Author Archives: Paul Williams
Bravery, Courage, Emotions, Faith
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS – UNANSWERED PRAYERS
The mystery of Malaysian Airlines flight 370 seems to have highjacked the airways and remains a constant on all the news channels. The endless restating of limited facts and difficult to understand technical data is all a bit mind numbing, until you stop to think about the passengers and their loved ones. What must it be like for the families of the missing passengers and crewmembers? They’re world turned upside down. What has happened here? The frustration and the… Read More
Hanging In There, Living Fully, Mindfulness
GOING THE DISTANCE
You hear that phrase a lot these days. Sometimes it’s about finances. There’s a particularly unpleasant commercial that shows people being given pieces of ribbon that equals their financial preparedness. They’re all shocked to find the savings or retirement plan they thought would carry them to the end of their days only lasts till they’re 67 or 71 or some date that’s quickly approaching. It’s fear as a marketing tool. And it probably works. Going the distance has sweeter… Read More
Clarity, Faith, Goodness, Guides, Mindfulness
GETTING HIGH ON COFFEE
Life lessons come in as many shapes and sizes as there are people. The opportunity to learn can be in church or at the park watching a young father with his children. Daddy referees are especially inventive. An argument over a toy settled quickly by a clever comment. “I don’t want you fighting over the ball and I really don’t want you getting on those swings”. Classic reverse psychology, which leads, of course, to both toddlers heading for the… Read More
Clarity, Faith, Gratitude, Guides
I DON’T UNDERSTAND
I don’t understand electricity. I use it anyway. Every day. My ignorance has little effect on the value of the voltage. Recently, on late night radio, I heard that a light bulb isn’t really a constant light. It’s something like 60 flashes Per second. We see it as a constant. I did a little research and found this. http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/solar-at-home/2011/08/18/how-optical-illusions-can-build-a-better-bulb/ Okay. Got it. Not really. It’s fascinating but, a little above my pay grade. It’s information that sent me racing… Read More
HOW COULD HE?
My name is Paul and I’m an alcoholic. Those words were the key to a new freedom and a new happiness for me. I gratefully accepting the help I was given by other recovering drunks and took them at their word when they told me I could never drink like other people. The wagon was the only reliable option. You’re taught that right away. Old Timer: “Fact. The first drink gets you drunk.” Newcomer: “Uh, okay. Whaddaya mean?” Old Timer:… Read More
Ego, Gratitude, Living Fully, Mindfulness
THE ILLUSION OF TOP BANANA
I’m making up a new word. Dis-attractive. It’s to describe the highly addictive cyber candy right there at our fingertips every day. You can open up your browser and lose yourself in the maze of information, gossip, shocking celebrity behavior, fashion disasters or conspiracy theories. It’s Alice down the rabbit hole of “Search”. It’s an easy place to miss-place huge hunks of our lives. And there is little on line more compelling than the sight of our own name in… Read More
Action, Addictions, Bravery, Courage, Ego, Risk
THE COMPETITIVE SPIRIT
I’m not usually competitive. I don’t play most sports for obvious reasons. Age, height and weight combined with minimal hand-eye coordination have kept me comfortably on the sidelines. I do love golf but have never really been good enough to get all, “I’m gonna kick some ass out there today!’” about it. My greatest opponent on the golf course resides just under my hat and right between my ears. Like most golfers, I’m my own worst enemy. Too many swing… Read More
MARIJUANA WAFFLES
Actually, the headline should be “marijuana waffler.” Even as I type this I’m not sure I want to share my thoughts on the subject of ‘Legalizing Marijuana”. I read Tracey’s powerful anti Legalization blog and found many of her arguments compelling. I have the same concerns that she does. Addiction is rampant around the world and I don’t want to see anything done that encourages or increases the probability of kids getting high. That thought deserves a paragraph of… Read More
Happiness, Living Fully, Longing, Moving Forward
MEMORIES
It’s a new year. And it’s always the same. On January 1st, 2014, I find myself zipping into the future wondering where I’ll be and what I’ll be doing come January 1st, 2015. I haven’t even written 2014 on a check yet and I’m already wondering about that distant date. That’s wondering, not worrying. I’m amazed at the surprises the year provides and the twists and turns I couldn’t have imagined. I’ve begun to realize that even what looks… Read More
Fear, Gratitude, Hanging In There
THE WORRY WARRIOR AND THE ZOMBIE ZOO
One of my favorite movies is “Shaun of the Dead”. It’s a very funny film written by Edgar Wright & Simon Pegg, also director and star, in that order. There’s a running gag in the film where the lead actors are surrounded by zombies but never see them. It’s an industrial strength take on the old Abbott and Costello bit where Lou Costello would try to get Bud Abbott to turn around to see the monster. By the time Abbott… Read More