Tolerance full Monty

Tolerance is really just a sham. A hoax.

Maybe this concept of 'tolerance' had amicable beginnings, questioning authority modernists took for granted as solid and wise and wanting to be more inclusive. But then so-called 'tolerance' morphed into mindless acceptance and embrace of self-defeating relativism. Relativism, in the truest sense, is such that one cannot legitimately advocate for one particular position, such as relativism itself, without being self-refuting.

Alleged 'tolerance' claims to welcome everyone with a warm embrace. But 'tolerance' is a wolf disguised in sheep's clothing. It is exclusive without openly advertising its prejudices and what it desires to silence forevermore.

Given that today is the anniversary allotted for celebrating Jesus's birth, I am coming out of the closet by saying...

I enjoyed celebrating and commemorating Jesus's birth. I am thankful that the Father in heaven loved each and every person, including me, so very much, that he sent his Son here to die so that we may have a chance at everlasting life in heaven, with Him. I celebrated with a Christmas tree.

That does not mean I did not or do not appreciate other holidays, such as Hanukkah. Bless those celebrating Hanukkah, belated.

I do believe we, I, could better exemplify love: give someone a helping hand, let another person ahead of me, cook a person a meal, take time to listen to someone's story, meet a person where she or he is, the list goes on.

We are supposed to love, to truly love all, including the 'misfits' or societal rejects, including: individuals without homes, people who live different lifestyles from us, and maybe even Christians, too.

Happy Christmas to all.

Pain, Should We Really Be Avoiding It at All Costs?!

I am re-posting something I published under an alias on December 25, 2013.

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Here in America, the trend seems to be avoiding pain at all costs. I have seen mothers make the decision not to immunize their children for various vaccines, in part, because they do not want to see their children in pain and do not wish their children to experience pain. Only in first world countries do people have the luxury to decide not to vaccinate their children, not because of the cost or availability, but because of some other nebulous 'reason.' Though I am not a medical doctor, I am friends with several who have served in third world countries where vaccinations are scarce and too expensive (for the people who live there); and people frequently die from diseases that can be prevented with vaccinations. We have a comparatively abundant supply of these vaccinations, at a minimal cost, easily and readily available for everyone. These mothers I have known to purposely skip a vaccine here and there, have other reasons, in addition to the avoidance of inflicting pain, such as not appreciating certain ingredients (part of an egg or something else) in the vaccination. But, whatever the aversion, the pain from getting the diseases the vaccinations are designed to prevent would be so much worse and would last much longer. Not sold on pain being beneficial in this sort of circumstance?


How about the fact that placing a hand on a hot stove causing enough pain to quickly motivate a person to remove that person's hand from the hot stove? Pain can be an excellent warning to avoid imminent danger. A person without such (pain) warnings could quickly put one's own well being and life in danger.

How about emotional or psychological pain? Should we avoid that at all cost? I have known people to drink until they are no longer aware of their feelings or they feel numb. A person who will continue to be a part of my life, not by any choice on my part, continues to be a raging and turbulent storm (perhaps tsunami is a more accurate description) in my life. And yesterday was a particularly rough day. At first, I wanted this piercing, raw pain, which has been further magnified by past, multiple instances of trauma caused by him, to go away. The pain and agony seemed almost unbearable. My wounds had not healed, and yet he was throwing salt in the tender, still painful wounds.

After much shedding of tears and desiring to hide (but not being able to, since I needed to be there for my children and provide for them), Soon I recalled that times of pain, at least in my life, have been opportunities for greater insight, growth, reaching out to others in pain or need, and better writing. Though I haven't actually put pen to paper for a few weeks or more, the wheels in my head are turning, I am figuring out how to put my thoughts into words, and soon, I shall be ready to put a voice to those feelings, thoughts, and experiences.

Celebrating Thanksgiving by Loving

Thanksgiving is here. Holidays can be extremely tough, as people attempt to cope with losses, covering a wide range, from not being able to afford basic necessities to having trouble dealing with difficult losses. That is not merely something I can fathom or imagine but have experienced on an intimate level. Disappointment, sadness, and betrayal have have been lingering, a most unsolicited extended visitation.

In the midst of this ongoing trial, I have been blessed and loved by people around me.

My hope for Thanksgiving is to love others, to let them know they are truly loved, for who they are. For some, showing love might involve checking in to see how they are doing. For others, some sort act of service, such as cooking and hosting a meal, might be more helpful.

No one should feel alone, insignificant, or unloved.

Good riddance to fear of failure

If I could bid a forever farewell to a worry, that would be the fear of failure. I want to do what I do well, but yet, there is this annoying, stifling fear of failure. Fear of failing at the endeavor placed before me and failing to be fruitful in the endeavor.

If the fear were gone, I'd have more energy. More energy to devote to the task or endeavor at hand. Less concern about what others think. More excited about what challenges before me.

Humor, a Wonderful Spice to Life

I was fine leaving the house in a jacket early this morning. Temperatures dropped quickly. By early afternoon, it was extremely chilly outside; I was shaking and shivering when outside even for just a few moments. By late afternoon, with snow falling steadily, roads became slick and dangerous.

I saw a post on my feed, from the following address: http://www.buzzfeed.com/christianzamora/problems-every-coloradan-faces-during-the-winter. The final 'problem' (of 21 problems) had me laughing.

**

And the winter actually lasting all the way until summer.

reddit.com

What is this season you call “spring”?

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I am not normally one to suggest that dialogue must include profanity and cussing to be  humorous or comical. But, this was very funny. At least to me.

Snow blizzards have been known to occur in May here!

Autumn Foliage

Autumn is one of my favorite seasons. I am thankful I live in a place where the leaves change colors and there are four distinct seasons to the year. Such beauty.

A Matter of Perspective

The weekly attendance cards are not printed on the same color paper every week. The individual who had been making announcements and encouraging the attendees to fill out the attendance cards would oftentimes ask, "What color is the card this week?" "Is it salmon colored?"

I thought he was trying to be funny. Or appeasing those who split hairs in color differentiation - salmon-colored versus pink, pinkish-orange, corral-colored, or some other color.

Turns out he is color blind. He genuinely cannot tell the difference in certain colors. Lacks the ability to differentiate certain colors.

In a manner of speaking, we (all of us) are color blind in our perspective(s) of life. How we see and interpret life is colored by our experiences and other factors. When hungry or tired, for example, life can appear more cruel and mean.

It's too early to feel defeated

It is day 4 of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), wherein those who are taking on the crazy challenge will complete 50,000 words in 30 days (November 1st to November 30th).

I've been outlining the chapters for this book since early August, working on characters, and developing the plot and subplots. Through the support and offerings of scholarship and friends, I was able to attend a fiction writer's workshop at the end of October. I had been thinking about the contents for the book for a couple of years. Inasmuch as someone could prepare for such an intense writing challenge, I did my homework.

But, I have felt naked and exposed in this challenge. Ill-equipped. Unprepared.

Up through yesterday, I made my writing quota, only by the skin of my chin. And it wasn't pretty. On night, I was up until 3:30 am; and another, until 4 am.

Most days, I do not have time to write until 8 or 9 pm, and by then, I am spent. Busy people who keep hectic schedules find my daily grind exhausting, just hearing about my day's work and responsibilities. It is now 9 pm, and I am only now sitting down to eat dinner. And, I haven't written one word for the challenge. Not one.

I haven't shared the really crazy part. I'm risking a lot by focusing all my spare energy on this endeavor. I am not just hoping to take a hobby to uncharted territory. I am taking a huge risk in my approach to this, and my livelihood sort of depends on it.

My obligations over the next few weeks is even more insane than this week.

I need a miracle. I need help.

Setting Up for Successful Writing

I am not about to offer an all inclusive list for successful writing.

Rather, here I sit, after sleeping only 2-3 hours last night and I have a headache that cannot be ignored. My writing goal for the day is at least 2,000 words (the words used to write this blog post do not count). Though I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning trying to meet my goal for yesterday, I was around 200 words shy of complete yesterday's goal. Merely three days into my thirty day challenge and I am already 200 words behind. I am determined to make up for that.

I don't have time to nap. That option is out.

Instead, I am attempting to set myself up for fruitful writing today by -

• Stay away from distractions. My house is full of distractions: dirty laundry to be washed, vegetables that need to be cooked, clutter that needs tending, a bed that is lonely for company, kitties that need attention. For me, the coffee shop is the perfect place to work. I cannot concentrate in any space that is quiet, such as a library. A coffee shop is just enough noise to keep me content, and I can tune out (the noise) when needed.
• Do not analyze my writing. Given I have little time in a day to devote exclusively to writing and that my daily writing goal is not small, I need to put the petal to the metal. Or, rather, I need to keep my fingertips moving along the keyboard. Successfully completing this 30 day challenge, NaNoWriMo, will give me a complete first draft when all is said and done on November 30. I am certainly no Goethe. My first draft will most likely NOT be my final draft. Getting the ideas on paper is more important than having everything perfect the first time.
• Stay hydrated. Thankfully, today is a caffeine day. I'm not sure how I would be alert or clear-headed enough to write otherwise. Need loads of water to counter the caffeine. Even on non-caffeinated days, hydration is important. Lots of caffeine. Even more water.
• Eat well. Eating is important; it is fuel for the brain. When I tell my students that part of exam preparation involves sleeping well and eating well, they are shocked. Yes, the brain needs nourishment to function well. Providing nourishment for the brain does not mean eating junk food. Eating foods high in protein are helpful. The food I packed for working this morning include: mi-fen (rice noodles) with shrimp and greenery - pictured below, yogurt, and fresh fruit (strawberries, blueberries, a banana).

• Set realistic goals and give myself accolades for the progress I make (instead of being hard on myself for not accomplishing more - which is what I tend to do).

Looking for a Rhythm or Routine that Works

It is nearly the end of day 2 of NaNoWriMo and NaBloPoMo, and I have yet to find a rhythm or routine that works or helps me stay consistent. I need momentum. Or maybe I just need more energy.

Befuddled

Befuddled. Not a state I proudly wear like I would wear a badge of honor. I wish I could say my muddled mind is due to some enticing or delicious drink, but alas, I have no such wild adventures to chase.

Perhaps I could use some quiet and stillness.

Especially after a non-stop, action packed week. However, duty calls; I must write. Where, oh where, can I chance find lucidity, creativeness, and intriguing words to pen?

Why Blog? Blogging with Purpose

For 6+ years, blogging was a part of my routine, inasmuch as eating or sleeping was concerned. Not quite that much, but close enough. My blogging was born out of keeping friends and family up to date; and trading information, educating, encouraging others.

Then something life-changing occurred. Call the 'something' spanning an elongated period of time. This something turned my life upside down, inside out, into dizzy craziness. Being vulnerable and completely transparent was difficult.

So, I went off the blogging grid.

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The desire to blog did not extinguish. But, the purpose became muddled, and my desire for privacy and the space to process intensified.

Well, I am back. With some modifications.

The intent really has not changed all that much. Transparency and keeping it real are still important to me; sharing experiences, whether painful and gut-wrenching or beautiful and refreshing, are important not to hide. That is crucial to healing as well as relationship building.

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My hope is to play some facilitating or helping role in healing or relationship building.