Today I was reading a set of penalties posted on Facebook for parents to use with their kids. It focused on doing good things to earn points to revoke grounding. It was a brilliant idea. It reminded me of the set of "rules" we posted on our refrigerator for our sons when they were teenagers. When they got in trouble they had to read them and specifically focus on the item that applied to their situation. It was posted on the fridge for years and I remember when they finally moved out, I took it down and the paper was all stiff and the ink faded but it was still legible. As I read over them again today it reminded me that I wasn't a terrible parent. I did do some things right and now, years after I wrote and posted these rules, I can look at my sons and realize that despite their flaws, we didn't do a terrible job. If I compare the positive with the negative I can see that something got through to them. I see caring and compassion men who show respect for others, well, most of the time. No one is perfect here. They love their country and respect its laws and as far as possible, its leaders. They believe in the rights of others and when those rights are infringed, they are incensed. They recognize the dangers of tyranny and want to fix it. They love God. This has always been so important to us. We saw how the world was failing and we feared that they would stray far away from their faith and never find their way back. And they did stray but we also watched, with great fear, as they struggled to return to that faith and to reinstate the values we tried to instil in them. We often feared the struggle would end in failure. Their dad is dead now but I know, were he alive, he'd feel so relieved at some of the changes in his sons. He'd be so proud of them. I am blessed with good boys. There are things I'd change if I could but they became who they are because of who we were and how we raised them. And if there is something I don't understand about them or can't accept, I have to deal with that. As adults, it is up to them to fine tune their character if it needs it. I hope we gave them the tools to do that. Reading those rules and seeing the results of our work, I think we might have done. I hope so. Rules of Respect Show courtesy to everyone. Please, Thank you, Sir, M’am, You’re welcome, and excuse me, are all keys that open doors. Everyone likes respect. You get what you give. Ask first. Do not take something that is not yours. If you “borrow” without asking, it is stealing. Get permission Wait your turn. Do not interrupt others when they are talking. Or, if you are not part of the conversation and need to speak to someone, “excuse me” is an appropriate way to get their attention if you have waited for several minutes. Know who’s in charge. If you see a need or problem, do not give orders – find the person in charge and politely mention the problem. If you have not been put specifically in charge, allow the person in charge to give the orders. Refuse to argue. Ask if you can quietly discuss the problem. The Bible says “a soft answer turneth away wrath.” Usually, it is hard to yell at someone who won’t yell back. After a while they get tired. Remember, sometimes it doesn’t work, especially if you have wrecked the car or broken curfew. Allow the other person to be right. No one is right all the time but neither are they always wrong. YOU could be wrong. It is more embarrassing to loudly declare you’re right and be proven wrong than it is to keep your mouth shut and let others loudly declare when you are right. Offer help. If someone is ill, physically unable to do a chore, or simply needs an extra pair of hands, offer to help. Do not wait to be asked. Offer kindly. If your help is refused, say nothing and allow them to do it themselves. If asked -- give your help to the best of your ability. Respect other’s privacy. Do not ask questions about someone’s personal life unless it will affect you personally. For example: You do not need to know about someone’s sex life unless you plan to have sex with them. Do not tell secrets you have been told unless there is a danger involved or a crime. Do not listen in on others’ conversations uninvited. Do not tell something you have overheard in a private conversation. Would you want someone to tell your secrets? Do unto others. If you want kindness, give it. If you want love, give it. If you want help, give it. If you want friendship, give it. If you want understanding, give it. If you want fairness, give it. If you want truth, give it. If you want joy, give it. If you want peace, give it. If you don’t want any of this, do nothing and you’ll get nothing. Overlook the jerks. There will ALWAYS be someone who defies all of the above. And because of it, no matter what you do, it will never be enough or it will always be wrong – to them. Walk away and smile. If you have done your best and followed the rules, you have won anyway. Always, always, always let them go before you. When the axe falls, it will be their head that rolls. You have been taught a set of values. If you choose to abandon these, we will not avert the consequences of your actions. If you get arrested, we will not bail you out; if you catch a disease, we cannot cure you or even get expensive medical care. Adult behavior requires adult responsibility. You are on your own when you set your own values and rules of behavior. If they conflict with our moral code, you must move out and support yourselves. We will still love you but we made our choices before you were born. We have not changed our minds since then and will not do so now. As a result, we may lose you but if we give in, not only will we lose you but we will also lose ourselves.
Is it time to change your life? Is your vision for something more, greater, or different? Ready to bring your vision to life? It's time to leap into a new phase! Learn to Choose Courage and Live Life on the Edge Assess Your Life Not everyone is willing to
For almost two full years, I teetered on the ledge of wanting to start, full of fear. Now, two years on the other side of it, all I can say is I’m so thankful I took the jump.
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A blog by Shlomit Ofir, a jewelry and fashion designer, who writes about design, fashion, art and all other beautiful things which she draws her inspiration from.
We love an engagement shoot, but sometimes, they can look a little cheesy! Be inspired by these gorgeous snaps, for a shoot that's cool, candid and chic!
Untrained pelvis Failure to progress Failed IVF cycle Geriatric/ Elderly mother (from 35 years onwards!) Infertile Incompetent cervix Contractions Take a moment to read these words. Notice how your body reacts? Imagine these words being written about a woman, in her file or a letter to her do
Photography from Less
The Ledge is part of the series of paintings to do with the dining experience. I use subdued colors and loose brush strokes, as in most of my paintings, in order to create the mood and feel of an urban setting. Art buyers may see a symbolic reference to prominent 20th century American painters like George Bellows, John Sloan, Isabell Bishop, and Edward Hopper. 12 x 16 original oil painting on linen AWARDS and SHOWS 100 Curators Collection Saatchi Online 2012 Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition 2010 Chicago Artist Coalition Group Show 2008 Society of Illustrators 2001, 2002 Laguna Beach Echoes and Visions 2002 Louisville Art Association 2002 American Visions 2002 Hoosier Salon 2002 ARTICLES AND PUBLICATIONS Southwest Art Magazine Artist to Watch 2005 Art of the West 2002 Best of American Oil Painters, Volume 2, 2009 Top Emerging Artist Art Business News 2014 CORPORATE COLLECTIONS Harris Bank Hickory Point Bank follow my blog at Materials used: oil on linen Tags:#green #orange #figurative #darren thompson artist #drinking #dining #liquor art #beverage
Korean photographer Ahn Jun's Self-Portrait project features the dainty photographer on the ledge of some dangerously imposing buildings. We've seen our
And while she didn't actually say the word. What begin to reverberate louder and louder in my already overburdened mind was HYPOCRITE. HYPOCRITE. Are you going to be a HYPOCRITE? Is your life of faith going to real or is it going to be fake? So there it was. The raw, painful truth of the matter. I have done talks and written articles and posted blogs and coached and counseled people about faith, and trusting God, and "doing it afraid", and getting out the boat. But when it came down to my own life, my own walk, my own BIG decision to make, I was seated squarely and firmly in the boat refusing the call to get up and step out and TRUST in the One who was calling me.
This summer, I've been struggling to stay on track with my zero waste goals. Have you?
Explore Olivia Rae James' 8821 photos on Flickr!
Korean photographer Ahn Jun's Self-Portrait project features the dainty photographer on the ledge of some dangerously imposing buildings. We've seen our
In the studio.
