Category Archives: Friendship

I P O Y

Posted on April 11, 2012 by russtowne

I occassionally write the letters “I P O Y” on the bottom of emails and other written communicationss to one of my sons. The reason for doing so takes a little explaining but involves Fred Rogers of “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” … Continue reading →

Posted in Forgiveness, Friendship, Gratitude, Healing, Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Optimism, Random Thoughts, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged anxieties, anxiety, Audiobook, author, better world, Caring, children, childrens', compassionate, confidence, confident, death, empathetic, fear, Fred Rogers, Friendship, gentle, I P O Y, IPOY, kids, kind, letters, Life, loving, making the world a better place, Mister Roger's, Mr Roger's Neighborhood, Mr. Rogers' Neigborhood, safe, safe space, self-worth, show, son, sons, television, their world, troubling, TV, world, writer | Leave a comment

What The Living Can Learn From The Biggest Regrets of The Dying

Posted on April 9, 2012 by russtowne

The URL below is to a poignant and powerful article about the biggest regrets that are most often given by those who are at the end of their life. I believe that many readers will discover a surprise or two. … Continue reading →

Posted in Friendship, LIfe Lessons | Tagged Australia, children, decisions, dying, Family, Five biggest regrets of the dying, friends, friendships, kids, living, man, men, palliative care, palliative nurse, regret, regrets, woman, women, Work | 2 Comments

The Day Girls Saved Me

Posted on April 9, 2012 by russtowne

Many years ago I was in a high school Marine Corps JROTC program as the Vietnam War was coming to an end. It was not a real popular time to be in uniform. It was a turbulent time. One of … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Friendship, Gratitude, Inspiring, True Stories I've Written | Tagged athletic, boys, bullied, cadets, camera, cameras, Family, fight, Friend, friends, girls, girls saved me, high school, jeer, jeered, JROTC, lockers, loved, Marine, Marine Corps, Marine Corps JROTC, Marines, pounded, pounded into the ground, retired, student, student teacher, students, taunt, taunted, television, TV, Vietnam, Vietnam War, Woman Marines | Leave a comment

Hunger Games

Posted on April 1, 2012 by russtowne

I saw the Hunger Games movie last night. I liked it a lot and felt it captured the tone of the first book well. It showcases the best and worst of humankind. The power of hope, of trust, of love. … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Creativity, Friendship, Healing, LIfe Lessons, Optimism, Random Thoughts, Relationship Lessons Learned, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged beneath the surface, book, divide, dividers, eveil, Friendship, heal, heal a wound, hug, humankind, Hunger Games, kindness, Life, Love, Loyalty, misery of slavery, movie, poverty, power, power of speaking simple truths, rage, rage of injustice, reassure, reassuring, ripples, simmering, slavery, smile, strangers, thin veneer, thin veneer of civilization, Trust, truth, truths, unite, uniters, vanity | 5 Comments

Speak Softly and Carry a Big Heart

Posted on March 23, 2012 by russtowne

(Below is a re-post of one of my earliest postings to this blog from back in mid-2010. I’ll occassionally re-post something to give newer followers an opportunity to see it without having to wade through many old posts to find … Continue reading →

Posted in Friendship, LIfe Lessons, Quotes I Love, Random Thoughts | Tagged death, Friend, heart, impish grin, legacy of love, Life, live, lived large, living large, Love, Mel, mustache, passed away, speak, speak softly and carry a big heart, students, surf, surfer, tutored | Leave a comment

Finding Our Way Back To Each Other

Posted on March 18, 2012 by russtowne

I just heard a powerful and inspiring TED talk by Dr. Brene’ Brown about Vulnerability and Shame. I highly recommend that you invest the time to listen to it. Some of my favorite parts: Vulnerability is NOT weakness. Vulnerability is … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Friendship, Healing, LIfe Lessons, Quotes I Love, Random Thoughts, Relationship Lessons Learned, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged antidote, bad, birthplace of innovation, Brene Brown, change, courage, creativeity, dare gretly, Dr. Brene' Brown, empathy, empathy is the antidote to shame, find our way back to each other, guilt, I am bad, I did something bad, inspiring, judgement, judgment, me too, path, powerful, secrecy, Shame, silence, strength, struggle, vulnerability, weakness | Leave a comment

I Believe…

Posted on March 17, 2012 by russtowne

I relative sent an email to me with the title “I Believe”. I liked it and thought you might too. It has been edited for brevity. I Believe… That just because two people argue, It doesn’t mean they don’t love … Continue reading →