Lights...and More

 It's a Journey kind of day. I do believe that Steve Perry (of Journey), the late Karen Carpenter, and the late Freddie Mercury (of Queen) were blessed with the most beautiful voices I've ever heard, especially for their genres of music. 

Wishing the best weekend for all. 

No Comments

 

A few years ago, I changed the comments setting on this blog. It had gotten to the point where the comments were either generally offensive, or were just random and had nothing to do with me or the post in question. Many were self-promoting in nature from people I didn't know, with links to click. So now I'm able to monitor every comment attempt... the inappropriate ones get deleted and are never visible in the comments section of my blog.

If you've ever read comments from the internet world, you're aware of how bad it can be. To my knowledge, Blogger won't allow me to completely deactivate the comments section, but I do control it. If I even get a notification that there's a pending comment (and most of the time I don't, so I miss them), I usually don't even allow the comments to be posted, anyway. Apologies if you've tried because I more than likely didn't see it. It has been nice not having to deal with most of it though. 

But if you'd like to still comment, please try. It'll go through filters. :) But if you're needing a quicker response, please go to my website and fill out the contact form there. That's not to say I haven't had 'garbage' there, too...I have. 

Thanks for continuing to read what I share.

Part of the Plan...and a 13th

 January 2025. It marks the thirteenth anniversary of this blog. Some of the posts I've shared over the years are nothing but silly drivel; some are creative in content and nature (sharing my books of fiction, sad attempts at poetry, my photography and paintings, plus everything related to all of it); some posts are thoughts of the moment, memories, nostalgia, Youtube videos; while some dive deeper into what might be going on outside of my own life. I don't write about the latter much anymore because of the divisive nature and ugliness shown, but I wish that I could. Maybe someday.

So this anniversary post contains some New Year's resolutions of sorts. I hold myself accountable for all of them and plan to do better, but there are so many people that I personally know (and of course those I don't!) who should be accountable, as well. We can all do better.

♥︎ Be Accountable. If you make a mistake, own it. 

♥︎ Remember. Remember those in your life because someday they won't be in your life anymore; someday your own memory could diminish, too, where it's impossible to recall those memories that are so very important. Everyone gets old...if we're lucky. 

♥︎ Show kindness. Showing anything but is only a poor reflection on you. 

♥︎ Respond to communication. I'm slow at responding to emails but I always eventually respond, and phone calls aren't always convenient. Text messages were supposed to make communicating easier and quicker...but it seems it's gotten easier to just ignore those.  It really seems rude and thoughtless. 

♥︎ Show patience. With life, goals, and with people. 

♥︎ Hold yourself to the same standards you set for others; and set the standards equally for everyone if you set them. 

♥︎ Don't engage in suppressing or repressing others' thoughts and their need to express them. Listen with respect, whether you agree with them or not. 

♥︎ Think. Stop following like sheep especially if it goes against logic, knowledge and common sense. 

The remainder of this post contain the lyrics and video of Part of the Plan, a great song written and performed by the late Dan Fogelberg. He sings 'One Day We'll All Understand'...I'm still waiting to understand life, but it is less foggy than it used to be.

As always, thanks to all who continue to read what I share here. 

Part of the Plan

Music and Lyrics by Dan Fogelberg

I have these moments all steady and strong
I'm feeling so holy and humble
The next thing I know, I'm all worried and weak
And I feel myself starting to crumble

The meanings get lost, and the teachings get tossed
And you don't know what you're gonna do next
You wait for the sun but it never quite comes

Some kind of message comes through to you
Some kind of message comes through
And it says to you

Love when you can
Cry when you have to
Be who you must
That's a part of the plan
Await your arrival
With simple survival and

One day, we'll all understand
One day, we'll all understand
One day, we'll all understand

I had a woman who gave me her soul
But I wasn't ready to take it
Her heart was so fragile and heavy to hold
And I was afraid I might break it

Your conscience awakes and you see your mistakes
And you wish someone would buy your confessions
The days miss their mark, and the night gets so dark

And some kind of message comes through to you
Some kind of message shoots through
And it says to you

Love when you can
Cry when you have to
Be who you must
That's a part of the plan
Await your arrival
With simple survival and

One day, we'll all understand
One day, we'll all understand
One day, we'll all understand

There is no Eden or heavenly gates
That you're gonna make it to one day
But all of the answers you seek can be found
In the dreams that you dream on the way