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Accept & Do what you canSometimes life comes at you so fast and so hard it buckles your knees, your judgment gets clouded and a fog of confusion ensues. When this haze of perplexity visits me put to work my grandmother’s wisdom to bring me clarity by accepting no matter how grudgingly the things I cannot change, pray for the courage to change the things that is in my power to change and fight like hell to maintain the determination and fortitude to see it through to the end. It ain’t always easy, nothing ever worth having ever is. Keep up the good fight, never let anything hold you down. 7 Kinds of Sex - Sharing An Email with A SmileResults of a recent research show that there are 7 kinds of sex: The 1st kind of sex is Smurf Sex. The 2nd kind of sex is Kitchen Sex. The 3rd kind of sex is Bedroom Sex. The 4th kind of sex is Hallway Sex. The 5th kind of sex is Religious Sex. And... last, but not least, The 7th kind of sex is Canada Pension Sex. Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself.I woke up this morning (Saturday Oct 31) at 8:10 am and proceeded to the bathroom to take my shower. As per usual I cleansed my face, neck and declate by the sink in front of the mirror deciding to forgo the once a week mircodermabraison treatment until later because I was just not up to it and keep it a nice and simple cleanse and moisturize. After the cleanse I reached for my toothbrush applied the toothpaste on it and started to brush and something happened. There was a funny taste and in my mind I am thinking, ‘why does this toothpaste taste so weird’. I chucked it up to my sore mouth. The left side of my mouth has been a bit irritated so I thought the not so familiar taste was due to soreness and irritation. However I was not convinced and opt to try brushing my teeth again. I rinsed my mouth and toothbrush and again applied the toothpaste and started to brush and pow my mouth was infused with the minty freshness of toothpaste and I thought 'well if its tootpasty now, why not before?' it is then it hit me. The first time I brushed my teeth it was not with the toothpast but with my cleanser! I stood looking at myself in the mirror shaking my head and laughing thinking, ‘well I guess I am not as awake as I profess to be’. The incident just too preposterously incredulous to keep to myself I decided to knock on my daughter’s bedroom door and share what happened. I stood looking at her which prompted her to ask, “mommy are you alright?” I said disbelievingly, “I don’t know, you tell me” and I relayed the incident to her, first making her promise not to laugh out loud or for too long. Boy was that promise a bust the girl laughed so hard and for so long she was practically hyperventilating on her bed as she rolled from side to side trying to unsuccessfully smother her laughter…saying “who does that?”. I stood there looking at her and said, “You promised you weren’t going to laugh out loud or long”, my declaration only started another bout of laughter. I just looked at her, shook my head laughingly indignant and said, “you lied!” and left the room as her ringing laughter followed me out the door. Hearing her laughter just made me smile as I thought, ‘sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself’ and invite others into the laughter. I don’t know what that experience was about this morning but I did get the lesson or should I say lessons.
I Often WonderWhen I encounter someone homeless, dirty, reeking of vomit, filth and piss with a seemingly obliviousness to the people skittering to avoid them with faces cringed in disgust and contempt I often wonder what happened? What was the turning point that allowed this person to spiral so out of control that they descend completely into helplessness? What were the internal beliefs that continually looped in their psyche that ultimately hypnotized their mind, body and spirit that lead to the downward spiral into destitution? Where, when and why that toxic kernel of belief seeped so insidiously deep into their core that it dissipated their hope causing them to surrender their faith and give up on their selves. I wonder when they were children what their dreams were. When and why did dreams get derailed? What prevented them from re-inventing their selves creating new dreams? No one grows up thinking… ‘I am going to be a bum on the street’, ‘I am going to walk the street in a drunken stupor’, or ‘I am going to wonder the streets reeking of shit to scare people away in disgust’. What happened to all that promise and possibility? Some of my friends say I do too much thinking and that it is their choice that they are where they are. Now while there may be a sliver of truth to that, thinks are seldom that cut and dry and turth is it does not make me any less compassionate, curious, concerned or sad. No one deserves to be in that ugly place and frankly it is hurtful to see them there. Every time I encounter someone in this position I say a prayer in that moment asking the Divine to deliver them out of whatever hell they may be in, to free them so that they can realize their greatness. Does that make me crazy? This is somebody’s child, brother, sister, father, cousin, uncle, aunt and we have no right to stand and presumptuously judgment who we think they are and why they are in the position they are in. It is easy to think, it can never happen to us or any of our loved ones but who is to say what would be the think that ‘God forbid’ break you and send you, your child, your mother, your father, or your sister over the edge? It is said that there is a fine line between sanity and insanity and every day we walk that fine line. Do I have an ultimate solution to the loss souls situation, no I don’t, all I am saying is apart from the initial spontaneous reaction to the foul smell well should not allow temporary disgust from the smell lead us into harsh judgments and condemnation because the truth is, we don’t know and assumptions are not facts. My Point to this piece? We must be mindful of what we think of others and stop ourselves in the midst of judgments because while we may not be able to heal them we can certainly work at not contaminating our minds and spirit by casting aspersions on others for which we know nothing. Scratching some things out my headDO IT DIFFERENT
REMEMBER
Chivalry is not dead, it’s on life supportTimes have changed and so have the men. Whether men have evolved or devolved depends greatly on one’s prospective. I remember a time when men graciously opened doors for women. When men held the door open if they happen to turn around upon exiting and notice a female behind. When men gallantly vacated their seats to women and children and gladly assisted women carrying heavy loads. I don’t think it has disappeared absolutely. I think that remanence of gentlemanliness still exists though it’s seem so far and few between that I often think the way of gallantry is gone, a thing of the past, a figment of my imagination. I have found that more often than not I am a witness to men’s refusal to vacate or even offer to vacate their seats to old ladies, pregnant women with their stomachs so huge they look as though they are carrying baby elephants or women with little children who are forced to hold on and try as best as they could to stay upright.
It would seem that women have picked up this dying mannerism that most men have laid down as women are more likely to offer or vacate their seats to other pregnant women, perhaps from understanding the pressure on the feet and back from carrying a child especially in the late stages of pregnancy, to old ladies and men too stooped by old age and shaking bodies to hold their selves steady and to children whose little arms and feet are not yet strong enough to hold them up through the journey. While one expects change, evolution and all that good stuff that comes with the sign of the times there are just some things that transcends all that time, space, evolution gobidee-goop. I feel that male gallantry eclipses the passage of time because it never gets old, it never gets played out and no one in their right mind would tire of being the recipient of someone’s kind consideration. People love being treated well and considered I know I do and it is in this vein that I would often offer my seat to anyone in need including men. I love it when I am pleasantly surprised to witness or be the recipient of men’s gallantry; it manages to renew my faith and understanding that chivalry is not dead it just on life support and its exposed remanence is enough to renew my hope just before it manages to dissipate into jaded pessimism. MINDFULNESS THOUGHT Thank You are two of the most powerful words, it says I appreciate you, I have noticed your effort, I do not take you for granted, I see you. Thank you......Make it pandemic and pass it on. Lost SpectaclesI walked briskly through the darken campus Sweat covered my forehead Soaked my brows Burned my eyes Raced competitively down my back My legs My thighs My glassed slip I removed it Hang it on my chain As I tried to out run the rain Stopped at the traffic light Crossed the half street Stood in the half shelter And waited… Lights in the distance signal the streetcar It came... Packed, I squeezed in There was little room to maneuver I prayed for patience ‘just a short trip and it will all be over’ At the station Exiting was akin to a Caribbean vacation I headed to the train for the next leg of my destination Seated I relaxed without hesitation Going over points and facts from my classes It is then I realized, I lost my glasses
D.S.B.Rhapsody ©2009 The Hunched ThiefDressed in casual slacks and a sweater she browsed the ready to eat section of the market. She walked bent over in a slouch position. She stopped and tasted the mini food samples set by stall proprietors to entice and encourage patrons’ through their taste buds to buy. At the bakery she paused briefly to quickly straighten up and grab a piece of bread and ate as she continued on her journey through the stalls. I stood and watched her as I waited for the sales person to finish up with a customer. As I watched the crouched woman approached the snack stall where I stood. She slowed her pace and looked at the kaleidoscopes of snacks which included roasted wasabi beans, sweet gummy bears, cashew, almonds and hazel nuts along with table samples of baklava and other achingly sweet delights. She straightened slightly and took a square of baklava and moved further into the stall. She passed a few bins and then stopped to admire a tray filled with orange squares covered in powdered sugar; it was tightly wrapped in clear plastic. She looked at the tray as if in deep longing and concentration with a huff sound she continued through the store ending again at the orange sugar delight. She walked away then came back studying the orange concoction then with an audible sign she asked the sales person the price. She thanked the sales woman and circled around one more time returning to the same place. She looked to the sales person and saw that she was busy with another customer and as quick as a ninja she swiftly lifted the plastic covering and snatched of two orange squares shoving them into her mouth. She wiped her mouth and walked the store causally pretending interests in the other goodies. I stood there in surprised shock and watched in awe as she again circled the store and boldly helped herself to a few more then left the store in deliberate slowness stopping at other stalls along her way to eat off the tray of samples. Your Transformation Is Your Responsibility“You can inform the people you love of what you want for them but you cannot transform them into living it out” –Dr. Ronn Elmore Knowing Is Not DoingI have learnt that in life, knowing better is not doing better. It is simply knowing better because doing better requires more than just knowing. It involves, introspection, reflection, responsibility, action, commitment, and perseverance in order to transform knowing into doing.
Men & following Directions (Sharing an email)The Recipe A man is showering up in a locker room with his buddy when he notices his friend is very well endowed.
"Damn, Bob, you're hung!" Jim exclaims.
"I wasn't always this impressive; I had to work for it."
"What do you mean?" Jim asked.
"Well, every day for the past two years I've spent an hour each night rubbing it with butter. I know it sounds crazy but it actually made it grow four inches! You should try it."
Jim agrees and the two say good bye. A few months later the two are in the same locker room and Bob asks Jim how his situation was.
Jim replied, "I did what you said, Bob, but I've actually gotten smaller! I lost two inches already!" "Did you do everything I told you? An hour each day with butter?" "Well, I was out of butter, so I've been using Crisco."
Crisco!!?" Bob exclaimed. "Damm it, Jim!, Crisco is shortening!"
MORAL OF THE STORY: The Unexpected stormThursday Aug 20, 09 approximately 5:45 pm I made a detour from work to return a modem to Bell Canada via the post office. Directly opposite the variety store/post office was a factorydirect.ca store. I crossed the street and entered the store looking for a reasonably priced mouse. Purchased the mouse $6.99 (too much) and a camera bag since it was only $5.99! As I was about to leave the store the sky suddenly darkened and opened up with heavy rains and endless fierce sounding crackling thunder and foreboding strikes of lightning. Normally I walk through the rain however that lightening stopped me in my tracks. I thought of all the silver bracelets I had on my hands – 15 to be exact, (13 on the left, 2 on the right) and I said am not moving till it’s over’.Is silver a conductor I had 45 minutes and the sky brighten as if someone turned on the light switch in a darkened room, it stopped raining and life seem to go on as if nothing ever happened (at least in Toronto) and the experience was a figment of one’s imagination. I thank God I was in a store when it all occurred and not in the middle of the street as it happened with others. Just a few weeks ago a little boy and his mother were struck by ligtening, the little boy was carrying a scooter, he eventually died. Was it a coincidence that I made an unplanned visit to the computer store? I think not, my intention was simply to go to the post office and drop of the modem and go directly home. I thank the powers that be that kept me safe. We have had many storms this year in Toronto, more than I have seen the twenty-four years i've been living here, this one was one of the worst. Fear Is...F.E.A.R. The kind that immobilizes, hinders growth and perpetuates feelings of inferiority, insecurity and mediocrity is… FalseEvidence Appearing Real Designed specifically to keep one functioning in a perpetual state of lack, and hopelessness effectively preventing ones realization of excellence through forward movement, growth and transformation. IT'S NOT PERSONAL, THOUGH IT CAN FEEL THAT WAYOne of the hardest lessons in life that I have had to learn is how not to take everything personally, to step back and see things clearly as they are/were and not as I would have like/liked it to have been. It is one lesson I still wrestle with from time to time as life tends to throw all sorts of scenarios your way. It is a lesson I try always to be mindful off by keeping it in the forefront of my mind and making it applicable in my everyday approach to life. It is I must admit quite challenging at times because somethings sometimes comes close to the heart and others borrow beneath the skin but to forget, ahhh... well, to forget is to set oneself up to be continuously victimized and one cannot go through life being a victim of circumstance, actions, words and deeds of others or the ego. So the next time you encounter a situation, experience a circumstance ask yourself, 'how much of this is my stuff and how much of it is not', is it really something i need to personalize? REMEMBER - IT'S NOT PERSONAL
Thoughts…
Savor Life's Sweetness
Savor the sweetness in life And suckle on its lingering nectar Letting its syrupiness seep in and drip Into the periods of scarcity and droughts Until its honeyed reservoir Flows unreservedly in abundance Sapping the nettled stings of struggles
D.S.B.Rhapsody©2009 PanhandlersPanhandlers here, there, and everywhere…
Panhandlers are pandemic in the city of Toronto, they are everywhere on every street corner, in the subway, in the trains, in the malls, at the bank, in the park from every walk of life, culture, ethnicity, every age, class and gender. Each have a story what it is I don’t know what I do know is they are all somebody’s mother, father, brother, sister, cousin, uncle, child, husband, wife, grandmother, grandfather, son, and daughter. Monkey See, Monkey Do - Mirror Reflection?
By-law, for whom?It is prohibited to smoke on TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) property. No smoking signs can be seen everywhere, spread across the walls on the bus platfo
TTC By-law No. 1 Public Notice 3. Conduct on Transit System 3.32 “No person shall smoke in or on TTC property or carry a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, other tobacco product, or any other lighted smoking equipment or material while in or on TTC property”. 4. Penalties and Enforcement 4.1 Any person who contravenes any provision of this by-law may be removed from the transit system and TTC property and may have any fare media confiscated by the TTC. 4.2 Any person who contravenes any provision of this by-law is guilty of an offence and upon conviction is liable to a fine as provided for in the Provincial Offences Act. 4.3 The provisions of this by-law may be enforced by a proper authority as defined in this by-law The forgoing restated By-law No. 1 is hereby consented to and passed by the Commissioners of the TTC, this 21st day of January, 2009, pursuant to Subsections 143 and 366 of the City of Toronto Act.
Are the TTC staff automatically exempt of penalty for not abiding by the TTC By-law and held to a different standard? Are "WE" the general public to assume that TTC employees are not liable for lighting up on TTC property? If the employees are seemingly exempt for disobeying these said by-laws does it then not stand to reason that the implication may be that the cigarette butts and cigarettes paraphernalia belong to the general public (GP)? Is the maintenance of our transit system not our collective responsibility? Why would the general public be motivated to up hold and abide by the law when some of the very ones employed by those that enforce the law, behave as if they don't give a damn about the law, respect it or care to follow it. Should they not be the good example? Mindfulness Thought - ListenGood advice is good advice no matter the source. Do not get so carried away with the source of the information that you stop listening. To do so is to render yourself deaf, dumb, blind and stupid because you miss the lesson and the opportunity to learn and grow.
Change Of MindI Started to
and then...
I Stopped.
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