Reviews from

Hey, now I'm listening.

non-fiction

32 total reviews 
Comment from Selina Stambi
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I've come to realise--why not me? What gives anyone the right to expect immunity?

It's not how many times we fall down that counts; it's how many times we dust ourselves off and continue to get back up .. powerful, positive truths

James,

Six stars for the heart, soul and voice behind this precious write. (The SPAGS are pretty much nil, too - you've come such a long way, friend.)

Prayed for you this morning too, you know. There's always a reason and a perfect appointed time for everything.

Hanging in there with you.

God bless you,

Sonali

p.s Heading out for your neck of the woods on Friday.

 Comment Written 20-Oct-2014


reply by the author on 21-Oct-2014
    Hi Sonali,
    I believe you are right... a reason to the rhyme so to speak.

    Thank you so much for the wonderful review and stars, you've made me feel all that much stronger... also thank you for the prayers, I know they're working, I'm improving every day... a long way to go and measured movement in my immediate future, but like I've said... progress is progress.

    Pack for four seasons... we seem to have it all at the moment. Excited? Hopefully you're in for a real treat... wish I was meeting up with you David... Terry has nothing but really nice things to say about you and your hubby... shame, but I guess that's life... I wish for a eye-opening experience for you on this holiday... the colours are something else in the middle and change with every hour of the day... well I'm excited for you!

    With our thoughts we create,
    our own destiny,
    James xx
Comment from MM lives on :)
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

James my brother of the pen...this makes my little football aches and pains seem trivial comparative to the plight you suffered and saving the boy was an amazing feat of courage and good will...I would expect nothing less from a gentle giant as you. Damn what a road to recovery and you have made me pick up the free weights once again and to get off my sorry ass and better myself.

7 stars fly for a damn good lesson and life..,..keep rolling even when your body says no. YOU ROCK!

 Comment Written 20-Oct-2014


reply by the author on 20-Oct-2014
    Hi Christopher,
    thanks for making me laugh, I needed that... and as always I am truly appreciative of the support and the encouragement you lay upon me with such a wonderful review adorned with stars... and here I was thinking it was just another lapse in consciousness? Nah, just magic sentiments from a brother and sister, I claim as family.... good stars!

    I might be slowing down some, but I can never stop, it's not in my nature... just gotta be a little more careful and make each moment count... still have a few good ones left in me, ready to go when needed.

    With our thoughts we create,
    our own destiny,
    James.
Comment from jmdg1954
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Well my brother you penned an enormous account of your life for us. I recall a number of previous postings detailing your "wilder" side of your youth. Damn, doesn't it catch up to us quick? I'll soon he sixty and I feel the aches and pains that I never felt before. Thankfully I'm up and about, something I will pray that you once again will be able to enjoy in the manner James wants (in moderation!!!)

I fight demons of other kinds, so we all bear a burden of our existence. I fight the temptation daily. Sometimes I lose and I lose more then the tempting. I lose part of life, and family. So, my friend, you are not alone. Lets get through these rough times together and one day we'll meet at the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii....

Be well and keep us informed of your progress. You're in my thoughts and prayers.
John

 Comment Written 20-Oct-2014


reply by the author on 20-Oct-2014
    Hey John,
    yes, it does catch up to us all in the intersection of our individual cross roads... but life's just a journey full of experiences and lessons, some we want, some we need and ones that scare the hell out of us... no one is immune my brother, we all carry some kind of cross... rough is just a transition to smooth... I do hope we get to meet one day, when ever or where ever that may be... you are a true gentleman, one I am proud to call friend... thank you for this stellar review, I appreciate you with clarity of thought.

    With our thoughts we create,
    our own destiny,
    James.
Comment from amada
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

This is a most inspiring and unique take in the subject of survival. Very introspective in how this mind/body mechanism work, there are suppose to be one, they say. One affects the other. I am a learner myself. A most compelling read.

 Comment Written 20-Oct-2014


reply by the author on 20-Oct-2014
    Hi Amada,
    thank you for your wonderful review... every step of the way is a very finely balanced consciousness of connection... the ying and yang of our existence... I hope your apprenticeship leads you towards your life's goals... you are appreciated.

    With our thoughts we create,
    our own destiny,
    James xx
Comment from RGstar
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Go to it, James. Those chocolates are assorted indeed.
As usual your good soul shines through. You told this as I would expect from you; humbly and sincerely.
I entered this competition, and still I am not sure whether or not I will post a work for it. Winning is not the everything...yet ..I suppose being free of something not told could be a form of therapy.
Best wishes, James.
Well done.
RGstar

 Comment Written 20-Oct-2014


reply by the author on 20-Oct-2014
    Hi Roy,
    I say go for the therapy. I for one would wait in anticipation to read what you would have to say... so go ahead and post it... it's like you've said... winning is not everything, the freedom is the real winner... that, and knowing you've let another piece of the puzzle out in a measured art form.

    Thank you, my brother, your outstanding review and comments have their way of making me feel a sense of achievement.

    With our thoughts we create,
    our own destiny,
    James.
Comment from michaelcahill
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

This was a stunning read for me. The thought process is so familiar. It is my own to a tee. It gives me great pause as I realize the ridiculous luck that I live my life in. Sometimes I almost feel guilty. I'm 62 now and in spite of doing nothing sensible to care for myself I have no ailments to speak of. I realize reading this that it is just a temporary condition. There are consequences. I do have to change my thinking and change it today. The rest of my life depends on it. I have the feeling that this piece is going to impact a great many people in that very same way. An exceptional work that causes the reader to examine himself. What more could one ask of a piece. This will be hard to beat. mikey

 Comment Written 20-Oct-2014


reply by the author on 20-Oct-2014
    Hi Michael,
    some people roll the dice and come out the other side, there's no need for guilt... just an appreciation of something that resembles good fortune... but I am glad if this read has made you think that thought has a great bearing on your future... but in saying that if it ain't broke, why fix it? Smile))))))).

    Thank you for this outstanding review, it seems at this place in time, you have made my journey a little more plausible.

    I know I have a lot of catching up to do with you... sorry! But it seems time will soon be on my side.

    With our thoughts we create,
    our own destiny,
    James.
Comment from Dawn Munro
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Oh James, this is a riveting read, and in fact, offers some marvelous and sage advice through your own life's philosophies.

How very sorry I am to hear of this biophysical struggle - but your brain has super power, my friend - believe it! You are very wise (if stubborn), and I honestly think you will overcome this - slowly, perhaps, but you will gain the upper hand.

 Comment Written 20-Oct-2014


reply by the author on 20-Oct-2014
    Hi Dawn,
    how are you feeling? Still on the mend? I truly hope so.

    I thank you for your heart... but I have made my own circumstances for what ever reason... hopefully it is to grow from experience and come out a different strong at the end... it's just when your in the middle swirling around, it's hard to see which side is up.

    Your review is truly outstanding and appreciated with stars in my being... thank you dear friend.

    With our thoughts we create,
    our own destiny,
    James xx
reply by Dawn Munro on 20-Oct-2014
    Always welcome, my good friend! Well-earned.
Comment from trimple
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Hi James

Oh! You poor thing.

I do hope that you make a full recovery, my dear friend. Invariably, we often tend to ignore the warning signs that our sixth sense gives out and end up paying the price until the s... hits the fan.

I empathise with you :) I shouldn't smike after having a heart attack, but hey ho.

I have a few niks that you may or may not wish to take note of if that's okay.

Introspection? No, I can't ever go there; this is where self-doubt, anxiety and depression are waiting (to)
highjack my recovery and progression.

One of my hard-fast rules to survive (al)--omit continues to be,

I Like this line :)
' While this injury is not life threatening, it is life altering.'

It was (as) if my feet were hardly touching the one-hundred and fifty metres of ground I crossed to get to him.

I'd be back to some kind of normal -- (cy) omit

The reality is(,)-omit (that) there is only one way forward

but as I've said, it's (forward)-- omit progress.

(Every day, m)y days are now filled with three hours of these monotonous exercises. (Every-day!)--omit

What if I'd only listened to my (higher-self?) ( instincts)

An honest account, James about what you have experienced and how you ignored the signs but then turned it around.

A fine read :)

much love

trimple

hugs xxx


 Comment Written 20-Oct-2014


reply by the author on 20-Oct-2014
    Hi Tracey,
    thank you for the fine review and for the time you gave me in helping me try to smooth my bumpy ways... you are a good friend, most appreciated.

    With our thoughts we create,
    our own destiny,
    James xx
reply by trimple on 20-Oct-2014
    You're most welcome James

    hugs

    tracey :)
Comment from mikemagine
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Thanks very much for sharing this. I'm 55, so we're obviously not far apart in age. I applaud you for moving forward! Keep doing your daily exercises. Maybe music can take the boredom out of them. But, I hear you reg. getting older and not having what I once had. I'm bald, potbellied. wear bifocals, have plenty of arthritis. I go to the gym anyway!

Thanks for the quote from Lao Tzu!

Peace,

Mike

 Comment Written 20-Oct-2014


reply by the author on 20-Oct-2014
    Hi Mike,
    thanks for the smile you put on my face and of course your most generous review... I'd love to listen to the music while doing the exercises, but unfortunately I would loose count, so I use it as a form of meditative focus... or should I say, "what number was that?" Yeah, it takes some mean concentration skills to not drift off and forget your place. Good-on-ya for having a go and working out... all we can do, is try to be the best we can be... good luck with it all.

    With our thoughts we create,
    our own destiny,
    James.
reply by mikemagine on 21-Oct-2014
    Sure thing, James. Yes, all we can do is whatever we can to slow the aging process.

    Peace,

    Mike
Comment from padumachitta
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Hi A well written peice for this contest. I was glued to the end, to find out what you figured out.
Me too, I played sports and drank and played and trashed my body. I always thought(as a kid) if they could put man on the moon--that by the time I was old, I could just get new body parts...
well, one can...but I am allergic to any metals and most plasics...
any way...
I loved th Toa quote a the end...it sums it up better than mrs gump.
padumachitta

 Comment Written 19-Oct-2014


reply by the author on 20-Oct-2014
    Hi Padumachitta,
    I'm doing one better, I'm trying to regenerate new cells to repair the damage internally without any further need of the wire and metal they've already patched my body up with... well you never know?... and if all fails, I fall on my sword... but at least I gave it a go... wow, we do sound like we could have been the mirror image of each other, with your philosophy.

    Thanks for the wonderful review, most appreciated.

    With our thoughts we create,
    our own destiny,
    James xx