Memories are Souvenirs

I bet you know someone who is just eaten up with bitterness. Bitterness and anger for something that happened in the past.

I was thinking today about memories and how we can control what we remember. I have a brother and sister. We grew up in the same house, same parents and only three and a half year spread from the first to the last. I’m in the middle. It’s amazing how differently we remember some events. I bet most siblings could say the same thing.

So why do we remember differently? Do we choose what to remember and how to remember it? And if we do, why? It seems to me, we should view our memories as souvenirs, souvenirs of life. After all that’s what they are. Souvenirs are gifts we buy ourselves, usually on our travels. Or something someone else brings us from their travels. Mr. Webster defines souvenirs as “something kept as a token of remembrance, a memento”. So isn’t that what a memory is? A memory of our travel through life, something we have retained in our head that we can pull out and think about when we’re thinking of a person or a place or a time in our life.

Now when we buy objects as souvenirs, it’s always something pretty or special to us—something we like—something we want to remind us of a good time or place. Why can’t we do this with our memories? Pick and choose the good stuff, the pretty stuff—the good times, pleasant times. We would never buy a souvenir that we found ugly or caused us pain. So let’s be as discriminating about our memories.

You have heard someone say, I can’t believe he or she left me and hurt me so deeply. We could turn that around and say “you know ole so and so was great”. I really miss him or her but the added so much to my life. I’m glad I got to spend x years with him or her.

You may dread going into work because nobody appreciates what you do. You’re there for one reason and one reason only—the pay check. That’s great, remember how you felt the last time you treated yourself or paid a bill. That’s a good memory. So get up and say “I’m looking forward to today because next weekend I’m going to see that movie I’ve been wanting to see and my job provides me with the means to do it”. Or maybe there’s somewhere special you’ve always wanted to go. Sit down and plan how much it would cost. Now plan how long it will take to save the money. Get a calendar and start marking off the days. Save the money and greet each day with “I can’t wait to go to work today because I’ll be another day closer to my goal!

If you have a bad memory, trade it in for a good one, a souvenir. It may be a friend who let you down, just remember how many times they lifted you up. It may be a parent who was less than perfect—just be thankful they chose to have you and helped you to become the beautiful perfect person you are today. You are a person capable of forgiveness and who chooses to remember the good stuff—not only of them but of yourself. Remember you are good and strong and full of souvenirs.

As always may you be blessed with………………………………………………..
Peace and Love

Hope

My blog space is all about peace and love and I try not to get too sad. However I heard a story today that made me gasp and hurt my heart to the very core. I think I shared the fact that I love NPR. I travel in my work and would go nuts if I didn’t have Diane Rheem, Dick Gordon and the rest of the gang to keep me company. My goal is to write a book someday and I know I will have arrived when I get on the Diane Rheem show.

Anyway, back to the topic. You know I am opposed to war. Mostly because of the senseless loss of life and the infringement on others beliefs. But today, I was reminded of the ugly things that go on outside the battle lines. Dick Gordon interviewed an 84 year old woman who had been a “comfort girl” for the Japanese officers during World War II. This is a perfect example of man’s inhumanity to man.

Japanese soldiers went into the homes of Korean families and took young unmarried girls. Ms. Kim was sixteen at the time. She did not know where she was being taken nor why. Her best friend and neighbor was also taken. They were taken to Taiwan and split into two groups. Ms. Kim was put in a house with six other girls. Each was put into a separate space separated by half walls. Beginning the very first day officers began coming in and raping her. The average day was 50 to 60 men. On weekends, more as many as seventy-three.

When Ms. Kim thought she could not take anymore, she would cry out but the officers did not care, just continued the abuse. This went on for seven years and did not end until the United States defeated Japan. When the war was over, only two of the girls were still alive. Some had killed themselves. Some had literally lost their minds. Dick asked Ms. Kim how she managed to live through such an ordeal. She said her parents prayed constantly for her return. She guessed that’s what saved her.

When asked why she kept it a secret for so long she said; first of all she wanted to spare her parents of the tragedy. She did not think they could deal with the truth. Secondly, she felt ashamed. She was and still is afraid of what people would think of her. She did not want to hear the whispers and the embarrassment.

So why speak out now? Ms. Kim has had medical problems every since the release. She had to have her uterus removed; which kept her from getting married because Korean women are expected to have children when married. She was told if she came out with the truth she could get government aid to help with medical problems and the constant hospital visits.

Dick asked her why she laughed when asked by a student what gave her hope. She said she couldn’t help but laugh because there is no hope. “How absurd to think I would have hope after such an ordeal. “I have no hope”. However, I will do what I can do to get the Japanese to make a formal apology. The Japanese deny this happened and contend the girls went with the soldiers willingly.

I only want to share “happily ever after” stories but this one struck a nerve. Here we are some sixty something years later and still fighting. My prayer is that young girls around the world are not experiencing this type of abuse. And certainly not from us! May we always treat one another with kindness and respect and always dream of a world filled with Peace and Love

Make a Contribution

I have always wanted to make a contribution. I dream on a big scale so I want my contribution to be big! I wonder if everybody wants to. I think the answer is yes. We just differ in our definition of what a contribution is. I think I have made some small contributions, but I’m still working toward the big one.

I’m going to make a pretty good one with this blog. Because I’m introducing you to the most profound book I’ve ever read. Let me preface this by telling you how I heard about this book. I have heard and completely agree, there are no coincidences. I work from eight until five, so I don’t get to see daytime TV. One day I got home thirty minutes early and turned on the TV when I walked in the door (something else I seldom do). Oprah was on. She had a couple of guys on and I didn’t even catch their names. I only saw a very few minutes, but long enough to know, I had to have the book they were discussing.

Much of what I had been reading lately was about “the law of attraction”. My dear friend in FL had been sharing this concept for quite a while. The subject had been the topic of several veranda parties. “What you think is what you get.” I guess I believed it. But my problem was getting rid of the negative thoughts. They seem to creep in even when you’re having a great day. Well, I have the answer now! And every other answer to questions and circumstances prohibiting you from having the life you dream of.

The answer is a secret—a tiny little book, less than 200 pages, by Rhonda Byrne. I don’t know who she is but I love her. She had a profound effect on my life. I wake up every day happy and excited about the events of this day! I am learning to live in the “now”. I’m learning to rid myself of negative thoughts.

So my thanks go to Rhonda for writing this book. And to Oprah for sharing the book on her show at just the right time. And thanks to the universe for sending me home early and leading me to the TV. My gift to you is this little book titled “the Secret”. There, this is my gift to you and hopefully a major contribution. My hope is that this book will change your life and you will want to share it with everyone you know and love. There is so much joy to be had.

May one of your dreams be a world of Peace and Love.

Peace and Love Stire

The authorities say you should do what you love, what you have a passion for. My passion is to dream about a world filled with peace and love where all people are treated equally and everyone is happy. I absolutely do not understand war. Some wars are for stuff, i.e. Oil, land, etc. Why don’t they know, there’s enough to go around? Why is it we want what the other guy has? If that’s the case, why don’t we offer to trade or buy? What gives us the right to take? And what makes us think this way?

Other wars are called religious wars. To me religion and war just do not belong in the same sentence! What God or power or whatever you call it tells his/her people to go to war, to kill others? My God is a God of peace and love. Other wars are to spread democracy or communism. Why? Whoever said we should all believe the same? Why am I not entitled to my own beliefs, my own lifestyle, my own space, my own religion, my own political calling, and fair treatment regardless of age, color or gender???

I love life, I love this place and I love others, but I have to question is there enough love in this great world of ours. I believe if there was we wouldn’t have so much hate and bigotry and we certainly would not have wars. My prayer for today and forever is Peace and Love.

I truly believe we have the power to change things within ourselves and the world. Miracles happen every day. In an effort to do my part I am putting out products that can remind us over and over, there can be peace within and around the world. There can be love; love for ourselves and for others. Please visit my store called Peace and Love. I have a design that will be instantly recognizable and is intended to radiate a warm and peaceful feeling. I think you will find it pretty groovy. Let me know. So if you’re looking for yourself or a gift to spread the love, I think you’ll find it. From T-shirts, mugs, mouse pads, bumper stickers and more. Come browse.

Peace and Love

"Mean is so last Millennium"

I am such a fan of the Dixie Chicks and especially their song “I’m Not Ready to Make Nice”. Guess that tells you which side of the fence I’m on. I make no bones about it. To say I’m not a fan of George W. Bush is to put it extremely light. But that’s not the subject of this blog.

While watching the Today Show this morning, I saw Linda Kaplan Thaler, author. She has a new book out titled “Power of Nice”. I could not agree with her theory more. I have always believed nice works better than mean. However, it still amazes me how many people just can’t seem to grasp this concept. I want to be the last person to stereotype, but it appears to me that the groups who have the most trouble with being nice are those in power or the “wanna bees”.

This is so obvious in the work place. There are environments where the employees are appreciated and it is shown in everyday niceties. It is amazing how dedicated these employees are. It’s got nothing to do with pay and benefits. It’s all about being treated nicely. Conversely and unfortunately there’s the other side. An atmosphere where no one is appreciated and are literally treated like they are a necessary evil. The employees work there for one of two reasons only—the pay and/or benefits. They live for Fridays and dread to see Monday morning come again. It is a crying shame, with all the managerial knowledge available; people are still treated in this fashion. Why can’t they understand “mean is so last millennium”!!!!!

Peace and Love

(and today and every day NICE)

Where am I From?

I was listening to NPR today and heard a very interesting story of a woman who went to Uganda in search of her roots. She was trying to find “home”.

This made me ponder my home. I have always been a bit perplexed when someone asks me where I’m from. I usually say South Carolina since that’s where my mom lives. Yet, I was born in Virginia, have lived in Georgia, Florida and most of my years in North Carolina. Then if you break it down into cities—two in Virginia, five in North Carolina, four in South Carolina, one in Georgia and three in Florida. We won’t go into the number of houses because I’ve lost count!

I have always been somewhat jealous of those who were born and raised in the same house. And as adults go back there for family gatherings. Then I think, it’s all these moves and the people I’ve met along the way who have helped me become the person I am. Would I want to be someone else? Absolutely not!! I guess you could argue it either way. But, as for me, I’ll keep looking forward and live for each new adventure and not travel backward and wonder—what if???

Peace and love.

Live, love, laugh

Do you ever cry because time is passing too fast? I do. There’s just so much I want to do and see and stuff! My favorite uncle died last year and I miss him. He was the dad I always wanted. He loved his children and grandchildren more than any man I’ve ever known. After my dad died I started sending Gary a Fathers Day card every year—for twenty two years. I need to find another “father”—but it’s hard to find one that measures up.

Anyway, I was at my mom’s last weekend and we were going through old photos. I found one of Gary when he was in his early 20’s. Once again I was reminded of how quickly time passes. Once again I cried.

This is a reminder to tell those you love how special they are to you and how much they add to your life. Laugh every chance you get and laugh loud so others hear you. You will warm someone else’s heart and they will laugh too or at least smile. Love lots, forgetting the times you have been hurt. Every time you spend lamenting loss is a time you lose being happy. We cannot afford to lose happy times because life is too short and passes way too quickly.

Live, love, laugh and be happy!!!

Peace and Love

My Love Story

“A time to love.” I believe the time to love begins in the womb. I know I have loved my mom since before I can remember. I will write about my mom one of these days and share the love we have, but this is not that day.

“Love one another.” There are some very special people in my life that I love to the very core of my being. You know who you are and someday I will write about you too, but today is not that day.

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose unto heaven.” Today I share with you my love story—the story of my soul mate, my life, my best friend, my love. In trying to explain the depth of our love, I am reminded of a passage in the Bible: Eccl. 4: 9-12. “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up her companion. But woe to her who is alone when she falls, for she has no one to help her up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.”

This passage pretty much sums up our relationship. I feel like I searched a lifetime for DJ. Yes, I had known love, still do, but I yearned for that special one. There are so many clichés, but I can’t find a better way to describe my love—DJ completes me. We are so different in many ways and yet so alike in others. DJ is a computer geek. I’m a technophobe! DJ is both right and left brained, I’m so far left; I couldn’t recognize a creative thought if it hit me upside the head! But these are not the things I think about when I think of our love.

First of all, I feel blessed for having been given this love. I never take it for granted and I give thanks to God, the Angles and anybody else that will listen daily for this blessing. I truly wish that everyone could experience the love and joy I do. The world would truly be a happy place and we would all experience peace.

This is a love so strong it lifts you up from the lowest of depths. We have survived major health issues, devastating loss due to death, unemployment, and all of the other day to day challenges. However, we weather the storms together. Holding each other tight with the full knowledge nothing can beat us as long as we are together.

During the last eleven years, I have lived such a full life. I have shared joy and peace beyond compare. This is why I wish peace and love for all. This is the source of this blog. DJ and I had lunch with friends the other day. During the course of conversation, one said, “do you know why I enjoy being around you?” “It’s because when you two look at each other, you both light up and your eyes sparkle.” I can’t say it any better. Find you light—the one that will make your eyes sparkle. It is truly a gift and a love beyond compare.

Peace and Love