Archive for December, 2009

Enjoy the Ride. There Is No Return Ticket!

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

From:  STEVE

Here is some philosophy from a guest author/thinker.  Especially for those of you, like Suzanne and I, in midlife and beyond.  Enjoy! 

George Carlin’s Views on Aging

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we’re kids? If you’re less than 10 years old, you’re so excited about aging that you think in fractions.  ‘How old are you?’ ‘I’m four and a half!’ You’re never thirty-six and a half. You’re four and a half, going on five!  That’s the key.

You get into your teens, now they can’t hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead. ‘How old are you?’ ‘I’m gonna be 16!’ You could be 13, but hey, you’re gonna be 16!
 And then the greatest day of your life ! You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony.YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There’s no fun now, you’re Just a sour-dumpling.. What’s wrong? What’s changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you’re PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it’s all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone…

But! wait!! You MAKE IT to 60. You didn’t think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30,  PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE IT to 60.

You’ve built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it’s a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80’s and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn’t end there.

Into the 90s, you start going backwards; ‘I Was JUST 92.’

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. ‘I’m 100 and a half!’ May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning.  Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever, even ham radio. Never let the brain idle. ‘An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.’ And the devil’s family name is Alzheimer’s.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive. 

7.  Surround yourself with what you love, whether it’s family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health. If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

 
9. Don’t take guilt trips.. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
 
 AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
 And if you don’t send this to at least 8 people – who cares? But do share this with someone. We all need to live life to its fullest each day!!

Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘..holy sh*t ….what a ride!’

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Good advice, n’est-ce pas?  Have a GREAT day!

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Take Charge of Your Relationship in Six Co-Commitments

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

FROM:  Steve & Suzanne

Are you in an intimate relationship with another person?  How is it going?  Are you doing everything you can to make it successful and satisfying?  Or do you worry about it?  Do you worry about how your partner feels and what he/she thinks, wants and cares about?  Can you do anything about it?  Well, we like to think that we can, but most of time we really can’t.   If our partner does not choose to tell us what’s going on then what can we do?  Well, here’s what YOU can do!  YOU can take charge of your relationship.  After all, YOU are the ONLY person you can control.  Really, you cannot control your partner’s behavior, right!?  You know that already, don’t you?  If not then believe us, it’s true.  So let’s focus on what YOU can do to make your relationship happy and healthy and as much fun as you can stand!

Here is a list of 6 co-commitments that contribute to a happy, healthy, conscious relationship.  Try these on for size and fit! 

1. I commit to closeness and to clearing up anything in the way of creating it.

2. I commit to my own complete development as a person.

3. I commit to supporting the full development of people around me.

4. I commit to being fully responsible for my life and experiences.

5. I commit to revealing myself, rather than concealing myself.

6. I commit to being happy and to have a good time in all my relationships.

Do you find yourself breathing a little faster as you read these?  That’s not unusal because these appear to be radical ideas, yes?  Well, if you can commit to these behaviors then you are definitely on your way to a happy, healthy, conscious relationship.  Think about it!

Now,  here is another radical idea.  Notice that we call these “CO-commitments.”  You might think that we want you to make these commitments to your partner (and vice-versa).  No, we want you to make these commitments to YOURSELF!  Say them one at a time to yourself and feel the feelings that arise when you do.  Can you commit to these behaviors in yourself?  And by commit we mean are you willing to work at making them true for you.  If and when you can, then find a partner who is willing to make the same commitments to himself or herself.  The goal is to be in a co-committed relationship.  That is where happiness lies.

Sound like an overwhelming task?  Is something like this even possible?  We say “ABSOLUTELY YES!”  We know because we live in such a happy, healthy, conscious, co-committed relationship.  We decided over 20 years ago to commit to this kind of relationship and we continue to work at it every day.  It is lovely!  And great fun!!

We are also committed to helping other people who want what we have.  Let us know if you would like us to help you.  Or check back here often.  We will write more about what you found here today.  Take care and be well. 

(GRATEFUL NOTE:  The 6 co-commitments are adapted from the work of Gay & Kathlyn Hendricks, our mentors and friends)

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