Category: Life

Posted in Life

A new barbershop

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Jeppe Mønster on Unsplash

After a couple of bad haircuts, I decided to try a different barber shop. I always got stuck with the third or fourth chair barber who was just out of barber school or had too much to drink the night before. Or maybe that morning. Who knows?

Anyway, I found another barbershop a little closer to my house. When I walked up to the door, a handwritten note announced “Carmelo is not here.” It was Carmelo’s Barbershop. Okay. No problem. They were open, so there must be other barbers cutting hair.

Just before I opened the door to walk in, I saw a small table with a spiral-bound notebook and pen. It was open to a page with a list of names, most of which were crossed out. I wrote my name and walked in.

A young lady was cutting hair, and a couple of other men were waiting their turn. I sat down and read some emails on my phone. I listened as the barber described how her father (Carmelo) was sick, the other part-time barber was ill, and she was running the shop alone that day.

As she finished each cut, she would take their money, walk outside, check the notebook, and call out the next name. A pretty good system, just one I’ve never seen before. Usually, I walk into the barbershop, sit and take note of the other guys sitting there so I know when it will be my turn. Sometimes I get the front of the line since they are waiting for a specific barber. Of course, then I get a lousy haircut.

Anyway, I got a great haircut that day. I went back and got another great haircut from another barber in that shop a month later.

It all worked out pretty well.

Posted in Life

5 Simple Joys: Morning Sparks Happiness

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Emma Simpson on Unsplash
Daily writing prompt
What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness?
View all responses

Waking up.

    I’m a morning person. An early bird. No two ways about it, I love waking up in the morning. Somehow my body knows the time, and I almost always wake up at 5:55 am. Depending on the season, it might be dark, or the sky may be light. But that’s when I like to wake up, and I like to wake up. Rarely do I sleep in.

    Waking up and walking the dogs.

    This has long been a part of my morning routine. After feeding the pups, I put on their leashes and we’re out the door. We walk around the block or around many blocks. It’s quiet. The air is still. I can hear the sounds of traffic and trash trucks off in the distance. I think it’s the best time of the day.

    Waking up and walking the dogs as dawn colors appear on the horizon.

    As we walk, the sky slowly turns from night to day. As it does, many hues of orange paint the sky, especially if there are clouds. It’s magnificent. How can there be so many different kinds of orange? I’m impressed by the Creator’s work up above.

    Waking up, walking the dogs, watching the brightening sky, and hearing the birds singing.

    When we leave the house, it’s quiet. But not for long. One bird starts singing. Another responds. Pretty soon, my ears are filled with birdsong. I whistle back, participating in an antiphonal chorus. They probably aren’t fooled, but I like to think we are singing together.

    Waking up, walking the dogs, watching the brightening sky, hearing the birds, as ideas show up in my head.

    This is when I think of some of my best, most creative ideas for writing and storytelling, The rhythm of my steps and the tempo of my breathing stimulate my right brain. I speak my ideas into my phone, messages I’ll see later. I don’t want to forget.

    Everything about the morning brings me happiness, from my first step out of bed until I get back from the walk. For me, it is a magical part of the day, regardless of the weather, the day’s agenda, or how I slept that night.

    Posted in Life

    A Forgotten Tool: Using a Slide Rule in Physics Class

    Posted on by William Douthwaite
    Daily writing prompt
    Describe something you learned in high school.
    View all responses

    I took physics in eleventh grade. It’s hard to imagine, but fifty years ago, four-function (+, -, x, /) handheld calculators were new and an expensive luxury. So I learned how to use a slide rule.

    My dad had a K&E slide rule he used through college and his early engineering days. I adopted it and took it to class every day to work through the math part of physics. I faintly remember getting pretty good at using a slide rule. Using logarithms, a slide rule enables you to turn a difficult multiplication or division problem into a simpler addition or subtraction problem.

    In the movie Apollo 13, a whole room full of engineers pull out slide rules to figure out flight trajectories to get the three astronauts home when their capsule is damaged by an explosion.

    After high school, programmable calculators became affordable, and by the time I started college in 1975, there wasn’t a slide rule to be found on campus.

    Posted in fitness, Life

    Fun Ways to Enjoy Exercise: My Journey

    Posted on by William Douthwaite
    Photo by Victor Freitas on Unsplash
    Daily writing prompt
    What’s the most fun way to exercise?
    View all responses

    I’ve done a lot of different exercising over the past fifty years. I played informal sports in my neighborhood growing up and some intramural sports in college. I didn’t truly get into fitness until my final year of college, when I decided to start running.

    Some hate to run. I loved it. I liked competing with myself, to run farther or faster each time. The self-competiton made it fun. Along with the music that ran through my head in time with my footsteps. I never listened to music while I ran. My creative brain sprang to life about a mile into those long distance runs.

    When I supplemented my running with weightlifting, I again loved the competitive nature of exercising. I carefully journaled everything, always pursuing another rep or a few more pounds.

    I still find exercise fun. My feet hurt so I don’t do much running. I do a lot of walking with the dogs and a lot of bodyweight exercise routines in the garage. Every exercise is a variation of the basic movements of pulling, pushing, squatting, and standing. I love learning new movements from fitness professionals who produce exercise videos.

    For me, the moving, breathing, pacing, and exertion are fun. It’s me against me, or the elements, or the two dogs on a leash. From the dog-smiles on their faces, I know they’re having fun, too.

    Posted in Life, listening

    What Makes a Person Unique: The Art of Listening

    Posted on by William Douthwaite
    Photo by Christina Morillo on pexels.com
    Daily writing prompt
    Which aspects do you think makes a person unique?
    View all responses

    I believe one thing that sets someone apart from most others is their willingness to listen.

    I say that because the norm is a person who talks about themselves. They ask, “How are you?” But they won’t listen to your answer. Whether you reply, “Fine,” “Terrible,” or “Living the life,” they will launch into a monologue about themselves, their family, their projects and their problems.

    What a difference when you encounter someone who responds, “What do you mean by that?” Or, “Tell me more about that.” Maybe a simple, “What else?” They show their willingness to listen with a nod and a smile. Nothing more. These people are few and far between.

    Such a person is not afraid of silence. They know you need a moment to think about your feelings, shape an answer, and unravel your thoughts.

    You can tell they are listening because they rephrase and repeat your thought, making sure they understand what you’ve said.

    This person neither approves nor judges what you’ve shared. They do not talk about their similar experience. They don’t tell you what to do. Or what they would do if they were you.

    They are that rare and unique person who listens.

    Posted in Life

    Early morning walk: embracing solitude and wishing for company

    Posted on by William Douthwaite
    Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

    I got up a little earlier this morning to walk our big dog (the Great Dane) before our three granddaughters, who spent the night with us, woke up. 5 am in Florida? Yep, still dark.

    The big girl and I headed up a main thoroughfare before dawn. Much to my delight, there were no cars on the road. None. Zip. Nada.

    I loved that moment.

    Suddenly I felt like I was all alone in the world. Just me and my dog and a long, long line of street lights shrouded in a touch of fog.

    That moment was surreal. What if it was just me and my dog alone in the world? What if we were the only ones left? What if everyone else somehow vanished?

    I loved that aloneness. I wanted it to last. And I wanted it to be over. I wanted someone, anyone to drive by. But at the same time, I hoped they wouldn’t.

    What should I do with that? I love being by myself, and yearn for the crowd. I crave solitude, and pursue the mob. I am so comfortable with just me, yet wonder when everyone else will arrive.

    The paradox torments me.

    Posted in Life

    Confidence

    Posted on by William Douthwaite
    Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

    A recent WordPress prompt suggested I answer the question, “Who’s the most confident person you know?” After giving it some thought, I’m ready to respond.

    Me.

    I am the most confident person I know.

    I am decisive. It doesn’t take me long to decide what I want to order at a restaurant or what I want to write about. At the library, I quickly pick out the book I want to read.

    When asked, “Can you do this?” I typically say, “Yes.” I am confident of my ability to figure out a solution to a problem.

    Can I learn how to use new technology? Can I speak in front of an audience? Will I try a new recipe? Can I cook for a crowd? Can I do that workout? Can I install that appliance, fix that leak, or patch that hole?

    Of course. Let’s do it. Or at least, let’s give it a try. Confidence isn’t about getting it right or getting it done. It’s an attitude. I’ll figure it out. I’ll find a solution. There’s always a way.

    What’s the source of my confidence? I don’t know. It’s probably a mix of influences, from being a first-born child who was raised to be independent, possessing a logical mind and a resilient spirit.

    Confidence means you’re aren’t afraid to try. Confidence means you’re not competing with others. You’re just trying to be the best version of you. Confidence means there’s always a solution. Confidence see the possibilities.

    Posted in death, Life

    A final farewell

    Posted on by William Douthwaite
    Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

    The text came in the middle of my garage workout. Someone was in the hospital in hospice care, and I should go see them.

    I’ve been retired from full-time ministry and the message came to me from someone I hadn’t seen in over a decade through another person I haven’t had contact with in over a year.

    I didn’t respond.

    More texts followed. “It’s not going to be long.” “They wanted you to know.” “You have to hurry, they are 100% going to pass.” “We’re going up there now.”

    My wife was in the text group, and when poked she her head into the garage, I said, “Yeah, I saw it. Where are they?” We glanced through the texts until we found a location mentioned that doesn’t even exist. Hmm. Not helpful.

    Feeling a bit convicted, I texted the current pastor and found out where she was. She was in a hospice care facility, not a hospital. I knew exactly where it was.

    But I didn’t rush down. I know from experience that dying in palliative care often takes time. The dying will be comfortable but unconscious, and I will spend time talking with the family. Which in this case, were some who weren’t fond of me in the past. So I confess, I dragged my feet a little.

    When I arrived, I greeted a daughter and her husband, a stepson and his wife, a couple of grandchildren and a great grandson. The husband was not there. They told me, “He just couldn’t do it.”

    I understand, but I don’t understand. They had thirty-plus years of marriage behind them. Wouldn’t this be the “worse” that goes along with the “better?” But, I reminded myself, everyone deals with this differently.

    The visit went okay. I said a prayer, chatted with the family a little, and left them to be with each other. My old friend wasn’t conscious, was comfortable, breathing slowly, and not yet close to death. She would receive good care for another day or two from amazing caretakers.

    I glad I went. I’ve heard that the last sense we lose is hearing, so the person dying can hear and be comforted by those talking to them. So I’m glad I got to talk to her one last time. The folks who texted me? I don’t think they ever got there.

    Posted in Life

    My Morning Ritual

    Posted on by William Douthwaite
    Photo by Yara on Unsplash
    Daily writing prompt
    What are your morning rituals? What does the first hour of your day look like?
    View all responses

    My body usually wakes me up around 6 am every morning. I don’t even have to set an alarm.

    After I pull on some pants and a t-shirt, I hit the bathroom, wash my hands and face, and wander out to the kitchen to start the coffee maker that I set up the night before. It takes about five minutes to brew the pot. I drink a big glass of water and wait to hear five beeps from the coffee maker. It’s ready!

    I drink my coffee black, so I fill up my favorite mug and sit at the dining room table with my bible, journal, and a pen, and do my morning reading and writing. I’ve been reading straight through the bible for years. I read a chapter or two and write down my thoughts, which may be the start of a devotion I’ll write for my blog. I also write what I did the previous day and the things I need to do today.

    Sometime during those quiet moments, I’ll hear the big dog (our Great Dane) stirring in the back bedroom. So I let her out of her cage and take her out into the back yard. When she’s done doing what she needs to do, I fill her bowl with food for her breakfast and another bowl with water. She’ll usually lie down for a few moments after she eats, giving me a little more time to write.

    And that’s my routine just about every morning. In the summer when the sun rises early, I’ll sit outside on the back patio. It’s so nice to be out there as the sky slowly brightens with all sorts of colors. It’s an amazing moment when the birds suddenly all start singing.