Category: Happy

Tins of Goodness

On By jeff ludlumIn art, culture, Happy, lifestyle, mental healthLeave a comment

The tins the tins, are tucked away, in the cupboard on the shelf, not far away.

I forgot about both for a while, now it’s time, time for a trial. Yea give ‘em a try, and you will see, there’s goodness inside, and ready to be,

Ready to be called on, the little silver fish, sardines from the ocean, my very wish. Tasty and salty and good for you, Omega 3s, so good for you. Chopped up small, mixed up nice, yummy salad topper, yummy salad topper, so good for you, it’s so so true.

In the other tin at the end of the day, a sweet little treat, waiting for me. Crunch little goodness, sugar and butter, for the holidays, or any day. In fact in fact, I can tell you now, gonna have gotta have a few to chow,

chow down cause they’re tasty and a stress release, little nibble of happiness, just a little piece. So give me some peace, that’s what I say, peace inside, everyday, find it in the tins, good to know, good to go.

Lyrics Post: “The Champion”

On By jeff ludlumIn art, Attitude, culture, Happy, musicLeave a comment

Sometimes you need a fight song to get your through the thick, help you pull out of the rut, and move yourself forward.

It’s cliche for a reason: being a champion comes from within. Anything else is a lesser substitute. The fight, the fire…it’s inside. Keep going. You’ll see. A champion comes in many forms.

“The Champion”
(feat. Ludacris)
By Carrie Underwood

[Carrie Underwood:]
I’ll be the last one standing
Two hands in the air, I’m a champion
You’ll be looking up at me when it’s over
I live for the battle, I’m a soldier, yeah

I’m a fighter like Rocky
Put you flat on your back like Ali
Yeah, I’m the greatest, I’m stronger
Paid my dues, can’t lose, Imma own ya, ay

I’ve been working my whole life
And now it’s do or die

I am invincible, unbreakable
Unstoppable, unshakable
They knock me down, I get up again
I am the champion
You’re gonna know my name
You can’t hurt me now
I can’t feel the pain
I was made for this, yeah, I was born to win
I am the champion

When they write my story
They’re gonna say that I did it for the glory
But don’t think that I did it for the fame, yeah
I did it for the love of the game, yeah
And this is my chance I’m taking
All them old records I’m breaking
All you people watching on the TV
You go ahead and put your bets on me, ay

I’ve been waiting my whole life
To see my name in lights

I am invincible, unbreakable
Unstoppable, unshakable
They knock me down, I get up again
I am the champion
You’re gonna know my name
You can’t hurt me now
I can’t feel the pain
I was made for this, yeah, I was born to win
I am the champion

[Ludacris:]
Born champion, Luda!
The C is for the courage I possess through the drama
H is for the hurt but it’s all for the honor
A is for my attitude working through the patience
Money comes and goes so the M is for motivation
Gotta stay consistent, the P is to persevere
The I is for integrity, innovative career
The O is optimistic, open and never shut
And the N is necessary cause I’m never giving up
See they ask me how I did it, I just did it from the heart
Crushing the competition, been doing it from the start
They say that every champion is all about his principles
Carrie!

[Carrie Underwood:]
I am invincible, unbreakable
Unstoppable, unshakable
They knock me down, I get up again
I am the champion
You’re gonna know my name
You can’t hurt me now
I can’t feel the pain
I was made for this, yeah, I was born to win
I am the champion

[Ludacris:]
I’m the champion, yeah
Surpassed all rivals
It’s all about who wants it the most

[Carrie Underwood:]
I am the champion

[Ludacris:]
Fight for what we believe in
That’s what champions are made of

[Carrie Underwood:]
I am the champion

Writer(s): Brett James, Carrie Underwood, Christopher Bridges, Christopher Destefano

Easy Is OK

On By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, examples, Happy, Insight, leadership, mental health, scienceLeave a comment

Sometimes it’s ok to go the easy route. In fact, it’s the smart thing to do if you know the outcome will be to your liking.

If you take the tried and true path, it might also afford you more time for other things; maybe those new and more challenging things you haven’t gotten to.

Simple example? Maybe using the “Popcorn” setting on the microwave. Follow the guidelines, easy peasy, perfect, completely-popped popcorn.

Been making a lot of that lately for kid snacks during the “work/school day” at home while we shelter in place from the Coronavirus.

Taking the easy route is ok. If you get the chance, give it a try.

Romance Sprinkled Respite

On By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, Happy, lifestyle, mental health, PlaceLeave a comment

Gratitude to start the week. Gratitude to start every day. Extra bunch of grateful just now, after a short weekend escape sans children.

Grateful to my beloved for planning it.

Grateful for the support for the kids so we could get away.

Grateful for living so close to a very different, wild, and beautiful place.

Grateful for the walks on the beach, for the conversations.

Grateful to have the chance to be just the two of us, reflecting and remembering and rekindling and refocusing an resetting our coupleness, romance advanced, time well spent.

Just GRATEFUL. To be fortified. Recharged. Ready now once again.

Into Week Three, we continue in this COVID-19 Shelter In Place, Social Distancing, in collective efforts with our global cohort, to beat this virus back, stay safe, and save lives.

A few images linger…

Slow.
View.
Flock.
Last stop.
Back home. GRATITUDE.

Good Where You Least Expect

On By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, culture, faith, Happy, Insight, leadership, mental health, parenting, politics, scienceLeave a comment
How to discern good, how to find it, especially during difficult times? How to hear the truth above the din of naysayers? The reading from the Gospel of John 7, one of the phrases stands out for me: “…no prophet arises from Galilee…”, said the Pharisees of Jesus. This was in response to some saying, “Listen to how he teaches,” and others saying , “perhaps he is the Christ.” In other words, good can’t come from there. You’re mistaken: what you think is wrong. I find the exact opposite to be true from this excerpt. I find instead this lesson: maybe Good reaches us, maybe God speaks to us, sometimes from the least expected places. We’re in the midst of a life-changing pandemic right now. Even if we don’t get sick ourselves, even if our loved ones stay healthy too, most everyone’s life is turned upside down right now. We don’t know how it’s going to play out. We have to wait and see. Even in the dark, in the dirty, the dull and bland and difficult, we might find a bit of wisdom, some unexpected beauty, a splash of color. In the midst, let’s look for the lessons about how to cope, what changes we can make, to the what and how of the moment, and let’s cope and support each other and learn the lessons. We’ll be better for it.

Lyrics Post: “Baba O’Riley”

On By jeff ludlumIn art, culture, Happy, music1 Comment

A LONG time ago I was introduced to this band. An old friend who I’m in touch with still today — though admittedly, not as frequently as I’d like — was the one who opened my eyes. Since then, I’ve seen “for miles and miles…”, and so still appreciate the energy and creative sound that was, IS, The Who.

Please enjoy…

“Baba O’Riley” by The Who

“Out here in the fields
I farm for my meals
I get my back into my living
I don’t need to fight
To prove I’m right
I don’t need to be forgiven

Don’t cry
Don’t raise your eye
It’s only teenage wasteland

Sally, take my hand
Travel south cross land
Put out the fire
Don’t look past my shoulder
The exodus is here
The happy ones are near
Let’s get together
Before we get much older

Teenage wasteland
It’s only teenage wasteland
Teenage wasteland
Oh, oh
Teenage wasteland
They’re all wasted!”

Written by Peter Townshend

Charter Night: Celebrating Lionism

On By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, economy, Happy, Insight, leadership, NGOs, Service, social changeLeave a comment

“Charter Night” is the annual gathering (usually an evening/dinner event) when and where a Lions club celebrates its founding and work.

I belong to a club in my community. Here’s a little something about my humble club, one of 46,000 in more than 200 countries around the world.

51 years.  FIFTY ONE YEARS. We’ve been around quite a while.


The Cupertino DeAnza Lions Club was established in 1969. 


Since that time and to this day, the primary focus of our club has been service. The primary draw of our club for new members has been service. The hook that keeps us all going is service.


And the bonus, the icing on the cake for all these years of service, what has it been?


It’s been the fellowship, the friendships that we have established and strengthened and enjoyed these many years; that fellowship has sustained us and energized us and resulted in service projects and charity work attending to those in need both near and far for decades.

These dual traits are the essence of Lionism:  Serving those in need, and enjoying fellowship along the way. 


As we celebrate and continue the work of the DeAnza Lions, let us keep these twin goals in mind, and also the wise words of our current International President, Dr. Jung-Yul Choi framed in the initiatives he defined this year.

President Choi’s programs and initiatives will focus on four key elements of Lions International that are essential to our mission of service.

  1. Strengthening membership through diversity
  2. Expanding service impact globally
  3. Supporting our global foundation, LCIF
  4. Empowering every Lion as a leader

Let us continue. Let us build on that motto established more than one hundred years ago when Lionism was first established:

WE SERVE.