Joe - Happy Birthday To You

So its your birthday? Last one in your twenties. The thirties become even better.



Happy Birthday to you!!

Stand Against The Wind

Two Trees Diptych by Christina Goodman

“Stand together, yet not too near together; For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.” -Khalil Gibran

Each of us go through seasons in our life. The good ones which spring forth promise of joy and great things. All that happens is good and we seem to float along without a care.

We also have those cold and wintery times when we want to crawl under a blanket and shiver from the seemingly bad that encompasses us. We long for greater things but the darkness of winter never seems to abate.

It is during both the good and the bad that we should never stand alone. As different as we are from one another, we can stand firm for someone in need. And while we wilt against the bad, someone will be there for us.

Women have a very intense understanding of this. But men have a built in belief that it makes them less of a man not to stand alone. We fail to see that other men are going through the same types of issues. We fail to see that it is okay to lean on a brother.

The one which stands alone becomes the easy prey while the ones which stand together are a more imposing force. The Spartans knew this lesson and used it very effectively. When being attacked, they stood together in close formation and their shields became one impenetrable shield.

Then as one they moved against the enemy, one force, one unbroken force that no enemy could stand against. Doing more then one single man could do alone, brother to brother, shoulder to shoulder.

Each of us are different as the trees of a forest can be. But together we can become a wall which breaks the force of the wind. A wind that would try to bend and break us individually can be beaten back together.

Stand with your brother through both the good and the bad. Stand in support of the other when the winds try to break you apart.

Singing of Grandparents

I found this video by David Choi, that was too good to pass up. It brought back to very few memories I have of my own grandparents. As I was the second to the youngest in a large family, I think my grandparents were already old when I was born.

I was lucky to have my mother's Mom live into her 90s, so many memories of her. But for the others, there are single moments in time that I cherish.



Cherish and take care of them for they paved a path for you to walk. They smoothed the road a little bit, planted the flowers and trimmed the grass along the way. Take care of them and build your memories to pass down to all generations.

Enter At Your Own Risk

You've seen them, disclaimers ranging from the simple to the most complicated legal jargon one could imagine. Many times these are meant to protect the 'issuer' from any responsibility. Seems a little odd that someone would put forth something and then not want to take any responsibility for it. Here you go Mr. Customer, this really isn't very safe but please buy it and if it causes harm, well its not our fault.

One then has to think about the other side of this coin we've created. A product designed to remove stains in white clothes. Of course, its bleach. Yet someone decides that if it works on clothes, maybe it will clean the ink stains on my arm. They use it in an improper manner getting a rash or burn on their skin. They blame or take legal action. Well Mr. Seller, you didn't tell me I couldn't use it that way and its not my fault.

In Ireland, there is an old castle in Blarney that I have visited many times. As you approach the doorway to go in the actual castle, there is one of those typical "ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK" signs. The kind that many of us simply ignore. But as you walk through this place, you really could quite easily hurt yourself. It is unlike in the U.S. where these signs are posted. And with that there is every conceivable safety device to keep you from harming yourself.

I find it amusing because the sign in Ireland is more real and forces you to truly accept responsibility. Yes, you could hurt yourself but we are allowing you to see this magnificent old building. Whereas in the U.S., you are warned and all the safety devices are there but it exists to protect them from the legal fight that will occur when you get a splinter from dragging your hand down a wooden banister.

There are many versions and variations that swing from one end of the spectrum to the other. What I marvel at is that we work so very hard at avoiding personal responsibility for things. I'm not suggesting that there are no valid reasons on either side, but I do believe again that personal responsibility needs higher consideration.

Personal responsibility is something each of us should have and consider in all that we do. If we are the producer of something, are we doing everything we can to ensure it is safe and appropriate. If we are the consumer of something, are we using it in a safe and appropriate manner. It also goes for decisions and actions we take in life. Are we taking responsibility for our own actions whether it be our attitude, our work or our family?

The only thing we had no choice in was being born. But living life itself is full of risk. All of us live that life and "ENTER AT OUR OWN RISK" until the day we don't. Assume responsibility for your own life. Choose to live life with a great attitude and willingness to make it better for others. The 'risks' are well worth it.