993-It is what it is

Can I convince you that whatever you are experiencing at this moment is neither good nor bad?

It just is.

You've surely heard the Shakespeare quote:

"for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." -- Hamlet

Let's go a bit more modern.  Below are two songs I really like.  I've included their lyrics as well.  One might seem pessimistic while the other optimistic.  But are they really?


All I know is I am drawn to both of them.  For their soulful refrains and lyrics.  Experience everything just as it is, without the need to "label" it.  And you will see life so much more vibrantly.


Enjoy it all.  Here you go ...

It's a Mad World

Mad World lyrics
Songwriters: Orzabal, Roland;

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for the daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere

Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow

And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When people run in circles its a very, very
Mad world, mad world

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy birthday, happy birthday
And I feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen

Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me, what's my lesson?
Look right through me, look right through me

And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When people run in circles its a very, very
Mad world, mad world, enlarging your world
Mad world

IZ - Somewhere Over The Rainbow lyrics Lyrics to Somewhere Over The Rainbow: Ooo oooooo oooooo oooo ooo ooo ooo Ooooo oooooo oooooo Ooo ooo ooo Ooo ooo ooo Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high, And the dreams that you dreamed of, Once in a lullaby. Oh, somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly, And the dreams that you dreamed of, Dreams really do come true. Someday, I'll wish upon a star, Wake up where the clouds are far behind me. Where trouble melts like lemon drops, High above the chimney top, That's where you'll find me. Oh, somewhere, over the rainbow, bluebirds fly, And the dreams that you dare to. Oh why, oh why can't I? Well, I see trees of green and red roses too, I'll watch them bloom for me and you. And I think to myself: What a wonderful world! Well, I see skies of blue and I see clouds of white, And the brightness of day. I like the dark and I think to myself: What a wonderful world! The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky, Are also on the faces of people passing by. I see friends shaking hands, saying, 'How do you do?' They're really saying, ' I...I love you!' I hear babies cry, and I watch them grow, They'll learn much more than we'll know. And I think to myself: What a wonderful world! Someday, I'll wish upon a star, Wake up where the clouds are far behind me. Where trouble melts like lemon drops, High above the chimney top, That's where you'll find me. Oh, somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high. And the dreams that you dare to, Oh why, oh why can't I? Ooooo oooooo oooooo Ooooo oooooo oooooo Ooo ah, ah, ah... eh ah ah, eh ah ah ah ah...

994-Watching nature's fireworks

Aurora Borealis in Finnish Lapland 2011 from Flatlight Films on Vimeo.

Now this is a beautiful movie of Aurora Borealis.  If you have never had the opportunity to see this in person, I hope you get the chance a some point.  Yes, that usually means going to very remote, very cold locations (which is no longer high on my list), but still ... this is cool stuff.

And so on this New Year's Eve, it seems to be a very fitting fireworks display.  And for those of you in parts of the world that don't shoot off fireworks tonight, then you get the bonus of seeing this beauty, and avoiding the loud noises which scare our dog.

Happy New Year everyone!

995-Just Dance!

OK, here's my Xmas gift to you.  Just click on the video, expand it to full screen, and select the highest resolution.

Great music.  Fun dancing.  And always interesting expressions from those who get to be a part of the flash mob.

And so for this week, I say we must never stop dancing.  And for those of us who never really started, perhaps a few lessons are in order ;-)  But no matter what, I hope you dance.

Lee Ann Womack - I Hope You Dance lyrics


I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'
Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin'
Don't let some Hellbent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin' out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder, where those years have gone?)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder, where those years have gone?)

996-Take Poetry, or "What would you do if you could do anything you like?"

Or said another way ... "Follow your bliss" -- Joseph Campbell

997-Holding hands

I was driving home from work the other night.  Actually stuck in some traffic.  And then a thought just appeared in my mind.  And it brought such a warm smile to my face.  And that thought was:  "I am such a lucky man".

Really.  I have the most wonderful wife in the world.  She's also my best friend.  And there is no one that I would rather walk through this life with while holding hands together.

Happy, happy, happy ... and so very thankful.

998-The garden

We cleaned out our little garden the other day in preparation for winter.  It's funny.  It's not an impressive garden -- so much smaller that what we have back home.

And yet, there's much to be said for a small garden.  It took us only a couple of hours to get everything done.  And we get lots of enjoyment from our small collection of plants, with our (also quite small) patio and dining table nearby.

It has made us realize that bigger isn't always better, and in fact, can often times be quite the opposite.  Too much work, too much time, too much money to take care of it.  This is true for the garden, the house, the yard, the autos, etc, etc.

Simpler pleasures.  More time to enjoy them.  We love our little garden, and I expect we will take home many lessons from our experiences in this smaller space.

999-How can this not make you smile?

Happy 999 marbles to go.  I already feel more alive.

Here is a story that I think everyone should read.  It's a little long, but really worth the time.

What better motivation and insight on how one can choose to live their life?

"The most effective weapon against a system based on greed and violence is kindness." -- Pancho Ramos Stierle

Namaste.