Viewing entries in
"emotion"

5 Blogging Pet Peeves

1. Scrabbled layout: When I arrive at your blog there are several items I look for to get started – Your post section, blog roll and social sharing buttons. When these are scattered all over and up and down the page among awards, ads, animated links and widgets – I get distracted and often click on by. Please don’t hide the comment link. I prefer it at the bottom of the post so I can click on it after I read.
2. Random comment log-ins: Use at least one of the proven log-ins for leaving comments or give me the option to enter my info. Please don’t require me to use one and only one means of logging in, because if you do I probably won’t.
3. Floating ads or banners: I don’t like having something chasing me around on the page while I’m trying to read.
4. Music: Don’t do it. It takes longer for the page to load and if I want to surf the web while listening to music – I prefer to choose my own.
5. Heavy pages: in addition to music, having hundreds of animations, gifs. Widgets, social feeds and uncompressed picture photos make loading your site slow and aggravating. Don’t just add the latest greatest widget without deleting some old stuff. The only thing worse than a cluttered blog is one that is cluttered and loads slowly – I won’t linger.

I’m done whining now…

Say It. Just say It.

The gift of a kind word is known by every human who but ponders the thought. Yet we too often withhold even the simplest of gentle utterances from those who deserve it. Why?

Today, I ask you to join me in speaking kindness to others. Thank someone. Compliment someone sincerely. Be kind in word, today. Say it. Just say it.

All in?

Sunset

Your beauty
Laid out before me

Orange hues wrapped in purple haze
This sky
Brushed upon a palette
By the descending of the sun
Layers
Broadcasting the coming night
Filled with hope and promise

Your beauty is laid out for me

A beauty that seeks me
Reaches out and touches my eyes
Causing them to scan for you

A beauty that grazes my thoughts
Hunting for understanding
Beyond knowing the work of light
Reflecting through prisms
And chemicals reacting in mist
Longing to be known

Your beauty
Laid out before me ready to be known

As in an embrace lovers know
The caress of wonder
Possibilities of tomorrow
In each gentle sigh
Each kiss of moisture

Your beauty
Laid out before me stops

Longing is left alone
Desire
Calm and undisturbed
Even as your wonder
Strikes the lenses of my sight
Pounding
Nothing but a distant echo

Is heard

Tonight…

Solitude verses Loneliness

What is the real difference between solitude and loneliness if not a spiritual matter?

Cutting to the chase, I sometimes find myself alone and enjoying the simple peace and independence that such time allows: reading, writing, listening to music, or riding the currents of thoughts and dreams. This is a type of alone time I truly cherish - I think of this when I use the word solitude.

Then there are times when I'm uncomfortably alone. Times when my thoughts and emotions run chaotic and intense, times when tumultuous tides seem to push me about from one feeling to another - and my natural reaction is to try to change the way I feel from the outside. These are dangerous times. Strangely enough, I am as likely to have these moments of loneliness when I am in a crowd of people as when I am alone. Loneliness seems to come from internal unmet needs, a sense - real or perceived - of lack, of want.

There are also moments when, as I live my life and learn the patterns of relationships and inward realities - that my loneliness will turn to solitude.

Recently, I came across this song by Suzanne Vega that captures part of this experience beautifully. I do like her poetic lyrics.

Tweeting for Mother's Day Because of My Mom


Today I sent some tweets about my Mother's wisdom. Part of the series is captured below. Find more via your twitter account by searching the #WhatMomDid hashtag.




7:38pm, May 09 from HootSuite
#WhatMomDid - a series of Mother's day tweets about my mother's lessons 2010
williamskim
7:29pm, May 09 from HootSuite
Sometimes you have to hike up you courage and take a chance.#WhatMomDid
desertlioness
5:22pm, May 09 from TweetDeck
RT @WilliamsKim: My mother taught me that laughter is always good for you and most of time acceptable. #WhatMomDid
williamskim
2:38pm, May 09 from HootSuite
If something is bothering you it's best to talk about it - #WhatMomDid
williamskim
2:36pm, May 09 from HootSuite
Taught me that God always has your back and mom always has your heart. #WhatMomDid
Poetic_line
11:40am, May 09 from Twitterrific
RT @williamskim: Mother taught me that forgiveness hurts less than hate. #WhatMomDid
williamskim
10:53am, May 09 from Twitterrific
#WhatMomDid - a series of tweets about a mother's lessons for Mothers' Day 2010.
williamskim
10:47am, May 09 from Twitterrific
Makes me laugh! #WhatMomDid often at myself
williamskim
10:46am, May 09 from Twitterrific
When you hurt so bad you want to quit life, surviving is the first step to thriving. #WhatMomDid
williamskim
10:44am, May 09 from Twitterrific
Mom showed me that life will often give you much more and less than you expect, and acceptance makes both work for you #WhatMomDid
williamskim
10:41am, May 09 from Twitterrific
From mom I learned that children should only do some of what parents do. #WhatMomDid
williamskim
10:39am, May 09 from Twitterrific
My mother taught me that laughter is always good for you and most of time acceptable. #WhatMomDid
williamskim
10:38am, May 09 from Twitterrific
From mom, I learned that my best and my worst - aren't.#WhatMomDid
andibob
10:35am, May 09 from Twitterrific
RT @williamskim: #WhatMomDid My mother gave me a love for poetry
williamskim
10:35am, May 09 from Twitterrific
Mother taught me that forgiveness hurts less than hate.#WhatMomDid
williamskim
10:34am, May 09 from Twitterrific
#WhatMomDid My mother gave me a love for poetry
williamskim
10:32am, May 09 from Twitterrific
Because of my mother I see more of nature's beauty. #whatmomdid



Too Few Words

Sometimes I have so much to say, there aren't enough words. Such moments are best observed in silence.

Familiar - On Knowing Your Muse

Familiar

who are you,

this creature with my face and eyes,

small and fleet running rampant on my soul?


what quest brings you here again

to devour my joy and chase away my peace

ever laughing as you go, flinging scorn and disdain?


come, troubler of spirits

rest here on my lap and tell me what fuels your frenzy

how comes your recent troubled flight into my thoughts?


sit with me

let us wait together for the rain

waterfalls often bring sprites in drops of tears and sweet dew.


for i know you like them so

abide here with me then - my familiar.


A Man's Poem - I Need

I need

I know I am able to stand alone
I know I can work hours and days
To build our home

When feelings rise that would weaken me
I know I will stride through them
Fearlessly

But tonight my love I need your hand
I need your touch
A heart to understand

I need to be weak and broken through
I need your passion
I need you

I know how to be decisively stern
I know I can remain
Standing firm

Lose or win I speak honestly
Clasped on to the task
I will believe

But tonight my love I need your hand
I need your touch
Your heart to understand

I need to be weak, helpless and lost
I need your passion
No matter the cost

I need to be weak and broken through
I need your passion
I need you

Old Guys Rule


Today was my birthday, and in honor of the milestone passing, I thought I would share an age related story from my life this past week. First we have to go back a couple of years...


My wife and I were vacationing in Bermuda when I spotted a T-Shirt that said, "Old Guys Rule." I loved it. As an 'aging man', it was affirming to read those words so proudly displayed. I made a mental note to check out into getting one. Months later, at Christmas I received not only the shirt but a white decal displaying those words.


"Old Guys Rule" turns out to be a bit of a retail movement with hats, shirts, decals, bags, etc. I now own several items sporting that motto. I find it playful, fun and affirming. The decal is displayed on the lower corner of my driver's side windshield. Over the last two years the only comments I have received have been positive. People like it. They seem to "get it" until one morning last week.

I was parked in front of my son's home waiting to pick him up when two woman walked by walking their dogs. One of them started talking to me through my closed car window. I rolled down the window to hear her and she pointed at the decal and asked, "Old Guys Rule?" I smiled and replied, "Yes." She snorted - yes actually snorted - and said, "Not over me they don't!"

What? Is it possible to affirm ANYTHING without offending someone? Well, I'm another year older today and I'm just saying, "OLD GUYS RULE!"

All Alone - A Poem About Solitude

All Alone

silence, worse still
the echoes of my own thoughts
voices cascading
endless cackling

senses strain to see
hear another here
amid the cavern of craving
infantile cries

then all certainty
more than breath
within the contractions of this case
another is with me

belief.