A Beautiful Life Remembered

Some people say that we are here on this earth to learn life’s lessons. If we don’t learn our lesson we are doomed to repeat this life until we get it right. Claire LaCocque I think was one of the few that had already learned her lessons and I think she was put on this earth to teach us!

I’ve only known Claire and Andre for a few years even though they have been coming to our restaurant for years as they live next door to our hotel. I have for years felt like the late child they adopted. Only I think they took me only because they liked my wife more and I was part of the package.

As I said Claire was here to teach us by my observations. I wasn’t to suprised to learn that as a profession  she had been a teacher. To me it was obvious. But even though she taught french in a school that wasn’t what she taught in reality.

When I saw Claire all I saw was what I called “Pure Love.” I don’t care who you were, thats what she exuded. She also seemed to be selfless. If you were next to her she made you feel imortant, wanted, cared for, loved. All of this came from this pettite frail little woman despite the fact that the last few years she suffered greatly with the fraility of her body that medicine and doctors couldn’t seem to cure.

All that I have written so far was what I had in my head prior to the funeral. What I learned at the funeral blew me away even more. This woman who was from Belgium as a young child was caught up in the middle of the war. Despite the German occupation and the constant threat of being shipped off to a concentration camp her heart grew strong and love was within this special being. She did lose family, friends and her childhood during the war. She somehow became a woman who saw only goodness in everyone and she brought it out with everyone she met as far as I could tell in my few short years of knowing her and Andre.

After having met them I was feeling that they were always watching over me. They literally were, from their condo perched higher up next door in the high rise that towered over our hotel. I’d like to think that she’s just has a higher seat now because she’s looking after Andre and all of us now.

Controlling My Life Not So Easy How About You?

The 90/10 Principle

by Stephen Covey
Discover this 90/10 Principle.
It will change your life (or atleast the way you react to situations).

WHAT IS THIS PRINCIPLE?

10% of life is made up of what happens to you…
90% of life is decided by how you react.

WHAT DOEST THIS MEAN?

We really have NO control over the 10% of what happens to us.
The 90% is different.
YOU determine the 90%
HOW?
By your reaction.
You cannot control a red light.
However, you can control your reaction.
Do not let people fool you.
YOU can control how you react.
—o0o—
Let’s see this example:
You are having breakfast with your family.
Your daughter knocks over a  cup of coffee onto your business shirt.
YOU HAVE NO CONTROL over what has just happened.
What happens next will be determined by HOW YOU REACT.
You curse.
You harshly scold your daughter  for knocking the cup over.
She breaks down in tears.
After scolding her, you turn to your wife and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table.
A short verbal battle follows.
You storm upstairs and change your shirt.
Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish her breakfast and getting ready to go to school.
She misses the bus.
Your spouse must leave immediately for work.
You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school.
Because you are late,
you drive 40 miles per hour in a 30 mph speed limit zone.
After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60.00 traffic fine away,
you arrive at school.
Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye.
After arriving the office 20 minutes late,
you realize your forgot your briefcase.
Your day has started terrible.
As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse.
You look forward to coming home.
When you arrive home, you find a small wedge
in your relationship with your wife and daughter.
Why?
Because of how you reacted in the morning.
Why did you have a bad day?

A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?

The answer is: D
You had NO CONTROL over what happened with the coffee.
 
How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day!
>>>
Here is what could have and should have happened.
<<<
Coffee splashes over you.
Your daughter is about to cry.
You gently say:
“It’s okay, honey, you just need to be more careful next time.”
Grabbing a towel, you go upstairs and change your shirt.
You grab your briefcase, and come back down  in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus.
She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff.
Notice the difference?
Two different scenarios.
Both started the same.
Both ended different.
WHY?
Because of how you reacted.
You really have no control over 10% of what happens in your life.
The other 90% was determined by your reaction.
.
.
.
—————————————-
Absolutely everything we do, give, say or even think,
It’s like a Boomerang.
It will come back to us.
If we want to receive, we need to learn to give first…
Maybe we will end with our hands half empty, but our hearts will be filled with love.
And those who love life,
have that feeling marked in their hearts…

Man Rules

At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down

Finally the guys’ side of the story.

We always hear the rules From the female side.
Now here are the rules from the male side. These are our rules!
Please note.. these are all numbered “1 ” ON PURPOSE!

1. Men are NOT mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You’re a big girl. If it’s up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don’t hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports It’s like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That’s what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days.

1. If you think you’re fat, you probably are. Don’t ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

1. You can either ask us to do something Or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it your self.

1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials..

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say “nothing,” We will act like nothing’s wrong. We know you are lying , but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don’t want an answer to, Expect an answer you don’t want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine…Really.

1. Don’t ask us what we’re thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, football, cars or golf.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!

1. Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight;

But did you know men really don’t mind that? It’s like camping.

Life Would Be Better Lived Backwards

An Old ManYou’d start out dead and get it out of the way. Then, wake up in an old peoples home feeling better every day. You get kicked out for being too healthy; go collect your pension, then when you start work, you get a gold watch on your first day.

You work 40 years until you’re young enough to enjoy your retirement.

You drink alcohol, you party, you’re generally promiscuous and you get ready to start school.

baby.jpgYou go to primary school, you become a kid, you play, you have no responsibilities, you become a baby, and then………. you spend the last 9 months floating peacefully in luxury, in spa-like conditions; central heating, room service on tap, larger quarters every day, and then, you finish off as an orgasm.

I have to give credit where credit is due: http://www.bestoday.com.au/sick/archives/000894life_would_be_better_lived_backwards.php

It’s Not Easy Being a Blogger

I’m discovering that its not easy being a blogger. For one thing Life gets in the way! Life seems to keep you from from many of the things that you like to do. Another thing is I’m noticing that its getting more complicated having your own website. I think they are doing that on purpose! I’ve just moved my site to a new hosting company and I had to jump through many more hoops to get this up and running.  Thank god I have a kid (young adult now) that knows this better than I do. I don’t know how any old fart like myself could do it without having a brain fart at the same time.

I do love spouting off now and then as you know so I hope I’ve got everything all set again. Thanks for reading and here’s blogging at you!