . Perhaps just drive it around... I don't know.... just thinking about stuff."
I've seen those older guys driving around in their sports cars, sometimes convertibles, with the top down,... the whole diamond earring in the ear routine, ...shirtless... (heads up... that's really not a good look for most over 50's... over 40's?...)... Actually, most guys over 30, especially if you really like beer.)
My friend asked me if I had ever experience the whole mid-life crisis thing and, if so, what did I do about it. After thinking about it I had to come to the conclusion that I had never actually "had" a mid-life crisis... I guess. I mean, I never had the inclination to buy a sports car or get tattoos or earrings or have an affair.... or ride around shirtless. You can all thank me for that one.
I don't mean to make light of what some guys (and gals) go through emotionally when they reach a certain age. I do have some age-related feelings about getting older. They just haven't pushed me over the edge (yet). I would say that, if anything, the feelings I have about getting older have mostly to do with "accomplishments". When I turned 50 I went back to college to get a degree in Addiction Counseling. It wasn't a major degree, just an Associates Degree, but, it was important for me because I had dropped out of high school back when I was young and stupid and smoking a lot of pot and taking those funny pills that make you think your socks are turning into bullfrogs and the evergreen in the front yard is actually a beautiful woman....
As I get older I do have these feelings of not making a difference anymore. When the kids are grown and have flown the nest and the job I've worked for 30 years no longer inspires me to hit it hard like I did when I was 30... When I haven't accomplished some of the things I set out to accomplish... the goals I set for myself. Getting a better education was one that I accomplished recently and that made me feel a lot better about myself. It seems life is a lot about setting goals and then stiving to reach them somehow.
When I think about me, or anyone else, going through what they call a mid-life crisis, I'm inclined to think that a lot of it has to do with feeling no longer "useful" (the fact that it rhymes with "youthful" is probably more than coincidence. I think we all want to feel like we make a difference, and, most of us believe that we do, or are too busy with kids and jobs to think about it, especially when we're younger. Then, as we get older, we start to get these nagging questions: "What am I doing with my life anymore?"... "How much longer do I have to accomplish my goals"?.... "Why can't I remember what I had for lunch?"....
Personally, I decided a few years ago to just put one foot in front of the other... go back to school and get a degree.... record some new songs that coincide with that degree and put out a new CD of Addiction Recovery Music.... perform some concerts for folks that usually don't get the opportunity to attend concerts that deal with heart issues, (addiction, alcoholism, homelessnes),....start writing a blog that allows me to share some of my life experiences and hopefully inspire some thoughs about life, love and the pursuit of happiness....
I'm inclined to think that we react to growing old(er) in various ways. I believe the mid-life crisis is simply the desire to re-capture our youth, to try and go back in time. We can do crazy things like have affairs, buy exotic cars, act like we're 25 again and start rock-climbing or bunge jumping off bridges.... We can try to numb themselves by drinking and drugging, or, as it is with some people..... not think about it at all. I guess it depends on the person.
I think, as long as we're still breathing, we're all able to make some changes in our lives that will help us feel our lives arent being wasted. Hopefully, as we've grown older, we have some wisdom to pass down to the younger generation(s). Even trying to help others avoid some of the mistakes we've made is, perhaps, a vital contribution to someone's life and could be making a big difference.....
I know I'm sort of rambling as I write this blog. It's sort of a relief valve for me. It was either that or buy a sports car and get a tattoo... but if I did that my wife would kill me.
...... Hey, wait a minute!... Then I wouldn't have to worry any more about mid-life, end-of-life stuff..... hmm..... I hope I made the right decision here.....
Anyway, if you have any comments about your own feelings about getting older,.. or mid-life crisis issues, I would love to hear about them.. you can email me at: coloringmoses@yahoo.com or make a comment here on the blog site. Hope you all have a great week!....
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