Joe: “I lost my job as a tarot card reader.”
Pete: “How do you feel about that?”
Joe: “Terrible. I didn’t see it coming.”
Month: December 2023
Thinking Out Loud: It’s Time To Delve Deep into Our Hearts
Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection from William Faulkner’s Banquet Speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 1950
“He must learn them again. He must teach himself that the basest of all things is to be afraid; and, teaching himself that, forget it forever, leaving no room in his workshop for anything but the old verities and truths of the heart, the old universal truths lacking which any story is ephemeral and doomed – love and honor and pity and pride and compassion and sacrifice. Until he does so, he labors under a curse. He writes not of love but of lust, of defeats in which nobody loses anything of value, of victories without hope and, worst of all, without pity or compassion. His griefs grieve on no universal bones, leaving no scars. He writes not of the heart but of the glands.” ~ William Faulkner
Note: William Faulkner won the Nobel prize for literature in 1949. In his speech, he is speaking to both young writers and to us some 70 plus years in advance. Faulkner challenges us to look into our hearts and rediscover the eternal truths residing there. He asks us to remember things like love, honor, pity, pride, compassion, and sacrifice. In a word, he asks us to rekindle our humanity. In rekindling our humanity, we can reflect on our relationships with ourself and with each other. Perhaps, it’s time to look into each of our hearts. And ask ourselves the following questions: Am I capable of compassion? Am I capable of loving unconditionally? Am I capable of providing hope and inspiration to others?
It’s Time to Exercise Your Brain – Take the Anagram Challenge
Today’s mind sharpening anagram is a two or three word phrase. Can you unscramble the anagram to discover the two or three word phrase? It’s time to exercise your brain!
Today’s Anagram:
Be Selective in What You Listen To – An Inspiring Quote by William James
Our view of the world is truly shaped by what we decide to hear.
William James
To Live – A Poem by Paul Eluard
To Live
Paul Eluard
We both have our hands to give
Take mine I shall lead you afar
I have lived several times my face hasw changed
With every threshold I have crossed and every hand clasped Familial springtime was reborn
Keeping for itself and for me its perishable snow
Death and the betrothed
The future with five fingers clenched and letting go
My age always gave me
New reasons for living through others
For having the blood of man other’s heart in mine
Oh the lucid fellow I was and that I am
Before the pallor of frail blind girls
Lovelier than the delicate worn moon so fair
By the reflection of life’s ways
A trail of moss anf trees
Of mist and morning dew
Of the young body which does not rise alone
To its place on earth
Wind cold and rain cradle it
Summer makes a man of it
Presesence is my virtue in each visible hand
Only death is solitude
From delight to fury from fury to clarity
I make myself whole through all beings
Through all weather on the earth and in the clouds
Through the passing seasons I am young
And strong for having lived
I am young my blood rises over my ruins
We have our hands to entwine Nothing can ever seduce better
Than our bonding to each other a forest
Returning earth to sky and the sky to night
To the night which prepares an unending day.
A Little Stretching Can Go a Long Way to Reduce Pain in the Buttocks and Lower Back
Stretching the piriformis muscle can be particularly helpful for reducing pain and tightness in the buttocks and lower back. Here are three effective stretches for the piriformis muscle:
- Supine Piriformis Stretch:
- Lie on your back with both knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
- Place the ankle of one leg over the opposite knee to create a figure-4 shape.
- Gently pull the knee of the bent leg towards the chest until a stretch is felt in the buttock of the crossed leg.
- Hold for 20-30 seconds, then switch sides.
- Seated Piriformis Stretch:
- Sit on a chair with feet flat on the ground.
- Place the ankle of one leg over the knee of the other, creating a figure-4 shape.
- Keeping your spine straight, gently lean forward from the hips until a stretch is felt in the buttock of the crossed leg.
- Hold for 20-30 seconds, then switch sides.
- Pigeon Pose (Modified for Beginners):
- Start on all fours (hands and knees).
- Bring one knee forward and turn it out to the side so your knee is pointing towards the same-side wrist.
- Extend the other leg straight back, keeping the hips square to the ground.
- Gently lower your torso down over the bent knee, supporting yourself with your arms as much as needed.
- Hold for 20-30 seconds, then switch sides.
Remember to perform these stretches gently and avoid any movements that cause pain. It’s always good to consult with a physical therapist or healthcare professional, especially if you have any pre-existing conditions or injuries. Stretching should feel like a gentle pull, not painful.
Source: ChatGPT
Today’s Joke: Joe’s Has a Relationship Problem
Joe: “My girlfriend is upset with me. She said I ruined her birthday.”
Pete: “What did you do?”
Joe: “That’s just it. I did nothing. I didn’t even know it was her birthday.”
Thinking Out Loud: Love Always Wins
Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection from Dr. Martin Luther King’s Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech.
“I refuse to accept the cynical notion that nation after nation must spiral down a militaristic stairway into the hell of thermonuclear destruction. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant. I believe that even amid today’s mortar bursts and whining bullets, there is still hope for a brighter tomorrow.”― Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Note: Dr. Martin Luther King, gives us. A lesson to live by. In the end, love will triumph over evil. Love will not be defeated. It will be victorious. Love will always win. It takes courage to love unconditionally. It is a force that cannot be defeated. Choose to be a force for love.
