cheerfulmonk.com

Thanks, Torben!

August 25, 2024

One of the most critical skills in life—–and yet never taught in school—–is choosing where to direct your attention.
—James Clear

Austin Kleon in Keep Going says,

Your attention is one of the most valuable things you possess, which is why everyone wants to steal it from you. First you must protect it, and then you must point it in the right direction.

As they say in the movies, “Careful where you point that thing!”

And, thanks to Torben and Kaitlin:

If you ever feel the need for more attention in your life, just get a couple of pups and try eating a piece of toast on the couch.

August 24, 2024

This has been one of my mantras for years:

But Ginny has found a version I like even more.

Your mind is a garden
Your thoughts are the seeds
You can grow flowers
Or you can grow weeds

Easier said than done? Well, yeah. Gardening is a lot of work, but it’s well worth the effort.

August 23, 2024

basallcommondental.com

Life is scary. Sometimes on a bad day I’ll turn on the news and I’m back to sucking my thumb.
—-Tiffany Haddish

I love the way she puts it. It’s all right to be scared.

August 22, 2024

When conditions seem favorable those piles of wood will be burned in order to reduce the fuel load in the forest. The hope is that will reduce the chances of a high intensity wildfire.

It doesn’t always work. Our 2022 fire was caused by a prescribed burn in winter.

A prescribed burn by the USFS had taken place in the area and several debris piles left by logging activity had been ignited in January and February of 2022. The piles were monitored occasionally following the initial prescribed burn and some of the piles in the ignition area retained heat as late as April 20, 2022. Fire crews would create berms around hot piles and spread the ashes to allow the heat to escape. The red flag event led to the spread of hot ash and embers from the burn piles, igniting the fire.
—- Wikipedia

More pictures are here in this Flickr album.

Fingers crossed they’ve learned something since then.

August 21, 2024

Yes, most of you recognized that a pup made those markings in yesterday’s post. 🙂

Today’s question is why are there so many piles of wood in the national forest?

What are these markings on the windshield?

August 19, 2024

Andy’s parents had a copy of The Cheerful Cherub, and I was taken by its whimsy when we used to visit them.

I thought of that yesterday when someone asked how I was doing in assisted living, was I counting the days until I could go home? No, I’m not. It won’t be until September 3 at the earliest, and even though the chances are good, there are no guarantees my hip will be healed enough even then. So I thought of

Life itself can’t give me joy
Unless I really will it.
Life just gives me time and space–
It’s up to me to fill it.
——The Cheerful Cherub

And of a woman I worked with in a factory during college summer vacations. It was hot, noisy work and I was counting the days until the weekend, when my boyfriend was coming down and we had some fun things planned. She yelled at me,

Don’t wish your life away!

Working in a factory was her permanent job, and she wasn’t complaining. She wasn’t wishing for something better, she was a happy, upbeat woman making the most of the life she had. Thanks, Helen. I heard you.

August 18, 2024

I posted this nine years ago…it still works for me. I figure if you have to go through the pain, nuisance, whatever, you might as well get something out of it.

Resilience is essentially a set of skills –- as opposed to a disposition or personality type –- that make it possible for people not only to get through hard times but to thrive during and after them. Just as rubber rebounds after being squeezed or squished, so do resilient people.
—The Science of Bouncing Back, Time Magazine

According to the article some of the things a person can do to build resilience are
This list isn’t exhaustive, and as usual, one size doesn’t fit all — we each have to find what works for us.

Do you believe it’s possible to become more resilient? If so, do you think it’s worth the effort or would it be easier in the long run to wait and deal with the hard times when they come?

I, of course, like the skill-development approach — mostly because I think it’s fun, but it did pay off handsomely a few months ago when I had shingles in my eye.

August 16, 2015

I especially like items 6, 7 and 8. I’ll always be grateful for all the help Kaitlin has given me in this latest adventure. She is one impressive woman, and I’m so lucky to have her in my life.

August 17, 2024

The rule used to be no dogs on the couch. But Kaitlin and Torben decided that didn’t make sense, just protect the couch with a sheet and let Tempi enjoy it. A wise decision and a happy pup.

August 16, 2024