Category: Attitude

Prez Day

On By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, culture, examples, Insight, leadership, politicsLeave a comment

Honoring George Washington’s Birthday, that’s the idea behind this federal holiday we have the third Monday in February. More that just Washington, it’s become a day to honor the current president, and all presidents that have preceded.

Well, I’m glad to have the day off work so I can hang with my family. Beyond that, I’ve got a mixed bag of thoughts otherwise around the idea of honoring all presidents that have lead our country.

As an institution and given our model of government, we need an executive to run the day-to-day operations of our government. Along with the legislative branch and judicial branch, and with the rule of law as our guiding principle, the president’s administration should lead the agenda as set by the majority, and hopefully beyond that, the will of the people in the whole electorate.

It doesn’t seem that our current president leads in this manner; but then that’s probably been said of others who’ve sat in that high office.

Our founding president was guided by fundamental values of decency and doing the right thing. As an example from his youth, consider “rules of civility” in circulation at the time that young Washington copies into his school notebook. Rule 1: “Every Action done in Company, ought to be with Some Sign of Respect, to those that are Present.” Rule 110, the last one: “Labour to keep alive in your Breast that Little Spark of Ce[les]tial fire Called Conscience.”

We’ve had the whole range of presidents in our country’s history; depending on your preferences and politics, your perspective on any of them, including the one currently in office, might differ.

In the end, and at this particularly divisive time in our national political discourse, it would be refreshing, and maybe healing too, if we could agree our president should lead by an ethos of the whole collective: drawing others together, inspiring, providing a voice for the vision of what is possible, and for the vast majority, and do so in an honest and forthright manner.

Happy Birthday, George, Happy Presidents Day.

Remember Me Out of Love

On By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, faith, Happy, Insight, lifestyle, marriage, mental health, ServiceLeave a comment

This refrain from Psalm 105 stands out for me this weekend. It’s from one of the Saturday readings.

In one of the loaves and fishes stories from Sunday, the motivation is similar: act out of love. Fundamentally, that’s what Jesus taught us. Act out of love.

Elsewhere in his teachings he boiled all the laws down to two basic rules: Love God. Love one another.

Let love guide all your actions and you’ll make the right decisions each time. Every time.

It’s not always easy, of course. Sometimes love is difficult to follow. But it’s always worth it. Always.

Have Some Sense: The Riff Continues

On By jeff ludlumIn art, Attitude, faith, Happy, Insight, mental healthLeave a comment

What is our true place in the world? All around it comes at us: what to see, hear, feel, the big three, there like it or not, want it out not, it’s real and now.

What we do with it, how we respond to it, that’s up to us, each of us, each time.

Choose to make it GOOD. Here’s a sample from everyday, just a sample, what my senses say:

Winter lights on the front tree, shining bright in the pre-dawn darkness;

Warm coat against the biting wind on an early morning walk;

Shooter of apple cider vinegar to start the day: tart bite, cold water chaser;

Shake of the head, each dog with her collar on, jingle jingle jingle;

Cold water, one big gulp, after a long walk, thirsty;

Crackle of the wall furnace, heat slowing pouring down the hall;

First taste of coffee, hot; first taste of beer, crisp;

Fist bump greeting with a friend at work to start the day, good sign, warm feeling;

Soft skin on my kids’ cheek when I kiss each goodnight, each night;

BLESSINGS.

Lyrics Post: “One Week”

On By jeff ludlumIn art, Attitude, culture, HappyLeave a comment

“One Week” by the Barenaked Ladies

Those whacky Canadians, that’s what I thought when I first heard this song. Then I thought, AWESOME. And I still think that’s the case all these years later.

“It’s been one week since you looked at me

Cocked your head to the side and said, “I’m angry”

Five days since you laughed at me saying

“Get back together come back and save me”

Three days since the living room

I realized it’s all my fault, but couldn’t tell you

Yesterday you’d forgiven me

But it’ll still be two days ’til I say I’m sorry

Hold it now and watch the hoodwink

As I make you stop, think

You’ll think you’re looking at Aquaman

I summon fish to the dish, although I like the Chalet Swiss

I like the sushi

‘Cause it’s never touched a frying pan

Hot like wasabi when I bust rhymes

Big like LeAnn Rimes

Because I’m all about value

Bert Kaempfert’s got the mad hits

You try to match wits, you try to hold me but I bust through

Gonna make a break and take a fake

I’d like a stinking aching shake

I like vanilla, it’s the finest of the flavours

Gotta see the show, ’cause then you’ll know

That vertigo is gonna grow

‘Cause it’s so dangerous

You’ll have to sign a waiver

How can I help it if I think you’re funny when you’re mad

Trying hard not to smile though I feel bad

I’m the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral

Can’t understand what I mean?

Well, you soon will

I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve

I have a history of taking off my shirt

It’s been one week since you looked at me

Threw your arms in the air

And said, “You’re crazy”

Five days since you tackled me

I’ve still got the rug burns on both my knees

It’s been three days since the afternoon

You realized it’s not my fault

Not a moment too soon

Yesterday you’d forgiven me

And now I sit back and wait ’til you say you’re sorry

Chickity China the Chinese chicken

You have a drumstick and your brain stops tickin’

Watchin’ X-Files with no lights on

We’re dans la maison

I hope the Smoking Man’s in this one

Like Harrison Ford I’m getting frantic

Like Sting I’m tantric

Like Snickers, guaranteed to satisfy

Like Kurosawa I make mad films

Okay, I don’t make films

But if I did they’d have a Samurai

Gonna get a set a’ better clubs

Gonna find the kind with tiny nubs

Just so my irons aren’t always flying off the back-swing

Gotta get in tune with Sailor Moon

‘Cause that cartoon has got the boom anime babes

That make me think the wrong thing

How can I help it if I think you’re funny when you’re mad

Tryin’ hard not to smile though I feel bad

I’m the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral

Can’t understand what I mean?

You soon will

I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve

I have a history of losing my shirt

It’s been one week since you looked at me

Dropped your arms to your sides

And said, “I’m sorry.”

Five days since I laughed at you and said

“You just did just what I thought you were gonna do”

Three days since the living room

We realized we’re both to blame

But what could we do?

Yesterday you just smiled at me

Cause it’ll still be two days ’til we say we’re sorry

It’ll still be two days ’til we say we’re sorry

It’ll still be two days ’til we say “Wasabi”

Birchmount Stadium, home of the Robbie

Be Like Mom

On By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, family, Happy, parentingLeave a comment

Be like mom, bump along bump along. On this day along while ago, my momma came into the world, don’t you know. She’s still around, I’m happy to say, today today is her, birth-day.

I think about my life, I think about hers, I think about all, the lessons I’ve learned. She taught me a lot, still teaching me today, so I want to celebrate her, in every little way.

She’s had some challenges throughout her days, a lot like other folks, one quite severe, but it’s taught her quite a lot, how to persevere.

Through it all, my mom has rolled along. Not able to stroll any more all the same, she finds her way, passive so, every day. Seems she’s always willing to smile, though it might take a while, she finds the bright side, the good there is, wants to share it with others, share it with my kids.

So thankful, so thankful for my momma that’s true, so I say in grand voice, Happy Birthday to you!

Another Quick Riff: Play is GOOD

On By jeff ludlumIn art, AttitudeLeave a comment

“Play is good, play is good. Turn it around, flip it upside down, don’t you wear no frown, maybe be a clown, for once, or twice, or again and again, once or twice, and bring a friend.

Bring a friend to play, make it the day, you go down real deep on the simple joy of play. Don’t need a lot, not much at all, don’t need no screen, almost nothing at all. To have more fun and play and play, just get outta, outta, outta your own way.

And play and play and play again, let me just say that this is the way, to have some fun and laugh today, play is good, hooray hooray!

Four Minute Flip, Revised.

On By jeff ludlumIn art, Attitude, culture, mental healthLeave a comment

“What you got what you got, four minutes to flip. Not much time, but just enough time, to let it flow, to make a little blip.

Just four min so don’t you know, scribble it down and let it go. Just a few words on the page for Monday, share the love, be the love, ready to go.

That’s word, that’s GOOD, make it so, so make it so.”

Silly little riff from late last night, as sleep was falling heavy on me after along couple of days. And the thought occurred to me, for all the topics and content I share on this blog, maybe a few days break from that pattern, maybe a few posts just writing fun, freestyle verse, that’d be a good idea. At least it’ll be fun for me, and hopefully some of you will enjoy the randomness too. Humor, Play, Fun, GOOD.

So that’s what’s up this week. Still Half Full, All GOOD, would you like some more, like some more, yes I would, yes I would.

TASTY.