Forgiveness

Posted on January 31, 2014 by russtowne

I’ve sometimes wanted to grasp onto my anger, pain, and feelings of victim-hood, and never let go. They helped to define me and my situation, and it sometimes felt good to throw myself a big old pity party. It is only when I came to realize the gifts that I received from those who had done “terrible” things to me–the growth that came from it, the ways that I grew stronger, more compassionate toward the suffering and pain of others, etc–and how much my unwillingness to forgive was holding me back and robbing me of joy in the present–that forgiveness became easier and more desirable. I ended up forgiving others as a gift to myself, one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever given or received.

With Love,
Russ

Posted in Forgiveness, Observations | Tagged , | 19 Comments

When Words Fail Hugs Often Help

Posted on January 30, 2014 by russtowne

It can be frustrating to want to help someone and not know what to do or say. Sometimes when words fail, My Beloved and I just hug each other tightly for as long as it takes, letting the hug do all the talking. It is amazing how much love can be conveyed, and how much healing can occur, by a simple, patient, firm, wordless, hug.

With Love,
Russ

Posted in Adversity, Challenges, Communicating, Compassion, Connection/Connecting, Healing, Love, Marriage, Observations, Relationship Lessons Learned | Tagged , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Humor, Trust, and Relationships

Posted on January 27, 2014 by russtowne

I tend to avoid sarcasm, tricks, practical jokes, or humor at the expense of another. I’ve seen the damage they can inflict on relationships, eroding trust, damaging self-esteem, and sometimes even destroying a relationship.

Because I’m so trusting of my friends, I can be quite gullible and therefore vulnerable to such things as practical jokes. My friends know that I won’t pull such things on them, and trust they’ll refrain from pulling them on me.

I have a dry sense of humor, and sadly, sometimes even my intended compliments have been mistaken as put-downs. I’ve learned that it pays to be extra mindful with what I write and say. I attempt to remember that if something CAN be misunderstood, sooner or later it WILL be misunderstood. I learned that from a colonel in the U.S. Marines who had experienced it in battle, where misunderstandings are often fatal.

I much prefer building people up to putting them—or letting them—down, and am blessed with friends who feel the same way.

With Love,
Russ

Posted in Communicating, Humor, LIfe Lessons, Relationship Lessons Learned, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Best Man With Cerebral Palsy Toasts Twin In Unforgettable Speech

Posted on January 24, 2014 by russtowne

This is a bit long but I loved every minute of it and bet many of you will too.
With Love,
Russ

Kindness Blog's avatarKindness Blog

Korey Soderman has all the dirt on his twin brother, Kyle.

Korey, who has cerebral palsy, let some of those secrets fly during his best man speech at Kyle’s wedding two weeks ago. Because Korey can’t speak, Kyle read the speech out loud — once he choked back happy tears, of course.

The Sodermans, from West Palm Beach, Fla., have never let Korey’s condition get in their way. His mom, Wendy, started her own private school, IDEAL & Dream School, when she had difficulty finding a preschool for Korey, according to an A&E documentary about the family.

Korey, meanwhile, founded his own nonprofit, Korey’s Krew, which works with teens and young adults with physical disabilities.

“I’m differently abled,” he told the Palm Beach Post in 2010, after winning an award for his community service. “I can do what others do, I just do it differently.”

Source: Huffington Post & Youtube

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Now I understand.

Posted on January 23, 2014 by russtowne

Since I couldn’t find the Re-blog button from 1513 Fusion, I’m re-blogging from Chris the Story Reading Ape instead. Thank you both! I’ve found that my writing either gushes out of me as water surges from a fire hose with me loving nearly every minute of it as I desperately try to capture it all, or it doesn’t, and in those times it is best to do something else. To me, when it comes to creating things, if it feels like work I should be doing something else.
Russ

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Coordinated Kindness Ends Bullying

Posted on January 22, 2014 by russtowne

All it takes is kindness. Sometimes it helps to coordinate the effort. When coordinated kindness occurs, miracles can happen. Below is a link to a great example.

Football Team Stops Bullying

With Love,
Russ

Posted in Action, Breakthroughs, Bullying, Choices, Commitment, Compassion, Connection/Connecting, Goodness, Grace, Heroes, Inspiring, Kindness, LIfe Lessons, Making the World a Better Place, Miracles, My Beliefs, Photos That Touched Me, Stories That Touched Me, Teamwork, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Cocoons and Sunshine

Posted on January 18, 2014 by russtowne

As I laid in bed this morning, luxuriating in the warmth on my skin, knowing that in a moment I would rise and begin a new day, the seeds of the poem below came to me. I rose, grabbed some coffee and wrote it down. If you like it, I invite you to check out “A Grateful Man’s Poetry” at http://agratefulmanspoetry.com/

Cocoons and Sunlight
We emerge from warm cocoons each morning
A new chance to spread wings and fly
What we do in our waking hours
Defines who we are and why
Hide in shadows of fear and shame
Deny the world and ourselves ‘til we die
Or share the glorious gifts we’re given
All the beauty and love we have inside.
–Russ Towne

Posted in Choices, Loss, Making the World a Better Place, Poetry I Wrote, Uncategorized, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

An Innovative Solution to a Major Challenge

Posted on January 16, 2014 by russtowne

I love reading about fairly simple and often easy and inexpensive solutions to what at first appear to be major problems. Below is a link to an example. While I doubt that this program is the only reason for the huge increase in the number of babies that have been saved, I believe it is likely to have played a significant role.

Children of the Box

With Love,
Russ

Posted in Creativity, Health, Ingenuity, Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Dear ‘Daddy’ in Seat 16C

Posted on January 13, 2014 by russtowne

A wise and kind man knows when it is time to work, and time to play turtles.
With Love,
Russ

Kindness Blog's avatarKindness Blog

Dear 'Daddy' in Seat 16C

Dear “Daddy,”

I don’t know your name, but Kate called you “daddy” for the entire flight last week and you kindly never corrected her. In fact, you didn’t even flinch as you could probably tell that she was not confusing you with her own “daddy,” but instead making a judgment regarding your level of “safety” for her. If she calls you “daddy” then you better believe she thinks you are alright.

I sat Kate, my 3-year-old who has autism, in the middle seat knowing full well that there would be a stranger sitting next to her for the duration of this flight. I had to make a quick decision and based on her obsession with opening and closing the window shade, I figured she might be less of a distraction if she sat in the middle. I watched the entire Temple basketball team board the plane, and wondered if one…

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Soldier Lifted The Barbwire To Help a Child

Posted on January 11, 2014 by russtowne

When people think in terms of “we” instead of “them versus us”, understanding, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and connection can begin to take root and lead to peace. I believe the soldier in the photo understood this and was willing to risk his life for a cause that is greater than war or nations. May his heroic act be long remembered and inspire others to do the same.
With Love,
Russ

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