Remembering the Roses

multi-colored rose image via designboom.com

multi-colored rose image via designboom.com

Last weekend, Kentuckians and countless others around the world witnessed the run for the roses and Joel Rosario’s now-famous ride on Orb to win the 2013 Kentucky Derby.

This weekend, and, especially today, is a time to stop and remember the roses in our lives.

Which roses?

I’m referring to those who have cradled us, guided us, scolded us, pulled for us, and, above all, loved us during our lifetimes – our mothers, of course.

Do you have a mother or mother-in-law alive or deceased who you are thankful for today?

Are you a mother yourself who has been blessed by the experience of giving birth or adopting a child?  Or, are you someone who is childless but who gives someone or some specific cause your utmost care and concern that is equivalent to a mother’s touch and affection?

If you’ve ever tended to a rose garden, then you’re aware that mothering is not always an easy task.  Growing roses require continual care and maintenance that often varies, depending on the variety of rose involved.  Similarly, growing children require continual care, guidance and supervision that will often vary, depending on the particular needs of the individual child involved.  Like roses, no two children are alike, so, when it comes to the mothering of children, the “how-to” rules aren’t often clear.

Without doubt, the fragrance of a rose is most distinctive.  Do you think the same can be said a mother’s love?  I think many would say so.  Consider this Pinterest board entitled, “There is Nothing Like a Mother’s Love,” for example.

On a personal note, today I’m thankful for my mother-in-law, a beautiful rose of a woman of the Spanish variety, and my mother, who is not only a beautiful rose but is also a beautiful Pansy.

Who are the roses filling the garden of your thoughts today?

Cinco-Cinquième of May

May 5 Cinco de Mayo

May 5 Cinco de Mayo

Today is Cinco de Mayo, and numerous Cinco de Mayo festivals and celebrations are underway here in America.

In the U.S., Cinco de Mayo is a day for celebration of the culture and heritage of Mexico, including its traditional foods and drinks, such as tacos and Tequila.

Do you know the broader history of Cinco de Mayo?

According to history.com, the fifth of May “commemorates the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867).”

Yes, it seems that Napoleon III and the French aimed to take over the Mexican territory back in 1861 but were ultimately unsuccessful in reaching that goal.

What if the French had taken over Mexico?  Can you imagine what would have emerged from those two combined cultures?  Just think of the food choices, for example!

In the spirit of reconciliation and in celebration of both Mexican and French cultures, I’m sharing two, fun Mexican-French breakfast recipes:

Mexican French Toast* Rolls
Mexican French Toast*

The first recipe above contains one ingredient, Nutella, that is famously popular with kids and adults around the world, however, you can thank the Italians, not the Mexican or French, for that sweet component.

I’ll conclude today’s fifth of May post with these words:  Viva Mexico!  Vive la France!  And, viva Italy!

*Note:  According to Wikipedia, the recipe for “French Toast” has Latin and German origins.

It’s Your Move (Life)

houseofchess.com's wooden chess pieces image

houseofchess.com’s wooden chess pieces image

“Life is like a ___.” How would you fill in the blank and complete the metaphor?

A carnival?  A box of chocolates (like Forrest Gump might say)?  A rodeo?  A race?  A soap opera?  A stage?  A competition?  A chess game, perhaps?

I’ve never been a huge chess player, but, after watching Charlie Rose interview Magnus Carlsen, the young and famous Norwegian chess grandmaster, I was reminded that aspects of the game of chess can be applied to aspects of living.

Carlsen has been called, “the Mozart of the game,” and was just named to the 2013 TIME 100 list as one of the “100 most influential people in the world.”  During the interview with Rose, Carlsen stated the following about the game of chess:

“I think it’s always better to be overly confident than pessimistic, because I’ve realized sometimes after games that, you know, I was actually way too confident…I was way too optimistic.  But, if you’re not optimistic, if you’re not looking for your chances, you’re going to miss opportunities.  And, you know, I think there are plenty of players in history who have been immensely talented, but they’re just too pessimistic.  They see too many dangers that are not there.”

What about you?  Do you think Carlsen’s advice regarding optimism can also be applied to the act of living?  Can you think of times in your business or personal life when you’ve been overly confident and experienced your desired outcome?  And can you think of times when pessimistic thoughts or fears have held you back from achieving more?

During the Rose interview, Carlsen also admitted that the most satisfying aspect of the game of chess for him is not winning.

He said, “To me, what’s more satisfying is the battle leading up to the point where you’re gaining an advantage…it’s more satisfying than the end, which is often a matter of wrapping up.”

Do you think Carlsen’s philosophy about where the most satisfaction can be found in a game of chess can be applied to life?  Do you find the most joy and satisfaction in your efforts and struggles to achieve goals rather than in your achievements, themselves?

Finally, which overall metaphor can be applied to your life right now?

Is your life like a game?  Go ahead.  Tell me.  It’s your move.

Stop and Sea (See)

thegiftexperience.co.uk's 100 years bottle stopper image

thegiftexperience.co.uk’s 100 years bottle stopper image

Soon after the September 11 attacks in 2001, the band Five for Fighting‘s song, “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” climbed the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

One morning earlier this week following Monday’s Boston Marathon bombings, I heard another of the band’s hits, “100 Years,” on the radio.

Though I’ve heard the lyrics of the song countless times before, somehow, in the wake of the Boston bombings, the lyrics seemed to newly engage my mind and make me pause to consider the fleeting aspect of each of our lives.

I’ve heard the old saying, “a smart women never tells her age,” so I’ll stay mum but just hint that these lyrics in the song’s middle seemed to sound out the loudest over my car radio:

I’m 45 for a moment
The sea is high
And I’m heading into a crisis
Chasing the years of my life

What about you?  Listen to the 100 Years song in its entirety, and then consider these questions:

  • Where is your life vessel currently headed in the sea of life?
  • How many miles have you logged, which destination coordinates have you reached and which destination coordinates are planned?
  • How calm and how high have you seen the waters that you’ve crossed, and how high are the waves ahead?
  • What things or which people have been your harbors along the way?
  • What continues to sustain you, as you continue forging ahead?
  • Who is charting your path?
  • More important than the questions above is this one:  who is your captain?

Some of us are blessed to know the One who is the ultimate captain — a captain who has been said to be “greater than any bomb.”

If you haven’t already, I hope that you will pause to hear His siren.

 

 

Are You Hooked?

hook image

hook image

While working on the IBM PC Company’s pilot internal SAP implementation project back in the 1995 timeframe, I was invited by some coworkers to attend a Blues Traveler concert that was occurring at a local outdoor concert pavilion.

Blues Traveler had released a song that year that everyone seemed to be hooked on.  By chance do you remember the title of the song?  Hook is the answer.

As the Wikipedia definition for the song states:  “The song’s title refers to a hook in music terminology: the catchy element or phrase of a song which makes it distinctive and memorable.”

Do you have any favorite musical hooks?  And, has a song ever hooked you with its first lyric?

Here are eight examples of first lyrics that always seem to lure me into listening (you’ll see the associated song title and artist called out in parentheses):

  • “He said I’ll love you ‘til I die.”  (He Stopped Loving Her Today; George Jones)
  • “I made it through the wilderness.”  (Like a Virgin; Madonna)
  • “Hey, Jude, don’t make it bad.”  (Hey, Jude; The Beatles)
  • “Last night all alone in a bar room, I met a girl with a drink in her hand.”  (Almost Persuaded; David Houston)
  • “You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht.” (You’re So Vain; Carly Simon)
  • “This one goes out to the one I love.” (The One I Love; R.E.M.)
  • “Amarillo by morning, up from San Antoine.” (Amarillo By Morning; George Strait)
  • “Crazy, I’m crazy for feeling so lonely.” (Crazy; Patsy Kline)

Now, let’s forget about songs.  Which people, places or things have immediately grabbed your attention in the past few weeks or months, and how soon did you become hooked?

More importantly, which of your hooked on habits or associations do you need to break?

Who’s Writing Your Worldview Glasses Prescription?

money.ca's image of rose-colored glasses

rose-colored glasses image as seen on money.ca Web site

I have been told before that I look at the world through rose-colored glasses.

What about you?  Have you paused lately to consider your particular view of the world?  If so, do you think that you’re seeing things clearly or clouded?

If the adage, “your perception is your reality,” is true, then shouldn’t we all take some time, from time to time, to consider the things that inform our individual perceptions, perspectives and, thus, our realities?

Music has often helped to inform my worldview over the years.  For example, every time I hear Édith Piaf ‘s version of the French tune, “La Vie En Rose,” played, the song seems to reinforce a certain romantic view that I hold related to the city of Paris and the country of France.

Where did that romantic view of France originate?

Apart from any news stories that I may have heard about France on television or radio during the 70s or 80s, my perspective on France really began while taking French language courses in high school and college.  During class, we not only studied the language, but we also studied the history of France and its people.  And, during class, everything I heard and learned about France seemed exotic and romantic.

Looking back, since two of my French teachers were American and the other was from Belgium, I now realize that my perception of France was formed in the majority through “hearsay” and the statements of others who were not natives of France.  Yes, until I actually visited France and gathered firsthand experience that further informed my perspective about the French and their country, I was relying on others to inform my views.

So, people, like music, have the ability to inform our perspectives.  And, the true reality is this:  we’re only given a finite amount of time to have firsthand life experience, so we ultimately must rely on secondhand knowledge, the words that others speak or write or sing, if we want to stretch our experience of the world while we’re here to the maximum degree.

Again, what about you and your view of the world?  How much of your outlook has been formulated by first or secondhand experience?

Which color are your worldview glasses?

Do You Know the Dearest and Best?

The Old Rugged Cross

lorieline.com’s The Old Rugged Cross sheet music image

Today is Easter Sunday 2013, and, here in the US and around the world, many of us attended Easter church services to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In His honor, here are links to a few of my favorite Christian hymns along with some excerpts of my favorite lyrics:

The Old Rugged Cross – “On a hill far away, stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame.  And I love that old cross, where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.”

He Lives! – “I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today. I know that he is living, whatever men may say.  He lives!  He lives!  Christ Jesus lives today!  He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.”

Christ the Lord is Risen Today – “Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!  Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!”

My Redeemer Lives – “The very same God who spins things in orbit…runs to the weary, the worn and the weak.  And, the same gentle hands that hold me when I’m broken, they conquered death to bring me Victory. Now, I know my Redeemer lives!

His Eye is on the Sparrow – “I sing because I’m happy.  I sing because I’m free. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

How Great Thou Art – “Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art!”

What about you?  Do you know “the dearest and best?”

It is my hope that all who read these words will know His love.

Feliz cumpleaños, Twitter!

mymodernmet.com's Twitter sneaker image

mymodernmet.com’s Twitter sneaker image

It’s hard for me to believe that seven years have passed since Twitter flew into the social media arena (the online platform debuted on March 21, 2006; check out this Celebrating #Twitter7 video that details the history).

What about you?  Do you have a Twitter handle?  If so, how long have you been tweeting?  And, why do you appreciate the Twitter platform?

Or, if you’re not yet a Twitter user, why have you avoided joining the global chorus of tweets?

Those who know me might say that I’m a woman of many (many) words.  And, you’ve probably heard the old saying that opposites attract.

Something about the 140-character limit for tweets imposed by Twitter intrigued me from Twitter’s beginning.

I can’t recall exactly when I first began tweeting, but I used TwimeMachine recently to view some of my old tweets, and several of those old tweets date back to 2009.  For example, here’s an example of a tweet of mine from June 4, 2009:

have chuckled recently watching the latest tv ad in Cottonelle’s “puppy at the spa” campaign: http://www.cottonelle.com/ Thu Jun 04 15:27:08 +0000 2009

I would say that I’m “somewhat active” when it comes to composing tweets, however, when it comes to reading the tweets of others, I am, as Jimi would have said, experienced.

Reading and digesting the tweets of individuals around the world on Twitter is usually a thought-provoking and informative experience.  At times, though, the countless chorus of tweets can be deafening, and it’s sometimes hard to filter through all the words and Twitter noise.

Publilius Syrus once said, “Speech is the mirror of the soul; as a man speaks, so he is.”

What do you think Twitter speech says about the soul and identity of men and women today?

When we’re at a point where we can buy Twitter sneakers, there’s no arguing that Twitter has made an impact on our modern society.  The question is:  what kind of impact?

Are Podcasts Making a Comeback?

ramapo.edu podcast icon image

ramapo.edu podcast icon image

Locusts, Chávez and News in Question

locust image via frenchtribune.com

locust image via frenchtribune.com

Have you heard?  Hugo Chávez is dead in Venezuela, and locusts have invaded Israel.

International news outlets have reported on those two happenings along with countless other occurrences within the past week.

In this era of non-stop, instant news, how do you filter the information that you receive and on which news sources do you rely?

Are all of your news sources online, or do you still read news publications in printed format?  Have you become a digital news consumer?

Mashable reported that, as of the end of 2010, more people were receiving their news from online sources rather than from printed newspapers.

So, if everyone is getting their news online these days, which are the most popular online news sites?

According to the eBusiness Knowledgebase (eBizMBA), Yahoo! News, CNN and MSNBC top the list.  Check out eBizMBA’s Top 15 most popular news Websites list.

And, what about social networks like Twitter and Facebook?  How many consumers today are relying on those sites as sources for news?

In their 2012 report, “What Facebook and Twitter Mean for News,” authors Amy Mitchell, Tom Rosenstiel and Leah Christian reported: “just 9% of digital news consumers very often follow news recommendations from Facebook or from Twitter on any of the three digital devices (computers, smartphones or tablets).”

What about you?  Do you trust the social networks to which you belong as legitimate news sources?

As a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the topic of news and how it gets distributed grabbed my attention and fascination years ago.

As a journalism student, I was taught the importance of questioning news sources and channels and was warned of the dangers of relying too heavily on one source of information to learn the truths of this world.

I wonder if all those folks listening to “state-run” news reports of Chavez’s death down in Venezuela share my news outlook.