Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Kids Speak With Such Logic and Reasoning

Ever notice how innocently kids talk?  Simple and straightforward.  I guess it is because they have not been through the spoils their fellow human beings will deal them over the years.  They have no expectations beyond what they have already learned.  Too bad our leaders and politicians didn't talk and think the way kids do, at least in some circumstances.

A few nights ago I was talking about my business at an acquaintance's house, when the conversation turned political, something I never get into.  They had a couple of youngsters, I'm thinking under 7 or 8 years old, who was also listening intently about what I did with Scentsy.  Near the end of our conversation, I asked their little girl what she wanted to be when she grew up.  Without hesitation, she said she wanted to be the President some day.  I'm thinking even in this crazy election season, our little ones must be picking up on some of what is going on.  Yup, I want to be a girl President.  I soon discovered her parents were both liberal Democrats.  Since I had opened the political can of worms with their daughter, I thought I might continue since they seemed very happy with her answer.  So, I asked, "If you were President, what would be one of the first things you would do?"

Again, without hesitation, she replied, "I'd give food and houses to all the homeless people."  Her parents were beside themselves, beaming with pride.

"Wow, what a really nice thing to do," I told her. "But, you don't need to wait until you are President to do that.  You can come over to my house and help me clean up after my dogs, sweep the floors, help me pick up things out in the yard and a few other things.  I'll pay you $50.  When we are done, I'll take you over near the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs out, and you can give him the $50 to use for food and a new house."

She sat there thinking about what I had just said.  After several moments of silence, she looked up at me, staring me right in the eye and asked, "why doesn't the homeless guy come over and do the work themselves, and you could just pay him the $50?"

I said, "welcome to the Republican Party".  

I'm wondering if her parents are still thinking about it too.


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Saturday, April 23, 2016

Gun Controls - are we where we need to be?

picture found on the Internet
I was reminded not too long ago of how guns were handled and used in the days when I went to high school, in the mid 60's.  I'll admit, I was not much of a hunter or target shooter, but did have a .22 and a shotgun (or knew where I could borrow one if I wanted on) had access to a fairly large variety of guns.  It was really common for most pickup trucks to have a gun rack in the back window with a rifle or shotgun right there in plain sight.  They were often loaded, I'm not sure if that was allowed back then or not.  The reminded from a former school mate was that - yes, there were problems back then.  People got in fights, fist fights in the schoolyard or at a local bar, but you never heard of someone going out and getting a gun and coming back to shoot someone.  I use never as a generality, I'm sure there were murders and some incidents back then, just not like there is in this day and age.

Let's make no mistake about it, there have been some horrific tragedies happen in the country, especially over the past 10-15 years.  So many people have been killed by what can only be described as radical, sick, insane human beings.  Senseless killings.  Innocent people and mere children were taken from us.  I can not imagine the pain the parents and loved ones must feel.  Words can not describe the anger they must feel, or what I would feel if I were in their position.  I'm not sure I would be in a position to think and reason logically.  The rage, the urge to want to lash out at anyone to help ease the pain would be overwhelming.



Unfortunately, it seems that there are many people making recommendations, accusations, or whatever you may call them, that are just not reasonable or logical.  Things like suing gun makers intentionally market their weapons, including military-grade guns like the AR-15 used in the Newtown massacre, to young men, some of whom may be inclined to violence.  Should soda makers be sued and held accountable for people drinking too much soda, becoming overweight and putting a burden on our health care systems?  Should car manufacturers be held accountable for building cars that go "fast" and intentionally marketing them to people who like to drive fast and then kill someone because of a poor judgement while using that car?  I can only envision the pain, but our fight must be against the likes of Adam Lanza, the scum criminals that don't follow the rules or laws to begin with.


Most recently, close to where I live, I'm a quite concerned about the citizens petition to change bylaws in Longmeadow regarding ownership of firearms. While I do not live in Longmeadow, MA, the suggested changes could certainly affect me and many others who live in surrounding towns.  We're getting a little carried away with imposing restrictions on law-abiding citizens as "feel good" legislation that will really have little or no effect on the real problems?

My nephew reminds me "You're not allowed to restrict a RIGHT. a restriction like this is no more constitutional than restrictions on who can live there based on race or religion".  I agree.  


Let's fix our world the right way, deal with criminals, the mentally challenged, the uneducated, and work on the source of the problems, not the symptoms or tragic results of not doing so.  

What do you think?  


Friday, April 22, 2016

Just Change Your Mind

I feel like I have been in a funk for years, to many for sure.  I sincerely "think" all the right things to do, I "try" to do all the right things, but am often just stuck in this rut.  I know I have tried and tried, so I tell myself, to get up, get going, and build my own happiness.  After all, everywhere I turn, it's said and written, be happy with yourself first.  I've fallen into the trap of feeling like "easier said than done".

For a very long time, I would say to my staff "change doesn't happen until change happens".  While that is so true, just telling yourself to change your mind is a monster first step that needs to happen.  That is and can be so difficult.

Today, a good friend, Phil Gerbyshak made a post on Facebook that got me thinking, ah, here we go again, another post about "choosing happiness".  Here's a copy of Phil's post:


Phil had also linked to an Inc. story about being happier and quote by Albert Einstein. That's a good read as well.  Although I completely respect Phil's opinions and writings, this one hardly got me motivated.  After all, my initial thought was, just another post about choosing to be happy.  What the heck do others know about what is really going on in my life, I can't just choose to be happy!  There's stuff going on, stuff you don't just forget or flip the switch on.  Then I read some of the comments people left.

One of them has struck me.  I've never met or talked to Kristin, all I know of her is this post.  It too is the same old story but from a different angle.  From the mouth of a babe.  You know they speak the truth, that's all they know.  I pictured her my granddaughter as the one in the back seat playing on her iPad and having this conversation...  her truth struck my nerve.  It made sense.


I'm still not sure how to mentally make this decision and then seriously carry it out.  However, with a renewed spirit and determination, I will, just change my mind.