Atypical

I just started watching a new Netflix series called "Atypical." The main character is a teenager who deals with symptoms of autism. He said, "I wish I was normal." A friend said, "dude, no one is normal." I love that.

community service and parenting

I was thinking about community service and parenting. Becoming a parent is the ultimate volunteer service. Parents commit 24 hours, 7 days a week at a minimum of 18 years. And they are not only helping their immediate family, they are raising citizens who will affect our local and global communities now and in the future.

Sending a big thank you to parents raising conscientious citizens! And gratitude to all who volunteer in their community!

the next great adventure

What do you think about death? Are you scared? Do you ignore it? I hope you don't mind me discussing it.

I don't think death should be taboo. Not that it's my favorite subject. But I lost my dad recently so I've been thinking a lot about it.

I don't think I'm scared of it. But it is not my time yet. I may feel differently when my end is near. I heard someone call it "the next great adventure" and that's how I like to think of it. If there is no life after death, I won't have anything to worry about. If I'm damned to hell, so be it. I think I live a decent life and I am not worried. I like to believe that our soul lives on in some form or another. I look forward to the discovery, though I am in no rush. I hope that doesn't sound morbid.

And for those who go before us, I feel their love with me (as much as I would rather have them here). 

Wishing you comfort when you need it most. 

thoughts

A thought while meditating today:
It is interesting to think about our energy coming from deep within the earth, through our body and into the far reaches of the universe. We can sit with God and see all of time and space in front of us. So on one hand we are outside looking in. But on the other side we are all one – humans, planets, galaxies – so we are inside looking out.

I feel the need to process these ideas, so I am sharing them with you. My thoughts in writing help me see things more clearly. And by sharing them with you I might get some of your input. All comments are valuable. I like to know what other people think.

Here is to the pursuit of love and knowledge!

Tears of joy

So happy to see more media devoted to interrupting the cycle of oppression in our country. One of my favorite shows, Switched at Birth, devoted some episodes in season five (seen now on Netflix) to the message of Black Lives Matter.

A hate crime was committed and the perpetrators were given small consequences. One student, Iris, started a hunger strike until the criminals were expelled from the University. They had other demands as well; for example, changing the name of a building from a slave owner to a person of color. It was slow going. The administration was not very sympathetic. Finally, starting with the baseball team, all of the sports teams refused to play until the administration would consider their demands.

Sports teams bring money to universities. The sports teams threatened to take away that money. The administration agreed to expel the perpetrators of the crime and meet with the black student group to discuss their other demands.

I cried to see something so optimistic. A simple peaceful act, stopping the flow of money, made real change. It caused everyone to open their eyes and see the problems that had so long been ignored.

That seems a good avenue to pursue: controlling consumerism to get attention and make a change. I will be keeping my eyes open for ways I might do the same.

Thank you,@Netflix, for bringing thought-provoking stories to a wide audience.

Dear White People

Another @GoodOnNetflix @Netflix – "Dear White People." This was only 10 episodes, a half hour each, but it brought a lot of important issues to light.

A white student asked the black leader – has anything changed with all of your protests? They gave no answer, but I say yes! Showing others things they might be missing does make change. If only to reduce the distance between the racial groups, we have done something good. If more white people would think about their words and actions, we might all be more respectful and kind.

This show is rated for mature audiences. Several scenes inappropriate for teenagers. But for adults, please check it out and think about how you might be perpetuating discrimination simply by ignoring the problem.

My goal is to promote kindness and respect for all!

Ta-Nehisi Coates

Shining some light on a dark subject...racism, part 2.

I just finished reading "Between the World And Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Coates paints a vivid picture of growing up a black man in America, as it was for him and will be different for his son. Parts of his story have been alluded to in TV and movies. I'm glad to have a real glimpse into a life so different from my own.

It reinforces my despondency over how my ancestors have treated people of color. It also gives me more motivation to make change.

The most important idea I took away from this book, paraphrasing from page 98: that we must look closely at the horrors we have been accepting, let go of the shining example we think we are, and take action against the problems we have not been addressing.

It is not enough to think and behave without racism. We must take steps, even little ones, toward putting an end to oppression in our country. While sharing my thoughts with you is important, I need to share these thoughts with the politicians. With our current Republican administration, we have a steep hill to climb.

What has taken me so long to see this clearly?  It is weighing on my heart that I have been so complacent for the last 46 years. Things are changing.