As the New Year approaches, something to think about…
Tag Archives: Wisdom
Thank you, you’re just great! ~Joe~
We recently had a neighbor move in on the corner of the block. The house he purchased had exchanged many hands over the course of the past twenty-two years, or so. It was owned by a not-so-present landlord and was frankly, an eye-sore. Frat-boys partied it up, two kids dug a hole in the front garden, digging half-way to China, weeds encroached the yard’s border, making us cross the street for an evening walk. Paint was chipping and peeling, the lawn was unhappy and the old house was putting a frown on the neighborhood’s face.
I spoke with the new owner, “Joe”, and thanked him profusely for the great job he was doing renovating his new home. He said a simple, “thank you, Ma’am”.
In the ensuing conversation, I inquired about his life’s history: he’s a business owner, a former Marine, a family man. His politeness echoed back to his military background. I asked if he’d mind if he were featured on this blog and if he preferred his name be mentioned or not. True to form, he was happy to accommodate, yet humbly declined the use of name. But, he didn’t mind our sharing his pretty cool tattoo!
So, we wanted to take a minute to honor his polite and humble ways, his can-do attitude, his “fixer-upper” spunk, investment and service to our city, neighborhood, country and lives.
“So, why make a fuss” you might ask? “Someone bought an old house and is fixing it up. They are doing it with investment in mind. The neighborhood is happy because their property values will rise”. Point taken.
But I say, anytime effort, substance, beauty, or investing in something worthwhile occurs, it’s worth a kudos. In a society often fixated on the negative, where an eye-for-an-eye is condoned or even encouraged, where people carry a spy-glass in their pocket, examining flaws, downfalls and ineptitudes, isn’t it worth making an effort to highlight good things, people, those positive efforts?
Our city struggles with neighborhoods and housing, at various times and places. Someone chose to stay here and invest, fix up the old and run-down. Hooray! It doesn’t mean he’s perfect, it means he’s trying.
So how about finding someone to encourage when they are doing something right? Look for those who are being helpful, kind, putting forth an effort. Put the spotlight on them, and take it OFF all the negative noise and brew-ha-ha.
Joe is the first in a series of spot-lights, featuring everyday heroes and plodding pedestrians, moving in the right direction. We’re just taking a moment to say “thank you, you’re just great”!
In a Time of Strong Opinion ~ a poem
by Sherrie Robins
In a time of strong opinion,
may I say that I don’t know?
While pulpit pounding preachers, preach,
may I watch the green grass grow?
Is it alright if the gentle breezes blow,
softly ‘cross my face,
as I seek the truth in solitude,
veiled in mercy, love and grace?
Must I join the loud throng’s symbols
as they clatter & they clang?
While others shout in certitude,
be quiet & refrain?
May I listen to the falling rain,
be still inside myself?
Wait for a softly spoken word,
a word that may be seldom heard,
a word so soft & hushes still,
that only silent room will fill,
In garden, creek, or flower bed,
…or begging hand for want of bread?
I’ve heard the drum’s incessant sound,
the neon’s flash and garish hound,
my ears throb from the constant pound,
Come away, come away, come away.
Dare to Grow!
Take a minute to pour a little water & sunshine on your fine self!
By Sherrie Robins
My nephew popped over to the house last night. He’s a talented young photographer/videographer, who’s starting a business with my son. Their work is fresh, hip, young, knowledgeable, practiced & informed.
I’ve learned a few things from them both.
“Hey Jordan”, I said. “Wanna see the new ‘video’ I made”?
“Sure”!
Now, though I’m a practiced and ardent “photo-snapper”, my ‘video’ happened to be a photo compilation-slide show of a family weekend gathering, something I’m relatively new at, and a far cry from their professional work. (I wish them the best).
But he liked it!
Then he said this: “I love the way you’re not afraid to try new things and continue to grow. Most people your age just settle. Stop growing. Maybe they find something they enjoy, but they stop there and just do “that” for the rest of their lives. How many people do you know that keep trying and expanding; reaching? You’re great”!
Wow. What a compliment.
It brought to light a new perspective. Because of different life situations, I’ve had to wear many hats and have sometimes seen this as a negative. Others have told me so. I haven’t always assessed these accomplishments as assets: a positive!
Here’s a couple of thoughts: as one continues to grow, some old things must be left behind, some for a while, some for always. Knowing which is which can be a challenge. And we can’t expect everyone to understand where we’re coming from. If we stretch, there’s always the chance of rejection.
Also, we have been told that in order to be good at something, really good, you have to stick with that thing forever! But what about a different take. You’ve heard it before, “he was a real Renaissance man”. This is referring to an individual’s proficiency at a number of abilities. This used to be a “thing”. Not so much anymore as society often seems to box people into roles: teacher, business person, entertainer, artist. Any Mother knows that just ain’t so! Children are even taught that, at least up to high-school, through a well-rounded education. But many of us leave behind the variety upon reaching adulthood.
And here’s are some additional perspective: the more we become proficient at a variety of things, 1) the more it rounds out our personalities, 2) enables us to relate to wider circles, and 3) we begin to see one gift as feeding off the other.
1) Each new lens we look through allows us to see life a bit differently. Having been an artist and photo-snapper, for example, has caused me to go from looking at each single flower, leaf and stone to taking in the vastness of the world around me.
2) Personally, being able to relate to my son and nephew in their world of photography, another nephew with his writing, my daughter in her’s of cooking and travel, and many others in singing, piano, blogging, teaching, etc. This ability has enriched my life on so many levels.
3) When one is developing any gift, artistic or otherwise, it seems the additional become easier to access. I’m sure this has a scientific base, but I’ll let YOU google it!
So, think out of the box! Don’t be afraid to expand, develop, grow in whatever you’re already good at, and more. It’s okay if it isn’t in our comfort zone or we make mistakes. We all do. Whether it’s a new hobby, a new work challenge, relationship growth or trying a new recipe, it’s all ripe for the picking.
Learning is the stuff that keeps us fresh, young, vital. It helps us to reach others and become our best selves. So let’s grow, Grow, GROW!
*Thanks for reading lessonsinperspective. Feel free to follow, like and share!
Here’s another one of Sherrie’s blogs: https://2chicks2go.wordpress.com/ https://www.facebook.com/2chicks2go/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
and her Facebook art page: https://www.facebook.com/sherrierobinsart/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Photos and Graphics can be purchased: http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/sherrie-robins.html?tab=artwork
Look up! Beauty above.
One perfect Autumn day, my husband and I were walking along the escarpment near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. There were vistas, foliage, pathways, twists and turns. Waterfalls, crunchy leaves beneath our feet and various scampering varieties of wildlife.
Honestly, I was so focused on the obvious; waterfalls and vistas, snapping away at them, that I don’t think I was paying much attention to what was above me. My husband stopped me, “Sherrie. Look up. This would make a great photo, wouldn’t it”?
Just maybe we could come up with a lesson in perspective on this one? Perhaps we shouldn’t be so focused on the obvious, or the immediate, the urgent or the loudest thing roaring in our ears to forget to look up. Simple but true.
As with many things in life, I have my husband to thank for this one. He was right, don’t you think?
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/look-up/comment-page-4/#comment-761042
What the World Needs Now is Love
Another shot rings out. Another life is taken. How can this be?
This great hatred must be addressed with equal power.
For how could a platitude, a simplicity, applied in another millennia be pertinent to us here and now? Don’t be trite. Don’t be ridiculous.
But the small voice, like that as unto a child, cries out from the darkness…”Shine”.
For one candle, one light invites another.
One bloom, one blossom beckons a garden.
Even if it is buried beneath the dirt, the evil, the dark, it will endure,it will come forth, it will bring forth new life.
Let’s be the light.
Be the garden.
Shine, Bloom…love.
For LOVE is the answer. LOVE never fails. It’s what the WORLD NEEDS NOW.
#WhatTheWorldNeedsNow #LoveIsTheAnswer #LoveNeverFails #Shine
#Photography #Graphics #SherrieRobinsArt
Happy Father’s Day!
Owner of a Humble Heart
Sometimes I can see it as clear as crystal. There are days I wake up and know, beyond a shadow of a doubt with straight as an arrow accuracy, like it’s shot forth from the sun, aimed true, arriving whole, point on.
… as a mirror,sheer, sharp, angled in a reflective and repeating pattern that goes on into infinity.
Other times it’s shadowed and billowy, like smoke, hiding in the twilight, blurred and hazy.
What is this that I think I know? What is it that rings clear with truth, a pure tone, one note alone?
It is the truth of a humble heart.
For the world clamors with the noise of power and control. It pays its respects to the prosperous and those with clout and prestige, bowing to the mighty. But how have they arrived? By walking upon the the backs of the broken, wounded or needy?
…while quiet servers, builders of beauty, contributors of strength, often go unnoticed.
…the people of substance.
I’m not speaking of the pitifully pious; the stone-hurlers. Far from it. There are those who follow the true spirit of a sandal clad Christ, feeding multitudes, healing the hurting and crying with the wounded.
Nations rage, hands grasp, turmoil surges. Divisions of color, race and creed multiply like the fish of the sea.
But the humble heart is open. The humble heart is love. It is giving and kind, serving and empathetic. It clothes the naked, houses the orphan, helps the single mother with no food on her table. It doesn’t search out the bottom line or interest accrued. It reserves judgement and overlooks faults. It cares for those on the perimeters, regardless of creed, color or identity.
They will be the first to say they are far from perfect, but isn’t that the essence of humility?
There are those who are on my list of heroes, and their names aren’t etched on walls. My heart pushes past the boisterous arrogance of pulpit pounding and self-promotion, leaning in to watch as these men and women wash the dirty feet of neglected children and wipe the tear-stained faces of long-forgotten wards and hollow halls.
Not only are they the nurturers, but they are also the creators. They are those who create light, hope and purpose along the darkened pathway of a world too-often seduced by the covert, or the clamor, or sometimes shallow meanderings.
…And those humble-hearted souls are quietly plying their trade of words, images or ideas – uplifting the world as an air current does a dirigible; steering, guiding, directing the rigid or otherwise rudderless.
So, yeah. The sun is shining brightly today, shooing the clouds away, lighting up the crevices and crannies. It knows what it’s doing.
And I can see all the better for it.
Our Better Selves
Life is a series of choices. Every day we wake up, we have new decisions to make. Let’s face it, every moment there are choices to consider. And the scary thing is, they can either make or break us. And it’s not about if we will make a bad one, but when, and how many!
There are those who have more leeway than others, for choices can be limited by financial restraints, sickness or other factors. But freedom to choose our attitudes remains.
Often it isn’t what we choose regarding a situation as much as it is the preceding perspective we own before we reach it. Reasonable and positive self-talk, restraint, and empathy are healthy guidelines regarding relationships, for example. It is much easier to hold one’s tongue than to try to remove an entire foot from your mouth.
Realizing humankind has many comparable issues to deal with, each making pressing daily decisions, is helpful in keeping our attitudes balanced. If we know we’re in a similar boat, it can help us in making those attitude adjustments.
However, it’s not always so easy. Recently, I met a young woman who was facing a difficult situation at her school, having all kinds of petty relationship challenges she had to deal with on a daily basis. By the sounds of things, the group of peers she was coping with were more concerned about one upsmanship, and power than any kind of problem resolution. Under those circumstances, perhaps the best way to handle it is just to be as pleasant as possible and ignore them, moving on. We can’t change people. But, as I said, it isn’t always that simple.
Carry this to a larger arena and we have a few of the root reasons for crime, corruption, lawlessness and more.
Let’s turn back to our original premise. Choices. Looking at this larger arena, politicians make them, and more often than we’d like, make the wrong ones. The prisons, ‘poor houses’ and police stations are dealing with the down side of bad decisions. No one is exempt.
But realistically, we need not go far to see the results of poor decision making. We need simply look the mirror.
So let’s start there. Let’s start by choosing to become our better selves. By asking for help, by God’s grace, embracing empathy and purity of heart, forgiving ourselves and others for the inevitable poor choices we all make. Then perhaps with each small candle lit, individual by individual, we can engage in the bigger picture and see some solutions to the ever widening circle of problems overcoming our world today.
When is a Weed a Weed? ~ An Allegorical Poem regarding weed-like folk ~
Poem & Photography by Sherrie Robins
When is a weed, a weed?
When did it fall from grace?
It’s beauty diminished in our eyes,
Unwanted and out of place.
What are the naysayers saying?
Who has given them right?
To judge wildflowers unjustly,
To call them ne’er but a blight.
Surely, there’s bad weeds in the garden,
But it’s not always so easy to say,
Directing one’s judgments correctly,
Knowing which way’s the right way.
For beauty can be found in odd places,
Overlooked by the mere human eye,
Joy waiting just there to surprise you,
Unexpected, but revealed, by and by.
For some have come up from hard places,
Dark corners, reaching out for the sun.
They’ve reached as far as they could grow,
Without help from anyone.
Still, others have grown up together,
Just trying to do their fair best,
There are those tattered and torn in their beauty,
Needing our help, and a rest.
Not all flowers are nurtured,
Clipped, snipped, watered and fed,
But sometimes a weed is a flower,
To be treasured and noticed, when led…
(Photos taken along a walk to the Niagara Gorge, with the exception of the daisies, which are in the Berkshire Mountains, and the orchids, taken at the Buffalo Botanical Gardens.)
lessonsinperspective 