South Of Someplace: April 2019

I learned something during my run the other day. As long as you can say “F-ing a-holes!” to rude motorists and clueless pedestrians, even in a whisper, you have the strength to keep going.

Dark Universe

The universe is

Mostly dark with small bright spots

Let that be your guide

Nothing That You Can Do

Recognize when there’s

Nothing that you can do and

Calmly do nothing

Sunday, April 28, 2019

Today You Are In Control

Each day brings the gift of 24 hours of opportunity into your life. You get to choose how you use that opportunity. You are in control.

You can do something useful, or not.

You can have some fun, or not.

You can spend time with people who bring you joy, or not.

You can pursue a dream, or not.

But there’s one aspect of this day that you cannot control. Once its time has expired, it will never come back. You will never have this opportunity again.

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Blue Dress

I thought of her fondly

In the dim light of morn

I pictured us meeting

On a day, fair and warm

She arrived in the blue dress

That she used to wear

It compliments well

The rich tone of her hair

From behind big sunglasses

She beamed a kind smile

We talked as we walked

And we walked for a while

She held my arm tightly

And stayed close to me

And the day was as perfect

As one day could be

Thursday, April 25, 2019

New York Minute 142 - Flashback!

This New York Minute begins with a brief prologue. I was taking photos on the West Side last evening when, due to my own negligence, I nearly dropped my camera into the Hudson River. I had failed to secure the camera body to the tripod properly, and without warning, the connection let go, and camera and lens plunged toward watery doom. Luckily, I reacted quickly and caught the camera strap before all was lost. Whew! That would have been an expensive mishap.

Walking back toward Times Square, I noticed signs indicating that a movie or television shoot was occurring in the area. The story must have taken place in the 1970’s, because a full block of 45th Street was lined with cars from the 70’s, a Corvette Stingray, a Chevy Nova, an AMC Gremlin, a Mercedes, even a massive Ford Gran Torino station wagon. It was an amazing collection.

There’s an epilogue to the story as well. As I was walking through Times Square, I cringed as I watched two losers harass a foreign tourist as he walked past. Maybe all of New York is returning to the 1970’s.

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

People Need To Lighten Up

An actual conversation from earlier today.

Me: How was your Easter?

Person 2: I don’t celebrate Easter.

Me: But you were alive this past Sunday, correct?

The person stands silently for a moment. Their expression indicates an internal struggle as they weigh the pros and cons of expressing their objection to my remark.

Person 2: It was okay, I guess.

Lighten up, people! Someone out is dealing with real problems.

Monday, April 22, 2019

The Die Hard Paradox

Everyone has a favorite movie, but no one can name a better movie than ‘Die Hard’. 🙂

Criminal Entrprise

The most pressing issue is not that this president and his cronies committed crimes, but that they will continue to commit crimes until they are stopped. How much longer can the country endure being run as a criminal enterprise?

Saturday, April 20, 2019

Growth And Frustration

When we try to do something for the first time, it feels awkward and frustrating. Over time, if we keep trying, we get better. Our skill level increases, and the activity becomes easier. At some point, we find ourselves able to do easily what once caused us great struggle.

But the struggle is not over. If at some point we attempt to improve our skills and take on greater challenges, frustration and awkwardness will return. When we push ourselves to take on new challenges, we feel like beginners all over again.

Growth is always awkward. There’s no way around it. Any attempt to expand our capabilities will come with a fresh supply of frustration. It’s unavoidable.

If you don’t like to feel awkward or frustrated - and no one does - you might try to avoid those feelings. You might prefer to spend your time doing things that make you feel comfortable. That’s valid, and we all make that choice at times comfortable. Just be aware that when you’re comfortable, you’re not growing.

The world keep changing, and we have to grow in order to keep up with it and, ideally, get ahead of it. If we don’t grow, we’ll be left behind. That’s the cold truth.

So, encourage yourself to grow. Push yourself from time to time, even if it feels a little uncomfortable. Realize that each uncomfortable, awkward, frustrating step forward buys you more comfort and opportunity in the future. Make peace with that awkwardness that frustration and push yourself to become a stronger, more capable person. The rewards will be worth it.

Friday, April 19, 2019

Complexity And Simplicity

Describe an idea with crayons. If it’s a good idea, we’ll understand it.

Play a song on a guitar or a piano. If it’s a good song, we’ll be moved by it.

Tell a story using simple, direct language. If it’s a good story, we’ll connect with it. It will seem real to us.

Complexity is the result of incomplete, inadequate, or conflicted thinking. Simplicity is genius.

Reaction To The Mueller Report

Imagine if a Democrat had done all of the stuff documented in the Mueller report. Imagine if Clinton had done it. Impeachment proceedings would have started YESTERDAY! If Obama had done it, self-declared “patriots” would be marching in the streets with torches and assault rifles.

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

What Matters Now

It might not matter one day, but it matters now. Do it with all of your heart.

New York Minute 141 - Sudden Exposure

Yesterday, as I walked back to my office building after lunch, I saw a woman nursing a baby in a car. The lady wasn’t sitting in the back seat or the passenger seat where she would have space and some measure of privacy. She was sitting in the driver’s seat with the door wide open. She was turned to the side with the shoes on the sidewalk; the baby was on her lap. She didn’t make any attempt to disguise what she was doing, God bless her! I guess she wanted to enjoy the pleasant weather.

A couple of hours later while I was standing on the platform waiting for the subway, I saw a nicely dressed lady pull her pants down partway exposing the side of her hip. She was wearing a beige thong, I can tell you that much.

The lady was looking down at a prominent scar on the right side of her rear end. The scar was about an inch and a half long. It looked as though she had been cut by a blade (from surgery, perhaps?). She examined the scar carefully. Perhaps she had a date and was worried about how clearly the scar would show. I was standing fifteen feet away, and it was impossible to miss.

Monday, April 15, 2019

New York Minute 140 - Palm Sunday Miracle

Yesterday was Palm Sunday. Lots of nicely-dressed people were out on the sidewalks enjoying the pleasant weather in when I stepped out for my morning run.

I took a short walk to stretch my muscles before starting the more vigorous portion of my workout. At one point, I passed a man and his young daughter. They were standing at a corner waiting to cross the street. The man was wearing a dark suit; the girl, who was probably about three years old, looked very pretty in a little white and yellow dress.

The man and the child were conversing in calm voices. Nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary; the child didn’t seem to be excited or agitated in any way. Suddenly and without warning, she dashed out into the street. It was as though she had spotted a familiar person on the other side of the street and decided to run to them.

“No!” the man yelled as he lunged to grab her. He reached the child just in time. Had he not been able to stop, she would have been hit by a car that was approaching the intersection with a green signal. The car would not have had enough time to stop, and there was no room to swerve.

It was such a close call. I was shocked when I watched it happen; I’m shaking now just thinking about it.

Saturday, April 13, 2019

Super Powers

It was then, in those fateful, frantic moments after I had dropped the banana peel, that I decided to use my super powers only for comedy.

Remaining Connected

Don’t think in terms of transactions. Don’t keep track of who called last or who invited whom; those things aren’t important.

What’s important is remaining connected to people who are and have been important to you. Do whatever it takes. Life is short and tragically unpredictable.

Big Hungry Tiger

Please tell me, Dear Father,

What should I do

If a big, hungry tiger

Leaps into my room?

Son, please don’t worry

Let go of your fear

There’s nothing to do

When no tiger is here

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Rise From The Flames

We can give up and burn to ashes or rise up stronger from the flames.

Class

Dear Lady, Dear Lady

When choosing your clothing

Don’t show us your ass

Show us some class

We don’t need fine details

About private features

One assumes it’s quite splendid

To those who befriend it

But we might enjoy knowing

That in addition to looking

So fetching and lovely

And chatting so cheerfully

Smiling so sweetly

And laughing so freely

That there’s more than meets the eye

How will you show

That you’ve a head on your shoulders

A mind of your own

With thoughts on what matters

A strong sense of self-worth

That defies idle chatter

And rises above

Dull social encounters?

Show us

Dear Lady

That you bring to the table

Than a splash

Or a dash

Of giggles and cleavage

And couture panache

Show us your manners

Show us some class

If that is not too much to ask

Be Who You Are

Be who you are. Speak your mind. Express what you feel. Follow your heart. Do what you need to do.

Get Started

Is there something that you would like to do, but you avoid trying it because you’re concerned that you might not be good enough? What keeps you from getting started? Are you afraid that someone might ridicule you?

Consider this. No one is good at anything before they have actually done it. It’s impossible. Competence comes from effort and experience. You can’t expect to be “good enough” before you’ve even tried something. Don’t hold yourself to an impossible standard.

You have to get started, and the sooner, the better. Make peace with the fact that you won’t be very good in the beginning, and jump in. Take those first wobbly steps and see what you can learn from the experience. If it doesn’t go well, you’ll do better the next time, because you’ll have more information. Every time you try, you’ll do a little better.

This is how we learn, progressively and steadily. The more attempts we make, the more skill and insight we develop. It is a natural process that cannot be rushed or skipped.

Get started. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you make progress when you’re willing to be courageous and push yourself forward.

Will people criticize you? Perhaps. Not everyone will understand what you are trying to do and why it’s important to you. Don’t worry about it. Understand that they are dealing with their own challenges. If what they are telling you is not constructive, smile politely and forget about it. You don’t have time for distractions when you’re pursuing a dream.

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Make Time For What You Do Best

Make time each day for what you do best.

Monday, April 8, 2019

Christian Holy Week

I have mentioned this before, but since the dates are coming up, I thought that I would post a reminder. :-) Masses held during the Christian Holy Week, particularly on the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday before Easter, are unlike those held throughout the rest of the year and, in my opinion, are uniquely fascinating. I think that anyone, Christian, non-Christian, or agnostic, would enjoy the experience of attending one of these masses. I would encourage you to check with churches in your area to see what they have planned for Holy Week.

Happy Easter!

Strengths And Weaknesses

Develop a clear assessment of your strengths and weaknesses. Avoid the temptation to exaggerate your capabilities or downplay your shortcomings. There’s nothing to be gained by fooling yourself. Face the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.

To maximize productivity, spend as much time as you can doing what you do best. Leverage your strengths. When you have down time, enhance your skills with training and by taking on optional projects.

Delegate to others the tasks that you can’t do well or that you don’t enjoy doing. Develop partnerships with people who have complimentary skills, or hire the services of professionals.

When delegation isn’t feasible, invest the time that you’ll need to improve your skills in those areas. Learn to do those tasks as efficiently as possible. Turn your weaknesses into strengths, and your satisfaction will increase along with your productivity.

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Motivation Mantra

“I will not eat until I finish this!” It’s amazing what you can accomplish. For extra motivation, refuse to go to the bathroom until the job is done.