Paul Kilmon: A Life Illustrated in Words & Photos: What Are You Thankful For?

Welcome!

Through my writing, photography, career, and personal challenges, you will discover I am just like you, a person on a journey. My goals are simple, to be healthy and happy. You will learn I have many interests. The driving force for all I do is communication, the sharing of ideas and my passion for laughter. It really is the best medicine and a great stress reducer.

I consider myself a down-to-earth guy, who is just making it up as I travel through life, adding a virtual laugh track here and there to amuse others and myself. I have a friendly personality, which is expressive, warm, upbeat, fun, and positive. I love meeting new people. I thrive on communication, organization, diversity, creativity, and laughter. – Paul Eric Kilmon (paerki)

Saturday, November 08, 2014

What Are You Thankful For?

I continue to count down the days to Thanksgiving. Do you know what you are thankful for? Before answering, think about the following…

Thanks and giving are not to be limited to the holiday of Thanksgiving nor to any select occasion or to any special day. We must give thanks each and every day, as well as giving. Nothing must lie outside the scope of our ability to perform both.

Giving thanks must always be from the heart. It is with honesty, goodness and purity that we may utter from our lips those things that have made us smile, brought joy to our world and sadness to our life in order to find humility and, most importantly, love to get us through those unexpected challenges.

Giving is the gift we give ourselves, and it’s with this simple act we can appreciate our life more, supplying it substance and making it more meaningful. More than giving a gift, we must give our time and offer words of encouragement, expressions of peace to unite our communities and the world at large. We must offer hope where there is none and positive reinforcement for those filled with uncertainty.

Give thanks for the obvious – food, shelter and good health (if you are lucky), but add to that list those many fortunate moments that are easily taken for granted – getting to work safely, having a few extra dollars to treat yourself to something special, etc.

True gratitude involves action. Lend a hand to a friend, neighbor or coworker. Pitch in by volunteering your time for community events. Make a gift or donation to charity, keeping in mind that sometimes charity begins at home first. One of the best gifts you can give is a hug, to sooth sadness and fear, bringing promise for a new tomorrow. Give back as often as you can.

Let the last thing you say before going to bed be, "I am thankful for today because I was kind, giving, helpful, encouraging, and I did this without reservation, receiving and, most importantly, I did it because I really do care."

There are so many things we take for granted, but we must pause to appreciate the obvious – a window in our office, an umbrella on a rainy day, a hug from a friend and a smile from a coworker. What are you thankful for? How will you give?

Take a moment today to list a few things you are thankful for and share that list with someone special. Tell someone today that you care, thankful for his or her gift of friendship. Cheers! – paerki

What would life be like without memories? It’s fair to say, there would be no life at all. Memory is our communication, reason, coherence, our action and more importantly, our feeling. Memories create our path in life, developing our psychology and leading us emotionally.

One of the best ways to create and store memories is with video. These simple effortless little snippets of time create diaries and become perpetual time capsules, which justify our walk on earth, telling all with great enthusiasm… I was here! I mattered! I lived! Please, don’t forget me.

Share your views, thoughts and opinions in the written word. Snap photographs so your eyes can travel back in time, remembering the happy and sad moments that made you the person you were, are and became in life. But, whenever possible, capture video to enhance the memories you leave behind, so that others may pass the essence of your life on to future generations. – paerki

I love photographs! They have this amazing ability to tell stories of fun places, special moments, memorable events, and exciting places. They give us reason to pause and remember friends, family, coworkers and so many others. One photograph can conjure up a flood of memories taking us on a journey. They help us remember the past, enjoy the present and ponder the future.

On a cold and rainy day I love sitting in my living room with a roaring fire, a glass of wine, classical music playing in the background and my many photographs scattered about me. I love sifting through what I call my special collection, which refers to my favorites. They remind me of the saddest and happiest moments of my life. They remind me of challenges and overcoming.

My large collection of images are a testament to a life lived. Life happens all around us so it’s important to collect special memories, and what better way than with a photograph. – paerki

It’s hard to believe I’ve been blogging for more than 12 years. This art form has allowed me to showcase and express my creativity. It has bolstered my confidence (not that is was lacking). At times it has been therapeutic, but more than anything it has given me a much deeper view of the world and how I see myself in it.

I use my insights as a barometer for self-change, which helps me reconcile the past, adapt to the present and navigate carefully into the future. I have enjoyed the roller coaster ride of thought as my hands write it and my eyes see it. As always, I hope you can relate to my stories, appreciate my views, savor the wisdom, reflect on the concepts and, more than anything, respect my friendly and genuine interest in connecting with others.

Find you own voice. Think about writing your own blog. Learn your style, share your views and open a whole new world of possibilities for you and your readers-to-be.. – paerki