Groovy is a term I used years ago like in the 60s. We used it meaning cool, excellent,
fashionable or amazing, depending on context.
Some of you folks are groovy! Oh yes you are. Simon and Garfunkel sang a song in the 60s
called The 59thStreet Bridge Song, that I played from a record when at good ol’
Northwestern College. It was
groovy! I wonder where that record is
today. ANYWAY, the song begins: Slow
down, you move too fast / You got to make the morning last / Just kicking down
the cobblestones / Looking for fun and feelin’ groovy.
It’s great to feel groovy.
What makes you and I feel groovy? There are a lot of things or stuff or
events or accomplishments that do. No
question. I think we can make others feel groovy in a very sincere and honest
and uplifting way. Yes, I do. I think
encouragement (i.e. a form of caring for others) is something that is groovy for
others. And besides, it makes us feel
groovy as well. MissPerfect says—When
I’m discouraged, I encourage others by showing my appreciation to someone (i.e.
turn my focus and attention to them and away from me); it’s amazing what that
does for me; it makes me feel groovy!
Have you ever taken a shot to noggin (i.e. like falling out
of the hay loft)? Probably you older folks have taken some whacks to the behind
as well. I know I have. In fact, my
sisters tell me that our father, Chester, was much harder on me than either of
them. I got more whacks on the behind
then they did. He was very demanding of
me. They even felt sorry for me. I don’t remember any of it. Crazy.
ANYWAY, when we take a shot to the noggin, how does that affect us? It
can knock some sense into us or knock us senseless! Years ago we had no protocol for a shot to
the head; you just got up and went on.
It was a way different world back then. Do any of you think you might
have had a concussion, but nothing was done.
Maybe that is why you are like you are today! haha We will never know!
Our family never went to the doctor unless it was really bad; I mean really bad
(i.e. put some Watkins salve on it and it would get better—for anything and
everything). Such was life.
I read the Book of Ecclesiastes again; it’s the Book that I
read most often. The introduction is
very interesting to me. It says—From the perspective of his own understanding,
the Teacher (i.e. assumed by most to be King Solomon) takes measure of man
examining his capabilities. He discovers
that human wisdom, even that of a godly person, has limits…We should be prudent
in everything, living carefully before God and the king and, above all, fearing
God and keeping his commandments…Life not centered on God is purposeless and
meaningless.
Recently I really had a “time!”
An incredible experience! Great wisdom and
very touching to me.
It happened out of
the blue! Unexpected. It was a “time” to me and maybe you might not have
thought it was a “time” to you.
Are you
and I different? ANYWAY, I was having a conversation with a couple who are
friends who are in their 40s. They told me that she went to get groceries on
this Saturday morning and when leaving her car wouldn’t start.
They had to call a tow truck to take it to
the dealership.
They didn’t necessarily
care for the inconvenience and cost but handled it in a way that was impressive
to me (i.e. saw the big picture).
It was
just that, an inconvenience.
It's like myneighbor/friendKarl use to say--If has a motor you know you are going to have trouble with it! Well, those weren't his exact words but close enough! Such a
small problem in the grand scheme of life.
What a great perspective.
It was
wisdom.
Pretty groovy to me! My Daddy,
Chester, said to me many times what is in his saying.
Many times.
Amy
says--"Humans have low tolerance for ambivalence, our minds seeking refuge
from the tension of opposing thoughts we cannot reconcile. And we often prefer
black-and-white thinking—either it’s all this or all that—all mercy and no
judgment, or vice versa—not this messy both/and." I would like to
think I'm open minded (i.e. ok, at least to some degree haha). I would
like to think I can see both sides of a discussion and will listen (i.e. I hope
anyway but maybe not). It appears that extreme radicals cannot. I
was visiting with a friend by phone recently and he said that all of us
probably have qualities that some others like in us and we also have
some qualities that those same folks don't like in us; in fact, we have this
same feeling about everyone we know, EVERYONE! He went on to say--I have this feeling
about you Dad (i.e. and I thought he thought I was perfect)! Oh man!
RattyRat, who can make the money shot, says--How can we love someone if we
don't accept both their qualities we like and we don't like? If
we can't, we can't love anyone! I am thinking about a friend who seems to be
able to do this at a high level. I applaud her for this quality.
She doesn't seem to take things sooo black-and-white about folks she loves; she
rolls with the punch! She’s groovy!
Jimmer, Erin and I went for a maybe 2-mile hike in Jefferson County Open
area when I was in CO. Jimmer was rather difficult as he would not walk with me
most of the time (i.e. I don’t think he wanted to talk to me). I couldn’t
get him to change. He was himself (i.e. maybe kids are like adults, they
too sometimes need their own space). Soooo on Christmas night we all played
Cards Against Humanity and UNO Attack (i.e. a new modification of UNO that just
made it more fun—the kids really liked both). Jimmer showed a way different
side of himself. He was most expressive and exciting and funny. Soooo who
is this kid? Erin showed her softness and kindness to me by showing me a pic of
her holding Copper, her previous ginny pig, while he died; she said she held
him 20 minutes as he was dying. What do these actions tell me about their
future? I have no idea!
My kid-sister is a
retired educator and still has a strong interest in teaching children. I
think she was a very good teacher. I was visiting with her about how the
current education situation will affect children. She does testing of
young children on line for a school district and can see that some children are
struggling. She feels that a teacher is their best opportunity to learn;
not more money in education but their teacher. Teachers can really help kids
and some really do. Here is something that she told me (i.e. in her
opinion)—First grade is a hard grade for many children as they learn a lot
(e.g. reading). The second grade is a review grade (i.e. can be a catch
up grade) and then again the third grade they are taught a lot of new stuff
again. Boys seem to have a harder time with the process it seems but many
times all of a sudden they get it. I found that interesting. All of a
sudden they get it. That sounds like some adults as well. Soooo
what does it take for us tooooo all of a sudden to get it? Could it be a good
teacher, an example, a mentor, an experience? God only knows!
I had a friend who is a
leader of a men’s group in his church tell me this—“Good Luck on your
small group. My group is in disrepair right now, as several were
reluctant to come because of the virus. Two of the original have died, and
two just left for Arizona --- so I need to replenish the stock a bit.
It's really strange - a couple of them do not have email, and even though we
meet at the same place, same time, and same location each week, they do not
show unless they receive a phone call inviting them. Everyone is
different, including me.” The human male is a strange animal alright. They
constantly need to be jacked up it seems! SusieQ, who produces warm and fuzzy
feelings, says--Some of those old farts are pretty stubborn and obnoxious let
me tell you; I have learned that from my past experiences. Ouchy ouchy!
I read this in a book that interested me
Soooo
what stories are being told to the next generations? What will they take from our stories? A friend
at church told me that a box of 380 ammo a year ago cost $15 to $20 a box, a
month ago it was about $35 and now $75.
Sooooo what does this mean (i.e. rabbit hunting is becoming more
popular)? I read in the paper, soooo it must be right--You can’t beat free
stuff! That is funny but it seems really
true. I don’t know if that free stuff is
soooo groovy! What do you think? That is what I thought. Would you like $600 for each person in your family? How about $20 for each acre you farm? AverageJoe
says—Now that sounds groovy to me! ItchieBitchie says—Hey, I’m the poor old guy
who is paying for this or my kids will or my grandkids will; it ain’t free
folks! Someone has to pay the fiddler, don’t they? An assistant at the Buter
County Treasurer’s office told me that registration for a new Tahoe is $800
plus sales tax of about $4,000; that is why we need stimulus packages! Soooo do
they loan folks the money for that tooooo?
RickyRick says this about an old story that many of us heard
many times but probably never thought about what RickyRick thought about--Do
you remember the story of Jesus feeding 5,000 people with only five loaves of
bread and two fish? I think it’s amazing that, out of 5,000 people, only one
person brought a lunch. I’m thinking a lot of people were hiding picnic baskets
under their robes because they didn’t want to share with anybody else.
I saw this in the Denver Airport.
I’m a Lincoln fan.
Many of his thoughts and lines in his
speeches came from the Bible (i.e. he was a Bible scholar and reader but never
a member of a church).
This is one of
them. Mark 2:25 says--If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot
stand. I agree with Mr. Lincoln, no country, business, family, sports team,
church, music group, etc. will remain if divided (i.e. if not in one
accord).
They usually dissolve, one side
wins and takes control usually by power and money, or they just split by
necessity or by common decision. History shows that.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure
that out.
I really think it’s important to be balanced with these three qualities
(i.e. it is called the wellness triangle).
In the mental side, spirituality is very important (i.e. my
opinion). It appears that folks who can
maintain the balance of these qualities are much better folks to be around and
also have better lives. JoeSmack
says—
erv, it ain’t easy! JoeSmack,
nuttin really good is easy!
I
stopped at friends’ place recently and they had this on their house.
I laughed.
Sooooo I pressed hard to get their attention.
Now ain’t that the truth sometimes; we just
have to press hard to make the ding dong sound soooo others can hear us.
Now will others answer our bell is another
question.
Sometimes it seems like they
are not home or are hard of hearing or maybe going to the bathroom.
Such is life.
There is a trend for different organizations, businesses,
churches, sport teams, etc. to change their brand, name and/or logo. Why?
They want a new image.
Maybe the old ones are offensive, old
fashion, not what they want to be known for, not popular, poor for business, want
a fresh look, bad image for some reason, bad connotation, bad history, need a
face lift, etc.
AntiqueEdith
says--It’s an update; brought up to date from the old fashion way. Technology is constantly changing; if the
process doesn’t change, basically companies will be left in the dust. Look around folks, it doesn’t take a rocket
scientist to figure that out. JoeBlow
says—I don’t want to change. You don’t
have JoeBlow; no one is making you but I hope you like to eat dust. I have a long-time business
friend who has always said that communication is the most important part of
business.
Yes, communication. Raise the
concern and let’s talk about it; I will listen; I want to hear what you have to
say (i.e. I want to hear your opinion).
Have you ever been involved in an organization where folks are not given
the opportunity to express themselves, but their voices are just stifled and
pasted over?
How did that go?
Oh, that communication!
I recently misread a text and thought I was
meeting a person for lunch the next day.
They texted me and asked where I was.
It was today! Ouchy ouchy!
I
miscommunicated the message in my brain.
One can never be tooooo explicit with communication maybe.
I felt bad but what
could I do other than apologize.
Such is
life.
I listened to a story about a church that was dying. The church members where old and few. They decided that maybe they could use their
talents and money to close their physical church and start a new church in a
new neighborhood of their city. They
hired a church planter and are going to give it a shot. Wow! To me that is impressive. They didn’t just kick the ol’ can down the
street! Maybe some churches should
consider planting a new church in the church they are in. A new church with a new plan and a new
name! TinaTheChurchLady says--Boy, that
would take a lot of humble adjustment (i.e. the old timers won’t like
that)! WorldClassLarry says—Yabut, they are probably going to die anyway (i.e.
the church and the folks)! LuckieEddie says—Reality isn’t much fun to talk
about sometimes! Yikes!
Those of you who have run in the New York City Marathon can
relate to the The 59th Street Bridge Song. The 59th Street Bridge is just
past halfway in the marathon, but it is tough because it has a steep rise and
is very hard on the feet. The end of the
bridge, though, is great because it is downhill and there are numerous people
waiting on 1st Avenue to cheer the runners on (i.e. feeling groovy).
Can any of you relate to that in your life?
I’m guessing soooo!
I read what Richard M. DeVos said while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it. Mr. DeVos was a businessman and owner of the Orlando Magic basketball team and said this--"Few things in the world are more powerful than a positive push (i.e. make a person feel groovy). A smile. A word of optimism and hope. A 'you can do it' when things are tough." That is his opinion
I hope you can make adjustments in your life (e.g. get
around good folks, make good 360 degree changes, modify habits, etc.) that will
make you feel groovy! You can do it!
Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:
erv
MyFriendJean said--The perfect guest makes their host feel right at home.
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