Christopher Dior Simon's Blog, page 8

That’s what friends are for

Satisfying Saturday with a mission of success. I thank God for books read and written, flower and plants growing, and a door closer repaired by the Minute Man. How sweet smelling they are.

How do you spell relief? L-A-M-O-N-T-E. My best friend started our relationship kick-fighting, but then it turned into fighting for each other. He has given me my flowers while I can smell them.

I’m not trying to leave here soon, but I enjoy those who have shown me their love while I live. Don’t dare keep living. Some people don’t have love enough to go the extra mile with you. Their actions say to you could you just hurry up and die already. That is okay. They did what they could.

This disease journey is not for the faint of heart. It is not a death watch for me. I love my celebration of life. There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. Edith Wharton. Education is the movement from darkness to light. Allan Bloom. Where is all the knowledge we lost with information? T. S. Eliot. Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards. Soren Kirkeguard. Let your life so shine that they may see your good works and glorify the Ancient of Days. Simplysaidbysimon’s daughter, Daddy, are you giving up? It is not even close to it by ALS – A Life Supreme. Thanks to all who said this.

Beautiful for Situation

Beautiful for Situation

I wake up each morning with a grateful heart and a mind fixed to be more than a conqueror for every obstacle and potentially disappointing issue that may come.

Yesterday, I was blessed by my best friend’s flower-planting skills, which allowed me to plant one rose bush, one hydrangea, and six begonias and straighten the leaning rose bush tree I already had from last year. It’s a joy to beautify my room and outside my back window and read books that help me become more attractive in word and deed.

My friend will return today for another visit and bring his wife and another friend. If I receive a delivery in time, he will finish with another project. I love my room and the attractive, comfortable, peaceful, and scented pleasantries it offers. I’ve got that joy, joy, joy down in my heart.

Being disabled is not the end. Make a mental note of the things that are within your control or influence to brighten the corner where you are. If you have the misfortune of being obstructed from changing your exterior, be sure to beautify the walls of your mind. Change your life today. Don’t gamble on the future, act now, without delay. Simone de Beauvoir. Worrying doesn’t take away tomorrow’s anticipated problems, but it is the culprit that steals today’s peace away from you. Peace is the place in your mind that you take all your troubles to and leave them knowing that even if it doesn’t turn out as you want, you will be alright, Simplysaidbysimon. When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. Viktor Frankl. ALS – A Lovely Scenery. Thanks, Belinda.

No trash dumping here

Tenacious Thursday with thanksgiving to God for giving us the strength and fortitude to press through our tumultuous trials and troubles. Hold on.

I’m listening to The Law of the Garbage Truck by David J. Pollay. It’s important to eradicate negative influences in our lives. This book reviews many illustrations of garbage dumping in our lives. David details how to respond to or prevent Nonsensical Trash and increase our everyday joy.

Hope is the only bee that makes honey without flowers. Robert Green Ingersoll. Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil. J. Paul Getty. Let your smile be the treasure of someone’s day. Chris Simon. Simplysaidbysimon, and Gandhi, I think, be the change you want as an ALS- Awesome Life-giving Savior. Thanks, Joyce.

You are always saying something

I have a best friend who is the best of friends. How do I know this? It’s definitely not cheap talk. He tells me this through his actions. He has been extremely exceptional in showing me his love. Since I have shown the debilitating effects of ALS, he’s been there even more so. I want not just hope and prayer but also a friend in overalls. He has done everything he possibly could to make my world with ALS better.

Before Miracle Man, there was LW. Lamonte is a person who walks the talk. I’m blessed with his love and friendship. It doesn’t hurt that his wife can cook. I’ll see them one day soon and be blessed by his kindness.

I’m sorry if you don’t have anyone who has been there for you. I’m even sadder if you have difficulty asking or allowing people to assist you with things you need to do and can no longer make them happen alone.

I’m grateful I overcame myself and have people like my wife, daughter, sister, and many others who have filled in the gaps of what, where, and when things are required. That’s what friends are for, the song says. Simplysaidbysimon: I hope you’ve Got a Friend in high places and an Earth Angel like my best bud Lamonte. ALS—A Light Shining.

There’s no place like home

There is no place like home

It is great to creatively plan and execute in my little efficiency apartment. Oh, so you thought it was a one-room sub-acute facility. It is, but it isn’t.

I’m strategizing where to put the next tree, rose bush, and hydrangea plant. I also plan on layering seeds and bulbs for different seasons around a tree trunk and maybe three circular feet of dirt. I’ll recess them according to the height as much as possible, using only my imagination.

I was just coordinating some counter space. I’m organizing my little shelf space to showcase my plastic containers filled with pistachios, honey-roasted almonds, mixed nuts and herbs, yogurt-covered raisins, and Trailmix next. I don’t want it to appear too crowded.

I’m loving my life and enjoying my little space. My disease is not limiting what I do, but it contributes to my decision as to how I will get it done. I did really great with enlisting my assistants. Interpretation is the revenge of the intellectual upon art. Susan Sontag. Simplysaidbysimon, wherever you are physically, mentally, and emotionally, you can make it a fantastic and a better place. ALS – Always Liking Something. Thanks, Gwen. I like that management has supported everything except helping with my remote blinds. They said I was on my own and declined to do wiring behind the drywall. I don’t mind doing waivers for which they counsel different from my desire.

Brainiac or Maniac

It’s been almost 8 years, and a little bit over 2,700 books read. 208, 638, 480, 375, 261, 165, 402- 2529 total for the last seven years. This year’s count will be 412. 2941 total. I have enjoyed learning more than I have ever been aware of before disease took away my strength. I had common sense before, but I am adding book knowledge. I’m not sure if I will reach the brainiac status, however I am no longer clueless in Seattle. The Wizzard of Oz didn’t give it to me; believe it or not, ALS has set up circumstances for me to gain a brain, heart, and courage.

I’m exuberant about my increasing superpowers. I’m faster than a speeding bullet to solve my problems, more powerful than a locomotive if something or someone gets in my way, and able to leap tall buildings of trouble in a single bound. Though overwrought with ALS is now a man of steel. To best be able to use my superpowers for truth and justice. The Kryptonite of doubt and unbelief are eradicated.

I’m not hiding under any Clark Kent disguise. I’ll say it out loud, surviving ALS, and I’m proud. Zeal is a volcano, the peak of which the grass of indecisiveness does not grow. Khalil Gibran. I don’t get upset over things I can control, because if I can control them there’s no sense in getting upset. And I don’t get upset over things I can’t control, because if I can’t control them there’s no sense in getting upset. Mickey Rivers. ALS – Awesome Looking Setup. Thanks, Belinda.

The Challenge of Change

A few days ago, my sister and I met my new DON. It was an enlightened experience of things to come. I believe it was Friday night. Since then, the staff who I talked with had varying answers concerning what they thought. Most have expressed
their excitement. One person’s sentiment is that it takes a while to change the culture of the people who have worked a long time here.

My perspective since living in this facility is the most problems have come from the old staff who have done things incorrectly for a long time. When they were not held accountable, they became even more bold in poor performance.

The other side, the new people who drug the teams down, were allowed to stay just to fill a position. Attached to this, poor attendance has not been adequately dealt with. One nurse welcomed the new DON’s perceived no-nonsense. Let the people say amen, I agree, yeah, and heck yes, Simplysaidbysimon. Make an effort to conform to positive change, or get up outta here. ALS- And Leave Soon. He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough. Lao Tzu. But, on the other hand, I have had enough, and I welcome change.

Much Learning

I am listening to the book Humility: The Joy of Self-Forgetfulness by Ortlund Gavin. Earlier, I had been responding to greetings and listening to Priscilla Shirer’s One in a Million. Next, I will listen to The 3 Promises by David J. Pollay: to find joy every day, to do what you love, and to make a difference.

Make it a great day, and begin this day with gratitude. When I look for things to be thankful for, I find them. Sadly, if I look for something to complain about, I will surely find that, too. Making it a great day requires good building materials. Good thoughts, uplifting emotions and feelings, and forward-living actions construct my best days.

Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil. J. Paul Getty. Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul. Henry Ward Beecher. Simplysaidbysimon, it might not be our lot to strike oil, but we may anoint our head and live with the oil of gratitude. ALS – Appreciate Life’s Surprises.

At Last…

Etta James, move over. My faith became clear yesterday when I talked with the new DON. More later with News at Seven.

I told Jennifer I had blood drawn, and she asked what was my preference between cremation and burial? I told her I’d like to keep her around so mummification would work. Yes, embalm and dry out until shriveled.

My wife said she’d just landed. Wonderful. I want you to say that in my room. I keep her laughing and aware she’s still got it. Yeah, I am cray-cray.

The thing is, our diseases and conditions of disability are bad, but they don’t stop us from living. We do that to ourselves when we quit dreaming and doing what we can to participate and enjoy life. ALS has stolen enough without me giving up the rest.

Keep up your spunk, strut, sassy ways even when you are unable to walk. It’s a mind thing. Mohammad Ali talked about saying he was the greatest before he ever was. I don’t know if there will be a cure for ALS in my lifetime, but I am living with a wellness attitude.

It’s never me whenever I tell the story about who dies first. You can tell your story as you like, Simplysaidbysimon. Tell it as an ALS—Amazingly Lasting Soldier.

Pep in your step

Think Ahead: 7 Decisions You Can Make Today for that God-Honoring Life You Want Tomorrow by Craig Groeschel. I will be ready, devoted, faithful, one who influences, generous, consistent, a finisher. Hope is the only bee that makes honey without flowers. Robert Green Ingersoll. If you do not think about your future, you cannot have one. John Galsworthy.

I live in the moment, making memories and marking lives positively impacted. Beginning with my own experience, I delight in powerful change going on—first in my mind, then affecting emotions, actions, and my total being of mind, body, and spirit. It’s the total package.
I live in the moment, making memories and marking lives positively impacted. Beginning with my own experience, I delight in powerful change going on—first in my mind, then affecting emotions, actions, and my total being of mind, body, and spirit. It’s the total package.

I wake up each morning with a grateful mind, an indomitable spirit, and the goal to create positive and powerful change. Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul. Henry Ward Beecher. Zeal is a volcano, the peak of which the grass of indecisiveness does not grow. Khalil Gibran. Be not simply good – be good for something. Henry David Thoreau.

Simplysaidbysimon, now is a great time for a full makeover, make anew, and relations make up as ALS – Another Loving Sentiment. Thanks, Janal.