HELP SAVE THE TURTLES!!

Don't you just love turtles? Angler's Cove is home to huge, slow moving turtles that are fun to observe during our walks along the pond. You may not know, however, and for whatever reason, turtles try to cross Ingram Pkwy. Who knows where they think they are going, but suffice it to say, this is a very dangerous endeavor. I have picked up a turtle from the middle of Ingram to bring to the waters edge on more than 1 occasion and recently a cyclist competitor stopped during his race to save a turtle taking a stroll on Ingram. The City of Lincoln does not monitor the traffic at the bend of Ingram adjacent to the pond and golf course approaching Rustic Ranch Lane so I expect turtles crossing in this vicinity will continue to be killed unless something is done. It distresses me to report that a turtle was killed recently and we just can't have that!!!

Sooooo, I had a sign made that I placed on Ingram in the area that has had the most turtle traffic. For however long this sign remains, I hope it will remind people to take it slow and to help protect these precious reptiles!! BTW I did contact the City of Lincoln to learn what would be involved to post a permanent sign, but Engineer Director, Bruce Burnsworth, informed me due to budget cuts and employee lay offs, it was doubtful the City was in a position to do anything about this for now. I will follow up with contacting the HOA regarding this issue. I hope they listen...

FOOD FOR THOUGHT JUNE 16, 2010

GOOD MORNING, JOE!



INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

Men are disturbed not by things that happen, but by their opinions of the things that happen.
Epictetus (55-135)

LIGHTEN UP!

Ever feel yourself getting perturbed by something that happens during your day? Ever have the urge to say something about it, when silence might be the best approach? Perhaps you feel the need to make a judgment about each situation that arises.

Maybe it's time to slow down a bit. As the song says, The truth is - none of us have the right to judge others, nor their actions. We can control only one thing - our own actions. If there is something to be judged, it would be our reaction to things that happen, not the events themselves.

In Stephen Covey's "Seven Habits," Habit #5 says, "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." In explaining, Covey states that "People do not see the world as it is; they see it as they are - or as they have been conditioned to be." He goes on to make the simple statement that "When you understand, you don't judge."

Once you take the time to understand each situation, there is no longer a need to judge. Interestingly, when others realize that you no longer make those judgments, you will find that they no longer judge you either. Want to free yourself from being disturbed about the events of the day? Just follow the advice of Epictetus, who said, "When considering the future, remember that all situations unfold as they do regardless of how we feel about them. Our hopes and fears sway us, not events themselves."