Daily Thoughts & Issues

IN THIS ISSUE:

JANUARY 8

Days left until the next millennium 01.01.3001
 

Photo of the Week
Brad Wrobleski/Adventure Photo & Film
Achieve Your Dreams

January 8 - Death day of Galileo (1642), astronomer; day to mourn the persecution of scientists by religious authorities. * On the heels of WWI, President Wilson makes his "14-Points For A Lasting Peace" speech. * Peter Adair was given the Frameline Award presented by the only organization in the U.S. dedicated to promoting and exhibiting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender films and videos. His film, Word is Out (1977) and Absolutely Positive (1990) broke new ground in showing the lives of lesbians, gays and people living with HIV. Gay & Lesbian Calendar. Battle of New Orleans (1815) when British forces suffered crushing losses in an attack on New Orleans. Defending US troops were led by General Andrew Jackson, who became a popular hero as a result of the victory. Neither side knew that the War of 1812 had ended two weeks previously with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent. * Dow-Jones tops 2,000 (1987) for the first time. * Using a device now known as Foucault's pendulum in his Paris home, physicist Jean Foucault demonstrated that the Earth rotates on its axis. (1851). * Midwife's or Women's Day (Greece) when women stop their housework and spend their time in the safes, while the men do all the housework and chores and look after the children. In some villages, men caught outside "will be stripped...and drenched with cold water." * Coming of Age day (Japan) a national holiday for youth of the country who have reached adulthood during the preceding year. * Birthdays: Jose Ferrer, Elis Presley, David Bowie (David Robert Jones), Bob Eubanks, Valdimir Feltsman, Stephen Hawking, Charles Osgood, Soupy Sales (Morton Supman).

DAILY THOUGHTS

See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. - Thess, 5:15. Have you ever asked anyone to play a game, a sport or a board game, without having the covert goal to win, and without having some kind of secret game strategy? Have you ever been excited or happy when someone finally agreed to play with you? If you answered yes to either question, then you are probably familiar with the art of game playing. People play covey games with us to reaffirm their view of who they are and who they think we are. There are basically four types of games: "I’m okay-you’re okay"; "I’m okay-you’re not okay"; and "I’m not okay-you’re not okay". For example if your boss criticizes you consequently, he is probably trying to get you to feel that you’re not okay and to help himself feel that he is okay. If he succeeds in making you feel bad inside, then he wins the game. People try to get me to play these games for their own good at my expense. I used to play these games, but now I realize that I don’t have to. I only place myself in relationships where both parties can come out okay. People who hurt you are almost always hurt themselves; they just want you to feel as bad as they do. The Man Within

Anger is part of growing up, but anger is considered a secondary emotion because it masks what is really going on inside. Next time your child is angry, ask him or her, "What’s the matter?" Listen to the answer. Then ask, "Is there anything else making you angry?" What the child answers the second time is usually what caused the anger. Dr. Buff's 365 Day Parenting Calendar

There are countless ways to awaken. Paying attention to your feelings is the easiest way to get in touch with your inner machinations. Feelings are the lights on the dashboard of life; when one is illuminated, you can be sure it is a signal of some internal issue that needs to be addressed. If Life is a Game, These are the Rules (Remember, however, that talking about them is one of the fastest ways to block feeling them. - Ed. )

The inside-out approach holds that private victories precede public victories, that making and keeping promises to ourselves precede making and keeping promises to others. It says it is futile to put personality ahead of character, to try to improve relationships with others before improving ourselves. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Get in the habit of removing your shoes before you enter your house. This simple practice has some incredible benefits. By reducing the amount of outdoors that is brought indoors, you reduce the amount of dust and other unwelcome particles on the carpet and the floors. Your house will be visibly cleaner and the overall dust quotient throughout the house is greatly reduced. Simplify Your Life

I am an old man and have known a great many troubles - but most of them never happened." - Mark Twain. If you tend to worry about anything and everything, try writing down your worries in a notebook, then after a month look back over what you wrote and cross out the troubles that never happened. Chances are you will cross out almost everything, and this may help you view future concerns more realistically. Stress Busters

Laugh yourself silly with a wacky contest with your kids. Think of silly competitions like these: draw self-portraits with your feet, sing a note for the longest period of time, think of the most ten-letter words in five minutes. To Do Today

You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take. - Wayne Gretzky Win the Day!

A curved claw is more common and more effective for removing nails; a ripping claw is straighter and is most effective for prying boards apart. Stanley do-it-yourself Handyman Hints

Feel a cold coming on?  Eat a Spanish onion before bedtime (raw or roasted). Take echinacea tea or drops. Add garlic to your good. Add horseradish and mustard to your cheddar sandwiches. Use a humidifier. Gargle with hot water, lemon juice and honey. The Old Farmer's Almanac 2001

Hide an "I love you madly" note in your sweetie's purse. Life's Little Instruction Calendar

Magic of Differences. The most important magic you can make tighter is the celebration of the ways you are different from each other. The ways you're alike feel comfy and cozy and provide a kind of emotional glue. But the ways that you're different create the excitement, the inspiration to concrete the future together. Your differences will bring forth challenges, the misunderstandings, the conflicts and the fights. But with a simple change in vision those very same differences become the doorway to your spiritual expansion, learning and growth. Why? Because in order to create lasting love you have to see each other for who you are. Without the differences you would never be you, and you'd never get to experiences the magic of being loved for who you truly are - and love your partner in the same way. How you envision differences will either make or break your marriage. Choose to lean from them, choose to continually find the magic!  I can discover the magic at the heart of our differences. "The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, they are transformed." - Carl Jung Opening to Love 365 Days a Year

Raro/a (RAHroh/rah) - strange, weird. Living Language Calendar.

TODAY'S ISSUE: WISDOM

We all carry it within us; supreme strength, the fullness of wisdom, unquenchable joy. It is never thwarted and cannot be destroyed. But it is hidden deep, which is what makes life a problem. - Huston Smith

How does a man lose touch with his strength, his wisdom, his joy? Perhaps it is in the nature of humanity. Our most profound qualities are hidden deep. They never go away, but we cannot always find them. There may be nothing wrong with ourselves as men when we lose touch. It doesn't have to mean that we are "bad guys" for getting depressed or for feeling inadequate. Who doesn't have have that problem? It is the nature of life that we sometimes feel this way. This program helps us unearth the resources hidden within us.

When we cannot find those reassuring feelings of strength, and wisdom, and joy, we may think they are gone forever. We even doubt we ever had them or could have them again. But they are still there. They cannot be destroyed. And when we regain contact we know they have been with us all along. Touchstones

Hey Man: Did you make a difference yesterday? Let us know at Contact Us. I will have faith that the innermost places in me can never be destroyed. Touchstones Want to make a difference but you don't know where to start?

BOOK OF THE WEEK

 

Voices of Vets: A bridge back to the world. Poems from veterans and their families from Mosaic. The soul searching words of wonder and power that make up the poems in this book were distilled from the lived experiences of a group of war veterans and their family members who attended a five-day retreat in May, 2008. Their words were shaped during the heartfelt retreat and presented on the stage of the Angus Bowmer Theatre at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival on Memorial Day. It was compelling work, born of courage and blood, heat and memory. The voices of the veterans blazed through the theater with a rare authority and a devastating beauty - stunning the hearts of the audience and offering an unforgettable experience of anguish and awe that still reverberates throughout the town. From the gathered wounds and shared courage a terrible beauty has been born. It can sear the heart, yet it can also bring a healing touch to those willing to welcome and embrace our veterans and their lived stories. Green Fire Press, www.Mosaicvoices.org, 2008, ISBN 0-9766450-7-8

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
Help find a missing child!
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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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