Tuesday

Reflections but NOT by George Carlin/HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I sent this last week but it was not WRITTEN BY GEORGE CARLIN. Several friends told me it was actually written by a Pastor Moore. To me it didn't matter who wrote it because the reflection would touch anyone's heart who is conscious about what is going on in our world. However I wanted to let you know.

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways ,but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes . These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cos t a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

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THANKSGIVING THIS YEAR..
I have so much to be grateful for this year. Last year I was in a hospital waiting for my mother to come out of her coma. It was a horrible experience and one I would not wish upon anyone. The story has a happy ending. Three weeks later, She woke up, survived and today is walking around being my mother again. (Telling me what to wear, how to do my hair and to stop eating so much!) Every time I see her I just thank God she is alive. I am so lucky to get her back. The truth is we don't think about these things until it is too late. Now every time I see her I hug and kiss her and thank God he gave her back to me another day. What a gift.
The other day I went to my first silent retreat ever! It was tough..I think the main reason was that every time I have time to think, I don't usually think positive thoughts. What we were told is that we must learn to be GRATEFUL. The truth is happy people tend to be more grateful. Now I make it a practice every morning to thank God for at least 10 things. It does put my life into perspective.
So my best thanksgiving ever is this year. I got my mother back. Everything else for that day won't matter. My heart is just not big enough to fit the gratitude I feel. I hope you will find something to be grateful for, even if it is very painful.
so I wish you a day of gratitude! Cheers and don't eat too much.


This Friday november 29th at 1pm Laury Adams discusses why social security is unfair to women and what you can do about it.

Thursday

Reflections by George Carlin and Living Smart and social security

We get so much "stuff" on e mail, a lot of it useless but yesterday I received two e mails that really touched me. One was on a cell phone salesman who wanted to be an opera singer. The judges were rude to him but when he began to sing, the audience and the judges were shocked. There was not a dry eye in the room. The man was very humble yet a giant. It was beautiful to watch.

Then I read this reflection by George Carlin (the comedian) who recently lost his wife. He said things I have felt for so many years but could not express so eloquently. Sometimes it takes a lot of pain to wake up our creative juices.

Please read it and I am sure you will see what I mean.

RELECTIONS BY GEORGE CARLIN

The paradox of our time in history is that we have TALLER buildings but SHORTER tempers, WIDER Freeways ,but NARROWER viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes . These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; SPEND TIME WITH YOUR LOVED ONES, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

Wow..that's all I can say
This Sunday November 16th while I am on a retreat. Watch Laury Adams at 3pm to learn about social security and women. The advise she shares will amaze you and save you money!

Living Smart, Joy of Living and the power of prayer

Living Smart continues this Sunday November 4th at 3pm with Sehba Sarwar of Voices Breaking Boundaries. In my 20 years doing television features, I find the people who do the most work are the most passionate. Sehba is quite driven and she has chosen to work with children and bring the best out of them. She is one of the quiet/yet loud heroes I get to feature on Living Smart.

A few days ago I had to talk to a group of women at MD Anderson hospital. Strangely enough, my father was getting his six month cancer check up the same day and my mom who was actually pregnant with me when she worked at MD Anderson 4 decades ago, came with me. I had chosen to speak about the joy of living because I have a poster in my office that reminds me to enjoy the joy of life (La Joie de Vivre)every day.
I enjoyed telling women what brings me joy but I also felt I needed to be honest and share that suffering is part of life too and that despite all the challenges we face in life, particularly at our age, we must still soldier on and work hard to be happy but most importantly to find "meaning" in life. What is contradictory in my life is that to find meaning I have had to suffer. The more pain I have felt in my life, the more I appreciate what makes me happy. I no longer take for granted that my mother is alive for instance. Why? Well, after sitting 15 hour days for 3 weeks next to her while she was in a coma, I have learned that every time I see her now, I am so grateful to God for giving her back to me. I feel great joy when I think about it.

Yesterday after the speech which ended with my favorite song. (I sang La Vie En Rose) I went over to the next building and found out that my dad's cancer had come back. I am very sad as I write this but it also brings me great joy that I have such strong faith in god and the power of prayer and the love of family and friends that I feel peace.

Like many Americans, I feel a lot of stress, so I have chosen to start spending more time relaxing, meditating and praying. I have for now quit playing music. My last concert will be Saturday November 10th at the Artery. I don't know if I will every play again. I do hope I will but for now, my mind, my soul and my voice will take a break. You should consider doing the same and finding out what brings you joy. Then repeating that activity as much as you can!