May 1, 2011

Sunday evening, the world received some significant news - Osama Bin Laden was killed by US forces under the directive of the President.  I'm not necessarily happy that Osama is dead.  I find it hard to rejoice; however, I do feel some sense of relief...even though I know retaliation is likely.  I think Martin Luther King Jr. said it best, "I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy.  Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.  Darkness cannot drive out darkness:  only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

I found it incredibly hard to be on Facebook today.  So much hate!  So much intolerance!  So much ignorance, and I'm not talking about towards Bin Laden!  It surprises me how many people are showing hate and intolerance and thus, ignorance towards our President.  I guess it's true that ignorance is bliss because I just wanted to scream and shake a few people, and the ignorant seemed quite pleased with themselves.  One person went so far as to say "The only difference between Obama and Osama is BS."  This person was obviously met with both opposition and support, but I'm sorry that's not even a stretch of the truth, it's just ignorant!  Comparing our President to a terrorist is just wrong on so many levels.  So what if Obama may be a Muslim - that doesn't make him a terrorist!

In response to the opposing comments, this person stated that she was entitled to her opinion and had the right to free speech.  That is true, but she got awfully defensive when other people gave their opinions that didn't agree with hers - again that's free speech!  I find it so odd that people want to pick out one Right, that we are given in this country as stated by our Constitution and yet go against others - like Freedom of Religion.  In this country, we can be whatever religion we want to be, and believe it or not, our President can be whatever religion he wants to be.  If Obama is Muslim, then that is his Right and it should be respected and he should not be compared to a terrorist for such.  Muslims get a bad rap because of Bin Laden anyway, but in reality, the Muslims are actually quite peaceful.  Bin Laden isn't considered a Muslim by most Muslims because he killed Muslims and obviously many other innocent people.

Furthermore, what most people either do not know or refuse to believe is that the Founding Fathers of this Nation, those who wrote the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, were mostly Unitarians and Deist - that's not Christian like we think of it today.  So the people that gave us our Rights, would have most likely been religiously persecuted much like Obama is today.  "In God We Trust" isn't necessarily the idea of "God" that the current Christian population thinks of.  I'm sorry for those who suffer under that illusion.

It saddens me that the significance of this country since its conception has been a place where people could come and have come to escape religious and racial persecution, yet from what I saw online yesterday, this country (or at least the relatively small sample that I am affiliated with) has not come very far.  We've fought wars over these wrong-doings - many lives have been lost and much blood has been spilled, and yet it feels like it was all done in vain!

You don't have to like Obama, but he does deserve some credit in the killing of Bin Laden and he deserves respect as our President.  He doesn't have to be Christian and he doesn't have to be white to deserve respect.  I also understand we do not HAVE to respect the President, but from what I have been exposed to, those who seem to be showing the most intolerance for him are basing it off ignorance.  I don't agree with everything Obama is doing or has doing during his presidency, but he has taken office during a time when this country was a wreck and it won't be fixed quickly or easily and I respect that.

Unity has been talked about a lot recently as well.  This country did unite after 9/11, but now that unity is fading.  We should be united in protecting and maintain this country and I don't think that will come by disrespecting our President.  We should be united in love, not in hate.  We should be united in tolerance, not intolerance.   We should be united in knowledge and not ignorance.

Lent

No, it's not the stuff that collects in your bellybutton or dryer.  It's a sacrifice or self-denial that some Christians make in the days leading up to Easter in commemoration of the death of Jesus.  I usually try to give up something like soft drinks or candy.  I usually have a tough time following through all the way to Easter, but I have made it a few times.  One year I decided that instead of giving up something, I would try to do better at something, like be a better Christian, etc.  That went over pretty well, but in reality, that's what we are supposed to be doing every day, so it kind of defeats the purpose of Lent.

This year, I have taken another slightly different approach, yet again.  I have decided to give up something that wasn't food-related.  So I'm giving up Bravo TV and worrying.  I watched the new season of the Real Housewives of Orange County on Monday night and was really kind of disgusted by the behavior of the women on the show - so catty, so hateful, so vengeful, so negative!  Ugh!  I was getting mad just by watching it.  This show is a good example of how it seems so many people nowadays think they can just say whatever they want or do whatever they want and don't care about the repercussions - besides it makes for good TV, right?  Anyway, I truly think that what you watch on TV can have an impact on you, so...No More Drama for This Momma!  Bye Bye Bravo, hopefully you will not return to my regularly scheduled TV viewing after Easter!

As for giving up worrying - that's going to be a toughie!  Almost everyone worries at some point because there are so many terrible things that happen in the world and for reason unbeknownst to us.  However, I think worry can be crippling if it gets out of hand and generally we are happier if we are worry-free!  I don't feel crippled by worry, but I do feel that I give worry more mental energy that is necessary on certain issues.  I feel like Lent is a great time to sacrifice a weakness because you can daily devote your efforts in to making choices other than worrying.  I have a few people who are joining the worry-free Lenten efforts, so hopefully we can be support for one another!  In the Bible it says "Leave all your worries with Him, because He cares for you."  (1 Peter 5:7).  And if that quote doesn't strike your fancy then you can always go with the Van Wilder quote, "Worrying is like a rocking chair - it gives you something to do but doesn't get you anywhere."

So here's to a worry-free, drama-free Lent!  I think it will be the best one yet!

Getting Plugged In

I will apologize up front for the unorganized randomness that this post may entail.  I'm still collecting my thoughts but I feel if I don't get my current thoughts out then I may explode!

The past month or so I have been doing a lot of thinking.  I'm working on becoming a positive thinker, setting goals (which takes some thinking), reflecting inward, and becoming closer to God.  Most days I feel like my life is running me instead of me running my life!  I have been reading a lot of helpful books, listening to inspirational CDs, saying my affirmations, but I still feel unsuccessful and worn out at the end of the day.

Adam and I just got back from our week long Western Caribbean Cruise, which was MUCH needed!  I hated to be away from my little man so long, but Mommy and Daddy needed a break, a chance to reconnect, and some toddler-free time!  I took all my helpful books on the trip and barely read a single one. We were having too much fun I guess and I like to read by the pool, but when it's over 100 degrees my tush HAS to be in water or I feel like my skin is on fire!  Now I know how a turkey feels!

We had a wonderful stateroom attendant on the cruise named Jonathan.  He was really nice and helpful and said "Good Morning" every morning, asked us how we were doing, etc.  I rarely have anyone say "good morning" to me so I felt special!

One thing I will say about myself is that I find myself in interesting conversations with people.  Mom calls me a "freak magnet," but I think people just find it easy to talk to me and tell me their life story, even when I haven't initiated a conversation or asked for their life story.  Sometimes it's awkward and sometimes I find myself in a really good conversation with a stranger!

The last night of our cruise, my bestie and I were walking back to our rooms for the night to pack and such.  The stateroom team's rolly station (with towels, etc) was parked between our rooms.  Jonathan greeted us and asked if we were ready to go home.  We both said "yes" and "no."  I noticed while we were all talking that Jonathan pulled some little cards with stuff written on it out of a drawer on the rolly station.  I figured they were little cards that he probably left in the room to notify us of some check out procedure, etc.  He held onto them the whole time during our casual chat with him.  As my bestie and I turned to go into our rooms, Jonathan asked me if I was a "spiritual person."  I stopped, turned back around and said "actually, yes!"  Now let me say that "spiritual" means different things to different people.  For me personally, I am a Christian, but I also accept beliefs from other religions, because I ultimately believe they are basically the same thing, just a different way of saying it.  For instance, I am currently reading The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama and find it VERY intriguing and practical.  I also believe in the mind-body-soul concept and using meditation, yoga, and prayer.  So, yes, I would say that I'm spiritual.

Anywho, Jonathan said that he was the ability to "read" other spiritual people.  It sounded a little hokey, but honestly out of our group of people, I probably am the most spiritual.  He said that he could tell that I think negative thoughts (yes :( ) and he asked me if I say affirmations (yes!).  He said that I needed to start visualizing my affirmations.  He said that if I wanted a house then to put up a picture of the house I wanted (how did he know I wanted another house?!)  We talked about desires, goal setting, positive thinking, prayer, meditation and yoga - all my favs!  All the while, holding onto those cards.

Then he asked me what virtues I lack.  Whoa what a question!  It kinda caught me off guard, but I said "confidence."  He looked through his cards and handed me a card that had Confidence written at the top of it.  On the front it defined confidence and on the back it listed actions to put confidence into practice and some affirmations about confidence.  It was great!

Then he looked at me with the sideways glace, like he was studying me, and I think he was.  He started hunting through the cards and then he asked me if I had problems with self-discipline. I looked at him like OMG and I said, "hand it over!"  Nail on head!  He talked to me about self-discipline and what I have never equated to self-discipline was self-control. I was thinking more along the lines of how I don't like to wake up and get to work and let small things get in the way of important things.

 He mentioned that my body language was telling everyone that I met all the problems I had.  He said people can read the body language and sense the negativity and we actually project it onto people.  Now let me say that when it comes to people affecting me, I have a long fuse, but their is a bomb at the end.  I can take a lot of abuse from people before I explode!  The explosion is a lack of self-discipline and I never thought of it that way!  Jonathan started talking to me more about meditation and yoga, saying it would help with carrying the emotion in my body and throwing it off on others, etc.

I know Adam and my bestie were thinking I had gotten stuck in some crazy conversation, but I truly enjoyed it!  Jonathan said he felt like he was put there to talk to me about these topics and to inspire me and offer me some guidance.  I honestly felt the same.  I think God puts people, experiences, and obstacles in our path for a reason.  Jonathan was there for a reason!

One of the last things Jonathan mentioned was praying more.  I truly lack there.  I don't pray as much as I'd like or as much as I feel is necessary.  Jonathan said that he likes to explain to people that praying to God is like plugging in the vacuum.  You can't see the electricity, but when you plug in the vacuum, it works!  And when you talk to God, even though you can't see Him, He's there!

So, I'm taking this experience and getting "Plugged In."  I'm getting plugged in to God - the Ultimate Source, and I'm getting plugged into my body and mind.  I've started meditating daily using mindfulness and breathing techniques, praying more, ask for God's guidance, and I will soon be getting down with some downward dog and practicing yoga again!  Right now, my favorite is corpse pose - oh wait, sleeping doesn't count as yoga!

I'm so thankful for my conversation with Jonathan and his nifty cards!  I thank God for placing him in my path!