Life Offers Both ~

Do you think English is easy?

From A Retired School Teacher

Can you read this right the first time?

1. The bandage was wound around the wound.   2. The farm was used to produce produce.   3. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.   4. We must polish the Polish furniture.   5. He could lead if he would get the lead out.   6. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.   7. Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was  time to present the present.   8. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.   9. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes. 10. I did not object to the object. 11. The insurance was invalid for the invalid. 12. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row. 13. They were too close to the door to close it. 14. The buck does funny things when the does are present. 15. A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line. 16. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow. 17. The wind was too strong to wind the sail. 18. Upon seeing the tear in the painting, I shed a tear. 19. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests. 20. How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

 Let’s face it – English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren’t invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren’t sweet, are meat? We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don’t fing, grocers don’t groce and hammers don’t ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn’t the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, two geese. So one moose, two meese? One index, two indices? Doesn’t it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn’t preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in which an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

PS. – Why doesn’t ‘Buick’ rhyme with ‘quick’?

Something to Think About

 

World Kindness Day

“You should expect to be treated the same way you care for others — what you give is what you receive.”

Kindness is a fundamental part of the human condition which binds us.  Being kind towards others says I recognize that I am no more important than you are; kindnesses say that I value you; and show respect.

An act of kindness, having tolerance and using good manners helps bridge the boundaries of race, religion, politics, gender and cultures.

World Kindness Day is a day set aside to focus on the positive power kindness and to recognize acts of kindness in your community and ask that an act of kindness be done.

World Kindness Day is 13 November and is observed in many countries, including Canada, Japan, Australia, Nigeria, United Arab Emirates, Italy, India, Singapore and the U.K. and in the USA.  It was introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement a coalition of Non-governmental organizations NGOs. (NGOs are legally constituted corporations created by natural or legal people that operate independently from any form of government.)  

Schools across the globe are now celebrating World Kindness Day and work with local NGOs such as Life Vest Inside.

Today on World Kindness Day, let’s commit to teaching our children the power kindness by using “good manners” with everyone all the time.

Good manners are little kindnesses that show respect and are invaluable. Good manners are not old-fashioned. Using good manners will get you noticed and in a good way. Good manners can be bring wonderful friendships and partnerships. Good manners help you to focus your attention on others.

I think we need more respect in this world, and using good manners is easy and free.

Promote good manners with these time-honored rules for human inter action. These basic rules will help your child begin to build a repertoire of good manners and habits that promote kindness and will stand the test of time.

• When you ask for something, say, “Please.”
• When you receive something, say, “Thank you.”
• Don’t interrupt others who are speaking, unless it is an emergency.
• If you bump into someone say, “Excuse me.”
• Unless you are giving a compliment, never comment on another person’s physical appearance.
• Do not make fun of anyone for any reason. Teasing is a sign of weakness, yours, and not the victim’s.

Everyone knows the importance of these simple courtesies, but it seems today to have a big follow-through issue. It takes time to train the brain, and it takes consistent repetition and consistent modeling from adults to properly teach these rules to our children.

Remember the children are watching.

Quotes about Kindness

The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty, and Truth.
–Albert Einstein

Today we are afraid of simple words like goodness and mercy and kindness. We don’t believe in the good old words because we don’t believe in good old values anymore. And that’s why the world is sick.
–Lin Yutang

Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else’s life forever.
–Margaret Cho

Sources and References:
Non-governmental organizations – The NGO Network
Life Vest Inside
Random Acts of Kindness.org with a suggestion list of hundreds of acts of kindness.

Marriage Isn’t For You

Dance In the Rain

Missing Treasures

Hard to believe but so true!

A lesson I’ve learned the hard way a few too many times, trying to help, thinking others were my friend.

The feeling left behind of anger and betrayal can easily turn ones heart cold and make you afraid to meet new people.

But I will not let their evil hearts change mine into stone.

I guess that’s why I’ve suffered this lesson more than once. And I’ve learned to become more cautious and less naïve which is a good thing.

Live, Learn, Grow.

Being a Mother

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Important Little Words

There are many things that we can do to help strengthen our relationships.

Most involve the saying of just three words.

• “I’ll be there.”

Being there for another person is one of the greatest gifts we can give. When we are there for others, important things happen to them and us. We are renewed in love and friendship and restored emotionally and spiritually. Being there is the essence of showing regard for others.

• “I miss you.”

This simple yet powerful declaration says to others that they are wanted, needed, desired and loved.

Consider how joyful you feel when you receive a card or phone call just saying “I miss You.”

• “I respect you.”

Showing respect is another way of showing love. Respect expresses the feeling that another person is a true equal. When you talk with respect you will help strengthen the bonds in all your relationships.

• “Maybe you’re right.”

When your having a heated argument with someone, they, or you, are unlikely to change their stance and you run the risk of seriously damaging the relationship.  Using this phrase is highly effective in diffusing an argument and restoring tense emotions. Saying “maybe you’re right” is the humility of admitting, “Maybe I’m wrong” and can open the door to further explore the subject in a more rational manner.

• “Please forgive me.”

All of us have faults and peculiarities of behavior. We should never be ashamed to admit when we have been wrong, which in other words, is saying we are wiser today than yesterday. Many broken relationships can be healed and mended if people would only admit their mistakes and ask for forgiveness.

• “I thank you.”

People who have the companionship of good, close friends don’t take their expressions of kindness and daily courtesies for granted. Showing gratitude by saying “Thank you” is a glorious form of courtesy.

• “Count on me.”

A good friend is steady and true when trouble comes. Loyalty is an essential element for true friendship that bonds our relationships.

• “Let me help.”

The best of friends, without being asked, pitch in and help. When they see a need they try to fill it and when they notice a hurt they do whatever they can to help heal it.

• “I understand you.”

Letting others know in many little ways that you understand them is a powerful tool to any relationship. People become closer and enjoy each other more when they feel another person accepts and understands them.

• “I love you.”

Your family, friends and you all need to hear those three little words “I Love You”. Telling someone that you truly love them satisfies our deepest emotional needs; the need to belong, to feel appreciated and to be wanted.

These three-word phrases have the power to create, deepen and heal friendships and can enrich every relationship in our lives. Speak them!

A little Girl and her Father

Here is a short story with a beautiful message…

A little girl and her father were crossing a bridge.The father was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter,
“Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don’t fall into the river.”The little girl said, “No, Dad. You hold my hand.”“What’s the difference?” asked the puzzled father.

“There’s a big difference,” replied the little girl.

“If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may
let your hand go.

But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter
what happens, you will never let my hand go.”

So hold the hand of the person who loves you rather than expecting them to hold yours…

In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond.