What were my parents doing at my age? I don’t know!
I left home a long time ago. Both parents are no longer here. Dad died of a heart attack even though he lived a healthy life but that didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Mom as I have mentioned before died an untimely death at the hands of an immigrant who came in as a cleaning woman and who later took her life for some money and a few pieces of jewelery.
If they had been alive, I think they would have still continued a similar lifestyle. I come from a very religious family meaning Sundays at church and the rest of the time keeping close to the Bible and its teachings. I was glad to get away when I left to continue my studies because claustrophobia had started to set in but they taught me some good lessons that have stood the test of time and for that I will always be thankful.
Perhaps if life had been kind, they would be leading a quiet life carrying on their mission of spreading God’s word. Since it was not, I know they are at peace wherever they are.
The Tesla CEO and billionaire to boot has 12 children. Yes folks, he’s been busy in more ways than one. He believes in the “pro-natalist” movement which advocates having lots of kids as a remedy to population decline or it could be his contribution to world domination. Just saying.
He has had 12 children with three different women and goes by the motto, “Have money will propagate!” He has had six kids with his first wife, Justin Wilson, three with ex-girlfriend Grimes and three with his Neuralink executive girlfriend, Shivon Zilis.
Yesterday, he showed up at the White House for the Musk presser with President Trump by his side. Also present was his son with the unpronounceable name so we’ll him X. If picking his nose wasn’t enough, the cute four-year-old stole the show by mimicking his father!
Another source commented, “I’m watching Elon Musk’s son pick his nose, eat boogers and wipe them on the Resolute desk, there’s no way this kid is not annoying Trump.”
He probably did but since Musk was running the show, the orange-faced Commander-in-Chief kept his “cool” and ignored the whole thing including the kid!
Yes folks, “orange” is back in although his hair seems to be in a better shape. A new stylist or a toupee?
When asked to respond to critics who called his anti-government efforts a “hostile takeover,” Musk responded with, “The people voted for major government reform and that’s what the people are going to get.”
If someone can’t make the effort to be in your life – they don’t deserve to be there.
It only ends once, everything else is just progress.
A good cup of tea can solve just about anything.
Stick to your guns.
Impromptu solo dance parties are good for your health.
Spend time with the people who matter the most.
I remember a time when life was simple. Having my head in the clouds and my feet on the ground was a daily and joyous norm for me. Twirling on my toes, watching clouds go by on my back and chasing rainbows and dreams was what life was about way back when I was young and life was simple.
Splashing in duck puddles on a rainy day with only the ducks for company was absolute heaven. Covered in mud from head to toe and looking like a gypsy was a badge I wore with pride. Talking to unseen beings who only existed in my mind didn’t matter because it made life simple.
Chasing rainbow colored fish in a dirty stream made it the absolute highlight of my day and when I had a few wriggling in my hands with the sunlight reflecting off their multi-hued bodies made it even more so. Boys….hmm….boys were of no importance except as buddies. They did not have the power to touch my heart but that was way back when things were simple and I had wings.
Dancing in the rain, jumping over puddles of water and squealing with laughter meant I was one with nature. Anger, hurt and pain were unknown in a life where nothing mattered except for the magic I created within myself. Joy was an everyday occurrence but it became a thing of the past. It was way back when things were simple. I am a grown-up now.
Adulthood is defined as or means that, “they are an adult or that they behave in a responsible way.”
Someone asked me not too long ago why I couldn’t behave the same way. The answer is simple. Grown-ups or adults behave in a specific way. Propriety demands that I “conform to what is socially acceptable in conduct or speech.”
Going back to the quote I started out with, I will choose a few I can live with.
“Sometimes being a bitch is necessary.” This is an alien concept to me as being a “bitch” is way beyond my grasp of being a good person. Lately, I am learning that it is a necessary step to where I want to get to in my journey of life. A bitch is applied to a woman and defined as “someone, who is belligerent, unreasonable, malicious, controlling, aggressive or dominant.” Perhaps I need to apply this concept on my way to arriving at my end goal. Life is not that simple anymore.
“If someone can’t make the effort to be in your life – they don’t deserve to be there.” This is a hard one. Where once “men” were of no consequence, growing up means learning to deal with this species. If you thought women were difficult to comprehend, try dealing with this group! The end point is, if they can’t be bothered to be in your life and every effort is just lukewarm or worse cold then it is time to put your “bitch” shoes on and move on. Life is too short and neither is it just in black and white. It is complicated enough as it is and perhaps we make it more complicated. It boils down to, if you can’t make an effort, it is time for you to go.
Last but not least, “Spend time with people who matter most.” These are people who show up when times are tough. The ones who are not just “fair weather friends” but who are there without being asked. Get rid of the liars, the ones who have lying built into their DNA, this is a necessary step in making your life simple again. Liars are not worthy of your time and space because they say one thing and behave as if you don’t matter. Walk and don’t look back!
“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” Hans Hofmann
Looks easy enough doesn’t it but believe me it is not. You can get back to the basics. You can still dance in the rain, imagine yourself splashing in puddles and envision yourself in a much simpler time and place. Truth is it takes imagination, hard work, determination and courage to get back to that place of simplicity. Complicated is just in your mind.
It is defined as “insulting someone or displaying rude behavior by showing a lack of respect.”
Have you experienced it? I have and it is not a nice thing when faced with such behavior. There are three forms of disrespect. These are known as the passive, subtle and the blatant variety.
Passive disrespect is when someone is condescending, makes insulting insinuations, gives you the silent treatment, is sarcastic and doesn’t care if it is hurtful or not. How do you deal with this kind of disrespect?
Don’t take the bait and address the issue immediately.
Subtle disrespect is when someone mocks you, when they talk behind your back and they will pretend to have forgotten things you agreed on.
Show that it doesn’t affect you or decide if you want to engage. Name the disrespectful behavior you have observed and call them out on it. Have a conversation about it but do not lecture.
Blatant disrespect is the no holds barred variety. They go out of their way to deliberately undermine or demean you. Their actions are obvious and they don’t give a hoot if it hurts you.
Here again stay calm but it is hard to do. Use “I” statements when addressing the issue and ask for clarification. You can react with kindness but since that is almost impossible to do, call the person out on his or her behavior and set boundaries as to what you will or won’t tolerate.
If all else fails, you have the option of walking away and closing the door behind you. No one should put up with disrespect. Disrespect basically says, “You are not important and your feelings don’t matter to me.” The truth is, you are important and your feelings do matter. Do not tolerate disrespect of any kind.
Here are some quotes that speak to the heart of the matter:
“The best way to end disrespect is by not giving them a chance to do it again.” Unknown
“Disrespect is the weapon of the weak.” Alice Miller
“Wasting somebody’s time may be the highest form of disrespect.” Unknown
I like the next one a lot.
“Never let your heart be so forgiving that it gets comfortable with disrespect.” Unknown
“Don’t put up with disrespect just to keep them in your life.” Sonya Parker
“Be careful what you tolerate, you are teaching people how to treat you.” Unknown
Candidates for president of the United States must meet certain basic requirements according to usa.gov and these are:
Be a natural born citizen of the United States.
Be at least 35 years old.
Have been a resident of the United States for 14 years.
However, anyone who incites violence and stokes “armed and angry followers to “fight like hell” and to “fight” to overturn the election results should be barred and disqualified from ever holding public office again. “There must be consequences for insurrection and stoking political violence” and “no one is above the law” not even former presidents” or the current one for that matter.
I think a “stoking insurrection and violence” clause should be added and made into law to stop what is currently happening because “power” in the wrong hands can be detrimental not only to the country in question but the world at large as well. While we’re at it, how about changing that age thing as well. Age is not just a number and a president who is not all there because of cognitive decline which does happen with advanced age should not be holding launch codes to nuclear weapons amongst other things! In the meantime he is running amok with the Executive pen since the other option is not viable but it is all a matter of time.
I used these four words often enough during his first term but it looks like nothing much has changed in that respect. The 47th president is off and running and he hasn’t come out of the playground where he used to throw temper-tantrums like a three-year-old when he didn’t get his way.
He wants to be a “peacemaker” and if I’m not wrong, he promised no wars. He’s all about “making the deal.” Hmm….
The tariffs are coming in fast and furious, shutting down government spending is his strong suit. Who cares about the consequences? He says what goes and what doesn’t and kowtow to the monarch or else!
Standing next to Israeli Prime Minister, Netanyahu, he spoke of taking over the Gaza strip and remodeling it. He also talked of moving the Palestinians out of the “hell hole” and temporarily relocating them. It was a “no go” as far as the Arab world was concerned. He still keeps mumbling about what a “good deal” it would be for the Palestinians.
Who demolished Gaza into what it is today? The Israelis destroyed almost 80% of the structures in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the October 7, 2023 attacks that took place on Israeli soil. Since then, Israel has bombed 40,000 locations and dropped more than 70,000 bomb tonnage and the death toll exceeds over 70,000 casualties. Both Israel and Hamas have been accused of war crimes for their part in the destruction of the Gaza Strip and the killing of innocent citizens. According to Israel’s Channel 12 News, “it would take at least 10 years and cost tens if not hundreds of billions of dollars to reconstruct.” Someone should tell him that!
Now, he’s given the ultimatum to Hamas and the deadline is set for Saturday at 12 noon. What happens then? He doesn’t know! A bluff? It could be but what if it isn’t? Another war? Diplomacy is not what he’s about but strongman tactics are. He’s into “power” and who’s the strongest of them all. Remember him gushing about Kim Jong Un?
“He wrote me beautiful letters and they’re great letters. We fell in love.”
Trump on Turkish Presdient Erdogan: “He’s tough, but I get along with him. And maybe, that’s a bad thing, but I think it’s a really good thing.”
President Xi of China is a good friend. “I’ve gotten to know him very well. He’s a strong gentleman, right?”
Well, you get the picture. So what happens on Saturday at noon? Your guess is as good as mine!
The Duchess of Sussex shared this quote in an interview and how right she is.
How many times have we questioned if we are really enough? How many times have we said if only I was thinner, prettier, more popular, had more friends than life would be better, simpler and I would be enough. More times than you can count on your fingers right? I know I have.
I think to be enough you have to start by loving yourself first. It is not about what society expects of you, the impossible goals it puts out there so that achieving some of them takes us to never never land and leaves us wanting but never quite attaining what is the norm or considered the norm in today’s society of much ado about nothing.
Beyonce said:
“Your self-worth is determined by you. You don’t have to depend on someone telling you who you are.”
I will add, love yourself first and you’re halfway there. Look in the mirror and give yourself a big hug and say, “I love you warts and all!” Yes warts because we do carry those unseen warts around with us. Just the other day someone said to me, “You are your worst critic.” He is right but more appropriately I am my own worst enemy. When I look in that mirror first thing in the morning, I see all that is wrong and those warts, those invisible ones take shape and have the power to obliterate if I allow them. These days, I see someone genuine with potential staring back at me. I smile, give myself a hug and go on my way.
So many of us go through life carrying the burden of I don’t measure up. It is easy to do in this world of ours where perfection and beauty are key buzzwords and measuring up is an uphill task. However, these are just two words. Honesty, integrity, dependability, good-heartedness, helpfulness and so on are all words that carry so much worth that they have the power to blow those two other words, beauty and perfection to kingdom come! Look at you, the real you and you will know that you my friend are enough as you are.
Someone close to me said, “I don’t know if I can make it.” Despair, frustration and a fear of the future are the monsters he will have to slay. He’s at a standstill but this is nothing new. I’ve been there and so have you when the day seems unfathomable and all you want to do is turn out the light, shut out the world and go within yourself and stay there for awhile.
“Today I feel like putting on the “OUT OF ORDER” sticker on my head and going back to bed.” Unknown
However, the trick is in knowing when to crawl out of bed, remove that sign and take life by its reins and to say, “I am enough as I am. You won’t defeat me!”
You are capable, you have the power within you to achieve the impossible and you my friend are stronger than you think!
YOU ARE ENOUGH!
“My mission should I choose to accept it, is to find peace with exactly who and what I am. To take pride in my thoughts, my appearance, my talents, my flaws and to stop this incessant worrying that I can’t be loved as I am.” Anais Nin
The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as: “an ability to understand or know something immediately based on your feelings rather than facts.” In other words, it is often referred to as your gut feeling and it is a powerful tool and if you pay attention to it, it has the ability to stop you from getting into dire circumstances. It all boils down to, if we pay attention to it but as humans that is a hard thing to do.
It is that gnawing sensation within your gut which tells you something is off or doesn’t feel right. It is that innate sense of knowing between right and wrong and it is the truth within that speaks louder than words. Listen to it because it only has your best interest at heart.
I know I’ve turned my back on it many a times. I’ve heard it whispering, “Listen to me. Pay heed because you’re treading in dangerous waters and you will get hurt.” Yet, I chose to turn my back on it all because I thought I knew better or simply put, I wanted something I couldn’t have. When I found out my ex was cheating on me, my intuition knew way before the truth ever came out. Looking back, I heard it roaring inside me and still I had blinders on until I came face to face with it but if truth be told, I KNEW long before I found out. Knowing that didn’t make it hurt any less. It has been said:
A Women’s Intuition is Dangerous
“If she keeps questioning you about a specific topic, over and over again, she isn’t looking for an answer. Most of the time, she already knows the truth but wants to see if you’re going to be honest with her.” M. Sosa
Even now and many years later since I got rid of the cheater, I still find myself in situations which tells me that taking my “intuition” seriously is a hard lesson to learn. I can often hear it ROARING loudly but I tend to choose the other route, more specifically the path of my own making and lo and behold, there I am again stuck knee-deep in a mess of my own making. If only I had listened…..
So, the next time, you hear that little voice within, or that giant roar that booms loudly telling you to jump ship before it is too late, HEED IT, PAY ATTENTION TO IT and say thank you. It is only looking out for you.
“Never discredit your gut instinct. You are not paranoid. Your body can pick up on bad vibrations. If something deep inside of you says something is not right about a person or situation, trust it.” Simple Reminders
Or else you’ll keep seeing this over and over again.
As a young girl with my head in the clouds, I used to dream about this house with a white picket fence around it. It wasn’t anything special but that fence made it extra special. Go figure!
Fast forward to the here and now and it is the home I currently live in. It was the house we (my husband and I) bought when we were looking for a place of our own. I recall he did not want it as it wasn’t big enough but I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. It did not have a white picket fence but a wooden one and it was good enough for me. Today, it does have one, a white fence out front and a green one surrounding the house.
It is too big for one person and some of the rooms are unused but there is something comforting about it. It just feels like home and that makes it my dream home. The furnishing within is of the eclectic kind, lots of antiques mixed in with modern pieces and somehow it all blends together into a cohesive mix. Again, it exudes charm, warmth and a sense of cosiness. The nicest thing about it is that “nature” in all its rambling beauty is just minutes away!
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