cashinn's Blog

Be sure to keep a mirror always nigh

In some convenient, handy sort of place,

And now and then look squarely in thine eye,

And with thyself keep ever face to face.

"Face To Face Stanza"

John Kendrick Bangs

A HELPING HAND

A man and his wife are awakened at 3 o'clock in the morning by a loud pounding on the door. The man gets up and goes to the door where a drunken stranger, standing in the pouring rain, is asking for a push. "Not a chance," says the husband. "It's 3 o'clock in the morning."

He slams the door and returns to bed. "Who was that?" asked his wife.

"Just some drunk guy asking for a push!" he answers.

"Did you help him?" she asks.

"No, I did not. It is 3 o'clock in the morning and it is pouring rain outside!"

His wife said, "Can't you remember about three months ago when we broke down and those two guys helped us? You should be ashamed of yourself! I think you should help him!"

The man gets dressed and goes out into the pouring rain. He calls out into the dark, "Hello. Are you still there?"

"Yes," comes back the answer.

"Do you still need a push?" calls out the husband.

"Yes! Please!" comes the reply from the darkness.

"Where are you?" asks the husband.

"Over here on the swing!" replies the drunk

Wanda's dishwasher quit working so she called a repairman. Since she had to go to work the next day, she told the repairman, "I'll leave the key under the mat. Fix the dishwasher, leave the bill on the counter, and I'll mail you a check."

"Oh, by the way don't worry about my bulldog Spike. He won't bother you. But, whatever you do, do NOT, under ANY circumstances, talk to my parrot!" "I REPEAT, DO NOT TALK TO MY PARROT!"

When the repairman arrived at Wanda's apartment the following day, he discovered the biggest, meanest looking bulldog he has ever seen. But, just as she had said, the dog just lay there on the carpet watching the repairman go about his work.

The parrot, however, drove him nuts the whole time with his incessant yelling, cursing and name-calling. Finally the repairman couldn't contain himself any longer and yelled, "Shut up, you stupid, ugly bird!"

To which the parrot replied, "Get him, Spike!"

I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.

Bill Cosby

Our world is filled with critics-well meaning (usually) parents, sibling, spouses, lovers, friends, coworkers, bosses, and mentors who think they can neatly pinpoint our deficits and prescribe appropriate treatment.  They seem to know what we're doing wrong with our lives and have a good idea of what we ought to do. But, we can listen to the the most important and credible people in our lives without becoming unduly influenced by them.

We need to stay true to ourselves, however, and this is crucial.  It prevents us from being torn a hundred different directions and losing ourselves in the process.

It is Dr. Martin Luther King who taught that a real moral struggle seeks to win partners, not leave victims.

 Maulana Karenga

Occasionally, we've got to step back in order to keep what is most important in focus.

***Happy Birthday Dr. King***

The one being carried does not realize how far away the town is.

 Nigerian Proverb

Patience makes women beautiful in middle age.

Elliot Paul

If I can make you think I'm King Kong, I've won the match.

Lynette Love

Mental intimidation may not seem as necessary to us as it is to others but the aura of self-confidence can seve us as well in our workaday world.

Affirmation

Iam/Ican

Silence is also speech

                                        FULFULDE Proverb

Silence is a great communicator.

We need silence in our lives to think, to work, to create, and to rest.  The person who never stops talking may never really say much.  The household with constant noise will not be a serene place---a place in which to rest, study, reflect, and create.

Affirmation

On this day I will take five minutes to silently observe my thoughts as they float by. 

Don't look back.  Something might be gaining on you.

--Leroy Satchel Paige

Lingering on events out of our past prevents us from living here and now.  When we keep looking back, we cannot look ahead, which puts us in danger of missing opportunities or losing hope for better things to come.

When we make mistakes or do not achieve the success we'd anticipated, let's examine our actions at that moment, then take our lessons with us and move on.  We are who we choose to be - successful, competent, wise, and wonderful.  The future will become the present, so we need to anticipate and prepare for it.

KWANZAA

 On this day, the 29th of December, the principal of UJAMAA is recognized. 

UJAMAA ---Cooperative economics emphasizes our collective economic strength and encourages us to look within ourselves to meet common needs through mutual support.

LP has become a meeting place for those of us who love to play the lottery and to share knowledge so that all may prosper.

HAPPY NEW YEAR LP AND MEMBERS

You shake man han',  you no shake him heart.

__Bahamian proverb

Let's simply be cautious in our dealings with others, trust our intuition if it seems to be generally on target, and accept that a handshake is an act of civility and not love.  People will hack their way into your life and leave a trail of morsels to let you know they have stolen your security like spooks in the night.  Thankfully, there is sincerity and friendship and romane in the world that can be ours if we are receptive to it.

Whose cruel idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have "S" in it?

Tomorrow's peace begins today.

Questioning

O my body make me always a person who questions.

If we fail to question, Whose answers are we accepting as truth?  Blind trust can be lethal.  Clinging to the views we adopted years ago can mean we are afraid we may need to change.

We worry that examining our behavior and our motivations can make us appear insecure or timid.  Sometimes we take lifelong stands that cripple or pain us, but still we are adamant about our positions and too proud to rethink them.

Questioning--ourselves and others--can be the bravest way to live our lives.