Category Archives: Random Thoughts

I Believe

Posted on May 8, 2012 by russtowne

‘Any time not invested with love is wasted.’ I don’t know who originally coined that phrase but the older I get the more I believe it to be true. Life is short and getting shorter, so I’m focused on making … Continue reading →

Posted in Generosity, LIfe Lessons, Making the World a Better Place, Quotes I Love, Random Thoughts | Tagged action, adventure, enrich, focus, getting better, invest, invested, Life, Love, practice, quest, thought, time, word | 2 Comments

Staying Young

Posted on May 6, 2012 by russtowne

“A man is not old until his regrets take the place of his dreams” –John Barrymore In that case, I’m still a young whippersnapper for my ripe age and grandfather-hood. As they say, “It’s never too late to have a … Continue reading →

Posted in Grandparenting & Grandkids, Gratitude, LIfe Lessons, Optimism, Quotes I Love, Random Thoughts | Tagged a man is not old until his regrets take the place of his dreams, age, child, childhood, dream, dreams, fondest hopes, grandfather, Grandpa, Grandson, hopes, John Barrymore, young, youth | Leave a comment

Have I Ever Done That or Would I Do the Same?

Posted on May 2, 2012 by russtowne

“No man should judge unless he asks himself in absolute honesty whether in a similar situation he might not have done the same.” -Viktor Frankl, Holocaust survivor, author, neurologist and psychiatrist. (Seen in Wordsmith.org’s A.Word.A.Day by Anu Garg) I’d update … Continue reading →

Posted in Forgiveness, Generosity, Healing, LIfe Lessons, Making the World a Better Place, Parenting, Quotes I Love, Random Thoughts, Uncategorized | Tagged A.Word.A.Day, absolute honesty, Anger, Anu Garg, children, day they're having, drive, driving, empathy, forgive, good, good surprises, holocaust, Holocaust survivor, honesty, kids, Life, life they've led, mad, parent, parenting, self-empathy, traffic, Victor Frankl, wordsmith.org, wordsmith.org's | 1 Comment

How a Daunting Gauntlet Became a Fun Zone

Posted on May 2, 2012 by russtowne

Some years ago I was standing in a long, long line at a major theme park in southern California (yeah, the one with the ears). I was bored, hot, and tired. I stuck a hand in my pocket and noticed … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Humor, LIfe Lessons, Making the World a Better Place, Random Thoughts, True Stories I've Written, Uncategorized | Tagged child, children, coins, Disneyland, ears, excitedly exclaimed, exclaim, grinnd, joy, our little secret, parents, pocket change, rin, secret, shoe, shoes, smile, smiles, standing in line, whispered, wife, young children, youngster | Leave a comment

Rusty

Posted on May 1, 2012 by russtowne

When I was in the hospital recovering from lung surgery many years ago, a friend gave a teddy bear to me. He knew that I’d long outgrown such gifts, but seeing how miserable, drugged-up and helpless I was, he decided … Continue reading →

Posted in Friendship, Generosity, Grandparenting & Grandkids, Gratitude, Healing, Random Thoughts, True Stories I've Written | Tagged bear, child, children, comfort, comforted, Family, Friend, grandchild, hospital, ill, ilness, kindness, Love, lung surgery, Rin Tin Tin, Rusty, stuffed animal, teddy bear | Leave a comment

Making A New Ending and Taking Another Look at Our Beginning

Posted on April 29, 2012 by russtowne

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” –Maria Robinson I saw the above quote from an email from The Wendling Group. In one respect I agree with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Forgiveness, Generosity, Healing, LIfe Lessons, Optimism, Quotes I Love, Random Thoughts | Tagged abandoned, abandonment, abandonment issues, beginning, beginnings, biological father, ending, endings, Family, friends, Grief, guilt, loneliness, new beginning, new ending, pain, Relationships, siblings, suffering, The Wendling Group. Maria Robinson | 2 Comments

To Love What You Do

Posted on April 12, 2012 by russtowne

“To love what you do and feel that it matters–how could anything be more fun? –Katherine Graham I see ever-greater numbers of people around the globe doing what they love while making the world a better place. If you are … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, LIfe Lessons, Making the World a Better Place, Random Thoughts | Tagged appreciated, do what you love, energy, experience, feel valued and appreciated. feel, fun, help, Kathleen Graham, Love, love what you do, making the world a better place, passion, talent, valued, wisdom | Leave a comment

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

LAAF SHMILY!

Posted on April 5, 2012 by russtowne

My wife and I sometimes write notes or sign cards to each other that end with LAAF! and/or SHMILY! It’s not because we have forgotten how to spell the words “Laugh” or “Smile”. “LAAF & SHMILY” are actually acronyms for … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Gratitude, LIfe Lessons, Random Thoughts | Tagged always, forever, forevermore, frequently remind her, investment manager, LAAF, LAAF SHMILY, long-term committed relationship, Love, love always and forever, return on investment, ROI, see how much I love you, SHMILY | Leave a comment

Money For a Taxi Ride

Posted on April 5, 2012 by russtowne

My wife and I were out on the town with some other couples when an elderly woman who appeared quite down on her luck and perhaps homeless walked up to our group and asked if we were going in a … Continue reading →