Change The World...

... from the inside and from the bottom!

Some old people take a devil-may-care attitude in their later years and go for the chocolate. I've taken that tact in a different way. Instead of indulgences, it's been activity.

From youth, I was a bookworm and a tinkerer, like any engineer. Due to my hyperactivity, I've had no problem reaching my professional pinnacle. I am respected for my organizational and technical abilities, have a great boss and am in high demand. I wear 5 hats and have dozens of helpers. I mentor those helpers because they will inherit my job sometime.

At 40 I began physical activity... a new parallel sideline... transforming myself into the physical. Ten years ago I won a benchpressing trophy, and I have the current record for my gym (all ages!) and enjoy pressing with the youth, motivating them and encouraging them. I train, hike and bike more now than I ever did. I hike 8 to 12 mountain miles every weekend. This year have two Smokeys hikes (I did a 6-hour 8-mile straight up hike to LeConte in 4-hours two weekends ago), a Rockeys hike next month and a rim-to-rim Grand Canyon hike in September. I do this because I enjoy nature... scenery, wildflowers and birds. I continue bicycle commuting to work daily (when I can), and ride a 35-55 miler on the weekends, with the goal to bicycle back from the beach (400 miles) this fall... just because I enjoy the wind in my hair. I'm very vocal and active in promoting bicycling to work, having taken part in news stories, videos and newspaper articles. I'm don't train specific but am a unusual generalist with muscles and cardio ability both. I'm proud and smug in my physical prowess... whereas my ex-wife just entered a nursing home, and my peers have trouble with the stairs, I smile instead and suggest an active lifestyple with my example.

My real work is that of a mentor, teacher, and kindness distributor... enabling others. At my job, I call myself The Roto-Rooter Man and have a plunger in my office as a symbol to help make things flow again. I spend a considerable amount of time and money to do this. I'm the vice-chair of the Industrial Advisory Committee for one of the local colleges. I taught 20 years in the evenings, to good reviews. I buy dozens of birthday cakes a year for work and elsewhere, and actively look for possibilities not just to help but to teach 'em to fish. After all, I'm a co-dependent, and I am what I am.

I disagree that happiness is a good relationship. Nor the usual FFF (Friends, Fun, Food) nor PPP (Possessions, Power, Prestige). To me life and happiness is first contributing... from the bottom up... and then being content and proud of what you are and what you have done. I have an enormous amount of power to change the world from the inside and from the bottom, and I'm doing so with very few people noticing.

- text © 2008 by Willy

P.S., How do you change the world? One small act of kindness at a time.

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What Else?

"Lord, people have drained me and life is tough. I'm done here... I'm ready to go."

"Not yet. I have sent you into this world with a special act of love to bestow. No one else can offer that act of love... it has been entrusted only to you."

"Lord... Father... I've lived a long life giving to my brothers and sisters. What else do I need to do? "

"When you're done, you can come over."

- text © 2008 by Willy
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How Far Is Heaven?

Lord, help me escape this misery. Where is heaven?

Astrophysicists... the geeks that study the skies... have stated that 90% of our universe is made up of "dark matter." That is, stuff we know is there but can't see. They think it may be because the matter is so dense, and thus gravity so strong, that even light cannot escape.

I propose the thought that this 90% is God, and heaven.

Maybe all the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players (Shakespeare). Maybe we are on stage under bright lights, God is standing with crossed arms in front of the lectern at the pit, and the audience consists of all souls, all watching what we do.

Everything in the world... whatever is and whatever happens... is a test, disguised to give you the freedom of choice, so choose wisely (Rebbe Nachman of Breslov).

How far is heaven? We're standing in it!

- © 2008 by Willy

P.S., Hell is here too. You make the choice!
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Want Vs. Need

We all want to be loved, nurtured & respected.

But, like happiness, I must take it as it comes rather than look for it, otherwise the cost and complexity would overwhelm me... that is, to be true to myself, I'd rather receive the lowest dosage of what I want. The right choice to make is that which brings me peace and serenity. I must temper kindness and generosity with the need to be selfish enough not to be a codependent.

Opportunity and temptation are everywhere.

I gotta be me. I yam what I yam.

- © 2008 by Willy
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