I saw this video the other day and I thought it was wonderful. You may also recognize the guy who plays in the tv show “Bones”. But what I liked about the video was the message. We have an opportunity to “validate” and encourage others. So often we miss out on the chance to do so.
found via shallowfrozenwater (awesome find by the way)
My wife made an interesting observation today. I write like I am working on some kind of cumulative research project meticulously gathering data and facts ultimately working toward the encyclopedia entry for who I am as a person. She didn’t quite say it in so many words but that’s the way I heard it. I think I initially wanted to argue otherwise and defend it. I have come to the conclusion that she was correct in her assessment. The whole conversation revolved around my frustration that so many other people that I have helped blog and coached somewhere along the way were succeeding where I was failing. I can write day in and out, but actually saying something that is particular to me has become a chore. I felt over the last year or two that I’ve been having some kind of extended out of body experience objectively qualifying everything I write with the filter of bland factual analysis.
I am trying a different tack. Yes, the sharp pointy things that you used to put on your teacher’s chair but now you would probably get expelled from school for doing because in our culture you were trying to kill the teacher with tetanus instead of a mere tack. Tact. Yeah that word too.
A simple journal. This is a deliberate effort to be more real. Be more myself. Something like that. I think the other voice was me too, but it was a critical, self-absorbed version of myself trying to shoot myself with the same gun I was trying to aim. Maybe it’s all a bad analogy… maybe I should just shut up my critical self and write more?
image credit to one of the most unflattering images I’ve ever taken of myself
If you were to have all the resources that you needed and complete financial freedom, what would you do? It’s a question that I have been asking a lot lately. I am far from “financial freedom” and I don’t have abundant resources but it’s been getting to me lately. What would I do if I had that kind of situation handed to me?
For me, I’d probably become some kind of wilderness recluse. Buy a cabin in the middle of the woods and have most things delivered. Books and stuff I’d order from Amazon.com. I’d learn about trees and roots and what to eat and what won’t kill you in the woods. Maybe even live completely off-grid and invest in some kind of alternative energy while I grew my own food. In short, I probably wouldn’t be much help to anyone outside my own family.
Maybe it’s not just a burden that I carry of debt and having to try to supplement income every month. Maybe it’s the blessing that through my situation (however much I dislike it) that I can be used to be a blessing to others. If I weren’t in need, it might be rather difficult for me to understand those who are in need.
…or Aidan’s first Birthday. Aidan turned one yesterday and we threw a big party. We had some friends up from Kentucky. A few other friends over. A few people called to wish him a happy birthday. It was a good day. For him and for us. I even think everyone gave our dogs a little something too because Dugal was a little sick this morning. He’s okay now though.
I thought I’d share the picture above of Aidan getting ready to completely obliterate his birthday cake.
It’s interesting how a little cleaning can make you remember old friends. You go through a closet and find a bunch of old pictures and you hit facebook looking for familiar names. Another thing that happens for me though is that I get a little free space and usually my guitar makes it out of the closet.
A little tune up and maybe a light dusting brings it to happy life once more.
As of late, new friends have been encouraging me to get out the ol’ git fiddle again regularly. My friend Mark, especially. Tonight I got another surprise. Another new friend who I’ve played with at church a few times… well, I never really realized how good he actually was. His name is Nathan Hiltner. Check out his video below. The sound and framerate are a little off, but you will get the idea.
Today is world AIDS day. Not a big thing to many people. AIDS never touches their lives. Because to many, it’s a disease that is spread among homosexuals, people in Africa and people who live wild lifestyles.
My dad has AIDS. He’s not a homosexual. He’s not a wild and crazy sex addict. He doesn’t live in Africa somewhere. He’s a regular guy just like you and me.
I don’t usually broadcast it out or make a big deal about it, but this disease has affected my life too. It isn’t just some random disease to me. He’s lived with full-blown AIDS since 1994.
I’ve been by the bedside while I watched someone I love battle the various illnesses that come as a result of a poor immune system. I’ve seen the reactions that people still have to people with AIDS, the judgement & the scorn still associated with it.
AIDS is still a disease that has touched millions in our day and age. In the next decade you will know at least a few people who have AIDS. In fact you already may and maybe you don’t even know it. In fact, they might not even know it yet either.
The image included is my dad with his grandson (my son) Aidan.
There’s a lot that has been said about how community is dying in the face of things like social networking in our age. I am one of those people who have become so connected to networks instead of people over the last few years. I check my twitter. I write on my blog. I visit friends on facebook. I skype everyone else (which is so much cheaper than a landline phone). There is an increasing feeling I am immersed in a world that is created as a facade by the real people I never touch. But this is not me…
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