page contents Google

BETTER LISTENING SKILLS FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING

If practicing better listening skills isn’t a life goal, it should be.
How hard is it to pay attention?
You did it in the classroom with the encouragement of a teacher.
I still remember Mr. Kraus singing ‘Toot toot tootsie goodbye’ when he tossed little tootsie rolls to students with the right answer in algebra.
Maybe we need more of that? Instead we get more of this:

[Read More…]

RETURNING REVERENCE TO IT’S RIGHTFUL PLACE

There’s a scent of reverence in the air, of returning reverence after a long pause.
It started in my doctor’s office where I’d been called to sit on a panel with others.
One of the others was Roy Pittman, one of my personal heroes.
The next time I saw the doctor he told me he was surprised at the way I acted, that I showed reverence to Coach Pittman.
If I did, I didn’t know it. What I remember is feeling awe-struck. Maybe it’s the same thing?
[Read More…]

NBA CHAMPION CROWNED, AGAIN

Becoming an NBA champion is a lifelong goal for every basketball player in the world.
The best want to play the best, beat the best, to tell themselves they’re good enough.
It’s that along with contracts and money and fame.
All of that goes along the wayside when you stop playing in ninth grade like me, or in high school.
Do I blame the coaches that I didn’t become a star, a substitute, or even a benchwarmer?
Noooooo, but . . .
[Read More…]

CLEAN LIVING FOR A QUIET LIFE

Clean living is an art form, and like all art it takes practice.
Yes, we’re talking about practice.
It takes practice to talk without a particular tone, without too much edge.
Do that and you may have a productive conversation.
Go ahead and save the tone and edge for people you don’t know, who don’t know you.
[Read More…]

I READ THE NEWS TODAY OH BOY

The news today is all about world events.
News organizations deliver it every day with the same hype and urgency.
News hounds consume every detail and load it onto the pile they carry in case someone asks them ‘what’s up?’
That’s when you brace yourself for the headlines as if they’re coming from an anchorman. Or woman.
That’s the big news story you NEED to know.
The small news, the stories that make us step back, come out another way.
[Read More…]

More Posts from this Category

toughen up

ANNUAL BODY CLEANSING AND AGE MANAGEMENT

Guest Post By Dr. Elaine Gillaspie, ND From The Portland Wellness Center. Annual body cleansing is an important part of aging gracefully. A monitored juice fast can clean your digestive system for better nutritional absorption. It also rejuvenates your skin, hair, and increases your vitality. Take time in your life to reflect about how we treat […]

NORMAL TO NEW NORMAL A SHORTER WALK

    Exercise geeks always have something wrong. Not the biggest complainers in any room I’m in, but it’s always something. Why? Because small nagging aches and pains are proof of a finely tuned machine.   Like a racehorse where every muscle glistens down the backstretch. Or a fastball pitcher, guys who look like their […]

BOOMER HEALTH INDEX

When No News is Good Boomer Health News. Just when you’ve turned the corner and feeling better, clothes fit better, face looks more like you remember looking, something happens. You forget to move. You decide not to get up. You don’t feel making an effort is worth the reward. You’re tired. Now what? You could […]

More Posts from this Category

boomer years

Auntie Pammy Leaves Legacy Of Lennox Lancer Love

  Life transitions can mean so many things. After all other guesses run out, the final life transition is the end. Auntie Pammy’s life ended, but she left a legacy of love that’s hard to ignore.   From the time the news went out I thought of the a meme that said, “Write about what […]

TALK WHEN THE TIME’S RIGHT, LIKE NOW

To Baby Boomers, Their Parents, And Grandparents: Talk when the time’s right. A recent read revealed the sad tale of one person wishing they had taken the time to speak to their parents more often. They wished they knew their folks better. Of course the person was a baby boomer. They had more regret than […]

ILLEGAL ORDERS: FOLLOW OR NOT

How illegal orders were explained in the 1970’s Army. The beginning of the All-Volunteer Army came with something extra. New boots needed to know about ‘illegal orders.’ Call it a special understanding to make the Army a more attractive choice. Not more swearing, yelling, smacking, punching, and general ass-kicking. And no more illegal orders. The […]

More Posts from this Category

buckle up

HOW TO INTERACT WITH RAJNEESH CULT MEMBERS ON PORTLAND STREETS

    Most days after work in the 80’s I walked the same way to my NW Portland apartment. The path took me past a place called the Martha Washington on SW 11th. I walked the same way so I could talk to an interesting woman from the museum.   Note to remember: All museum […]

BOOMER STREET

    Baby boomer gets the message. We’ve heard the message all of our lives. It goes like this:   Move over little dog, the big old dog is moving in.   We were once the little dog and moved over for those who knew better. We did what we were told. The idea is […]

FIRST IMPRESSION, YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CHANCE

  My first impression on the Germanic Front Street of Leavenworth, Washington? I met a guy from Poland. He said he was from Poland. I knew he was from somewhere else with his styling appearance. He comes to Leavenworth every year so I asked him about the most authentic German food in town, expecting some […]

More Posts from this Category