George and Millie Dixon
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Full of fun whether holidays or just every day, I like to think of myself as one being able to listen. Especially if you have a cup of coffee nearby.
Where you have a listening ear, you have a power to influence.
Now, of course, you have to place yourself withing hearing distance. And, you have to have some qualities that let the hearer know you are listening.
I am going to explain the variety that has been in my life, so you know where I'm coming from, and don't have to worry about putting up defenses or worry about conversing with someone who is easily offended, or get downright critical. I aim to be far from those mistakes. And if I go there, you can call me on it anytime.
Now, I am going to have to find the best way for you to contact me. I am going to get some feedback from others as to how best to do this. Probably, it will be my son as he has done this before, and has many websites himself, now being a world traveler, having retired at the age of 50. I want this to be a type of forum, and yet individually based where what we share is only seen by each other. Some things are just private, and what I foresee here is that I will respond to your interests and concerns, and keep confidential the conversations.
I am no licensed counselor and so therefore, you would consider what I share as opinions of just one man. In the paragraph next, I will tell you a little about myself, and you can take it from there whether you want to even talk with me. I am not concerned whether I get many to respond, or just a few. I only want to be that listening ear, and just talk as though it were a one-on-one conversation.
A LITTLE BIOGRAPHY
Birth - Spring Grove, Iowa, in a country house.
Rearing - good parents but some emotional paternal abuse
High School - finished. :O)
U. S. Navy - Hawaii - 1950-54 - Korean War
College - Carson Newman - BA - Tennessee
Seminary - Southwestern Baptist Theological - Ft. Worth, Tx - ThM
Churches Pastored - Big Lake, Texas; Lake Worth, Texas; Haltom City, Texas; North Richland Hills, Texas.
These last years I have ministered in Senior Adult work with many types of ministries: Assisted Living, Retirement Communities, Nursing Homes, Hospitals, and Bible studies with seniors and taking trips with them.
With that background, I hope I may have gained a little experience that would prove valuable to some others. I hope some of you will "pull" some of that wisdom out of me, and profit by it. I am not a condemning kind of person, and don't believe in "force-feeding" anyone. Someone has said when an old person dies, it is like losing a library. I hope some pages are shared before that happens to me.
My journey has been one of struggles, suffering, new experiences, challenges, learning, and growing. I have not always been my best, but have been made better by trying to improve. I tease people when I ask them, "Whatcha know?" And if they say, "Not much," I respond by saying: "I'd hoped you'd improved by now." LOL
I have been asked, and have responded to some young men who wanted some mentoring. That is always a joy.
I hope there will be more. I have also been able to walk shoulder to shoulder with many staff members who have said they have been so blessed by my life. They certainly have helped me.
Later on, after I have asked some of them, I will enter their words of testimony about such interchanges that we have had together. That might encourage some of you to make contact.
Full of fun whether holidays or just every day, I like to think of myself as one being able to listen. Especially if you have a cup of coffee nearby.
Where you have a listening ear, you have a power to influence.
Now, of course, you have to place yourself withing hearing distance. And, you have to have some qualities that let the hearer know you are listening.
- In someone's presence, eye contact is clear and obvious
- In case of long-distance contact, say through email or websites such as this, you must be transparent
- Genuineness, of course, must be a given.
I am going to explain the variety that has been in my life, so you know where I'm coming from, and don't have to worry about putting up defenses or worry about conversing with someone who is easily offended, or get downright critical. I aim to be far from those mistakes. And if I go there, you can call me on it anytime.
Now, I am going to have to find the best way for you to contact me. I am going to get some feedback from others as to how best to do this. Probably, it will be my son as he has done this before, and has many websites himself, now being a world traveler, having retired at the age of 50. I want this to be a type of forum, and yet individually based where what we share is only seen by each other. Some things are just private, and what I foresee here is that I will respond to your interests and concerns, and keep confidential the conversations.
I am no licensed counselor and so therefore, you would consider what I share as opinions of just one man. In the paragraph next, I will tell you a little about myself, and you can take it from there whether you want to even talk with me. I am not concerned whether I get many to respond, or just a few. I only want to be that listening ear, and just talk as though it were a one-on-one conversation.
A LITTLE BIOGRAPHY
Birth - Spring Grove, Iowa, in a country house.
Rearing - good parents but some emotional paternal abuse
High School - finished. :O)
U. S. Navy - Hawaii - 1950-54 - Korean War
College - Carson Newman - BA - Tennessee
Seminary - Southwestern Baptist Theological - Ft. Worth, Tx - ThM
Churches Pastored - Big Lake, Texas; Lake Worth, Texas; Haltom City, Texas; North Richland Hills, Texas.
These last years I have ministered in Senior Adult work with many types of ministries: Assisted Living, Retirement Communities, Nursing Homes, Hospitals, and Bible studies with seniors and taking trips with them.
With that background, I hope I may have gained a little experience that would prove valuable to some others. I hope some of you will "pull" some of that wisdom out of me, and profit by it. I am not a condemning kind of person, and don't believe in "force-feeding" anyone. Someone has said when an old person dies, it is like losing a library. I hope some pages are shared before that happens to me.
My journey has been one of struggles, suffering, new experiences, challenges, learning, and growing. I have not always been my best, but have been made better by trying to improve. I tease people when I ask them, "Whatcha know?" And if they say, "Not much," I respond by saying: "I'd hoped you'd improved by now." LOL
I have been asked, and have responded to some young men who wanted some mentoring. That is always a joy.
I hope there will be more. I have also been able to walk shoulder to shoulder with many staff members who have said they have been so blessed by my life. They certainly have helped me.
Later on, after I have asked some of them, I will enter their words of testimony about such interchanges that we have had together. That might encourage some of you to make contact.
WHEN LIFE TUMBLES INOne can laugh and have lots of fun when the road has no chuckholes. But what happens when you crash and you are bedfast for months? How do we handle that?
I've been there with back surgeries that had to be required to keep from losing limb usage and muscle strength. It was not fun. But, did I fold and give up? No, and, not to be too simple sounding, I 'grin and bore it.' That is not bad advice in one way, as each person has to bear their own burden. No one can take your pain or immobilization for you. So, you try to draw on inner strength, and you can in some measure by sheer determination. Who wants to be labeled as a whiner? Two or three things come to mind that helps. 1. Listen to what people say, really listen. Some of our richest treasures are other people, even those who don't always say things tactfully. But we will be made better by what is said. It might be just a simple word like: "keep dreaming." It boosts. 2. Listen to what God says. You may not read the Bible, but let the surroundings speak to you, and good books, Audio resources are always a good bet, and the internet is full of the stories of others that will inspire you. Since it is one of the most printed books of all time, read the Bible and you might get surprised. I'd find a modern translation. 3. Hear what history has said. The lives of people illustrate maybe just what we need. It could be a Teddy Roosevelt biography, or Helen Keller. Since you have some down time, spend it in the lives of others. You will keep yourself from feeling sorry for yourself, and get help from others. So, when life tumbles in, get up and keep a going. It is not a failure to fall; but it is when we don't get back up and start again. Some of the greatest feelings of joy you will ever experience are the ones where you know you conquered and are still in the race. It is easy to float downstream. It is difficult to swim against the current. But life has many obstacles and our wisdom writers say you keep going because you've got big dreams. We must pursue. You can't stop a soul that is set ablaze to fulfill his or her mission. Keep listening to that inner voice that murmurs: you are near the end. It is ok if you have to slow down, but don't stop. Look at some tennis players like Rafael....see it next. |
Get up and at it!
KEEP A GOING DON'T QUIT!
IF YOU WANT TO WIN, YOU HAVE TO SWEAT, TO TRAIN, TO PRACTICE, TO EXERCISE, TO LISTEN TO THE COACHES, AND THEN DO YOUR BEST TO PERFORM YOUR BEST.
EVEN THEN YOU MAY NOT WIN, BUT IF YOU GAVE IT ALL TO STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE, YOU CAN LAY DOWN AT NIGHT AND SLEEP PEACEFULLY. NO MATTER WHAT OTHERS SAY, YOU GAVE EXCELLENCE THE PLACE OF HONOR IT DESERVES. THE GAME PLAN OF LIFE IS JUST THAT - EXCELLENCE TO HONOR THE GAME AND THE GAME PLAYERS. |