I'm Tired

My wonderful Aunt Sharon sent this to me. It begins with "This says it all..". I agree.


This says it all. . .


"I'm Tired"

Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of duty in Iraq, I was forced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury I sustained prior to my deployment. With luck, I'll return to Iraq to finish my tour.

I left Baghdad and a war that has every indication that we are winning to return to a demoralized country much like the one I returned to in 1971 after my tour in Vietnam. Maybe it's because I'll turn 60 years old in just four months, but I'm tired:

I'm tired of spineless politicians, both Democrat and Republican who lack the courage, fortitude, and character to see these difficult tasks through.

I'm tired of the hypocrisy of politicians who want to rewrite history when the going gets tough.
I'm tired of the disingenuous clamor from those that claim they 'Support the Troops' by wanting them
to 'Cut and Run' before victory is achieved.
I'm tired of a mainstream media that can only focus on car bombs and casualty reports because they are too afraid to leave the safety of their hotels to report on the courage and success our brave men and women are having on the battlefield.

I'm tired that so many Americans think you can rebuild a dictatorship into a democracy over night.
I'm tired that so many ignore the bravery of the Iraqi people to go to the voting booth and freely elect a Constitution and soon a permanent Parliament.

I'm tired of the so called 'Elite Left' that prolongs this war by giving aid and comfort to our enemy, just as they did during the Vietnam War.

I'm tired of antiwar protesters showing up at the funerals of our fallen soldiers. A family who's loved ones gave their life in a just and noble cause, only to be cruelly tormented on the funeral day by cowardly protesters is beyond shameful.

I'm tired that my generation, the Baby Boomers -- Vietnam
generation, who have such a weak backbone that they can't stomach seeing the difficult tasks through to victory.

I'm tired that some are more concerned about the treatment of captives than they are the slaughter and beheading of our citizens and allies.

I'm tired that when we find mass graves it is seldom reported by the press, but mistreat a prisoner and it is front page news.
Mostly, I'm tired that the people of this great nation
didn't learn from history that there is no substitute for Victory.

Sincerely,
Joe Repya,
Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army
101st Airborne Division

Please send to all your e-mail friends

This needs to get all over the U S A

A Mother's Love - Mother Teresa

"The success of love is in the loving - it is not in the result of loving. Of course it is natural in love to want the best for the other person, but whether it turns out that way or not does not determine the value of what we have done."
- Mother Teresa


Sometimes we have to accept that whether or not our love was appreciated by the person it was intended for doesn't matter. This is hard for me to swallow, especially when you wanted so much for something to work, but it does make sense. It's amazing what happens when we stop blaming ourselves and others and instead simply open our ears, minds and hearts to new ways of thinking that can change our lives for the better.

Love conquers all. I've come to realize this is both true and false. Loving another more than yourself does not conquer all, and can lead to resentment and loss of respect.

Loving yourself conquers yourself. You no longer need to seek validation from others. You don't start dating others hoping this will be the one who understands you and makes you happy. You don't keep hoping for someone "out there" to make you happy.

In quantum mechanics it's been said that the brain receives 4 billion bits of information a second. We pay attention to only 2,000 bits of this information. I guess it's our choice to pay attention to the positive or negative bits, information that can help us change our lives for the better or hold on to our excuses as to why we're right and the other is wrong, wondering why our world still stinks and we end up in the same relationships, jobs, and general unhappiness over and over.

For some reason I am still here. Is it for others to learn from my mistakes? Is it to find this "go-to-failure", "supreme mind", "Dream Big, Do Big, and Be Big" application to the heart for oneself? I know that the divorce rate is getting higher and higher. Being an honest and faithful person only seems to get you kicked in the teeth and your heart ripped out. Being chivalrous makes people wonder what you're really up to. Being a nice guy gets you dead last. And the faith that I wouldn't repeat the same cycle with another comes and goes, then starts to fade away...

..until I realize I have a lot to work on myself. I've been loving the world unselfishly hoping the world would send one to love me back. In truth the world loves those who love themselves, and is loving towards others. Being honest and faithful TO YOURSELF attracts an honest and faithful partner. Being chivalrous and respectful TO YOURSELF attracts a classy and respectful lady. Being nice TO YOURSELF attracts someone who will be nice to share your life with. And working truly ON YOURSELF brings faith that the cycle is being broken, and a new and better life awaits you.

Hope. I write this with hope. I hope that the reader recognizes his or her own successes and failures and looks inside to make these connections and are able to create the reality they want. I know I do.

I Allow All Things to Be

I allow all things to be


All physical things come out of me

All are surrounded by me

All return to me


Everyone pays attention to what's in me
No one pays attention to me

Everything but me
is an illusion


I am....space....


Copyright © 2007 by Adam Stuart

I Am.........

I allow sound to be


Out of me it is born

Surrounded by me it lives

Into me it dies


I am everywhere
but rarely noticed

I still the mind
and heal the soul


I am.......silence........



Copyright © 2007 by Adam Stuart

Happiness

Happiness can be fleeting
It can be long lasting

Gone as soon as it came
Around forever and here to stay

Like sand slipping from your fingers
A warm feeling in your heart that lasts forever

A balloon that pops unexpectedly
A tree that grows strong and sturdy

A quick smile from a passerby
A friendship that lasts into old age

Happiness is sometimes quick
Sometimes slow

Always out of reach
Always in your soul


Copyright © 2007 by Adam Stuart

The Spirit Dwindling

Racing, pacing
running, hiding

Hurting, pouting
shouting, hating

laughing, crying
ripping, killing

all the while
the spirit dwindling


Copyright © 2007 by Adam Stuart

These Ancient Walls Are in Ruins

Ancient walls crumble

That once stood so strong

Tumbling down in ruins

Against the mighty fall

Unable to withstand the beatings

Of time, torture and treachery

These ancient walls are in ruin

Collapsed among our feet

Copyright © 2007 by Adam Stuart

Honesty is a Virtue - What a Quote!

I've always been interested in people, but I've never liked them.
Henry James
(1843-1916)

Sofia's Restaurant Now Serving...

Sofia's restaurant is now serving fortune cookies. As you can easily see from the picture, she also serves eggs, bacon, grapefruit juice, pancakes, peanut butter and jelly, and what looks like the letter "U" and green and red thingies.

She did invite some of the neighbors in to eat but unfortunately they had already made other dining arrangements.

My little entrepreneur took it all in stride, making up for the loss in business by charging her brother for the fortune cookies he ate while she was out drumming up business.

This turned out to be 10 cookies at $10 apiece. He negotiated a 10% family discount, but still owes her $90. He's applying for a job as manager to pay off his debt. Sofia's thinking about it while she's opening up a fortune cookie herself.

The Chinese word on the paper is "Lao ban", or boss. How ironic is that? I told her the cookie says she should hire him.

I thought one of the fortunes her brother found in his cookie was worth mentioning:

"A man's dreams are an index to his greatness."


DREAM BIG, CHILDREN. DREAM BIG! - We don't stop dreaming because we get old. We get old because we stop dreaming!

Copyright © 2007 by Adam Stuart

According to Grandma

A miracle is a miracle. Her niece's grandson's wife gave birth to a 2lb, 8oz baby girl two months ago. Ella Elizabeth was so tiny, her father Tommy, could put his wedding band all the way up her arm to her shoulder.

Ella is now 4lbs, 8oz and still considered a miracle baby. She was discharged from the hospital today and is headed home for the first time. Congratulations to Brandy and Tommy for loving this miracle into existence, and to great-grandma Marlene, my grandmother's niece. I'm not surprised that anyone connected to my Grandma Bette has enough love to create miracles.

I am part of a very special family, and am grateful.

Changing Unwanted Things Without Force

I don't know about you, but the end of the school year is anything but peaceful. The fruit of your efforts all year as a student, parent or teacher is finally revealed. As a teacher, students are seen for the last time and for the first time, the immense amount of end-of-year paperwork is really seen.

Just for fun, it seems that no matter what you do for a living, when that living gets super stressful, the universe is going to throw just one thing at you to make it seem unbearable. Your car will break down, important paperwork will become lost, someone will yell at you for something you didn't do, etc.

My God (and yours too if you believe in Him or Her), it's almost as if when we're in this non-peaceful state we attract more non-peace into our lives. The Law of Attraction at work......

And such it is with yours truly. Even with outstanding results from the big state FCAT test, I'm seeing less of what I like and more of what I don't.

When I woke up this morning from another night of "let's see how long I can survive on less than 100 minutes of sleep" and saw this meditation (from DailyOM), I felt like it was talking directly to me.

And because I value you, I wanted to share in case you need it too. Be sure to reread the part I highlighted a few times. Peace, Love and Joy


Looking Deeply
The Good In All

Sometimes we find it difficult to see the good in people, places, or situations that aren't to our liking. We focus on the things we don't like in our lives as a way of fueling our efforts to create change. There is nothing inherently wrong with this, and it is one way we make progress. However, if we get too caught up in this way of looking at the world, we lose touch with our ability to sit back and simply say yes to everything on our plates, which is the true starting point for all successful activity. Sometimes what we really need is to encourage ourselves to look deeply into all things in our lives to see the inherent goodness at the heart of everything.

At the core of this inquiry is the practice of unconditional acceptance, which can be scary because we feel as if we are being asked not to change the things we don't like. But when we think this way, we are still operating on the surface of our lives. In order to feel the beauty and warmth of full acceptance, we have to be willing to sink deeper into the stratum underlying the external manifestation of our lives. This deeper place of being is the origin of all lasting change, yet its paradox is that when we are in it, we often don't feel the need to change anything. From this place, we experience the pure beauty of the process of being alive, and we see that all things change in their own time. We don�t need to force anything. If there are things that we do need to change, from this place of serenity we create the shift easily, our hands guided by an energy that resides at the very center of our hearts.

In our active, goal-oriented culture, we learn to distrust stillness and to engage in busywork on the surface of life. This tendency can blind us to the good that lies at the heart of all things. But all we have to do to see again is stop for a moment, let go of our preconceptions and our agendas, and settle into the very center of our hearts, remembering that it is only from here that we can truly see.

Fly High in Your Skies

The time has come,
to say goodbye.

Some faces happy,
some faces cry.


All faces showing,
how high they can fly.

Fly my young friends,
fly high in your skies.


Copyright © 2007 by Adam Stuart

I think it's a shame that children are so much more malleable than adults. When someone really believes in them, they believe it too. As their beliefs change, so do they.

When adults are given the chance to adopt new, empowering beliefs, we try it for awhile, but give up too quickly when we don't get results fast enough.

This only keeps us imprisoned on the ground, caught between the failures of the past and the worries of the future.

Break free today. Break free and fly worry free. Live in the present. The NOW is the only place that holds any freeing power.

What if You Could?

What if you could,
love a child enough?

To see the greatness inside him,
to see all he could become?


What if you loved him,
everyday that you had?

Pouring out your heart,
and covering him in love?


Do you think that he would feel it,
in his heart and in his head?

Do you think he would feel it,
when the year has reached its end?


Copyright © 2007 by Adam Stuart

This is the last picture of Kenny and me. It was also the last picture taken with one of my students; today, the last day of school. I love you, Kenny. My life has become fuller by having you in it.

I posted this on the students' weblog, Stuart's Spectacular Students. My heart swelled so much after writing it that it's flowing over to this site. Kenny is indeed spectacular, and I want the world to know it.

The Bond of a Brother

The bond of a brother
Can never be broken

Not distance, not time
No words need be spoken

When I am stressed
I think of him

I think of his words
And what he said

How much he believes in me
How high he holds me in esteem

How much he loves me
How much he gives me the strength to keep on being

There’s no greater gift
Than a brother like mine

And for his birthday
I recognize his gift to me

A bond that will last for all time

Happy Birthday Little Brother.

When I say “I love you like a brother”,

I realize how lucky I am to actually have you as one.

Out of Us

Out of our union,
out of our souls,

out of our harmony,
our truth freely rolls.


Our truth is our reality,
our truth is our guide,

our truth is our divine,
our best selves personified.


Peace, Love and Joy


Copyright © 2007 by Adam Stuart

Native American

Copyright © 2007 by Adam Stuart

Moses Did What?

Nine year old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned at Sunday school.

"Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

"When he got to the Red Sea, he had his engineers build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely.

"Then he used his walkie-talkie to radio headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved."

"Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?" his mother asked.

"Well, no. But if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!"

I Saw a Tree Blossom - Part 2

I saw a tree blossom
In the midst of none

I saw beauty
And I saw love

The longer I looked
The deeper I felt

The deeper I sensed the divine
And before it I knelt

The more I allowed myself to feel
The greater clarity with which I heard

A truth coming from the universe
So simple, so pure, it stirred

That when we see beauty, where there is none
We create a more beautiful world together

One by One

As I saw this,
The Universe saw me.

I was filled with Truth,
And a new man blossomed inside of me.

Copyright © 2007 by Adam Stuart

Twenty Battles for Twenty Hearts

Waking from a sleep that seems much too short
Slowly stepping across the den floor in the dark

Stretching each muscle that is sore
Shaking the stiffness from each joint

The great war for the greatness in man
Always takes a lot out of him


Looking out from the opening of his den
How many dawns he needed to draw strength from to fight again

It's been twenty battles
For twenty hearts

Each one has been won somehow
Each one being a loving work of art


The war is now over
All battles have been fought

Twenty minds ablaze with all they've become
And not one forgot

Hearts
Minds
Spirits
Souls

Roaring loudly as they depart

Hearts
Minds
Spirits
Souls

Feeling unstoppable in their highest art

The impossible dream has been dreamt and done
The lion looks out at this new dawn........

And roars loudly in the early morn


Copyright © 2007 by Adam Stuart


*This is for my students, who yesterday got back the results of the state NRT reading and math tests. The class average was an "A" on BOTH.

Getting them to FEEL unstoppable was hard enough. Giving them the skills to actually BE unstoppable was a whole new level of effort.

I am tired. But I am happy.

Something For Me to Think About

A good novel tells us the truth about its hero; but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author.
Gilbert Chesterton
(1874-1936)

The Teacher Makes the Difference

Thank you Mrs. Lyons. You are a wonderful teacher. Brosden has done better than he's ever done. The teacher does make the difference, and you have made a big one!

A Father's Rings

My children love my rings. I have one for each of them. And as I was putting them back on, the little bugger put ice down my back.

I intend to live forever, or die trying

I saw these pictures and thought I'd make a slide show.

I made a slide show and thought it should have a catchy title.

I tried to think of a title and could only think of Groucho Marx.

I could only think of Groucho but couldn't think of a title.

So I borrowed one from him.


I'm still shaking from my daughter's close call this morning. And after looking at these pictures again I had to make another post. A bonus? One-of-a-kind quotes from the man himself. Enjoy them while I enjoy having my children still with me.

Click here for the slide show

A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere.

A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five.

Man does not control his own fate. The women in his life do that for him.

Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who wants to live in an institution?

A hospital bed is a parked taxi with the meter running.

All people are born alike - except Republicans and Democrats.

And I want to thank you for all the enjoyment you've taken out of it.

Before I speak, I have something important to say.

Either he's dead or my watch has stopped.

From the moment I picked your book up until I laid it down, I convulsed with laughter. Someday I intend on reading it.

Getting older is no problem. You just have to live long enough.

Humor is reason gone mad.

I didn't like the play, but then I saw it under adverse conditions - the curtain was up.

I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members.

I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.

I have a mind to join a club and beat you over the head with it.

I have had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it.

I intend to live forever, or die trying.

I must confess, I was born at a very early age.

I never forget a face, but in your case I'll be glad to make an exception.

I read in the newspapers they are going to have 30 minutes of intellectual stuff on television every Monday from 7:30 to 8. to educate America. They couldn't educate America if they started at 6:30.

I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury.

I wish to be cremated. One tenth of my ashes shall be given to my agent, as written in our contract.

I worked my way up from nothing to a state of extreme poverty.

I'm not feeling very well - I need a doctor immediately. Ring the nearest golf course.

If I held you any closer I would be on the other side of you.

If you've heard this story before, don't stop me, because I'd like to hear it again.

In Hollywood, brides keep the bouquets and throw away the groom.

It isn't necessary to have relatives in Kansas City in order to be unhappy.

Military intelligence is a contradiction in terms.

Military justice is to justice what military music is to music.

My favourite poem is the one that starts 'Thirty days hath September' because it actually tells you something.

Next time I see you, remind me not to talk to you.

No man goes before his time - unless the boss leaves early.

One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know.

Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.

Politics doesn't make strange bedfellows - marriage does.

Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.

Practically everybody in New York has half a mind to write a book, and does.

Quote me as saying I was mis-quoted.

Remember, we're fighting for this woman's honor, which is probably far more than she's ever done!

Room service? Send up a larger room.

She got her looks from her father. He's a plastic surgeon.

The first thing which I can record concerning myself is, that I was born. These are wonderful words. This life, to which neither time nor eternity can bring diminution - this everlasting living soul, began. My mind loses itself in these depths.

The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made.

There is one way to find out if a man is honest; ask him! If he says yes you know he's crooked.

Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.

Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?

Why should I care about posterity? What's posterity ever done for me?

Why, I'd horse-whip you if I had a horse.

Wives are people who feel they don't dance enough.

I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.
Groucho Marx

Child Prodigy

My son came with me tonight to my grad class. I think he fit right in. Buddy, I saw you in a new light, and I really like what I saw. You're alright. I'm glad to be your father.

You Never Know

Bella was involved in a car accident this morning.

Luckily she is OK, just a bump on the head.

However, had Grandma taken the other car, they both would have been in the hospital still................ouch.

Hurts to even think about it, so I won't.

Instead, I'll celebrate my child's good fortune by posting recent pics.

With a slide show to boot.


You never know
You never know

Hold em tight
And let em know

Let em know
just how much you know

how very, very much
that you love em so

click here for slide "You Never Know". These are all from the last week

Dance With Your Children

Dance with your children

In a tight embrace

Free style with them

Unafraid to show your face


Gravity keeps our feet on floor

Dancing helps our spirits soar


The only time that it is

Is the time that it is now


It's time to dance

Today you must dance


The music is in your heart

Turn up the volume and let it out


Copyright © 2007 by Adam Stuart

Learning Isn't Easy

Frustration tends to set in quickly.

You hurt.

You feel defeated.

You want to give up-

to quit.

You want to walk away

and pretend it doesn't matter.

But you won't,

because you're not a loser-

you're a fighter.

We all have to lose sometimes

before we can win,

we have to cry sometimes

before we can smile.

We have to hurt

before we can be strong.

But if you keep on working

and believing,

you'll have victory

in the end.

- Ann Davies

The Lollipop Gang

Loving my job because I work in the same place my children go to school. We are, The Lollipop Gang!