Tag: #29000sunsets

CleAnUp aisle 1…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was wonderful and fantastic as the skies opened wide and shot wave after wave of amazing light across the horizon. As the days slowly wane there is no better time to reflect, no better time to consider a great deal.

If you are new here I write here each day. There was a small break when I switched service providers, but other than that I spend a few minutes each day sharing about insights or experience and the people of the world. With that in mind there are 2459 posts on 29000 sunsets with a big ole giant range of topics. That represents an every day commitment of almost 7 years.

Of that there are also a stack of throwaways. Times where my writing went sideways, negative, or not where I agree with it. There are also strange thoughts and musing from time to time. I am spending some time as I sit tonight deleting many of there while waiting for a phone call to start. Memories followed: a man at a gas pump telling me about his custody battle; the price of passion; melancholy mornings; the pain of love; and a lot about people and their stories that I either respun or decided not to post for one reason or another.

As I cleaned some and kept other I wondered just how many stories make up a man. Then I thought about how many paths a man must travel to find enlightenment. Then I started cleaning up my cluttered head.

Sometimes we just need to declutter our minds just like decluttering the draft items that we think about. We can’t take on the whole world, we just need to take on our little part of it. Along the way it is ok to consider the past and all the unused items we have floating around, we just have to stop whining about it. Instead we need to define ourselves each day with the best version of us ever, including all those unused things we have floating around. Its all good, we can do it. I know we can.

So as the sun sets on another day, each day is an adventure, but let’s concentrate on the good ones! Let’s make our adventures amazing and fantastic, and along the way lets find our paths, our promises, and our positivity, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and 42…

Listen and hear…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was a spectacular series of colors melded into the wind. I watched it with fascination as I do everyday just as I would if it were my very first sunset.

I find it amazing that so many people in the world do not listen and do not hear. I have written about this many times but the few thousand people that look at it haven’t changed the world yet, and neither have I.

Wouldn’t the world be a far more amazing place if we just heard each other? When someone tells you something you interpret it based on your past experiences, not theirs. If you hear them and truly listen to what they say you have an opportunity to open your mind to new definitions and new experiences. The journey is not always easy but guess what, it is worth it.

Earlier today I sat listening to someone explain their view on something I am intimately familiar with. I nodded my head and agreed and I listened to each word they said. Moreover I paid very close attention to their approach and the reasons they did things the way they did. They did not align with my experiences but we were not talking about me. I had to open my mind and consider the positives and negatives of each statement they made. I walked away with a slightly different point of view. It is true I still don’t agree with everything that they said or relayed but I understand it and as the days pass it will make me a better person.

I know it is disappointing that I don’t know everything. What a boring world it would be if I did. Instead all that’s necessary is to learn something everyday and hear people when they tell you something.

So as the sun sets on another day, listen to hear and not to respond and in the process learn something new and exciting each and every day. You can make the world a better place just by doing so, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and I hear you..

Together…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was wet. Really wet. Rain slammed on the ground and cascaded across the streets and fields. When I arrived at my destination I had to park somewhere I was not sitting in 9 inches of water. Still, the night was good and filled with positives.

I met a young couple today that were very good for each other. As I talk to them one was from the Frankenmuth area and the other was from England. We talked and we left and he was going back home today. That didn’t seem to be exactly on the top of her list of things. Of course I only know a minutes worth of a moment, but I thought about it for a while.

We all find people we like and don’t like. It has been said that the best version of a person is when they are dating or interviewing. I would like to ask for just a moment, why? Why do you have to be in a situation like that to be you? Why can’t we be ourselves all the time? further? Why can’t we be nice, pleasant, and good to each other all the time? Why wait for a secondary moment or even a special moment.

Maybe we should start being good and true more often? After all, being a good person is easy, but letting people know what you really think isn’t bad. No, don’t become antagonistic or a modern day Karen if you feel like it, but instead find the passion within you to be you all the time.

So as the sun sets on another day, you be you and I’ll be me and we will find a pleasant tree to sit and laugh the day away and find the best and exciting way. Sounds like a poem I should write. Be you, and for the young couple, tomorrow is another day but today is the best day of our lives. Let’s make it better if we can, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and be amazing…

Smelling the flowers…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was spectacular as I drove in the middle of nowhere from the middle of nowhere to the middle of nowhere. It is often in those moments that we find the most clarity.

I found myself thinking of Luna a lot last night. I took a lot of time with her and I asked a question last night and knew the answer before I even asked it. The question was easy did Luna add more to my life or take something away. Luna added more.

There are many people in the world that do not understand the depth of pets and especially dogs. They look at them like chores. From an early age Luna was very advanced and as she learned sometimes so did I. I remember one time I taught her how to smell flowers. I had a particularly fragrant rose in Lexington and I cut one off and smelled it deeply while walking her around. Because I had stopped she stood and looked up at me patiently waiting for us to go. I put the rose by her nose and simply said “smell” and she had no clue what I was saying. I smelled the rose again and put it to her nose and repeated the command and after just a few times she got the idea and I could tell the fragrance as well.

We went on our walk and walked and walked. It was a few weeks later that we were going out again and as I walked out with her there were blooms on the rose bush again. My day had been more hurried and I began to walk down to the sidewalk and she stopped. I looked at her confused for a second and realized she saw the flowers again and we had to stop just for a second for a smell.

I know we all hear about stopping and smelling the roses, but as I sit here with a tear in my eye I remember it very well. Maybe Luna had the best idea ever, to take that extra second because it was something we both liked to do.

Who cares right? All I wanted to say today is to take that extra moment. Drive an extra hour for a special reason, take an extra minute to make someone smile, play with the dog for a few more minutes, or just stop and smell the roses. It might give you a bit of clarity you otherwise wouldn’t have had.

So as the sun sets on another day take a moment and breathe deep from the gift that you’ve been given today. If you can’t think of anything just remember you just took a moment and breathed deep. It is somewhere in that that miracles are made. Be yourself everyday but keep growing along the way, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and stop and smell the flowers..

Through the weeds…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was amazing as deep clouds clashed with fiery moments. It gave the sky a pink hue as the clouds seemed to jitter with excitement and color.

Last night I was talking to someone as I waited for an order. They were young and I asked how they were doing. The were happy but proceeded to tell me how they would rather not be there and that there were far better things to do. They then began to tell me about how they were there for money, but had money but wanted more money. When asked how much money the answer was just more.

I know perhaps “more” is not a good answer. Perhaps we need to look at a bigger picture and realize if we are not happy, more is never a good answer. Maybe, just maybe, we should consider the world as an amazing place that is full of light and life, and enjoy the ride for a moment. Just a thought.

So as the sun sets on another day, I think I want more: life. Now I just need to define what life is. How about you? What more can you have that will make you happy? Find your way, make a path, and as you do make sure happiness come with it each and every day, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and have some more…

A shy smile…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was initially so bright it was hard to look towards the west. As the far west clouds rose to the occasion the sky was filled with colors, and the twilight gleamed like fireworks.

I have been curious about Toastmasters for a long time. I was a speaker on technology and quality for a long time and am always concerned that I am not getting enough experience speaking anymore. I always loved teaching large groups and the excitement in people’s eyes when you show them something new or share your excitement.

Today I met three people. There were three very different people. The president of our Toastmasters group was there and was joined by three newbies, one being me. We each had our reasons for being there. One of us was there to be a part of toastmasters, and I expected them to be entirely driven in their quest. One of us was there to get back into the swing of things after a long time lost in COVID quarantine. As I said, I was there to enjoy talking with other people and staying frosty in case I ever start speaking again.

The approach was straightforward. For this group, we did table talk where a question or item was given, and the task was to speak about it off the cuff for one to two minutes without being the “uh-ah-um” monster. It was a fun interaction that made it even more fun for the people. One of us dropped off before that started, and the three of us remaining laughed, smiled, made jokes, and generally enjoyed the time.

As we started winding down, I thought about my teammate who had been isolated for a long time and experienced the damage done to so many. They noted themselves as an introvert, and as we all interacted, they became more and more engaged in the moment. They were perfect, and perhaps this is and was a step towards healing, trusting, and re-engaging with people or at least engaging to the level they are comfortable with. I have high hopes because I think they did very well.

So as the sun sets on another day, we all have to step back after the last several years. Some of us have hidden away like hermit crabs in our small shells. We have sealed ourselves away from the world. With the significant amount of data coming out and the information being created, the world will change significantly over the next several years. Be patient with people and help them find their way in their time if you can. If you are alone, find your way back into the light with the people who care about you. We are not meant to be solitary creatures. It can work, but it’s not a lot of fun. Find your way and find happiness as much as possible, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and happy trails…

Just a friend…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was a mix of mystical mood machinations as crimson colors cascaded across the horizon. (No C word for horizon, oh well)

I enjoyed sunset a lot. I was alone, watching the clouds slide across the sky and the sun sliding in a clear path to Lake Michigan. Some cars were there, some pulled up, and some just drove by, watching for only a moment, then disappearing to who knows where.

My Pterodactyl

I watched the clouds and laughed as I saw a pterodactyl, an elephant, and a fun Jabba the Hutt sitting back on his chair, rumbling a slow laugh to my earthbound photo session. I wondered how many people were seeing different things in the clouds or just watching the colors. People snapped pictures just as I did, but what did they see?

Jabba?

It is fun looking at the clouds and seeing with more than just your eyes. It is fun seeing past it all with your imagination and laughing a little as you do.

As the sun passed, a young woman walked up the hill with a Sushi container and a smile. Being of sound mind and no social conscience, I, of course, spoke to her and asked how the night was going. It was her date night with herself, and I could think of no better time than to spend a while at the beach watching the sunset. She had a fantastic idea and is the type of friend I enjoy. A friend who can enjoy a moment without expectation, and a friend who laughs for a moment even if that is all they have. We laughed for a second, and I, of course, gave her a card. We will see if she reads this, but even if she doesn’t, I am happy for the few moments we got to laugh and wish she had brought me sushi.

Wouldn’t the world be better if we all spoke up and enjoyed each other? Wouldn’t life be more transparent (clearer) if we took the time to acknowledge other people and let them know they are not alone, that we are here for them? Wouldn’t life be better if we could say “I am your friend” and expect nothing but a moment, and when more comes, be grateful for every second?

I had the opportunity to spend time with a friend this weekend. We took a picture together, and during our short time, we enjoyed the moments and shared a bird feeder memory or 5. There was laughter and seriousness, but mostly there was the feeling that I am glad of the friends I have each and every day.

So as the sun sets on another day, each day is an adventure. Yep. I bet we can quote Valley of the Dinosaurs and say that each day is an adventure for the Robinsons. Maybe it is not a super big adventure, but it is an adventure because we can meet new people, do new things, and enjoy the sunset each day if we want to. Don’t wait; the clock is ticking; enjoy your moments each and every day, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and what a peaceful night…

Invisible…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was spectacular. I smiled as people lined up watch. The clouds broke free and a fantastic lightshow followed.

I was playing with new pens and thought about all the things in our life that are invisible, but still there.

“Are” gone?

Obviously, there are a lot. All the people that affect us in our past and the situations that have influenced us slowly meld us into who we are. Well, not really.

A lot of people like to think as they are writing their tome of a biography that they can blame their parents or their past for who they are. Perhaps some people believe this, but I firmly believe that we have a choice every day. We can let the people in our lives meld us like cheap clay, or we can stand up and decide who we will be.

I know this isn’t always easy. There are horrible people in the world that do everything they can to control others and far worse. The good news is some people will try to lift you up and help you be more. You have to decide. Do you stay home in a home that tears you to pieces? Do you stay with someone who treats you like less than a person? If you give all the time and they happily take, do you just go with it? Find people who see you as the amazing person that you are. Find people that believe in you. Decide to be more with them.

Of course, it’s your choice, and nothing I say will affect that. The biggest gift you have is to be able to make choices for yourself. Find your path and let the things that are invisible stay invisible while you shine a light.

So as the sun sets on another day, please remember how important you are. Don’t let anyone take that away from you. Don’t let anyone make you into what they want you to be; instead, be yourself every day, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and where’d they go…

Promise…

The sun sets on another day…

SunsetWas cloudy and interesting. The skies have been angry, but the day was partially clear and allowed for the featured picture.

I sat thinking as I watched the sailboats in the wind. Somewhere in the midst of the day there is a promise. A promise for the day itself and a series of promises that are inherent in that day. The wind whipped up and boats slipped past and I smiled for a moment.

For the day itself the promise is always that the day is there and that if we try we can get through another day with positive and amazing outcomes just by showing up. Showing up is a big thing though huh?

Make a promise to yourself today if you can. Promise yourself that you will show up. Show up to read more, show up to write, show up to work, show up to learn to sail, show up to do anything necessary to make you better. You have the power to make your world a better world just by showing up.

So as the sun sets on another day, I show up, I write, and I push each day to make every day amazing for myself and anyone I run into. I hope your day was complete and amazing, Make tomorrow a good one as well, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and live…

Theory of tomorrow…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was, well, wet. I did enjoy the rumble of thunder as the storms passed overhead.

I was driving home from breakfast this morning and started singing to myself. The song ran will in me head and I belted it out better than any 10 singers. The problem was, the song did not exist and I was making it up as I went, melody and lyrics like they were nothing. It appeared I was in a jam session with myself.

I pulled into the driveway and up the long drive and sat in the car for a moment to write some of it down, and in the process realized that what I had been signing made a lot of sense. So the line I want to focus on is easy:

“In the theory of tomorrow stand the problems of today. As we’re blocked from side to side we still must find a way.”

I stared at the words, and considered it all for a while, then I laughed.

Tomorrow is always a theory. Tomorrow actually never arrives and instead we are constantly and consistently locked in a search for tomorrow. As each day passes and becomes today tomorrow is still a day away. I smiled again as I considered all the tomorrows that would never ever come as they were part of today. They are built upon or blocked by the power and ingenuity of today.

I read the rest of the words that I remembered in my song and felt the same. There is thought here, and a certain amount of consideration to the interesting excitement of thinking about making a difference in today to build a better tomorrow.

Do you consider that ever? Do you look at today and realize you are building a tomorrow with all you do today? Have you ever considered that tomorrow will never arrive and as we change to a new day we build out our tomorrows? I would like to think we would be better at building out our todays.

So as the sun sets on another day, consider well that today is our day, and tomorrow is not a promise ever. We can, using our will and our way, create a better tomorrow by using today as a guide, a launching board so to speak. Make today your best day ever and your tomorrows will always have a good foundation. Make today more, and each day your tomorrow vision will grow. Be that person that sees the world as more than just a simple task, but a series of fantastic accomplishments. Be that person, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love wildly, and find passion in every moment…