School is out, is it time to lock them out

Alright now someone may be thinking well what are you saying the kids are finally out of school and now you want to lock them out of the house.

Well it's not just during the summer months that they may need a gentle push or reminder that their is a great outdoors that is filled with sun, air, grass, birds, bugs, and dirt and guess what people and possible physical and mental activity.

It's time to open up the garage or wherever you store everything, pull the bikes out the scooters, the balls, bats and gloves, frisbees, soccer nets you name it set-up your outdoor gym now. If you have a pool open it up and be prepared to push them out the door.

Put the signed up that say no cell phones, no nintendos, ipods, laptops, or whatever the the techonlogy tool is.  It's time to be outside and enjoy what the world have given us.

So kick them out for a while and do with them what you used to do on your own. How about a little kick ball, wiffle ball, you seldom see that going on anywhere. Some flag or touch football. You don't have to be a great athlete for any of things. How about a tennis racket, a good basketball that they can just dribble around the driveway. Some of used to dribble on rocks or on the sidewalks until we go to the community courts where you could try to get involved in a pick-up game or that everyone knew to go to without a text to play.

What a novel idea. Let's think of all of the games, dodge ball, well that probably would be considered to brutal in today world. Tether ball now how often do you seen any of those around. The old merry go round, or some good old foot races just for the fun of it.

They could even go outside and look at their card collections of whatever is they do. Or guess what go outside and read. But please turn the power off in the house to the wii or whatever you have.

They can also help in the yard. Now wouldn't that be nice a little extra help while your outside. I think we all should consider going outside taking the keys with you and locking the doors for two hours at least and let them experience what is to create some fun with just a ball or a device that requires physical activity.

How about even at night when everyone used to play the game starlight or whatever it was called or out playing that game until they could no longer see the ball, wouldn't that be great. Heck set a table outside for dinner and eat outside or bring them their food, but put them outside it's good for them

Also guess what it may force them to play with somenone else and socialize with others which cannot hurt their social skills.

I'm not sure where and when it began for all of us when we became the the lockedin adults and children or family.

If anyone can look that up on wikipedia let me know and see when it all began. When the fad of being outside went away.

Or did those great city, local, state or federal politicians but something on the books that forbids communication and social activities in an outdoor enviroment. Maybe someone can tweet that out there and get the information for me which would be fantastic.

Also I know about the ozone layer or you at least hear about it and depending on who you believe is that the reason we cannot go outside because of the gamma rays.

I cannot find my old science books to see what the status of this, if anyone has the answers please let me know. Also all of these fitness books and diet books, or whatever has anyone created one that just focuses in on daily activities outside. If not maybe that is a money maker.

Let's get a our calorie watchers out there and begin to break down the movements outside and see how this can all benefit our health. Heck let's get with the Federal Chairman for outdoor activities and see what their plans are. The outdoor Czar.

Now I know none of this exists or not to my knowledge and I don't think it's part of the new national health care plan that we focus on outdoor activities but maybe we need to get a movement going on there. Maybe Peta will remember the other living species on earth or it will become part of a new green movement or outdoor first.

Maybe that is the 2012 election campaign theme living on the outside.

Let's get outside and enjoy, let's get outside and enjoy the conversation, the air, the sun, even the rain. Do people still go outside and play in the rain. I'm guessing not because of what maybe acid rain.

I don't know and I don't remember but I don't believe acid rain or anything else every caused me damage from just being outside.

Plus guess what those shoes are meant to have some dirt on them once in a while and a good grass stain test the technology of these new laundry machines.  Let's give technology an outdoor test.

How many people do you know can ever pitch a ten in their front or backyard? Well you cannot do that anymore because society has become unsafe, predators are everywhere. It's sad to know the things that we all have given up.

Someone need to check on on kool-aid sales and see if they still exist.
How is the stock doing and sales and how does it compare in relation to todays population. Now I digressed but do you remember when you poured kool aid into the ice trays with toothpicks to get a nice refreshing thing to enjoy after being outdoors.

Just something to think about.

Before communication changed

Forms of communication, ways to socialize and reach out to old friends and possibly new friends. This is the way it's done now. Life has taken the form of screens, apps, and visual shapes. Iphone, droid, ipad,ipod.

The way we move around on this place we call earth has dramatically changed many for the good I'm sure.

Apple loves for you to use the ipod and it's a great way to strore all of your music. Yes you can listen via your home stereo system or in the car. Yet so many of us, just plug them in our ears and go about our business tuning out the outside world, while were going for a walk. Working out at the gym or even working on your computer at the office and you also see people with them in their ears while they are driving.

Now don't get me wrong it's a great technology. But back in the day you or your parents would go for a walk and many still do, but they would walk so they could hear what was going on in the outside world.

As you are walking you see someone on the porch (well that is when people still sat on the front porch and it wasn't just a visual. Also that is when people didn't just go park in the garage and enter in the house they actually would go thru the front door. Well your walking down the street in your neighborhood or subdivision, or guess outside your comfort zone walking in other neigborhoods. Well in the small town you could cover the northside, southside and east and west within a good hours walk if you had your ipod working plugged in your ears and just walked and listened to music.

Now back in the day you would come across so many conversations as you passed people who were working in their yard. Playing outside with their kids or outside on the porch reading a book, or just watching the world come to them. They would see you and you would see them and conversation would come up. Politics, religion, family conversations, humor, the future and the past could come up on that walk of 2 miles. Now the average person that likes to go for a stroll probably walks over a mile.

Now think about all of those conversations. Hey how are you did you see what the president said on the news or did you see the what the neighborhood boy or girl did in the sporting event. How about the lemonade stand, on water street did you get a glass for 5 cents it was pretty good.

What did you think of the sermon at church or did you see the recent episode of ? I was laughing so hard or so moved.  Or is it just idle conversation, where there is give and take about maybe something that may not come across as much value to someone listening but moved you personally in someway to create an emotional connection that nirvana, keith urban, dixie chicks, fleetwood mac, johnny cash, tom petty whoever didn't generate while you were plugged in cutting off society on that walk.

The human connection of a dialogue face to face really can never be replaced as you cannot see the dimples in the laughter or hear the sound of laughter nor the tone or expression of sadness and the visual of hand movement and facial expressions during the conversation.

The conversation that leads to many more, during the interaction with a friend maybe or someone that you have never met. For those of you that take an elevator at the job, go to lunch, ride the train or bus to get around, once in a while wouldn't it be nice to have a conversation with another human being to extend your reach socially. You don't even have to know their name they could be the elevator jean guy or the skirt and alot of make-up woman. It doesn't matter but you took the time to engage and not just have that uncomfortable moment that you avoided because you had your ipod in your ears, or you were guilty of looking at your phone for emails, or texts.

Guess what when your friend sends you a text or an email they cannot see you laughing or how that conversation played out visually with the person you are communicating with nor can they see you as well. This creates a disconnect, I know your communicating but you missed out on the total engagment.

To me this is something to think about I know we have all become so busy in our minds that many of us forgot what is was to just drop by or just pass by someone and engage them in a conversation. Have a coffee at the old cafe, or grab a coke at the old filling station. Many people wouldn't even know what I mean by the old filling station.

Even the soda machine could lead to conversations. The information gathered during these times could give you a good pulse of what many other people are thinking. The conversation could also give you an emotional lift after a bad day or make you realize life isn't so bad when you hear the stories of others who are facing obstacles in their lives.

Those of us that remember when also need to remember how to communicate and those of us that have children should remind our children of the other ways to communicate. Also I used to like to hear the sound of music that others played in their cars in fact for many of us we tried to get the big speakers so everyone would be forced to listen. Also seeing the kids play outside or the teenagers engaging in a basketball game listening to music or just the pure sound of interaction is always a joy.

I'm not telling you to throw away any of that new technology, just consider the value of an actual conversation using old and proven communication methods

Fashion of our lives

Now all of this depends on where we are in our respective age brackets. But next you are saying why is a guy talking about fashion. What the heck can he know about fashion. Put on some pants, socks and a shirt and get on with the day.

You don't need to worry about the billfold matching the purse. Your not concerned really if the belt matches the shoes. Heck you may not even be concerned if the socks are cohesive to to the pants.

Now I admit that is the case and if I find a good tie next to a good shirt I will more than likely buy the two together and less likely to make a change in the future. Now some people like constant change and like to move in a forward direction as the fashion industry changes.

New nail polish, new style of a purse, dress, shoes, 3 inch heels are now 4 inch the flip flop is now gone.
Who knows it all changes and we change with the course of the fashion. The watch has to match the ring, the belt, the shoes and everything else. We need to move towards a realm of fashion dominance. Heck the jeans need to go with this or that.

Some people even go as far as making sure the ensemble underneath that seldom people see also matches. Now let's face a fact any I may be wrong but does anywhere really care if my boxers match my watch? I doubt but one never knows.

70's, 80's, 90's, 2000 plus most of it has changed and much of it has returned over the years and been re-branded and re-distributed under a different label.

Well here is the fact. Fashion is an underlying current in our life. Fashion is work, Fashion is friendship, Fashion is your present, past, future and your community.

Well what the heck has he lost his mind? What does fashion have to do with any of the above.

Here's the deal Fashion can and is part of our lives. We can choose friends, make decisions, move up the ladder in our jobs, personal life and community based on a percieved notion of fashion. Fashion is a perception but not a reality. Now I'm not telling you that your personality cannot become part of you based upon Fashion. However what I'm telling you is none of this makes the real you. None of this makes your community and friendship more valuable.

We are who we are because of what is inside of us. We will grow and flourish because of what our dna is. We will succeed because of real non fashion based connections we make with our network which will allow us to grow.

We can look great, we can feel great and we should. But you know what sometimes, somewhere someone is going to see us without the fashion and you know what it shouldn't matter if we have bed head, or flip flops, hat, unmanucured nails. We should know that were all good because of who we are inside and the impact in our friendships and personal life with our community of friends has made an impact that is not judged by a bad appearance or a bad day.

Life is imperfect, friendships are as well but you know what, I will take a good friend over a good watch anyday.

Thanks for reading and look forward to hearing your thoughts and replies.

The wind of change

I have just been looking outside the window today and I see all of the trees and bushes making constant movements based upon the wind.

Now if you have ever studied Greek Mythology, American Indian, or Hindusim you may come to some thoughts and ideas in reference to how our planet effects our lives.  The reason I mention the wind of change as life changes and evolves as we do as well personally and professionally.  Believe it or not this happens at our tender single digit years as well.  We move from pre-k to kindergarten, and up the ladder of educational progression. But what alot of people fail to omit from the educational system is our social progression.

Now so much of that has changed from the 70's to the 2000 plus. The world has evolved as the winds have changed.  Now does climate and the gods of the world play a part in our life I will leave that up to everyone else to debate. The reality it we in my mind are affected by the seasons and the climate. As I continue to watch everything shift via the wind I cannot not think that our lives have been evolved by the environment that we live in.


A good winter day forces us to take action in different ways. I remember playing football with pads and helmets in the snow with my friends during a cold blusterous winter day. We tackled, we got dirty and most importantly we had fun. The other side of climatic change of cold or rain is that we gather inside and spend time with our family in an enviroment that forces us to interact which means that it seams as the weather is grounding us in principal to know and respect what we have and enjoy everything that is within our reach without distractions.

Technology evolution has made an impact on our everyday lives as well. Thank goodness when we were young there was no mms, sms, facebook, linkedin, flicker, twitter etc. or 200 plus cable channels along with the internet because it forced to communicate outside with our friends and inside with our family.

The wind of change has occured and I'm not suggesting we ignore the changes but I am suggesting that we embrace the social connections of the past while we also enbrace the technological impact that we have now on our social communication.

The reality is the weather will sometimes force us to communicate with friends and family in a different level than we might embrace in other time. I don't live in a small town now so I'm not sure if kids go out and play until the sun comes down in the summer or that they have a free reign to see their friends. My reality suggests that they do not. Computers allow them to communicate but does that allow them to deeply engage their friends and have the social f2f impact that they all should have.

The world has changed and with that we have as well. Our parents lived in a different world and my guess is that most of them are not sure they welcome the winds of change. My mention of religion above was merely to point out that forever people have mentioned the earth as a compass for life.

Spring is the planting time, fall is the harvest, winter allows for the resupply and killing of all that is bad. Summer is the vibrant and testing time of our lives as we need all of the essentials of social, food, life to survive as we await the bounty of the fall which can be destroyed by summer.

In our lives we have cycles as well and we need to be aware of the change and the impact.

What we do during these cycles will definitetly affect our standard of living.

Thanks for reading and I always look forward to your thoughts.

May Day baskets

Happy May day to everyone. It's interesting as I'm not sure this tradition it honored anymore. We have a hallmark card for everything but I'm not sure anyone does the May day basket anymore. My memory is old and I am not aware of the history behind the May day basket other than my belief that it is the beginning of spring for many of us that have dealt with the winters of the midwest.

I remember receiving and delivering the baskets to friends and it was a very joyous time. I'm not sure what happened to this ritual and if anyone knows I would welcome your comments.

May day is a celebration and warmth of feeling and seeing the sun hit the sky, the flowers blooming and the activity of spring in the neighborhoods. It is the begining of new energy in the climate as everyone begins to get spring fever and enjoy the outdoors with their friends.  It's also a time of sharing with your friends your renewed outlook and energy as you head towards the summer months.

Daylight savings time has kicked in you have extra time play outside and enjoy all of the elements that the world has given us to enjoy.  The beginning of bbq season and the end of roast and casseroles, the movement towards everything fresh and cool to eat. May day inspires a new time of activity for your mental and physical state as you look back at the hardship of winter. It also is a great time of fresh air and a relief for anyone that endures the gas bills of winter and look forward to the break as we transition from winter to summer and the new round of a..c bills.

For sports enthusiasts it's a transition of all sorts from all worlds of sports are converging on the spring with activitiy.

Now spring also bring upon us the social life or prom. Now that I'm sure brings back many positive and I'm sure some negative memories for all of us, however most definitely a place in our heart for that period of time.  Going from pants, shirts, shoes etc. to flip flops, t-shirts and shorts is also a good feeling as well as moving from pale skinned to a nice new glow of slightly altered color depending on your pigmentation.

Spring is a good time as it's a fertile beggining. Seeds are planted and the harvest of the of our existence is dependent on the seasons we all live in.

Spring generates a new round of social invigoration as we get more time to spend with our friends. Smiles are broader, we know the school year is coming to an end which allows for more time to spend with friends and family. Sunlight in reality alleviates depression and some how restores our faith  and future outlook on the world.

The May day basket is a symbol of the that renewed committment to everything positive and social as we give a gift to our friends and look forward to seeing them in so many more positive energetic ways.

I prefer the May day basket to giving a gift on a social network or in some other form. So on this May day and for those of us that may read this post May day think of doing this. You obviously cannot give a May day basket to everyone you know however if you can in this viral world reach out to your network of friends and family. Try to remember to do this. Tell them happy May day or Happy Spring time and let them know you hope the best for them and that you are thankful that they have been such a big part of your life.

Happy May day