Respect; A Two Way Street

“People have different reasons for the way they live their lives.  You cannot put everyone’s reasons in the same box.”  – Kevin Spacey

 

IMG_1735

Drag races in Bonne Terre, MO.

Can you imagine what the world would be like if everyone had  the same likes and dislikes?   I would think the world would be a very boring place.   Everyone would be driving the same kind of car, eat the same kind of food and wearing the same clothes.  Being different and unique can be a good thing though and sometimes a bad thing.

Behind every person is a reason as to why they like the things they do or the life style they choose to live.  Something, somewhere, one day (or week, month, year) happened that influenced a person to take that first step onto the path of life they wanted to live.  Now you and I may not agree with the path they choose but Newsflash cupcake!  It doesn’t matter because that individual has their rights too.

If we don’t respect the beliefs and ways of others how can we expect them to respect ours?  I see a lot of that in today’s world.  Why can’t we learn to agree to disagree?  There’s no good guy, there’s no bad guy, there is just two people who believe differently for different reasons.  No one is right and no one is wrong.  Let’s quit arguing and fighting.  Debate is good as long as it is in good form.  It can even be healthy.

“Every human being, of whatever origin, of whatever station, deserves respect.  We must each respect others even as we respect ourselves.” U Thant

One of the biggest problems that I see is when someone tells me I have to respect their way of thinking then shows no respect to my beliefs.  For instance you don’t like dogs,   I respect that and I won’t bring my dog to your house and I won’t force you to like my dog.  So don’t come to my house and tell me I am going to have to get rid of my dogs and accept your way of thinking because you don’t like dogs. 

12120122_10153226619883041_5854805285195725208_o

My dog Kate

Respect, like common sense used to be common.  Now days neither one are.  I don’t know when or how it happened but it did.  Respect is an integral part of every day life whether we want to admit or not.  I hope one day respect and common sense make a come back.

“When was it that men agreed to respect the appearance and not the reality?” – Henry David Thoreau

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and a big thank you to those of you who follow me.  Remember to share the love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

++                       

One Hole or Two

20476469_1403291303091577_5635808754571756927_n

If you use Facebook I am sure you have seen this before.  If you have used one you are going to know where I am coming from but if you have not I may be hard to follow.

My story begins in Lafe, Arkansas in the 50s.  My grandparents had a farm located here.  They lived in an old farmhouse with out running water and ………NO BATHROOM!  Yep you heard me right, no bathroom.

Now it just so happens that they did have an outhouse.  Because of their glamorous aroma, especially in the hot weather months, the outhouse was located some distance from the house.  Did I mention that it didn’t have electric in it.  Anyway ours wasn’t just any old outhouse.  No siree!  It was a genuine two hole privy.  Not just one hole by two!  Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit, we were styling.

Or were we.  Now if you have never seen a two hole privy let me tell ya, the holes ain’t that far apart and there is no divider or stall like you see in the public bathrooms today.  Nope, just two holes cut in a piece of wood.  However my grandpa had installed a couple of real toilet seats which added some comfort.  Now for the life of me I can not, CAN NOT, imagine two people sitting there, that close together, beside each other having their morning bowel movement.  I read that back and it even sounds sick.  I don’t ever recall seeing two people coming out of the outhouse together.  One hole would have been enough.

 

DSC_0232

Grandparents old house.

Now when I was knee high to a grasshopper I became acquainted with my grandma’s tom turkey.  Now he had somehow figured out that I was terrified of him.  Now in my defense, if you have never seen an old tom all puffed up and strutting his stuff and coming at you don’t pass judgement on me.  I am here to tell ya that will scare the devil out of you especially when you are only 5.

Now every time I had to go to the bathroom that old tom would be between me and the outhouse.  I need to explain something at this point.  When a guy is headed for the outhouse that can only mean one thing because there were plenty of trees to tinkle behind.  Ok now that I explained that, when you have had a big plate of biscuits and sausage gravy for breakfast time is of the essence.  It is dangerous to be playing around at this time.

DSC_0226

Another view of the old farmhouse.

My grandparents got running water in 1970.  All the kids, there were nine, chipped in and had a well drilled for them.  Then five years later my uncle and I put a bathroom in the old farmhouse for them.  I remember one visit in the summer not long after we installed the bathroom, I saw grandma grab the TP and head for the barn (outhouse had finally succumbed to gravity).  I asked her why she didn’t use the bathroom and she said it was too “purty” to mess up.  That winter when I was down visiting and the snow was whirling she used the inside bathroom.  I guess the bathroom wasn’t that “purty after all.

I had a lot of fun on the farm.  I wish my son would have been able to experience some of the things that happened on the farm.  It was a great time in my life that I will always cherish and Grandma White, well she was a saint and the sweetest person you ever met.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post.   I hoe you enjoyed it.  Remember share the love.

 

 

Bad Mood Not Allowed

 

DSC_0369

Big River near Leadwood, MO

” Nature and books belong to the eyes that see them.  It depends on the mood of the man whether he shall see sunset or the fine poem.” –Essays and Poems by Ralph Waldo Emerson “Experience”

According to Merriam-Webster mood is a conscious state of mind or predominant emotion.   Emerson shares with us his thought that what a person sees is dependent upon what type of mood one happens to be entertaining at the time.  A thought that after thinking about it, I find to hold a lot of truth.

How many times have we cheated ourselves out of a breath taking sunset simply because our mood wasn’t right?  Now I won’t argue the fact that if your mind is in the right place a beautiful sunset can change your mood if you allow it to but it doesn’t always happen that way.

I remember a time in my life that I had went camping with a group that everyone there seemed to put a capital “n” in negativity.  Sitting around the campfire that first night I knew I was in trouble.  I honestly can’t remember any of them saying something positive.  I let it infect me and my mood was horrible.  I didn’t get one good photo that weekend.  I was definitely not on my best game.  I didn’t really realize until sometime later how much your mood can dictate the quality of your photography, painting, writing etc..

DSC_0383-1

Big River near Leadwood, MO.

The two photos were taken by me in the summer of 2017.  They are pics of the same rock formation taken from different angles.  You look at it from different angles you get different views.  You see different details.  It is like looking at something in a good mood or a bad mood.  There are going to be things that don’t look the same.  This applies to life also, not just to your creative abilities.

I don’t care who you are but when you are in a bad mood and have to make a decision, ninety percent of the time it is going to be a bad decision.  For those of you who have lived with someone that has excessive, erratic mood swings, you know how much moods effect life AND you know how miserable they can be and you.

DSC_0378 (2)

Picture Of catch by my friend David.

 

DSC_0378

Same photo as above but unedited.

So if you would, imagine your moods like the filters I used with this photo.  Your mood decides what kind of day you are going to have just like the filter I used decides how colorful the fish is going to be.  I hope everyone is understanding what I am saying because moods are very instrumental in what kind of day you are going to have.

So remember when you get up in the morning and get that first cup of coffee in you, that it is time to start getting in that “good mood” you need to make your day enjoyable.  Tell yourself this is your day and no one is capable of messing it up unless you let them.  Put that smile on your face that is going to be greeting people all day long.  Clear yourself of any negativity.  Now go back to bed and say the hell with it!  JUST KIDDING!  Now put your big boy or girl panties on and go out into the world and ……… “Be happy, don’t worry, cause when you worry your face will frown and that will bring everybody down”……….

Thanks for reading my blog.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Remember to spread the love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sexual Abuse of Our Children

“Child abuse and neglect offend the basic values of our state.  We have a responsibility to provide safe settings for at-risk children and facilitate permanent placement for children who cannot return home.” – Matt Blunt

DSC_0021

This is a subject that is hard for me to write about but when our congressional leaders use such a sensitive subject for their political agenda it pisses me off.  Larry Nassar is a POS and I hope he rots in hell for his atrocities.  My heart goes out to those individuals who have had their lives devastated by this monster.  I do not mean any disrespect to those victims with my following rant and I hope they understand that.  Let the rant begin.

According to news reports, Senator Dianne Feinstein met with seven victims of Larry Nassar’s abuse.  According to InStyle (February 5, 2018) the senator said it was one of the most emotional and disturbing meetings she ever had.  They spoke for over an hour about what had happened to them and how USA Gymnastics, Michigan State University, and the adults charged with protecting them failed at every turn.

Well the senator promised a bill that would protect them. (Note: sexual abuse of a minor is all ready illegal in this country)  The senator kept her word and a bill was passed.

  1.  It addresses the patchwork of state reporting laws, making it mandatory for anyone affiliated with any national governing body or amateur sports organization that crosses state lines to report sexual abuse to local and federal law enforcement or social service agencies (all over worked, understaffed and underpaid) within 24 hours.  This requirement would apply to USA Gymnastics and each of the other 46 national governing bodies that oversee a variety of Olympic sports.  It would also apply to college athletics. (InStyle)                                                                                                          (Wow just wow!  You all are geniuses I tells ya.  You have saved our athletes.  God Bless you!  Got a question for you all though.  How about these children?  What did you do for them?In 2013 one in nine girls and 1 in 53 boys under the age of 18 experienced sexual abuse or assault. Eighty percent of the perpetrators were a parent, and 47,000 were men and 5,000 were women.Let me enlighten you with these numbers, according to the National Statistics on Child Abuse, in 2015 an estimated 683,000 children (unique) incidents were victims of abuse and neglect. Nearly 700,000 children are abused in the US annually. Children’s Advocacy Centers served more than 311,000 children around the country in 2015. Two-thirds of children served disclosed sexual abuse (205,438). 
  2. Clarifies that victims of child sex crimes can recover from their perpetrators statutory damages of up to $150,000 as well as punitive damaged due to the heinous nature of the rime against them.  It further extends the statute of limitations so it doesn’t begin to run until victims realize they’ve been abused. (InStyle)
  3. Reforms the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, which established “national governing bodies”, like USA gymnastics.  Congress chartered all of these entities, but the original law did not specify their obligations to ensure that athletes have protections against child abuse, including sexual abuse.  This bill fixes that.  It requires the newly created U.S. Center for Safe Sport to establish strict policies for preventing abuse and procedures to make sure every governing body would be required to implement policies to make sure minor athletes are not alone with adults.  (InStyle)

“Most children who survive into adulthood always have a lingering question that commonly arises as to why there is very little support for the child abuse survivor.” – Patricia Dsouza, When Roses are Crushed

Well golly gee.  All of you in congress should be proud.  Stand up and take a bow!  NOT!!!!!!!  All you managed to do was add more laws that will do absolutely nothing, nada, zilch, to stop anyone hell bent on doing it anyway.  Murder.  I do believe it is against the law but let me tell you geniuses now (you all really do live in your own little world) that law ain’t slowed nobody down.  You all are good at adding laws that existing laws all ready cover but you refuse to give money and manpower to help fight the fight.

So to all the congressional leaders and President Trump, this my plea to you.  Wake up!  These children need protecting too.  No more laws are needed.  We just need to start enforcing the existing laws and agencies to stop it.  There needs to be more funding and manpower added to all the social worker agencies across the U.S..  They also need to be hooked up with mental health providers so that the mental scars can be addressed.  Sooooo, please put your party differences aside and begin acting like adults and address the non-athletes.  They need you.  Please help them. / Signed Statistic

Don’t forget to spread the love.

They Are Family

 

10174966_10152104587103041_1598876884537563152_n

My ride dog and companion, Kate.

 

“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.  For me, they are the role model for being alive.” – Gilda Radner

One thing that I can not wrap my feeble little mind around is how can people abuse animals?  How can folks just give an old dog to a shelter and then they have the nerve to replace them with a new puppy.  It breaks my heart when I see this happen.  Folks whether you believe it or not animals do have feelings.

Kate suffered from crystals in her urine and she had to have hip surgery when she was a year old.  After surgery she slept on the couch and I slept on the floor beside her.  From that time on she was my dog.  She did her best not to let me out of her sight.  She went everywhere with me and since I am a farrier she was my ride dog.  She loves riding “shotgun” and loves to watch the road.

 

12120122_10153226619883041_5854805285195725208_o

Kate takes riding “shotgun” seriously.

 

179927_10150862397223041_920467577_n

Kate after surgery and her “jammies”.

 

540012_10150826463023041_908970282_n

Kate chilling after surgery.

 

 

 

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” – Josh Billings

My dad never liked dogs and still doesn’t to this day.  He just turned 84 so I guess it is pretty safe to say he probably never will.  I know they aren’t for everyone but there is no reason on earth to abuse them.

Just imagine, you are 6 years old and your dad puts you in the car and off you go.  After awhile you don’t recognize the area you are traveling in and it appears to be in the country and it is raining.  Finally in a very secluded place your dad stops the car and gets outside.  He opens your door and he grabs you by the hand and leads you over to a log and tells you to sit down.  Then he walks back to the car, gets in it and drives off.  Leaving you there all alone, in a strange place and you are scared.

Now don’t give me that BS that I am comparing apples to oranges.  I am not.  Both are alive, confused, scared and broken hearted.  Neither have done anything to be treated this way.  Thousands of animals are dumped each year just because their owner doesn’t want them anymore.  Maybe I went a little overboard trying to get my point across but animals do have feelings.

Soooooo, if you are thinking about getting a pet remember that they have feelings and would like a forever home and they are a member of the family.  Please, if you can’t accept this then get a “Pet Rock”.

 

DSC_0316

For the cat lovers out there.

 

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  Hope you enjoyed it.  Remember to spread the love!

 

 

 

 

Who Is To Blame?

DSC_0287

The pic above pretty much says it all about me.  Keep it simple.  Can’t say I know many people the age of 63 who would camp this way especially the weekend before Christmas in the state of Missouri.

Today’s blog is going to be kind of a rant about some of the things happening in our society today here in the good ole USA.  I watched in horror as an older gentleman chewed out the cashier over the price of gasoline and this little Tasmanian Devil went off in my head.  We are a nation of complainers but when it comes right down to it we, as a whole, will do absolutely nothing about it.   By the way, I did tell the man where the bear poopoos in the woods.

Folks, who sets the prices in this country?  If you said corporations, wrong!  The market sets the prices.  Who is the market?  John Q Public, in other words you and I.  Corporations put prices on the product and if we don’t buy the product they will have to lower the price or pull it.  For example, remember those spinner things that were all the rave?  Kids all wanted one and they were paying $10.00 for them.  The companies made money hand over fist because we bought them at those ridiculous prices.  Now the market is completely saturated so you can now buy that same spinner for$2.50. Once again Americans were fleeced.  Why?  Because we didn’t dig our heels in and say “NO”.

Gasoline costs.  Folks are always complaining about the prices.  Newsflash Twinkletoes, have you did anything to reduce your travel?  If folks would reduce their driving and gas consumption the gas companies would be forced to drop the prices so they could sell it.

Look at the price of new vehicles.  2018 Dodge 350 with a diesel.  $38,000 to $50,000!  New homes $350,000 to $750,000.  We just keep on buying them.  Going deeper and deeper in debt.  Then we have to have that $75,000 camper.  But why?  To keep up with the Jones’es or to act like we are someone of importance?

Growing up I remember camping and there were dozens of tent campers.  I went to a state park back in the fall of 2017 and camped in my tent and there were maybe 6 tent campers and 20 camping trailers.  I am here to tell ya those trailers were first class with all the pleasures of home.  The price of tents are pretty reasonable but those campers, well you better bring the big checkbook.

“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” – Abraham Lincoln

I seem to be all over the place here but what I am trying to get across to folks is you have to accept the responsibility of the prices you are paying.  Oh, price gouging is real but if you don’t buy the item they can’t gouge you now can they?  Do you have to have that camper with three built in televisions, satellite, built in butt wiper, etc.?

Supply and demand rules.  As long as you demand that $10 beer at the stadium, they are going to charge you $10.  Gasoline supplies get low and you keep buying it, it is going to go up because the demand is greater than the supply.  Maybe it is time for consumers to stick together and help determine a little better pricing on some of the products we use in this country.  Just my 2 cents.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and I hope it made sense to you.  Spread the love.

Growing Up!!!!

dscn0235

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill

The year was 1964. We were one out away from winning first place.  The count was 2 and 2 with a runner on third, score tied 1 to 1, and the bottom of the ninth, when “bam” the batter hits the ball over second base and our dream of winning the championship is crushed.  There were eight teams in our division and only first and second place got trophies.  Unlike today not everyone got trophies.

We failed.  We tasted failure.  Looking back on that time in my life, I remember how we all became closer and how we vowed to work harder.  We were hell bent on improving our skills and becoming champions.  In 1965 our dream came to fruition.

The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but rising every time we fail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have spent a lot of hours through the year thinking about this and I believe in my heart that failure is the reason we became champions.  It built character and made us work harder.  It didn’t scar us for life or fill us with low self esteem.

We didn’t get participation trophies.  We earned them.  I think the big difference between now and back then is that the “family unit” was a lot stronger and more endeared.  Don’t get me wrong, we were a long way from perfect.  I remember fathers that just gave their child hell if they lost.  Losing wasn’t an option.  These are the actions that were detrimental to childhood development.  It wasn’t the losing that caused the problems, it was bad parenting.  Parents that wouldn’t take the time to teach their children that it wasn’t wrong to lose.  That it happened.  It was an integral part of life whether we wanted it or not.

At the end of the day, you are solely responsible for your success and your failure.   And the sooner you realize that, you accept that, and integrate that into your work ethic, you will start being successful.  As long as you blame others for the reason you aren’t where you want to be, you will always be a failure.” –  Erin Cummings

Maybe I am just an antiquated, set in his ways, old man but I truly believe it is time to go back to the “olden days” and teach children what failure is and how to use it in their favor.  No, everybody doesn’t get a trophy for participating, you have to earn it.

Then we need to teach them the importance of taking responsibility for their actions.  That they are in charge of writing their “Book of Life” and they decide what is going in it.  Teach them that “failure” can actually be a good thing.  We also have to teach them how to cope with failure and how to use it to their advantage.

Thank you so much for reading my blog.  I appreciate you taking the time.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Spread the love.

What Is “Life”?

“Life has no meaning.  Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life.  It is a waste to be asking the question when you are the answer.” – Joseph Campbell

DSC_0300 (2)

I have been MIA because of that nasty viral infection that is make its rounds.  It is some nice stuff, let me tell you.  I am behind on reading the blogs that I follow and have a lot of catching up to do.

My combat with the infection took me to the doctor’s office.  While sitting in the waiting room I looked around the room at all those that had ventured in to seek medical help.  There were around 11 waiting and ranged in age from 27 to 80.  There were only 4 males including myself.  I watched as they sat there patiently waiting for their turn.  As I watched my mind began to ask, I wonder what life means to them?

Is life just existing to them or is it so dear to them they have a fear of dying?  Is it exciting and always in party mode or do they prefer sitting in a chair reading a great book and sipping on hot tea?  Life is what YOU make it.

Life can be so strong and virile one day and it is so fragile the next.  We think we are on top of the “world of life” one day and wake up to find ourselves in the abyss of life gone wrong.  Life is full of highs and lows and your quality of life depends on how you manage those highs and lows.

“Whatever we are, whatever we make of ourselves, is all we will ever have – and that, in its profound simplicity, is the meaning of life.” – Phillip Appleman

IPad 194

When one is at their low point in life they, as I see it any way, only have two choices.  Put on your big boy/girl undies and take life by the horn and make some positive changes in their life or lie there and wallow in self pity and rely on the enablers in your life to help you along.

DSC_0287

“We get to CHOOSE the meaning of our lives.  Our lives mean exactly what we say they do – no more, no less.  Each of us chooses their path in life.” – Johnathan Lockwood Huie

Life is simply what YOU decide it is going to be.  YOU write the definition.  People, experiences and God can help you along the way but You have the final decision.  Prepare yourself through education, understanding and knowledge.  If you don’t love yourself then learn how to.  Parents listen to your children, just because you wanted to be a great athlete, accountant, doctor, lawyer, etc., it doesn’t mean that it will be a good fit for them.  Let them make that decision.  What’s that you say?  You aren’t going to let them make a bad decision.  Yeah, right just like you never did, right?  Encourage them to be their own person and to write their own “Book of Life.”

Once again thank you for taking the time out of your day to read my blog.  It as well as any comments, is deeply appreciated.  Now go spread the love.

 

 

 

2018 Is Knocking On the Door!

IPad 128

“Your success and happiness lies in you.  Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.” – Helen Keller

I don’t know about the rest of you but I don’t know if it is because I am getting older or just busier, but this year reminded me of Secretariat coming down the home stretch at Belmont in 1973.  I didn’t get accomplished what  I wanted to.  That tells me I need to improve my planning for 2018.

To me it is a little ironic that the end of the year and the celebration of the birth of Christ both happen in the month of December.  The Beginning and the End so to speak.  With the celebration of Christmas comes bouts of depression for some.  It is a tough time for those who have lost loved ones, especially those who are celebrating Christmas for the first time after their loved one has passed.  Unfortunately it is the time of year when companies trim their work force getting ready for the year to come, adding stress to the lives of those that lost their jobs.

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is the time of year one needs to go to their safe place and reflect on the year and evaluate what happened in 2017.  Are you disappointed?  Happy?  Ecstatic?  Was last year a good year but if not, what can you do to make 2018 better?  Now the operative word here is “you”, I didn’t say “we”.  What’s that?  You are married.  Congratulations!  Sorry the operative is still “you”.  When you get “you” worked out, then you can sit down with the spouse and finish your planning.

I am going to go out on a limb here and I am going to bet that one of the things you need to change going in to 2018 is (drum roll please) spend more quality time with family.  I went into a restaurant a couple of weeks ago and there were what appeared to be 4 members of a family.  My guess was father, mother, daughter and son.  Youngest (son) was probably 15.  Every one of them were doing something with their phone and maybe, just maybe said 15 words.  Do yourself a favor and make 2018, the year of the Family.

This is going to probably put some of your undies in a wad.  I am sorry but it needs to be said.  If you are one of the many complaining about the current political climate and you DID NOT exercise your explicit right to vote, then shut up!  I don’t care if you don’t agree with me or even if I am not politically correct, you don’t have the right to complain, in my opinion anyway.  Yes it is my opinion and isn’t supported by any law, local, state or federal.  Sad thing though is that these people are the ones that complain the most. (Note:  This pertains only to the U.S. because I do realize exercising that right in some countries could get one killed.)

“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written.  We can help write that story by setting goals.” – Melody Beattie

The new year can bring us new challenges so in that chapter of life we will be writing about things that we have never experienced before.  Make sure your book of life is an autobiography.  Do your own writing and decision making.  It doesn’t hurt to seek advice but for life decisions, you make them.  After all you are the one that is going to have to live with that decision.

IPad 194

Work on knowing all your neighbors.  Learn their names and even talk to them.  I know that is asking a lot for some, but think about it.  Spread the love.  I don’t care what your passion is share that love with everyone around you.  Respect those around you.  When other people talk, shut up and listen.  Respect their opinion whether you agree with or not.  I myself have said more than once, “We are just going to have to agree to disagree.”  Learn to walk away when a discussion goes south.  Treat people the way you want to be treated.  Keep your life free of negativity.   Last but not least, love yourself.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Spread the love!  NOTE:  I do not have a degree in psychology and am not a psychologist.  Just an old geezer that has watched and learned as I traveled down the freeway of life.

Is Today’s Youth In Trouble?

 

“If we lose love and self respect for each other, this is how we finally  die.” – Maya Angelou

R1-02201-0007_0001

I have fought with myself about tonight’s subject.  I have debated whether or not it is worth writing about because of the fallout it could cause.  I realize I could lose followers and ruffle a few feathers but I guess I like living on the edge because I am going to do it because I feel it really needs to be said.

First I would like to make it perfectly clear that the purpose of this blog is not to “bash” anyone.  It is merely observations I have made and just my opinion.  I do not have a degree in psychology and am only speaking of what I have learned in 63 years.  I do not wish to offend anyone, it is merely meant to be thought provoking.

“Concern yourself more with accepting responsibility than with assigning blame.  Let the possibilities inspire you more than the obstacles discourage you.” – Ralph Marsten

If I hear one more time, “what is wrong with kids these days?”, I am going to scream.  I ask you who is responsible for seeing that children are reared properly?  Gee, could it be the parents?  However it is easier to blame the children and shirk the responsibility of child rearing.

I don’t know how many times I have heard parents from my generation say, “I just wanted them to have it better than me.”  Really?  I really don’t think we turned out that bad.  After all, we got told no, endured spankings at home and at school, only got a trophy if we won, and lived with second hand smoke.  Didn’t have car seats and rode in the back of a pickup.  We were taught and expected to respect our elders.  The real setback was all those violent cartoons we watched and worked to earn money.  Damn I guess we really did have it rough.   The difference between then and now was that we couldn’t wait to get out of the house and now they don’t want to leave.

“Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners.” – Laurence Sterne

Boys wear there pants below the crack of their arse and girls dress like hookers.  Why is that?  Could it be that they have no manners because no one ever took the time to teach them respect?  If one doesn’t respect themselves then how in the world can they respect others.  If they don’t respect your property, why would you ever think they would respect other people’s property?

One of the problems in the world today is that the parents and grandparents want to be their child’s friend.  They cater to them and shun confrontations.  No one wants to be the “bad guy”.  You know, that person who is trying to prepare the child for the real world.  Not the one where everything revolves around the child.  When are you going to realize that you aren’t doing them any favors by catering to them.  Making them think that they can do anything they want and that the rest of the world will be right there waiting on them hand and foot so that they don’t have to endure any bad experiences.   You do so that must be the real world, so they think.  You are sheltering them in a world that only exists because you have created it.  They didn’t create it, you did.  Do the math.  You are the reason.

“That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong.” – William J.H. Boetcker

Folks it is time to quit blaming all the behavioral problems of our children on them and share a lot of that blame.  Maybe sit back and rethink the way you are rearing your child.  I certainly hope I didn’t offend anyone but I seem to see more and more bad behavior every day.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  It is deeply appreciated.  Remember to spread the love.