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!!!!

Global Family Day – 2013

(Google Image)

By Terry Orr

So what the heck is Global/International Family Day celebration all about? To my surprise it is about the Global Family – all of us – on the planet Earth.  It is about love and respect for each other – regardless of our religion, race, gender, nationalities, economic classes, and beliefs.  Imagine that!  Working to get along with others.

(Google Image)

Global Family Day, (One Day of Peace and Sharing) is celebrated every January 1 in the United States and around the world as a global day of peace and sharing. It is a day where individuals and families share food with friends (especially the needy), make personal pledges of nonviolence, and spread a message of peace and sharing by ringing bells or beating a drum in hopes of making society and the world a safer place to live. Global Family Day grew out of the United Nations Millennium celebration, "One Day In Peace." [Source: Wikipedia]

So let’s all start 2013 off on the right foot and practice tolerance of others, showing the same respect you expect from others, and finding a way to get along. Thank you.

References and Links:

http://archive2.globalsolutions.org/globalfamilyday

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Family_Day

Spiritual Literacy Month

(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest

With the start of the holiday season, many people turn to the Bible and read about the Christmas Story, and why we celebrate this time.  There are other people who to other forms of Spiritual messages.  Some would argue that spirituality makes a person more sensitive to love, justice, peace and more of the intangible things that cannot be directly perceived by a person's senses. It supports the idea that the human being and the rest of creation are composed not only of matter but of something that is immaterial and beyond our knowledge. Other definitions of spirituality explain it as a power, greater than oneself, that is operating in the universe; a sense of inter-connectedness with all living creatures; and an awareness of the purpose and meaning of life and the development of personal, absolute values. It is impossible to point out the "right" definition as each individual perceives the word spirituality in his or her own way.

(Google Image) 

Spirituality provides a way for people to escape from the negativity, frustration, anger and stress in their lives. Practices such as prayer, meditation and yoga allow a person to reach the balance between his or her thoughts and actions.  Spirituality is different from Religion.  Despite the fact that it varies from person to person, spirituality has a number of common themes. A person living spiritual life seeks to reach beyond his or her limits. This goal may include questioning beliefs, keeping an open mind and trying to better understand the ways of the other people. Self-discovery is an important factor to many people who regard themselves as spiritual. Spirituality's objective is not always to reach a conclusion or solve a problem but rather to help find a direction, meaning and purpose in life.

(Google Image) 

So this month, as we celebrate this holiday season, find some time to discover what helps you to put your life in balance.

(Google Image) 

Tolerance Week 2012

(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest

If you have ever seen a small child playing with a pet, then you will understand the definition of tolerance.  I was watching as my neighbor's small child was playing with their family dog, pulling on its ears, playing dress up with it.  The poor dog just laid there, looking bored and disinterest.  Had I been the pup...I would have most assuredly growled at the irritating actions.

(Google Image) 

A few months ago my father drew me a graph; I taped it on my desk as a reminder.  The graph shows a proportion to the age, and how much you let bother you.  In other words, the older he gets, the less he lets things bother him.  It is simply not healthy or worth it to worry about how others affect him.  He has just decided to remain calm cool and collected.   He learned long ago, that the more he gets worked up over some things, the less beneficial it is for him.  Things or people will not change just because he wants it to happen.

(Google Image) 

This world is made up of many different people, with different backgrounds, religions, races and nationalities. My cousin has spent the better part of his 50 something years in Texas.  Texans are not known for their tolerance, especially when it pertains to lawbreakers.  Last week he celebrated his first anniversary with his bride, a native of Pakistan.  I couldn’t imagine a more diverse relationship.  I talked with him before they were married, and asked him how they made it work with such obvious differences in their upbringings.  He explained to me, that even with the differences in religion and politics and language, that they still had the same values.

(Google Image) 

People are just people.  They love their families, their friends, and for the most part know the difference between right and wrong, and try to do their best to differentiate between them.  I have a friend, who is as opposite from me as I could imagine.  He is Italian, Catholic, Democrat and I am English, Baptist and Republican.  He has his opinions that are pretty much set in stone, and I have mine.  Instead of arguing and disagreeing over them, we listen to each other’s views, and respect the different opinions.  While we may secretly wish to change their mind, we don’t have to agree, but we tolerate their views.

(Google Image) 

This week is Tolerance week.  I can't think of a better way to begin the holiday season than to practice tolerance, peace and good will to your fellow man.  As I was reading about this day, I was looking at different ways to participate in this week.  I read that one teacher planned to wear a different pair of shoes, that were not her own.  Her plan was to "Walk in someone else's shoes" to try to experience what they may be feeling.   Acceptance & Inclusiveness Member Sylvia Sheperd stated that "We all care about each other and we want to do what we can to show that. When students have support, they do better and we're trying to offer support."  Showing tolerance doesn’t mean that you have to agree with someone else, just respect their right to voice their opinion, just as you have the right to voice yours.

(Google Image) 

So this week, practice a little tolerance toward your neighbor, and who knows, it might just keep going on to another week, and then a month until you tolerate others all the time and make your little piece of the world a better place.