Eating Vegan 😀👍❤

• 

Modern Shaman, Uptown Whittier. Best food and service, ANYWHERE!

I’ve never given a lot of thought about why people are, or are not, vegan

Most of our eating habits come from our usual routines and habits

It has been said, in various ways, if you do the same things, over and over, and expect different results, …not smart

So, are you completely happy, satisfied, and content with your life, with how the world is

Have you considered making your life better, making the world a little better

Try vegan. Not a complete lifestyle change. Look for, or ask about vegan options when you go out. Look a little longer in the produce section, pick up an additional serving or two of fruits and veggies. Make note of all the spices in your regular grocery store and look up later, spices you’ve never used and vegan cooking options with those spices

We have all lived long enough where one event has changed the direction of our life

Why not eat healthier

Eat vegan

Maybe it’ll change your life, positively. It definitely won’t hurt

Blessed are those willing to take one step towards a positive change❤

Amen 🙏

Cancel Culture

• 

So many ways to approach this label

You know labels, something you stick on something else

And most of you probably know, things get mislabeled, or you see/hear a label, assume you know what is “inside”, and look and think no further

To each, their own

Words, labels evolve and change over time. I have my own understanding of what the word, culture, means; in particular, as it applies to a group of people, and their beliefs, customs, traditions, ways of life

In general terms, a thoughtful well sourced opinion could be, there’s nothing more “American” than “cancel culture” since the origins of the United States. It could be factually stated, the “best” most prominent period of United States history could not have existed were it not for cancel culture

One of the best, and worst, things about current debates, arguments is the lack of attention to detail applied, in terms on contemporary contextual extrapolation and application, validity of counter points, and then, by those conditions, the ridiculous simplicity and narrowness of perspectives, regarding a topic

To each, their own

Most naive American cultures have survived colonial European/American attempts to “cancel” them

Southern European, and other non-Protestant European cultures survived Anglo-Saxon Protestant attempts to cancel them

Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera

Fear not, warriors against cancel culture.

Pursue your beliefs, customs, traditions, ways of life. Be bold and courageous, as many have before you

To each, their own

Mrs. Woudenberg

• 

I attended Pioneer HS from ’80-’84

My first two years were combination of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Dazed and Confused

After one of many two or three week truancy stretches during that time, I returned to my first period freshman English class, high as a kite

Without a word, Mrs Goodwin came to my desk, placed a sheet of paper on my desk, and walked away

It was an application to the Honors program, Omega school

My first thought was this lady is higher than I am!

Later that day, I took that application from my folder and stuck in one of my dresser drawers, to be used as scratch paper, only to be buried and forgotten

Two years later, after straightening out academically, and somewhat personally, I applied to Omega school and was accepted

Mrs Woudenberg became one of my teachers, and mentors, the next two years

Even with my rebellious attitude, and disproportionate self-confidence, I saw Mrs Woudenberg as a genuinely caring teacher, and a Light, really, to all who were willing to listen and see what a great example of humanity she is.

There were other teachers at Pioneer, and before and since, who I also admired and learned much from, but for me, none have had the same positive life-long impact on the kind of person I have become as Mrs Woudenberg

Blessed are we who have had teachers, mentors, other adults in our lives, as adolescents, who helped guide us to become a part of who we are today

Amen

🦋💕#magicgarden🤗❤

• 

Love, is a legacy

As someone who has lived a family life, as a part of other people’s family, LOVE, to me, is what binds a family

I say other people’s family, because I’ve never married or had children, of my own

I’ve been a son, brother, cousin, uncle, and a number of other familial relationships, blood and otherwise ❤

I don’t spend any significant time thinking or judging how others live their life, especially in relation to their family.

I’ve seen and heard many definitions of family. Its a very delicate subject, for many, and can be as difficult to talk about, understand, or even think about

Like love

If you appreciate someone. Tell them, and find a way to show them

The Irma Garden is a part of her legacy of love: her love, and care , for others; my love and care for her; and the love and respect I have for the space I share with others

Amen 🙏

The Secret to Achieve Happiness 😁

• 

Is not a secret. It is love 💘

Love yourself. Forgive yourself.

Forgive others. Love others.

Rare is the adult that is not twisted and broken in some way. Most, by there own doing, if only because they refuse to fix or accept the damage.

Like a car. If a car gets in an accident, you can repair it. Or, if its drivable and meets road standards, drive it as is!

The point. As children, we were all perfect. Growing up changes and shapes us.

At certain points, we make our own choices, then life becomes a Rollercoaster.

Understand there are points you can get off that Rollercoaster, or, stop hitting yourself or your head, only enduring it for the pauses.

Love yourself. Respect yourself.

It is best way to love and respect others is, when we treat them, as we would ourselves.

Amen 🙏

Special Needs Children ❤

• 

Working with children with special needs for 20+ years, has been a most rewarding experience.

There have been disturbing moments, dealing with the attitudes and behaviors of “adults”, when providing community-based experiences for my students. But the worst were those moments dealing with other “professionals” in school settings, who treated my students as being less than worthy of resources and opportunities available for all students.

However, the rewards of learning from these children, children with special needs, and doing my absolute best forthem, priceless.

There were the annual week long camping trips with 100+ students, of varying accommodation needs. To their best of their abilities, we’d take them hiking,, canoeing, crafting, nightly campfires, with singing and smores!And a culmination highlight of the week, the end of camp dance.

To best enable this population of students for everyday life, we would also take trips in the community throughout the year. Teaching them to make shopping lists for everyday items, how to utilize public transportation, and navigating their neighborhood shopping centers, and making purchases.

Also, part of everyday life are leisure activities. How to access and enjoy the parks, bowling alleys, theaters, and other like venues in their localities was another component of integrating the students into their communities.

And for those students with appropriate skills and abilities, working with accommodating employers willing to find employable placements for young adults with special needs was another on-going, and immeasurable achievement, in providing a lifelong benefit to all involved 😊❤

I see those that don’t see the value of these individuals, with special needs, as being handicapped and disabled in mind and spirit. I pray for them🙏

How to Make People Like You

• 

Like yourself, first

Seems simple enough

The irony is, insecure people will try to cause you grief

Years ago, I worked in a very long building. There was a front parking lot, and a back parking lot that extended around the building, about half way.

Most people worked in the middle part of the building, where my room was, and I had a back door, that opened towards the parking lot

Early in my tenure, I’d open the back door, and generally, leave it open throughout the day. Their was a residential street that ran alongside the parking lot, and the neighborhood was nice

Soon people discovered: 1) the new guy gets to work early, 2) leaves the back door open, 3) doesn’t mind people walking through

I always create space around me, working or otherwise, to be functional and welcoming

Over time, more and more people would make there way through my room in the morning. It was convenient, welcoming, and as time passed, a good way to start the day

Official work time was 8AM. Between 7AM and 8AM, I could have 10-12 people in my room, lounging professionally. Sometimes someone would bring a carafe of coffee, maybe someone else would bring a box of pastries

About 4 years in, we got a new boss. One of the first new things she started was a Friday morning coffee club, something unofficially happening in my room for years

Never occurred to me to stop, or encourage others to not come to my room on Fridays, and go to the new boss’s Friday morning informal staff gathering

After about 6 months, she called me into her office, and directly told me to not allow people in my room before the work day.

In the course of her chat with me that day, she said, and I’ll NEVER forget, “the reason you’re nice to people, is that so they’ll like you

😳

If, she only knew

If you know me, you know

Self Help, Self Care

• 

The hardest thing in life is being honest with yourself.

What makes it so difficult, in part, is living a life that we constantly measure by other people, and by standards we didn’t define.

As much as we count on, and rely, on others for our well-being, at a certain point, as adults, we need to reflect and be introspective about our strengths and weaknesses.

(Side note: our strengths are sometimes our weaknesses, and, our weaknesses are sometimes our strengths.)

Self help is not defined, here, as a go at it alone philosophy. It is about being honest, reaching out to others, accepting assistance, but ultimately being responsible for your own well being.

Self care is much the same as self help, but with daily, tangible routines: (1) wake up, drink water. Go to bed, drink water. Drink water throughout the day, everyday. (2) Eat a homemade breakfast as often as possible. Make it include simple grains, raw fruit, and dairy/protein as much as possible. (3) Speak to yourself, encourage yourself like someone you love, all day. Everday. (4) See a doctor regularly, and follow through on all recommended tests and labs.

There’s more to all this, but this is a good start.

Namaste 🙏❤

Hope and Confidence 🥰

• 

I’m full of hope and confidence

RIDICULOUSLY full of hope and confidence

The quote says Hope and Confidence are components of Optimism, but it could also be said that hope OR confidence can lead to optimism

I’ve not blogged in a while, not for lack of material, if anything, too much to comment on.

I’ve met some incredible people the last few weeks.

My skills working with people is where I’ll pursue new employment.

My family is amazing, and beautiful, and full of endless ❤

Namaste 🙏

Smile through the Pain 😀

I’m not sure if hid is the right word, and my smile is not quite what it use to be, 🤔

but…

The general message is accurate

Last six months I’ve challenged myself in ways that pushed me mentally, physically, and emotionally

The first experience ended on its own, as it involved a seasonal employment position.

I felt my achievement in that position was a pleasant surprise to myself and to those that know me. My adjustment mentally and emotionally came quickly and physically, once I adjusted, I actually started to thrive

Inspired, I proceeded to another similar, but more physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging experience.

This one took me longer to adjust to mentally and emotionally, but adjust, I did

Unfortunately, by the time I adjusted physically, I pushed myself beyond and broke🙄

Not the first time, and, probably not the last🙃

After a week in the hospital, and a as of yet undetermined amount of time on home health services (I need continued IV antibiotics) I’ll have some time to reassess and reevaluate: what I can and what I should be doing, and, what opportunities I’ll have to pursue and apply my skills and abilities

Namaste🙏