Enjoy Life and Smile

I posted a blog earlier today and after some reflection and some wise and loving words from my girlfriend, I realized the post wasn’t really me . Okay, it was me who wrote the words but they didn’t truly reflect my feelings and my life right now. I was, for lack of a better term, a real asshole. And if there’s one thing I’ve prided myself on, it’s being a good person and respecting everyone who shows me the same love and respect in return. So I deleted the blog.

I think most of us reach a point in our lives where we can reflect on things and appreciate the good and block out the negativity. It comes with age and wisdom.

As kids, we would let peer pressure seep in and rule our feelings and actions and then one day you wake up and you no longer allow others to dictate who you’re going to be. You can choose to hate the world and everyone around you and isolate yourself. Or you can embrace life, appreciate the people who touch your lives daily and choose to love the people who truly mean the world to you.

Bitterness can be an evil thing if you allow it to take over your life. Lord knows we’ve all had things happen through our lives where we could have allowed it to blacken our hearts or force you to put up walls. I feel sorry for those people who shut themselves off and are afraid to love and be loved. Or maybe they spend life being alone. I guess it could be possible for these people to be truly happy when they’re alone and miserable but that just seems horrible to me.

I’ve known disappointment, anger, pain, sadness and pretty much all of the good and bad feelings a lifetime can bring and yet I choose to remain optimistic, cheerful, friendly and loving because I know that it’s all a part of this short life we have.

Whether you live 100 years or something significantly less, it’s important to not waste the time you have.

Appreciate the people you have in your life and those you have met along the way. Life can bring you bad times but how you react to those obstacles and move ahead determines how you’ll move forward.

I see people walking around looking straight ahead, afraid to make eye contact, not willing to share a friendly greeting, smile or so much as a nod hello and I feel sorry for them. I suppose that’s their right but it just feels like an awful waste. When I’m out and about I may be having a bad day but I still manage to give a smile, wave or hello with those I meet.

I think it’s important to surround yourself with people who annoy you, challenge you, inspire you, appreciate you and most of all care about you. I try to do that every day.

Thank you Lee for reminding me what’s most important. I have a loving girlfriend, a family that has supported me throughout my life and will be there whenever I need them. And while I don’t have many close friends, I have a throng of supporting and caring people who are always willing to accept me for who I am and share in my life. I appreciate all of you who have touched my life and shaped me, even in some small way.

February Blahs

I don't know if it's the time of year or I'm just uninspired lately but I've been struggling to come up with ideas for blog postings.

Sure I could just do updates to my daily life but honestly, who wants to read that I went to work again, ate mashed potatoes and meatballs for supper and have been dealing with a nagging cold lately?

My life just isn't that exciting!

It doesn't help that the only time I seem to leave the house is to go to work. I come home and begin my exciting evenings of eating, watching TV or messing around on the computer before I go to bed to rest up for the exact same thing the following day.

My social life has disappeared. I used to get out on weeknights with buddies, go to hockey games, party on weekends and basically have fun. Now the only regular interaction I have with other humans is via Twitter, Facebook or Flickr.

Of course the time of year has a lot to do with it. I don't get out much in the winter. At least in the spring, summer and autumn I can go golfing, camping or get out in nature with my camera and take photos.

It's not that I don't like talking to people. Hell, for nearly 14 years I made a living by talking on the radio and going to events and dealing with the general public. But after that job ended I went into a shell and shut myself off from almost everyone except my family and a few other people. I hid from society without even being conscious of the decision.

The last six plus years have been tough on me in many ways after having a happy life turned upside down unexpectedly and I admit it hasn't gotten a lot better. But I'm still the same guy with the same social skills. I just need to take those skills out of mothballs and use them more.

As for being motivated to write more on this blog, I'll continue to come up with ideas and share my thoughts when I can get my brain lubricated a bit better. Anyone have some WD40 I can borrow?