On the "Virtual Prowl" With M-End #RandomThoughts

 

It has been quite a month and quite a year!!!

It is the eve of Memorial Day here in the United States, as America remembers.   The thought from the great Maria Ressa, who was courageous in fighting the Duterte Reign of Terror in the Philippines, and spent time in prison.  Duterte is now in the Hague.   Maria Ressa's admonition struck a chord, especially as we're witnessing profound challenges around our World.  

As always, my mind drifted 8 thousand miles away to Iran as Truckers, Bakers, and retirees are leading protests and strikes to protest the hell-like conditions in Iran.   Over 1 million children cannot attend school because their parents cannot afford the school fees.  The NUFDI Iran Prosperity Project that was launched (and I captured two of the leading lights of business success) was to me another ray of hope-hopefully not in vain.    As I finished off, it was also so gratifying to be witness to the winning of the Palme d'Or by the courageous Iranian Director, Jaffar Panahi for his film, it was just an accident.   I can only hope that the opposition to the regime will listen to him.   What was laughable was the dismissive and bitter way in which the regime covered it.    Meanwhile, back here in the United States, the upending of the Constitutional Order is in full force, along with a re-orienting of the World Order.  

The Company Men's Scene I decided to feature in this Month-End Random Thoughts was interesting to revisit to embrace a sense of the possible in spite of the odds.    As I finished helping with moderating and scheduling out the Daily Outsider Properties through the end of the month, I was thinking about a simple admonition from Lawrence of Arabia:  Nothing is Written because it is up to us all in spite of the challenges to write our own story--and Lawrence did!!

I decided to close out this month-end edition of #RandomThoughts with an interview done with Imperial Iranian Force Lt. Gen Minosepher by the IIAF Association.  Although in Farsi, his insights were remarkable, reflecting upon the glorious achievements of the Imperial Iranian Air Force.   On a personal note,  I have had the honor of shaking his hand.

As I gear up for a new month, I remind myself of the commitment to the Journey of Service as I embrace it ever more.  

Out & About with Month End #RandomThoughts as April 2025 draws to a close

April is drawing to a close.     At the Daily Outsider, I assisted with curating a salute to the Holy Father, Pope Francis, across all digital properties (including the Perspectives, Visions, Education, Ordinary Faces, Esparenza, and Weekly Perspective Properties, along with the Facebook, X & Instagram Corners).   

I also decided to share some Random Thoughts, including remembering Reza Shah the Great and Mohammad Reza Shah, with images of the reign of Reza Shah, along with other random Thoughts on Iran and the World  (including a Podcast on Ukraine especially in light of the pressure on Ukrain by the Trump Adminstration to capitulate) and closing it out with thoughts on the life of Marcus Arelius courtesy the team at the Daily Stoic. 

Onward to May with all its possibilities!!!

Battle Lessons from the War in Ukraine with LTG Charles Costanza, Commanding General, U.S. Army V Corps For the past 100-plus years, V Corps has been helping to reinforce NATO commitments in Europe. Today, under the command of LTG Charles Costanza, the corps is doing some of its most important work with partners stationed near the Russo-Ukrainian War. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with LTG Costanza to discuss his latest observations about the battle and how he was able to continue serving while recovering from a near-fatal emergency brain tumor procedure, and compare their knowledge (or lack thereof...) of the Polish language.   Listen to this episode

Don’t waste time worrying about other people’s opinions. Marcus talked about a strange paradox: we are generally selfish people, yet, more than ourselves, we value other people’s opinions about us. “It never ceases to amaze me,” he wrote, “we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.” Stoicism teaches us to focus only on what we can control. What others think of us isn’t something we can control. So, it’s not worth worrying about what others think.

Concentrate on your effort, not the results. It’s another strange paradox. The people who are most successful in life, who accomplish the most, who dominate their professions—they don’t care that much about winning. They don’t care about outcomes. As Marcus said, it’s insane to tie your wellbeing to things outside of your control. Success, mastery, sanity, Marcus writes, comes from tying your wellbeing, “to your own actions.” If you’ve put in your maximum effort, if you’ve committed fully, if you’ve made decisions with careful thought—that in itself is a victory…regardless of whether it’s a good or bad outcome.

Be active in your rescue. Marcus noticed how often he found himself praying for assistance and eventually realized it’d be wiser to strengthen oneself to not require what he wished the gods to provide. Epictetus calls this blowing your own nose. Don’t wait around hoping for someone to save you. Instead, listen to Marcus’ empowering call to, “get active in your own rescue—if you care for yourself at all—and do it while you can.”

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Yes, a Stoic blows their own nose. Yes, a Stoic is brave. Yes, a Stoic carries the load, and willingly carries the load for others when necessary. But they also have to be able to ask for help. Because sometimes that’s the strongest and bravest thing to do. “Don’t be ashamed to need help,” Marcus Aurelius wrote. “Like a soldier storming a wall, you have a mission to accomplish. And if you’ve been wounded and you need a comrade to pull you up? So what?” Whether you need a moment to yourself, a hand to hold, words of encouragement, a special favor, therapy, a fresh start, or someone to rely on, don’t be afraid to ask for it.

Out & About with some Mid-Month #RandomThoughts (Updated with Ed Sheeran's Azizam)

 As I have been working away on projects, I decided to share some Visual AI-enhanced #RandomThoughts on Iran and updating it with with this from the great Ed Sheeran:

Out & About With Quarter-End #RandomThoughts

March 2025 is about to be relegated to history. As I worked away on projects for the Daily Outsider and beyond, I wanted to do something a tad different to celebrate life, talent and continue a ray of hope in spite of the profound challenges our World is facing right now. The need to keep hope alive is ever so crucial:

On the Prowl with #RandomThoughts

It is the first day of Spring and the advent of Nowruz in over 25 Countries.   On this day (as I also helped curate Nowruz Greetings to all at the Daily Outsider Properties), I wanted to share some #RandomThoughts on Nowruz as I embrace a sense of hope: 

 

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On the Prowl with some brief Month-End #RandomThoughts

It was a busy month at the Daily Outsider as the curation of the properties along with the Social Media Corners (including Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram) continued on an ongoing basis.   As we bid farewell to February and begin a Countdown to Nowruz, I decided to pay tribute with this beautiful image depicting two of the heroes of Iranian Mythology as Nowruz is before us, although the tragedy that is Iran ensues.   All I will say is this:  Light will overcome darkness and Iran will be free.

Out & About With Random Thoughts re Rumi’s Full Concert at UNESCO - Paris 2024

It is a pleasure to share this beautiful tribute to RUMI along with a thought from the Shams Tabrizi to embrace Love and to never judge: 

Out & About WIth #RandomThoughts

While on the prowl, I had the chance to listen to this tribute to Freedom in honor of Shervin Hajipour who was the genius behind the theme song for the #WomanLifeFreedom Revolution that is yet to

Out & About with Brief Month-End #RandomThoughts

 It has been quite a month on a multitude of fronts.   I helped, as the month is closing out and February is before us, helped curate a selection of Movies daily for the Daily Outsider Properties to help with a sense of uplift and a sense of purpose as I captured the scene in San Juan Capistrano that underscores the need to stay hopeful. in spite of the challenges. 

Onward and Upward!!