Tag: gratitude journal

Are You Louis XIV? – 17th August 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Is everyone here just to serve you?
You’re no better than anyone else
Everyone must do what you say
You’ve got such a high opinion of yourself

God forbid anyone who crosses you
Or doesn’t always adhere to your wishes
The ladders climbed are full of snakes
Fallen from ballroom to washing the dishes

Superior attitude has poisoned the mind
The extended hand that must be kissed
The backstabbers are always plotting
And one day you’ll no longer be missed

Are you so noble you cannot see
The peasants that you thought to inspire
Turn against your arrogant commands
That they no longer admire

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for our super tart passionfruit that I ate for breakfast yesterday. Its sourness lasted throughout the day in my mouth. It was delicious and difficult to eat!

Sometimes, the more you look at something, the more it makes you sick. Like eating too much cake or chocolate. I have to balance my reading about Thailand’s past, along with seeing what is happening here now and not get too disgusted with it all in front of Amy, as it only fuels her own first of disgust and will just make us both unhappier. We cannot close our eyes to the corruption we see and enjoy our lives fully. Ignorance really would be bliss. Sometimes, I wonder how to be more stupid.

Also, following the stupid build to potential was between the US and China and hoping that China can do it’s best not to get sucked in. Unfortunately, lots of westerners are getting sucked into the deliberate false narrative that the western media promotes.

It got me thinking about all the self-help methods, or even religious preaching, that advise on understanding, compromising and learning from each other. As the US fails, yet again, at violent suppression of others, based on lies, I wonder if it’s time for the Chinese to lead the way.

I saw a bizarre headline that indicated China would develop Afghanistan with infrastructure and modernisation, working with the Taliban. In return, the Taliban would move away from extremism and not support any terrorist action within Xinjiang. This headline seems too good to be true and maybe from a spoof website, but it shows that the methods the US has chosen in the past, which have continually failed, were not and are not the only option.

Even primary school kids understand that escalating a fight just brings more pain.

I’m starting to see the benefits of a one-party system where potentially anyone has the chance to participate. Without the regular 4 or 5-year cycle, waste of time and money on elections and one party undermining the other, often out of spite, a direction can be adhered to, and some stability maintained.

No society is perfect, and the US should stop pretending to be, because its faults are evident for the whole world to see.

Things I can control and things I can’t control. I still wish to say something, even if it’s just shouting into the wind.

Not In The Mood For It – 16th August 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I woke up well but things took a turn
The fruit was off and the toast did burn
Driving in the rain was such a chore
The podcaster talking was just a bore
The thought of coffee didn’t improve
This bad mood I was needing to soothe
The big truck guy wouldn’t let me through
Things were getting worse – it’s true
Today’s headaches won’t let me be
But at least the dog was happy to see me
…..
So, coffee consumed, helped a bit
Things weren’t so bad, I had to admit
Just plough on through, get on with it
Even if everything returns to shit

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to play with Kim Chi this morning (and this weekend). She loves to rub her nose on my fingers and my own nose and purrs in happiness.

Almost missed writing this today as I spent my time adding posts to my blog when I was free.

The morning started off a bit down and a couple of very minor incidents almost brought me to the idea of having a shitty day but I realise this and kinda talked myself out of it and now the day has disappeared.

I’m once again grateful to my students in 2/9, whom I teach in the mornings, and who always seem to pick me up. I’m also really enjoying reading my books. I can get totally absorbed in them.

I did forget to call Hayden today, though, perhaps when I get home or tomorrow. I subscribed to Ryan Holiday’s dad emails in the hope of some inspiration for me to inspire him!

Sleeping Garden – 15th August 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 1 Comment

*Why do we sleepwalk and tread all over our hearts?
Do you feel as if you’ve come out of the soil yet?
Step into the light, it’s time to play all our parts
Reach for the sun, let’s see how dirty we can get.

*First two lines (and ideas) stolen from Glenn Dakin’s ‘Abe – Wrong for All the Right Reasons’
26th Jun 2024 – Submitted to Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to Didi this morning as she let me try some of her lemon cheesecake that she made for Art at Utopia. Also to Gang – who shared info about his tattoos and his plans. They are both nice people.

Alice Wants a New Toy – 14th August 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

The new philosophy
The capitalist bottom line
The shuckster’s manipulation
Of the words on which you dine
Everything’s an advert
Everything is for sale
This charming man
And prepubescent female
The disposable income
For more disposable trash
There’s Mr and Mrs Jones
Borrowing more cash
It’s all a public image
A burning rotten lie
Paid for ten times over
And never questioned why

Nods to Alice Donut’s ‘Every Body Is On Sale’ and PiL.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for my little afternoon nap today, listening to music and fading in and out. It was a nice relaxing time to savour.

Split Idea – 13th August 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

The birth of morning,
begin it all over again
The pen on paper,
pondering what it means

The curse of ideas,
coursing through my head
The blessing of words,
buzzing about my brain
The lack of time,
lurching ever onward
The thread of images,
turning me more insane

The death of days,
dying sunlight fades
The soothing sleep,
succumbing now to dreams

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for my sunburn from yesterday’s ride. Somehow, perhaps from vitamin D, it has given me some extra energy this morning and I feel great.

In an effort to stop Amy from drinking all afternoon, I took her for a long exploratory bike ride, leaving after lunch and planning to get back before it started raining. The skies were cloudy and threatening, but as we went on, blue sky and sunshine peeked through. I set a target destination somewhere in the back of beyond and only checked occasionally that we were on the right track.

Amy was in good spirits but then began complaining of a sore butt. I, too, had a sore butt but that’s the price to pay for adventure. I stoped and Amy walked around trying to pump some blood back into her butt, and it became apparent that I’d missed a turn and we were now way off target. Not lost but directionless, I turned around and headed back, Amy now quiet as a mouse and hiding from the sun.

We got back around 3 pm, and it was only then that I saw how burned my arms, shoulders, and forehead were. A cooling shower and aloe vera gel helped a little, but I was hot and itchy for the rest of the day. I practised guitar for an hour or so and finally nailed some pieces I’ve been struggling with.

Anyways, I slept really well and dreamed that I’d been given a playful calf for some reason, and it made my dream really happy. Often these days I’ve been resetting my alarm to give me an extra 20 minutes’ sleep, but today I just got up and go. I didn’t think about it until I was exercising and was thinking perhaps a shot of sun yesterday had boosted my energy levels. The sunburn suggests having overdone it, but I’ll take it.

I did my usual 5-minute morning warm-up workout burpees, which I always struggle to muster up strength for and also my mini weights routine for my shoulders.

I’ve been feeling great all day. I hope it maintains through the weekend.

The Chaotic Era – 12th August 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Always searching for something stable
Hoping that tomorrow the sun will rise
Campfires warming wherever able
Tomorrow’s fire fills half the skies
The pyramid’s cauldron is bubbling
Predicting the future, obviously uncertain
Our civilisation’s end is troubling
And the kings pull down the final curtain

*inspired by an early section of the The Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin

Gratitude Journal

I am do happy and grateful to go on a long bike ride (even with Amy complaining) and get lost and just take in the scenery. I need to remind myself that the earth is beautiful.

112 Reasons – 11th August 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Laws to maintain, silence any dissent
Manipulated by a corrupt government
There’s a real jail cell for you to fear
If you’re lucky enough not to disappear

Pureblood power, losing all relevance
Inbreeding has diminished their intelligence
But 112 reasons, enforced and brutal
Ensure a society medieval and feudal

Lies become truth once revealed
They cannot forever remain concealed
All dynasties rise and fall in time
It’s your choice to ignore this crime

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for the sound of the rain this morning. Not so heavy to be distracting but just the right amount to be meditative.

Bruno has led me down a rabbit hole with a link he sent me yesterday, with a lot of English articles which follow on from the book about Thailand that I’m reading. I’ve been digging in and will spend more time reading a more honest history of this basket case of a country.

Anyway, feeling good today. Coffee kicked in very well this morning, all today’s classes are planned and going well and to top it all off, tomorrow is another holiday.

It’s been cloudy and raining all day – humid indoors but perfect outdoors. ‘Lovely’, as mum would say.

Curiouser – 10th August 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Are you curious about the world
Or is everything in its place?
Is every piece already set in stone
The winner chosen for every race?

Do you see what’s under your nose?
The dusty corners of darkened rooms
Comings and goings of all earthly creatures
The life and death that one presumes

When eyes open to let the light in
The world becomes majestic and grand
Life fills suddenly with meaning
And understanding begins to expand

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for the folks who will service our car today. I hope they do a good job and are in good health and don’t catch Covid.

At Amy’s parents’ for lunch. It’s Mother’s Day this week, so it’s a family get-together. Amy said to teach up in the new room they built above the garage, and I thought, ‘why not?’, so I’m lying on their comfortable brand new sofa trying to stay awake before my class starts.

Today, George blanked me in the morning when I said hello and then again when I said goodbye at lunchtime. This annoyed me a little until I told myself to calm down and that I can’t control his actions, only my own. I let it go and feel much better.

I’m happy to have no more online classes after school and have that free time back again. It’s a great feeling, and I still wish I had all day, every day, free! Still, it’s not so bad. I’m really enjoying teaching at the moment, and it looks like it will be for the whole semester. The students and I are pretty locked in now.

Slow It Down – 9th August 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Luckily I don’t need to be chasing bucks,
I can breathe through stressless days;
I’m not surrounded by some useless fucks
who always listens to what someone else says.

I’m not nostalgic for the weekend gone
and not living for the one that’s coming,
Today is the day to get things done,
I’d rather savour the walk than running.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for my dreams – for my dream last night which I know was stimulating and interesting though right now it is out of reach again. I do remember meeting my favourite student, Cake, and she was happy to see me again.

The weekend made me so tired because I like to stay up late watching TV and then reading before going to sleep. Yesterday, Sunday, I went to bed at 7.30, read until 9 and couldn’t understand what I was reading, so went to sleep.

Sometimes I long for those days of finishing school on Friday, partying with friends, bumming around without direction, making our own mischief until Sunday evening came and the weekly bath indicated that that time was gone.

Amy has the possibility to go to the UK to work with Bookie, and it has got me wondering about returning to the UK. Also, Rupert is living in Holt now and is contemplative of how, no matter how much he travelled, he has ended up back close to where he started. Is that our destiny?

Sometimes I miss winter, but feel confident that going through another one would cure me of it!

Happy World – 8th August 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

*The apocalypse doesn’t need to arrive
It passes through us every day
Have a happy end of the world
It’s up to you if you decide to play

*First two lines (and ideas) stolen from Glenn Dakin’s ‘Abe – Wrong for All the Right Reasons’

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful that currently, we have so many options available to us for our future. With calm heads, we can make good decisions.

8th August 2023 – Choose to play happy in this world.