Daily Thoughts & Issues

IN THIS ISSUE:

JANUARY 15

Days left until the next millennium 01.01.3001
 

Photo of the Week
Dugald Bremner/Tony Stone Images
Achieve Your Dreams

January 15 - Timeline 1929: Michael Luther King, better known later as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., civil rights leader, is born in 1929 in Atlanta, GA. African American History He was a Baptist preacher and non-violent advocate for the rights of African Americans. The Mystic's Wheel of the Year * The Green Bay Packers won the first NFL-AFL World Championship Game, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs, 35-10 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (1967). The game title later became known as the Super Bowl and is now played on the last Sunday in January. * Feast of the Black Christ. The Mystic's Wheel of the Year * Humanitarian Day, one of three Emancipation Days of Respect that highlights the three key principles of the American Civil Rights renaissance of the 60s. Wearing white shows visible respect for all the unsung humanitarians, regardless of their race, that challenged and changed the USA system of white supremacy practices. * The world's largest office building with 6.5 million square feet of usable space, the Pentagon is located in Virginia across the Potomac River from Washington, DC and serves as headquarters for the Department of Defense (War). It was completed in 1943. * Quarterly Estimated Federal Income Tax due today. * Train for Paris (1945) connected civilian populations of England and France for the first time since May, 1940. * Adulthood Day (Japan) Birthdays: Moliere, Goodman Ace, Philip Livingston, Chad Lowe, Rod MacLeish, Edward Teller, Mario Van Peeples, Rev Martin Luther King, Jr., Baptist preacher and non-violent advocate for the rights of African Americans.

A black man talks to a white man:
When I was born I was black,
When I grew up I was black,
When I'm sick I'm black,
When I go in the sun I'm black,
When I die I'll be black.
But you: When you're born you're pink,
When you grow up you're white,
When you're sick, you're green,
When you go in the sun you turn red,
When you're cold you turn blue,
and when you die you turn purple.
And you have the nerve to call me colored.

Be a link to erase racism.

DAILY THOUGHTS

Black civil rights leader, minister, advocate of nonviolence and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (1964) was born in Atlanta (1929) and was assassinated at Memphis Apr 4, 1968. After his death many states and territories observed his birthday as a holiday. In 1983 the Congress approved a bill to make his birthday a legal holiday and is observed on the third Monday in January. (1983)

We cannot be happy if we expect to live all the time at the highest peak of intensity. Happiness is not a matter of intensity, but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony. - Thomas Merton. In the past we have been awakened by radios set to rock and roll or the "news", which never seems new at all. We rushed through a process called getting-ready-to and then made sure we were entertained between bouts of working and feeding. We fell into bed exhausted and uncertain what had happened only to begin again after a night impoverished by lack of dreams and comfort. The scent of adrenaline is in the air. Now we spend time not getting ready for anything, because so much is happening without our having to meddle with it. What’s happening today? A Man's Book of the Spirit

Crunchies and Munchies. Here's the perfect solution for kids who don't want their foods "touching". When packing their lunch, or even for a different spin on lunch at home, use a small plastic container with interior dividers. Arrange ingredients separately in each small compartment. Use your imagination, but here are some ideas: sesame bread sticks; low-fat turkey or ham cut into 2" squares; American or Swiss cheese, cut into 2" squares; celery and carrot sticks; and seedless grapes. Parents Tips & Tricks

Surpass yourself. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Things to Be Happy About: Courage, not fearlessness, fog from melting snow. 14,000 Things to Be Happy About

Problems become challenges when you choose what you want to encounter. If Life is a Game, These are the Rules

A personal mission statement based on correct principles becomes a personal constitution - the basis for making major, life-directing decisions, the basis for making daily decisions in the midst of the circumstances and emotions that affect our lives. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Be the first one to make footprints in new snow. Really Important Stuff My Kids Have Taught Me

Drop call waiting. Have we so lost touch with the art of communication that we can't just say, "Excuse me, can I call you later? I'm expecting an important call now"? Simplify Your Life

You can't smooth out the surf, but you can learn to ride the waves. - Unknown. Life consists of ups and downs. Rather than trying to avoid all negative feelings, learn to accept down times as a normal part of life and become skilled at dealing with those feelings in a healthy way. If you try to protect yourself from any difficult feelings, you will also prevent yourself from feeling the positive ones. Stress Busters

Bag up props! Fill bags with hats, glasses, costumes, and other things. Strand in a circle. Pass on of the bags around the circle. Play music. When the music stops, the one holding the bag puts on everything in it. Pass another bag around the circle and begin again. To Do Today (Yes, dad, you play too. And have fun. That's an order. - Ed)

Learning from the Past. Martin Luther King Jr., was strongly influenced by Henry David Thoreau and Mahatma Gandhi, with their philosophies on nonviolent dissent. "I came to feel this was the only morally and practically sound method open to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom," King stated. The Old Farmer's Almanac

Never forget that one great simple idea can change everything. Life's Little Instruction Calendar

A home shop should have a window or fan vented to the outside, a door or cabinets that lock to keep dangerous tools and substances out of the reach of children.  Stanley do-it-yourself Handyman Hints

Change of Heart. Hearts are funny things. They're not like red cutouts in Valentine's Day displays. They're not just the vessels pumping blood, keeping us alive. Nor are they just the fourth chakra in the Eastern energy system. Our hearts express all of the above and much, much more, or less, depending on the emotional scar tissue surrounding our ability to love. If you are on a spiritual path and/or involved in personal growth, the goal is very much the same - to open your heart - to yourself, to everyone else and to God. When you are openly conscious you begin to see it's all God anyway. So the greatest gift you can give yourself is to advance your capacity to love. Like yeast in bread dough, it's the growth agent par excellence. Having a change of heart means to see compassion where you used to see blame, sadness instead of shame. Changing your heart changes how you see life. Discover God, heart to heart. I am changing my heart to love more fully. "The most powerful agent of growth and transformation is something much more basic than any technique: a change of heart." John Welwood. Opening to Love 365 Days a Year

Concinar (kohseeNAHR) - to cook, Living Language

TODAY'S ISSUE: ANTICIPATION

One of the delights known to age and beyond the grasp of youth is that of NOT GOING. - J. B. Priestley.

Can you recapture the blissful anticipation you felt as a child before some planned celebration - a party or an outing? The sense of promise was so much more delicious than any fulfillment could possibly be. Perhaps some of us can hold on to the belief that this party, this picnic, this movie or concert will be the best yet; but I suspect most of us, as we grow older, often find that celebrations aren't all they're cracked up to be.

The secret of that eager anticipation was our own readiness, the capacity for enjoyment that we brought with us. We made our own good times, or bad times, if that's what we had. And as we age, we bring our capacity for pleasure to different occasions. We've changed, from looking outside ourselves for ecstatic happiness to recognizing that joy comes from within. Happiness is a response to life, and we don't need outside events to evoke it.

So not going to a celebration can be more pleasant than going. True celebration is within us, like our pulse, like our ability to love. And like these, it's part of our spiritual connection, source of all life, and joy.

Hey Man: Did you make a difference yesterday? Let us know at Contact Us. Thought for Today: I'm good company, and I can enjoy myself wherever I am. What Every Man Needs to Know Want to make a difference but you don't know where to start?

BOOK OF THE WEEK

 

Be the Change:  How meditation can transform you and the world by Ed & Deb Shapiro. A prisoner in a Chinese jail, the author was able to find solace by sitting quietly in contemplation. Deeply affected by the experience of walking on the moon, astronaut Edgar Mitchell went from exploring outer space to discovering the vastness of inner space. While coping with HIV, Mark Matousek found healing through group meditation. Seane Corn used her yoga and meditation expertise to work with child prostitutes in Los Angeles. In the last few decades, people in all walks of life have begun to realize the profound benefits of meditation. While this ancient practice is personally transformative in that it calms the mind and reduces stress, awakens the heart, and deepens insight, can meditation also change the world for the better? Two award-winning authors and some of today's most notable voices explore this issue, reflecting on how looking within can resolve issues such as anger and fear, inspiring a movement toward a more caring and peaceful future. Sterling Ethos, www.sterlingpublishing.com, 2009 ISBN 978-1-4027-6001-3

 

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

January is: Birth Defects Prevention, Cervical Health Awareness, National Voluteer Blood Donor; Bald Eagle Watch; Celebration of Life; Fat Free Living; International Get Over It; International Life Balance; It's Okay to Be Different; Love Yourself; March of Dimes Birth Defects Prevention; National Be On-Purpose; National Book; National Clean Up Your Computer; National Environmental Policy Act; National Eye Care; National Glaucoma Awareness; National High-Tech; National Personal Self-Defense Awareness; National Poverty in America Awareness; National Reaching Your Potential; National Yours, Mine and Ours; Senior-Spirit; Sew for the Cure Month.

12/26-1/1: Kwanzaa. 12/31-1/6: Celebration of Life; Diet Resolution; National Lose Weight/Feel Great; New Year's Resolution; Silent Record Week; 1/5-13: Wilderness Wildlife Week of Nature. 1/6-12: Someday We'll Laugh About This Week.1/7-11: National Graves' Disease Awareness Week. 1/7-13: Universal Letter-Writing Week. 1/10-17: International Thank You Days. 1/13-19: Fire the Boss, International Printing, Let Men Be Our Heroes, Special Education Week. 1/14-18: Manwatchers Week. 1/20-26: Healthy Weight, National Creative Frugality, National Nurse Anesthetists, Solo-Preneuring Week. 1/21-25: Direct Deposit Week. 1/22-28: No Name Calling Week 1/21-25: *National Consumer Protection Week. 1/31-2/3: Mid-Winter/Candlemas/Groundhog's Day. 1/1: Attention to Dreams and Desires; Get a Life; Saint Basil's; Z Day. 1/2: Happy New Year for Cats; National Thrift with Flair Day. 1/6: International Respect-full Living Day; National Smith Day. Jan 7: United Kingdom Solid Gold Hat Day. Orthodox Christian Christmas. 1/8: National Bubble; Clean-Off-Your-Desk; Joygerm: Saint Gudula's Feast; Show & Tell at Work Day. 1/12 - National Handwriting Day. 1/15 - Humanitarian, Moliere, National Thank God It's Monday Day. 1/16 - Psychiatric Technicians Day. 1/18: Get to Know Your Customer Day. 1/19: International Sing-out Day. 1/20: Penguin Awareness Day. 1/21: National Hugging, World Religion Day. 1/22: World Religions Day, Celebration of Life Day. 1/23: Rid the World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day. 1/24: Just Do It Day - Make the Connection, National Compliment Day. 1/25: A Room of One's Own Day. 1/26: Fun at Work Day, Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement; Spouse's Day. 1/29: Freethinker's, National Puzzle Day. 1/30: Inane Answering Machine Day.

* Means a Presidential Proclamation has been made.

National Missing Children's Day
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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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