Author: timelliott49gmailcom

First, I want to thank all of you who have let me know you have enjoyed Tim’s Positive place. It makes it easier to stay motivated when you receive positive feedback. It is so appreciated.

My purpose has been to offer a a positive alternative to the many negative narratives out there. I have kept the articles short. I know your time is valuable. I hope my efforts are a blessing to you.

You can help me by letting me know how you think I could be more effective. Some of you want to support what I do financially. I haven’t put together a donation system online. When and if you support my work, know this, there will not be a charge or membership. Anyone who wants the encouragement may have it. It you want to give me suggestions you can email me at timelliott49@gmail.com or send me a letter at P.O. Box 222 Olds, Iowa 52647. Those who want to support my efforts financially can use the PO address above for now.

I thank you for your encouragement, suggestions, and financial support. I will continue to bring you smiles and encouragement at Tim’s Positive Place (a positive place in cyberspace).

Have a great week.

Tim Elliott

WE are STILL Here.

In spite of all the predictions we are still here. Let’s take a look.

1970 By 1974 Americans will be subject to water rationing and by 1980 food rationing.

1974 A new non reversible ice age is coming.

1970 The world’s population will completely outstrip food supplies and death rates will increase to at least 100-200 million people a year (starving) for the next ten years.

1970 In 25 years and between 75%-80% of living animals will become extinct.

1972 Arctic Ocean to be ice free by 2000.

1989 UN predicts disaster if global warming is not checked by 2000.

2000 Snowfall just a thing of the past. Children will not know what snow is.

2008 “Only a hundred months to save the world.”

And then there were so many other predictions about the point of no return for the earth. (2015, 2016, etc.)

We are still here. I bring these past predictions before you to encourage you not to panic when you hear the media, the politicians, or the “experts” tell that disaster is at hand and they have the ONLY answer. This is not about being irresponsible just the opposite. If someone tells you “THE science” or “97% of scientists agree” WARNING! Investigate on your own.

Whatever we decide to do regarding the earth needs to be done out of good proven thought driven motivations not fear. Policies based on fear are not well thought out. FEAR is a far greater threat to us than apocalyptic climate change.

A few years ago the IPCC asked a large group of scientists and economists what the economic impact effect of climate change will be for the next 100 years. They said:

For most economic sectors, the impact of climate change will be small relative to the impacts of other drivers. Changes in population, age, income, technology, relative prices, lifestyle,regulations, governance, and many other aspects of socioeconomic determinants will become a larger impact on supply and demand of economic goods and services than the impact of climate change.

Don’t be irresponsible but don’t be afraid. I suspect the planet will still be here and functioning long after you have gone.

Courage allows you to deal with problems real or imagined. Fear causes quick impulsive actions that often have a long negative effects.

You might like to check out Climate Discussion Nexus and the extinctionclock.org.

I encourage you not to let fear rule. Fear is a bully. Stay courageous and thoughtful. Have a great week. Next week we will still be here.

We Are still here!

In 2000 Y2K was going to destroy everything.

In 2001 Terrorists and Anthrax were going to kill us.

In 2002 and 2003 West Nile Virus and SARS were going to take us out.

In 2005 the Bird Flu was going kill us.

In 2006 Ecoli was going to devastate us.

In 2008 the financial collapse was going to do us in.

In 2013 North Korea was going to start World War 3 and in 2015 Isis was going to destroy us.

And of course the Mad Cow Disease, Ebola, Zika Virus, Swine flu, and Corona Virus were going to kill millions.

But here we are. Why? How? The news media and “experts” somehow got it wrong. The media tends towards sensationalism and negativity. So we can see how some things were over hyped without proper consideration. The “experts” are good at telling what is, not what will be. The unfortunate thing is that the spreading of fear was a result.

How many times must the news media and the “experts” be wrong before we wake up and do our own thinking.

I am not against experts. We need them. But they are imperfect human beings just like you and me. As I stated earlier experts are often very good at defining what is, but not so good at telling us what will be.

When we fall for fear and are tempted by hopelessness we can not think clearly. It is faith and courage that build nations and cause improvements in our world not fear or panic.

So let’s settle down. Let’s identify real problems. Let’s identify the problems you and I can do something about. Let’s act upon that knowledge. Begin with a step towards a better life, a better world. It doesn’t have to be a BIG step. For instance, if you want to fight hate and bigotry, get to know someone unlike yourself. Treat them honestly and with respect and you will have a greater positive impact on our society than 100+ nights of protests. You are doing good. And there is REAL power in that.

We are here by the Grace of God…and that will not change.

Revisit some good news…and smile.

Over 62 million volunteers work to improve thing in America. They provide over 7 billion hours of service a year.

More than one half of Americans give $25 or more to chariry.

141 billionaires have pledged to give away half of their wealth to charity through the “Giving Pledge”.

According to Forbes the world’s largest ocean clean up has begun.

Adopt a Stream clean up programs are gaining volunteers.

10 more wild animals have been removed from the endangered species list.

Southern white rhinoceros

Panda Bear

Chatham Petral

Yellowstone Grizzly Bear

Arabian orynx

Gray Wolf

Stellar Sea Lion

Gray Whale

Snow Leopard

Northern Brown Kiwi

Laugh? Chuckle? Groan?

When I heard oxygen and magnesium had hooked up I was like Omg.

A neutron walks into a bar and asks, “How much for a beer? ” The bartender replies, “For you, no charge”.

Two gold fish are in a tank. One turns to the other and asks, “Do you know how to drive this thing?”

Einstein’s mom: “Are you happy?” Einstein: “Relatively.”

I asked the doctor to give me something for constant wind. He gave me a Kite.

What kind of dogs are always on time? Watch Dogs

Why did the bear eat the lamp? He wanted a light snack.

Why did the police arrest the chicken? They suspected foul play.

If a cow doesn’t produce milk is it an udder failure?

There is a lot to be happy about…good news, good humor. Keep smiling.

On Feb 6, 2019 I published a positive post about our history. If you are interested scroll down until you find All of Us. Have a great week!

I grew up in rural Iowa. We had, at that time, only one black family in the county. What I knew about black folks coming up was what I heard not what I personally experienced. I mention this because if you do not know people unlike yourself you can believe almost anything bad or good about them. In spite of the stereotypes on TV and in movies, I was encouraged to evaluate people as individuals not groups. I was assured that God loved all the children of the world, of all colors.”They were precious in His Sight.”

So as I entered the more diverse world, in my case the army, I was able to put my beliefs to the test. I was successful. I had black friends, white friends, Mexican friends, Native American friends, Asian friends, and more. There were always cliques promoting group identity over individuality. But I was happy to have quality friends no matter their group.

I was shocked when I took my training down at Fort Polk Louisiana. On post we were soldiers and were taught to have each others backs. But off post it was a different thing. We saw anti black posters at gas stations. When we went to Shreveport one weekend for some fun I was again disappointed. Though we all wore the uniforms of the country we were denied entry into several bars and clubs because some of us were black.

I had hoped for more progress to have been made. I had seen Martin Luther King speak for so many Americans in his “I have a Dream” speech several years earlier. The dream was that people be judged on the content of their character not the color of their skins. I had made it work in my life and it still is. Perhaps that is why I’ve had friends and loved ones from six different continents. I am so rich!

Popular opinion, among some, is that racism is worse than it has ever been in the US. That is complete nonsense. Let’s follow the facts not the fears. In the sixties civil rights movements were trying to get basic things like the vote of black folk protected. That battle has been won.

In 1958 a Gallup poll only 4% of Americans approved of black and white marriages. By 2016 it was 87%. In 1960 1.7% of marriages of blacks were black with white. By 2016 it was 12%. In 1960 60% of Americans said they would never vote for a black president. In 2008 and 2012 Americans elected a black president.

Harvard professor Orlando Patterson had this to say. America is the least racist white majority society in the world. It has a better record for legal protection for minorities than any other society white or black. It offers the greatest number of opportunities to black persons than any other societies, including those in Africa. Professor Patterson, by the way, is a liberal black man. The truth does not care who tells it.

The enemy is not black or white. The enemies are hate and racism. They are not white sins but human sins. Our enemies should be identified by these two things not the color of skin. If you hear someone say all whites are….or all blacks are…you may be listening to a racist, a hater. Most Americans are neither, in spite of the narritive and the destruction we witness. CNN is NOT an accurate view of America or Americans. We prefer to live together, work together, worship together. I, for one, will continue living my life decently and will not be manipulated by the haters and the spiritual forces behind them. We have come too far, paid too many dues, not to continue our journey towards freedom and brotherhood.

We must look beyond the headlines, beyond the political rhetoric if we are going to stay positive. There is too much good in our lives, in our worlds, that we should not ignore.To live in a swamp of fear, anger and hate is such a waste of time and energy.

Positives? How about the beauty of nature? How about all the endangered species taken off that list as their numbers return? How about those people working on cleaning up the oceans of plastic waste? How about those scientists that have found a way to break down that plastic to a molecular level so it can be reused? How about the fact that the earth is “greening”(forests expanding)?How about our little friends?

Bad Hair Day

Good People. Millions volunteer their time and give their money to help others through charities and personally. Millions of people do not participate in racism of any kind. Millions of us will not descend into tribal warfare. We will try to be thoughtful and fair in our personal activities and our voting.

Nearly all Americans believe in justice. That is good news. There is just disagreement on how to go about obtaining that justice. We must not let the haters and destroyers make us forget the many good things about our country. There is too much good and too many good people to throw it all away.

Progress is made by people of faith, of hope, and of courage. The hater, the victim, the bigot will not contribute to a positive future. And there can be a positive future! There are so many good things and so many positive people that can help make it be so. There is too much good in our lives to stay down and pessimistic.

I have been having a rough few years. My three closest friends have died. I’ve spent most of the time without a place of my own. It seems a time of darkness, at times it seems hopeless. But the hard times are not the whole story of my life.

If I defined my life through the narrow lens of difficulty I would be doing my life an injustice. How can I define my life as trouble when I was raised in a loving home? How can I consider myself poor when I’ve had friends from six continents all around the world? So many riches stretch beyond my trouble.

I’ve heard Sohyang sing and Stevie Ray play. I’ve seen the sunset and the glory of a breaking day. I’ve known and loved people of every hue. I am a rich man. Perhaps richer than you. I’ve enjoyed Cajun food, Italian, Mexican and the rest. If I saw my life through the lens of only trouble I could never see the rest.

And so during a rough time, I know that’s not all there is for I refuse to see my life through a narrow lens. So I acknowledge the tough times as I travel through. I know they are just a part of life’s rich tapestry not the whole. So because I can see the broader view I can be positive even in trying times.

If you look at your life through a narrow lens you will miss so much. If you look at groups of people through a narrow lens you will never get to know and appreciate them for who and what they are for you will see a incomplete picture of reality. If you look at our county’s history through a narrow lens you will only see a small part of the story. If your focus is only on the negative you will miss all the positive.

I’m not a poor man going through a hard life. I’m a rich man going through a hard time.

Beware the narrow lens.

Do not let others control your thinking.

If you support civil rights, you need not agree on whether or not to support the organization Black Lives Matter. Some of us will not support the organization because of its Marxist leadership. That does not mean we are not for civil rights. One can support justice without supporting that particular organization.

Do not let someones definition of you bother you, especially if they are obviously wrong.

Do not support groups that wish to take freedom of speech away from others. Because sooner or later they will come to take yours away.

In all the hate and hostility don’t forget that there are two important things that need to happen regarding police. First, they need funding and support and secondly in some cities there is a vital need for police reform. Perhaps with some of the police unions?

Remember your enemies should be defined by their words and actions not by the color of their skins.

Enough Good Sense…Now for some Good Humor.

A volunteer knocked on our door yesterday seeking a small donation for the community swimming pool. I gave him a pitcher of water.

I’m so great at multi-tasking. I can sit, do nothing, and procrastinate all at the same time.

The only job I could see myself doing is cleaning mirrors.

I named my dog “ten miles” so that I can say to people that I walked ten miles daily.

If I earned a dollar for every time a girl turned me down, they would eventually come begging to date me.

In an earlier post I mentioned that unless the term “freedom” is used in a context it has no exact or clear meaning. In America we like to consider ourselves as champions of freedom. And often we are just that.

But two different people saying they are for freedom may not at all mean the same thing. Typically we want our “freedoms to do”. Two people claiming to support freedom may want freedom to do very different things. One may want freedom to speak freely. The other may want the freedom to shut the other person’s mouth. The term freedom must have clear context.

Radical at the time was the idea of America’s founders that humans were born with certain rights and freedoms. The radical idea was that rights and freedoms did not come from governments. Their view was that good governments protected personal rights and freedoms and evil governments took away those “born-with” rights.

Among those freedoms endowed to humans by their creator were freedoms of speech, religion, peaceful assembly, and to keep and bear arms (the right of self protection). These freedoms are always challenged. Just because those against basic freedoms are speaking loudly just now does not mean it hasn’t happened before. These born-with rights must be defended…and exercised.

So when you say,”I believe in freedom.”what do you mean by that? We each need to think things through. For instance, I will not allow a person to beat or rape or kill innocents if I have the power to stop that evil But I support people who use force to defend themselves, their property, and their loved ones. Freedom is a wonderful thing but it should be used responsibly. And when we use the word FREEDOM it should be in a context.

Support freedoms and rights with which we were born. Think clearly about FREEDOM in real world contexts. I will have more to say about freedom later. God bless you. Be grateful for the freedoms you have.

Today I hope you hear my heart through my words. I am very concerned about people who see our country, our society through a narrow lens. Some of them say it’s not good. Some say it’s all evil. There are so many variations on the theme! I am most concerned about those who see our society only through negative lenses: those that see their own culture as evil and their future as hopeless. Unfortunately, too many have been told only the negative parts about our nation, our world. They see reality through that narrow lens.

Everyone who has put together an old fashioned puzzle knows you can not judge the whole puzzle’s picture by one piece. So too if you judge American history only through racist history, for example, and don’t see the wider panorama of the American experiences you might conclude that America is racist. Some folks do. Because they don’t see the wider picture they don’t know about the millions of Americans who weren’t and aren’t racist. They do not know the cooperative struggle that keeps America moving more and more towards its promise of freedom and justice for all. They cannot see that America has not given up on that dream. Because of their narrow lens they think one piece of the puzzle defines the whole picture.

Because they cannot see the good as well as the bad they are angry and often hopeless. The world they see lacks the love, the faith, the hope, the promise that informs the world view of those who would build and not destroy.

Those who would love, not hate: those who would build not destroy: They are our future.There is challenge here and in it is opportunity. Look at the bigger picture and look for ways to put together an even better one. Lack of faith, lack of love, hate, and division will NEVER build a better…a more beautiful world.

BEWARE OF THE NARROW LENS.