Opus of Thoughts

Be My Guide

Aren’t guide dogs amazing? There was a blind woman on my train this morning with her guide dog sat at her feet. I spent much of the journey watching what he did. Obediently waiting for instruction to lead his owner off the train. At every stop he would lift his head and look over the passengers who came through the doors. I find it fascinating that a dog can have such a profound impact on the life of a blind person.

There’s a woman who takes the train a few stops after me, when it’s full. She’ll ask the person sitting in the priority seat (for the elderly and pregnant) for the seat claiming to have an injury that means she can’t stand. It can go as far as her screaming at the occupant of the seat until they relent and give it up to her. This morning she charged on and realised “her” seat was taken by a blind woman. This realisation seemed to make her feel guilty about what she was about to do and she stood until a seat became available. I’ve never been convinced that there was anything wrong with her but can’t be sure. I do think now that there is nothing serious wrong and she just likes sitting down.

Note to self - Michael J Fox

When the time comes to chase your dreams, and it will, they may seem elusive; but know you won’t catch them all at once. Just one challenge at a time. 

When success comes, and it will, don’t gobble it up—savor and share it, and it will last. 

When love comes, and it will, don’t bury it in expectation and projection—be prepared to fall in love all over again every day. 

When the unexpected and inconceivable intrudes on life, and it will, deal with life’s actual events—don’t obsess about perceived eventualities. 

Relax—enjoy the ride. 
—Michael J. Fox, 50, actor and activist

The Dash By Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth

And spoke of the following date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time

That she spent alive on earth

And now only those who love her

Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,

The cars…the house…the cash.

What matters is how we live and love

And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;

Are there things you’d like to change?

For you never know how much time is left

That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough

To consider what’s true and real

And always try to understand

The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger

And show appreciation more

And love the people in our lives

Like we never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect

And more often wear a smile…

Remembering that this special dash

Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is read

With your life’s actions to rehash

Would you be proud of the things they say

About how you spent your dash?

Man in the Arena - Theodore Roosevelt

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

An invisible wink

Something strange happened on my journey home today. Standing as there wasn’t a seat I took a cursory glance around the carriage. The usual rabble was also on the journey home. In front of me sat 2 girls one listening to her music and the other taking out a notebook. I took my phone and started trawling through my emails. After I’d dealt with a couple I looked up again and looked over the passengers. The blue eyed girl listening to her music was also people watching like I was. I watched her watching others for a short time, then the girl with the notebook who looked to be drawing and went in to another email. When I looked up again the blue eyed girl was smiling broadly and looking at the drawing girls notebook. I peered in to the book and realised she was drawing a guy sat opposite her wearing a colourful woolly hat. Blue eyes caught me looking at the notebook and we shared a knowing smile. She vacated her seat at the next station and I took it. I continued to following the strokes of drawing girls crayon occasionally looking over at the boy. When she looked away he would look up at her and lightly smile, turning his head back down as she started looking up. He knew she was drawing him. I started concocting a narrative to what would happen next. Would he catch her eye next time?

Then came another stop and they both stood up. Walked towards the door and stood beside each other. He then put his arm around her shoulder and they left the train arm in arm.  

Another year

Everyone makes resolutions at this time of year. The ways in which they wish to change themselves. I’ve never done this because I’ll choose something that will never be kept or the turn of the year isn’t necessarily the time that I feel any need to change anything, This year is different for one reason, my resolution is work related. The end of the year meant the passing of a huge deadline and this should mean no more excessive working hours. I’ve worked a lot this year, sometimes in unsustainable conditions and it will now stop. So I will be working less. This should lead to more free time along with the removal of a few voluntary posts which I’ve relinquished. The free time will be used to regain the fitness that I lost last year, spending time with the friends whom I’ve neglected in the last year and study. I’m hoping to have a big exam session in the autumn so it will need extra time. 

Every year I write myself an message which I read at the end of the year. Everything anticipated in the following year and every important aspect of life is covered. Last years was surprisingly accurate. It made me think through the good and bad from the year. Overall it was a good year. There were a few blemishes but they may be addressed this year. The ‘resolutions’ that are never made but always stand are to take risks and to try things that I know are unlikely to work. I feel it’s important to attempt the ridiculous and don’t have the opportunity to do this very often since I stopped playing sports.  A well timed holiday brought with it situations and time that encouraged contemplation of a lot of things, which may prove important in the coming year. Time to write another letter to myself.

Happy new year.