We're
NOT talking about the operating system! (In case you don't know:
Ubuntu
is a community developed, Linux-based operating system that is
perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. It contains all the
applications you need - a Web browser, presentation, document and
spreadsheet software, instant messaging and other applications.
)
Per
Wikipedia, Ubuntu is essentially a philosophy originating in Southern
Africa. Literally, it means "human-ness", a belief that we are all connected to all other humans. This philosophy encourages us to share with others, as well as care for others. What a wonderful belief is that?
"A
person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of
others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, based
from a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she
belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are
humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed."
Here's
Nelson Mandela's description of UBUNTU:
Ubuntu
- African Philosophy : "The word 'Ubuntu' originates from one of the Bantu dialects of
Africa, and is pronounced as uu-Boon-too. It is a traditional African
philosophy that offers us an understanding of ourselves in relation
with the world. According to Ubuntu, there exists a common bond
between us all and it is through this bond, through our interaction
with our fellow human beings, that we discover our own human
qualities." To me, in this time of turmoil throughout our world. We would all be better off to think in terms of UBUNTU. I don't say that it is easy, but I believe it would be worthwhile. Instead of seeing others in terms of what is "bad" about them, what makes them different from us, all the reasons we shouldn't like them, I think we should take the time to view it as a means to build a better world and in the process, we will grow as people. I think that is worth the extra effort!
Monday, October 6, 2014
Mindset Changes I
Learned from Hurricane Irene
Change will
happen whether you like it or not.
Sometimes
little storms turn into big disasters!
You have to
learn acceptance or you'll go crazy.
Being
thankful for small things will begin to come naturally.
Being open to
help and learning to be thankful for everything is important.
Everything
costs more than you think it will going in.
Change will
happen whether you like it or not.
In eastern North Carolina, we had become used to hurricanes and the
damage they can wreak. Especially after my namesake, Fran,and then,
Floyd. We had learned to prepare for the worst.
Sometimes little
storms turn into big disasters!
The first reports mentioned a Cat 1 storm headed our way. Most
natives were like myself and had hurricane supplies always ready
during hurrican season. That being the case, we figured we were
pretty much ready for a Cat 1, after all, that wasn't much bigger
than a tropical storm!
Little did we know that Irene had other ideas! She came, stayed and
made sure to make us remember her! Personally, I think it was really
a Cat 2 storm, but it really doesn't matter. Call it what you will, I
call it a life-changing event.
You have to learn
acceptance or you'll go crazy.
Let me tell you how my dog reacted to the sight of my backyard, right
after the storm. She did a 360 circle and barked at it all. I imagine
she was saying that it didn't look right, trees were down everywhere.
A disaster had truly come home! She learned quickly to accept it. I
also learned acceptance but it took me awhile.
Some things in
life are just not fair.
Was it fair that after knowing my backyard looked one way and seeing
everything destroyed?It doesn't matter really, as it was that way.
After 10 days without power, and losing those days of pay since the
entire area was not destroyed just my part of the world. It was said
that I should've been able to come to work. 10 days, no air
conditioning, working outside at times and no shower? I don't think
so!
Being
thankful for small
things will begin to come naturally.
Needless to say 10 days of eating vienna sausages, pork and beans,
nabs (crackers and peanut butter) and the like-well, even fast food
is a welcome thing. It was nice to eat hot food in a cool place. I
would have enjoyed a fish sandwich even-and I don't eat those!
Taking a shower was nice, cutting the lights on and seeing at night
without candles was great! Having a chance to be online and watch TV
was wonderful. Didn't really matter what I did or watched. Anything
made me happy!
Being open to
help and learning to be thankful for everything is important.
If you're an independent person, as I am, learning to ask for and to
accept help was difficult. With some turns my life has taken
recently, it was a skill that has come in handy. I also was so very
thankful that the damage I'd endured was not nearly as bad as some.
Some folks homes had been destroyed. That put any trials I had around
my house and yard into a much more manageable and acceptable place.
Thankfulness began to come easily. I still start each day being
thankful. No matter how hard things are, I'm alive and so, life is
sweet!
Everything costs
more than you think it will going into it.
I won't go into a great deal of detail of all the damage I had, some
of which I'm still dealing with now. Let's just take the
refrigerator. Yes, it was older, but it worked fine before Irene came
through. I reached out to a local man who repaired appliances and he
came and got it going. He'd been so swamped by other requests, that I
was the last job he took. I was thankful. That repair did quite
nicely until the beginning of this summer. I found salad items going
bad faster than ever before. So, I did what any stubborn, independent
lady would do. I tried to get it to work on my own. I played with the
thermostat, I moved things around after I found the bottom shelves
were cooler than those above. Unfortunately, that only works in the
short term. Did I mention it is older? Well, I've learned to adjust
and adapt to accommodate my old frig. We seem to have come to an
understanding. I understand that my frig will work when it wants and
I have learned to buy items that last a little longer. Also, I've
learned to dispose of the items that go bad-no matter when that may
be! Again, adaptation and acceptance is the lesson!
Oh, why did I say it costs more than you'd think? Well, to get a new
frig would take a great deal of money I just don't have. Could I
really afford to have that first frig full of stuff go bad? Not
really. But, until I can buy a used frig, I'm dealing with it. You
may say, why didn't I get someone else to come and repair it? I'd
been there and done that with an old frig several years ago and found
that it doesn't take long to have more money in the repairs than you
might have spent getting another one. I'd learned THAT lesson! LOL
In summation, while I never asked Irene to come see me, she did. She
is now forever indelibly etched in my memory. But, she did teach me a
great many lessons that have come in handy in building my mental
toughness! I am thankful for her visit. I am hopeful no big, bad
storms come to visit again, but if they do, I've learned that I can
deal with it.-but-only with God's help and the help of my friends!
Please also check out my page that shows all the ways you can contact me! I'd really love to hear from you! Of course, your comments are VERY welcome! Thank you for reviewing this!
I am listing several ways to contact me, but if you're reading my blog post. Well, I'd suggest leaving me a comment. Otherwise, I'm on Facebook all the time (personal). Thanks for looking here to find out how to best contact me! If you're like me and on FB a lot, please send me a friend request and like my biz page. That is an easy way to keep in touch. Thanks again! Frances
Hi
ya'll! I'm Frances Wages! I love the water which is good because here in New Bern, it's
all around us. I also love art, music, dance and just enjoying life.
I live out in the country and I think it's great to have room for my
dog to run, and room for me to work on my yard however lackluster I
am at doing that. I love to travel-seeing new places is so exciting.
I think life is as good as the way we look at it. If we look for
good, you almost always can find it. I love learning and teaching all
sorts of things. (That's me above this post, by the way.)
If you've been reading a post on "Feeling Better Every Day", then I thank you for reading. I welcome your comments!
As you will see, I'm walking pretty consistently each day. I walk with my dog, Tippie, who's a rescued mixed border collie. Even though she's 8 years old, she thinks shes still a puppy. (Probably because I call her my puppygirl, and I don't feel my age, either.) Some days, I do walking and running since I'm transitioning to running. It's part of trying to get healthier, as that time clears my mind and helps my fitness level, too! The fact that my dog and I both enjoy it is a plus!
I'm trying to get back in shape and this is part of it. Another part, will soon be kicking in. A friend of mine is setting me up with a system that has helped her drop many pounds and she's even making money, too. Now, that sounds great to me. I will be glad to help YOU as you become healthier both mentally and physically. If you want to find out about becoming wealthier, I'll help you with that, too!
Again, thanks for reading this far! I'm also adding a page that will show ways to connect with me.(Note: I am not on Skype all the time, but I'm glad to get on to talk with you. I find it drains my laptop too much to have it always on.)
Ok, so you want to
get healthier. Walking seems like a good choice. After all, no real
cost, unless you have to buy more comfortable shoes - and lots of
benefits to enjoy!
Why Walking is So
Great For YOU!
No cost-you
can walk anywhere and wear anything presentable
You can walk
by yourself, with your dog, with friends or make new friends in a
walking group.
The health
benefits are essentially the same as running, only walking takes a
little longer to do!
It can be
done inside or outside.
All ages can
enjoy it! (Always keep in mind there are those that can no longer
walk that would give anything to go walking with you!)
My reasons:
I can spend time
with my dog and see and hear nature all at the same time. I am
gradually getting myself in better shape and can gradually transition
into running later on. I can fit it into my schedule always and in
general, it makes me feel better mentally and physically!
Equipment you may
want to think about:
You should
have comfortable clothes that match the weather.
You may need
to invest in different shoes if you find your current shoes hurt
your feet. If that is the case, I would go to an athletic shoe
store. In my case, when I'm walking far enough and long enough, I
just wear my running shoes. Just know that there are many shoes
available specifically designed just for walking. At an athletic
shoe store they can take into account YOUR feet and ensure that the
shoes will not only fit but meet your needs. Maybe you will need
shoes designed for tough outside elements, almost like hiking boots.
Perhaps, you walk inside (as in a mall) and need shoes with a
different type of support.
You may want
to invest in a pedometer. There are tons of these available, but if
you're just starting-or getting back into this as I am-I bought a
very basic one. It will tell me the steps and distance I've walked.
That is it. Doesn't cost much and it meets my needs. Later on, I may
upgrade but my $5-8 investment works just fine for now!
Freebie to Keep
Up With Your Steps!
If you want an easy
way to track your steps to see if you're improving, here is a spreadsheet so you can simply put an “x” in the square as you
walk it. (Example: 2100 steps, I'd put an “x” in the 1st
and 2nd box. As the week progresses, you can check for
consistency/improvement and get a feel for how far you've walked,
step-wise, that week.
walking/running
square=1000 steps
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Please leave me comments below. Here are some other ways to contact me.
