Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Halloween: What's it all about?


Halloween is that time of the year when the summer crops are over, when the new growth of spring has not lived up to its promise of life everlasting for those wishing it were so, and when the truth of it all can no longer be hidden, or wished away.

It means once again hopes and desires must be packed away and winter, that bleak time of year that one must prepare for, is soon approaching. That's the reality of Halloween in all its starkness. It's a stretch of the truth that that summer is over, school has started and and the work of preparing for winter has begun.

Why all the hullabaloo about ghosts and goblins and dressing up as freaks and monsters? Is it just to pacify the children are are there some real truths hidden in these shenanigans? I suppose it all depends on what you hold sacred, God or his opponents.

Spirits roam the earth, as I believe it, and they don't wait for one particular time of the year to stake out their claims. They live alongside us day by day either coaxing us to do good or trying to steer us in the other direction. Sometimes we give in and follow the bad ones, and sometimes we listen to the good one.

Church wise, Halloween is either outright ignored by some religions or is celebrated by some as all soul's day. They recognize that good and evil are at war over who is going to win over the other. In other words, they recognize that that all those who've died are not saintly and are probably still around trying to gain over the living.

The Catholic Church celebrates All Saints Day on November 1st to honor all those who managed to get out if he clutches of the evil doers. Yet what does all this have to do with the horrendous celebrations going on?

It's a game. People have put together bits and pieces of legends from out of the past to chase fear away and to while away time. The business community decided to make money from the events and there you have the horrendous outfits and the absurdity of the season. It's all earth bound garbage floating around.

But just in case, I.m keeping my door locked tight!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Have nothing to say, then keep quiet!


You don't have to be talking all the time, when you have nothing to say, just keep quiet. When the time comes and you've settled down a bit, words will present themselves. In place of words a smile is often better anyway. It says volumes about what you've forgotten to say.

And too, listening is far better than talking non-stop. If someone wants to know what you're thinking they can ask. But that does not mean you must begin a long winded dissertation on why you can't recall the fabulous things you dreamed of saying to whomever asked. No one cares about that and will wonder why you think it's important enough to tell them.

Mental health is as much about knowing when to keep quiet and when to shout from the housetops. Of course finding yourself on the housetop, unless you're Santa Claus and it's Christmas or patching a leaky roof or cleaning the gutters, is definitely an unhealthy thing to do and may cause your neighbors to talk. Just email them the news,its safer and when they delete it without reading it you'll never know it and your feelings won't be hurt.

Until you can remember those words you want to tell the world, keep smiling. : )

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Share Your Good Fortune

Sharing your good fortune does not mean you must give away your money foolishly to every beggar that comes along, nor need you sing to the housetop ever glad tiding that comes your way. (Your friends and neighbors may have the same glad tidings but see them in their language.)It means when you know for sure that sharing what you know will advance some cause that benefits humanity, you must get it out there where it will do the most good.

Examples are:

1. You are a scientist who has the capability of advancing the cure for a certain disease, but you want to make sure you get credit for it and you want to not only be recognized for your generous contribution, you want to get rich off it. You're on the wrong track maybe, maybe not. With that kind of thinking, what you know is probably worthless, anyway.

You're thinking as man/women thinks and that is often far below what is necessary to cure an ailing world as sick as ours is. Before you make any claims and rush out to get ahead of competitors, talk it over with your creator. He will guide you in the right paths and what's more, you'll be compensated far above anything you could have imagined while thinking alone. But it will be done His way.

2. You are a writer and a lover of words. You've always been but for some reason you aren't taken seriously. Should that bother you to the point that it keeps you from writing down those thoughts that possibly others will find useful. Absolutely not. You have no idea what wandering soul out there in this vast land of confusion will be uplifted by what you have to say. You dare then to speak, write, to make a fool of yourself whenever you have a notion to.

3. You are you and in your eyes you're no one. You want to be like others more chic, more elegant, less blundering and uncouth. Understand that they too have the same doubts, longings, but have settled for who they are. You can do the same. In this way you will find those hidden gems your Creator stashed away until that time when you were able mentally to grasp their importance.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Counting our blessings


Sometimes it's easier to go along with the crowd and agree that the world situation is beyond hope. A better approach will be to find something hopeful to promote. That little spark may be all that's needed to spur action toward a more hopeful attitude. Make an effort to be positive and soon it will become a habit.

Examples of how we can help lift the gloom and doom of a depressed society are for the asking:

1. Refuse to add to gossip

2. Put in a good word that will counteract a slur against another person; Do the best job we know how to do and find ways of doing it even better.

3. Keep our promises to the best of our ability

4. Act our age. That means if we are teenagers, then it's alright to act like one. We've a lot to learn and we shouldn't be expected to think and act as adults. On the other hand if we're old, it's ridiculous to dress and to behave as we did when teens. That tells the world, as well as ourselves, we've learned little.

5. Yet, at any age, it's all right to have fun, and it's alright to speak your mind but you must accept the consequences for doing so.