Comments on: The Pain and the Pleasure: Living Life to its Fullest

By: Ted

Ted — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 01:47:41 +0000

Actually, it was a very emotional moment. I was there with the Pam and the kids. In the course of five minutes you cannot help but bond with the delicate life in your hands. The turtle we held may very well outlive us. The kids were emotional and were more than teary eyed when we left.

I agree with your partner Cam that life is a series of problems and opportunities. The way I look at it, life would be boring without a little trouble.

By: Laura-Jane - Whimfield

Laura-Jane - Whimfield — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 11:41:35 +0000

Woo – I can only imagine the intensity of that moment with you, the sea turtle, and the crashing waves.

Fear is HUGE. Some of us (yes, ME) don’t even realize we have been or are living in fear until something happens to make us aware of it. Example: I am happy to divulge that the past year was hard, and I decided to go to a counsellor to help me deal with a bunch of crap. She was wonderful. She looked at me and said, “Holy moley, you are living in fear.” (paraphrasing, of course). I couldn’t believe what she was saying!!! Me, fearful?? No.

But….she was right.

Cam was recently saying that life is just an endless onslought of problems and small decisions. That that is what life is!!! It’s true. But as you note, despite it all we seem to plod along, succeeding and failing at times.

Will you ever get to touch a sea turtle again, or was that a once in a lifetime magical moment?

By: Ted

Ted — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 10:19:47 +0000

I think it’s not only part of human nature, but part of the essence of life itself. Life is prolific and unrelenting. It is against our nature to not live.

Two days ago I released a day old baby sea turtle from my hand into the crashing waves of the ocean. A great display of tenacity of life.

I think this quality carries over to human social lives. But the problem with us is fear. I think we would all be great but for fear.

But despite fear we plod along, succeeding and failing at times. Be our moments vivid or dreary, epic or forgotten.

By: Sal

Sal — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:18:25 +0000

I like that – good title for a chapter about roofs.. ;-)
Hey! I know you can write a book / blog? not sure how you make money on a blog

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:42:16 +0000

because I am here!

By: Laura-Jane - Whimfield

Laura-Jane - Whimfield — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:48:04 +0000

Phil, I guess it’s the faith that’s important rather than the faith-in-what, you know what I mean? And, of course, you’d be the first youth pastor I’d call upon if I ever needed one… :) But you knew that already.

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:57:54 +0000

Laura-Jane -

(I missed this one in it’s first posting, so am glad you linked to it again!)

Great stuff. And, you know, even though you’ve said you don’t consider yourself a religious person, you just described how faith works. My memory of the good times carry me through the dark times. Sign me up for the church of fiftyfifty…need a youth pastor? :-)

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:01:32 +0000

Here in New Brunwick, just 10 km inland, the fall of 2005 brought us the tail end of Hurricane Katrina. I shall never forget the experience of winds so fierce they sounded like demons screaming in the walls. Everytime a strong gust of wind would threaten to blow down our house (really, there was no wind damage) I would dig my nails into the living room chair I sat in, closing my eyes and wishing it would all go away. In those moments, I realized how horrific it must be for those living in the worst conditions, losing everything. This was also the night we found out there was a bad leak in an upstairs window…. apparently a problem for many years but that’s another story.

By: Greensprite

Greensprite — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:19:02 +0000

I’m reading your post holding my ten day old baby girl in my arms. It’s definitely not all been easy. 30 hours of labour wasn’t easy, blistered and cracked nipples isn’t fun and marathon sleep deprivation takes it’s toll on even the most well supported person.

But I bother because it blows my mind to be responsible for someone else getting to experience even a fraction of what I have in my life. The everyday magic of grass and trees and bugs, feeling wind on her cheeks, squishing mud between her toes, eating wild strawberries, sunny days, rainy days, and having parents who love her. And maybe even learning how much you can really care for other people.

And in the little moments when maybe I don’t have the wide perspective; I bother because her smile lights up her face, just like her Dad.

By: Vicki

Vicki — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:50:42 +0000

Well, as you were sitting and writing this entry we ( your loved ones) were having a party in your honour. We had a “Roof Party” and it was one of the good times! Good question. Why do we bother? I bother because I know it is worth it!!