FULL RESOURCES SELDOM USED & VALUE OF RESEARCH TECHNIQUES

By Olivene Godfrey

The average person never uses his full recourses because he doesn't realize the full extent of his ability. A bit of advice is: "Go ahead when you are sure you are right." And, "Be sure you are wrong before you quit."

A music teacher told one of her pupils: "You were born with a talent for music. You were not born a pianist. And because you were not born with the skill to play the piano you will have hours of thoughtful practice, scales, and finger exercises. But because of your musical talent, which you didn't ask for or earn, you can succeed in possessing the gift of music."

Actors who are filming a movie go over and over the same scene until it is right. This routine adds to our enjoyment when we see a movie. But, acting is hard, tedious work, often boring work.

Yet, the person who has been entrusted with special talents should be willing to improve their skills and abilities even at some personal sacrifice. And, they need an abundance of diligence and patience.

The responsibility of ownership, the use of something someone possesses for the benefit of others, is not for self-alone.
Talented people have a responsibility to use their talents, to add a little joy, beauty, and inspiration to the world.

-----------------

Since I have written thousands of articles and columns on a wide variety of subjects, some people think I am smarter than I am. Actually, the only things that have stuck with me from student days is English grammar, spelling, and the techniques of research which is much easier since the Internet came on the scene.

Someone said that 10 years after leaving school you will have forgotten at least a fourth of what you knew, and in 20 years it would be reduced to one half, and eventually there will be only a little you can recall. But, if you learn research techniques you will be able quickly to find facts you need and folks will think you are smarter than you really are.

I once wrote a article about a baseball umpire. Since I know very little about baseball, and the subject of the article was highly complimentary about the article and my "knowledge" of the game, that was a good example of what research can accomplish.

See you next time.

MONEY MAY NOT BUY EVERYTHING, BUT....

By Olivene Godfrey

Have you noticed that it's usually the rich who are quick to say that money isn't everything? I know the joys of nature can't be bought. But, a home with a view of a mountain or a sleeping valley, with all their delights does cost money.

Money can often buy health and education. But, most important it can buy peace of mind. Sure, some folks aren't happy even if they are rich. But, believe me, they are more comfortable in their misery than unhappy, poor people.

Frankly, I feel like bopping the affluent person who consoles a more unfortunate soul with the "money can't buy everything" bit. I don't believe in discriminating against the rich. Actually, I would love being one of them myself. But, it seems that nowadays it is the middle class that is being discriminated against.

I do feel empathy for persons living in extreme poverty. But, most of them get assistance from federal and state governmental agencies. Then. The rich get, or more knowledgeable about, special income tax deductions. And, I have read that the cost of living is actually higher for low-income persons.

What it all boils down to is this -- In this year of 2005, a person has to have a certain amount of money to exist even in poverty. And, only the very foolish would say that money is everything. But, only the very foolish would also say that it isn't important.

-------------------

Here is some advice on reputation. "Do not worry about what people are thinking about you - for they are not thinking about you. They are wondering what you are thinking about them." Anonymous.

See you next time.

NICKNAMES & MORE....

By Olivene Godfrey

I've known some people who preferred their nicknames to their real names. But, when you have a name like my first name and you are, as a child, called such things as "Olive-Oil" you aren't likely to be happy with nicknames.

Other people acquire nicknames because a younger child has trouble pronouncing a word or name. My name has always given the children in my family trouble, so, for many years I was called, "Ah,cum".

Many prominent people, especially U.S Presidents, are often given a nickname consisting of the initials of his other names, such as FDR, for Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

For many years, especially in the American South, calling children by their first two initials, such as J.D., was a common practice. This custom seems to have died out.

I suppose the only asset for persons with unusual names, like mine, is that you can be assured people will remember your name, even if they can't pronounce it.

-------------------------

The past week hasn't been pleasant at our house. I was under the weather and in pain for most of the week. I think our cold weather didn't help my feelings any either. Then, son, Barry, had his lower, left wisdom tooth removed surgically Thursday morning and took it easy for a couple of days and still doesn't feel chipper yet. We are both feeling better today though.

While being confined to the house most of the week, I have been listening to some music on the stereo. I enjoyed listening to an oldie CD by the Mavericks "What a Crying Shame." and if Country Radio played more records like this one, I might listen to the stations again. I detest what is called New Country which is, in reality, soft pop music.

I used to listen to the radio every minute I was in my car. Today, I remembered an afternoon in the 1950s when I was driving home after work and a song came on the air that perked up my ears and sent a thrill through me. The name of the new song was Heartbreak Hotel and the next day during my lunch hour I went to the record store where I hung out a lot, searching through stacks of obscure blues 78-rpm records, which I collected. (I wish I had saved them now.) I also bought the latest pop records. That day, I bought the Heartbreak Hotel record and discussed it with the owner of the store. She only knew the singer had the odd name of Elvis Presley but shortly after that day, the entire world knew who Elvis was. And an Elvis concert I attended in the 1970s was the most exciting live performance I have ever seen.

More about our weather. I know it doesn't compare with the weather up north, but it was in the teens this morning with a brisk wind and now at mid-afternoon it is 25 degrees and that is too dang cold for me. I am eagerly waiting for spring and Barry is planning to raise tomatoes and perhaps other vegetables in containers as he did so successfully last year. And he just about has his fishing tackle box organized so we are hoping to eat fresh fish in the spring, too.

See you next time.

OPTIMIST KEEPS HOPES ALIVE

By Olivene Godfrey

It's been said that an optimist is someone who can fall 10 stories and call out at each floor in passing that everything is okay so far. It's also been said that an optimist isn't realistic and that when his dreams or plans fail to materialize he is more deeply crushed than the pessimist.

I've always been an optimist, even in my darkest moments. And, there have been times when I think without my belief that things have to get better, I could not have survived.

Now, the pessimist believes it is better to look for the worst so as to be pleasantly surprised when things are better than expected. We all know people like that. Then, if they are as bad as he feared they would be he won't be disappointed. (To me that is a terrible way to live.)

Only the optimist can dare to believe there are things waiting for discovery and further development. When he dreams outside the limits of ordinary thinking, he isn't just daydreaming. There can be no advancement when people expect the worst.

The optimist isn't unrealistic. He questions life the same as the pessimist. The difference is that he knows there has to be an answer and he has confidence he will find it. He knows that the cherries that life is supposed to be a bowl of have pits. Be, he knows the pits can be removed and his mind doesn't dwell on the pits but on the deliciousness of the cherries.

Our attitudes, emotions, and beliefs tend to become habitual. In the past we learned that certain attitudes, ways of thinking and feeling were appropriate to certain situations. So we blindly continue to think, feel and act the same way whenever we encounter similar situations.

Now. habits, unlike addictions, can be easily changed if we are willing to take the trouble to make a conscious decision and then practice the new response or behavior. I don't say it would be easy for a pessimist to become an optimist. But, being an optimist, I say it is possible. (After all, I did give up some lifetime bad habits within recent times.)

We need to accept ourselves as we are and go on from there. We can change and it isn't being conceited to have confidence and faith that we can surmount obstacles and realize our possibilities.

See you next time.

SHORT TOPICS ON MY MIND....

By Olivene Godfrey

I've heard of people who accused their washers and dryers of gobbling up their socks. But, I have never heard of my predicament. I suspect that my dishwasher is eating dinner forks.
Over a period of few months, I have lost five stainless steel dinner forks. I can understand how I might have thrown a fork away while clearing the dinner table after a meal. But, five times? It has me baffled.

--------------------

A number of years ago, my late husband, Ralph, gave me a sturdy, stationary exercise bike. I used it a few times but I was having breathing and other health problems at the time so I stopped using it. Since I started on my no sugar, no potatoes diet last fall, I have had more energy and am stronger. And, I have started riding the bike every other morning and am not getting
too winded and I feel great afterward so I intend to keep it up.

As I continue on the diet and am losing weight, I feel like I have been given a new lease on life at the age of 77.
I come from families (paternal and maternal) who live long lives and I hope I have inherited their genes. I want to feel good as long as I live and am working on that now. I think I am living proof that it is never too late to change your poor eating and living habits. To make a change in your lifestyle, it has to be a lifetime commitment.

---------------------

For years, I had to get up at 6 A.M. every morning and I longed to be able to sleep later. But, now that I am able to sleep as late as I please, I still wake up at 6A.M. So, I get up and start my day's work early. A bonus is that I am able to view the gorgeous sunrises from my front windows. And, I take catnaps during the day and go to bed early at night, which seems to be working fine for me.

---------------------------

My son, Barry, takes me out to lunch at a restaurant of my choice every Sunday. This past Sunday, we had a delicious lunch at
Shoney's. Afterward, we went shopping at a nearby K Mart store.
I had a list of items to buy and we saved a bunch of money on bargains. The weather was nice and it was a pleasant day.

See you next time.

FISHING NOTES & DON'T LET "NICE" WORD FOOL YOU!

By Olivene Godfrey

I gave Barry a super-large, fancy fishing tackle box for Christmas. He says the box is actually seven small boxes in one. He plans to fish for fresh water bass this spring. I hope he has luck as my mouth is watering for that delicacy.

My late husband, Ralph, was an avid fisherman and an expert at catching fish. Barry is planning to transfer all of the fishing lures, etc.... from Ralph's smaller boxes to his new large one. Barry also owns a lot of fishing gear and will get it organized on the coming winter days.

Thinking of Barry's fishing plans evoked memories of the days when Ralph was young and healthy and he and my sister, Jeanette's husband, Charles Cooper, often went fishing together and they could be depended upon to bring home buckets of fish which we would enjoy eating. We all lived in Dalton, GA at that time
And would often spend a weekend day at a nearby lake having fun in the sun and water and eating picnic lunches. We would wear our swimsuits underneath our shirts and shorts and it is a happy memory for me. (The men would often water ski but Jeanette and I gave up on that after a disastrous beginning.)

Later, when Ralph and I lived in Florida (before Barry was born), Ralph continued to fish often. His sister, Agnes, and her husband, Alvin, lived in Florida near us and owned a boat. And, we had a lot of fun those years, cooking on the beach and just enjoying the Florida years in our younger days.

---------------

Have you noticed that the word, "nice" seems to have fallen into disrepute in some quarters and seems to imply a colorless, middle-of-the road virtue without much force. The definition of nice in my dictionary includes,” pleasing and agreeable", which are certainly admirable human traits. So, it would seem that to be thought of as nice would be a compliment.

Perhaps the word may have fallen into disrepute because some people who appear to be nice aren't sincere. But, when you think of sincere, nice people aren't they happy and pleasant people?
Most of us love our friends even though they aren't perfect. We believe the good outweighs the bad.

Sometimes you wonder how you can see any good in some people.
But, if you can see past their worries, fears, errors, and troubles, you can see them, as they would be if they were expressing the good they surely have within them. We don't have to like all that such people do or say, but if we make an effort to find even a spark of good in them, it might be a rewarding experience, and what do we have to lose?

See you next time.

NEW YEAR"S DAY --- A PERFECT DAY FOR ME!

By Olivene Godfrey

The first day of 2005 didn't begin well at all for me. I woke up at two in the morning in pain. I got up and "doctored" myself and went back to bed. After a while, the pain eased but I was wide-awake. So, I dozed until six A.M. when I began to have hunger pangs in my stomach. I got up and ate breakfast and took a massage shower and revived myself. I had done my household chores the previous day so I rested until time to get dressed to start on our serious shopping outing for the day.
Son Barry drove me to the huge two-story Hamilton Place Mall in Chattanooga. We ate a delicious lunch at the Piccadilly Cafeteria. Barry ate a serving of black-eyed peas, which is a tradition in the American South to eat on New Year's Day to assure one of a prosperous coming year. He said the peas were cooked in the Southern style and were very good.

We took my wheel chair with us and after lunch Barry pushed me all over the two floors of the mall, getting a good workout he said. Barry is a great shopper. He never seems to get tired and can find whatever I am searching for quickly. He enjoys shopping in most stores, from hardware to clothing stores.
While he feels a little uncomfortable in some shops I want to browse in, he is still able to find what I am looking for faster than I can.

I bought all the items on my list at good sale prices, including a gorgeous long, black winter coat, which was marked down to 60 percent off the hefty original price. The coat should look nice with long dresses as well as slacks on cold, wintry days.

The last time I bought a winter coat was about ten years ago when my late husband, Ralph, took me shopping. He helped me select the coat and I still wear it for casual wear. Ralph wasn't a big shopper except for fishing equipment and occasionally a particular clothing item. The last shopping trip we took together before he became ill was just before Christmas that year. He wanted a black, leather jacket for Christmas and wanted to select it himself. We went to every clothing store in the Dalton, GA mall and he tried on jackets only to return to the first store we went to and bought that jacket. I didn't complain as he had helped me shop on occasions when I knew he wasn't enjoying himself. I wish he could have worn the jacket longer.

This past Christmas, Barry bought me several gadgets to use in the kitchen which help me work with my arthritic hands. Also, he bought an indoor healthful grill, which we are enjoying using for beef burgers and sandwiches, etc....

See you next time.