Like a broken bone leaving its mark, there are events we experience which can change us forever. They can break us into tiny pieces or make us or make us better when put back together again.

The break can come as a result of a long-standing relationship, which abruptly comes to an end; or perhaps from losing a job we thought was stable but turned sour in the end. Maybe a moment of inattention caused an accident resulting in a broken bone; or it might be that we are in wrong place at the wrong time, for someone else’s imprudent acts. Social or political situations can cause us to emigrate to other parts of the world; and other situations can cause us to feel like foreigners right where we are.

Time and time again, history tells us that most important isn’t what happens to us, rather how we react to it. Depending on the severity of the fracture we experience, sometimes a little rest is all we need to recover. At other times, more time and energy are required to get back on track again. Ultimately how we heal depends on many different factors, some internal and others external.

External factors are difficult to control, and in many cases, there is little to no chance of changing them. Internal factors are an entirely different situation. How we perceive what is happening is paramount to its resolution. We can play the role of the victim, blaming everyone and everything for out troubles; or we can play the role of the hero, taking responsibility for our thoughts and actions.

Which role do you choose to play?

∞ Rob McBride ∞
3 July 2023

Recently, I was asked to share my thoughts and ideas with a Rotary Club. As part of the request, they asked for me to provide them with a recent photo, my title, and a brief biography. While the photo and the biography are a piece of cake to put together, the question about my current “Title” threw me off guard and got me to thinking about the question:

What’s in a title?

From the time we are born, we are assigned different roles and titles. Here are some I have held over the years, roughly in chronological order:

While most, if not all, of these titles and roles explain what I have done or my relationship to others, I don’t believe any of them describe me as a person or who I really am. It occurs to me that titles can be thrown around fairly easily. Sometimes they are given with a raise, while at others they are given instead of one. Many titles are designed to impress others, despite those who have them not actually having done anything to earn or deserve them. Other titles are given at birth without any particular merit or work to achieve them.

One title which is in vogue is that of Coach, and many have referred to me as such over the years. Though I don’t typically correct people when they call me a Coach, since I do like to help people reach their objectives, I’ve never really considered myself as one. Many people have studied long and hard to become certified coaches, something I have not done nor am I particularly interested in doing at this time. With so many excellent “Life Coaches” running around, it doesn’t seem to me like the world needs another one.

For the last several years I have referred to myself as a Writer, since lately I haven’t actively pursued my speaking career. Nevertheless, this title doesn’t really seem to accurately reflect who I currently am, my interests, or what I do. As to the request I received about my current title, I decided to resist the temptation of simply giving my standard response of being a Writer, and instead decided to dig a little further to see if I could come up with something which defines who I really am as a person, and not just what I do, or my relationship to others.

I am a big fan of the questions beginning with the words: who, what, where, when, why, and how. When framed properly, these questions can help us to get to the bottom of most things we need to figure out, if we really take the time to answer them honestly, and not just go through the motions of doing so to try and impress others. So, I started with the question:

Who am I?

In my quest, my cousin Stuart, told me of an exercise he used to give his new recruits when he worked as a Navy Recruiter. He would ask them to come up with one word which best described themselves. Much can be discovered about a person, he explained, not only with the word they choose, but more importantly with the explanation of why they chose it. As I pondered and considered the question, this is the one word I came up to describe myself:

Light

I even composed a very simple song with the same title. I am convinced that my mission here on Earth and in life has to do with providing light and guidance to those who need or seek it. After believing for several years that everyone could benefit from what I have to say, I am now convinced that not everyone needs or wants to hear what I have to say; but fortunately for me, some do. When there is already light present and things are clear, no additional illumination is generally needed, but when things are dark and it’s difficult to see anything, a little light can go a long way.

Nevertheless, it seems a bit odd to respond to the question, “What are you?”, by saying, “I am light.” As such, I have expanded a bit on the definition of who I am and what I do as follows:

I provide peace, love, and hope giving light to those who need or want it. Perhaps on my next business card I can simply state my title as: Light Guy.

What about you?

Does your title accurately reflect who you are, or simply reflect what you do?

If you could describe yourself with one word, what would it be?

How would you describe who you are and what you do?

∞ Rob McBride ∞
9 Oct 2022

Have you ever noticed that things stay pretty much the same, and yet at the same time can also be so very different?

The Earth continues its trek around the sun, the moon around the Earth, and first light comes just before dawn on the eastern horizon. The daily news is filled with war, hate, dispute, and unfairness. Politicians jockey for position, the middle class looks around in confusion, and the lower class finds making a living increasingly difficult. The song remains the same over the ages of time.

Natural disasters, scientific discoveries, new sources of power and our natural ingenuity all come together to make each day the same, yet also very different from any other. Wars are often waged in words and are won or lost based on who you ask, and whats more, in many cases it’s unclear if there is ever a winner.

Depending on the season, various groups are targeted for hate, be it because they are Jewish, gay, or simply have a different opinion or lifestyle from others. Those in power politically pretty much stay the same, though they trade positions now and then as those who do cross into their world come up the ranks seeking to find their own place in the vast machine of power and control. Those who depend on someone else for a paycheck are constantly looking over their shoulder to make sure their golden egg isn’t taken away from them when they’re not looking, and those who have little or none seem to have even less as time goes on.

While all of these things are a sign of our times, we find them also in virtually any society in recorded history, and they will likely exist for the foreseeable future.

We are a result of our thoughts, and depending on what we put into our mind, we will get different results. If we are constantly talking about how bad the weather is, how terrible politicians are, and focusing on each and every negative aspect we come across, we will be lucky if we can make it out of bed in the morning to face another day.

If, on the other hand, we can realize that all kinds of weather serve an important function in our ecosystem, and as such, any weather is good weather, regardless of how bad it may seem to us mere mortals. Rain gives much needed moisture, wind helps to remove dead branches from trees which no longer need them and to pollinate flowers. The sun warms us, nourishing us with her presence even when its cloudy.

Politicians are neither good or bad as group, though individually some leave much to be desired. They simply are a distinct breed who operate in a world difficult for most of us fully understand. The majority start with good intentions and some are able to make outstanding contributions to their communities. Most end up positioning themselves for power in a game of favors which has been around since the beginning of time.

We can focus on the good or the bad we see in the world and in people. No doubt we can find both if we look hard enough. Instead of imagining the world as we would like it to be, we can be more realistic in our expectations. Rather than wishing things would stay the same and being disappointed when they are not, we can instead accept that some things will change regardless of our wishes, and when they take a turn for the worse, all we can ever possibly do is to continue moving forward one step at a time and day by day.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
12 Aug 2022
LL V 20

We all learn many lessons as we travel along the byways of life. Following are some I have learned:

• I am grateful for this day
• I empower the past
• I have hope for the future
• I live in the moment
• I take action today
• I keep busy
• I do what is important
• I am useful to others
• I believe in a higher power

As you look through this list, you can see that each comes in the form of an affirmation. This too is another lesson I have learned. While affirmations may sound strange initially, especially if we are not walking the talk; our mind obeys the instructions we give it. Affirmations bring our hopes and dreams into the present.
We can easily present these same lessons as declarations:

• I will be grateful for this day
• I will empower the past
• I will have hope for the future
• I will live in the moment
• I will take action today
• I will keep busy
• I will do what is important
• I will be useful to others
• I will believe in a higher power

Declarations often sound very nice and noble, but can come up short for one simple reason, they depend on our “will” and our “willpower” can flag when we need it most to achieve our goals and objectives. It’s not enough to know what we want. We all want something in life, but to get there, we most often have to do something more than sitting around hoping it may someday happen.

Affirmations are much different. They don’t talk about what we might one day do, rather about what we can do, right now.

Why is this important and why should you care?

Our minds are like gardens. The better we take care of them, the more amazing they can become. If we are filling our thoughts with vague notions of what our lives might one day be, our minds can easily overlook the information as no more than another item on our never-ending list of To Do’s.

A lack of willpower can quickly douse the greatest of plans. Rather than conditioning our minds to do something in the future, we can instead prepare the garden of our mind with rich, fertile soil to grow and prosper to its full potential by using affirmations which indicate exactly what we need to do, to get to where we want to be.

Over the years I have made many declarations to myself, and others, with varying degrees of success. Of the most important of my lessons learned in life, I am convinced it makes much more sense to affirm what we want in life right now than declare what may one day be.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
17 Mar 2022
LL V 19

Like the wind, opportunity is almost always present, yet rarely evident. Sometimes it sneaks up on us like a gentle breeze, while at others it can knock us over with its force.

Most often we are submerged in our own little worlds, virtually unaware of its presence. Some successfully harness its power to better their lot in life, while others brace themselves against it, preferring to stand fast where they are as it whirls about, rarely considering it as anything more than a nuisance. Many of us complain about our lack of opportunity, yet it is available to all who are willing use its strength to take us to places we never thought possible.

Like a sailboat which uses the wind to get from one place to the next, we too use opportunity to get around. Much of the time, like a boat anchored in port, we rise and fall with the tide, seeking to escape from the wrath of the winds force when it becomes too strong. Yet, if we play our cards right, it can take us to faraway places and amazing new spaces, if only we are willing to unfurl our sails and garner its strength.

Like a sailor who learns to sail the ocean blue by harnessing the wind, we too can also learn to use opportunity to our benefit, rather than simply bracing against it. While we can take advantage of opportunity before we are prepared for it, being ready for it allows us to best utilize its power. The right opportunity without proper preparation can lead us to a seemingly endless sea of nothingness, or perhaps even leave us stranded on some deserted isle.

From the time we are born, to our final days, the winds of change and opportunity take us here and there.

Have you ever thought about this?

The history books are filled with stories of those who go from rags to riches by effectively using opportunity to their best advantage. So too we find accounts of how many who are born in the lap of luxury, and seemingly endless opportunities, yet end up crashing into the rocks of some unknown coast, leading no where.

What makes the difference?

Life plays no favorites. We are all given 24 hours a day and 365 days a year to do as we please, though often we don’t think this is so. The fact is that we can remain as we are, resisting the winds of change and opportunity which threaten to take us to unknown places, or we can fill our sails with its force to take us where we want to go. While many stand firm refusing to budge against its power, others are take hold of opportunity flowing with it, rather than resisting it.

Many say luck is when opportunity meets preparation. So too is the case when the winds of change beckon us to succumb to its ever-present force. If we take an opportunity before we are properly prepared, we can end up someplace else, though we can learn from the experience as it takes us there. Contrarily, being properly prepared for opportunity when it comes our way can take us to new, exciting ports in exotic and interesting places.

Life brings opportunity daily, but on us it depends whether it leads us to frustration and failure, or to outstanding, fabulous success. Rather than resisting the winds of change and opportunity, we can prepare for them and then take them, so they may guide us to achieve our greatest desire.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
18 Dec 2021
LL V 17

A reflection over this present moment as it relates to the past and to the future.

Why are we all here?

What is this all for?

As for me, I’m not really sure, but I do know that there seems to be some grand plan behind all we have before us, and take granted for, on a daily basis. Could it be simple chance that everything works so perfectly? The sun and the clouds, the mountains and the streams, the birds and the bees, as well as you and me?

Doesn’t it all seem eerily perfect, as if the ideal picture of what Heaven can truly be?

And it is indeed Heaven, when we see it that way. Every breath of air we take is a blessing from some place which many seek to explain and understand, yet few know for sure the truth of it all; and of those who claim they do, I doubt much of what they say as well.

Can any of us truly know what all this craziness about us has to do with time, in the grand scheme of things? Can what we do today or tomorrow really make any difference in the grand scheme of it all?

I think so…

After all, we only ever have this moment right now and magic can happen when we least expect it. If you think about it, anything can happen in the next 24 hours, but much more than that, the future will be influenced by what we do in this exact instant of time, because it is all we ever really have.

Is this all nonsense?

This may be, but yet for some reason I come here to try and make sense of all of this with you; and too with myself in attempt to gain a better understanding of our existence.

Does it really matter?

Is it important?

Again, I think so. How many of us get up each day and go about our way without every really thinking about what is important in life?

Most of us, I would say. So it can pay great dividends to take a moment and reflect about our place in the whole scheme of things, as you too are now doing, since you are still with me. Are we only here on Earth to go through the motions without ever considering how what we do influences our surroundings.

Think for a moment about possibility. It is always present and in this exact instant, we can set into motion our greatest dreams and desires. But, we need to take action to do so, otherwise the song remains the same. Consider the following:

If you have a deep desire to get in touch with someone who was an important part of your life, you can do so. You may or may not meet with success, or you may even create a problem where there is none. But right now, without over-thinking it, you can initiate the process. That one call, e-mail, SMS, or Whatsapp could change your life forever.
That friend could be someone you always wanted to start a business with, or perhaps an old flame which never extinguished. Or it could be nothing at all. Maybe all that happens as a result is the exchange which goes something like this: “Hey how are you?” Being responded with a, “Fine, thanks,” with a little emoji and a thumbs up sign to to confirm this to be true. My point is that something is set in motion by virtually all we do.

Maybe you always wanted to live in a certain neighborhood, or in a particular house. Recently you saw a “For Sale” sign in the front yard, and you are wondering if you should call or not. You know it would cause major disruption in your life and is an expense you can ill afford, but, it’s your dream house!

You could pick up the phone right now, call the Realtor and ask to go see the home. So many possibilities open up from there, one of which could be a curt response saying it has already been sold. But so too, it could lead to you actually living in that home you always dreamed of. It could happen, but it only if you do something. There is no other option. No tomorrow, only now. Tomorrow may be to late and yesterday already happened.

Life doesn’t happen then and there, rather here and now. It is not about what once was, or what one day will be. There is magic in this moment, and this special quality has to be with the seed of possibility. You can plant a seed right now, right here today, which can change your life forever.

We can begin to pursue our passions, instead of punching the clock for some crass, ungrateful asshole. We can begin to march to the beat of our own drum, rather than getting beat over the head by some stupid idiot. We can begin to do as we please, rather than doing as we are told.

In 24 hours, our lives can be completely different than they are right now, depending on what we do right now, in this moment. If we are content with what we are doing, how we are doing it, and who we are doing it with; by all means let’s just keep doing that, thank you very much! But if not, why not do something to change it.

If we are in an impossible work situation, we can do something right now to change it. We can ask for a transfer to a different department, or update our resume to look for another position. We can learn more about what really interests us, and consider how we can do what we love, and get paid for it.

Life is an open playing field for all. There is absolutely no one who can limit what we can achieve, except for ourselves. We can look to any type of job or business and find people who have come all different areas of life to become one of the best in their business.
Without a doubt, some are given many more opportunities to succeed, and this helps many, though hinders others who are given the exact same set of circumstances, but screw it up despite the most favorable of conditions.

So too there are those who are born under the worst of circumstance, and with the most undesirable upbringings, who become super stars in what they do.

Why do some rise to the top of the heap in their chosen field of endeavor; while others sink to the bottom, regardless of what they choose to do?

While many factors are certainly attributable to our ultimate success and failure in life, one key ingredient seems to be to remain in the magic of this moment, rather than being allured away to the past or the future. While the past creates our present state, only what we do (or do not do) right now ultimately influences our future.

It’s really quite simple. What we do in this instant creates our future, for better or worse.
If we are happy with the direction we are going, let’s keep headed there, if not, and if we feel have not yet achieved our full potential, or if there is some aspect in our lives which is not ideal; then it’s time to do something about it.

Isn’t this what sets winners apart from losers?

Though, in reality, what is “winning” or “losing” but a perception of a situation?
Some of those who have had the biggest failures in life sometimes end up with outstanding success. While those who have been on top of the world can too fall to the depths of depression. Once again, I propose that life is not about what happened there and then, or about what one day might be, but only about this moment, right here, right now.
Everything happens right now, in this moment.

If we content with how things, let’s party on Wayne: if not, why not use this moment to do something about it?

Is all just as you want it to be, or is there something you would like to do to change about your current circumstance?

∞ Rob McBride ∞
13 Dec 2021
LL V 16

Me and My Harp

June 8, 2021 marked an important milestone in my life. It was on this day that my family gave me my first harmonica for my 59th birthday. While I thought having one of these tiny instruments might be fun, I never realized the effect it has had on me since that time.

I have literally had my harmonica by my side since then. The infrequent moments when I have misplaced it have caused me no small amount of duress. Over the last several months, and in the process, I’ve lost a screw, popped another one two. and popped screws and blown a reed, but my Blue Blazer still serves me despite her battle scars.

I have learned much, in particular with Luke, an excellent teacher at www.harmonica.com; and watched countless videos of pros and wannabes, all with something to say about this magical instrument. Before going to bed at night and as I wake up in the morning, I have melodies playing in my head. I imagine how the harp will sound when I finally figure out some of its more subtle capabilities. I realize now that the harmonica is perhaps one of the easiest instruments to play, but which can take a lifetime to master.

I’m just getting started as I approach six months with my harp. During that time, I haven’t read quite as much as I typically do and my writing has been limited to a few blurbs here and there. But on the upside, practicing with it every day has helped me to understand this magical little instrument and slowly but surely, I’m starting to get the hang of it. At least to me my playing sounds a bit better, though to others it may still sound a bit like a shrieking cat.

I’ve learned that even with a blown 4 draw, I still have 19 holes left, with a whole lot of sounds I can make, even without that D note and all its permutations, on my C key harmonica. I’ve learned that if you have the right key harmonica and have a decent sense of timing, you can probably play along pretty well with most songs in the same key by playing chords. Things get a bit more tricky with single notes and melodies, but this also is where the real fun starts.

Now, when I hear music, I stop and listen to each sound and imagine the instrument creating it. I think of how much practice each musician has endured to be able to play at that level, and how far I’ve yet to go on my own journey to be able to do the same.

I hear scales in my head as I go to bed and wake with them still rising and falling as I start my day again. When I lost my D note (I later learned this is a natural phenomenon caused by a lot of playing or doing so too hard), I started playing the Blues scale on the piano because I could no longer play it on my harp. Now I am able to go up and down that scale pretty well in the keys of D and E. I hear people talk of other types of scales, of their steps, and so many other things which simply heighten my interest and make me want to learn more about the music which has always been around me, but never quite taken hold of me as it now has.

My greatest interest with the harmonica, as it is with many who play an instrument, is to be able to play by ear. I am beginning to understand that some theory is helpful on our way. Knowing how scales are formed, the differences between those that are Major and those that are Minor, as well as other nuances helps me to put together what once seemed like Greek.

Over the last several months, I have sat down on several occasions to put in writing my thoughts about how music I now hear in my mind has invaded my life. Sometimes I’ve gotten down only a few lines, and at others I’ve written a bit more. Each is very similar, and yet at the same time different.

Following are a collection of ideas that all have to do with being in harmony with life.

The Scale of Life

We are each like a musical note on the scale of life. By ourselves we lack diversity and our existence can certainly be monotonous. With others we are multifaceted and can create sweet symphony.

We might even say that when we get along with others we are playing in the same key; while with others, try as we might, we never quite jibe and most certainly are off key. This doesn’t mean we are any better or worse than they, simply different.
Being in harmony isn’t always easy.

If we play in D, we just may not fit into a world of those in the key of C’s. Our best efforts may just be thwarted until we find some with whom we are more in tune.

Life is a Symphony

Life is a symphony from beginning to end,
Each day we live forms part of our song.

We are a note in each melody that plays,
And ours is often to simply play along.

The Melody of our Tune

Have you ever thought that life is much like a symphony?

Each day is a song making up the great whole. We are the notes which make the melody of our tune.

Sometimes we strike a chord with others we meet making a sweet sumptuous sound, while at others no matter how we try, the sound comes out squeaky or flat.

The Language of Music

Life is a symphony with a myriad of songs brought forth by a wide variety of thoughts and emotions.

We are each a note within the great whole. Sometimes we play together in harmony with those around us. At other times it doesn’t matter what we do, we are just a little off key.
Though we are all similar, we are all so very different as well. As we each have a unique thumbprint, so too is our note not just exactly like any other. With certain people we just seem to click and strike a chord. With others try as we might, we get nothing more than discord.

Luke says that playing music is a lot like language. Though we all use the same words and a similar grammatical structure, we each have much different ways of expressing ourselves. The harmonica brings out the best, and at times the worst, of this expression.

Some of our symphonies are spectacular masterpieces which hold beg for attention with each successive note; others are no more than karaoke in the shower, in a never ending chorus of different songs which while similar to those of others, lack the depth and expression which are the makings of sweet symphony.

Through the first part of our lives we set the tone for how our symphony of life will be played. If we learn, are open to criticism, and follow our heart, we are likely to get all we need to create a wonderful vibe in our own symphony of life.

Each day is like another song, full of crescendos,
Led often by circumstance and innuendo.

The Sound of Music

Life is like a symphony which begins when we are born.
Some start loudly with a flurry of sound and emotion,
Others quietly, waiting for something to happen.

Our emotions play the notes of each song that plays.
Some days play an allegro reaches crescendo,
Others are melancholic in diminuendo.

Our feelings ebb and flow with the sound of the music.
Sometimes events can cause massive confusion,
Others with a beat which brings resolution.

The melody takes us methodically from day to day.
At times we are guided by a big bass back-beat.
Others, hearing anything at all is a great feat.

The melody we play depends on the notes we feel.
There are times when they ring sharp and clear,
Others when they are dull and difficult to hear.

Yet each day as we begin the day a new tune begins.
On us it depends what kind of music we will make,
We have the power to make it magic or fake.

Strike a Chord

Life is like a symphony where we each have our roles.
Some vibrate in the key of “C”, while those around us
May be “D’s”, “E’s”, or perhaps “A’s”, “B’s”, “F’s” or “G’s”.

With some we strike a chord,
With others only discord.

We each play a melody
As our part of the symphony.

Sometimes we are slow and flat,
Others we are sharp and fast.

At times we are a sweet lullaby,
At others, mass cacophony.

In moments we play out loud,
In others, blend into the crowd.

We can stand up and be heard,
Or disappear into our own little world.

Each day we are given a stage on which to play.
On each it depends which tune we carry every day.

Tic – Toc

Have you ever noticed that life is very similar to a symphony?

Each of us are like notes in a grand melody which takes us through life. Those around us accompany our tune and form part of rhythm. Like a radio station playing different sounds at different times, so too goes the melody we play as we go through time.

The tic-toc of the never ending clock is like a metronome clicking silently in the background, marking time for our song. Sometimes the tempo is kicked up several notches, while at others becomes little more than a deep, steady beat, as is the case when we sleep.

Like the notes belonging to certain keys in music, we too are like those notes. C’s get along swimmingly with E’s and G’s, not always as much with A’s and F’s. And, of course, there are those who are sharp and/or flat, what’s up with that?

Sometimes we seem to go along in harmony with our surroundings, feeling comfortable with those around us and our environment. Then at others we are ill at ease and uncomfortable for some inexplicable reason.

Others around us march on in time to their own beat, rhythm and rhyme; sometimes forming part of our melody, and at others simply lost in their own tune. We have moments when everything seems to click just so, and others when nothing seems to come out right.

Yet the more that we practice, the better we seem to get in the never-ending path to figure out how to make harmony with the world around us. Perhaps this is one of the most amazing things about the harmonica is that your blow holes are always in harmony with the key of C, while your draw holes are so with the key of G. That is precisely why you do not need to know about music theory to play the harp!

Similar to those who can whistle or sing in tune, the instrument becomes nothing more than a means to an end. As you go up the harmonica, the tones become sharper and as you come down they become flatter. Of course, you have to be aware of the double draw on the 6 and 7 to keep the scale going in the right direction, but other than that, with a little bit of practice you can be playing a pretty mean Itsy Bitsy Spider.

Now without my beloved 4 draw, which a bent to the point of eventually breaking, I learn many things. First and foremost is that the harder you play the harmonica, the shorter it will last. The second is that even without that one note, I can learn to play around it, or go up or down an octave to get the same melody. The third is that now I am beginning to hear the notes as if for the very first time as I practice nice, long, slow tones, just as Luke suggests.

Have you ever wanted to learn to play an instrument, or if you do play one like to have the ability to carry it around with no hassle, buy a harmonica! It could be the beginning of something great!

Ode to my Organ

What is this?

Some may laugh and others may snicker,
But my organ is incredible, of that none can bicker.

I walk around with it in my mouth all day,
To the delight of some and to others dismay.

Some may think it rather small,
But with it, I truly have a ball!

I take it with me wherever I go,
And seek to play it like a pro.

I keep it at always at hand,
Ready to join the band.

Then when I put it in its case,
I hold it firmly by the base.

Others may play with it now and then,
But it is my very own special friend.

∞ Bobby McB ∞
20 Nov 2021
LL V 15

Life is much like an enormous hourglass which represents time. Within it, we can see all the time passing before us on the bottom, and all the time yet to come on the top.

We are like a single grain of sand in this hourglass of eternity and it could be said our life starts as we pass through the narrow neck in the apparatus. As we are born, we are led first on a wild fall, as gravity takes us down. When we reach the bottom part, we slip and slide for awhile, before eventually coming to rest; where unless someone turns over the hourglass, we will remain until the end of time.

Consider also that everything, animate or not, also is an hourglass of time. The computer I now type on, the pens and paper by my side, along with everyone I have ever known or now know, is also subject to a beginning an an end.

Have you ever considered that every single thing in turn is also like its own individual hourglass?

Might it be that when we have kids that we create another hourglass which somehow also contains part of us?

What about a teacher who has particularly influential over his/her students, or a neighbor who has been helpful to others?

What about a loved one who is gone but who still comes to mind frequently to with words of wisdom and advice, despite having passed away?

Could it be this is somehow what is meant by eternity?

Might it be that as long as people think about us that our own hourglass of time is somehow turned over again and again?

Certainly, I do not know the absolute answers to these questions, yet I can ponder upon our own existence just as well as any other. As I consider this great question, if there is one universal truth remaining true between most religions and politics, it is that good deeds should be done to reap positive rewards.

Perhaps each time we do a good deed, we are rewarded with a bit more sand in our own hourglass of time and for each bad deed some is taken away. Though somehow this doesn’t seem to me to be so likely.

So too from where we once came, so too surely we will one day go. Ashes to ashes and dust to dust is what they say. It seems to me we may all simply be a small grain of sand in the great hourglass of eternity.

Though we may be ever so small in the great scheme of things, we too can make the most of our own hourglass of time by making the most of each and every moment.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
20 Sep 2021
LL V 15

Recently I was talking to one of my very best friends David Jones, about relationships. We’ve been friends for as long as I can remember and for most of our lives. He explained to me a concept which makes a lot of sense when it comes to virtually all of our relationships, whether they be personal or professional.

He told me relationships, both good and bad, are based primarily on three elements:

1) Trust
2) Respect
3) Honesty

Subsequently, I did a bit of research on the subject and have found several similar models with slightly different terminology for different applications. Nevertheless, I like the the way he explained it with these terms.

Trust in a relationship is not something which comes easily. On the contrary, it is something that is built over time, and is largely based on the respect and the honesty we give to others. If we respect others and are honest with them, trust in the relationship is fostered. If we do not respect others and are not honest with them, trust is rarely built.

We can choose to respect others and be honest with them but if we trust them blindly, we will often be disappointed. Think for a moment about most scam artists. They tend to try and build trust by weaving a story which leads us to believe what they are saying is true. If we give our trust too quickly, they are likely to walk away with our hard earned money or something else we own.

If after getting to know someone we feel they respect us and are honest with us, we will tend to trust them. Even so, we can still get burned as they may have simply been tricking us all along to get what they want. Nevertheless, there comes a time in a relationship where we need to begin to trust people. This can come rather quickly when we get a good “feeling” about someone, or it can take years before we truly trust them.

Respecting others in terms of their thoughts and ideas is often a matter of common courtesy. We are all different and come from a different set of circumstances. No one is “better” or “worse” than another, we are simply different from one another. By definition if we had grown up under the same conditions and with the same opportunities of another, or lack thereof, we would most likely act just as they do.

Honesty is most often related to communication. When we tell others the reasons why we do the things we do and feel the way we do, we slowly begin to build a relationship which can be based on a solid foundation of trust rather than a flimsy set of lies.

If we want to build better relationships, we can start by respecting others and being honest with them as to our desires and intentions, rather than not respecting them and lying just to get what we want. This does not guarantee the person will trust us or that we establish a strong bond, but it’s a great start.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
26 June 2021
LL V 13

Have you ever noticed we carry our own weather within us?

Sometimes we feel bright and sunny, others dim and gloomy. The weather outside can, and often does, influence the way we feel inside but this isn’t necessarily always the case, nor does it have to be.

There are days when we wake up rip, roaring, and ready to rock; and others when all we really want to do is to pull the covers over our head and stay in bed. Many circumstances influence our own weather within including our health, our emotions, the weather outside, and the weather within those around us. What’s more, we can go from feeling truly fabulous to absolutely terrible in an instant.

What is behind the weather we hold within?

Why is it so variable and what can we do to make it better?

Similar to the weather outside, our own is in a state of constant flux. The barometric pressure indicates a change in the weather, for better or for worse. So too do our own thoughts and emotions generally indicate where our own weather is headed.

We all have different triggers affecting how we feel. Some individuals can harm others, deceiving, robbing, and perhaps even killing others, yet not feel a drop of remorse; while others will ruminate for days causing a maelstrom in our mind only for a few unkind words exchanged with another. Some are able to change their weather inside in a heartbeat, while others toss and turn at its will.

None of us are the same. There is no pat answer which works for all. Nevertheless, here are a few ideas to optimize your own weather within:

Fill your mind with positive thoughts and ideas.

Understand that just because it is raining outside, you need not cry on the inside.

Exercise and eat well to give your body the energy it needs to optimize your own weather within.

Realize that as terrible as your weather inside may be, there is always renewed hope in the dawn of a new day.

Surround yourself with people who are generally sunny inside, offering them some of your sunshine whenever they feel stormy.

Determine to be a thermostat, being the master of your own climate; rather than a thermometer, merely reflecting the temperature around you.

As the weather outside changes, so too does the environment. After the rain comes the sunshine, after the winter comes the summer, after the light comes the dark. Perhaps we too can learn to understand that the harshest lessons of life often bring its greatest lessons.

While this certainly is much easier said than done, we can positively influence our weather inside. The wind, the humidity, and the temperature affect the weather outside. When we realize that our health, our emotions, and above all our thoughts, create our own weather within, we can better manage our own disposition so it is bright and sunny, rather than dim and gloomy.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
26 May 2021
LL V 12

If so, I’ve got a solution!
It can be as simple as 1, 2, 3…

If you are like most people, you don’t have one problem, you have many. Often our only wish is to have no problems at all, yet they are inherent in life. Have you ever stopped to think about this?

The only people who don’t have problems are those who are dead. If we really think about it though, they too had problems, it’s just that when they died, likely they left them to someone else. Will there ever be a time in your life when the telephone and electricity bills won’t have to be paid, or that you won’t have to replenish the food you just ate?

Many of us are addicted to “To Do Lists”. We write down all the things we have to get done and somehow believe accomplishing each item on the list will make our problems go away, and those on the list do! But just as quickly as we take care of one set of problems, have you ever noticed how others seems to pop up?

Being this the case, having problems means one thing. It means we are alive, and this is certainly a great place to start! For now anyway, it certainly seems to beat the alternative. So be glad you have problems, for the day you don’t will likely be the day when you pass yours on to someone else.

In terms of the problems themselves, there is always a solution. We may not like it or may not be willing to implement it, but there is a way to solve any problem we might have. It isn’t necessarily “easy” to solve, but in most cases doing so is a fairly “simple” process. Follow these straightforward steps to find solutions to your problems:

1) Get Busy – Don’t just sit there looking glum thinking about what’s wrong, get busy to find out how to make it right. If a call needs to be made, make it; if a change needs to be implemented, implement it; if you don’t know what needs to be done, find someone who does. Don’t wait for the problem to go away because it rarely does, and the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better.

2) Be Useful – Most things we do in life somehow involve other people. Not many of us can get along for too long without somehow relying on others. For example: if your problem is not having enough money, think of how you can be useful to others in order to generate the cash flow you need. Everybody has a variety of needs. If your need is money, you simply need to find something you can do to fulfill the needs of others and you will be well on your way to solving your money problem.

3) Be Grateful – This seems to be a given, but in so many cases it is not. We are quick to complain about the weather, our aches and pains, or whatever it is we don’t like about our clients and neighbors. It is fairly easy to find things that are “wrong” with our current situation, but when you start going down this path, do an about face, change your direction and begin enumerating all of the things that are “right” with your life. Are you breathing? That’s one. How about your heart, is it beating? There’s another… I think you get the idea. When we begin to look around our immediate surroundings there is generally an incredibly long list of things for which to be grateful.

Take each day one at a time. Rome was not built in a day, and while many problems can be dealt with in a relatively short period of time, others take longer. Don’t lose heart when problems mount up. Take each in turn, doing what can be done today by being busy, useful, and grateful. Doing so can help you solve your problems as simple as 1, 2, 3!

∞ Rob McBride ∞
4 May 2021
LL V 11

Have you ever thought about how much money people spend to try and look younger? People subject themselves to surgeries, harsh diets, and killer workouts often in an attempt to shave a few years off of their appearance. But I wonder, should we really be concerned with how we look or how we feel?

No doubt that a scalpel can make us look better in a heart beat, but how long will the results last? The same can be said for radical diets and exercise, often quickly forgotten after the desired results are attained, or tossed to one side if they don’t work immediately. For the long run, doesn’t make sense for us to change our lifestyle and our habits, so not only will we look better, but more importantly, feel better as well?

Since my ride on an airplane in the early 1990’s with a very fit man who was almost 80, I have done exercise pretty much every day. He explained to me the virtues a workout he had done since being in the Royal Canadian Airforce, called the Five Basic Exercises (5BX RCAF). The only exception to my exercises was a time period between 2018 and 2020, when after slipping and falling, I hurt my back. Because of my pain, I justified not doing my daily exercise, first for a few days, but which then led to weeks and months. While I made a pretty good case to myself as to why I wasn’t exercising, the overall result affected not only my energy level, but also my attitude.

I had what Zig Ziglar refers to as “Stinking Thinking”. I was lethargic and found myself moving around like a little old man. About a year ago, I decided to see if I could find some exercises that would help me to strengthen my back, and fortunately, I found several. After several weeks of doing them and working on my core, my back got stronger and was no longer hurting as it once did. Several months later, I realized I had not gotten back into my daily routine of exercise, so I made an effort to do so. Since that time, my energy levels have increased and my attitude has gotten better.

Better yet, my new exercise routine now incorporates several things I like. I call it Juventus. Besides being the name of one of the most famous soccer teams in the world, also means young or youthful (coming from the ancient Roman goddess named Juventa). It combines the following:

• Radio Gold Instrumental (morning)
• My Music on Shuffle (evening)
• 32 Roga Yoga Moves (they include Yoga, Tai Chi, calisthenics, and even some dancing and air guitar if the music is right)
• 5 Tibetan Rites (from the book the “Eye of the Revelation”)
• 3 additional stretching moves
• Seeds of Success (a series of quotes I have memorized from different sources)

You can click on any of the links above to take you to examples of each. While it seems to me that just about any type of exercise will do, this combination works for me.
Our lifestyle, with all of its conveniences, has led many of us to be lazy and subject to obesity. In terms of diet, there are many different opinions and each can sound convincing. Some tout high protein or high carbohydrate based diets. Others claim being a vegan or a vegetarian is the right way to go. My overall favorite, which I have put into practice also since the early 1990’s, is the Anti-Diet.

Regardless of the exercise and diet plan we choose to follow, most important is to follow a routine that works for our body type and schedule. Exercise does not have to be done in a gym, and a proper diet isn’t always to lose weight. Walking briskly is said to be one of the best overall workouts and a diet consisting of all food groups can provide tremendous results (when combined properly and eaten in moderation).

If you find yourself either over or underweight, and/or with problems maintaining your energy, the good news is that you can start a program today which will can have you feeling better as soon as tomorrow. Discover what kind of exercise you enjoy and a diet that works for you. When you do, you can begin not only to look younger, but more importantly, feel better.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
28 Feb 2021
LL V 10

Have you ever considered how many things our body does without us even thinking about it?

Our heart beats, our lungs breathe, and the rest of our body does its thing as we go about our daily deed. I don’t know about you, but I find it fascinating how all this gets done. We are able to walk upright without falling down, eat and the digest our food most of the time, barely aware of all our bodies do just to accomplish the simplest of tasks. Yet all this is all somehow done, usually without our conscious knowledge.

I propose: we must have little guys inside who take care of all these things. Do you remember Biology? I suppose these little guys are really called cells, but to me they certainly seem like a whole bunch of workers, all moving in a coordinated effort to do one primary thing: to keep us alive and well.

We know that we have many different kinds of cells. Sometimes they work in harmony, and others in opposition. Some of our cells keep our vital functions going, others are in our brain, controlling virtually all our thoughts and actions. Still others are in our blood stream and in our skin. Each of these cells is constantly in a process of evolution and change, very similar to our own life process. As new cells are born from the existing ones, the older ones die or are no longer viable. Through all this magnificent concert of action between and among our cells, we are largely unaware of all that is going on, yet its song continues within us 24/7, when we are awake, when we are asleep; from the day we are born, to the day we die.

I imagine our cells to be workers, each belonging to a different part of our body. Some of our little guys belong to vital organs, assuring each keeps doing what it’s supposed to do. Many of our little guys are in the brain, likely with separate committees for our emotions, actions, and other basic functions. Some work on the surface of our bodies, forming protective barriers against intruders and fighting off enemies through movement, as well as promoting blood clotting to keep us from bleeding to death.

As we consider all our little guys inside do for us: shouldn’t we do our best to keep them healthy, enabling them to better do their job? Isn’t it the food we eat, the things we drink, the air we breathe, and the thoughts we keep what gives our little guys the “nutrients” they need to operate at peak performance?

Seems to me we often complicate health matters far too much. If we have learned anything in our existence here on the planet, it’s that there seems to be a grand scheme of things providing each living being with what it needs to survive. In our case, food, water, air, and thoughts are what our little guys need to accomplish their mission. While it’s not always possible: what about if we put in our bodies only things that grow out of the ground, fly, swim, or walk around? Must we put so many chemicals in our body?

When we treat our bodies as if they were temples, exercising them and only allowing good things inside, our ability to fight off physical and mental disease, as well as negativity becomes much stronger than if we fill them with garbage and so much other rubbish.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
29 Jan 2021
LL V 9

Turn ON Life

Stop, look, and listen to the world around you, there is so much to see, feel, and experience!
Have you noticed how these days our phones seem so insistent on giving us notifications?

They come to us in a grand myriad of ways, each designed to take us to a different place, and often in a different direction. Telecommunications and social media have become an information warehouse where we are the merchandise. We are itemized, categorized, and packaged into convenient little boxes, ready for use.

These days we can be talking about something one minute and the next receive an advertisement to buy it. Big Brother is indeed watching! George Orwell wasn’t too far off with some of his predictions, except that rather than being monitored to be rewarded or chastised; our habits and movements are being tracked to sell us things. Everywhere we turn there is something else to buy, a new promotion, a new idea or a different approach.

Maybe this isn’t a bad thing, after all, if we are sold what we want, perhaps it saves us time. Yet sometimes it seems the electronic nature of our world can become a bit too much. We are constantly inundated with offers to buy things or to make a new investment. Between radio, television, telephones, and billboards, we are bombarded with offers, each vying for our attention, and ultimately wanting our money or participation in something or another.

While it’s tough to turn off the visual barrage of information as we go about our way, we can control our “electronic exposure”. We can decide to be in control of what we see and when we see it.

We can do so by doing the following:

First, and most importantly, simply turn OFF all notifications on your phone, except for those that are vitally important, like phone calls. As soon as you do, I guarantee you will feel a sudden sense of relief from all the bells and whistles normally being emitted from the device. Instead of constantly looking at your phone whenever it pings or pangs, you can do something more important with your life than following advertisers links from one place to another.

My second suggestion is to establish a time when you are ON to the world, and a time when you are OFF. I like 8 am to 8 pm to be on, since most things can generally be taken care of during those hours. From 8 pm to 8 am, I sometimes have the phone on, but I generally stay away from social media and messaging, using it only for listening to music, taking pictures, or watching movies.

How long does it take for you to grab your phone and check your messages in the morning?

If you are like many people, it’s the first thing you do. Instead of starting your day with your phone, what about starting your day by reading a good book, talking with your mate, or simply having a cup of coffee while watching the sunrise?

This may sound okay except that you may want to say good morning to a special someone somewhere. If that’s the case, by all means do it! Maybe you can even have a virtual “cup of coffee” with them. Turn on your phone, call them up, and video if possible. Not a problem, but after you do it is there something else you can do rather than simply scrolling through the endless stories, posts, tweets, and e-mails which have become such a part of our lives?

Unless you have some vital information you are waiting for first thing in the morning, how about giving your mind a break for awhile before turning on your phone, using it when you are ready to start your “electronic day”, rather than grabbing it automatically as you wake up?

Our phones are vital to many of the things we need to get done in today’s world and we should use them to be more productive. But, instead of letting them dictate how much time we spend on them and what we do with them, we can be their masters rather than their slaves. Instead of automatically picking your phone up every little while to see what has happened in the world whenever it dings, instead you can decide when to pick it up and how long to spend on it.

There is so much to see, feel, and experience in the world which is not contained within the small screen of our mobile devices. Take the time to stop, look, and listen to the world around you by turning OFF notifications and turning ON life.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
30 Dec 2020
LL V 8

Do you ever feel like a puppet on a string?

The harsh reality is that we are each very much like a puppet on a string. Like the toy figurine which moves as someone above manipulates the strings, our actions are often controlled by someone or something else.

Virtually all of us are subject to the great puppeteer called nature which indicates when we should eat and when we should sleep, when we should seek a mate and when we should be inventive and create. So too are the majority of us subject to the strings governments pull, taking us to and fro, paying taxes, fees, and other dues. Many are subject to the strings of an employer or other overseer who manipulates their every move, doing their best to squeeze each bit of benefit they possibly can from their employ.

Many of us live in “free” countries, where we can do as we please, as long as it doesn’t interfere with a gamut of strings which inevitably pull us here and there.

Is it possible to break free from all of these strings which seem to direct our every move?

Likely many will continue to dictate our behavior regardless of what we do, yet we can take control of many of which others seem to tug as they see fit..

What to do?

Are you confused?

In order to better direct our own actions and free ourselves from control at the whim of others, we can take charge of our own lives, living with more direction and intention, rather than in pacific abnegation.

Two groups form in all societies since the beginning of time and will likely be around long after own time here on Earth has expired. We can call the first group the “Proletariat” and the second the “Bourgeoisie”. To explain each of these terms in just a few words: the vast majority consisting of the former follow a chosen few of the latter. Out of any group, we find a select few generally rise as leaders.

We can choose one of two routes. We can join the vast majority of people in the world, who will by default take the easiest path by doing nothing, and thus forming part of the vast masses which make up the Proletariat. Or, we can join those few brave souls who take the more difficult road, eventually breaking free from many of the ties binding them to the wishes of others.

Few, if any, can escape the effects of nature tugging on their strings. Those who try to go against Mother Nature usually lose. For example, fighting against the negative impact of age can be battled in many ways, and these are precisely the source of profits for many of the Bourgeoisie in this day and age. While billions of dollars are spent yearly on trying to stay young, perhaps eating well and exercising remain as the most effective deterrents to aging; yet even with an optimal diet and good health, sooner or later the incessant clock of Father Time will too lead us to our final tick.

Those who escape the reaches of government ties are generally outlaws or indigenous people who live on the outskirts of society. If we want to live life within the parameters of civilization, we must adhere to a certain degree of twisting and turning the wheels of government turn from time to time.

As for the rest of the strings which pull at our heart, soul, and being, in many cases rather than being subject to the tugs of others, we can instead become the puppeteer, deciding for ourselves which strings to pull. While it isn’t easy, and the road is certainly more difficult than doing nothing at all, the benefits to be had can greatly outweigh the cost of what can be lost.

There are many definitions for success. One I like is this:

“Success is being to be able to do what you want to do, when you want to do it, and with those you want to do it with.”

I don’t believe it is realistic or possible to do anything we want all of the time. Yet with some work, we can move toward that ideal state. Likely, early on in life there will be little we can do to escape the constant tugs on our puppet’s strings. Initially, we are subject to the direction of our parents, who move us to and fro, usually with love, but not always so. They carefully give us the tools they believe we will need to live in a better way. They teach us that we should be nice to others, to be industrious, and by all means to eat our vegetables too.

While in school, our teachers and peers, help to form the adult “puppet” we will one day become, with a little luck and a lot of work. We are taught all about history, geography, science, math, and so much more. We are taught about what is supposed to be “good” and what is supposed to be “bad”, finding some things make us happy in life and others sad.

As we start into adulthood, we almost always have to work for someone else, whether it be a company or an individual. Some become employees, others apprentices; but in some way or another, we need to figure out what to do in life and how to do it. Very few are able to live in the lap of luxury their entire lives doing absolutely nothing from the start, though certainly some do.

Here is where things become interesting. Those who continue to react to the strings pulled by others (the path of least resistance), tend to continue to do so for the rest of their lives, never breaking free of the chains that bind them. Yet those who choose to stand out, speak up, and do something to better their lot have a much better shot at rising to the top and becoming part of the elite Bourgeoisie.

Like the cream that floats to the top of milk, a few select individuals will do the same in society. In most societies around the world we can choose to be part of the few who are their own puppeteers rather than being one of those whose strings are constantly yanked and pulled forever and a day.

How can we be masters of our destinies rather than followers to our ultimate fate?

It’s simple, though far from easy. One of the first things we must do is to be willing to take more risk than others. I’m not talking about doing crazy, stupid things: but rather carefully considering possibilities and taking a risk when the reward can greatly outweigh he cost. By using our minds instead of our hands to create the kind of life we really want to live, though doing this by necessity may also use our hands, depending on what we choose to do.

Do you really want the strings of your puppet to be constantly tugged and pulled in so many different directions or would you like to be the one doing the tugging and pulling? What then can you do to be your own puppeteer?

Choose the road less traveled when you come to a fork in the road rather than the easier route.

Choose to go left in life every once in a while, rather than always going right just because the rest are doing so.

Choose to do what others are unwilling to do when it comes to difficult decisions.

Choose to be the master of your destiny rather than a tool for others.

Speaking up and taking more risk will not necessarily free us from the strings which make us twist and turn from time to time at the will of others, but doing so will likely increase the possibility we can rise to the top, and form part of the elite Bourgeoisie, where like it or not, the air is a little fresher, the lines are a little shorter, and life is a little larger.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
30 Nov 2020
LL V 7

We are much like a ship on the ocean…

Recently I saw the following quote, the source of which is unknown to me:

“Ships don’t sink because of the water around them; ships sink because of the water that gets in them. Don’t let what’s happening around you get inside you and weigh you down.”

This got me to thinking about our relationship with the world around us, and how similar we are to a ship. Some boats are small and light, others they are large and heavy. Some are simple and functional, others more complicated and ostentatious. Each is built at some point in time either close to a source of water, be it a river, lake, or ocean; while others begin their life with little or no access to the vital liquid which allows them to function.

The great majority of these vessels (though not all) make it to the water, but what happens from there is unique to each. Similarly, each of us is born someplace. From there, we make our way into the world. Some boats stay close to port, others are dragged inland and parked in someone’s garage or backyard. Yet each has the potential to sail the ocean blue.

We too have the same opportunity to stay close to home, or to venture out in the world in an attempt to reach our full potential. Along the way, there are many different elements affecting our journey. The weather, traffic, and accessibility can help or hinder a ship in its quest to reach the water. Other people, emotions, and world events also have a direct impact on our ability to travel.

Once we get to the water, the ship is equipped for the voyage. A compass, a map, and a life preservers are among the items provided to assure everyone gets to where they wants to go. We are equipped with education, knowledge, and time to do whatever it is we want to do in life. Sometimes the equipment is sufficient, other times it is lacking.

There comes a time, when we need help from an outside source. We can only be on the water so long without having some kind of contact, be it another boat, or land. We often believe we can be independent, and while we can learn to be comfortable with ourselves, at the same time, we need others.

What has to be done if the boat is taking on water?

It must be fixed! The water must be bailed out and the source must be detected and repaired, there is no other alternative. If the boat continues to take on water, it will sink. The same happens with us. The emotional baggage we take upon ourselves can be real or imagined. Regardless, it can weigh us down to the point of sinking us.

How much are you carrying around with you which adds nothing to your voyage and instead pulls you down?

Typically, we drag around much more with us than we really need. Wouldn’t it make more sense if we traveled lightly? How about if instead of accumulating so much stuff, we instead focus on what we really need and enjoy life more?

In this day and age, people tend to love money and use people. Instead, why don’t we strive to love people and use things? By doing this we can travel more lightly, smoothly, and safely to whichever port set our sights on.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
30 Oct 2020
LL V 6

From our ranks, we have fallen soldiers. Some have gone without me even being aware, until sometime later, when in conversation, we hear about their absence.

“Did you hear about Chris?” I remember being asked, after the first from our class fell. I shook my head, not knowing what had happened.

“Oh, he’s no longer here!” came the answer straight and clear.

We all seem to want to know the circumstances, yet may fear the response; the why and the what for. Yet in the end, only one thing stands out, only one thing matters. They are no longer here to fight another day.

The game of life is much like a battle. From our first breath, we need to struggle to make sure the energy of life fills our lungs. From that point on life beats magically within us, as it does for all living things. In order to keep going, battles we must overcome.

Our first major challenge comes as we strive to live life outside of our mother’s womb. For any one of a number of reasons, this often doesn’t happen. Infant mortality depends in large part on where a woman lives when she has her baby. Many places around the world can’t handle complications routinely managed where more advanced medical care is available.

As we grow up, so too there are dangers. Yet we have all seen how babies bounce back. They are surprisingly resilient! They can take a licking and keep on ticking. In fact, until we teach them to cry, when they fall they often do not, unless of course it really hurts. Perhaps one of our biggest dangers as we grow is how to deal with rejection. Many cannot and do not, choosing instead to take their lives as a way out of their misery.

And so we go through life, her topsy turvy ways a part of the grand scheme of things. While some of us go sooner and others later, there is only one thing for certain, when it’s all said and done, even the last one standing will too succumb to life’s final stratagem, taking us from this reality we now know, to something which as yet remains unknown.

As for our class, around 80 of us that graduated in 1980, from the Albuquerque Academy. Of that group, the four who have fallen represent about 5% of our total number. Though small in percentage, these four people represent so much more to me. On the one hand, but for the grace of God, there go I; and on the other, each lives on in my soul in many different ways.

Of the four, perhaps the one I knew the least was Chris Mullins. What I did know about him, I liked quite a lot. He liked to party and he liked to have fun. When he left us, I was reminded that our time too here on Earth is limited, and no one lives forever.

Tim Anderson was the one of the four I knew the best. He and I were bosom buddies in high school. Our schedules were similar, and we had many of the same interests. We would walk over to the gym during football and baseball season to practice, and competed with each other against others on many playing fields. During the weekends, we normally went to the same parties and hung out in the same places. When we played baseball, he pitched and I caught. When we played football, he ran and I blocked. When we went out on double dates, however, each of us was on our own.

Then there was Mark Skotchdopole. He was in a separate reality and he continues to be one of the nicest people I have ever met. In my heart, he is one of my greatest heroes. During high school, we didn’t share the same sports or activities, but when we did hook up, we always had a good time. With Mark, I got to know him better later, when he was already sick, and getting sicker. I had the opportunity to talk with him and visit with him on several occasions before he died in 2012. His outlook on life and positive attitude, even in the face of death, stay with me to this day. While I’m sure he probably had some bad days, and likely too got down, I never saw it.

And now to their ranks, the first female from our group goes. What I can I say about CJ Gulley (Coffin)? While I’m sure each has their own opinion, this is my take. Many of the girls were surely intimidated by her beauty. Blond hair, blue eyes and a nice slim body were, no doubt, the envy of more than one. That she got the boys’ attention, probably pissed them off as well. Yet behind the façade, which everyone could see, was a woman who strove to be integral in thought, mind, and body. Eating right and exercising were a part of her daily routine, as was fighting for justice in her own way, working in social services and seeing how the monster works from the inside out.

This message cannot be complete without also mentioning Grant Bauer. Though he wasn’t in our class (though far outclassed many of us), he too was an integral part of experience. His memory also lives on in those of us fortunate enough to have known him.

40 years after we graduated, and almost exactly 15 years after many of us saw each other, we continue forward with the great majority still alive, and a good many of that number still kicking. It is eerie to think that 15 years ago to the day I was sitting down having a beer with the three classmates who have fallen since that time. Yet here I stand, along with the rest. We continue daily, still in the game, doing our best to make the right moves.

Surely, more and more of us will drop as time goes by, it’s inevitable. I say this not as an ominous omen, rather as a reality of life. While Chris, Tim, Mark, CJ, and Grant are no longer with us in body, they can continue to live on the hearts of those of us who knew them. Perhaps this is what a soul and eternity are all about… Regardless, they can each serve as a beacon of light to remind all of us:

Be life long or short, we should be grateful for each and every moment here on Earth.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
27 Sep 2020
LL V 5

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Some called him daddy, others husband, uncle, boss, co-worker, friend, godfather, or buddy.

For me, he was my Buddy Billy…

He was one of the first to greet me upon my arrival to Caracas
He was the one who was always there when I needed him
He was one of the few people who kept his word
He was one to always want to be on time

Now that my Buddy Billy is no longer in the same physical space as we are, it seems somehow he hasn’t actually left us, the fortunate who remain.

Fortunate to have known a person who, while not perfect, was a role model worthy of following in our own journey. For those of us who knew him, we would marvel with his wit to identify and express what was going on in a few words.

So many beautiful times with him and his family bring a smile to my face. Trips to the beach, to the mountains, and much more. Happy moments like birthdays, graduations, weddings, and too difficult times like death and other complications. My Buddy Billy was always there with just the right thing to say with a devilish look in his eye or an overall demeanor of complicity.

When he walked along the street, he greeted people kindly, respecting each regardless of his station in life. He talked to those of high rank and also to those of the lowest. If he had something to say, he would say it, and then let the other interpret the meaning as they pleased.

My Buddy Billy worked hard and earned the respect of those with whom he interacted, as much with his bosses as with those he was responsible for, which were at times many. He maintained order in chaos directing his team of workers much as the notable Dudamel directs a great orchestra.

My Buddy Billy looked nice and was very careful with his appearance, though he also know how to let his hair down when the situation was right to rest and relax, going from being formal to comfortable with ease. He felt at home just about anywhere.

He was astute and did business negotiations easily. While surely some didn’t go as he expected, usually it seems as if they did. Nevertheless, the constant weight of making ends meet in a situation which was constantly deteriorating was perhaps the beginning of his end.

I remember sharing many things with my Buddy Billy, among them:

Going by boat to the Keys in Morrocoy
Traveling through the Pampas of Argentina
Skiing through the Rocky Mountains of Colorado
Sitting at home watching just about any kind of sporting event
Going up to the Avila for a pork sandwich or perhaps heading to the other side
Being lost in the city and calling him, so he could help me find my way
Resolving problems with him, because it was his specialty
Playing tennis almost every Sunday in the park
Being together during important times
Passing time just about anywhere

While there are many ways to remember someone when they leave this reality we know to another yet unknown, I choose to remember my Buddy Billy’s wonderful qualities that made him so special to so many of us.

RIP it my friend!

∞ Rob McBride ∞
20 Feb 2020

One by one we come into the world
Little by little its secrets are unfurled

Two by two many go hand in hand
Drawing sweet dreams in the sand

Time together often brings another
Making them mother and father

As the young one opens his eyes
He brings excitement and surprise

We often wonder what life’s about
With a little one there is no doubt

The meaning of life becomes clear
As we beget it, no doubt we are near

∞ Rob McBride ∞
26 Nov 2019
LL V 3

We cannot give what we do not have
We cannot be what we are not
What we have inside
Will come out
Like it or not

We may act like another
And get away with it for awhile
But what we do speaks so loudly
People will not hear what we say

A glass can only spill its contents
All it has lies within its borders
When we are angered by another
Our contents will become self-evident

We cannot give what we do not have
We cannot have what we do not live
We cannot live what we cannot conceive
We cannot conceive what we do not believe

Believe in yourself / be congruent in thought and action
It’s really much easier than you imagine
Put joy and happiness inside
Hang on and enjoy the ride

∞ Rob McBride ∞
01 Nov 2019
LL V 2