Friends

       
      

         I sat across from her at her kitchen table.  Drinking coffee.  Petting her dogs.  We are so much alike she and I.  Days apart in birthdays.  A few years apart in age.  We are like minded; sharing same interests in spirituality, politics, art, many other topics.  I love when I find a friend like this.  Reminds me of how special people, and I as one, are. 
          We talk about everything.  She shares how she has of late been feeling a little lost and exasperated with herself.  She seems to have lost her focus.  I support her, and encourage her, to take her time, appreciate the now, I tell her the universe has a plan for her.  I tell her that how she feels is appropriate and its ok to feel it just don't get mired in it.  We all feel like that some times.
           We discuss how we both sometimes feel frustrated with people in general.  How we don't understand why society cant just embrace being more loving, kind, compassionate.  Why do so many people choose to be judgmental, and by us stating all of that does it make us judgmental also?  We laugh at ourselves. 
          She shares an encounter that she had with someone and how she found that the person she was referring to changed her perspective, not in a good way.  Later she nicely told that someone how she didn't want to engage in that bad behavior anymore, now they are great friends.  I ask why is it that we are afraid to speak honestly and respectfully to people who use bad behavior to change the world?  Does us choosing not to speak up make us as bad as the people shouting ignorance and hate?  Why is it that the loudest people seem to be the most ignorant...then I feel judgmental again.   We chuckle again.
           We speak of human nature.  How human nature will turn us toward judgmental thinking.  How the challenge is to examine it, understand what we are to learn from it, and be compassionate to ourselves, and others, because of it.  I shared that I now, but not as often as I wished I did, will not engage in bad behavior and bad relationships.  I shared how I recently told some one very close to me, "I love you and I want to feel good about you so I am choosing not to engage in this portion of our relationship any more."  She looked at me and said that that was profound and is something that anyone could use with a multitude of people in lots of different circumstances.  She said," you should blog that." 
The Pith of the Matter;  Ok  :D
Namaste  Emaho Peace out 

 

“Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow
Don’t walk behind me… I may not lead
Walk beside me… just be my friend”
― Albert Camus

tags: friends, friendship, misattributed-albert-camus

 

“Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.”
― Mark Twain

tags: books, contentment, friends, friendship, life

 

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.”
― Henri J.M. Nouwen, Out of Solitude: Three Meditations on the Christian Life

tags: empathy, friends, friendship, inspirational

Dispensable

         
          
To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others.
-Buddha



          Years ago before I really became Buddhist and while I was still working in child care I had a moment, which at the time I didn't identify as such, but turned out to be, a defining moment in my life.  A moment which changed my path.  Which brought me to where I am now.
          The Director of the child care I was working at said to me, "You are dispensable you know."   This statement didn't come after a screw up, or because I was not a hard worker, or anything that would lead you to believe that perhaps I deserved to be reminded that the job I had was transitional.  It came after a parent came into the center and shared, in frustration, that the teacher of one of her children was not meeting the needs of said child, she followed this vent with the comment,
"Miss Adriane is the only teacher here worth anything."  This compliment to me was not taken as a compliment to the person(s) whom it was directed at; she complained to the Director and the directors response was to try and make me feel small about the compliment...like some how I conspired with this parent and encouraged her to make this statement. 
          After hearing this I did feel more than a little put out.  I went home and told my hubby what had happened.  He sat patiently and listened to me and then to my dismay said, "she's right."  Before I could become upset with him he quickly followed it with, "we can all be replaced babe.  Will some one do the job like you do with the same passion and heart?  No.  But you can be replaced." 
          I thought about all of this for awhile.  At first I was angry.  I had invested ALOT of myself, my time, money, etc. into this job.  Even after they had, quite frankly, and with out going into detail, treated me with little respect and made me responsible for incidences that were not my fault.  It was hard to argue with their logic, when faced with some thing that you knew was not your doing, because it was followed with the threat of be quiet about it or not only will you loose your job, but we will ensure that you are unable to get a job any place else.  True story...not kidding, or over exaggerating, which I assume some of you may think because I do love to tell a good story.  I love the truth more though.
          While this was going on I was in a transitional state of my life.  I didn't know then, but I know now, how important all the decisions I would make for my self would be.  I continued to go into work but now I was detached from the job.  I was done...Not only was I not being noticed, or appreciated, for all the time I had given to my job but evidently I was dispensable, and no one likes to feel that way to anyone anywhere.  I had given them ALOT of free time; training and representing them with pride at state and local conferences.  I always came in early on my own time to prepare for the day and stayed late on my own time when needed; usually for the sake of a child.  I went to trainings, learned what I could, helped parents, family's and children.   How dare that director say something so obviously disrespectful.  This all happened when hubby and I were also preparing to move and while we were having difficulty's with our eldest child.  I was frankly over it all. 
          I decided I was setting my priorities wrong.  My family should come first and I had been taking too much time away from them for my job.  I should be putting my self first more often instead of this job.  A job that decided that it was more important to control with fear, then praise.  I stopped coming in early and stopped staying late.  I said no to doing extra work that I wasn't getting paid for.  I put my self and my family first and did it with a vengeance.
         A couple of weeks went by and my director, noticing a change in my attitude asked me, completely forgetting at this point what she had said to me, what was going on with me?  I looked at her and said, "You know, I'm ok with being dispensable."  Because she didn't remember what she had said to me she was confused by what I said.   She informed the owner of the business and a couple of days later I found myself sitting in a meeting with both of them being questioned not out of concern for my well being, but because they were afraid that something I would say and do would affect the business.  I was reminded what a privilege it was to be asked to do trainings (for free) and how it benefited me (and mostly them.)  This could all be taken away from me.  When I was asked questions, and I replied quietly, respectfully, politely, I was immediately tsk tsk'd.  Literally.  Tsk'd... 
          It didn't matter that my track record of loyalty and dedication to the job should be the judge, they were judging me based on there own personal behavior.  And this frightened me.  It was at this point that my life took on a different definition.  It came to me in a sudden wave of understanding.  It was almost like I could see into the future and with it came a feeling of peace.
           I had allowed myself to become angry over something that was said by three people when they were upset.  That parent was upset with another teacher and gave me a compliment under duress.  The person working the front desk took it personally and not only complained to the director, but gossiped to everyone who would listen.  The director upset with having to deal with all of it decided it was easier to just deal with me over the whole thing instead of dealing with the bigger picture which is how her center was being run.   I heard often a saying while working there.  A child care center reflects the director. 
           She could have ignored that saying and just addressed the teacher in question and the gossip, but honestly, she liked to gossip too.  Who doesn't some times really.  It is much easier to handle one person then a group.  Now I know that I was given way too much credit and power for that situation.
          I felt fear because I had first hand knowledge of how these women manipulated situations to ensure the illusion of what they had built.  Their manipulations were not only directed at me, but a whole bunch of people before me.  How do you sit and argue with people who have already decided your fate?  You don't.  You keep it to yourself and silently say thank you to the universe that you found this out and are able to get out from under it.
          Here is the Pith of the Matter and my reason for this blog. There are still a couple of people in my life whom not only associate with this director, but still work at the child care in question.  For awhile it bothered me; especially when I heard that my name was brought up in association with the distortions they built to protect their business. 
          I felt a certain amount of threat emanating from this place and the people who run it.  They had made it quite clear to me, and others by the way, that if any discussion took place, in any shape or form, that could be considered liable, and affected their business they would hold me responsible, while at the same time ensuring that they were allowed to mess with my reputation, my lively hood where they saw fit.  I am aware that there is liable information in my staff folder that they have no problem sharing when they see fit.  And this bothers me.  I think it would bother anyone to know that some one can manipulate your life.  Based on past experience with some of these people I wonder if one of them is once again having a bad day will they once again hold me responsible and give me a bad reference?  It frustrates me to know that so much of our lives really are dependent upon others and with that said why do we choose to set up scenarios where others will fail.  What are we suppose to learn when some one makes sure we are unable to succeed?  Then I read something.

"That nothing is static or fixed, that all is fleeting and impermanent, is the first mark of existence.  It is the ordinary state of affairs.  Everything is in process.  Everything-every tree, every blade of grass, all the animals, insects, human beings, buildings, the animate and the inanimate-is always changing, moment to moment.  We don't have to be mystics or physicists to know this.  Yet at the level of personal experience, we resist this basic fact.  It means that life isn't always going to go our way.  It means there's loss as well as gain.  And we don't like that."   -Pema Chodron  "The Places That Scare You"

And this.

"I feel gratitude to the Buddha for pointing out that what we struggle against all our lives can be acknowledged as ordinary experience.  Life does continually go up and down.  People and situations are unpredictable and so is everything else.  Everybody knows the pain of getting what we don't want: saints, sinners, winners, losers.  I feel gratitude that someone saw the truth and pointed out that we don't suffer this kind of pain because of our personal inability to get things right."

          I had been carrying around a certain amount of resentment for years towards this place and some of the people in it.  Why?  Because they encouraged me to see something in myself that I didn't want to see, and most of all I was angry because I let them.  Like them I choose to focus on the down side of the situation.  Everyone was angry, and I decided, I choose, to be angry also.  My nature is also such that I feel the urge to warn everyone, to save them the possible same bad experience that I had. Then it occurred to me. 
           I did learn something from working there and it is worth sharing.  Was it the glowing, respectful, reference I hoped I deserved associated with all the hard work I gave?  No.  But I do get a reference.  And it is a good one.  AND it is the truth as they know it to be.  Is it my truth?  No.  Does it matter that my truth is different from theirs....and here is the clincher.  Not any more. 
          I could at this point go into detail about all the truths.  I could spend a lot of time telling everyone the exact details of every situation that they say was solely my, or some one else's doing, taking the focus off of their obvious mistake.  But the bottom line is this.  Who really cares? 
          Mistakes are to be used to learn from, to empower us into success, to bring us to a greater understanding of each other and encourage unity.  The universe has a way of making you do what it needs from you; of putting you on the path you are suppose to be on.  NOw that I am on the right path I understand this.
          I am dispensable.  I am ever changing, transitional, and so is everyone around me, and everything I touch.  Ultimately that is the most important thing I learned from having that experience and it is more valuable then I knew.  While human nature still wants to know that I was of value to this place and the people; the value I hold for myself, the job I did for them, the intentions behind all of it sustains me, and internally motivates me, to think well of myself and continue to always do the kind, compassionate thing.   There will always be a teacher inside of me striving to be the best possible role model for everyone who comes in contact with me.  That is a truth that I can live with and will never dispense of.  Thank you for the lesson whether you were aware what you were teaching or not it is appreciated.

Emaho  Namaste  Peace out

“Which of us can resist the temptation of being thought indispensable?”
― Margaret Atwood, The Penelopiad

tags: indispensable, temptation

“The graveyards are full of indispensable men.”
― Charles de Gaulle

tags: graveyards, greatness, indispensable

 

(Buddhist quotes on fear)

 

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
“It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.”
“It is better to travel well than to arrive.”
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
“The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.”
“The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.”
“There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.”
“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.”
“What we think, we become.“   

People Suck

 

“The one thing I have absolute faith in is mankind's capacity to make things worse. No matter how bad it gets, we're all happy to screw each other over. It's enough to make me wonder if we should have let the zombies win.”
― Mira Grant, Deadline

tags: faith, humanity, people-suck 

 

 

“Anybody who thinks there's nothing wrong with this world needs to have his head examined. Just when things are going all right, without fail someone or something will come along and spoil everything. Somebody should write that down as a fundamental law of the Universe. The principle of perpetual disappointment. If there is a God who created this world, he should scrap it and try again.”
― Athol Fugard, "Master Harold"...and the boys

tags: disappointment, god, law, laws-of-the-universe, life, life-lesson, people, people-suck, religion, universe        

          I like to periodically look back on my blogs and read them.  Contrary to some peoples opinions I do not blog because I need for everyone to think like me. AND its not vanity...well maybe a little. :P  I blog so I can help, and hopefully lend support, to anyone who thinks like me.  But mainly I blog because it helps me. Helps me stay focused.  Initially when I write it is because a topic, or idea stands out to me.  I believe that it is the universes way of making me aware of something that I need to change in my life, or pay special attention to.  These messages come in tidal waves of information which all relate to each other.  Lately the topic seems to be people suck.
          It started, as many things do, with a face book post that went something like," a little known Buddhist saying is: people suck."  This comment which I think was meant to be humorous was posted on a site known for all things Buddhist and was met with varying thoughts, and comments.  The comment that stood out to me the most shared," thanks for keeping it real."
          This prompted me to read back on some of my blogs on being kind and compassionate, which actually covers quite a few.  While reading it occurred to me that many of my blogs are written after listening to someone do nothing but berate human kind and everything associated with it.  I discovered something about my self.
          I do engage in this behavior.  Some one could perceive that this blog right now could be interpreted as technically engaging in negative behavior.  I'm not proud of it and am always disappointed when I find that I have done it.  I have blogged often on gossiping, using words with caution and respect, and many other topics that convey one basic message and truth. 
          Communication is important and how we communicate is even more so.  I also have shared that I believe that everyone has the right to share their thoughts, and ideas.  Balance comes from communicating, not from the lack of it.  Even if you do it wrong initially at least you tried.  Eventually if you keep trying you will get it right.  And no one is right all the time.
          Why do I, we as a society, feel the need, because I have decided it is so, to communicate with so much negativity?  I have blogged on this also.  Something occurred to me however that I had never really addressed, and if I have I haven't really given it a lot of thought.  Because its easier.  Its easier to speak and act like those around us in hopes of fitting in, making friends, and ultimately not being alone, than to stand alone, which is what happens if you are not bashing what ever topic of the day is being bashed.  This is kind of a form of bullying when you really think of it.  The fact of the matter is no one wants to be alone.  No one wants to have to fight for their beliefs.  No one wants to feel afraid.  Its sometimes much easier to just agree with who ever, what ever, and know inside that they are full of shit.
          Now don't get me wrong.  Some of these things and people deserve NOT be supported.  But there is a big difference between bashing and choosing to not support a person and/or point of view.  You can be unsupportive quietly.  Simply keep your mouth shut, turn your back on it, walk away, turn the channel, don't like it on Facebook, don't vote for it, etc., etc,.  
          You know how to tell if something is wrong?  Pay attention to the people who are screaming the loudest about it.  The ones who are quiet will more often than not, but not always, be the ones who are on the side of right.  Something to think about with a presidential election looming a head of us.
          I find myself being a hypocrite.  I will sometimes engage in gossip.  Even though I stand by the idea that it is only gossip if you don't eventually share your thoughts with the person you are talking about.  The problem with that idea is that if you vent off a frustration with someone concerning someone else the person who you are venting to, not about, usually gets to the person you are frustrated with before you do.  This is then misinterpreted as gossip because people do not realize that the person who turned around and shared confidential information is the one gossiping, not the person who was venting a frustration.  I once had a person say to me, "well did you specify that the information was confidential?"  Seriously?  No, but let me tell you that your inability to not distinguish what you should and should not share with some one else has just taken you out of my inner circle of friends.  Thanks for playing.
          In my head is that saying," if they'll talk to you they'll talk about you."  Not necessarily true.  Depends on the person.  I know whom I can safely share information with and not have it go any further and who I can plant information with and know it will find its way back to where I didn't want it to go.  Manipulative of me? Sure. I could sit back and just let whom ever think that they are getting the best of me, but my human nature has an issue with this.  There is nothing about compassion that states that we should let others take advantage of us.  IN fact it is in the art of not being taken advantage of and being compassionate at the same time that makes the difference.  In my experience it is very effective to lay some truth out there and let it circle around. 
           I feel a sadness when I realize that someone can not be trusted with my feelings and secrets.  My failure is in believing that everyone in my life should be able to be trusted.  That their respect for me is so great that they will only share what I gift them with my permission.  But this is, once again, vanity, and my frailty, not some one else's, and it is only me that deals with the consequences of knowing this about my self.
         Did you every notice that bad news travels much faster than good?  There are people out there whom will turn around and share something bad that you said faster then you can blink, but, if you share something good about someone...nothing...seriously?  I believe that this is a control issue.  These people feel a certain amount of power by creating chaos instead of spreading joy.  These same people will look at anyone who try's to be optimistic and compassionate like they have three heads.  Which brings me full circle to why we gossip and or engage in communication/behavior that we technically don't agree with.
          I could sit back and beat myself up every time I fail.  But I have lived long enough now to realize that every time I fail I am actually learning something.  In this particular instance it is that people do truly suck.  And I put myself in that category.  I am also a people.  And I do suck sometimes, my hubby can attest to that.  *Yes I know what I did there.   
          Here is the Pith of the Matter.  On that Facebook post about the little known saying there were some people who took the whole thing way too seriously.  For me they were the equivalent of Christian extremist's.  They went off saying, in so many words, that when teaching Buddhism everything that is said/taught should be done so with love, kindness, compassion, etc.  I kind of think that they are missing the point. 
          Buddha taught first, and for most, that we are human and subject to human frailty's.  In realizing this, and coming to peace with it, we realize that we will sometimes fail.  It is inevitable.  IN fact, we will mostly fail.  Which is why less than one percent of the population will ever truly attain Nirvana, and/or be enlightened.   Now many out there will say why even try to be Buddhist then?  Well I can only speak for myself. 
          They way Buddhism is set up, for me, makes me feel a little more confident about failure and the reasons for it.  The problem is not when I choose to engage in gossip, negativity, etc. It comes when I don't realize that that is what I just did.  AND it does not mean that oh gee I get it, I forgive myself for it, so I can do it again.  It means that I am self aware and strive continuously to not be that person that I don't want to be.  Do I go home and become depressed, angry with myself etc.?  No.  That would once again be going against the ideas of Buddhism.  It is simply acknowledging that sometimes people do suck, and when you realize this you are understanding that you are putting yourself in that category.  After this little enlightenment the next thing to do is laugh, shake your head, look to the universe, say thank you, and then get out there and try again.

Emaho
Namaste
Peace out

“Just remember that sometimes, the way you think about a person isn't the way they actually are.”
― John Green, Paper Towns

tags: brillent, live-lessons, people-suck, people-will-hurt-you

 

The Energy of Stars

“I like the night. Without the dark, we'd never see the stars.”
― Stephenie Meyer, Twilight

tags: bella-swan, dreams, edward, hope, night, stars

         
           Ever notice how doing something as simple as looking up into the night sky and star gazing can make you feel energized?  Such a simple thing when you think about it. It brings us a kind of energy.  Something, no matter what your age, station in life, race, color, creed, faith, etc. we all think about and strive for.  When your younger you have a ton of it.  When your older you wish you had more of it.  AND let me share that no matter what good shape your in, as you get older, your physical energy will deplete, but your mental energy, your core energy does not have to.  The universe has recently enlightened me to energy and its importance.  Let me share with you my journey.
          I start many journeys with a simple definition.

en·er·gy

ˈenərjē/

noun

noun: energy

1.

the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity.

"changes in the levels of vitamins can affect energy and well-being"

synonyms:

vitality, vigor, life, liveliness, animation, vivacity, spirit, spiritedness, verve, enthusiasm, zest, vibrancy, spark, sparkle, effervescence, ebullience, exuberance, buoyancy, sprightliness; More strength, stamina, forcefulness, power, dynamism, drive; fire, passion, ardor, zeal; informalzip, zing, pep, pizzazz, punch, bounce, oomph, moxie, mojo, go, get-up-and-go, vim and vigor, feistiness "a good night's sleep will restore their energy"

• a person's physical and mental powers, typically as applied to a particular task or activity.

  plural noun: energies

2.

power derived from the utilization of physical or chemical resources, especially to provide light and heat or to work machines.

 

          Pretty straight forward.  For our purposes, however, we are going to focus on the first definition, although if you think about it we are all technically organic machines and the second definition does apply to us.

          We all know that in order to function as optimum human beings, what ever that individual definition is, we should be taking care of ourselves.  There is a TON of information out there on what to eat, how much to eat, what NOT to eat, how much water to drink, how much exercise we should have, etc., etc., blah, blah, in order to keep our organic machine well oiled and functioning at peak levels. 
          I have met, known, and talked to, over my life time, at length, many people who choose to make these ideas, and truths by the way, nothing less then an art form. 

art¹

ärt/

noun

noun: art; plural noun: arts; plural noun: the arts

1.

the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.

"the art of the Renaissance"

synonyms:

fine art, artwork "he studied art"

• works produced by human creative skill and imagination.

  "his collection of modern art"
  
  

  synonyms:

  fine art, artwork "he studied art"

• creative activity resulting in the production of paintings, drawings, or sculpture.

  "she's good at art"

  
  

2.

the various branches of creative activity, such as painting, music, literature, and dance.

"the visual arts"

 

          While I believe and support that having your body in good working order is important I do not think that it is the sole means of having good energy. 

           I recently started a new job.  Not a career.  I had a couple of those.  I am content knowing that I was successful at both of them and will be leaving the world a better place.  What I have now is a job, and I can share that it is AWESOME! 
          I like the idea of going to work and just...working!  Working hard!  Over the last month or so of working I have met a few people, all around my age, who are also in my place in life.  We have had multiple conversations about who are the hard workers, who are not, and why?  Interestingly enough the consensus seems to be that most, but not all, of the hard workers are over the age of 40.  Most of the non- hard workers are in their 20s or under. 
          Now I, being always a child/human development advocate, have pointed out to the complainers that all of us, at some point in life, have found ourselves in a non working phase of life for one reason or another.  Usually when we are younger, still figuring out life, and enjoying it.  Some one pointed out that it is the generation today.  In my head I thought which generation of today? 
          Having been a social worker I can tell you for a fact that there are far more persons over the age of 30 taking advantage of the system and choosing hard to not work... at any aspect of life.  These people, by the way, are  the ones who teach the next generation how not to have a good work ethic; more importantly they teach them bad energy habits.   
          What I believe, is this.  My sons have a good work ethic.  YES hubby and I tried hard to teach this to them.  But behind a good work ethic is a kind of energy that must be learned by each individual. You can, as a parent, care giver, teacher, role model, etc., try to teach good energy,(or attitude) but energy is an internal motivator, not an external one and must be experienced. 

          I recently had a conversation, on line, with one of my gamer chums.  I am a nerd of the old school.  Everyone who knows me knows this.  I have, and always will game, either on the computer, with board games, role playing games, or what ever stimulates, and increases, my intellect and imagination.  I was not surprised to find many people around my age gaming; although I have learned that many younger energy's are uncomfortable with older energy's..  We experienced energies band together in guilds, factions, etc. and discuss not only gaming, but life in general.  Once again one of the topics that comes up, when there is dissention in the world, and even if there isn't, is the generation gap.

 

gen·er·a·tion gap

noun

noun: generation gap; plural noun: generation gaps

differences of outlook or opinion between people of different generations.

 

          An older energy was sharing that some "whipper snapper" was telling him to retire and get out of gaming because his views on the game were out dated.  pffft (wiping off monitor hold on) Seriously?  Here's my thoughts on that.  We older energy's started gaming before the younger energy's even started twinkling.  With out a real appreciation of where energy began how can you truly understand what it is now and why? 
          While it is good energy to live in the moment, you must also understand why you are in that moment, not dwelling in the past, but having an appreciation for it.  With out the past there would be no present or future.  AND while understanding that past sometimes means understanding that things should change it does not mean that energy shifts are, or should be, for the better.   The perception(s) of whether the way thing are now, then, or in the future, better, worse, or some where in between, are exactly that...perception.  Subject to individuality. TO many examples to list so I will just let you mull that thought around a bit

 

          It has been the habit of western civilization to infer that some how getting older is bad energy.  Being younger, and everything that mass media associate's with being younger, is good energy.  When you watch TV, and I include cable, and any streaming, you will notice that very few shows, advertising, etc. has to do with persons over the age of 50.  EVEN though the majority of people out there running the country, world, and making decisions that effect all of us are over the age of 50. 
          The reason mass media is directed towards persons mainly under the age of 40 is because those are the ages that can be mostly influenced by what, and whom ever is doing the advertising, and trying to sell what ever it is they are trying to sell.  Whether it is a meal, a car, a location, or an IDEA..  Persons over the age of 40 have , for the most part, formed their opinions on life and the energy in it. 
          Now I don't assume that the problem of bad energy is mainly directed towards younger generations.  Let me point out to others of my generation that in order to get MUCH done today energy that only younger people have is needed to get some things done.  Thank goodness for my youngest still living at home who has the energy to lift what I cannot not.  In order for the world to change new ideas, new energy MUST be included. Little kids can move bad energy around a house with just a laugh.  AND there is something about watching younger generations figure out the things that you have already done.  Starting family's, starting homes, careers, etc.   Just watching and knowing that it is a never ending cycle is some how reassuring.  Good energy.  So why do we as a society have a tendency to want to steal and shoot down each others good energy? 

          Our culture promotes competition for one, and not the healthy kind.  The "American Dream"

 

A·mer·i·can dream

noun

noun: American dream; plural noun: American dreams

the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.

"he could achieve the American dream only by hard work"

 

states that we all have the opportunity for...well what that definition says.  :P  However, honestly, there are quite a few people out there these days that believe that they are entitled to this with out the hard work. 
          I remember my grandfather, an immigrant by the way, sharing all his stories about how he worked hard and how America provided what he and his family would never, could never, have had if he hadn't come to America.  I wonder if some of the people who are screaming about immigrants coming to our country are concerned that they might have to work harder? 
          These bad energy's are the same people who allowed companies to be shut down because they wanted more pay for less work.  NOW I am not assuming that every one thinks this way.  I know quite a few people who deserve more pay because they are extremely hard workers.  BUT blaming people coming from another country looking to have a dream that many of us take advantage of is NOT solving the problem and is honestly putting more bad energy out there than I personally am comfortable with .  This thought process of mine also does not cover allowing persons who may contribute to illegal, harmful behavior in our country, which is a whole other topic.

          Self preservation can be another reason for bad energy.  We all have our comfort zones.  Most people will live in the same city, same state, stay in the same job, home etc., most ,if not all, of their lives.  Some never travel out of the country or will only travel as far as the next state.  For those of us who have been many places, met all kinds of people, seen all kinds of life, good and bad, this idea of being stationary, and I am speaking from experience,  is an unusual, even alien if you will, concept. 
          The Ignorance is bliss saying?  Not necessarily a good thing.  It simply means that not knowing something is considered by some to be preferable to knowing.  I believe that when someone chooses ignorance someone else, some where, suffers because of it.  Just think about that for awhile in connection to something that most of use have experienced in one form or another...bullying.

          The last idea I have for bad energy is identity.  When we get in our comfort zones, when we are influenced by out side ideas, like the American dream, we start to believe that some how our identity depends on keeping, even fighting, for these ideas.  Whether the idea is right or wrong.  Especially if that idea is all we have ever known. 
          If we have grown up with the idea that there should be a generation gap that does not encourage unity then that is exactly what we will identify with.  Simple.  AND if we are not taught, shown, exposed to anything different than we will never believe that there is any difference; more importantly we will not learn, KNOW, that differences are ok.  We will be ignorant to the fact that it is possible to keep our identity while having differences, and the energy will not change.

          The Pith of the Matter is this.  Good energy does not come simply from eating right, exercising often, believing in God, going to church regularly, and sitting around complaining about everything, and everyone, who has prevented you from having what YOU think you deserve.  It does not come from stating that the reason the world is the way it is, is because everyone doesn't work as hard as you do. 
          It comes from simply understanding the simple fact that we have exactly what we deserve.  The universe makes sure of it based on the energy we put out there. 
      Simply be teaching some one that if they want more this is how to deserve it.  Work hard using compassion, a smile, kindness, patience. etc.  Sometimes it doesn't require anyone saying anything, maybe its just getting out there and doing, role modeling, showing people what good energy feels like, looks like.  When you role model with a smile, with compassion, with acceptance, self assurance, you make a difference no matter what you choose to do in life because you are simply putting good energy out there.  That my friends is what its all about in the end.  The energy. 
          When life is said and done we leave our energy behind to enter the stream of life.  I sometimes wonder how many people are dying alone, sad, angry, with bad energy?  Then I wonder how many people know about the people dying alone and choose to do nothing about it.  May be it can be changed simply by helping other more.  Smiling at others more.  Assuming that we all have challenges. 

          I remember sitting in my astronomy class and my professor talking about stars, and how they are born and how they die.  http://naasbeginners.co.uk/AbsoluteBeginners/Life_of_star.htm 
I know I wasn't, and will not be the first person to think, "wow just like us." 
          There is one huge difference between us and the stars however, distance.  Stars, that we are aware of, don't get caught up in all the drama of life.  All those little things that add to the bad energy.  There has to be a balance in order for things to work properly.  The next time you want to contribute to bad energy simply ask yourself, "will adding to the bad energy bring balance?  Or is this an opportunity to add some good energy and bring balance?"   We can change the energy be closing the distance.  Changing the energy, closing the distance buys us time.
          Whether we have the energy of a young star just being born, the energy of the star some where in the middle of its existence, or the energy of a star who's been developing for ages the point is that it should all be positive energy.  To shed light, compassion, kindness, and make us feel good at the end of our day.  At the end of time.

Emaho
Namaste
Peace out

“When he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun.”
― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare Collection)

tags: death, light, stars

 

“What Is Love? I have met in the streets a very poor young man who was in love. His hat was old, his coat worn, the water passed through his shoes and the stars through his soul”
― Victor Hugo

tags: love, soul, stars