Wednesday, April 29, 2015

The Secret to a Happy Life – in less than 100 words. By W.C.


Guest Blog Posting Today.
I have been a bit slow off the hop this month with my blog postings, with good reason: my ongoing two year celebration of my 60th birthday is in full swing and it can be a tad problematic to find time between celebratory activities to fit in the ´other life stuff`.  But I am here now.
So today dear reader I present for your perusal and pleasure some words of wisdom. – Not mine I hasten to add, rather the words, less than 100 of them I understand, from my baby brother.  So read on for W.C.´s  words on ….
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The Secret to a Happy Life:
… As you will know S.W.P. (from Moi; what ´S.W.P.´is all about we can leave for another time, or perhaps for never), you and I have cracked the secret of a happy life many years ago.  And while we have been only too glad to share it, still very few people seem to adopt it.   It can be summed up in a few short sentences….
1)      Do what you want to do … so long as it does not impose on anybody else….(also known as Spalding Rules).
2)      When you have a problem, take ownership of it and then decide what to do:
a)      Live with it
b)      Change it
or
c)      Get the hell away from it.   (Or him.  Or her.)  - Contents in brackets added by moi.
The only time this does not work is with bad health….. even then you can eat your greens and good for a cycle. 

3)      And lastly, enjoy the small pleasures, sunsets, full moons, swimming in Lake Constance  - and in your case tea and bundies and long conversations. 

And there it is…. The Secret to a Happy Life…It really is that simple* …. And it is not much of a secret…. And all written in less than 100 words.  And yet both you and I are among the very few to have cracked. 
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* So back to moi now.  – It is my blog, so I can add my opinion:   While for so many who could have a happy life, and do not, it could indeed be that simple.   But, there are many for whom it is not that simple, and even in a light and fluffy blog like this I do not want to disrespect or to dismiss that  it is not THAT SIMPLE for people who live in non-democratic societies, for people living in poverty, for people or communities who suffer natural catastrophes with few resources to help them back on their feet.   

And neither is it THAT SIMPLE for people who are the primary carers for a family member with a debilitating condition – they cannot stick the cared for person in a drawer and go away for a week.
So no, it is not THAT SIMPLE for millions of people. 
But, that still leaves a million or ten for whom it IS THAT SIMPLE, and still the happy life eludes.



Monday, April 13, 2015

What have John B. Keane, George B. Shaw and E.X have in common?

All three are Irish people who can make people laugh heartily over the misery they write about.... 
 
The former two you can catch up on in a book store.  Not everyone however is privy to E.X´s writing. But you are the lucky ones now; see in black, the e-mail I wrote to the same E.X. on Sunday.  And more importantly her answer in blue.  
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Dear E.X,

I know now would likely be a good time for you to chat. But the weather is glorious, so I am sorry, I am going out to enjoy the sun!  The happy (hopefully) stories of your beloved baby daughter´s wedding will have to wait. I hope you can deal with that!

I will give it a shot to call you tonight, but if you too have good weather, you may well be out too.  Love R Rosaleen
 
Unhappy response I received from E.X. that Sunday evening.
....
Talk about annoying a person! It was lashing rain all night with high winds. This continued up until two hours ago. I have glimpsed a sighting of a blue cloud very far away but then I am a colour blind optimist. We had our summer last week when it reached 18 degrees and pale legs emerged as people went mad and wore shorts. Ice cream cones were the order of the day and the whole country basked in sunshine. Those were good memories! It's 9 degrees and no matter how cold it gets I REFUSE TO LIGHT A FIRE. I am living in fear of the bills for the last month. Selina -  (E.X´s daughter-in-law from Australia)  was freezing the whole time she was home for the wedding and kept the heat on. I have a repetitive strain injury in my hand from turning off the heating. She has one from turning it on.
Will call you during the week as I am out this evening.
Lots of love
Your wet friend