Oh hello! Come in. I have new tea – white tea with peach and raspberry. It’s quite lovely.
Day 17: A book you’ve read that changed your views on something
I think the first thing that comes to mind was Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer. From Amazon.com:
In Under the Banner of Heaven, Jon Krakauer tells the story of the killers and their crime but also explores the shadowy world of Mormon fundamentalism from which the two emerged. The Mormon Church was founded, in part, on the idea that true believers could speak directly with God. But while the mainstream church attempted to be more palatable to the general public by rejecting the controversial tenet of polygamy, fundamentalist splinter groups saw this as apostasy and took to the hills to live what they believed to be a righteous life. When their beliefs are challenged or their patriarchal, cult-like order defied, these still-active groups, according to Krakauer, are capable of fighting back with tremendous violence. While Krakauer’s research into the history of the church is admirably extensive, the real power of the book comes from present-day information, notably jailhouse interviews with Dan Lafferty.
Now, I understand that this is a fundamentalist group and that all Mormons are not represented by the group portrayed in this book. And for the most part, my philosophy about what other people/groups/religions do is, whatever. If it isn’t hurting anyone else, let them do it.
HOWEVER.
My views were changed on polygamy because I think 13 or 14 year olds, and sometimes younger, should not be considered appropriate as wives for anyone. You know what? Marry whomever you want, as long as they are 18. Younger than that is too young.
This is my opinion. It may not agree with yours, but isn’t that wonderful? How boring life would be if we always agree.
So, yeah. This book changed my views on polygamy. My mind may not have slammed completely closed, but I think I may be less cavalier about it when hearing stories in the future.
Tomorrow: Your views on gay marriage.
Oh, hello. Have a finger sandwich.
I had every intention of continuing the 30 Days of Truth today.
But I just found out that the 5-year-old daughter of a coworker passed away yesterday. And my heart is broken for the family.
I follow people on Twitter who have lost children, and recognized the tragedy of the situation. But I don’t “know” those people and that made it so easy to go on, unaffected. Actually knowing, and interacting, with the parent that has the horror of burying one of their children makes it so much more real. So much more horrible.
I don’t have kids. So I will never *really* know the depth of love and attachment that parents have for their kids. I can try to imagine it, but I recognize that even my imagination will never come close.
So, my dear coworker, my heart and thoughts go out to you today. I will forever be in awe of your strength for going on after this unimaginable tragedy. I wish there was some way to make it “better”, but there isn’t. You are now forever changed and your world will likely never be as bright.
And to all of those I follow on Twitter, and anyone else, who have had the unfortunate experience of this, know that I now will not read your story and move on, unaffected. I will recognize that your world, too, is forever broken. And while you may go on, I know that it will never be exactly right again.
Oh, hello! Come in. Have a big salad. It’s like a regular salad. But it’s in a big bowl. With a lot of stuff on it.
Today: Someone or something you definitely could live without
I could live without:
- the constant barrage of celebrity “news”
- the constant barrage of negativity from, about, and surrounding politicians
- wet cake
- fruit flavored beer
- Oprah
- profanity
- obsession about weight and physical appearance
- prejudice
- hate
Tomorrow: a book you’ve read that changed your views on something
Me again. (Well, really, who else would it be? hee)
In case you are curious about how I’m doing in Reform School, I LOVE IT. I think I’m excelling.
I have 3 Inner Mean Girls: Mean Marcy, Scaredy Kat, and Perfect Shawn. They have all been put on notice that while I value their opinions, I know what’s best for me. I need to look at the situations where they appear and figure out why. The more I do that, the stronger my resolve becomes.
I made a list of 10 things to accomplish by my 45th birthday. I don’t know that I’m ready to go public with all of them, yet, but one of them is….
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(please wait while this poster hyperventilates)
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(your patience is appreciated; please stand by)
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Okay. I am going to train for the Tri-for-a-Cure next August. It is a mini-triathlon for breast cancer. 1/3 mi swim, 15 mi bike, 3 mi run. The run will be my biggest challenge. I have bad knees. But, I have 10 months. And there’s an app for that. the Couch to 5K app that helps you train. Before Reform School, this would have been something I would have said, Yeah, I could train for that. While sitting on the sofa. Eating Munchos. Listening to Mean Marcy and Scaredy Kat tell me that I couldn’t do it and that I would fail.
And now that I’ve gone public, I *have* to do it.
Oh, and I’ll be hitting you up for donations when the time comes. And if you follow me on Twitter, I’ll be hitting you up there, too. Maybe even Facebook.
Training starts today. I’ll keep you posted.
Oh hello! Come in and have a breakfast wrap.
Today: Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Can I be honest? I’m a little bored with the 30 days of truth. I thought it would be more fun. But, in the interest of changing my habit of not following through with things, I will press on.
Today’s topic is stupid, IMO. We can all live without something. Whatever it is. Especially the “someone” you can’t live without. Yeah, you’d be sad, but you won’t die. You’d be devastated, but you won’t die. You’re life may never be the same, but you won’t die. If the Wonder Twins were taken away from me, permanently or temporarily, I would be sad. Despondent even. But I won’t die.
Maybe I’m not going deeply enough. Maybe I need to get more philosophical about this. Maybe I’m over thinking it.
Can I live without a fulfilling job? Yes. I do it every day.
Can I live without my cell phone? It would be a hassle, but yes. I could.
I can’t live without food. But that is too simplistic. As is living without air and water. I could live without chocolate. Or alcohol. Or coffee. Or more “stuff”. I have enough stuff.
I guess today’s topic is another “fail” as far as digging deep for a profound answer. But, my reality tells me that I won’t die because I’m deprived of something other than the basics.
Wait. Maybe *that* is the point of today’s question! Maybe it is designed to make you realize that you don’t need external “things” to be happy. You don’t need a partner to complete you. You are enough as you are. A partner is a wonderful addition, but won’t make you happy, in and of themself. A new pair of shoes, while fabulous, won’t make you smarter or better or funnier or more loveable.
Jeepers. Did I just have a breakthrough??
Tomorrow: Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Oh, hello! Come in and have a slice of garlic and greek olive pizza. Yummers!
Today, I’m supposed to write a letter to a hero that let me down.
Hmmm. This is another one that I don’t think I’m going to be able to do, because as I know I have mentioned before, the only hero I have is Mum. And while we don’t always see eye to eye, she has never let me down.
Maybe if I considered Michael Vick a hero instead of an asshat, I could write a letter to him about how much of an asshat he is for abusing animals. Or if I thought Lindsey Lohan was a good role mod… BUAHAHAHAHHA. I’m sorry. I can’t even finish that statement.
But I don’t think of celebrities as role models or heroes. They are just people who get paid WAY too much money for what they do and then have every move dissected by the media.
No. Mum is my hero. And she always will be. Thank you for never letting me down, Mum. I love you.
Tomorrow: IDK – the list is way over there (*pointing*) but I’ll let you know when I get up.
Oh, hello! Come in and have a bowl of fresh fruit. It’s delicious.
Today: Write a letter to a band or artist that has gotten you through some tough a** days.
I’m having a hard time with this one, because I can’t think of a time when this has happened. Maybe I’ve lived a charmed life.
There was a time when I was around 18-ish when an ex died in a motorcycle accident. But that was 25 years ago. I don’t remember one band getting me through that.
Then there was a break up where I watched The Lion King over and over. (I don’t know why either.) Even my room-mate at the time was all “Oh god, this again??”
I like to listen to Pink when I’m stressed because she’s so kick a** that I feel empowered.
But, no, I’m going to have to not write a letter because this doesn’t apply to me.
Tomorrow: (Oy, another letter): A hero that has let you down
Oh hello! Come in. Have a scone and tea.
Today: Something you never get compliments on
One of the things I pride myself on is being a loyal and true friend. I may not trust easily, but once I do, and we are friends, I will have your back no matter what. Or until you prove yourself untrustworthy.
I think it’s very important to be a loyal friend. We all need someone we can turn to for help and comfort and advice. I’m good at being that person. And people come to me, frequently, to tell me things that are personal or private or that they just need to get off their chests. I’m more than happy to listen. They must recognize that I won’t tell their story. It’s not my story to tell.
But I think no one – and I’ve given this some thought – has ever complimented me on my loyalty and discretion. I have never had the “Golden Girls” theme song played in my honor. (Which, really, would be a little odd.) Sometimes, I admit, I feel a little taken-advantage-of. But for the most part? It’s an honor for me, acknowledged or not, to have these people come to me. Without saying it, I choose to believe that they know they can trust me. And maybe that is recognition enough.
Tomorrow: I am to write a letter to a band or artist that has gotten me through some tough a** days
I’m back.
I’ve been listening to a book by Jill Smolinski called “Next Thing on My List”. Have you read it? I wasn’t sure how it would be – I was a little afraid of it being uber-chick lit in the worst possible sense.
But really? It’s pretty good. It’s the story of a woman finishing a “Wish List”. But it’s not hers. June was driving the car that was in an accident which killed her passenger. The passenger had a list of goals that she wanted to accomplish before she was 25. June decided to complete the list for her – at first out of guilt, but then as a way of changing her life. It’s somewhat predictable, but there are some twists that make it worth continuing.
Anyhoo. It got me thinking. I kind of want a list. Sure, I have a “bucket list” but that’s more of a “someday-I-wanna” list, as opposed to having an actual target date. Granted, I kissed 25 goodbye a long time ago, but what if I did a list of goals by 45? That gives me a year and a half, +/-. I think I could set myself some pretty aggressive goals if I had 20 months in which to complete them.
Could I do it? What if I don’t finish? Would I feel like a failure or would I still be celebrating the attempt? Am I just considering the list in light of my recent spate of life changing adventures? Am I trying to take on too much? Or is this just Scaredy Kat getting her way again?
In the book, the list contained 20 things – some are easy, some are profound. What would I put on my list? Would it be 20 things?
Would you do a list? Do you already have a list? What should I put on my list?
Challenge me.
Oh hello! We have a lovely selection of muffins today. The lemon poppy-seed is my favorite.
Today: Something people seem to compliment you the most on
Trying to sound really snotty here – there are SO many things! LOL!
I think people mostly compliment me on my hair. Or my eyes. Or my sense of humor. Or my generosity. Or my fashion sense. Like I said – it’s hard to pick just one.
No, really, it’s probably my sense of humor. People tell me I’m really funny. I’ve even been told I should do stand-up. Yeah, that’s never going to happen. But I do like making people laugh. It’s nice to bring a smile to someone’s face.
Tomorrow: Something you never get compliments on
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