On America's Got Talent, there is a contest who
is 75 years old. Her name is Grandma Lee.
She had a dream to perform, and decided
to take the opportunity to be on the show.
She wanted to show people that you can
live your dream at any age.
This video cracks me up, and there are just as
many laughs after she performs as there are
while she does.
What a wild grandma!
Showing posts with label choice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label choice. Show all posts
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Perspective: Life as a Recipe? And...A Recipe for Pumpkin Bread
Today I made some delicious Pumpkin Bread.
Recipe and picture to follow.
As I was making it, I was looking at a handwritten
recipe which didn't include flour. As that seemed
odd, I went to check the recipe elsewhere to see
that there should have been flour included.
It had me consider how when you know how to
do something, you know when something doesn't
look "right." If it was my first time baking ever,
I may have thought nothing of it, and then
wondered why it came out as it did, as it would
have had no real similarity to any bread I know.
On the other hand, I think sometimes when we
have a "recipe" for life, and follow it exactly, we
can miss out on some wonderful discoveries that
come from experiments and so-called mistakes,
and the joys of discovering something new.
Sometimes it might be best to go a prescribed
way, but we won't always know the possibilities
until we've made a choice to divert ourselves
from the spelled out path.
I would suspect the key is awareness. Being
aware of the possibilities puts us in a position
of being able to choose what we would like to
have/have happen.
Interesting how my mind works, isn't it?
Maybe I should call myself the philosophical
baker.
Without further ado, here you go! :-)
Pumpkin Quick Bread
Makes 1 loaf
Bake 350/50 minutes
7/8c canned pumpkin (w/o spice)
2 eggs
1/2c. olive oil
1/3c. water
1c. white sugar
1/2c. brown sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1t. baking soda
3/4t. sea salt
1/2t. cinnamon
1/2t. nutmeg
1/4t. cloves (ground)
1/8t. ginger
Mix together wet ingredients with sugars. Then stir in, just til mixed, the dry ingredients. Pour into a prepared pan, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar mix. Bread is fully baked when inserted toothpick comes out clean. Enjoy.
PS Need to do some cooking conversions? I have never
tried it, but this site might be helpful.
Recipe and picture to follow.
As I was making it, I was looking at a handwritten
recipe which didn't include flour. As that seemed
odd, I went to check the recipe elsewhere to see
that there should have been flour included.
It had me consider how when you know how to
do something, you know when something doesn't
look "right." If it was my first time baking ever,
I may have thought nothing of it, and then
wondered why it came out as it did, as it would
have had no real similarity to any bread I know.
On the other hand, I think sometimes when we
have a "recipe" for life, and follow it exactly, we
can miss out on some wonderful discoveries that
come from experiments and so-called mistakes,
and the joys of discovering something new.
Sometimes it might be best to go a prescribed
way, but we won't always know the possibilities
until we've made a choice to divert ourselves
from the spelled out path.
I would suspect the key is awareness. Being
aware of the possibilities puts us in a position
of being able to choose what we would like to
have/have happen.
Interesting how my mind works, isn't it?
Maybe I should call myself the philosophical
baker.
Without further ado, here you go! :-)
Pumpkin Quick Bread
Makes 1 loaf
Bake 350/50 minutes
7/8c canned pumpkin (w/o spice)
2 eggs
1/2c. olive oil
1/3c. water
1c. white sugar
1/2c. brown sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1t. baking soda
3/4t. sea salt
1/2t. cinnamon
1/2t. nutmeg
1/4t. cloves (ground)
1/8t. ginger
Mix together wet ingredients with sugars. Then stir in, just til mixed, the dry ingredients. Pour into a prepared pan, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar mix. Bread is fully baked when inserted toothpick comes out clean. Enjoy.
PS Need to do some cooking conversions? I have never
tried it, but this site might be helpful.
Friday, March 20, 2009
World of Perspective Radio: Patrick Mathieu Bar Code Guy
Discussion with Patrick Mathieu
www.PowerofMortality.com
Living a Life Worth Dying For:
3 Steps to Choosing the Life You Want
MONDAY, March 23, 2009 6:00 PT/9:00 ET
Listen online at World-of-Perspective-Radio.com
or call (347)324-5745
Are you absolutely thrilled about your life? Are you living the life of your dreams? Whether the answer is yes or no, you will undoubtedly will appreciate hearing Patrick Mathieu (www.PowerofMortality.com) discussing how you can absolutely choose the life you want - a life worth dying for! Wherever you are in your life, this conversation will have the potential to help you take your life to new heights, and move you in the direction of your dreams.
By the end of the show, you will have some powerful tools which can help cut through any reasons and excuses you may have that could be holding you back from living the life of your dreams. What Patrick shares will potentially provide you with the leverage you need to move yourself to take the kind of action necessary to achieve the kind of results you would like to have in your life.
Here is a chance to have insights that can help you stop living by default, and get yourself off of autopilot. If this speaks to you, you know you want to be there! Come and join us in the chat room, or on the the phone 347-324-5745.
www.PowerofMortality.com
Living a Life Worth Dying For:
3 Steps to Choosing the Life You Want
MONDAY, March 23, 2009 6:00 PT/9:00 ET
Listen online at World-of-Perspective-Radio.com
or call (347)324-5745
Are you absolutely thrilled about your life? Are you living the life of your dreams? Whether the answer is yes or no, you will undoubtedly will appreciate hearing Patrick Mathieu (www.PowerofMortality.com) discussing how you can absolutely choose the life you want - a life worth dying for! Wherever you are in your life, this conversation will have the potential to help you take your life to new heights, and move you in the direction of your dreams.
By the end of the show, you will have some powerful tools which can help cut through any reasons and excuses you may have that could be holding you back from living the life of your dreams. What Patrick shares will potentially provide you with the leverage you need to move yourself to take the kind of action necessary to achieve the kind of results you would like to have in your life.
Here is a chance to have insights that can help you stop living by default, and get yourself off of autopilot. If this speaks to you, you know you want to be there! Come and join us in the chat room, or on the the phone 347-324-5745.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Perspective: Elizabeth Alraune on Choice
Occasionally thoughts come to me, and I
write them down. Sometimes they're rather
interesting. Here are a few...tell me,
how do you feel when you read them? Do
they resonate for you? What do you get
from them? I would love to hear.
******
Just as you would plow a field with food,
not all would be edible, or worthy of being
put into your system, every thought is not
one you would want to keep.
It takes discernment to know what is good,
and what should be left behind. You already
have the discernment, but sometimes, give a
blind eye, looking to fill up the pots.
Sometimes you fill yourself with junk, just
to be full. Whoever said full was a good
thing. It leaves no room for anything else
to enter the picture.
It leaves no room for new understanding. It
leaves only something stale and stagnant.
You must be able to see how the world is
getting more and more FULL of pain, of sadness,
of anguish in its efforts to be FULL...
Always looking for something, and gobbling
everything along the way. You must know that
you are able to discern AND you must discern
AND you must guide your choices by your
discernments.
Any piece on its own fails to stand, and all
parts are equally important to notice and
nurture. You must understand the nature of
choice. It is something present at every
moment, and a lack of conscious choice, is
a choice to fill yourself up with the equivalent
of junk food.
- Elizabeth Alraune (CY)
write them down. Sometimes they're rather
interesting. Here are a few...tell me,
how do you feel when you read them? Do
they resonate for you? What do you get
from them? I would love to hear.
******
Just as you would plow a field with food,
not all would be edible, or worthy of being
put into your system, every thought is not
one you would want to keep.
It takes discernment to know what is good,
and what should be left behind. You already
have the discernment, but sometimes, give a
blind eye, looking to fill up the pots.
Sometimes you fill yourself with junk, just
to be full. Whoever said full was a good
thing. It leaves no room for anything else
to enter the picture.
It leaves no room for new understanding. It
leaves only something stale and stagnant.
You must be able to see how the world is
getting more and more FULL of pain, of sadness,
of anguish in its efforts to be FULL...
Always looking for something, and gobbling
everything along the way. You must know that
you are able to discern AND you must discern
AND you must guide your choices by your
discernments.
Any piece on its own fails to stand, and all
parts are equally important to notice and
nurture. You must understand the nature of
choice. It is something present at every
moment, and a lack of conscious choice, is
a choice to fill yourself up with the equivalent
of junk food.
- Elizabeth Alraune (CY)
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
A Perspective on Perspective
Tonight there is going to
be a full moon that
will look HUGE.
Some will think that is
larger than usual
by its appearance.
If you want some more
info about the actual event,
click here.
It got me thinking about
my favorite subject,
(you guess it!)
perspective.
In one dictionary
perspective is defined as
"view or vista."
I thought it an interesting
definition to focus on in
this context. After all,
it is a literal something
that is being viewed, and
the view - the perspective -
that we will have will be
interestingly skewed.
Someone who knew nothing
about the so-called "reality"
of the moon and its size
could very likely argue
that the moon is larger
than normal tonight. Without
anything to say otherwise,
who would disagree?
That is the way perspective
is sometimes. Sometimes we
view something, and believe
that it is exactly as we
view it to be, because we
have nothing to support a
belief otherwise. Then,
one day, someone, or something
comes along, and gives us
something else to consider,
and we realize that maybe what
we considered "fact" - ie
the moon is larger than normal
sometimes - is actually an
illusion.
Interesting to note, one dictionary
definition of illusion is
"an erroneous mental representation."
I am not usually one to describe
things in a manner of
"right" or "wrong."
However, if I was going to,
it would be in the context of
what "works" or "doesn't work."
(If it doesn't work, then it would
be "wrong.")
Errors tend to, by definition be
"wrong." In this case, I would suggest
that the "erroneous mental representation"
would be that thing that is having
you feel in some way compromised.
The next time you are in the midst
of something that seems wrong,
perhaps consider that the situation
isn't as "large" as it seems to be,
and consider that maybe there are
some other facts, as yet unknown.
Become aware of the "reality" that
you are arguing for.
If you can take the effort to attempt
to realize a different perspective,
it might be worthy thing to do. In the
end you might feel a heckka of a lot
better.
Recently I was speaking with someone
who had been in a relationship. While
it was good, he was so very happy.
Then, one day, quickly and abruptly
it was over.
He didn't understand it. He knew the
few reasons she had given, and despite
my best efforts to give him a different
perspective, he clung to the conclusions
his perspective gave him - among them
that he wasn't good enough, and because
he had given all he had, and wasn't good
enough, he never would be good enough.
I attempted to explain to him that perhaps
his relationship life wasn't over. Maybe
he was 75% of the way there, and that while
he may not have been "good enough" for her
(which I question, but that is another
conversation) it was ONE person in a world
of many. At the time he was uninterested
in hearing what I had to say about it,
because he was focused on a different
perspective, one he seemed unwilling to
give up.
For some who are reading this, I am certain
you will identify. It hurts when a
relationship ends, especially when you
don't understand it, and especially when you
make it all about you, and your faults,
and inadequacies. I would never say to
point the finger at the other person without
considering your role in it, however, the
same applies in reverse. I would never
suggest that you totally point the finger
at yourself.
There are times in our lives that we must
make choices in regard to insufficient
information. He has a choice to make,
as we all do when a moment like this
appears in our life.
The choice we make will take our life in
a direction that is aligned with that choice.
Some would argue, "it's that I am being
real. I don't want to be delusional."
How do you know that you aren't being
delusional by the choice that you are making
that is having you feel miserable?
Even in the face of someone telling
you something about yourself, consider
that it is their perception which is
grounded in their perspective, their
version of reality, and it doesn't have
to be the one you choose for yourself.
Being caught up in others' realities is
something that often happens, and can be
quite difficult to release ourselves from.
However, if their "reality" doesn't work
for you, perhaps consider that in a "night
or two" you will see the same problem
in a different way. Just like when the
moon will seem to move away. And, when
that happens, you will be able to create
something different that works for YOU.
As a living, breathing human being,
perspective is like breaths we breathe...
there is always another one to be had.
And just like we consciously breathe
at times, we can consciously choose
a different perspective.
If only it was as simple as breathing
seemed to be!
Enjoy the moon tonight. It likely will
be beautiful. :-)
PS the definitions of the words,
came from www.dictionary.com.
be a full moon that
will look HUGE.
Some will think that is
larger than usual
by its appearance.
If you want some more
info about the actual event,
click here.
It got me thinking about
my favorite subject,
(you guess it!)
perspective.
In one dictionary
perspective is defined as
"view or vista."
I thought it an interesting
definition to focus on in
this context. After all,
it is a literal something
that is being viewed, and
the view - the perspective -
that we will have will be
interestingly skewed.
Someone who knew nothing
about the so-called "reality"
of the moon and its size
could very likely argue
that the moon is larger
than normal tonight. Without
anything to say otherwise,
who would disagree?
That is the way perspective
is sometimes. Sometimes we
view something, and believe
that it is exactly as we
view it to be, because we
have nothing to support a
belief otherwise. Then,
one day, someone, or something
comes along, and gives us
something else to consider,
and we realize that maybe what
we considered "fact" - ie
the moon is larger than normal
sometimes - is actually an
illusion.
Interesting to note, one dictionary
definition of illusion is
"an erroneous mental representation."
I am not usually one to describe
things in a manner of
"right" or "wrong."
However, if I was going to,
it would be in the context of
what "works" or "doesn't work."
(If it doesn't work, then it would
be "wrong.")
Errors tend to, by definition be
"wrong." In this case, I would suggest
that the "erroneous mental representation"
would be that thing that is having
you feel in some way compromised.
The next time you are in the midst
of something that seems wrong,
perhaps consider that the situation
isn't as "large" as it seems to be,
and consider that maybe there are
some other facts, as yet unknown.
Become aware of the "reality" that
you are arguing for.
If you can take the effort to attempt
to realize a different perspective,
it might be worthy thing to do. In the
end you might feel a heckka of a lot
better.
Recently I was speaking with someone
who had been in a relationship. While
it was good, he was so very happy.
Then, one day, quickly and abruptly
it was over.
He didn't understand it. He knew the
few reasons she had given, and despite
my best efforts to give him a different
perspective, he clung to the conclusions
his perspective gave him - among them
that he wasn't good enough, and because
he had given all he had, and wasn't good
enough, he never would be good enough.
I attempted to explain to him that perhaps
his relationship life wasn't over. Maybe
he was 75% of the way there, and that while
he may not have been "good enough" for her
(which I question, but that is another
conversation) it was ONE person in a world
of many. At the time he was uninterested
in hearing what I had to say about it,
because he was focused on a different
perspective, one he seemed unwilling to
give up.
For some who are reading this, I am certain
you will identify. It hurts when a
relationship ends, especially when you
don't understand it, and especially when you
make it all about you, and your faults,
and inadequacies. I would never say to
point the finger at the other person without
considering your role in it, however, the
same applies in reverse. I would never
suggest that you totally point the finger
at yourself.
There are times in our lives that we must
make choices in regard to insufficient
information. He has a choice to make,
as we all do when a moment like this
appears in our life.
The choice we make will take our life in
a direction that is aligned with that choice.
Some would argue, "it's that I am being
real. I don't want to be delusional."
How do you know that you aren't being
delusional by the choice that you are making
that is having you feel miserable?
Even in the face of someone telling
you something about yourself, consider
that it is their perception which is
grounded in their perspective, their
version of reality, and it doesn't have
to be the one you choose for yourself.
Being caught up in others' realities is
something that often happens, and can be
quite difficult to release ourselves from.
However, if their "reality" doesn't work
for you, perhaps consider that in a "night
or two" you will see the same problem
in a different way. Just like when the
moon will seem to move away. And, when
that happens, you will be able to create
something different that works for YOU.
As a living, breathing human being,
perspective is like breaths we breathe...
there is always another one to be had.
And just like we consciously breathe
at times, we can consciously choose
a different perspective.
If only it was as simple as breathing
seemed to be!
Enjoy the moon tonight. It likely will
be beautiful. :-)
PS the definitions of the words,
came from www.dictionary.com.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Facing the Giants
Once again, YouTube has provided me with inspiration for a blog entry. I was wondering how to approach it, as it is labelled as "Christian." I have nothing against it, however, sometimes I find that something with that label can be discounted, or not listened to.
However, as with everything I discuss, this is about perspective. The nice thing about perspective is that everyone has one and, oftentimes, perspectives vary. The whole point of a perspective is to give a person a reference point. By having a perspective, you have a place to come from. For that reason, it's important to be aware of the place that you stand in relation to your thoughts and, therefore,your life. If you discount something based on its label, you may just miss out.
With that in mind, I share this video. Interestingly, you could also label it as "for teens" or "for football fans," and also not watch it. However, with an open mind you may see something in it for yourself.
What I saw was the idea that oftentimes we don't know how far we are from where we're headed, and we get tired, or are hurting from our efforts that seem to be going no where, and we stop. We give up. Sometimes we lose sight of our goal, and it can seem so far away, or perhaps we start with no particular end in sight, so how do we even know where we're are going? Sometimes we may be able to see the end, and that is enough to have us give up. It's too much. It's too far. It's...
Sometimes it's fear of what will be at the other end. What will it mean? In the end of the clip I referenced, the teen is being asked to be a leader. If he knew that what he was doing was going to, in the end, have him stand up and take on a leadership role, would he have done it?
Whatever we do, or don't do, this life is what we've got right here, right now. You can choose whatever you want to choose. That is the beauty of it all. You can choose to stay where you are, you can choose to refrain from stepping up, you can stop anything and everything you are doing. Of course, there will be results that will come from your choices, but you still get to make the choice.
I have found that when I am aware of what I am doing, it helps me to be conscious of the choices I make, and the great thing for me about that is when I am conscious, I am a lot less likely to regret what I have done. The times that I am unconscious of my choices are the times I am likely to be unhappy with myself or the situation.
Sometimes it is difficult being conscious about everything. It is so much easier to be unconscious. It certainly feels like a lot less work. However, I can tell you that the times of being conscious of what I am saying and thinking are getting easier and easier to experience (and more and more frequent).
Just in case I make this all sound so easy, let me tell you that I wouldn't say that it was. For the record, as well, I haven't always looked at things this way, and it certainly isn't perfect now. It is something that I come to see and experience by being open to the things I have found.
I am certain your journey is just as interesting, and even more so. If you're inclined to share, I'd love to hear from you.
Have a great week!
However, as with everything I discuss, this is about perspective. The nice thing about perspective is that everyone has one and, oftentimes, perspectives vary. The whole point of a perspective is to give a person a reference point. By having a perspective, you have a place to come from. For that reason, it's important to be aware of the place that you stand in relation to your thoughts and, therefore,your life. If you discount something based on its label, you may just miss out.
With that in mind, I share this video. Interestingly, you could also label it as "for teens" or "for football fans," and also not watch it. However, with an open mind you may see something in it for yourself.
What I saw was the idea that oftentimes we don't know how far we are from where we're headed, and we get tired, or are hurting from our efforts that seem to be going no where, and we stop. We give up. Sometimes we lose sight of our goal, and it can seem so far away, or perhaps we start with no particular end in sight, so how do we even know where we're are going? Sometimes we may be able to see the end, and that is enough to have us give up. It's too much. It's too far. It's...
Sometimes it's fear of what will be at the other end. What will it mean? In the end of the clip I referenced, the teen is being asked to be a leader. If he knew that what he was doing was going to, in the end, have him stand up and take on a leadership role, would he have done it?
Whatever we do, or don't do, this life is what we've got right here, right now. You can choose whatever you want to choose. That is the beauty of it all. You can choose to stay where you are, you can choose to refrain from stepping up, you can stop anything and everything you are doing. Of course, there will be results that will come from your choices, but you still get to make the choice.
I have found that when I am aware of what I am doing, it helps me to be conscious of the choices I make, and the great thing for me about that is when I am conscious, I am a lot less likely to regret what I have done. The times that I am unconscious of my choices are the times I am likely to be unhappy with myself or the situation.
Sometimes it is difficult being conscious about everything. It is so much easier to be unconscious. It certainly feels like a lot less work. However, I can tell you that the times of being conscious of what I am saying and thinking are getting easier and easier to experience (and more and more frequent).
Just in case I make this all sound so easy, let me tell you that I wouldn't say that it was. For the record, as well, I haven't always looked at things this way, and it certainly isn't perfect now. It is something that I come to see and experience by being open to the things I have found.
I am certain your journey is just as interesting, and even more so. If you're inclined to share, I'd love to hear from you.
Have a great week!
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