No Kidding

I have been quiet long enough. Living in California for 6 years really confirmed my fear that our children are missing their childhood. And it seems to be spreading to other parts of the country. Kids are being pushed into everything and everything, packing their schedules from morning to night with activities. I see it all the time...the kids being woken at the crack of dawn and getting home late into the evening, grabbing dinner along the way, usually junk. This is all in the name of love??? Hogwash says I.

What happened to FREE time?? What happened to watching the clouds form and make shapes? What happened to being home and finding creative things to do that require imagination? I am shocked and saddened when I hear some parents say, "I would be afraid that they would get in trouble with the extra time." YIKES! That is why they have parents! But apparently, parents want to farm off that responsibility to soccer coaches, band leaders and activity leaders. Sigh. Kids need rest. Kids need time to be kids. We have the rest of our lives to have packed schedules with no buffer zone. Why set them up for heart attacks by the age of 21??

Let's not allow another generation of kids be ill-equipped or worse yet, just ill.

Wake Up and Pay Attention People!

I laugh every time I see the commercial for Pepsi Max, "Wake up people!" Unfortunately, it is too close to reality. People are under spells...walking zombies! They don't ever seem to be "in the moment" or aware of their surroundings. The other day, a woman was so busy talking on her cell phone, that she couldn't manuever her vehicle out of the parking space. Instead of getting off her phone and driving, she just stopped and blocked traffic in two directions. In the grocery store, a lady was placing one item every so often on the checkout stand because she was holding her phone and couldn't do both things at once. Again, she didn't stop talking but expected the line of people behind her to What is up people!

Have we lost all sense of courtesy and manners? I was raised better than that, and most mothers would hope they did the same. We are getting lazy and self-centered. Stressful and tough times can bring out the worst in people...don't let it happen to you! I jokingly say that the government must be releasing stupid gas in the air, because people are doing stupid stuff! But it is just a matter of waking up, paying attention and being kind. If we each treat another person with a helping hand and smile, we might see a different world emerge.

Holidays

Right about now, I could swear that time speeds up with each minute ticking away much faster...like nano seconds! It's the holidays, and it can be stressful.

Years ago now, I decided that I wanted to actually enjoy the holidays, so I started planning further out with my shopping and such. I'm about done :) What a huge difference it has made! I can hum songs, soak up events and not feel pressured. I am saddened when I hear folks dread the holidays because of the work involved. This is a season of LOVE, and it should be celebrated!

Take a look at the ideas I've posted to help you get back your spirit. Have any you would like to share with others? Let us know!

Be Careful America

Like you, I have read about and seen many of the parties and celebrations about our new President. He indeed ran a great campaign and achieved something no other person has ever done in our history.

I caution us all, however, to be careful. As a society, we do not have a great track record of knowing what we really want. Look at the women's lib movement...all that got women was more stress, heart attacks and negative attitudes towards men. I love the line in Bruce Almighty when Bruce is frustrated and confused about all the prayers, so he gives everyone a "yes"...creating havoc and chaos in the city. God replies (played by Morgan Freeman), "Since when do you humans know what you want?"

Wanting can be a very immature and selfish mind set. Wanting often leads to expecting and expecting to demanding. Demanding then can explode into full-blown attack to get what we want WHEN we want it. In any relationship (family, friends, church, city or government), we need to be careful and perhaps take a more mature approach than "wanting" what we want, whatever that may be. In my opinion, desiring and hoping are a more positive way to approach all relationships. Desire and hope require faith. We do not know exactly how or even IF we will get our heart's desire, but we believe and hope.

And I think that is what America needs right now...not wanting, expecting or demanding it from anyone but believing, having hope and keeping our faith.

Puppy Love!

I will be the proud owner of a Shiba Inu puppy on 11/21 when I get to take the 8 week old puppy home. I've been reading up on puppies and training dogs as I have never had one before.

Shiba Inu's are a Japanese breed, smaller and quiet intelligent. We named ours Kumaito, which means little bear in Japanese. What I liked about the breed is that they are more like cats. It takes a little time to establish rapport, trust and a bond. You have to earn it. I appreciate that.

I think too often, we want things to go fast and on our time tables. Cats, and apparently Shiba Inu's, remind us that some things take time. And not everything happens on our time table.

A good reminder for us the day after election. Things either went exactly as you wanted them or they didn't. In the big picture of things, it doesn't matter. It's not our wants or timetable; it is God's.

So with my excitement and anticipation of a new member of our family, we also have a new day arising in our country.

PS I'll post a picture of Kuma for you :)