120 ...
It is the season of giving. You search around for an affordably reasonable item
that might perfectly brighten and bring out a smile on someone's face. You make
up your mind after circling a mall. Out
of the many store-bought gift choices, you pick up ornaments. Choosing just the perfect ones was time
consuming, but you persist. All done,
you head home and delight about your purchases. As you begin wrapping each one, you ask,
"Why on earth did I get ornaments?" Your initial delight turns into regret. Deplorably you realize that an ornament is
symbolic of frivolity; much worse, it is definitive of vanity. Look at each piece glow and compete for shine.
What value is there in glow and shine? Mesmerizing to the eye, yes, but not for
long would one and all be adored. You
now lament knowing that as the season of magic, delight and joy is over, each
of the fragile ornaments would go hidden somewhere and then get forgotten; it
would be stashed away for many long months. Too late! You could not return what you bought and you
must find solace in the love of giving. Besides,
it is crunch time. What’s the
consolation? Your only joy now is in
knowing the simple truth of impeccable scrutiny and delicacy, patience and hard
work put in by craftsmen in every ornament you chose ... an ornate offering right from their very heart!
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Holiday
119 ...
For varied reasons, Christmas holidays could be a trap for both haves and have-nots. The haves could be overly confident and excessive with expenses they make on parties and gifts; they, after all, thrive and delight on what is popular and more public impressions. On the onset, they may not mind how far their spending goes, which oftentimes is backed by credit and loan. It always is too late when they find out they have gone overboard, and could hardly pay borrowings back. As a result, many of them collapse their funds and drive themselves into bankruptcies. You question, “For what end?” Many times, unfortunately, it is nothing more than for frivolous and meaningless keeping up with Joneses! Christmas holidays are hardest and toughest though on those who could not dole out the high costs of holiday gift-purchasing, lavish entertaining, fancy trimmings and merry-making. They are the ones who do not have the means to go beyond basics of living - those who live from paycheck to paycheck, the marginalized and the far destitute ones. Holiday glitter on store windows, buildings or houses' doors make it difficult for them to get into holiday spirit. Barrages of celebratory ads fighting for everyone's attention and pockets don't help them either because such forcefully trigger foolish wants, depression and despair. At wits end that could even bring about violence and extreme feelings of despondency. Materially poor or rich, what should really be anyone's response to holidays? Moderation is always a perfect response, and so is surrounding you with likeminded people who care more about thanksgiving, sharing, compassion, love and humility - the specific focus for Christmas reflection, celebration, and holiday!
For varied reasons, Christmas holidays could be a trap for both haves and have-nots. The haves could be overly confident and excessive with expenses they make on parties and gifts; they, after all, thrive and delight on what is popular and more public impressions. On the onset, they may not mind how far their spending goes, which oftentimes is backed by credit and loan. It always is too late when they find out they have gone overboard, and could hardly pay borrowings back. As a result, many of them collapse their funds and drive themselves into bankruptcies. You question, “For what end?” Many times, unfortunately, it is nothing more than for frivolous and meaningless keeping up with Joneses! Christmas holidays are hardest and toughest though on those who could not dole out the high costs of holiday gift-purchasing, lavish entertaining, fancy trimmings and merry-making. They are the ones who do not have the means to go beyond basics of living - those who live from paycheck to paycheck, the marginalized and the far destitute ones. Holiday glitter on store windows, buildings or houses' doors make it difficult for them to get into holiday spirit. Barrages of celebratory ads fighting for everyone's attention and pockets don't help them either because such forcefully trigger foolish wants, depression and despair. At wits end that could even bring about violence and extreme feelings of despondency. Materially poor or rich, what should really be anyone's response to holidays? Moderation is always a perfect response, and so is surrounding you with likeminded people who care more about thanksgiving, sharing, compassion, love and humility - the specific focus for Christmas reflection, celebration, and holiday!
Mind-Trap
118 …
Everyone double checks things sometimes. For example, you and I might go over twice to make sure the stove or iron is turned off before leaving the house. It is not the same however, for people trapped by an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). People with OCD accordingly feel an extreme need to check things repeatedly, and have certain thoughts performing routines and rituals. Such thoughts (also obsessions), and rituals (also compulsions), associated with the dysfunction many times cause distress; they also get in the way of a normal daily life because those affected could not explain what is happening to them, such as in non-stop hand-washing over the slightest feeling of dirt or germs. Other common rituals manifested by folks with compulsions/obsessions are a need to repeatedly check things, touch things (especially in a particular sequence), or count things. They may also be preoccupied with order and symmetry, have difficulty throwing things out (so they accumulate), or hoard unneeded items. You must have heard of this malady by chance. What unaware observers do not know is that the abnormality disallows stricken folks to easily control these obsessions and compulsions no matter how hard they rid of them. Repetitions of impulsions at best produce temporary in them relief from an unreal/real anxiety or deeply-rooted trauma. Although most children and adults with OCD recognize that what they are doing is senseless, the consolation of few who clearly recognize it in themselves is in knowing that their behavior is out of the ordinary. The fortunate few who come to understand a little of this dysfunction’s nature are blessed indeed. They could begin putting in effect strategies helpful in avoiding their behavior irregularity; they also could somehow get on path leading to a normal life.
Everyone double checks things sometimes. For example, you and I might go over twice to make sure the stove or iron is turned off before leaving the house. It is not the same however, for people trapped by an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). People with OCD accordingly feel an extreme need to check things repeatedly, and have certain thoughts performing routines and rituals. Such thoughts (also obsessions), and rituals (also compulsions), associated with the dysfunction many times cause distress; they also get in the way of a normal daily life because those affected could not explain what is happening to them, such as in non-stop hand-washing over the slightest feeling of dirt or germs. Other common rituals manifested by folks with compulsions/obsessions are a need to repeatedly check things, touch things (especially in a particular sequence), or count things. They may also be preoccupied with order and symmetry, have difficulty throwing things out (so they accumulate), or hoard unneeded items. You must have heard of this malady by chance. What unaware observers do not know is that the abnormality disallows stricken folks to easily control these obsessions and compulsions no matter how hard they rid of them. Repetitions of impulsions at best produce temporary in them relief from an unreal/real anxiety or deeply-rooted trauma. Although most children and adults with OCD recognize that what they are doing is senseless, the consolation of few who clearly recognize it in themselves is in knowing that their behavior is out of the ordinary. The fortunate few who come to understand a little of this dysfunction’s nature are blessed indeed. They could begin putting in effect strategies helpful in avoiding their behavior irregularity; they also could somehow get on path leading to a normal life.
Friday, December 18, 2015
Meddling
117 …
Cinn and Dink are on edge. They insist to climb up to my lap for an unknown reason. They assert to get as close and be comforted. They whimper and shake. They could not be consoled. I begin to wonder and worry. I settle them in their beds even as they continue to be agitated while I search the house for any distraction-causing situation or intruder. I could not find any provoking interference, so I decide to turn off the squawking television. I intently listen hard for incursion. Finally a break from the quietness of the night sounds off. A sheepish, minute, and hissing ringing, cognizant to dogs and other animals, becomes evident. From where is the sound coming? Flashback suddenly hits my brain! Smoke alarms once caused Cinn and Dink to act strangely. Could it be the trigger for their unusual distress? I find a stool to reach for all house smoke alarms since I could not hear from which one the tiny beeping comes. Eureka- I find the one! I unplug the last alarm and the critters get calm. Mystery ends.
Cinn and Dink are on edge. They insist to climb up to my lap for an unknown reason. They assert to get as close and be comforted. They whimper and shake. They could not be consoled. I begin to wonder and worry. I settle them in their beds even as they continue to be agitated while I search the house for any distraction-causing situation or intruder. I could not find any provoking interference, so I decide to turn off the squawking television. I intently listen hard for incursion. Finally a break from the quietness of the night sounds off. A sheepish, minute, and hissing ringing, cognizant to dogs and other animals, becomes evident. From where is the sound coming? Flashback suddenly hits my brain! Smoke alarms once caused Cinn and Dink to act strangely. Could it be the trigger for their unusual distress? I find a stool to reach for all house smoke alarms since I could not hear from which one the tiny beeping comes. Eureka- I find the one! I unplug the last alarm and the critters get calm. Mystery ends.
Suffering
116 …
Everyone knows that living with advancing age’s joint and bone aches would be routine; it is an expectation after all. Mikey groans daily now from his bodily aches. I could not help groan inwardly myself with, and for him, even if I were not in pain. When pain lives permanently in someone’s body at a much younger age, it is truly different. It is the case with Mikey who is only in his mid-fifties. For a long while before now, at a young age of nine, he lived with legitimate pain caused by back fractures, and jaw/mouth surgeries from a car accident; he recently, in addition, has had two lumbar surgeries. He is waiting for yet, a third procedure that promises to strengthen and hold his back together. I have my own nagging body aches from daily exertions. I don’t think though that I have any rights complaining about them; when others like Mikey justifiably hurts from medically documented worn-out muscles and bones, my aches are comparatively miniscule and
Everyone knows that living with advancing age’s joint and bone aches would be routine; it is an expectation after all. Mikey groans daily now from his bodily aches. I could not help groan inwardly myself with, and for him, even if I were not in pain. When pain lives permanently in someone’s body at a much younger age, it is truly different. It is the case with Mikey who is only in his mid-fifties. For a long while before now, at a young age of nine, he lived with legitimate pain caused by back fractures, and jaw/mouth surgeries from a car accident; he recently, in addition, has had two lumbar surgeries. He is waiting for yet, a third procedure that promises to strengthen and hold his back together. I have my own nagging body aches from daily exertions. I don’t think though that I have any rights complaining about them; when others like Mikey justifiably hurts from medically documented worn-out muscles and bones, my aches are comparatively miniscule and
Mindfulness
115 ...
Holidays are paradoxically a curse and a celebration. Just look around the next time you are out and close to where people mill about. When you go food shopping at your local store, listen to the bell being rung near the doorway. It is asking for your love-gift of small and large amounts; you are aware that the funds raised by that lowly, yet committed bell ringer goes to an organized collection entity which passes on material gifts to those who do not have means to purchase presents for loved ones. You make a choice to acknowledge or ignore the bell. In a different setting, out in the open shopping areas, public restaurants and parks, you could not miss children accompanied by their parents who lovingly pamper them with affection or lavish them with food they oftentimes reject, waste or throw away. Close by, raggedly clothed children cry of hunger or physical pain while their equally tattered adult companions or family scrounge for leftover food in garbage receptacles. You would not miss their like-acquaintances or friends who lay their tired bodies on lowly benches and cemented cold floors. You, who have more than enough to spend on whims and caprices of your loved ones, have the choice to shut your eyes, zip-up your pockets or share your resources with the hapless souls. You either positively or negatively mind the need you witness right there and then. You could choose to visit the sick, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked and to put smiles on wearied faces. You could also selfishly disregard the need you sense around and let pain, loneliness, bitterness go unnoticed these holy, gift-giving holidays! You have choices to make. Are you going to make the compassionate or indifferent choice?
Holidays are paradoxically a curse and a celebration. Just look around the next time you are out and close to where people mill about. When you go food shopping at your local store, listen to the bell being rung near the doorway. It is asking for your love-gift of small and large amounts; you are aware that the funds raised by that lowly, yet committed bell ringer goes to an organized collection entity which passes on material gifts to those who do not have means to purchase presents for loved ones. You make a choice to acknowledge or ignore the bell. In a different setting, out in the open shopping areas, public restaurants and parks, you could not miss children accompanied by their parents who lovingly pamper them with affection or lavish them with food they oftentimes reject, waste or throw away. Close by, raggedly clothed children cry of hunger or physical pain while their equally tattered adult companions or family scrounge for leftover food in garbage receptacles. You would not miss their like-acquaintances or friends who lay their tired bodies on lowly benches and cemented cold floors. You, who have more than enough to spend on whims and caprices of your loved ones, have the choice to shut your eyes, zip-up your pockets or share your resources with the hapless souls. You either positively or negatively mind the need you witness right there and then. You could choose to visit the sick, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked and to put smiles on wearied faces. You could also selfishly disregard the need you sense around and let pain, loneliness, bitterness go unnoticed these holy, gift-giving holidays! You have choices to make. Are you going to make the compassionate or indifferent choice?
Regret
114 ...
Your psyche detects an unsavory taste. You can't quite explain it, but the more you get around noticing things getting dusty simply by existing, the longer the bitter taste stays in your mouth. Your stomach then begins to get agitated short of releasing vomit. You ask: How did stuff collect in every nook and cranny of the house? You groan: Wasn't getting additional cabinets to keep in things blow the whistle on item spillage? And ... when did your body require grander, bigger furniture pieces? Did you not consider that large furniture would take and shrink much of your living space? This overwhelming accumulation is downright out-of-hand. Wake up and do something!
Your psyche detects an unsavory taste. You can't quite explain it, but the more you get around noticing things getting dusty simply by existing, the longer the bitter taste stays in your mouth. Your stomach then begins to get agitated short of releasing vomit. You ask: How did stuff collect in every nook and cranny of the house? You groan: Wasn't getting additional cabinets to keep in things blow the whistle on item spillage? And ... when did your body require grander, bigger furniture pieces? Did you not consider that large furniture would take and shrink much of your living space? This overwhelming accumulation is downright out-of-hand. Wake up and do something!
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