2016 in Review

Istiqlál (Independence), 19, Masá’il (Questions), 173 BE - Friday, December 30, 2016 AD about 6:29 AM Pacific Standard Time 

It's been a good year 

And it's been a bad year 

Through all the stress and mess 

The coffee has remained hot and strong 

While the chocolate has remained dark and sweet 

 There are a lot of things about 2016 that have pissed me off, but since there's not much I can do about that now I have to move into the future with a smile on my face and a cup of strong hot coffee in my hand. Two things that have put a smile on my face is hot coffee and dark chocolate, as long as I have those two along with a prayer book then I can face the weird events that will occur in the coming year. 

Midweek Reflections on 2016

'Idál (Justice), 17, Masá’il (Questions), 173 BE - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 AD about 7:01 AM Pacific Standard Time 

As I look back over the past year, I realize that it's been an interest, stressful, and polarizing. This year humanity seems to be divided into two groups which consist as them and us. Them is defined as anyone of a different color, nationality, religion, political persuasion, etc. While us refers to a group of people that have several of these things in common. These perceived divisions divide humanity into warring factions and encourage separation into armed camps. 

No matter what an individual's politics, religion, color, or nationality we all have more in common than we realize. We need to take a broader view. Instead of focusing on the difference, which separate us, we need to focus on the things that unite us. If we don't know what these are then we have to look for them and this means we have to get out of the cubicles we've placed ourselves in. We can do this by communicating with those of different colors, religions, political persuasions, and nationalities honestly. By honestly I mean putting aside any preconceived ideas we have about what other people believe or think. 

We can't meet others on common ground if we hold onto our prejudices and preconceived ideas about them. Humanity is moving into a new stage of social and spiritual evolution in which we need to meet other human beings on the common ground we share rather than behind the wall that separate our human species into them and us. 

Motivational Monday: Contemplations at the end of the year – A Poem

Kamál (Perfection), 16, Masá’il (Questions), 173 BE - Monday, December 26, 2016 AD about 11:11 AM Pacific Standard Time 

As another Gregorian year draws to an end 

I contemplate my 2016 successes 

And failures. 

My conscious mind knows 

That those failures let 

To my successes. 

My subconscious mind whispers 

Encouragement  

For the coming year. 

If I left anything undone 

There are still five days left 

To accomplish more 

Before 2016 gives birth to 2017; 

I may not be able to complete 

Everything I wanted to in 2016, 

But I can finish a few more things. 

On the First Thankful Thursday of December 2016

Istijlál (Majesty), 10 Qawl (Speech), 173 BE - Thursday, December 1, 2016 AD about 12:32 PM Pacific Standard Time 

The year is drawing to a very cold end and expensive end. I have to get my driver's license renewed on or before December 24. In addition to the driver's license I need to get the breaks worked on in the car which will cost about $150.00 with parts and labor. I also have other bills to pay and this means I'm probably way over budget for the month of December. 

This situation caused me some trepidation and tears this morning. It made me wonder what I have to be thankful for. I said some prayers and requested two small checks from some survey groups I participate in. I am still bothered about raising the rest of the money, but at least I have a bit over $50.00 coming in. I do not know where the rest of the money is going to come from; however, I am putting that situation in God's hands and will continue to pray about it. 

Today I am thankful... 

...that my bank account is not overdrawn; 

...that I still have an active internet connection to my apartment; 

...for fresh brewed Folgers black silk coffee; 

...for the prayers revealed by The Bab and Baha'u'llah; 

...that I have a paid up membership on writing.com until June 30, 2017; 

...that despite all the difficulties I am facing I can still find something to be thankful for; 

...that I received a beautiful Christmas card through the mail a couple of days ago. 

...that I have a flannel nightgown to keep me warm at night. 

...that I have a picture of 'Abu'l-Baha sitting on the T.V. stand next to my computer desk. 

...for Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches. 

Midweek Reflections on Consolidating my Efforts

‘Idál (Justice), 8 ‘Izzat (Might), 173 BE - Wednesday, September 14, 2016 AD about 10:09 AM Pacific Daylight Time 

There is a little over three months left in 2016 and I haven't accomplished all the goals I set in January. Therefore, I'm going to consolidate my efforts and cut down the blog post to every-other-day. I have decided to focus on this blog and my writing.com blog. I might make an exception to that if I finish rewriting and editing Scavengers this month. I have another Poet 999 blog, which I might drop all together. I'll make that decision by October 31. 

My focus for the rest of this month is accomplishing the wiring project I'm committed to do and finding a way to pay the power bill and the internet bill. I have all the other bills taken care of, with the exception of any meds I have to purchase the rest of the month. I think I have enough meds to last the rest of September, so it's the electricity and the internet that's the issue right now. 

That's all for now, unless I manage to find time to post to my writing.com blog today. I have to rewrite or edit two more chapters in Scavengers before I can respond to any blog prompts from my writing.com blog groups. I think the only other writing project I have this week is an entry for a contest on writing.com. I'm participating in the I Write August-September-October challenge and I need to enter one contest each week and then  post the information on the challenge forum. 

Tuesday Afternoon Thoughts

Fidal (Grace), 14 Jamál (Beauty), 173 BE - Tuesday, May 10, 2016 about 2:32 PM Pacific Daylight Time 

It's Tuesday afternoon of the second week in May 2016. The year seems to be flying past with one day barely ending before another begins. I'm sitting in front of my computer composing this blog entry while somewhere in my neighborhood a dog is barking. I'm not getting up to see why the dog is barking because by the time I got out the front door the dog would no longer be barking. 

The day seems to  pass slowly but the week is swift in its passing. It seems like just yesterday it was the beginning of the week, but now we are almost half over. As I pause to contemplate the passage of time while eating a grape  I wonder where the past four months have gone. I'm not sure that I've accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish by this time. I still have several months to go before celebrating another year, so I have a little time to accomplish the things I want. 

I know if I push myself I can get a few goals accomplished before the end of 2016. I have to push myself harder then I've been doing. I also have to look at my 2016 goals again. I think the last time I looked at them was in January. I remember one of them, which is the one I will accomplish by the end of May. I'll have to look at the rest to remind myself of what they are. 

Thankful Thursday: The Last Thankful Thursday in April 2016

Istijlal (Majesty), 2 Jamál (Beauty), 173 BE - Thursday, April 28, 2016 about 8:14 AM Pacific Daylight Time 

It is the last thankful Thursday in April 2016, I give thanks for fresh brewed hot black coffee. I also give thanks for hot coffee with rich chocolate Ovaltine in it. In fact I have a lot of things to be thankful for this month and this year. 

I am thankful that I am still alive. At 69 years old I think that is an excellent achievement. I am also thankful for the ability to write poems, stories, and blog entries. Writing these things helps me remember the things I am thankful having and not having. 

Sometimes it is important for a person to realize the things one does not have. Knowing the things I do not have that would only cause me more stress is important. I have to watch my blood pressure, so the less stress I have the better off I am. 

I am grateful that all my prayers have been answered. God has answered everyone of my prayers. Sometimes the answer is no. Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes the answer is maybe. I know that these answers reveal God's love for me. 

I am grateful for Food Banks where I can receive much needed free food because my fixed income is fixed below the poverty level. Without the combination of the food I receive from the food banks, senior commodities, and SNAP I would either starve or become homeless because I would have to make a choice between food and shelter. 

I am grateful that I have a roof over my head and the ability to pay the power bill. I am also grateful that I have an air conditioner in my apartment because summer temperatures in Las Vegas rises into the triple digits. I am grateful that I can afford my medication. There are other things I am grateful to have; however, I will not list them at this time. I might list some of them in other Thankful Thursday entries. 

Midweek Reflections on Panic Day 2016

'Idal (Justice), 9 Alá’ (Lofitines), 172 BE - Wednesday, March 9, 2016 about 12:00 PM Pacific Standard Time

March 9 is Panic Day. I discovered this when I did a search for Weird Holidays in March 2016. I didn't discover the reason for this day nor who decided it should occur on March 9 every year. I'm sure whoever named the day and picked the date had a good reason for this choice.

My mode of panic depends on a number of things, but usually I don't panic until after the emergency is over. I know that panic doesn't do any good. I also know that sometimes panic can be dangerous. I know both of these from personal experience and witnessing other people who panic. Another thing I discovered about panic is that it doesn't do any good to panic when you're along. Panic gets a much better response when you have an audience.

Sundry Sunday: The Fourth Sunday of January 2016

Jamal (Beauty), 6 Sulṭán (Sovereignty), 172 BE - Sunday, January 24, 2016 about 10:02 AM Pacific Standard Time

It's the fourth Sunday in January 2016
on the east coast they are digging
of the Blizzard of 2016,
while here in Las Vegas
the temperature is a brisk 56 degrees
with the sun shining
on ground that isn't covered
by snow.

Brisk may not be a precise description of the weather here in Las Vegas. To me the air feels cold and enlivening, but I'm not sure how fresh it is. I think there is something in the air that's causing my sinuses to act up; however, I could feel that way because it's too cold to open the door to let the fresh air in. It will be too cold to open the door until Wednesday or Thursday when the temperature is predicted to rise into the mid sixties.

The sun is shining,
but I don't hear birds singing:
Are they still asleep?

I haven't heard the birds sing in the morning for several weeks, not since the morning temperatures descended into the fifties. Maybe the birds like higher morning temperatures. If that's the case then they won't sing until afternoon when the temperatures rise into the high fifties or low sixties. All though, I don't think the temperature is supposed to get above 58 or 59 degrees today. Oh ell, it will get hot soon enough, I guess I should enjoy the cooler pleasant temperatures while they last. It doesn't do any good to grip about the weather anyway.

Enjoying the sun
and the beautiful blue sky
without snow cover.

 

Thankful Thursday: The first Thankful Thursday in 2016

Istijlal (Majesty), 8 Sharaf (Honor), 172 BE - Thursday, January 7, 2016 about 12:10 PM Pacific Standard Time

On the first Thankful Thursday in 2016,
I contemplate the New Year
and wonder
what joyful surprises God has in store
for me.

This past year, I attempted to keep a ten-item gratitude list everyday. Sometimes I found ten items to be thankful for and sometimes I found less then five, but I always found something to be grateful for. As a results of this effort to give thanks everyday my attitude has changed. I am less worried about things and I put more faith in God. I found that the only way to change worry to faith it to be grateful for what I have.

Midweek Reflections on 2015

'Idal (Justice), 19 Masá’il (Questions), 172 BE - Wednesday, December 30, 2015 about 8:51 AM Pacific Standard Time

It's been an interesting year and a stressful year. Why are interesting years always stressful years? I moved from a studio apartment into a two bedroom apartment. Two months latter a friend moved in with me to help with the housekeeping and cooking. I'm eating better because my diet is much more balanced. I don't eat a balanced diet if I have to cook for myself.

I appear to be catching up on some of my bills. It is easier to pay the power bill in this apartment then in the other one, but I'm not sure why. Perhaps this apartment is better insulated or the rooms are better arranged. I don't know how else you could arrange the rooms in a studio apartment; I just had a living area and a bathroom. This apartment has a two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a living room, but, so far, the electric bill was cheaper then in the studio. However, that may change next year.

This year I was able to purchase two new dresses, a blouse, a fanny pack, a hat, and a new hoodie. I still have to go through my closet because the blouse I put on this morning seems a little tight, so I may end up giving it away in January. I'll decide that when I take it off later today.

As I said, 2015 was an interesting and stressful year. I'm no longer feeling stress which may have something to do with my diet. It could also be that I'm being more conscious about putting stressful situations in God's hands. I'm glad things seem to be leveling out and praying that things continue at the same pace in the coming year.