T'was The Evening Before New Years

(A poem by Jaclyn )

T'was the evening before New Years, and all through the land

The people were deciding, what would be their plan.

To ring in the first day of one year and of the other, the last

How to open their hearts to tomorrow and how to close doors on their past.

Some people have decided, to just stay at home.

Maybe to hang out with their family, or just be alone.

Others have great plans for parties big and beautiful.

Still others will be making lists of their resolutions, funny and useful.  

There will be those celebrating for all which they are grateful.

While some will be full of resentment, their hearts jealous and hateful.

Most people will resolve that this year they will do better,

Though not everyone will follow through that promise to the letter.

Some people will languish on their deathbeds, ill and diseased,

Some people will carry on unmindful that their lives are full of ease.

Wounded souls will be nursing themselves, broken hearted,

Loved ones who are far away will be mournful that they’re parted.

Tears will be shed for the dearly beloved laid to rest,

Hope will triumph as brand new life is birthed replacing death.

First eager steps will be taken, towards a future fresh and bright,

And final grim steps draw forward to pinch out fated light.

As the green orb completes a revolution of the glowing sun

Another year takes inventory of painful and wondrous deeds done.

The twist of time, a plodding slur of flurried speed

It waits for no man so they say, and this I do believe.

Soon then the shadowy carousel, ticks by the fateful hand

The bells peel the melody of midnight across the darkened land

Sparks fly. Colors flash. Lights twinkle and then fade to black.

Our minds look to the future, with just one more glance back.

May our generous ideas be hastened and evil designed be foiled

Let our compassion run swift and our anger cease to boil.

Can our hearts swell with a symphony of earnest brotherly love,

Thinking of not only self-improvement but lifting those below you, above.

May you conquer every obstacle and with every challenge succeed.

Question questionable authority, yet accept acceptance that you need.

Lastly don’t be too hard on yourself or others, or give up without a fight.

Be the champion of honor and always do what’s right.

But try to enjoy yourself and cherish that the morning will dawn warm light

So Happy New Years to all, and to all a safe night!

Raising Boys and the Men They Become

Life: Live Every Day With Honor (and fun!)

“Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones.”


― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations http://amzn.to/18Phfvv


An excellent way to live life.   

Religion is optional. Honor is mandatory.

Relationships: How Well Do I Know Thee? Let Me Count The Ways...

When it comes to getting to know someone, time is your friend.

And as tempting as it might be to rush things while the glow of "we just met" is floating you a foot off the ground, don't. That glow will eventually fade. The beer goggles will come off. And unless you like terrible surprises, you should probably make sure you really know what you're getting yourself into.

Opinion: Making Thanksgiving For Everyone

Thanksgiving is considered an American holiday. And many would argue it's one tainted by a less than honorable past. In light of how "breaking bread" with the local indigenous people who essentially helped the first Pilgrims survive the harsh winter in a new land, and they later turned around and nearly drove them to extinction (along with the herds of buffalo), it's easy to see how some people fail to find a reason to celebrate the national holiday.

BUT, I honestly think that we can salvage the holiday and even make it go international.

Of course, we will need to separate it from it's checkered past and scrape away the fluff and commercialization that often gets attached to any reason for retailers to make a buck.

If you get to the root of the holiday, and really think about the name, what you get is something the entire planet can agree on. We all have reasons for "thanks giving". That is, reasons to be grateful for what we have, who we are and for being alive. And that's not just limited to America.  

Dating: Clever Profile: Zombie Dating Method

Everyone loves to laugh. And smile. Just read the first few lines of roughly 85% of the on-line dating profiles out there and they will tell you so themselves.

But it takes a little more ingenuity (and finesse) to have the kind of humor that gets the people who are reading your profile laughing. That's when you know you have a real comedian on your hands.

While there is nothing wrong with writing a standard profile, some people find they get more attention (or attention from different viewers) with a different tactic. If you're witty, timely, clever and honestly amusing, you can never go wrong with humor.* (only try this route if what you are writing won't come across as crazy or plain dumb.)

As someone who helps people write their on-line profiles, and as someone who has browsed hundreds of profiles over the years looking for an actual relationship, every now and then a really entertaining profile jumps out at me. One where the author of the profile has a funny style... and I mean that in the best possible way.

Just a few days ago, I stumbled across this profile and found it entirely engaging and wonderfully creative.  I messaged the guy and asked if he minded if I posted his profile on my blog and he agreed. So for your viewing pleasure, have a look-see:

(Click on the picture to enlarge it.)

Dating: Scary People: Beware the Online Creep!

I don’t normally do this. I don’t usually share private content of letters of people who write to me, or reveal who I’m talking about when I describe a dating situation I’ve had in the past.

But I think this joker needs to have the cat let out of the bag about him. Because clearly he’s not the kind of person who knows a) how to respect a woman b) understands that “no” means “no” or c) recognizes that when you are rejected, you don’t persist (especially in a creepy and gross way.)

I am not including the first two exchanges, mostly to protect this guy’s privacy to some extent, because he included his full name in the message; and partly because I already deleted it.  But it went basically like this:

Message from SharingWithU: Hi, my name is……. But you can call me what all the other ladies call me Mr. Creepo. =)

Message from Me: Ummm, is that a joke? Or does that line actually work with women?

The rest of the message is below:                                                           

                                                                

I think the timing of this coming on Halloween is pretty weird. Turns out there are more things to be scared of at Halloween besides teenagers in masks.

I guess I don’t need to tell this guy he’s a creep, he introduced himself that way.