Daily Mood Quotes

2012-06-16T08:25:00.000-07:00

Daily Mood Quote

June 16, 2012

Never trust anyone who says, “Trust me, I'm your friend.” Actions speak louder than words.

~Unknown Author

My husband says this quote is harsh and to a small degree, I agree with him. But, for now this is how I feel and only time will heal the hurt that someone I once looked up too, trusted and admired (more than any member of my own family, the family I grew up with) created. I have forgiven people who have hurt me, or my family if it was an accident; but what this woman did was no accident, it was with malice- it was deliberate, intentional, and shameful. I wonder if theses are the lessons she teaches the children in her religious education program? Lessons like: It's okay to lie, cheat, spread rumors (without knowing the facts, asking the questions, or just simply ignoring the truth) about people, as long as you give money to the church, or go to confession each week. Is that what it takes today? Sorry to say this, but that is hypocrisy. Saying one thing but doing another. People tried to warn my husband and I about her, they tried to tell us she was a hypocrite, a liar, she said one thing but did another, was never a person of her word. They tried to tell us, but oh no, we didn't believe them. In fact we vigorously defended her. She was a friend, a trusted friend. Well, “with friends like that, who needs enemies” right?

Now, back to our discoveries... Upon entry of the home through the front door, we noticed that the house was dirty, walls had been scraped up, carpets had been stained and vinyl in entry way was scraped and torn. There was also a yellow stain on the floor, where the entry way carpet used to be. Who lets a carpet sit that long? This was at first glance. Then we proceed to the laundry room and found no reason for concern (yet). Ran both the washer and the dryer, they seemed to both work for the brief tryout.

The hallway from the entry way has a closet, filled with things that belonged to the previous tenant, our new landlord. This hallway which lead to the kitchen includes a doorway to the laundry room and a doorway to the garage, which has a screen door on it (unusual) but nevertheless both doors work, although latch is rusty and loose on the screen door. There were dirty marks and scratches from the move out on the walls and floors. The vinyl flooring in front of the refrigerator has dark scrapes and tears.

We then moved to the kitchen, and noticed on the counter top there was only one remote for the garage door opener (this is a concern because normally an automatic garage door has two openers). A microwave was also left on the counter, this was be placed in the garage for the landlord, who said she would return for her things. We continued with the inspection and noticed the refrigerator was the same refrigerator we saw several months earlier. When you opened the refrigerator doors (noticed during the viewing of the home several months earlier) the bottom was still torn up, rusting and separating from inside the refrigerator and freezer doors. The bottom of the refrigerator (underneath the drawers) looks as if it had never been cleaned; this one was going to take time to clean (at least three to four hours of serious elbow grease). Then we checked the burners of the stove and they seem to be in good working condition. We are excited about this stove because food cooked by gas stoves seem to taste better than food cooked by electrical stoves (that is just how we feel). We did not run the dishwasher, we had no reason to at the time, no dishes, yet. Anyway the landlord said, she never used it because she lived alone, didn't have a lot of dishes to wash. We believed her and assumed it worked. Why would she lie to us? Then we opened up all the cabinets and discovered many missed items, we boxed them and placed them in the attic for our landlord to pick up. We then turned on the water and got sprayed from the water purifier, which was exciting. The sprayer had to be removed. Upon removing it we noticed it had mold, so we disposed of it, and replaced it with a regular aerator.

Then we opened up the windows in the kitchen and found mold and discoloration on the trim. We took pictures and then checked other windows; they were also discoloring, molding and rotting. We didn't know if this could be fixed; we would have to look it up.The kitchen bay window on the (east) right side had a broken closing mechanism, cannot open the window to full extension, or the mechanism separates from the window. Screen also has multiple holes. Looking at the kitchen floor, we noticed stains, dings, and dents. Along with a few centipedes, and a couple of potato-bugs. Bugs will have to be taken care of right away, because we have a very low tolerance for bugs, especially our youngest daughter. Upon an initial view of the kitchen walls – they seemed fine, no glaring holes or other problems. Although looking at the dining room walls, we asked the question, “who moved her, the CareerBuilder.com monkeys (well, okay, chimps)? They were marked up with dirty pencil marks and small holes.

By this time my husband and I were remembering the movie The Money Pit with Tom Hanks (Walter) and Shelley Long (Anna), when Walter said, “Ahh, home crap home!” And we haven't even gotten to the good stuff yet...Want to see why my daughter could never sneak out of her room at night? See more tomorrow.

Here's something novel; writing about this is helping reduce the hatred demon. Like Shrek in the movie Shrek (played by Mike Myers) always says, “Better out than in, I always say.”

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quote

2012-06-15T17:51:00.001-07:00

“With friends like that, who needs enemies”

~Unknown Author

I have been seriously considering quitting the daily mood quotes blog. Erasing it, because I am struggling to find the peace and happiness that once came so easy for me. Recent events in my life have caused me to be battling the “hatred demon” that is in all of us. It can not be denied and can only be destroyed when one forgives the awful people they have encountered in their world. There is a saying that states, “With friends like that, who needs enemies” I don't know who said this; but I wonder, did they have “friends” like I have run into? Oops, did I say that out loud? You bet I did and here is why, I am pissed and frankly sick and tired of mean people and “dag nab-it,” why do I keep running into them. Are there any honest people out there anymore? I wonder that, because recently I have been evicted from my home, not because I couldn't make the mortgage, but because I couldn't pay the rent. Why you may ask. My husband and I both had lost our jobs during the recession (that is in earlier blogs). OK short version: My husband's boss took government loans and spent them on himself, then got caught, company closed, goodbye job. I lost mine in an acquisition where 5,300 jobs, including mine, were cut. It was rotten, downright miserable as our reserves were drained and things kept costing more.

So, from the movie Network as Howard Beale played by the late Peter Finch said, “I don't have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad. It's a depression. Everybody's out of work or scared of losing their job. The dollar buys a nickel's worth, banks are going bust, shopkeepers keep a gun under the counter. Punks are running wild in the street and there's nobody anywhere who seems to know what to do, and there's no end to it. We know the air is unfit to breathe and our food is unfit to eat, and we sit watching our TV's while some local newscaster tells us that today we had fifteen homicides and sixty-three violent crimes, as if that's the way it's supposed to be. We know things are bad - worse than bad. They're crazy. It's like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don't go out anymore. We sit in the house, and slowly the world we are living in is getting smaller, and all we say is, 'Please, at least leave us alone in our living rooms. Let me have my toaster and my TV and my steel-belted radials and I won't say anything. Just leave us alone.' Well, I'm not gonna leave you alone. I want you to get mad! I don't want you to protest. I don't want you to riot - I don't want you to write to your congressman because I wouldn't know what to tell you to write. I don't know what to do about the depression and the inflation and the Russians and the crime in the street. All I know is that first you've got to get mad. You've got to say, 'I'm a HUMAN BEING, God damn it! My life has VALUE!' So I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it, and stick your head out, and yell, 'I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!' I want you to get up right now, sit up, go to your windows, open them and stick your head out and yell - 'I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!' Things have got to change. But first, you've gotta get mad!... You've got to say, 'I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!' Then we'll figure out what to do about the depression and the inflation and the oil crisis. But first get up out of your chairs, open the window, stick your head out, and yell, and say it: "I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!” Glad I got that out; I feel better. How about you?

Funny thing, the landlord knew what was happening, we kept her informed of this. We told her and her response was, “Don't worry about it, look after the kids; I'll just be receiving checks from you well into my retirement.” She changed her mind. Let me be clear about one thing; It doesn’t bother me that she changed her mind, life happens and things change... its the way she handled it that bothered us. Actually, it was deliberately hurtful and vindictive, very, very, hurtful. Back to mad as hell, hurt and frustrated.

Let's back up a little, you see nearly three years ago, my husband and I and our children where living in an apartment. It was nice and we were happy there (however, many of our friends were embarrassed because we “lived” in an apartment). We were also healthy there. But a friend of ours who owned a home was moving, she got a job down south and wanted to rent out her home. She called us and in June nearly three years ago, we went to view the house. It was okay, a three bedroom ranch in what seemed to be a quiet neighborhood. She wanted a little too much money for the place, but we could tighten our belts and make it work. She dangled words like, “you can make it your own” “you can paint it” just take care of my house. There was no rental agreement, no hand-shake, no documentation, no formal walk-through, nothing. Just an amount and her bank deposit slips. We thought it a little weird, but she was no business woman and it showed. (Side note: What a freakin' head fake.) Her puzzling answers and vagueness to simple questions like “do the appliances work?” Left us wondering, but we “trusted” her, she was a friend. We had known her for seven years, she was like one of our family, an old aunt or something. She even babysit our children when they were younger. We had absolutely no reason to distrust her.

Several months later, we moved in, but before the first piece of furniture entered the house, my husband and I inspected the house and made a list of our discoveries... it was surprising. To be continued tomorrow, hopefully.

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading.

A New Beginning - June 3, 2012

2012-06-03T16:47:00.000-07:00

"Almost everything comes from nothing."
~Henry F. Amiel~

Everyone needs a vacation, but this one is not my idea of a vacation. Occasionally, life can suck and for me and my family right now; it does. I have received many e-mails and tweets from many readers of daily mood quotes and was overwhelmed by the volume. Thank you for reading. At this time, my family and I are on the road working towards a better life. We were pretty much driven away from our home because of unemployment. Plenty of education and training just not in anything anyone is looking to hire for in our sad sack, little, rust belt city. It's a sad story for America, but for my family and I, it was a lot more like living in a "Toxic Town."

Before we can build a life again, we must first find work, and at the same time, we must accept what happened to us. Then learn to forgive those, who with ill intent harmed us. That may take some time. It requires a bit more grace than I have at my immediate disposal right now. I have spoken about forgiveness in daily mood quotes before, but I never said it is easy. Anyway, telling the story through quotes might be fun, it may also help to ease the pain as I tell the story.

From nothing... here we go. Remember the end of one thing is the beginning of another.

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Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quotes - February 26, 2012

2012-02-26T05:49:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quote
Day 256 - February 26, 2012

"The greatest ignorance is to reject something you know nothing about."
~Unknown Author

"Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn."
~Benjamin Franklin

How much and how many are overlooked due to lack of understanding, or the refusal to learn?

I'll be back on March 1, 2012 and I've got a lot to talk about.
Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote
Thank you for reading
Have a great Daily Mood Quotes day

Daily Mood Quotes - February 25, 2012

2012-02-25T05:22:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quote
Day 255 - February 25, 2012

Peace is not something you wish for: It's something you make, Something you do, Something you are, And something you give away."
~Robert Fulghum

So why do we use violence, threats and control tactics to gain peace? Gandhi said, ""Each one has to find his peace from within. And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances."

I'll be back on March 1, 2012 with more in depth daily mood quotes, movie quotes and DMQ insights.

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote
Thank you for reading
Have a great Daily Mood Quotes day.

Daily Mood Quotes - February 24, 2012

2012-02-24T08:20:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quotes
Day 254 - February 24, 2012

Endurance is the crowning quality, And patience all the passion of great hearts.
~James Russell Lowell

Patience is stronger than force.
~Edward Counsel

I'll be back on March 1, 2012.

Thank you for reading
Have a great Daily Mood Quotes day.

Daily Mood Quotes - February 23, 2011

2012-02-23T07:24:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quotes
Day 253 - February 23, 2012

"Lord make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy."
~St. Francis of Assisi

I will be back on March 1, 2012.

Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quotes - February 9, 2012

2012-02-09T05:36:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quote

Day 252 – February 9, 2012

“Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance.”

~Unknown Author

As my husband has recently noted, “I've been dancing my tushy off” the past couple of months, I'm happy to have such a good dance partner to go through life with. You see “Life's a dance” as John Michael Montgomery says in his song, Life's A Dance, you really do learn as you go. You don't have a choice. Not true, you do have a choice.

To be perfectly upfront, I have struggled to find words to describe the dance life has put in front of me and my husband. Until yesterday, I was trying to remember the recipe for Chicken Noodle Hotdish (or casserole in other parts of the world), and found myself saying things like a dash of parenting, mixed with a few bills, no that's not right, more like; a dollop of teenage attitude and a “double dose” (thanks Robert De Niro as Jack Byrnes in Little Fockers) of grad level homework...Wait a minute! I'm making hotdish here, “Recalculating!” (thank you Allstate Insurance. Those mayhem commercials have to be some of the funniest I've ever seen, so true to life...my life lately) and start over again. Then it hit me, the past several months have been a recipe. A recipe for “overwhelmed.” That's what I've been; overwhelmed. I'm sure I would have figured this out earlier, but when your in the middle of one of life's hurricanes, it's hard to get any perspective, or catch your breath in the heavy winds.

Well, I needed to step out of the storm for a bit and get my bearings. I've been turned and twisted so many ways lately, it took a while to clear my head. Sometimes the best thing we can do, is step back and look at the whole picture (you got to be honest about the picture), make changes as needed and continue on. The last couple months have included two deaths, very intense classes, financial strain (I know President Obama says, our economy is getting stronger and hundreds of thousands of jobs have been created. Let me tell you, not where I live, job creation is an “epic fail” here), parenting, cold weather and planning for the future, everything we call “everyday life.” Can't do much about the deaths but accept and continue on; the intense classes are kicking my hiney, some of the toughest studies I have had to date and my vision is an obstacle. I can understand the material, analyze it, communicate it and write about it, I am struggling to keep up with the reading. My husband reads to me a lot and I spend a lot of time reading the e-books on the computer, font size increased to 185%. Unfortunately, text book publishers don't make audio books for colleges. I'm entering my last couple of months of grad school and it is some of the hardest work I've ever done...at least until I start my PhD program. As far as financial strains, parenting, cold weather and planning for the future: As I said before, everyday life stuff. But, it just all popped up on us at once; like nasty weeds. All we can do is live it, live through it and pick through all the thorns and nettles one by one.

Sooo, we dance on and hope the tune changes for the better, or at least lets us slow dance until we catch our wind...

Hope will you dance through life's mayhem today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading.

Daily Mood Quotes - February 8, 2012

2012-02-08T16:10:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quote

Day 251 – February 8, 2012

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Today I checked my daily mood quotes e-mail and read several that asked me, “what is my mood today?” “when will the daily mood quote return?” and “are you all right?” I have also received many new notifications for followers on Twitter and Facebook.

I have to say, I was very surprised and did not realize how many read and look forward to the Daily Mood Quotes blog. The e-mails brought tears to my eyes. I want to say thank you to everyone who takes the time to read and I hope you have enjoyed the quotes and stories that are shared daily. Beginning tomorrow February 9, 2012, I will begin writing again (it is my passion) and the daily mood quote will again be daily. Thank you, I never realized how many people the Daily Mood Quote reaches.

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading

Deaily Mood Quotes - February 2, 2012

2012-02-02T07:10:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quotes

Day 250 – February 2, 2012

“Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is the only means.”

~Albert Einstein

“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”

~St. Francis of Assisi

“Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.”

~Mark Twain

“The old begin to complain of the conduct of the young when they themselves are no longer able to set a bad example.”

~Francois de la Rochefoucauld

“If you must hold yourself up to your children as an object lesson, hold yourself up as a warning and not as an example.”

~George Bernard Shaw

The message is, what you choose to put out there, will most likely be returned to you; even though you may not recognize it at the time. As Hogarth Hughes (played by Eli Marienthal) in the movie The Iron Giant said to the Iron Giant (played by Vin Diesel), “ You are who you choose to be.” You get what you choose to give. Our examples are being watched everyday, everywhere, by everyone we interact with.

A mom's question: “So, how would you like it, if someone acted that way toward you?” Sooner or later they will.

What examples are you setting today? Are they worth being returned to you?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading.

Daily Mood Quotes - January 30, 2012

2012-01-30T09:58:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quote

Day 249 – January 30, 2012

"I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do."

~Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Courage in not standing and yelling in a crowd, it's standing up for what is right long after the crowd is gone.

What will you stand up for today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading.

Daily Mood Quotes - January 27, 2012

2012-01-27T05:14:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quote

Day 248 – January 27, 2012

Hope – Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. The audacity of hope! In the end, that is God's greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation. A belief in things not seen. A belief that there are better days ahead.

~Barack Obama, speech, 2004 DNC Convention

I still believe in a place called Hope, a place called America.

~Bill Clinton, speech at Democratic National Convention, August 29, 1996

A man begins to die when he ceases to expect anything from tomorrow.

~Abraham Miller, Unmoral Maxims

Without the hope for better days ahead, where will the future lead us?

How will you embrace “Hope” today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading, have a hopeful day.

Daily Mood Quotes - January 26, 2012

2012-01-26T12:35:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quote

Day 247 – January 26, 2012

You can never change the past nor control the future, but you can change the mood of the day by touching someone's heart with your smile.

~Unknown author

Help make a better day for someone through a smile, a helping hand or a kind word.

Be the difference.

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quotes - January 25, 2012

2012-01-25T05:24:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quote

Day 246 – January 25, 2012

Today I choose life. Every morning when I wake up I can choose joy, happiness, negativity, pain...To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices – today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it.

~Kevyn Aucoin

Erma Bombeck wrote a book titled, “If life is a bowl of cherries: What am I doing in the pits.” I say, negativity doesn't choose us, we choose it. In an earlier blog I mentioned that I raised my girls to believe that, “PMS is not an excuse for bad behavior. Bad behavior is bad behavior, it's a choice.” Being negative, choosing to be angry, choosing to let the negativity of others bring you down, make you quit; that's a choice. You must ask yourself the question, who is in control of your life...you or those around you?

Don't let negativity affect your vision. A lot of people have said harsh things, but I don't let it affect me. If anything it gives me more enthusiasm and pushes me to do better in my career, so I can prove them wrong.

~Nicole Polizzi

I just don't deal with the negativity. I can't get involved in that side of it. I don't understand it, and you can't let it take away from your life and what you are trying to do.

~Rick Pitino

How will you "push past" the negativtiy of others today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading and have a positive day.

Daily Mood Quotes - January 24, 2012

2012-01-24T04:52:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quotes

Day 245 – January 24, 2012

Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change – this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress.

~Bruce Burton

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

~Reinhold Niebuhr

And never forget what Dean Acheson said, “Always remember that the future comes one day at a time."

How will you approach today?

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Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quotes - January 23, 2012

2012-01-23T10:39:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quote
Day 244 – January 23, 2012

“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is far worse than the suffering itself, and no heart has ever suffered when it's gone in search of its dream.”
~Paulo Coelho from The Alchemist

It's no secret that the past several months have been very difficult for me and my family, 2011 ended with a goodbye and 2012 has begun with a very rough start. The one thing I keep in mind is my husband's saying, “things that start out rough end up great” lately that's been more of a wish than a proven axiom, I have to believe, I just have to believe.

I Ching (hexagram 3) says (I paraphrase), “Difficulty at the beginning works supreme success...” One interpretation is “Times of growth are beset with difficulties. They resemble a first birth. But these difficulties arise from the very profusion of all that is struggling to attain form. Everything is in motion: therefore if one perseveres, there is a prospect of great success, in spite of the existing danger.” Like a plant springing from the soil, and so this year may yet yield great success, but not if I give up and quit (I've got to tell you, I thought about it), so this leads me to my next quote. John F. Kennedy said in his September 1962 Rice Stadium Moon Speech, “If this capsule history of our progress teaches us anything, it is that man, in his quest for knowledge and progress, is determined and cannot be deterred.” Determination is the key, it is the “don't stop,” plow ahead, never stop innovating, never stop adapting, never stop period, mind set that helps us to achieve, individually, together and as a country.

Now, it is my time to achieve, I enjoy writing the Daily Mood Quote, it is who I am. But I must pare back some, because it is time for my Master's capstone project and this project is massive in its size and scope. It requires a lot of hours, interviews, research, analysis and writing to prepare for the presentation to experts in my field of study that will determine my grade and acceptance into the PhD program. Yes, I have decided (that's what I have been doing over the past several days, making a decision) to pursue a PhD in the study of leadership and its principles. The study of leaders and leadership has become a passion of mine, it's a mindset of “can do” and positive perseverance. That said, here's how I plan to manage my time for Daily Mood Quotes; I will post a quote every morning to the daily mood quotes blog, and occasionally some commentary, as time permits, along with a movie reference, if it applies. The commentary and movie quotes won't be everyday, but I'll put them in when I can. It takes a lot of time to make sure they're right. I have not made it a secret how important my education is to me. I believe, education is the cornerstone of success, successful communications and successful relationships. I love learning and my end goal is to someday write books on leadership and teach leadership principles. That goal requires me to buckle down to work and focus right now, not tomorrow.

I want to thank everyone in the 100 plus countries who read daily mood quotes and I hope you will continue to read, while I pursue an even higher education. I'll keep you posted. Have a great day.

Are you achieving your dreams? If not now, then when?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote
Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quotes - January 18, 2012

2012-01-18T07:26:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quote

Day 243 – January 18, 2012

But just as they did in Philadelphia when they were writing the constitution, sooner or later, you've got to compromise. You've got to start making the compromises that arrive at a consensus and move the country forward.

~Colin Powell

Albert Einstein said, “In a healthy nation there is a kind of dramatic balance between the will of the people and the government, which prevents its degeneration into tyranny.” What do we consider to be a healthy nation today? Last night on the CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley, I listened to a story about a Philadelphia area school district that did not have enough money to make it to the end of the school year. The State Department of Education has promised enough money to make payroll for a month. Then they are right back in the same situation. My husband has a favorite saying for this kind of behavior that is becoming an epidemic, “it's a band-aid on a bullet wound!” and if they are willing to “bail” on one school district, how many others will follow? Also, this position sets precedence and exposes the fundamental problem with the “No Child Left Behind Act.” It takes the most money from the districts that need it most. So, instead of leaving one child behind, thousands are being left behind; about 6000 in this particular case... Brilliant!

So, "now to the crux of the biscuit." Why are school districts underfunded? It's really simple, we have abandoned the fundamental premise that our children come first, always. Partisan politics, “what's in it for me” legislation, the fundamental neglect of the very basics of society, have left us crumbling roads, falling bridges and non-competitive and dilapidated schools; who may have tremendous athletic programs, but no money for arts, math and sciences. What's wrong with this picture? There is no easy answer and I'll admit that: It's all wrapped up in a big messy ball of entitlements, tax loop holes, abatements, and a struggling economy. There is not one clear string you can hold onto that isn't connected to something else. Now, it is kind of like a game of pick-up sticks, you can't move one without affecting another. A house doesn’t crumble in a day, it comes apart with time and neglect and that is what we have done to our children's future. While the past two generations enjoyed credit fueled vacations at Disney World and gorged on cheap imported goods, we have let our house, the place where our children spend there time attempting to learn and grow, fall apart board by board member. We only have ourselves to blame for this. Politicians may rattle on about how our government's budget overages will be paid for by our children, while continuing to approve wasteful self-serving projects, congressional junkets and pork barrels; none of which have anything to do with educating our future generations. Then we let them give themselves raises, again and again and again! To quote the cartoon Pogo “I have seen the enemy and he is us.” A generation that has had the advantage of higher education, forged on the sweat of a determined post-depression generation, has chosen to not pass the torch of American ingenuity and community centered drive to our children; but to leave that flame to flicker and die in a heap of Happy Meal boxes and video games.

I realize that it's hard to put down our own self interests of low taxes and easy patches, that don't solve the problems just cover them up; to turn a blind eye to the future of our nation and hope that some new technology will suddenly “pop up” and fix everything. It won't; especially if we aren't putting in a real effort to “teach our children well” (Thanks Crosby Stills, Nash and Young). Its hard to say; yes I'll put down the remote and think before I vote. It's hard to spend time researching our representative's activities, wade through the rhetoric and attack ads, and let them know we disapprove. It's hard to stand up and say “No more!” (thanks Jim Belushi from The Principal). But, as the late John F. Kennedy, in a voice that powered America into space and helped create all the great innovations we now accept as normal, once said. “...not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win...” Have we forgotten so soon? None of our best future happens without educating our young people, for they will become what we show them today. Tune in tomorrow for “the rest of the story” (a special thanks and “tip of the hat” to the late Paul Harvey).

How will you view “tomorrow” today?

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Daily Mood Quotes - January 17, 2012

2012-01-17T10:04:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quote

Day 242 – January 17, 2012

“The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.”

~Flora Whitemore

First let me begin by explaining why I did not post yesterday. I realized that there were so many quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., flying about the Internet yesterday, that my little effort may have appeared disingenuous. I have quoted him often and respect his legacy too much to try and leverage his day of remembrance with obligatory quotes. It's that simple. It was also a day that I really had a tough time being even remotely positive, for other, personal reasons.

So, yesterday I closed a door or two in my personal life. Sometimes you have to do that. Its not a reflection on character, or experience to say “enough, I'm done with this.” Everyone has a line. I found mine yesterday. I dealt with a situation which I had invested much time and love and genuine sacrifice, but I realized it was to no avail. That was a profoundly emotionally painful experience and it stopped me in my tracks for a while. What is done is done and a door to the past which had caused me much pain must close. I really am not ready to discuss it further at this point. Like Forrest Gump said, in the movie Forrest Gump (played by Tom Hanks), “That's all I've got to say 'bout that.” It's time to open the door to the future. That door is one of limitless possibilities, even if that means starting back at the bottom again. But then again, what is a climber without a mountain? Just a person with a bunch of expensive, useless toys....

The big question is which new door to choose and which to forgo? I feel like I'm on Let's Make a Deal! I'l take door number..... Better think a bit before I answer. I'll try and leverage my experience and choose better this time. That's the thing about life that I really appreciate, no matter where you are no matter when you are in life (15, 35, 45 or in my case 47) you can choose a new direction, plot a new course, open a new door. It just takes a bit of courage, a bit of hope and the wisdom to weigh the risks and the responsibilities and consequences of stepping through. The more you learn the better your chances. Then, to quote the old NIKE ad “Just do it!” Although, my personal favorite, the old Navy saying, “It's not just a job, it's an adventure!!!” The same applies to closing old and now useless doorways that you have passed through. If you aren't going back, just close it. Onward, upward and ever forward...here we go again.

What door will you choose today?

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Daily Mood Quote - January 15, 2012

2012-01-15T09:22:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quote

Day 241 – January 15, 2012

“When you undervalue who you are, the world will undervalue what you do and vice versa.”

~Suze Orman

I admire someone who speaks their mind, especially if he/she knows what they are talking about. Suze Orman speaks her mind and calls it like she sees it. In a recent report by CNN News, she states that, “1 in 3 Americans are living in poverty,” during a George Washington University speaking engagement (see following web link for news story:

http://newsroom.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/13/suze-orman-middle-class-will-not-exist/ ).

She also said, “the middle class callers she once had, are now living in poverty.” How in world is this possible?

One in three Americans living in poverty, I have to repeat it to make sure that I heard it correctly, yes, I did. Have we fallen so far down the economic scale, that the possibly of the middle class becoming extinct is on the horizon? She also stated that 28% of children born into the middle class today, will be in poverty by the time they are adults. I guess it might be safe to say, that college is out of the question, because it won't be affordable. Even if a poor person gets a job, will the money be enough to buy food for the table and keep a decent roof over their heads? Or, is that too much to ask (Thank you Jimmy Stewart from It's a Wonderful Life.) It's not a wonderful life anymore.

There is real pain and suffering attached to the fact that the gap between the wealthy and those stricken with poverty, or at least “income challenged” in the new vernacular, is becoming wider and less easily crossed. I know that today I am on a bit of soap box, but I feel that some things need said. The first is, that we all have had a hand in creating this sad financial era. We as a nation have bought into the credit laden, underfunded, economic meltdown in several key areas. And I admit, for a while I bought into it too. Easy credit and the fantastical daydream that income would rise along with prices, cast a spell of consumerism, that helped drive so many families to the brink of disaster; it only took a single downturn to shove us over the edge. At the same time, we became apathetic and abdicated our civil duty to be mindful of who we elected into Congress. That little slip allowed law after law to be passed and the controls to the economy to be slowly and insidiously passed to the financial markets since the Reagan Era. It didn't happen over night. Nobody was accountable and nobody was at the helm and everybody believed that it was okay; as long as we got our new home and a 50” LCD television. We let the “experts” run the show. Kind of like the fox guarding the hen house. Ergo, shipwrecked economy. It wasn't a question of if, it was a question of when. History is cyclic and the Bush (W.'s) administration thought they could avert the oncoming recession by starting a war in the Middle East. That's how we got out of the Great Depression (WWII), but, it cost us millions of lives. And the Cold War spurred financial gains via new technology; soooo......

Unfortunately, we live in a much different world today and economies are intertwined so deeply; to hurt one is to hurt all, including ourselves. Oil prices jumped and the wealth went to the commodities speculators who sat on the cash, unlike those in the past who spread it around by hiring and building economies. The “Technology Boom” in the United States is also fading quickly, as formerly third world nations can build it quicker, faster and most importantly, cheaper. Remember the transistor radio and how it spurred the Japanese economy? No new technology, because NASA (which spurred the new technological breakthroughs, is now a shadow of its former self) cannot come to save the day.

So much for the history lesson and now we are at the bottom of the curve again. So how do we get out of this mess? This is just my humble opinion, from Southwest East Podunkville. Our parents, in some cases our parent's parents, had the right idea. First, get ready for a long haul and then stop digging deeper! Stop spending on credit (personally, I think credit card companies need to fail, as they prey on financially challenged people. Their era is over.). It took a long time to get in this hole, the balance of things means it'll most likely be a long climb out. The key is to not give up and start to vote out the “Bozos” who have “served” (I use that term loosely) more than two terms in Congress and demand that our government work together, or they will be unemployed too. Personally, I believe that last statement is probably a small affront to clowns, because they at least work for a living. Also, demand reform of campaign finance laws to return the balance of power to the people, not the corporate lobbyist. A business that cannot even vote, should not have more power to influence than a single voter. That's the way the framers of our Constitution wanted it (my opinion here). Secondly, The public in general needs to think about how we are spending, and saving. Don't trust your employer to “invest for you,” pension funds and securities backed 401Ks are a fraud. Granted, money is scarce; but instead of the big TV, get the smaller one, (only if you really need it) and put the rest away. Skip the 1000 channels and opt for the package that doesn't break you. Put it in a low yield “safe” savings bond, or in an SNL, skip the big banks, because their fees will make it evaporate. Yes prices will continue to spiral, but resist the urge to cash it in. Buy on sale and buy what you need. When you get a chance stock up a bit on essentials. Nothing kills a budget faster than constantly running out of something, then “running out” to get what you ran out of. When you have enough to invest without digging into savings, invest in companies that make things you like and use and be prepared for slow returns. Like Michael Douglas (Gordon Gekko) said in Wall Street Never Sleeps, “The mother of all evil is speculation.” Be patient and never stop saving. Then teach your children the same and make it stick. Also, use the internet for what it is best at, providing information; learn everything you can about that which inspires your heart and about prudent economics.

Somehow, some where along the line, I believe we got lost or caught up in “keeping up with the Joneses” My name isn't Jones, so why should I try to keep up with them? Here is my thought, I have met the Joneses and those keeping up with the Joneses and personally, it's just not worth the effort, life is too short to keep playing catch up. I choose to enjoy life, not worry about the things other's have.

Rule #32, “enjoy the little things.” (thank you Woody Harrelson (Tallahassee) and Jesse Eisenberg (Columbus) from the movie Zombieland).

What kind of future are you leaving for the next generation?

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Daily Mood Quotes - January 14, 2012

2012-01-14T06:58:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quote

Day 240 – January 14, 2012

“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.”

~Gail Devers

Seven months ago, I applied for a job as a columnist for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. I saw the advertisement on-line, and since I have decided to chase my dream of becoming a writer, I applied. After four months had past, I figured they gave it to someone with a name, or a relative. So I let it go. Yesterday, I got an e-mail saying I didn't make the cut. No big surprise, it's hard to break into any business, including the writing business unless your a name, or you have a relative in the business. I'm not being cynical, just being honest. I have seen and heard so many stories about how people got their jobs and let me tell you it isn't through education, experience or good luck. I wish the Pittsburgh Post Gazette luck with whomever they hire, because giving quality advice is a tough slot to fill. Especially when the truth is put on the back burner for ratings.

“Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try.”

~Unknown Author

Master Chief use to tell me, “if you don't try, then how will you know.” Between you and me, I hated that statement because it meant I was going to try. Now I find myself saying that to my children and regularly to myself, when I get the notion to quit, or when I feel defeated by life. What's that old saying, “pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again.” Back to the drawing board.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.”

~Winston Churchill

I have had successes, I have had failures and I can tell without a doubt, the courage to continue matters. A friend once said to me, “if you quit you die” maybe not literally, but eventually courage, determination, resolve, the strength to move forward and try again fade away. You find yourself asking the questions, “why,” or “what happened” and “is it too late?” Know this, as long as you draw breath, it is never to late to find the courage to continue. Success and failure are a part of everyday living and we have the power to control that. For me and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, the failure would have been, me not trying. Success will come in its proper time and with continued effort. Onward, upward and ever forward...

“Keep on sowing your seed, for you never know which will grow – perhaps it all will.”

~Albert Einstein

Ever heard the saying, “too many irons in the fire?” I have heard that most of my life, it must be a common saying, because everywhere I have ever lived, Minnesota, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Virginia; I've heard it, I wasn't real sure what it meant, until recently. It goes hand-in-hand with the saying, “never put all your eggs in one basket.” There is a balance to be attained. You have to put yourself out there, let the world know who you are and focus on what your heart says is possible. Don't be shy, apply for all those jobs, talk to all those people, let the world know you are here and you can do it. H.H. Swami Tejomayananda said, “Some are destined to succeed, some are determined to succeed.” Go for it!!!

“There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.”

~Ella Wheeler Wilcox

In the movie The Secret of My Succe$$ with Michael J. Fox (Brantley Foster/Carlton Whitfield), a college graduate who lined up a job in New York, only to be fired the same day he started due to a hostile takeover, suddenly found himself unemployed in a big, hostile, city. Not letting the setback defeat him, he took on New York's business world and ultimately succeeded, his way. It's a movie, but the message stands: Be determined, be resolved and define your destiny. Everyone has one.

How will you define your destiny today?

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Daily Mood Quotes - january 13, 2012

2012-01-13T10:04:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quote

Day 239 – January 13, 2012

Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well"

~Voltaire

In the movie Heart and Souls with Robert Downey Jr. (Thomas), Kyra Sedgwick (Julia), Elizabeth Shue (Anne), Altre Woodard (Penny), Charles Grodin (Harrison), Tom Sizemore (Milo) and David Paymer (Hal, the bus driver). Thomas said to his girlfriend Anne, “ I've loved people before and they went away. So a long time ago I made a decision that I wasn't gonna need anybody anymore.”

I'm starting with a movie quote because a few days ago, I realized that I have been having some very dark days recently. My moods, my behavior and my attitudes about things have been a bit rough, I haven't even been interested in talking to anyone. I have been told that it's part of the grieving process. I really wouldn't know because its been so many years (1983 to be exact), since I lost someone I actually cared about, loved. In my lifetime, I have been hurt so many times by people who have claimed to “love” me, but that love came with strings attached and always tied into something. I have already stated I grew up in a family that taught the “love with strings” way of life and because of that, I decided to put up walls, so that I could live without feeling hurt, or used and sometimes both. In 1983, I was friends with a Major in the Army... just friends; he was old enough to be my father. We read the same books, discussed them, shared jokes, fun times in our lives and he was a part my “movie going” group. Actually he started the group, a few of us got together once every two weeks went and saw a movie and after the movie went out to eat and shared our thoughts on the movie. The interesting part of this group was the age differences and the different ideas and perspectives each of us had on the movie. I learned a lot about people, especially the older generation - in 1983 I was only 19. Fun times were had by all. Unfortunately, my friendship with the Major was cut short; he was killed in an automobile accident, while at home visiting his family in Alabama. I was devastated and decided at that point in my life, I never wanted to feel hurt like that again. I stopped getting close to anyone, or allowing anyone to be close to me.

As time went by and I aged, a few people (adults and they worked really hard), my husband, my best friend of thirty years, and my dad found their way into that place in my heart where there is love (my children all already reside there). When I was told my dad had cancer, my first thought was; “he can beat this, he is the strongest man I know, he's my dad and he knows I need him, so he'll beat this.” Unfortunately, after a conversation with my dad in November, I knew he wasn't long for the world. I have always considered myself a strong person, a do it on my own kind of girl, tough to a fault. I have even heard people call me “cold-hearted,” “difficult/stubborn” and my favorite “bit#$.” They never bothered me, because as I have always told my children, “people find it easier to judge someone and call them names than it is to take the time to get to know them.” My case is no different, not to mention I don't make it easy for people. My husband, my best friend and my dad knew this. I have very few close friends; I know many people, but very few of them can say they know me. My dad knew me and I knew my dad. But his death has caused me to feel a pain that I haven't felt since I lost my Major friend in 1983, only deeper and more profound. My dark moods are because I miss him very much and I am trying to prevent myself from closing off the world, as I did in 1983. I'm not as closed off as I once was, but the opportunity is there and it's a struggle for me.

Seven years ago, I lost my mom, my aunt and my step-grandmother, all within the same year. There was no real love for any of these woman and therefore their passing meant little to me. I even went to my mom's funeral to make certain she was dead. So much of her life was a lie, I expected her death might also have been a fabrication. My life really began after she died. The reason my life began; because she wasn't around to poo-poo and criticize everything in my life anymore. I could achieve things, I never thought possible when she was alive. Even distance didn't stop her from crushing my hopes, dreams and causing problems in my marriage. She even attempted to put a wedge (she used lying as a tool to cause problems between people) between my dad and me and for many years she did. I was very blessed to have had the past seven years with my dad, even though I lived out of state. We built a great father-daughter relationship over the phone. He sent holiday cards, birthday cards and even a card of inspiration once. I respected and admired my father and recently before he passed, he told me, he respected and admired me. I'm hurting; I don't know how long the grieving process lasts, I just know I have to go with the flow until the hurt diminishes. I know it may never go away completely, but as time goes on, it may become less and less and maybe I can remember my dad with a smile instead of the sadness and the “I miss you” tears when I think of him.

If you have ever lost anyone you love, I hope you understand the dark moods I have had since I started writing again. Everyday I remind myself what a wonderful gift love is, and if you have that gift in your life don't take it for granted, don't ignore it, or don't put it off until tomorrow. Seize the moment, make the memories and enjoy the time. One amazing saying I see everywhere these days is “live, laugh, love,” Yes! “LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE,” it's worth it.

There is a fun saying from the movie Hitch with Will Smith (Hitch) and Eva Mendes (Sara), Hitch says to Sara, “Never lie, steal, cheat, or drink. But if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. If you must cheat, cheat death. And if you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away.” Something to think about as the day progresses.

This is the last blog I will do about dad, as I will be working on better days and moving ahead with my life without my dad. I will also ask the readers of Daily Mood Quotes to please understand, I may slip and have a dark day occasionally, I'm not perfect....I'm human.

How will you live, laugh and love today?

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Daily Mood Quotes - January 12, 2012

2012-01-12T14:29:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quote
Day 238 - January 12, 2012

When you have nothing to say, you should say nothing.
~Unknown Author

That is the day I am having. Be back tomorrow

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Daily Mood Quotes - January 11, 2012

2012-01-11T07:21:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quote

Day 237 – January 11, 2012

“Friendships are discovered rather than made.”

~Harriet Beecher Stowe

What is the difference between friendship and networking? I ask this question because recent events in my life raise the questions of what and why? What are your motives? Why are you talking to me? Why do you want to connect with me? I hate to be so cynical, but these are questions I have to ask. Allow me to give you a little insight into my life. In my family there seemed always to be an ulterior motive, or hook on everything that was done, or said. All favors were conditional and on a “what can you do for me” basis. Nothing was ever from the good of the heart, or just plain ol' love. Consequently, I don't have a great deal of trust for other's motives, when they suddenly pop back into my life after years of distance and want me to friend them on Facebook and invite them into my Linkedin network. “I have questions, queries, posers” that come to mind (thanks Number 5 played by Tim Blaney from the movie Short Circuit with Ally Sheedy and Steve Guttenberg).

These are folks that I once thought of as friends, but now I wonder about that. The era of social networking seems to be becoming less social and more network. I feel that is a loss for all of us. Today people flock to “friend” as many people as possible to build their social profile online. But in the race to hook into the network, we often bypass the basic building blocks of friendship. The first of which is a genuine emotional, not digital, connection to those we know. You just can't get that without an in person experience. The second basic block on which real friendships are built is trust and that takes a while to establish and grow (especially with me, I once had a friend say to me, “you have some very thick walls people need to break through, but once they are through, the friendship is worth it). As in the fable of the bamboo grower, “It takes time.” The third block upon which friendship is built is shared goals, interests, or other emotionally connected experiences; be they positive, or negative. Emotion counts. If there is no emotion, there is no friendship, its that simple. That's how we connect to people and develop friendships. To call it anything else is a lie and I can’t support that and you can't get that from a “digital network.”

If it's just a way to “leverage” an acquaintance, let's be honest about it. Your not looking for a friendship, your developing a means, a way to get what you want, be it a job, a promotion, a status...whatever. Much like my mom, “I'll give that to you, if you do this for me.” I have to wonder if this was Mark Zuckerberg's intention for Facebook. I know I'm being cynical here, but it seems to me that we have taken a great idea and bastardized it into a “what can you do for me opportunity.” Both online and off, and no longer about “genuine friendship.” I have noticed that people's offline behavior is beginning to mimic this online “friending” fraud. Online habits seem to leak into real life. It leaves me wondering does anyone know what friendship is anymore, what it looks like or even how one is suppose to behave in public? Or, is it all about, “hey he/she is in a position that can help me move up, so I think I will friend him/her on Facebook, or Linkedin.” It seems as what was once a wonderful way to stay connected to family and your true friends has become the domain of networking vultures. Always circling, always drifting in search of that next connection to exploit.

To be fair, I know of some people who don't use Facebook for networking, for them it is about keeping in touch with family and sharing those precious moments with loved ones; that is awesome. I have had a friend for thirty years and she will be the first one to tell you, it took a long time for me to trust her and become friends with her. But when we did, we both will tell you, the friendship is worth it. Oh the stories we could tell, unfortunately, we wouldn't be able to stop laughing long enough to tell them. You can't get this through a random Facebook friend, whom you have never really met.

I know this sounds a bit curmudgeonly and I apologize, but when something bugs me I have to get it out. Three weeks ago, my dad died and I thought perhaps my siblings and I might become closer now that our parents are gone. In fact the opposite has happened. I have reached out, but I haven't heard from anyone since my dad passed. Perhaps they are still grieving, but that isn't what history has taught me. I believe I won't hear from them, unless I have something to offer them. Love with strings, friendships with strings (networking). I miss my dad very much, because his love didn't come with strings attached. They're just following an example was set many years ago by mom, “I'll do this for you, if you do this for me.” Much like networking. It's sad.

Can you tell the difference between “friendship” and “networking friendship” today?

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Daily Mood Quotes - January 10, 2012

2012-01-10T08:48:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quote

Day 236 - January 10, 2012

“To be afraid is to have more faith in evil than in God.”

~Emmet Fox

"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed -- and hence clamorous to be led to safety -- by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary."

~H.L. Mencken

Okay, today I may touch on a few issues that could rub folks the wrong way. That's alright, because as humans we are all different and have different points of view. In fact, that is the first of two basic issues I want to look at today. I find it curious that somehow we have as a species, failed to embrace the simple fact that we are in fact, a species. There is a range of sizes, shapes, coloration and a host of other variations in almost any globally present species. So too with us. Diversity and adaptability is good and leads to stable systems. It's a simple scientific fact, born out time and again; throughout the history of the planet. Yet, we as people seem to have a hard time accepting this very fundamental species survival mechanism. No matter where you look, you see folks in almost every walk of life pointing out others who are different as a threat. The same holds for occupations, behaviors, religions and just about anything else you can think of. We can't and shouldn't be all exactly the same; that's Species Survival 101.

So, What's my point? It is simple. This morning, I read an article in the Huffington Post and on Reuters that in a Monday speech, Pope Benedict XVI stated his belief that political support of gay marriage undermined the family and “threaten human dignity and the future of humanity itself.” I just want to be clear about a few things. First, I think that, if the quote is accurate (I couldn't find the transcript), the Pope, who has been accused of covering up the indiscretions of gay and pedophile priests, needs to tread lightly here, I don't suffer hypocrites well. And as I understand it, Jesus of Nazareth didn't either. I'm just saying; where is the acceptance, the love and forgiveness; isn't that the foundation of the faith?

That said, I also wonder what was the real motivation behind the piece I read, as it seemed to “cherry pick” facts to paint Catholics in general, in the worst possible light. That's not right either. I believe, its just as hypocritical to point a finger and say see how bad “they” (pick one as we are all “they” to someone else) are for not following Christ's lead, while it's okay to attack them. I just didn’t see the article as fair minded. So, to point two and something we discussed yesterday; Fear. I can't in any way, believe that gay marriage, or lack there of is going to have any negative impact on humanity's survival. That to me is fear mongering to advance the cause of an organization. One that given its 2000 year history should know better by now. There always have been and always will be a distribution of sexual orientations and other behaviors in this and every other species. We may, or may not have souls (depending on one's beliefs, I for one, do believe), but we can be certain, the wiring inside the human brain is always going to include variability. Kind of a no-brainer, please pardon the pun. What disturbs me is that the head of a church would feel it necessary to stoop to that level, in order to lure people “afraid of a changing world,” into the fold.

I really don't recall anywhere in the New Testament that Jesus Christ whom is the real head of the church, condoned being “afraid” of anything on earth. He in fact said on more than one occasion “do not be afraid.” Case in point, Matthew 10:26 says, “So do not be afraid of people.”(NIV) I'm not giving a Bible lessen here, just expressing that what the Pope said really “feels” wrong this time and isn't consistent with the simple facts of life on earth, or Jesus's message. But, we are all human and as I said, how we see things is variable. But, to use the “future of humanity itself ” as a hand tool of fear mongering, really misses the point. I sincerely hope that the Catholic church changes it's hard heart. There are so very many other things that truly are a threat to the survival of our species and the planet we all live on. Lets focus on fixing those first. As President Andrew Shepherd (played by Michael Douglas) in the movie The American President said, “Let's try to keep our eye on the ball, okay?”

I really believe the first, greatest evil is fear. It makes otherwise good people, do horrendous things. That's the real threat to the survival of humanity. To single out any group of people who are just going about their own business, leading their daily lives, as a threat to humanity is a long and slippery slope. That's how leaders have twisted whole populations to do truly unspeakable things to others. George Orwell once pointed out that the first job of a leader is to create an enemy that could strike fear into the hearts of the electorate. Our religious leaders might want to focus on hope, not fear.... we have the Republican Super-PACS for that. They can spread fear, like jam on bread and so, so many eat it up. My point; any organization, or writer that uses fear instead of fact, hate instead of love, deception instead of truth to further itself/themselves, is not working in anyone's interest but their own. Caveat emptor (Let the buyer beware); extends to both politics and religion (whoops, I guess thats a itsy bit of fear mongering too, but I prefer to think of it as common sense). Choose well, read wisely.

How will you view others today?

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Daily Mood Quote - January 9, 2012

2012-01-09T06:25:00.000-08:00

Daily Mood Quote

Day 235 – January 9, 2012

“We don't live in our fears, we live in our hopes.”

~Mike Tomlin – Head Coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers

Yesterday, I watched the playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Denver Broncos and Phil Simms an NFL game announcer commented on his interview with Mike Tomlin about some past decisions that were made regarding Ben Roethlisberger, the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers and whether or not he should have played the last two games of the regular season with his injury. Mike Tomlin commented “we don't live in our fears, we live in our hopes.” My thought after I heard that, “wow, what a profound statement and accurate too.” How many of us live with fears, regrets, the “woulda, shoulda, and coulda's” of our lives?

I know I have even asked the question, “what if I would have done this differently or said this instead of that” figuring the outcome may have been different. But, you know what, it doesn't matter, what is done is done and we need to stop stewing in the past and move ahead with the hope that is waiting for us. Failure to see hope, or believe in hope, takes away the belief that there is a tomorrow, with new possibilities. Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” So why fear something that is already in the past; we cannot touch it, we can not see it, and we can not taste it, because the past no longer exists. It seems foolish to be afraid of something, or allow that something that is no more, to have so much control over us, that it dictates life to us.

Fear is a distressing emotion that has its only purpose in the “now” (as in supplying the rush of adrenalin you might need to escape an onrushing fright train). When allowed to hang around and fester, it can really mess up a day, a week, a month, a year and even a life. Especially, if we allow it to take control of our thoughts and actions. Hope, best described by Dictionary.com as, “the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.” I believe to gain a positive future, we need to suppress our fears, try and have a little hope. I also believe that is what Mr. Tomlin was talking about. You see Ben Roethlisberger has a high ankle sprain and really should have been on the injured list, but Big Ben is tough and chose to play in the “HOPE” of putting the Pittsburgh Steelers in a better position for the playoffs. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. This time it did not pay off, but I admire the Steelers for trying, for having hope. I know many Steeler fans are disappointed about this, but as my father use to say, “there is always next year.” That's the promise that we all share; For the teams who are finished this year and tomorrow for those of us, who have hope.

I know what you may be thinking, “It's easier said than done ” and for many that's true. Anyone who has had a significant, or repeated trauma may need a bit of help separating the tangled mess fear leaves in its wake. Our human minds, however evolved we wish to believe, still have a long way to go in learning how to put old fears in their proper place. That's why hope in the possibilities of tomorrow exists. It is the counterbalance to fear. Some things just take more time than others. However, a caution, our time on earth is not endless, we all only have a certain amount of time to work with and what you do with that time, that hope, those possibilities is up to you.

What hope will you have today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading