Monkey Wrench, Anyone?

Funny how life keeps going no matter what, you know when people say, don't feel so bad, no matter how bad things are there is always someone who has it worse. Ever feel like you were that person who had it worse?

God, life is a funny little cycle and time stops for no one, does it? We do our best and make our plans and strive to reach our goals, but some days no matter how you try, there is a monkey wrench and it is jammed right in the middle of everything causing all your hard work to fall apart.

Life is balance and 9 times out of 10 so rarely does any of us actually have the balance we need in order to survive these bumps. We go day to day with our routines thinking there is an end in sight and when that end comes and it is never what we had planned; it makes us feel like we did something wrong.

But guess what, your not alone and you did nothing wrong. Its called life. We can plan as much as we want and be prepared, but no amount of strength or preparation will ever make the bumps any smoother. Some things do not have visible answers, hell, some things have no answer at all. It simply is what it is, good, bad or indifferent. At the end of our life when we have to answer to our maker, I imagine that is when all the mysteries will be revealed. But, who knows? As I have planned this day to come I also think, it most likely will never be like I imagined.

Call it a mid life crisis or a bout of depression or maybe things are right on track for you at the moment. Regardless the state you are in nothing is permanent and nothing lasts forever. When the tide rolls in and we are treading water and struggling to breathe; we have to tell ourselves this too will pass. When we are on top of the world and everything falls right into place, enjoy it while you can, because it will eventually fade as well.

To live with the philosophy that nothing is permanent some find to be grim and bleak. But I find it to be my comfort when I feel like the world is focused on killing my spirit. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that lasts forever. But maybe that belief  is not the complete truth either?   

Humans are riddled with flaws and imperfections, but it is also our nature to nurture and build bonds that cannot be broken by these cycles of hard times. I used to live my life by the philosophy that nothing is permanent, but here I am learning yet again. There is one thing that is constant, there is a monkey wrench that messes with my program of belief.

When I look back on my life and all the hard times I have been through it is true with time the sorrow did pass and the monkey wrench that broke the cycle of sadness was always love. When things were great those good times were always shared with those closes to me and their pride for me was shown through their love. When we lose someone close to us, the love never dies, in fact, it is felt even stronger with their passing.

When it is real and comes from a true place love is the one thing, the only thing, that lasts forever, no matter the circumstances.

My Weapon of Choice is Love

Art by James Earl Fraser

I have been going out of my way to post positive messages in recent months, mainly due to the fact, 1. it is how I truly feel and 2. because our society is screaming for a change. The world is forever changing all around us and with that change comes a few bumps and growing pains along the way.

I have been extremely emotional watching the world around me. All of the ups and down and quite honestly it is a bit exasperating at times. Where have our scruples gone?

What better time to seek positive reinforcements than Thanksgiving. As an American this is my favorite holiday as it has no political or religious connotations but simply a day to celebrate ones blessings. It is a day of family and friendships to come together under one roof and say thank you for being in my life and for all the good each individual brings. I guess one can argue the politics behind Thanksgiving but I'm going to focus on the word THANKS.

Black Friday is an American day of indulgence and tradition that has been going on my entire lifetime. I'm all for great deals and saving money and the start of my most favorite time of the year. But when it is at the expense of our integrity then I have to say, don't you think it is about time we step back and evaluate our behavior? I cannot be the only person in America that finds a large majority of people's behavior totally unacceptable on this day.

Where has our camaraderie gone? We are a nation of brotherhood and I believe it is time we all start acting as such once again. We rise and fall as one and at the moment we seem to have been in a decline for quite some time. We need to band together and start picking ourselves up. We have been living in an obvious, "EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF" society and it is not getting us anywhere.


It is time for a change. Let's make this day our starting point, no more pointing fingers and no more looking back. No more hate slinging, typically created through lies and stereotypes. Please stop the madness. It is time to trudge forward ride out these growing pains and come out the other side better and stronger.

The only way this can be a reality is if we start building our communities again. It takes a village, let us build that influential village based on truth and positivity. This does not have to be as difficult as it has been. Our lives do not have to be a struggle. If we help each other, we all win, no one is left behind.

Living in poor economic times is affecting a large majority. But if we work together to rebuild then the sound economic changes that take place will benefit us as a whole, not only a select few. Imagine a world with no poverty and the benefits that would come from such a profound reality. Soon there would be a decline in crime because there would be no reason for people to perform such acts of desperation. This decline of compassion was a gradual thing and I realize rising up from our fall will take a gradual climb.

Today, as a nation, our time is now. As a citizen I feel it is my duty to begin and be the voice that starts by saying thank you to those in my life whom have influenced me for the good. I want to thank those I have wronged that saw it in their heart to forgive and I want to have the grace to truly forgive and forget any one who seeks my forgiveness. We are a country of opportunity let us also be one nation of peace, freedom and compassion.

I understand there were many who fought for those freedoms. This is my fight. Instead of fighting fire with fire my weapon of choice is love; I'm fighting for love with LOVE and I'm graciously asking you to join me in this battle.

Anything worth fighting for never comes easy, it is well past the time to roll our sleeves up and put in the work. I believe it will be worth the effort. This is a task that some may say is a failure and is a pointless waste of time. Do not allow our mistakes to taint our intentions, when we fail we must try again and not stop until the destination is reached.

Let the Revolution Begin

We're living in a pretty chaotic society at the moment. It feels like it is every man for themselves. I do believe we are starting to make a turn, after all it was a long time getting to this state, I imagine it will take some time to relearn simple basics of giving to our fellow man and loving everyone equally.

It is not a simple task to survive in the economic times we are facing at the moment. It is easy to get wrapped in your own woes that we lose sight of the bigger picture. Every day is a struggle to make ends meet and every one is pointing fingers instead of taking action for change. Most people are working 2 jobs to pay their bills, we are sleeping less, aging faster and becoming pretty damn grumpy in the process.

We need to step outside of ourselves and start reflecting on the good. Change a thought in order to make a change. It is understandably intimidating to look around and see so much poverty and turmoil become so prevalent. But one voice can make a difference. If you have reached only one person it is almost inevitable that person will feel compelled to return the favor for another.

The thing is we all have one life, one world and one ultimate love, happiness. This emotion is so easy to spread and share starting with a simple smile or gesture of kindness. It is not difficult and does not cost one penny. It starts the chain reaction that leads to bigger and even more fulfilling gestures.

When we are surrounded by bad news, irritability and greed you can feel it trickle down and create an intense feeling of anguish and pain. There is no reason why we cannot use the same technique but in the opposite direction.   

Isn't it about time we start a revolution of love and kindness and what better month to start than the month of Thanksgiving. Remember to count your blessings especially when it feels you have none. Remember to love one another especially the ones whom have wronged you. Remember to give when you have it to give because you never know when you may be the one who needs it in return. Do not turn your back on a stranger, for that stranger may soon become your best friend.

I want to love and be loved and I'm asking you to try it, let's all put ourselves second, stop living the motto, do it to others before they do it to you and start living the way it was meant to be by doing onto others as you would do onto yourself. We are all one big family and there are no borders, tolerance is key. Think before you proceed, the end reaction should result in a beautiful change.