Blog Archives

Can a Swear be a Prayer?

9/28/2015

There is a Power for good in the universe greater than you are, and you can use it. –Ernest Holmes

Whether you have never prayed before or want to become a better pray-er, the Crabby Mystic can help! Sister Mary Lea Hill, of the Daughters of St. Paul since 1964, has the gift of enlightening saints and the not so saintly on the practical benefits of prayer with her dry wit and offbeat wisdom. When I saw her book Prayer and You on a bookstore shelf it was its subtitle, Wit and Wisdom from a Crabby Mystic, that compelled me to take it down and open it up. I can enthusiastically say that it lives up to the hype.

Sr. Mary Lea’s lighthearted examples of prayer makes jumping into a personal relationship with God easy to do. Every short and fun-to-read chapter kicks off with a witty and provocative heading. And there are eighty (80) of them to enjoy. Each one is a comforting quick pick-me-up. Some of my favorites are, “Are We There Yet?”, “Ho-Hum Prayer”, “Spitefully Yours”, and “Thanks for Nothing!”.

Most refreshing is that the Crabby Mystic makes it clear: nuns are human too. By sharing her everyday reaction to life in ways that we can all identify with is enlightening. Her knack of combining compassion with a sense of humor gives readers permission to enjoy simple methods of connecting with God. This is likely the friendliest book on prayer you will ever have the pleasure of reading. Applying any of her suggestions will convince anyone, devout or not, that prayer is an effective and practical solution to everyday problems.

Click on this link to get your copy of Prayer and You: Wit and Wisdom from a Crabby Mystic today. The book makes a great gift as well.

“Afraid of praying? Confused about how to pray? Wondering where to begin? Sister Mary Lea Hill's warm and witty book on prayer is like sitting down with an experienced spiritual director who has a great sense of humor. Let her invite you, in ways that are by turns provocative, lighthearted and profound, into a deeper relationship with the God who desires to be in relationship with you.” –James Martin, SJ, author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything

Sr. Mary Lea shares her signature humor on Twitter @crabbymystic and has been a repeating guest on the podcast I co-host Funniest Thing! with Darrell and Ed. If you’re interested listening, here is the link to one of our favorite episodes with the Crabby Mystic, Let's Play Connect the Dots!

–Darrell Fusaro

Cartoonist Darrell Fusaro is the co-host of the Funniest Thing! with Darrell and Ed podcast and author of What If Godzilla Just Wanted a Hug?

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Thought – The Strongest Power in The Universe

9/24/2015

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We are to think on those things which are of good report. And God will supply our needs.

I was surprised when I opened the cable bill and noticed the cost increased significantly. Knowing that I hadn’t added any additional service, I searched for the discrepancy. The monthly cable billing statement being so full of itemized costs, discounts, fees, and options, it was impossible for me to find where the increase was added. My frustration rose thinking about having to call customer service, anticipating the touch-tone maze I’d have to circumvent in order to speak with a representative who could assist me. I persevered and made the call.

I fought my way through the gatekeepers of automated multiple-choice questions, responding by voice as directed. Each time I spoke my answer, the computer generated female voice stated, “I’m sorry, we couldn’t identify your response. You may use the keypad on your touch-tone phone …” So one by one I continued, first by voice, then using the keypad. I finally did get to speak to a representative who, judging by the tone in her voice, wasn’t enthusiastic to be of service. When she asked for all my information, I said, “No problem, since I just spent ten minutes giving it to the automated system it’s fresh in my head. . .” After repeating all my personal information to her and stating the reason for my call she informed me that she couldn’t assist me and would need to transfer my call to another department.

As the music played while I was on hold I couldn’t deny what was happening any longer. It was obvious to me that I went into this with a head full of steam and now I was experiencing my frustration being reflected back to me as my experience. As within, so without.

I decided it would be best to simply hang up and try again at another time. I'd call when I felt free from concern and with the more positive attitude that everyone is helpful. Although reason gave an objection, “You’re going to quit now, after all that work?” I still hung up the phone.

Sometime later while in a much better mood the inspiration came to make the call. This time I called in a spirit of good will and free from my previous mental resistance. It was like waving a magic wand over the situation. This time I breezed through the voice automated system and was greeted by a very pleasant customer service representative. Without hesitation he explained the reason for the increase. Then went to work on my behalf to get my monthly costs restored to my previous subscription rate. It kept getting better. He found a way to bring my bill down a few dollars below what I had originally been paying each month. Then he discovered that I was also eligible to receive a $150.00 cash card. I thanked him and made sure I had is full name correct. Grateful, I was eager to submit an outstanding review, which I later enjoyed doing as well.

No matter how many times I experience positive results from stepping out boldly, the bold step from fearful thinking to faithful thinking, I am always in awe and amazed at the better than expected results.

“Resentment and intolerance rob man of his power. . . . Let us now be careful in directing this dynamic force within us. Let us direct it to heal, bless and prosper and direct in waves of good to the whole world. It goes out a mighty force, but noiseless! Thought, the strongest power in the Universe is without sound. Your good will sweeps all obstacles from your pathway and your heart’s desire is released for you. . . . for everything comes through you – not to you. All life is vibration.” –Florence Scovel Shinn, The Power of The Spoken Word.

–Darrell Fusaro

Cartoonist Darrell Fusaro is the co-host of the Funniest Thing! with Darrell and Ed podcast and author of What If Godzilla Just Wanted a Hug?

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Love Adds Dog Years to Your Life

9/18/2015

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Love adds dog years to your life. "My Old Dog: Rescued Pets with Remarkable Second Acts"

This will make your tail wag.

“MY OLD DOG: Rescued Pets with Remarkable Second Acts” just might be the happiest book you’ll ever read. It shares success stories that show how blissful retirement can be for older dogs who get rescued, and how life-changing senior dog adoption can be for the humans who do the rescuing.

Many fans of Lori Fusaro’s photography know the story of Sunny, the 16-year-old dog she adopted from a crowded Los Angeles County animal shelter in 2012. Because of what terrible condition Sunny seemed to be in physically, my wife Lori and I thought she might last in our home for a couple of weeks max — but Sunny had other plans.

Once in our home and free from that shelter Sunny blossomed. Even our Veterinarian was amazed by her incredible 180-degree return to life. She lived another vibrant two and a half years enjoying her new life with all of us; this includes our cats, Enzo and Francis, and our dog, Gabby. Rather than being a burden Sunny contributed more life and amusement into our home. Sunny’s transformation prompted Lori to launch a photography project to change people’s perceptions of senior shelter animals. This caught the attention of TODAY show writer Laura Coffey who wrote a story about Lori’s photography project for TODAY.com in 2013. The two of them hit it off and it ultimately led them to create the book “My Old Dog: Rescued Pets with Remarkable Second Acts,” which has just been released, September 2015.

Lori and Laura traveled all across the United States meeting endearing elders who, although rescued late in life, proved to have incredible second acts. Here are just a few you’ll meet along with Sunny in “My Old Dog: Rescued Pets with Remarkable Second Acts,” Marnie, the irresistible shih tzu who has posed for selfies with Tina Fey, James Franco, and Betty White; Remy, a soulful nine-year-old dog adopted by elderly nuns; George Clooney s cocker spaniel, Einstein; Bretagne, the last known surviving search dog from Ground Zero; and Duval, a great listener who has inspired kids to read.

Looking at Lori’s heartwarming photographs along with reading each story by Laura is like enjoying a feel good movie; I can’t help but love these dogs and the people who rescued them. This book is a great gift to give to yourself. Now available on Amazon and at a bookseller near you.

“If you love dogs, or if you like dogs, or if you’ve ever heard of dogs, or if you’re from planet Earth, you will love this book.”
— David Rosenfelt, author of Dogtripping and Lessons from Tara

“A truly heartwarming celebration.”
— Jackson Galaxy, host of Animal Planet’s My Cat from Hell

“My Old Dog is a truly wonderful book....Every story reminds me just how resilient dogs are and how strong the human-animal bond can be.”
— Victoria Stilwell, dog behavior expert and star of Animal Planet’s It’s Me or the Dog

“This book is a loving celebration of old dogs and of radiant souls that shine through aging eyes.”
— Francis Battista, cofounder of Best Friends Animal Society

“This book is a wonderful tribute to our ‘sizzlin’ seniors’!”
— Jill Rappaport, animal advocate and NBC News correspondent

“I fell in love with these dogs, and their stories serve to remind us that old dogs are like fine wine — they only get better with age. Four paws up!”
— Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane Association

“This exquisite, eye-opening book needs a place on every dog lover’s shelf.”
— Maria Goodavage, New York Times–bestselling author of Soldier Dogs and Top Dog

Sunny loves you!

–Darrell Fusaro

Cartoonist Darrell Fusaro is the co-host of the Funniest Thing! with Darrell and Ed podcast and author of What If Godzilla Just Wanted a Hug?

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Break Free From Worry

9/12/2015

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Life is on your side. Expect the best.

If you’re a worrier, then you are also blessed with a great imagination. Unfortunately, worry is the bad mental habit of aiming our imagination in the wrong direction.  I believe the worry habit is hard to break because of the absurd belief that if we’re not worrying about potential hazards, then we think we’re being irresponsible.

Once the worrying begins it can be hypnotic. As soon as something scary pops into our head, we start playing a scary movie in our mind in which we are cast as the victim of overwhelming circumstances.  Our character doesn’t stand a chance.  As we overcome one obstacle, we ourselves come up with another, and another, until we are certain we will be hurt, punished, or worse.  This is not being responsible or even prudent, this is creative visualization used to terrorize ourselves by inventing problems where there are none.

Just the other day, during my morning walk there was young woman trying to corral her off-leash pit bull in her front yard.  That is when my worry kicked in.  “What if I were walking our dogs and this dog was out loose?”

That’s all it took to get the horror film playing in my head.  Cut to: the pit bull attacking little Mr. French, our defenseless Chihuahua mix. Then the raging pit bull turned on Gabby, a pit bull herself; but of course she’s cast in the role of the docile non-aggressive type, nothing like this villain.  I saw myself trying to get between them to protect my dogs from harm and the uncontrollable raging dog getting a hold of Gabby.  I couldn’t break the evil dog’s hold on Gabby and the young woman was doing nothing to prevent this.  In my daydream, I felt I had no choice, so I grabbed a loose red brick from the ones that edged the yard.  I raised the brick and right before I struck the mad dog . . . I snapped out of it and realized, “Wait a minute! This is not what I want.”

That’s the lifesaver, right there: realizing that the worry going on in our head is NOT what we want to happen.  In my case, my daydream was clearly not how I wanted things to play out.  At that moment I had an opportunity to switch the direction my thoughts were traveling, from negative to positive.  Remember, our point of power is always in the present moment.  It is in this moment that we have the power of choice.  I use the following affirmative statement to help me get my imagination working for me instead of against me, “Stop worrying about what you don’t want, and start thinking about what you do want.”

What do you want?  Think about that next time you catch yourself using the power of your imagination to worry.

I knew I really didn’t want anything to happen with my neighbor or her dog.  So what did I want?  I wanted peace.  I really want love.  I want to enjoy my neighborhood and everyone in it.  I began to think about the woman and her dog, who by now was safely inside without incident.  I thought of Gabby, our pit bull.  I realized that Lori often had to corral Gabby off-leash back into our house.  I also knew that in spite of that, Lori was not an irresponsible dog owner.  I knew Gabby was sweet and I knew Lori was sweet.  I began to think of this woman and her dog in the same way in which I thought of Lori and Gabby.  I admit it took a few moments to get the new movie playing.

My ego is always reluctant to let go of the fearful fantasies it creates, like a little boy having a toy taken away.  Soon however, one desirable thought followed another, the power of my imagination took hold of this and I was feeling much better.  Now whenever I think of this woman and her dog I do so with love.  I am free and at peace.

Experiment with thinking about what you really want in any situation that you are tempted to worry about.  When taking the positive approach you will be amazed how your circumstances begin to correspond.

We live under Grace.  Grace, meaning we'll always reap much more than we have sown and we are never punished to the degree our worry would have us believe.  Remember, there is no virtue in worrying. After all, life always flows in a positive direction.  Feelings aren’t facts; they’re indicators. They indicate the direction our thoughts are going.  Positive thoughts generate good feelings because they are in harmony with the flow of life.

“To believe in the good alone, may seem fallacious to many, but he who thus believes will find his path lighted by a torch which flickers not, nor fails.” –Ernest Holmes

“Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”  –Philippians 4:8

–Darrell Fusaro

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Happiness Has Commercial Value

9/4/2015

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Allow yourself to be happy and circumstances that bring more happiness will follow.

While I was enlisted in the U. S. Coast Guard, I was sitting in a meeting next to a man I respected named Mike. When an older man named Jack stood up to address the group, Mike quietly referred to him and said, "Jack is the happiest man I know."

After I quickly sized up Jack, I shot back, "Of course he's happy, he's rich."

"He isn't happy because he's rich; he's rich because he's happy,” said Mike.

He isn’t happy because he’s rich; he’s rich because he’s happy. With this one statement I was finally able to let myself off the hook. Up until this point in my life I had been withholding my happiness by constantly postponing it. Happiness, I mistakenly believed, was a reward for struggling. I put conditions on my happiness; once I get this, achieve that, have those, move there… then I’ll be happy.

Mike made it clear; happy first and the reasons to be happy will follow. I had been living the other way around. Right then and there I had a new goal and it was simple; just be happy. Rather than grumble about what I didn’t have, I decided to be grateful for what I did have. Mike was right. Happiness had commercial value.

Prior to this I was a living my life as a lowly E-3 in the military plodding along just doing what was expected. I was looking forward to the end of my enlistment, two and a half years away, because then I’d be happy. But now I was looking for reasons to be happy right where I was, doing what I was doing. It soon became obvious that life really is an inside job. My circumstances began to adjust themselves to support how I felt on the inside.

I was rapidly promoted and within six months I was selected to be the Military Liaison to the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney, a prestigious and highly respected position. I was so happy I even extended my enlistment for another year.

I discovered that happiness is contagious. As it was noted, “Fusaro’s personal efforts have resulted in superior relations between the Honolulu Police Department and the Military Services.” This was written by the Secretary of the Army, Michael P. W. Stone, and read from The Army Commendation Medal I was presented with at the end of my enlistment. I was having all the fun without the struggle.

Daily I continue to give myself permission to be happy ‘as is’. Whenever I have trouble letting myself off the hook, I’ll quickly cultivate happiness by making a gratitude list. A gratitude list never fails to magically transforms everything I have into everything I want.

“A grateful mind is a great mind, attracting great things to itself.” –Plato

–Darrell Fusaro

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