Christopher Dior Simon's Blog, page 18

Make Good Habits

I’m doing well with listening to books. I’m five books ahead of my schedule to read 412 books this year. I’m behind on my book publishing schedule, and I’m at a good pace with the production of the audio version.

Jennifer is bringing me some zucchini bread today. She’s going to make lemon pound cake next week. Also, Miracle Man will possibly come with the solution for my door closer.

One of the books I listened to recently was Do the Hard Things First by Scott Allan. It’s emphasis is on using six self-controlling habits to break bad habits and set good ones to attain our goals. How are things with your ambitions and goals for this year? The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Eleanor Roosevelt. Fortune favors the prepared mind. Louis Pasteur. Simplysaidbysimon, don’t delay, and work your plan today with ALS – Another Life Saved. Thanks, Jilliane.

Author of ALS: A Life Surrendered, Flowers of the Heart, Prayers: Simply Said By Simon, and Imminent Death: Living with a Terminal Disease.

Top it off

I am full again with two pieces of banana nut bread and I will have enough until Jennifer’s brought me some more zucchini bread.

My daughter came by and it is nice that she dropped in. Life keeps going on and I am thankful for those who value me. I’ll see my wife tomorrow, and Miracle Man will come and try and get my door closer adjustments right. Blessings on him, he took the device home to devise something to make it work well.

I’m not looking as though I will meet my self-imposed deadline to publish the next book this month. I’ll be close if I don’t make it. I’m thinking it is my life, and I am the one who is responsible in making it a good one. I can’t start over but I can start now, and for the rest of my days, make the most of them.

It is hard for some people to see their blessing. I’m not able to make their decisions for them. However, if I live a good life, I can be the catalyst for encouraging them to desire their own good life. Fill ‘er up. I heard that often as a teenager working at Brook’s Chevron gas station. I’m on the back nine of life, and I am saying to fill up my tank with the fullness of life. Simplysaidbysimon and a few other folks, “Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” Abraham Lincoln. ALS – Always Living Successfully. Thanks, Belinda.

It’s a really good day

Miracle Man Monday. I’ll let him finish adjusting the door closer. I’m going to have a VA video call this morning, and work on my book all day.

The loss of the use of my hands and arms has not stopped me. Eye gaze technology is a life saver. I have a surround sound bar, three great speakers on the wall or on top of the TV, two fans, heater, air purifier, four wall lamps, three pole lamps, electric window blinds, ceiling projector, cell phone, and the tablet.

I’m able to get many things done from my bed. It’s marvelous. See what you’re able to do differently and enjoy your hobbies and other interests. Either you run the day or the day runs you. Jim Rohn. Simplysaidbysimon and his daughter make it a good day. ALS – A Light Seen. Thanks, Gwen.

Bread Woman Came By

Jennifer just left after I received more banana nut bread. I’m blessed in many ways, and I thank God.

Tomorrow, my Miracle Man will finish adjusting the door closer. I have nothing else until I get some plants or picture frames.

I’ll be full-court press on book publishing this week. I love my life. I have so much to be thankful for. I have some good caregivers, even if a few are missing the mark. My health is stable. I’m active with several projects. I enjoy writing, reading, and listening to music, and I am making new friends, and my wife is awesome. I’ll start on my new batch of bread in the morning. I love it. I eat two pieces, and I don’t need anything else. My face and neck are looking full again. What do you think?

Idealism increases in direct proportion to one’s distance away from the problem. John Galsworthy. In the face of your troubles, Simplysaidbysimon says be happy. Happiness: How to Get into the Habit of Being Happy by Gill Hasson. ALS – Attracting Loving Spirits.

Self-evaluation and outside input

Who is responsible for your wellness? Setting the direction of this post, let’s accept that each individual is responsible for their own life with the exception of the mentally impaired. I make the decisions that impact my life. Success is the sum of small efforts – repeated day in and day out. Robert Collier. We don’t get do-overs. We only have what we’ll do next. Chris Simon. To enjoy freedom we have to control ourselves. Virginia Woolf. Life is a sum of all your choices. Albert Camus. Especially as a terminally diagnosed person, I am heavily focused and concentrated on living well every day. Unashamedly, I am self-centered in promoting what adds to my health and happiness. However, no man is an island, and I know from experience and book knowledge that we do best when we live with others in mind. How do I mesh taking care of myself first and having a mind to care about the things and lives of others? Let’s start with the Golden Rule – do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The Ancient Book. While dying, someone with a Hispanic spelled name looked outside of his dilemma to see to it that his mother was cared for by someone he loved and trusted. I can’t be all consumed with myself and forget the concerns of others. Application: I can’t just talk about me and my issues when I have a visitor. It’s appropriate to ask how they are doing and to listen well. Some will give you a pass because you’re sick. But don’t be a sick-ass. Live in the moment and give the person in front of you undivided attention. I think it rude to be talking on the phone or texting while supposedly visiting with someone. The most important person is the one in front of me. What they are experiencing and what they have to say is what is most important in that moment. A lot goes into managing your mental, emotional, and physical health. Don’t apologize for having to exclude the people who are outside the parameters for your good health. Remember, just live, Baby, is first on the list of priorities. When lives are at stake, and the ship is going down, throw all the nonessentials overboard. Tell them sorry, but Simplysaidbysimon, you have got to go. It’s everyone for his or herself when you’re about to die. Okay, not anytime soon. That would mess up my plans for watching the Chiefs three-peat. ALS – Always Leave Smiling.

Make a new thing

I have been busy. Next, I will listen to Created to Dream by Rick Warren.

I have more of what I want to do than I have time to make happen sometimes. Today, I squeezed out of what I would like to accomplish: my Zoom Bible study for four hours. I will check in for a while. I will probably miss it next week. I have reading, writing, editing, and publishing necessary for my self-imposed deadline for this month of ALS: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – My ALS – Amazing Life Story. This book and one in July are scheduled.

Where are you with your resolutions for this year? It isn’t too late to begin again if you’ve gotten off track. Perfection is is attained by slow degrees; it requires the hand of time. Voltaire. It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop. Confucius. Whether you think you can, or can’t – you’re right. Henry Ford. The best way to predict your future is to create it. Abraham Lincoln.

Don’t like what it is? Then, make something else. You and I can make it if we try Simplysaidbysimon. ALS – A Lasting Soldier. Thanks, Rochelle.

Unhappy people, stay clear

How are you doing in responding to your troubles of disease and disability conditions? Have you become critical and fault-finding. Would your loved ones describe you as hard to live with? Guard against being a pedantic – a person who is pedant – that is, a person who annoys others by correcting small errors and giving too much attention to minor details. Our diseases and conditions are hard on everyone. Let’s not add to the problem.

How do we remedy a critical spirit and mouth? Once again, the airline stewards lead the way with their example of what to do when there is a need for oxygen. Cover your mouth first. Smile. Before we can assume to help someone else, let’s begin with our own condition. Physician, heal thyself. It is true, we may be perfectly clear on what the problems are with other people, but totally blind to our own malady.

Why is it that we are focusing on others? Is it out of philanthropic motivation, or is it easier to fix someone else? Either way, gratitude is the first prescription to cure us. Thankfulness is the necessary treatment for many ailments. That, combined with laughter, has been known to heal the body and the mind. What a great attitude adjustment.

Sometimes prescription glasses are necessary that will help us so that we can see the good in others. So, how do these things help with ALS?. Happy people are generally healthier and they live longer. Don’t take my word; look it up. Along with being married, employed or have a purposeful experience, and meaningful relationships, having a thankful and optimistic mental framework to life, are determinations of how long you will live.

Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be. Abraham Lincoln. Don’t count the days make the days count. Mohammad Ali. Hope is the only bee that makes honey without flowers. Robert Green Ingersoli. Love doesn’t make the world go ’round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile. Franklin P. Jones. Simplysaidbysimon and a former top charted song, “Don’t worry; be happy.” And, for free – mind your own business as ALS- Amazing Living Soul. Thanks, Dawn

He’s the real Deal

It’s Salivating Saturday because I am still excited about eating and enjoying my wife’s banana nut bread. It’s wonderfully delicious, soft, moist, and has a delightfully surprising large piece of walnut here and there. I’ll eat some just about every meal until I devour all of it.

Do you have anything you have a craving for since you can not, perhaps, do for yourself? It’s normal to desire and want something. I have been asked to write about one aspect of Jesus’s seven last words, “I thirst.”

We can understand Jesus as being fully a man. He got hungry, tired, sleepy, and thirsty. And yet, he has demonstrated that he was different from most of us. When his disciples were focused on finding some grub, Jesus said, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me.” We can look back at Jesus and see him in the temple as a boy. When his parents discovered that he was not in the caravan headed back home, they looked all over for Jesus. Joseph and Mary had to double back to Jerusalem and finally found him in the midst of religious folk speaking with uncanny depth of knowledge for a lad. When his exasperated parents questioned him, his reply was, “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”

It appears that Jesus understood his life was different and that he was on a mission. Not much is written about the silent years of Jesus, but in the book of Luke, we can understand his miraculous birth and know that he developed from childhood to manhood in the favor of God and man. We see him being baptized by John the Baptist and God spoke His confirmation by declaring these words, “This is my beloved son; hear ye him.” His life was marked by miracles of turning water into wine, feeding over five thousand people, just touching a man’s eyes with saliva and dirt to bring him sight, and having the woman touch the hem of his garment and become healed. Once, he spoke healing over a man’s dead son from many miles from the site. Another time, he said, “Lazarus, come forth.” This dead brother was delivered from the clutches of death to renewed life. Jesus, in a word, showed us how with God, all things were and are possible.

So, how can I understand what the words “I thirst” mean? Apart from showing us he was still fully a man, I believe Jesus now, hanging on the cross for you and me, realized that his mission was nearly complete. The prophecy had been fulfilled just as scripture had foretold. Justice and mercy were about to kiss. Just now, he craved his Father’s acceptance of his voluntary death as our substitute. He was ready to go home and be reunited with our Father.

Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 KJV.

The men put vinegar to our Savior’s lips and he shortly thereafter said, “It is finished.” He hung his head, gave up the ghost, and died. Simplysaidbysimon though our weeping is lasting this long night in our journey with disease and indescribably difficult conditions and situations, one glad morning, we will rise without any semblance of the disease and marks of how hard it’s been because of ALS – A Loving Savior. Thanks to everyone who has said this.

I hold these things as self-evident

Fantastically favored by God Friday to you. I’m continuing my trek of preparation to publish another book, giving feedback on the audio production process, and reading and listening to my playlist.

It’s been a good week. My wife baked two loaves of banana nut bread that I have enjoyed most meals and shared. Miracle Man has done every project that I have given him. The Mobile Dentist came and did a good job and bought four of my books. I was instrumental in orchestrating the meeting of my eye gaze technology provider and the Mobile Dentist’s aunt soon. This gives me monumental satisfaction. I don’t leave my bed often, but I am blessed to be a part of many things and lives.

I repeat, don’t be a co-star in your own life. For people who don’t show me that I matter in their lives much, I don’t give them much thought. There are just too many people and projects for me to have misspent time on them. You may have to look down on me sitting in a wheelchair, but I would be damned if I’ll tolerate being treated as a second-class citizen. Baby, I am first class all the way. I’ll forget that I ever knew you.

I don’t hold grudges. But I do hold sacred my friends and those I love. My time is special and I choose to share it with those who think I am special and who are special to me. It is a revelation that we don’t rate sometimes, but our diseases, disabilities, and conditions have been helpful in showing us who our real friends are. Unconditional love is usually what our pets and young children give us.

Our lives are just too hard already to have to deal with those who drain us and leave us exhausted mentally and emotionally. I used to feel badly about my modulated changes. Not any more. I ask for guidance to know where to spend my precious moments of life.

People say that they don’t hear from me much anymore. This means I have put them into my “Z” category. They are too busy for me. I’m now too guarded of misuse of my time for them. I’d say that we have become mutually disinterested in each other. Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form. Rumi. The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time. Bertrand Russell. Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding about ourselves. Carl Jung. Simplysaidbysimon you have but one life to live. Spend it wisely on some, and lavishly on others based sometimes on ALS – A Long Silence. Thanks, William.

It’s kinda sad

I know I will do differently, but right now, I am kind of happy someone did not come straight over after their appointment, as was initially indicated and later amended. I don’t do well as a second fiddle, especially when I don’t want any visitors anyway. I’m quite comfortable with just my wife, my daughter, and me a few times a year.

I really didn’t want to give away the banana nut bread I had planned to give. It was convenient for me to say no,, don’t come, continue on with whatever. I’ll now have enough banana nut bread to last me until my wife brings more on Sunday. It’s working out just fine.

Now that I have finished my confessions, I have an appetite for more goodies. Being disabled doesn’t make us needy. We can do just fine without people who don’t make us a priority. You won’t be coming to see me after you have nothing else to do if I know about it. I thought I was done with my ‘fessing up.

It has been a good week, and other than fifty-five forgettable minutes, it’s been an outstanding week. My Miracle Man did more good deeds, and a Mobile Dentist came and cleaned my teeth and patched one tooth. I have been blessed to assist a couple more folks on this journey. It’s a good life. Success is the sum of small efforts – repeated day in and day out. Robert Collier. It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them. Benjamin Franklin. My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness. Dalai Lama. Simplysaidbysimon, don’t be a co-star in your own life. Baby, you’re the main attraction, so don’t forget ALS- After Listening Sing. Thanks, Gwen.