Archive through June 12, 2001
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The ClubHouse: Archives: Thought For The Day: Archive Through June 01, 2001: Archive through June 12, 2001

Zeb

Friday, June 01, 2001 - 01:12 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
"A verbal contract is not worth the paper it's written on."
-Samuel Goldwyn

Nancy

Friday, June 01, 2001 - 03:36 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
lol zeb that could be a judge judy one too--or her--"does it say STUPID across my forehead?"

Moondance

Saturday, June 02, 2001 - 02:57 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Given a choice, accept the love
By ASHLEY MERRYMAN
I played God tonight.
Not in a dramatic way. Nothing particularly cataclysmic or earthshaking. Nor did I have a sense of omnipotence - or anything else starting with "omni." Nevertheless, I felt for a moment that I had an inkling of God's relationship with us, from the other point of view.
I went on my usual trip to a convenience store for my usual six-pack of soda, when the usual thing for living in a city happened: A homeless man called out: "Can I have some change?"
"What do you want?" I said, smiling.
Often, when I say that, the person is so surprised, he's speechless. He's so used to begging for leftovers and scraps that he can't imagine he has a choice. But I've always figured that if you are only going to eat once today, it should be something you like. So I always ask. Never just hand him something.
This man yelled from across the parking lot, "Money."
"No, I mean, what do you want to eat? I'll buy you whatever you want," I said, glancing at the cigarette in his left hand, "but it has to be food. No cigarettes."
''But that's what I want. I want money for cigarettes."
I said, as gently as I could, ''No, I won't give you money for cigarettes. Just food. But you can have anything you want."
''Cigarettes.''
Cigs or nothing. And he chose nothing. I couldn't believe it.
Saddened, I went into the store. I thought all the while, there's so much here I could give him, if only he had let me. That fresh loaf of bread and the jar of peanut butter - that could feed him for a couple days. Look at that milk, all those juices calling from behind their polished walls of glass. Perhaps I should have brought him into the store with me. If he'd seen all the things he could choose from, surely he would have forgotten about the cigarettes in favor of some crackers or a sweet roll. Maybe I should buy him something anyway.
No.
As much as it hurt my heart to do so, I resisted. I wasn't going to force it on him. I wasn't going to make him accept my gift. It was his decision.
As I walked out to my car, the man once again called out - though this time, a little softly. A little hesitantly.
''Ma'am?''
I was half-afraid to answer, not wanting to hear him ask for cigarettes once more. ''Yes?''
He looked nervous, like he realized he might have blown his chance. ''Uh, could I have something to eat?''
I nearly wept for joy. But I didn't want to embarrass him so I just said: ''What do you want?''
''Chips.''
''Chips? That's it?''
He self-consciously nodded.
Without another word, I headed back in the store.
I nearly danced my way through the tiny shopping aisles. I happily fretted over which of those turkey sandwiches they keep in the refrigerator he would like best. I carefully picked out the best of the ripe yellow bananas. And the biggest bag of chips.
I was so glad he changed his mind. All this he would have missed out on, and all he had to do was say, ''Yes.'' I know it wasn't all that much, but as convenience stores go, it was the makings of a gourmet meal.
Without a word, I handed the filled brown paper bag to the man. He took it with a quiet, simple thank you, and immediately started eating the chips.
I sighed. Not wanting him to miss the really good part by filling up on the little things, I said, ''Eat the sandwich.''
''Oh. Yeah.'' He looked in the bag to see what else I had given him.
As I drove away, I wondered: How many times has God stood at the doorway of my life asking, ''What do you want?''
And I picked cigarettes.
''Hey, Mister, can I have some change?''
''What do you want?''
''Cigarettes.''
''I'll give you anything else -- love, friends, kindness, compassion.''
Cigarettes. All I had to say was, ''Sure. I'd love something. Any little thing would be fine.'' But instead, no, I'll just stand out here in the cold and dark and misery. I'll wait here in my loneliness and despair.
Oh, the disappointment. The sadness that I had turned away so much. The disbelief. That, given the choice between everything and nothing, I would choose nothing.
I can't even imagine what I must have missed out on, what care and concern, what love had been mine for the taking. How much more I would have received, if only I had said, ''Yes''?
But if I have the courage, I, too, can call out. I, too, can change my mind, accept an offered gift. And if I do, I hope I realize what's the good part - not miss it because I'm all caught up in the little things.
I hope that I realize that a gift of love and peace, of friends and families, of laughter and tears is a gift far greater than I could have ever asked for or ever dreamed of. And I hope I remember to say a simple thank you.

Ashley Merryman, a former member of the Clinton administration, is a writer and attorney in Los Angeles.

Tess

Saturday, June 02, 2001 - 07:22 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
That is absolutely beautiful, Moon. Thank you!

Spygirl

Saturday, June 02, 2001 - 07:31 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
That was incredibly eloquent. Thank you for sharing, Moon. We should all recognize that God is ready to give us anything imaginable -- and yet we continue to ask for the garbage.

-SpyGirl

Moondance

Saturday, June 02, 2001 - 07:33 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I thought it was beautiful too... a friend sent it to me today:)

God/The Universe/Supreme Being/Ourselves is ready to give us the world with just asking and a little faith in our hearts!

Bijoux

Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 10:24 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead

Nancy

Wednesday, June 06, 2001 - 10:32 am EditMoveDeleteIP
It's easy to come up with new ideas; the hard part is
letting go of what worked for you two years ago, but will
soon be out of date.

Roger Von Oech

Nancy

Thursday, June 07, 2001 - 04:55 am EditMoveDeleteIP
"If a cluttered desk signs a cluttered mind, Of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?"

- Albert Einstein

Rogue

Thursday, June 07, 2001 - 08:36 am EditMoveDeleteIP
"It is never easy reaching for dreams, but those who reach walk in stardust."
--unknown

Lancecrossfire

Thursday, June 07, 2001 - 09:41 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Truth is the pillar that will remain after everything else has passed.

Rogue

Thursday, June 07, 2001 - 10:00 am EditMoveDeleteIP
While Gen Colin Powell was the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, he kept a list that he collected over the years. These rules to live by have found their way onto the walls, desks and into the wallets of many airmen everywhere.

COLIN POWELL'S RULES FOR SUCCESS

1. It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.
2. Get mad, then get over it.
3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that, when your position falls, your ego goes with it.
4. It can be done!
5. Be careful what you choose. You may get it.
6. Don't let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.
7. You can't make someone else's choices. You shouldn't let someone else make yours.
8. Check small things.
9. Share credit.
10. Remain calm. Be kind.
11. Have a vision. Be demanding.
12. Don't take counsel of your fears or naysayers.
13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

Admin

Thursday, June 07, 2001 - 08:11 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thought for the day: Also start your day by hitting The TV ClubHouse main page so the Reality TV Top 50 counter gets clicked up a notch so we can move up the ladder!! :)

Lancecrossfire

Friday, June 08, 2001 - 12:37 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I must have been looking at her for a long time before I realized she was looking back. And that day in the rain was a million memories ago. the cafe' was getting nosier, and the coffee was getting colder.

And finally she began to explain why it was over. Couldn't believe it was actually happening. I was watching her talk, but I couldn't hear the words.

I was dying inside. And she never looked more beautiful.

Wink

Friday, June 08, 2001 - 04:25 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Lance???

Willi

Friday, June 08, 2001 - 05:07 am EditMoveDeleteIP
"I do believe one ought to face facts. If you don't they get behind you and may become terrors, nightmares, giants, horrors. As long as one faces them one is top dog." - Katherine Mansfield

Grooch

Friday, June 08, 2001 - 09:05 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Charles Sykes is the author of DUMBING DOWN OUR KIDS. He volunteered for high school and college graduates a list of things they did not learn in school. In his book, he talks about how the liberal, feel good, politically correct garbage has created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and set them up for failure in the real world. Anyone who's supervised people from this generation will agree.
Rule 1: Life is not fair; get used to it.
Rule 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself.
Rule 3: You will not make 40 thousand dollars a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.
Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure.
Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping; they called it opportunity.
Rule 6: If you screw up, it's not your parents' fault so don't whine about your mistakes. Learn from them.
Rule 7: Before you were born your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way paying your bills, cleaning your room, and listening to you tell how idealistic you are. So before you save the rain forest from the bloodsucking parasites of your parents' generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.
Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers but life has not. In some schools they have abolished failing grades, they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This, of course, bears not the slightest resemblance to anything in real life.
Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off, and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.
Rule 10: Television is not real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.
Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.
Rule 12: Living fast and dying young is romantic - but only until you see one of your peers at room temperature.
ENJOY LIFE, But remember you only LIVE ONCE!

Wink

Friday, June 08, 2001 - 09:09 am EditMoveDeleteIP
>>>Rule 7: Before you were born your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way paying your bills, cleaning your room, and listening to you tell how idealistic you are. So before you save the rain forest from the bloodsucking parasites of your parents' generation, try delousing the closet in your own room<<<

OMG Grooch this one is so right on for me. Thanks for the morning chuckle.

Tess

Friday, June 08, 2001 - 01:42 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Lance, your Thought For the Day made me. I hope all is well with you today, my friend.

Lancecrossfire

Friday, June 08, 2001 - 04:56 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
In this world, we've got to find the time for the life of Riley.

Juju2bigdog

Saturday, June 09, 2001 - 07:44 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Cheer up, Tess. Lance is doing lyrics from the song Two Outta Three by 2Nu.

Lancecrossfire

Saturday, June 09, 2001 - 08:02 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Yes, and I let her know that in a message. Juju, do you remember Frank's Chair?? (I thought that was a better story, only it's way too long)

I included the clip from 2 outta 3 to just provide a thought--how things can change for us. The lyrics just provided a certain imagery that I thought worked well.

Juju2bigdog

Saturday, June 09, 2001 - 08:58 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Nope, Lance, don't know Frank's Chair. I confess I found the lyrics above rather intriguing (I was thinking they might be from a poem or novel), so I searched for them on the internet and came up with 2nu. I liked all of the lyrics to Two Outta Three, from the beginning hummingbird all the way through.

Lancecrossfire

Sunday, June 10, 2001 - 12:04 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Juju, I think you might find Frank's Chair pretty good. It's an actual story (not a true story--told much like 2 out of 3) about a journey and about society. Imagery is better than 2 out of 3.

2nu is (was--not sure which by now) actually a DJ in Seattle.

Lancecrossfire

Tuesday, June 12, 2001 - 06:07 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
"Dusk is a very different experience in the pastoral unblemished surroundings of the mountains.

I truly believe there is no such thing as dusk in the city.

Think about it; after you spend a day in a society who’s prevailing philosophy is why make small problems when you can create a holocaust.
Then you must navigate your way home with a society who maintains the same philosophy in their driving.

Yeah, there is no such thing as dusk in the city."

The beginning of Frank's Chair by 2nu, although for those that work and drive each day, I think itmight stand alone as somethng we can relate to.