Category: Motivation

Traditional vs. Modern Learning

Have you ever read Romeo & Juliet? I haven’t. Granted, I attended and graduated from a French high school and it likely wouldn’t have been part of the curriculum. But what if you have read it? Did you consider it useful? Or was it something you felt was a waste of your time? And most importantly, was it a waste of your time because you simply didn’t enjoy it? Or was it a waste because you felt you should be spending your time learning something more valuable?

Throughout the past decades, there’s been a trend where students (and adults) have a tendency of saying things like, “Why am I learning this? I’ll never use this later on…” Especially when it comes to subjects like algebra, advanced physics and even history, students feel that there is a significant lack in material taught in schools that could be more valuable to them in the future.

In some cases, many of them are right. Let’s say that you HAD read Romeo & Juliet. What value would it serve you, in your adult life? Well, if you chose to study something or venture into a career that involves literature, creative writing, philosophy or even journalism, it may have served an important purpose to your future plans. However, if you go into business, law of public service, the story of two star-crossed lovers bringing their respective families together through their deaths likely taught you nothing (hey, I may not have read the book, but I know the story!)

But many believe that there is an inherent value in ALL learning, regardless of it’s purpose or reasoning (I’m one of them). School is meant to provide a person with the basic skills and knowledge required to move on to their adult lives and pursue whatever careers they choose. In case you missed it, let me highlight the important word, there: basic. BASIC!!! A book such as Romeo & Juliet can teach a variety of important life skills that the reader likely never becomes aware of. Things such as enrichment of language, study of the human condition, and last but not least, time-management since you know damn well that some time-crunching teacher gave you a deadline to finish the book.

These are all valuable skills that you WILL use later on in life, regardless of what vocation you choose. But typically, we fail to realize those “unspoken” lessons and focus solely on our struggles of the moment and struggling to stay awake through class. It’s comparable to the Karate Kid, where Mr. Miyagi teaches Daniel by having him wax cars and paint fences. You know, the whole “wax on, wax off” thing? The protagonist totally didn’t understand why he was doing those things until it was shown to him in practical terms.

Don’t get me wrong; The Karate Kid is an excellent movie and reminds me of my childhood in many respects. It’s a feel-god story about the good guy winning, but it’s total bullshit. You can’t learn to block properly by waxing cars. Still a great movie. Jus’ saying… And I only use Romeo & Juliet as an example because it was one of the first that came to mind.

Something that I’ve often heard, from adults especially, is that they would have seen more value in learning things like how to draft a decent resume, write professional letters or how one does one’s taxes. But the problem is that these skills can and usually are, taught in post-secondary environments such as college and university. I remember when I was in college, we had whole classes just on how to properly apply for jobs, how to make our resumes look neat and professional and how to send correspondence. The material and lessons you learn through grade school and high school are meant to lead into that, since typically-speaking the learning is never SUPPOSED to stop.

Unfortunately, when one is competing against the likes of a society where people make a living and occasionally even get rich by being a “social media influencer” or having millions of YouTube or Twitter subscribers, learning proper math can seem a little mundane and may not have you seeing the value of what you’re learning. But the important lesson here is that in everything that is taught, there is something to learn. If you find yourself in the learning environment and wonder why in the hell you need to know this stuff, try and look beyond the immediate lesson into the skills and knowledge that may be hiding underneath. You may be surprised at what you find. ☯

When You Never Throw The First Punch…

We live in a society where bullying has a very hot, bright spotlight shining on it. Back in the early 2000’s, anti-bullying initiatives started to take the world by storm and all sorts of different things, such as pink shirt day and anti-bullying day became a thing. Since then, heavy awareness has been brought against this pointless activity (the bullying, not the initiatives), even if it’s something that has always been around. This spotlight hasn’t done much to eliminate bullying, despite things like celebrity endorsement and attention, and the many valuable resources that have been allotted to it. And why is that?

I was bullied in my youth. And no, I don’t mean the typical, snowflake version of bullying that bothers most kids these days where someone has made fun of your clothing or appearance. Not to belittle their experiences, you understand. Every person’s threshold for bullying can be different, but I was bullied in such a way where I was often physically thrown into school showers, fully clothed. I was then forced to finish my day soaking wet with no way to get dry or obtain a change of clothes (sometimes in the depth of winter).

I had my lunch taken from me, numerous times. This doesn’t sound especially harmful, but when you happen to have Diabetes it can actually be detrimental to your health. There were days when I had to make my way home and forfeit the remainder of my school day, otherwise I’d suffer blood sugar issues that I knew my school was unprepared to deal with, as a result. I’ve had groups of four or five guys actually surround me and pound me to the ground until I prayed and wished to either black out or have a teacher come along to help. One never did.

“Courage Is Fire, And Bullying Is Smoke”

– Benjamin Disraeli

I even remember the one day where, once class had let out, I walked out to the student parking lot to find my car firmly wedged between two trees on the grassy median between the student and teacher parking lots. I was incensed, and immediately went to the principal’s office where the police were promptly called to attend. Of course, nobody spoke up to identify who did it and it wasn’t the sort of crime where the cops would dust for prints and call in CSI, so the school custodian had to count down one of the trees to release my vehicle so I could drive away. I never found out who did it.

Now if you’re clever enough to do the math, the fact that I had a car at school meant that I was at least 16. I had been studying karate since I was about the age of 10. So, many of you may be asking the question, Why didn’t you do something? Oh, trust me! That day came soon enough… But until my breaking point, I had been studying martial arts with the purpose of improving my health and overall well-being. Despite the study of a fighting art, I had never used the skills I had learned in a genuine fight, as was not my way. I was not enthused at the prospect of harming another person, even if it was in defence of myself. That all came to a screaming halt, one fateful spring morning.

I walked into a late-morning language class, which ran right before lunch period. I was almost ten minutes early, as it was my custom to typically avoid recess and the crowds of people it involved. There were a couple of students in the class who had also arrived early. Three guys, whom I recognized as being some of my most frequent oppressors, walked into the classroom and immediately spotted me at the back.

The taunting started almost immediately, with all three crowding down the row and heading slowly towards me. Some of their typical tactics took place; my books were scattered to the floor, I was grabbed out of my seat and shoved hard against the wall. You know, typical bullying behaviour. The lead bully’s taunting took a different turn when, out of nowhere he pulled out a pocket knife.

Now, to prevent any thoughts that I’m exaggerating, I feel it’s necessary to describe this “knife”. It was a small, folding 1-inch blade; the kind with a small loop and chain on it meant to be used as a keychain. It was hardly a bowie knife or a short sword, and there was no thick Australian accent telling me that “this is a knife!” But even the smallest blade can be deadly, depending on the intent of the user.

The bully smiled devilishly and held the open blade at my stomach and not only questioned what I was going to do about it, but my ability to do anything. Although it came out sounding more like “Whut are ya gonna do? Nothin’! Because you can’t…” I didn’t hear anything of what he said next as my world turned red. This was my breaking point. I had been threatened, beaten, my personal property had been vandalized and my formative years that should have been pleasant and educational for me were some of the worst of my life. Like a pressure cooker with a ruptured seal that finally blew, years of bullying and abuse finally surfaced. And it was directed against this young offender who chose to make himself feel like a big man by belittling someone else.

“Just Pretend The Guy Is Like A Balloon. If You Pop ‘Em Hard, These Guys Just Go Away…”

– Tommy Gunn, Rocky V

I moved. The movement was quick and semi-precise, and to this day I don’t recall EXACTLY what I did as I responded on instinct born from years of repetitive fight training. But when my red haze cleared, the boy was sprawled on the classroom floor with a couple of desks pushed aside. His wrist was broken and there were blood drops all over the floor. It took a moment for the adrenaline to die down enough for me to feel the sting against my flesh that made me realize that the blood was mine. I looked down and saw blood dripping from my wrist, where the blade had sliced. There was also a small cut in my pants, on the inner side of my knee, where the blade had apparently visited my leg as well. A physical shred of proof that shows that when bullying happens, EVERYONE gets hurt…

The other two guys backed away and checked on their friend, who was crying and cradling his arm. I sat quietly at my desk and didn’t move. The adrenaline dump and shock basically shut me down and all I could do was sit there. As luck would have it (my luck, at least), this was about the time the teacher walked in and saw all the chaos. My wounds were patched up. Visits to the principal’s office. Calls to the parents. A week’s suspension ensued. Not my shining moment…

Over the years when retelling this story, I’ve received a lot of mixed comments from people who believe I could have done many things differently. I could have implored my classmates for help, as there were a few people there. My response is usually that they saw the entire ordeal play out and stood by and did nothing. I’ve even had some people state that I shouldn’t have allowed myself to “suffer in silence” for so long and should have gotten faculty and parents involved. Trust me, I had done that a number of times by that point, which yielded negative results.

There are a number of reasons why people decided to bully others. And that’s the key factor; being a bully is a choice. Whether it’s for power or popularity, as a means of retaliation, seeking popularity or because one is venting the pain from being bullied themselves, none of the reasons are good. And eventually, an active step needs to be taken to make it stop. This is especially true in some of the extreme circumstances we’ve seen in recent decades where some kids have ended the pain through suicide.

I’m obviously not an advocate of violence. But the unfortunate reality is that sometimes, the only way to effectively stop the bully is to strike back. That’s the reality I faced over twenty years ago, and the same is true for many kids today. I plan on teaching my sons the same lesson that a friend of mine has taught his children. When someone does you wrong or bullies, always start by communicating with them. Ask them to stop. If that doesn’t work, the next step is to seek out a teacher or adult to help brings matters to an end. But if and when all those things fail, you still need to stand up for yourself and make the suffering stop. You should never be the first to throw a punch. But you should never accept to receive a second.

Psychology Today has a good article on the reasons behind bullying. It’s one of those things that has always been around. And unfortunately always will. Whether intentional or not, there will always be those who seek personal advantage at the suffering of others. The key is to protect oneself and in doing so, ensuring that one does not slip off the edge and become a bully themselves.

My experiences changed me. Decades later, I still have two physical scars of that encounter, and a number of emotional ones that have steered some of the decisions in my life. There have been a number of opportunities where I could have easily BECOME the bully. But bullying is a weakness, and it takes and creates more personal strength to be kind and understanding of others than it does to be a thug. ☯

Don’t Be Afraid To Mix It Up…☕️

I love coffee. If you’ve read some of my posts, you’re likely all aware of this fact. And although the current state of the world has prevented me from enjoying some of my more commercially-enjoyed coffees from chains who shall remain unnamed, I still have the benefit of enjoying coffee at home.

Our Keurig machine recently died on us (There Is No Keurig In The Apocalypse), which left me with a bulk box of K-cups sitting in our cold room. My wife usually makes a pot of coffee first thing in the morning, but our preference of coffee blend/strength differs enough that I usually favour an energy drink as opposed to a traditional cup of coffee.

But a few days ago, I found myself staring at an empty coffee pot. I decided to peel open a few K-cups and brew the grounds like a traditional pot of coffee. My bulk box is Kirkland’s Pacific Bold coffee, which packs a strong flavour and aroma. I absolutely love this coffee, even if it’s not the only blend I drink. I grabbed three K-cups from the box and headed upstairs. (I’ve done this with K-cups before and knew that 3 cups would be adequate)

Despite being a 110-cup bulk box that was three quarters full, I somehow managed to grab THE ONLY TWO K-CUPS THAT WEREN’T PART OF THE BOX!!!! As much as I hate how lazy it makes me sound, I was already upstairs and didn’t feel like running back down to switch them up. So I used the three cups I had.

The three K-cups I used included a Kirkland Pacific Bold, Van Houtte Colombian Dark and Van Houtte Original House Blend. I believe the last two came from my most recent hotel stay where I didn’t have the opportunity to make coffee. Despite the strange odds of me grabbing three different cups, I cut them open and brewed a full pot.

I gotta say, it came out pretty good. I had a couple of cups, and my wife even tried it. Depending on where you purchase, blending coffee is an excellent way to enhance and complement the flavours of each. You can do this with any two or more blends. Surprisingly, most chain-store coffees are a blend of some sort and you probably enjoy it and wonder why it’s so damn good, compared to your home brew, BECAUSE it’s blended.

For the most part, it can be difficult to get an adequate supply of a singular coffee blend to allow distributors to meet demand, so most commercially-bought coffees are also blended. Blending your coffees can be a great way to explore and develop a unique coffee flavour for yourself, whether you mix beans before roasting and/or grinding them, or simply mixing purchased grounds before putting them in the coffee machine. Don’t be afraid to mix it up! ☯

Time For “The Talk”

Having children is an experience all its own. Some good, some bad and some memorable, they make life interesting in ways that nothing else can. Most parents dread the day that they’ll need to have “the talk” with their kids. The “talk” referring mostly to the birds and the bees and where babies come from. With my oldest son Nathan, I’ve been fortunate enough that he’s been able to observe my wife’s pregnancy and his baby brother’s gestation through to his birth. So he’s very aware that babies grow in mommy’s tummy, although not what GOT him there. (One battle at a time, people!)

But the talk I’m referring to, is the one where Diabetes needs to be explained. For someone afflicted with Type-1 Diabetes, having children brings on its own batch of concerns and worries. For example, the prospect that your child may have Type-1, as well. I’ve been fortunate thus far that my oldest son, Nathan, is showing no signs of being diagnosed with Type-1 Diabetes. He certainly eats like he hasn’t got a care in the world!

But one of the issues I’ve had to face in recent years is explaining Diabetes and the reason behind it. I started pump therapy while Nathan was still an infant, so in the years that followed I had to start being mindful of his grubby little paws clawing at my tubing and grabbing at the pump. We’ve come to humorously refer to my pump as my “ouchie”, and Nathan has grown up understanding not to touch it under any circumstances and to be mindful not to sit/step or grab on or around it when we’re horsing around.

A few days ago I was behind my house doing some yard work. Nathan was playing contently in the dirt and it was a beautiful day. As luck (and bad timing) would have it, I started experiencing a low, right when I was in the middle of doing a task. I tested using my Freestyle Libre and sure enough, I was in the mid 3’s!

As is his norm, it took him less than five minutes to realize I had left the back yard and to seek me out in my home office. He immediately noticed that I was feasting on some jelly beans to treat my low. He asked if my blood sugar was low, to which I replied that it was. He asked me if he could have some jelly beans as well. Not wanting to have a five-year old Tasmanian Devil bouncing off the walls, I declined to let him partake… which pissed him off to no end!

He got upset and said it wasn’t “fair” that I got to eat candy whenever I wanted and he couldn’t (which is ironic as it’s pretty much the opposite). This is when it dawned on me that although he understands to be careful around my medical devices, he may not be inherently aware of why I have them. I decided that it was now time to explain why I wear a pump and exactly what Diabetes is.

I started by using Google to bring up a diagram of the human body with the pancreas highlighted. I explained that when someone eats, the pancreas works to control the amount of sugar in the blood (a bit on the simplistic side, but come on! He’s five!) If you have too little or too much sugar in the blood, the pancreas adjusts it for you. But my pancreas doesn’t function properly, so the pump does the job for my pancreas.

Since the pancreas is a natural part of one’s body, it knows how to adjust and balance things. Since my pump is a machine, sometimes mistakes are made, which is why I have to occasionally eat sugared foods to bring my blood sugar up. And jelly beans are usually the easiest and fastest way for me to do it. If I allowed Nathan to consume my jelly beans, I wouldn’t have them in the event that I suffered a low, which was why I couldn’t share them.

To my surprise, he took everything I told him pretty well. He even repeated some details back, which indicated his understanding. All in all, I was pretty happy and proud that he understood. We also briefly discussed that if he ever saw Daddy going to sleep suddenly or being unable to move, to run for Mommy right away for help. His attention and understanding were rewarded with the sharing of one jelly bean from my pile, which made him happy and sent back on his way.

It can be hard to give kids credit where credit is due. We assume that because of their young age, they may not necessarily understand. But allowing oneself to provide even a rudimentary explanation can take some of the anxiety and concern away, especially if your kids ever see you in the throws of a bad low or having to call for help. It won’t eliminate the worry of seeing a parent carted off in an ambulance, but explaining can at least stem some of it. If the sex talk turns out to be this easy for Nathan, I can breathe easy… Although somehow I doubt I’ll be THAT lucky! ☯

Do It For Momma…

I frequently write about different holidays that come up throughout the calendar year, and sometimes about anniversaries of specific key events in my life. But one of the most important holidays that comes up every year, especially if you’re part of a typical family dynamic, is Mother’s Day…

Mother’s Day as it’s currently recognized, was first celebrated in the US in 1908 by a woman named Anna Jarvis. She had started campaigning to have Mother’s Day recognized as a holiday three years prior when her mother passed away. In 1914, President Wilson signed Mother’s Day into existence as a National holiday on the second Sunday in May.

Although Mother’s Day is celebrated in different ways around the world depending on culture and background, Canada also observes Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May, and is usually observed with gift-giving or small celebrations. That being said, the current state of affairs has made it difficult to celebrate this holiday, since restaurants and non-essential businesses are currently closed due to quarantine measures.

There’s still lots you can do to recognize your mother or the mother of your children. Make them a meal, give them an afternoon to themselves to read or relax or chose to do something together as a family at home. Living clear on the other side of the country, the best gift I can give my mother is a simple phone call. And she’s quite happy with this.

Despite all the jokes floating around the internet, being quarantined with my wife has held no negative effects on our relationship. If anything, we’ve been enjoying the increased time to be around each other and as grateful as I am for my two sons, I don’t think I’d survive being around THEM if it weren’t for the timely intervention of my wife. Mother’s Day is well deserved, considering all the weight they carry for their families. Celebrate accordingly…☯

Sip Yourself To Sleep

Recently, I wrote about different types of tea in a post entitled “Let’s TEA Off”where I described the effects of some tea and the myth that some teas such as green tea, are caffeine free.  I had some misfortune in this area, as I foolishly consumed a cup of green tea late one evening, only to have it keep me awake through half the night.  I was NOT impressed!

I’m usually not one for endorsing specific brands and types, but I’ve come upon a blend of herbal tea that I’ve found not only delicious, but completely caffeine-free. Sometimes, it’s nice to enjoy a nice, hot cup of something in the evening while reading or watching a show. And since coffee and traditional teas are out of the question because of their stimulating effect, a natural caffeine-free herbal tea is the best alternative.

This is a can of loose-leafed cinnamon rooibos chai tea that my wife and I received as a gift from our friend Lavina, some time ago. I usually don’t partake of loose-leafed tea, since it requires an infuser of some sort and honestly, who has the time? But I’ve recently taken to using the infuser we do have and I have to say, this blend of tea has really sat well with me.

The cinnamon flavour is almost akin to chewing cinnamon gum, or having a shot of Fireball without the buzzing effect. As you can see from the photo, this particular can was obtained from DAVIDsTEA, which is a Canadian specialty tea store. They sell just about every kind of tea under the sun and stars, and often offer samples of specialty blends that they offer in-store. We have a location here in Regina and two in Saskatoon.

So if you’re looking for a warm, comforting drink in the evening, a steaming-hot cup of herbal tea is the way to go. ☯

When The Way Is Right…☸️

I don’t deny that one could say I became a Buddhist almost by accident. I hadn’t even HEARD of Buddhism when I started martial arts in the late 80’s, yet here I am. Decades later, constant study and trying to follow the right path. A good portion of my story is a prime example of cause and effect. As I progressed in the martial arts, I was introduced to concepts such as Budo, Bushido’s code and my first introductions to Buddhism.

Despite the accidental introductions (or not so accidental, if one believes that all things happen for a reason) there have been a number of measurable benefits to my years of Buddhist study and martial arts. I originally got into martial arts for the purposes of improving my health, and it has turned out to provide more benefit than that scrawny kid ever could have imagined when he set out on the journey…

There’s no denying that the martial arts has provided me with a number of significant advantages.  The physical requirements and exercise has helped to improve my insulin sensitivity and fight off insulin resistance.  The intense training has provided me with better blood circulation, which as most of you likely know, is VERY important to someone with Diabetes.  Measurable improvements in body mass and appetite followed, allowing me to survive well past the window of expectation that most of my doctors had for me in the late 80’s, early 90’s.

  When I started studying Buddhism, some of the most important aspects that I began to work on were mindfulness, meditation and control of my inner thoughts and emotions.  This is not to say that I don’t display emotions (my wife can attest to that), but my practice has allowed me to control how I externalize my reactions and emotions.  Over the years, this has allowed me to deal with problems and face issues in my personal and professional life in an almost detached manner that allows for logic to step in and for the emotion to come out at a later time.

Something I need to point out is that most people automatically associate Buddhism with meditation, but the truth is that you can reap the benefits of meditation on its own.  Not only from a Diabetes standpoint but for people in general, meditation can do a world of good.  This is becoming a well-known fact, and plenty of people are getting on board.  Meditation is offered/taught in some places of work, schools and a variety of classes where different varieties of meditation are taught.

And yes, there are different types of meditation.  Some of the most popular ones are transcendental meditation, focused meditation, mantra meditation and relaxation meditation are but a few, and it all depends on what you’re trying to accomplish with the meditation that you do.  Just like there are a variety of types of yoga and types of martial arts. 

But some of the benefits of meditation can include lowering one’s blood pressure, controlling pain within the body, improving one’s sleep, helps one to focus and increase self-awareness and helps with stress and anxiety.  All of these things can be helpful with the control of blood sugars and overall Diabetic health.  You can find introductory classes on guided meditation in most major cities, and there are plenty of books on the subject as well.  Be sure to keep an open mind, and if it doesn’t feel right to you, don’t be afraid to  seek out different classes as every instructor or teacher may have a different method of imparting the knowledge.

I may have fallen into some of what I do by accident or coincidence, but I’ll never look back.  One of the beautiful aspects of meditation is that you can basically do it anywhere.  All you need is a comfortable place to sit/lie down, whatever your preference may be.  ☯

Breathe Hard If You Have To…

You know, one of the hardest aspects of trying to get/stay in shape, is judgement from others. Let’s be honest… We can say we don’t give a shit what others think until the cows come home. But the reality is that having someone else, even a total stranger, tell us that we’re out of shape or don’t look “ideal” is always a bit of a downer. Which is why I don’t understand why people do it.

The most popular example of this, would be a particularly heavy-set individual going to a public gym in the hopes of losing some weight and improving themselves. Then having one and/or many assholes, in their ignorance, point and laugh, thereby discouraging the person from going to the gym again. It’s a nasty cycle of behaviour against one’s fellow human, and you’d think we’d have surpassed it. Especially in a modern society where everyone is so damned sensitive about the least of things. But I digress…

In my driveway, just back from a quick 20-kilometre bike ride

Last Saturday (May 2nd) I took to the streets for a quick run on my bike. I like biking. Those of you following this blog have likely come to be VERY aware of this. And today was not an exception to that rule, as I decided to go rack up some mileage. As I have been trying to maintain a minimum of three fitness session of any kind every week for my year-long resolution, I had little choice but to do something as I only had two workouts on the books. I know, I know… Bad me!

I was about 10 kilometres in when I decided to do a lap of Mount Pleasant. Now, Mount Pleasant is a rounded hill of grassed landscape that is surrounded by soccer, baseball and football fields. It’s one of the nicer parks of its kind in Regina. It also has a reasonable elevation for someone cycling around its trail. Usually, I cut straight to Mount Pleasant from my home and do a circuit, sometimes two, immediately at the beginning of my journey. On this occasion, I chose to wait until halfway through my intended distance in order to be closer to exhaustion when I climbed the hill. This allowed for a deeper burn and when I cycled down and around the trail back towards the streets, I was bushed. And breathing hard.

As I come around a corner, I spot to young girls sitting on a park bench on the edge of the trail. As luck would have it, the song I was listening to ended just as I passed them and I heard one of them say, “Wow, listen to him gasping for air! He must really be out of shape…” I rode on without commenting, but something deep inside me resented being told I was out of shape, especially since these two little brats had no idea how far I had travelled at that point.

I know I’m not. I’m no 80’s Schwartzenegger, but considering I do multiple bouts of martial arts, cycling and circuit workouts every week (not to mention keeping up with a hyperactive 5-year old), I would hardly fit the standard definition of being out of shape. So why do we care? Why would anyone care what someone else thinks about their physical shape? It all comes down to aspects of social acceptance, being included and feeling valued by the people around us. It stems from an evolutionary need to be included in the pack, or face dying alone.

But the reality is that it doesn’t matter. Breathe hard if you need to. because I’ll tell you something: If you’re not breathing hard, if you’re not sweating buckets and if you’re not struggling to finish that workout… Then, my friend, you aren’t working out hard enough. Even if you are working harder than two little snowflake brats with their yoga apparel that’s likely never seen a drop of sweat and their off-the-cuff opinions of others… But once again, I digress… ☯

Even If All Things Happen For A Reason…

There is a significant balance in life that one needs to acknowledge. For the most part, do well and you’ll live well. If you do wrong, you can expect to eventually crash and burn. This is a pretty basic rule to life that most people adhere to. Hmm… I think that has something to do with that whole karma thing. I’ve long been a firm believer that all things happen for a reason. That reason may not always be clear to some, but I’ve had enough instances in my own life where I’ve been able to trace the cause and effect of those instances to know it to be true.

The important thing to remember is that even though all things may HAPPEN for a reason, it doesn’t mean that it necessarily happens on its own.

“If It’s Meant To Be, It’ll Happen…”

– Lazy, Delusional Fools

I’ve heard the above statement often, from a lot of different people. “If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen…” Mmm, no! Nope! Nada! No, it won’t. Most of the time, this is said by people who are afraid or unwilling to go out and make things happen for themselves. And that’s exactly what NEEDS to be done. You gotta go out and make things happen.

This is an important life lesson, and one that many people in today’s altered society don’t seem to comprehend. There seems to be an almost undeniable belief in today’s society that good things can and will happen for you if you simply sit back and wait Coupled with this is an aggravating sense of entitlement that the most recent generations seem to have developed, where they feel that they should have something coming to them despite barely ever having lifted a finger.

Life doesn’t care about your plan. Light knows, I’ve said that often enough. But life is also like a book. And every book has a start and an end. It’s the chapters in between that are up to you to fill. How full and complete those chapters may be is up to you. Although all things happen for a reason, there’s nothing stopping you from going out and making those reasons happen for yourself. In fact, life can/will be exponentially better if you do. ☯

May The 4th Be With You

Just a quick note to wish everyone a Happy Star Wars Day… All my friends know that I’m a die-hard Star Wars fan, and I’ve had the benefit of enjoying every film and series put out by the brand (Even the horrendous Solo movie, which I can honestly say was terrible!).

The only exception to this has been the most recent release of Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker. I didn’t make it in to the theatres to see it when it was released, and then the world turned to shit in a hot hurry. I’ve been watching prices for the DVD on the rare occasion I’ve had to venture out for groceries and necessities, but I’ve come to realize that I’m a cheapskate when it comes to non-essentials.

That being said, I recently subscribed to Disney+ for my household to enjoy. Streaming services are usually wonderful because you get access to content on your own schedule that you usually wouldn’t through traditional television services. So I was quite pleased to see that Star Wars Episode IX was released on Disney+ this morning in conjunction with Star Wars day. Guess what I’ll be doing tonight…

So, if you haven’t seen it, I encourage you to have a relaxing movie day on the couch. Hell, why not watch the entire 9-movie saga! If you start right now, you could be done by about 3 a.m. (local Saskatchewan time) Otherwise, Happy Star Wars Day!!! ☯