Author Archives: Ray Barbier

About Ray Barbier

I am just an average man who loves writing, thinking and trying to inspire kindness, love, understanding and Compassion in others and try to find them within myself.
by | May 30, 2013 · 7:23 am

Laughter and a good hearted spirit

026Laughter, the reaction to something funny or an expression of ones happiness. To go out in life and try to make others laugh and smile when they are down is not only noble in my eyes I see it as a sign of a kind and good-hearted spirit. Though life can beat you down, cause you to lose faith in yourself and others the ability to bring smiles and laughter to others still lies within us all. I find when  I put forth effort to make others smile and laugh that the weight of my own burdens is lessened and the negative emotions in both me and the other person seems to disappear even if it is just for a short moment of time.

We tend to forget about the feelings and happiness of others around us because we become so consumed with our own troubles and strife. By focusing on making others happy and helping others get through the day we change our focus from just ourselves to both ourselves and those around us. There needs to be a balance of focus, focus on one or the other too much then someone or something becomes neglected.

Laughter is a Band-Aid for the heart and mind, it may not cure-all but it sure takes the sting out of our emotional and mental wounds.

Ray Barbier

Related articles

1 Comment

Filed under Health, Random Thoughts, Thought of the day

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

by | May 17, 2013 · 8:02 pm

What a week, Blessings Realized

IMG_1283Well I know its been a while since I have written anything, life can be so consuming sometimes. Within just 1 week I have had a transmission blow a front seal  and a tire blow out on a truck I was borrowing. Was kind of bumming out about it all and then I realized that this week was full of blessings. I was able to get my car home regardless of the transmission seal and when the tire blew out my future father in law just happened to be passing by and we got the spare on. So was this week all that bad, well not as bad as I first thought but still the repair or replacement of my car is a financial burden in waiting. I first want to say thank you God for the blessings of making it home and having help when I needed it And last but not least thank you Fred for your help.

“Sometimes when you think the deck is stacked against you it is actually stacked in your favor in the next hand. “

Ray Barbier

Related articles

2 Comments

Filed under Personal, Random Thoughts, Thought of the day

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

by | April 26, 2013 · 7:04 am

Just some random thoughts that came to mind

IMG_1283So, This is the life you have chosen. Where you are and what you’re doing along with how your feeling is the result of all your choices in life both good and bad. You made your bed, guess now you have to lay in it. Wait, what? um… Not right… You can always make choices now to change the course of your life and the bed you made can always be remade again. Some consequences you may have to face but then you can always move on afterwards and make a better life for yourself by making your choices more wisely. You are the master of your own life and destiny, you can always make a choice to change your life. Though sometimes it’s a hard and painstaking task to take on, but it isn’t an impossible one.

First choice anyone has to make when trying to change their life is to not be a victim or defeatist., instead be an optimist who will not allow themselves to be a victim of chance or circumstance. Unfortunately there is no magic bullet or instant fix when it comes to improving ones self and life,  it’s all hard work. I look at it like this, anything worth having or anything worth seeking is well worth any effort that it takes in order to obtain them. Choose to be and to transform into the person you want to be and make sure that what you choose to become is something you can both respect and live with.

Just some random thoughts that came to mind

Ray Barbier

Related articles

Leave a Comment

Filed under Random Thoughts, Thought of the day

Tagged as , , ,

by | April 6, 2013 · 11:41 am

Forget about the unchangeable past and live in the now

DSC_0323bRegret, the enemy of happiness and being at peace with one’s self. Regret of the things undone, unsaid and missed out on through ones life are nothing but obstructions in one’s path to happiness. Regret that last longer than a short moment is but the lack of the ability to forgive yourself for your mistakes and/or shortcomings. If you can’t undo or make up for the wrongs you’ve done or if the opportunities you’ve missed are far gone then why waste any time or energy on them. Far as the wrongs you can bring to right and the opportunities you still can utilize they should be your main focus to accomplish. Forgive yourself, forget about the unchangeable past and live in the now, do not make more situations to regret by hanging on to the dead weight of things that are beyond you ability to control or change.

Free yourself of living in the past so you can make the most of the present, free your heart of the burdens of past mistakes to make room for the happiness, love and serenity that you deserve.

Ray Barbier

Related articles

Leave a Comment

Filed under Poems and Writings, Random Thoughts, Thought of the day

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

by | March 28, 2013 · 8:10 am

Helping those who are unable to help themselves

018 The welfare of ourselves and our fellow human beings is not the responsibility of  the government, we are responsible for our own welfare and the welfare of others. If a brother or sister be unable to care for themselves be due to physical limitations or mental dysfunctions we are to provide as a group help and support for them. Even those who have made poor life choices we are to help, for to be human is to be imperfect and no one can boast about being flawless in character.

One person may not be able to help all those in need, but one person can make a difference for one in need and inspire others to join in on helping those in need.  We were commanded to love one another, part of loving one another is accepting the responsibility of being each others care giver and/or helper. We all have our ways of being able to help each other and it isn’t all about money, sometimes its about fellowship and other times just a place to rest ones head.

To those whom look down upon the needy and less fortunate, just remember that person you passed by and/ or felt contempt for could have been you or one of your family. Many of the homeless were at one time wealthy, successful and even well-respected individuals before they fell to poverty and misfortune. We as a society need to not only help those in need but provide a way for them to help themselves. As an old proverb once said :

”if you give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime. ~ Confucius”

Though Governments can help in feeding the hungry and housing the homeless it is only a temporary and expensive solution. We need to find ways to help those able to provide for themselves to do so and find better and more efficient ways of helping those who are unable to help themselves.

God bless and may love guide us all

Ray Barbier

Related articles

Leave a Comment

Filed under Random Thoughts, Thought of the day, Thought's on World Issues

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

by | March 18, 2013 · 5:04 pm

The differences we have divide us only because we allow them to.

017Why cant the many religions of the world come to peace with one another? Why must we have hatred for those who either believe different or don’t have a belief? I never could understand how one person could hate another because of their religious beliefs, race or even nation origin. We are all human after all, we all are brought into this world in the same manner and we all leave it in the same state. We all want happiness for ourselves and those we love and we all have the same basic needs to survive. The differences we have divide us only because we allow them to. Our diversity as a species is what has since the dawn of humankind made us a resilient and thriving species. It gave us the ability to survive many climate changes and challenges.

I have had many friends of different religious beliefs and never judged them one way or another because of their beliefs. If I did judge them it was by how they treated me and others around them. We had many disagreements on religious ideals but we didn’t allow them to become a stumbling block in our friendship. Sad thing is even within a religion there can be division in belief and that sometimes even leads to violence within it. Is it the religion that causes this violence and division or is it caused by the darkness within some of those within the religion.

Either way, I will always be one who believes in every persons right to believe as they wish and I will respect what ever choice they make. I also will not turn away anyone as a friend nor anyone in need because of their beliefs.

I know how I believe and how I chose to be may not be popular and may be looked down on by some in my religion and in others as well, but It is how my heart tells me to be and that’s what I choose.

Ray Barbier

Related articles

3 Comments

Filed under Personal, Random Thoughts, Religious, Thought of the day, Thought's on World Issues

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

by | · 6:20 am

The ravings of a wishful thinker.

006 (2)Sometime I Just sit and think about random things and events in history, sometimes I am brought to tears over the cruelty humanity has committed against each other. Other times I cry tears of joy over the amazing and wondrous things humanity has done together and for the common good. How a species so capable of such grand things such as love, compassion and fellowship could also do such horrible things as well. Even as individuals we do both amazing and horrible things within our life.

We could be such a wondrous and amazing species if we learn to put aside and control our darker natures. If we focus more on humanity as a whole instead of our individual wants and needs. We can have both individuality and be a part of the global community. We can find balance between personal wants and needs and the needs and wants of the whole of humanity. We don’t need one government, we need to be of one heart and of one mind. We need to see that we all want happiness, peace and love for ourselves and those within our family. Maybe if we realize we all are one great big family we could begin to work together for the good of humanity instead of against each other for the good of one part.

I am not speaking of Communism or Socialism, I am speaking of Humanitarianism and common sense. Freely helping one another to survive and live in peace and in happiness.  A pipe dream, a utopian idealism or just the ravings of a wishful thinker. Either way it could be a better world if we all worked together to make it so.

Ray Barbier

Related articles

3 Comments

Filed under Poems and Writings, Political, Random Thoughts, Thought of the day, Thought's on World Issues

Tagged as , , , ,

by | March 14, 2013 · 7:28 pm

Writing is a companion to my thinking

018I write because I always loved to write since a child, everything from songs, short stories, poetry and philosophical nonsense. Writing is a companion to my thinking which I do and sometimes I do way too much. I may not be the greatest writer nor are my writings anything but average and that is if they even qualify as that. I seek no prize nor do I worry about or seek to become a published author, for writing is its own reward to me. I’m happy if just one person enjoys one of my writings and/or finds one of them to be helpful or interesting.

Ray Barbier

Related articles

1 Comment

Filed under Personal, Random Thoughts, Thought of the day

Tagged as , , ,

by | March 2, 2013 · 1:19 pm

The Battles Ahead will be won

eyeI face many battles ahead of me in this short life God has blessed me with. Some are battles forced upon me by the world I live in, others are battles of my own making through the choices made in my life. Some are battles within the heart others are battles with and within the mind. None of the battles will be easily won, but they will be won through faith and with love.

No other person can fight these battles for me, but I will not stand alone in these battles I face. He is always with me and he that is within me is greater than any enemy I shall face ahead.

I once walked in fear, I once lived in doubt and now I choose to walk in faith and to live in love.

God Bless you all

Ray Barbier.

Related articles

4 Comments

Filed under Random Thoughts, Religious, Thought of the day

Tagged as , , , ,

by | March 1, 2013 · 10:33 pm

more than our selves

Reblogged from RJB Weblog:

Click to visit the original post

Love and its healing that’s found within its unconditional and nurturing embrace is what we all seek. To be accepted as is and without any condition by another whom we accept in the same way. To Embrace and be embraced with only the other person as our concern. To be selfless and affectionate with the other person as our motive to share love.

Read more… 190 more words

Leave a Comment

Filed under Random Thoughts