A Day of Love – Happy Valentine’s Day

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This is my 100th blog today. So excited that I believed in myself and kept at it!

I just read a book by Julie Ann Hatcher called Not Quite By the Book. It was the perfect Valentine’s day read. Nothing serious, but a sweet book about love in a younger person’s voice. Although I’m not a poetry devotee, I’ve tried my hand at it and read a few of the books that were required reading in high school and college. Hatcher’s protagonist is in love with Emily Dickinson and attempts to emulate her only to discover that her words speak to her, but Dickinson’s lifestyle does not. I thought this would be the perfect introduction to my survey about love:
https://drutieben.com/2025/01/15/valentines-day-questionnaire/

Although I did not get many responses, I want to share what I discovered in others.

1.         My first response came from a retired college professor emeritus. He uploaded it as a comment on the original blog post. Here is a recap as he didn’t exactly follow the 4 questions. I love it!
My wife is the love of my life. We celebrate our 50th anniversary this year. I have lots of falling-in-love memories. I was playing in a flag football game and coming off the field, saw the deep blue skies and rolling clouds against the mountains and stood gawking for a second. Turns out, my wife had been trying to draw notice of the sky before I came by. Our mutual love of that beautiful day helped draw us together.
Looking back, I now see love as an ongoing choice and commitment, almost a habit but sometimes very intentional and effortful. Love is the deep undercurrent that often goes unnoticed and other times you have to fight for. There’s no defining it really. Nothing that close to the core can ever be understood.

Here are the responses by the question I asked:
1.         What is your best memory of when you fell in love?
–Meeting someone at work;
–The day I feel in love was in November 2018 when I gave birth to my amazing daughter;
–Midnight rides along Skyline Drive from Lake Merritt in Oakland to Tilden Park in Berkeley, then roaming down to a 24-hour diner at sea level to have breakfast. The views out across the San Francisco Bay toward the Golden Gate Bridge were spectacular;
–My love and I went dancing on our first date and we were dancing. I felt so good in his arms.
–My boyfriend and I were playing Scrabble, and it turned into a friendly wresting match when a tile spilled onto the floor and under the couch. Retrieving it to see who won the game, I looked deep into his eyes and dared him to say what he was thinking. He quickly found the right tiles and put them on the board. He spelled: I LOVE YOU;
–I first met my husband-to-be on the mat at the Colorado Mountain College during an Aikido meet. We looked at each other and starting throwing each other around. It was intense week, and a prelude to what was to become.

2.         Who is/was the love of your life?
–Husband;
–My six-year-old daughter. She changed my entire world;
–My husband of 51 years;
–My sweet husband found me when I was 17 and we were married almost 50 years before Covid took his life. It’s been over 4 years and I look forward to being with him in the eternity-each day the thought “ONE DAY CLOSER” gets me through the pain and longing for his sweet hugs and kisses;
–My husband and son. They get me through all the ups and downs in my life. They are there for me and love me as I do.

3.         How do you feel about love now?
–Better late than never! We’re in our 70’s so we’re reconnected;
–I used to believe the ultimate love was a romantic love. Now, I know the absolute epitome of unconditional and perfect love can be the children we’re blessed to have and watch them grow:
–Comfortable. It’s different from the heady feeling of my twenties.
–I have been totally on my own since 2008 with a few one-time dates here and there;
–Love of family and friends is the most important thing in life—it’s not jus a ‘feeling,’ it’s a commitment to share, help, support, and enjoy each other. It’s work. It’s worth it!
–Stronger and deeper than before.

4.         What would your perfect day be if you could do anything you wanted with the person you love?
–Trip to the mountains and a nice dinner (with wine!);
–Spending the day relaxing, exploring, and spending time with family;
–Taking a scenic road trip, and stroll through small town streets;
–Going on a nature walk; later getting together to get a delicious dinner and maybe listening to some romantic music and dancing in a beautiful setting;
–It would being with the one that passed away again – to say ‘I love you,’ one more time;
–My spouse and I would fly up in a spaceship to circle the earth, looking down from above, appreciate its vastness, explicitness, and its beauty, free fall outside the ship, then return home in time for dinner. (This was my personal answer!)

Thank you everyone who participated in the survey. It was heartwarming to read all of your thoughts on love. We all love in different ways and connect forever to those whose love is meant to be. Here are some quotes to reflect on today:
“Love is the little silver thread connecting all of humanity, around the globe, century to century, forevermore.”—Julie Ann Hatcher
“Let love be your inspiration.”—Julie Ann Hatcher
“Those we love never truly die. They live on with us and in our hearts….our love gave them mortality.”—Julie Ann Hatcher on Emily Dickinson

And a poem by one of my Senior Choir buddies:
A White Rose, by John Boyle O’Reilly
THE red rose whispers of passion,
  And the white rose breathes of love;
O, the red rose is a falcon,
  And the white rose is a dove.
But I send you a cream-white rosebud
  With a flush on its petal tips;
For the love that is purest and sweetest
  Has a kiss of desire on the lips.

Happy Valentine’s Day. Enjoy your moments with your loved ones tonight! Order in or cook and binge watch C.B. Strike! Love to all!

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz-Part III

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The final part of this message concludes the analysis of the Four Agreements. Here are the last two:

The third agreement, Don’t Make Assumptions reminds us to get the facts before assuming the information is true. Assumptions are based on our bias, past experiences, and fears. They can distort reality. We must discern the truth in order to understand the message. We conflict with the person because we take it personally and as a result our feelings are hurt. It is best to learn how to ask good questions to seek the truth. Assume nothing. Others may not know what we think or talk over us. Open communication can allow us to talk rationally and connect without dram. It’s a way to transform our sadness and drama. Ask for what you want and be content if the answer is no. Finally, this is a hard one: Relinquish the need to change others. Real love is accepting other people the way they are. They may not think like you, but that’s okay. Speak your mind, but try and let go. Agree to Disagree and move on.

The fourth agreement, Always Do Your Best emphasizes the importance of giving your all to every action and decision. But remember that your best changes due to your circumstances, health, mood, and a myriad of other factors. If you spiral in the trap of judging yourself or others too harshly, you will regret your actions. Sometimes people don’t meet our expectations and vice versa. If we can continue to stay in the present moment, and take actions on our ideas, we will get results. We will accomplish a great deal if we commit to action without reward. If we receive a reward, it is fantastic. But the doing is the most important topic in this case. Realize that the action may not be perfect. But we aren’t perfect. We aim towards mastery, but achieve as much as we can every day. Having a balance approach to life can help us reduce stress and be more resilient.

We strive for freedom, happiness, and love if we can delve into these agreements with others and ourselves. We can all have a profound impact if we create a daily practice, and cultivate our lives into being authentic, understanding, and attaining peace. I love you all tonight and hope you attain everything you wish. Hug your loved ones and keep them safe and warm, and always close to your heart.

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz-Part II

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This is an extension of Tuesday’s blog with a more in-depth analysis. Ruiz believes we have been taught since childhood to “…fit into society’s mold,” which made us forget who our “true selves” are. If we can adopt the Four Agreements as part of our lifestyle, we might break through these limitations. Why wouldn’t we want to live a life of freedom, happiness, and love?

The first agreement, Be Impeccable with Your Word, is a powerful understatement. Our words are a power that create influence on everything. Words are not just sounds or symbols. Nuances carry energy and intention. They can heal, harm, uplift, or degrade. Every time we speak we can go in a direction of positive or negative. Inflection is key, and your intentions manifest through your outspoken thoughts. Negative and hateful speeches can bring doom and gloom to any conversation and create a world which we don’t want to live. Remember your history. This happened many years ago in Germany. A horrible leader used his words to manipulate a whole country, mostly intelligent people, into committing the most atrocious acts and enter them into a World War. Humans destroyed each other because he activated their fear. They became afraid of each other. Ruiz stated that “Whenever we hear an opinion and believe it, we make an agreement, and it becomes part of our belief system.” Being impeccable with our word can transform us, create a better belief system, and foster loving and healthier relationships.

The second agreement, Don’t Take Anything Personally, delves into the idea that people’s actions and words are reflections of their own beliefs and emotional states, not necessarily about us. When people react negatively to what is said to them, and they don’t believe the information is the truth, it is due to the fact that they are actually struggling internally to some message they know isn’t true. They stand by a belief or misinformation. They believe they are in the right. The vulnerability of this emotional turmoil makes us hurt, angry, or defensive, and we lash out. If we can take a step back and not be swayed by either praise or criticism, we become more emotionally stable. If we can have honest conversations and agree to disagree, we can make progress. In the movie, Dr. Strange, he is confronted by the Ancient One on a roof top in New York. Dr. Strange had a terrible car accident which crippled his hands (he was a neurosurgeon). In the conversation the Ancient One reminds Strange of his fear of failure. Strange thinks it’s what made him a great doctor. The Ancient One told him that fear was what actually kept him from true greatness. She tells him that was why he never found true happiness. Her last words to him were: “It’s not about you.” So let’s look outside ourselves, our fears and move beyond “taking it personally,” we might learn something new about the rest of the world. Ruiz states: “If you live without fear, if you love, there is no place for any of those emotions.”

Two favorite quotes of the day. Something to think about:
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”― Maya Angelou; and
“When someone tells you that a term or phrase is more accurate/less hurtful than the one you’re using, you now know better. So why not do better? How does it hurt you to NOT hurt another person?”—Ron Howard

Part III tomorrow on the third and fourth agreement. I love you all and hope you take a moment to reflect what’s holding you back to embrace love in the universe and yourselves.

What Liberal Means

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I’m Sharing It!!! WOW!!! Thank you Ron Howard.

Ron Howard has summed up what many of us believe. Including me….

“I’m a liberal, but that doesn’t mean what a lot of you apparently think it does. Let’s break it down, shall we? Because quite frankly, I’m getting a little tired of being told what I believe and what I stand for. Spoiler alert: not every liberal is the same, though the majority of liberals I know think along roughly these same lines:

1. I believe a country should take care of its weakest members. A country cannot call itself civilized when its children, disabled, sick, and elderly are neglected. PERIOD.

2. I believe healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Somehow that’s interpreted as “I believe Obamacare is the end-all, be-all.” This is not the case. I’m fully aware that the ACA has problems, that a national healthcare system would require everyone to chip in, and that it’s impossible to create one that is devoid of flaws, but I have yet to hear an argument against it that makes “let people die because they can’t afford healthcare” a better alternative. I believe healthcare should be far cheaper than it is, and that everyone should have access to it. And no, I’m not opposed to paying higher taxes in the name of making that happen.

3. I believe education should be affordable. It doesn’t necessarily have to be free (though it works in other countries so I’m mystified as to why it can’t work in the US), but at the end of the day, there is no excuse for students graduating college saddled with five- or six-figure debt.

4. I don’t believe your money should be taken from you and given to people who don’t want to work. I have literally never encountered anyone who believes this. Ever. I just have a massive moral problem with a society where a handful of people can possess the majority of the wealth while there are people literally starving to death, freezing to death, or dying because they can’t afford to go to the doctor. Fair wages, lower housing costs, universal healthcare, affordable education, and the wealthy actually paying their share would go a long way toward alleviating this. Somehow believing that makes me a communist.

5. I don’t throw around “I’m willing to pay higher taxes” lightly. If I’m suggesting something that involves paying more, well, it’s because I’m fine with paying my share as long as it’s actually going to something besides lining corporate pockets or bombing other countries while Americans die without healthcare.

6. I believe companies should be required to pay their employees a decent, livable wage. Somehow this is always interpreted as me wanting burger flippers to be able to afford a penthouse apartment and a Mercedes. What it actually means is that no one should have to work three full-time jobs just to keep their head above water. Restaurant servers should not have to rely on tips, multibillion-dollar companies should not have employees on food stamps, workers shouldn’t have to work themselves into the ground just to barely make ends meet, and minimum wage should be enough for someone to work 40 hours and live.

7. I am not anti-Christian. I have no desire to stop Christians from being Christians, to close churches, to ban the Bible, to forbid prayer in school, etc. (BTW, prayer in school is NOT illegal; *compulsory* prayer in school is – and should be – illegal). All I ask is that Christians recognize *my* right to live according to *my* beliefs. When I get pissed off that a politician is trying to legislate Scripture into law, I’m not “offended by Christianity” — I’m offended that you’re trying to force me to live by your religion’s rules. You know how you get really upset at the thought of Muslims imposing Sharia law on you? That’s how I feel about Christians trying to impose biblical law on me. Be a Christian. Do your thing. Just don’t force it on me or mine.

8. I don’t believe LGBT people should have more rights than you. I just believe they should have the *same* rights as you.

9. I don’t believe illegal immigrants should come to America and have the world at their feet, especially since THIS ISN’T WHAT THEY DO (spoiler: undocumented immigrants are ineligible for all those programs they’re supposed to be abusing, and if they’re “stealing” your job it’s because your employer is hiring illegally). I believe there are far more humane ways to handle undocumented immigration than our current practices (i.e., detaining children, splitting up families, ending DACA, etc).

10. I don’t believe the government should regulate everything, but since greed is such a driving force in our country, we NEED regulations to prevent cut corners, environmental destruction, tainted food/water, unsafe materials in consumable goods or medical equipment, etc. It’s not that I want the government’s hands in everything — I just don’t trust people trying to make money to ensure that their products/practices/etc. are actually SAFE. Is the government devoid of shadiness? Of course not. But with those regulations in place, consumers have recourse if they’re harmed and companies are liable for medical bills, environmental cleanup, etc. Just kind of seems like common sense when the alternative to government regulation is letting companies bring their bottom line into the equation.

11. I believe our current administration is fascist. Not because I dislike them or because I can’t get over an election, but because I’ve spent too many years reading and learning about the Third Reich to miss the similarities. Not because any administration I dislike must be Nazis, but because things are actually mirroring authoritarian and fascist regimes of the past.

12. I believe the systemic racism and misogyny in our society is much worse than many people think, and desperately needs to be addressed. Which means those with privilege — white, straight, male, economic, etc. — need to start listening, even if you don’t like what you’re hearing, so we can start dismantling everything that’s causing people to be marginalized.

13. I am not interested in coming after your blessed guns, nor is anyone serving in government. What I am interested in is the enforcement of present laws and enacting new, common sense gun regulations. Got another opinion? Put it on your page, not mine.

14. I believe in so-called political correctness. I prefer to think it’s social politeness. If I call you Chuck and you say you prefer to be called Charles I’ll call you Charles. It’s the polite thing to do. Not because everyone is a delicate snowflake, but because as Maya Angelou put it, when we know better, we do better. When someone tells you that a term or phrase is more accurate/less hurtful than the one you’re using, you now know better. So why not do better? How does it hurt you to NOT hurt another person?

15. I believe in funding sustainable energy, including offering education to people currently working in coal or oil so they can change jobs. There are too many sustainable options available for us to continue with coal and oil. Sorry, billionaires. Maybe try investing in something else.

16. I believe that women should not be treated as a separate class of human. They should be paid the same as men who do the same work, should have the same rights as men and should be free from abuse. Why on earth shouldn’t they be?

I think that about covers it. Bottom line is that I’m a liberal because I think we should take care of each other. That doesn’t mean you should work 80 hours a week so your lazy neighbor can get all your money. It just means I don’t believe there is any scenario in which preventable suffering is an acceptable outcome as long as money is saved.”

Ron Howard

The Four Agreements – By Don Miguel Ruiz

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I re-visited this book today. The author, Don Miguel Ruiz, was born in rural Mexico, the youngest of 13 children. He attended medical school, and became a surgeon. The Four Agreements, published in 1997, was a New York Times bestseller for more than a decade.

In this time of outrageous people (and news) who rant on the TV and computer I recommend you read this if you haven’t already. It presents a code for personal freedom based on ancient Toltec wisdom. The four agreements are:

1.         Be Impeccable with Your Word.
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean in the kindest of ways, and use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love. Words are powerful tools and we know that they can create or destroy, uplift, or bring down. Being impeccable with your word means not using words against yourself or others. Gossip, lies, and negative self-talk are examples of being non-impeccable. By being careful and truthful in our speech, we can avoid causing harm and instead spread positivity.

2.         Don’t Take Anything Personally.
What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering. People’s reactions and behaviors are often based on their own beliefs, experiences, and wounds. By not taking things personally, we protect ourselves from unnecessary hurt. For instance, if someone insults you, it’s more about their own issues than about you. Recognizing this helps in maintaining emotional equilibrium and not getting entangled in other people’s dramas.

3.         Don’t Make Assumptions.
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. Making assumptions can lead to misunderstandings and unnecessary conflicts. Don’t assume people are ignoring you if they don’t return calls or get back to you. Talk to them when you see them again. Seek clarity and not making assumptions, we can navigate our relationships and situations more effectively.

4.         Always Do Your Best.
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret. By always doing our best, we live without regrets. It’s important to understand that “our best” can vary. Some days we might be full of energy and enthusiasm, while on others we might be tired or unwell. The key is to give the best of what we have in the present moment, without being overly critical of ourselves.
https://booksthatslay.com/the-4-agreements-summary/

I have seen these written as a poster many times and recommend you buy or download it and put it on your refrigerator!

More on this topic tomorrow night. Love to all on this cold night! Take care of each other!

Immersed in Tax Preparation

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Today I am frazzled after spending all day preparing for our tax appointment. I have been reading all the IRS deduction insaneness, H&R Block messages, and doing all of the Excel spreadsheets for medical and business expenses (that we probably won’t be allowed to count). So much work and so little return (pun intended). I hope your taxes are easier to file!

So nothing groundbreaking, just fun tax puns. Enjoy!

Laugh Your Taxes Off: 220 Fabulous Tax Puns That Lighten the Mood
131 Tax Puns That Will Make You Chuckle and File

https://parade.com/1316855/jessicasager/accounting-puns/

I love you all and hope your tax preparation isn’t back-breaking!

What Second-Graders Teach Us About Success

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An Inspiration from Second-Graders:
I wanted to re-post this blog piece that I wrote when my son was in second grade (2013).

Kiddo’s teacher sent home a note about how the class had struggled with working through a really hard task. She stopped the work and asked them to give her a list of how they could become really good at something. She said they were so excited that their hands shot up and she couldn’t write fast enough. They came up with an amazing list. The list was so inspiring that I posted it on our refrigerator for years:

WHAT DO YOU DO TO GET REALLY GOOD AT SOMETHING?

  • Practice
  • Say it a lot
  • Say what you’re doing
  • Watch what other people are doing
  • Try it again, try it again
  • Never give up
  • Don’t do the opposite
  • Do it for many years
  • Join in a team
  • Just do it
  • Focus
  • Never say never

I looked at this list every day for years when I was struggling with a task. I continue to be amazed about how wise young children are nowadays. Their inspiration is boundless and we forget that as adults. We should take a minute and listen. We should make our own lists and see what we come up with to help us do the tasks we need to do. I hope we can learn from them and continue our quest for completing really hard tasks. Never Give Up! Never Surrender! (Galaxy Quest for all you non-geeks!)

Lifespan

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Or: They don’t Make them like they used to!
We had to buy a new dryer today. It was almost exactly the same as the old one, but somehow smaller. For our old dryer, we bought a 3-year warranty and didn’t renew it because it was still working. It lasted 5 years. Therefore, when we purchased the new one, we bought the 5-year warranty for it. We tried to get a repair guy to fix the last one but it would have cost more to fix it than replace it. And he charged us $134.00 just to look at it! Sad, but true. They have to make a living, too. I realize that there are more electronics in these new appliances than before and there is less metal and more plastic with cheaper materials inside. You would still think that they would last a little longer than 5 years! I read this interesting article on why modern appliances don’t last as long as their predecessors. There is less competition and also less quality control so the new product is not like the old ones. The article encourages paying a monthly warranty, but holy cow, they are expensive! And the reality is, no insurer wants to fix the old appliance because it costs the insurer more money. They just give you a replacement. And, unfortunately, these warranties only give you the price of the original machine, so you have to pay the current price. (This happened on our dishwasher earlier this year!) So, my question is: Are appliance warranties worth it when know there is a fixed lifespan of these devices?
https://www.everythingbreaks.com/a-closer-look-at-why-modern-appliances-dont-last-as-long/
But you know that’s not the only reason I’m writing about tonight. This idea also relates to the human lifespan.

When we were kids, we had no fear of the universe. We were practically on our own, even if our mothers were home. We had the run of the neighborhood, rode our bikes for miles at a time, and swam in the old swimming hole or pool if we were townies. We didn’t have cellphones or computers, so we didn’t constantly keep in contact with our parents or each other and play games incessantly. We were outside in the world. Who wanted to stay home? We created stories and acted them out on a whim. We read great books out under the trees. We ate apples and peaches off the trees. No one worried about getting hurt, or about stalkers or abductors (although we probably should have way back then). Our mothers fretted only if we hadn’t come home before sundown. We thought that we’d live forever with not a care about the rest of the world.

And then we reached our teen years and everything changed. We worried more about how we looked and what to wear, and what others thought of us. And woe to those (like me) who were the outliers. Our peers created a cast system that didn’t include us. We started wondering why we were put on this earth. We still didn’t believe we were going to cease to exist anytime soon, and felt like our lives were drawn out into a future unknown that we could influence. We’d show those bullies! There was still hope for what was to come. However, there were downsides to our teen years. Women were supposed to get married and men were supposed to work or join the military. Those thoughts were very limiting to our psyches. And woe to those who broke those barriers (and yet today I praise all that did so!)

And then we reached our twenties. We graduated and went off to work or to college, or to war. We still thought we’d live forever, but the weight of the world was starting to fill our heads. We still partied (Party Like It’s 1999 – or Give Me That Old Time Rock and Roll for my generation!) and dreamed. Our bodies were resilient. We knew we would change the world.

And then we got older. We entered into full-blown adulthood: jobs, mortgages, car payments, kids, and the weight of the world became clearer in our thoughts and actions. Although some of our kids were similar to us in that they became the latchkey kids. And yet they didn’t have as much freedom as we did. News made us more fearful as parents, and the children felt it. Phones and computers started taking precedence in our daily lives and we felt like we were in the know. Fear of the future became a little more in our thoughts and our children’s thoughts. We were beginning to feel our age physically and emotionally. We started to think about what would happen to someone if we suddenly weren’t there. Finally, we became more isolated from each other.

And now we are seniors of varying ages, from our 60s to our 80s and older. Sometimes it seems that the weight of the world is upon our shoulders. Lifespan is a thing that we think about every day that we live. We all strive for longevity, but aging is hard. We aren’t able to do all of the things we loved to do in the past due to illness, or just body parts breaking down. And some of us have memory issues so our thought process doesn’t come as fast as they used to when we were in our 20s and 30s. And some of us have given up. Even though our lifespan is longer than our parents, we don’t think we can keep up, mentally and physically, and media sometimes reinforces this negative thought. Health issues have become the forefront of our conversations. We don’t have expectations that we all will live for a century, but we also don’t want to face those conversations. We still want to believe that we are immortal. In 1950, the average life expectancy was 44.5 years for men, and 48.4 for women. In 2024, the average life expectancy is 77 years for men, and 82 for women. So we have made some strides since the 1950s due to the wonders of medicine, eating healthier, and exercising. But, we aren’t carefree and happy.
https://www.worldometers.info/demographics/life-expectancy/
Unfortunately, there are still physiologically upper limits at this point.

In an article from the Harvard School of Public Health, the author stated that “…While the average life expectancy has gone up, maximum lifespan has not changed. Moreover, the pace of increase in average life expectancy has slowed of late….The paper concludes that during that period, medical and public health advances have not slowed human aging and have not done anything to radically prolong lifespan….No strategies have been implemented in that time with that goal in mind….What we have been doing remarkably successfully is reducing deaths earlier in life and allowing more of us than ever before to reach old age.”
For further information, go to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s article on life expectancy or:https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-024-00702-3

I believe that scientists will create new studies that look into human expiration dates to determine if it there is some type of genetic coding, or enzymes, or whatever our physical makeup contains, that currently gives us that upper limit. Right now, scientists believe that our bodies have not evolved this longevity capacity so we are limited in time. We are like the appliances that have a life expectancy date due to our manufacturing, And we have no warranties. Can we change this? Something to think about.

And, to further this metaphor of appliance replacement, we replace ourselves generationally with our children and our children’s children (or more recent models) in hopes for a future that is better than before. We strive to make them better than ourselves. We have nurtured them and hope that they have excellent takeaways from our lives. We tell them they are amazing and they can do anything if they put their minds to it. We should also continue to do that to ourselves as we age. Our stress levels should be geared to making a better world for future generations. We have made our mark in the world and hope that they will do the same.

Tonight my plea to everyone is to take advantage of the time we have on earth and become a better person and do great things (or even little wonderful things) for as long as we live! Continue to nurture your relationships. Continue to spread love and guidance to those who are younger than we are. I love you all and hope you think about how to make your own mark in this world!

Chances and Democracy

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“Today You’ve been Gifted with Another Chance. And: “Only dreams give birth to change.”—Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance

The main idea of this idiom is to be open-minded and optimistic about something. It means to try something new or different, or to be patient and wait for something to improve or change. To allow someone another opportunity to do something or to prove their ability or worth.

I just want to give you the definition one more time in case you forgot:
Democracy: literally, rule by the people. The term is derived from the Greek dēmokratia, which was coined from dēmos (“people”) and kratos (“rule”) in the middle of the 5th century bce to denote the political systems then existing in some Greek city-states, notably, Athens.

In brief, the theory that democracy is the rule of the people and that the people have a right to rule. One study identified 2,234 adjectives used to describe democracy in the English language. Democratic principles are reflected in all eligible citizens being equal before the and having equal access to legislative processes. (No yeah, buts, here….)

The notion of democracy has evolved considerably over time. Throughout history, one can find evidence of direct democracy, in which communities make decisions through popular assembly. Today, the dominant form of democracy is representative democracy, where citizens elect government officials to govern on their behalf such as in a parliamentary or presidential democracy. In the common variant of liberal democracy, the powers of the majority are exercised within the framework of a representative democracy, but a constitution and supreme court limit the majority and protect the minority—usually through securing the enjoyment by all of certain individual rights, such as freedom of speech or freedom of association.—Wikipedia

We have a real chance to use our gifts and create trust in one another again. If we just reach out and dream the dreams of our childhood:

  • “Peace in your mind, peace on earth, peace at work, peace at home, peace in the world.” ~ John Lennon
  • “We cannot have peace on Earth until we learn to speak with one voice. That voice must be the voice of reason, the voice of compassion, the voice of love. It is the voice of divinity within us.” ~ Neale Donald Walsch
  • “Nothing that I can do or say will change the structure of the universe. But maybe, by raising my voice, I can help the greatest of all causes — good will among men and peace on earth.” ~ Albert Einstein
    For more enlightening and inspiring peace quotes go to: https://www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/peace-on-earth.html

We can all make changes if we tell ourselves we are important enough to say the things we need to say. For example, I supported the workers and didn’t cross the picket lines at King Soopers. And I am writing my congressman and senators to be BRAVE and be the Democrat representatives they are supposed to be. So not all people like what I have to say, but at least I feel that as of this moment many of us are trying to make a stand and be on the right side of justice. There will always be controversy and mistrust if we don’t try to help each other, and ignoring the problem won’t help anyone. Let’s fight for the truth every day.

I love you all and hope you are continuing to learn something new every day. Dispel misinformation and pass on the News of the World like Tom Hanks to those in isolation who need to know what is happening out there. Pass on the news one positive statement at a time.

Chances

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“Today You’ve been Gifted with Another Chance. And: “Only dreams give birth to change.”—Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance

The main idea of this idiom is to be open-minded and optimistic about something. It means to try something new or different, or to be patient and wait for something to improve or change. To allow someone another opportunity to do something or to prove their ability or worth.

The day got away from me. Just a quick one and more about this tomorrow!

Love to all!