Several weeks ago, the subject of our Sunday Service was the above title. I have struggled with this almost my entire life off and on. I don't often quote bible verses but two really hit home for me. Hebrews 13:2,3 "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unaware", "Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body".
It doesn't matter if you are 2 or 52, fitting in at any given situation is an important part of life and growing. When I was young many people would call me a "wallflower", Always sitting on the sidelines, observing and waiting for just the right time to get in a conversation. I still seem to put myself in that situation. Never feeling completely comfortable until I try to get to know someone fully. I also tend to keep certain people at arms length so as not to get "hurt". Most of the time my opinions seems to not fit in with the people I am around.
I was taught early on to be my own person something I think only child naturally do anyway. Who else are we going to depend on or be like? To some these may only be excuses but when you are only you have an awful lot of time to reflect on your life accomplishments, expectations and misses in life.
For the past several years I have tried to make-up for not feeling welcome. I have tried new things, made people who have been in the same boat feel that they fit in and important to me. That list is short, unfortunately. By my own choosing? Probably a negative on my part. I have tried many things with a few successes. Is geography part of the problem? Yes, I think so.
I guess some of my point to why I wrote this is, Should I change who I am to make other's happy and fit in? If the cost is not believing I should do that, then NO I have a feeling I may never fit in. Sometimes even the best intentions are not enough. Aiming to please just to fit into the mold others want to have you in probably isn't worth the price I have to pay.
Prison might be the bars we put up to protect ourselves from being hurt and judged accordingly. Fitting in isn't always easy.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Tooth Fairy No Longer Leaves Spare Change--Say It Isn't So
I had a conversation recently with someone who had mentioned that their grandchild had there first experience with the Tooth Fairy. We both brought up stories of our experiences as kids. Both stories were pretty similar.
Mine was unfortunately by accident while playing on the bars at school. The accident didn't knock it out but did loosen it a bit and I ended up going on a trip to the dentist who took it out the rest of the way. That night I remember putting it under my pillow and the next morning I was happy to receive fifty cents. My friends story was similar but her tooth feel out on its own but she also received fifty cents.
Times they have definitely changed. Not long after this conversation, I read an article in our local paper
entitled, "The Price of Tooth Nearing $4, Tooth Fairy No Longer Leaves Spare Change". My first thought was I know the economy and inflation go hand in hand, but really? The first sentence in the article stated, "Days of finding a quarter under your pillow are long gone". Wow, do they really have to be? According to the article kids today are averaging $3.70 per lost tooth, up 23% from 2012. This was according to a survey by Visa, Inc. Ok my first thought was really, Visa the credit card company! Next you will tell me because change is becoming obsolete parents are giving Visa debt cards as payment.
Of course they also have an Tooth Fairy Calculator app that can give parents an idea by age group, income bracket and education level to determine what to give. Really, has it become that hard to decide? I really don't believe our parents spent that much time thinking about the situation. I am sure that they basically saw what small token they could provide. It wasn't necessary back in the day to break the bank and at the age you usually lose teeth I am sure the big topic of conversation of the day wasn't how much we got.
One good point in the article was that this is a good time to bring up if you do decide to rob Ft. Knox for the Tooth Fairy make it an opportunity to discuss smart money habits (save a little spend a little).
Demographics also comes into play with the Tooth Fairy according to the Visa study, Kids in the Northwest average $4.10 per tooth, West and South get $3.70, Midwest kids received $3.30. But, thank goodness there were a third of parents surveyed who said the Tooth Fairy left a dollar or less.
Really good parents also included a kids toothbrush and tooth paste with the money.
I guess what I took away and also shared with my daughter since it will be in her near future to deal with this is: Don't try and keep up with the" Jones" and keep it fun. Don't let the times and inflation make a memorable experience into a big deal.
The other funny thing about this was that someone on my Facebook page posted a cartoon that said something to the effect of what would happen if an elderly person put there dentures underneath their pillow? I'm glad to say I am not in that category, so if someone wants to try this idea, let me know if the Tooth Fairy came and what she left YOU
Mine was unfortunately by accident while playing on the bars at school. The accident didn't knock it out but did loosen it a bit and I ended up going on a trip to the dentist who took it out the rest of the way. That night I remember putting it under my pillow and the next morning I was happy to receive fifty cents. My friends story was similar but her tooth feel out on its own but she also received fifty cents.
Times they have definitely changed. Not long after this conversation, I read an article in our local paper
Of course they also have an Tooth Fairy Calculator app that can give parents an idea by age group, income bracket and education level to determine what to give. Really, has it become that hard to decide? I really don't believe our parents spent that much time thinking about the situation. I am sure that they basically saw what small token they could provide. It wasn't necessary back in the day to break the bank and at the age you usually lose teeth I am sure the big topic of conversation of the day wasn't how much we got.
One good point in the article was that this is a good time to bring up if you do decide to rob Ft. Knox for the Tooth Fairy make it an opportunity to discuss smart money habits (save a little spend a little).
Demographics also comes into play with the Tooth Fairy according to the Visa study, Kids in the Northwest average $4.10 per tooth, West and South get $3.70, Midwest kids received $3.30. But, thank goodness there were a third of parents surveyed who said the Tooth Fairy left a dollar or less.
Really good parents also included a kids toothbrush and tooth paste with the money.
I guess what I took away and also shared with my daughter since it will be in her near future to deal with this is: Don't try and keep up with the" Jones" and keep it fun. Don't let the times and inflation make a memorable experience into a big deal.
The other funny thing about this was that someone on my Facebook page posted a cartoon that said something to the effect of what would happen if an elderly person put there dentures underneath their pillow? I'm glad to say I am not in that category, so if someone wants to try this idea, let me know if the Tooth Fairy came and what she left YOU
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Did You Lose Your Pencil? or The How to Art of Pencil Sharpening
While watching a Sunday Morning program this stormy September morning, (pretty amazing since we had extremely hot weather this past week), my attention to a story about Cartoonist turned Artisanal Manual Pencil Sharpening Expert, David Rees made me think about the days when instead of typing on a computer you had a flat sheet of lined paper and usually a yellow or blue, long hopefully sharpened pencil with attached eraser on top to enter and explore the world of writing. Some well known writer's still prefer a yellow tablet and writing with the graphite instrument.
I remember I always had a very easy time of telling which pencil was mine at home and at school because I suppose due to nervousness my entire pencil would have teeth marks around it. I wasn't concerned about getting lead poisoning I guess (actually pencils are not made of lead but graphite) but who needed personalized with your name pencils when teeth marks would do.
A #2 pencil was part of most school kids arsenal of school supplies for many years. Now top at the list is an IPad and way down the list is probably a pencil or two--graphite or mechanical.
In David Rees book "How to Sharpen Pencils: A Practical and Theoretical Treatise of the Artisanal Art of Pencil Sharpening" (say that three times fast) he covers the steps of sharpening pencils and the devices to use. For a fee you can send him your pencil and he will sharpen it to perfection, with the shavings encased, and covered back to you with or without a copy of the book.
Ironically, Dixon Ticonderoga once had a factory in Versailles, MO which isn't that far from where I live. It closed in 2005.
Another interesting fact about pencils today is that if the graphite is not exactly in the middle of the wooden casing that makes the pencil you probably will have a hard time sharpening or keeping the point sharp. How many brand new pencils have you ground and ground either by hand or by an electric sharpener (yes I still have one of those too, along with my typewriter) you can basically grind until you basically have a "stubby" short pencil.
A former co-worker I had at my first job for the State of California would use a pencil until it was probably just big enough for her hand to be able to hold it. It was always her "point" to get as much use as possible out of government supplies.
Why all this nostalgia? Well it was a breath of fresh air that this story was so interesting to me that someone in today's economic challenges can forge a business and or love out of pencils. I am sure Mr. Rees partakes in technology, but his love of the pencil and keeping it a part of daily life is to be commended.
"Did you lose your pencil?" "Oh, you can borrow one of mine" I'm not sure exactly whether many people carry them around but cheaper to lend out than a technology device.
I remember I always had a very easy time of telling which pencil was mine at home and at school because I suppose due to nervousness my entire pencil would have teeth marks around it. I wasn't concerned about getting lead poisoning I guess (actually pencils are not made of lead but graphite) but who needed personalized with your name pencils when teeth marks would do.
A #2 pencil was part of most school kids arsenal of school supplies for many years. Now top at the list is an IPad and way down the list is probably a pencil or two--graphite or mechanical.
In David Rees book "How to Sharpen Pencils: A Practical and Theoretical Treatise of the Artisanal Art of Pencil Sharpening" (say that three times fast) he covers the steps of sharpening pencils and the devices to use. For a fee you can send him your pencil and he will sharpen it to perfection, with the shavings encased, and covered back to you with or without a copy of the book.
Ironically, Dixon Ticonderoga once had a factory in Versailles, MO which isn't that far from where I live. It closed in 2005.
Another interesting fact about pencils today is that if the graphite is not exactly in the middle of the wooden casing that makes the pencil you probably will have a hard time sharpening or keeping the point sharp. How many brand new pencils have you ground and ground either by hand or by an electric sharpener (yes I still have one of those too, along with my typewriter) you can basically grind until you basically have a "stubby" short pencil.
A former co-worker I had at my first job for the State of California would use a pencil until it was probably just big enough for her hand to be able to hold it. It was always her "point" to get as much use as possible out of government supplies.
Why all this nostalgia? Well it was a breath of fresh air that this story was so interesting to me that someone in today's economic challenges can forge a business and or love out of pencils. I am sure Mr. Rees partakes in technology, but his love of the pencil and keeping it a part of daily life is to be commended.
"Did you lose your pencil?" "Oh, you can borrow one of mine" I'm not sure exactly whether many people carry them around but cheaper to lend out than a technology device.
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