Mediterranean cruising
Eliminated boozing
Stopped abusing
My choosing
Relaxation oozing
Ambiance soothing
Mornings moving
Afternoon snoozing
Nobody disapproving
Evenings Grooving
AFib Losing
Never Bruising
Cheeky viewing
Monkey musings
Things that Europeans notice when visiting the United States
Everything is measured in ‘old’ units
Public bathroom doors have huge gaps
Meal portions are huge
People take food home from restaurants, frowned upon in Europe
American flags are everywhere
Service staff are badly paid and need tips to survive
Dwellings are so much bigger
Cars are bigger and guzzle gas
Everybody says thank you
Mail is left in the street in an open mailbox
Dollar bills of all denominations are the same size and color
Drinking age of 21 is the highest in the world
………………………………………
Americans notice these when visiting Europe
Hotel rooms generally much smaller
No electrical outlets in bathrooms
Culture is different in each European country- food, language, traditions, landscapes, architecture etc
Washing machines are smaller and dryers are not universal, people mostly air laundry dry
Stereotypes are not true, French people are typically friendly. Most Europeans speak English and are not offended if you don’t speak their language
Cities are much more walkable
Public transport is extensive and easily accessible
Most public toilets charge a small fee
Drinks are served without ice
People eat dinner later
Meals are not rushed and you have to ask for the bill
Food quality in Europe is excellent
The Cheeky Monkey is traveling
There will be long periods without internet access
Postings may not go out during these times
Maybe not a bad thing to be off the grid occasionally
Thank you for your understanding
Stay Cheeky!
Everybody is on a journey in life
We all have struggles and obstacles to overcome
Other’s struggles are not always obvious when you first meet them
People develop incredible skills to hide their problems from view
If you show kindness and compassion to others it will certainly help them
Even if they don’t acknowledge it
Pay it forward every day
Sometimes you will get it paid back
Be bold and show your appreciation for the kindness of others
Its the seed that can sow a friendship
Happy paying it forward day
Happy seed sowing day
Happy friendship harvesting day
They say if you can’t have the best of everything, make the best if everything you have
I woke up this morning and studied the trees outside my bedroom window
Gold, rust, deep red, orange and green were all on display
Autumnal colors are just about peaking in this area
Its costs nothing but a few moments in time to be in awe of this dynamic explosion of nature’s palette
I took a walk along a wooded trail
Stepping on a carpet of fresh fallen leaves
They rustled and swished under my feet
Urging me to look down at their fallen display
Their last hurrah before mulching into the winter soil
I picked up a few brilliantly colored leaves on the trail
Brought them home and pressed them in a book
I will bring them out some time in the future
To relive these beautiful autumn moments
Leaves keep falling
Seasons march on
A spectator pauses to make memories
Make the best of everything you have today
There are so many different ways to look at this, here are some I collected through research:
Optimism (Half Full) vs. Pessimism (Half Empty)
1. Optimist: Sees opportunities and potential in every situation (half full).
2. Pessimist: Focuses on what is missing or lacking (half empty).
3. Realist: Acknowledges the glass has both water and air without emotional bias.
4. Pragmatist: “Does it matter if it’s half full or empty? Just drink it.”
5. The Entrepreneur: “How can I sell the remaining space in the glass?”
6. The Scientist: “Technically, the glass is always 100% full—half water, half air.”
7. The Philosopher: “Does the glass even exist, or is it an illusion?”
8. The Engineer: “The glass is twice as big as it needs to be.”
9. The Environmentalist: “At least the glass isn’t leaking!”
10. The Economist: “It’s a case of supply meeting fluctuating demand.”
Behavioral and Psychological Perspectives
11. Growth Mindset: “What can I learn to fill the rest of the glass?”
12. Fixed Mindset: “The glass will always be this way, nothing I do matters.”
13. Gratitude Perspective: “I’m thankful for the water I have.”
14. Scarcity Mentality: “What if I run out? I need more!”
15. Abundance Mentality: “There will always be enough water to go around.”
16. Positive Psychology: Focusing on the glass half full encourages happiness.
17. Negative Thinking: Focusing on half empty creates stress and anxiety.
18. Cognitive Reframing: Shifting between both perspectives can improve mental flexibility.
19. Self-Compassion: “It’s okay if my glass is only half full for now.”
20. Perfectionism: “Why isn’t the glass completely full?”
Social and Cultural Interpretations
21. Cultural Norms: Some cultures focus on what’s missing to encourage improvement (half empty), while others celebrate what is present (half full).
22. Team Dynamics: Positive leaders focus on half full, while critical ones dwell on half empty.
23. Relationship Impact: Partners who see half full focus on shared experiences, while those focused on half empty dwell on what’s wrong.
24. Generational Differences: Younger people may see potential (half full), while older generations might view it with caution (half empty). 25. Media Influence: News tends to highlight half-empty narratives to grab attention.
Philosophical and Existential Thoughts
26. Existentialist: “What does it matter? The water will evaporate eventually.”
27. Stoic: “Focus on what you can control—drink the water you have.”
28. Optimistic Nihilism: “The glass being half full or empty is meaningless, but enjoy it anyway.”
29. Temporal Perspective: “The glass will refill or empty over time.”
30. Mindful Perspective: “Appreciate the glass as it is right now.”
Personally I like to keep things uncomplicated so I am sticking with number 4
Where do you stand?
There is something special
About opening a letter
Not those junk sales letters
Nor those overdue bills
But a letter from a distant friend
You can see their name on the envelope
You touch the stamp they affixed
You pause to read how they addressed it
Checking the postmarked date
Wondering what they are writing about
Trying to recall your last contact
Then you open it carefully
Using a well cherished opener
One thats been in your family a long time
Gently pulling out the letter inside
Lest anything hidden spills out
You unfold the pages
Start to read it slowly
Your mind forms each word
To the sound of their voice
You can hear them reading the letter to you
Its an old fashioned voice message
One that was recorded on paper
And sent to you in the mail
You conținue reading at a faster pace
Desperately hoping nothing is wrong
Thankfully there is only good news
You carefully put the letter back in the envelope
Smiling because your friend reached out
Not with a text or an email
They had put pen to paper just for you
You put the letter in a safe place
Knowing you can read it again later
With their voice talking in your head again
Picking up your phone to compose a text
Saying thank you for your letter
You delete it before sending
Searching for a pen and paper
You start to write a letter in reply
Filling pages with all your news, hopes and dreams
Inviting your friend to come and visit you
The ink is hardly dry as you put the stamp on
Walking quickly to the post office
Soon your letter is on its way
Your heart races each day the mail arrives
Waiting impatiently for their reply
A few weeks later their next letter arrives
This is so much more fun than emails or texts
Fewer calories and less sugar helps with weight management and overall health
High water content keeps you better hydrated
Electrolytes and carbs without alcohol can help your post exercise recovery
Less strain on your liver
No hangovers
Safe drink for pregnant women
No problem driving after drinking
Low risk of addiction
No risk of impaired mental clarity
Better quality sleep
Easier to digest
Social inclusion at events
Lower cancer risk
Better cardiac health
Lower risk for those with AFib
Reduced inflammation
Lower blood pressure
Lots of varieties to choose from
Less expensive
So what are you waiting for?
I dare you to make the switch
Woke up yawning
Dreary damp morning
Cool with cloudy drizzle
No more summertime hot sizzle
Fall weather is officially here
Winter is looming I fear
A full moon was in the sky
Not visible to the eye
Hidden behind a cloud
Smiling ever so proud
I saw her rising last night
It was an amazing sight
She came up out of the sea
Maybe to just see me
Clouds rushed over to cover her completely
She vanished in silence very discretely
Leaving me drowning in sorrow
Maybe she will reappear for me tomorrow
last week was warm and sunny
this week is much cooler
seasons are changing
cold crisp mornings and mild afternoons
no more single layers when biking
seasons are changing
The sun rises later
the daylight hours are shorter
seasons are changing
summer green foliage is fading away
leaves are turning red, orange and yellow
seasons are changing
winds have picked up making boating unpleasant
time to pull the boat out for the winter
seasons are changing
migrating birds fill the sky in huge V formations
They are heading south for the winter
seasons are changing
sunsets are more spectacular
filling the clear cool skies with dramatic colors
seasons are changing
time to reflect on fun summer times
package up all the summer memories
seasons are changing
we will soon be heading south also
leaving our summer home before winter arrives
seasons are changing
Cheeky Monkey Poetry 