Tag: #PureMichigan

Don’t bring me down…

The sun sets on another day…

I expected a fun sunset and instead got last minute clouds. It is interesting how a few miles on the coast can make such a big difference, but that’s ok, I loved the sunset time anyway.

Somewhere in my mind I was listening to Electric Light Orchestra. There is a song they have call Don’t Bring Me Down that is very prophetic often. In our world there are many people who will try to bring you down. Instead of letting them drag you down to their level I suggest a different ploy. Don’t let them bring you down.

We are faced with so many conflicting ideas and crazy thoughts that we often believe it. On the other side there are people who continually find themselves exciting new ways of ensuring their own demise. Often those people reach out to others and try to drag them down to their level. On one hand I wish that those people would take a moment and realize what they were doing, on another hand I wish there was something that could be done to lift them up, and on yet another hand I hope that we never get lost in the mire and muck that these people create.

Today I hope that no one tries to drag you down to their level. Instead I hope people see you as the wonderful person you are and try to lift you up. Today I hope that no one tries to take away the positives you bring to the world and instead I hope that they find a way to point out your positives. Today I hope that you find a way to believe in yourself and stop looking for the negatives in the world and instead find the positives. After all life is too short to focus on the bad.

So as the sun sets on another day, it is a good day, you are a wonderful person, and I just might be ok as well. Let’s take a higher road and find a way to be the best we can be every day, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love with passion, and enjoy a little silence…

Hidden Heroes…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was again cloudy, but no meatballs were in the air. I was hoping for some serious pasta, didn’t happen.

For context on some of what I will be talking about you can click here.

I was scrolling through the Internet yesterday and came across a number of wonderful ideas and testaments to what people had done for other people. This ranged from cutting lawns to attending events to being at the front line of everything going on. As I looked at these many of them were very positive and some of them, we’re inspiring because of the sheer tenacity of the individuals who were helping others. Fast forward a few hours and I was watching a television show about heroes that focused on people like firefighters that often get overlooked. I sat and thought for a few minutes about all of the people who do so much and get overlooked very consistently.

As I did I realized most people do things for others without the expectation of any notoriety or any number of additional clicks on social media. It was then I thought about years ago and when both my dad and I had similar ideas at a similar time. You know maybe it would be better if nobody had to point out that they had done something good. Maybe it would be better if donations were all anonymous. Maybe it would be better if when we did something nice we simply did it because we wanted to help someone.

In an idea a long time ago it was suggested did a group of people could help others and their primary focus would be to help and stay unknown. I’m not saying that’s the best solution but maybe it’s a solution that would help more people. Maybe it’s the solution that would allow others the freedom to not be in competition but instead to make the world a better place.

Now I am sure that there are plenty of things that are very nice to have out in the open. I’m sure it’s also nice to be thanked sometimes and when I have helped some people they have been very appreciative but in the end when people need you isn’t it best to just be there? I’m not pretending to have all the answers here and I’m sure that you can interject your opinion, I’m just pointing out that the world would be a better place if we helped those people that needed help.

So as the sun sets on another day, if you need help I hope you get it People sometimes need a little more. If you can give help I hope you do it freely and without expectation. Along the way I hope you do amazing things, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and keep doing good…

Echoes…

The sun sets on another day…

A shaft of light played through the skyline as sunset came upon us. It was a pretty evening and as the crisp air grasped the night I felt good about it all.

I saw a concert tonight that made me think of the past. I work very hard not to dwell in the past and definitely not to consider it as a negative ever. In this particular case I was thinking about music and all of the music that I’ve listened to over the course of my life.

I have a friend who could probably tell you just about any artist and piece of music up until very recent times. They are very talented and have also written and produced several songs that the world deserves to hear. I am not that good. I rarely remember lyrics and often don’t remember the songwriter or group involved. Still I am usually lost in the melody and the emotion of it all. It is that emotion that often echoes in my soul.

I remember the song that was playing when I fell in love, just about every time. I remember the feelings in my heart when patriotic songs play. I remember the deep feelings from songs like Taps and driving excessively over the speed limit to songs like Barracuda.

I am sure that you have feelings that are similar because music can inspire and make us all feel more than we normally would have. It is an amazing gift that we have given to ourselves.

So as the sun sets on another day take a moment and enjoy the echoes in your mind. Think about the music that made you who you are today and in the process feel deeply each and every day with passion and power and a little melody, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and listen to the echoes…

A matter of trust…

The sun sets on another day…

I sat watching the sunset for a moment or an hour, I could not tell which for just an instant as my mind scanned the entirety of today, and reread it a hundred times before shaking my head, and watching the day end. I was on an unfamiliar street, with unfamiliar people, but the world and the situations were all too familiar.

If you have read anything I have written, you will know I try to be a little more positive and lift people up. Forgive me if it takes a moment to get there today. It will happen.

I was at a funeral today filled with people. Some knew each other, and some did not. The people at the center of the service were warm and welcoming, and in such a difficult time, everyone attending was made to feel as though they were special and important, and it was as it should be.

I was very impressed with the person leading the service at the beginning of it all. There were complexities in the entire scope of what was going on. A series of families broken then melded back together, and some remained broken. Being who I am, I saw the emotions of everyone around me, and it wasn’t easy. Some struggled with the situation, some struggled with the past, some struggled with the future, and some struggled with themselves.

I watched as four people bared their souls and shared the life of a magnificent woman with the attendees. People nodded, people smiled, people laughed, and people cried. I thought to myself, “This is how people should be, sharing and feeling,” and then was lost for a moment as my sister spoke of love, passion, and everything in between. The stories were good, but there was still a complexity and uneasiness as two sides of an uneven coin lay separate and apart.

It was here that the entirety of this post sits. The leader of the service knew the person who passed away well, perhaps too well. At that point, they decided to deliver a series of words with good intentions. They gave a narrative they had been given and expressed it to a part of the family that may not have been familiar with it. They admonished a situation that they had not lived. They assumed that what they were doing was good, but in this particular case, they did not consider all the dynamics of the situation. If I were looking at this from above, I could teach that to give advice or determine a course of action. It is essential to have all sides of the equation filled out. It is even more critical when you guide someone’s life or hold their life in your hand.

You may not think words have an effect. Your comments may be right for a situation. You may be right. You may also need to be corrected.

In the grand scope of communication, the best communication is often silence. What follows for a second here is an opinion that often is the core of personal interaction.

In this situation, there was a divorce. The children did or did not understand the situation and were adult enough to make their own decisions. A rift was created between the children and the parent, and for over 20 years, the situation was strained or nonexistent. That is only what I know, but it is the tip of the iceberg. The leader of the service made a statement and assumed that they knew the situation completely. For them, it was real because what they had been made aware of was devastating, and there was no excuse for how things were. The question becomes, “was that reality?” and in that question lies my issue today. There were three people yesterday looking for guidance and growth. There were three people yesterday dealing with demons that they will never be able to excise now. There were three people that were near defeated, and a series of words were thrown out that was a literal coup de grace.

Is there an answer here?

There is an answer. If you do not know all sides of the situation, it is often better to remain silent. If you are standing with someone and they say they are at the edge of a cliff, your job should be to help them up, not push them over the edge. We often feel that we have a right to push our initiative based on what we think we know, and in the end, what do we really know? I know only one thing: I am on a journey, and I am imperfect. I learn and grow every day. I revise who I am daily because I am willing to open my mind and see beyond myself. I know that all of the things I see are different from what everyone else sees. I am sure many have no concept of what I see, and just as importantly, I cannot see the world through their eyes.

This is a long bunch of words just to say before you open your mouth. It’s important to understand what you’re talking about. It is important to know all situations. It is important to have compassion. It is important to be the person to others that you would like to address you.

So as the sun sets on another day, sorry about this ridiculously long post. I just felt it was important to push people out to the forefront and set aside our personal biases. With that, I leave you with something I used to say a lot, “be careful what you say and make your words sound soft and sweet, for you don’t know from day to day which ones you’ll have to eat.” Be the person that listens more than talks and be amazing every day, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and be you…

An eagles cry…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was spectacular for a short time until the clouds swallowed the horizon and sprayed light for a moment across the horizon.

Years ago I wrote a story, the Best Picture I never Took. Today I had another. There are a few bald eagles living somewhere close to me. I am pretty sure it is on the property, but they are hard to track. I see them flying above from time to time, and in the summer they feed off the animals that invade the blueberry fields that are close.

Today as I walked down my driveway I heard an eagles cry above me and 2 adult bald eagles were flying rapidly at the edge of the tree line. I smiled at the barrel roles that Pappy Boyington would be hard pressed to repeat and laughed at the shrill cries of each eagle as they chased each other through the sky.

As I stopped and stood still the two flew over me at high speed and rolled no more than 20 feet from my head, chasing each other down the driveway clearing. It was an awe inspiring sight. My phone was charging, my cameras in the car, all I had was my eyes to stare in abject amazement as the scene unfolded and then was gone.

I smiled.

It is these little moments we should hold onto, and these little moments that make stories to pass on and enjoy. I will file this under “wow” and laugh as the night passes. Yes, sunset was spectacular, but the day is filled with monumental moments as well, and I enjoy all I can.

So as the sun sets on another day, enjoy the moments that sweep you off your feet. Be like a child and feel the wonderment of the world. Take each moment, and make your world complete, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love with a passion beyond compare, and never let the world pass you by…

Fleeting flakes…

The sun sets on another day…

I saw the edge of sunset come and go while I was buried in other items. Still, I stopped for a moment and enjoyed a splash of color here and there and smiled. A few hours later, I was walking down my driveway in the darkness playing with my flashlight and shining it to the sky. As I did, I was rewarded with a few sparkles from flakes slowly drifting to the ground. I smiled for a moment as the light shimmered and faded away. After all it is still almost winter, or second winter, or third winter, or something like that.

I hate to quote the Time Warp, but time is fleeting, and each moment passed is a moment that is never regained. My, that sounds depressing. At the same time, each moment lived it’s a moment to be cherished, and perhaps if we think about it that way, we have a lot of moments before us. The world can be fantastic if we take our time and enjoy every moment. The world can be a more fantastic place if we make our moments better and better.

As I stared up at the flakes falling from the sky, I thought about all of the individual memories that we all have, and I smiled. Sure, it was just a couple of snowflakes, but if you remember, every snowflake is unique and so are you. So are we.

Take a moment and enjoy the day and enjoy everything that’s coming. Even the snow and ice storm that’s supposed to be coming tomorrow might be pretty to look at. I hope I continue to enjoy the snowflakes and maybe skip a little of the ice but it would be just as fun if I looked at it another way.

So as the sun sets on another day, next time you see a snowflake think about how unique it is. Then look at the snowscape and consider how many snowflakes are unique. Then remember that you are just as special and deserve to be happy, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and keep making your days amazing…

The speed of it all…

The sun sets on another day…

I enjoyed sunset, but I also enjoyed the kite surfers on the waves early in the day. I found myself wandering a little this morning, and as I did, the early morning wind threw people through the air and made the moments a little more amusing. Sure, it was freezing outside, sure there was still ice on everything but somewhere inside of it all was the will of people just to enjoy themselves.

It’s funny how life comes at us fast and is better enjoyed slow. We go through our lives not paying as much attention to time as we should, and as time begins to run out, we try to wring the moments out of every second simply because we ignored the time when we had it. So many people look for tomorrow and eliminate their todays that it almost makes me feel sad. Even more, people have it figured out until they don’t. There are a few that are sure they don’t have it figured out, but they’re enjoying life better than many.

I know that’s about as clear as mud unless you’re already in the mud, but if you pay attention, you’ll quickly realize that it’s not all that bad to slow down the moments. Even more so it is not all that bad to take a breath and laugh for a little while.

I find myself enjoying every day and trying to make the moments longer. I have done this for a long time, but often it gets away from me. I am the one who wants the game to go longer so that I can enjoy it. I am the one who doesn’t want to stop laughing at the comedian and wonders why they have to finally go home. I am the one who wants a kiss to last for three, even if it’s inside my mind. I am the one that thinks passion is more important than just about anything.

Someone told me a long time ago that all they wanted was peace. They wanted some modicum of control of their day-to-day lives, and they wanted to be able to take a breath and just slow down. It is my opinion that it is better for us to not only be able to take that breath but to be able to do it as we are lost in an exciting moment. It seems like it’s counterproductive, but I would like to think that chaos and order should be close bedfellows all the time.

So as the sun sets on another day, I hope you find the passion and purpose to make today your best day. I hope you can slow it down or speed it up so that it suits you and makes your life far more complete. After all, there is no better day than today to be your best day. I hope you find it, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and lets get some pie….

A yellow shirt…

The sun sets on another day…

Sunset was more than spectacular as Pepper and I found a spot, and watched the birds and the sun sliding from the sky. I took an extra few minutes, and laughed as Pepper sat and watched the birds. I found a moment of peace.

Where do I start.

I was writing tonight, trying to finish a series of thoughts on a series of thoughts. In the process I picked up a book next to me, “The Collected Works of Kahlil Gibran” and opened it randomly to a page. This quote called to me, “Death is not neared to the aged than to the new-born. Neither is life.”

I sat for a moment and my mind drifted. It was a moment of solace and seriousness.

In February of 2021 I published a book called “A Slice of Fear”. In that book there was a story about death. The story was from a dream I had and the dream was so vivid that if it was not real it should have been. In the story and the dream the personification of death wore a yellow shirt and slacks and was generally mild mannered. He told me about my life and explained a lot about the different trials and tribulations I had been through. All of the things in the dream were real and all of the moments described were just as real.

There are particular situations that I have gone through that have been relatively devastating. One of those situations involved the woman who took my heart and later set it free. She made a choice in her life that removed me completely. It wasn’t because she didn’t have feelings for me but instead because she was looking for peace and she described that peace in great detail. Part of the peace was finding a center so that her children would find their peace. I respected this even though it hurt. It actually hurt a lot.

I have had two additional dreams and visited with the man with the yellow shirt. the dreams were not difficult and were nowhere near as adversarial as the first dream. Still, they aligned the series of thoughts and I of course thought that somewhere in the back of my mind I was working out issues that I had never put to rest. The largest of these issues was the man in the yellow shirt taunting me with the idea that anyone that would give to me the way I gave to them would be removed from my life. To put it simply the man in the yellow shirt was giving me some sort of penance and stating that I should not consider having some people in my life that listened and heard and put in the pure passion that I did. It was further stated in my dream that the reason I did so well with my puppies is they gave back everything I put in, but their lives were finite. I agree with this premise and only a few people have ever considered the depth of how I feel. Instead most are lost in the bias of how they think I feel, or project their insecurities on me.

I’m getting to the point, thanks if you’ve stayed with me.

On December 24th of 2022 the person who I was close to died after a battle with cancer. I had no visibility into their life beyond a few messages from time to time and no idea this had happened. I found this after doing a quick check when I saw the quote tonight looking for an obituary in a town from the past.

I sit here thinking about the depth of passion and someone who was as passionate as I and to put every ounce of their passion into me as I did to them in the short time, we were together. I sit here thinking about how few people truly understand how deep passion can go. I sit in wonder of the people who hold on to anger and miss out on the depths of what can be felt. My mind is a series of emotional whirlwinds wondering how many people are next to the people right now thinking not about sleep or really anything else except that person next to them. My thoughts have drifted to peace, and I hope that this person has found the peace they were always seeking. There is very little else to say except the man in the yellow shirt does not bring pain or suffering but instead ferries souls to where they belong. I know that in this moment this person will find their peace.

So as the sun sets on another day, take stock of who you are with and those people that see past the obvious. Find those people that transcend the mundane and lift you to a new place. Seek out friends and loves that not only love you but lift you to a spectacular new height. Set aside those people that use you then ignore you or give only what they want when what they want is little. Reach out for the spectacular because you deserve even more and as you do realize that you are special and that you deserve more than anyone can give you unless they listen to and see who you are. I say it to you again, you are special. Keep holding on to your feelings and never let go of your passion, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and sleep in peace…

A loss for words…

The sun sets on another day

I sat watching the sunset and the colors spraying across the horizon. The waves slowly lacked against the shore and the colors lapped against the waves. Slowly the sunset and the moment later was gone.

Every once in a while, I get lost in words and have to shift my words into action. There are numerous songs about such and even more songs about how we should approach our lives in favor of living instead of existing and in favor of action over inaction. There are also a multitude of books, short stories, and other tomes, that give us insight into how difficult it is to exist without the benefit of action.

Who cares right?

As I was scrolling through a number of articles yesterday and deleting the things that I no longer found to be necessary or were out of date I realized how little action is done when words are in play. After all it is much easier to talk about it then to actually do it, whatever it is. As I went down this spiral into the mire of my mind, I found myself considering all of the things that keep me from executing the actions I should be doing. Honestly this ranged from things that were very important to things that shouldn’t even take up a modicum of time. I found it to be an interesting practice and refocused and started making some decisions to eliminate certain things I need to do instead of spending time always doing for everyone else.

It is there that we must find a balance. Sometimes doing for others can be the most important thing in the world and other times it can be the most frustrating. Sometimes doing for others is fantastically appealing and other times it seems to take the life from you and leave you an empty husk. This all sounds somewhere between positive and negative because it is and our lives should be filled with balance and with the understanding that we have certain things that we need while others have things that they need and hopefully those align.

As I was wading through the muck of my conscious and subconscious I considered how some people pay close attention to the directions they should go and pay no attention to the people around them. Others tend to get lost in achieving for others and somewhere in the midst of it all they lose themselves. I would like to think the perfect arrangement is to find people that are so in tune with you did they give you what you need while you are giving them what they need and that each day then becomes satisfying and amazing as you never want for anything.

I had another paragraph or three here, but I decided that I was not going to embrace the negativity. With that in mind I ask that you simply find people that you are happy with, that you can make happy, and who can make you happy. It seems easy and I hope it is for you.

So as the sun sets on another day, take a moment and consider the limitless passion of your mind. When you need it take your own time and explore the passions that are you. When it is time, share your passion with the world and to make every day a fantastic journey into happiness, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and be you above all else…

A made up day…

The sun sets on another day…

I expected a cool sunset or at least a sunset, but instead got rain once again. Still, I smiled knowing the colors were high above, and the air was warmer. Spring is out there, only a short time away.

I’ve heard a lot of people talk about Valentine’s Day being a made-up holiday. I’ll say with pretty much over the top certainty that they are correct. Although the holiday is as old as many religions it has evolved from a fertility rite to a modern day engine of sales and merchandise. Our current Valentine’s Day has morphed from many previous just as our current Christmas has become so commercialized that the only focus seems to be spending instead of its original intent.

With that being said I have to say with utmost certainty that telling somebody you care about them even a little isn’t a bad thing. Being there for someone when they need you does not make you a bad person. Most of all not celebrating a holiday because you don’t believe in it one way or another does not make the holiday disappear it just leaves you out of it all.

That’s OK.

We should all be able to enjoy everything that we want to enjoy and if we don’t want to participate that’s fine. On the other hand throwing disparaging comments or talking about the origins of a holiday may not be as fine as you think. I have heard from literally dozens of people this year how terrible Valentine’s Day is because all it accomplishes is giving flower shops business. my question is simple for all those that disagree with the holiday: Do you currently have a reminder set to send flowers to people occasionally?

If you don’t, consider this a holiday of convenience that reminds you that there are special people in your life. If you do, do as you see fit and maybe the $15 or $20 that you save will buy you another coffee or better yet another book. Either way is it that bad to let people know you care about them? Why aren’t you doing that now?

So as the sun sets on another day I hope that you take a moment and remember that people care about you. I hope that you find it in your heart to tell people when you care about them. And when people reach out to you and try to lift you up stop trying to take them down and instead realize that maybe somebody cares more. It could be you that makes a difference to someone every day, no matter what.

Sleep sweet, love life, and happy Valentine’s Day!!