News Seldom Helps Anyone

The News is a Negative Thing

Yesterday was my test day for the news on TV. I decided I was going to watch the news numerous times during the day and see how it affected how I felt. In the morning I watched three separate news channels for fifteen minutes and every news item was a negative thing.

1. One man while playing poker in the early AM went to his truck got his shotgun and killed his longtime friend. Apparently over a bet that wasn’t paid. His response to the police was a bet is a bet.
2. My next news station talked about a small girl lost and couldn’t be found. Her father is the primary suspect. Amber alert was triggered and family members are praying for her safe return.
3. My third news station in the morning involved the fires still ragging in certain locations in California. A dozen homes were destroyed but no lives taken. It showed people walking thru the ashes of their homes and showed the anguish on their faces.

At lunchtime my news watching continued. It was a news story about Iraq and numerous lives were lost involving three separate bombings of cars.

Where's the Good News?

I was going to watch more news that day but decided not to. I have come to the conclusion news in general is bias in favor of the negative things in life. Is this what we want to hear as human beings? What about all the good stuffs that’s going on in the world? We have in part become a society that seems to gravitate to the suffering of others and that cant be a good thing for us. I’m not suggesting we stop the news watching what I’m suggesting is that there’s more good going on then bad. But apparently peddling good news isn’t a profit-making thing to do. Or maybe we’ve got ourselves in a rut and need to change the channel and find channels that make us feel good and improve the quality of our lives. Maybe if we stopped watching those stations that peddle the bad news only and then write the bad news peddlers and share are disgust and insist they give more attention to the good stuff and until they proclaim they understand and start showing more good then bad, then maybe we will start watching them again.

News Once Aday is Enought

Seems like a big battle doesn’t it. Well I believe in change and I’m starting today to make my feelings known and I’m also going to watch less news or mute the sections that come up. Also I’m going to write emails to different news locations and voice by concern about two much violence and not enough good stuff going on the air ways.

News is Like a Dark Day, I Don't Need Either One

We as a society need to shine more sun light on our family members and ourselves. Bad news has no sun value so I’m taking control and choosing what I watch.

Violence promotes violence and that's not how I want to live my life. Mountains get moved by moving one rock at a time. Maybe today is a good time for moving one rock?


Don L. Terrill

photo by Ilpo's...

Find the Weight That Works for You

Less Weight Equals More Happiness

Like most people I have endured the weight on and weight off concept in my life. I have come to the conclusion its wiser to develop a life style that creates and maintains the weight I want and enjoy in my life. I see the folly of going thru all that pain and suffering only to fall back into old patterns and then in short time return to were I started and that doesn’t produce the wellness I want in my life. Weight pills are all over the TV and maintain no legitimate proof that they work. Oh they peddle a picture of success and ultimately leave you heavier then you were and frustrated for being taken advantage of. Someone once said that if it’s too good to be true it probably isn’t. I believe all things are possible and some day in some form a bill or etc will be created that will allow us to consume moderate quantities of what we want and keep us at the weight that gives us good feelings. Till then making a plan is the best approach to take to get to and maintain the weight that works for you.

Exercise in Ways That Work for You

To me exercise best serves me when Ill do it and it is in the right presentation form for me. I exercise in ways that work for me. I walk trice daily morning and evening I increase my distance slightly each day. When sitting in my comfortable chair I often lift my legs, arms and do pulling or pushing the muscles that I can. Like cupping my hands and pulling or pushing against my hands but only for short intervals. Its amazing how many ways you can push or pull against your body parts to improve you muscle tone yet consume calories in the process and this you can do anywhere. Its slow progress but it helps in so many ways and it something I will do all the time while sitting, laying, or walking around. Its not the magic pill but it allows me flexibility helps control my weight keeps me in good body tone. Losing body mass is a slow process and developing habits you will do is the best course in your life. And stop thinking about the diet word and just create a reduction plan word that will work for you.

I'de Rather Be the Turtle

I remember many moons ago while walking one time this fast moving girl went by me and while passing said no pain no gain. Apparently I wasn’t moving fast enough to suit her way of thinking. In my thinking a fast and hard sweating success story is just one step away from being back where you started. So whose the smartest one the turtle or the rabbit?

Stop the Madness of Losing & Regaining Right Away

Life above all things needs to find a way by little measures of progress to get where you want to be and then just live at that level. Each day requires habits that you will allow you to achieve your goal but yet give you happiness all along the way. Stop the madness of running hard achieving your goal and to fall back to the starting line and then running the race again. Its better to win the race once and just remain at the finish line.

Endless Ways to Exercise

You will be amazed how many ways you can exercise while sitting at your desk, walking, talking or sitting on a park bench and no one will even be aware of what you are doing. Think of all the body parts you have and how versatile they are and how many ways they can move. And sweat isn’t necessarily required. In time with continual movement and modest eating habits you can get to the goal line and stay there just by moving and small eating changes.

Avoid The Diet Word

And above all don’t say to yourself anything that resembles the word diet. Find a word to mean the same thing and you’ll find that word will work better for you. That word has too much baggage attached to it so take my advice and don’t use it and just make changes slowly in your life, that way there more likely to stay with you over the long haul.


Don L.Terrill

photo by greggoconnell

Loose is Good for You

Loose Fitting Clothes Create Wellness

Unless your perfect in size, shape and form may I suggest loose fitting clothes. Have you noticed how nice you feel when it gets closer to nightly snooze time and you change your appearance by putting on your nightly apparel? If you haven’t, pay attention how you feel and you will get the jest of my thinking.

There's Always Time for the Right Clothes

During the day we are required by our situation or environment to wear clothes that don’t always create the wellness were looking for in life. Oh sure there are those of you who strut your stuff to create or produce the results your looking for. Maybe that’s a raise in pay or a luring opportunity in the back seat of a Lexus you wish you had. Either way we all in some fashion or other dress to create an impression to influence something to happen. But what about all that time when you’re with understanding friends, acquaintances or by yourself and you don’t care about being properly gussied up. When you think about it you’ll be amazed how much time you have available for just wearing loose fitting apparel.

Loose Clothes is Me

The word freedom means many things to many people, to me freedom means being who I am and creating the environment that works for me. I have certain items of clothing that are never allowed to be discarded in the trash or salvation container.

Some Wearing Apparel is Sacred

Let me give you an example of clothing that has no valve but what the owner clings to as if it were the Holy Grail. One of my sons has under wear that has only the frame work left. He has exercised mans birthright to be a man and refuses to allow his lovely wife to throw them out. I personally viewed one interaction between the two of them and I was impressed by his stand up attitude on such an important issue in the human experience. This is the same man that had his favorite sandals retreated twice before allowing them to be sacrificed to the fire god during a back yard fire party in our back yard. But the buckles were retrieved from the ashes and I understand his lovely wife is going to have the buckles mounted on the wall like a stuffed bear head or something.

Like a Best Friend

I to had to stay stead fast on an old pair of tennis shoes that I had been wearing for a year or so. They were so worn to the point that you could view my socks thru the bottom of the shoes when I was sitting with one leg crossed over the other. Finally one day my lovely wife could know longer endure what she observed and insisted they be declared dead and removed for proper burial. I didn’t show my tears then, but did shed some tears later in the bathroom before taking my shower so it wouldn’t show a sign of weakness.

It's All About Freedom

Something’s in life need to be enjoyed and savored till the last moment of their existence. To me certain items of clothing are like that and take on a life like existence and need to be treated like humans and given respect until those near you threaten to ban you to the dungeon in the basement. Remember freedom is important and your loose fitting clothes give you that.


Don L. Terrill

photo by silwenae

A Smile Cures What Ails You

Smiling is Good for You

Today I visited my family doctor and I couldn’t help but notice that while sitting in the lobby waiting for my number to be called, that most patients I observed via their face that smiling was not a regular routine in their life. Yes I realize everyone there probably had a physical or emotional issue over ridding their thinking process, but that’s no excuse for not taking care of your wellness and smiling is high on my list of wellness things to do all the time.

Smile Even if it Cracks Your Face

One time while rising thru the ranks of an employed person I had an eye opening experience with a co-worker. He hardly ever uttered a sentence that didn’t contain a reference to bad luck, doom, sickness and something to do with a dark cloud over his head. Now I’m not sure but I don’t honestly remember if he ever smiled or made a gesture that would imply he was in a good mood. When I first started working with him I just thought he was having a bad day, but a week of working with him I started to get the picture and the picture didn’t contain a smile. During this time in my life I was dating a giddy girl, who couldn’t stop smiling even when the piggy wolf was knocking on the door and trying blow the house down. We never really connected but she was always a shot in the arm to be around. Smiling is contagious and seeing it and using it surely ranks high on the list of necessary things to do in your life.

A Smile Fights Depression

I like many have endured the roller coaster ride called depression. But most of the time I’m riding the top rail and feeling like a million bucks. But I know the downhill ride is just inside my closet and keeping it there requires constant vigilance. I look forward to the day when the magic is discovered and the closet door will close and never open again.

A Smile Works for the Giver and Receiver

Most of us survive life necessities and have a few coins left over to share with less fortunate ones then us. But we all regardless of our condition in life can spread a smile like spreading butter on a piece of toast. It takes hardly any effort and also benefits you when you give it to someone else.

I Love Her Smile

I am a very fortunate person I have a relationship with a person who happens to be my wife. Whose smile warms the very fiber of my being. No she doesn’t constantly have a smile on her face, but hardly even does that beautiful face express anything other then wellness and welcome to my world.

A Smile Always Works

I like smiling and find its value good for me and those I come in contact with. I have come to the conclusion that it’s the small things in live that move the mountains and one small thing is a smile. So bring your smile out and watch it change your feelings and those around you.


Don L. Terrill

photo by Digital Blue

Don’t Let Happy Birthday Bother You

Happy Birthday Need Not Be a Downer

Sure we know how old we are but lingering on the thought of it may not be a good thing for us to do. We all approach the aging process in different ways if its of know concern to you then consider yourself lucky and get back to having a happy life. For those of you who do think about it and it always at some level leaves you feeling uncomfortable or perhaps even fearful maybe my following thoughts maybe of help to you.

My Thoughts are from Real Life

First of all my thoughts are not generated from reading books of accounts of those who have been bothered by aging, your going to receive the real thing from the horses mouth because its from me and I’ve been through it in real life.

My Bother Some Year

Sixty was my moment of awakening concerning the sometime very disturbing reality of growing older and the affect it had on me. And here’s how I handled it.

Its Happy Dons Day

Today when my celebration of being born comes around everyone that knows me says Happy Dons Day and here’s why this all happens. At some point in my aging process and I don’t remember exactly when I with positive input for my lovely wife decided that birthdays were out and replaced same with Dons Day. So when growing older day comes around for me most that know me or about me extend a positive kindness to me on that day and say to me not happy birthday but rather Happy Dons Day.

Little Changes Can Change Alot

And I never cease to be amazed how modest changes in ones life can have such a significant change in how we feel about things. And I’m not the only person who moves away from the norm, makes adjustments and then enjoys the joys of living better then they did before.

Other Share Their Changes

Invariably when new entities receive my proclamation that birthdays are out and Dons Day is in they don’t hesitate to mention similar approaches in how they deal better with the aging of the human experience.

A Small Better is Better Then Nothing

No it doesn’t change the reality but it does cast it in a different light and maybe, just maybe you’ll deal with it better and not see it for a bad thing, but rather a day that brings wellness from those who find comfort in hearing your voice and hearing your voice always makes them feel better.

So here’s to your special day and maybe a new birthday name your courting on this day.


Don L. Terrill

photo by

Isn't Wellness Enough

Maybe Being Happy is Enough

Have you ever noticed that when we find something that makes us feel good we have a natural tendency to milk it dry and then we reach a point were the wellness of its doing becomes less useful and sometimes even to the level were its detrimental to our emotional and physical well being.

Were Always Looking for More

And I think is a natural thing to do to try to reach a higher state of wellness. But are we wrong in our thinking? If one drinks of that special wine and it makes us feel good then it’s a reasonable observation that more will makes us feel even better until we reach absolute wellness. But here’s the flawness of our thinking when happiness is reached more of what were doing will not make it necessarily better. It’s like reaching the top of the mountain and then just sit there and enjoy the wellness your experiencing. In other words you can’t go any higher because you’re already at the top of the mountain.

Just Enjoy Happy

Now perhaps there’s a better way to approach our desire to be happy all the time. Reach that point of happiness and then just enjoy the moment for all its worth and then maybe just sip at the wine when a slight boost is needed and then once again bask in the light of your wellness.

Chasing Fools Gold

I have heard and read the comments of many who have stated that the first time you use some drugs it will be your best experience and then from there on you will be chasing that first wellness but will never find it again.

Maybe More Thinking is Faulty

Were all chasing wellness and like passing a hitch hiker on the road the person with their thumb out (for those of you who have no knowledge of hitch hiking it used to be common practice for people to stand on the side of the road and put their thumb out pointing same in the direction to which you want to travel on. If their rewarded a passing car will stop back up and give them a ride.) Now when you get to the location where you want to be and continue to hitch hike, hitch hiking will not benefit you any more.

I'm Still Working at It

In the scheme of things I’m not proud to say I’m sometimes a slow learner of something I’m doing. I love to do certain things and nipping the fruit of the grape vine is one of them. And yes I’m still not perfect at achieving and maintaining the wellness I so greatly want in my life. But I’m glad to report that my progress is improving and wellness in occupying more of my thinking all the time.

Be Happy with Happy

The point of my story is this; more is not necessarily better when happiness has been achieved. So may I suggest that keeping the happiness is a good goal but wanting more then that is probably a fools journey and fraught only with unhappiness. I don’t know about you, but I tire of being a fool over and over again.

I wish for you to Laugh More and be a Fool Less.


Don L. Terrill

photo by NickPiggott

Following Directions Helps Your Wellness

Always Read the Directions First

I can’t begin to tell you how many times I used to start a new project and didn’t read the directions first. And like always at some point in my journey reading the directions was required to complete what I was trying to do.

Didn't Think I Needed To

I guess the old me thought I knew everything and thus didn’t need to lower myself to doing what I should have done in the first place and spend a little time up front learning the right steps and then just taking one move at a time. After all that’s what directions are all about.

Why Don't We Just Read First?

Why is it that doing the right thing is so hard to do? Its like if you assemble one thing then that qualifies you to automatic assemble other things because you have done one assemble already.

I'm Better

Now I glad to report that this dysfunctional behavior is almost totally under control in my life. And this has accrued because I married smartly. That is to say I married a person who always reads the directions first and then does the job properly.

Also Know the Tools You Need

So the new smart me is smarter because I learned the art of reading directions first and not only know how to do the job now but also know what tools I need to complete the job properly.

First Learn What to Do

Now like a smart business person, I first call a meeting of the minds which includes mainly two minds one is the love of my life and the other is yours truly. We make a plan and then implement the plan. And reading instructions and understanding same is the main part of that planning process.

Seek Advice from Experts

And another thing we don’t hesitate to seek advice from professionals, who if you’re lucky will tell you the secrets of how certain things work better. For example recently we applied our new doing process and successful completed laying down laminate and tile flooring.

Doing Good Is Good for You

No I’m not perfect but I’m a lot better then I used to be and that’s a great joy to me today. It’s great to accomplish things because that improves the image we have of ourselves and that’s really good for us. So do the right thing and follow the directions and the quality of your life will greatly improve. So directions first and doing next.


Don L. Terrill

photo by bradleypjohnson