Paul's Corner

My goodness, sounds like my house. I believe my glass is half full (of a yummy Starbucks non-fat latté), and my husband sees his glass half empty (of his favorite dark Obsidian Stout). We struggle with this all the time. I’m counting our blessings, and he’s complaining about everything. Funny thing, everything always has a way of working out. Hmmm.

We live in a beautiful part of the World, have wonderful neighbors, we’re living the lifestyle of our choice, we’re healthy and have each other. Okay, so money is always short. Same problem a lot of people have, so we’re in great company. My husband has his motorcycle and 3-wheelers, I have my horses. Life is great!

Thanks for reminding me to think about this, Paul. I hope all is well with you.

Namasté,

Sue L-K

Dear Paul:
After seeing your movie, SB, I had to know more about you. Your talent overwhelmed me. My research brought me to this site. My name is Juliet and I'm from Westchester County, NY. My husband passed away two years ago and this coming November would have been our 50th anniversary. As you can see, I'm no child. My husband was a talented entertainer. No easy task for a wife.

Yes, like you, I can cook. Yes, Like you, my dad was a prize fighter, trainer, etc.

Paul, I find you very real, deep within and enormously gifted. Your fans adore you and are very warm and giving to you and to each other.

As for the "cup of Life", mine is half filled. I have been trying to add to this cup for many years. Sometimes I Fail and sometimes I succeed.
Its fun trying.

I wish you and your family the very best that life has to offer.

Love to all,
Juliet S.

Hey Paul,

You should fly to Portland, Oregon, this weekend and attend the annual Bones and Brew event. You could enjoy bar-b-que ribs and several brands of micro brews. You could also visit Cat (and me), too.

You’d love it!

Sue L-K

PS: Check out their flyer in PDF format http://www.rogue.com/pdfs/bones_2005.pdf

Hello PC Friends,

I used to believe my cup was half empty (being on the negative). There have been many wonderful and positive changes in my life and now the cup is half full. Sometimes, it's a bottomless cup when there's alot of good stuff happening. Then, I want to throw the damn cup at the wall when I'm stressed out in the morning getting upcooperative children ready for school/daycare!!

The cup mantra in my house is "the possibility exists"!!

HUGS!
Abeth

hey all,

I mostly think my cup is half full , HOWEVER i AM SLIPPING BACKWARD OF LATE AND IT SEEMS TO BE HALF EMPTY, THE OTHER HALF WASTED ON A DEAD END NON FULLFILLING AND NON APRECIATED JOB, ENERGY THAT COULD HAVE GONE TWORD MY FAMILY SUCKED DOWN THE CORPRATE LADDER.., ON PEOPLE WHO DONT KNOW HOW TO BE APRECIATIVE.

I AM NOW PSOTING OUT OF MY DEPARTMENT TO SOMETHING I HOPE WILL MAKE ME HAPPIER, SO WHEN THAT HAPPENS MY GLASS WILL AGAIN BE HALF FULL AND HAPPY.

Sorry about the caps... oops

Paul, I just watched Sydney..A Story of A City.......... Paul, it was awesome. Your part should have been bigger but it was so informative about Australia, I loved it.
Another flick we catch you on rollerblades, maybe you can be in the remake of Rollerblade !!

I see on CNN Mexico has come to our aide with food and medical suport. Very Nice!!!

Well back to work,

Kelly

The question really is, how do you measure happiness? How do you know when there's lots left to spare, or when you're running out, until it's all gone? And when it is gone, how do you get it back? Can you create happiness, or would that be like trying to get something from nothing? I've got to run, I'm off to the climbing wall. Just wanted to leave some food for thought.

The terminally negative teenager,
Dory

you can't fill a cup from top to bottom.

Just for the record my wife is not a negative person at all - well no more so then me! We all have our moments when we look at life through the half empty cup and vica versa.

What was and is important to me and what was the basis of Andrea's and my discussion, is the complete and unconditional belief that "any thing is possible".

Dory to measure something you usually have to compare it to something and there in lies the problem.You will find people to compare your level of happiness to and they will seem happier than you and others will no doubt seem less happier than you. My advice is to not compare just be and importantly in your "Be-ing" chose to be happy.

Hi Paul,

I don’t think your post sounded at all like Andrea is negative, on the contrary, it sounded like you guys have a healthy relationship and feel free to have open, complex discussions. Bravo!

Namasté,

Sue L-K

Paul,

Life experiences have revealed to me that pretty much anything (barring the rediculous, of course) is possible, since most of what exists is never seen by us as individuals and sometimes seldom or possibly never seen by anyone at all, and further to that, often quite unimaginable.

Perceptions and willingness to accept are part of which ties it all together. It's what makes it either real or impossible.

I've found that sometimes the very unlikely, or even seemingly impossible just happens, generally as a result of us not directly trying to make it happen, but just accepting that it can.

I can't imagine Andrea being a negative person.

Have a good weekend.

Peter

Very good words, Paul. Lots of food for thought.

I find that, depending on my mood, the glass is half full or half empty. Thankfully, at this time in my life, my glass is half full. I'm at the point in my journey that gives me time to slow down a little and smell the roses. My children have been raised and are productive human beings. I have beautiful grandchildren whom I adore and who love me back. My husband, unfortunately has passed away. We would have been married 40 years this coming January. I'm looking forward to retirement in a few years when I can do some of the things I was "too busy" to do when I was younger. In the meantime, I'm learning new things and doing new things. Every day brings something new for me and I like it.

In two weeks I will have visitors from England. Believe it or not, we have been pen friends since we were both 14 years old, and we will be meeting each other for the first time in over 40 years! It's really exciting.

Anyway, all I can say to everyone is to hang in there. Things work themselves out eventually. They just need a bump up once in a while.

Paul, you are right. You do have a choice in making your own destiny. Hopefully, we make good choices, but if we don't, there's always the hope of tomorrow.

Big wave out to Peter, Mary, Kelly, Abeth, Millie and all the new names here. Welcome to all the newbies. You'll like it here.

Be well.

Sally

Hell I like to drink the class empty with the belief it'll be filled up with something better! Most of the time I don't even think of the cup (I leave that up to my husband), I just live and believe and laugh and love and share and enjoy. Oh and cry! But in the end, I figure my cup will be refilled several times. It did take a slap in the face with my own mortality to realize this tho!

(((hugs))) to all and I miss popping in more often but I'm off drinking! Hee hee!

Jill

Hello All!

I spoke to Grandma Millie yesterday over the phone and she asked me if I happen to read the new post on the corner.

It's funny to see what Paul has written, the old philisophical question is it full is empty, how do we look at the way we percieve our happiness and gains.

This week-end I'm going to Sarasota to see my family and celebrate my grandmothers 83rd birthday. I stopped at Borders Book store to get a last minute gift, my gradmother requested a Biography and a calender for her kitchen. Leaving Borders I decided to go visit a friend of mine the the Itlian American community who works at the basement gift shop in Macy's across the street from Borders. Her husband died unexpected six months ago from a heart attack when he was bicycling in the park at the ripe old age of seventy. My friend is about fifteen years younger than her husband. She loved her husband more than anything. But what is quite amazing is that when you see her and talk to her you would never know. Her conversations include who came over the house to visit, who had a baby, her neighbor that calls her twice a day at work to chat, her daughters wedding, and her plans to go to NY to visit family. Every time an employee passes her way they and says hello, she comes from behind her little counter and gives them a hug with as much enthusiasm as if she won the lottery. Her glass is very much half full.

In my own personal life despite my blessings I always question if I made the right choices. A good friend of mine told me recently that in life you have to make choices and there are no right and wrong ones just choices. I still wonder. I'm still looking behind me instead of ahead and around.

We all percieve differently. But would it be nice just for one day, to be like my friend who finds a world of happiness in every soul and every experience she encounters. La Dolci Vida!

A big hug to the BIG KAHOONA, his wife and family. May the cup of life runneth over!

take care all,

Hey all,

Had to pop on and say hi to everyone!

Clay had 3 quartback sacks last night and 16 tackles!! WOOT WOOT !!! He played the entire game with the exception of 1 play as he got the wind knocked out of on a clip. (he was clipped, hit from behind by a very very big kid)

As for negativity. we are all negative, we are all positive, just all at different times.sometimes I am negative sometimes Tom is negative. sometimes neither. Life is what it is, a big roller coaster. Sometimes it makes you throw up :)_

Big hi Sally!

Love to all,

Kelly

You see the glass as half-empty when you look down into it. From where you are, it does look half-empty. To look down gives the illusion of limitations. You're looking into a confined space.

Looking from within the glass upwards, shows you the endless possibiltites that are out there. Not just the rest of the glass, but everything outside of it. Looking from within and outwards also means being present in your own space, inhabiting who you are. Not looking at your life in a detached and distant way.

I love the idea that Peter spoke of, that so much exists out there that, at times, we can't even imagine it. Just knowing that's the case, enlarges this life experience so much for me.

One of the most important moments of my life (and it's not that long ago) was when I realised I had a choice to look upwards OR downwards. For me, at least, seeing it the other way was some kind of habit that I had fallen into which seemed right just because it was familiar. The kind of familiar that suffocates. It still pulls me back sometimes, but I'm doing my best never to feel comfortable there again.

Paul, I love the mantra. Even thinking it is a freeing experience. Thanks.

Hi back to you Sally and to Michelle, Peter, Evelyn, Millie, Inn, Julie, Kelly, Abeth, Jill and everyone out there.

Love to you all,
Mary

Paul...I love the thought that "anything is possible" and that will be my new mantra. I have come farther with certain initiatives than anyone has thought I could so I actually feel "anything is possible"!!

Michelle...I was in Chicago this past weekend. My husband insisted I needed a break. If I had more lead time, I would have alerted you so we could have had a quick get together. Sorry, it didn't work but we had a fabulous weekend - weather perfect. Spent time at Navy Pier - boat tour, saw IMAX Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Could eat Johnny Depp with a spoon! Field Musuem - Toulouse Lautrec at CIA - Blue Moon Group - just a fun, fun time! However, the further I am getting into Harry Potter and HBP, I am getting more unsettled. If Snape is really a baddie, I will be majorly pissed!!! I trusted Dumbledore. I cheated and read the last three pages before I started so I know who doesn't make it to the end. But again, if Snape fails me, YIKES! Can I wait two more years for closure? I guess I will have to!

Special warm thoughts to the Corner,
Linda

I have faith in Snape, but I am in the minority. I'm just pissed I gotta wait another two years to get the answer. Thank goodness for the movie on number 4 coming out in November!

Jill

Hello gang! It has been a really...really long time. To those here that know me, please forgive my absence. Mary you touch my heart yet again..still saying hi to me in your posts, you are the sweetest. Hello Dear Gramma Millie,Peter,Linda,Michelle and of course Paul.
RE this glass thing..my glass is half full but I will drink whatever is in it til it is all gone and see what fills it up next. That is the true joy..I fully subscribe to the "variety is the spice of life" philosiphy. I always drink fully with the unshakeable faith that something else will come along to fill the glass back to the halfway mark!
Love to all!!

Mary,

What a beautifully insightful interpretation!
Fantastic imagery!!

Hi Inn.

Peter

Okay everyone, I’ve done my homework. I’ve read through a lot of the past posts – can’t say all of them, cause my eyes would never be the same. Wow! What a great bunch of people you are. I feel fortunate and blessed to have found you and this Web site. Thanks for embracing me into your group.

Enjoy life!

Sue L-K

It's silly to think that the cup is half empty (no offense to Andrea or anyone here) but the picture of that in my head is someone standing in the middle of a forest of lemon trees and whining about not having any lemonade.

or better yet, whining about not having enough lemonade eh?

Hi Juliet, good to read you :)

Paul, as I thought more about this and got away from work (where I can only view this site and it's risky to do) I realized something.

I knew there was something about the half full or half empty cup and I could never quite put my finger on it, but it's this, the cup had to be full at one time to be half empty. So, no matter what we are dealing with a cup that was filled up half way or filled up all the way and drank out of to leave it half empty. So, what that says to me is that those who see the half empty side of it, are those who may be thinking they were happier in times past and they won't experience that again. But then again I'm just taking a guess.

Hope all is well with everybody.

I just wanted to let you all know that since Paul's last post I've been thinking about life in a way that I haven't thought about it before. Not only that Mercs Own Beer is the best beer in the world **Grin** but I start each day by asking myself one question.

"Is it going to be a half full or half empty day?"

It does wonders!

Take Care All,

Hello PC Friends,

I'm checking in. Like others, I've given more thought to Paul's post. It's kind of like the scale of good and bad. I've been continually trying to fill the cup with good. I've made some changes recently-as in-internal dialogue. It had been bad for as long as I can remember. This was due to past brother/mother/stepfather issues. I've been continually addressing them and still find that I'm not totally at the bottom of 100% resolving it.
One of the reasons why I come to this corner is because the people here have so much to offer with various points of view. It helps me to fine tune my opinions and thoughts. Plus, some of it is quite humorous.

HUGS!
Abeth

Everyone’s posts have truly had me thinking… is my glass half full or half empty. I love what Sally C. posted, that it depends on my mood. Some days are half full and others are half empty.

I have always equated the half empty glass with negativity. I don’t like feeling negative, so I fight off those feelings. When I feel that way, I get busy doing something I enjoy and the feeling leaves. Perhaps I should assign a new label to those half empty days. How about reflective, thoughtful, philosophical, or insightful? I like that. That way I won’t dislike myself so much on those days.

Enjoy life everyone,

Sue L-K

I can't believe how much I have been thinking about this question and I apologize for all my posts as I try to work it out in my head. And I wonder how hypocritical I sound when I spout off how I look at the cup half full when I have to take antidepressants because I suffer from depression. However, I just want to say on my behalf that the difference there is that with the antidepressants I have the strength and "care" to look at the cup. Without them, I don't even care about the cup and I can't even be objective enough to look at it without feeling an overwhelming sense of dread. That's why I am such an advocate for antidepressants. They really help. Peace out.

Hi all, I really like that people are open to the idea that anything is possible. I have always said and I teach my kids that anything and all things are possible. I am not limited by a certain idea of how things should be, or how circumstances may cause what is seemingly an end to all things normal or good. Possibilities arrive to us in every fashion...and good comes from bad, and vice versa. All things ARE POSSIBLE and you are right Paul, it is a liberating and powerful way to believe, and can make life so much more fulfilling. Cheers to you and Andrea for being able to discuss it and have 2 different but equally as rewarding out looks on the proverbial glass.....by the way....mine is 1/2 full of margarita......a never ending supply.

Hi folks.

Recently I found my cup tilted at an angle.
This initially caused me some concern, but upon close observation, I realised that the level inside the cup had not changed.
I tilted my head a bit and then it was all back to being how it was.

Paul, I caught a bit of DWTS the other night.
It's still a very enjoyable show and has improved because it has a more matured (as in established, relaxed and familiar) and comfortable feeling about it, I think.

Peter