Jumping Off The Planet

When I look around the world, I hear the gossip and cynicism of others, the hatred, the anger and the bigotry. Sometimes it makes me ashamed to be a part of the human race. They say if you don't like it, you can leave...........

Soooooooo

We're given the chance to Jump Off The Planet

.......Or.......

Stay and Make A Difference........

It seems like these attributes have a tendency to show their ugly faces a lot more when we as Americans, go through the process of electing new officials.  We've become disillusioned  about what is said, who to blame, who to trust and skepticism reaches an all time high.

The old saying states that we should never talk about religion and politics unless we want the battles to begin and boy do they.  We have our beliefs, our opinions, our views of right and wrong and our ears that hear things our way.  Because our world revolves around me and my.......our opinions are strong, stubborn and the way it is.  But... being solely absorbed with me and my can make me an ugly person.

Coming from a small town in Texas, to a somewhat, small town in Nashville, Tennessee, has given me an interesting view of the ways of the world, the hearts of it's people, the wonders of humanity as well as the ugliness and cruelty they hold.

We are.......who we are.  Some say that will never change.  I say, if we don't change, we are loosing the best gift this world has given us.........

Life

We have the choice to make the world an Ugly Place or one of Beauty and Love. We can make this Gift of Life, Our Gift to the World.

A Beautiful World

A friend of mine sent me this video and I just had to share it here.

What a Beautiful Place the World can be when we share Love, Kindness, Compassion, Joy and leave all the Hatred, Selfishness, and Anger behind..........

Humbled And Honored

The German suffix Lieb means Beloved or Favorite

As my Friend, Lin's Blog, was awarded the Liebster Blog Award from a fellow Blogger, He chose me to be one of five other Bloggers to receive this award as well.  As He put it, "When people find favor in what you do and it speaks to them", you are rewarded with this complement and in that comment, I'm Humbled and Honored.

Lin's writing is as real as it gets.  He is a master wordsmith and writes with a style that propels the reader deep into the heart of what he's writing about. He writes from His Experiences, His Past, His Presence and from a life that is surrounded by the life He lives in New York. His writing is a style where there is no mincing of words, no holds barred and is as Unique as He is.  So I salute Him as well, His writing and His life and suggest you check his writing out as well.........http://lmross-moanerplicities.blogspot.com/

My blog gives me the chance to write about and share some of the life lessons I've learned and am still learning, the good and the bad, and everything in between. I've never thought of myself as a writer except when it comes to music, but I've learned to evolve in this area and hope and pray that some of what I write about will touch, will move and will make a difference in this world we live in.

The rules of this award stipulate awarding it to five other bloggers.  As my page is evolving, I'm just now connecting with other bloggers and their writings so I can not give this award to others, other than Lin, but as I continue to read and connect, I'll add to this list.

Blogging is a unique experience that gives the writer full control of sharing His Thoughts, His Beliefs and His Attitudes but hopefully in a way that only shares without pushing His beliefs on others.  So with that being said, I hope we can learn and grow together, sharing our ideas, talking about the world around us and finding new ways to fill the world with Hope, Love, Joy and Life.......

And The Journey Continues..........

Memories

I've been working on My Final Memorial Service

My Final Celebration 

Not planning for it to happen anytime soon 

But wanting to be prepared.

These are My Memories

 My Journey of Life

And the Journey Continues..........

A World Of Difference

Bigotry:
The attitude, state of mind or behavior characteristic of a bigot:  intolerance.....

Bigot:
One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.....

Bias:
A preference or an inclination, especially one that inhibits impartial judgement.....

Hatred:
Intense animosity or hostility.....

Anger:
A strong feeling of displeasure or hostility.....

Negativity:
The characteristic of being pessimistic or contrarian.....

Selfish:
Concerned chiefly or only with oneself.....

Gossip:
Rumor or talk of a personal, sensational or intimate nature, a person who habitually spreads intimate or private rumors or facts.....


((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( OR ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))


Love:
A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.....

Patience:
The capacity, quality or fact of being patient.....

Patient:
Bearing or enduring pain, difficulty, provocation or annoyance with calmness....

Hope:
To wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment, to look forward to with confidence or expectation.....

Christianity:
The theological virtue defined as the desire and search for a future good, difficult but not impossible to attain with God's Help.....

Faith:
Confident belief in the truth, value or trustworthiness of a person, idea or thing, a belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence, the theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will

Compassion:
Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.....

Peace:
The absence of war or other hostilities, freedom from quarrels and disagreement, inner contentment.....

2011 In Retrospect

2011........

What a Year, where to start, what to remember and what to forget.......

We started the new year the way we ended the last, with my Mom's illness and ultimate Death in February.  Interestingly, I have always said ...Her Passing....but it was a Death......My Mom Died.  The life she lived with so much Zeal, ended with a few years of confusion, frustration and illness but years filled with Defiance, Stubbornness and a Will to Keep on Keeping on.

The next few months were filled with a lifetime of memories rekindled. A house....A Home... was boxed up and sold, the good and bad side of a family were revealed, a chapter in life was closed and another opened. The months were filled with emotions ranging from sadness, to anger, to grief, to depression, to a body and mind aching with pain, to a sigh of relief and loss......to surviving. It became an accumulation of the last six years funneled down into a place where we could finally stop, take a breath and rest a while. Years not forgotten but finally having some closure, some perspective and written in the history books of the minds of each of those who participated with their own twist, circumstances, pride and misgivings.

The year ended with an adventure that had been talked about and longed for, for years, as the final chapter, the closing event, the end of an era and the beginning of a new fork in the road of life. It was an adventure of a lifetime and started a yearning for more and more adventures, a breath of fresh air in a life that had been clouded in darkness way too long.

2011.......

A year I would not want to re live but a year that taught so many life lessons. It was a year that gave life a reality check but showed there is light at the end of the tunnel.  It showed that the mind and body are stronger than we think and truly are a gift from God.  Even though the struggles beat us up, tear us down, drain our strength to the very core and make us fill like we can't go on.......We Keep On Going On.....and On.....and On......

So we say goodbye to 2011 and keep in our hearts and minds what we learned from it.  We cherish the life we have and we cherish those who have come into our lives and make the world a better place. We look to 2012 with anticipation of the wonder and possibilities beyond our dreams and pray for God's Blessing along the way.  We look for the Best in a world where even the small things can bring us Happiness.  We look to a world where sadness and grief can become Victory and Joy, where the Warmth and Love of those around us shines a Light that will overcome any obstacles along the way. We Trust and Hope and Live.........

and the Journey Continues........

My Struggles

A friend asked me this week how I continue to keep pushing with my mind struggling from the last few years of stress. How do I keep going with my body struggling when my cancer wants to try and show it's ugly face, demanding the cancer drugs and maintenance chemo from time to time. How do I push through the days, which are many, that I have to struggle to fight the depression, fight the struggle to get out of bed, and fight to keep going through the day when my body says..No..Not Now.  How could I make it through all the that I did when I was taking my trip, though incredible, a feat that took it's toll on me with a vengeance.

The answer....hmmmmm.......
I've got to keep a good attitude as so many have as they fight any kind of struggle or physical problem.  I know that when I push myself, I will suffer the consequences and I do, but I can't let that stop me from getting the most out of my life, stop me from making as much of a difference in this world that I can.

Some ask why I don't smile as much.......
I would tell them it's because of that struggle that I go through everyday.

Some keep telling me that I'm the strong one, I'm the organized one, I'm the one that can do it when no one else can.  Sometimes it's hard living up to what so many expect when I struggle in so many ways.  Sure I try to work on my music when I can, try to snap some pictures when I can, try to share on this blog when I can, try to smile when I can....but....that in itself can be a struggle....that in itself can wear on my mind and body everyday.

So what do I do.......

I keep pushing on and on and on as long as my mind and body will let me...
I keep trying to find that joy in the small thing as well as the big things....
I keep trying not to let the attitude of others pull me down...

I keep trying not to let My Struggles take away from My Joy of Life, even though that is a struggle in itself.....

I keep on....keeping on.....

and the Journey Continues......