Category: Thoughts

Thoughts mktdaf

Thoughts: Go where they see you & want you around

My dad told me a variation on this…love it:

A father said to his daughter “You have graduated with honors, here is a Jeep I bought many years ago. It is pretty old now. But before I give it to you, take it to the used car lot downtown and tell them I want to sell it and see how much they offer you for it.”

The daughter went to the used car lot, returned to her father and said, “They offered me $1,000 because they said it looks pretty worn out.” The father said, now “Take it to the pawn shop.”

The daughter went to the pawn shop, returned to her father and said,”The pawn shop offered only $100 because it is an old Jeep.” The father asked his daughter to go to a Jeep club now and show them the Jeep.

The daughter then took the Jeep to the club, returned and told her father,” Some people in the club offered $100,000 for it because “it’s an iconic Jeep and sought by many collectors.”

Now the father said this to his daughter, “The right place values you the right way,” If you are not valued, do not be angry, it means you are in the wrong place. Those who know your value are those who appreciate you….. Never stay in a place where no one sees your value.”
Original source: Unknown
Thoughts mktdaf

Thoughts: Mysteries, yes …by Mary Oliver

Mysteries, Yes
by Mary Oliver

Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous
to be understood.
How grass can be nourishing in the
mouths of the lambs.
How rivers and stones are forever
in allegiance with gravity
while we ourselves dream of rising.
How two hands touch and the bonds will
never be broken.
How people come, from delight or the
scars of damage,
to the comfort of a poem.
Let me keep my distance, always, from those
who think they have the answers.
Let me keep company always with those who say
“Look!” and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads.
Art by Sylvie Demers

Thoughts Writings mktdaf

Thoughts: Puddle love

Puddle love.

My friend Ellen is doing her teaching practicum at a pre-school…I asked her what interesting happened today.

She said she told a kid today that it wasn’t a great idea to drink out of a puddle. She brought years of biology (germs!), geology (mud!), anthropology (the other kids don’t seem to want to drink…this!), sociology (this isn’t something people in our culture usually do, you know!) to the discussion.

He listened, then spoke.

The kid brought his first-hand experience to the discussion (it tastes gross, but I was thirsty!) and was thus persuaded to go inside for a drink.

Win-win-win.

Thoughts mktdaf

Thoughts: Think before you speak before you think

When I was in Chattanooga in the time after Mom & Dad made their transitions, I found some of my writing in an old ‘memory box’ from grade two (at St Gerard’s in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia), but it wasn’t writing like you expect.

I had gotten in trouble or something, so Sister had made me write ‘I will think before I speak’ a hundred times. Big pencil, big lines on the paper – I actually remember that. When I looked at the pages, I had a whoosh of memory about that, except for something new, which I held in my hands.

About two or three pages into the little stack, the words changed. ‘I will speak before I think.’ I don’t remember getting in trouble with all this (the writing part), so it must have been like that when Sister turned the pages over to my mom.

And now, as I learn each day more & more about what my heart says & what spirit says, maybe I’m getting closer to having them guide me a bit more. Pretty sure I’ve tuned in for long enough to all the often-noisy, often-insistent brain-noise that Sister wanted to be in charge.

Doesn’t matter if Sister was right.
Doesn’t matter if Sister was ‘wrong.’
Doesn’t matter if i was right.
Doesn’t matter if i was mixed up.

Just trying to keep listening.
🌿🙏🌿
Thoughts Writings mktdaf

Car facts: How much is it worth?

 

I love this story – it reminds of my Dad & his classic car club. (That’s his ’22 Model T in the picture, by the way…his first car!) It’s the kind of tale he’d mention, when I needed biz advice:

A father said to his daughter, “You have graduated with honors, here is a car I bought many years ago. It is a bit older now but before I give it to you, take it to the used car lot downtown and tell them you want to sell it and see how much they offer you for it.”

The daughter went to the used car lot, returned to her father and said, “They offered me $1,000 because they said it looks pretty worn out.”

The father said, “Now, take it to the pawn shop.” The daughter went to the pawn shop, returned to her father and said, ”The pawn shop offered only $100 because it is an old car.”

The father asked his daughter to go to a car club next and show them the car. The daughter then took the car to the club, returned and told her father, ”Some people in the club offered $100,000 for it because it’s a Holden Torana and it’s an iconic car and sought by many collectors.”

Now the father said this to his daughter, “The right place values you the right way!”

If you are not valued, do not be angry, it means you are in the wrong place. Those who know your value are those who appreciate you……Never stay in a place where no one sees your value.
Never!

Thought for the day…


"I write in my study, where I also have my prayer altar. I believe that keeps me focused and gives me positive energy and reminds me that I'm merely the instrument of greater creative forces."
-- Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

About Brother Ian

brother ian in actionOver the centuries, Brother Ian has been collecting stories & information & discourses for the purpose of elevating the human condition as needed, dissecting it when necessary, and building the case for hope.

In the spirit of noting that organized crime, organized baseball, organized labour, and organized religion tend to engender controversy & occasional discord, I promise to be neither organized or critical of those who are.

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