Category: Can We Talk?

Can We Talk?

September 10th Thursday Thought

Karen

Today’s question is …

In what ways would you like to change the world?

Opinions. I’d like to teach people to listen with an open mind, to weigh all of the options, from both opposing fences, and then to come to a fair, logical and informed decision.

Too many times, people are only getting one side of the story. Whether that’s from media, from friends, from family … how many times have you listened to a friend complain about a spouse, or something that happened at work, or a time when they got into trouble and you based your opinion on what that friend told you? You reared your righteous indignation on behalf of your friend and automatically rallied for your friend’s predicament or side?

Only to find out later, that there were TWO sides to the story and lo and behold, your friend wasn’t as “innocent” as he/she led you to believe?

Or you listen/watch a news story and you get worked up over THE INJUSTICE of it all, only to find out later that OOPS, that news outlet didn’t exactly give you all of the details and maybe, just maybe, it’s not as cut and dried as they (the news outlets) wanted you to believe.

Nothing – NOTHING- irritates me more than to not be given all the facts.

Another example: teaching evolution in schools. Okay. Fine. Teach evolution, but also teach creationism. Then leave it up to the individual to make his/her own informed decision. It’s insulting to only give one side of the story and then to expect people to just blindly agree with that side.

Facts are pesky little things, but they’re also necessary little things.

So, moral of this post? Get ALL the facts, THEN make up your mind.

Your turn …

Podcast

Podcast: Uproar Over a Tweet Taken Out of Context

Karen

 

Episode description:

We sort of hate to board the crazy train from President Trump’s tweet this week, but we couldn’t resist giving our two cents worth. All of this crazy actually came from a portion of President Trump’s tweet and when you read the entire tweet, the portion everyone is up-in-arms about was actually taken out of context and does not mean what everyone is trying very hard to make it mean. Is anyone embarrassed? We think they should be. Also, don’t try and make something out of nothing, context is key.

Podcast

Podcast: Right From Us – What Happened?

Karen

Season 1, Episode 8

Episode description:

What happened to 2020? It started out great, then BAM. We got the wind knocked out of us and we started looking at our neighbors with suspicion, we started isolating ourselves from humanity and we had to actively come up with a strategy to find toilet paper. We all have different stories and experiences from the nightmare commonly known as COVID – here’s our story.

Podcast

Podcast: My Fasting Journey

Karen

Guess what I’m trying ….?

I thought about doing something with my YouTube channel but that means I would have to make sure I’m presentable and … nah … I would rather talk to you in my PJ’s – who’s the wiser??

Not sure how much I will upload a podcast, but if you’re interested, here is my podcast page: https://anchor.fm/writefromkaren

This episode I update you guys on my fasting journey. And it’s been a journey, so far. Take a listen! I’m rather long winded so if you don’t have time to listen at your desk, take me on the go! It’s on Spotify as well.

One last thing, the YouTuber I mention in my podcast, Autumn Bates – she has A LOT of really good information on fasting, if you’re interested.

*TALK” to you soon!

Can We Talk?

Appreciate Now

Karen

This video really resonated with me….

I think I can appreciate this message now because I’m older.

A new year, a new beginning, a new chapter … and a time to reflect on the past. Which I don’t do, ever.

I’m a future sort of gal. I tend to only look to the future, plan for upcoming events, always thinking of what is to come. And because I tend to do that, I tend to forget to appreciate the now.

Though I feel like I’m better than I used to be.

I think Kevin is focused on the NOW. He’s always working on projects and doing things that need attention NOW. But he’s so busy living in the now that I don’t think he takes the time to appreciate the now. I’m working on coaching him to slow down, take it easy, appreciate the moments. His tasks? Will still be there whether he takes ten minutes or an entire afternoon to just STOP and appreciate the fact that he stopped and paid attention to the now.

I could be busier, sure. But I don’t want to be busier. I like having my quiet, solitude moments. I like parking my butt on my couch and reading books, or putting in earbuds and watching YouTube videos. I appreciate the moments perhaps TOO much.

But time doesn’t seem to be moving as quickly since I’ve been less busy, less productive.

I just wish I could slow time down a bit more so I can appreciate the moments even more.

Time is precious. It’s important to make the most of this precious time. But it’s also important to appreciate the previous moments as well.

It’s all about balance. And finding that balance is perhaps the most challenging part of living life.

Daily Prompts

Thoughts: 1:2:20

Karen

Have you ever made a New Year’s Resolution that you kept?

No and here’s why.

I think my resolutions have always been someone else’s resolutions. Not to say I haven’t wanted those things I’ve resolved to do but rather, they were goals that weren’t that important or realistic for my lifestyle.

Not to mention, I just get bored with trying after a while.

I’m lazy. I really am. And I’m terribly selfish with my time. I think that selfishness stems from the fact that I spend the majority of my time helping/serving others. I work in the medical field so my day comprises of being available to our patients and at my doctor’s beck and call.

I don’t feel like I truly have time for ME. Because given the choice, I WOULDN’T do this job – it goes against every grain of my body – but somehow, I’m good at it. And I’ve gotten to the point where I feel comfortable doing the job and I like my co-workers so I don’t see myself starting over any time soon.

Plus, I’m just too old to start over. I could, but I don’t think it would be a good thing, overall, to do that.

I think if alternate day fasting has taught me anything, (and yes, I’m still doing that), it’s that I need to do what works for ME. Granted, I don’t know what that is until I try different things but I need to stop and recognize when something is not working and try something else. And NOT beat myself up over failing.

Ultimately, I’m scared of failing. I’m scared of wasting precious time because again, I don’t have a lot of time TO waste. I think that’s my biggest hang up with writing – I’m scared to fail. But how can I succeed if I don’t fail?

So, though it’s good to have goals, I think it’s more important to have REALISTIC goals for YOU and YOUR life.

Daily Prompts

Thoughts: 1:1:20

Karen

I’m asking the obligatory first of the year question:

What goals do you have for this year?

I want to write more and finish a novel. Notice I didn’t say it has to be a GOOD novel, but something tangible, something workable.

I want to do a better job of balancing my work/personal life and take more days off. Life is too short.

I want to blog more.

I want to successfully complete a bullet journal. (More on that later).

I want to take more pictures.

I want to improve my mental/physical self.

I want to make money from my writing … somehow.

I want to cash in our frequent flyer miles and take a long weekend trip with Kevin (in addition to our yearly cruise).

Your turn: What goals do you have for this year?