I thought this was funny but SOME may not think so!
BRAINS…..
The patient’s family gathered to hear what the specialists had to say.
“Things don’t look good. The only chance is a brain transplant. This is an experimental procedure. It might work, but the bad news is that brains are very expensive, and you will have to pay the costs yourselves.”
“Well, how much does a brain cost?” asked the relatives.
“For a male brain, $500,000. For a female brain, $200,000.
Some of the younger male relatives tried to look shocked but some nodded in understanding and a few smirked. Then the patient’s daughter asked, “Why the difference in price between male brains and female brains?”
“A standard pricing practice,” said the head of the team.
“Women’s brains have to be marked down because they are used.”
Hmm……I can think of one prime example but I’m not going to say anything else!
“A place where you meet yourself, where you embrace and appreciate your own company. Exactly, where you face your fears and rethink your decisions. Solitude is that essential place to recharge our inner energy.” Tuwalily
It’s a place I go to where I can shut out the noise, the distractions and the clutter that make up my life. I go within where there is peace to be found, resilience and strength. Solitude and stillness is where answers can be found and I get the strength to move on from where I’m at.
Solitude is defined as a “healthy, personal discipline that allows you to engage in meaningful self-reflection. Loneliness, however, is a state of sadness because one has no friends or company.” fullsailleadership.com
I embrace solitude and there is a certain deliciousness that comes from being still and listening to what is being told to you. When you get rid of the chatter, you get clarity.
“Solitude is where I place my chaos to rest and awaken my inner peace.” Unknown
Meditation, yoga or just a simple walk in the fields helps to open up a world of possibilities. A world where you are not confronted by what others think of you, of having to measure up, or of conforming to what is considered the norm. You can let go and just be yourself. It’s a place where you can go deep within and really see what you’re holding there, find out who you are and a place where you can learn to let go of what doesn’t serve you. There is peace within and unlimited resources but in order to reap the benefits, you need to come face to face with the ugliness, the so-called remnants of your past and retrain your mind to see different. Change your mindset and everything will start falling into place as it should. Solitude is where I find my peace and if I’m willing, it shows me who I am and what I need to change to get to the other side.
“Solitude is dangerous. It’s addicting. Once you see how peaceful it is, you don’t want to deal with people anymore because they drain your energy.” Unknown
I spend a lot of time by myself. I’m learning to love it to the point that I choose my own company to that of being with friends or family. I think that I am my own best friend which is a good thing but as the quote says, it can be addicting and like I sometimes say, I’m a recluse or at least feel like one at other times. I’ve come up with a solution to this predicament. I’m really going to make an effort to spend more time with people to break this monotony because both is needed to make me a complete person. However, home is where my heart is.
My bouts of solitude has made me stronger and fully capable of dealing with what life throws my way. There is strength in solitude so seek it, use it and learn that there is a source you can go to when life decides it’s that time again. What time? Time to learn another lesson and before you go, “Oh no!” make solitude your friend and ally and things will start looking up.
“Make yourself a priority once in a while. It’s not selfish. It’s necessary.” Unknown
My answer to this question would be NONE whatsoever! I am not a fan of tattoos although I have known and know people who love this mode of expression.
To each his or her own I say. That said, I don’t have any on any part of my anatomy and will never have any. It is just my preference. I had a girlfriend, a redhead, who had tattoos running down both her arms and I found it to be distracting. Conversations with her were stunted because my eyes kept going to those tattoos and even though they were fascinating I was too busy deciphering what those tattoos were trying to say instead of concentrating on what we were talking about! It was just a little too much. I knew someone else who had tattooed the name of his wife on one arm that was when they were in love but when it ended, he had to tattoo something else to cover that name!
You get the picture. I am not a fan of tattoos and never will be. Nothing against people who have them but it is just not my thing and I’ll leave it at that.
Daily writing prompt
What tattoo do you want and where would you put it?
It’s coming from the highest office in the land and from the Liar-in-Chief and a convicted felon at that.
Not really surprising you might say BUT it is. Liars lie and convicted felons? Well, they are adapt at unleashing more crimes especially if they have not been held accountable the first time around. The man in question has 34 convictions to his name. What does that tell you? Perhaps, he is not fit to be POTUS?
According to one source, America still has the #1 economy. It’s just a matter of time before he wrecks that as well. As for America’s “reputation, trustworthiness, dependability, morality, believability and exemplary conduct, Donald Trump and his political followers have managed to quite literally cause a global earthquake on the magnitude of 10……he has certainly ruined the image of the United States beyond its borders.”
If that’s not enough, the daily “Psychobabble” coming out of the White House and from one person in particular is hard to bear and for SOME of us, it is akin to mental torture.
The lies keep on coming and his dreams of acquiring Canada as the 51st state to Greenland being next in line is jarring to say the least. The man has big dreams of which nightmares are made of. He spouts lies forgetting that he is on the world stage and that fact checkers are hard at work proving him wrong. Even if they do, he’s off to his next rant repeating those lies over and over again and with a straight face I might add while the rest of the world cringes at those bold-faced lies.
It does not matter because Orange Jesus will stand on his head if he has to and declare it to be the truth and nothing but the truth. It’s what liars do but the fact that the “lies” are used blatantly to bolster his image and to make him seem like Mighty Mouse is scary but what’s scarier is the fact that his supporters are backing him up and eating everything up and that folks is unimaginable to the normal mind at least.
The dictionary defines a WHAT-IF as a “question that asks someone to imagine what might happen or what might have happened.” Life is full of what-ifs and some of us live our lives carrying that load around knowing full well that it will never become a reality.
We carry the “what ifs” of the past, present and the future that makes life a caricature of what it should be. We whip out the “what ifs” of yesterday to justify where we are today and they affect your present and future like a ripple effect.
We ask:
What if we had stayed together? Life would be so much better today wouldn’t it? Well would it?
What if he/she hadn’t died on me? We would have a wonderful life today. Is that guaranteed or just make-believe?
What if I hadn’t done X, Y, or Z, I would have a completely different life now. Really?
What ifs are suppositions that tend to paint our world in make-believe colors, whatever they may be. The fact is ‘what ifs’ can’t change what has happened and there are no guarantees that if they hadn’t happened, we would be in a different place today. Whatever happened, it happened and for whatever the reason. It was bad but there is no going back. It is a part of the past, accept it and move on.
“That’s the thing about ‘what ifs’; they don’t matter. They don’t change anything. All they do is make it unable for you to heal.” Lindy Zart
So you loved someone with all your heart and that person left you, it happened and they live on in memories nothing more. Accept it and move on. YOU have a life to live.
Someone hurt you in the past. They knew what they were doing but you don’t have to keep paying a price for their meanness. They will reap what they sowed at some point in time. Remember what goes around comes around. Yours is not to ask when or how. All in good time. Let it go and heal.
Life happened and threw you a curveball and you are still asking what if? It doesn’t matter but what matters is that you are in the here and now and those ‘what ifs’ don’t matter anymore only if you let them.
“What” and “if” are two words as non-threatening as words can be. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life.”Unknown
What if? What if? What if?
Let’s change it to “Why not.”
Why not have a great life? You deserve it don’t you?
Why not leave the past behind you where it belongs? The dead do the haunting not the living. Let it be.
Why not laugh, smile, jump for joy, live and move on? It is your right to do so, isn’t it?
Leave the ‘what ifs’ where they belong. Not in the past, not in the present and not in the future. However, if it keeps bugging you, ask “now what?” Stay in the present and look towards the future and you’ll be just fine. Let’s give the pesky ‘what ifs’ a heave ho and right out the door!
Actually there are a lot of words that describe me but I narrowed it down to two and from the two I decided to pick one and that is loyalty. The other word was dependable.
Loyal is defined as, “reliable and always true, like your trusty dog.” Well, being that trusty dog also means you get kicked many times over because loyalty doesn’t flee the coop when something or someone doesn’t show it the respect it deserves, it stays to fight another day. We are true to the core or at least I am.
I remember my ex saying this when he got caught with his cheating ways. “I knew that you would never forgive me.” Not exactly true, I did forgive him the first time but when I noticed he was a repeated offender, it was time to close the door. Even “loyalty” has its limits.
I am a loyal friend, a loyal partner and most of all loyal to myself. I also know the difference between right and wrong and that helps in my journey as a loyal and faithful person.
Every year, Chachi, the cat or Einstein as he likes to be called gets a thorough check up. This involves everything and I mean everything.
I don’t look forward to it because Einstein usually has a panic attack and me more so. It takes preparation and lots of it. I trim his nails, give him a good cleaning and his coat gets a thorough brushing the day before the check up. The dining area needs to prepared. I usually lay a blanket on the table and his cat pass is close by.
This year was different. Half an hour before the vet showed up, I put Einstein in his carrier. He immediately put up a fight and let out a heart-wrenching meow. I spoke softly to calm him down but he kept on meowing making a strange sound. He wanted out of his confined space and pronto! When that didn’t work, he went quiet and bided his time till he could show me just how much he hated this procedure.
The vet showed up on time and we brought Einstein to the dining room area. However, the little guy was more than ready. The minute I unzipped the carrier, he took off like a bullet. The only room he could escape to was the fireplace area. He wasted no time doing just that. Taking refuge behind the sofa, he stayed there as quiet as a mouse. The vet decided to step in and somehow managed to grab him and brought him back to the table. It might have gone smoother had we gone to the vet’s office but too late now!
The vet proceeded to check Einstein’s ears, his teeth, his eyes and finally his butt! It was an all clear and then it was time to give him his yearly shot. I thought here we go again! However, Einstein decided to play dead and took it like a champ. The last part was the deworming pill and that was it. I picked Einstein up but I noticed that he had flattened the top of his head and his ears were pointing outwards like a little Yoda. What came next was totally unexpected. Einstein decided to show me just how PISSED off he was! He scratched me on the collarbone as I opened the door to let him out. He was gone in a blinding second as he dashed up the stairs and into the bedroom.
Shaking his head, the vet said cats are unpredictable creatures and they love to scratch and bite. The problem is Einstein never scratches but I guess he decided to show me that he was just going to put up with so much and NO MORE! The rest of the day was calm but Einstein kept his distance eyeing me with suspicion each time our eyes locked. It took a while before he thawed out and by bedtime, he snuggled up to me and spent the rest of the night there saying, “A cat’s life is not easy especially when you’ve got a human loving the hell out of you!”
This year done, next year is another story.
Cat Fact: Once you own a cat, the probability that you bring up cats in conversation increases by 200%.
If someone can’t make the effort to be in your life – they don’t deserve to be there.
It only ends once, everything else is just progress.
A good cup of tea can solve just about anything.
Stick to your guns.
Impromptu solo dance parties are good for your health.
Spend time with the people who matter the most.” Unknown
I remember a time when life was simple. Having my head in the clouds and my feet on the ground was a daily and joyous norm for me. Twirling on my toes, watching clouds go by on my back and chasing rainbows and dreams was what life was about way back when I was young and life was simple.
Splashing in duck puddles on a rainy day with only the ducks for company was absolute heaven. Covered in mud from head to toe and looking like a gypsy was a badge I wore with pride. Talking to unseen beings who only existed in my mind didn’t matter because it made life simple.
Chasing rainbow colored fish in a dirty stream made it the absolute highlight of my day and when I had a few wriggling in my hands with the sunlight reflecting off their multi-hued bodies made it even more so. Boys….hmm….boys were of no importance except as buddies. They did not have the power to touch my heart but that was way back when things were simple and I had wings.
Dancing in the rain, jumping over puddles of water and squealing with laughter meant I was one with nature. Anger, hurt and pain were unknown in a life where nothing mattered except for the magic I created within myself. Joy was an everyday occurrence but it became a thing of the past. It was way back when things were simple. I am a grown-up now.
Adulthood is defined as or means that, “they are an adult or that they behave in a responsible way.”
Someone asked me not too long ago why I couldn’t behave the same way. The answer is simple. Grown-ups or adults behave in a specific way. Propriety demands that I “conform to what is socially acceptable in conduct or speech.”
Going back to the quote I started out with, I will choose a few I can live with.
“Sometimes being a bitch is necessary.” This is an alien concept to me as being a “bitch” is way beyond my grasp of being a good person. Lately, I am learning that it is a necessary step to where I want to get to in my journey of life. A bitch is applied to a woman and defined as “someone, who is belligerent, unreasonable, malicious, controlling, aggressive or dominant.” Perhaps I need to apply this concept on my way to arriving at my end goal. Life is not that simple anymore.
“If someone can’t make the effort to be in your life – they don’t deserve to be there.” This is a hard one. Where once “men” were of no consequence, growing up means learning to deal with this species. If you thought women were difficult to comprehend, try dealing with this group! The end point is, if they can’t be bothered to be in your life and every effort is just lukewarm or worse cold then it is time to put your “bitch” shoes on and move on. Life is too short and neither is it just in black and white. It is complicated enough as it is and perhaps we make it more complicated. It boils down to, if you can’t make an effort, it is time for you to go.
Last but not least, “Spend time with people who matter most.” These are people who show up when times are tough. The ones who are not just “fair weather friends” but who are there without being asked. Get rid of the liars, the ones who have lying built into their DNA, this is a necessary step in making your life simple again. Liars are not worthy of your time and space because they say one thing and behave as if you don’t matter. Walk and don’t look back!
“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” Hans Hofmann
Looks easy enough doesn’t it but believe me it is not. You can get back to the basics. You can still dance in the rain, imagine yourself splashing in puddles and envision yourself in a much simpler time and place. Truth is it takes imagination, hard work, determination and courage to get back to that place of simplicity. Complicated is just in your mind.
This one is embarrassing. The best compliment I’ve ever received was when I was in my early 20s and it was given to me by a group of businessmen.
I was in Singapore at the time and in McDonalds meeting a girlfriend for lunch. Sitting behind us was a group of men in suits. They kept staring but I didn’t pay it much mind. After 20 minutes they got up and left. I was glad because they made me uneasy for some reason. A few minutes later they walked back in. There were about 10 of them altogether so I froze in mid-conversation. They walked to our table, one guy had a single rose in his hand and an envelope. He didn’t say a word as he handed me both, smiled and they left. The place was eerily quiet as everyone glanced over at us.
I opened the envelope and there was a card in it. It said:
“To the most beautiful girl in Singapore.”
It also contained 30 dollars to pay for lunch I guess. Nothing else. No telephone number nothing. I never saw them again but that chance meeting has stayed in my memory because it literally blew my mind!
I was a wild child in my teens running around barefoot in the forest and playing with the ducks and most days I was covered with mud from head to toe but I loved it. I blossomed when I was 16 and those things were put aside. I never thought of myself as a beauty but things changed. I went from being a tomboy to a quiet young woman. More introvert than anything else. That compliment was my awakening to a different world. Beauty is more than a buzz word, beauty is power in some cases. These days they still tell me I am attractive but I march to a different drumbeat. It is more about the inner beauty and not about the fading kind.
I’ve been trying to beat this addiction as I call it and it has been giving me a run for the money! It has been “winning” (like Trump would say) and I’ve fallen off the bandwagon many times over, it’s all par for the course. However, I’ve made it without cheesecake for a week now and it feels great but the craving is still there. It is heaviest right before sleep when I see cheesecakes floating before my eyes and begging for attention! The lure is slowly subsiding but we’ll see how this goes. So far so good. 👍
Some of you may know of my addiction to cheesecake as I’ve been posting about it often enough here.
I consider myself to have tremendous willpower and those who have gotten through that barrier were allowed to do so on my terms. However, I’ve met my match and it wasn’t made in heaven!
This creamy concoction of cream cheese and all things nice has taken hold and ever since that first bite I’m a prisoner in every sense of the word! What happened to willpower? It has given up and is hiding somewhere.
Let me tell you, I’ve tried my best but my best doesn’t seem to be enough to get rid of this addiction. I make it for a week and then I hear it calling my name. Within seconds, I am sitting down to a nice slice of scrumptious cheesecake and a cup of coffee. It’s heaven if you ask me. It (the cheesecake) knows that I’m putty in its hands!
I tried getting rid of the “fixer.” I call him the cheesecake guy. He brings or used to bring me a whole cheesecake every weekend. Half of a plain no frills variety and a cherry filled one. The problem was I had a never-ending supply of cheesecake and every time I walked by the fridge, it called and I obliged! So, it was time to get rid of the source. It wasn’t that difficult to do since I am getting rid of the “menfolk” to work on myself. However, the “no cheesecake” policy is much harder. Something seems to be missing.
No worries. There is still the bakery where the ladies who work the counter always greet me with a knowing grin. “One cheesecake?” Yes, they know me well. I broke down and bought a whole cheesecake yesterday and had a slice for breakfast today! Nope, it is not going well. I’m still hooked on this piece of nothingness and who would have thought that IT would be my biggest nemesis. Time to work on winning the battle. If there is one thing I know about myself, it is that I’m up for challenges and I KNOW I CAN BEAT THIS ADDICTION!