Monday, September 12, 2011

THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF OUR LIVES

Today is 9/12/11 — a chance to make a fresh start on our collective life in the world,

Lydia at Writerquake, Sandie at Chatty Crone, and Ms. Moon at Bless our Hearts have, among many others, shared some challenging thoughts over the the last few days. Some delightful thoughts, but also challenging. At least for this Bear.

The Crone's "Quote of the Week" is from Helen James. “Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference.”

The sentiment is real. That's the perspective I try to take in every day of my life.

Ms. Crones other quote, from Kobi Yamada, got even more of my attention. Believe that there's light at the end of the tunnel. Believe that you might be that light for someone else.

I very much like idea, because I'm a "light at the end of the tunnel" kind of Bear.

Now, here are the questions.
• Has the light at the end of the tunnel been turned of as a deficit-reduction measure?
• If it has, does anyone remember where it is, so we can turn it back on?
• If we can't turn it back on, how will we move ahead?

Sorry if you find these thoughts depressing the day after 9/11. Those questions were on my mind all day yesterday.

19 comments:

Craig said...

I'm with you on that. Glass half full and all that.
I think it's best to take government and political issues with a pinch of salt. Even in the very best of times, they manage to depress us all.

Elisabeth said...

Grim thoughts Rob Bear, but maybe someone can turn the light back on for you.

The light at the end of the tunnel can be metaphorical though it helps if there's something tangible out there to help fuel the optimism.

Snowbrush said...

"Sorry if you find these thoughts depressing the day after 9/11."

Not me, Bear. The ten years since that day have been one long exercise in American arrogance and stupidity as I see it, and this means that, as bad as 9/11 itself was, the crimes that we have committed since then surely outweigh the original event by many thousand fold

I'm wild about that Yamada quote.

Lydia said...

How nice of Bear to mention me in this post. I am honored, most definitely, and I thank you.

As for the light at the other end of the tunnel, my first thought (and perhaps not-so-astute because it is past my bedtime) was this: Would we need a light at the other end of the tunnel if we had our own to use going through?

THINGS YOU'D NEVER GUESS ABOUT ME said...

The light at the end of the tunnel is a train carrying explosives.

Frances said...

Bear, I wonder if that debt reduction light is "rechargeable." Very bad attempt at humor, eh?

What I really wanted to say is that I like the idea of each of us having the possibility and opportunity to be lights for others.

xo

Amanda Summer said...

the helen james quote is wonderful - and i believe in it. a good friend of mine, who is a therapist, has always told me that no effort in the universe goes unnoticed.

i hope you are well, r-bear. sending love and blessings from the south.

amanda
xo

Rosaria Williams said...

We can't stop thinking when we are in a tunnel. We need our wits about us.

Kim said...

Maybe if it's not turned back on we can find a torch or a flashlight. Just a thought...

ReformingGeek said...

I love those quotes. Life is full of moments, some good, some bad, but it will balance out. When I'm feeling down, I like to be around people that have their lights on! And, yes, I hope that I can be the light for someone else sometime.

potsoc said...

I like Lydia's late night thought.

Diana said...

I think the light at the end of the tunnel is just reminding ourselves of our faith in Christ. It can be easy to forget at times and those seem to be the darker days. At least that's how I see it.
I also think that it's only natural to have dark and down days. We are only human after all. I just except those days and eventually things get better again.
The light will shine again Bear.
Love Di ♥

Jean said...

The events of ten years ago have made me feel very unsafe and uncertain, something which seems to get worse as time goes by. Especially if I see the news on TV, so I don't watch it very often, burying my head in the sand because I feel there is only so much of the world's misery that a person can take, especially as there is little or nothing I can do about any of it.
I enjoy every drop of sunshine that there is in every day, just in case there is something round the corner that is about turn my life upside down.

Rob-bear said...

® Craig: Oh, so well said!

® Elisabeth: Metaphor it is; but you're actually anticipating something.

® Snowbrush: You've stated, better than I, what happened after 9/11. For me, it's the things that came after the fall of the Twin Towers which I have found most distressing.

® Lydia: An excellent thought; carrying our own light. YES!

® Beau's Mom: I've said the same thing myself, on a few occasions.

® Frances: The light is rechargeable, indeed. And you have told us how.

® amanda: No good deed goes unnoticed. Yes!
I have a friend who says no good deed goes unpunished. Sadly, there is an aspect of truth in that.

Rob-bear said...

® rosaria: Back to WW2 Britain. "Keep Calm and Carry On."

® Kim: Torch. Flashlight. You've got me on a roll, here.

® ReformingGeek: People with their lights on in a sticky spot. Absooultely!

® potsoc: You get my vote on that!

® Diana: Your knees may be a little slow, but your mind is great! And, of course, you're right!

I may sound a bit facetious saying this, but I believe it is true. I am fortunate to have great people reading this blog. I really do appreciate your comments. Thanks you. Those comments inspire me, and help the blog to get better.
Stay tuned for part three!

Rob-bear said...

® Jean: I certainly understand. Each of us is pretty small, when faced with the world, or the universe. And life can be pretty scary, even for a Bear.

However, if we are really together, I believe we can make a difference.

I saw a bumper sticker a while ago which said, "When the people lead, the leaders will follow."

Chatty Crone said...

Okay - You are deep for me - but this is what I feel.

There are lots and lots of things that are bad that happen.

I could become depressed thinking about them all the time - and I think that has happened to my hubby a little.

I am going to keep 'my little light of mine' as little as it can get at times - lit!

I can only chose that for myself - wish I could chose it for others, but I can't.

So when we put our collective lights together - it becomes bright and big.

sandie aka Chatty Crone

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Bear, I have some fresh batteries and will share my light with you. I am the optimist, but not a stupid fluff-head so I do keep my eyes open.

Thanks for the thoughts, dear friend.

Bises,
Genie

Rob-bear said...

® Chatty Crone: "So when we put our collective lights together - it becomes bright and big."
Sadly, it seems many of us have forgotten how to do that. Here's hoping that will happen.

® Genie: Thanks for the offer. Sharing is good. When people share ideas, and commit to ideas in the millions, then change will come.