Probably just things that everyone else already knows, but that's the story of my life. Regardless, I've been endowed with a bit more wisdom over the last few days, and as is so often the case, the most profound bit came from one of my grandchildren.
Perhaps you're familiar with this little bit of nonsense.
"Mairzy doats, and dozy doats, and liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?"
Certainly I can't remember how far back it was that I first heard it, but it was many, many, moons ago. I thought it was just a bit of silliness, but sure enough my Kylie knew the real words.
"Mares eat oats, and does eat oats, and little lambs eat ivy.
A kid'll eat ivy too, wouldn't you?"
I suppose spelled that way it's still just a bit of silliness, but I feel magically enlightened regardless!
And the other kind of useful thing came from my Deepak Chopra reading. He has made me reconsider the wisdom of my plan to live to a predetermined age. You see I have always believed that one must be acutely aware of ones mortality, and have thereby adopted the idea that selecting a reasonable date to pack it in would make for a graceful aging period.
But it's a catch 22, and it was Deepak that made me realize it.
You see I also believe believe that it's critical to ones physical health to maintain a good mental attitude. And while occasionally I need to be reminded to keep my attitude positive, generally I do pretty well.
But there-in lies the contradiction. Deciding that my body is gonna totally give up the ghost in 20 years or less, is hardly a positive attitude. And while there's pretty good evidence that it's inevitable at some point, what good am I doing by actually placing a maximum time frame on it?
So it occurs to me that despite my best intentions to be totally realistic about my physical limits, it might have the exact effect I'm suggesting....limits! If I have decided to die by the time I'm eighty, then I might as well start the process now. I can start with insomnia, incontinence, heart troubles, arthritis, etc, etc!
If on the other hand I'm gonna live forever, I could start by buying a new bicycle!!
The choice seems obvious!!!
Of course there is one little problem. I only have enough money to live til I'm eighty! Less, if I buy a new bike. I guess someone's gonna be going back to work....Roo?
It was another okay kind of day on the training front. I "positive thought" myself through a 7.5 km run, and then had a decent swim afterwards. Usually I do this the other way around, but I may try this again as it worked out okay. Tomorrow is indoor bike day, and even the weatherman thinks that's good timing!
And an especially huge, and extremely loud shout-out today to my friend Gail. University professor extraordinaire, and beloved mentor of my son Michael, this strong willed woman just arrived home from a 4 month hospital stay!!! I once made her an honorary sister on account of, "she's as stubborn as the rest of them!" Welcome home Gail!!
run 7.5kms, swim 1250 metres
....and somehow this is the right quote for today....
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."---Gandhi
Love
Peter
Perhaps you're familiar with this little bit of nonsense.
"Mairzy doats, and dozy doats, and liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?"
Certainly I can't remember how far back it was that I first heard it, but it was many, many, moons ago. I thought it was just a bit of silliness, but sure enough my Kylie knew the real words.
"Mares eat oats, and does eat oats, and little lambs eat ivy.
A kid'll eat ivy too, wouldn't you?"
I suppose spelled that way it's still just a bit of silliness, but I feel magically enlightened regardless!
And the other kind of useful thing came from my Deepak Chopra reading. He has made me reconsider the wisdom of my plan to live to a predetermined age. You see I have always believed that one must be acutely aware of ones mortality, and have thereby adopted the idea that selecting a reasonable date to pack it in would make for a graceful aging period.
But it's a catch 22, and it was Deepak that made me realize it.
You see I also believe believe that it's critical to ones physical health to maintain a good mental attitude. And while occasionally I need to be reminded to keep my attitude positive, generally I do pretty well.
But there-in lies the contradiction. Deciding that my body is gonna totally give up the ghost in 20 years or less, is hardly a positive attitude. And while there's pretty good evidence that it's inevitable at some point, what good am I doing by actually placing a maximum time frame on it?
So it occurs to me that despite my best intentions to be totally realistic about my physical limits, it might have the exact effect I'm suggesting....limits! If I have decided to die by the time I'm eighty, then I might as well start the process now. I can start with insomnia, incontinence, heart troubles, arthritis, etc, etc!
If on the other hand I'm gonna live forever, I could start by buying a new bicycle!!
The choice seems obvious!!!
Of course there is one little problem. I only have enough money to live til I'm eighty! Less, if I buy a new bike. I guess someone's gonna be going back to work....Roo?
It was another okay kind of day on the training front. I "positive thought" myself through a 7.5 km run, and then had a decent swim afterwards. Usually I do this the other way around, but I may try this again as it worked out okay. Tomorrow is indoor bike day, and even the weatherman thinks that's good timing!
And an especially huge, and extremely loud shout-out today to my friend Gail. University professor extraordinaire, and beloved mentor of my son Michael, this strong willed woman just arrived home from a 4 month hospital stay!!! I once made her an honorary sister on account of, "she's as stubborn as the rest of them!" Welcome home Gail!!
run 7.5kms, swim 1250 metres
....and somehow this is the right quote for today....
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."---Gandhi
Love
Peter
Thanks, little brother. Your positive attitude helps me every day, and I guess the stubbornness doesn't hurt either.
ReplyDeleteLove, Gail