How About Going Back To School

When I conduct group therapy, I often read something to get a discussion going. One such piece is Robert Fulghum's "All I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." These words are relevant for all of us, but especially our politicians. In the face of an election decided because people saw moral values important, our leaders can review this. These are lessons they were taught once, but forgotten as evidenced by their public behavior. I wonder how their kindergarten teachers would think of them today and how they would discipline them when they call names, tell lies, and don't say they are sorry? The term, "too big for your britches," comes to mind. When things get out of control, go back to the basics. Mr. Fulghum's words take us there.

All I ever needed to know, I learned in Kindergarten



Most of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, and how to be, I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand box at nursery school.



These are the things I learned. Share everything. Play fair. Don't hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don't take things that aren't yours. Say you are sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Flush. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Live a balanced life. Learn some and think some and draw some and paint and sing and dance and play and work everyday.



Take a nap every afternoon. When you go out in the world, watch for traffic, hold hands, and stick together. Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the plastic cup? The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why. We are like that.



And then remember that book about Dick and Jane and the first word you learned, the biggest word of all: LOOK! Everything you need to know is there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation, ecology, and politics and the sane living.



Think of what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about 3 o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankets for a nap. Or we had a basic policy in our nation and other nations to always put things back where we found them and clean up our own messes. And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together. --- Robert Fulghum

It is my hope the Democrats and Republicans find more common ground than not. All it takes is some humility, patience, and a desire to serve the greater good over selfish motivations. It can happen overnight or it could go on as it has been forever. One thing is true, each person has the power to make it happen. It reminds me of the evangelist who instructed the congregation on how to begin a revival. "You take some chalk and draw a circle. Then you get inside the circle and pray for God to send revival to the circle." Instead of pointing fingers at the guy doing it wrong, we should be examples for them to follow. We possess a great power. Will you use yours today?



Until the next time

John Strain

A Message from John Kerry

In his own words . . .







. . . or was that Michael Moore.



Our President











What are the chances the country will come together instead of digging deeper in our partisan trenches?



Let us focus on what we have in common more than our differences.



Until the next time

John Strain

Happy Election Day: A Celebration of Freedom

Here's to freedom, liberty, and democracy, three wonderful things.



Until the next time

John Strain

November

Thanksgiving



The year has turned its circle,

The seasons come and go.

The harvest all is gathered in

And chilly north winds blow.

Orchards have shared their treasures,

The fields, their yellow grain,

So open wide the doorway~

Thanksgiving comes again!

The year is winding down. Soon it will be Thanksgiving. The holidays will be in full swing. Each year I wonder where it all went. All of the clichés apply: Time goes faster every year.



I was looking at one of those "Today In History" sites. It is interesting to see what took place on this day in other years. For instance:

1512 - Michelangelo’s paintings on the ceiling of Vatican’s Sistine Chapel are first exhibited.

1517 - Martin Luther nails 95 theses at Wittenberg Palace church, marking the beginning of the Reformation in Germany.

1926 - Death of Harry Houdini, magician famed for his escape acts. Born Ehrich Weiss, he named himself after the French magician Robert-Houdin.

2001 - A New York hospital worker with a mysterious case of inhalation anthrax dies, the nation’s fourth fatality in a month of bioterrorism. — VNS/REUTERS/AP

It is humbling to think in terms of history. When we do so, we are less significant. There have been others before us engaged in important tasks and there will be more to follow. We convince ourselves that things that matter so much to us are important. However, history usually relegates our important things to the shelf of insignificance. Many times the profound is not even realized when it happens. It is only when people look back they see it.



Time marches on. We march along with it as far as we can, but it never breaks its stride and we eventually slow down. Another holiday season is upon us and it is a gift. With all of its hassles, commercialism, obligations, and stress - it is a precious gift. You will no doubt look back on the holiday season of 2004 in 20 years and think of it as the "good ol' days." The "now" is all we really have. Take it how it comes and enjoy what you can. Our state of mind determines our level of enjoyment. Our expectations and tolerance have much more to do with determining our satisfaction than we might think.



Do you remember when you were a kid and you could not wait for the holidays? Do you remember as an adult dreading the holidays? The difference is the focus. The child sees the fun and the adult sees the work. Both fun and work are realities of the holiday season, but a balance of the two will ensure we enjoy them. I hate to see so many stressed, frazzled, and unhappy when we are, after all, celebrating the birth of the Light of the world.



This holiday season it is my hope more would see through the eyes of a child and the magic would return for them. It only takes a change of thought and expectation.



Until the next time

John Strain



This was my 500th post.

Happy Halloween

The other day I picked up a hitch hiker and she must have been a witch.



How did I know she was a witch?



Because when she put her hand on my leg I turned into a hotel.

---

A little boy was out trick or treating one Halloween dressed as a pirate.



A lady opened the door and looked at him and said, "You're a cute little pirate. Where are your buccaneers?"



He looked at her and said, "Under my buckin' hat, lady."

---

Happy Halloween Boys and Ghouls,

John Strain