Senior Citizens

By Terry Orr

(Thanks Mary for the email)

Senior citizens are constantly being criticized for every conceivable deficiency of the modern world, real or imaginary. We know we take responsibility for all we have done and do not try to blame others.

HOWEVER, upon reflection, we would like to point out that it was NOT senior citizens who took:

The melody out of music,

The pride out of appearance,

The courtesy out of driving,

The romance out of love,

The commitment out of marriage,

The responsibility out of parenthood,

The togetherness out of the family,

The learning out of education,

The service out of patriotism,

The Golden Rule from rulers,

The nativity scene out of cities,

The civility out of behavior,

The refinement out of language,

The dedication out of employment,

The prudence out of spending,

The ambition out of achievement or

God out of government and school.

And we certainly are NOT the ones who

eliminated patience and tolerance from

personal relationships and interactions with others!!

And, we DO understand the meaning of

patriotism, and remember those who have fought and died for our country.

Just look at the Seniors with tears in their eyes and pride in their hearts, as they stand at attention with their hand over their hearts, as the American Flag passes by in a parade!

YES, I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN!

I'm the life of the party.....

Even if it lasts until 8 p.m.

I'm very good at opening childproof caps.....

With a hammer.

I'm awake many hours before

my body allows me to get up.

I'm smiling all the time,

because I can't hear a thing you're saying.

I'm sure everything I can't find is

in a safe secure place, somewhere.

I'm wrinkled, saggy, lumpy,

and that's just my left leg.

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

Yes, I'm a SENIOR CITIZEN

and I think I am having the time of my life!

Now if I could only remember who sent this to me, I wouldn't send it back to them.

Or, maybe I should send it to all my friends anyway.

They won't remember, even if they did send it.

Spread the laughter

Share the cheer

Let's be happy

While we're here.

MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA

AND MAY AMERICA

CONTINUE TO THANK GOD!!

Go Green - Recycle Congress!!!!

COURAGE OF YOUR CONVICTIONS

By Diane Forrest

I was born in May, which makes me a Taurus according to the Zodiac calendar.  As you may or may not know bulls are very stubborn animals and somehow I possess that quality as well, although my daddy would probably claim that I'm more like a bull in a China shop.  I was raised a certain way with certain beliefs, and it takes a good strong argument to make me change my opinion.  I guess that’s why I did so well in Debate club in high school.  I believe in God, Country and fairness to all. In Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.  While I may not believe in the current issue of Gay Marriage, I do believe that under the contract of marriage, all should have the benefits that accompany that contract such as tax benefits, insurance benefits and other legal obligations.

I believe in free speech, but I do not consider some of these acts being performed today (burning the flag, Westborough Church, and offensive language) under the guise of first amendment – they are not what our forefathers intended.

I believe in the golden rule, not the one that says he who has the gold makes the rules, but the one that says “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

I also believe that while you may believe what you say or do is right, I also believe it takes more than just one person's view to change something, for example, if you don't believe in school praying, then don't participate, but don't keep those who do want to pray from praying. One of my favorite quotes from a book called Life's Instructions Book is "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, and it’s All Small Stuff!!!"

So if you believe in something strongly, by all means fight for it with all your might, just make sure the battle is worth it.

Golden Rule

(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest,

Growing up in church, one of the first things you learn is the Golden Rule.  It is just a simple phrase, but a powerful one.  It simply states, "Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you."  This means to treat others how you want to be treated.  The first time this term Golden Rule was penned was in the 1670's, however the concept of the rule has been in existence long before, in fact, early records depict it in Ancient Babylon in 1780 B.C.

(Google Image) 

The Golden rule is present in some form in every religion and culture.  The golden rule is best interpreted as saying: "Treat others only as you consent to being treated in the same situation." To apply it, you'd imagine yourself on the receiving end of the action in the exact place of the other person (which includes having the other person's likes and dislikes). If you act in a given way toward another, and yet are unwilling to be treated that way in the same circumstances, then you violate the rule.

(Google Image) 

The following is a list of Do's and Don'ts I found on a poster:

Do	Don't
Be Gentle	Hurt Anybody
Be Kind and Helpful	Hurt people's feelings
Work Hard	Waste your or other people's time
Look after property	Waste or damage things
Listen to people	Interrupt
Be honest	Cover up the truth.

Today, as we recognize the Golden Rule, practice treating everyone the way you would want to be treated.

(Google Image) 

The Golden Rule Part 2

The Golden Rule doesn’t really mean that you should treat someone else exactly as you’d want them to treat you … it means that you should try to imagine how they want to be treated, and do that.

Thirty ways to care for others:

Absolutely FREE:

1. Be friendly
2. Be courteous in traffic
3. Listen to others
4. Give everyone you meet today, a smile
5. Instead of asking "how are you?" and moving on, genuinely wait for the answer and listen with both ears
6. Stop criticism
7. Volunteer at a retirement home/senior center
8. Take care of your neighbor's children for a couple of hours so that she can do something she doesn't get to do ordinarily
9. Do something for someone anonymously
10. Send an email to someone you haven't talked to for a long time....just because
11. Shovel the neighbor's sidewalk
12. Call someone
13. Volunteer at a daycare or hospital
14. Check on an elderly neighbor
15. Bring groceries/dinner to a shut in
16. Hold the door for someone
17. Find something good to say to everyone you encounter today
18. Say a prayer for someone who showed you his/her anger
19. Give blood
20. Tell someone a joke/make them smile
21. Write a letter to a serviceman/woman
22. Overcome prejudice
23. Help someone else at the airport with their bags
24. Forgive someone
25. Praise or encourage someone

These five may cost a little but reap BIG rewards:

26. Pay the toll for the person in the car behind you
27. Buy lunch for someone without them knowing
28. Put a quarter in the meter, any meter
29. Send someone a love gift
30. Everyone sends cards immediately when someone dies, but the grief and loss go on for a long time--send them a card, send them a note, send them a rose that says you remember their loved one

The Golden Rule also applies to you:

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2010
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours
10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

1. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about
2. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment
3. Don't overdo. Keep your limits
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does
5. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip
6. Dream more while you are awake
7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need
8. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness
9. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others
10. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present
11. No one is in charge of your happiness except you
12. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.  Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime
13. Smile and laugh more
14. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Life:

1. Do the right thing!
2. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful
3. GOD heals everything
4. However good or bad a situation is, it will change
5. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up
6. The best is yet to come
7. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it
8. Your inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Got something to add?  Please let us know!!

The Golden Rule

Religious Leaders Agree on the Golden Rule

Regardless of your religious faith, almost all agree with the basic tenets of the golden rule as stated in the Declaration of 1993.   “We must treat others as we wish others to treat us.”  The Initial Declaration was signed by 143 respected leaders from all of the world’s major faiths.  This poster depicts some of the major faiths that signed the declaration.

Scarboro Missions poster ( http://www.scarboromissions.ca/Golden_rule/poster_order.php)

Many argue that the Golden Rule is the primary basis for the modern concept of human rights; that each individual has a right to just treatment, as well as a responsibility to ensure justice for others.

The greatest failure of many organized religions is their inability to convince their followers that the Golden Rule applies to all humans, not merely to fellow believers, like themselves.  Religions should stress that their members also use the Golden Rule when dealing with persons of other religions, other genders, other cultures, other sexual orientations, other gender identities, etc.

Why is this important?

The survival of mankind may depend upon the Golden Rule.

In the past and now, this has generated a great deal of religiously based hatred, conflict, and violence.  Empathy is at the root of kindness, compassion, understanding and respect – qualities that we all appreciate being shown, whoever we are, whatever we think and wherever we come from. ~ Humanism principle.

Whom should I despise, since the one Lord made us all.~ p.1237, Var Sarang, Guru Granth Sahib, tr. Patwant Singh Sikhidm

"Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you." ~ Muhammad, The Farewell  Sermon

Conclusion

This is the most basic all human principles, we need be kind to one another, treat them like we want to be treated, and respect their rights as a person.  We are all equal in the eyes of God.

Comments are most welcome!!