It all depends how you see life.

I walked yesterday in the early part of the day, the light was stunning. Not far from where I live there are two lochs with paths and gates so that it is possible to walk around the outside of them both as one nice walk. 

There are a number of people go there and do a circuit some go round and then about turn and go around in the opposite direction. My pal Bert can be persuaded to do this. I have been trying to get my fitness level up a bit and lose the odd pound or two so I have been walking briskly around the route five times which is only seven miles.

As I was walking around this morning I kept seeing this weed. Each time it looked different, I just could not resist. After completing my five circuits I returned to capture it.

As I was one of the other walkers said, "Just a weed no great beauty there." I replied that I saw a beautiful sparkling abstract.

I suppose it depends on how you see things. 

There is a lovely story of a man who had recently found an interest in religion.

He was sitting at the side of a track very interestedly reading the Bible while waiting for transport back to the village. Every now and then would exclaim, “Alleluia, Praise the Lord, Amen” and on and on as he read.

A sceptic heard him and came and asked what he was reading.

He answered,” I am reading how God parted the Red Sea and let the Israelites go through–- that is a miracle!”

The sceptic explained “Do not believe everything the Bible tells you. The truth of the matter is that that body of water was only really 6 inches deep–- so it was no miracle.”

The man nodded in disappointment but kept on reading as the sceptic was walking away feeling proud that he had set the man straight. 

All of a sudden the sceptic heard the man  let out a big “Alleluia, Praise the Lord!”

At this, the sceptic came back to him and asked, “What is it this time?”

The man said excitedly in one breath, “This one is a real miracle, God drowned the whole Egyptian army in 6 inches of water!!!”

Yes, it all depends on how you look at it. 

And so it is with life. 

The last three days I have noticed a man arrive at the lochs with his dog. The two of them get out of the car and set off for their walk. They manage about a quarter of the way around and then return to the car. What I did not say was that the dog was very old and the man had to wheel his oxygen cylinder with him.  Makes my five laps pale into insignificance.

Is life a hurdle or something to see as a challenge?   When it is difficult is it time to give in or a time to face the challenge.

I suppose it all depends on how you see life. A weed or a wonderful abstract. 

Have a wonderful day. I hope the tenth hole on the golf course is not too big a challenge. 

Say what you mean.

Summer Thoughts And Love

I have a friend who is blind.  He is a lad I love spending time with because he helps me to see the world like nobody else does. Knowing him has helped me to look at things and really see them, and to appreciate with all my heart what it is I am seeing. I have often tried to describe things around and realise how detailed such a description requires being.

I mention this today because I spoke with yesterday and he is on my mind.

Another lesson he has reinforced is also the art of listening.

When you cannot see the need to use the ears and become a good listener becomes even more important.  It is not just what is said that is important, but the manner in which it is said. One of the greatest compliments paid to me was paid by Andy when he said to me, I do not really know what you look like but I can hear you are an honest man. 

I was thinking of this yesterday as I walked with another good friend Bert. I remembered the story I would like to share with you now. 

After Bankei, a famous wise man, had passed away, a blind man who lived near the master’s temple told a friend:

“Since I am blind, I cannot watch a person’s face, so I must judge his character by the sound of his voice. 

Ordinarily when I hear someone congratulate another upon his happiness or success, I also hear a secret tone of envy. 

When condolence is expressed for the misfortune of another, I hear pleasure and satisfaction, as if the one condoling was really glad there was something left to gain in his own world.

“In all my experience, however, Bankei’s voice was always sincere. Whenever he expressed happiness, I heard nothing but happiness, and whenever he expressed sorrow, sorrow was all I heard.”

On reflection, I feel that the greatest lesson we can learn is always ever to only say what we mean and to only ever mean what we say. 

So believe me my friends when I say, "Have a wonderful Day."

A little smile goes a long way.

I was talking to somebody very close to me who had received a gift. She was wondering how she could let the person know how grateful she was for the gift.

I advised that at this moment she did nothing, other than to say thank you. I went on to tell her that there would come an opportunity sometime to repay the kind thought.

That is after all the way of life.

I thought a bit more about it, as is my way, and I share this with you today. 

A man was walking along the road when he saw the stranger coming towards him. The stranger looked somewhat down. As he neared, he smiled to the stranger.

It seemed to have an effect on the man; he seemed to brighten up.

Later that day he remembered a past kindness that had on another day lifted his feelings. He sat down and wrote a letter to the friend.  The friend on receiving the letter felt so good that later that day he left a bigger than normal tip for the waitress. The waitress was so surprised that she had got this tip on the same day as she had been given a tip for a horse race. She placed the whole tip on the horse to win, and it did just that. 

She collected her winnings, and on the way back to work she gave part of it to a poor man sitting on the street corner. The old man had not eaten for two days and bought himself a meal. Feeling better he headed home to the hostel where he lived. As he neared the place he saw a little puppy, clearly abandoned and looking hungry and afraid. He smuggled it up to his room and gave it what he could manage, and made it warm.

Later that night when all the residents of the hostel were sleeping, a resident let a cigarette butt slip from his fingers as he fell asleep. The matress caught fire. The puppy on smelling the smoke caused a commotion of barking. The barking wakened the whole household and everybody was saved from harm. 

One of the residents saw his lucky escape as a motivation for improvement. He worked hard and one day he became a doctor and went on to save many more lives. 

All of this because of one smile. What had the smile cost? Not a thing and yet look at the ripple effects it caused. 

As the buddha reminded us, we are never aware of the effects of our actions so we should make every action a good one.

Have a great day and make the most of the extra hour, though I uspect like me it is already used up lying in bed. 

Rossetti and the Artist.

I know I have said it before, but it is very true, I am one of the worlds worst prevaricator. I have an iPad full of art I have produced some of which I am very happy with and some I am aware I could and should put onto canvas.  I have been looking at some of my art and thinking I could make those into mosaics. I have looked into this possibility and even made a little start of gathering some mosaic materials. But I just cannot bring myself to make a start.

I have been waking up in the middle of the night and hearing music in my head and seeing pictures so maybe my brain is telling me it is time to return to the paints.  I have the tidiest workspace I have had in years but just cannot bring myself to get the paint back out and the brushes to hand. 

Once again though the message is the same. It is not possible to do all the things you would like to, and more importantly do them all well.  So sadly I am ending up doing little.  I need something to spark me and motivate me but know not what. 

As I walked yesterday these thoughts filled my head and reminded me of a true story.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti was once approached by an elderly man. The old fellow had some sketches and drawings that he wanted Rossetti to look at and tell him if they were any good, or if they at least showed potential talent.

Rossetti looked them over carefully. After the first few, he knew that they were worthless, showing not the least sign of artistic talent. But Rossetti was a kind man, and he told the elderly man as gently as possible that the pictures were without much value and showed little talent. 

He was sorry, but he could not lie to the man. The visitor was disappointed but seemed to expect Rossetti’s judgment.

He then apologized for taking up Rossetti’s time, but would he just look at a few more drawings – these done by a young art student? Rossetti looked over the second batch of sketches and immediately became enthusiastic over the talent they revealed. 

“These,” he said, “oh, these are good. This young student has great talent. He should be given every help and encouragement in his career as an artist. He has a great future if he will work hard and stick to it.”

Rossetti could see that the old fellow was deeply moved. “Who is this fine young artist?” he asked. “Your son?” “No,” said the old man sadly. “It is me – 40 years ago. If only I had heard your praise then! 

For you see, I got discouraged and gave up – too soon.”

Yes, it is time for me to get back to the painting or some creative work not on my iPad. 

If not who knows what might happen and I do have a few spaces waiting for new works.

Have a creative day.

A little treat.

I could not resist doing this little painting yesterday. It was just a branch on a tree with a mriad of colour that will probably not be there next week. I might not be there next week either because I was involved in a little bit of disobedience. 

There is a little woodland about two miles from my home. It is entered by crossing alittle bridge and then following a trackaround the wood itself. The little circuit round the woodland is exactly one mile, so that mile pluse another little loop through another wood and the two miles back make a lovely little six miles. 

The trouble is, the new owner, who does not seem to be aware of Scottish right to roam is trying to stop people from using this little path worn by the feet of years of locals doing this same walk.  She is trying hard to stop any use of the path. 

I have checked with the local authorities and know that she cannot do this.

So I give myself a little treat now and again by trying to keep a well loved path open for all. 

A little bit of mischief is good for the inner being.

This reminded me of a lovely and true tale of the little boy and his visit to the restaurant.

The mother took her six-year-old son to the restaurant. As they prepared to have their meal he asked if he could say grace.
 As they bowed heads he said,  "God is good. God is great.  Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if  I am allowed ice cream for dessert. Amen!"
 

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby a woman was heard to remark,  "That's what's wrong with this country.  Kids today don't even know how to pray.  Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!"
 

Hearing this, the young lad burst into tears and asked me,  "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"
 His mother assured him  that he had done a terrific job and  God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table.  He winked at the lad and said,
 "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."
 "Really?" the boy asked.
 "Cross my heart," the man replied.
 Then in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream.  A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."
 
 

Naturally, at the end of the main course the mother bought the young lad a big ice cream. 

The lad stared at his for a moment
 and then did something his mother will remember for the rest of her life. He picked up his sundae and without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her,
 "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already."

 I should have finished that walk yesterday with an ice cream both together might just have worked wonders for me.

Go on a little mischief and an ice cream, Who knows?

Have a great day.

Ten Little Things.

I saw this interesting tree very near to where I live and just could not resist drawing it. I am sorry that my painting does not really match up to it there were so many interesting shapes to be seen.

Before I go on sentence further can I thank all those who took time to wish me well yesterday. It seems that all my exercise is doing some good and I do not have to return for another six months unless of course things go downhill in the meantime. 

It was a very busy and hectic day a day of much in the way of stress. So as I sat waiting, as you do in hospitals, I came across this very interesting thought which I have made my own. 

Ten Little things that are within all of our grasps.

1. Be grateful for friends and make sure you keep in touch with them and family.
2. Talk about the things that concern you with those whom you trust to keep it to themselves.
3. Listen a bit more when others tell you about their feelings.
4. Take a break now and then stop pushing.
5. Do something creative at least three times a week.
6. Feel good about yourself, never easy but do it.
7. Do not be afraid to ask for help.
8. Eat and drink healthily.
9. Stay active to the best of your ability.
10. Do something for YOURSELF. (Not to impress others.)

Once again let me thank all for the concern shown. My problem has not gone away but I am so grateful that I have for years stayed fit and continue to do so. Seems I am doing myself a service. Still got to go for an update ultrasound scan but I think I can live with that.

To all who read this whom I consider friends have a wonderful day. It is good to be alive. 

Happiness Again.

 Once again just before I arose my wife switched on a morning breakfast programme I just refuse to watch. I sometimes wonder if she switched it on to get me up and out of the way. I could not believe my eyes or ears when I heard that once again they were running a slot on finding happiness. Is this programme, where the presenters are continually laughing at nothing obsessed by telling us how to be as happy as them.

Today, this slot appeared they had people holding up cards, Bob Dylan style, telling us their recipe for happiness.  

Again we were told about meditation. They went on to say that it is not religious but, “Mindfulness Meditation”.  The NEW craze.

Now just to set the record straight, Mindfulness Meditation was first put forward as a theory by Lao Tzu, it was further developed in 500BC by Buddha. At the same time in China it was being taught as the way to peace and harmony by Confucius.

I have mentioned this in this blog so many times in different ways. It is the art of training the mind to take bad thoughts and turn them into good ones. My day begins each day with just such a session.

A true event I heard about and share with you began with a phone call from a son to his mother. He called his parents from San Francisco to ask if it would be alright to bring his friend home with him. They were returning from the Vietnam war. Without thinking the mother replied, “Of course I would love to meet your friend.”

He then went on to say "There's something you should know , "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."

The mother telling the tale all these years later said it was the best thing that ever happened to her home.

He was a man who only ever saw the best in people and situations and he changed her life. He practised mindfulness. Seems that this new road to happiness has been around for a long, long time.

A friend said something to me yesterday that is still making me smile today.

Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.

Happiness! is not something you find it is something given to you by friends and we in return must give it to others.

This way we practice the ancient religious way of Mindfulness.

Wow I am feeling better I have got that off my chest.

Have a great day. Not sure if I will be here tomorrow an important meeting tomorrow that will be filling my mind today and until it is over.

The Spider Web.

I 

I tried to paint this cobweb but every attempt I made left me more and more frustrated with the outcome. The spider could build it but I could not reproduce it as well as it could.

I watched a spider working on the repair of t the is the web. It worked without stopping repairing the broken strands caused by the unexpected heavy shower of rain. We see these webs so often and they go unnoticed as we hurry past. 

In the early hours when there is frost in the air or the touch of summer dew, they sparkle like wondrous works of art capturing the eye. Such beauty, and yet also the instruments of death for the unsuspecting fly caught in them.

Life is full of traps that beckon us into their lairs. I am sure I need not labour this point we all are aware of the little traps we get caught in. This morning for me it was the lair of sloth.  I got up early ready to do so much but ended up making a coffee and heading back to bed to drink it in the warmth.

Here is an interesting fact about spiders. Spiders are usually born on the lower branches of bushes or trees. Some for one reason or another decide to stay right there in the lower branches where, when old enough they leave the web of their parents and move over to another corner and build their own web.

There in the safety, they catch the odd fly and have enough on which to live, not fat or full but they get by.

Others decide to climb to the higher branches and build their webs on the exposed branches of the trees and bushes. These are the webs that get torn and battered by wind and rain. They are also the webs that are up there where most of the flies are, so the captures they make are more frequent. In turn these spiders eat better, are stronger and bigger. 

One day one such spider met a very small young spider on the branch of a bush. The young spider looked at the big one in awe.

The large spider asked what the youngster was looking at. “Your size,” said the youngster.  “Ah ,” said the large spider. The large spider went on to explain that if as a spider you choose to stay safe in the dark of the lower branches they will stay small. While others who decide to struggle to the top will eat well and grow strong.

At the top the work is hard but the rewards are plenty. 

“So , you see,” said the large spider, “You can look up in jealousy from place of safety or you can work hard and build castles in the sky.”

It is a bit like living. 

You can potter about with the things you feel comfortable with or you can strike out and try things new and find things to delight the heart. 

Have a good day.

Oh dear this getting old.

I cannot believe what happened to me last night, no matter how often I tell myself it was not true I know that it was. 

I had gone out walking and set my watch to record the time and the distance, as is my want. It had been raining heavily so I put on a waterproof jacket with tight cuffs. Sometime during the walk, the cuffs had pressed something on my watch and I could not read the walk or reopen the app. 

I decided to wait until I got home and would fix it then. I made a coffee and got myself comfortable in my easy chair. Now to fix the watch. This is where I still am not sure what I did but one thing for sure I pressed the wrong buttons. My watch went into emergency mode, the next thing I heard was which service to you require, police ambulance or fire brigade? I panicked in a loud voice shouted to my wife I have done something with my watch and cannot get it off. Eventually, I managed to get it off and I pressed the reset buttons to give it a boost.

Thinking all was well I relaxed with my coffee. My mobile phone rang. It was the police checking that all was well, they had heard a disturbance. I had to put my wife on the phone to reassure them all was well. 

Oh, dear is this what it is like to be old?  Then the penny drops and you begin to realise that for most people you already are old.

It is a bit like the old lady who was asked, “What is the best thing about being 94?’  Her immediate answer was, “The lack of peer pressure.”

Or to be like the old lady in a story I was told very recently. She felt like her body had got all out of shape.  So she got her doctor's permission to join a fitness club and start exercising. 

I decided to begin with an aerobics class for seniors. She said, “I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and perspired for an hour. But, by the time I got my leotards on, the class was over.

This morning I feel a real fool and I know that I will not make a good old person and that it is only going to get worse.   

Which leaves me with yet another story to brighten your day. Another from an old man. Talking to his friend he was overheard to say.

I realize I am old!  I've had two bypass surgeries, a hip replacement,  new knees, fought prostate cancer and diabetes. I'm half blind, can't hear anything quieter than a jet engine, take 40 different medications that make me dizzy, winded, and subject to blackouts.  Have bouts with dementia. Have poor circulation; hardly feel my hands and feet anymore. Can't remember if I'm 85 or 92. 

Have lost all my friends.

 But, thankfully  I still have my driver's license.

Have a good day. Have a laugh at my expense I give you full permission.

The Maze of Adventure.

The Maze of Adventure.

I was out walking with my best friend yesterday, we walked along the coastal path from Kirkcaldy through Dysart and along towards East Wymes. A lovely part of the world even although Kirkcaldy is famous for in the past the making of Linoleum, with all the smells that surrounded that.

We walked on the beach and through woodland and around the little harbour of Dysart. I gathered some black coloured pebbles from the beach for my next venture, mosaics. I also gathered some windfall apples from a tree that had grown from a discarded apple core, I had apple sultanas and cinnamon crumble for dessert.

On three occasions as we walked I heard mothers call to their children to stop they were getting too far ahead. We live in an age where the sense of adventure seems to be getting stripped away because of the perceived fear of constant danger.

I was fortunately brought up in an age when the sense of adventure was encouraged. At the age of six, I made the journey from home to Dundee where my grandmother lived.This involved me making a train journey and then a bus journey before walking to my grandmothers. 

It was with her that I first really enjoyed an adventure. She allowed me to do things I might never have done at home. I remember the fear of climbing the staircase of my Grans friend late at night in the dark. Whistling to hide my fear as I climbed the five flights.

I overcame so many fears during those holidays. My gran used to laugh. “There is nothing there at night that was not there during the day,” she said. 

We often put off doing things, prevaricate because of inner fears. We will do it when we have done other things, and we have a large list of those. So often we are missing the wonder of moments unknown. We need to grasp the moment as an adventure. I really do think children need to be exposed to a little sense of adventure and fear.

I think had I not been, especially by my grandmother, I would not have been anything very much in my life. 

We have to stop waiting

Until you get a new car or home.


Until your kids leave the house.


Until you go back to school.


Until you finish school.


Until you lose 10 lbs.


Until you gain 10 lbs.


Until you get married.


Until you get a divorce.


Until you have kids.


Until you retire.


Until summer.


Until spring.


Until winter.


Until autumn.


Until you die.

There is no better time than right now to have that adventure. From young to old today is a day to, as Winnie the Pooh would say, "Let's have an adventure."

Have a great day.

My Friend Barry.

I was walking down through the shopping centre yesterday and I overheard a remark being made by a man to the person walking with him. The remark took me back many years. My memory of those things seems as fresh as the day they happened.

I heard this man say as he pointed towards another, "one card short of a full deck." His friend laughed. I looked at the person they had pointed at and then turned my attention back to them. Seemed to me that they could easily have been talking about each other.

It is so easy to open our mouths and say something without thinking of what it is we are saying. If somebody else agrees with you or finds what you have said funny before you know it somebody has become the butt of all jokes.

I remember a young lad who worked beside me his name was Barry. Barry had his problems, he was slow on the uptake. What to some people seemed like a simple task took Barry a bit longer to work out. 

One day somebody made a comment about him. “Room temperature IQ, that one.” Everybody found it very funny, and before long Barry became the one who people poked fun at in order to join the crowd. Here are a few others of the things that were said about him.

                        

•    One short of a six-pack.
•    Bright as Alaska in December.
•  If brains were taxed he would get a rebate.
•   Posses the wisdom of youth and the energy of old age.
• He must have got into the gene pool while the lifeguard wasn’t watching.
•  He reached rock bottom long ago – and then he kept digging.
• The doors are open, the lights are on, but nobody is at home.
• He is depriving some village of an idiot.

So it went on. A book could have been written of all the little quips that people came up with about Barry. 

Well maybe. But I like Barry, and I think Barry liked me. 

He was the one who always had a kind word to say to me when I met him. 
He was the one who always asked if I needed anything. Truth is if I wanted somebody to help me with anything Barry would have been the first person I would have gone to find.

He did not impose himself in any way on anybody but he was a good person. 

It is easy to make the off the cuff remark without thinking about the consequences of the remark. 

I have often found it to be the case that what people accuse another of is so often the failing of their own lives.

The person who has surrounded themselves with possessions, and never has that little bit to give to charity, accuses others of being greedy. The selfish person always seems to point the finger at others for being selfish. The person prone to lies is always fast to accuse another of being untruthful.

Barry was,

Sunshine on a rainy day.
Full of concern with packs of caring.
The wonderful innocent giving of the child within.

Yes, I liked Barry.  

Just a thought. We could all do with a little more barry in us. 

Getting to Heaven.

I regularly got into trouble at school because I answered questions with all the honesty I could muster. Frequently those answered were misconstrued and I ended up in bother. 

My mouth has got me into trouble frequently throughout my whole life. I think I found social skills very difficult. When I decided to enter the ministry a dear old lady who had in many senses adopted me spent a great amount of time telling me what was and what was not acceptable behaviour. 

She also told me how to conduct myself at table, not only the cutlery but everything about the process. I always found this difficult but if I was to be a minister it was something i had to learn. 

Last night i watched a programme presented by Chris Peckham speaking about his life with Aspergers.  It certainly sounded very familiar to my past.

Like him I got into many difficulties. I suppose I should rejoice in retirement because I can be selective about where I go and with whom. I can rejoice in not having to constantly meet strangers. I can allow my obsessive behaviour its full reign within the constraints of affordability. 

I wonder if the young boy in the following tale had something going on in his life or did he just have a deep understanding of the realities of life. 

Before I tell it the painting above is the other one I thought i no longer had. Dunfermline Abbey.  I spent many happy happy hours in those grounds and around that bridge as a young lad just exploring. 

The story is of the Sunday School teacher speaking with her class. The lesson was on the concept of getting to heaven.

She asked them, 'If I sold my house and my car, 

 had a big garage sale 


and gave all my money 

to the church, 

Would that get me into Heaven?'

'NO!'

Answered the class. 




'If I cleaned the church every day, 


mowed the lawns, 

and kept everything neat and tidy, 
would that get me into Heaven?'





Again, the answer was, 'NO!' 



By now she was starting to smile. 


Hey, this was fun!


'Well, then, if I was kind to animals 


and gave sweets 


to all the children, 
and loved my husband, 
would that get me into Heaven?' 


She asked them again.     


Again, they all answered, 'NO!' 




She was just bursting with pride for them. 
'Well,' she continued, 'then how can I get into Heaven?' 
  
A five-year-old boy shouted out, 






 The first thing you need to get to heaven is you have to be DEAD 

Once again it takes the wisdom of a child to get to the heart of the matter. That is the sort of answer that got me into trouble often. 

Have a wonderful day.

A feeling of success.

I was determined yesterday that I would clean my workplace.  Whether I decide my next project will be a mosaic or back to painting I thought it was time for a real clean up. So out I went with a sense of determination a bucket of hot soapy water and cleaning materials. 

I made a ruthless start throwing out all the things I had held onto just in case I might use them. I even found this painting in a beautiful mount along with another. I was so positive I had sold this one. I think what I sold was a print or two from a website, I still have the two originals. What will I do with those? I have put them somewhere safe. 

Eventually, after a good few hours, I felt happy I had made a great job. I told my wife I had. She said she would give me a bit of time to enjoy the obvious feeling of success before going out and showing me all I had missed. 

When she did go out she was surprised I had, in fact, made an excellent job.

Tired as I was I then went out for a walk with my friends.

As I sat down for the evening, I had a warm glow, of having at least something to show for my day. 

I had set myself a task and more than completed it.

How easy it is to look at the prospect of the day and think, it cannot be done. Because we believe that nothing is done.  

Let me explain!

If you put a buzzard in a pen six or eight feet square and entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of his ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. 

The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of ten or twelve feet. Without space to run, as is his habit, he will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

A Bumblebee if dropped into an open tumbler will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

In many ways, it is simple to be like the buzzard, the bat and the bee. 

We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, not realizing that the answer is right there if we just raise our sights.

I hope that does not sound like me reverting to my preacher mode, I do not intend to.   

Have a challenging and wonderful day.   Sadly today I will have to find something to do that involves less physical challenge my cold is back with a vengeance.

The Pencil.

 I had hoped to clear up my paint space and the little room I have in the house where I sit to do any preliminary drawing I want to do. I got the little room cleared and looking ready for whatever next project I might begin. I did not get out to the paint space for two reasons. 

First it was very heavy rain and windy and I did not want to transport materials from the house to there and the other way round in the rain. I may still manage because I am writing in the late afternoon and it is beginning  to fair. 

The second reason I am so far behind is because I sat and sorted through all of my pencils. Now I can hear you say surely that does not take very long. If I tell you I have a large assortment of pencils, pastel, watercolour, inktense ,graphite and on and on well over 500 different pencils. I sharpened them all. and put them in their proper places. 

This reminded me of the story of the pancil maker. 

This reminds me of the story of the pencil maker and his pencils. 

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting it into the box. 

"There are 5 things you need to know," he told the pencil, "Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be."



One: "You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone's hand."



Two: "You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil."



Three:  "You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make."



Four:  "The most important part of you will always be what's inside."



Five:  "On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to make your mark"



The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart. 




Now replacing the place of the pencil with ourselves.  

We must always remember the same things, never forget, and we will become the best persons we can be. 



One: "We will be able to do many great things, but only if we allow ourselves to be held in some guiding hand. And allow other human beings to access us for the many gifts we  possess.

"

Two: "We will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but we need it to become a stronger person." 



Three: "We will be able to correct any mistakes we might make. "



Four: "The most important part of us will always be what's on the inside.

"

Five: "On every surface we walk through, you must leave our mark. No matter what the situation, we must continue to leave good marks."

Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish.



Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot make a change.
 

Have a marvelous day.  Go forth and make a mark. 

Oh To Be Perfect.

Have you ever heard of the, you could have done better syndrome?  

I heard of it from a very early age in life. My mother was one of those people who, no matter how well a thing was done it was never quiet good enough. She was also one who was never slow to let you know.

I remember a school test. I had worked really hard to prepare for it, more than I could remember having prepared for any other test in school. I found school so difficult I had already almost given up on it completely. On the day of the test I felt well prepared as I sat down to look at the test paper. I completed all the questions well within the set time and handed in the completed paper.

The next day the teacher handed  back the papers, marked and scored. I had done very well having only got two questions not completely correct. It turned out that I was second top, from a class of 32. I went home proudly holding my test paper to show my parents.

My mother looked at it and noted I had been second in the class. “What happened that you did not manage to come first?” This is my first remembrance of the, “you could do better syndrome.”  Did it make me better? The answer to that question is simply this. I am not at all sure. What it did do though was to set in motion, “The I can do better driver.” This driver I have carried through my whole life. 

 Even now all those years later I am never happy with what I have done or acheived. There is always that little niggle in the back saying, "Could I have done better?"

This reminds me of the story of the man who had never married. One day his best friend asked him why he had never met somebody and settled down? He told his friend that he had wanted very much to do just that. He had looked and looked for the perfect girl. “You never found her?” asked his friend. “Yes I did,” he replied. He went on to tell his friend how he had met the perfect girl. She was perfectly beautiful and perfectly talented loving and caring. She would have made the perfect wife. “So why did you not marry her?” asked his friend. “Because she was looking for the perfect man.”

I think it is a bit late for me to learn the lesson I should have learned years ago but I have learned this. I never ever tell somebody that what they have achieved and are proud of is not the best. I strive to always encourage and inspire.

Now if only I could do that for myself.

Have a great day, inspire somebody not to do better but by telling them how well they have done.