Month: August 2022

The Right Way to Say ‘I’m Sorry’

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/30/well/mind/the-right-way-to-say-im-sorry.html

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In the very first chapter of her new book, “Why Won’t You Apologize?,” Dr. Lerner points out that apologies followed by rationalizations are “never satisfying” and can even be harmful.

“When ‘but’ is tagged on to an apology,” she wrote, it’s an excuse that counters the sincerity of the original message. The best apologies are short and don’t include explanations that can undo them.

Nor should a request 

Why revenge?

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/19/smarter-living/how-to-turn-toxic-emotions-into-positive-actions.html

Whether we want to admit it, revenge is a bona fide motivator. But is it healthy?

Well … yes and no.

“In novels and movies, revenge turns out to be this great cleansing moment that permits someone who’s been abused to triumph,” said Peg Streep, a science writer and author of “Mean Mothers: Overcoming the Legacy of Hurt.”

“Revenge works well in plot lines because there’s something very satisfying about a tit-for-tat payback, especially in a world that isn’t always fair,” she said.

It may pay to pray

Dr Robinson went in town

Wearing his new dressing gown

Dr Robinsons a very silly man

He has no hat so he wears a pan

And the waiting room is full again today

They all wonder what the doctor’s going to wear

He goes to bed in a three-piece suite.

It may be very clumsy but it looks quite neat

He married a young lady call Diane

When they got married they each wore a pan

They wanted to have children if not know the way

They’d never heard of sex and both of them gay

They got a quick divorce and what else can I say?

The future is not fiction and it may pay to pray

A joy again

I may be wounded but I’m still alive

Ill live right to the end complete, engaged.

A sparrow is as lovely as a hawk

God created creatures that could stalk.

Every form of wildness is a stage

With gentle doves and tigers in a rage.

In our very self we find them all

Cruelty greed and happiness enthrall.

So we love the wild ones and the tame

All the world’s a stage,a joy a game

Relaxing Is a Skill. Here’s How to Do It.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/05/opinion/relaxing-muscles-skills.html

This might sound like New Age nonsense, but the benefits of muscle relaxation have been studied for decades, and research has found that versions of the practice may mitigate a wide range of physical and mental conditions — among them generalized anxiety disorder, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, chronic pain, postpartum depression, some symptoms of schizophrenia, some side effects of cancer treatment, stress among students and anger and aggression

Stan meetings his M.P.

Stan was thinking of going to an Evening Class.He got a brochure from the public library but there was not much in it.As he was sitting in his conservatory brooding restlessly over this he saw a looming shape pass by.It was Annie, his neighbour wearing a big rucksack.
“Annie,you are usually dressed in a fashionable and stylish even modish manner.Whence the rucksack?”
“Oh,well,you’re out of touch.Rucksacks are the new handbags according to Prada.”
“Is Prada that young lady who has just taken the flat over the florist’s?”
“No,you nincompoop,Prada is an Italian Fashion Company”.
“I think Prada would make a good name for a cat or Prado if he was a male cat.What do you think,Emile?Would you like to be called Prado?”
“Definitely not.” miaowed Emile loudly.”Prado is too full of consonants for me.I don’t like say.ing “P.”
“He sayeth not P but doeth it,just as the Prophet foretold” Stan murmured merrily to Annie.”What are you doing?” she asked him pointedly.
“I’m choosing an Evening Class but there are not many on offer.I wanted to learn Pilates but maybe I’m too old and stiff!”
“We could go to a private class in the Conservative Club.”
“I can’t go in there,not even to learn Pilates.”
The doorbell rang.It was their local M.P. Andy Pandy.
“Good evening,Sir.”
“It’s only 10 am,”Stan said rudely.
“Wait I want to record your words.”
“Why is that?”
“I may be able to sell them on-line.”
“Oh,no.That’s unlikely.I’m only a glove puppet!”
“That wasn’t what you said before the Election” Stan whispered to him.
“Well.I didn’t realise then.I thought I was a human being.”
“Like David Cameron once did?”
“Yes,only I don’t speak so posh.”
“But do you think he is a glove puppet too?”
“Yes,definitely.I’ve seen the Hand that manipulates him.”
“Why don’t you leave?”
“I have thirty children to support.”
“How come you have so many?”
“Oh,it’s quite easy if you have plenty of lovely lady friends and …”
“I’m talking about responsibility.You are a member of the Establishment.”
“Well,once I was a rebel.But a Famous Rebel will eventually be knighted.”

“So I’ve noticed.” {He’s thinking of Sir Michael Jagger who is 74]
“Why was Lucian Freud not knighted?Surely he was a deserving artist.”
“He was more of an Observing Artist.He Observed what he shouldn’t!”
“What was that?”
That very large people are beautiful like rocks in canyons and caves.and the Queen looks like an old East Ender.”
“Do you think she’s partly Jewish?”
“Well,everyone in the world has a little Jewish blood!”
“So the Queen does”
“Does she know?”
“Well it doesn’t matter whether she knows.I’m just interested.After all she’s the Head of the Anglican Church, a branch of Christianity, so as Jesus was 100% Jewish it would be an advantage to her.She might be a distant relation to him.”
“I never knew Jesus was Jewish!”
“Oh,yes I remember now.And the shepherds with their flocks….was that not here in England?”
” No and King Herod wasn’t English.Herod’s never been a very popular name anywhere really.But you know everybody in the world is probably slightly English.Just listen to them talk!They all speak the lingo.”
“But what about that song “Jerusalem” by Blake?”
“Was not Jerusalem builded here,in England’s green and pleasant land?”
“He was speaking in symbols or metaphors.”
“Why didn’t he learn English?Cymbals are just for banging.”
“Well, he was English.!”
“He was crazy.That’s typical English trait.”
“Yes,we love eccentrics.”
“Do you know any?”
“Not as such,no. But I’d love one if they lived next door.”
“Well, you could have knocked me down with a feather.when I heard that.”
“Well,Annie is a bit eccentric.”Stan thought.”She’s murdered her husband and seduced me in front of the wife.”
“No,she’s just got borderline personality disorder.I wonder who invents all these new mental disorders?”
“Well,the mind doctors need to earn money.”
“True…. send them to Afghanistan.Then we’ll see who has PTSD!”
“Now,there’s a thought!

All are one,it shall be so

Gently dancing in the sun
Wildflowers grow;
they bloom,
are gone.

With no thoughts,they have no cares;
Yet their lives are gentle prayers.
May I walk in such a way
That I am alive to this day.

So I see with widening view,
And joy and sorrows embrace too.
Then my time will come like yours...
And of us no part endures.

As to the earth our bodies go,
All are one;it shall be so

Copyright ©

I don’t know what you mean

He rowed all over Oxford on his bike.

The sheepdog helped him tree to drive his car into the garage then they were satisfied.

He said he was tired of making love everyday. Why was it not longer-lasting?

You make it here you make it there ! Yeah make that love just anywhere

While he was writing your thesis you took me out on a punt. But how did the viva go?

Here is a draught of my thesis. I expect you rather have a fan.

I couldn’t understand a word I wrote but I passed the oral examination very well once I knew which room it was in. It’s called the Oxford bypass.

I have had Dirac removed in a similar operation to what they do for brain tumours and I have the whole of my head to prove it!

I’ve never even heard of relativistic quantum theory.

They aadon’t like poetry in Oxford especially not in the mathematics instituteaaaa

I dropped them a few hints but they could not even read between the lines.

It was very exacting but in the end I escaped.

After my husband comes home it looks as if a flock of sheep has passed through and indeed there are reports of flocks of sheep passing through houses in this area but they are ghosts and don’t leave any evidence. My husband is a ghost as well I saw him here in bed with me 3 weeks ago. He was very hot but he was fast asleep wearing some blue and white soft cotton pyjamas. It must have been home and find them all by himself

The fields are burning

It’s been too quiet in Europe for the men

Testosterone urges them to fight.

Some fight with their fists and some with pen

Some cannot enjoy the peace, trust men.

Mindful meditation, comes again

A few hours more and they might see the light

We’ve never had true peace it’s just a sham

The restless peace in Europe troubles men

In the heat and madness trees ignite

The fields are burning but there is no crop.

The widespread paranoia must be stopped

How are we going to cope?

One of the greatest risk factors for death is being alive.

The older you are the more likely you are to die so stop getting older now.

Try to develop your sense of humour so that you can see the funny side of everything.

I did not fall out of bed.

I was practising the best way to do it if it should happen to me.

I did not faint in the bathroom I was just looking for sympathy I do tell lies though.

There are too many people now who live beyond 80.

Some of them should have died to make way for me. Because I am very important. You are slightly important but not as much as I am

I didn’t realise how beautiful I was until I grew old and faded So no one looks at me in the street anymore. Men or women I don’t mind who they are I need admiration constantly

I never thought that completely pointless activity would become popular.

Instead of going for walks on the hills people run on a machine for half an hour.

I wouldn’t mind if they even did the ironing but no the running machine is better.

Machines are superior to people. And you can watch crap television while you were on the machine. That’s something to look forward to when you’re at work all day.

There’s a constant feel of Terror in the air. Are we eating the right foods of the right colour and what will happen when inflation when the rate increases further.

People have lived through worse Maybe some mutual help will develop. I don’t mean a band of thieves.

Maybe you could become a bandit and hold up people in Mercedes cars to steal to their watches. It’s better than lying in bed all day.

You think God is interested in

Us. When we are not interested in other people who need help.

God is a total mystery but he is not a fool. Try to imitate him a.

Lonely blue

flowers on monday 16th January 2012 - Glimpses between the cracks:Alice's Looking Glass
Flowers summer 2012

I bought some cyclamen remembering you
Wandering through wildflowers  by my side
I don’t know where to put them, they might die
Then I would feel so sad and lonely blue
All we read of pain and love is true.
Yet we let our hearts stay open wide
I bought these cyclamen and recalled you
Wandering through wildflowers  by my side
I have loved not widely but a few
I have touched on bliss  and when it flies
I have touched the grief that truly  lies
I bought my cyclamen and  thought of you