Quote from Epicurus:
"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for."
There are two parts of this that I like ... "what I hoped for" ... and "do not spoil".
I worked all my life to retire early, studying the forums on earlyretirement.org. So I what I have now is what I hoped for, for at least the second part of my adult life ... with the first part being innocent bliss of youth and the third part living the dream, retirement!
So this IS what I hoped for and GOT!
There is no reason to spoil what I currently have as many people would be desperate to achieve what I have.
I am so fortunate and grateful for what I have.
Friday, February 22, 2019
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Thanks to my dharma teachers
In this gratitude post, I'd like to think and thank all my dharma teachers. There have been a few. Some, I've met in person, most of them I have experienced online.
The list of online teachers that I've never met but have listened to hours of their teachings include (in random order of stream of consciousness)
In another post I'll mention those I've met in person.
The list of online teachers that I've never met but have listened to hours of their teachings include (in random order of stream of consciousness)
- Joseph Goldstein
- Slyvia Boorstein
- Gil Fronsdale
- Andrea Fella (see Gil's links)
- Jack Kornfield
- Matthew Brensilver
- Bikkhu Bodhi
- https://bodhimonastery.org/religion/audios
- https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bhikkhu+bodhi
- Thubten Chodron
- Lama Marut
- Thanissaro Bikkhu
- Piya Tan
- Dan Harris (not really a teacher <grin>)
- Sam Harris
In another post I'll mention those I've met in person.
Friday, February 1, 2019
Thanks for my gifts
Today I worked out at the gym and spoke with the manager there. I have spoken to him a couple of times. We had spoken about how yoga is a good stress relief for me. He showed me how he shines brass to release his stress. He has a bell on his desk that he is shining. He told me that he suffers from partial PTSD from his service in one of the Iraq wars. I'll have to look again at a plaque hanging there to see which one. So thanks John for sharing with me that you have a stress and a way to relieve it. Thanks to all veterans for the sacrifices that made and make every day as a result of injuries physical and mental received while serving our country and maintaining our freedoms.
Pithy saying and response
My presence upon this earth can make a difference in the world. Make this world a better place by sharing one of your unique gifts.
One of my (many) unique gifts is to be joyful and happy. I smile at people and they smile back. It makes us both feel good. I try to remain humble but that is not one of my gifts. My other gifts are my intellect, my ability to make people feel comfortable and open up, my athleticism, my discipline.
Pithy saying and response
My presence upon this earth can make a difference in the world. Make this world a better place by sharing one of your unique gifts.
One of my (many) unique gifts is to be joyful and happy. I smile at people and they smile back. It makes us both feel good. I try to remain humble but that is not one of my gifts. My other gifts are my intellect, my ability to make people feel comfortable and open up, my athleticism, my discipline.
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
On this post, I would like to express my gratitude to teachers. As Lama Marut says in this video, "everything of value that we have learned has been taught to us by someone else". Yes, our parents, friends and even enemies have taught us things, but I'm speaking now of those people who taught us in school or on the playing field.
For me this is a long list and in no particular order;
For me this is a long list and in no particular order;
- History teachers - my favorite course in high school
- Science teachers - this includes physics, chemistry, and the electrical engineering course that were required for my Electrical Engineering degree
- Math teachers - I enjoyed differential equations when essentially the professor said that differential equations are essentially unsolvable, so you just try things until something works.
- English teachers - Going line-by-line through King Lear in High School was my first taste of getting down to the details.
- Russian language teachers - I had two that I remember very fondly, including an almost blind Mr. Hughes in high school
- I remember taking a home economics course in elementary school where I had fun learning how to measure ingredients and other things - that was fun.
- I learned how to speed read in elementary school from a special teacher
- My piano teacher in Italy Mrs. Fusco
- I had ballet teachers, soccer coaches, baseball coaches, wrestling coaches - thanks!
- I learned how to scuba dive from a young teacher ... less then half my age.
- I've learned how to take underwater photography from a number of teachers.
- I've listened to many podcasts done by teachers, especially recently one on a course on astronomy, another one on genetics, another on philosophy
- I'm learning yoga now from a wonderful teacher.
To all my teachers, I express my gratitude. THANKS!
- - - - - -
Quote of the day - The storms of my life are essential to my growth. Take Time to reflect upon how you have grown from the challenges you have overcome.
Sunday, January 27, 2019
Thank you to all wives and husbands.
On the last post, I thanked my wife of 32 years. On this post, I'd like to reflect and thank all of the husbands and wives that take care of each other (and themselves).
Married life can be rough, boring, and downright exasperating after the passion of new love and youth passes by. Creating a loving environment in which a relationship can continue is tough work. In taking care of each other couples set an example for others on how they should take care of each other as well. Some couples have children. The example they set towards each other is passed on to their children and others.
Keep calm, try not to fly off the handle with each other. Hug each other at least once per day.
Thanks to all wives and husbands!
Pithy comment of the day & reflection
The storms of my life are essential to my growth - Take time to reflect upon how you have grown from the challenges you have overcome.
The gratitude meditation I listened to today from The Mindful Movement Youtube channel.
On the last post, I thanked my wife of 32 years. On this post, I'd like to reflect and thank all of the husbands and wives that take care of each other (and themselves).
Married life can be rough, boring, and downright exasperating after the passion of new love and youth passes by. Creating a loving environment in which a relationship can continue is tough work. In taking care of each other couples set an example for others on how they should take care of each other as well. Some couples have children. The example they set towards each other is passed on to their children and others.
Keep calm, try not to fly off the handle with each other. Hug each other at least once per day.
Thanks to all wives and husbands!
Pithy comment of the day & reflection
The storms of my life are essential to my growth - Take time to reflect upon how you have grown from the challenges you have overcome.
The gratitude meditation I listened to today from The Mindful Movement Youtube channel.
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Day 5 of Gratitude
Thanks to all Mothers and Fathers!
Today I'd like to thank my wife Lisa. She has been a godsend. Probably the best decision I ever made. We have been married for 32 years. We dated for a year before we got married, so I count 33 years.
Lisa carried both my sons, Andrew, and Austin through 18 months of pregnancy. The second one became a little risky as she was considered to be of advanced maternal age, 38. She has been a trooper. She had hip surgery 2 months after giving birth to my first son so that she could keep up with him. She breastfed both sons for at least nine months, pumping milk at work after she returned to work after 6 weeks or so off. Since then she has had 3 additional hip surgeries. She is always thinking of ways to make me and my sons happier.
She loves me unconditionally. She is my #1 advocate. She does not have any patience with anyone that might slight me or be unfriendly towards me. I love her very much!
Thanks, Lisa. You are the best thing that ever happened to me!
Thanks to all Mothers and Fathers!
Today I'd like to thank my wife Lisa. She has been a godsend. Probably the best decision I ever made. We have been married for 32 years. We dated for a year before we got married, so I count 33 years.
Lisa carried both my sons, Andrew, and Austin through 18 months of pregnancy. The second one became a little risky as she was considered to be of advanced maternal age, 38. She has been a trooper. She had hip surgery 2 months after giving birth to my first son so that she could keep up with him. She breastfed both sons for at least nine months, pumping milk at work after she returned to work after 6 weeks or so off. Since then she has had 3 additional hip surgeries. She is always thinking of ways to make me and my sons happier.
She loves me unconditionally. She is my #1 advocate. She does not have any patience with anyone that might slight me or be unfriendly towards me. I love her very much!
Thanks, Lisa. You are the best thing that ever happened to me!
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Thanks Mom and Dad!
So in thinking of my parents, I suggest that as we ponder gratitude we should all give gratitude to all parents. Parents right now are changing diapers, feeding children, working to support their children. Not all parents are perfect by any stretch of the imagination but I have to imagine that the vast majority are doing the best that the can. I suppose this is why we have a Mother's Day and a Father's Day.
So, thanks to all Mothers and Fathers!
As a side note, in Tibetan Buddhism, we have all lived countless lives. Because of rebirth, karma (action and intention) and our inability to achieve liberation, we have been all sorts of animals (dogs, cats), in the hell realms, gods, people and mothers and fathers etc. So from this point of view, every sentient being around you has been your mother in one of your past lives. So we should love and respect everyone like we might a mother: I'd say an idealized mother.
So in thinking of my parents, I suggest that as we ponder gratitude we should all give gratitude to all parents. Parents right now are changing diapers, feeding children, working to support their children. Not all parents are perfect by any stretch of the imagination but I have to imagine that the vast majority are doing the best that the can. I suppose this is why we have a Mother's Day and a Father's Day.
So, thanks to all Mothers and Fathers!
As a side note, in Tibetan Buddhism, we have all lived countless lives. Because of rebirth, karma (action and intention) and our inability to achieve liberation, we have been all sorts of animals (dogs, cats), in the hell realms, gods, people and mothers and fathers etc. So from this point of view, every sentient being around you has been your mother in one of your past lives. So we should love and respect everyone like we might a mother: I'd say an idealized mother.
- Checkout this lecture by Thubten Chodron, entitled "All beings have been our mother".
- Another wonderful article and video on this topic can be found here.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)