Identify what is most important )0( Eliminate everything else
The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world. Dr. Paul Farmer
The suffering of others is not alleviated when no one knows about it.
There is no one right way to live. Daniel Quinn Ishmael
The only thing that you need to start an asylum is an empty room and the right sort of people.
We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. Kurt Vonnegut

Friday, April 7, 2017

i watched a video thing

It was some guy talking about his drug use and how it took the death of his mother to help him change his life.  It was about his regrets and not making sure that the people about whom he cared knew it, not only by his words, more importantly about his actions and behaviors.
 
He was giving a speech at a school, looked like high school aged students.  And, even fraught with all of the personal healing and being honest about his life and the effect he had on other people, and even considering that when people share this kind of stuff you have to keep in mind (especially as those on the receiving end of speeches) that us sharers do this as much, if not more, for ourselves.  
 
True, and there is no explaining away that we do things like this because they help us heal and hopefully avoid making the same choices that brought us to disaster.  So.
 
This is not me thinking about drugs, although it is likely that some of my closest friends may struggle with some kind of substance issue. Mine is food. Always has been.

But, watching this just now brought me to thinking about all of the stuff that has happened in the world in the past few days. Sort of the culmination of how apprehensive and scattered and powerless I have been feeling for months now.

I am not alone. Even people who hold differing views and beliefs than mine are coming to understand...although I think that acceptance is some distance and time away...that our country is in trouble.

My country is in trouble and I feel compelled to change how I am living in it, amongst my fears and the uncertainty that seems ever more evident every single day.

So, even if I were powerful in some greater-than-self way, I can change only the things that are within my personal sphere of influence and that means my family and friends, my community, my work and all the rest, and I am going to take every opportunity to make sure that the people around me know how much they mean to me.

And, so, that is what I am going to change. I am going to amp-up how I interact with everyone I stumble upon. If I love you, you are going to know it and be reminded of that every time I see you.

You have been warned.

9 comments:

  1. J, it is a worrying time I must say, While being aware of what is going on I try not to let it play on my mind as it can get very depressing.

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  2. I agree, but it is one day after another of the same bad news. It is not so easy to get away or separate myself from all of this mess. Very scary.

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  3. brilliant....smiles are contagious, good manners bring out the best in us all, asking how some-one is and genuinely listening all work...I try to do several kindnesses every day when the chance arises and feel disappointed if I can't. I love you J...feeling it from here xoxo

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    1. I love you, too, and feel as though we have been true friends forever...or at least as long as my memory, which did not allow me to remember the word for letting fruit and sugar set and become saucy.

      It is macerate and it took me several hours to remember it. Lordy.

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  4. J, though we are thousands of miles from each other, and have never met, I consider you my friend. <3 XO.

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    1. I have always felt that about you as well, to the point of missing you when you did not post on your blog.

      Not that you have any obligation to my peace of mind and all that jazz. Just saying. :)

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    2. Hey my friend....missing you. Must be warming up over there as it's chilling here.

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  5. I just saw this posted on Fb by our pal Madge from Dte
    https://www.facebook.com/JayShettyIW/videos/1751485765165881/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED

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    1. Thanks! This is where I am going. I will share sometime soon what the process has been for me, very different than when this guy did it, I think.

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