How To Stay Positive When Things Do Not Go Well, Final Part

14

Mood: Frank Sinatra, “My Way”

Acceptance and Letting Go

Maybe the hardest thing about the final loss that is the death of a loved one, family or otherwise, are those two things: acceptance and letting go.

What the hell do they mean, though? Sounds pretty self-explanatory, right? The concepts sure are easy to understand, sure, but actually going about putting them into action? Fuck….

It...
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How To Stay Positive When Things Do Not Go Well, Part II

6

Mood: Frank Sinatra, First ‘comeback’, or Middle Years

I Was Transformed

The youngest of three boys growing up, I was frequently denied entry into the older boys ‘clubs’, because, of course, I was ‘too young’. My uncle, Fred, who was living with us at the time, would take me to go get candy or ice cream or see a movie or some such many of...
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libris:
This is fantastic!  You should find a more public space to publish this to help others with their grieving, because you articulate so well what it's like to mourn, and come out the other side.  "Sometimes those memories, strengthened by love, even, for a moment, become almost physical again."  This quote is such a gem, it's so true.  When we talk about passed love ones, especially fond memories, it really is like the person is there... and I suppose they are, being manifested in everyone's hearts.  Again, lovely blog!
bradmax:
@libris Thank you, your words are appreciated! These last two blogs have been written in more of a flow of consciousness sort of way, so that they make sense is good to hear. As to posting these elsewhere,  i have no idea where at this time, as this is the only social media I attend regularly, other than Instagram, and that isn’t really conducive for this kind of blogging. I feel Doug and Uncle Fred on a pretty regular basis. MY actually write about that next blog.

How To Stay Positive When Things Do Not Go Well, Part 1

6

Mood: Sinatra, Early Years

Disclaimer: In my mind at this point there seems a need to be more than one part to this: That is subject to change.

Things Happen For A Reason

I have thought deeply on whether or not to write this. I go in fully aware that is it more for myself that I do write it as it has always helped...
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libris:
Wonderful blog!  The aggressiveness of your brother's cancer is frightening, to be diagnosed in April and pass in May, it's awful.  I'm so glad that you and your family were able to come together, and grieve together... It seems tragedy either pulls families together or pulls them apart.  The anniversary of the death of loved one is always difficult, especially because it's only been four years since his passing.  I try to take all of my tragedies and use them to help me become a better person, at least more compassionate and forgiving.
bradmax:
I try every day, even as I fail, to be better and more motivated to be better and do better for others, aware that if I am not doing well, I am in no fit way to do better for others. Obviously, as you know, it can be a struggle at times. Thank you for those kind and thoughtful words. You are appreciated.

Space Is Big, Really Big!

11
Mood: Also Sprach Zarathustra, Richard Strauss

It has been a very frustrating month or so, with the World once again going absolutely bat shit crazy. It is hard to fathom the extreme incompetence of the US political community, moreso at the top than anywhere else. Saying one thing and needing it walked back, saying nothing but the same phrase and same words mixed slightly around…and
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‘Tis A Grand Soft Night…

4

Mood: Irish Jigs and Reels

This will be a bit of a weird blog, but as it is on my mind and this is the only place I blog, here it will be!

I lost my brother several years ago to a virulent form of cancer that took him from us just over 5 weeks from when he was diagnosed. What that meant to my
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libris:
Wonderful blog, what a beautiful way to celebrate your brother and the day!
bradmax:
@libris Thank you. I appreciate that.

If I Could Turn Back Time

5

Mood: The Music of the Spheres (432Hz)

My God, it’s full of stars!

I have always been fascinated with the night sky. From an early age, such things as meteors, comets, earthshine and eclipses have had a hold on my wondering mind. Learning that comets are chunks of ice and rock and their tails always point away from the sun, that metros are comets that...
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libris:
The celestial heavens are amazing, this universe never fails to astound me.  And it truly is amazing that every culture on the face of the earth had some way to keep track of what was going on in the night sky since time immemorial.  I think people have been fascinated with the stars and space weather since we could tilt our heads back to appreciate what is up there.  I was listening to a podcast where the speaker noted how every story in the bible ties back to a story that coincides with astronomy, and the stories of of the constellations.  I've been meaning to discuss this with one of the rabbis, but I know this is going to be one of those conversions that will tie up a bunch of their time, plus I'd like to dig a little deeper so I can possibly explain it better.
bradmax:
@libris We always search for answers, either on a personal level for our own betterment (I hope!) or for that in Nature we do not understand. Look what such searching hath wrought! Fascinating, amazing and scary.  It is very interesting that all religions, at least in part, have to do with some sort of astronomy or other, isn’t it? How can they not, with, as we now understand, the Sun has a direct influence on the planet’s weather, it’s ocean currents, along with the Moon influencing the tides and such and the magnetosphere controlling birds to an extent and so on? Should you care to, once you have the time to speak with your rabbi, it would be wondrous to know the gist of what you learn. Peace and good health to you and your Mom!

Every Little Thing Is Gonna Be All Write

5

Mood:

Antônio Carlos Jobim & Various ‘Trailer Music’ Pieces

Write On!
I do not recall a time in my life when I did not write something, though this came as a surprise to me about a year ago when I picked up seriously writing a story that had been in my head for maybe 7 years. As I began to write that story in earnest,...
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VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
libris:
You should definitely look into publishing it, at the least self publishing it so you can have a beautiful, bound copy for yourself.
bradmax:
@libris Going to need to find a few more proof readers who will actually read it and return their critique to me. So far, out of I think 5 people I sent why I had to, one has come through.

I Have A Problem

7

Mood: Etta James

Introduction:

Took me a while to decide to blog here. I do not blog anywhere else, have never really thought to do so, or at least since I quit the cesspool that is Facebook. There were some longer posts there that could be considered ‘blogs’, I suppose. Any such posts never really got many ‘likes’, but I never posted for them; I...
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VIEW 9 of 9 COMMENTS
amra:
@bradmax Please, tag me on the writer blog! I’d be thrilled to read it.
bradmax:
@amra Will do!