Daily Thoughts & Issues

IN THIS ISSUE:

SEPTEMBER 5

Days left until the next millennium 01.01.3001

Photo of the Week
Tom Sanders/Adventure Photo & Film
Achieve Your Dreams

It's Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Remember to visit "Today" during the week of September 19-25. It's Prostate Cancer Awareness Week and we will feature a different issue each day concerning prostate cancer.

September 5 - Labor Day (U.S. and CAN) Labor Day is a time to reflect on the sacredness of all work and the value of ethical, meaningful employment.; day to advocate for a living wage and pro-family working conditions for all. The Mystic's Wheel of the Year. * Be Late for Something Day * According to Michigan Historical Commission, "Small fires were burning in the forests of the 'Thumb area of Michigan,' tinder-dry after a long, hot summer, when a gale swept in from the southwest (1881). Fanned into an inferno, the fire raged for three days. A million acres were devastated in Sanilac and Huron counties alone. At least 125 persons died, and thousands more were left destitute. The new American Red Cross won support for its prompt aid to the fire victims, which was the first disaster relief furnished by this organization. * Voyager 1, launched on this date in 1977, set a new distance record when after more than 20 years in space it reached 6.5 billion miles from Earth. * Arab terrorists kill 2 Israeli coaches and 9 Israeli athletes at the Summer Olympic Games in Munich (1972). Four of seven guerrillas, members of the Black September faction of the Palestinian Liberation Army, were also killed. In retaliation, Israeli jets bombed Palestinian positions in Lebanon and Syria on September 8. * First Continental Congress Assembly (1774) forerunner of the US Congress, took place at Philadelphia. Peyton Randolph, delegate from Virginia, was elected president. * Lynette A. "Squeaky" Fromme, a follower of convicted murderer Charles Manson, attempted to shoot President Gerald Ford (1975). On Sept 22 of the same year, another attempt on Ford's life occurred when Sara Jane Moore shot at him. * Birthdays: Bob Newhart, Dennis Dugan, Willie James Gault, Dweezil Zappa, Darryl F Zanuck, Arthur Koestler, Arthur Charles Nielsen, Jesse James, Morris Carnovsky, John Cage, William Dvane.

DAILY THOUGHTS

 If we sustain the tension created by two worlds colliding, an unexpected solution may eventually emerge. If we tolerate moments of chaos and confusion, something new can come to light. Soul Mates

Did you know that formerly most children could concentrate well for about twenty minutes?  Unfortunately, today's children can concentrate for only about eleven minutes. Why?  That's the interval between commercials in a television show. Dr. Buff's 365 Day Parenting Calendar

Self-mastery also allows us to develop a deeper appreciation for the complexity of human life. As psychologist Thomas Moore writes in his book Care of the Soul, "Often care of the soul means not taking sides when there is conflict at a deep level. It may be necessary to stretch the heart wide enough to embrace contradiction and paradox."  New Passages

Herbal lore:  Cumin seed - a sign of cupidity. Dill - aids sleep and stops hiccups. Fennel - for flattery and love potions. Garlic - for courage and against hydrophobia. Ginger - cure for seasickness. The Old Farmer's Almanac

Arousal is more mental than physical - Mandy, 34. Don't walk around the house naked all morning and then act surprised when I ask you to do it. - Scott, 32 Best of 1001 Sex Secrets Every Man & Woman Should Know

Most of us operate from a narrower frame of reference than that of which we are capable, failing to transcend the influence of our particular culture, our particular set of parents and our particular childhood experience upon our understanding. It is no wonder, then, that the world of humanity is so full of conflict. We have a situation in which human beings, who must deal with each other, have vastly different views as to the nature of reality, yet each one believes his or her own view to be the correct one since it is based on the microcosm of personal experience. And to make matters worse, most of us are not even fully aware of our own world views, much less the uniqueness of the experience from which they are derived. The Road Less Traveled

Courage and patience are learned by meeting adversity head on. Achieve Your Dreams

Things to Be Happy About:  A thunderstorm carrying away the heat. A hug from your best friend. Kids showing signs of maturing.  14,000 Things to Be Happy About

If the flowers you draw don't look like anyone else's, that's good. Really Important Stuff My Kids Have Taught Me

Once you learn to listen to your messages, you then move to the next, deeper level of growth: trusting those messages. You learn the lesson of trust when you take a leap of faith and believe that your inner knowing is guiding you toward your greater good. Trust is the attunement of your instincts to know who and what is in your best interest, so that you may rely absolutely on the validity of your messages. If Life is a Game, These are the Rules

Ideally, there is harmony, unity and integrity between your vision and mission, your roles and goals, your priorities and plans, and your desires and discipline. In your weekly planner, there should be a place for your personal mission statement so that you can constantly refer to it. There also needs to be a place for your roles and for both short- and long-term goals.  Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Limit your kids' activities to one or two per week per season. This way they can enjoy seasonal sports and other activities, and still have time for a game of freeze tag or hide-and-seek with the neighbor kids. Simplify Your Life

Choose the next day's clothes (both yours and your children's) and set out breakfast dishes and cereal boxes the night before to eliminate the stress of morning rush. To minimize clothing arguments with your children, alternate "you pick, I pick, we pick" days. Stress Busters

Kids: Guide your parents on a path to good news!  If you've made a great grade, or have something special to show off, send parents on a treasure hunt. Tape a note to the bathroom mirror with a riddle or clue that leads to another note and another. The last one child lead them to their "treasure." To Do Today

Questions focus our thinking. Ask empowering questions like: What's good about this? What's not perfect about it yet? What am I going to do next time? How can I do this and have fun doing it? - Charles Connolly. Win the Day!

Depender (dehpehnDEHR) To depend. Depende de tu respuesta. It depends on your response.  Living Language

TODAY'S ISSUE: PLAY

The lesson children can learn from play, which is possibly of greatest value, is that when they lose, the world does not come to an end. - Bruno Bettelheim. When family members play together, they sometimes slip into precast roles: somebody plays winner, somebody plays cheering section, somebody plays losers, somebody plays coach. Over the years we spend together in our original families, children and adults slip into these roles gradually. Some children show talent for certain roles. My younger daughter invented a clown personality; everything was a joke to her. The happy-sad clown began as a way to lose without humiliation, but she carried it to an extreme; her clown act became a coping mechanism that protected her from losing - but also from winning. Someone who wins all the time, on the other hand, in the safety of the family, may be spoiled for the very different rules of the outside world. Such preset roles only come to be problems if they never vary. We can make sure, in our families, that we're not teaching one person to become a loser. Healthy play makes sure everyone gets the experience of winning and losing. One way to ensure this is to alternate different games. One can't win every time - but losing doesn't mean one never wins. Today I'll look at the game my family plays, to see whether we've rigged them. Family Feelings

In ancient times the poet flew from one world to another, "riding on dragons."...Dragon smoke means that a leap has taken place. That leap can be described as a leap from...the known part of the mind to the unknown part and back to the known. - Robert Bly. Leaping, as boys know, is essential. Why walk when you can skip, hop, leap? There are many ways to get from one point to another; leaping is one of the more imaginative ways. Good minds are given to leaping, naturally, until the process is impeded by adults who, threatened by the leaping, want to control it. The capacity to spring up and forward is born into our feet and legs. We can both remain grounded and fly. Leaping is connected to the feeling of joy. Feelings arise in our feet and legs and propel us into the air. If our leaping has been constricted, we can go beyond those limits and recall times when we did leap. Or go out and watch a frog or other animal that leaps. Or play the leapfrog game where we jump over others. Leaping helps creativity - going from one idea or image to another. It also feels good. Great writers, especially poets, leap. Leaping is freeing. It can help one let go and loosen up. You may end up with some surprises. A Quiet Strength: Meditations on the Masculine Soul

Hey Man: Did you make a difference yesterday? Let us know at Contact Us. Practice leaping. Start slowly. You may want to leap across something. Or up something. Let out a sound as you leap. Leave behind anything that impedes you. As you consider leaping, some fear may arise. Go ahead, leap anyway, even if it makes you feel silly or self-conscious. A Quiet Strength: Meditations on the Masculine Soul Want to make a difference but you don't know where to start?

BOOK OF THE WEEK

 

 It Ain't Just the Size by M. G. Hardie. Princess, an office manager, has returned to her old stomping ground after a three year absence to heal her heart. She is independent and successful, but something is missing. What's missing is Lance, a hard working man, determined father who is preoccupied with school and obligation. A large one bedroom apartment is where these two passionate hearts collide. When the world is against you, sometimes all you have is hope. This book is a deeply filled play on morality, an ongoing social commentary for our times. When Lance's friends show up anything can and does happen. www.mghardie.com, Aventine Press, 2010 ISBN 978-1-59330-647-2

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 - Your Wise Brain - 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
  • Tom Matlack - Tom Matlack - Good Men Project - www.menstuff.org/columns/matlack/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

September is Baby Safety Awareness, Children's Eye Health & Safety, Children's Good Manners, Christmas Seal, Cholesterol Education, Fall Hat, Gay Square Dance, Library Card Sign-up, Little League, Organic Harvest, Pediculosis Prevention, Piano, Pleasure Your Mate, Project Aware, Prosperity Creation, School Success, Sea Cadet, Self Awareness, Self-Improvement, Shameless Promotion, and Sickle Cell Month.

9/15-10/15: Hispanic Heritage Month. 8/29-9/4: National Sobriety Checkpoint Week, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, www.madd.org; 9/1-7: Childhood Injury Prevention; Self-University Week. 9/4-10: Full Employment Week, Mental Health Workers Week.. 9/5-9: Play Days. 9/9-16: National Five-A-Day Week. 9/10-16: National Suicide Prevention; Substitute Teacher Appreciation; National Brainstorming and Mind Mapping; Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week: 9/14-20 Dementia Awareness Week (Australia) 9/17-23: *Constitution; Balance Awareness; Love a Mensch; Farm Safety and Health; Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Rehabilitation Awareness; Single's Week. 9/19-25 - Prostate Cancer Awareness Week; 9/23-30: Banned Books, Religious Freedom Week. 9/23-29 - Deaf Awareness, National Dog Week; 9/23-24: Family Health & Fitness. 9/10: Swap Ideas Day. 9/17 *Citizenship Day. 9/19: International Day of Peace. 9/22: National Centenarians, Proposal Day. 9/23: Kiwanis Kids', *National Hunting & Fishing, Smash Out Suicide Day, 9/24: *Gold Star Mother's, National Good Neighbor, World Heart Day. 9/27: Ancestor Appreciation Day. 9/28: Cabrillo Day

* Means a Presidential Proclamation has been made.

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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.
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