Category: Having My Say

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Absorbing Negative Energy

RJ Walters

There is so much negative energy in the world today. It seems always to be one group of people pitted against another. Except in the Sci Fi world, I don’t think that there is such a thing as negative energy, but the idea does do a good job of explaining turmoil today. Up until now, I have always been an optimist who thinks we will always work our way out of our troubles of the day. But I, like Mark Twain, I am getting more pessimistic as my final years pass. Twain got downright ugly in this final years, I … Continue reading Absorbing Negative Energy

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Propagating The Species

RJ Walters

According to some myths, 6,000 years ago Adam and Eve’s primary purpose was to propagate the species. The earth was a big blank place back then but, of course, no one realized that until a few thousand years later. Populating the earth had to be important. But, then again, after so many years, God supposedly killed everything off, except for a boat filled with animals and a few people, to start again. According to the text, after he did that, he discovered that was a mistake and promised never to do that again. Ok, now that I got all the … Continue reading Propagating The Species

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Mosaic of Life #90 – Windmills Of My Mind

RJ Walters

I have been in a playful mood lately, or maybe you could call it infantile creative mood. I have been on a serious search for Artsy tools and so far have found ten good ones. This mosaic was made with one of them. I tried to clear my mind of anything of this world and just go crazy with my iPad pen. When I was done it looked like I was trying to draw a windmill. I have been watching House Hunters International quite a bit lately, so maybe that had something to do with it. It was fun just … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #90 – Windmills Of My Mind

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Mosaic of Life #103 – My Pride & Joy…

RJ Walters

When I retired at the age of 54 after thirty years in a corporate world and moved back to Indiana, I was considering two options. To get another IT job at a college in the area, or opening up my own business in making custom furniture. I chose the second option, and I’m glad I did. Woodworking had been a life-long passion, but I never thought it as a business. Up until then, I had several woodworking shops. One I even had custom built on the back of the garage. It was my dream shop for the two years I … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #103 – My Pride & Joy…

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Mosaic of Life #94 – Ode To Van Gogh – My Mind’s Eye

RJ Walters

For this mosaic, I want to talk a little about AI (artificial intelligence) and how it relates to “My Mind’s Eye”. I am a techie, but even I am getting a little disturbed about the constant presence of AI in my life. Maybe the most disturbing thing is AI is that it is becoming more and more dominant as the days and months go by. I realize that this is new stuff that will eventually settle down to some established state, but right now it just seems too pervasive. Some say that AI will replace artists, but, I kind of … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #94 – Ode To Van Gogh – My Mind’s Eye

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Fundamental Sameness Of All Human Beings

RJ Walters

When I came across the quote from the Dalia Lama below, it immediately got my attention. I am convinced that each one of us who currently occupies this earth are unique unto themselves, but at the same time, we all share a common core of what it is to be human. That common core must reject excluding others that are not quite like us. As the Dalia Lama says we must cultivate a healthy respect for each other. Having a “healthy respect” is not the same thing as agreeing with everything. There will always be disagreements, but the human core … Continue reading Fundamental Sameness Of All Human Beings

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What We Don’t Understand…

RJ Walters

I am constantly on the lookout for ways to explain why so many fear so much in the world today. The quote above is the most succinct description of that process I have come across. Considering that fear is such a debilitating condition, it seems like everyone ought to be doing whatever they can to figure out a way to eliminate fear from their lives. In someways dibalitating fear might be more damaging than cancer, at least for most of us. I think that maybe one group of people that have been the most fearful lately are Evangelical Christians. It … Continue reading What We Don’t Understand…

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Mosaic of Life #56 – Texture 2

RJ Walters

When it comes to texture, I slip between two extremes. One extreme is the rough texture as shown above. The other is glass smooth, and particularly reflections. You will be seeing both in spades in the course of RJsMosaics. The picture above was taken with one of my cameras that doesn’t have GPS, so I don’t know exactly where it was. But, I do know it was just a small town along a State road in northern Indiana. When I saw the barn, I had to turn around and get the picture to add to my collection. I can just … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #56 – Texture 2

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A Letter To Will… January 2020

RJ Walters

I wrote the letter below in 2020 to one of my primary heroes in life, Will Rogers. Of course, I never got around to writing to him again. But, I will now try to make up for that in the coming days. It’s time to dust off all the books and literature I have collected about his life. It’s time to try and learn what he might teach me about living the times I have left. Continue reading A Letter To Will… January 2020

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Mosaic of Life #48 – Oh, The Kid In Me… Disney World, Lion King

RJ Walters

My wife wasn’t too excited about it, but for our 30th wedding anniversary we went to Disney World. When I told her about the idea, she blurted out, “Disney World is for kids”! I replied, “you ought to know by now that I am a forever kid.” Anyway, we spent five beautiful days in a very fantasy place. Looking back, I think the highlight of it was the performance of Lion King. Even though I couldn’t hear the music, the constant drum beats across my chest were enough to keep me in the mood. Instead of trying to describe all … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #48 – Oh, The Kid In Me… Disney World, Lion King

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Lessons Learned About Retirement Communities

RJ Walters

I am going to use my three years of experience living in a RetCom (retirement community) and visiting a dozen others, to pass on some information I wish I had earlier. It is about choosing the RetCom that is right for you. I am always one to plan everything out. I thoroughly study the destinations and route for all the many vacation trips I have taken. So, it should not be surprising to find that I had done the same thing in choosing where I would spend my final years. Up front, I want to get something that bugs me … Continue reading Lessons Learned About Retirement Communities

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Suffocating Interest Rates

RJ Walters

This post is a Will Rogers’ tongue-in-cheek rant about those who are whining about today’s mortgage interest rates. I hear so much now about those god-awful high-interest home mortgage rates for Gen Zs. Who can afford to buy a house when you have to pay 6% interest on a mortgage! Let me tell you about the “good-old-days”. I graduated from college in 1970 and bought my first home in 1983. It took me that long to save up enough for the required 20% down payment and monthly mortgage rate of 12.9%. It was a good feeling to finally be able … Continue reading Suffocating Interest Rates

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Mosaic of Life #85 – Sam

RJ Walters

I have had pets for most of my life, but my first personal pet was Sam. Before that, they were always family pets. I got Sam as a puppy in October 1972. When I graduated from college in June 1970, I got an apartment about 5 miles from where I worked. It was the first time I had ever lived alone. The first two years I enjoyed the solitude, but within a couple of years I started getting lonely. It was time for a pet. I really don’t know why I chose a dachshund who was the biggest in the … Continue reading Mosaic of Life #85 – Sam

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I Will Struggle To My Last Breath…

RJ Walters

I will struggle to my last breath to convince you that diversity is what has made the U.S. a shining beacon to the rest of the world. • You have nothing to fear from those who might not agree with you on all issues.• You have nothing to fear because a person’s skin color is different from yours.• You have nothing to fear because I am deaf. It is not contagious.• You have nothing to fear because of my neurological differences, and that I might not perceive things the same as you. • You have nothing to fear because I … Continue reading I Will Struggle To My Last Breath…