It's late on Wednesday the 25th, or late for me now.
I did not forget my three good things. Here they are:
1. I bowled tonight. I've bowled since I was about 4 when my dad took me. We lived in Baltimore at that time. Since then, I've bowled in tournaments, in leagues, worked in bowling alleys, and done almost anything you can think of in a bowling alley. I bowl on Wednesdays. I bowled well today and the team won. This was a good thing
2. I ate lunch at Kemolls today. I've never eaten there and I've lived in st Louis for most of my life. I ate with a close friend. It was a good thing.
3. As I was driving home today, I heard ice cube's, today was a good day. That song always makes me smile. This was a good thing.
Until tomorrow.... Be easy
-cp
It is what the title says, it is simply what I think. nothing more and nothing less.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
September 24 -- 3 more good things
This is day 2 of 3 good things.
1. Tonight, like every night, we have the kids tell us for what they are grateful. Everyday, the reasons are similar -- family, mommy, daddy, lily, lucy, lincoln, school, teacher, animals, baby animals, plants. Today, Lincoln looked at me and said I am grateful for Daddy. That was a good thing.
2. Its a good thing to be able to be healthy enough to exercise Tonight, I went to the YMCA and worked out. I do this to be healthy so I can be around to see the kids grow up, meet their kids, and see the wonderful people they become (optimistic, aren't I?)
3. Tonight, watching the Cardinal Game. I won't list this every night --remember no repeats -- tonight, though Wacha has a no hitter through 8 innings. This is good stuff.
To those that are joining me, post them in the comments, or in your head, or wherever. For those that haven't joined me, you should. I believe that if we focus on the positive (what we are grateful for, the kind things that we may have done, and the good things we see, feel, and experience) we can all be happier, more positive people. And that is good for all of us.
Have a great night
Be Easy
-cp
1. Tonight, like every night, we have the kids tell us for what they are grateful. Everyday, the reasons are similar -- family, mommy, daddy, lily, lucy, lincoln, school, teacher, animals, baby animals, plants. Today, Lincoln looked at me and said I am grateful for Daddy. That was a good thing.
2. Its a good thing to be able to be healthy enough to exercise Tonight, I went to the YMCA and worked out. I do this to be healthy so I can be around to see the kids grow up, meet their kids, and see the wonderful people they become (optimistic, aren't I?)
3. Tonight, watching the Cardinal Game. I won't list this every night --remember no repeats -- tonight, though Wacha has a no hitter through 8 innings. This is good stuff.
To those that are joining me, post them in the comments, or in your head, or wherever. For those that haven't joined me, you should. I believe that if we focus on the positive (what we are grateful for, the kind things that we may have done, and the good things we see, feel, and experience) we can all be happier, more positive people. And that is good for all of us.
Have a great night
Be Easy
-cp
Monday, September 23, 2013
THREE GOOD THINGS
I was at a conference last week. The conference was excellent -- it was with a lot of other lawyers -- sounds fun, doesn't it??
In any event, one of the issues that we discussed was the general unhappiness of lawyers and ways that it can be improved. there were interesting stats (some depressing...ironic, huh?), and a lot of very good thoughts on happiness -- like that it can be objectively measured and improved.
One of the discussion points centered around the idea of 3 good things. In a recent study, one group of people were required to write down 3 good things they saw, experienced, or felt, for one week. The control group was not under any such obligation. After 1 week, the groups were measured and compared. The group that was required to write down 3 good things were objectively happier than the other group.
In another study, researchers discovered diaries for a number of nuns in a convent in Europe. The Nuns had been born before 1917. The researchers reviewed the diaries and categorized them as positive or negative. The discovered that of those in the top quartile with positive thoughts, 90% were alive in 2002 (approx.). Of those in the bottom quartile, only 34% were alive.
I have decided to embark on the 3 good things task. The rules are as follows. I will write three good things that I see, feel, or experience everyday for 30 days. They cannot repeat (i can't mention my family each day), they must be different and independent. Other than that, they can be anything that i believe is good and a brief explanation as to why. I begin as follows:
THREE GOOD THINGS -- 9/23/13
1. My family (combined so i don't cheat) -- they are healthy and happy -- that is a good thing.
2. Larry Porter -- my closest friend and, in reality, my brother.
3. Anthony Graphenreed -- my nephew -- he lost his mother, my sister, about 3 years ago, but he keeps doing the right thing. I'm blessed to be related to him.
I have no doubt that this will get harder, but i cannot believe that I don't see, experience, or feel 3 good things each day. I will post daily to prove it can be done.
The real question is -- will anybody join me?
I hope you have a wonderful day
Be Easy
-cp
In any event, one of the issues that we discussed was the general unhappiness of lawyers and ways that it can be improved. there were interesting stats (some depressing...ironic, huh?), and a lot of very good thoughts on happiness -- like that it can be objectively measured and improved.
One of the discussion points centered around the idea of 3 good things. In a recent study, one group of people were required to write down 3 good things they saw, experienced, or felt, for one week. The control group was not under any such obligation. After 1 week, the groups were measured and compared. The group that was required to write down 3 good things were objectively happier than the other group.
In another study, researchers discovered diaries for a number of nuns in a convent in Europe. The Nuns had been born before 1917. The researchers reviewed the diaries and categorized them as positive or negative. The discovered that of those in the top quartile with positive thoughts, 90% were alive in 2002 (approx.). Of those in the bottom quartile, only 34% were alive.
I have decided to embark on the 3 good things task. The rules are as follows. I will write three good things that I see, feel, or experience everyday for 30 days. They cannot repeat (i can't mention my family each day), they must be different and independent. Other than that, they can be anything that i believe is good and a brief explanation as to why. I begin as follows:
THREE GOOD THINGS -- 9/23/13
1. My family (combined so i don't cheat) -- they are healthy and happy -- that is a good thing.
2. Larry Porter -- my closest friend and, in reality, my brother.
3. Anthony Graphenreed -- my nephew -- he lost his mother, my sister, about 3 years ago, but he keeps doing the right thing. I'm blessed to be related to him.
I have no doubt that this will get harder, but i cannot believe that I don't see, experience, or feel 3 good things each day. I will post daily to prove it can be done.
The real question is -- will anybody join me?
I hope you have a wonderful day
Be Easy
-cp
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Martin / Zimmerman
"It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer",
-- English jurist William Blackstone
I've been thinking about Zimmerman / Martin a lot.
I was a public defender for a long time and I am a staunch defender of the rights of all people (even those charged with crimes). Unlike many, I can't get mad at the jury. This case was difficult b/c legally, he was likely not guilty -- my criminal defense friends might even agree. We were not in the courtroom every day. We did not see every piece of evidence that the jury did. We did not hear every witness. Even if we did, they were charged with following the law. I think they probably did that. We might disagree with the law (and I might), but I can't disagree with the verdict.
This entry, though, is not a moral defense of what happened. Clearly, Zimmerman's actions caused that boy's death. If he stayed in the car, as he was ordered to do, Martin is alive. As Jason Alexander wrote here, if Zimmerman does not have a gun, he probably doesn't follow Martin b/c he does not feel like he is invincible or something special. He would have let the police do their jobs (this is not a commentary on guns).
This might have been race related and I am not naive enough to think that if the races were reversed, he Zimmerman would still have not been convicted (stats bear that out). Zimmerman's idiot actions, though are not 2nd degree murder (or even manslaughter).
What is more disturbing to me are the protests around the country related to Zimmerman. I heard reports of dumpster fires, vandalism, assaults, throughout the country today related to the Zimmerman verdict. Is that what we have become? Rioting when something does not go your way? Protesting for one victim, when there are hundreds of victims around the country? Marching for a shooting in Sanford, FL, when there are shootings 3 blocks from where I sit? Marching for Travon Martin, when there are children in STL (and ever city) not getting sufficient care at home, not getting sufficient eduction, and not getting sufficient nutrition to survive in this world (let alone prosper).
People should use this as a wake up call. Not a wake up call regarding the value of black life or whether the criminal justice system works (I'd submit it does work and that is why the verdict was not guilty -- those jurors were not affected by the outside world -- they considered the evidence and acquitted). This should be one of many wake up calls that there is a lot that needs to be fixed and we should get started getting some of that shit done.
Have a nice day and be easy
-- cp
-- English jurist William Blackstone
I've been thinking about Zimmerman / Martin a lot.
I was a public defender for a long time and I am a staunch defender of the rights of all people (even those charged with crimes). Unlike many, I can't get mad at the jury. This case was difficult b/c legally, he was likely not guilty -- my criminal defense friends might even agree. We were not in the courtroom every day. We did not see every piece of evidence that the jury did. We did not hear every witness. Even if we did, they were charged with following the law. I think they probably did that. We might disagree with the law (and I might), but I can't disagree with the verdict.
This entry, though, is not a moral defense of what happened. Clearly, Zimmerman's actions caused that boy's death. If he stayed in the car, as he was ordered to do, Martin is alive. As Jason Alexander wrote here, if Zimmerman does not have a gun, he probably doesn't follow Martin b/c he does not feel like he is invincible or something special. He would have let the police do their jobs (this is not a commentary on guns).
This might have been race related and I am not naive enough to think that if the races were reversed, he Zimmerman would still have not been convicted (stats bear that out). Zimmerman's idiot actions, though are not 2nd degree murder (or even manslaughter).
What is more disturbing to me are the protests around the country related to Zimmerman. I heard reports of dumpster fires, vandalism, assaults, throughout the country today related to the Zimmerman verdict. Is that what we have become? Rioting when something does not go your way? Protesting for one victim, when there are hundreds of victims around the country? Marching for a shooting in Sanford, FL, when there are shootings 3 blocks from where I sit? Marching for Travon Martin, when there are children in STL (and ever city) not getting sufficient care at home, not getting sufficient eduction, and not getting sufficient nutrition to survive in this world (let alone prosper).
People should use this as a wake up call. Not a wake up call regarding the value of black life or whether the criminal justice system works (I'd submit it does work and that is why the verdict was not guilty -- those jurors were not affected by the outside world -- they considered the evidence and acquitted). This should be one of many wake up calls that there is a lot that needs to be fixed and we should get started getting some of that shit done.
Have a nice day and be easy
-- cp
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