Monday, August 11, 2014

A Very Special Day

Today is my birthday. The mariachi and the Mañanitas (Mexican equivalent to Happy Birthday) are for me. There will be a cake but we'll spare the candles because we want to actually eat the cake. 803 candles would totally ruin it. The bright side of being eight hundred and three is that you all look SO very young to me. Yes, you too, Ninja friend. I am The Oldest in the blogsphere by far. Hahaha...

Ahem, back to the bright side of being so old, I can look back at my life, not to get sad about the tough moments, or regret what I couldn't achieve, or berate myself about my past HUGE mistakes. I look back and I realize how strong I've been and how much I've improved. I have faced terrible storms, very dark nights and dreadful enemies and I'm still here today, alive; smiling and striving to be better each day. I strive to let go of the useless burdens all thinking beings carry along our lives. It's on my 803 birthday that I decide to open my claws and let the past rest in peace.

The past made me the dragon I am today. If I don't like who I am, then it is not the past that will change me, so looking backwards is pointless. It's all the decisions I make from now on that will make me a better individual. These are some of the lessons I've learned in 803 years. You may find them useful.

* Living with your eyes on the past is like walking backwards. Your chances to trip are trice as much as if you look where you are going. Besides you'll notice all the big opportunities until they've past you.

* You cannot change the world. You can change YOUR world only by changing yourself. Don't expect people to change for you.

* No one holds the absolute truth. Keep your mind open and listen with the intent to understand, not with the intent to reply or convince. Ask yourself this question. "What is more important to me, being right or being happy?" Often, people that only cares to prove themselves right is the most narrow minded, and the loneliest.

* Staying down over-thinking about the reason why you fell is wasted time. Just get up and keep moving forwards. If it hurts too much, breath and keep moving forwards. If you want to cry, cry but keep moving forwards. If you need to rest, rest and immediately after, keep moving forwards. The world is not stopping because you do.

*Keeping the voice down and steady during an argument (even if you're raging because you're being shouted at) decreases the chance -and duration- of a fight in an 80%.

I'll share some other lessons in later posts. Now I want to share something else with you. Dwarves organized a raid to celebrate my birthday. Since only the Ninja Captain remembered he wanted to join me in such dragon games, Tassin met with him for the necessary preparations. It's only natural. If you're tagging along in a dragon raid, you have to look like a dragon. (Unless you are dwarf size, you have a thick beard and you know the Riverdance drill, which Alex did not.)

Rookie Raider
Don't you think Alex makes a good Night Fury? Now we can have some real dragon fun together! And for all of you who don't have scaly costumes, I leave you lots of Dragon Hugs.

41 comments:

  1. A very happy birthday to you - and thousands more of them. Wisdom is eternal.
    PS: I think the Ninja should be flattered to look like a dragon, rather than wanting rewards/bribes. Dragons are awesome. Beautiful, powerful, wise - what's not to like? Unless of course you are a virgin.
    Hugs.

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    1. Hahaha, that's right. Virgins must be careful. Thank you very much for your words, Sue.

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  2. Happy birthday my dear friend!! You don't look a day over five hundred.
    You can only change your world. True words.
    The strip is awesome, but yes, there better be some blood, boobs, and carnage...

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    1. Why, thank you. Very kind of you. It must be the visits to the dragon spa.
      I'm sure you won't regret the raid. :)

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  3. Hi Al - Happy Birthday to the ever youthful dragon - 803 is still young ... way-years to go yet. Enjoy the birthday celebrations are you flying out together ... I sure hope you've got the blood, boobs and carnage .. Alex doesn't travel without those apparently .. the 'suit' of the Night Fury will hide him quietly away .. does he breathe fire - can he breathe fire ... Cheers and have a glorious day - Hilary

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    1. Thank you, Hilary! Hahaha, blood, boobs and carnage are priceless. No, he doesn't breathe fire yet. We'll have to give him training.

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  4. Happy, Happy, Birthday!

    Yep, Alex is looking good as Night Fury.

    Your post reminds me of a saying I've learned recently. It's okay to look at the past, just don't stare at for too long. I always liked that one. It's a great reminder for me to look ahead while learning from past experiences.

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    1. Thanks Elsie!
      Yes, he does.
      The one who learns from past experiences can hope for a much better future.

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  5. Happy birthday, Al! You are one wise dragon. Love the outfit for Alex - LOL!

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  6. send you out a "HAPPY BIRTHDAY"... make it the best as dragons can.

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  7. I've sent you a birthday card and a dragon picture. I hope you have got them. Happy 803rd mi nieto. I thought you were working on scale armour for me too. A night fury eh? What do we call him, toothy?

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    1. Toothy? HAHAHA. You make me laugh so much, grandma!

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  8. I wasn't late on your birthday! So good to know today is not the 12th...that means I didn't miss your birthday and I'm not late on my credit card payment! I was looking over my Facebook birthdays and reminded myself not to forget, then almost forgot. Yeah, it's been that sort of week!

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    1. You were right on time! And really glad you were on time also on your credit card payment, hehehe. Dragon Hugs!

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  9. Alllllll!!!!

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!

    We must celebrate!!! 803 is a momentous number!!!!

    And LOVE the pictures. You're so talented.

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    1. Yes to the big party! We already have the wine and plenty of snacks. :)
      Thank you, Morg. Dragon Hugs!

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  10. First, Happy Birthday!

    Second, I love the Life Lessons.

    Third, That comic strip was hilarious.

    Fourth, I am into numerology (a fairly recent interest) and find it fascinating. I would love to do your numbers for you. If you email me your birth date, your name as it appears on your birth certificate, and the name you go by right now (Al Diaz?) I will print something up for you and email it back. I think you will be surprised and interested. For instance, I already know that your birth day number is a 2, which is the love number and the Master Number 11. People who with the 11 are here to (literally) master their lives. It is all about the challenges. And your attitude number is 1, which means that you tend to approach problem-solving with determination. The 1 is the leadership number.

    If you are interested in your chart... email me at rarichards68 at gmail dot com. My gift to you on your birthday!!!

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    1. I'm impressed! Yes there is a lot of true in your words. Numbers are the universe essence, I think. I'm curious. Very curious. I'll drop you a note. Thank you very much, Robin. :) Dragon Hugs!

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  11. Happy Birthday! May your village raiding be successful.

    The Ninja Captain makes a very cute...er...I mean, sinister looking dragon.

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    1. Thanks Loni! Oh yes, very sinister looking dragon, hahaha. Yes. ;)

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  12. A very Happy Birthday. You are definitely a wise one by the words you speak. May the coming year bring you much happiness and even more wisdom.

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    1. Thank you for the good wishes, Mason! Nice to meet you. :)

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  13. So wishing you a wonderful joyful raid on this, your 803rd birthday. So glad you made it this far! Hugs and love and many air kisses coming your way Father Dragon!!! And thank you for the words of wisdom. I think you should save these and put them up as quotes!

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    1. Thank you, Lisa. Hey, that's not a bad idea at all. Often I need to be reminded of what I already said. It is very helpful. :) Dragon Hugs!

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  14. Happy Birthday! You don't look a day over 750.

    regards,
    mood

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  15. Wishing you all the best on this, your birthday. Catherine

    DARQ: If I had my Ky fighter, I'd buzz on buy tonight and light up the sky with some fireworks to celebrate the awesomeness of your turning 803!

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    1. Catherine and Darq, two of my favorite ladies. Thank you very much! I'll just close my eyes and imagine those awesome firewords, Darq! :) Dragon Hugs!

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  16. Happy Birthday to my favorite dragon friend!

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    1. Thank you, Cherie dear! Love to have you here. Plenty of dragon hugs!

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  17. "Staying down over-thinking about the reason why you fell is wasted time. Just get up and keep moving forwards. If it hurts too much, breath and keep moving forwards. If you want to cry, cry but keep moving forwards. If you need to rest, rest and immediately after, keep moving forwards. The world is not stopping because you do."

    These words really hit me. I've been feeling this way for over a month. I tell everyone to keep moving forward and I wasn't taking my own advice. I think I'll take yours. :)

    I'm going to quote you today, too.

    Happiest of birthdays dear Dragon.

    I would love to get a picture of Ninja Night Fury!

    Blood, Boobs and Carnage for everyone!

    Heather

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  18. Happy Birthday! I wish you hundreds of wonderful more years to come.

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  19. Sorry I'm late, but I hope you had a very happy birthday. Here's to 803 more :)

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  20. Oh Father Dragon!!! Happy Belated Birthday to you!! You're a Leo just like me!! :) Today is my birthday; we are only two days apart. Imagine that. I hope you had a wonderful birthday and I hope you have another 803 to enjoy. I'm only at 49 now, but eh...sometimes I feel like I'm in the hundreds too!! Eva hugs to you all week!! Xoxoxoxo

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  21. You created the perfect costume. Now how are you going to train that dragon? Well, maybe training isn't possible, if we pay attention to the wisdom of the post, but that I see some devilment under that black and stealthy exterior!

    Happy 803rd. May your scales sparkle.

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  22. LOL "Boobs and carnage" are sometimes enough. Many centuries to come Al.

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  23. Happy be-lated birthday! And *drops head in shame* Yes, I'm late. As always. But here's wishing you all the best and many, many more celebrations, especially since I'm thinking you might opt to teach Alex that Riverdance drill instead.

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  24. Excellent birthday lessons! Happy Birthday, Al!

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  25. Happy very belated birthday, Father Dragon!
    I loved this sentiment:
    "Living with your eyes on the past is like walking backwards. Your chances to trip are trice as much as if you look where you are going. Besides you'll notice all the big opportunities until they've past you."
    It's your birthday and I got the gift of this pearl of wisdom. Doesn't seem fair. :) I hope you enjoyed your day.

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