Bureaucracy in the Animal Kingdom

 Happy thoughts from Tom

who sent me this cartoon-inspired article

showing a “busy ant” carrying a load to its office of business.

Try to visualize the expressions of each!

Every day, a small Ant arrives at work very early and starts working immediately.  She produces a lot and she is very happy!

The Chief...a Lion (with a mature golden mane and observing business eyes) was surprised to see that the Ant was working without supervision.  He thought, “If the Ant can produce so much without supervision, wouldn't she produce even more if she had a supervisor?”

So, he recruited a Cockroach who had extensive experience as a supervisor and who was famous for writing excellent reports. The Cockroach's first decision...to set up a clocking-in-attendance system.

He also needed  a secretary to help him write and type his reports; so he recruited an ugly black Spider who managed archives and monitored all telephone calls.

The Lion was very delighted with the Cockroach's reports and asked him to produce graphs to describe production rates and to analyze trends so that he could use them for presentation at the Board's meetings. So the Cockroach had to buy a new computer, laser printer and recruited a Fly to manage the IT department.

The Ant, who had once been so productive and relaxed, hated this new plethora of paperwork and meetings which used up most of her time.!

The Lion came to the conclusion that it was high time to nominate a person in charge of the department where the Ant worked.

The position was given to the Cicada, whose next decision was to buy a carpet and an ergonomic chair

for his office.  The new person in charge, the Cicada, also needed a computer and personal assistant, whom  he brought from his previous department to help prepare a Work and Budget Control Strategic Optimization Plan.

The department where the Ant worked is now a sad place; nobody laughs anymore and everybody  has

become upset!

It was at this time that the Cicada convinced the boss, Lion, of absolute necessity to start a climatic study of the environment. Having reviewed the changes for running the Ant department the Lion found

out that the production  was much less than before!  So he recruited the Owl (dressed in business blue and wearing a mortar-board hat), a prestigious and renowned consultant to carry out an audit and suggest solutions.  The Owl spent three months  in the department and came up with an enormous  report  in several volumes, that concluded...the department was over-staffed!

The Lion's face and teeth showed much dissatisfaction!  Guess!  Who does the Lion fire first?

The Ant, of course...because “she showed lack of understanding  and had a negative attitude!”

Poor Ant, very downcast...

she leaves like a hobo with her small pack of possessions

hanging from a long stick across her shoulder.

And this is why we have added 200,000 new government employees

in the past two years and...no one can explain

why we are still in a recession!

It's not a good time to be an Ant!

I'm from the human race and that's why

(from the pressure of the workplace)

I am SOOO thankful...to be Retired!

* * * * *

Feline Blogger ?

Believe I’ll live the life of a cat and write the first entry of nine

about my comfortable home with an endearing family

who give  me ‘catnip’ for special treats.

An orange and cream tabby, each morning I do my stretching exercises looking into a mirror. Standing on my back legs and with front paws clasped together, I bend from side to side…with expressive glee:

I'm not old!

I woke up;

I lifted my arms;

I moved my knees;

I turned my neck...

Everything made the same noise ~

CrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaacccccccccccK!

And I came to a conclusion:

I am NOT old ~

I am crispy!

Crafted by Merle Baird-Kerr … May 25, 2013

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What We Can Learn From Animals

Meeting in the Park

Our sleek black and white cat daily was let outside  to roam and play, even to catch a mouse…and one time a snake to bring home!  A couple blocks away, Tommy discovered a park.  From here he could observe the birds, watch  the flitting butterflies and snooze in the sun.  A ginger small curly haired dog happened by the same park. She hadn't been claimed by a family so was on the hunt for food and company.  Feeling a kindred spirit with Tommy, she wagged her tail and pricked up her ears...longing to lay in the soft green grass beside him.  Tommy purred and turned onto his back as an invitation.  Ginger gently approached him, and with sniffing noses, companionship was accepted.  They spent a happy hour together...he purring with contentment and Ginger stretched beside him with nose on her forepaws; gentle brown eyes and twitching of tail, now comfortably free of stress, she silently communicated. 

Since that sunny day, the neighbours soon noted that every afternoon, Tommy trotted along sidewalks and grass to reach the park...and coming from another direction was Ginger ~  hustling at almost a gallop to meet his newly found and forever friend. This ...was their tryst!

Wouldn't it be great if humans could do likewise?

Will Joel Friedman, Ph. D.

is a seasoned clinician in private practice in California

in the east San Francisco Bay area.

He specializes in Presence-centered therapy

principally with adults and couples.

He writes the following:

Undoubtedly it is our excesses and not necessarily our deficiencies which help create our ill health and  pain, dissatisfaction and unhappiness.  This results in less  health, pleasure, fulfillment and zesty, juicy living.  When we honestly decide and commit in actions to release and buy out of excesses, our blockages to well being...dissolve like fog  meeting bright sunlight. 

Is being a good animal in taking care of our daily needs as mammals and human beings so difficult?

Bears, deer, rabbits, mice, dogs and cats know how to do this far better than we apparently do.  When shall we humans question this?  It is essential to life...if nothing else is.  What exactly does it take to be a “good animal” for us humans?

In the wild, animals know to eat when they are hungry and eat only foods that are good for them, and show little if any interest in foods not good for them.  An animal would no longer eat according to what the clock says, advertisements sell or because other animals want them so then they would dance the waltz. In the wild, animals know to not eat more or carry any more weight than what best serves them for meeting their bodily needs and self-preservation.  To do otherwise, would risk their survival, which they simply will not do.

Animals drink plenty of water to stay well hydrated.  This aids their  digestion functioning normally, the cleaning of toxins and general well being. Animals know to get plenty of exercise and healthy physical activity in daily survival and living. It's critical to their survival, breeding and staying well.  Animals know to answer the call of nature.  When they've got to go, they go wherever they may be so long as they won't get eaten.  No if's, and's, but's, maybe's or perhaps about it.

Animals know better than to do their business upstream from where they drink.  Animals aren't stupid.  Most animals travel in social groups for protection, procreation,  social support, intimacy and companionship. Mating is often for life with great care given the raising, nurturance and safety of their  young.  Animals know to keep their nest and environment naturally clean, replenished and in good order.  Animals know better than to fowl where they live.  They would no longer get in-between another animal and its young, or a hungry animal and its food...than go to the moon.

Animals know to rest when they are tired, sleep when their body informs them to get their sleep and pace themselves well.  Animals listen and decode the messages from their body and would no longer fight their body by denying themselves sleep and over-doing or under-doing than they would defy nature itself.  Animals know to appropriately plan for leaner times.  Animals regularly store up food  supplies in anticipation of a cold winter with meager food available.  Animals have instinct which demands it be done.

Animals know to detect danger, leave immediately and use any means necessary to protect themselves and their young.  Animals know better than to be around other animals that are their natural predators or to be in environments they simply do not belong.  Animals in the wild know how to “live in the present” and in fact, seem incapable of living in any other way!  Most animals know all this...and more  driven by instinct. 

As humans can over-ride instincts by using their ego-minds,

how can we be as wise as beasts?

(Anonymous)

My Dog’s Secret

My dog sleeps about 20 hours a day.  He has his food prepared for him.  He can eat whenever he wants.  His meals are  provided at no cost to him.  He visits the Doctor once a year for his check-up, and again during the year if any medical needs arise. For this, he pays nothing…and nothing is required of him.

He lives in a nice neighbourhood in a house that is much larger than he needs, but he is not required to do any upkeep.  He makes no contribution to the running or maintenance of the house.  If he makes a mess, someone else cleans it up.

He has the choice of luxurious places  to sleep.  He receives these accommodations  absolutely free.  He is living like a King, and has absolutely no expenses whatsoever.  All of his costs are picked up by others who go out, work hard and earn a living every day.

I was just thinking about all this…and suddenly it hit me like a brick in the head!

I think my dog might be a Canadian Senator!

Isn’t it the truth???  Just picture him…living in the lap of luxury!

(Author Unknown)

“Pearl of Wisdom”

My goal in life is to be as good a person

as my dog already thinks I am.

(Author Unknown)

Crafted by Merle Baird-Kerr … May 24, 2013

Comments Welcome...scroll down...may sign in as “anonymous”

or e-mail...inezkate@gmail.com

Intelligence of Animals and Birds

Garfield's Explanation of the Oil Crisis

In a colour cartoon of Garfield in his cat slippers, night shirt and night cap...holding a cup of hot coffee...he states:  A lot of folks can't understand how  we came to have an oil shortage in Canada. Well, the answer is very simple!

          Nobody bothers to “check the oil.”

          We just didn't know we were getting low.

          The reason for this is purely geographical...

          our oil is located in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Manitoba,

          coastal New Brunswick and coastal Newfoundland.

          Our dipsticks are located in Ottawa.

          Any questions?  No?  Didn't think so!

How to Wash the Cat (instructions by the Dog)

                                                             Thoroughly clean the toilet.

          Add the required amount of shampoo to the toilet water and have

          both lids lifted.

          Obtain the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom.

          In one smooth  movement, put the cat in the toilet and close both lids

          (you may need to stand on the lid so that he cannot escape).

          CAUTION:  Do not get any part of your body too close to the edge,

          as his paws will be reaching out for any purchase he can find.

          Flush the toilet three or four times.  This provides a “power wash and

          rinse” which I have found to be quite effective.

          Have someone open the door to the outside and ensure that there are

          no people between the toilet and the outside door.

          Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift both lids.

          The now-clean-cat will rocket out of the toilet, and run outside

          where he will dry himself.

And the dog... Prince,

rolls over hilariously on the floor!

The Crow, Rabbit and Fox

A crow was sitting on a tree, doing nothing all day.  A small rabbit saw the crowand asked him, “Can I also sit like you and do nothing all day long?” The crow answered, “Sure...why  not?”

So the rabbit  sat on the ground below the crow and rested.

All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

MORAL of the story:  To be sitting and doing nothing,

you must be sitting...very, very high up!

God and the Dog

(Thanks to Sherrie for forwarding to me)

When God had made the earth and sky,

The flowers and the trees,

He then made all the animals,

The fish, the birds and bees.

And when at last he finished ,

Not one was quite the same.

God said, “I’ll walk this earth of mine

And give each one a name.”

And so He travelled far and wide

And everywhere he went,

A little creature followed him

Until its strength was spent.

When all were named upon the earth,

And in the sky and sea,

The little creature said, “Dear Lord,

“There’s not one left for me”.

“I’ve left you to the end.

I’ve turned my own name back to front…

And call you DOG, my friend.”

(Author Unknown)

“Pearl of Wisdom”

Don't think there are  no crocodiles

because the water is calm!

(Unknown author)

Of Interest:

Be sure to read next posted article ~

What We Can Learn from Animals!

Merle Baird-Kerr...written February 3, 2013

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Motivations & Smiles for July

(gleaned from my collection of “yearly calendar quotes”)

If you don't know where you are going,

any road will get you there.

(Lewis Carroll)

Curiosity: The first and simplest emotion which we discover in the human mind

                  is curiosity.  (Edmund Burke)

Perception:  We can't help getting older...but you don't have to get old.

                     (George Burns)

Friendship:  Choose your friends for their character and cherish the memories.

                      (Anonymous)

Appreciation:  Appreciate the differences in others.  (Denis E. Waitley)

Obstacles are those frightful things that you see...when you take your eyes

                 off the goals.  (C. W. Ceran)

Don't wait for your Ship to come in...Swim out to it.  (Winston Churchill)

He who does not hope to Win...has already Lost.  (Jose Joaquin Almado)

There is no time for ease and comfort.  It is the time to Dare and Endure.

(Winston Churchill).

From Marie's 2013 Motivation Calendar with Invitation to Action:

Envision a weightlifter in great athletic form and with exertion of strength

gripping and raising the barbell...above his head.

Exert:  Success depends on a very long measure upon

individual initiative and exertion. (Anna Parloval)

Special Event Days

July 1: Canada Day*  ~ a celebration of Canada's Birthday July 1, 1867.  Local activities are held in many cities and municipalities.

July 4:  Independence Day (USA) is a federal holiday celebrating the Declaration of Independence ~ July 4, 1776.

July 9:  Nunavut Day, annually commemorates the passing of two Nunavut Acts on July 9, 1993.

Nunavut officially split from the Northwest Territories becoming a Canadian Territory, April 1, 1999.

June 20:  Canada's Parks Day is a national event, showcasing parks and historic sites in every province (10) and in every territory (3) in Canada.

June 22:  Full Moon (for all you romantics!).

Did You Know?

Cutting grass too short can cause damage to your lawn.  Keeping grass 7 to 10 centimetres high will  help it resist drought and compete with other plants.  For best results, water your lawn once a week in the morning to prevent evaporation or fungus.

This month, shorebirds called Red Knots, will begin their annual migration to southern Argentina

Canadian Bird of the Month

The Ruby Throated Hummingbird is the most widely distributed hummingbird in Canada.

These birds are very small, only about 7 to 9 centimetres long.  Despite their size, they are capable of amazing annual migration that includes crossing an 800-km expanse of the Gulf of Mexico.

*Canada’s National Anthem

O Canada was proclaimed our national anthem on July 1, 1980

(100 years after it was first sung on June 24, 1880).

The music was composed by Calixa Lavalle (a well known composer).

French lyrics to accompany the music were written by Sir Adolf –Basile Rathier.

The official English lyrics were written in 1908 by Mr. Justice Robert Weir.

The second verse of O Canada is very descriptive of our homeland

…which is seldom sung:

O Canada!  Where pines and maples grow.

Great prairies spread and lordly rivers glow.

How dear to us, thy broad domain

from East to Western sea.

Thou land of hope for all who toil ~

Thou ‘True North’, strong and free.

Chorus:  God keep our land glorious and free.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

“Our Dreams for this beautiful country will never die!”

(Pierre Trudeau ~ Prime Minister of Canada ~ 1968 to 1984)

Merle Baird-Kerr…crafted July 1, 2013

Comments appreciated…scroll down...may sign in as “anonymous”

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Mysteries of Man (and Woman)

A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.

A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she does not need.

A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.

A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

A successful man is one who makes more money that his wife can spend.

A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

To be happy with a man, you must understand him a lot and love him a little.

To be happy with a woman, you must love her a lot and not try to understand
her at all.

Married men live longer than single men, but married men are a lot more willing
to die. Any married man should forget his mistakes; there's no use in two people
remembering the same thing.

Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.

Women somehow deteriorate during the night.

A woman marries a man expecting he will change ... but he doesn't.

A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change ... and she does.

A woman has the last word in any argument.

Anything a man says after that, is the beginning of a new argument.

There are two times when a man doesn't understand a woman ...

before marriage and after marriage.

Barbecue Protocol

We are about to enter the BBQ season. Therefore it is important to refresh your memory etiquette of this sublime outdoor cooking activity. When a man volunteers to do the BBQ, the following chain of events are put into motion:

The woman buys the food.

The woman makes the salad, prepares the vegetables and makes the dessert.

The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, then takes it to the man who is lounging beside the grill ~ beer in hand.

The woman remains outside the compulsory three meter exclusion zone where the exuberance of testosterone and other manly bonding activities can take place without the interference of the woman.

HERE COMES THE IMPORTANT PART:

The man places the meat on the grill...then more routine he exhibits!

The woman goes inside to organize the plates and cutlery.

The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is looking great. He thanks her and asks if she

will bring another beer while he flips the meat.

IMPORTANT AGAIN:

The man takes the meat off the grill and hands it to the woman...then more routine.

The woman prepares the plates, salad, bread, utensils, napkins, sauces and bring them to the table.

After eating, the woman clears the table and does all the dishes.

EVERYONE PRAISES the MAN and THANKS HIM for his cooking efforts.

The man asks the woman how she enjoyed “her night off”.

.. and upon seeing her annoyed reaction,

concludes that there's just no pleasing some women!

(Graciously I thank Tom for the foregoing experience)

Here is a poem written by an African Shakespeare:

                                                Dear White Fella:

                                                Couple things u should know ~

                                                When i born, i black

                                                when i grew up, i black

                                                when i go in sun, I black

                                                when i cold, i black

                                                when i scared, i black

                                                when i sick, i black

                                                & when i die, i black

                                                u white fella

                                               When u born, u pink

                                                when u grow up, u white

                                                when u go in sun, u red

                                                when u cold, u blue

                                                when u scared, u yellow

                                                when u sick, u green

                                                & when u die, u grey

                                                & you have the cheek to call me “coloured”!

Merle Baird-Kerr . . . November 23, 2011

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Fate and Destiny

FATE:  the inescapable future, destiny.

DESTINY:  the seeming inevitable course of events.

Wondrous happenings have occurred in our lives: often we have been in the right place at the right time to meet someone very special...to take advantage of a rare opportunity leading to success in selecting the courses at college/university leading to a vocation exemplifying our inborn and learned skills.

However, Life is not always Happiness, Peace and Success.  Consider recent headlines in current events:  Terror in Boston...Bombing Suspect Conscious...Via Rail Terror Plot Suspects in Court.

Recent writings have told you that my son is on assignment, working as a Technical Analyst in New York City.  A few weeks ago I published some impressions he had of this great city.  The following I received from him on Monday, April 1, 2013 and with his permission, I forward his observations.

Today I Will Visit the 9/11 Memorial

As you know, they have a national memorial on the original site of the twin towers.  The actual footprints of the original towers remain and are transformed into a permanent memorial for the 3,000 plus victims, including those aboard the planes themselves.

While admission itself is free, it is a construction site and they can't have it overwhelmed with visitors.  So limited numbers are given out as passes at half-hour intervals.  (And of course, they charge you money for this free pass.)

Nevertheless, I'm not likely to get a better, more convenient opportunity to see the memorial up close and in-person, so I should go while I have the chance.  I ordered a pass for 5:30 today.  And I shall make the arduous two-minute walk over to the site after work on this fine, beautiful day. I do not have a camera with me, but there's nothing in particular I want to photograph;  it is very easy and cheap to visit again.  It has become the “must-see” on a visit to New York City.

(As a side-note, Anthony Perkins' wife was on AA flight 11 and perished on 9/11.  Perkins himself died from AIDS several years ago.)

The entrance is on the south side.  I left my stuff at the office and just walked over, since you can't even carry a pocket knife in there.  They check your pass in three places and you  have to take off  your coat to put that and any bag/purse through the airport style X-ray conveyer and then walk through a detector doorway.

Walking around the site from outside, it seems hard to believe the park-like setting is actually in there.  They've taken the actual footprints of the original towers and turned them into gigantic fountains.  Name plates are around the top, under which is a shallow pool of water around the perimeter.  It plunges twenty-six feet into the pool.  Then in the center of the pool there is another square plunge, for which you cannot see the bottom.

There was a pear tree on the original site, which survived the disaster, albeit damaged.  The NYC Dept.  of Parks “rescued” this poor little tree and nursed it back to health in another location; and in 2010, transplanted it back at the memorial site, where it lives today.  This tree they call...the Survivor Tree.”

The names on the plates around the perimeter are categorized as to where they died, such as Flight 11 or Flight 175 or Flight 93 or Pentagon or World Trade Center as well as several local emergency squads.  While I did not know any of the names, it gets a little emotional when you think about what they represent.

Some years ago, I heard a certain visiting Pastor speak at a church; he spoke of a time he was flying for a meeting at a personally inconvenient time.  He introduced himself to the lady he was seated next to, who introduced herself as a head stewardess, who was only travelling...and not working.  She told a remarkable story that some years later, her daughter had called and would be in town to see her on a certain Tuesday.  But she was booked to fly that day.  So she asked some others who were free if they could fly that day instead.  None were available, until one girl named Cece volunteered.  So she happily changed the schedule and Cece worked Flight 175 in her place. 

Imagine how this lady felt when that flight crashed into the south tower!  “That was my flight,” she exclaimed to the Pastor.  “I should have been on that flight. Some people believe in 'fate', but I don't anymore.  Cece was a Christian and had invited me to her church a few times, but I never went.  She didn't know the plane was going to crash.  I've been tormented with this since 9/11.  I feel like God took one of his own to die in my place, so that I could have a second chance!  That has been so hard for me to live with.” It's not every day that a Pastor hears a story like that.

I had seen Cece's name on the list as a flight attendant, but I couldn't remember the flight when I was there to actually find her name on the memorial.  That was the only name I really knew about.

William Jennings Bryan ~ 41^st United States Secretary of State spoke

“Destiny is not a matter of change.  It is a matter of choice.

It is not a thing to be waited for. It is a thing to be achieved.”

Crafted by Merle Baird-Kerr...April 25, 2013

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"Behind Walls"

Cities Behind  Walls

For thousands of years, humans have been defending their cities by building large walls around them. Over time, the cities spill over the walls ~ but sometimes they remain “hemmed in”!  Research shows there are hundreds and hundreds of these throughout our domain where walls are still evident today ~

many built in ancient times.

12 Impressive Walled Cities in the World

YORK, England:  Founded by the Romans, taken over by the Anglos, captured by
the Vikings and finally incorporated by the Kingdom of England in 954.

HARAR is ancient walled city in eastern Ethiopia.  It is still intact, becoming the symbol of the city.

TAROUDANT has the best preserved walls in Morocco and often called “Grandmother of Marrakech”.

TOLEDO, Spain:  An often overlooked gem, it was capital of the Spanish Empire until mid 1500's.

PINGYAO, China is the best preserved walled city in the world.  
 It has 72 watch towers and 6 majestic gates in which to enter.

OBIDOS, Portugal: The castle and walls of the village were remodelled in the 18^th century.

XIAN, China has a history of more than 3100 years.

ITCHAN  KALA, Uzbekistan, built of sun dried brick walls has 4 gates each side of the fortress.

AVILA, Spain...a medieval city built on the flat summit of a rocky hill.

CARCASSONNE, France is the largest walled city in Europe.

JERUSALEM, Israel is a holy city to 3 religions ! Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

DUBROVNIK, Croatia is nicknamed “Pearl of the Adriatic.”

Other Significant Walls

The Walls of Jericho:  (according to the Biblical narrative)

The first battle of the Israelites during the conquest of Canaan was the “felling of the city's walls” after Joshua's army marched around the city blowing their trumpets.(158 Bible verses can be referenced.)

The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications made up of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood and other materials ~ across the historical northern borders to protect the Chinese empire against intrusion by various warlike peoples or forces.  It measures approximately 5,500 miles

The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the East German government  in August 1961 to prevent its citizens from fleeing to the West.  For 28 years, the Berlin Wall was the symbolic boundary between Democracy and Communism during the Cold War.

Quebec City, Canada:  Its “Old City” ramparts are the only fortified city walls in the Americas, north of Mexico that still exist.  This city, along the St. Lawrence River, is a tourist attraction to view both its quaintness of the old…and the modern of its expanded population.

Animals Behind Walls

Mice...are often heard scratching in walls and ceilings of private homes.

Opossums, Raccoons and Squirrels frequently invade attics for nesting.

Roof Rats are common in Florida.

Snakes often winter below ground near dwelling basement walls, as told me by a Burlington friend who with fright told me that a couple had slipped through a window into a cosy warm room. WOW!

Humans have an insatiable fascination with wild animals.  Every year, millions of people travel safaris and visit zoo enclosures to see them.  Nearby in Rockton is The African Lion Safari a truly magnificent place for families to view tall giraffes, kingly lions, playful monkeys, etc...living in spacious almost-natural-habitats. Also consider the many people who cage canaries, parakeets, parrots…even gerbils.

People Live “Behind Various Types of Walls”

In some countries, the entire property is high-fenced or surrounded by walls. Overnight, even their cars are brought within the enclosure.  When visiting family in Santiago, Chile a few years ago,  this was “the norm.”  Walls were gardened with ivies, with grape vines and climbing flowers.  Each home seemed protected…as a castle.  The same was true, also in Buenos Aires. Here at home, residences are often now found within “gated communities” or high-rise condominiums.

Sad it is when men, women and often teens are imprisoned or confined  to guarded lifestyles and those who are relegated to spend the remainder of their lives in nursing home facilities or even mental institutions. Behind these walls, their lives are dictated to, are guarded 24 hours daily and given limited opportunities to fill in the gaps where once they had great interest.

Behind the “walls of a home”, how often it is when a family appears to have a great lifestyle!  Parents come and go perhaps with attractive vocations…children have their school activities and recreational interests…a couple cars in the driveway and maybe a boat…and it appears to the neighbours that “this family has it all.”  Yet, behind closed doors,  verbal or emotional abuse, even physical abuse may exist.

During my job days of teaching and sales, I’ve met a few individuals who “hide behind their secrets.”   They live a Life of Pretense!  We really…don’t know them! 

                          They fear showing their true identity.

                          They will falsify facts to make themselves feel important.

                          They may have fallen “into a dark valley” due to past circumstances.

                          They long to have achieved  much more in life.

                          They may feel insecure and lacking confidence.

                          They may feel threatened by an impending illness.

                          They may feel rejected by friends and society.

Consequently, they put up fences and “build walls around themselves.” Therefore, others cannot invade or penetrate their secrets. Of course, one can always do as Shirley Valentine did in movie of the same name ~ Talk to the Wall!

Yet, Walls Can Be Broken Down!

 Primarily, one must recognize the “need for help!”

                                          Seek someone in whom you can confide.

                                          Step “outside the box” and “go beyond  your borders.”

                                          Develop a “positive attitude.”

                                          Adopt new policies to live by.

                                          Learn new skills through knowledge and experience.

                                          Attend group meetings and create new friendships.

                                          Become involved in projects.

                                          Go beyond the “normal call of duty!”

                                          Become a Better You…Happiness will reign!

                         Joseph Campbell wrote:  Follow your bliss ~ and the Universe 
                               will open doors for you, where  there were only walls.

.

Words of Wisdom

I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

(Maya Angelou)

It’s not the mistakes that matter…it’s how you recover from them.

(from Barbara Freethy’s novel ~ Garden of Secrets)

Merle Baird-Kerr…crafted May 5, 2013

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