Pete Hegseth (Archives)

This is what the United States SECRETARY OF WAR had to say about the Iran war. He defended Operation Epic Fury like he did those tattoos he carries. He went on to say Donald Trump was righteously avenging every wrong having been done to every American servicemember over multiple generations. “A man who always puts Americans first,” talking about Cadet Bone Spurs, was now going to “finally draw the line after 47 years of Iranian belligerence.”

Then he went on to tout American strength and might. “We didn’t start this war, but under President Trump we are finishing it.”

Hmm…he had a lot more to say but in similar vein. “Turns out the regime that chanted ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel’ was gifted death from America and death from Israel,” finishing with a smirk on his face.

One source went on to say, “deluded people in the service of cult-like devotion should never be put in charge of lethal weapons.”

I totally agree.

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Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, was sworn into his new role by Vice President JD Vance on January 18th.

“When President Trump chose me for this position, the primary charge he gave me was to bring the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense.” Was it missing? The warrior culture I mean.

He further added, “He, like me, wants a Pentagon laser-focused on lethality, meritocracy, warfighting, accountability and readiness.” He also said, “this is the most important deployment of my life.”

All fine and good. Let’s take a good hard look at the 29th secretary of defense. First of all, he is the least qualified person to ever serve in this position. However, he has two things going for him according to Michael J. Hicks, an Opinion Contributor with USA Today.

“First he doesn’t give a whit about our Constitution. Indeed, he seems eager to fire generals based solely on their willingness to obey the legal orders of the reelected president.”

Hmm….

One of the two characteristics that make him a perfect candidate to serve under Trump.

Second, “Hegseth’s private life provides close parallels to those of the 47th president. Hegseth has cheated on at least two of his three wives, divorcing two.”

By the way, is the President aware that Hegseth once claimed on national TV that he hasn’t washed his hands for 10 years because, “germs are not a real thing. I can’t see them; therefore they’re not real.” He later claimed it was much ado about nothing. So, what does the 47th president and self-professed germophobe think about this and more importantly did they shake hands? He’s good-looking so germs don’t matter that much right?

Let’s look at Pete Hegseth’s tattoos. The man has multiple tattoos and two of them are often associated with extremist groups. The chest tattoo of the Jerusalem cross and an arm tattoo of the Latin phrase, “Deus Vult,” meaning “God Wills it.” Hegseth gave pushback saying, “I don’t give a damn – but this type of targeting of Christians, conservatives, patriots and everyday Americans will stop on DAY ONE at (Trump’s) DoD.”

It did but for targeting immigrants with tattoos. Trump thinks immigrants with tattoos are all criminals. What’s good for the goose is also good for the gander? Not in this administration.

If you kowtow to the “new Messiah” all things are possible is the message. Tattoos, sexual assault charges and no qualifications don’t matter. If you do the bidding, you’ve got it made!

Living Your Best Life

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“Put yourself first on your priority list and watch your life get better.” Unknown

One interpretation of living your best life is to “live a life that makes you happy and also one that allows you to live your full potential.” quora.com

Concentrating on yourself is of the utmost importance. If you want to live your best life, put yourself first and foremost on that priority list. It starts with YOU and if you can get your act together everything else falls into place and even if it doesn’t, give it time to right itself out. In the meantime you’re standing where you should be and that is at the top of your list.

“One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching.” Unknown

Each day do what is necessary to get yourself back on track. If you’re down on your knees, stand back up. If all you see is grey clouds and no sunshine, make your own sunshine. Put on a smile, get dressed and go out and shine! Never underestimate the power of a smile, it does wonders for your psyche and your soul. So make sure to wear one even if you don’t feel like it.

Talk to yourself. Tell yourself, “I love you!” Sounds crazy? Not really. Sometimes or rather more often than not, we forget the person we carry around with us. The special someone who stands by us through all our big and little moments of sadness, joy, heartbreak and everything else that goes to make up this life of ours. Show it some LOVE. I’ve started doing this practice of positive self-talk and I say, “I love you,” “I’m thankful for your support,” and “I’m grateful for all the things you do for me.” After I finish I give myself a hug, a make-believe one but a hug nonetheless. This has proved to be an absolute game changer and within a few minutes I feel calmer and “happiness” courses through my whole being. Not always but that is okay too.

Here’s another important point. If you want to live your best life, don’t beat yourself up. You’re beautiful as you are and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! We are our own worst enemy and I know I am. I often tell myself, “Your hair looks bad today!” Or that little spot on my face has taken gigantic proportions and is now staring back at me with a grin. Sometimes I say, “I just don’t like how I look!” I’m learning to tone down the rhetoric and to be kinder and gentler with myself. These days if someone says, “You look good,” I accept it wholeheartedly without resorting to, “but that’s not what I saw this morning as I looked in the mirror!” Vanity can be a downer at times but learning to accept yourself flaws and all is the way to go.

One Day It Clicks

You realize what’s important and what isn’t. You learn to care less about what other people think of you and more about what you think of yourself. You realize how far you’ve come and you remember when you thought things were such a mess that you would never recover. And you smile. You smile because you are truly proud of yourself and the person you’ve fought to become.” Unknown

Go out and live your very best life and while you’re doing it don’t forget to have an amazing day!

My Favorite Sports?

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I don’t do competitive sports so there is nothing I watch or play. I used to do fast walking in competitions but that was years ago. Now, it is just walking for exercise to keep fit and to get out in nature.

Men are into competitive sports I think. Tennis, football and golf just to name a few. When I was married, I used to watch football not because I was interested in it but because I kept him company and went through the motions of liking what I saw especially when the ball made a goal. Those days are done with.

When I was a kid, I used to play in the boy’s football team. Dad was the coach so he let me even though I was the only girl in an all boy’s team. I don’t think he liked it that much but dad being dad decided, “this too shall pass” and bit the bullet and said nothing much to it. It did pass. I’m a quieter version of who I used to be and if you’re looking down on me, mom and dad, go ahead and smile, I’m the “lady” you wanted me to be!

Daily writing prompt
What are your favorite sports to watch and play?

Sleep, Where Art Thou? (Archives)

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Ever laid awake all night and wondered why sleep is evading you?  If you have, you’re not alone.  Say hello to your comrade-in-arms.  It started several months ago.  Out of the blue, my sleepless nights appeared wearing bells and grinning from ear to ear and since then I go to bed with good intentions but alas, “sleep” is nowhere to be found.

After months of feeling like a walking zombie, I started looking for natural remedies to my sleep problems.  I tried yoga and did everything that was asked of me short of turning myself into a pretzel and although yoga helped to keep me pliable like warm taffy, it didn’t help me as far as sleep was concerned.  Next on my list was a warm cup of milk.  Sprinkle some turmeric, stir it around to turn it into a golden delicious liquid and you’re good to go.  Lo and behold, a miracle happened the first time I tried this magic potion.  Half an hour later, I was sleeping like a baby and woke up feeling refreshed like a new-born with nowhere to go.  However, this solution was a one-trick pony.  The following night, this miracle sleep elixir had lost its shine and I was back to square one, looking pretty in my floral pyjamas but I couldn’t lure “sleep” into my bed.

A week later, a friend told me about guided sleep meditation videos on YouTube.  Ah yes, YouTube, the guru on all things wrong with this world.  I decided to give it a try.  I spruced myself up for sleep with YouTube splashed across my TV screen.  Let me tell you, the choices are plenty.  There are videos lasting just 15 minutes and guaranteed to put you to sleep but alas they hadn’t reckoned on me.  I am a tough cookie.  There are also videos that go on for about 1 1/2 hours but by the time I made it to 1/2 an hour, I threw off my blanket in irritation and switched it off.  I was wide-awake and sleep was nowhere to be found.

Finally, I read somewhere that deep breathing helps.  I decided to give this one a go.  What did I have to lose except that bug-eyed look from too little sleep.  I approached it cautiously.  I tried taking 5 deep breaths, each one slowly in through the nose and then out through the mouth.  The trick is to take your time breathing in and out.  After the fifth one, I felt myself relaxing.  Oops, something was definitely happening.  Next, I had to take five more breaths, this time breathe in through the nose, hold for five counts and release through the mouth.  After the third breath, hold and release, I could see my Prince of Sleep approaching slowly.  That night I slept like a well-fed baby.  I tried again the next night and again it sent me off to La La Land in no time at all.  Truthfully though, I have to add that it doesn’t work every night and some nights, it takes a little longer for sleep to appear but this method does work.  I followed this up with the dead man’s pose.  Taken from yoga, this has a propensity to totally relax you.  Here’s how it works.  Lay on your back on the floor or your bed, fully stretched out.  Let yourself go, first relaxing your feet, then your ankles and so on until you reach your head.  Work to let go of thoughts that enter your mind and reel it back in to your breathing.  Easier said then done but with practice, this is a sure fire way to catch some zzz’s.  So if you are like me, sleepless in bed or wherever you’re at, give these two methods a go.

Sleep deprivation or rather not sleeping enough is a big problem.  It affects your health significantly.  Sleep disorders have been linked to other factors such as stress, relationship problems, medical health conditions just to mention a few.  What I do know is that if not treated, this condition can cause memory problems, can affect job performance and cause problems in your relationship.  Some of the solutions I have stated above did not work for me but it might for you.  All I can say is give it a try, who knows it may just be the right remedy for you.

“Good night, sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite.”

If I Won the Lottery…

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I would go quiet because first of all, it would be a shock to the system and second, I would stay there for a while!

Winning the lottery is a dream that many have but it never comes to fruition. In my case, I would fix the roof. It is alright for now but if I had the money to throw around, I would invest in putting a Tudor-style roof on the house. It costs an arm and a leg to fix a roof here so that would be one luxury I would look at. Of course, family, friends and my son would benefit from all that excess and what else?

Travel comes to mind but since I’ve traveled to many parts of the world, it is not high on my list of things to do. Sri Lanka is still on my list of places to visit because it is breathtaking and simply beautiful but first I need to get out of my “recluse” mode! Oh, I would try to run a homeless shelter in honor of someone I knew. Universe if you’re listening, let’s make it happen!

Daily writing prompt
What would you do if you won the lottery?

TRUST

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A series on Getting Back on Track

“There are two reasons why we don’t trust people. 

First – we don’t know them.

Second – we know them.” Unknown

The other day someone asked me, “Why can’t you trust me? Today as I walk the route I always take, thoughts run through my mind and this question arises over and over again. ”Why can’t I trust him and especially anyone for that matter?”

Then this quote pops into my mind. I’ve heard it many times before but today as the trust issue resurfaces, it brings new significance to it. 

“Trust takes years to build, seconds to break and forever to repair.” Dhar Mann

It is defined as “having confidence in someone or something” and it means, “I can rely on you to do the right thing.”

Several years ago, I found myself face to face with the horrific dilemma of having placed my trust in the person who had sworn to love and protect me till the end of time and he turned out to be the same person who brought me down to my knees when he took that trust and threw it out the window for a roll in the hay with someone else. It had taken 17 years to build, the foundation was being laid brick by brick but it took only seconds to destroy and the “forever” part well I know that it will take forever to repair.

As I round a bend in the path all is quiet and it is grey and foggy. I realize that it is the perfect stage for where I am right now. Then a small smile crosses my face as I see this quote flash by out of nowhere. 

“Don’t ask me to trust you when you’ve given me every reason not to.” Unknown

I don’t think it is about playing detective, trying to find out if you’re telling the truth and keeping tabs on everything you do. It is more about that feeling within, that intuition or call it gut feeling, if you will, that tells me that something is not right here. Pay heed to that gut instinct because it has your best interest at heart. No matter how he professes to love you and even if he stands on his head and declares that he has been faithful to you, take it with a pinch of salt or better still, tell yourself I have “forever” in front of me and time enough for you to show me that I CAN TRUST YOU.

Once I caught my ex in the act of cheating and being the liar he is, I told him, even if I catch you in the act, you will jump up and say, “You didn’t see what you just saw!” Cheaters, well there are plenty of them out there and before placing your trust on a whim or in a moment’s notice, take your time, observe, pay attention to the signs and never, NEVER be pushed into trusting someone simply because they say so.

“Some people aren’t loyal to you, they are loyal to their need of you. Once their needs change, so does their loyalty.” Unknown

Coming back to the question asked by this friend. ”Why can’t you trust me?” My answer goes like this. ”You know the answer and the truth lies within you.” On this journey I have chosen, I am looking for that needle in the haystack. 

“I want to hold your hand at 90 and say, “We made it.” Unknown.

 If I may add to that, perhaps only then can I say, “I trust you with my whole heart and you will just have to be patient. We have time enough until then.”

The sun is starting to peek out and today is going to be an amazing day.

I am moving on……

Books I Want to Read?

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Nothing really, I don’t read much anymore. I don’t know why because I used to be a bookworm in my younger days. Some days I had my nose so deep in books that I forgot time and place! It was my way of escaping the ordinary and going out into the extraordinary where fantasy and make-believe reigned supreme. It was a beautiful place to be in and I didn’t have to leave my bedroom to do it. I could kiss princes, find true love, visit exotic locations and learn so much from the written word. Those days are gone.

Then I started writing and books took a back seat. Sad, really, because I would love to get back there again, put on my adventurer’s cloak and let imagination take hold and lead me to a fantastic world where everything is possible.

I am not into history and neither am I into things that make me think too much. I love romance and I dabble in politics, well, more than dabble but if I could get back to reading, I would love a love story where the girl gets the guy and they walk off into the sunset forever!

Daily writing prompt
What books do you want to read?

MUSK

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There is something in the air and it is spreading and invading far and wide so much so that it has now moved across the pond and into Europe. It reeks of something unpleasant and it is dangerous if allowed to spread.

Nazism is nothing to sneeze at let alone to make fun of. The man who was criticized for his “Nazi” salute not once but twice during Trump’s inauguration event is now speaking out for the far-right in Germany. The Tesla CEO or rather the “snake oil” salesman as some call him has big ambitions and I think it borders on world domination of the unsavory kind.

Elon Musk did a virtual salute on Saturday to Germany’s far-right party, AfD, saying Germans should “take pride” in German culture and values and “not to lose that in some sort of multiculturism that dilutes everything.” Huh? So, he is advocating monoculturism? It is defined as “the policy or process of supporting, advocating, or allowing the expression of the culture of a single social or ethnic group.” Someone should tell him that there are NO mono-ethnic countries anymore. He added more but who cares!

It is of importance that the man who faced criticism in the U.S. and Europe for his straight arm gesture resembling a Nazi salute is now trying to influence German elections. He went on to say, “I think you (AfD) are really the best hope for Germany.”

This is scary folks because if money, computer expertise and a Nazi salute here and there can manipulate the outcome of an election then Lord help us all!

Ghosting

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I’m not talking about the spooky variety that scares the hell out of you but the kind that is mean and done to do damage. I’m talking about “Ghosting” which is prevalent in today’s digital age and which is meant to hurt in a sinister way.

It is defined as “the practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication.”

Have you experienced this form of communication or rather “no communication” to be more precise? It hurts doesn’t it? The problem is, it was meant to hurt you. It is a heartbreaking reality in today’s world and it has the potential to shatter your self-esteem, grip at your insides and even though it is an act, a non-thinking and cowardly one, the pain is akin to that of the physical variety.

Gentleman’s Rule #10:

If you can’t handle what she brings to the table, or if she’s not the woman for you, leave the table like a gentleman. Don’t ghost, ghosting is for insecure shit-heads. The fact that we have a word for this behavior says more about men, than women.” onefemalecanuck.com

According to some mental professionals, ghosting can be classified as a form of emotional cruelty and it is. It causes emotional distress, sadness, despair, anger and a whole host of other emotions. Ghosting is a sign that the perpetrator of this act has poor communication skills, is immature and disrespectful of your feelings because being “ghosted” can leave an unwanted imprint on the “ghostee” the person being ghosted.

“Ghosting doesn’t work on me, I don’t care if we never speak again.” Unknown

Easier said than done? Here are some tips on how to recover from being ghosted according to drtracyhutchison.com

Realize that no response is a response.

Try not to take it personally.

Use mindfulness and self-compassion to heal.

Set boundaries.

Move on.

If all else fails, do this:

“When someone ghosts you, respect the dead and MOVE ON!” Unknown

Have an amazing day.

Favorite Family Traditions

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I don’t have many now but there are a few I remember from times past. One of my best memories or traditions that the family enjoyed was Christmas Eve. We usually had a huge tree all lit up and for a young child it was magical. I remember the house was bright with lights and to bolster the mood further, the table was brimming with food. Right before the clock struck midnight, the carollers arrived and they stood in front of the tree and sang Christmas carols. It was one of the best family tradition that I remember.

When I was married, my German in-laws used to come to our place on the 24th and we had a huge meal, sometimes roast rabbit and sometimes goose or duck and all the trimmings that went with it. I cooked the meal and we sat around with my son’s eyes all lit up in anticipation and sometimes we sang Christmas carols but most of the time it was just cosy because the fireplace was on and the place felt warm and full of love.

Those days are gone but the memories remain and to my surprise, my ex mother-in-law remembered it too. Not too long ago she said, “I remember how beautiful the house looked at Christmastime.” I guess sometimes beautiful memories remain even though time has come and gone and changed the circumstances.

Daily writing prompt
Write about a few of your favorite family traditions.