In the Middle of the Morning, In the Middle of the Night
61Let's See...Left? Right?
Ladies & Gentlemen!
Feel like you're caught in a silly story??
Free admission, pay at the door - Pull up a chair, and sit on the floor
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Hobo's and Tramps,
Cross-eyed mosquitos and bowl-legged ants
I'm here to address you, not to undress you,
about a story I know nothing about.
In the middle of the morning, in the middle of the night
Two dead boys got up to fight
back to back, they faced each other
drew their swords and shot each other.
A deaf policeman heard the noise,
came running and shot the two dead boys.
If you do not believe this lie I have just told you,
ask a blind man, who saw it all through a knot hole
in a barbed wire fence." -unknown
Do You Feel As Though You've Walked Into The Middle of a Bad Play?
Are you discouraged about the news today? Are you wondering what to do? How to react?
It's okay to be a bit scared and uncertain. It's not okay to panic. Tell yourself to be calm, you'll be alright if you make a plan.
Stressful times call for smart decisions. Picture yourself standing in front of a vending machine. Many choices are in front of you. Do you want a candy bar? Chips? Fruit? Or, maybe the smartest decision would be to buy nothing, and walk away, making a better choice for your health and finances.
Today, make changes. Decide to make a plan, trim the fat, cut the waste, all the little things you know are right, but should no longer procrastinate. Do something, do it now.
I'm reminded of a Bette Davis saying "Old age is no place for sissies."
Neither are tough times. If you're not a bit scared, then I fear a little for you; wisdom should bring a bit of fear as we look ahead. Our daily life is going to change, our budgets are at risk, we're faced with important decisions.
Fear is fuel. We can use it to "rev" up our internal engines to solve problems.
I know we can make it. My grandparents and their parents made it. And guess what? They had fun along the way. So, we may have a bit less over the next few years. Most of us have had some extras in food, fun, clothing, and household items anyway. And, if not, and you've had to pinch for many years, living frugally, then I suggest you write about the things you've learned, others need your wisdom, it could even be a marketable asset for you!
Joan Baez said "Action is the antidote to despair." Take action, do something, vow to make a difference in your situation. TAKE CHARGE. We always feel better when we are prepared. If you can't do something big, do something small.
If you can't swim, float.
If you don't have a "golden parachute" how about a golden apple? Pearls of wisdom are found in small things, plans, actions. That golden apple is achieveable and will come in the form of your survival by will, wit, and determination.
We may have to do without some things we want, even a few things we need. When I was growing up, I'm reminded of the way my father helped me with issues or problems. He didn't always give me an answer, but he always listened. Solutions were often remote and far away, or hard and complicated.
As I was experiencing indecision, my father would frequently talk about character. "What will you become? Where will your decision take you?" he would ask, when I was sharing a situation that had me worried or upset. Teaching me to think ahead, to predict outcomes, he would point to his chest, in the heart area. tilt his head to the right, move it slightly back and forth, and say something like "What will this do to you here? What is it that you are willing to settle for, here!" Those comments, those questions, always made the decision more clear.
When I faced rough, sad, hard times, what my dad was saying to me, those many years ago, was what I have more recently read:
- "It is not so much what a man is descended from, that matters as what he will descend to." -unknown
- "The highest reward for man's toil is not what he gets for it, but rather what he becomes by it." -unknown
Our big bankers and oil executives have forgotten that important characteristic of life and work. Will we?
I think that says it all. In the coming days and even months, what will you become by your toil?
Decisions, Decisions
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Comments
Hi Kulsum Mehmood! Thank you for visiting and for your comments, and nice words, come back soon!! =))
You're absoutley right with this Hub: when we feel down and out, take healthy action. However, that is not always so easy to do. It's important to have positive people to talk to when you are hurting. Not everybody has a good support system. Feel free to see me new Hub, The Cruise. Gary Eby, author and therapist.
Tough poser Marisue. Our family has recently been forced to look at our finances and money management and it can be a scary picture but we realize we can't keep our heads buried in the sand. Thanks for sharing the thoughts about descent - from and to.
Hi qlcoach - thanks for visiting my hub and you're right, surrounding yourself with positive people is key to healthy living. I've found it to be very valuable in staying positive. No Gloom and Doom friends, yet understanding we are living in gloomy times - so lift each other up, just stay away from the habitual "nay-sayers." I'll read your hub...
Hi Penmanzee, I share your concern. When we looked at our finances, we discovered the money was there, but we were overspending! We have a very important goal, and the only way to reach it, is to CHANGE. sigh. It won't be easy, - I also wish you well. At least we know we're not alone in the ditch. LOL
Hi marisuewrites,
Thank you for visiting my hubs and your encouraging words. You are my first fan and I have received first comments from you. I do like your style of writing. Looking forward to more writings from you.
Kulsum Mehmood
Kulsum Mehmood, Thank you!! I am glad you are on hub pages. Your information is very valuable, and I appreciate your reading my hubs. Can you write a pronunciation of your name for me? I bet it sounds very pretty and musical.
Good one, marisue. I am watching the Bail Out failure debacle and this Hub was very timely. You make me smile in the midst of this dark night!
Thank you storytellesrus - We are in for a hard time, and must become more self-reliant, resilient, able to "see" in the dark, like I had to do for my mom. We will survive because we must. I'd like to smile while surviving, if I can. =))
All is not lost in this trying time. Whether this trying time be the economic problems our country is facing, or the personal problems each of us faces because of it.
Your family instilled optimism in you in the face of depression (whether that be an economic depression or a personal one), and you have lived your life by those lessons.
*Pearls of wisdom are found in small things, plans, actions. That golden apple is achieveable and will come in the form of your survival by will, wit, and determination.*
Exactly.
There is a silver lining in the cloud...we need to look within before we look without.
TY, Marisue. Your voice speaks loud and clear here. It is not what has been done to us, but what we do, drawing on our sensibilities and strengths.Â
Thanks Marisue for this calm advice in the midst of the present storm. You are an insightful, thoughtful and inspired writer, even if you are my sister. Congrats on this new little charmer of an essay.
Hi Sally's Trove. Thank you for your calming voice to raging waters...somehow, we've got to walk and talk softer, more thoughtfully, taking one step at a time towards a brigher day down the road. I'm so glad you are on hub pages and we have met through all the exchanges. I am better for knowing you.
Hi tom, I thank you!! =))
Great hub, Marisue. Your father had some true wisdom going on.
Hi Constant, good to see you, he was quite a man...I do miss him a lot. =))
Hi marisue, good to read your hub again and again. I pronounce my name as :
kul - sum Meh - mud.
Hi Marisue,
Your hubs remind me of a comment about me by one of my fellow participants in a short international course: "Your backbone is made of steel". He said this because in that course we shared our life and work. I had a very tough life and still wade into a different form of uncertain waters everyday. Visiting your hubs assures me that here you are, a kindred spirit! When I feel I have wobbly legs within the day, I visit your page. Your life inspires me, Marisue! And I love your style of writing. Thanks, my Friend, for being at hubpages.
I realized again and again that now, I am drawing strength from the real and virtual world. Isn't the internet a blessing? (And a curse too sometimes, just like real life hahaha!)
awww franciaonline...I was just feeling a bit blue and checked my comments on Hubs before going to bed...and I found your lovely comment!! You lifted me up and I appreciate it so much!
It's funny how when difficult things are happening, we don't realize how strong we are, I often feel very weak...but looking back, and writing about the road we were on, I can see where strength was born. I draw on it today.
I'm glad to be your kindred spirit!! Thank you so much, again, for reading, understanding, and taking the time to tell me!!!
Yes, the internet fills many lonely moments for people!! I'm so glad it has given me a place to think, be inspired, learn, and write. =))
Hi Marisue I must have missed this one somehow. The advice is none the less sage. a journey begins with the first step and continues one step at a time. But you have to take the first step.
As usual great words lots of wisdom.
Hi Sixtyorso11 glad you liked my brief stand in the wisdom lane. LOL We all can get discouraged but with our new president and all his hard work, determination, I think our Nation is on the mend, if we can differing parties to quit bickering. LOL
thanks always for reading and letting me know what you think! I value your opinion as you know! have a super weekend!!!
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Kulsum Mehmood says:
14 months ago
Yes, it is rather difficult to make a decision sometimes. Our desicions shape up our future. You have produced a good composition. Keep it up.