by Marty Coleman | Jun 15, 2009 | Anonymous |
There are a lot of people who take pride in being ‘honest’ and ‘saying
it like it is’. There are the positive elements of this in business and in
personal lives.
But there is another type, the random type. It is seductive to think they
are more honest, more real, more truthful than the rest of us and hold
some special place in honesty heaven as a result. But if you really, truly
look at what comes out of their mouth, most of the time it isn’t really
about honesty and some exalted sense of forthrightness.
In those random cases it is about two other things. One, it is about not
knowing boundaries, not knowing when to shut up. Two it is about
enjoying the power to shock and get a reaction.
This is especially important to help teenagers to understand. Verbal
‘honesty’ has a purpose, it isn’t just a lack of self-control, or a weapon.
It is used to help people or situations. You can be honest about your
mother or father or friend having trouble with alcohol. You can be
honest with your spouse about your feelings. That is legitimate. But
to just spout off supposed truths because you are the ‘honest’ type is
an immature and mean-spirited thing to do. Teaching our children
the difference, when to use ‘honesty’ and when to shut up, is one of
the best things we can do for them.
“The person who always says just what he thinks at last gets just what he deserves.” – anonymous
…………………………………………………………………………..
This is ‘Didchya Know?’ Monday
In the last month the Napkin Dad Daily has been visited by
15 universities from around the world.
- Boston College, Massachusetts – USA
- Georgia State University, – USA
- Harvard University, Massachusetts – USA
- Haifa University – Israel
- Hampden-Sydney College, Virginia – USA
- Lake Tahoe Community College, California – USA
- McMasters University, Ontario – Canada
- Moore College, Pennsylvania – USA
- North Dakota University – USA
- Oklahoma State University, Tulsa – USA
- Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut – USA
- Universidad de Zaragoza – Spain
- University of California, Merced – USA
- University of California, Los Angeles – USA
- University of Missouri, Columbia – USA
- University of Nebraska, Kearney – USA
- University of Tulsa, Oklahoma – USA
Where are you visiting from today?
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by Marty Coleman | Jun 14, 2009 | Fame, Oliver Wendell Holmes |
It seems to me that the desperation for fame usually does not lead to it,
it just leads to more desperation, then disappointment. The key is to
not ignore the possibility of fame, but to understand it’s reason.
The question can be asked about anything that is pursued for its own
sake. Why stay fit? So you can live a long life in health? Why live a
long life? So you can do what exactly? What will you do with that long
life? What will you do with that fame? What is the reason for reaching
for those things (and many others)?
Pursue the next question after the question. See where that leads.
“Fame usually comes to those who are thinking about something else.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
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by Marty Coleman | Jun 14, 2009 | G. K. Chesterton |
Simple enough. What is the difference between the two? Your attitude.
And it is your willingness to admit that it is your brain, your thoughts, that
define the events you go through. They don’t have one definition that is
set it stone. They have a definition set in your skull. Redefine what it is
that is happening to and around you and that really is what is happening to
and around you.
When you believe that, and practice it again and again, then you will have
such incredible adventures, such joyously unexpected fun, you will just
have to dance with happy feet.
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by Marty Coleman | Jun 12, 2009 | Anonymous, Dogs vs Cats - 2012 |
The last in my pet series for the week. While blind cat is gone now, we
still have stumpy dog, wiggle dog and normal cat remaining. I like them
all and look forward to enjoying their company for a long time.
“My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dog already thinks I am.” – anonymous
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by Marty Coleman | Jun 10, 2009 | Dogs vs Cats - 2012, Mark Twain |
One of our cats is nearing the end of her life. In honor of her and her best
friend, my step daughter, I am going to do a few drawings about pets this week.
“Ignorant people think it is the noise which fighting cats make that is so aggravating, but it ain’t so; it is the sickening grammar that they use.” – Mark Twain
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by Marty Coleman | Jun 9, 2009 | John F. Kennedy |
I know some will say God is the exception here, but look at the understanding
of who God is over the centuries, what he is made out of, how he/she acts and
interacts and his reason for existing and you will see that he/she has changed
as well.
This is a wonderful, hopeful statement for many. But for others it fills them
with fear. Fear of change, fear of fluidity. I can’t stop that fear in you if you
have it. But I can ask you to look at the evidence from your own past about
what change has brought to you. Has it been as terrible as you envisioned
beforehand? Did the imagined disaster actually take place? Go by the
actual evidence and you will see, change is not only inevitable, but it is usually
good.
The key is to be aware in the present about what is available for you to love,
to be excited about, to be hopeful about. Whether it is an empty nest or
a newly discovered bird’s nest in your favorite backyard tree. There is
beauty and wonder that awaits you.
“The one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable.” – John F. Kennedy, 32nd President of the USA, 1917-1963
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by Marty Coleman | Jun 8, 2009 | Catherine Aird |
As much as we would like to be in the former category of ‘good example’,
who among us is actually in both categories depending on which nook
or cranny of our lives people are looking at.
One of my great role models is a wonderful example of being a good man.
But he is a great warning of what happens if you are too much of a pack rat too!
A good friend is an example of a focused and deliberate career path to success
and wealth. At the same time, a warning of the loneliness that comes from
ignoring you family and friends and ending up without either over the decades.
What is in you as a good example and a horrible warning? Let us know, leave a
comment about it!
“If you can’t be a good example, then you’ll just have to be a terrible warning.” – Catherine Aird, 1930 – not dead yet, British Author
…………………………………………………………………..
Today is Geographic Monday! Cities ending in N who visited you favorite Napkin
blog this past week. Seems the USA has a lot of cities ending in N compared to
the rest of the planet. I wonder why.
- Hamilton, Bermuda
- Penicton, British Columbia, Canada
- Houston, Texas, USA
- Sheyboygan, Wisconsin, USA
- Newton, Massachusetts, USA
- Dayton, Ohio, USA
- Berlin, Connecticut, USA
- Binghamton, New York, USA
- Ashburn, Virginia, USA
By the way, I do hope this is your favorite Napkin blog. If it isn’t tell me about my competitors so I can wipe them up with my napkins!
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by Marty Coleman | Jun 7, 2009 | Edmond de Goncourt |
Oh oh, treading on thin ice here! This quote makes sense to me because
the statement that you don’t believe there is a god is one statement, from
which all other statements or beliefs about God disappear. If there is a
God he/she might be offended, who knows.
A religion, meanwhile, goes to the opposite extreme. It tries to define
God to the nth degree. It explains the who, what, where, when and why
of everything. It explains the government of the after-life and the social
structure, what feelings you will and will not have, what emotions, etc.
It explains how long the after-life will last (hint; it is a LONG time). In other
words, it explains more than than it can possibly know. If there is a God,
he or she might be offended by that as well.
Which extreme is more offensive?
Having said that, what do you think? And just as importantly (to me) how do
you interpret the drawing?
“If there is a God atheism must seem to him as less an insult as religion.” – Edmond de Goncourt, 1822-1896, French writer
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by Marty Coleman | Jun 6, 2009 | Anonymous |
>
Two of the most destructive forms of exercise there are!
What are some other bad ones?
How about side-stepping responsibility?
Give us a few more, ok?
Be creative!
“The only exercise some get is jumping to conclusions and pushing their luck.” – Anonymous
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by Marty Coleman | Jun 5, 2009 | Steven Wright |
Today is Funny Friday, enjoy it and smile! I know, for some of you it is
Saturday so the alliteration doesn’t work. But you can still smile.
If you want it silent, why not just use a bow and arrow?
“If you shoot at mimes, should you use a silencer?” – Steven Wright, Comedian, 1955 – not dead yet
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