Monkey infinitum

Today’s Just Be thought

Today’s thought comes after the chat and news about your relocation plans 😊

I’m honestly excited for you. I admit I did cry a bit after you all left. But these are a mix of pride, excitement, and “missing you” tears.

My response during our chat shows exactly why my ongoing practice of Stoicism is valuable. At that moment in time when hearing the idea, and as we chatted about it, I could set my emotions aside – not because the are unimportant, but exactly because they are important. Waiting til later to examine my feelings was what was needed to take in the information and provide the very best and cleanest feedback.

Later on I allowed myself to recall what you and the Grandboy and That Fella and yes, even little Tiny Girl have shared. That’s when the tears came to visit. I’m so very proud of you for so many reasons. I’m proud of That Fella also for his actions also.

Mostly I’m proud of both of y’all in sorting through issues and challenges together and coming up with plans instead of being anchored to things that trip you up.

I cry a little because I honestly will miss you but moreso I cry because I see you on a great path. No matter where you live you will excel while you approach things as you all do.

And that’s a great reason to shed happy years ❤️

Today’s Just Be thought

This one is on being aware of being alive.

Not just the usual thoughts like, “Hey I woke up today, that’s a pretty good start” (which is actually a really good starting point), but on the idea that we are experiencing life in all its good and bad moments.

We can learn through all of these moments in time.

We can grumble about having to get up in the morning and face problems, or we can eagerly awake, knowing a problem that’s waiting for us is going to take a licking from us.

I thought about the huge pile of scrub that needed to be disposed of next to the burn area in my yard as I watched the video I linked to. It’s still there, but exists in ash form. This was costly to collect – I paid three guys to gather it here – and was a lot of work to break down and burn.

But this challenge is over and done.

It’ll come up again, as trees and vines do their magic and the work has to be repeated. But I’ll be up for the challenge again as needed.

Just as I plan to be ready for all the challenges that come my direction.

Here’s the video:

Today’s Just Be thought

This is coming a bit early today but I wanted to pass it on now, after listening to a podcast a friend shared.

There is a lot of bad in the world. People can be cruel, cold hearted, and terrible. Events can take place that harm others, and many times these events are triggered by people with the intent of causing harm.

But then again, right now, there are people going good things.

People are caring for each other, right now.

People are doing things with the intent of helping others.

I imagine these people’s hearts sound like Bob Ross talking while he paints.

Here’s something to listen, and the man himself explains why he took to painting in the first place while serving in the military.

http://www.ouramericannetwork.org/story?title=Why-We-Love-Bob-Ross

Today’s Just be thought

I was taking a break and as I looked outside the window I noticed three butterflies chasing each other.

Right now there are a lot of them in the area and I see them all over. These three seemed so playful that I wished for a second I’d have captured them on camera to share.

But then I remembered that some things are meant to be enjoyed fully without also trying to capture the moment for later review.

Here’s the quote – she captures the idea better than I

“Life is made up of a collection of moments that are not ours to keep. The pain we encounter throughout our days spent on this earth comes from the illusion that some moments can be held onto. Clinging to people and experiences that were never ours in the first place is what causes us to miss out on the beauty of the miracle that is the now. All of this is yours, yet none of it is. How could it be? Look around you. Everything is fleeting.

To love and let go, love and let go, love and let go…it’s the single most important thing we can learn in this lifetime.”

Rachel Brathen

Today’s Just Be thought

Today’s thought is on thankfulness and how it changes ones perspective on how we communicate with others.

I was reminded of that as the grand boy and I were working on our new Lego kits I bought for his visit. I was impressed by how many times he said, “thank you” as we worked on these.

There were moments of his frustration and I guided him through them without picking up on his angst 😊

The best part was when he got past the moment and almost immediately thanked me for the guidance or assistance or just the silence if he asked me to not speak while he was sorting through his emotions.

This encouraged me as I knew you are taking the same level of care to help him and you get through the day, moment by moment, in a world of thankfulness.

The quote is actually a meme that came across my news feed

Today’s Just Be thought

This one is about war.

Now, why would anyone focused on contemplative thinking ever think about fighting? War, especially?

It should happen more than you’d think. People in groups act weirdly, and almost never to your advantage.

It’s important then, to consider calmly the possibilities that can happen when masses of people begin acting in ways that can surprise you.

This doesn’t mean to panic or worry that everything is crashing. Quite the opposite.

When you study the art of war – and it is an art – you can be more confident in dealing with surprises. You’ll learn how to influence others in ways that are beneficial to you and to them. You’ll understand how an ally is different from a friend.

You will learn to lead with grace and confidence in any given moment.

I’ve read and studied a text from ages ago called “The Art of War”. At first reading it seems to not have a lot of relevance in my daily life.

I mean, I don’t lead troops of horsemen to possible doom in weather and terrain conditions that could kill them and me on this spot.

But I have raised a family, and have guided each of you through scenarios that could devastate us if things had gone badly.

I’ve needed to understand when is the right time to call upon an ally and when to call upon a friend.

I needed a peace of mind and understanding of human behaviour in troubled times that comes from taking input from those who’ve fought actual battles.

Here’s a link to a site that I found tonight. It contains the translated text from the book I read. Next to the passages it explains in modern terms what is meant by the words. Ha, I could have used that years ago!

http://changingminds.org/disciplines/warfare/art_war/sun_tzu_annotated.htm

Today’s Just Be thought

This one is on thinking like a child. We adults can’t always do that, because of our obligations and filters we’ve developed over time to make sense of this world.

But do take time to see the world as a child would. That is the best way to just be.

Here’s the quote:

“Go outside. Don’t tell anyone and don’t bring your phone. Start walking and keep walking until you no longer know the road like the palm of your hand, because we walk the same roads day in and day out, to the bus and back home and we cease to see. We walk in our sleep and teach our muscles to work without thinking and I dare you to walk where you have not yet walked and I dare you to notice. Don’t try to get anything out of it, because you won’t. Don’t try to make use of it, because you can’t. And that’s the point. Just walk, see, sit down if you like. And be. Just be, whatever you are with whatever you have, and realise that that is enough to be happy.
There’s a whole world out there, right outside your window. You’d be a fool to miss it.”

Charlotte Eriksson, You’re Doing Just Fine

Today’s Just Be thought

This one is on love. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment with love and then get caught up in the moment when we think love has gone MIA.

I think love is like road trip.

Somewhere around hour 8 of a 20 hour trip I start wondering if this is really worth it. Technically I can turn around and go home and still be on the road less time than if I continue. The idea of pushing on to the end becomes honestly questionable at that point.

Same with love.

When I go on a road trip I have a destination in mind. I have a reason for getting on that road. That’s why I always end up completing the journey.

Love should be like that too. We should have a goal in mind and a reason for putting ourselves out in a vulnerable place.

And, like on a road trip, love should be an Adventure. We should absolutely live in the moment, in the ups and downs, in the excited rush of the start and in the dull hummmmmm of the wheels repeating their seemingly endless rolling over and over again. Love is more than, and deeper than, just the heated, fiery moments of excitement.

Just like we look off the side of the road on a trip and grab a spontaneous family break at the roadside attraction or cafe, we ought do the same in love. Grab that porch picnic lunch, play a game together, read the same book together and compare notes.

Be in the moment together, on an adventure. Adventures can be small as well as grand.

Here’s the quote:

“Love, like everything else in life, should be a discovery, an adventure, and like most adventures, you don’t know you’re having one until you’re right in the middle of it.”
E.A. Bucchianeri, Brushstrokes of a Gadfly, (Gadfly Saga, #1)

Today’s Just Be thought

This one is on lifting up others. It can take place anywhere, but in our modern world, the opportunity to do so is easier than ever.

For instance, I’ll find a random post in the group where we pretend to be ants. It doesn’t need to be a heavily commented one. I usually let my inner eye pick it out.

Then, I’ll post a positive reply. Sometimes I’ll create a pic or find one online to accompany the reply.

Always, it’s to lift the posters’ spirits. Or rather, “LIFT+” in this case.

I do the same with other people on social media like those I know directly. Sometimes I do offer feedback the other doesn’t like, but it’s done in a way that still lifts them up. But not in an insulting complement kind of way (“I like how your lovely hat distracts from the shape of your nose”).

Looking for these moments is important. You never know when that person needs to be lifted up.

Here’s the quote:

“Sometimes all we need to soothe our soul and ease our burdens is the loving hand of a friend gently touching our heart and lifting us towards love”

Mimi Novic

Today’s Just Be thought

This one came from your Gpa. He shared a long but very awesome post and I’ve captured the part that stood out to me.

This is a core concept in just being in the moment. When you do it properly, you are aware of the timeline that stretches behind and in front of you. However, you aren’t fretting over past events not are you anxious about future events.

Learning from the past and planning for the future are necessary but what’s not necessary are regret and anxiety.

When we can enjoy today for today, learn from the past without regret, and plan for the future without anxiety, we are building a lifestyle that positively impacts not just ourselves but others around us.

Here’s his full post:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3433074786712727&id=100000307184939

Today’s Just Be thought

Today’s thought is about Words. Amazing thing, words. They are really thoughts captured and trapped into an object. If they are recorded, they are a way to share ideas with people in the future.

Words also impact us, now, in real-time. Even a subtle change from using the words good/bad to using happy/sad can alter how we approach problems in real-time.

Many people wiser than me have written on the subject, but I’ll share my personal experience here when I noticed a change in myself after changing word usage:

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157042100011249&id=647596248

Today’s Just Be thought

This is not a quote but a meme. Still, it’s worth noting because it’s true.

Many times I find myself wondering why some things are so painful to me and what I did to bring them on.

Many times, yes, I chose to act rashly or procrastinate in a given moment, and that causes hardship to not just me but impacts others.

When I’m in the moment of self-realization that I’m in a tough spot, it’s good to remember this is only a spot. Not a lifestyle.

Not to mean choices don’t have permanent consequences. If I choose to drive impaired and hurt or kill someone, the impact could last a lifetime.

But the moment of darkest despair is only for a brief moment of time. The rest is managing the issue at hand.

And this is why the idea in this meme is so powerful.

I can take the moment of pain and use its power and inherent energy to fuel my actions to a better place.

There’s incorrect but partly flawed wisdom dispensed in many TV shows and movies where the bad person hovers over the victim, saying, “YESSSS USE YOUR ANGERRRRRR….” Usually this is meant to show the victim refuses to use the pain or uses it and becomes dark and evil.

That’s only partly correct.

We can use pain and dark emotions as fuel. I have and still do.

What the TV shows fail to show is a cleansing of that pain before using it as fuel for action. Only when we cleanse the pain can we use it without harm to ourselves and others.

Personally I rely on God’s help for this. After recognizing I’m upset but before I start using the emotion I quickly check in with God to ask for help using this. When I know I’m holding his hand then I open the power gates. It has worked for me for years.

Today’s Just Be thought

This one is a two-fer. I started looking for a quote on blessings and found one on that subject and on humility as well.

When we’re focusing on the moment and not on how great or terrible we once were or are going to be, we can be honest with ourselves and with others. We also can see blessings in the moment as well.

Some people think being humble is to put one’s self down and tell others and ourselves we aren’t as great as others.

That’s exactly wrong!

Humility is the ability to give an honest assessment of ourselves. Not to bring ourselves up or down in the process. It means we can see the amazing beauty in our soul and heart yet still recognize the work still to be done to get us to where we want to be. And then, once we assess ourselves, we stop looking at ourself and move on.

Doing this with a joyous attitude actually attracts blessings. Or maybe not. Maybe when we stop looking at ourselves we clear a path to see the blessings that surround our life every moment.

This quote always makes me laugh. It’s funny because it’s true

James Carlos Blake
“A man who can laugh at himself is truly blessed, for he will never lack for amusement.”

Today’s Just Be thought

This started out as a thought on fulfilment and contentment with what we’ve accomplished. This is different from pride, as pride insists that others know of the accomplishment.

However, this thought very quickly changed when I saw this quote. It’s about disabilities. I’d love to add more to this but simply can’t. What better way to be in a moment with someone when this is on our mind?

Mister Rogers has a way of making each of us feel welcome in the neighborhood.

“Part of the problem with the word ”disabilities’ is that it immediately suggests an inability to see or hear or walk or do other things that many of us take for granted. But what of people who can’t feel? Or talk about their feelings? Or manage their feelings in constructive ways? What of people who aren’t able to form close and strong relationships? And people who cannot find fulfillment in their lives, or those who have lost hope, who live in disappointment and bitterness and find in life no joy, no love? These, it seems to me, are the real disabilities.”

Fred Rogers

Today Just Be thought

It’s not a quote today but a meme. It’s about safety.

Now this may sound strange coming from a man who’s dealt with the after effects of his own risky behavior and those of his kids.

I believe a danger-free life is also a dead life.

Life is not meant to be lived danger and risk-free. We must calculate the risk we face as best as we can and move forward – even into danger – if we are meant to thrive.

How many times have I chosen not to do something, or have done something else, just because that decision will keep me safe? What was the cost of that safety?

Was it worth the price I paid? In many cases, yes. But also in many cases, no.

Today, in this moment, think of a choice you face.

Is taking action on that choice an experiment, or a longer term, permanent change?

We can be riskier on experiments than on long term goals. It’s ok to take on higher risk and less safety during experimentation. Usually the outcome of an experiment will factor into a decision of whether or not to use the same action on your long term plans.

The quote:
Be as safe as necessary

Today’s Just Be thought

This one is about silence. Learning how to live in silence is worth doing. It takes time and dedicated effort to shut off the background noise.

When I say “silence”, I don’t mean putting earcoverings on and blocking out all sound. I mean shutting off the noisy distractions that we purposely turn on to fill voids.

This includes background music, tv on but muted, phone notifications (except for emergency pings), etc.

For example, when I’m typing up these Just Be notes, I shut off the music and lock both work and personal laptops. I want to be in the moment undistracted by anything else.

In doing so I can be more creative. I can hear the birds singing, Cash barking, the neighbor cutting and collecting hay. I hear the whirrrr of the air conditioning and the gentle creaking of the house as the midday sun warms different parts of it up.

I can feel the breeze of the aircon fan and the tenseness of my legs telling me I’ve been standing too long and must rest.

I am living in the moment, and in doing so am much more creative now than I would be otherwise.

Here’s the quote:

“Everything that’s created comes out of silence. Your thoughts emerge from the nothingness of silence. Your words come out of this void. Your very essence emerged from emptiness. All creativity requires some stillness.”

Wayne Dyer

Today’s Just Be thought

This thought is on thankfulness. Not thankfulness that things work out the way we’d like, but thankfulness that we were challenged in the first place.

We can’t run without knowing how to walk.

We can’t walk without knowing how to stand.

We can’t stand without pushing up from the ground.

All involve challenge. Falling down. Being frightened of falling again. Managing the pain that comes from fear and hard knocks and those who disappoint us on the path to our goals.

Without those challenges we can’t grow and be strong.

That’s the thankfulness I seek – being honestly grateful to have opportunities to push past, around, and through obstacles.

Here’s the quote:

“The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do.” Anonymous

Today’s Just Be thought is a little early but maybe it’s needed early

Your precious gift is in a lot of pain right now and honestly a bit of danger. It’s so hard for any parent to see this.

With a very recent painful past and a scary path ahead of her, how can you possibly ever think of fluffy clouds and happy rainbows?

You shouldn’t, to be honest. Doing so would be pretending everything is happy happy joy joy when the reality is anything but that.

But what does exist are moments between the scary parts. Your sending that pic of lovely Olive was one of those. You’d stopped bailing water out of the life raft long enough to see the lovely shore on the horizon.

You were practicing just being in the moment.

Keep pouring peaceful love on that daughter of yours. Her thought-brain will forget the thought patch she’s going through. Her heart-soul will remember the love and support you and the nurses and doctors are dousing her with. She will be enriched by that.

Hugs and so much love to you all!

Today’s quote comes from someone who has always been a great inspiration to me. She was born deaf and blind and for years was basically a crazed animal. Yet with the help of an awesome friend she understood language and became an amazing writer.

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.” Helen Keller

Today’s Just Be thought

This one is not in itself a way to maintain your peaceful presence in the moment but a platform that is needed to make the peace within happen.

It’s about forgiveness.

I’ve struggled with forgiveness in the past with many people. I thought forgiveness meant accepting and embracing the other person’s misdeeds or even acting as it never happened.

No, it’s not that at all. And it’s much much deeper than that.

Here are things I’ve learned about this, and a quote that helps me to keep my eye on the right thing here.

Forgiveness is acknowledgement that I have been done wrong, but not allowing that wrong to continue to harm me.

Forgiveness has nothing to do with how the other person thinks of me before or after I admit forgiveness.

Forgiveness means I can admit it to only myself and no one else and it still is effective.

Forgiveness is like taking off a heavy, wet, dirty coat and leaving it at the door.

“Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.”
Paul Boose

Today’s Just Be thought

This one’s about peace. It’s hard to just be in the moment when we are at conflict.

We are certainly living in the moment when were in conflict, but we are in survival mode then, and not in thoughtful mode.

A peaceful mind can concentrate on things that need to be done now, without having anxiety over what’s happening next or what has just happened.

But peaceful existence does not mean giving in and letting others roll over us. Sometimes peace means pushing back, and pushing back FIRMLY sometimes. How we do this contributes to our inner harmony.

Here is the quote:

“Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.” —Ronald Reagan