by Marty Coleman | Aug 10, 2010 | Anonymous, Christianity - 2011-2013 |
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Day #2 of ‘Religion Week’ at The Napkin Dad Daily
Well, there is Darwin Day, but besides that Atheism just can’t compete with other belief systems. Celebrating an idea without an event attached to it is not as easy as one might think. You can’t really put the Big Bang on a calendar so that one is a bit tricky to nail down.
One of the things I love best about religious holidays is that while there is usually a historical event being celebrated, there is also an idea that is being celebrated as well. You can celebrate both or one or the other.
My favorite holiday within my tradition is Christmas.
What is yours?
Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
Quote origination is unknown.
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by Marty Coleman | Jul 1, 2010 | Anonymous, Technology - 2010 |
Day #4 of Tech week here at The Napkin Dad Daily
On the other hand a computer is, ironically enough, a good reminder to take your time, smell the smoking electronics and enjoy life. If you are freaking out about how long everything takes on your computer you either have a slow computer (who doesn’t at one time or another) or you have unreal expectations.
Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
“Never let a computer know you are in a hurry.” – Anonymous
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by Marty Coleman | Jun 17, 2010 | Anonymous |
It’s the second day in a row that I found a fantastic quote online as I did my morning reading. I wrote it down so I wouldn’t lose it. Then of course I lost track of who posted it! Dang! If you did, tell me, ok?
I love this quote. It helps clarify both things by having comparative definitions. Innovation is usually attached to business oriented creative work. A management team is innovative. Or a chef/owner of a restaurant is innovative. It’s recognized by action.
But what about in your own individual life. Are you innovative? Are you open to new ways of doing simple every day things? Do you practice being open minded or are you closed to new methods? I am not proposing that all you do needs to be changed. The way I walk through my grocery store has already been created by me being innovative long ago. I don’t think I need to innovate in my trail through the store every time I go. Many things are fine just the way they are.
But what about the areas you aren’t all that sure are going well? What about your social or relationship life? Same old rut? Time to innovate. What about your attitude towards life in general and those around you in particular? Unhappy about the baggage you carry in that regard? Time to innovate.
Innovate means to do something new. To build in a new way, to function and respond in a new way. When the moment comes to do that, remember you are capable of acting and responding different. You are not trapped. When the moment comes, the small little moment to be kind, to forgive, to have a different attitude, remember you, and only you decide. There is nothing outside your own brain and body that is forcing you to behave or respond as you once did. Whatever action you take, it’s yours and as such you can choose, as hard as it might be, to choose differently.
Innovate the hell out of your life.
Drawing and commentary © Marty Coleman
“Creativity is thinking new things. Innovation is doing new things.” – Anonymous
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by Marty Coleman | Jun 9, 2010 | Anonymous, Self |
This is why self-pity has a timer on it. You are allowed just so much time for it, then the alarm goes off and you need to move on.
One thing I was only so-so successful at as a parent of daughters was teaching them certain things they would need to know as they became adults. Things I probably would have been more forceful in making sure a son knew. Things like changing tires, doing home improvement projects, working with power or manual tools. I tried, and I am sure they learned something, but I didn’t do it as much as I think I should have. Maybe they think I did ok in that department, but I know I could have done more.
Not knowing how to do something can lead to a feeling of incompetence and helplessness and not just about the immediate problem. It can infect much more of one’s life. When you don’t know even how to start solving a problem it is easy to devolve into giving up. Giving up is usually infected with paralysis, self-pity and unfairness.
- Why is this happening to me?
- So and so has more money
- So and so doesn’t have to deal with my issues
- I am disabled
- Nobody is nice to me
- I have no friends
- I don’t get treated fairly
- My work is harder than my friend’s work.
- I don’t get to have fun the way I want
- Woe is me
I say WOA to that, even IF it’s all true. It might give you ammunition in your hate for the unfairness of life, but that is all it will give you. Your satisfaction will be in your complaints. Will that really be satisfying? Won’t it be more satisfying to take action and climb the mountain? It might be squishing that spider, or fixing a leaky faucet, or moving on from a really destructive and crappy relationship. But as long as you are wallowing in self-pity, those accomplishments are not nearly as likely to happen.
Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
“Self-pity makes even the simplest problem almost impossible to solve.” – found via @dtcav on twitter
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by Marty Coleman | May 14, 2010 | Anonymous |
I think this is funny. But I don’t agree with it. I actually get quite bothered when people say something similar to me about their life. I usually want to schmack them upside the head and scream ‘Why are you being so negative, shut up and enjoy your good fortune!’
But there is something reassuring about this quote when you see everything going well for someone who is dishonest, mean, hurtful, prideful, ugly hearted and malicious. It’s called Karma in some cultures, and ‘what goes around comes around’ in others.
Whatever you call it, it’s a good thing to teach your children that while luck ebbs and flows, sometimes to people you don’t think deserve it, and sometimes to people you do, luck will change, life will even out in the end. Our attitude while we go through these ups and downs is the deciding factor in our success and happiness.
Drawing and commentary © Marty Coleman
“When everything is coming your way, you are in the wrong lane.” – Anonymous
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by Marty Coleman | Feb 6, 2010 | Anonymous, Heart - 2010 |
Day 5 of the Heart Series.
I have seen this to be true. They try and try and try to love and love and love. Then when that ‘too much love’ doesn’t stop the abuse or alcoholism or philandering or stupidity, they think it’s because they haven’t loved enough and the cycle starts over.
The strong woman, and in some cases the man, who can turn the corner and realize it isn’t the amount of love that is failing, it is the recipient of the love that is, will be able to get out of the situation and regain their emotional health.
Drawing and commentary © Marty Coleman
“To a woman in love, loving too much is not loving enough.” – Ms. or Mr. Anonymous
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by Marty Coleman | Jan 27, 2010 | Anonymous, Sweets - 2010 |
And it’s exercise as well!
Drawing © Marty Coleman
Quote by who knows
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by Marty Coleman | Nov 26, 2009 | Anonymous, Gratitude - 2010/2011, Thanksgiving |
When we are non-grateful we look at what is missing, what we want or feel we should have.
In art instruction there is a technique to help people see the object they are drawing by having them focus on the negative space. the space between and around objects and its shape. Seeing that helps to see the object.
However, in life seeing what isn’t there is a double edged sword. Should you work to attain what you want, work for that you do not have? Sure, it’s a good thing. But to look at what a person doesn’t give instead of what they do isn’t always the same thing. To look at what a society doesn’t give isn’t always the same thing.
Instead of focusing on what is missing, the negative space in your partner, your boss, your child, your society, your culture, focus on the positive space. The things they actually do and be grateful. It doesn’t mean you don’t try to attain something greater. It doesn’t mean you can’t say when your needs aren’t being met. It simply means you acknowledge what is really there.
I am grateful for those of you who read my blog and enjoy the drawings and ideas. I appreciate when you write and tell me stories about your own journey into becoming who you want to be. Thank you.
Drawing and commentary © Marty Coleman
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by Marty Coleman | Nov 12, 2009 | Anonymous |
So…all you pessimists out there, don’t say I never did anything for ya!
Drawing © Marty Coleman
“If it wasn’t for the optimist the pessimist would never know how happy he isn’t.” – Anonymous
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by Marty Coleman | Oct 29, 2009 | Anonymous, Halloween |
I don’t know, sounds like it could be pretty darn scary if you ask me!
Sorry for my absence yesterday, the graphics card on my computer went out and I didn’t get it together to hook up the scanner to my backup laptop until this morning. I hope you didn’t fall into the depths of despair without your napkin fix, but despair no more, they are back!
Drawing by Marty Coleman
“I bet living in a nudist colony takes all the fun out of Halloween.”
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