Monday, September 27, 2021

As The Month & Quarter Draws to a Close...Some #RandomThoughts.....


It has been a challenging month and a challenging year so far.   I decided to share this from my collectcion to headline a sense of hope as I also hereby present some #RandomThoughts for the Week on Iran and some uplifting thoughts as I look forward to sharing some opening thoughts for the quarter:  



It was James Baldwin who most brilliantly captured this tension in Notes of a Native Son. He said,

“It began to seem that one would have to hold in mind forever two ideas which seemed to be in opposition. The first idea was acceptance, the acceptance, totally without rancor, of life as it is, and men as they are: in light of this idea it goes without saying that injustice is commonplace. But this did not mean that one could be complacent, for the second idea was of equal power: that one must never, in one’s own life, accept these injustices as commonplace but one must fight them with all one’s strength.”

So let us forget the small minded people who reject the philosophy that would help not only make them happier, but help make the world a better place. Instead, let us aim all our energy and effort at that seemingly contradictory idea. Accept life for what it is without even a hint of bitterness while we do everything we can to improve and change injustice whenever it is within our collective power.

  • Stay Focused on the Future
    Let the past guide you, but never let it consume you. The mistakes of yesterday should be lessons, not reasons for despair.
  • Believe in Yourself
    You are in control of your life. Even in the most difficult moments, you still get to decide what to do. Believe in your ability to reach your goals.
  • Celebrate Others
    Jealousy of others’ success will just slow you down. Instead of resenting what others achieve, see it as something to celebrate. After all, every time someone reaches their goal, it’s proof that goals are reachable. You can achieve yours, too, if you stay focused and positive.
  • Have Smaller Goals Within the Larger Goal
    To keep yourself going, give yourself milestones you want to reach. In a lot of ways, reaching a big goal is like running a marathon. You can’t focus on all 26.2 miles of it at once. Instead, it’s better to focus on one mile at a time.
  • Be Grateful
    Take time to recognize what you have instead of obsessing about what you don’t have. It will help you stay grounded and keep you thinking about the positive.

 

Sunday, September 5, 2021

On the Prowl With Some Brief #RandomThoughts On This #LaborDayWeekEnd


 

It has been quite a month-as I decided to remember: 





2021 California Gubernatorial Recall Election Banner

Dear California Voter,

If you have already returned your vote-by-mail ballot for California’s Recall Election, thank you for being a voter and helping keep your community safe!

If you haven’t returned your ballot yet, you have until September 14 to do so, but you don’t need to wait until then to vote. Returning your ballot now lets you skip the line and keep voting locations safe for those who need them on Election Day!

Your ballot asks whether or not you want to remove California Governor Gavin Newsom from office, and allows you to select a candidate who could replace him if a majority of California voters support the recall. You can choose yes or no on the recall, and still cast a vote for a replacement candidate.

You have multiple safesecure, and reliable options for returning your ballot:

Mailbox 1

Mail – Your ballot includes a prepaid, first class postage return envelope that you can use to mail your ballot back – no stamp needed! To ensure your ballot arrives on time, we recommend you mail it as soon as possible.

>> Click here to track your ballot >>

Official Drop Box 1

Official drop box – You can return your ballot at a secure ballot drop box available in your county. Make sure your ballot is deposited by 8:00 p.m. on September 14.

>> Click here to find a ballot drop box >>

In-person

In-person – One or more voting locations will be open in many counties before Election Day for you to safely vote in-person, drop off your completed ballot, or get a replacement ballot. On Election Day, September 14, vote centers will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Returning your ballot before September 14 will help ensure safe physical distancing at vote centers.

>> Click here to find a vote center >>

Please allow several days after returning your vote-by-mail ballot for your county elections office to process it.

Together, we can ensure a safe and secure election for everyone!

Yours sincerely,

California Secretary of State

P.S. Don’t forget to sign and date the official return envelope that came with your ballot! Make sure the signature matches the one you provided when registering. For many voters, this will be the signature on your CA driver’s license or state ID.

(Clic aquí para leer la versión en español de este correo.)


It was great to be witness to how the State of California has perfected the art of Voting.  As I cast my vote this week, It was a reminder of all that I am thankful for--I'll have some thoughts on the elections after the results.

It was also a week that I again was supportive of the work of the Daily Outsider.   Onward to the New Week....


Saturday, September 4, 2021

#RandomThoughts on #Iran (In Farsi)

As I have been working away, I decided to pull together some #randomthoughts on the horrors of Iran right now--It is in Farsi: