Freeing the Bird.

A smile and a peace sign make my day.

.We are One Family.

A paddle in a puddle make their day.

 Happiness is a by-product of having a purpose in life. Combined with the understanding life is not perfect. Seeking lasting happiness in an imperfect world is unrealistic. Pleasures are fleeting but understanding brings contentment.

Nourishment is important.

 If we expect a pleasant sensation to last for ever we are in for disappointment.

Safety is important.

Nothing lasts forever everything is subject to change. To be at peace we must not be over possessive it will bring sorrow. Let the caged bird free is the way to happiness.

Everyone is important.

To give rather than receive is to understand happiness grows by sharing. Possessions do not bring the joy we anticipated the pleasure soon passes and we are left still wanting.

Love and caring for self and others.

An ideal purpose in life benefits oneself first and then extends to the those in our contact and from there radiate out to the whole world. To work on becoming a better person is a worthwhile purpose in life, it is of benefit to all.

Close family James, Jack, Jackson, Jason.

No one is perfect so we will be busily engaged in this quest to improve. To keep busy enhances happiness. No time to worry about our self. Worry kills happiness and 90% of our worries never happen.

My daughter Vanessa home schools her 5 children.

It is a win win situation to improve our knowledge and ethics. We are respected by others. Being honest and outgoing, no big ego trips, just being our authentic self improves our popularity with others.

Friends are flowers in your garden.

Friends enhance our wellbeing, without friends life would lose its joy. We need to value every one as a potential friend. Everyone that comes into our life has feelings and a whole life that we may never know yet they are part of our world.

Everyone is an important part of your life.

A new word that explains this idea is ‘sonder’.

Hit this link and take part in life’s joy.

Spreading happiness is important.

I like this word it conveys my feeling that we are all interconnected and it is ignorance that separates us. So my quest is knowledge and understanding.

The passer by is Sonda.

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How to slow down decay.

Book Inn..

Slow down don’t slow up.

Lately I have been absorbed reading instead of writing. The books I have been reading have made me realise how little I know. And yet I am far more knowledgeable than I used to be, at least I now know how to enjoy life.

What else is it for?

Knowing the unsatisfactory changing nature of life. I do not cling to things and am contented rather than happy. My lifelong goal is self improvement, acquiring knowledge rather than possessions.

 I went to the library to read it again I gave my copy away.

I would describe this as contentment rather than happiness. Learning to appreciation the good in my life.

To make you smile.

Ignorance is the cause of unhappiness. To enjoy life one must be disciplined in doing what is necessary to stay healthy in both body and mind. The one thing we should not be ignorant of is nothing lasts. Everything has a use by date.

You may not buy this one it is a gift, complements of Buddhist society Malaysia. 

We can prolong the life of things by maintaining them properly, then they will serve us well. To care for things we need the knowledge to know how. Over the years I have learned a few life skills.

It is no secret any more.

I try to pass them on, but you can find better qualified writers than me. You just need to be very selective in sorting out whose opinion to follow. Is it fact or fiction, is it rubbish I am feeding my mind on? Both body and mind need wholesome nourishment to stay healthy.

1932 the bridge the hands and hope I had to be in this photo.

I am pleased how I am doing, keeping fit and inspiring others. They made me ‘member of the month’ at the Burleigh, World Gym. I was requested to write this comment. I now am fitted out in really smart gym cloths all part of the honour.

The matador, no bull.

“Who is the old bloke sweating on the x trainer?”world gym

“That is Jack he used to be a construction worker, a rigger to be precise.”

Great game for a young bloke to earn a crust. Plenty of exercise climbing up on the steel purlins, riding the crane hook. Man those were the days before the safety regulations took all the buzz out of it.

The problem is if you do a good job they promote you. Most of the fun goes out of it and it can get stressful.

Tim wants to be like me, when he has been 83 years at the gym.

The way around that is go to a gym and get rid of the stress. Get the endorphin circulating, it is better than chocolate. Oh! You see eye candy everywhere in a gym, a treat for every taste, the blokes and the girls. The great people that you become friends with in a gym like World Gym, Burleigh, is another incentive to workout.

Note the caption on the wall.

I am 83 but when I am mixing in with all these positive, fit people I can forget I am past my use by date. Three score and ten I never put too much faith in ancient writing and doctors are ok in an emergency but do not leave it up to them to keep you fit. You are better of at the gym.

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A Piece of Cake or Peace of Mind.

 

Furry nice blanket.

What do you want?

She was drawing a heart on her hand.

I would like to weave, warm, woolly, words, into a blanket to protect and comfort you on a cold dismal day. To do more than please you, like the fleeting pleasure of youthful love. Like those wonderful shooting stars of pleasure that burnt out in our atmosphere.

They look stable and contented.

Happiness is more stable than pleasure. Happiness is where the bubbling mountain streams combined their strengths, flowing together forming the source of a mighty river. Sharing and appreciating all that passes. Happiness is living with love.

Happy and couldn’t care less what you think.

To know pleasures pass and although happiness can stay with us to the end, the end is inevitable.   This is not a morbid way to think, it is a fact and when realised, brings joy. Understanding our life is passing, we stop cling to the fleeting pleasures and share happiness and good fortune.

Sharing their joy with “Mustang Sally.

Loving and sharing is the key to the treasures of happiness and the joy locked in life’s treasure chest. Life’s treasures cannot be hoarded in a bank to appreciate. They must be shared to appreciate and be appreciated by everyone, to bring peace and contentment to the world.

I good way to spend the day and you don’t need a lot of money.

Wisdom is knowing as the poet said “Pleasures are like snowflakes on the river one moment white then lost forever”. Letting go and sharing brings happiness.

The closest to snow in Queensland.

Desiring more is disastrous; wanting is the problem child that is conceived of lust. The offspring of wisdom is contentment.

This is not the Swannee River.

Wanting for nothing, ironically, is to have all we need. The struggle for more never brings lasting happiness. Luxuries and status symbols are not necessary. Understanding this promotes love, happiness and contentment. Appreciating what you have, is to be wrapped in a blanket of contentment, protected from the cold, outside world, warm in your inner world with peace of mind. You cannot control the outer world; you can control peace in your own mind.

Keep it all in balance.

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Salvation Reveille, wake up call.

Holding hands in paradise.

Wake up call.

Wisdom mixed with folklore.

The wisdom of the sages
has been passed down through the ages.
Still we do not know,
Love is the way to go.

Rainbows must have been a real puzzle.

Man could not explain,
the sunshine and the rain.
Only Gods could know,
so they were made to show.

I would rather marching girls.

The perplexing mystery of all creation,
Was solved by gods from every nation.
Then the arguments began,
who had the correct plan.

Is this the right foot.

To keep control it would seem,
One God must be made supreme.
His foot prints in the sands of time,
still appear to many as sublime.

An awesome example of nature.

Mother Nature still exists,
though patriarchal Gods persist.
The puzzle still remains today,
Can science now show the way?

A digital camera, computer and Photoshop technology.

Or will technology be used to fight,
to see who’s God is in the right.
All the good we have today
Could just be thrown away.

Do not waste the free gifts of Mother Nature.

Appreciation, love and trust,
in today’s world is a must.
Ignorance, greed, fear and hate,
Mother Nature will not tolerate.

You can copy my photo, the real thing cannot be replaced.

Mother Nature is eternally sublime.
Man is mortal and will pass on in time.
A grain of sand or the starry sky,
it will not matter as time passes by.

How many grains of sand or stars in the sky.

All the blood sweat and tears,
all our stupid arguments and fears.
Why waste our time on pie in the sky?
When it is only a few years before we die.

Another example of Mother Natures, sun rise, sun set are constant reminders.

Do not cry, we never die, we only change.
Atoms do not perish they only rearrange.
We may turn into dust mites floating on the morning breeze,
or into song birds singing in the tall green trees.

In a tree or warbling on my windowsill.

Let us prepare here today,
to live our life in a better way.
Caring and sharing in peace and calm.
Wake up! these words are your clock alarm.

Technology can be used in better way, I have fun doing my best.

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Lingering look at windows.

Get out and see the light.

Windows are inciting opportunities.

Someone saw an opportunity here.

Our dwellings should have many windows to let in the light. To live in a house with one window is to dwell in darkness.

Go around obstacles.

Only looking out one window is to have a limited view. Fill your house with windows to see the world from different viewpoints.

Accept the challenges.

I cannot see things as you do from where I am standing and you cannot see things as I do from your location. Maybe we should change positions and we would see things undistorted in true perspective.

The more windows the more you see.

The more windows the wider our outlook, to look out of only one window is to see only one side of our wondrous world.

See more than you REALEYES.

The person with one window is like the person with only one book. They are limited in their views; one should never draw the curtains on other views. Look and see the many possibilities.

Lots of windows but some never look.

A house full of windows is a house full of light, light that makes it possible to see all viewpoints. Look out of every window and into every window to see the vast range of opportunity, to paint or photograph your beautiful picture.

There are many opportunities missed in haste.

 Build your house with many windows take the best from all view points and your wisdom will grow. Never limiting ones view from one window, one book, one country or one belief broadens your horizons.

Look everywhere and broaden any limited views.

Dawn inspired me to photograph windows. You may like to go to her site “The day after” to see what has inspired others.

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How to Win the Rat-race.

I picked these waterlilies for you.

A white one and

 When I was young I was a show off, some say I am still young, I loved to ride the crane-hook and get an adrenalin buzz walking along steel beams high up where a tight-rope walker would not go without a safety net. Another incentive for being a Rigger was we were paid well. Only one thing I loved more than earning money, was spending it. Not always wisely, but it was easy come easy go back in my youth.

a blue.

The first past the post is not always the winner. I was paid to do what I liked, that is how I won the rat race. As they say find an occupation you like and you never have to toil again. With the right attitude work is a pleasure, your time and effort is worthwhile. Hard work is all in our mind. I thought interesting, diverse work, out in the fresh air, keeping fit; constructing useful projects, of benefit to people, was a good game to play.

Australian Wild Western flowers.

What is a winner? Mike Tyson was Heavy Weight Champion of the World and won millions in prize money, but his life was a mess. That is not my idea of a winner punching someone senseless. A winner has life skills and is aware of the effect of his actions on the world he lives in. There are many rich and famous people who are not enjoying life. Money is good if use in the right way.

Some hurry by almost missing the beauty.

I was not first past the post I stopped too often to admire the flowers and followed a few wrong paths. I learned from the detours and always found my way back on track. The people who raced past me in haste missed a lot of free gifts. The people who paused and appreciated this wondrous world were the winners.

Sitting quietly mindful of the wondrous.

Trophies on the shelf for worthwhile achievements are good, but there is much more to life than collecting things. No one owns a sunset, but all can enjoy it. One does not need to own a swimming pool to have a swim, there are rivers and oceans. Without envy we can appreciate many things on display without owning them. Possessions are often a hindrance to our freedom and happiness, a burden to care for and protect.

The great and

Winners do not participate in the rat race or if they do they withdraw early. I learned the hard way, like a donkey, hungrily chasing a twenty-two caret prize, I almost became a looser. Everyone makes mistakes it is not learning from them and fretting over them that is erroneous. In time these mistakes can turns out to our advantage. Never cry over spilt milk, is good advice. The loss is bad enough, without letting it spoil your day.

the small.

 

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Mindful of thoughts and emotions.

Waves ”We will rock you.’ like Queen.

Mindful.

Notice some can handle these waves.

Aware, alert, focused and attentive all similar words but the word mindful fits what I am writing about. To be mindful of our thoughts and emotions and the effect they have on our wellbeing. We need to understanding how a sensory perception or a subliminal perception triggers a thought in our mind and gives rise to waves of emotion. with this understanding we pause before these waves break.

Stay safe ride the waves to the beach.

A thought has no power of its own, till the person experiencing that thought grants it the power. Discernment is needed before we act on a thought and the emotion it gave rise to. Mindful of these thoughts and emotions, pause and realize the feeling being experienced. Unmindful of strong emotional waves breaking in our mind, we are like a ship in heavy seas off a rocky shore. Aware of these emotions in our mind we have the power to steer clear of the hazards that can wreck our life.

These waves can be handled.

Aware that a wide range of thoughts and emotion can be prompted by our daily encounters. We are mindful of what is harmful and beneficial sensory input. What we surround ourselves with will reflect our thoughts, in a positive or negative way. Life today is full of distractions to be wary of, negative media reports and entertainment and unethical people create negative emotion. Such as impatience, anger, jealousy, hate, and other unhelpful emotional states to enter our mind. If mindful we pause and correct these negative thoughts. To be conscious of impatience and realize it is unproductive and if unmindful develops into anger. If anger is not controlled, like a fire it burns the one closest to it. Why do we upset ourselves in this way?

A fire out of control.

In heavy traffic impatience and anger often get out of control. Curtsy and consideration are The antidote. If someone lacks courtesy, anger is not the answer. Consideration is the answer. Perhaps the driver is under life threatening pressure, probably not, but to assume so is to lower our tension. Life is not always to our liking. We must be cooperative and obliging, going with life’s flow. Thoughts give rise to emotions, watchful of these thoughts and arising emotions gives us more control over events in our life.

Stopped by Bushfire.

Aware, alert and focused is not all, we need mindful as well. Aware and alert can avoid an accident but if we are not mindful of our thoughts and emotions we could react in a foolish way. By honking the horn in anger, alarming other drivers unnecessarily, or stick our arm out the window to make a rude gesture at the offending driver, thoughtless of passing vehicles. Unmindful we have lost our composure and our focus on what we are doing.  Letting the outside sensory perceptions run our mind unconsciously is to be out of control. Mindfulness is the first step in taking control of our life.

Natures restful cathedral.

Meditation helps one understand how thoughts can disturb us. In breathing meditation when we are concentrating on the breath we should not be upset by invasive thoughts, this is how we learn to let thoughts come and go while staying focused on what we are doing. We become mindful of what is important to us in the now and, unflustered, can return to our practice. This is the way to become tranquil and undisturbed by the unimportant.

Reflect on a peaceful mind.

Where do these invasive thoughts come from? If they are prompted by a noise directly experienced that is obvious. Some time they are a mystery. In our quiet secluded well-chosen meditation sanctuary, a gentle breeze touches us softly bringing the fragrance of frangipani. Concentrating on our breath we are only subliminally aware of the breeze and the scent but a thought from the past comes into our mind. We have a lifetime of memories waiting to be aroused. Mindful of pleasant or unpleasant thoughts we stay focused not distracted in this way we learn self-control.

The frangipani scent prompted the thought of Pauline.

Impatience, anger, hate and thoughts of revenge are not going to help anyone. Instead we can feel sorry for the drivers with problems. They will have  accidents hurting their self or someone else. Actions always have consequences and thoughts come before actions. Those wild, angry, hateful thoughts and actions will one day hatch into monsters that will bite the one who gave them birth. No need to be the judge and executioner that is a thankless task.  Kind and caring thoughts and actions will enhance our life. Meditate or sit quietly and think about being aware of emotional states as they arise in the mind.  Emotional states shape our life. To be mindful and have control of our emotions will bring peace into our life.

Devilish thoughts.

 

 

 

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Something Good.

 

Pretty and small.

 

Something good.

Grand

He’s got the whole world I his hands, Come on let us sing. You know who we are singing about. That’s right god, your God. The God you have in your heart. Without that goodness there is no meaning to life. The whole cosmos is kept in equilibrium by the one and only, the inexplicable one, of many, God, Allah, Jesus, Brahman, The Tao, and The Force spoken of in Star Wars. Words, nouns and adjectives cannot define this all encompassing something.

Is anybody home.

When this something good that exists in you and me brothers and sisters and the whole world. When we recognize, acknowledge and appreciate this, we have a goal to aim for, a standard to meet, a blue print to build on, a rudder to steer us, a map to guide us and a star to aim for. We then know to go with the flow of this superior force and aim at excellence.  When the force is with you and you are working with this force for the wellbeing of all creation, you feel like singing Joy to the world and you feel good and the world is wonderful.

Joyful music.

The ego is subdued by the force of right, no longer is I am so important it is you and others, we are one but we are many. No longer looking for points of disagreement we look for and see the many things we agree on. All the important things in life we agree on and we can respect other people’s ideas on what we find difficult to understand. My ego tells me I am right and I should not stand by calmly and let others make ridiculous statements. But my understanding tells me that I am not infallible. So long as others believe in promoting peace and harmony why make a big issue of technicalities.

Beauty is every where.

It is essential to contribute to the welfare of everything that exists in our world, every person, every creature and our whole environment. As we are all interdependent nothing exists unaided without a chain of events; to damage one link weakens the whole chain. He has the whole world in his hands but some of us are singing out of tune. Come on listen to life’s melody get in tune and sing along. Be in the flow, share in the beauty, sing with all your heart.

The old violin.

This is a request from all the needy, altogether in tune, one two three, give it all you’ve got. Joy to the world, what a wonderful world and all my loving I will give to you. All the discord is blown in the wind. We have to believe we are magic nothing can stand in our way. Everybody loves somebody, somebody to love. Like the Blues Brothers, we are on a mission from God. You have to do the right thing or the almighty all powerful force will retaliate. It is up to you, to get in tune and sing along to find happiness, joy and contentment.

They are also making music.

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The value of smiles.

Both beauties.

Lucky Jack.

The Captain and Cabin Boy.

I have often been called Happy Jack or Lucky Jack. I wonder is it because I am happy that I am lucky or am I lucky because I am happy and smile a lot? People ask, “Why are you always smiling?” “It is vanity the wrinkles are rearranged and I look better.” I joke. In fact I am advertising a good emotional state. People know I am friendly it is a win-win situation that promotes good.

Not this young, this is my grandson, but similar smile.

I hitchhiked most of my way around the world in the sixties. I was young the world was mine; mankind was at the peak of extravagance, before thoughts of conservation, I had not realized there was a limit to the world’s resources. Success in thumbing a ride relies on your appearance, clean and tidy, not too big a bag and most important a smile. Choose an easy and safe place for your lift to pull-up and it is a good idea to display a sign showing where you going to.

Happy jack smiles run in the family.

When the lifts are scarce and the sky is clouding over it is easy to forget to smile and instead get a worried look on your face. The driver has to make a snap decision and cannot decide what the desperate grim look means so does not take the risk. I learned a smile is the same in any language it says “I am happy, at ease and friendly.” People are attracted and respond positively to a smile.

Smiles are like boomerangs they return.

I feel sorry for people who look for sympathy airing their troubles with a dismal gloomy face. Many people burdening others with their hard luck stories. What they do not realize is they are keeping their troubles alive, magnifying them and turning friends away. I feel admiration and compassion for a person that smiles when plagued by misfortune.

Smiles are beautiful in any language.

The way to improve your chances, not only in getting a free ride, is a sincere smile. By caring, being helpful and being friendly your chances of making new friends increases and it starts with a smile. When you increase your circle of friends you increase your good fortune. The more friends you have the more chance you have of hearing about opportunities that can benefit you. It is called networking in business circles in religious groups it would be fellowship and in all walks of life it is commonsense. Smiling, being helpful and friendly promotes happiness and luck.

Smiles love and peace a bit of reggae.

An example, Pauline and I went to at a music venue we got there early. Sat at a table in a good position all available tables were soon taken. There were no empty tables but some unoccupied seats. Two seats were available at our table. Four people came in looking for a place. I smiled and said “There is room at this table you just need two more chairs.” After introductions we became friends, Terry belonged to a ukulele club and invited me along next time they met. I was looking for a ukulele club but none were advertised in the area. I went along and made more friends willing to pass on their knowledge. I am really lucky and the nicer I am to other people the luckier I get.

Be happy smile don’t worry.

The music was lively blues guitar; everyone was rocking or tapping their feet to the music. I let the music take me out on to the dance floor and did a solo uninhibited dance. I am not worried if people think I am a crazy old bloke or high on loco-weed. Musicians play better if they have an appreciative audience. I am the detonator that set others off dancing, it only takes one and others lose their self-consciousness. I do not need any stimulants other than the music, two beers is my limit. As for marijuana, one must be careful as it is sometimes mixed with other substances. You are pushing your luck if you try drugs to make you feel good. All that is needed is music a smile and good attitude.

Music, and loving smiles it is family trait.

Music is a good way to psyche you into a good mood. On a treadmill in a gym is a good cardiovascular exercise but dancing is also a great workout. I am no longer young and fit but I now realize the world is not mine to exploit. Simple pleasures are the best the higher you go the further you can fall. Sharing a meal with friends is one of the most enjoyable things you can do. Smile and be kind to others, if you are lucky the meal you share will not be your last.

Smiles make us one loving family.

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Thoughts on Gabriel’s visit.

Confucius

Tell him his dreaming.

Could this be Lau Tzu?

Had I accepted Gabriel’s challenge, what beliefs would I have promoted? The Way that can be explained is not the true Way. Call it what you may it will not respond to words the unnameable only reacts to actions. The Toa, translates to The Way in English, to me Toa is the closest understanding of the almighty that keeps the whole cosmos in equilibrium. I think of it as synonymous with nature and its laws.

My reminder to stay on The Path.

To Hindus Brahmin is the unchanging reality in the world and beyond the world and is also difficult to exactly define. This one god can appear in any form, this accounts for the vast array of strange and colourful Hindu gods. Hinduism is a complex conglomeration of many different beliefs.

Another reminder to keep direction.

Jews, Christians and Muslims beliefs all have the same origin, Abraham. They prefer to call their same eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, creator of the universe, by different names. Jehovah Latin for Yahweh is the Hebrew word. The Christians have a trinity, one god in three persons, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Muslims reject the idea of a trinity, there is but one god they are emphatic on this point. Allah is the absolute with both Shiite and Sunni Muslims. These three religions have split into countless denominations each one claiming to be the authentic interpretation of God’s word. There has been nothing but drama since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. There is even disagreement over what variety of fruit was eaten.

Natures garden.

I do not want to get involved; the supernatural is incomprehensible to me. I realize I may not be as intelligent as others so am prepared to respect their views. I hope they can be reciprocal towards me. We should treat others as we would like to be treated. The meaning in that cliché has been attributed to many different wise men by his followers.

The sun flower..

This is why a dream or for real I would not have wanted to be another prophet endeavouring to correct the sinners that are wrecking paradise. The site of the Garden of Eden, Iraq, is now a total disaster area. Israel has seen centuries of bloodshed by people who should know better. Their God commands no killing. There may be a grey area with the Islamic Jihad but if one stirs up an ant’s nest they must expect to get bitten. I would have only added to turmoil trying to rectify an impossible situation.

Stay calm everything passes.

Under the threat of disobeying the wishes of a loving God, in the knowledge he is also a wrathful God. I may have put forward an amendment to the Ten Commandments. Promoting something like Buddha’s Eight Fold Path and explained the ideas of Lau Tzu of Wue and Yin and Yang and the pecking order system, promoting respect, similar to Confucius Not forgetting the children with the Pinocchio song “Give a little whistle.”

A real butterfly.

Dreaming of walking in a garden picking a flower and waking up with that flower in my hand can never happen in reality. Unless I was to believe in the supernatural, then anything is possible. I would like to believe I had an all-powerful ally to protect me as I did when I was a child. But we grow up and realize Santa Clause would not fit down our chimney even if he were real. Facing up to reality no Tooth Fairy we can live with, or live without, as long as we live. There are some things we are told by people we respect that may be too hard to grow out of.

It would be nice to believe in fairies , I had to use Photoshop to get this one.

The episode with Gabriel was a dream and in the light of day I know the truth. I am not a butterfly dreaming he is a man. All those ideas are fantasy. We need to mature and take responsibility by systematically improving our thinking and ethical accountability. Ignorance, thoughtlessness, selfishness and greed will destroy our future happiness. Joy is to be found in understanding caring and kindness is our salvation. No one can do this for you, grow-up improve, follow a proven path to enlightenment.

Watch your step and keep to the path.

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