Just a Quote

"No problem can ever be solved with the consciousness that created it.  We must learn to see the world anew."  - Albert Einstein-

Respect, Dignity, and True Listening

This election cycle (and not just one side) seems to have brought out the worst in so many.  We went from a group of adults that were mostly able to discuss things freely and to a group of small children.  "Well I like red best." - "No red is stupid.  Blue is better."  - "Doo doo head." - " Meanie face."  I mean THIS was pretty much what so many people have boiled down to.  The conservatives that fed into this called all democrats "Libtards", referred to the President as "Obummer", and treated others as if they were dumb.  The liberals that fed into it called conservatives "racists," "bigots," and everything in between.  And here...in between....were those of us that didn't want to name call.  We just wanted what's best for our country.

I'm here to ask something that I consider to be simple.  STOP.

Stop with the hate speech on both sides of the aisle.  Not all conservatives are racists.  Not all liberals are cry babies.  Not all Christians are hate-mongers.  Not all Muslims are terrorists.  In fact, the vast majority of all of these "labels" are just people who love this country and want amazing things for it.  The vast majority of these "labels" are the exact opposite of what the accusations say.  Yet, still, we look at the one bad strawberry in the patch and say, "Well the whole patch is rotten."

I don't pretend to understand everyone's viewpoints.  In fact, part of the reason why I enjoy having such a diverse group of friends is that I love hearing all different perspectives.  Sometimes it changes my mind on things but sometimes we just agree to disagree.  It doesn't make them better or worse than me; it just makes us accepting of other's differences.

So,please....STOP.  Stop the hate speech.  Stop the name-calling.  I challenge you to truly LISTEN to someone on the other side of the argument.  Don't listen to respond but listen to hear.  Let them tell you why they believe the way they do.  Maybe it will change your mind and maybe it won't but I can assure you that we will achieve much more as a country and as a republic if we remember the melting pot we were designed to be and treat each other with the dignity and respect that we, ourselves, expect.

Veterans Day Plea

Today, we honor our Veterans.  We honor those that fought for our nation in whatever capacity that was.  Every job of every branch is important and deserving of great honor for their service.  In saying this, I beseech everyone to please avoid the negativity associated with the post-election craziness.  Please just put it aside for one day.  Protest if you must but please, for the love of God, don't stomp on the flag because it absolutely (even if it's unintentional on your part) shows disdain for all of those that have fought before you.  Please refrain from stomping on or setting an American flag on fire.  Please.  I'm asking you as a personal favor.

I will support the right to peacefully protest for the rest of my  life.  I will defend those of any race, religion, cultural background, sexual preference, gender or any other "difference".  I will defend those with disabilities, challenges, those that aren't able to fight for themselves.  I will defend those that can't get enough food or clean water or anything else.  I will fight for you and I will defend your right to peacefully protest, even if I don't agree with your perspective but please don't disrespect our nation's flag.  It doesn't prove your point any more clearly.  Please.

We are all in this together, America.  Let's reboot our collective minds here and focus it, today on honoring the amazing men and women that have fought for our country and the freedoms we exercise every day.

Thank you to each and every member of each and every branch of the military.  You are incredible.

Let Them Peacefully Protest

To almost every supporter of President-Elect Trump before the election,

Please, please, please stop being judgmental jerks over the protests going on outside Trump Tower (and elsewhere).  You can roll your eyes.  That is your right.  You can disagree.  That is your right.  You can bring up that there weren't massive protests when President Obama was elected.  That is your right.

THEY CAN PEACEFULLY PROTEST.  That is their right.

It is NOT their right to loot.  That is illegal.  It is NOT their right to be violent.  That is illegal.  It is NOT their right to bully or threaten others.  That is illegal.  However, don't assume that every single protester is doing these things.  They're not.  Many just want their voice heard.  It is their right, in our great country, to peacefully protest.

Chances are that, soon, everything will go back to normal life.  Everyone will go back to work.  Everyone will go back to their daily lives.  People won't forget anything but they will certainly go back to life.  Chances are that everything will calm down sooner than you might think.

If you think for a heartbeat of a second that supporters of our President-Elect wouldn't have done the same if he had not won, you are delusional.  Calm down, let them peacefully protest and know that things will be calmer soon.

United We Stand

After what can only be described as an insane election season and a very unexpected outcome, can we please just all take a moment.  Take a deep breath.  Close your eyes and realize that the world has not ended.  Realize that it's going to be okay.

I don't know if you voted for Hillary, Trump or a third party.  I don't know if you wrote in a candidate of your own.  I honestly don't know and it doesn't matter now.  What matters now, more than ever, is that we come together as a nation.  We don't have to agree on every point.  I'm not saying you have to wear a "Trump" button or a "Make America Great Again" hat.  What I'm saying is that we need to stand with our fellow man (and woman) and remember that we live in the greatest country in the world.

Stop with the "Well if you voted for Hillary, then....." or "If you voted for Trump then...." or for that matter, "Well if you voted third party then...." No.  Just no.  Voting for Hillary didn't mean that you supported the negative things she did.  Voting for Trump didn't mean that you supported the negative things that he did.  Voting for third party was not throwing away a vote.  You voted with your heart.  You voted for them because you believed in their policies and in their promises.  You voted for them because you believed that they were the best person for the job.  You don't have to explain yourself to anyone and anyone that is judging you based on who you voted for is forgetting that they are undermining democracy at its finest.  In short, we can agree to disagree and still be friends because we live in a great nation where we all have a chance to have a voice.

Trump-voters, please stop jumping down Hillary voters throats and saying, "Get on board."  Stop shaming them.  Stop treating them as if they need to forget what happened less than twenty four hours ago.  They are processing what's going on.  Very few expected things to go this way and they're still trying to swallow the bitter candy that they didn't think they'd ever even taste.  Stop gloating and give them a minute to grieve.

Hillary voters, please stop shaming Trump voters and saying they don't care.  Stop name-calling because voting for Trump doesn't make you a bigot.  Remember that the President doesn't call all of the shots, okay? Congress is there for a reason.  We are a nation of checks and balances and we have  executive, judicial and legislative branches for a reason.

The President, Hillary herself and many others (as well as President Elect Trump) are calling for our unity and I couldn't agree more.  Let's come together and bring jobs back to our nation.  Let's come together and unite as one people and show the world that we are America.  We are the greatest nation in the world.  We are a republic built on liberty and freedom.  You are going to be okay.  We're all going to be okay.  Let's all stop jumping down each other's throats and just love one another through this.

Why Are They So Respectful

I get asked, frequently, what I do with my kids that makes them so respectful.  My answer seems to confused people: half of it is dumb luck and the other half is teaching them to learn to respectfully think and do for themselves.  Luck?  Really?  Yes.....yes, really.  Some of parenting is just dumb luck.  There are plenty of parents that do an incredible job and their children still rebel or end up making really poor decisions that affect the rest of their lives negatively. (Note that I did not say that they end up with bad kids.... I have a very strong opinion of people using that term).  There are some parents that are completely uninvolved and still turn out with incredible kids.  SOME of it is dumb luck.

The other part, I believe, is in the other half of that sentence.  There are three portions of it.
        1.  Respect
        2.  Think for themselves
        3.  Do for themselves

I believe that respect is of the utmost important in the parenting process.  I respect my children enough to allow them privacy but they also know that I am still their parent.  If I need to, I will invade that privacy to make sure they stay safe.  I won't feel bad about it.  The other half of this pendulum is teaching THEM to respect.  I am a bit old school and I believe that children need to learn to respect adults but they also need to learn to respect each other.  They need to learn to accept the differences of others as a positive.

They need to learn to think for themselves.  Does it get irritating at times?  Of course.  It would be easier some days if they would just fall into step.  The problem is that they need to be thinking, learning people in their adult lives.  Teaching them to blindly believe what I believe will only cripple them as adults.

They need to learn to do things themselves.  I'll repeat that:  they need to learn to do things themselves.  I don't baby them.  I teach them to thrive in the real world.  They can independently do many of the things that actual adults in the world today cannot do.  They are able to cook, clean, do laundry, ride the bus, make a budget and do many of the other things they will need to do in their grown life.

I'm not concluding that this is the recipe for success for every person but it works for me.  Food for thought.

Keeping a Positive Attitude

Keeping a positive attitude is half the battle.  It may seem hard to do, if you're facing hardships.  In fact, it may seem impossible.  Trust me, it's not.  Take that small step to think of one way you're blessed.  Then think of another blessing...and another....and another.  That's how you start! One teeny tiny step at a time!

Now do that every single morning.  Spend just a couple of minutes every morning thinking of how positive you want your day to be! It truly will change the course of your day, week and month.  Try it for thirty days, then sixty days, then ninety days.  Slowly, but surely, you will forget how to think negatively.  Your thinking will evolve.

Now watch how it affects your life.....

That positive thinking will help you to be more motivated.

That positive thinking will be contagious to many around you.

That positive thinking will inspire others.

That positive thinking will have you feeling more energetic.  

You can achieve great things!  Today's the day to get started!