lifewithoutmentors

Caterpillar to a Butterfly

August 29, 2021

Life Cycle of a Butterfly by Easy Engineering, YouTube, September 19, 2020

As we walked along a nearby street in our neighborhood, the familiar face of a homeowner, Tara, whose assortment of flowering plants I have long admired, stopped me with a sort of urgent question, “Do you like butterflies?!!” I replied, “Yes!! Of course I do!!” She replied, “Come here and see them come out!”

If you earned it, OWN it

8/25/2021

Around 9:30am, we had already finished our walk in the park, our face, neck and every body part it seemed dripping bullets of perspiration while the four of us hurriedly tried to get into our air-conditioned car.

A co-worker of mine walked past, on her way to begin her own exercise. As we greeted each other, I proudly stated that, “My sister is a marathon runner, she’s training for a marathon!” My sister quickly added “Oh, it was only a 5K I ran before,” a little embarrassed that I had called her a marathon runner.

Afterwards I told my sister, “You’re a marathon runner okay; you ran a marathon before, right, and you’re about to run another, right, well, that makes you a marathon runner. You earned the right to that title, so claim it, label it, and OWN IT!”

(my sister, during her training)

Work Ethics?? Obsolete or not?

8/22/2021

Work what??? ethics, you know, work ethics?!!

Work ethic is a belief that work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. It is a set of values centered on importance of work and manifested by determination or desire to work hard.
Wikipedia

The work ethic traits are: appearance, attendance, attitude, character, communication, cooperation, organizational skills, productivity, respect and teamwork

Character 101

August 18, 2021

I remember walking by the card shop daily after school, and being drawn to the window display of one particular greeting card that was shiny and bright, colorful, large, as it promised to wish a special mom ‘Happy Mothers Day.’ I coveted it but did not have the money to take it home with me. One day I was inside the store with my father, and without him noticing I quickly swiped up the card, because you see I had to have it to give to my special mom for Mothers Day; I was certain that she would love it! I must have been about nine or ten years old and my character was taking shape. I refer to this as Character 101.

Flatbush Ave to B. Altman’s

August 11, 2021

Living in Brooklyn, New York, during my teenage years (1980s), I experienced my share of teenage invincibility. I also felt that anything I aspired for was attainable, probably because of the upbringing of my parents. I was surrounded by endless skyscrapers and crowds of people everywhere I went, who walked fast and seemed to be drawn by a magnetic force that had them always in forward motion.

My Summer Story update…

8/8/2021

Last month, I started a Summer Story series and so far here are some of the things I’ve being enjoying. (please check out My Dog’s Corner to see The Bustey’s Summer Story)

Planning for Success

8/4/2021

“It’s ah good ting Bustey went outside before it rained,” commented my Mom this morning, as the rained began pouring down while we prepared our breakfast. “Actually Mom, I saw that it will rain most of the day, so I took him out before it started, I planned it Ma.” A few minutes later, we saw one of our neighbor’s dogs being toileted in the rain. As we were having this exchange, I reflected on something similar.

“A picture is worth a thousand words”

8/1/2021

That’s what I heard my Mom say! So, rather than give you another of my descriptive posts, I thought I would show you more pictures of the Summer Fun Story I am creating:

GETTING OLD? Here’s advice from someone young, ME!

7/28/2021

When you get old, never teach anyone anything, unless requested, even if you are sure you are right.
Do not try to help unless asked for. Just be ready & available for it if possible.
Do not give unsolicited opinion all the time.
Don’t impose yourself on anyone on any subject.

This partial list above was sent to me by my cousin who is a retired high school teacher and I’m unsure of the author, but these four items quickly resonated with me.

After Assimilation

7/25/2021

Yesterday, as The Bustey and I took our usual walk through our neighborhood, in the sweltering heat of a mid-afternoon Summer, I observed one of my neighbors hopping across the street barefooted. She was being led by her miniature Yorkie who seemed intent on getting to his friend’s house to play. As I watched my neighbor return to her home alone, I suddenly had an epiphany, related to her simple act. And suddenly, I became melancholic, over what I once did myself, that is, before Assimilation!