a blessing

I had an amazing experience today. Though I can not share all of it, I can put the basics. I have been going through some struggles. My mind was unstable and I could tell that I was spiraling in a negative direction. I was unable to stabilize my mind, my therapist helped a little, but it was not enough. I had been praying for help and advise from the Lord. Usually my dreams give me some insight, but not this time. This time the only dreams that came were scattered and nonsensical. I finally humbled myself to ask a couple gentlemen for a blessing. (A blessing is when two men who hold the authority given by God, lay their hands on a persons head and are able to act as a conduit for the Lord. They speak the words the Lord wants you to hear at that time and the spirit of the Lord gives you comfort). I received that blessing and the most amazing thing happened...my head cleared up. I was able to look at the world through opened eyes and understand so much. It's hard to describe except that I didn't have to fight to pay attention, I could remember things and I was able to speak clearly and be understood. It's been a while since I've been able to do that. My mind has now gone back to what passes for normal or how it usually is, but the memory is still there. Plus, it's not as bad. It's nice to know that the Lord is there. Everything will work out, somehow, someway...

Invention with no Inventor

Well I don't know if this falls under the category of "cool fact", but it certainly is a random fact. Over the past week I was a part of a conversation that had to do with the brilliance of human's and their inventions. Things like the "light bulb", "postal service", "automobile", and "Internet". It was then brought to my attention that with all of these great inventions, we know who invented them. We even know a little bit of back story on some of these remembered individuals. Even with all of this there is one great invention in which we do not know where the idea came from or who came up with it. That is the invention of the "toilet". Or more specific, indoor plumbing, and running water. What we do know is that the Romans had plumbing in ancient Babalonia, using lead pipes. The word plumbing came from the latin word Plumbum, which means lead. As far as I can tell, that is the farthest back the invention of plumbing can be traced.

It's Just Too Easy pt 2

...So there he sleeps, in an alley, alone and ignored.

"Hi", a high pitch chirp announced. There was a long silence, Aaron didn't look up from where he was laying. A small finger tapped the black woven beanie on top of his head.

"Hi", the voice said again, a little annoyed.

Aaron slowly leaned his head back, opening his eyes. At first, all he saw was the blurred halo of a face. Slowly he blinked a couple times. The face of a young girl cam into focus. He figured she could be anywhere between the ages of 12 and 14. Her mouse brown hair hung past her shoulders, brushing his cheek as she swayed back and forth. She was leaning over him, a look of mild concern on her face. If he had been a normal boy, he may have either snapped at her to mind her own business or asked her what she wanted. Instead, he simply stared at her.

He didn't have to concentrate all that hard to learn what she wanted. It simply came to him in his mind. 'She's worried about me, wants to buy me food and give me clothes. She has a good heart.' Aaron sighed, people with good hearts are always the hardest to deal with. Why couldn't she just leave him alone? 'She also has a lot of questions.' He thought, 'I hate questions.'

Without even thinking he mumbled, "no thanks. I'm not hungry and these cloths work just fine for now."

"I didn't say anything about that." She said suspiciously.

Aaron laid his head back on the concrete, his body stretched out next to the alley wall. Closing his eyes he thought, 'Here we go again.' Too much knowledge can get a person in a lot of trouble. That's the reason he was in his current predicament in the first place. It always started out innocent, but before you knew it, you were kicked out of another town or city or whatever.

"So do you?" She asked impatiently.

Aaron's eyes popped open. He studied her innocent face. 'She still wants to buy me food. She still has questions but...' His response came out more curt and bitter than he expected. "I already answered." He figured if he ignored her, she would go away. At least, he would have figured that, if he didn't already know.

The knowledge came to him in a rush of thoughts and images. 'She's not going to leave.' He concluded. 'If I don't go with her, she will bring food here. If I take off, she will search around until she finds me. She will find me.' He knew it. He didn't know HOW he knew, but as with everything else, he simply knew. Aaron's life just got a lot more complicated. At least, until he found a way to shake her off.

~to be continued~ (on Saturday)

It's Just Too Easy

Aaron was a slender boy of 16. He looked malnourished. His cheeks were sunken in beneath eyes that were a dull blue, having lost their sparkle years ago. His pepper blond hair was shoulder length and scraggly. There was a shadow of an incoming beard, now 2 months in the making. It was easy to ignore him, passing by with out a thought. If someone happened to notice him in a worn Alan Jackson t-shirt and torn faded jeans he had acquired out of a dumpster somewhere, they would cross to the other side of the street, saying something like, "Another alcoholic bum", or "That's what drugs'll do to ya." Reading this you may begin to wonder what this youth had done to bring upon such a life. He didn't, not in the way you're thinking. You may even begin to feel sorry for him. Don't. Your pity and worry are fleeting. I know because day after day good people like you walk on the other side of the street to avoid being asked for money. You know it's true. Nevermind the fact that he would not ask. One look at him and people like you already think you know him. So there he sleeps, in an alley, alone and ignored.

"Hi."

~to be continued~

Change of Mind

Actually, Friday is subject to change. I was in a hurry and all of the other subjects for the other days had simply fallen into place. I had "almost" a whole week worth of material. I didn't want to leave Friday blank, that would ruin having a plan and reason to write everyday. If people in my small but loyal audience have any suggestions about what subject they would like me to cover, please post them as a comment, send me an email, facebook, text or call.

I could make it "Random Fridays" in which I randomly share or write about what people want or I could call it "Question Fridays" or "Ask Me, Fridays" in which readers send me questions and I respond either in a serious or joking manner depending on the type of question. I just don't think I have the readership to keep up such a thing.

I am open for suggestions, ridicule, comments, jokes and statements.

Change of Mindset

The first thing I want to cover is perspective. What makes a person successful? Is it a new car? Is it a lavish house? Is it spending large amounts of money every month? Is it a stable job? Is it making lots of money every month at a job? Is it having benefits? Is it the people around, such as friends and family? Is it doing the 'right' thing? Is it being in a stable relationship? Is it being single and happy? Is it being able to go to the movies or go out to eat regularly?

It's all of these things and none of them at the same time. First, being successful means something different to everyone. I can't speak for the entire population, but I can speak for myself. I have never really thought of myself as being successful and as such, I have never been successful. I always thought it would be nice to have money or a government job or a family or traveling, but I never really thought any of that would be true for me. In some aspects I still don't.

My change of mindset is not "I want to be a millionaire or have a lot of money". My change of mindset is a lot simpler than that. Here are the steps I am taking:

1) I want to look at my life and see where I am already a success.
2) I am making a positive list of my successes.
3) I am going to post that list where I will see it in the morning.

I am not setting goals. As an example, I am not saying, "I will have a lot of money now that I have decided that is my success". Whatever my belief in success may be, that is not the plan for this week. Next week I can work on goals. This week is about mindset. First I must feel good about myself and the things I have already done.

Try this sometime. You'd be surprised about how good this exercise can make you feel. Just remember, everyone has successes, sometimes you have to let go of your personal prejudices and criticisms to see it, but they are there.

Organized Blog

So I have now organized how I'm going to run the blog.

Cool Fact Monday: Share some type of random fact I learned and expand.

Spiritual Tuesday: Share something uplifting and religious.

Update Wednesday: Basically a day that I share something going on in my life or something going on in the blog. A day to do stuff like this without interfering with the flow of things.

Future Thursday: Share things that interest me about mindset, goals, financial, and other aspects of life that can lead to a better future.

Ask Me Friday: A chance for me to share what you want. You send me a message with a question, comment, ridicule or whatever and then I will bring that up or address the issue on this day. (We shall see if I have the readership and response to support a once a week blog)

Short Story Weekend: I share a short story, starting Saturday. If the story ends on Saturday then Sunday I'll post a poem or uplifting thought. But, I like having Sunday open for a continuation of a longer story.

So, that's the plan and, as a wise person at church once said, "Join the AI and be robots like me."