Well...it's almost 2009. What happened to 2008? Wasn't it just New Years about a month ago? It seems hard for me, I suppose, because I don't personally have any more milestones accomplished than I did last year at this time. I'm alot closer in some areas (like school), but in others I feel I have gotten no where. In adults, the passage of time is usually marked by milestones. Hence...no milestones = where has the time gone? So I guess that's where I'm at right now...another year and nothing tangible to show for it. That's why I love having lots of friends. While I am plugging along, trying to acheive some goals, they are having milestones right and left and keeping me from living in the past. I have to stay in the present to be a part of their lives and i love what that does for me.
So here's to a new year...new chances, new opportunities, and hopefully some new joys that i can take part in. All in all, I have high hopes for this year. I have learned time and again that I can withstand some of the worst that life can throw at me, and be stronger for it. Isn't that reason to hope? (And besides, the areas of m life in which I have the highest hopes couldn't possibly get any worse than they were in 2008, so they have nowhere to go but up.) ;-)
Monday, December 29, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
A breath of fresh air...
This is from the Dr. Laura blog:
Blessings in Disguise
December 18, 2008 on 8:00 am | In Charity, Economy, Marriage, Mormons, Relationships, Values
I have always been impressed with the mentality of the Mormons with respect to the issue of charity. I had a tour of their main charity facilities, and was amazed at what I saw and learned. There are absolutely no handouts – they barter!
Here’s how it works: if you could lose your home, or if you need food, clothing, medicine or toys for your children, the Church takes financial care of your needs. In exchange, you provide services to the very mechanism that rescued you. This means that folks in the bakeries are people who have benefited from the charitable services; those helping in the stores that sell thrift clothing, housewares and food are those who have benefited from the charitable services, and so on.
The basic concept is to preserve a sense of dignity and pride in those who have temporary need by giving them an opportunity to use their skills in the service of others. Walking around the premises, I felt the uplifted attitude of all who were there: smiles, waves, and straight backs.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints provides for people all over the world – not only with goods and goodwill, but with the opportunity to not lose a sense of self when “things” are lost.
I probably sound like an advertisement for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am not a member of their religion, but I am impressed with their charitable philosophy, because I believe it teaches our children their real value, while motivating and uplifting them at the same time.
Their young people who graduate high school are expected to go on two-year “missions,” reminiscent of the Peace Corps. These young people come back much more mature, as they’ve experienced the pain and need of others, and have sacrificed two years of their own comfort to be of service to others.
Other youngsters just don’t want to skip a beat in their acquisition of iPods, cell phones, and other “Internet in your hand” gadgets.
I believe that the economic disaster our country is in right now is a kind of blessing in disguise with respect to values. Without values, life just provides us with “things,” but not necessarily with any profound meaning.
Blessings in Disguise
December 18, 2008 on 8:00 am | In Charity, Economy, Marriage, Mormons, Relationships, Values
I have always been impressed with the mentality of the Mormons with respect to the issue of charity. I had a tour of their main charity facilities, and was amazed at what I saw and learned. There are absolutely no handouts – they barter!
Here’s how it works: if you could lose your home, or if you need food, clothing, medicine or toys for your children, the Church takes financial care of your needs. In exchange, you provide services to the very mechanism that rescued you. This means that folks in the bakeries are people who have benefited from the charitable services; those helping in the stores that sell thrift clothing, housewares and food are those who have benefited from the charitable services, and so on.
The basic concept is to preserve a sense of dignity and pride in those who have temporary need by giving them an opportunity to use their skills in the service of others. Walking around the premises, I felt the uplifted attitude of all who were there: smiles, waves, and straight backs.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints provides for people all over the world – not only with goods and goodwill, but with the opportunity to not lose a sense of self when “things” are lost.
I probably sound like an advertisement for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am not a member of their religion, but I am impressed with their charitable philosophy, because I believe it teaches our children their real value, while motivating and uplifting them at the same time.
Their young people who graduate high school are expected to go on two-year “missions,” reminiscent of the Peace Corps. These young people come back much more mature, as they’ve experienced the pain and need of others, and have sacrificed two years of their own comfort to be of service to others.
Other youngsters just don’t want to skip a beat in their acquisition of iPods, cell phones, and other “Internet in your hand” gadgets.
I believe that the economic disaster our country is in right now is a kind of blessing in disguise with respect to values. Without values, life just provides us with “things,” but not necessarily with any profound meaning.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Being an adult is too complex sometimes
So I've decided this week that I don't want to be a grown-up anymore. Life as an adult is not all it's cracked up to be. You remember when you were a kid and all you could think of was that life would get easier when you got older...that as you reached each milestone age and new level of freedom, that would fix everything... And then you turned 16...now you can date and drive..life should be bliss...but it's not. You have hours of homework each day, not to mention your job. You're too busy to have all that fun you envisioned. And so it goes... For every new freedom, you get at least as much, if not more, new responsibility.
This week, as I ponder a new job possibility, and my love life, or lack thereof (and believe me, I'm really not sure which way it's going at this point)and everything else that's going on right now, I could very happily trade places with my best friend's 3-year-old for the next week or two, just so my brain could rest.
Oi...life is good, it really is...I just never fathomed how unbelievably complex it could get. Thank heavens for good friends, who can act as a shoulder to lean on, a sounding board, or even a good kick in the pants when it's called for. Otherwise, I just couldn't do it all.
This week, as I ponder a new job possibility, and my love life, or lack thereof (and believe me, I'm really not sure which way it's going at this point)and everything else that's going on right now, I could very happily trade places with my best friend's 3-year-old for the next week or two, just so my brain could rest.
Oi...life is good, it really is...I just never fathomed how unbelievably complex it could get. Thank heavens for good friends, who can act as a shoulder to lean on, a sounding board, or even a good kick in the pants when it's called for. Otherwise, I just couldn't do it all.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
...politics again...sorry...
Ok, so here I am going on my political soapbox yet again. I didn't think it would be quite this soon. But in the last few days I have been attacked incessantly, both online and in person, about my political choices, so I've decided to clear thing up a bit.
This was my response to the most recent attack I recieved on Facebook:
What did I ever say about compulsory religion or about religious freedom to marry? (and by the way, marriage is not a legal freedom, it's not even a right that's ever mentioned in the constitution--that's because it didn't need to be--IT'S NOT A CREATION OF THE STATE. It's recognized by the state as an institution that predated the government as we know it.) I'm very aware that my ancestors came to this country in order to be able to worhip God according to the dictates of their own conscience.
Anyway, the religious freedoms I was referring to was my right as a citizen to believe as I feel is right and not be sued for being true to my religous beliefs. (Like the doctor in San Diego-sued because she had moral misgivings against inseminating a lesbian couple...the minister in New Jersey- sued because he wouldn't sanction a civil union for a gay couple...the photograher in New Mexio-sued because he didn't want to photograph a commitment ceremony.)
I don't want to be the next person whose constitutional, 1st amendment, rights are ignored because of this new national motto of "sue anyone and everyone who disagrees with you".
This was my response to the most recent attack I recieved on Facebook:
What did I ever say about compulsory religion or about religious freedom to marry? (and by the way, marriage is not a legal freedom, it's not even a right that's ever mentioned in the constitution--that's because it didn't need to be--IT'S NOT A CREATION OF THE STATE. It's recognized by the state as an institution that predated the government as we know it.) I'm very aware that my ancestors came to this country in order to be able to worhip God according to the dictates of their own conscience.
Anyway, the religious freedoms I was referring to was my right as a citizen to believe as I feel is right and not be sued for being true to my religous beliefs. (Like the doctor in San Diego-sued because she had moral misgivings against inseminating a lesbian couple...the minister in New Jersey- sued because he wouldn't sanction a civil union for a gay couple...the photograher in New Mexio-sued because he didn't want to photograph a commitment ceremony.)
I don't want to be the next person whose constitutional, 1st amendment, rights are ignored because of this new national motto of "sue anyone and everyone who disagrees with you".
Sunday, November 2, 2008
this election
So, supposedly politics is one of the two subjects you just don't talk about. And after the last week or so, I can see why. Many people are so opinionated (which is good) but also emotional and non-logical (which is really bad). There seems a huge lack of study and thought in many people's views. Now don't get me wrong...I'm all for diversity, and I'm not saying that if you don't agree with me, you must be uneducated. What I am saying is that if you can't defend your point on the basis of fact and sound reasoning, and you get emotional, defensive, and sometimes even downright mean when challanged, then perhaps more study and a greater use of the cerebral cortex are in order. As grateful as I am to live in this country and as blessed as I feel to enjoy the freedoms we enjoy, I will be sooooo happy when election day has passed and life (and the people in it) can get back to "normal". Less arguments, less contention, and especially less commercials and obnoxious solicitation calls.
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