Tag Archives: wisdom

I’m Not Sure What I Believe About God

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Danny

I’m Not Sure What I Believe About God

When I was a young boy we went to church on a regular basis: every Wednesday night, every Sunday and every Sunday night.  I had a great youth group to be a part of and we were all pretty good friends.  God and Jesus weren’t really pushed down our throats, but the church was a Bible teaching church and believed that life, Earth were all created by God in 7 days, Adam and Eve were the first humans and if you didn’t confess Jesus then you would go to hell.  I think these beliefs are fairly typical of most Christian churches.

When I left for college many of these ideologies were challenged and I abandoned most of these beliefs.  At this point it has been proven that our planet and universe have been around for more than five thousand years, humans evolved from a primitive form of proto hominins who had limited faculties and it is highly unlikely that the world was created in 7 days.

I look at some of my early beliefs much in the same way humans once believed the Earth was flat.  Or that people who suffered from seizures were possessed by demons.  Or that witches in Salem existed resulting in thousands of innocent women being brutally murdered.

As I have interacted with people from around the globe and met people from all religions my eyes have been opened to the fact that the world is an enormous place with people who hold differing world-views.  My views have been influenced by many people and have become an amalgamation of my experiences.

As the title reflects, I’m not sure what I believe about “God”.  I do believe there is a higher power in this world, I just don’t know what it, he, she is exactly.  I’m fairly certain God isn’t a person.  It is easy for mankind to view a deity in our form as it is the only form we know.   Maybe God takes on a human form?  I don’t know.

I am always put off when someone pretends to know or believe as definitive fact something that humans cannot possibly know.  I have no idea if aliens helped build the pyramids, but I doubt it happened.  I don’t have any insight as to Nessie being a real creature living in a lake, but I have my doubts.  And I will never state as fact what happens when we die because I have no clue, nor does anyone else.  As it stands, we are all guessing.

And we guess about a lot of stuff, but I’m satisfied not knowing.  It actually feeds my curiosity and that makes life that much more interesting.  Not knowing sometimes is most of the fun.  It forces me to dig for information.  It challenges me to expand my mind.  Not knowing allows me to use my imagination.  Not knowing makes anything possible which is exciting and scary all at the same time.

So, what is “God”?  I have no idea and I’m okay with not knowing.

Danny

There’s 1 Truth In Life…Change Will Absolutely Happen

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Danny

There’s 1 Truth In Life, Change Will Absolutely Happen

Every morning I wake up around 4:00-4:30 am.  I grab a pair of shorts and a t-shirt and I head downstairs to make my morning coffee.  Two creams, two Truvias.  I hit the Power button on my laptop and check emails from 3 separate accounts, delete what is trash and add the rest to my To Do list.

Next I select SportsCenter to play in the background while I begin working my way through my To Do list.  I like sending emails out early because I imagine no other human is up at that hour sending mail and there are many times when I will get a response back quickly.  I usually work until 6:30 am after which I’ll grab a shower, get dressed and head out to begin my day, usually leaving the house by 7:05 am.

The longer I ride this rock around the universe the more I find myself set in my ways.  I don’t have to really look at the clock at this point as I can feel the time and sense when it is time to shower.  We all have routines and to some degree we all get set in our ways.  That is until something happens that rocks us or disturbs our complacency.

We rely on our routines and our minds have to have them to operate.  If the mind had to focus on every single task like driving or brushing our teeth or making coffee, it would become completely overloaded which would result in a meltdown.  So routines are a necessary thing.

Then something happens that isn’t normal; isn’t usual.  Typically change occurs in the form of a death in the family, unexpected pregnancy, getting fired from a job or maybe the shock of an unexpected birthday party.  Regardless, change will happen.  And ironically change might be the only thing that is consistent in life.

Evelina and I are going through some big life changes right now, some really good and some not so good.  I think I told everyone about Evelina’s broken arm and surgery.  Then she had kidney stones and a surgery for that.  Those 2 events disrupted our life for 4 months.  Talk about disrupting routine!

We are now in the beginning stages of building a new house and I’m having to deal with the stress associated with the home buying process.

At my age I don’t like change a lot.  My routines have left ruts deep like a motocross track.  They serve an exact purpose which is to allow me to get from task-to-task without using much thought or energy.

Image result for motocross ruts

And now even bigger changes are on the horizon, news that I’ll probably be sharing in the coming months so be on the lookout for an update!  I’m trying to be more flexible these days and I’ve been working diligently on being more patient.  I’m changing slowly, but surely, but I would hazard a guess that Evelina would say more slowly than anything else.

I hope everyone has a great Sunday!

Danny

I Wonder Why I Get Bored Easily

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I Wonder Why I Get Bored Easily

In 2014 I was forced into working for myself.  I had gone out on disability at the end of 2013 due to a MS symptom flareup which knocked me on my butt.  To supplement our income I began buying items at auction and reselling them online.  It wasn’t much, but it kept the bills paid; and it was fun!   Over the next year the business began to grow and take on its own identity resulting in me buying and selling furniture.

I would travel to auctions across North and South Carolina buying vintage and antique furniture, loading up my truck and heading home to clean it and sell it.  I learned a lot.  I struggled a lot.  But then in 2016 my passion for it shifted.

Going to auctions lost the shine.  I had to talk myself in to wanting to make the drive and go through the hassle of sitting for hours to buy a few pieces of vintage gold.  I didn’t enjoy it any longer.

Throughout my life I have recognized this pattern.  I discover something new.  I become obsessed with this new thing.  I get bored with new thing.  I move on to something different.  For many years I thought I had an issue with “sticktoitiveness”, but over the last few years I have realized that after 2-3 years of doing something I become bored.

I’m not sure why I am geared like this.  My dad worked his entire career for the same company a feat I admire, but could never do for myself.  The thought of doing something over and over just isn’t for me.  For a long time I thought there was something wrong with me, that I should be able to stick with one thing for a long period of time.

But over the last few years I realize I’m okay with switching and changing things up.

I wonder if there are others out there like me?  Do you find yourself bored with your job, hobby, relationship?  Do you find yourself wanting a new challenge?

Why You Should Always Do the Right Thing No Matter What

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Danny

Why You Should Always Do the Right Thing No Matter What

Do you believe that life has a way of coming full-circle?  I do in many aspects.  Some might say that eventually you will pay the price in the afterlife, but I also think those who do the wrong thing pay prices during this life.

I was recently involved in a situation in which a lady got caught doing something wrong with money.  I don’t know why she did what she did, but I don’t think the beginnings of her actions began with ill-intentions.  I think she got away with an impropriety the first time and then it snowballed from that point.  Regardless of her motives, she knew what she was doing was wrong, yet she continued her pattern for over a year before getting caught.

The whole scenario was a reminder to me to always focus on doing the right thing…no matter what.  A friend of mine always says “It’s never the right time to do the wrong thing and it’s never too late to do the right thing.”

My personal belief is that doing the right thing returns to a person in positive vibes and doing the wrong thing returns in negative vibes.  I do believe that life comes full-circle and that acting contrary to this principle is unwise.  Ultimately we will all reap what we sow.

I wonder how many people live their lives focusing on doing the right thing?

 

The Last 3 Weeks Couldn’t Have Been Crazier!

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Danny

The Last 3 Weeks Couldn’t Have Been Crazier!

Wow is all I can say.  As many of you might know Evelina broke her arm before Christmas ice skating and had to have surgery to repair the broker bones.  She finally got her pins removed and cast off just before Valentine’s Day and we thought we were in the clear.  Life could get back to normal.  Nope.

Near the end of February she began experiencing pain in her back which resulted in an emergency room visit to discover she was passing another kidney stone.  We’ve been through this situation several times in the last few years.  The urologist decided to send her home and keep an eye on the movement of the stone.

After a week we had to go back to the ER and this time she was admitted for 2 days, surgery was performed and they were still not able to remove the stone.  At 8 mm this stone was one of the largest the doctor has ever seen and it was lodged in the ureter so deeply that he was not able to remove it.

Last week they were able to remove the stone successfully and Evelina is now recovering nicely.  Just when we thought things were turning the corner I found out yesterday I have bronchitis which is producing a wicked nasty cough.  Medicine, medicine, medicine.

We are sick and tired of being sick and tired!

Danny

A Quick Update If You Are Interested…

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Danny

A Quick Update If You Are Interested…

I know it has been a minute since I last posted something other than a reblog or a question.  The truth is I haven’t had much interest in writing anything and I’m not sure why.  Every time I’ve opened up a new draft I have deleted it after a few seconds and then moved on to something else.

Today Evelina and I are going to Tanger Outlet to do a little shopping.  The strange thing is it was my idea and I’m actually looking forward to walking around and looking at stuff.  I’d like to find a new belt, a couple of packs of new white t-shirts and maybe a new shirt.  Plus they have a little food court there where we might be able to find a good lunch.

Other than that not much new going on in our lives.  Oh, we are building a new house which is incredibly exciting and stressful all at the same time.

I am not traveling as much with the job, but it looks like that will end in the next couple months and then I’ll be out on the road.  I was a little upset about getting grounded, but I’m realizing that everything seems to work out for a reason and I believe my body and mind needed the break.

That’s all for now.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Danny

Would You Like a Reblog? Leave a Link

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img_0158

It has been a while since I have done this, but with a new year comes new posts.  If you would like me to reblog your post YOU must do 2 simple things:

  1.  Reblog this thread post to your readers
  2. Then leave a link to your post in the comments.  Please keep in mind I only reblog Blog posts.  I do not promote non-blog links or blogs who are selling wares.

Tit for tat, you reblog my post, I reblog yours.  It might take a few days, but eventually I will get to your link…promise.  🙂

Danny

Would You Like a Reblog? Leave a Link

Posted on by

img_0158

It has been a while since I have done this, but with a new year comes new posts.  If you would like me to reblog your post YOU must do 2 simple things:

  1.  Reblog this thread post to your readers
  2. Then leave a link to your post in the comments.  Please keep in mind I only reblog Blog posts.  I do not promote non-blog links or blogs who are selling wares.

Tit for tat, you reblog my post, I reblog yours.  It might take a few days, but eventually I will get to your link…promise.  🙂

Danny

Would You Like a Reblog? Leave a Link

Posted on by

img_0158

It has been a while since I have done this, but with a new year comes new posts.  If you would like me to reblog your post YOU must do 2 simple things:

  1.  Reblog this thread post to your readers
  2. Then leave a link to your post in the comments.  Please keep in mind I only reblog Blog posts.  I do not promote non-blog links or blogs who are selling wares.

Tit for tat, you reblog my post, I reblog yours.  It might take a few days, but eventually I will get to your link…promise.  🙂

Danny

This Is Why I Stopped Eating Meat

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Danny

This Is Why I Stopped Eating Meat

When meat-eaters read this title I suspect they immediately roll their eyes and presume a Vegan or vegetarian, leftist, tree hugger is at it again.  But I don’t see myself as any of those things.  I see myself as a middle-ground thinker who finally came to a realization.

When I began scrutinizing my eating a few years ago I had the thought to eliminate animal protein from my diet, but I didn’t know how to do so.  I continued to eat meat for a couple of years, but the entire time I had the idea of quitting locked in the back of my mind.  I came to the conclusion that animals have souls or spirits however you want to view it.  And if I were going to be truthful I didn’t feel it right to slaughter these animals as a product, which is how they are treated by the companies who are killing them.  My thought was that if I were going to eat an animal then I owed it to them to kill them myself.

Many self-sustainers kill their own meat and hold the same opinion.  I believe any person who consumes meat should be required to go to the slaughter house and watch the process.  They should be required to partake in each aspect versus just going to the store and picking up a package of ground beef.  You should have to watch the hog standing in the pin trembling with fear as its time draws to a close.

In my heart I just can’t participate in how these animals are treated and I don’t think it is responsible to allow myself to continue with such a casual attitude.

I look into the eyes of our little dog Bentley and I know he has a soul.  He displays an entire array of emotions from happiness to sadness, he feels pain and excitement.  But most notably he shows a level of love that permeates my soul and he has a personality that is like no one else I’ve met.  He has a right to live just as much as I have a right to live.  And then I think there are some societies that would eat him and this thought is beyond my comprehension.  From that realization I simply extended it to my experiences looking into the eyes of other animals and seeing them display many of the same characteristics along with demonstrating their own individual personality.  The individual personality factor drove me to the conclusion that if I were going to eat meat then I owed it to these animals to take their life myself.  And if I were not willing to do so then I would not eat them.

I will admit that it bothers me when I see all of the meat at the grocery store.  Not because I think it is wrong to eat animals, but that it is irresponsible for humans to eat animals that they are not willing to kill for themselves.  I think the Native Americans had it right when they practiced thanking the animal for their sacrifice and showing some respect to the land and the animals.

In the end treating animals like a product is morally and ethically wrong.  And in my mind there is no way around this moral dilemma.  I either kill the animal myself or I don’t eat meat.

Danny