Tell Me Who Do You Love?

April 9, 2013 Jonathan Hilton Leave a comment

Who do you love and what are you doing about it?

by Jonathan Hilton

Love is a difficult topic to discuss because there are so many parts inside of us that can be exposed through this discussion, that it is easier to brush it off and make a joke of it, to distract from the fact that love is a huge part of being human and being happy on the face of the earth.

This straight forward question is kind of fascinating because it forces you to declare where the love in your life lies. I realize that there are many different kinds of love we experience during the course of a life. Love brings with it a wide variety of experiences from the fantastic to the horrible and it can all come from the same relationships.

I Love Everybody

Everyone in existence loves someone. There is no way that you can’t. It might be unrequited love, or unfortunate love or bad love but we all love someone.

With that premise in mind I answer that I have a feeling of love inside for everybody. How can that be? Easy, because I believe that we are all connected and although our physical experience is different, there is a similarity that we all share. Therefore to hate someone else is to hate myself.

There were many times when I looked at people with a much harsher eye. I judged people with a cool and unemotional dislike, not liking those who were not doing what, in my mind they should have been doing.

It is easy to judge others because it diverts the attention away from yourself. Most things that you find annoying or as shortcomings in others are the weaknesses you generally recognize in yourself.

I know that every person is living their life the best they can. I can’t judge their personal decisions because I have not experienced the pain or joy that has influenced them. All that I can do is to be accepting of people just for what they are because inside of them is a person who is very similar to me.

Even if they are mean, uncaring or cruel to me or others, I do not let their bad behavior and poor choices dictate how I am going to think or feel. I forgive them, that is all there is to do. I would rather that then carry hate or resentment in my heart. Hate is a virus and will destroy your soul and make life quite joyless. I have carried that load enough.

But You Gotta Love You

Of all the people you spend time with in your life, you have to be the most important. It is difficult for many people to consider that they love themselves, let alone to tell the world that they do.

For many years I can say that I never forgave myself for the smallest of mistakes. I didn’t love myself, in fact I didn’t like much of what I felt or thought. Yet in the end it is true that you can’t give love to someone else unless you first feel it for yourself.

I believe that each of us has a gift inside that makes us special. When we were young we felt it and had hope for the day it would come to light. Yet for me as for others, life pushed that gift aside and made us forget what we had. Replaced by a chorus of “you should”, “You Could have” , “You must”, “If only you would have.”

None of these regrets push you closer to your true self, in fact they push that truth deeper inside and make it harder to find.

I am not sure if or when I will ever find that light that existed in me, but I remember that it did at one time and I am searching for it feverishly because I know that it is fantastic. The possessor of such a gift must be worthy of love no matter who it is, and therefore the first love I feel must be for myself.

What Am I doing About It

Well anyone who has been reading my writings or talking to me in person will know that I am trying to live in a way that is representative of the best of me. I know that I have fallen short in many ways in my life and without the help of others I never would have been able to start this journey. I never would have known what to look for. So I follow the path that is laid out in front of me. One day at a time and experience what is placed in front of me. I accept others for what they are and try to accept myself the same way. Love is the most powerful emotion in the world and all good things are an offshoot of this emotion. I am doing the best I can to follow the feeling of love.

Who do you love and what are you doing about it?

George Thorogood Wants to know too! Listen Below

Interests

Jefferson Writing Project Success

March 15, 2013 Jonathan Hilton Leave a comment

by Jon Hilton

This is what I looked like at Jefferson Village School, circa 1980.

It was a few short weeks ago that MY COHORT and I embarked on the Jefferson Writing Project. We didn’t know where the winds would blow our thoughts but we knew that each day they would be published on our blogs.

My friend’s name is Hope and we talked at the beginning of February and she wanted to do more writing but had some writing blocks and motivational issues. I suggested a mutual writing project. She agreed and we made up some simple rules. I am not a big rules guy because who needs limits on our creativity.

I would make up writing prompts and we each would do a post that day involving the prompt. It was supposed to last for thirty days, but went a bit longer.

I went back and looked over our Facebook messages and it started on the 9th of February and ended today. Hope doesn’t like to write on Sunday! (I can blame her, but I like Sunday off too. 🙂

The only known photo of me playing ball at JVS. Thank God. We were styling!

Coming up with the prompts was not as easy as I thought in the beginning. I know Hope so I wanted to get some good easy to write about things. Then as I got going I would just make them up in three seconds.

Or if I was cheating, I would start a post on something and use that for the prompt, or make the prompt something I wanted to write about anyway. In fact what I found, no matter what the prompt was I just wrote whatever I wanted to anyway.

I found that I learned a lot just from reading Hope’s posts, when she was fired up she would get them done way before me. I found I could read and enjoy her thoughts and not let them affect what I was writing.

After about twenty writing assignments or so, we switched it up and Hope was responsible for the prompt. That was more fun because then I could bug her to tell me what it is, rather than the other way around. I still just wrote whatever I wanted to and included the prompt in some way. Other times the prompt was the story.

It was fun to have someone else “checking up” on your work and at first the only other person who knew why you were writing about the things you were.

It is just enough motivation to get you to give a little extra effort to make sure you got your post out that day. But most importantly it was fun. Hope is a bit different, (in a good way), I know her personally and used to coach her in basketball. That was awhile ago but I enjoy seeing the young lady she has grown to become.

So I encourage anyone who is hitting a snag in their creativity or motivation to partner up or even group up and start a writing project. It was a fun way to keep things interesting and to work on being creative.

It is called the Jefferson Writing Project because, Hope and I both lived in the town of Jefferson, Maine when we were growing up, and we both graduated from Jefferson Village School, and know that Jefferson is small, has a beach, and a cattle pound. I do not know what the cattle pound is for, but it exists. She likes to take pictures there. Thanks Hope for all the fun. I will always be reading and commenting on your blog because that is how I roll.

Jefferson Writing Challenge

Articles

My Mindless Entertainments

March 6, 2013 Jonathan Hilton Leave a comment

by Jonathan Hilton
There are a lot of things about myself that I look at and have to wonder about. I really want to learn a lot. I was writing to someone today that I want to learn as much as I possibly can. And for the most part I am pretty focused on figuring out how we humans work and what to do to be happier about life.

Yet there are moments I look at the things I find interesting and I am in shock at the simplicity of many of them. I guess every mind needs some rest and simple entertainment. I am going to sit back with a coffee with an espresso shot and reveal several of my favorite television shows.

The Family Guy

This one took me by surprise because I really wanted to hate it. A stupid cartoon, about a family, a talking dog and a talking baby? Boring. Yet I couldn’t take my eyes of the mess. Seth MacFarland is clearly a comic genius and I think that the edgy topics and low brow humor appeal to something in me. I can’t help but laugh out loud when I watch sometimes. I think the best thing that I can say is that Peter Griffin often says things that many men think but would never say. You can judge me harshly for this one and I will take your judgement to Spooner street and tell Stewie all about it. This show is funny. Everyone needs to laugh.

Music and lyrics by Stewie Griffin

I am a Psych-O

That doesn’t mean that I am a danger to society. Well no more than anyone else but it does mean that I am a major fan of Psych. This is the make believe world of psychic detective Shawn Spencer and his lifelong friend Burton Guster. Who help the Santa Barbara Police solve crimes. I started watching on Netflix and I couldn’t stop streaming until I had seen all available episodes. This is another one that just makes me laugh with the silly behavior and the stupid jokes. Love it. I want to ride around in the blueberry and solve crimes. Not a lot of thought behind these but a lot of heart and laughter!

Hi my name is Shawn Spencer and this is my partner…………….Click here.

Scrubs

This is a show that is no longer with us, yet it is definitely still running on my dvd player!! I am not afraid to say, (perhaps I should), that I not only know most of the episodes but can quote them word for word. Can’t help it, watching the adventures of Doctor John Dorian and his best friend Turk, and all of their hospital cast is one of my favorites. It was a sad day when it finally made its last house call. I love the fact that the show went all over the place, funny, serious, threatening, I mean who hasn’t been tormented by the janitor, or had a supervisor who was a total jerk like Dr. Cox? I love this and there is just nothing I can do about it. Even though I know all of the jokes are coming and what is going to happen, I still laugh. I need help.

Some clip show from a bad sitcom too lame to come up with a fresh story

The Big Bang Theory

I have used this one before yet it is true. I often wonder how a show about super smart people can be classified as low brow humor? Yet here we are. Watching Sheldon Cooper go through life is relatable to many including myself in this way. We have all been in situations that we know we don’t quite get what is going on. Didn’t get the joke, missed out on the good time, was busy playing video games. That is Sheldon Cooper’s life! It makes me laugh out loud as the previous two shows do as well.

Big Bang Flash Mob

The Mentalist

I am fascinated with this show, because it should suck, yet it doesn’t. Some people say that it is the intelligent version of Psych, yet I think that is a disservice to them both. The mentalist is a cop show where the police in some I believe fictitious unit from the CBI, (I refuse to do research less it add validity to this post.) Uses a psychic to solve crimes. I have been a huge Simon Baker fan since he was on a show called the Guardian. Which I also liked. These cases always end up solved yet he can never catch this Red John character who murdered his wife and daughter. I find this a little baffling. He is so smart in arresting everyone else yet this super criminal can roam the streets committing horrific murder after horrific murder? Seems strange. But I like the characters and the back storylines are usually interesting.

Can’t Catch Red John

Bones

I could watch the Bones series from morning until night and never get bored. It has wit, great cast, good story lines and I guess I don’t even really have to feel bad about watching it. Until I realize that the Jeffersonian doesn’t really exist, but the story is based on real life so that has to be pretty good. They have had some great plot twists over the years and that has kept the show developing. Each episode a new murder, Bones father shows up, bones is pregnant, Seely Booth is the father? What the heck just happened? For Fox this is a pretty cerebral offering. Thank you Fox. I am probably the only person who has ever typed that sentence.

Bones and Booth Sing

The Waltons

OK now I am dating myself here, but when I was a kid my parents used to make us watch the Waltons because it was about values. I thought it was dumb, but a funny thing happened in adulthood. I started to watch this show again. It was by accident at first, passing it on a channel surf, stopping and realizing I was really worried if John Boy’s book would ever be published. I also realized that I really didn’t remember anything about the show. John Ritter was on it for years and he wasn’t even funny. When Richard Thomas left the show, I lost interest, but you have to hand it to those Waltons. No depression or World War could ever keep them down. They also ended every show by saying goodnight throughout the house. I wish I had a nickel for every time I endured the good night John Boy line from someone. Anyway, I like this show and if you don’t then stay away from Godsey’s store and there will be absolutely non of the recipe for you! Click to visit Walton’s Mountain.

I could go on and on but this will have to do because I am out of writing time for today. I like these shows and I just can’t help myself. We all have things about us that we can’t understand about ourselves that make us totally unique and totally us. I think that is is weird that I like the Family Guy and the Waltons. Makes you think.

What are the shows you can’t believe you like?

Interests

Jefferson Writing Challenge

March 2, 2013 Jonathan Hilton Leave a comment

by Jonathan Hilton

It has long been one of my long standing beliefs that people come into your life for a reason and you merely need to allow things to play out to find out why. Sometimes they come in to stay for awhile, and some times they just pop in teach you something and then disappear on down the line.

I have been doing a super secret writing project with Hope Rose of Hope is Something You Can’t Live Without, well at least it is super, not really all that secret. I wanted to take a moment and evaluate our progress. She wanted to write and needed a little push, and I always like projects. So I devised the rules which looking at I have broken all the time, but I never liked rules anyway.

Rules of The Project

Hope writes like a dancing machine. Cheap use of the prompt but a use none the less.

I will provide you with a prompt each day.
You will have a reasonable time to post something,using any creative medium you want, along with your writing. You can take pictures, you can draw pictures, you can paint pictures, you make macaroni pictures, or you can take them from Google, videos from youtube, whatever expresses what you feel inside. I will also complete the assignment. The commitment is for 30 days, that means until March 9.

But there must be writing that answers the prompt.

So we started this journey of very few rules and no real idea of what would come out of it. I am not sure if I expected to write like I was some sort of dancing machine or what, but it has been interesting. I have enjoyed it and I hope that Hope has as well. There are still ten days left as far as I can tell because we missed a few and I see more writing on hope’s blog then there were prompts. But I may be mistaken which one goes with which.

So here are the prompts so far and links to our answers:

#1: A Snow Day

Hope’s

Jon’s

#2 At This very Moment

Hope’s

Jon’s

#3 Beginnings

Hope’s

Jon’s

#4 Vanentine’s Day

Hope’s

Jon’s

#5 Life isn’t Fair or Life is Fair

http://hopeisastateofmind.com/2013/02/14/my-fair-life/

http://www.jonathanhilton.com/inspiration/life-is-fair-get-used-to-it/

6. I looked Into the Fire

http://hopeisastateofmind.com/2013/02/16/girl-on-fire/

http://www.jonathanhilton.com/inspiration/i-looked-into-the-fire/

7. Guilty Pleasures

http://hopeisastateofmind.com/2013/02/16/guilty-pleasures/

http://www.jonathanhilton.com/articles-and-stories/secrets-from-the-vault/

8. I should have Listened to My Heart

http://hopeisastateofmind.com/2013/02/18/she-taught-me/

http://www.jonathanhilton.com/inspiration/go-ahead-choose-destiny/

9. What If?

http://hopeisastateofmind.com/2013/02/19/itll-make-you-crazy/

http://www.jonathanhilton.com/articles-and-stories/what-if/

10. Looks Like Trouble

http://hopeisastateofmind.com/2013/02/20/771/ – looking for trouble

http://www.jonathanhilton.com/articles-and-stories/looks-like-trouble-tagged/

11. What is In the Box?

http://hopeisastateofmind.com/2013/02/21/gifting/

http://www.jonathanhilton.com/interests/what-is-in-the-box/

12. The Monkey

http://hopeisastateofmind.com/2013/02/22/thats-clutch/

http://www.jonathanhilton.com/philosophy/like-monkeys-building-walls/

13. Why Doesn’t anybody Listen?

http://hopeisastateofmind.com/2013/02/22/i-told-you-so/

http://www.jonathanhilton.com/interests/why-doesnt-anybody-listen/

14. Postitive Thinking

http://hopeisastateofmind.com/2013/02/25/super-power/

http://www.jonathanhilton.com/interests/my-next-step/

15. French Fries and A Chocolate Shake

http://hopeisastateofmind.com/2013/02/25/of-couse-i-want-fries-with-that/

http://www.jonathanhilton.com/articles-and-stories/french-fries-and-a-chocolate-shake/

16. I was so Frustrated

http://hopeisastateofmind.com/2013/02/25/train-of-thought/

http://www.jonathanhilton.com/inspiration/dont-believe-in-luck/

17. Night and Day

http://hopeisastateofmind.com/2013/02/26/night-and-day/

http://www.jonathanhilton.com/inspiration/motivation/feeling-groovy/

18. Above and Beyond

http://hopeisastateofmind.com/2013/02/28/grovers-bad-awful-day/

I don’t know what happened to this one???????

19. Space

http://hopeisastateofmind.com/2013/02/28/space-junk/

http://www.jonathanhilton.com/articles-and-stories/why-do-you-create/

20. Dancing Machine

http://hopeisastateofmind.com/2013/03/01/the-color-of-dance/

For Your Listening Pleasure: Dancing Machine- Jackson Five

Poetry

The Journey Dark and Light

March 2, 2013 Jonathan Hilton Leave a comment

by Jonathan Hilton

I was looking for myself,

But what I found was you.

Dark journeys I have traveled alone,

but light was just a momentary thought away.

The negative propagation that overwhelms,

replaced by sunlight and sea breeze laughter.

Much as the winter is killed by the spring,

the reality of missing pieces, stands out brightly.

Incomplet and utter dark night,

combined with twin bright flashes of starlight.

Twisting me ever forward, toward light perfection,

resistance is gone, I am resigned to the fate.

Walk, run, crawl, faster, quicker,

don’t miss another second of the twist of life.

It is not a completely forever conversation,

life is a combination of pain and love.

It will be over before you ever realize,

grasp a hold of it and ride, as if you had a choice.

This song was the theme to Friday Night Lights but it is called, Your Hand In Mine, sets the mood for this I think.

Articles

French Fries and a Chocolate Shake

February 25, 2013 Jonathan Hilton Leave a comment

by Jonathan Hilton

I can remember that day very clearly. I was sitting at the restaurant with french fries and a chocolate shake on the table in front of me, talking with my grandparents about my upcoming graduation from high school.

The reason I recall this day is not because of anything that was said, it was the feeling I had of becoming an adult and that my grandparents approved of the young man I was turning into and that made me feel good.

How did I know they approved? I suppose I didn’t for sure at that moment, but there are many other forms of communication that can’t be ignored.

His Name Was Leslie

My grandfather’s name was Leslie, I always thought how tough life must have been with

This is Leslie, I love this picture it shows his sense of humor, which I have inherited I think.

that name, but he did not give two shakes what anyone else thought about him. It was one of the things that I was often embarrassed by as a kid and one of the things I remember most fondly today.

Thoughts of Leslie came up today, I was thinking about how do you know if someone you love who has passed away would be proud of you today? Leslie died in 1993 from complications from heart surgery. It was unexpected, it was supposed to be a routine surgery, but there is nothing routine about any procedure as we found out.

I Never said Good bye

People of that generation were serious, they didn't express emotions much, it wasn't a proper thing to do. Leslie was great anyway!! — People of that generation were serious, they didn’t express emotions much, it wasn’t a proper thing to do. Leslie was great anyway!!

I never got a chance to say good-bye in person, and I have no idea how he really felt about me then. He was from a generation that didn’t talk about their emotions very much. You just had to kind of figure it out. There were signs, but you had to look to see them.

Wondering now as I move along in life, I have faced difficult times. I have made mistakes. I have been far from perfect. I accept that, and I wonder often if Leslie and I could sit down and have a conversation today, what would he say?

I would ask, “Grandfather are you proud of me? Knowing all that I have done and been through. I imagine the response goes something like this.

“I have always been proud of you, because you are the only one who can be who you are. You never saw my challenges and the struggles I had with my parents and finding my place in the world. I am not sure how I would have done in your shoes. I do know that where you are now, only you could get there, and I can’t wait to see what is going to happen in the future. I love you.” I don’t remember him ever saying that to me in my life, but in my heart I just know he did. Why else would he do so many fantastic things for me?

Gone but Never Forgotten

That conversation is what I imagine and it affects me almost like it were real and not the whispering of a ghost. In the end I guess it doesn’t matter, because I have to realize that I am a good person, I wouldn’t steal from you for any reason. I won’t lie if I can help it, (how does my hair look? If it looks bad, I don’t want to hurt feelings.) I would try to help anyone who needs it. In fact, when I look at the things like that I realize,

I am just like Leslie, and that makes me realize that even though he is no longer here, he lives inside of me and I owe it to him and all of my family to be the best human being I can be, including being proud of who I am and what I have become.

That is why I have no choice, when I eat an order of fries and a chocolate shake but to remember Leslie. I smile and feel happy for who I am.

Interests

My Next Step

February 24, 2013 Jonathan Hilton Leave a comment

by Jonathan Hilton

One of my favorite people in the blogisphere is my friend Raimy-D(creative-guru.com). She spends her time dreaming up stuff for me and others to try to experience. I am two activities behind but I am making an effort to do this one in real-time and let the chips fall where they will. I will take a lot of positive thinking to get this done.

Automatic Writing Assignment

This activity is called automatic writing and I was intrigued because I had such a good time when I tried her automatic drawing exercise, highlighted by Raimy-D and her expert analysis of my very talented drawings.

It was liberating and fun. So automatic writing, no problem, this should spark some positive thinking.

This is how it is supposed to work

So it should work like this: 1. Think of a question you want to have answered in your life.

start writing without a conscious thought. (easier for some than others)
write until you get tired I guess or until you feel like you are done.

The idea is that the subconscious mind will answer the question that you ask. I have told Raimy-D that I am a little fearful of doing this because what if the answer isn’t something I want to hear? But bravery is the better part of valor here and I am going to do this right now, right here and you can read my ramblings.

The question: What is my next step supposed to be in life? (Play the song at the bottom when you read, it is neat.)

There were twelve swans that went to a local pond to take a swim. The water was warm but the swans didn’t know about the secret underneath the water. There were worlds that they had never seen. one at a time the swans would dive for food and while under the water they saw what was there and went to investigate each finding their own world to explore for awhile. Until there was only one swan left and he looked around and realized that he was all alone. He called for help, but no one came. He wanted to fly away but also couldn’t leave his companions without knowing their fate. He had never seen anything but food on his dives so he was unaware of the mysteries below the water. Finally he dove deep and saw out of the corner of his eye a light that he couldn’t resist. He swam as hard a he could toward the light and with all of his effort he made it and emerged into a totally new world. It was colorful, and full of beautiful trees, sparkling lakes it had a lot of green grass to walk on and beautiful puffy white clouds that the swan couldn’t wait to fly into. There was no reason he could think of that this place existed but here it was he could touch it with his feet and taste it with his tongue. It seemed real to him and in the end I guess that is all that mattered.

So there you go I am not going to read this until after Raimy-D looks at it and tells me what she thinks. The answer will be in the comments. Feel free to contribute your own interpretation of the story I am open to any and all guidance in this endeavor. I just want to learn about my next step.

I encourage you to give this a try for yourself and see what happens. I definitely encourage you to read the Creative Guru so that you can try all of this neat stuff as well.

Interests

Chicken or Egg

February 23, 2013 Jonathan Hilton Leave a comment

IMG_20130223_114236 — Egg or Chicken, Chicken or Egg?????????

The Matticus Kingdom’s first ever Tug of War

A fantastically fabulous blogger from a magical kingdom has come up with a great idea to challenge the masses, a tug of war.

Always up for a challenge I accept wholeheartedly. The inaugural question was what came first, the chicken or the egg?

This was a softball to me, because of my rudimentary understanding of biology and evolution. The world has my excellent experience in the public education system of the 1970’s and 80’s to thank for this detailed answer.

The Chicken Wins

There are several arguments I could make. If I believed the religious teachings I heard every Sunday as a youth, God made chickens and chickens make eggs and that is the end of the story. That would make it simple, even if it makes no sense an leaves a “few” gaps.

That answer never satisfied me so I looked to education for my answer. As I understand life it worked something like this.

There was a Big Bang! (just had to get that reference in here)

Just looking at my drawing. The big bang looks like a fried egg, or a pile of pooh. We'll stick with fried egg. :_) — Just looking at my drawing. The big bang looks like a fried egg, or a pile of pooh. We’ll stick with fried egg. :_)

The Earth and the atmosphere formed.

Life started to evolve.

Where it came from, now that is debatable but here we are, not debatable. (at least we think we are here)

Life was made up of single cell organisms who due to environmental influences started to evolve over time to become more proficient at survival.

Many forms of life evolved, why they didn’t just all turn into people or monkeys or dinosaurs, or chickens is a bit unclear to me, but what do you expect from a free education.

Now these single celled organisms multiplied through cell division. Over time cells bonded together to form multicell organisms. Some of these primitive life forms eventually evolved into chickens.

The Chicken may die, yet the eggs live on.

The early chickens found an evolutionary benefit to developing their young in eggs outside of their bodies, so it is clear that the Chicken definitely came first!

Interests

What is in the Box?

February 21, 2013 Jonathan Hilton Leave a comment

by Jonathan Hilton

It had been years since I had ventured into that attic As I climbed the rickety pull down ladder my face was greeted with a musty, dusty smell and the cold air that stabbed my cheeks reminding me of the winter weather outside. As my body became fully engulfed by the cold I tried to make it a quick visit. I was looking for my copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, when something caught my eye.

It was a box. There was nothing about the box that separated it or made it seem that much different from the rest of the boxes in the attic, but the feeling I had was definitely not normal or routine. I picked it up almost subconsciously and maneuvered my way back down to the warmth of the house below with the box still closed in my hands.

There was a Christmas excitement that I was feeling as I started to pull the top of the box open to see what treasure was held inside. I am not sure if the contents glowed but there was a light that emanated from the container as I peeked inside. It could have been real light for all I know or remember because inside were memories that hadn’t been disturbed in years and they were being resurrected today.

The Book

Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel. Beat modernization but became a furnace in the end!

The first thing I pulled out of the box was a book. It was a children’s book and a pretty ordinary one at that, but it brought to life, experiences that occurred long ago.

It was called Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. The contents of the book didn’t matter as much as the words. As I flipped through each page, the voices of those who read those pages to me in my youth came back. Most of them from the grave.

I was awash in nostalgia and even the love a kid feels when someone takes the time to read a story to you. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and even some teachers voices rose from the page.

When I was child the best time of day was just before I went to sleep when my mother or father would read a story to us. It was a ritual that lit my imagination on fire.

I dreamed of castles, monsters and being a hero. Those images crept back into my mind as I remembered my imaginary adventures from long ago. I wondered how many kids today get to experience this now.

The Scrapbook

Phones looked like this. You dialed the numbers. It was slower yet better. Unless you dialed wrong.

Anxiously I moved on, the next item was a scrapbook I had made in junior high of all of the pictures I could find with me in them. As most young people are, I suppose I was a bit self-centered at the time.

It hit me as I remembered teams I had played on or my seventh grade class picture, just how much life had changed. Not one of the kids including me in those pictures had ever heard of a cell phone or a personal computer for that part.

Yet we managed to live our lives, make friends, go places, and have fun anyway. I remembered how awkward it was to call someone’s house (from the phone attached to the wall) and have to talk to their mom to see if they were home.

Each of these pictures made me wonder how kids can manage to

This is Paddleball. Not much too it thank God.

pay attention at all today. They always have an electronic distraction within arm’s length.

I had a hard enough time concentrating when there was only a paddle ball to distract me. If you are not sure what that is, see the image, but the point is I was easily distracted.

I looked at the kid I was and was happy for him that he had never dreamed of Facebook. It was much more fun to talk to girls in person I think.

My Former Friend

It doesn't matter how many people let you down, when a friend does it, it hurts. — The most painful feeling of looking for your friend and seeing only an enemy

The next item was not filled with pleasant memories. It was filled with pain and sadness. It was a homemade award that one of my best friends had given me.

It represented some joke between us. We used to work together and I thought we were very good friends. It struck me that I had not seen nor heard from this person in over five years.

Something in my heart sunk as I thought about the temporary nature of all things in life and particularly the fleeting ideas of friendship. Why weren’t we friends anymore? What had happened?

It all seems so silly now. There was this award, a joke shared long ago that now only echos in hollow silence. They say that everything happens for a reason and some day perhaps I will understand the reason friendship ends, but it won’t be today.

The Game Changer

I was out of time and had to run, but I reached in the box one more time and this time I came out with a total shock. My collectors edition of thoughts by William George Jordan! The book I think is only significant to me as my reading of it changed my life from one of a taker to one of a giver.

Reading opened doors in my mind I never knew were there.

That book was the gateway for me into a world of wonder and wisdom. It planted the seed of an idea, that every thought you form affected your experience in life was a concept that I had never conceived of, much less ever heard of before.

I recalled how as one book turned into another that philosophies started to make sense in my mind. I remember not only feeling more positive about life but more hopeful about the fate of the world.

There were greater powers available to mankind than simply watching tiny plays acted out on a television screen. Learning is a lifelong thing and how much you want to learn is controlled only by your own personal desire and ability to put away your phone, turn off your television or computer and allow words to seep into your mind. The reward is knowledge of anything you want. Aladdin had a lamp, you have a book, each can make any wish you have come true.

The End

I closed the box and placed it in a very safe place and hurried off to my pressing appointment with work. Even though I left the room physically, my mind was still stretching back to what was inside that box.

December 23: The Gift of Friendship

Articles

Looks Like Trouble- Tagged

February 20, 2013 Jonathan Hilton Leave a comment

I made my own adventure pack, just in case. I use it in case of danger. Click the image to learn more

by Jonathan Hilton

I thought, “This looks like trouble.” When I saw this tag game going around. I want to participate and yet I have this daily writing prompt to take care of because I am committed. When I was tagged by the illustrious DJMatticus I had no choice to respond. I don’t have time for two posts today, what am I going to do. (Visit Matticus Kingdom HERE)

Then the trouble continued as I was tagged by the wonderful Kim of Tanquil Dreams, and since I write on every post she makes, I have no choice but to answer her questions as well. It really looked like trouble, trying to answer all of those questions. (Kim at Tranquil Dreams HERE!)

Being flexible in my actions and as dexterous as a cat, my solution took away any trouble I had, combine the two into one grand and exciting post that will inform and entertain all that come this way today, tomorrow or next week.

The rules of this game:

The Rules –

Post these rules.
Post a photo of yourself and eleven random facts about you.
Answer the questions given to you in the tagger’s post.
Create eleven new questions and tag new people to answer them.
Go to their blog/twitter and let them know they have been tagged.

Note*********There is a post coming later to describe my new social demographic that I created this morning, but suffice it to say, we make our own rules so I am doing what I want in the case of entertainment. I am tagging everyone in the world, everyone in the galaxy, everyone who has ever lived. If you know my philosophy, either you will answer some questions or you will keep them to yourself. I will love you no matter what you decide to do. Free will, baby enjoy it!!

So the picture of me? I love pictures of me so I am giving you a few, because I look different all the time depending on length of hair, facial hair at the moment or the peace within my heart. 🙂

Eleven Random Facts About Me:

Until yesterday I had no idea what a hipster was.
I enjoy thinking about thinking
I like the color blue because of my personality

This is what I look like without a beard.

Music is important to me. (see link)

I am a positive thinker

I have been best friends with the same person since kindergarten

I am very stubborn sometimes, apparently when others are wrong, and don’t listen to reason.

My uniform numbers for various sports I played in high school were, Soccer #10, Basketball #14 then #12 as a senior and baseball #4.

There were only two things I liked about high school, sports and girls.

I taught high school history for 14 years, loved it for 13 hated it for one.

I have fought a chicken. Read the details here.

The Questions from Kim at Tranquil Dreams:

1) Cookies or Cakes?

Cookies, chocolate chip are my favorites.

2) What was your first Blu-ray or DVD you ever purchased?

No idea. I have Netflix.

3) Whats the most inspiring book/movie you’ve ever read/seen?

Into the Wild, I really don’t know if this is true or not, but I am thinking about that movie, it is pretty great if you haven’t seen it. Alexander Supertramp!

4) Cats or Dogs? Or other pets?

Dogs, they are like big (or little) people who never learn to use the toilet.

5) What type of music do you like?

All types at some point. I can listen to most anything.

6) Whats your favorite Grimm’s Fairy Tales?

Hansel and Gretel

7) Console, Handheld, PC or Arcades?

None of the above. Because I understand myself enough to know I would be addicted, I refrain from playing any games.

8) Favorite flavor of chips?

Salt and Vinegar

9) What animal do you visit first at the zoo?

Sea creatures of any kind, or apes, or apes fighting any type of sea creature.

10) What food could you eat every single day?

Chinese food

11) Who is your favorite superhero?

Kim of Tranquil Dreams

Following are Matt’s Questions

My questions for the unlucky few I just tagged:
1) What does “inconceivable” mean to you?

That what you are seeing can’t possibly be happening. but it really doesn’t matter because when I hear that word I think of the Princess Bride and many quotes enter my head.

no more rhyming now, I mean it!” , “Anybody want a peanut?

You seem a decent fellow, I hate to kill you. You seem a decent fellow, I hate to die.

On and on it goes!

2) Have you ever had fun storming a castle? If yes, please elaborate.

No, because I was unfortunately caught without a Holocaust Cloak.
3) Can you name the three terrors of the Fire Swamp?

Bursts of fire, they make a popping sound before they ignite, easily avoided.

Lightning sands- must be avoided

R.O.U.S. – Rodents of unusual size? I don’t think they exist.

4) If you were named “Buttercup” would you keep that as a name or change it once you could legally do so?

Yes I believe I would.
5) Have you ever been walking around and just happened upon four white horses?

This ironically happened to me today and I thought, there are four of us, if you count the lady. hey lady! So it worked out wonderfully. RIP Andre the Giant
6) If you could pick new actors to play Inigo and Fezzick, who would you pick?

Antonio Banderas to play Inigo and The Rock to play Fezzick. He really isn’t a giant but with today’s technology it would be good. He could layeth the smacketh down on the castle.

7) Have you ever pondered if you would make a good Dread Pirate Roberts?

I have, in fact I have been thinking of a career change. All you have to do is never make exceptions because once you do, its nothing but work, work, work.
8) Do you prefer your magic pills coated in chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate, they always go down smoother, you just have to wait 30 minutes before you go in the water.
9) Do you have a wheelbarrow or a cloak?

As I mentioned before no cloak so I guess that leaves a wheelbarrow to help me find the tourture chamber where the man in black is being held captive.
10) Have you ever said “As you wish,” and really meant “I love you?”

Not once, but I think this is a practice I am going to start.
11) What could quite possibly be the greatest movie ever made?

The Princess Bride could be the greatest movie ever made. Either that or A few Good Men, I only included that for Matt because it didn’t make his list. I’m difficult like that.

11 new questions that anyone who feels moved by the Universe to answer are:

What is a hipster?

Are you a hipster? (if you answer yes, you clearly aren’t, if no then maybe you are.)

Who is your hero?

Which planet do you like the best and why?

What president of the United States do you admire the most excluding Lincoln, Roosevelt and Washington?

If you were in charge of the world for a day what is the first thing you would do?

Describe your Mental image of the state of Maine in two sentences.

Are you tall or short? Explain your answer.

If you were a car, what kind of car would you be? Explain.

Why is love important to you?

Aren’t you glad you have answered all of these questions.

My tag goes to the Whole World.

If you are still reading way down here you are certainly dedicated and you deserve a special Kozo hug. Have a great day!!

You don’t have to go through the whole tag thing, because I make up my own rules, but you can answer my 11 questions in the comment if you want to share your knowledge!!

Who do you love and what are you doing about it?

I Love Everybody

But You Gotta Love You

What Am I doing About It

Who do you love and what are you doing about it?

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The Family Guy

I am a Psych-O

Scrubs

The Big Bang Theory

The Mentalist

Bones

The Waltons

What are the shows you can’t believe you like?

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Rules of The Project

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His Name Was Leslie

I Never said Good bye

Gone but Never Forgotten

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Automatic Writing Assignment

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The Chicken Wins

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The Book

The Scrapbook

My Former Friend

The Game Changer

The End

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The rules of this game:

The Questions from Kim at Tranquil Dreams:

Following are Matt’s Questions

You don’t have to go through the whole tag thing, because I make up my own rules, but you can answer my 11 questions in the comment if you want to share your knowledge!!

Share this:

Like this:

Personal Growth, Self Improvement, Positive Thinking