By Don ArnoudseBio
We live in a culture that has truly gone mad with “multi-tasking”. I
confess I’m guilty too. Even as I write this blog, I have my Bose
earphones on as I listen to Neil Young singing “Helpless” in his
uniquely plaintive style. OK. I’ve turned Neil off for now. At the same
time, I believe most of us crave receiving the undivided attention of
someone we care about. Attention that is completely focused on us with
no distractions. No TV, no laptop, no cell phone, no thoughts of
“What’s for dinner?”, or what I wish I had said in my last conversation
this morning, or what I need to do before I go to bed tonight.[ Read More]
Written by eldering at Personal Empowerment
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By Don ArnoudseBio
I read a very sad story about Richard W. Daly, a former member of the
Massachusetts House of Representatives, in the Boston Globe last week.
Under the headline “ Legislator faded away, died alone” was the report that he had been found next to his bed by his landlord. He had been dead about a week. The Globe reported:
“He
was a 32-year-old freshman legislator, impeccably dressed in a
pinstripe suit, crisp button-down shirt, and bow tie, when he strode
through the halls of the State House almost 40 years ago.... Those who
knew Daly then have been remembering that part of his life as they
prepare to bury a man who apparently left no money for his own funeral
and had no known relatives to claim his body…a virtual recluse (who had
been) living in a $130-a-week rooming house."[ Read More]
Written by eldering at Personal Empowerment
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By Don Arnoudse
Bio
For
as long as I can remember, I have been an optimistic person. I’ve
always taken great pride in my natural inclination to see a ‘silver
lining in every cloud’. ‘Making lemonade out of lemons’ was one of my
favorite clichés. Imagine my surprise when, in a recent
conversation with Ann, my personal coach, I heard her say she felt a
deep shiver of sadness while listening to me. It brought me up short. I
had been talking about turning 59 years old, how good life was right
now and, at the same time, how acutely aware I was of how fast time was
flying by. When I stopped, took a deep breath, and listened to my body,
I realized that deep down there was a pool of sadness within me. This
is an emotion I’ve kept at bay for a long time.[ Read More]
Written by eldering at Personal Empowerment
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By Don Arnoudse
Bio
My daughter, Sara, is about to turn 21. Her impending birthday has
triggered my own memories of that familiar refrain of youth…”I can’t
wait until I’m old enough to….go to school, to learn to drive, to vote,
to get a credit card, to stay out past midnight, to travel on my own,
to get my first apartment, to get my first real job, to go to night
clubs and bars, and so on and so on.”
It got me to wondering. What are the advantages of age now that I’m
staring 60 in the face? Yesterday, I was listening to Julio Olalla,
master teacher and founder of the Newfield Network. He began his
comments on some of the crises we face in the world by saying, “At my
age, I no longer choose to censor myself”. I thought, “Wow! That’s an
advantage of age. Telling the truth as I see it without concern for
others’ reactions.”[ Read More]
Written by eldering at Personal Empowerment
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By Don Arnoudse
Bio
My
20 year-old daughter, Sara, was in full voice, speaking rapidly with
both tension and inspiration. “Dad, there are so many things I want to
do. I’m going to Spain in the fall, but I wish I were staying on campus
[at the University of New Hampshire] so I can meet the presidential
candidates before the primary. I don’t know at all where I’m going to
live next spring. This summer, I’m interested in an internship in
Washington, DC, but people tell me it’s a great time to be on campus.
There’s another overnight leadership workshop next weekend, but I’m
just not sure if I want to go again. I might want to take an extra
semester before I graduate because there are so many courses I want to
take and I’m running out of time. I feel like I should get a job and
make some money, but I’m not sure how I would fit it all in. Everything
is just so up in the air!”[ Read More]
Written by eldering at Personal Empowerment
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