the people in our lives

A beautiful way of reminding us to be grateful for the people in our lives:

In our time upon this Earth; So few, the souls, we may come to know; Embrace them as dearly as you can...

(from Espiritu del Alma)

feel happy and safe

I am bothered by the number of songs and movies that claim "Love hurts."

Yes, the loss of love hurts. But love itself does not hurt.

If that is your experience, you are doing it wrong.

Loving someone makes you vulnerable to getting hurt. But the more love you give, the more you receive.

Love should make you feel happy and safe. It should make you want to enjoy every day.

And that is not just romantic love. Enjoy loving friends, family and your fellow humans.

Wishing you love and the happiness it brings! 

diversity

A friend of mine shared a video of a Latino reporter interviewing a white supremacist. I will never share such ignorance, but it's something that needs to be mentioned.

There are too many people in our country who believe in white supremacy. And now we have an administration hiring well-known people from within that group. This administration is making people think that white supremacy is okay. IT IS NOT! And the longer we go without talking about it, we will perpetuate its acceptance.

So I am here to say that anyone who believes one particular race is better than any other is not worthy of the rights and freedoms we have in this country. I do believe in the right to free speech, but there's only so much that we should tolerate.

I have only my voice to make change, so I'm speaking out against racism in any form and in particular the extreme views of white supremacists. Our country is better for its diversity and that should be celebrated.

Thanks for reading.

appreciation

I just wanted to say how nice it is when someone really listens to what you have to say. I have an elderly friend who I call every day as part of a volunteer program. Because of her circumstances I do a lot more than the simple call to her. I speak with her family, her case manager, the grocery store, etc. I do so because I care, but also because she really does not have much help otherwise.

But sometimes she asks for things that I can't do. Even though I can do them sometimes. She argues a bit and I don't think she totally understands. But today she heard my answer of "no" and agreed to do something for herself. Even better, she thanked me for everything that I usually do. So not only did she understand me but she gave me her appreciation. That felt really good.

Here's hoping that you have people and activities that make you feel good, too.

One Day at a Time

I have been watching "One Day at a Time" on Netflix. It's a new version in which the single mother is dealing with Post Traumatic Stress from her time as a military nurse in Afghanistan.

She began taking antidepressants and joined a support group. Things were going very well with her job, her family, etc. She decided that she was doing so well she did not need the antidepressants or the support group. Not long after discontinuing both, her depression returned. Through friends and family she came to realize that while she would rather do without the extra help, she needed it to continue all the good things she had going for her.

I highly recommend therapy and antidepressants if you need them. Let's take away their stigma. There's nothing wrong with a little help. Sometimes life is overwhelming and we can't keep it all together on our own. I certainly need that help. If I didn't use antidepressants and therapy, I would be neglecting my health and overall happiness.

It also makes me happy to see a portrayal of a veteran who is dealing with traumatic stress in a positive way. It is my impression that many veterans don't get the help they so deeply deserve.

Wishing you all whatever help works best for you!

P. S. I also highly recommend TV and movies to help you relax and get your mind off things when necessary.

P. P. S. I enjoy Netflix's "One Day at a Time" and its cast members, but I have seen better TV shows.

A Dog's Purpose

I recently saw the movie "A Dog's Purpose." A nice study of reincarnation and what we learn along the way. This dog came up with a philosophy just like mine.

Have fun. Lick the ones you love. Don't worry about things that already happened. Don't worry about things that could happen. Be here now.

Wishing you all time to appreciate whatever now you have!

blessed

I want to share how blessed I feel. My mother and my grandmother instilled in me the value and love of family. I have extended that to friends who are the family I have added on my own. And I am my most happy when I can spend time visiting my loved ones whether it's by phone or in person.

I feel especially happy today because I had nice long phone visits with my Aunt Georgia (my mother's sister) and my Aunt Dorothy (my grandfather's sister, 95 years old!). Hearing how they are doing and sharing my news with them makes me feel so loved. And the fact that I believe they feel my love for them makes me feel even better about myself. There is nothing better on Earth than sharing love.

Wishing you time to spend with your loved ones!