Getting BOTH Sides of the Coin...

Horrors!  I am getting older, (along with every other human on the planet!)  2016 will be one of those milestone years, and I am already considering how I would like to acknowledge/celebrate my continued existence on Earth.  Even though I am not enrolled in any formal school, I like to think that life is just one long string of learning experiences.  For the past few years, as anyone who may have taken a peek at some of my past writings/rants, I try for the most part to focus on the positive as a driving force.  I do believe that there is an energy about us in the world, and how we project and receive it does affect us.  I know when I am having shit thoughts, the whole day, and all the circumstances in it seem to go to pot.  An awesome thought is hard to shoot down, and let's just say the whole day goes a hell of a lot better!  I'm not saying everything in my life is peachy-keen, but overall, I have to admit I have it pretty good.  Pretty good is GOOD, but more and more I am wanting to make things better.  Not just for myself.  I actively try to seek out ways to make nice things happen for those around me.  So, no big deal to buy someone a coffee, share pizza, or give a car-less co-worker a ride home.  Some of this comes from personal experience, as I once spent a winter walking to town every day when I had no wheels.  If I was offered a "safe ride", you bet your boots I took it thankfully!  Other stuff is just consideration for others, if I am in need of a coffee, it's a pretty safe bet someone else would probably appreciate one too!

I just found and  posted a thoughtful meme on Facebook about people beating each other to get "stuff", when the day before they sat down to celebrate and be thankful for what they had.  If that's not irony, then I really don't know what is.  I admit some stuff is nice to have, and I admit, I enjoy my stuff (including this laptop I am using to type and post this.)  I also admit that I don't believe stuff trumps people.  I cannot fathom trampling and pushing another human being to score something on sale.  I keep referencing back to a note I posted on Facebook a couple of years ago, about how I could not believe some people's thought processes when getting ready to go to one of these big shopping events.  Why would anyone find it necessary to take weapons and pepper spray to pick up gifts for a holiday that is supposed to be about loving and giving?  More irony, I suppose?

I like to think that it is in our nature to be good to one another.  After all, humans need other humans to get through life.  Being miserable and unfair just makes life more unpleasant for everyone.  There is already so much we can't control, like the weather, time, and gravity to name a few.  I see so many examples of good when I see benefits and fundraisers for people caught in bad situations.  The good intentions are apparent when you see the speed with which these fundraisers are set up.  I cannot humanly help them all, but I do try to contribute to as many as I can.  What's a $1 here and there?  If enough souls do it too, there will be lots of $!

So on the topic of marking another milestone, I am wondering if I should find something to do for someone else, or a cause, or take some time to (selfishly, perhaps) celebrate me?  I think this is why I am considering it now, so I have some time to come up with something worthwhile.  In the meantime I am doing some research by reading an e-book that caught my interest called F*ck Feelings.  The synopsis I read in the article about it made it seem to be the other side of the coin to what I feel and believe.  I cannot be well-rounded if I only look at or believe one side of the coin exists.  The other side is there, even if I don't want to hear or see what it has to say or show.  I think that is a large part of the problem in the world, especially where religion is involved, that people tend to hold on so tight to their own beliefs and values, as if they are the only way.

I may not agree or subscribe to what's been said on the other side of the coin, but I still need to see what's there to at least learn from it, try to understand it, and what the hell--maybe even grow from it.  After all life is just one big long learning experience!    

Inebriated Mind Ranting

Straight up here, I have been partaking of the alcoholic beverages.  It is a Saturday night/Sunday morning.  I worked hard all week, suffered through a miserable "time of the month", and all of the usual crap that comes with being part of a "family."  The way I see it, this is my bitch and rant time.  Please keep in mind my usual state is too want to see the good side of the situation.  Sometimes that is just too damn hard!  I want to see the good in the world.  Sometimes though all I can see is the deceit, laziness, and racism the world has to offer.
  


This week I hear of Syrian refugees.  Should we be accepting these poor, maligned people from a war-torn region without screening the ever-living life out of them?  Or should we just stereo-typically say, "Hi-dee-ho, welcome to Canada, eh?"  I agree that many of them have probably endured more hardship and horror than the average Canadian would ever experience in their lifetime on this soil.  I also think, "Who the hell are we to judge another fellow human being's suffering or terror?"  

I don't think anyone should judge another human being based on his or her colouring, religious beliefs or hell, sexual orientation for that matter.  I have had the pleasure of meeting gay individuals, Muslims, and various other people not of the same mold as me.  One time I had an openly gay co-worker ask if I was okay with that.  My response was as long as she wasn't coming on to me, I had zero problem with her orientation.  She laughed and said, "I know you're straight."  The upshot?  No problem.  I feel the same way about religion.  As long as you are not pushing your beliefs on me, I have no right to pass judgement on what you believe.  As long as you afford me the same, we are good.
Honestly, I don't want everyone around me to agree with me, and think exactly the same way I do.  Where would be the variety, the spice of life, the chance to see from another perspective?  I find myself drawn to people more adventurous, more out-spoken, better educated than myself, as they add to my world, not take away from it, as some fear-mongers would have us believe.
This world would be a much better place if we looked upon each other in a more positive light.  I'm not saying there wouldn't be a few rotten apples in the barrel, but that doesn't mean you should throw out the entire barrel! 
I have often heard that much of the suffering and problems in our world have come about because of poor communication and misunderstanding.  I also think greed and indifference should be added to that list.  For myself, the world is such a big place, and despite all of our technology, there is a huge discrepancy in distribution of wealth and access to aforementioned technology.  Whilst I happily type this out on my (fairly) new laptop, peruse my up to the minute smartphone, and jam on a somewhat still relevant ipod, there are still places in the world where the people are not familiar with even the earlier generations of these electronic goodies.  Many of them suffer atrocities, hardship, and other obstacles of which I am blithely ignorant of.   I would be able to sympathize with their stories, as I could perhaps imagine what horrors they endured, I would not be able to empathize, having not been through the same ordeals and suffering.

The world has seen so much ugliness in past years.  Sadly it does not seem to get better.  Every time I hear of another shooting or conflict, I am thankful it does not directly affect me.  Then I think of the people involved, and I cannot imagine how they feel.  It may seem corny or mushy, but I cannot help but think, "Where's the love for our fellow man, people?"
It's sad that our world has been reduced to highlights of power grabs, greed, and corruption.
On a personal level, I am thinking that it is sad that I feel so repressed on a day-to-day basis to say what I really think.  I want to more freely love those around me without anyone thinking I have a hidden agenda.  If we all focused more on what and who we love, instead of the nasty word "hate," I bet the world would improve almost immediately.  A wise relative once told me that the opposite of love is not hate, rather it is indifference.  The older, (and hopefully, wiser) I get I see the truth in that statement.  When one is indifferent, no real emotions come into play.  Love is a strong and carrying emotion.  Hate, while seeming opposite to love is also a strong emotion.  Indifference is more a "meh...". Nothing gained, nothing lost.

Whilst occasional inebriation is good for inspiration, it's not practical to slam back a few anytime I want to delve deep.  I need to work on myself to bring what is important to the surface, instead of pushing it to the murky depths of my core.  It can't be out of sight, out of mind.  
So, to all of you out there in my life, thank you for being there on whatever level you are, and I love you all from some degree on the scale of 1-6.  Now I need to work on making sure you all know that for sure!   Thank you for bearing with me on a slightly tipsy rant.  It may not be the most cohesive and tight writing, but it is from the heart!