A conversation with Mikey today reminded me of something that has been on my mind for the past few months. We were in a setting this morning where the topic of spending time together as a couple was discussed, including hours worked. Afterwards, he admitted to me that he didn't want to discuss where he worked with the group. This resonates so strongly with me, I hurt for him. This is something I have struggled with for years. Why does a job or a career have to define who you are as a person? I grew up with this mindset, make sure you get the best education possible so that you can have a fabulous career. I'm not sure where it even stemmed from, looking back. But it was there, front and center. If you have this standard to live up to in your head, isn't the opposite true? If you don't have a fabulous career, then your life is somehow...less. I have the education. I *had* the jobs, I was working on it. Life happened, I got divorced with 3 kids under the age of 5 to take care of and I had to get a flexible job making as much money as I could. I went back to serving, it provided for my family. Once I was in a stable enough place to try to get back on a career path, the jobs just weren't there for me. That's a tough pill to swallow, but it's reality. It's a lot easier to hire and pay a new college graduate than it is to take a chance on a mom in her 30-somethings.
I have a job now that I really love. A job that is perfect for my life and the restrictions I have with life and family. Is it a career? It could be. But here's the thing - I don't NEED it to be, not anymore. While I had the career-type jobs, I wasn't happy. I was making money. I was working. I wasn't in the field I always imagined myself to be in, but I had myself convinced this was what was expected of me, so it was what I had to do. I went in to college very idealistic and very, very naive. I made poor choices, mostly based on boys. I admit it. Regardless, the choices were made and the outcome was a hastily put together degree in something I had zero interest in. Sounds like a recipe for success, eh? I did attempt to make the dream of going to law school a reality, but I chose a different path. I refuse to regret this path, as it gave me my children in the end.
So here I am. Working, to work. Pride makes me struggle with this, because I do worry about what other people think of me. Fact is, most of my friends growing up who I still love and adore do have those fabulous careers. It's only human nature to wonder what if. That "what do you do for a living?" question is dreaded, because I think that people from my past are secretly shaking their collective heads, wondering "what happened to her? she used to be so smart." I've heard it from people that are closest to me! I've been told I'm underemployed on purpose, and just not trying. These are hurtful things, but if I didn't have that pride, it shouldn't bother me....right? So again, I ask, why does a career have to define us? I would rather be defined as being a good mother, a good wife, a good sister, a good daughter. Someone who cared about others and felt passionately. Someone in love with the Lord. Someone who refused to let what other people may or may not think about me alter how I feel about myself.
Truth is, my priorities have changed so much. Things that used to matter, goals that I felt I could never reach, those are intrinsically unimportant. I continue to evolve, to learn and to change how I approach every day and I couldn't scream this loud enough to those I love - it is absolutely freeing. Giving up that pride holding on, making me feel inferior, it feels like letting go.
What my goals are now are simple - to make myself better. Better at all those things I mentioned. And there is no reason at all I can't explore doing the things that I love, because I think they are somehow inappropriate or inferior. I am writing a novel. THIS is something I have loved since I was big enough to hold a pencil - writing, books. I was born to be a writer in some way. I've also decided to open up an Etsy shop for next winter, that was I can use my knitting obsession for good, and not just a way to fill an OCD need. ;) If I decide to do whatever, it's fine. Because I do not need to be defined by what I do for a living, but who I am for a living.
10 February 2013
01 February 2013
Used to think that it was so easy...
Well hello there world! Our not so trusty HP laptop finally took its last breath right around Christmas time. We were terribly surprised considering it was on its 3rd hard drive and 2nd fan. Yeah, needless to say, there will be no more HP purchases in this house. Anywho, I am a firm believer that I can use my handy dandy precious Kindle Fire for everything interwebs related, but blogging and my writing are the two blaring exceptions. So back to laptop it is, and here I am, in all my 2013 glory.
The beginning of 2013 has been uneventful, which is perfect. I don't make resolutions, I find them to be arbitrary this-is-what-is-expected types of goals that very rarely get accomplished. Why set myself up for that? This year I did make a very specific list of goals that I would like to reach, from the mundane (knit a pair of Fair Isle mittens) to the lofty (run a 5K in May and train for the 10K Warrior Run in October). I would like to think I made a very manageable list, but only time will tell. :)
More to the point of what I have been working on lately is this - I am striving to live an intentional sort of life. Go ahead. Roll your eyes and wonder why I am talking like a self help book. I haven't completely lost it. It occurred to me within the last couple of months that I have lived my entire life with a do what you want sort of attitude. One of my favorite quotes perfectly sums me up - I'll think about that tomorrow. Guess what peeps? I am not now, nor have I ever been Miss Scarlett. It's nearly impossible to live life in a zero consequences sort of world. Do what you want doesn't get you very far before you are scrambling to pick up the pieces the majority of your days. I am not a genius, by any stretch of the imagination, but I am certainly an expert in poor choices and the inevitable aftermath.
Unfortunately, as I've also learned, most of these choices are not eligible for a redo. So you live with them, you move on, you try to learn. Here's where the intentions come in. I want to make every decision that I make, every word I speak, every path I take mean something. If I am making a choice that takes us nowhere, why make it? If my words are not for good, if they are spiteful or just gossip for the sake of gossip, why speak them? Once I had this in my head (just for the record, the idea is not mine alone. It's more of a mashup of many well spoken, well written people I respect), it became nearly impossible for me to do otherwise. That might sound exhausting, and if you don't like the incessant internal dialogue, this is not for you. I am used to that non-stop chatter, so it doesn't bother me at all. I actually think....before I act. What a novel concept! Not just on big things, but on little things. It's new and very different for me, but most of my life post-last Spring is just that - I am a new person through Him. What I do in my daily life should reflect that.
I've come to have peace in places in my life that I never thought I would have peace again. I can't explain what a refreshing feeling this is. Imagine spending years and years waking up and having your first conscious thought be full of dread. Now I wake up before dawn (not by choice, some things will never change!) and I look forward to what I can learn, what I can accomplish. Which may or may not include that 10K and the bet I stand to collect on.
Next up: what I have learned about forgiveness and how I woke up and realized, at 41, that I can be defined by more than my career choices.
The beginning of 2013 has been uneventful, which is perfect. I don't make resolutions, I find them to be arbitrary this-is-what-is-expected types of goals that very rarely get accomplished. Why set myself up for that? This year I did make a very specific list of goals that I would like to reach, from the mundane (knit a pair of Fair Isle mittens) to the lofty (run a 5K in May and train for the 10K Warrior Run in October). I would like to think I made a very manageable list, but only time will tell. :)
More to the point of what I have been working on lately is this - I am striving to live an intentional sort of life. Go ahead. Roll your eyes and wonder why I am talking like a self help book. I haven't completely lost it. It occurred to me within the last couple of months that I have lived my entire life with a do what you want sort of attitude. One of my favorite quotes perfectly sums me up - I'll think about that tomorrow. Guess what peeps? I am not now, nor have I ever been Miss Scarlett. It's nearly impossible to live life in a zero consequences sort of world. Do what you want doesn't get you very far before you are scrambling to pick up the pieces the majority of your days. I am not a genius, by any stretch of the imagination, but I am certainly an expert in poor choices and the inevitable aftermath.
Unfortunately, as I've also learned, most of these choices are not eligible for a redo. So you live with them, you move on, you try to learn. Here's where the intentions come in. I want to make every decision that I make, every word I speak, every path I take mean something. If I am making a choice that takes us nowhere, why make it? If my words are not for good, if they are spiteful or just gossip for the sake of gossip, why speak them? Once I had this in my head (just for the record, the idea is not mine alone. It's more of a mashup of many well spoken, well written people I respect), it became nearly impossible for me to do otherwise. That might sound exhausting, and if you don't like the incessant internal dialogue, this is not for you. I am used to that non-stop chatter, so it doesn't bother me at all. I actually think....before I act. What a novel concept! Not just on big things, but on little things. It's new and very different for me, but most of my life post-last Spring is just that - I am a new person through Him. What I do in my daily life should reflect that.
I've come to have peace in places in my life that I never thought I would have peace again. I can't explain what a refreshing feeling this is. Imagine spending years and years waking up and having your first conscious thought be full of dread. Now I wake up before dawn (not by choice, some things will never change!) and I look forward to what I can learn, what I can accomplish. Which may or may not include that 10K and the bet I stand to collect on.
Next up: what I have learned about forgiveness and how I woke up and realized, at 41, that I can be defined by more than my career choices.
14 December 2012
God bless the child that's got his own
I began this day with a completely different post in mind. Ironically, it had to do with how I was finding much joy in this holiday season compared to the last few years. I still want to talk about that. In fact, I think it's more important than ever to push that to the forefront. But first, I need to talk about what happened today, this terrible day in a tiny picturesque New England town. I just read a blog post that put it this way - I want to feel this to the core of my being. (http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/12/14/a-day-for-hatred/)
I don't know if I would have that level of emotion, that need to FEEL, that I do if I were not a parent. I would feel the loss, I would grieve with the families, there would still be tears for the innocent babies lost. Something about having children that age takes this entire nightmare to a different level. The first thing I felt when I heard the news: devastation. Heart break. And of course, the why??? How can you possibly begin to answer that? The truth is, you can't. We will never know why, we will never understand. As many facts as may come forward in the next days, weeks, months, there is no understanding about this evil. Pure, unadulterated, next level evil. I did my very best today to stay far away from political posturing. I've been nothing but consistent in my stance that I can completely disagree with a belief on an "issue" while still respecting your right to hold that belief. Today, that was hard.
Because this was not about guns or mental health or anything but that evil. How, I ask you, has our world become this playground for evil that we can't even send our kindergarden students to school safely? As many parents, the first and only thought in my head after details began coming in was I need to hug my kids and never ever let them go. I even suggested to my sister that we take the kids and move to a small Northern European country to finish out our days, me knitting clothes for everyone and the kids fishing for our sustenance. After that reassurance that everyone is ok in my world, my next overwhelming need was to fall to my knees and pray. Pray for the babies who will be spending Christmas in heaven. Pray for their broken families. Pray for everyone that had to see that crime scene. Pray for the innocent children left behind who might never feel safe again.
Most of all? Pray for our world. I pray that we haven't gone so far past that next level that we can no longer be redeemed. I pray that this horrible incident will drive more people to their knees and away from expressing their outrage over policy on social media. I pray for everyone that hurts, that wonders, that is heartbroken. More than ever we need to come back to basics. Basic human decency, love, trust in one another. Pray for these things.
Hold your love ones tighter than ever tonight. And if you will, please pray with me.
I don't know if I would have that level of emotion, that need to FEEL, that I do if I were not a parent. I would feel the loss, I would grieve with the families, there would still be tears for the innocent babies lost. Something about having children that age takes this entire nightmare to a different level. The first thing I felt when I heard the news: devastation. Heart break. And of course, the why??? How can you possibly begin to answer that? The truth is, you can't. We will never know why, we will never understand. As many facts as may come forward in the next days, weeks, months, there is no understanding about this evil. Pure, unadulterated, next level evil. I did my very best today to stay far away from political posturing. I've been nothing but consistent in my stance that I can completely disagree with a belief on an "issue" while still respecting your right to hold that belief. Today, that was hard.
Because this was not about guns or mental health or anything but that evil. How, I ask you, has our world become this playground for evil that we can't even send our kindergarden students to school safely? As many parents, the first and only thought in my head after details began coming in was I need to hug my kids and never ever let them go. I even suggested to my sister that we take the kids and move to a small Northern European country to finish out our days, me knitting clothes for everyone and the kids fishing for our sustenance. After that reassurance that everyone is ok in my world, my next overwhelming need was to fall to my knees and pray. Pray for the babies who will be spending Christmas in heaven. Pray for their broken families. Pray for everyone that had to see that crime scene. Pray for the innocent children left behind who might never feel safe again.
Most of all? Pray for our world. I pray that we haven't gone so far past that next level that we can no longer be redeemed. I pray that this horrible incident will drive more people to their knees and away from expressing their outrage over policy on social media. I pray for everyone that hurts, that wonders, that is heartbroken. More than ever we need to come back to basics. Basic human decency, love, trust in one another. Pray for these things.
Hold your love ones tighter than ever tonight. And if you will, please pray with me.
01 December 2012
This ain't no holiday, but it always turns out this way..
I am a sentimental sap, I admit it. There was a time when I would have been (read: thought I was) way too cool to admit to such tripe, but I am a huge fan of Christmas/Holiday themed movies. I watch them all, good, bad and too awful to admit to anyone that I actually watched other than my sister. She gets the full lure of the Lifetime and Hallmark scene when you need a good Nora Roberts or Danielle Steel moment.
There are a few of these movies that I tape and watch over and over and over again until January. For whatever reason, I don't own any of these movies on DVD. I watch them on TV, because, well, just because. It seems like the way to go. This comes to mind today because two of them, lucky me, are on today. Welcome to December folks, amateur hour is over! I'm not one of those that starts the Christmas caroling and decorating in October - not looking at anyone that may or may not be related to my husband, certainly - but when it's time, it's time.
First up on my list, "The Family Stone". If you've never seen this movie and you are prone to weeping, skip this one. I sent a text to my sister when I started watching it this morning, asking if I was indeed a masochist. The consensus is yes, yes I am. To be fair, this movie came out the year before my dad died and I bet I first watched it the first Christmas after that. So of course it's a tearjerker for me. Other than that, I have no idea why I love this movie so much. It's full of so much uncomfortable family dynamic that at times, even when I know what's coming, I have to put my fingers in my ears and go "la la la" during certain scenes. And SJP? She drives me insane! Her character is maddening in this movie, so maybe that's why it works?? Dunno. Regardless, I watch it every time it's on, even during the summer. Yay me.
Second one I don't feel ashamed of, although I am a bit ashamed by the fact that I never actually watched the whole film until I was an adult. It wasn't one of those family traditions when I was growing up and let's face it, it is a long movie. Unless you are invested, maybe too long. Not I, though. Not even close. I will watch "It's a Wonderful Life" at least 4 times during the month of December, and there have been a few seasons lately that I have watched it far more than that. Black and white, traditional, honest to God character redemption at Christmas. Sigh. To me, all movies should be like this.
There are a few of these movies that I tape and watch over and over and over again until January. For whatever reason, I don't own any of these movies on DVD. I watch them on TV, because, well, just because. It seems like the way to go. This comes to mind today because two of them, lucky me, are on today. Welcome to December folks, amateur hour is over! I'm not one of those that starts the Christmas caroling and decorating in October - not looking at anyone that may or may not be related to my husband, certainly - but when it's time, it's time.
First up on my list, "The Family Stone". If you've never seen this movie and you are prone to weeping, skip this one. I sent a text to my sister when I started watching it this morning, asking if I was indeed a masochist. The consensus is yes, yes I am. To be fair, this movie came out the year before my dad died and I bet I first watched it the first Christmas after that. So of course it's a tearjerker for me. Other than that, I have no idea why I love this movie so much. It's full of so much uncomfortable family dynamic that at times, even when I know what's coming, I have to put my fingers in my ears and go "la la la" during certain scenes. And SJP? She drives me insane! Her character is maddening in this movie, so maybe that's why it works?? Dunno. Regardless, I watch it every time it's on, even during the summer. Yay me.
Second one I don't feel ashamed of, although I am a bit ashamed by the fact that I never actually watched the whole film until I was an adult. It wasn't one of those family traditions when I was growing up and let's face it, it is a long movie. Unless you are invested, maybe too long. Not I, though. Not even close. I will watch "It's a Wonderful Life" at least 4 times during the month of December, and there have been a few seasons lately that I have watched it far more than that. Black and white, traditional, honest to God character redemption at Christmas. Sigh. To me, all movies should be like this.
(on a completely random note: why does a picture of Bert and Ernie with a video camera come up when I search for this image?? Awkward.)
Who doesn't cheer for good ol' George Bailey? He's the hometown boy, constantly overshadowed by his hero brother, with "all these kids" (I always giggle at that line), Mr. Potter, who truly is a giant ass; eternally plotting against him and a crazy uncle that loses money. And I also don't know too many people out there that haven't had a George Bailey moment in their lives. So let the angels get their wings, I will watch this movie and recite every word to myself every single year. Strangely, I watch this one alone, no wonder why.
That's just the tip of the iceburg! In conclusion, I watch entirely too much television. The End.
16 November 2012
My head is full of magic, baby
I am in a creative mood today, a bit manic even (in a good way, I promise). I have more than a few projects in the works and lurking on the fringes. I feel productive! For most of my "adult" life I think I resigned myself to the you can't do that mentality when it comes to branching out, taking a chance.
So. What the hell am I talking about, right?
I have enough time and enough motivation at this point in my life that I can finally take a giant leap of faith and do something I have always wanted to do. Write. Not blog, although obviously I will do that. But write, write. And even more exciting? I am DOING it, not just obsessing about it, worrying about it, planning to do it, coming up with reasons why it's a bad idea, starting and rejecting it. Doing it. I must say...it feels great. It's like I have kept it all bottled up and now words and thoughts and ideas are just...there.
As bad as I am at being secretive, I'm going to keep things under wraps from everyone, including the most nosy in my life (I'm looking at you!) until I have a workable output that is worth sharing. All I ask for is your best wishes, good vibes, prayers. Whatever you would like to send my way. Actually working towards realizing a dream of what I wanted to be when I grow up - which I won't - is pretty damn cool.
Current inspirational playlist: (on shuffle, obviously)**
Money Maker - The Black Keys
First it Giveth - Queens of the Stone Age
Bell Bottom Blues - Derek and the Dominos
The Catalyst - Linkin Park
Kill Rock n' Roll - System of a Down
Light of the Morning - Band of Skulls (or as Bay calls it, the fast car song)
The Jetset Life is Gonna Kill You - My Chemical Romance
U Mass - Pixies
Mekong - Refreshments
New Born - Muse
**disclaimer: Yes. I realize I am quite strange.
So. What the hell am I talking about, right?
I have enough time and enough motivation at this point in my life that I can finally take a giant leap of faith and do something I have always wanted to do. Write. Not blog, although obviously I will do that. But write, write. And even more exciting? I am DOING it, not just obsessing about it, worrying about it, planning to do it, coming up with reasons why it's a bad idea, starting and rejecting it. Doing it. I must say...it feels great. It's like I have kept it all bottled up and now words and thoughts and ideas are just...there.
As bad as I am at being secretive, I'm going to keep things under wraps from everyone, including the most nosy in my life (I'm looking at you!) until I have a workable output that is worth sharing. All I ask for is your best wishes, good vibes, prayers. Whatever you would like to send my way. Actually working towards realizing a dream of what I wanted to be when I grow up - which I won't - is pretty damn cool.
Current inspirational playlist: (on shuffle, obviously)**
Money Maker - The Black Keys
First it Giveth - Queens of the Stone Age
Bell Bottom Blues - Derek and the Dominos
The Catalyst - Linkin Park
Kill Rock n' Roll - System of a Down
Light of the Morning - Band of Skulls (or as Bay calls it, the fast car song)
The Jetset Life is Gonna Kill You - My Chemical Romance
U Mass - Pixies
Mekong - Refreshments
New Born - Muse
**disclaimer: Yes. I realize I am quite strange.
13 November 2012
And I haven't felt so alive, in years
My brain has been all over the map the last week. The election stirred up too much in me, and much of it I can't get out of my head. No, no, don't run for the hills - I'm not about to talk politics and issues. Half the time I don't even know where I stand, so why should I subject anyone else to my rambling?
Mostly, it has made me introspective. Thinking about life, how much things have changed since I couldn't wait to be a "grown up". Thinking about what the near future and the far future hold for me, my family, my loved ones, everyone really. I suspect I am probably not even close to alone in these thoughts.
I had the opportunity yesterday to have two very different interactions with people I have never met and never will. The first was during the course of work, where I get to talk to people all day long. Usually its not personal and not long. Occasionally though, I run across someone who really likes to talk for one reason or another. Yes, it's in the course of work and I should stay professional but as I also like to talk a fair amount, I almost always fall prey to the talkers. This call was from an elderly woman in the morning that still has me thinking. How amazing is that? Someone I have never met shared life experiences and life advice with me that was meaningful, insightful and greatly appreciated. I actually took NOTES while she was giving me the advice.
That conversation made me realize that so many of the things we seek answers and solutions to can't be solved. Answers that we look for can only come from experiences we have and the life we lead. On top of that, why are we even looking? I know I personally do way too much thinking about things that make no difference in the grand scheme of my existence. I have become a lot more focused on the things that I should be seeking answers to lately, Other than that, it seems a lot more important to focus on things front and center.
The other experience was on a blog I had never read written by a man I have never met. I came across the blog after seeing a twitter post about someone who had recently passed away. The man lives in the area and had suffered from stage 4 inoperable lung cancer for the last two years. The blog existed before he got sick, but became his story about his illness and how he dealt with it after he was diagnosed. I spent a good 2 hours looking through this blog. The strength of this man was inspirational. Realizing that he needed to enjoy his life, he spent the 2 years before he died with his family and travelling. He traveled to every single state and part of Canada on his motorcycle, because he wanted to. It took many, many trips between relapses and treatment. He did it with many different groups of friends. He chose to experience life to the fullest.
After marveling at his stories, I found myself wondering if I could do that. Knowing that the end was coming, could I chose joy and turn it around? You know the people around him just wanted to bundle him up and keep him close. I hope that if something like that ever happens in my life (not trying to be morbid, by the way) that I can embrace life and make it count. Sounds cliche but isn't that would we should be doing? Living life and enjoying every moment?
OK. I feel better getting that out. And I look forward to the next time I have an interaction that truly makes me think. I promise to keep it light next time. - S
Mostly, it has made me introspective. Thinking about life, how much things have changed since I couldn't wait to be a "grown up". Thinking about what the near future and the far future hold for me, my family, my loved ones, everyone really. I suspect I am probably not even close to alone in these thoughts.
I had the opportunity yesterday to have two very different interactions with people I have never met and never will. The first was during the course of work, where I get to talk to people all day long. Usually its not personal and not long. Occasionally though, I run across someone who really likes to talk for one reason or another. Yes, it's in the course of work and I should stay professional but as I also like to talk a fair amount, I almost always fall prey to the talkers. This call was from an elderly woman in the morning that still has me thinking. How amazing is that? Someone I have never met shared life experiences and life advice with me that was meaningful, insightful and greatly appreciated. I actually took NOTES while she was giving me the advice.
That conversation made me realize that so many of the things we seek answers and solutions to can't be solved. Answers that we look for can only come from experiences we have and the life we lead. On top of that, why are we even looking? I know I personally do way too much thinking about things that make no difference in the grand scheme of my existence. I have become a lot more focused on the things that I should be seeking answers to lately, Other than that, it seems a lot more important to focus on things front and center.
The other experience was on a blog I had never read written by a man I have never met. I came across the blog after seeing a twitter post about someone who had recently passed away. The man lives in the area and had suffered from stage 4 inoperable lung cancer for the last two years. The blog existed before he got sick, but became his story about his illness and how he dealt with it after he was diagnosed. I spent a good 2 hours looking through this blog. The strength of this man was inspirational. Realizing that he needed to enjoy his life, he spent the 2 years before he died with his family and travelling. He traveled to every single state and part of Canada on his motorcycle, because he wanted to. It took many, many trips between relapses and treatment. He did it with many different groups of friends. He chose to experience life to the fullest.
After marveling at his stories, I found myself wondering if I could do that. Knowing that the end was coming, could I chose joy and turn it around? You know the people around him just wanted to bundle him up and keep him close. I hope that if something like that ever happens in my life (not trying to be morbid, by the way) that I can embrace life and make it count. Sounds cliche but isn't that would we should be doing? Living life and enjoying every moment?
OK. I feel better getting that out. And I look forward to the next time I have an interaction that truly makes me think. I promise to keep it light next time. - S
06 November 2012
Freedom..you've gotta give for what you take
Election Day, in case you were not aware. If you were not, I envy you. I really do. I don't think I am in the minority with that sentiment. Most of us are sick to death of the ads, the dialogue, the endless rhetoric and the coverage. The non-stop endless coverage with pundits galore. I've been joking about moving to Canada to live with a moose.
Obviously I don't mean that. The process is important. Does it need fixing, well yes, of course. But it's what we have to work with. I actually DO understand the electoral college, being the history loving nerd that I am, but it doesn't mean that it is relevant in today's age. And other things, which I do not choose to jump up on my soapbox about.
I grew up in a very politically active family. I learned a lot about it. Enough that now, as a parent myself, my views are dramatically different than my parents. And that is OKAY. That means I learned enough and I have enough confidence in my own opinions that I don't just follow along like a sheep, going with the crowd or the popular kids.
That is not why I wanted to post today. I know it happens every political season, but I have seen an abundance of taking politics to a personal level this year. As in, you don't support my candidate, you are obviously ignorant. (I'm not) You clearly don't love children. (I think the four of them might disagree) You are racist and don't believe in the rights of women. (Well, I come from a hispanic family and I have a vagina, so...)
You get the idea. I know it goes on from both sides. I find it abhorrent. Perfectly reasonable people grow balls to say things they would never say otherwise. We get further polarized and grow legions apart with this attitude. How on earth did it become acceptable to hate or look down on an entire group of people simply because they belong to a different party than you do? Simply put, don't assume you know someone, or even that you know what their politics and views are. I believe most people are not firmly in one camp or another.
I was raised in a staunchly liberal household. Vote straight party line and don't even consider anything else. I am an independent. I am still very liberal in terms of many social issues. I have found myself growing increasingly conservative fiscally as I have gotten older and certainly with kids in the picture. I would also like to see God more present in our country. The party I most mirror in my views is the Libertarian party. Pretty diverse huh? My point is this - don't assume you know. Step back and take a deep breath. The vitriol and nastiness is unwarranted and unnecessary. I think most of us just want our country to be better.
I will close with this. Vote as you will, do not judge others if they don't agree with you. Most importantly, pray that whoever is our next president will have our best interests at heart and help those who desperately need it. We need God's love and justice in our country.
Obviously I don't mean that. The process is important. Does it need fixing, well yes, of course. But it's what we have to work with. I actually DO understand the electoral college, being the history loving nerd that I am, but it doesn't mean that it is relevant in today's age. And other things, which I do not choose to jump up on my soapbox about.
I grew up in a very politically active family. I learned a lot about it. Enough that now, as a parent myself, my views are dramatically different than my parents. And that is OKAY. That means I learned enough and I have enough confidence in my own opinions that I don't just follow along like a sheep, going with the crowd or the popular kids.
That is not why I wanted to post today. I know it happens every political season, but I have seen an abundance of taking politics to a personal level this year. As in, you don't support my candidate, you are obviously ignorant. (I'm not) You clearly don't love children. (I think the four of them might disagree) You are racist and don't believe in the rights of women. (Well, I come from a hispanic family and I have a vagina, so...)
You get the idea. I know it goes on from both sides. I find it abhorrent. Perfectly reasonable people grow balls to say things they would never say otherwise. We get further polarized and grow legions apart with this attitude. How on earth did it become acceptable to hate or look down on an entire group of people simply because they belong to a different party than you do? Simply put, don't assume you know someone, or even that you know what their politics and views are. I believe most people are not firmly in one camp or another.
I was raised in a staunchly liberal household. Vote straight party line and don't even consider anything else. I am an independent. I am still very liberal in terms of many social issues. I have found myself growing increasingly conservative fiscally as I have gotten older and certainly with kids in the picture. I would also like to see God more present in our country. The party I most mirror in my views is the Libertarian party. Pretty diverse huh? My point is this - don't assume you know. Step back and take a deep breath. The vitriol and nastiness is unwarranted and unnecessary. I think most of us just want our country to be better.
I will close with this. Vote as you will, do not judge others if they don't agree with you. Most importantly, pray that whoever is our next president will have our best interests at heart and help those who desperately need it. We need God's love and justice in our country.
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