I recently picked a new doctor. After two visits and exhaustive Lab tests, he said I was doing 'fairly well' for my age [I just turned 60].
A little concerned about his comment, I couldn't resist asking him, 'Do you think I'll live to be 80?'
He asked me, 'Do you smoke tobacco, or drink beer or wine?' 'Oh no,' I replied. 'And I'm not doing any drugs, either!'
Then he asked, 'Do you eat rib-eye steaks and barbecued ribs?
' 'Not much’ I replied. ‘My former doctor said that all red meat is very unhealthy!'
'Do you spend a lot of time in the sun, like playing golf, sailing, hiking, or bicycling?'
'No, I avoid the sun as much as possible,' I replied.
He asked, 'Do you gamble, drive fast cars, or have a lot of sex?' 'No,' I replied. ‘I’m being extremely careful.’
He looked at me and asked, 'Then why do you even give a shit?’
I asked my 10 year old daughter what she wants to be when she grows up. She said, "Dad, all I want to be is happy".
Today I was in a coffee shop when two gay guys walked in holding hands. As you might expect, a few heads started turning.
Then a young girl at the table next to me asked her mum why two men were holding hands. Her mum replied, "Because they love each other."
When you understand that what most people really, really want is simply to feel good about themselves, and when you realize that with just a few well-chosen words you can help virtually anyone on the planet instantly achieve this, you begin to realize just how simple life is, and how powerful you are.
The first thing we do when we come into this life is to inhale.
The last thing we do before we finally take leave of our body is to exhale.
In between arrival and departure is the inhalation and exhalation of the breath that maintains our aliveness – every day, 23,000 times a day.
I know I'm not perfect
I also know parts of me are fucking awesome
Seeds
When I doubt God’s existence
when I believe not in man’s humanity
when I doubt myself or others
I think of seeds recently flung
from my hand on bare spots
miles from any mountaintop.
Days later I discover
blades of grass
thousands are there
growing and sprouting
in my back yard
shooting skyward
simple blades of grace.
Poet: Joseph Sottile
