My Grandpa’s Crabs

When I was young, my father was a General Secretary of village-track of four villages. My grandpa was a member of Board of Trustees of our village.

My father had meetings very often and my grandpa had meeting usually once per month or sometimes, twice per month. Though my grandpa had less meetings than my father, grandpa often had problem with people in the meetings because of his short-tempered and intolerant speaking outs, if he believed in something was true / right.

Any way, I remember that once, my grandpa came back home from a meeting and he was very angry and told me that “There were Crabs in the meeting.”
I asked my grandpa, “What did you mean by that?”
He said that there were two kinds of people like crabs:

The first kind; Siders
He said that crabs naturally could not go forward or backward, but side to side, which meant they were not leaders, at the same time, not followers. So what? They are just - Crabs!

The second kind; Dropping Down each other
My grandpa explained that you put the crabs into a little tall pot. You did not need to cover the pot, not because of the crabs could not climb up to the top of the pot, but because of (whoever was going to the high place,) they pulled down each other. They could not go outside. They could be pulling down each other enough. So what? They are just - Crabs!


Picture: http://martinscrabs.com/martinscrabs/Images/Live%20Blue%20Crabs.jpg

Meanings of the Given Names (R)

Roosevelt = Rose Field

People often ask me about - what does my name mean. Sometimes, I also ask other peoples if his or her name means something. These are not important but it is good to know about each other in our cultures of mankind. For my friends who want to know, the meanings of (Western) given names:

Men’s Names (R)

Radford: (Old English) Red ford
Ralph: (Germanic) Counsel, wolf
Ramsey: (Old English) Ram’s isle
Randal, Randolph: (Germanic) shield, wolf
Raphael: (Hebrew) Healed by God
Raymond: (Germanic) Counsel, protection
Reginald: (Germanic) Might, power
Reuben: (Hebrew) Behold a son; substitute
Rex: (Latin) King
Richard: (Germanic) Rule, hard
Robert, Robin: (Germanic) Fame, bright
Roderick: (Germanic) Rule, rule
Rodney: (Old English) Road, servant
Roger: (Germanic) Fame, wolf
Roland: (Germanic – Scottish) Might, power
Roosevelt: (Dutch) Rose field
Roscoe: (Old English) Rose, wood
Ross: (Germanic) Horse; promontory
Roy: (Celtic-Old French) Red; king
Rudolph: (Germanic) Fame, wolf
Rufus: (Latin) Red-haired
Russell: (Old French) Little red; red head

Women’s Names (R)

Rachel: (Hebrew) Ewe
Rebecca: (Hebrew) Cow; snare
Regina: (Latin) Queen
Rhea: (Greek) From Rhea, the goddess of fertility
Rhoda: (Greek) Rose
Rita, Reta: (Greek) Pearl
Roberta: (Germanic) Fame, bright
Rosa, Rose, Rosalie: (Latin) A rose
Rosamond: (Germanic) Horse, protection
Rosemary: (Latin) From the shrub rosemary; dew of the sea
Ruby: (Latin) From the gem ruby; red
Ruth: (Hebrew-Germanic) Friend, beauty; fame

Picture: http://image59.webshots.com/59/1/30/47/2627130470071661067NYYRpD_ph.jpg

Source: Smith, Elsdon C. “Vocabulary of Given Names.” The World Book Dictionary. 1968.

Meanings of the Given Names (Q)

Quentin = Fifth

People often ask me about - what does my name mean. Sometimes, I also ask other peoples if his or her name means something. These are not important but it is good to know about each other in our cultures of mankind. For my friends who want to know, the meanings of (Western) given names:


Men’s Names (Q)

Quentin: (Latin) The fifth
Quincy: (Old French-Latin) Quintus’ estate

Women’s Names (Q)

Queenie: (Old English) Wife of a king
Quintina: (Latin) The fifth born


Picture: https://www.lapuliabookofshadows.com/merchantmanager/images/uploads/Fifth%20Element.jpg

Source: Smith, Elsdon C. “Vocabulary of Given Names.” The World Book Dictionary. 1968.

What do I learn from Master Golfers?

Last Sunday, our family visited my sister and brother-in-law for Easter dinner. During the dinning time, I was also watching the masters’ series of golf tournament. There were top golfers, such as Tiger Wood, Campbell, Perry and Cabrera.

Those masters had different and similar styles of shot, measurement, twist and swing etc. Nevertheless, I noticed that they all had one same thing, which was found in every top golfer; it was ‘Carefulness.’ Whether it was long or short, far or close, they all took care of every shot very attentively. Even for the shot of less than two feet away, they made practiced swings two to three times before they actually shot. I also noticed that some golfers, like Cabrera who won the Green Jacket on that tournament took notes in his little notebook about his shot/s, especially when he made bad shot/s.

If we say that golfers’ investments are their shots, all master golfers make their investments very carefully, much more than many other investors. In other words, whether small or large, short term or long term, every single investment is significant!

Thanks and have a good day!


Picture: http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/apr2009/6/0/angel-cabrera-pic-getty-7254147.jpg

Today, I lost one of my grand opportunities.

Today, when I went to school, there was an election in our school; the election of Student Leadership Council and student trustee. My class began at 6:00 and when I passed the election area, it was about 5:56. The candidates offered me to vote. I felt I did not have time to vote and rather than that, I felt I did not have right to vote, since I am not a citizen, yet.

At 7:30, we had a break time about for 15 minutes. I quickly walked into the election area to make sure if I have right to vote or not (as an enrolled student). The process was over and two people were collecting things around. I asked them if I had a right to vote. One of them said “Yes.” I did not need to be a citizen; just a college student was fine, but time was over. He said he was sorry for me. I felt I was more than sorry.

For misunderstanding, I lost one of my grand opportunities, which is only we can have in democratic societies on this planet that to choose our leaders by ourselves. It is one of my big dreams to give leader/leaders the opportunity by myself to lead me/us in small of large communities.

I lost this one because of misunderstanding, but I am sure that I will have many more opportunities in future. Let it be. I am sorry for our student leader candidates to lose my vote, too.

One day, even I will be one of the candidates as it is also one of my rights in a Democratic Society! Thanks.

Picture: http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/columnists/jimbaumbach/blog/vote-button.jpg

Today, I found my Zone!

In my life, I very often deal with things with the nature of up and down, though I believe by myself that there are many things I can absolutely accomplish.

For example, I could study and be successful in the field, but a few years later, I could not be interested in any more in studying. I could begin to work on a project and, in the beginning, that could be highly successful and before the project has finished, I could change my mind to stop it.

There are many similar matters like I write above examples in my life. And I don’t totally like by myself for it. So, why have been those things happening? I was asking and answering this question for several years, already. This morning, I found the Zone! It is because of my mind, which is based in the Buddha’s teachings. How? Let me explain you. First of all, I am not a social religious person but I deeply read and learn the religions thoughts, especially the Buddha’s teachings. And then, the Buddha’s teachings are always based upon things like – ‘loving-kindness,’ ‘tolerance,’ ‘sympathy,’ ‘empathy,’ ‘middle path,’ ‘everything is impermanent,’ and so on and so forth.

All of those things are also painful truths and badly good enough. For example, I totally believe and it is also universal truth that – ‘Everything is impermanent.’ While I am working on something so hard and also having highly successes, alternatively, I begin to consider the idea of ‘nothing is permanent.’ Whatever it happened, that will be erased one day; whatever it rise, that will fall one day; whatever I gain today, I will lose it one day, sooner or later; etc. So, what I gonna do? I have to try almost nothing because any success will be gone one day. Even by myself, I will die any time, any day, sooner or later. When that idea comes into my mind, I often begin to stop whatever I am doing, happening, being successful, gaining or losing. This becomes key reason for me to stop almost all my works.

Alright. As the next step, what I realize is – though I deeply concern with religious thoughts, I am not a priest or a monk, for the time being. I am a man, a married man with three children, which means I must think and act like a man. I have to do what I have to do. I have to try on things what I want to accomplish till the last second of my life. The important thing is, to remember by myself that - to distinguish between real, practical life matters and religious thoughts.

Though it will be impermanent one day, there are many things to try to accomplish (in the bottom line) to be permanent at present. I will prepare to enter into the ring.

Thank you and have a good day!

Picture: http://www.komar.org/faq/camera/auto-focus-test/micro-auto-focus-test-1.gif

How to deal with anxiety / depression? Go by the Middle Path!

Have you ever seen people who died because of extremely happy? You could.
Have you ever seen people who died because of extremely sad? You could.

Why do those kinds of things happened for human beings who are the most intelligent and powerful living creatures on the earth? The answer is very simple; because of lack of controlling over their emotions.

Actually, there are too many things to be happy in our lifetimes. Yet, of cause, there are also too much matters to be unhappy in everybody’s lifetime. Whether it is the matter to be happy or to be sad, we just have to deal with it, with dignity, control, cold mind and cold heart as we are human beings.

The best way to deal with those emotions is – to go by the middle path. With consciousness, please do not allow to be too much happy by yourself though you could become a billionaire from homeless or those kinds of other similar happenings. At the same time, again, with consciousness, please do not allow to be too much sad by yourself though you lose everything you own or you have, from your money and job to house and spouse.

Long time ago, during the Buddha’s era, one day, a woman lost her husband because a snake bite him in the forest. A few hours later she lost her husband, she lost her little baby as well because a big bird swooped in the baby. The woman became almost a mad person for her extreme grief. Finally, she arrived in front of the Buddha and not only had she told about her worst life in the world, but she also asked the Buddha to make her husband and son to relive, if the Buddha was a real super power. The Buddha spoke her with kindest words to ease her grief and also he said that he could be available to help the lady’s husband and son to relive if she could do something what the Buddha requested. The woman said she could do whatever the Buddha requested to do. The Buddha’s request to the woman was to search a little piece of turmeric from any household, which has no family member ever died.

With deepest grief, the woman went on one household to another and asked if any household never had experience with dead family member/s or not. The woman found that family member/s died in every household or every family. Finally, she came back to the Buddha without any piece of turmeric and she also began to deeply realize the truth that all human beings were born to die one day, by any mean by any reason.

Then, the Buddha said that everybody had easy and difficult parts, happiness and unhappiness, gain and lost, successful and unsuccessful matters, up and down, rise and fall, and so on; whatever it was, as human beings, we just needed to control those emotions, whether it was for happiness or sadness; going by the middle path.

As we learn from the above story, we all will have happiness and sadness, ups and downs, rise and fall, etc; but to not to let us be out of control. If we find something to be happy, yes, we must be happy; if we face something to be unhappy, yes, we suppose to be unhappy; but to not to be extremists for those emotions because after we are happy or sad in one point, there are many things still to do and many similar emotions to face.

Please do not forget that there is always somebody who is worse than you are.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

We respect all colors!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Picture: http://www.dooleys-hotel.ie/content/images/st%20patricks%20day.jpg

Losing Freedom or Being Master? None!

A couple weeks ago, I watched Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Bird.” It was an incredible and creative film.

In one of the scenes, I noticed that one of the protagonists caught a bird and it took only a couple minutes to catch. Nevertheless, what I have also noticed was, it would take days or weeks or months or years to maintain that bird in the cage.

For the bird, it was obvious that she could not have true freedom.

She could be eating what the masters fed, while the other natural birds were fondly and freely searching and eating foods what they wanted.

She could be listening to the sounds what masters made or masters listened to, while the other natural birds were talking and singing around; making and listening to sounds what they wanted.

She could be seeing the same views where near around her, every single day, while the other natural birds were looking at the views; feeling in the beauties of natural views.

She could be flying from this side to that side of the cage (no longer than two feet), while the other natural birds were flying under the sky as longer as they could; as much as they wished.

She could probably be thinking how to escape from the cage, which part she should firstly eat (the same kind of) food that the masters feed every day, while the other natural birds were thinking, considering and creating things as much as they could.

(If we make more brainstorming, there could be more things to write the differences between the bird in the cage and the natural birds with freedom.)

Any way, how about in the side of human master/s?

They had to take care of that bird.
They had to feed the foods to the bird.
They had to defense from the enemies of the bird.
They had to clean bird’s cage (poops, etc).
Basically and precisely, they had to take total responsibility on that bird. I mean they had to pay the price for the appreciation of having a bird in the cage.

Then, you may ask me which one I would like to be – the bird (in the cage) or the masters?
My answer is – Neither one!

I only want to see natural birds that are flying and singing around under the sky as a normal, usual man, before I die.

I want neither one of losing my freedom or being a master!

I don’t want to lock my brain, my feelings, my senses, my creations, my ability and I don’t want to lock on the others, as well!

Thank you!

Picture: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3043/3016077070_5135c41eda.jpg

What do I learn from Wii Sports?

A few months ago, we went for dinner to one of our friends’ house and we (our family) introduced Wii there for the first time. My 5 year old son, Izana and I liked playing Wii sports very much.

Last month, my wife bought a Wii set as special present for us. Since then, we play Wii sports very often.

There are five kinds of sports those we can play in the Wii set, which we have:
- Tennis
- Bowling
- Baseball
- Golf, and
- Boxing.

I often play Tennis, bowling and golf. (I rarely play baseball and boxing.) As far as I play, I notice the following terms in playing Tennis, Bowling and Golf.

TennisThe important thing, which I learn from playing tennis, is – we do not need to be good at striking all the time in playing tennis. I will say it is 50/50. In the game, we do not need to offense all the time. Offensive is only concerned for 50 percent. We just need to play with a right force and right hit, regularly. That regular playing makes the other 50 percent to win, because of our opponent’s false. This mean, in the game, like tennis, sometimes you just need to be a regular player with right hits, because of the others’ mistakes, you get the score.

Bowling
In bowling, this is little tricky - for the most times, the ball hits ‘strike’ when we throw with a twist. For example, right handed people need to throw the ball to (a little bit) right with a curve, but the ball will actually hit to one-third of left side. Then, it makes ‘strike,’ and player gets the highest score. For the left handed player, it is also vice-versa.

Golf
There are only a few things, such as your legs and handle positions to take care of (in present). Let us say it is only about 15 percent. The other 85 percent depends on your way to focus to the hole / flag (future).

Conclusion
Therefore, when we play the games like tennis, bowling and golf,
- Be a regular player.
- Try to throw the ball with a curve, rather than just throwing straight forwardly.
- Focus on future where 85 percent of finished line depends on.

Thank you and be the winner!

Picture: http://www.get-free-wii.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/wiisports.jpg