Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Let's See About Seeing
By Donovan Baldwin
I have a family member who is legally blind. She only has peripheral vision and can hold a can of food close to her eyes in a certain spot and tell what's in it, but she cannot see another shopper in front of her.
She fears losing her sight completely, and not being able to see the faces of her children.
We take our sense of sight seriously. We buy special things to see stuff better.
My eyes are getting worse as I age. I have bifocals, reading glasses, even a magnifying glass, because I want to see stuff, and see it well. I even have a pair of binoculars in the glove box of my truck for looking out at the world, or getting close and personal with the Moon.
I want to see.
I'm prepared to see.
I make efforts to see.
I bet you do too.
We want to know what stuff looks like, inside and out. We even have mirrors so that we can see how we look, and, no matter how much we say we don't, we want to see ourselves, and loved ones, in pictures.
Sometimes being able to see depends on how hard you're trying to see. We make efforts to see.
Sometimes, trying real hard helps us see things better. Looking long, looking hard, looking deep...at beautiful, impressive things.
People are beautiful and impressive.
Maybe we should look harder at them. and in the mirror, too.
I have a family member who is legally blind. She only has peripheral vision and can hold a can of food close to her eyes in a certain spot and tell what's in it, but she cannot see another shopper in front of her. She fears losing her sight completely, and not being able to see the faces of her children.
We take our sense of sight seriously. We buy special things to see stuff better.
My eyes are getting worse as I age. I have bifocals, reading glasses, even a magnifying glass, because I want to see stuff, and see it well. I even have a pair of binoculars in the glove box of my truck for looking out at the world, or getting close and personal with the Moon.
I want to see.
I'm prepared to see.
I make efforts to see.
I bet you do too.
We want to know what stuff looks like, inside and out. We even have mirrors so that we can see how we look, and, no matter how much we say we don't, we want to see ourselves, and loved ones, in pictures.
Sometimes being able to see depends on how hard you're trying to see. We make efforts to see.
Sometimes, trying real hard helps us see things better. Looking long, looking hard, looking deep...at beautiful, impressive things.
People are beautiful and impressive.
Maybe we should look harder at them. and in the mirror, too.
Labels: article about sight, article by Donovan Baldwin, blind, donovan baldwin, legally blind, life lesson, life lessons, seeing, sight
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
It's Not Always Somebody Else's Problem
By Donovan Baldwin
I'm a writer, a poet, and let me tell you, friend, it's easy to be creative when you're lying in bed and don't actually DO anything, and the brain's just wandering around, peeking into nooks and crannies.
Then, you get up, and, WHAM! There's life and the world staring you in the face, daring you to do something.
Yeah, life's mean like that.
We figure we're going in some direction, or, maybe just wandering around, looking at stuff and having a pleasant time, and WHAM! Life hits us in the face with something.
Could be good.
Could be bad.
Could be, if we're lucky, somebody else's problem.
But, maybe, sometimes, somebody else's problem is still our problem. Depends on how far we take this "family of man" idea.
I take it pretty far.
Somebody in Dubai or Antarctica gets a problem, I worry about them.
Really!
Maybe that's why we read news. Maybe it's NOT because we're just nosey and want to know other people's business and mishaps. Maybe it's because we care.
Nah!
I'm gonna go with nosey.
But, you know what?
I believe that caring is something you can learn. You walk around worrying about yourself all the time. Why not spare some of that for your neighbor?
No conclusions here.
Haven't had my coffee yet, but some poor soul won't get any coffee today.
I'm NOT sad, just concerned...musing in the morning about stuff.
Then, you get up, and, WHAM! There's life and the world staring you in the face, daring you to do something.
Yeah, life's mean like that.
We figure we're going in some direction, or, maybe just wandering around, looking at stuff and having a pleasant time, and WHAM! Life hits us in the face with something.
Could be good.
Could be bad.
Could be, if we're lucky, somebody else's problem.
But, maybe, sometimes, somebody else's problem is still our problem. Depends on how far we take this "family of man" idea.
I take it pretty far.
Somebody in Dubai or Antarctica gets a problem, I worry about them.
Really!
Maybe that's why we read news. Maybe it's NOT because we're just nosey and want to know other people's business and mishaps. Maybe it's because we care.
Nah!
I'm gonna go with nosey.
But, you know what?
I believe that caring is something you can learn. You walk around worrying about yourself all the time. Why not spare some of that for your neighbor?
No conclusions here.
Haven't had my coffee yet, but some poor soul won't get any coffee today.
I'm NOT sad, just concerned...musing in the morning about stuff.
Labels: article by Donovan Baldwin, creative, creativity, donovan baldwin, life, life lessons, poet, writing
Sunday, August 27, 2017
The Dog Did Judo
By Donovan Baldwin
Ever see a dog do judo?
I did, once.
I was driving on a country road, and one dog ran up behind a sitting dog, which did not seem to be aware of the other dog, and leaped. At the perfect moment, the sitting dog, spun and flipped the other dog through the air.
A canine sensei would have been proud of his pupil.
My son-in-law is trying judo...and regretting it, as I understand. Something about being thrown around like a rag doll, hitting the mats too hard, silly stuff like that.
Actually, he's at that point in life where he is finding out he's not a kid any more. The body does not respond, including healing, as fast as it used to.
Oh, I blame his instructor to some extent. A little more one-on-one and things might go better.
Things often go better with a little more one-on-one.
When someone does something to us, or for us, we tend to see it all in a "them" and "us" matrix. In judo, they try to get you to use the other's (Let's not say :opponent".) momentum against them, or to achieve your goal.
Of course, by the same token, I suppose you could use their momentum to assist them as well.
Takes about the same amount of energy, is less painful for everybody, and, can be implemented...one on one...at ANY time of life. Just thinking.
I did, once.
I was driving on a country road, and one dog ran up behind a sitting dog, which did not seem to be aware of the other dog, and leaped. At the perfect moment, the sitting dog, spun and flipped the other dog through the air.
A canine sensei would have been proud of his pupil.
My son-in-law is trying judo...and regretting it, as I understand. Something about being thrown around like a rag doll, hitting the mats too hard, silly stuff like that.
Actually, he's at that point in life where he is finding out he's not a kid any more. The body does not respond, including healing, as fast as it used to.
Oh, I blame his instructor to some extent. A little more one-on-one and things might go better.
Things often go better with a little more one-on-one.
When someone does something to us, or for us, we tend to see it all in a "them" and "us" matrix. In judo, they try to get you to use the other's (Let's not say :opponent".) momentum against them, or to achieve your goal.
Of course, by the same token, I suppose you could use their momentum to assist them as well.
Takes about the same amount of energy, is less painful for everybody, and, can be implemented...one on one...at ANY time of life. Just thinking.
Labels: dog, donovan baldwin, helping people, judo, life lessons, sensei
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Life Has It's Ups And Downs
By Donovan Baldwin
Life has its ups and downs...like a roller coaster. I have a friend in the roller coaster industry, who reads what I write, and put that in for her.
Sometimes these ups and downs are the result of something that happens to us, sometimes, they are the result of something we do to ourselves.
Sometimes we do it to ourselves because we don't understand what is happening to us.
Sometimes I interpret something good as something bad, or vice versa.
Silly human!
Doesn't matter the source or reality, however, the "downs" feel bad, the "ups" feel good.
We can experience crashing depression, or the most wonderful exhilaration simply based on perception or reality.
These ups and downs can even happen within the space of a few hours, or, even a few moments. One second can be all it takes to change your mood from the worst part of the ride to the other.
It's fun to be "scared" on a carnival ride...not so much in life.
But, ups and downs are a fact of life.
Knowing this, you can have some defense against the ups and downs. Doesn't mean they'll feel better or worse, but, knowing an "up" is coming can help you get through the "down". Even simply knowing that a "down" will end, sooner or later, may help too.
That knowledge can also help you enjoy the "up" part even better.
Look around. Check out the view. Squeeze your ride partner's hand...assuming it's someone you want to be with, and, who wants to be with you. Don't want you getting slapped in the middle of all that fun.
Hey!
Maybe THEY want to squeeze YOUR hand...even share a kiss!
Wouldn't that be an "up"?
Sometimes these ups and downs are the result of something that happens to us, sometimes, they are the result of something we do to ourselves.
Sometimes we do it to ourselves because we don't understand what is happening to us.
Sometimes I interpret something good as something bad, or vice versa.
Silly human!
Doesn't matter the source or reality, however, the "downs" feel bad, the "ups" feel good.
We can experience crashing depression, or the most wonderful exhilaration simply based on perception or reality.
These ups and downs can even happen within the space of a few hours, or, even a few moments. One second can be all it takes to change your mood from the worst part of the ride to the other.
It's fun to be "scared" on a carnival ride...not so much in life.
But, ups and downs are a fact of life.
Knowing this, you can have some defense against the ups and downs. Doesn't mean they'll feel better or worse, but, knowing an "up" is coming can help you get through the "down". Even simply knowing that a "down" will end, sooner or later, may help too.
That knowledge can also help you enjoy the "up" part even better.
Look around. Check out the view. Squeeze your ride partner's hand...assuming it's someone you want to be with, and, who wants to be with you. Don't want you getting slapped in the middle of all that fun.
Hey!
Maybe THEY want to squeeze YOUR hand...even share a kiss!
Wouldn't that be an "up"?
Labels: article by Donovan Baldwin, life lessons, roller coaster, ups and downs
Sunday, August 20, 2017
Doing Stupid Things
By Donovan Baldwin
Sooner or later, we all do stupid things.
We do something without thinking, blurt out words we wish we could recall, think only of ourselves and not those who care about us. We often wind up hurting not only those who hear those words, but, ourselves as well.
Sadly, while we can learn from the past we cannot correct, or change it.
Any hurt done, pain inflicted, moves forward into the future. It takes time to erase the memory of that, and, I think, most of us know that.
What we don't know is how long it will take, or how completely the parties involved, ourselves, and anyone we hurt, will be able to "forgive and forget".
The old lesson states: Hurt me once shame on you, hurt me twice, shame on me.
That's why we stay away from hot stoves...we, or someone we know, got burned, and are, naturally just a little bit afraid of them... or wary, at least.
Most of us get over that lesson, and some move on to be great cooks. Still, we never forget that time we got burned, especially if someone who should have cared about us somehow let it happen.
So, I guess, when interacting with people, especially people you value and care about, take extra special care of them, and pay attention to your words and actions, so that they can NOT fear you in the future, and will be happy to be there with you...where you want them to be.
Sooner or later, we all do stupid things.
We do something without thinking, blurt out words we wish we could recall, think only of ourselves and not those who care about us. We often wind up hurting not only those who hear those words, but, ourselves as well.
Sadly, while we can learn from the past we cannot correct, or change it.
Any hurt done, pain inflicted, moves forward into the future. It takes time to erase the memory of that, and, I think, most of us know that.
What we don't know is how long it will take, or how completely the parties involved, ourselves, and anyone we hurt, will be able to "forgive and forget".
The old lesson states: Hurt me once shame on you, hurt me twice, shame on me.
That's why we stay away from hot stoves...we, or someone we know, got burned, and are, naturally just a little bit afraid of them... or wary, at least.
Most of us get over that lesson, and some move on to be great cooks. Still, we never forget that time we got burned, especially if someone who should have cared about us somehow let it happen.
So, I guess, when interacting with people, especially people you value and care about, take extra special care of them, and pay attention to your words and actions, so that they can NOT fear you in the future, and will be happy to be there with you...where you want them to be.
Labels: doing stupid things, donovan baldwin, hurting people, life lessons, stupid
Saturday, June 03, 2017
We Start Off In Life...
By Donovan Baldwin
We start off in life not really knowing anything. For the first few years, we depend on parents, family, the people around us, to provide the framework in which we see life, relationships, people, even the future.
Over time, we come to have our own thoughts and make our own decisions...we think.
We learn from our experiences, and, vicariously, from the experiences of others, as we go.
Usually, still keeping some sort of basic framework, we begin to modify our beliefs...about life, ourselves, and others. They say that some of the "best" lessons are based in pain. Maybe those are the ones we remember more strongly.
To me, it sometimes seems easy to forget kindness and gentleness, but harder to forget pain, shame, discomfort...stuff like that. That's how it was/is with me. If I am kind, it's because others have been unkind, and I remember the pain. If I disregard a rule, it's possibly because sticking to that rule has caused needless pain in the past.
So, when I see someone act outside of what I, or society, considers "proper" or "right" behavior, I wonder if, perhaps they were hurt in the past. I know that having a "reason" for doing something doesn't make it right, but, hating someone, including yourself, for what you, or they, were trained by life to be, is something I ask myself about.
Over time, we come to have our own thoughts and make our own decisions...we think.
We learn from our experiences, and, vicariously, from the experiences of others, as we go.
Usually, still keeping some sort of basic framework, we begin to modify our beliefs...about life, ourselves, and others. They say that some of the "best" lessons are based in pain. Maybe those are the ones we remember more strongly.
To me, it sometimes seems easy to forget kindness and gentleness, but harder to forget pain, shame, discomfort...stuff like that. That's how it was/is with me. If I am kind, it's because others have been unkind, and I remember the pain. If I disregard a rule, it's possibly because sticking to that rule has caused needless pain in the past.
So, when I see someone act outside of what I, or society, considers "proper" or "right" behavior, I wonder if, perhaps they were hurt in the past. I know that having a "reason" for doing something doesn't make it right, but, hating someone, including yourself, for what you, or they, were trained by life to be, is something I ask myself about.
Labels: article by Donovan Baldwin, donovan baldwin, hate, hatred, learning, life lessons
