Daily Thoughts & Issues

IN THIS ISSUE:

FEBRUARY 28

Days left until the next millennium 01.01.3001
 

Photo of the Week
Roddy Mackenzie/Adventure Photo & Film
Achieve Your Dreams

February 28 - NATO Planes down Serb jets in the first military action by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the two-year-old Bosnian civil war and the first combat action by NATO in its 45-year history. * Smokeless Cigarette was withdrawn from the market (1989) by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company due to poor sales. * USS Princeton Explosion (1844) in the newly build "war steamer" cruising on the Potomac River with top government officials as its passengers. They fired one of its guns (known, ironically, as the "Peacemaker") to demonstrate the latest in naval armament. The gun exploded, killing the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Navy, and several others. The president, John Tyler, was on board and narrowly escaped death.* In 1993, four F.B.I. agents are killed in a failed raid on the Waco, TX compound of the Brand Davidian cult, led by David Koresh. * Birthdays:  John Turturro.  Leap Year Day. Birthdays including Leap Year Day: Jimmy Dorsey, Gioacchino Rossini. * Birthdays: Charles Blondin, Milton Caniff, Ben Hecht, Michel De Montaigne, John Tenniel, Mario Gabrielle Andretti, Charles Durning, Robert Sean Leonard, Eric Lindros, Charles Aaron (Bubba) Smith, Tommy Tune, John Turturro. February 29 birthdays: Joss Ackland, Dennis Farina, Arthur Franz, Jack Lousma, James Mitchell, Alex Rocco, Antonio Sabato, Jr. * Larry Lima

See your dentist every six months for checkups!

DAILY THOUGHTS

Meeting Women as Themselves. One’s life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation and compassion. - Simone de Beauvoir. "Women are too emotional." "Women are the intuitive ones." "Women are gossips." "Women are the only nurturers." Here are some of the myths we’ve been taught about women. When we view women through false notions of "how they should be," we limit our ability to experience their uniqueness, to appreciate their talents. When we embrace stereotypes rather than individuals, we lock real women out of our hearts, depriving ourselves of the experience of true relationships. Each one of us is unique. Like men, women are individuals who are sometimes creative, sometimes aggressive. Sometimes women are warriors, sometimes peacemakers. They have the same amazing range of potential that men have. When we let go of our habitual concepts about how women are, or should be, we open ourselves to the wonderful experience of truly meeting another human being, a unique and complex individual full of surprises, bearing many gifts. Today I will consciously let go of my mental stereotypes about women. I will treat each woman I meet as a unique human being. A Quiet Strength: Meditations on the Masculine Soul

We look at each other; but we do not see each other anymore. Our perception of the world has withered away; what has remained is mere recognition. - Victor Shklovski. Not one of us is a category, a unit. There is a company chairman in book publishing who refers to people solely by their titles, that is, "you, editor," or "what about it, art director." Certainly he thinks this is efficient. Perhaps we have had enough of such cold and silly efficiency. And of such cold and silly men. When we have failed to see our children, we have failed to educate them truly. Instead of allowing them to learn, we have instructed them. Instead of telling them stories, we have quizzed them on the "learning". When we have failed to see our lovers, we have dishonored and objectified them. Failing to see our families, we have amputated parts of our hearts. Today we are learning to see. By our willingness to see ourselves, through story and sharing, we can see the people and the world around us. In honoring ourselves, we honor our people and our homes. A Man's Book of the Spirit: Daily Meditations for a Mindful Life

They are called the Endangered Generation (born 1966-1980) because the most important element they are missing is something previous generations took for granted: safety. Customarily, healthy people in peacetime don’t have to confront their own perishability until their forties. But there is an epidemic in adolescent suicide, an epidemic in teenage pregnancy, and AIDS is spreading among adolescents. New Passage

We may think we’re lonely because we have no friends, when the fact is that we have no relationship to ourselves, and for that reason feel lonely and friendless. Soul Mates

I wish the only time she talked about sex wasn’t to tell me I’m doing something wrong. - Bill, 34 The Best 1001 The Best of 1001 Sex Secrets Every Man & Woman Should Know

When we have children to care for, the world looks different from when we have none; when we are raising infants, the world seems different from when we are raising adolescents. When we are poor, the world looks different from when we are rich. We are daily bombarded with new information as to the nature of reality. If we are to incorporate this information, we must continually revise our maps, and sometimes when enough new information has accumulated, we must make very major revisions. The process of making revisions, particularly major revisions, is painful, sometimes excruciatingly painful. And, herein lies the major sources of many of the ills of mankind. The Road Less Traveled

The reward of a thing well done is to have done it. - Emerson. Achieve Your Dreams

Things to Be Happy About: Sneaking a late-night snack. Talking to yourself. Unfounded fears.  14,000 Things to Be Happy About

Who cares what happened last week?  Really Important Stuff My Kids Have Taught Me

Many people believe that they will be happy once they arrive at some specific goal they set for themselves. For some the goal may be amassing a million dollars, and for others losing those annoying ten-plus pounds. Whatever your "there" is, you may be convinced that once you arrive you will finally find the peace you have always dreamed of. Often, once you arrive "there" you will still feel dissatisfied, and move your "there" vision to yet another point in the future. By always chasing after another "there", you are never really appreciating what you already have right "here." If Life is a Game, These are the Rules

A tendency that has run through your family for generation scan stop with you. You're a transition person - a link between the past and the future. And your own change can affect many, many lives downstream. You can write it in your personal mission statement and into your mind and heart. You can visualize yourself living in harmony with that mission statement in your daily private victory. You can take steps to love and forgive your own parents, and, if they are still living, to build a positive relationship with them by seeking to understand. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

If you're not already doing what you love, starting with a hobby is one way to get there.  Simplify Your Life

Is work drudgery for you?  If you can, tape or pin pictures of what you're working for around your workplace: for example, pictures of your family, a vacation you plan to take, a boat or car you want to buy. Stress Busters

Mush together a sweet treat!  Mix in a bowl: 1 cup dry milk, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/2 cup honey, and 1 cup oatmeal. Shape into balls. Chill - if you can wait! To Do Today

Whoever said, "It's not whether you win or lose that counts," probably lost. - Martina Navratilova. Win the Day!

Help restore decency to TV by buying products and services that sponsor programs promoting positive values. Life's Little Instruction Calendar

Lejos (LEHhohs) Far. Esta lejos de aqui? Is it far from here? Living Language

*SPECIAL  BIRTHDAY: Larry Lima (2/29/52), founder of The Place - A Resource Center for Men in Summit, New Jersey. A single parent and student of two daughters, he is a believer in passion for the possible. His goal is to support personal and global transformation through the integration of love, kindness and compassion. E-Mail.

TODAY'S ISSUE: FORGIVENESS

Life is an adventure in forgiveness. - Norman Cousins

Oh, yes. This is an area I find most of the overcommitted have trouble with. How do you begin? Who do you begin with? So many tell me they first think of their fathers - the ones who they learned the most from. The ones who taught them, inadvertently, that being a "hard worker and good provider" was everything. That, if necessary, you work two, maybe three jobs to pay the bills. That you put off the vacations, you come home late, and you need that second, third or fifth drink just to clear your mind for sleep.

Men who do too much first need to learn to forgive themselves - for what we believe are our great failures. And then forgive another.

Today, I will take some time to attempt to trace the road that brought me here. I need to forgive myself for using that route, but I need to learn why I took it. Meditations For Men Who Do Too Much

Hey Man: Did you make a difference yesterday? Let us know at Contact Us. Seek sunrises and sunsets. What Every Man Needs to Know Want to make a difference but you don't know where to start?

BOOK OF THE WEEK

Manhood: The pleasures and regrets of a husband, father and son by Michael Chabon. A shy manifesto, an impractical handbook, the true story of a fabulist, an entire life in parts and pieces, this book is the first sustained work of personal writing from the author. In these insightful, provocative, slyly interlinked essays, one of our most brilliant and humane writers presents his autobiography and his vision of life in the way so many of us experience our own lives: as a series of reflections, regrets and reexaminations, each sparked by an encounter, in the present, that holds some legacy of the past. HarperCollins, www.harpercollings.com, 2009 ISBN 978-0-06-149018-7

SPECIAL URLs

 

MENSTUFF COLUMNS BY AUTHOR

  • The Advice Diva - The Advice Diva - relationship and sexuality issues discussed - www.menstuff.org/columns/advicediva/archive.html
  • Peter Alsop - Song of the Month - www.menstuff.org/columns/alsop/archive.html
  • Reid Baer - A Man Overboard - Interview of the Month - www.menstuff.org/columns/overboard/archive.html
  • Reid Baer - Poetry - poetry read on YouTube - www.menstuff.org/columns/baer/archive.html
  • Molly Barrow - Shrink About This - www.menstuff.org/columns/barrow/archive.html
  • Peter Baylies - At Home Dads - on at-home-dad issues that impact fathers who stay at home to raise their kids - www.menstuff.org/columns/baylies/archive.html
  • Tom Blake - Middle-Age Relationships - from an expert on dating after 50. www.menstuff.org/columns/blake/archive.html
  • Mark Brandenburg - Great Fathers - on fathering issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/greatfathers/archive.html
  • Ted Braude - BoysWork - a columnist in the The Detroit Free Press "Body and Mind" section www.menstuff.org/columns/braude/archive.html
  • Armin Brott - A Father's Guide - hosts "Positive Parenting" on radio www.menstuff.org/columns/brott/archive.html
  • Dan Bulf - Get Real - weekly pod cast on men's issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/bulf/archive.html
  • Ken Byers - Transition - on men's life transitions - www.menstuff.org/columns/byers/archive.html
  • Sandra L. Caron - Sex Talk - college students get answers to their questions - www.menstuff.org/columns/sextalk/archive.html
  • Neil Chethik - Relationships - www.menstuff.org/columns/chethik/archive.html
  • Otto & Susie Collins - Susie and Otto - relationship issues discussed - www.menstuff.org/columns/susie&otto/archive.html
  • David Copeland - How to Succeed with Women - www.menstuff.org/columns/howtosucceed/archive.html
  • Forrest Craver - Spirituality & Social Change - www.menstuff.org/columns/craver/archive.html
  • Layne & Paul Cutright - Powerful Partnerships - relationship issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/cutright/archive.html
  • Ron DesMarais - Cavemen in the Kitchen - great recipes for men - www.menstuff.org/columns/desmarais/archive.html
  • Jed Diamond - Irritable Male Syndrome - www.menstuff.org/columns/diamond/archive.html
  • Doc Love - Women Don't Lie, Man Don't Listen - answers to relationship issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/doclov/archive.html
  • Barry Durdant-Hollamby - Creating Change - creating change in your life - www.menstuff.org/columns/durdant/archive.html
  • Irv Engel - The Real Deal - www.menstuff.org/columns/engel/archive.html
  • Nancy Fagan - Expert Dating Advice - with Nancy Fagan - www.menstuf.org/columns/fagan/archive.html
  • Warren Farrell - Men's Issues: Facts and Perspectives www.menstuff.org/columns/farrell/archive.html
  • Leonard Felder - Wake Up or Break Up - www.menstuff.org/columns/felder/archive.html
  • Marty Friedman - Strong Men, Strong Marriage - www.menstuff.org/columns/friedman/archive.html
  • Kim Garretson - Mansgland - using humor to encourage prostate exams - www.menstuff.org/columns/mansgland/archive.html
  • Lion Goodman - How to get Women to Love You - www.menstuff.org/columns/goodman/archive.html
  • Liz Halliday - In a Man's World - www.menstuff.org/columns/halliday/archive.html
  • Rick Hanson - Just One Thing - www.menstuff.org/columns/hanson/archive.html
  • Tim Hartnett - Daddyman Speaks - being a father www.menstuff.org/columns/daddyman/archive.html
  • John Hershey - Blood, Phlegm & Bile: Parenting with Humor - He writes a syndicated biweekly humor column about parenting and family life. www.menstuff.org/columns/hershey/archive.html
  • Gary Hoeber - Psychotherapy as Soul Work, www.menstuff.org/columns/hoeber/archive.html
  • Patrick Houser - Fathers Make a World of Difference, www.menstuff.org/columns/houser/archive.html
  • Paul Joannides - The Guide to Getting It On - on sex - www.menstuff.org/columns/getiton/archive.html
  • Jack Kahn - NOMAS Boston - www.menstuff.org/columns/kahn/archive.html
  • Patrick Kennedy - Seniors - www.menstuff.org/columns/kennedy/archive.html
  • Joe Kort - Gaydar - to increase understanding between gay and het men - www.menstuff.org/columns/kort/archive.html
  • David Kundtz - David Kundtz - presents seminars, workshops, retreats, and conference presentations in the areas of men's emotional health, stress management, and spirituality. www.menstuff.org/columns/kundtz/archive.html
  • Bruce Linton - Dr. Dad - on fathering - www.menstuff.org/columns/drdad/archive.html
  • Ron Louis - How to Succeed with Women - www.menstuff.org/columns/howtosucceed/archive.html
  • Wendy McElroy - Wendy McElroy on Feminism, www.menstuff.org/columns/mcelroy/archive.html
  • Robert N. Minor - Minor Details - on GBT sexuality - www.menstuff.org/columns/minordetails/archive.html
  • Robert L. Moore - Man & Mythology - www.menstuff.org/columns/moore/archive.html
  • Dennis W. Neder - Being a Man - general questions about men's lives - www.menstuff.org/columns/neder/archive.html
  • Marty Nemko - Worklife - general questions about men and work - www.menstuff.org/columns/nemko/archive.html
  • Eli Newberger - Eli Newberger - general information on men's lives - www.menstuff.org/columns/newberger/archive.html
  • Linda Nielsen - Embracing the Father - working with the father/daughter relationship. www.menstuff.org/columns/nielsen/archive.html
  • Kathy Noll - Bullies and Youth Violence - working with schools, teachers and parents to end school violence - www.menstuff.org/columns/noll/archive.html
  • Mark Phillips - Stay-at-Home-Dads - helping men maintain that which makes us men, instead of becoming hairy Mom-substitutes - www.menstuff.org/columns/phillips/archive.html
  • Carey Roberts - Socialism & Feminism - is a social commentator on political correctness. www.menstuff.org/columns/roberts/archive.html
  • Perry Rose - Dating, Relationship, Sex
  • Glenn Sacks - His Side - on fathering - www.menstuff.org/columns/sacks/archive.html
  • Trudy Schuett - Domestic Violence - serving the under-represented www.menstuff.org/columns/schuett/archive.html
  • Carl J. Schutt - Circumcision - social commentator on circumcision - www.menstuff.org/columns/schutt/archive.html
  • Hugo Schwyzer - A Pro-feminist's Response - www.menstuff.org/columns/schwyzer/archive.html
  • Michael Shaffran - Men's Issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/shaffran/archive.html
  • Judith Sherven - Judith & Jim - discussion and answers regarding relationship issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/judith&jim/archive.html
  • Judith Sherven - The New Intimacy - www.menstuff.org/columns/newintimacy/archive.html
  • George Simons - Bellicose Veins - is a US specialist in intercultural and gender communication who hangs out in Mandelieu - la Napoule, France, as well as in Santa Cruz, CA. www.menstuff.org/columns/simons/archive.html
  • Andy Smith - Hard Hat Brotherhood - www.menstuff.org/columns/hardhat/archive.html
  • David B. Smith - Fighting Father Dave - www.menstuff.org/columns/smith/archive.html
  • Jim Sniechowski - Judith & Jim - discussion and answers regarding relationship issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/judith&jim/archive.html
  • Jim Sniechowski - The New Intimacy - www.menstuff.org/columns/newintimacy/archive.html
  • Reena Sommer - Custody - is an internationally recognized relationship and divorce consultant. www.menstuff.org/columns/sommer/archive.html
  • R. Don Steele - Don Steele - relationship questions answered -
    www.menstuff.org/columns/steele/archive.html
  • David Steinberg - Comes Naturally - on sexuality - www.menstuff.org/columns/steinberg/archive.html
  • Mary Lou St Lucas - A Mother's Love - www.menstuf.org/columns/stlucas/archive.html
  • Surprise - Surprise Author - From a new columnist every month - www.menstuff.org/columns/surprise/archive.html
  • Steven Svoboda - Fatherhood, Activism and the Law www.menstuff.org/columns/svoboda/archive.html
  • Michael Taylor - A New Conversation with Men - www.menstuff.org/columns/taylor/archive.html
  • Bruce Van Horn - Yoga for Men - issues around the health benefits of yoga for men - www.menstuff.org/yoga/archive.html
  • Michael Webb - Secrets of Blissful Relationships - on relationship - www.menstuff.org/columns/bliss/archive.html
  • Stuart Wilde - Spirituality - www.menstuff.org/columns/wilde/archive.html
  • Dr.Williams - Sex Health - on sexual health - Dr. Williams, www.menstuff.org/columns/sexhealth/archive.html
  • KC Wilson - On Gender Politics is a social commentator and author. www.menstuff.org/columns/wilson/archive.html

Plus

  • Health Tips - on general health - www.menstuff.org/columns/healthtips/archive.html
  • Independent Means - resources for raising financially fit kids - www.menstuff.org/columns/independentmeans/archive.html
  • Numbers - www.menstuff.org/columns/numbers/archive.html
  • Questions - www.menstuff.org/columns/q&a/archive.html
  • Surprise - from a new columnist every month - www.menstuff.org/columns/surprise/archive.html
  • Words Can Heal - helping children grow up healthy - www.menstuff.org/columns/wordscanheal/archive.html
  • Wuzup?! - National or international events happening this month - www.menstuff.org/columns/whassup/archive.html

AWARENESS EVENTS THIS MONTH

February is Heart Disease Prevention (Healthy Heart), National Children's Dental Health, Ethnic Equality and *National African-American History Month - a time to honor all peoples and their positive traditions; time to meditate on the equality of all peoples, on the respect due to them and God-Goddess manifesting as African, Asian, European, Latin, Middle Eastern, Native American and Oceanic. The Mystic's Wheel of the Year 2000, AMD/Low Vision Awareness; *American Heart; A Day of Hearts: Child Awareness; International Boost Self-Esteem; International Expect Success; Library Lovers', Marfan Syndrome Awareness; National Children's Dental Health; National Sign Up for Summer Camp; National Weddings; National Wild Bird Feeding; and Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month.

Jan 29-Feb 4: *National Consumer Protection Week. Jan 30-Feb 3: Mid-Winter/Candlemas. Feb 2-9: I Hate Financial Planning Awareness Week. Feb 3-9: Cardiac Rehabilitation Week. Feb 4-10: International Personal and Business Coaching: National School Counseling Week. Feb 6-13: Art of Communication Week. Feb 10-16: Celebration of Love; Enabled Entrepreneurs; Freelance Writers Appreciation; Heart Failure Awareness; Home for Birds; Materials Testing; National Child Passenger Safety Awareness; National Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; National Resurrect Romance Week. Feb 1-17: International Flirting Week. Feb 12-19: National Condom Week. Feb 16-23: National FFA Week. Feb 17-23: International Friendship Week. Feb 18-22: Brotherhood-Sisterhood Week. Feb 19-26: Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Feb 22-24: Second Honeymoon Weekend. Feb 25-Mar 1: Read Me Week. Feb 25-Mar 3: Telecommuter Appreciation Week. Feb 1: Candlemas; Ground Hog Day. Feb 2: National Men's Grooming Day. Feb 3: Torture Abolition Day. Feb 4:  Weathermen's Day. Feb. 5: Dump Your "Significant Jerk"; Pay-a-Compliment Day. Feb 6: National Girls and Women in Sports; Wave All Your Fingers at Your Neighbors Day. Feb 7: Laugh and Grow Rich Day. Feb 8: National "DAV" Day. Feb 10: Be Electrific; Motivation; Satisfied Staying Single Day. Feb 11: Lost Penny Day. Feb 12: Black Love; Get a Different Name Day. Feb 13: Race Relations; Read to Your Child Day. Feb 14: Congenital Heart Defect Awareness; National Have-A-Heart; Heart 2 Heart; St.Valentine's Day. Feb 15: Remember the Maine Day. Feb 16: Who Shall I Be Day. Feb 17: National PTA Founders' Day.. Feb 18: President's Day. Feb 19: Student Volunteer Day. Feb 24: Children's Day. Feb 25: For Pete's Sake Day. Feb 27: Spay USA; Paczki Day. Feb 29: Bachelors' Day

* Means a Presidential Proclamation has been made.

National Missing Children's Day
Help find a missing child!
800.843.5678
24-Hour Hotline

 *    *    *
Men are so competitive that we even "out-die" women in all 15 of the major causes of death in the U.S. Most of these deaths are preventable with a positive change in life-style, eating habits, and/or general health care. Let's not strive so hard to hold on to this record. See what you can change now to live a healthier life.
Contact Us | Disclaimer | Privacy Statement
Menstuff® Directory
Menstuff® is a registered trademark of Gordon Clay
©1996-2023, Gordon Clay