We have become conditioned and programmed into immediate responses. All around us we flick on switches, turn knobs and something or the other comes into action. We have come to expect everything to be “instant”. Instant coffee, instant food, instant credit and even instant cash.
When a piece of equipment fails to respond we become annoyed. We do not like to wait. We become easily impatient… ... Read more
To feel that someone is blocking your destiny is one of the worst of all feelings. There are enough obstacles in the world that prevent people from fulfilling themselves, without adding to them by demanding that a partner give up his or her plans for the sake of a relationship. Such demands often backfire and weaken the emotional ties between the two partners.
Even if it… ... Read more
Many years ago I was doing some construction work in Barbados with an elderly carpenter by the name of Sumai.
I was using a hand saw to cut some wood, but just could not get a straight cut no matter how hard I tried and no matter how much muscle I put behind the saw.
Sumai, who was a small man, took the saw… ... Read more
I just don’t have the time. When did you last say that to yourself? Last week, yesterday, earlier this morning? Because we feel time is tight, life becomes a rush as we try to do many things at the same time.
Even when we want something to change for the better, say a relationship, our work or our community, we often rush into it with our eyes and minds… ... Read more
There’s a tendency to put people we love and respect on pedestals. Parents, friends, children, colleagues, teachers even so called celebrities. We expect particular patterns of behaviour, speech, responses and achievements.
But notice what happens if at some point, they fail to live up to our expectations and desires; if they should show some human failing, or choose to do something we do not understand or… ... Read more
Over the years I’ve found that what can be called “my joy” has been slipping. Laughter – the belly splitting; eye-watering; body shaking brand of laughter is not something I experience as often as I did in my thirties and forties.
Don’t get me wrong, I find humour in almost every situation and I learn a lot from laughing (chuckling) at myself about those silly little – and sometimes… ... Read more
Unless you recognise where you are right now, it’s going to be difficult to get to where you want to go?
Put it this way. You have to meet someone in a strange place and you realise you’re lost. The sensible thing to do would be to ask someone for help. Find out where you are, then plan a new course to get to your meeting.
But you… ... Read more
How do you feel when someone proves you were wrong?
Many people can’t deal with it. Maybe it’s an ego thing. You might hear them say: “Oh, well… I had my reasons for doing that”, or “You can think what you want, I know I’m right!”
It’s been said, “The wise man admits to his folly, only the fool claims he is never wrong.”
Sometimes it can… ... Read more
Been trying to put my feelings about the passing of my parents on this blog for a few weeks, but could not get it together. Wasn’t sure I should, but… here goes.
My Mum passed at end March 2008 after a long and painful battle with cancer. My Dad, who had Alzheimer’s for the past 8 years or so but was otherwise physically healthy, passed at the end of… ... Read more
I went to the movies recently. It was a public holiday; the young woman collecting tickets obviously didn’t want to be working that day. I said something to my wife about the service at the place and the young woman started to quarrel with me as though I had been talking to her.
It caught me off guard. I tried to keep it together and told… ... Read more
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