To thine own self be true

-You might not have woken up this morning.
-You might have cancer.
-You might not own a car.
-You might be a federal worker in the States.
-You might be that Saudi girl in Bangkok afraid she’ll be killed if she goes home.
-You might be living in a Third World country with no food or home, and other people/strangers trying to kill you.

All is relative, of course. Many different contexts. Whatever little trials, challenges, and annoyances you may have, you have to remember it could have been a lot worse to begin the day.

that I have used to direct and motivate my own life is to observe how others live theirs. One can learn a lot from the examples of others.

Often when I am out in public or even watching tv news, I find myself saying “I wouldn’t do that. That would not be my choice.”

Extend that process over 70 years and see how that can work for you. Remember–as the Existentialists and Frankl pointed out–that your life is made up of choices that you yourself control. You can even choose your responses to suffering, tragedy, and death.

For much of my life, the classic literature I read, studied, or taught provided numerous examples of behaviors and choices to avoid or emulate.

More recently, in the past decade, I took it upon myself(lifelong learning) to become familiar with the great men and women of the past from the arts and sciences, especially greats I hadn’t really explored in my student or teaching careers. Now, there’s a case of excellent life modelling to give one perspective on how to live, what values to uphold and practice, as well as what human choices are great/er.

Holmes said to Watson, “You see, but you do not observe”. Indeed, that is true for many of us who choose not to or never to think, reflect, study, and learn. Who choose not to pay attention, most of all, to our own consciousness and our perception, awareness, acceptance, understanding, and appreciation of what humans and life have to offer.

Yes, very much, after all is said and done. Learning from others to make our lives happier, satisfying, fuflfilled, deeper, and much richer. That and active, refined, focused consciousness.

is protecting the innocence of children from the ever-encroaching Big Bad World out there. But it can be done by:

-keeping kids device- and phone-free as long as possible

-through lots of reading and books exposure

-through lots of hands-on parenting; not abdicating personal contact and presence

-through limiting what is watched on the family tv (making viewing choices for kids, using select cable children’s programming and avoiding exposure to commercial tv with all its unnecessary, harmful advertising)

-providing lots of creative, educational, and learning toys, play, and activities (kids will actually prefer these right up age 7 and older if these are made available)

-teaching kids literacies basics at home even before they get to school to create autonomy and confidence

-providing some kind of faith background, even to the point of facilitating enrollment from K on in a school with some religious instruction that gives kids a helpful frame of reference and support for present and later life (no harm in that)

-providing lots of Nature exposure through pets and to the outdoors (developing respect for Nature and life on all levels as well as an appreciation of beauty); even watering and feeding indoor plants is a pretty simple way to instill these values

-using lots of language and creating interest in language and its many possibilities (the best way to create a truly free, articulate, expressive, independent and socialized child)

The way forward for child-raising today and tomorrow does not consist of giving kids devices and abandoning parental responsibilities. Selling out kids to e-media technology is a dangerous, unhealthy practice.

One of the fabulous highlights of civilization and the musical arts. The most outstanding, beautiful symphony of all time. Written when Beethoven was deafer than a post. Truly one of the great human accomplishments and feats. “Ode to Joy”, indeed.

“Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp,/Or what’s a heaven for?“– Robert Browning, from “Andrea Del Sarto”

is best illustrated by footsteps or a sandcastle by the water’s edge at sandy beach. What happens?

all go together. I remember looking each Christmas at the Eaton’s catalogue (they delivered orders) in the colorful candy-chocolate section. I knew there was only so much I could request in the small family order.

The hard candy in different shapes (ribbons, stripes, and the like) and colors, was what I would order each year with its modest price (under 3 bucks as I recall). We’re talking hard, potentially teeth-breaking stuff (right up there with filling-removers like Mackintosh toffee). But that candy was a key pleasurable, annual treat in my childhood.

This limit and choice seemed pre-destined for a 1950’s poor kid. And yes, I even used paperboy money to pay eventually my share. Whenever I think about poor people these daze, I imagine the same kinds of limited, limiting choices kids still have to make based on budget and poverty.

(In matching bathrobes, exploring the worlds of Where’s Waldo?)

“Justin Bieber Got a Face Tattoo”

(Intergenerationally re/discovering Chip an’ Dale cartoons at Christmas)

Christmas is for kids, but for adults it is a time to slow down, maybe even think and reflect. (I made my 2 New Year’s resolutions back in a December blog entry.)

It is also a time for working adults to recharge and refocus on spouses, family and home–what gives a renewed raison d’etre and motivation for whatever work hassles and abuses. Context big-time.

For many adults, especially older ones, it gives them a chance to reconnect with extended family and to touch base in a more meaningful way at a special time of year. Our extended family basically meets once a year at this time though we all live within the Edmonton-Morinville areas.

For any adults who have kids, it is also significantly a time to get together and be with any grandchildren. Through contacts with them, grandparents get to re-realize the truth of the first sentence of this entry. Christmas is largely for and about kids, first and foremost. After all, a Babe started the Christmas tradition.

(the spring harbor-side walk in Victoria by the Inn at Laurel Point)

The Big 7 oh this summer.

The impending double cataract surgeries. “I can see clearly now” may become my new theme song. If all goes well, I am curious how much more perspicacious my consciousness will become with whatever spinoffs of better communication and writing benefits. If I don’t need glasses for regular viewing, that would be for the first time since grade 7. (As I have long stated, I have lots of respect for medical technology, more than any other so-called wonderful technologies.)

Radium and Victoria both beckon as the go-to getaways. In the case of the latter, enhanced vision would be muchos appreciated at Butchart Gardens. Natural beauty remains a major priority for 2019.

Otherwise, a busy year, especially with family and writing for the most part. This blog is into year 6. The Can Lit blog–http://canlitbooks.ca–(one of my other main life accomplishments and public services) is entering year 5.