Listing
Each year just as November's done
I sit with pad and pen -
prepared to make the perfect plan -
it's Listing Time again!
I start by listing all the lists
that I will need to make
to get me through 'til end of year
when I can take a break.
I make a list of what I'll need
so that I can prepare,
and itemize small chores to do
in moments that are spare.
I make a list of treats to bake
and how I'll tins disperse.
I make a list of who likes what
since tastes are quite diverse.
I make a list of cards to mail
and emails to send out.
(But somehow I'll forget someone,
of this I have no doubt.)
I make up lists of odds and ends;
of errands to be run.
I spend the season making lists
and miss out on the fun.
I make a list of things I want
to help the fam'ly shop -
by then I'm sick of making lists,
but don't know how to stop.
And once festivities commence
I'm listless, one could say -
and Christmas finds me all a-tilt
as I list through the day.
I check last items off last list
and heave a weary sigh.
My perfect plan somehow fell flat -
I have an inkling why.
That's why this year I'll take some risks
and leave more things to chance.
I'll formulate no perfect plan
and fly by seat of pants.
If I break down and write a list
it will look more like this:
- Give gifts of love (and worry less)
- Buy mistletoe and kiss!
- Admire the lights on moonlit walks,
- Enjoy the carols sung;
- Make time for silliness - and friends!
- and DON'T come all unstrung!
By Sharon Flood Kasenberg (November 30, 2014)
I love Christmas, but almost without fail my perfectionism around the season yields a minor meltdown. By mid-November that perfect plan is taking shape in my obsessive noggin. I have dates circled on my brain's calendar (the one that doesn't exist anywhere else - the one I know is utterly ridiculous in its optimism.) Rational me knows meeting these deadlines is impossible, but there's this other, more manic side of me that shows up around this time of year who I'll call "Holiday Dreams Sharon". She doesn't always see things terribly rationally. (She's kind of like those fluffed up holiday fashion dolls, but in her case it's not her proportions that are out of whack - just her expectations.)
"Holiday Dreams Sharon" comes with reams of paper and a full box of pens because she's always making lists. She also comes with an apron so that she won't get too mussed up when she bakes her countless tins of cookies. And she comes with kleenex boxes that are very useful when the imaginary circled dates come and go and her lists have too many unchecked items on them and her cookies burn or get dropped on the floor. I fear "Holiday Dreams Sharon" is a tad unstable, and next year she may be available with a new accessory - a wee bottle of Xanax. That is, if she doesn't get a complete redesign between now and then.
I think maybe "Holiday Dreams Sharon" needs to be re-branded. Maybe she should become just "Holiday Sharon", who comes with a tin of cookies and some dancing shoes. Maybe she should come with a down-filled jacket and a good set of walking boots for those chilly nights when she'll walk under the stars to admire the Christmas lights. Maybe she'll come with a sprig of mistletoe and a "come hither smile"? (Unlikely, as she'd have to figure out how to make "the smile" look like it suggests something other than slight craziness.) I'm just throwing out options and trying to make the point that "Holiday Dreams Sharon" could possibly benefit from a make-over.
This year "Holiday Sharon" is going to get a pull cord installed that says "Falalalalaaa" and "Hohoho" when she drops a tray of cookies instead of the kind of nasty words a nice doll shouldn't utter. She's going to conveniently forget to make endless lists. She's going to forgive herself for not sending a card to someone, or for sending all of her cards out late, and for over- (or under-) cooking the turkey and for sitting in a chair listening to John Rutter's Christmas carols when she should be doing something "useful". She's going to laugh more, and let her picture be taken, even though the camera adds twenty pounds that are hard on her flagging self esteem. She's going to stop nagging. She's going to stop stressing over the minutia, and start celebrating the marvelous.
Perfect holidays are serendipitous. They don't happen because every item on your list has been checked off and your cookies are perfectly decorated. Perfect gifts are the ones that amaze you because you had no idea that something so lovely could be associated with you in someone's mind. They are incredibly intuitive - the giver found something you absolutely love but never realized you wanted. Perfect gifts are practical and useful. They are frivolous and amusing. They are tangible, and intangible. Perfect gifts are phone calls you didn't expect, guests you wanted to see, but didn't invite and stars you forgot were so bright. Perfect gifts are hugs and kisses, and all the words that express appreciation and love.
Perfect gifts were never on your list at all.
Perfect days are full of unexpected wonder - you could never make them happen - they just do.
"Holiday Dreams Sharon" is about to be retired, before someone needs to add that bottle of Xanax to her accessory package. She's forgetting about deadlines and making shorter lists - and those only because her middle aged brain really does require a nudge or two. She's focusing more on hopes than dreams this year. She's hoping that she'll be kinder, happier and less inclined to grumble. She's hoping to be hospitable and helpful. She's hoping to become less rigid and more forgiving. She's hoping she manages to give some perfect gifts, and to be part of someone's perfect day.
Merry Christmas to all of you from Sharon and her gloriously imperfect muse. May you enjoy the peace that comes from hope and the goodwill that springs from true optimism. May you all enjoy a generous dose of serendipity and be part of someone's perfect day.
Monday, 1 December 2014
Friday, 14 November 2014
The Party Called Life? It's A Gala Affair! By Sharon Flood Kasenberg
More years ago than seem possible I saw a movie about a high school kid who ditches school for a day and has an adventure with his friends.
"Life moves pretty fast." says Ferris Bueller, "If you don't stop and look around once in while, you could miss it."
I was in my mid-twenties then, single (often dateless in fact) and impatient for the next phase of my life to begin. My life was still moving fairly slowly, but even then there were days when I was shocked to be waking up and going to work, as opposed to going to high school - or even public school.
I've lived half a lifetime since Ferris said those words, and every year goes faster than the last. At this time of year (the lull between Halloween and Christmas preparations) I tend to reflect and reminisce. As the leaves fall I'm drawn back to early spring when I was so excited to see the trees in bud. Where did those months go? Yesterday I covered up a few flowers in my garden and helped my son hang the Christmas lights, all the while amazed that another year passed so quickly.
Thus, last night as I spent a wakeful hour trying not to wake the house I came upon an unfinished poem that hit just the right note with me and quickly completed it.
A Gala Affair
Nobody remembers
the entrance they make
to the party that starts
as first breath they take.
Without any trimmings
you naked arrive
to much celebration -
you're here! You're alive!
Your mother's exhausted,
your father's relieved;
your very best entrance
has now been achieved.
The party continues
as milestones are met
and photos are taken
so none will forget
when first steps were taken
or first day of school,
or first date you went on -
you thought you looked cool!
First grade school - then high school -
is finished - and then
you move somewhere else
and begin school again.
Your studies are over -
now life has begun -
the rest of this party
is nothing but fun!
Or that's what you think
as new ventures you dare -
this party called life
is a gala affair!
With photos all flashing
you walk down the aisle
and as guest of honour
you're wearing a smile.
You settle in nicely
to marital bliss -
no party has ever
been more fun than this!
Soon filled with excitement
you'll let people know
a new guest arriving
just might steal the show.
Now you'll aim the cam'ra
as photos are shot.
New party has started -
new milestones are caught.
No longer the star you'll
now take a backseat
to newer arrivals
but hey - life is sweet!
Once guest book is filled up
the bash is full swing
and this party called life
is a fabulous thing.
This party is lively;
this party moves fast.
And most of us just want
the party to last.
As children move on to
pursue their own dreams
your party starts getting
less rowdy, it seems.
But all celebrations
don't need to be loud;
you stand on the sidelines
both happy and proud.
Soon the gala affair
becomes party for two,
the venue is smaller,
but party you do.
You know life can still be
a gala affair
where sometimes old timers
will stir from the chair.
You may not look pretty,
the young folks may stare
as you get to your feet at
this gala affair.
The party ends sooner
than most of us think.
You make that grand entrance;
you're gone in a blink.
So you, in your dentures
and I, in my wig
will take to the dance floor
and dance a last jig.
We may not be graceful
but still we'll have fun,
and keep celebrating
'til party is done.
By Sharon Flood Kasenberg (November 14, 2014)
Life does move fast, but every new day brings fresh opportunities - it isn't over until it's over. Until then we should continue to grow, to laugh, to learn, and to join in the celebration of life.
And maybe even dance a jig or two.
"Life moves pretty fast." says Ferris Bueller, "If you don't stop and look around once in while, you could miss it."
I was in my mid-twenties then, single (often dateless in fact) and impatient for the next phase of my life to begin. My life was still moving fairly slowly, but even then there were days when I was shocked to be waking up and going to work, as opposed to going to high school - or even public school.
I've lived half a lifetime since Ferris said those words, and every year goes faster than the last. At this time of year (the lull between Halloween and Christmas preparations) I tend to reflect and reminisce. As the leaves fall I'm drawn back to early spring when I was so excited to see the trees in bud. Where did those months go? Yesterday I covered up a few flowers in my garden and helped my son hang the Christmas lights, all the while amazed that another year passed so quickly.
Thus, last night as I spent a wakeful hour trying not to wake the house I came upon an unfinished poem that hit just the right note with me and quickly completed it.
A Gala Affair
Nobody remembers
the entrance they make
to the party that starts
as first breath they take.
Without any trimmings
you naked arrive
to much celebration -
you're here! You're alive!
Your mother's exhausted,
your father's relieved;
your very best entrance
has now been achieved.
The party continues
as milestones are met
and photos are taken
so none will forget
when first steps were taken
or first day of school,
or first date you went on -
you thought you looked cool!
First grade school - then high school -
is finished - and then
you move somewhere else
and begin school again.
Your studies are over -
now life has begun -
the rest of this party
is nothing but fun!
Or that's what you think
as new ventures you dare -
this party called life
is a gala affair!
With photos all flashing
you walk down the aisle
and as guest of honour
you're wearing a smile.
You settle in nicely
to marital bliss -
no party has ever
been more fun than this!
Soon filled with excitement
you'll let people know
a new guest arriving
just might steal the show.
Now you'll aim the cam'ra
as photos are shot.
New party has started -
new milestones are caught.
No longer the star you'll
now take a backseat
to newer arrivals
but hey - life is sweet!
Once guest book is filled up
the bash is full swing
and this party called life
is a fabulous thing.
This party is lively;
this party moves fast.
And most of us just want
the party to last.
As children move on to
pursue their own dreams
your party starts getting
less rowdy, it seems.
But all celebrations
don't need to be loud;
you stand on the sidelines
both happy and proud.
Soon the gala affair
becomes party for two,
the venue is smaller,
but party you do.
You know life can still be
a gala affair
where sometimes old timers
will stir from the chair.
You may not look pretty,
the young folks may stare
as you get to your feet at
this gala affair.
The party ends sooner
than most of us think.
You make that grand entrance;
you're gone in a blink.
So you, in your dentures
and I, in my wig
will take to the dance floor
and dance a last jig.
We may not be graceful
but still we'll have fun,
and keep celebrating
'til party is done.
By Sharon Flood Kasenberg (November 14, 2014)
Life does move fast, but every new day brings fresh opportunities - it isn't over until it's over. Until then we should continue to grow, to laugh, to learn, and to join in the celebration of life.
And maybe even dance a jig or two.
Thursday, 30 October 2014
Addressing Grave Concerns - by Sharon Flood Kasenberg
Addressing Grave Concerns:
Your project isn't finished yet
I must apologize -
it would be finished, you can bet
but for Mother's demise.
For good departure time she failed
to anyone consult,
but nonetheless death has prevailed
and this is the result.
It's obvious her time of death
was most inopportune -
I hear she took her parting breath
a little bit past noon.
Had she postponed 'til end of day
as I would have preferred,
my inbox would be cleared away;
work would not be deferred.
To finish up I did my best
at her visitation,
and almost cleared away the rest
during the cremation.
By her graveside I multitasked
but sadly all was lost
when for my clump of dirt they asked
and Blackberry I tossed.
It landed in her open grave
and was retrieved, but then
because I hadn't yet hit "save"
I had to start again.
Despite the inconvenience
that I have put you through,
dare I beg you for lenience
and hope I'll trust accrue?
I promise I will do my best
to see all deadlines met -
my mother has been laid to rest,
and Dad's not dying yet.
By Sharon Flood Kasenberg, October 5, 2007
In 2007 my mother-in-law had a lot of health issues and was in and out of the hospital for months on end. At one point we were summoned to the hospital and advised to say our good-byes. (Advice that was a bit premature since she lived several more years.) It was a rough time for my husband, who was constantly working - at his office by day and at home most evenings in order to satisfy the demands of a slightly tyrannical boss. After getting that call from her doctor he cryptically mentioned that it really was not a good time for her to die - and thus a poem was born.
My poem would be more darkly amusing if the scenario wasn't as common as it is - far too many people experience the crazily careening whirligig of a ride referred to as "work-life balance" and feel overwhelmed. Research suggests that about one third of North Americans feel overloaded by work and family responsibilities, and that at the end of 2013, about 70% hadn't taken all of their vacation time. Sick days, however, are on the rise, as are depression and mental illness - no surprise in a world where more than half of the people surveyed routinely brought work home with them and reported that they felt that they had to be available to their employer 24/7.
Everywhere I go I see people who seem to be busy, tired and rushed. Studies I've read indicate that over the last twenty years, due to advances in technology, productivity in the workplace has increased by more than 80% on average in Canada, but stress has risen significantly too. If you glance back at my introductory poem you'll see that a few words stand out in bold print. That's because I think that three things weigh down the "work" side of the see-saw and leave "life" in midair. These three things are the notion that we should all multitask, our collective obsession with telephones and the endless, unrealistic deadlines of the workplace.
The Myth Of Multitasking
Nobody does one thing at a time anymore - at least nobody seems to but me, and since I'm a Luddite I barely count. My idea of multitasking is dusting while listening to music, or vacuuming the house during commercials. I might try to carry on a conversation while I'm making supper, but too often food and dialogue both suffer. In a multitasking world I'm resigned to being a serial tasker who can barely manage one thing at a time.
When my children were young I was able to sort of watch them and be otherwise productive, but that's my point exactly. Most of us can sort of do two or three things at once, but only the deluded are convinced that multiple things can be done well simultaneously. Parents today are estimated to spend twice as much time multitasking as they did thirty years ago, which might partially account for the number of unhappy kids I see in the grocery store being largely ignored while the adults in their lives chat and/or text on their phones while tossing food into the cart.
Today I witnessed what could have been an epic fail on the multitasking front in a shopping mall. I was somewhat startled to see a very small child (not more than two) sitting on a large coin powered horse ride with no adult nearby. The ride stopped, and the tyke decided that he wanted off, which was problematic because his legs were about four times shorter than the distance to the ground. I made a mad dash to catch him, but luckily he managed to right himself just as I reached him. I stood guard nearby, and when I saw an older woman come out of the nearest store I commented that I was worried about the child's safety since I'd seen him almost fall.
"Oh, he's fine," she assured me breezily, as she collected the lad saying, "Nana is ready to go home now, so say good-bye to Horsey."
I couldn't believe what I'd witnessed - a loving grandma who had so carelessly left such a small child unattended (and on a moving ride four feet from a cement floor) in a public place! But obviously she thought she'd come up with a clever way to amuse her grandson and get a little shopping done at the same time. And if a babysitting grandma feels the pressure to multitask, you can bet that employees feel doubly pushed to prove their efficiency by doing many things at once. After all...
There are Deadlines to be Met.
Employers often have unrealistic expectations - like wanting you to respond to the email they send you (at three in the morning) before your work day starts. (I've heard stories.) Statistically the work week is shorter than it used to be, but most Canadians report that they work longer days than ever before. Almost two thirds of the Canadians surveyed reported working 45 hours a week or more, compared to the thirty percent who put in that many hours two decades ago. And in spite of the long hours worked, most only get paid for the 36.6 hours they spend in the work place.
All of the unpaid overtime takes it's toll on family life - in the decade between 1995 and 2005 time spent with family dropped by an average of 45 minutes per day, and if you don't count hours spent watching television together it continues to drop. (More on that in a bit.) Parents use the money they saved for the vacations they didn't take to send their children to summer camp, which decreases family time by that much more. They "outsource" child care because they have too much work to do to meet impossible deadlines. There is evidence that parents spend more time in the physical presence of their children than ever before, but less time actually interacting with them. Hmmm - now what could be responsible for that gap? My theory is technology.
Telephones (and Computers and Televisions)
I've already mentioned how a lot of employees feel pressure to take calls from the office in the evenings and on weekends, but besides tethering many to the workplace, telephones have been able to replace all kinds of gadgetry. What other device can be used as a flashlight, a level, a calorie tracker and a GPS? The sad thing is, the smarter phones get the stupider people get about phones. People drive and text, they cross streets and text, they eat and text; they sit in meetings and text. Most North Americans leave their phones beside their beds, and check them immediately before they go to sleep and immediately after waking. Telephone use is responsible for one third of the more than six hours that Canadians spend during their scant leisure hours on electronic devices. The report I read broke it down like this:
Each day, on average, Canadians play with their phones 124 minutes, watch television 104 minutes, use a PC or laptop 97 minutes, and use a tablet for 51 minutes.The average Canadian child spends about eight hours daily with electronic devices, and fewer than four hours with his or her parents - some of which is spent simultaneously viewing the same or different screens, which doesn't exactly qualify as "quality time."
Perhaps some of the facts and estimates I've mentioned are the reasons why only 23% of Canadians feel that they're highly satisfied with their lives. They're spending all of their see-saw time on the ground at work while their unused vacation days hover out of reach and their children get driven off to day camp with the nanny.
I have grave concerns about the way so many have bought into the notion that doing more things all at once (in a half-baked way) is better than concentrating on doing one thing at a time. I find it disturbing that work life continues to crowd out family life because of the technological advances that should be shortening our work days. Go ahead and blame it on the deadlines and the unrealistic expectations placed on you, but somewhere deep inside you know where the problem really lies.
In the End We All Choose
Yup - you read that right. Everyone can set limits - and where employment is concerned everyone should. You can choose to not take calls after work or on your days off. You can choose to turn off your screens and shut off your telephones and engage with your spouse and kids. My gravest concern is that so few are making good choices. Somewhere out there, men and women are multitasking their way through the momentous occasions of life - the beginnings and endings and the celebrations. Some parent is missing a child's first step or a parent's last breath while they check their email or catch up with the lives of acquaintances on Facebook.
Remember, life is short - and on our deathbeds we're not likely to look back and wish we'd spent more time at the office, or on the phone with the boss. Put down thy phone and talk - engage with the world around you and the people you love most.
And with that I'm signing off. I think I'll go visit my mother.
Your project isn't finished yet
I must apologize -
it would be finished, you can bet
but for Mother's demise.
For good departure time she failed
to anyone consult,
but nonetheless death has prevailed
and this is the result.
It's obvious her time of death
was most inopportune -
I hear she took her parting breath
a little bit past noon.
Had she postponed 'til end of day
as I would have preferred,
my inbox would be cleared away;
work would not be deferred.
To finish up I did my best
at her visitation,
and almost cleared away the rest
during the cremation.
By her graveside I multitasked
but sadly all was lost
when for my clump of dirt they asked
and Blackberry I tossed.
It landed in her open grave
and was retrieved, but then
because I hadn't yet hit "save"
I had to start again.
Despite the inconvenience
that I have put you through,
dare I beg you for lenience
and hope I'll trust accrue?
I promise I will do my best
to see all deadlines met -
my mother has been laid to rest,
and Dad's not dying yet.
By Sharon Flood Kasenberg, October 5, 2007
In 2007 my mother-in-law had a lot of health issues and was in and out of the hospital for months on end. At one point we were summoned to the hospital and advised to say our good-byes. (Advice that was a bit premature since she lived several more years.) It was a rough time for my husband, who was constantly working - at his office by day and at home most evenings in order to satisfy the demands of a slightly tyrannical boss. After getting that call from her doctor he cryptically mentioned that it really was not a good time for her to die - and thus a poem was born.
My poem would be more darkly amusing if the scenario wasn't as common as it is - far too many people experience the crazily careening whirligig of a ride referred to as "work-life balance" and feel overwhelmed. Research suggests that about one third of North Americans feel overloaded by work and family responsibilities, and that at the end of 2013, about 70% hadn't taken all of their vacation time. Sick days, however, are on the rise, as are depression and mental illness - no surprise in a world where more than half of the people surveyed routinely brought work home with them and reported that they felt that they had to be available to their employer 24/7.
Everywhere I go I see people who seem to be busy, tired and rushed. Studies I've read indicate that over the last twenty years, due to advances in technology, productivity in the workplace has increased by more than 80% on average in Canada, but stress has risen significantly too. If you glance back at my introductory poem you'll see that a few words stand out in bold print. That's because I think that three things weigh down the "work" side of the see-saw and leave "life" in midair. These three things are the notion that we should all multitask, our collective obsession with telephones and the endless, unrealistic deadlines of the workplace.
The Myth Of Multitasking
Nobody does one thing at a time anymore - at least nobody seems to but me, and since I'm a Luddite I barely count. My idea of multitasking is dusting while listening to music, or vacuuming the house during commercials. I might try to carry on a conversation while I'm making supper, but too often food and dialogue both suffer. In a multitasking world I'm resigned to being a serial tasker who can barely manage one thing at a time.
When my children were young I was able to sort of watch them and be otherwise productive, but that's my point exactly. Most of us can sort of do two or three things at once, but only the deluded are convinced that multiple things can be done well simultaneously. Parents today are estimated to spend twice as much time multitasking as they did thirty years ago, which might partially account for the number of unhappy kids I see in the grocery store being largely ignored while the adults in their lives chat and/or text on their phones while tossing food into the cart.
Today I witnessed what could have been an epic fail on the multitasking front in a shopping mall. I was somewhat startled to see a very small child (not more than two) sitting on a large coin powered horse ride with no adult nearby. The ride stopped, and the tyke decided that he wanted off, which was problematic because his legs were about four times shorter than the distance to the ground. I made a mad dash to catch him, but luckily he managed to right himself just as I reached him. I stood guard nearby, and when I saw an older woman come out of the nearest store I commented that I was worried about the child's safety since I'd seen him almost fall.
"Oh, he's fine," she assured me breezily, as she collected the lad saying, "Nana is ready to go home now, so say good-bye to Horsey."
I couldn't believe what I'd witnessed - a loving grandma who had so carelessly left such a small child unattended (and on a moving ride four feet from a cement floor) in a public place! But obviously she thought she'd come up with a clever way to amuse her grandson and get a little shopping done at the same time. And if a babysitting grandma feels the pressure to multitask, you can bet that employees feel doubly pushed to prove their efficiency by doing many things at once. After all...
There are Deadlines to be Met.
Employers often have unrealistic expectations - like wanting you to respond to the email they send you (at three in the morning) before your work day starts. (I've heard stories.) Statistically the work week is shorter than it used to be, but most Canadians report that they work longer days than ever before. Almost two thirds of the Canadians surveyed reported working 45 hours a week or more, compared to the thirty percent who put in that many hours two decades ago. And in spite of the long hours worked, most only get paid for the 36.6 hours they spend in the work place.
All of the unpaid overtime takes it's toll on family life - in the decade between 1995 and 2005 time spent with family dropped by an average of 45 minutes per day, and if you don't count hours spent watching television together it continues to drop. (More on that in a bit.) Parents use the money they saved for the vacations they didn't take to send their children to summer camp, which decreases family time by that much more. They "outsource" child care because they have too much work to do to meet impossible deadlines. There is evidence that parents spend more time in the physical presence of their children than ever before, but less time actually interacting with them. Hmmm - now what could be responsible for that gap? My theory is technology.
Telephones (and Computers and Televisions)
I've already mentioned how a lot of employees feel pressure to take calls from the office in the evenings and on weekends, but besides tethering many to the workplace, telephones have been able to replace all kinds of gadgetry. What other device can be used as a flashlight, a level, a calorie tracker and a GPS? The sad thing is, the smarter phones get the stupider people get about phones. People drive and text, they cross streets and text, they eat and text; they sit in meetings and text. Most North Americans leave their phones beside their beds, and check them immediately before they go to sleep and immediately after waking. Telephone use is responsible for one third of the more than six hours that Canadians spend during their scant leisure hours on electronic devices. The report I read broke it down like this:
Each day, on average, Canadians play with their phones 124 minutes, watch television 104 minutes, use a PC or laptop 97 minutes, and use a tablet for 51 minutes.The average Canadian child spends about eight hours daily with electronic devices, and fewer than four hours with his or her parents - some of which is spent simultaneously viewing the same or different screens, which doesn't exactly qualify as "quality time."
Perhaps some of the facts and estimates I've mentioned are the reasons why only 23% of Canadians feel that they're highly satisfied with their lives. They're spending all of their see-saw time on the ground at work while their unused vacation days hover out of reach and their children get driven off to day camp with the nanny.
I have grave concerns about the way so many have bought into the notion that doing more things all at once (in a half-baked way) is better than concentrating on doing one thing at a time. I find it disturbing that work life continues to crowd out family life because of the technological advances that should be shortening our work days. Go ahead and blame it on the deadlines and the unrealistic expectations placed on you, but somewhere deep inside you know where the problem really lies.
In the End We All Choose
Yup - you read that right. Everyone can set limits - and where employment is concerned everyone should. You can choose to not take calls after work or on your days off. You can choose to turn off your screens and shut off your telephones and engage with your spouse and kids. My gravest concern is that so few are making good choices. Somewhere out there, men and women are multitasking their way through the momentous occasions of life - the beginnings and endings and the celebrations. Some parent is missing a child's first step or a parent's last breath while they check their email or catch up with the lives of acquaintances on Facebook.
Remember, life is short - and on our deathbeds we're not likely to look back and wish we'd spent more time at the office, or on the phone with the boss. Put down thy phone and talk - engage with the world around you and the people you love most.
And with that I'm signing off. I think I'll go visit my mother.
Thursday, 16 October 2014
A Glimmer of Hope at the End of the Day - by Sharon Flood Kasenberg
At End of Day
Contrary to early reports
the evening finds me out of sorts -
my brain feels overtaxed;
my body's not relaxed.
The notion may seem radical
but mind is on sabbatical,
it functions in low gear
although it isn't here.
Still I insist that I am fine -
I know it's better not to whine
since everything's okay
in spite of wasted day.
But none the less I'm overtired
and grateful that no thought's required -
no notions for my brain
to grasp or to retain.
Now I'm prepared to merely sit
and rest my weary bones a bit
so turn on the TV
and I'll stare mindlessly.
Once it is time for me to sleep
I'll utter prayer for slumber deep
to clear my garbled mind;
leave hopeless day behind.
Tomorrow I'll face life anew,
perhaps my problems will be few -
my morning dose of hope
will tell me I can cope.
Each new dawn finds me more content
than I am when the day is spent,
the hours go by too fast -
I wish mornings would last.
Too often come those afternoons
when optimism's gone too soon,
intentions will derail
as hopelessness prevails.
Should I not feel at end of day
that I've improved the world some way -
or just myself perhaps?
Instead - I just collapse.
Perhaps in dreams I'll solace find.
I'll wake in sync with humankind
and in the hopeful dawn
find strength to carry on
beyond the morn and afternoon,
and feel as eve'ning comes too soon,
though energy has waned
some hope is still retained.
by Sharon Flood Kasenberg (finished October, 2014)
Consider the power of hope.
"Hope is often the only thing between man and the abyss"
- Dale Archer, (MD, psychiatrist and author)
Most days I wake up feeling hopeful. I greet the day groggily, but gladly - fairly certain that today I'll find the answers to at least some of yesterday's conundrums. But too often things happen to derail my happy little locomotive in its uphill climb. The sky is grey, the family isn't cooperative; I feel fat. I can't find the tools I need, or the right ingredients, to make hope hover magically throughout my entire day. And so it goes - poof - in an instant.
Heaven knows, I want hope to be magical. I wake up with all kinds of hope, looking for shiny unicorns, but it drains too quickly when the wicked witch appears instead. My anger bubbles over as I begin to listen to the ever present negative chorus in my head. Hope dissipates when I repeat all of the time wasting habits that kept me from solving yesterday's problems yesterday. Some say that's the definition of insanity, but I amend that by stating that's only the case when you honestly expect a better outcome from the same old tired routines. I'm sane enough to know better, but sometimes just too lethargic to do better. Sometimes maintaining a hopeful attitude feels like work. And so I ignore my saner instincts and go with delusion (which is almost magic - right?). Sadly it never lasts - and by end of day I feel hopelessly mired in guilt and self loathing. Another day has been wasted - nothing has improved, and riddles go unsolved. I'm hopelessly paralyzed by self doubt and not sure where to even begin fixing everything that seems messed up in my corner of the universe.
On those days I cede empowerment to hopelessness. Having cracked open my thick skull to admit the voice of delusion into the mix, I up my ante and cede my ears to the rest of the hopeless chorus. I allow myself to be serenaded by the siren songs of failure. I wallow in the abyss of hopeless misery, and when that gets old I welcome my old nemesis - anger. I rant and rave.
"Hope shapes your methods of traversing your current situation"
- Mary C. Lamia, PhD, psychologist
The last day I raged at the world - via the ears of my long suffering spouse - he asked me a good question - one that took hold in my head.
"What one thing are you going to do differently tomorrow?"
Finally, the voice of reason could be heard over the din! One. Thing. Differently. Three words reminded me that I don't need to shake up my entire routine to be more productive. I don't need to give up my morning rituals to maintain hope a little longer the day after the meltdown. What I really need to do is make one small change. Hope is kind of like that small flickering flame on those nice fast food commercials that are aired at Christmas time. It doesn't take much to extinguish it, but it doesn't take much to keep it lit either. I don't need to open windows and invite the winds of frustration, laziness or any other rampant negativity to blow out my candle of hope.
If I can manage to keep that flicker going my days are more productive and I'm happier.
In the last of his Christmas eve sermons, Marin Luther King had every reason to abandon hope and relinquish his dream of better days to come. From all appearances, times were getting worse - racial intolerance had resulted in a church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama. Poverty in the US was continuing to climb while war raged on in Vietnam. And still he refused to stop believing in his dream, and told his listeners that they must continue to cling to hope.
"If you lose hope, somehow you lose that vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go in spite of all. And so today I still have a dream."
-Martin Luther King
Hope springs eternal - if we let it. Will I still have bad days? I can hope not, even if I know I will. The abyss will always be present and the absence of hope will too often lure each of us to its edge. But that flicker of hope is only a match strike away from becoming a beacon to lead us away from the abyss. The voice of hope can still drown out the most negative chorus. Small stirrings of hope can still save us from those miserable days when everything seems most dismal.
Every small change for the better invites hope, and hope is powerful stuff. At the end of your worst days, if you have nothing but a glimmer of hope for a better day tomorrow - you have enough.
Contrary to early reports
the evening finds me out of sorts -
my brain feels overtaxed;
my body's not relaxed.
The notion may seem radical
but mind is on sabbatical,
it functions in low gear
although it isn't here.
Still I insist that I am fine -
I know it's better not to whine
since everything's okay
in spite of wasted day.
But none the less I'm overtired
and grateful that no thought's required -
no notions for my brain
to grasp or to retain.
Now I'm prepared to merely sit
and rest my weary bones a bit
so turn on the TV
and I'll stare mindlessly.
Once it is time for me to sleep
I'll utter prayer for slumber deep
to clear my garbled mind;
leave hopeless day behind.
Tomorrow I'll face life anew,
perhaps my problems will be few -
my morning dose of hope
will tell me I can cope.
Each new dawn finds me more content
than I am when the day is spent,
the hours go by too fast -
I wish mornings would last.
Too often come those afternoons
when optimism's gone too soon,
intentions will derail
as hopelessness prevails.
Should I not feel at end of day
that I've improved the world some way -
or just myself perhaps?
Instead - I just collapse.
Perhaps in dreams I'll solace find.
I'll wake in sync with humankind
and in the hopeful dawn
find strength to carry on
beyond the morn and afternoon,
and feel as eve'ning comes too soon,
though energy has waned
some hope is still retained.
by Sharon Flood Kasenberg (finished October, 2014)
Consider the power of hope.
"Hope is often the only thing between man and the abyss"
- Dale Archer, (MD, psychiatrist and author)
Most days I wake up feeling hopeful. I greet the day groggily, but gladly - fairly certain that today I'll find the answers to at least some of yesterday's conundrums. But too often things happen to derail my happy little locomotive in its uphill climb. The sky is grey, the family isn't cooperative; I feel fat. I can't find the tools I need, or the right ingredients, to make hope hover magically throughout my entire day. And so it goes - poof - in an instant.
Heaven knows, I want hope to be magical. I wake up with all kinds of hope, looking for shiny unicorns, but it drains too quickly when the wicked witch appears instead. My anger bubbles over as I begin to listen to the ever present negative chorus in my head. Hope dissipates when I repeat all of the time wasting habits that kept me from solving yesterday's problems yesterday. Some say that's the definition of insanity, but I amend that by stating that's only the case when you honestly expect a better outcome from the same old tired routines. I'm sane enough to know better, but sometimes just too lethargic to do better. Sometimes maintaining a hopeful attitude feels like work. And so I ignore my saner instincts and go with delusion (which is almost magic - right?). Sadly it never lasts - and by end of day I feel hopelessly mired in guilt and self loathing. Another day has been wasted - nothing has improved, and riddles go unsolved. I'm hopelessly paralyzed by self doubt and not sure where to even begin fixing everything that seems messed up in my corner of the universe.
On those days I cede empowerment to hopelessness. Having cracked open my thick skull to admit the voice of delusion into the mix, I up my ante and cede my ears to the rest of the hopeless chorus. I allow myself to be serenaded by the siren songs of failure. I wallow in the abyss of hopeless misery, and when that gets old I welcome my old nemesis - anger. I rant and rave.
"Hope shapes your methods of traversing your current situation"
- Mary C. Lamia, PhD, psychologist
The last day I raged at the world - via the ears of my long suffering spouse - he asked me a good question - one that took hold in my head.
"What one thing are you going to do differently tomorrow?"
Finally, the voice of reason could be heard over the din! One. Thing. Differently. Three words reminded me that I don't need to shake up my entire routine to be more productive. I don't need to give up my morning rituals to maintain hope a little longer the day after the meltdown. What I really need to do is make one small change. Hope is kind of like that small flickering flame on those nice fast food commercials that are aired at Christmas time. It doesn't take much to extinguish it, but it doesn't take much to keep it lit either. I don't need to open windows and invite the winds of frustration, laziness or any other rampant negativity to blow out my candle of hope.
If I can manage to keep that flicker going my days are more productive and I'm happier.
In the last of his Christmas eve sermons, Marin Luther King had every reason to abandon hope and relinquish his dream of better days to come. From all appearances, times were getting worse - racial intolerance had resulted in a church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama. Poverty in the US was continuing to climb while war raged on in Vietnam. And still he refused to stop believing in his dream, and told his listeners that they must continue to cling to hope.
"If you lose hope, somehow you lose that vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go in spite of all. And so today I still have a dream."
-Martin Luther King
Hope springs eternal - if we let it. Will I still have bad days? I can hope not, even if I know I will. The abyss will always be present and the absence of hope will too often lure each of us to its edge. But that flicker of hope is only a match strike away from becoming a beacon to lead us away from the abyss. The voice of hope can still drown out the most negative chorus. Small stirrings of hope can still save us from those miserable days when everything seems most dismal.
Every small change for the better invites hope, and hope is powerful stuff. At the end of your worst days, if you have nothing but a glimmer of hope for a better day tomorrow - you have enough.
Thursday, 25 September 2014
Missing: A Few Middle Aged Brain Cells! By Sharon Flood Kasenberg
Middle Aged Brain
A middle aged moment
is full of stark truth:
I'm not quite as sharp as
I was in my youth.
I stand in my kitchen -
hmmm - why am I here?
Just seconds ago it
seemed purpose was clear.
"Oh well - no big worry"
says middle aged brain,
"If reason's important
I'll find it again."
So middle aged body
just reaches for broom
intent on not wasting
a trip to this room,
and middle aged fingers
find paper and pen
and begin jotting notes
about what to do when.
I have to make lists now
and write myself notes,
which I find in pockets
of jackets and coats.
I list things to do and
I list things to buy -
sometimes they're obscure lists
made I don't know why.
My powers of recall
oft' put to the test,
I lose things too often.
It leaves me distressed.
It seems that I put things
in some "nice safe place" -
a secret location
mind's sure to erase.
Senility's lurking -
can things get much worse?
How many more brain cells
are bound to disperse?
Still, middle aged brain has
put pride on the shelf
and gratefully knows how
to laugh at itself.
I once told my mother,
"If you lose your mind
don't trust me to notice -
I'm not far behind!"
Oh middle aged brain, you
are not all that swift,
you concentrate badly,
and let yourself drift.
I thank you for giving
me reasons to smile.
I won't overtax you -
hang in there a while!
Sharon Flood Kasenberg, September 2014
It was another one of those days when the middle aged grey matter just wasn't up to snuff.
I had rescheduled my usual gym day in order to get my hair cut, so I got up and dressed and decided I should be productive until it was time to go. I ate breakfast, threw in some laundry and folded some clothes from the dryer. Then. as I was bringing a load of towels to the upstairs bathroom I noticed the dirty grout around the tub and remembered that I'd been meaning to give it a good scrub with the stuff that cleaned up the grout in the basement bathroom so nicely.
Back downstairs I went to get the grout cleaner so I could begin the task. Of course I couldn't just scrub grout without cleaning the window, and (of course) the dirt from the window and the grout both dripped into the tub and so I needed to clean it too. Then I noticed how slimy the shower curtain was, and pulled it off to toss into the washer. And the whole time I was scrubbing I had this niggling feeling that I was forgetting something.
As I rinsed out my sponge in the sink I caught sight of myself in the mirror and realized I hadn't even brushed my hair yet, so I headed toward the main floor powder room to grab my hairbrush - and as I pulled it through my hair I suddenly remembered that I'd scheduled a hair appointment that day - but when? I hunted down my purse to find the appointment slip, and consulted the nearest clock. Needless to say, in my attempt to not waste time before my hair cut I'd forgotten about the appointment altogether.
I felt really stupid when I called my hairdresser. Luckily she was understanding and able to re-scedule me for later in the day. We both wrote the missed appointment off as just another of those middle-aged brain freeze moments - the kind I've experienced all too often lately. One of my most humiliating had occurred about a week before.
After spending a week away as a family my first task was to clear all the dirty laundry out of our suitcases. I didn't pay any attention to the fact that there was laundry that hadn't been tackled before we'd left - an important detail in the story I'm about to relate.
A few days after we'd returned home I noticed that I couldn't find my favorite sports bra. So I dug out my old one and wore it on the treadmill. But the next day I noticed that another bra seemed to be missing. Again I figured it would show up. Two days later I hoped to head out to the gym, but realized that not only were three of my bras now missing (a big deal, since I currently have six), but two of my workout tops were missing as well!
I proceeded to hunt for my missing attire - searched all my drawers, looked under my bed and behind the washer and dryer - I even checked the laundry baskets I'd sent upstairs full of my sons' clean laundry. Finally I asked my older son if he'd seen any stray bras kicking around.
"What exactly are you accusing me of, Mom?" he deadpanned.
I explained that I was missing some bras and workout tops and he assured me they hadn't ended up in any of his drawers. I rechecked all the places I'd already looked, and feeling frustrated, called my husband at work to vent. I told him I had looked everywhere I could think of, and was getting a bit paranoid - was some lunatic sneaking into our house and making off with my underwear and workout clothes? I mean, wouldn't he be a bit freaked out if half his underwear suddenly went missing?
He agreed it seemed odd, and suggested a few places to look - all of which I'd already covered.
"I'll help you look when I get home," he told me. "Sometimes when things disappear it just takes another person who's not already frustrated to locate them."
I put my missing attire out of my mind and busied myself with other tasks. And when I opened my husband's closet a few hours later to put something away I noticed the basket of laundry on the floor - all of the items I hadn't bothered to wash before we went away - including thee bras and two workout tops.
When I called my husband to tell him I'd found the missing items I was laughing so hard he couldn't understand me. We were both a bit amazed by the fact that neither of us had thought of the most obvious place to look.
"Please tell me you didn't tell anyone in the office about my missing laundry!" I begged him when he got home.
"Too late" he laughed. "Now they're all calling you The Bra Hunter."
It might take me a while to live that one down - at least until my middle aged brain has another misfire.
Which means we'll all forget that incident soon enough.
A middle aged moment
is full of stark truth:
I'm not quite as sharp as
I was in my youth.
I stand in my kitchen -
hmmm - why am I here?
Just seconds ago it
seemed purpose was clear.
"Oh well - no big worry"
says middle aged brain,
"If reason's important
I'll find it again."
So middle aged body
just reaches for broom
intent on not wasting
a trip to this room,
and middle aged fingers
find paper and pen
and begin jotting notes
about what to do when.
I have to make lists now
and write myself notes,
which I find in pockets
of jackets and coats.
I list things to do and
I list things to buy -
sometimes they're obscure lists
made I don't know why.
My powers of recall
oft' put to the test,
I lose things too often.
It leaves me distressed.
It seems that I put things
in some "nice safe place" -
a secret location
mind's sure to erase.
Senility's lurking -
can things get much worse?
How many more brain cells
are bound to disperse?
Still, middle aged brain has
put pride on the shelf
and gratefully knows how
to laugh at itself.
I once told my mother,
"If you lose your mind
don't trust me to notice -
I'm not far behind!"
Oh middle aged brain, you
are not all that swift,
you concentrate badly,
and let yourself drift.
I thank you for giving
me reasons to smile.
I won't overtax you -
hang in there a while!
Sharon Flood Kasenberg, September 2014
It was another one of those days when the middle aged grey matter just wasn't up to snuff.
I had rescheduled my usual gym day in order to get my hair cut, so I got up and dressed and decided I should be productive until it was time to go. I ate breakfast, threw in some laundry and folded some clothes from the dryer. Then. as I was bringing a load of towels to the upstairs bathroom I noticed the dirty grout around the tub and remembered that I'd been meaning to give it a good scrub with the stuff that cleaned up the grout in the basement bathroom so nicely.
Back downstairs I went to get the grout cleaner so I could begin the task. Of course I couldn't just scrub grout without cleaning the window, and (of course) the dirt from the window and the grout both dripped into the tub and so I needed to clean it too. Then I noticed how slimy the shower curtain was, and pulled it off to toss into the washer. And the whole time I was scrubbing I had this niggling feeling that I was forgetting something.
As I rinsed out my sponge in the sink I caught sight of myself in the mirror and realized I hadn't even brushed my hair yet, so I headed toward the main floor powder room to grab my hairbrush - and as I pulled it through my hair I suddenly remembered that I'd scheduled a hair appointment that day - but when? I hunted down my purse to find the appointment slip, and consulted the nearest clock. Needless to say, in my attempt to not waste time before my hair cut I'd forgotten about the appointment altogether.
I felt really stupid when I called my hairdresser. Luckily she was understanding and able to re-scedule me for later in the day. We both wrote the missed appointment off as just another of those middle-aged brain freeze moments - the kind I've experienced all too often lately. One of my most humiliating had occurred about a week before.
After spending a week away as a family my first task was to clear all the dirty laundry out of our suitcases. I didn't pay any attention to the fact that there was laundry that hadn't been tackled before we'd left - an important detail in the story I'm about to relate.
A few days after we'd returned home I noticed that I couldn't find my favorite sports bra. So I dug out my old one and wore it on the treadmill. But the next day I noticed that another bra seemed to be missing. Again I figured it would show up. Two days later I hoped to head out to the gym, but realized that not only were three of my bras now missing (a big deal, since I currently have six), but two of my workout tops were missing as well!
I proceeded to hunt for my missing attire - searched all my drawers, looked under my bed and behind the washer and dryer - I even checked the laundry baskets I'd sent upstairs full of my sons' clean laundry. Finally I asked my older son if he'd seen any stray bras kicking around.
"What exactly are you accusing me of, Mom?" he deadpanned.
I explained that I was missing some bras and workout tops and he assured me they hadn't ended up in any of his drawers. I rechecked all the places I'd already looked, and feeling frustrated, called my husband at work to vent. I told him I had looked everywhere I could think of, and was getting a bit paranoid - was some lunatic sneaking into our house and making off with my underwear and workout clothes? I mean, wouldn't he be a bit freaked out if half his underwear suddenly went missing?
He agreed it seemed odd, and suggested a few places to look - all of which I'd already covered.
"I'll help you look when I get home," he told me. "Sometimes when things disappear it just takes another person who's not already frustrated to locate them."
I put my missing attire out of my mind and busied myself with other tasks. And when I opened my husband's closet a few hours later to put something away I noticed the basket of laundry on the floor - all of the items I hadn't bothered to wash before we went away - including thee bras and two workout tops.
When I called my husband to tell him I'd found the missing items I was laughing so hard he couldn't understand me. We were both a bit amazed by the fact that neither of us had thought of the most obvious place to look.
"Please tell me you didn't tell anyone in the office about my missing laundry!" I begged him when he got home.
"Too late" he laughed. "Now they're all calling you The Bra Hunter."
It might take me a while to live that one down - at least until my middle aged brain has another misfire.
Which means we'll all forget that incident soon enough.
Monday, 8 September 2014
Beyond the Boundaries: A Look at Ists and Isms - By Sharon Flood Kasenberg
ISTS:
The pessimist sees every flaw
and therefore always doubts;
the anarchist's disdain for law
will keep him on the outs.
The optimist is so upbeat
that he tends to annoy
for he will not admit defeat
and greets each day with joy.
The realists are pragmatic
and see things as they are,
but extremists are fanatic
and take things way too far.
The elitist thinks he's better
than just the average guy,
he's an A-list jet-setter
who hopes to heaven buy.
Revisionists, those editors,
delete what lacks appeal -
and terrorists are predators
with missionary zeal.
A narcissist is self-obsessed
with love enough for one,
and a defeatist is distressed
before the day's half done.
Hedonists think that pleasure
is all we should pursue;
perfectionists are never pleased
with anything they do.
The pacifist believes that peace
should come at any cost -
the pugilist will never cease
to fight, though rounds he's lost.
Theologists keep seeking God,
believing He is there;
while atheists are under-awed
and haven't got a prayer.
I can't be an apologist
for all humanity.
I think perhaps we'd co-exist
a bit more peacefully
if we spent time emphasizing
the common traits we share -
and we practiced empathizing
and demonstrating care.
But we tout our ists and isms
and let them us define -
although they induce schisms,
you have "yours" and I "mine".
I'm aiming to be humanist
in my philosophy -
to be more strict economist
with own theosophy.
In striving for indemnity
we're learning to transcend
our ist and ism enmity;
we're learning how to bend.
And though opinions I may air
through criticisms here,
I'm hoping you'll my viewpoint share -
one truth, to me, seems clear.
In spite of our diversity
we really ought to find
a little equanimity
with all of humankind.
By Sharon Flood Kasenberg, August 30, 2014
Human beings are a mass of contradictions. We pay lip service to political correctness while our behaviors too often indicate that we are anything but tolerant. We wave our political and religious views like red flags before us, inciting the irritation and wrath of those who hold other beliefs and opinions. We actively push our philosophies in public venues in hopes of winning over those around us. We are all ridiculously wrong headed about being right.
There was a time, and not so very long ago, when it was considered bad form to discuss religion or politics in social settings. The rationale for this was that social settings provided opportunities to be sociable - to pass the time pleasantly interacting with one another. That can be difficult to do when people become aggressive about imposing their "ists and isms" on a captive audience.
I blog about a wide variety of topics. I like to share my opinions and observations with anyone who wants to read them. However, two subjects I refuse to tackle are religion and politics. My views on those subjects are my own, and not about to become part of the public domain and thus subject to the scrutiny and criticism of the masses. I don't want to be defined by theological beliefs or political leanings. In truth, I hold to a personal set of religious beliefs that are mine alone, and I've voted across the board. Age has granted me experience and opportunities to see that we are all unique individuals. We do not necessarily believe everything the person in the next pew does, even if we do sit in a common congregation. We may not join the political party of the candidate we voted for. We may not wish to define ourselves with an ist or an ism. We may not want to limit others' impressions of ourselves through broadcasting particular religious or political affiliations. Perhaps there are many others who, like myself, just want others to get to know us as individuals before first impressions are muddied by sharing more divisive opinions.
I've come to believe that the world is full of hot buttons just waiting to be pushed. A lot of those buttons can be found on Facebook. Status updates have changed a lot over the past half dozen years. What started with people sharing tidbits about their daily routines has morphed into a somewhat nasty, free-for-all forum where many rather forcefully impose their ideologies, while implying that those whose ideas do not mesh with theirs are simply too stupid to understand "the facts". And lets face it, those "facts" are in a constant state of flux. Google has become adept at tracking our online exchanges and searches, and will now offer each of us the tailor-made "evidence" of our superior intellect and discernment (just Google "filter bubble" for an education). While I can handle people sharing information about a cause that matters to them, I grow increasingly irritated by those who expect me to "like", "share", "re-post" or (worst of all) sign a petition to forward their cause. I don't like the assumption implied that I feel the same way they do - or that I would share their passion for the cause if I was as smart as they are. Furthermore, I feel that I'm being put on the spot - I'm being measured, and may ultimately be found wanting.
You see, I'm only too well aware that (for many people) sharing opinions isn't enough - they want to know others feel the same way. And sometimes they don't. These people want to convince those around them to embrace the "truth" as they see it. And most times they won't. To those people I offer three little words - get over it. I've been learning this lesson the hard way most of my life - it is a fact that nobody really needs to agree with me. Those who refuse to see things the way I do are every bit as entitled to their opinions as I am to mine They are still (mostly) good people, and we don't need to see eye to eye to care about each other.
I have grown tired of seeing people hide behind their ists and isms - tired of witnessing, and experiencing, the insularity that results when we expect to spend our days surrounded by those who echo back our own dogma. In fact, I'm pretty tired of dogma - period. I think a lot, I believe some things, but I've come to the conclusion that I really don't know much at all - and I'm fine with that. It is oddly liberating to admit to ignorance. I don't want to waste my days arguing with those of you who think you've worked out the answers to everything. I'd rather spend my time on social media being sociable. (I know that sounds like a tall order, but I believe it's possible.) And when I actually see you face to face I'd prefer to spend those precious hours focusing our conversation on what we have in common, rather than on those things about which we disagree. Whatever divisive views we may hold, we can, and should, still be able to find commonalities - we should at least be able to disagree agreeably and get along.
We really don't need to believe alike, or think alike, to love alike.
So if I'm going to be defined as an ist, let me be a pragmatist who believes it just makes more sense to accept, and even try to love, those who view the world differently. Let me be a humanist who has faith in others and their ability to find common ground, for the common good. If I must be defined by an ism - if I need to enroll in a school of thought - I'll choose optimism. Some of you would choose differently, and that's okay.
Feel free to disagree, but I think it just makes sense to maintain hope that we can move beyond the self-imposed boundaries of ist and ism.
The pessimist sees every flaw
and therefore always doubts;
the anarchist's disdain for law
will keep him on the outs.
The optimist is so upbeat
that he tends to annoy
for he will not admit defeat
and greets each day with joy.
The realists are pragmatic
and see things as they are,
but extremists are fanatic
and take things way too far.
The elitist thinks he's better
than just the average guy,
he's an A-list jet-setter
who hopes to heaven buy.
Revisionists, those editors,
delete what lacks appeal -
and terrorists are predators
with missionary zeal.
A narcissist is self-obsessed
with love enough for one,
and a defeatist is distressed
before the day's half done.
Hedonists think that pleasure
is all we should pursue;
perfectionists are never pleased
with anything they do.
The pacifist believes that peace
should come at any cost -
the pugilist will never cease
to fight, though rounds he's lost.
Theologists keep seeking God,
believing He is there;
while atheists are under-awed
and haven't got a prayer.
I can't be an apologist
for all humanity.
I think perhaps we'd co-exist
a bit more peacefully
if we spent time emphasizing
the common traits we share -
and we practiced empathizing
and demonstrating care.
But we tout our ists and isms
and let them us define -
although they induce schisms,
you have "yours" and I "mine".
I'm aiming to be humanist
in my philosophy -
to be more strict economist
with own theosophy.
In striving for indemnity
we're learning to transcend
our ist and ism enmity;
we're learning how to bend.
And though opinions I may air
through criticisms here,
I'm hoping you'll my viewpoint share -
one truth, to me, seems clear.
In spite of our diversity
we really ought to find
a little equanimity
with all of humankind.
By Sharon Flood Kasenberg, August 30, 2014
Human beings are a mass of contradictions. We pay lip service to political correctness while our behaviors too often indicate that we are anything but tolerant. We wave our political and religious views like red flags before us, inciting the irritation and wrath of those who hold other beliefs and opinions. We actively push our philosophies in public venues in hopes of winning over those around us. We are all ridiculously wrong headed about being right.
There was a time, and not so very long ago, when it was considered bad form to discuss religion or politics in social settings. The rationale for this was that social settings provided opportunities to be sociable - to pass the time pleasantly interacting with one another. That can be difficult to do when people become aggressive about imposing their "ists and isms" on a captive audience.
I blog about a wide variety of topics. I like to share my opinions and observations with anyone who wants to read them. However, two subjects I refuse to tackle are religion and politics. My views on those subjects are my own, and not about to become part of the public domain and thus subject to the scrutiny and criticism of the masses. I don't want to be defined by theological beliefs or political leanings. In truth, I hold to a personal set of religious beliefs that are mine alone, and I've voted across the board. Age has granted me experience and opportunities to see that we are all unique individuals. We do not necessarily believe everything the person in the next pew does, even if we do sit in a common congregation. We may not join the political party of the candidate we voted for. We may not wish to define ourselves with an ist or an ism. We may not want to limit others' impressions of ourselves through broadcasting particular religious or political affiliations. Perhaps there are many others who, like myself, just want others to get to know us as individuals before first impressions are muddied by sharing more divisive opinions.
I've come to believe that the world is full of hot buttons just waiting to be pushed. A lot of those buttons can be found on Facebook. Status updates have changed a lot over the past half dozen years. What started with people sharing tidbits about their daily routines has morphed into a somewhat nasty, free-for-all forum where many rather forcefully impose their ideologies, while implying that those whose ideas do not mesh with theirs are simply too stupid to understand "the facts". And lets face it, those "facts" are in a constant state of flux. Google has become adept at tracking our online exchanges and searches, and will now offer each of us the tailor-made "evidence" of our superior intellect and discernment (just Google "filter bubble" for an education). While I can handle people sharing information about a cause that matters to them, I grow increasingly irritated by those who expect me to "like", "share", "re-post" or (worst of all) sign a petition to forward their cause. I don't like the assumption implied that I feel the same way they do - or that I would share their passion for the cause if I was as smart as they are. Furthermore, I feel that I'm being put on the spot - I'm being measured, and may ultimately be found wanting.
You see, I'm only too well aware that (for many people) sharing opinions isn't enough - they want to know others feel the same way. And sometimes they don't. These people want to convince those around them to embrace the "truth" as they see it. And most times they won't. To those people I offer three little words - get over it. I've been learning this lesson the hard way most of my life - it is a fact that nobody really needs to agree with me. Those who refuse to see things the way I do are every bit as entitled to their opinions as I am to mine They are still (mostly) good people, and we don't need to see eye to eye to care about each other.
I have grown tired of seeing people hide behind their ists and isms - tired of witnessing, and experiencing, the insularity that results when we expect to spend our days surrounded by those who echo back our own dogma. In fact, I'm pretty tired of dogma - period. I think a lot, I believe some things, but I've come to the conclusion that I really don't know much at all - and I'm fine with that. It is oddly liberating to admit to ignorance. I don't want to waste my days arguing with those of you who think you've worked out the answers to everything. I'd rather spend my time on social media being sociable. (I know that sounds like a tall order, but I believe it's possible.) And when I actually see you face to face I'd prefer to spend those precious hours focusing our conversation on what we have in common, rather than on those things about which we disagree. Whatever divisive views we may hold, we can, and should, still be able to find commonalities - we should at least be able to disagree agreeably and get along.
We really don't need to believe alike, or think alike, to love alike.
So if I'm going to be defined as an ist, let me be a pragmatist who believes it just makes more sense to accept, and even try to love, those who view the world differently. Let me be a humanist who has faith in others and their ability to find common ground, for the common good. If I must be defined by an ism - if I need to enroll in a school of thought - I'll choose optimism. Some of you would choose differently, and that's okay.
Feel free to disagree, but I think it just makes sense to maintain hope that we can move beyond the self-imposed boundaries of ist and ism.
Sunday, 24 August 2014
Don't Say it With Flowers! By Sharon Flood Kasenberg
Don't Say It With Flowers!
My attitude's pragmatic
where romance is concerned -
I'm not a "love fanatic"
but through the years I've learned
that there's a certain sweetness
in tears and laughter shared;
a feeling of completeness
in knowing I am paired.
The rituals of dating
seemed complex in my youth,
thus I'm now educating
by sharing gems of truth:
No girl with sense supposes
when he ceases to spend
on candlelight and roses
her happiness will end.
Love isn't tabulated
in flowers that are sent.
Blossoms are over-rated
and reek of sentiment.
Affection lasts far longer
than flowers in a vase,
and love will just grow stronger
once you've embraced his flaws.
Infatuation passes,
it isn't meant to last.
You'll shed rose-coloured glasses
once that first thrill has passed.
Then you'll dispel old notions -
ignorance isn't bliss,
and negative emotions
don't vanish with a kiss.
If somehow you've concluded
your mate will always please,
then you, friend, are deluded
love has no guarantees.
Flies land in ev'ry ointment,
love isn't always grand.
There will be disappointment
when things don't go as planned.
Romance? It will come and go
like waves upon the shore -
ignore "the ebb", enjoy "the flow"
and you'll enjoy life more.
Flowers? They may come - or not.
They're pretty for a while.
But in time they'll fade and rot
and land on compost pile.
So when it comes to flowers
this moral may be learned -
cherish instead the hours
love's given and returned.
Sharon Flood Kasenberg, August 2014
Tomorrow is my 26th Anniversary, and I'm not expecting flowers. It isn't that I don't like flowers - because I do. I'm just happier enjoying them in my garden. It isn't that my husband is a cheapskate, because he's not. He just knows that I'm not all that excited by floral arrangements. The scent is too cloying, the flowers fade too quickly and the pragmatic side of me has a hard time receiving expensive bouquets that are bound to end up in the trash.
I know women who brag about all of the flowers their spouses bring them. I'm not envious - in fact I think that a lot of thoughtless (or perhaps lazy) husbands use flowers as a very handy, unimaginative gift to mark every single occasion. Bring home a nice bouquet for the little woman and you're off the hook. Give your favorite flower shop all the significant dates, into their data base they go, and you, my friend, will never be in the doghouse for missing an anniversary or birthday again - right?
Well, I suppose that works fine if your wife isn't all that bright and hasn't picked up on how easy flowers are as a fallback gift - one that says, "I thought about you for the three minutes it took me to order a bouquet online from my chair today!" (Or maybe she crossed your mind for the thirty seconds that you panicked in the check out line, realizing that today was her birthday - before you spotted the grocery store solution to the dilemma.) I guess it's also okay if she really loves flowers and prefers them above any other gift you could ever give her. And while all you "romantic" guys may accuse me of being terribly unsentimental, I'm finding it hard to believe that there are many women out there who never want anything but flowers.
No - there will be no bouquets tomorrow, and I'm fine with that. We will celebrate as we do most years, with a quiet meal out at a nice restaurant - a meal I don't have to cook! (More of a thrill to my practical soul than flowers any day.) There have, of course, been years that we celebrated with more fanfare - on our tenth anniversary I got a ring and a weekend on the shores of Lake Michegan. Last year we celebrated 25 years with a trip to Europe, which I'm not looking to top any time soon. This year a meal out will be fine.
My husband has given me some great gifts over the years. One memorable Christmas when my sons were young he gave me gift certificates to a spa. It was bliss - quiet moments of pampering without a child in sight! He's also given me jewelry and clothing and lingerie - and miraculously I've liked most of it. The lingerie even fit! (I was pretty astounded by that last part, but when I marveled at that fact he shrugged it off by telling me he just looked at the sizes on the items I had.) Nice thoughtful gifts every now and then are wonderful, and I appreciate the many he's given me.
In the end, it isn't the flowers that matter. A good marriage isn't determined by how lavishly occasions were celebrated, or whatever tangible gifts were received.
The best marriages are counted in hugs and kisses and good memories of days spent together. They come wrapped up in good and bad shared experiences - laughter and tears. The best spouse is the one who is ready with a hand to hold, a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, an appreciative eye, and yes, even a figurative - (lest someone seize the opportunity of accusing me of promoting domestic violence!) - foot ready to give you a kick in the pants if you need it.
Stop counting - and buying - bouquets. There are so many things that cost less, and matter more.
My attitude's pragmatic
where romance is concerned -
I'm not a "love fanatic"
but through the years I've learned
that there's a certain sweetness
in tears and laughter shared;
a feeling of completeness
in knowing I am paired.
The rituals of dating
seemed complex in my youth,
thus I'm now educating
by sharing gems of truth:
No girl with sense supposes
when he ceases to spend
on candlelight and roses
her happiness will end.
Love isn't tabulated
in flowers that are sent.
Blossoms are over-rated
and reek of sentiment.
Affection lasts far longer
than flowers in a vase,
and love will just grow stronger
once you've embraced his flaws.
Infatuation passes,
it isn't meant to last.
You'll shed rose-coloured glasses
once that first thrill has passed.
Then you'll dispel old notions -
ignorance isn't bliss,
and negative emotions
don't vanish with a kiss.
If somehow you've concluded
your mate will always please,
then you, friend, are deluded
love has no guarantees.
Flies land in ev'ry ointment,
love isn't always grand.
There will be disappointment
when things don't go as planned.
Romance? It will come and go
like waves upon the shore -
ignore "the ebb", enjoy "the flow"
and you'll enjoy life more.
Flowers? They may come - or not.
They're pretty for a while.
But in time they'll fade and rot
and land on compost pile.
So when it comes to flowers
this moral may be learned -
cherish instead the hours
love's given and returned.
Sharon Flood Kasenberg, August 2014
Tomorrow is my 26th Anniversary, and I'm not expecting flowers. It isn't that I don't like flowers - because I do. I'm just happier enjoying them in my garden. It isn't that my husband is a cheapskate, because he's not. He just knows that I'm not all that excited by floral arrangements. The scent is too cloying, the flowers fade too quickly and the pragmatic side of me has a hard time receiving expensive bouquets that are bound to end up in the trash.
I know women who brag about all of the flowers their spouses bring them. I'm not envious - in fact I think that a lot of thoughtless (or perhaps lazy) husbands use flowers as a very handy, unimaginative gift to mark every single occasion. Bring home a nice bouquet for the little woman and you're off the hook. Give your favorite flower shop all the significant dates, into their data base they go, and you, my friend, will never be in the doghouse for missing an anniversary or birthday again - right?
Well, I suppose that works fine if your wife isn't all that bright and hasn't picked up on how easy flowers are as a fallback gift - one that says, "I thought about you for the three minutes it took me to order a bouquet online from my chair today!" (Or maybe she crossed your mind for the thirty seconds that you panicked in the check out line, realizing that today was her birthday - before you spotted the grocery store solution to the dilemma.) I guess it's also okay if she really loves flowers and prefers them above any other gift you could ever give her. And while all you "romantic" guys may accuse me of being terribly unsentimental, I'm finding it hard to believe that there are many women out there who never want anything but flowers.
No - there will be no bouquets tomorrow, and I'm fine with that. We will celebrate as we do most years, with a quiet meal out at a nice restaurant - a meal I don't have to cook! (More of a thrill to my practical soul than flowers any day.) There have, of course, been years that we celebrated with more fanfare - on our tenth anniversary I got a ring and a weekend on the shores of Lake Michegan. Last year we celebrated 25 years with a trip to Europe, which I'm not looking to top any time soon. This year a meal out will be fine.
My husband has given me some great gifts over the years. One memorable Christmas when my sons were young he gave me gift certificates to a spa. It was bliss - quiet moments of pampering without a child in sight! He's also given me jewelry and clothing and lingerie - and miraculously I've liked most of it. The lingerie even fit! (I was pretty astounded by that last part, but when I marveled at that fact he shrugged it off by telling me he just looked at the sizes on the items I had.) Nice thoughtful gifts every now and then are wonderful, and I appreciate the many he's given me.
In the end, it isn't the flowers that matter. A good marriage isn't determined by how lavishly occasions were celebrated, or whatever tangible gifts were received.
The best marriages are counted in hugs and kisses and good memories of days spent together. They come wrapped up in good and bad shared experiences - laughter and tears. The best spouse is the one who is ready with a hand to hold, a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, an appreciative eye, and yes, even a figurative - (lest someone seize the opportunity of accusing me of promoting domestic violence!) - foot ready to give you a kick in the pants if you need it.
Stop counting - and buying - bouquets. There are so many things that cost less, and matter more.
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