The Bully (Archives)

I wrote this a while back but looks like nothing much has changed, if anything the bullying has taken a persona of its own and it is terrifying if not downright disgusting.

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“Bullying is the result of an unequal power dynamic – the strong attacking the weak.” Maria Konnikova

Trump is toxic, he is dangerous and he is a bully through and through. He has used the bully pulpit to his advantage and used his power to belittle those he deems not worthy of compassion or kindness. The man is ruthless when it comes to spewing insults. His motto is, “Talk first, think later,” and this approach has got him into hot water more than once. It seems his toxic nature is part and parcel of his makeup, character wise I mean. Furthermore, he is sorely lacking in how a President should present himself because everything comes down to one thing and that is himself. It is not about the people but about loud-mouthed, asinine Trump and that is why he goes from one gaffe to the next all the while with that Cheshire cat grin plastered on his face.

According to James Barber, who published a well-known study on presidential character, a good President should have the following leadership qualities:

A strong vision for the country’s future.

An ability to put their own times in the perspective of history.

Effective communication skills.

The courage to make unpopular decisions.

Crisis management skills.

Character and integrity.

Wise appointments.

An ability to work with Congress.

Furthermore, he added that Presidents must wear many hats and they “must somehow symbolize what American citizens believe to be the essence of their country. They must represent what is valued now and in the past. But even more importantly, they embody the direction of America’s future.”

Do you see Trump doing any or all of the above? He is first and foremost a playground bully who marches to his own drumbeat and that fact alone makes him more than dangerous. One thing he is good at is name-calling and he does it with such prowess that it is mind boggling. From “Crooked Hillary,” to “Pocohontas,” for Elizabeth Warren, to “Shifty Schiff,” for Adam Schiff and “Sleepy Biden,” for Biden but that is just touching the tip of the iceberg. Mr. Trump does not hold back when it comes to throwing punches of the unsavory kind. He takes it all in stride and moves on like the master manipulator he is.

He is single-handedly changing the characteristics of a President but not for the better. ”From referencing a television host’s menstrual cycle to using vulgar phrases to describe opponents to his encouragement of violence at rallies, Trump’s insults have known no bounds and have been a dominant storyline of the campaign,” and continue to be so even today. Other candidates have used insults and mud-slinging but not to the extend that “Orange Jesus” has. ”His speeches have crossed lines, pushed fact checkers to their limits and incited backlash – all the while further stoking the passions of his most ardent supporters.” Just look at his recent debacle where he said he would “encourage” Russia to attack any NATO country that does not contribute 2% of its GDP to the alliance’s coffers. It was a reckless threat which has contributed to fierce backlash in Europe. Does he care? What do you think?

Add to that his constant posturing like a peacock, running his mouth like a loose faucet and his GOD complex mentality and you’ve got a bully at his very best alas to the detriment of the country. Biden’s mental acuity is concerning but Trump’s playground antics and all out temper tantrums are far more terrifying if you ask me.

Paulo Coelho

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Paulo Coelho de Souze is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist. His book, “The Alchemist” was on the New York Times bestseller list for over 40o weeks and he is brilliant at getting across what life is all about and how to deal with it. I’ve posted some of his quotes here before but here are some more to whet the appetite.

“Life has a way of testing a persons will, either by having nothing happen at all or by having everything happen all at once.”

That’s because “life” is thinking let’s shake things up! It is getting too BORING!

“If you’re brave enough to say ‘GOODBYE’ life will reward you with a new ‘HELLO’.

I’ve been brave many times over and I’m still waiting for the hellos or it could be I say goodbyes more often than the hellos coming in and it has a hard time keeping up!

“The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.”

I absolutely agree on this one.

“Things do not always happen the way I would have wanted, and it’s best that I get used to it.”

This is a hard one. I want things to happen the way I WANT IT for a change.

“It is always important to know when something has reached its end. Closing circles, shutting doors, finishing chapters, it doesn’t matter what we call it; what matters is to leave in the past those moments in life that are over.”

I am learning to leave things in the past BUT the past keeps calling me and I oblige! That is the problem in a nutshell.

“Sometimes you have to travel a long way to find what is near.”

That is human nature. Complicated is what it is about and I can attest to it whole-heartedly.

“And when you can’t go back, you have to worry only about the best way of moving forward.”

Small steps forward and you will get to your next destination. I hope it’s a good one.

“Life always waits for some crisis to occur before revealing itself at its most brilliant.”

Oh God, I don’t know about this one. If that is what life does, I am sunk!

And finally this:

“When a woman has not had SEX for a long time, She turns…..”

Turns into what?!! Becomes wiser? I can agree with that and a little weird? I can agree with that too. This one left me hanging!

Have an amazing day.

Three Objects I Couldn’t Live Without

I think it would be my computer, my mobile phone and lastly but not least my car.

The computer is the first thing I go to after having my first cup of coffee and breakfast. I wonder what is waiting for me there. Perhaps a message from the publisher that the final manuscript is waiting for my approval but so far no luck there! Otherwise, I look at what the Daily Prompt is about and go from there. It is a companion of sorts although inanimate but still it is something I can’t live without. What if it breaks down? Lord, have mercy! I think I would be lost without it.

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The mobile phone is my security blanket. It is there as a back up if the land line doesn’t work or for some reason is down which has happened many times before. It is next to me when I go to sleep and one I reach for in the middle of the night when sleep evades me. There is information at my finger tips and help if needed when I am out and about. Nope, I can’t live without it either.

My car is my mode of transportation to get me from Point A to Point B. I don’t think about how much I need it until it breaks down which it did a month or two ago and then it hit home that I had been taking it for granted. It was time to change that mindset! It is back and running and purring like a new born.

Three inanimate objects but I can’t see my life without them and they are needed for my daily existence. Perhaps I place too much importance on them but that’s the way it is and so it will stay.

Daily writing prompt
What are three objects you couldn’t live without?

The Wrong Guy (Archives)

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He’s the wrong guy if he does some or all of the things below. There are reasons why he’s the wrong guy so pay attention to your heart and listen to your intuition. It has your best interest at heart. The following quotes clearly speak to the heart of the matter.

“So many girls fall in love with the wrong guy simply because the wrong guy usually says all the right things.” Unknown

“The wrong man will always find reasons to leave. While, the right man will always find enough reasons to stay.” Unknown

“The wrong person makes you beg for attention, affection, love and commitment. The right person gives you these things because they love you.” Unknown

“The right attention from the wrong guy during a lonely time could fool you into thinking he might be the one.” Unknown

Loneliness creates dire circumstances and this is one of them. Finding our way to the wrong guy is made so much easier when loneliness steps in.

“Don’t settle. It’s better to face a little loneliness now than a lifetime of loneliness with the wrong person.” Mandy Hale

“When it’s the wrong person, anything you ask is too much.” Steve Maraboli

“At your absolute best, you still won’t be good enough for the wrong person. At your worst, you’ll still be worth it to the right person.” Unknown

Pay special attention to this one because with the wrong guy, it is never enough. Nothing you do will be enough and he’ll find excuses for why that is so. It is not you, it is him.

“Never let the wrong man waste your time and precious energy.” Unknown

If he’s the right one, he’ll find his way to you. If he’s not, he’ll be gone in a blinding minute. Sit up and take notice before it’s too late. The wrong guy is not your destiny but rather he walks in to teach you a lesson. Love is not made up of moments spent together, IT IS moments treasured together and the wrong guy will just provide lip service with no substance to it and when it comes down to showing he cares, he’s nowhere to be found. The wrong guy will walk at a moment’s notice and will even tell you to leave while the right one will weather the storm and sometimes even walk you through that storm. Wait for that person and do not settle for anything less than love, respect and commitment.

“Ladies, the right man for you will pursue you. Actively. He won’t leave you wondering whether he’s into you or not.” Mandy Hale

AND

If you want to find happiness, stay the hell away from a**holes! This is something I have to drill into my head as well.

Have an amazing day.

My Growth Experiences…

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It’s Sunday and too early in the morning to go that deep but I’ll give it a try since I just had my first cup of coffee and my mind is raring to go!

I would say “loss.” Many of us go through it and some of us refuse to learn from it. Loss to us is simply that. Losing something precious, losing a relationship for whatever the reason and of course death is the ultimate loss. These three things taught me that life is fragile but more importantly life is about learning because it (life) has lessons planned and learning and moving on is the only way to go. Standing still is not an option, screaming and howling is not an option, although you can try and I have, thumping your nose at it is not going to work either.

More than my marriage breaking up, I think it was death that brought home the fact that nothing lasts forever but I have strength, incredible strength within the kind that is capable of slaying monsters. First I had to accept that the person had moved on and I was left standing to pick up the pieces. It took crying, incredible grief, talking to myself, finding avenues to let that grief out but most of all when all was said and done, I took up the reins of life again and moved forward one step at a time and I am still moving forward although some days are harder than others. Loss teaches us that when one door closes another one opens. If you keep looking at that closed door, there is no moving forward but if you embrace and move through that open door there is a world of opportunities and new possibilities waiting to be discovered. Courage is needed and of course strength to push you through. It is still a learning process for me and I haven’t reached the pinnacle yet but maybe one day I will or maybe life is just that, when you think you’ve mastered a lesson along comes another. If that’s the case, make it a simpler one the next time around PLEASE!

Daily writing prompt
What experiences in life helped you grow the most?

A New World Order?

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What took place at the Oval Office yesterday was shocking, disgusting, malicious and downright shameful!

President Zelensky was ambushed and bullied not in any schoolyard but in the Oval Office by two arrogant and uncouth individuals who didn’t give a flipping flip if the whole world was watching. He was an invited guest not to mention a beleaguered but giant of a man who had been fighting against an enemy who he referred to as “the killer” and rightfully so. He had come to the White House begging for assistance but instead he got the takedown! Furthermore, he was labeled as being “disrespectful” but the only people who were disrespectful were the President of the United States and his VP who acted like hooligans on the world stage.

After the horrific blowup, Trump had this to say: “I think we’ve seen enough. This is going to be great television, I will say.”

Great television it was not but more like “Bully TV.” The ceasefire agreement with Russia and the mineral deal with the US both went up in smoke because the bullies in question decided to hold a shouting match instead. JD Vance further added,

“I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media. You should be thanking the President for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”

Bend your knee and kiss the ring or else all hell will break loose was the message there.

Shortly after, Zelensky was out the door and all peace talks were halted by the new Chief and the man at the helm of the new administration. Trump further added:

“You’re right now not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now with us, you start having problems right now.”

Hmm….what?!! What played out in the Oval Office was hard to watch but more importantly it signaled what the future of this presidency will look like. Diplomacy, compassion and empathy have all flown the coop and strongmen tactics, boorish behavior and siding with the “bad guys” is what it is about.

The White House deserves a modicum of decorum but it was nowhere to be found yesterday. It too had gone hiding while rude and bullying tactics were front and center. What’s next? Let’s “put the screws on” as bullies do to get what they want.

SHAME ON YOU BOTH!

LOL! (7)

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English For Both Sexes

The Man’s Guide to Female English

We need = I want

Do what you want = You’ll pay for it later.

You’re so manly = You need a shave and you sweat a lot.

You’re certainly attentive tonight = Is sex all you ever think about?

Do you love me? = I’m going to ask for something expensive.

I’ll be ready in a minute = kick off your shoes and find a good game on TV.

Yes = No

No = No

Maybe = No

I’m sorry = You’ll be sorry.

Is my b**t fat? = Be careful here. Tell her she’s beautiful no matter what!

The Woman’s Guide to Male English...

Do you want to go to a movie? = I’d eventually like to have sex with you.

Can I take you to dinner? = I’d eventually like to have sex with you.

Can I call you sometime? = I’d eventually like to have sex with you.

Nice dress = Nice cleavage!

What’s wrong? = What meaningless, self-inflicted psychological trauma are you going through now?

What’s wrong? = I guess sex tonight is out of the question.

I’m bored = Do you want to have sex now?

I love you = Let’s have sex now.

Let’s talk = I’m trying to impress you then maybe you’d like to have sex with me.

Will you marry me? = I want to make it illegal for other men to have sex with you.

Do you see a trend here? Men!!

My Belief in Fate/Destiny

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I do believe that fate/destiny are intertwined and things or events in life that take place do so because of these two entities if you can call them that. There is a higher force at work here and perhaps everything has already been put in motion according to how it should unfold and your life is not really your own. You are going along with the flow so to speak.

Fate is defined as “a power or agency determining events and destinies, acting beyond our control” and “destiny is responsible for everything. This destiny is predetermined and unchangeable.” If that is the case, it is frightening to say the least. It raises the question what if everything has already been preordained and nothing you do is going to change the outcome of what your destiny is going to be?

One particular event comes to mind. I met my ex at a university dance but I do believe that “fate” had arranged that meeting. After a painful breakup, I had taken a year off to recuperate and dating was on the backburner until that fateful evening. I was persuaded by some well-meaning friends to show up at the dance and I remember digging in my heels and saying no but I did go and there he was this tall, skinny and nerdy-looking individual who was not my type at first glance. Fate had other plans and destiny started the ball rolling that night and we ended up together. Even though we didn’t stay together, I feel the meeting was arranged by a higher force and destiny did the rest to put the chain of events in motion. Why did it happen if “forever” was not in the cards? Who knows, maybe it was some cruel trick played by fate/destiny and there was a lesson to be learned.

I’ll never know but I do believe that fate/destiny do exist and sometimes it works in your favor and sometimes it doesn’t. Yours is not to know the reason why!

Daily writing prompt
Do you believe in fate/destiny?

K.I.S.S. (Archives)

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“Keep it simple and focus on what matters. Don’t let yourself be overwhelmed.” Confucius

Confucius knows what he is talking about but how many of us take that advice to heart? Our lives are filled with little and big things that we can’t control or overcome, we let drama take hold and it goes downhill from there.

Why can’t we just keep it simple? Perhaps, it’s because as “humans” we have an urge within to add complexity to the matter at hand. We have a need to complicate versus simplify and that right there is the problem. Complexity is the enemy of simplicity and we are masters at taking something simple and blowing it out of proportion so that it becomes one gigantic problem, add drama to it and you’ve got an almost unsolvable problem and it becomes anything but simple.

If you embrace simplicity, your life becomes less stressed and easier to navigate according to the people in the know.

“Simple means that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one. Let this be your mantra as you navigate the choppy waters of life. A recent Stanford study showed that participants who embraced a ‘simplicity first’ mentality were significantly happier, less stressed, and more likely to achieve their goals.”

What does keeping it simple mean? It means just that, keep things simple even though it is hard. Sounds like a conundrum? It might pretty well be. According to moderntherapy.online, here are some steps to help define what keeping it simple means.

Don’t expect too much.

Expect that things may not always be exactly how we want and try to be genuinely okay with it.

Don’t criticize

It is a lose-lose situation and it spreads negative energy. This leads to negative thinking and acting on it. Say or think something positive instead and move on.

Be Present

Living in the moment makes life simpler. Learn to be okay with your feelings even if they are uncomfortable.

Be Kind

Being kind will not only help to make yourself feel better, but it will allow others to get close to you so you can form positive and meaningful relationships.

Redefine things in your life

Attempt to redefine what is important and what it means to you. Prioritize things that will truly make you happy.

Ask why

Question yourself about why you do the things you do. If there are no meaningful answers then you shouldn’t be doing them. Be clear and ask if there is a clear purpose behind what you are doing.

Focus on yourself

Instead of focusing on everyone around you, bring the focus back to you. Shut down the outside noise and try to focus on the noise within. Life becomes better when you separate yourself from what other people think or their expectations.

Keep it simple. The next time life throws something your way which it inevitably will, instead of pouncing on it and turning it into a huge “WHY?” tone it down to, “It happened. Here’s what I am going to do about it.” Easier said than done? I know but worth a try don’t you think? Simplify and show complexity the door and maybe, just maybe it will stop coming around. Hmm…not holding my breath on this one either!

Keep It Simple

Missing somebody?……..CALL

Have a question?………ASK

Want to be understood?…….EXPLAIN

Don’t like something? ……….CHANGE IT

Love someone?………TELL THEM

Want to meet up?……..INVITE

Life is too short for drama.

K.I.S.S.

Keep It Simple Stupid

Have an amazing day.

Saying Goodbye to….

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This one is difficult too. There are so many phases and each one has taught me a different lesson about life. Whether I wanted to learn, accept and move on is a whole different story altogether! Most times it was met with digging in the heels and howling to the moon which is my usual response when something changes.

If I had to pick one, I would say it was leaving my childhood behind. I was a young girl who ran wild in the woods behind my home. It was a magical time and nothing can compare to that time of innocence where the world was at my feet to explore and to create. Yes, create. I came up with a world of my own, a safe world and a world filled with imagination and creativity. I talked to the birds, plunged in duck puddles, looked under huge mushrooms for “little people” and out of that world emerged my love for imagination and my penchant for writing. I was one with nature and it was a gorgeous place to be in.

It all changed when I got what all girls get. I thought I was dying at first but in actuality it was another kind of death. I had to grow up and leave that world of innocence behind because as mom put it, life demanded it of me. No more running around, no more traipsing around in the woods and no more jumping in anything I could find! Time to grow up and be a young lady. They (the parents) had to drag me to the water to make me drink it but as with all things where life is concerned, you have to bite the bullet and no matter how much it hurts, just DO IT! I did.

I am prim and proper now but some days when I am all alone and no one is watching, I want to go back there where my imagination was given free reign and the world came alive in colors, beautiful colors of the rainbow and more! It was a pristine world that lives within me no matter how old I get and I am thankful for all that it gave me. I don’t think I have ever really said goodbye to it, it’s there deep within me and when I need to I pull it out and see myself walking through that deep dark forest again where anything was possible and there was magic in its midst!

Daily writing prompt
Describe a phase in life that was difficult to say goodbye to.