Woohoo

My sister has a good news Friday on her blog.  Today I had good news.  My mammogram confirms another year cancer free.  I am up to 13 years without cancer.  Big sigh of relief for me.  I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

If you have Facebook check out the amazing photographs of Michael Provost.  Seeing his pictures in the morning starts my day on a beautiful note. 

Michael Provost hopefully this will take you to his page.  

Patty's flea

Patty's flea was a term used in childhood referring to the fact that I kept fidgeting and hopping around.  My brain is like Patty's flea...hopping all around but not actually landing on any one thing.  It is an unsettled feeling.  I'm trying to catch up a bit and realized I missed lots of blogs including my sister's.  Good grief.  I know part of this unsettled feeling has to do with the recent verdict of the man that claimed PTSD is why he shot two men in the back and took off in their truck to try and get away.  Reading the article he appears to be trying to use mental illness as a way to get away with murder.  The jury didn't buy it.  But here's the problem, when someone does have brain damage or other disorders that really do adversely affect them, these people that 'cry wolf' to manipulate the system, hurt those that have wolves ravishing their lives.  I get frustrated when I read about people blaming their labels for their behavior.  Unless your brain cells don't connect for some reason, each person is responsible for their behavior.  I remember being at girl's camp as a cabin mom and one girl was really acting out.  I called her on her behavior.  She claimed it was because she was from a broken home.  My answer, "So."  She told me about her rotten life and I matched her story for story.  I looked at her and told her, "A bad childhood is just an excuse.  It is up to you what you are going to do now."  She behaved much better for the rest of the week.  Didn't change her life, just gave me less grief.  If a trigger causes me to react in an extreme way, I am responsible for my reaction.  I'm not sorry the man was convicted.  I am sad he believed he could use PTSD as a "get out of jail" card.  Portraying people with PTSD as murderous is cruel burden to lay on myself and others that have PTSD. 

Will Power counts

Lumosity http://www.lumosity.com/ would like me to purchase a membership.  They send me intriguing articles to persuade me to pay them to play their games.  Nope.  I do like their articles. 

If you would like some fun free games to challenge your mind you can try a few of these links. 
http://www.coolmath-games.com/
http://www.engineering.com/GamesPuzzles/tabid/82/Default.aspx

When do you exert your willpower? Maybe you resist the temptation to eat another cookie or send a text message while driving. Studies show that childhood willpower may predict willpower in adult life — particularly when it comes to emotional situations.

Walter Mischel’s famous marshmallow test

The value of self control was captured in psychologist Walter Mischel’s 1970 famous test. Mischel placed preschoolers in front of a marshmallow and gave them a choice: they could eat it right away, or wait 15 minutes and get second one.

Despite the obvious benefit, two thirds of the children devoured the first marshmallow within a few minutes. Meanwhile, those who delayed their gratification were more likely, as teenagers, to have stronger self control, handle stress more effectively, and even score higher on the SAT.

40 years after the marshmallow test

In 2011, B.J. Casey at Cornell University assessed willpower in nearly 60 people from Mischel’s original study. They found that participants with higher self control as children still exhibited higher self control as adults. And those who couldn’t wait for the second marshmallow — over 40 years ago — still had lower self control.

However, these differences in willpower occurred primarily when the task involved emotional stimuli. In other words, exerting willpower may depend on your sensitivity to emotional situations.

Casey used neuroimaging techniques to explore this theory. He examined brain activity in participants as they tried to ignore photos of happy faces. Those with stronger willpower showed more activity in the prefrontal cortex — the region associated with impulse control. Meanwhile, those with less willpower had stronger activity in the ventral striatum, a region involved in processing rewards and positive social cues.

Casey’s results have some fascinating implications: people with stronger willpower may use their brains differently than their more impulsive (and perhaps more sensitive) peers.

How willpower may be strengthened over time

Decades of research suggest that willpower is like a muscle. It gets fatigued when exercised — but also may get stronger the more you use it. Some researchers have found that just 2 weeks of willpower training can result in improved performance on self control assessments.

More research is needed to understand the neurological mechanisms behind willpower. But next time you find yourself short on self control, especially in emotional situations, remember that you can always find ways to improve. You’re always stronger than you think.

I'm Sharing

I started following Richard Paul Evans Blog a while ago.  I enjoy his insights and perspectives.  It is helpful that I agree with him.  However, every so often he writes something so profound it sinks deep in my heart and causes me to cry.  No easy feat.  I broke my arm and didn't cry.  I had cancer and didn't cry.  He wrote about a theme that has troubled me on more than one occasion:

Why do things go wrong when we’re trying to do what’s right?
Read more at http://www.richardpaulevans.com/things-go-wrong-trying-whats-right/

 

I know that this is an on going issue.  We have the example of Job, Joseph sold into Egypt, Corrie and Betsy TenBoom and others through out time and history that struggle with this question.  The harder I try the worse things get some times.  I am sharing Richard's post because he said I could and I love what he has to say.  I am thankful for him sharing a personal trial.  His belief in what he is doing was a timely reminder to me.  I'll find a way through.  I don't just believe in miracles I rely on them.  I hope you enjoy the post as much as I did.  

 

The picture is right side up.  It's the bird that isn't.

 

Reasons

J. P. Morgan

"A man always has two reasons for doing anything: a good reason and the real reason." 

I first heard this when I was a teenager driving on a trip back from California.  I was fascinated by the thought.  I just started understanding that there are 2 reasons for everything; the one you tell people and the real reason.  The tricky thing about PTSD is the real reason plays hide-and-seek from me.  I don't readily know why I do what I do. I have to consider the problem from different angles until I can start to see the patterns of my behavior.  Counseling taught me to see the patterns in my own life.  I could follow threads of repeating pattern until finally figuring out that I am still trying to resolve issues from many years before.  I am a detective of my own life.  The interesting thing I do now is I watch my behavior and then recognize there is a problem.  If I dig past all the healthy food for a bite of chocolate fudge for the third time in one evening, it isn't hunger.  If my breath is coming short and fast, but I am not exercising, it may be the beginning of a panic attack.   I don't always understand why I do somethings.  I am learning to use my own behavior to give me clues into my inter-working of my own mind.

  Patterns are evidence of things gone before. 

And God Said No

Cowboys-4-Christ

~ And God Said No

I asked God to take away my pride,
And God said, "No."
He said it was not for Him to take away,
But for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole,
And God said, "No."
He said her spirit is,
While her body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience,
And God said, "No."
He said patience is a by-product of tribulation.
It isn't granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness,
And God said, "No."
He said He gives blessings,
Happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain,
And God said, "No."
He said, "Suffering draws you apart from
Worldly cares and brings you closer to Me."

I asked God to make my spirit grow,
And God said, "No."
He said I must grow on my own,
But He will prune me to make it fruitful.

I asked God if He loved me,
and God said, "Yes."
He gave me His only Son, who died for me.
And I will be in Heaven someday
Because....I Believe.

I asked God to help me love others
As much as He loves me,
And God said,
"Ah finally, you have the idea."

Poem by. Claudia Minden Welsz

*God bless and keep sharing the Good News !!! ~ C4C

What I am doing today

Maybe I'll see him this year too.

Some people feel like Death before their morning brew.

Nicely Naughty

High 5

Kilts and Pipes

Tartanic

My favorite crepes

Magical Musician

Look A-likes

Sorry, No Parking, reserved for disabled.

2-Man Powered

Amazing speech

I fell in love with him in the Mask....I was baffled by him in many other movies....I became impressed by him when I heard this speech.... Jim Carrey
Enjoy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V80-gPkpH6M

worse nightmares on schedule

Only takes two days of getting to bed earlier to increase nightmares.  Fairly quick repercussions.  Hot stove, split second consequences.  More sleep = bad dreams only two nights.  So I didn't fight them.  Allowed myself to go back to sleep and re-enter the nightmare.  I don't usually do that.  I slept.  Odd.  Maybe it is working just not as I expected.

Finished photographs for one of my shoots.  I am happy with quite a few.  When photographing an event there are two types of pictures, one is a snap shot of a piece of time and the other is the sense or mood of the moment.  I try to get a little of both.  I am always curious what other people think but I don't really want to know.  Yup, just that weird on the thinking.

I took these a few year ago.  Example of a snapshot of an event and trying to capture the mood.  

 

Turn ugly into beautiful....?

mulderfan said... My whole life, I had nightmares every night. I used to call for help so badly my cat would wake me up. Now they seldom happen.
I started forcing myself to remember every detail when I woke up, then I wrote them down as poems. One recurring theme was a white horse like the one from Picasso's Guernica. http://www.pablopicasso.org/guernica.jsp

Here's the poem:
"I dreamed of a white horse trying to reach me.
It leaped and fell, breaking its legs in the process.
My vet came to put it to sleep.
At the moment of death it rose up
And spread white wings.
Looking at me with a nod, which seemed to say, all is well,
It soared to the heavens and was gone."

Here's what I realized after I wrote it:
I am the white horse and I am free!

I believe, it's possible to turn something ugly into something beautiful.

Every so often I get a comment that deserves its own post.   This is one of those times.  Her thought is to turn it into something beautiful.  Deflating them I think is the first step.  Pull their power.  Unplug the fear.  But to take them and make something beautiful.  I wonder.....maybe I have already started but didn't make the connection.

Deflating Nightmares

I have nightmares.  I had them since I was small.  I complained to my parents and they told me when I grew up the nightmares would go away.....didn't happen.  I control the nightmares by lack of sleep.  If you collapse into sleep and sleep heavily, you don't remember the dream/nightmares.  I start sleeping more and the nightmares return.  I go to great lengths to avoid sleeping.  I know it is ridiculous but the nightmares are so vivid and terrifying.  My counselor suggested that my fear of the nightmares intensifies the severity.....say what?  I thought about this over and over.  I am familiar with fear intensifying as you try to fight it when I am awake.  I hadn't thought about the same thing happening at night.  She suggested that I accept the nightmares.  Like inviting a friend to sit on a couch with me.  I'm struggling with the concept...a friend wouldn't sit on the couch and throw up on me.  (Babies do I guess.)  So I am attempting to rethink my approach to dreams/nightmares.  Another approach to nightmares is what I call 'dream control.'  My DH was puzzled that I could teach the children dream control but I didn't seem to be able to do it myself.  Dream control is when you wake up from a nightmare then change it.  Give the 'bad guy' pink polka-dots.  Very similar to Harry Potters Riddikulus spell for deflating Boggarts.  http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Riddikulus
Armed with 2 possible solutions.  I am going to attempt to get more than 5 hours of sleep a night.  I've done it before.  I am hopeful about doing it again. 

Dividing my time

I am very sure I hadn't complained about being bored.  My prayers are littered with help me get things done.  I just had a whole bunch of stuff dumped on my plate.  Photography is coming back on stage.  I shot two photo shoots and struggling with catching up with stuff from 2 years ago.  I noticed this blog was getting filled with all my PTSD research.  So I am working on my other blog more http://ptsd-acceptingcopingthriving.com/blog/  My symptoms are greatly reduced, however, I still have experiences like a panic attack at Karate class.  Or a complete shut down on a weekend, like yesterday.  I start feeling like I am totally out of PTSD land then I get smacked down from some trigger I hadn't previously identified.  I am living a very busy life inspite of my PTSD.  Yes, my teacher in Karate recognized what happened but was accepting and helped me face the same challenge successfully.  I am amazed to be in the company of people that want to help me succeed.  My husband is head cheer leader encouraging me and supporting me when things get hard again.  My sister makes a huge difference in my life.  I had lunch with a friend that I've known since the beginning of counseling.  We cheer each other on and check into make sure we are OK.  I have support from a quiet friend that knows exactly where I have been.  She doesn't realize what a profound difference she makes in my life.  I took on the challenge of Froglogic http://www.teamfroglogic.com/ without really realizing it, I am building my team to help me be the strongest and happiest person I can be. 

Understood

There is a meme by Michael J. Fox stating, "If a child doesn't learn the way we teach, maybe we need to teach the way they learn."

I work at a high school that trains students to become Early Childhood Education teachers.  I appreciate how the teacher is training the student to accept children the way the are and develop lesson plays that meet the needs of the students instead of trying to shape students to meet the expectations of the teacher.  I drive 30 minutes one way so that I can work with this amazing teacher.  She is always looking for new information to share with students.  This is a recent web page that was shared about how to understand students that are struggling in school.  I looked at a few of the articles and I am intrigued by the ideas.  I wanted to share the link here.  Please feel free to share with others and I would be interested in your feed back as to what you think of the web page:
https://www.understood.org/en

Valentines day

I am fascinated with why things happen, how things work, and why do people do what they do.  Valentines day is no exception.  There are several different versions but the most common version is Claudius II decreed that soldiers could not married.  St. Valentine ignored this decree at the cost of his life and married couples anyway.  It is also close to the pagan holiday Lupercalia.  Rather than fight the holidays early Popes changed the holidays to have Christian back ground instead.  I do believe that card makers, florist, jewelers, and candy makers encourage the day for profit.  I figure any day that celebrates love is wonderful.  Unfortunately, some people put so much emphasis on a particular day they lose sight of the celebration of couples being united.  This year my sweety volunteered to work so they couldn't force him to work tomorrow when our grandson is being blessed.  I spent time with grandkids, made yummy chicken Alfredo, and feel blessed to be in a loving relationship.  I know not everyone is blessed with a special partner in their lives.  Thank you Allrecipes.com for having a super easy recipe for Alfredo sauce.  I will probably never buy it a jar ever again. 
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/quick-and-easy-alfredo-sauce/detail.aspx

The system works

Last week I had a panic attack during a progress check for karate.  I was deeply discouraged and alarmed.  I fell prey to one of the myths about PTSD.  When you heal, the symptoms all go away.  I reminded myself I manage new hiccups.  First I analyzed. I worked it backwards.  I knew when the attack ended and worked my mind through my time line to where the first discomfort began.  I realized that I was trying to please someone else and knowingly hurting myself to do it.  Hook straight out of my past.  Spent the week reviewing in my mind as much as possible what the hook was.  Where it attached to my past.  Then chose to disconnect the present situation from the past event.  I worked on it all week.  Today, I redid the progress check.  I made it through without any panic attack.  I felt some anxiety because I don't like people watching me and judging me.  But I didn't let that anxiety take over my breathing and actions.  When I finished, I was relieved that my plan of action worked.  Frosting on the cake, I passed my progress check.  On to the next part of the test.  I review the week and realize that my first counselor was right.  I would learn the process of acknowledging, identifying, desensitizing, then mastering a trigger.  It feels good to know I did it.

Got your Back.

Saving marriage

He asked people to share...
http://www.richardpaulevans.com/saved-marriage/#qCokSTBxLP4EHEhE.01

I read Richard's blog with a great deal of interest.  I passed 38 years of marriage and I was curious as to what helped in his marriage.  I started counseling to improve my marriage.  I was impressed that what he tried in his marriage is what my counselor suggested in mine.  Interesting how asking your partner what you can do to ease their day changes the whole feel of the marriage.  The thing I struggled with is that in marriage my husband and I were on the same side.  My counselor reassured me over and over that I should put my trust in my husband.  Easier said than done.  Many of our sessions centered on learning how to work together instead of against each other.  I am fully aware that not every marriage is going to work out.  My husband and I are fortunate.  We learned to invite each other to work together.  We learned to listen with our hearts and not just our ears.  We learned that sometimes being right is not the goal.  We learned a lot while I tried to learn a whole different way of functioning.  What we learned as a couple continues to bless our lives.  I like the metaphor used by KavinCoach that we were like climbers tied to each other.  Where one went the other had to follow.  Also, if one went down, we both went down.  If we moved forward together, we could accomplish more than what either one of us could do alone.  I feel blessed that I sought counseling that changed my life in ways I never dreamed.  Kept my marriage together.  Changed despair into hope.  I still have tough days.  My husband and I still have disagreements.  But I feel like I am part of a team.  It feels good.

Power of Silence

This link was saved over a year ago.  It hung out in my list of future posts. 

http://inbadcompanyinc.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/the-power-of-silence/

I knew the power of silence when I was given the "silent treatment" by my mother.  Problem with that is I loved her not talking to me.  (I made a note to self, never punish a child with a punishment they prefer over good behavior.)  What I didn't understand is how TR used the power of silence to sit and observe.  Her quietness allowed her to see things that were over looked before.  Silence is something I get most of the time.  Without my hearing aide it is almost overwhelming.  I also learned that when I I was divided up into multiple personalities there was always chatter in my head.  After integration, the silence was mind blowing.  I realized I never experienced silence before.  I turned on music just so there was noise somewhere.  I remember the hush that blanketed Spokane, Washington after Mount St. Helens blew ash clear across the state.  Walking outside felt like you were in a posh library with scarcely a sound, not a bird chirp, a bug buzz, or a dog bark broke the oppressing silence.  I felt afraid of silence.  I didn't see silence as something for me to use, to ponder on what is actually happening.  I remember a song from when I was in junior high school....Sounds of Silence.  I reread the lyrics and realized that it reinforced the feeling that Silence was dangerous.  I am starting to realize that silence can be whatever I make it to be. TR saw the power....I saw the punishment.  I spent much of today quiet.  Silence allows for time to observe.  Silence lets me sort things out in my own mind.  Silence can be my ally. I still like my mother giving me the silent treatment.  I don't know why I am getting it this time but I am quite happy for it to continue. 

Heavy sigh

I'm not in a good place right now.  I stayed home from work one day.  Had a long talk with DH.  I'm frustrated.  I get frustrated and symptoms from PTSD get worse.  Panic attack.  Crumbs.  Just when I feel like I am getting on my feet, I feel like I'm knocked down again.  I am working on sleeping more.  I'll write more tomorrow....maybe this wet blanket will get lost for awhile. 

Feeling as fragile as a sandcastle

Interesting reaction

I enjoy sharing Bible scriptures on Facebook.  Most people agree or leave it alone.  Today was different.  The picture showed storm tossed seas and a verse referring to Christ calming the sea.  A person asked, "What is this crap?"  No, I did not unfriend them.  I probably should have said nothing but I didn't. I recommended him to read the Bible.  I really do understand how difficult some of the stories are to believe.  I also know of the countless lives that were spent preserving the Bible by writing it over and over so the pages weren't lost during the dark ages, the lives loss for believing in its Word, and the changes that may come.  But not always.  I remember years ago hearing a story of a man locked away in prison with nothing but the Bible.  On the prison walls were writings of how many 'e's were in the Bible.  There were similar notations and with the book the prisoner never got the message.  To contrast this, Corrie Ten Boom shares in the Hiding Place the great blessings she felt by smuggling a Bible into a concentration camp. It is difficult to get the message if you are not looking for answers.  It is impossible to prove.  The entire book must be taken on faith.  There are some that spent their life time proving it is false.  This book caused a student to be kicked out of school just last month.  The school teacher and administrator were offended that a student chose to read the Bible during free reading.  Apparently free reading has restrictions in the United States.  I am very outspoken here that I believe the Bible.  I believe Christ is literally the Son of Heavenly Father.  Most importantly that He laid down His life and took it up again.  I have been criticized for my belief.  I have been ridiculed because I believe.  Some questioned my belief for after all, as a child, I was not protected from evil.  Bad things happen.  It is in that pit of despair that my belief in Christ forged its foundation.  When I struggled with suicidal thoughts, I imagined how difficult it would be for me to explain to Christ that life was too hard.  He knows, first hand, how hard life can be.  He wouldn't doubt me.  But I just couldn't imagine being able to say that to Him.  So I carried on.  My sister shared a quote with me, "If you are wondering if your mission on Earth is over, if you are still here, it's not over."  I have offended people by offering to pray for them.  I lost friends because of my belief.  I believe Christ is my Savior and Redeemer.  He has my back.  With Christ, I can feel calm in the midst of a storm.  He encourages me to do the impossible to follow him.  He assures me if I head in His direction He will make up the difference.  So I follow, no matter how imperfectly.  I think the interesting reaction is mine.  Happy Sunday. 

I Won.....

Computers and I have had a long and contemptuous relationship.  I started on computers during the Dark Ages.....before monitors.  Punch cards and hopefully a print out were my only source of input and output.  Times changed for computers....dramatically.  The first 7 gigabyte drive I installed cost $1000.  Today, I bought a 5 Terabyte drive and I couldn't get it to work. Heavy sigh.  I fought it.  I sent in a help request.  Then I found the latest drivers to make the hard drive compatible with my Mac.  I won.  I am merrily moving files off of my over burden drives to the larger space.  Some files I need to pitch....delete forever.  Other stuff reminds me how far I have come.  Digital photography takes space....over 70,000 pictures takes lots of space.  Computers for me are a love/hate relationship.  I love them when they work and I hate them when they don't.  

Bummer

I've been pushing hard for months.  Pushing through one anxiety wielding experience after another.  Last night I had a panic attack during my Karate test.  Yes, I failed the test.  I deserved to.  My body and mind have hinted for weeks that I need a break.  I need to stop pushing myself so hard.  I need a breather.  Did I listen?  Nooooooooo.  I am trying to be some type of hero and feel like PTSD can't control my life.  Well, it may not control my life but it sure can beat me up from time to time.  Last night was a harsh reminder that yes, I am making progress, no I can't ignore escalating symptoms.  So I called in sick to work today.  Illness like PTSD can't be fixed with an aspirin or an antibiotic.  It can be controlled with respecting myself.  Pacing myself. Caring for myself.  3 things I haven't done lately.

 Life is like Legos, got to put the pieces together. 

Bragging tonight

This greeted me this morning.  With snow most other places, Spring is jumping the gun here. 

Learning to Dream...

Fantasy is a great escape. Believing in fantasy is setting one's self up to fail. Not a happily ever after ending.

So, here's to enjoying the wonder of seeing light millions of years from the past and giving myself permission to dream and wish and finding the courage to do what is necessary to accomplish the dreams and wishes I deem worthwhile. May I also embrace the process more than the end product, for it is the process that shapes and molds me into the person I am. I want to be better than my former self, more courageous, more honorable, more faithful, more hopeful, more joyful, more compassionate, more charitable, move loving, more like the person God saw in me from the first. ~Judy

https://theprojectbyjudy.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/meme-debunking-4/

I played "Impossible Dream" in high school for Junior Miss Pageant.  I believed dreams were impossible that needed a lot of work to make them possible.  I dug deep into that belief when I was diagnosed with PTSD with dissociation at an extreme level.  I functioned as 5 different people in a convoluted tag-team that didn't know about each other but functioned, barely.  My life fell apart in my 30's but I had no name to call what was wrong with me.  Nothing that I remembered could account for the awful feelings.  My counselor cautioned me that integration would be an uphill battle.  I dug deep into my soul for that single light of determination to become the person I could be no matter what happened in my past.  No falling star, no burning gas ball could equal my burning determination to become whole, integrated functioning human.  I was shocked to find out that integrating was only half the battle.  I don't want to be the person before my troubles began I want to be more like Judy said....more of what God sees me to be.  

Take the lid off the Jar

Steve Harvey Take the lid off the Jar.
January 29
https://www.facebook.com/SteveHarveytv?fref=nf

 I found the video on Facebook first then tried the above link but that was to his page on not the video I was looking for.  Yahoo search found it but gave a link that was 3 lines long.  Clicking around on the screen and I came up with this link: (should work, at least it did for me.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faRVh1ro3xA

Today's world is encouraging people to make SMART goals
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Results focused
Time bound

New link updated 4/27/2019 Longer article https://www.ucop.edu/local-human-resources/_files/performance-appraisal/How%20to%20write%20SMART%20Goals%20v2.pdf
Shorter information sheet: https://www.baylor.edu/hr/doc.php/308719.pdf


These kind of goals can be great.  They get you from point A to point B.....but what gets you from Impossible to I'm possible.

Recently I read a lot of information about PTSD.  It sounds pretty hopeless.  The focus is on the problems.  Solutions are not one size fits all.  There is lots of discouragement.

I appreciated Steve Harvey sharing his story of a 6 grade kid putting on his future goals to be on TV.  She didn't believe him.  Ridiculed him in front of the class.  But his Father saw the I'm possible.

Having SMART goals can help me over lumps and bumps but it is that impossible goal of thriving that keeps me going when there seems to be no answers.  It keeps me searching when I am given little hope.  I believe in miracles and changing Impossible to I'm possible requires miracle thinking.

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible." - Walt Disney

I have been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn't know how to get along without it.

 Walt Disney quotes 

Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree-Photography, my 7th grade art teacher told me I was so bad at art I should never take another art class.  Teacher's don't know everything. 

Random Acts of kindness

"Remember there's no such thing as a
small act of kindness. Every act
creates a ripple with no logical end."
- Scott Adams 




  ....Senseless acts of beauty.


Early last month I posted a video on using acts of kindness to turn around being bullied.
http://goingviralposts.com/bullies-picked-everyday-started-one-simple-thing-turn-around/


I work at a school where kindness, encouragement, and random acts of kindness happen daily.  Teachers showing the students they care.  Students helping each other.  Administrators showing their concern and encouragement.  It is an amazing environment to work at an inner city school.  I talk to security and they work at getting to work at our school.  Is there problems, yes.  But over all the feeling of helping each other permeates the environment.  Kindness makes a difference.

I did a bit of searching.  Did you know there is a web site dedicated to Random Acts of Kindness.
https://randomactsofkindness.org/

I looked around a bit.  I'm impressed with what they are doing to spread kindness.  It works.  It works in families, neighborhoods, and schools.  Unfortunately, sadly it doesn't work in some places.  It confused me as a child.  When kindness is met with bitterness and censure, trying to sort out the behavior and strangeness takes time.  However, it works a good share of the time.  I'm guessing better than 90%. 

The month of February is littered with hearts and romance. May I suggest adding a bit of kindness.  My favorite is the 5/50 project.  Any act of kindness may not take longer than 5 minutes or cost more than 50 cents.  A smile, letting someone go in front of you in line, opening a door, all take less than 5 minutes.  A bottle of water, a chocolate kiss, or 10 minutes on a parking meter takes less than 50 cents. Can you imagine a ripple cause by 10 people doing kind things?  Or maybe 100 people doing kind things?  The cool thing about kindness is it is catchy.  Help spread kindness today. 

New perspectives...

One of the things important to me is studying scriptures.  I read the New Testament in junior high.  My sister and I often talk where we learned so much faith in Christ.  Our parents gave us mixed signals.  Be good but don't pay tithing.  Church is important but study on Sunday.  Do as I say but don't comment on what I do.  I'm more of the nature if you say it, do your best to do it, too.  I realized both my sister and I went directly to the source.  We each chose to read scriptures on our own.  We spent studying the Gospels at the source.  Recently I was reading the story of the prodigal son.  I often wondered about the other son.  The one that always did what he was supposed to do.  The one that stayed with his father and didn't waste his inheritance.  His brother returns and his father has a feast and celebration.  The brother feels angry and wonders what about him?  Why doesn't his father celebrate him?  This is his father's reply:

Luke 15:31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

The father reminded his older, faithful son that he never left and everything was his.  He worked for it.  He also reminded to celebrate that his brother returned home.

Luke 15:32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Before this parable are two other parables talking about rejoicing when the lost are found.  If a person is never lost, they never need to be found.  Rejoice in finding those that are lost.