Another Blogger Award For Joshland!

The Honest Scrap Award



I am honored to receive another peer presented blogger award. This time from my recently reconnected elementary school friend. In her blog, Diary of the Overanxious Horse Owner, she gives you a first hand look at working from square one with her 16 hand (64 inch) Paint Gelding quarter horse, Junior. This is an animal that can range between 800 - 1100 lbs. I can't even control my two 20 lbs dogs, meanwhile she is learning the mood swings of and training this massive animal! It's an interesting read and I suggest you take a look. "SillyPony", thanks for the award and sweet comments on your blog. You rock! Oh yeah, and give Junior a carrot for me. ;-)

This award requires me to send out 5 awards to worthy candidates. Since I just did this a few weeks ago, I am going to bide my time and find some other candidates. I will update you as I select them.

The award also asks to list 5 things about me people might not know:

1. I love Italian food and want to learn how to cook more than the few staples I know.

2. I have a goal of doing 100 push-ups. I am at 60 right now and have been stuck there for a little while. Stupid muscles. Recover faster!!

3. I would love to run my Schnauzer Henry in the obstacle course. It looks like fun to me. I wish Henry didn't have the attention span of a 2 year old.

4. I want to be in a 50's and 60's cover band.

5. I am the easiest person to make laugh.

These awards are very special to me and they blow my mind. This whole thing started on Facebook for God's sake. I answered on of those silly "25 Random Things About Me" notes/forwards. It was a time killer. The funny thing about it was that people really enjoyed my answers. They suggested I write a book or start a blog. So I did. Not because I am an outstanding writer or that I have such profound and wise things to say. I am an average writer at best and just a guy trying to live my life. But if something I say or do makes people happy, then that is a cool thing and I am all for it. I also started writing because no one knows my life better than I do, so stories will be here in black and white. That way, if people want to get to know me, tell others about me, or remember me after I am gone, all they have to do is go to this blog (or perhaps someday open a book) and read about me. I only wish Angela would have had the resources to do this while she was here.

I've never expected much from my writing, but to my surprise it has been very cathartic. It's forced me to slow down on my postings quite a bit. It's opened up some emotional and intense feelings buried inside of me that I wasn't prepared to deal with. I've started a writing class to help me organize my thoughts, gather information and hone my writing skills. I want well written stories on this blog and not just words that fill up a page. Please be patient and know that I will post things when they are ready. I promise.

Thanks for reading about my life. It means a lot to me and I hope I keep you entertained.

Peaceful Things,

Josh

Be The Best Of Whatever You Are

What I am taking away from the Michael Jackson Memorial today has little to do with the "King of Pop". I wish all who pass away peaceful things. But I was moved by another King: the inspirational words of a speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoken so eloquently by his son, Martin Luther King III. I found a website with the speech and posted the portion that moved me below. Feel free to click here for the source page and his take on it. Otherwise, read on:

On August 11, 1956, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a speech in Buffalo called "The Birth of a New Age".

Part of that speech goes as follows:

"We need more people who are competent in all areas and always remember that the important thing is to do a good job. No matter what it is. Whatever you are doing consider it as something having cosmic significance, as it is a part of the uplifting of humanity. No matter what it is, no matter how small you think it is, do it right. As someone said, do it so well that the living, dead, or the unborn could do it no better. If your son grows up to be a street cleaner, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry, sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say, 'here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well'. If you can’t be a pine on the top of the hill be a shrub on the side, but be the best shrub on the side of the hill. Be a bush if you can't be a tree, if you can't be a highway be a trail, if you can't be the sun be a star. It isn't by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are...”

The message is powerful. Those words make me feel like I am doing alright. I'll be a trail. I'll keep doing the best I can with what I am given and continue being good to others. I'll keep working towards something wonderful and appreciating all that I have. We all should do that in life. Thank you "Anonymous" and Dr. King. You've brought me peace of mind today. I hope it does the same for anyone else who reads it.

Peaceful Things,

Josh