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Hey, everyone! I am moving from Blogger over to WordPress.com. I was trying to use AdSense here on Blogger, and I just kept getting denied. I would love it if all of you would continue to follow The Shenanigans of a Warrior Goddess at my new web location. Please follow me and share my page! Much love and appreciation to you all!!!


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Dream

Provide the Evidence!

There’s been a lot of debates going on as of late. It’s actually getting quite frustrating. I, for one, am tired of being told that I’m “fighting” when I calmly and rationally present evidence for any any particular subject, whether I agree with the topic or not. We have so many things that are controversial today that shouldn’t be. Climate Change being a huge one. There is mountains of evidence supporting climate change and yet there are people out there who are adamantly shoving their heads in the sand and just outright denying it. You can’t say that everyone is wrong and automatically be right. That doesn’t make you right. You need to provide hard evidence. You need to provide proof to back up your claims. This is for both sides of a debate on any given topic. Google is free, you can do a quick search.

People believe that the world is flat. People believe that the Earth is only a few thousand years old. Why? After all the science and evidence and data that has been collected, why would someone still hold tightly to falsehoods? Because they don’t like change? Because they can’t stand to be wrong? Why? Just because you believe it, does not mean it is right. Educate yourselves and do the proper research. I’ll respect you a lot more if you come with evidence to back up your claims that my belief is wrong than if you just thumb your nose at me and tell me I’m wrong just because it goes against what you believe.

The scientific community just recently discovered that gender is a spectrum, that sex is different from gender. Sex is in relation to your genitalia, and gender is neurological. Just a quick Google search of “Gender is a Spectrum” will pull up a plethora of articles. I have the scientific evidence to back up my beliefs, and I believe what I do because of science in the first place. Science is constantly evolving and changing and becoming more accurate as our understanding grows. Our tools are enhancing and upgrading. The studies we are able to perform are so much more in depth than even ten years ago. You have to be flexible in your understanding and knowings, because new data is put out every single day.

Be educated. Be informed. And that means looking at studies that go against what you believe. How are you supposed to have a full understanding of what you believe in and why if you don’t fully understand why you don’t agree with the other point(s)? It’s like saying that I don’t like Subject A having never looked into, tried, or researched Subject A. Why don’t I like Subject A? “I just don’t” and “You’re wrong” and name calling are not proper responses.

It’s like believing in a religion and not even being open to exploring other religions if only to understand more fully why the religion you follow is the best one for you. Whereas if you do explore other religions, now you have a better understanding of the world around you and you can now make an educated decision on what to believe in rather than just believing because you were told to. For example, I became a Christian in high school. I did it for the wrong reason: I liked a boy who was Christian and wouldn’t date a non-Christian. I never got the chance to date him, but I pursued it anyway because it had suddenly consumed my life without having a full understanding of the faith. I even went so far as to create an online church on an MMORPG game. I was an absolute monster, too. I was one of those shove-it-down-your-throat Christians.

What changed? Well, I actually read the Christian Bible. I listened to it. I started paying attention to those around me who called themselves Christian and paid attention to those who didn’t associate with at religion as well. What finally got me was when I was getting divorced from my abusive ex-husband. The pastor’s wife told me that “God didn’t want me to get a divorce”. I was being abused, and this almighty being didn’t want me to be safe, protected, and loved. This almighty being was supposed to be all about love. And that’s when I decided that I was no longer a Christian based on my experience and knowledge of the Bible (which is actually a terrifying book, but I’ll let you read it and discern that for yourselves). My experience with Christianity is not a good one. I am now exploring all the options, but have not currently found any one religion that I like. (Mostly, I’m just pulling a little from here and little from there. And my overall outlook is that if a particular religion makes you a better person, then more power to you.)

But see, that’s part of the process. You have to educate yourself on everything before you can make an actual sound decision. I still don’t understand how there are still people who deny that the Earth is round when there is ample science to support that claim. I still don’t understand how people believe that the Earth is only a few thousand years old when there is plenty of scientific data that states that the Earth is in fact billions of years old. I still don’t understand how people can deny climate change when there is mountains upon mountains of evidence that proves that it’s real and it’s happening and that we are fucking ourselves over by trying to ignore the problem.

Ultimately, don’t make a claim, don’t take a stance, and don’t tell someone else that they are wrong without the proper evidence to back yourself up. Because then you’re just an uneducated bigot. I am open to discussions. I like to learn and expand my knowledge. I don't like being wrong; I don't think anyone does. So if I am wrong, educate me - with evidence and proof. Because you better believe that I'll be coming with my stash to back up my claims.

Reiki Healing by Ashley

     As a Certified Practitioner of Reiki, I am seeking to expand my practice and promote physical, emotional, and spiritual comfort to those who desire respite from the negative influences in their lives.

     Reiki is the practice of utilizing Universal Life Energy to promote relaxation and self-healing in a personal and judgment-free atmosphere. Each session lasts approximately one hour and will take place in the comfort of a home studio. Skype sessions are also available for those who live elsewhere in the country and the world.

     I offer introductory prices for those who are unfamiliar with Reiki, as well as package deals for those who are interested in ongoing sessions. Referring a new client will result in a $10 credit towards your next session!

     Please feel free to contact me at Reiki Healing by Ashley with any questions you may have or to set up an appointment.

     My rates are:
           

           First time client: $20
           One 1 hour session: $50
           Package of three 1-hour sessions: $110

Father's Day Reiki Special

I am having a Father’s Day special. June 1 through June 18, if you buy one Reiki session at $50, you get one free. What is Reiki, you ask. It is the Universal Life Energy to promote healing and relaxation. It heals on every level: mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual. We all know Dads are hard to shop for. If yours is like mine, you get the, “Oh, I don’t need anything” or “Don’t worry about getting me anything”. Which is frustrating when you really want to get him something that shows that you care!

Visit my page Reiki Healing by Ashley, and schedule your appointments before it’s too late to take advantage of this amazing deal! I’m filling up fast, so hurry!

The Present

So today went well. I met my biological father. He lives ten hours away and drove straight through to visit me for the first time in my memory. My mother kept him away in her own selfish spite since I was a few months old, and I was adopted by a wonderful man whom I call Daddy. He, my biological father, took me to breakfast and lunch and we chatted a bit about nothing and everything. He even brought me a nice massage table for my Reiki practice, which I am very grateful for.  

At breakfast, it was really... it was amazing... So I really wanted a certain pendant that Danyel Harrison of Handmade Mystic had crafted. When I saw this beautiful piece of art, I just felt that it had been made just for me... but was heartbroken when I found that it had sold before I could buy it. No surprise, really. It’s a truly magnificent piece, much like the rest of her wonderfully beautiful and unique work.  My biological father had missed my birthday by a few months, and I was not expecting anything from him yet he presented me with a very late birthday present nonetheless. I carefully tore the paper off the tiny box, nervous at this first interaction with this strange man I had never before met… and low and behold the mystery inside this tiny box was… the pendant that I fell in love with!

Racially Biased

This meme has been floating around. Let me explain why a white person saying "I hate black people" (racism) is different than a person of color - who happen to be minorities - saying "I hate white people"(racially biased). One of my friends, who is a WOC (woman of color) explained the difference to me, so now I'm going to try to explain it using the analogies that came to mind when she was explaining it to me. First, let’s go to Google for the definition of racism:

rac·ism

ˈrāˌsizəm/

noun

1. prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior.
2. "a program to combat racism"

synonyms:

racial discrimination, racialism, racial prejudice, xenophobia, chauvinism, bigotry, casteism "Aborigines are the main victims of racism in Australia"

• the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.
• noun: racism
• "theories of racism"

People of color can't be racist. Racism means that you have the power to oppress an entire people, which white people do having most of the political power and having laws still in place that still benefit white people and discriminate against people of color. A person of color does not have the power to oppress any other group, therefore they cannot be racist. However, they can be racially biased. Racism is the systematic oppression and discrimination against a group of people based on their skin color, belief system, etc. White people believe that they are superior to everyone else in the world. People of color don't like, or "hate", white people because we - as a race - oppress them and make their lives miserable. It's like the difference between Nazis saying that he hates Jewish people vs Jewish people saying they hate Nazis. Nazis hated the Jewish people and because of that hatred oppressed and tortured an entire people, whereas Jewish people hated (hate) Nazis for inflicting inhumane hatred and torture on them. Does that make hating Nazis bad? Nope. It's perfectly normal - and healthy - to hate those who oppress and condemn you just for your beliefs or the color of your skin. You aren't oppressed by a person of color hating you, therefore it's not racism. Are the Jewish people racist for hating Nazis? In the same way, minorities - most often times people of color - are *still* abused and discriminated against today by white people. So how are they racist if they say they don't like white people when white people are the ones treating them as lesser beings in the first place? White people as a whole are still oppressing and discriminating against people of color. Build the wall, go back to where you came from, white power.... you don't see anyone else displaying this kind of hatred. In fact, this kind of hatred is what's fueling Isis.

Saying "not all white people" is like saying "not all men". As women, we know not all men are bad, but how the hell are we supposed to know which men are safe and which ones are going to hurt us? We don't. In the same way, how the hell does a person of color know which white people are safe and which ones want to hurt them? They don't. We as women are biased against men because we don't know which ones are safe. We're taught to hold our keys between our fingers, have pepper spray just in case.... what are tools to use against racism? There aren't really any, and if they do speak out they're suddenly racist for calls by out a racist. There is no winning for a person of color.

We as white people are not being oppressed by minorities. Have you seen the news lately? Build the Wall! Go back where you came from! Muslims are a cancer! Black people are thugs! …. But then we continue to justify our hatred because of the bombings going on. Have you ever thought that your hatred is the reason those things happen? Your hatred fuels their hatred. ISIS can easily find all of these awful posts on social media about how awful anyone who isn’t white is. We as a race still treat minorities like shit. We are the sore losers of history, rubbing our pseudo victory in the faces of those we deem to be losers. We take one step further, even, brushing the atrocities our country committed under the rug of time so that it’s easier to pretend it never happened. Because that’s so much easier than a changed behaviour. That’s so much easier than addressing the problem that we still have today, because let’s face it, people of color are still oppressed and discriminated against today. We march for equality, but it’s not intersectional equality that we march for. We march for our own gain, our own cause, and remain blind to those who still need help and still need a voice.

People of color - minorities - cannot be racist, but they can be racially biased. But then, who could really blame them?

Sex, Periods, and Equality

     Let's have one of those uncomfortable conversations. You know, the ones about sex, periods, and equality. There have been a lot of people sticking their noses where they don't belong as of late. Have you noticed? It's uncomfortable and rude. Is what I'm doing affecting you in any way? Am I hurting you? Am I forcing you to participate in my activities? No? No. So worry about yourself, not what I'm doing.

     Sex. Sex is fun. Sex is awesome. Sex is healthy. I am so tired of religious nuts shaming people out of sex as if it's some sort of evil activity. "Satan's doorbell" comes to mind when a religious person is talking about a woman's vagina. The truth of the matter is, not everyone is religious, and those of you who are need to respect those of us who exercise our own free will even if it doesn't fall in line with what you choose to believe and follow. Which leads me into birth control. Why is this a controversy? First of all, life does not begin at conception. It is a scientific fact. Life begins at about twenty weeks into pregnancy when the brain begins to develop and the fetus can then be viable outside of the womb - with a ton of wires and machines attached to it. So using birth control to prevent pregnancy is not the "willful murder" of human beings. Yes, I was actually told this. No, it is not killing babies. You can't kill something that doesn't exist in the first place. And another thing, why is all the shaming pointed at women? I have heard maybe one man - ONE - tell another man that sleeping around with multiple women wasn't cool and wasn't something to be proud of. According to society, it's perfectly okay for a man to sleep around, but the moment a women chooses to have multiple partners, she's slut shamed. Hell, women are even slut shamed for being raped. This is the messed up world we live in! End the hypocrisy. Respect our choice to be sexually active for the fun of it without objectifying us. Respect our choice to not reproduce. Women are not baby machines.

     Periods. Yes, they're gross, but so is a lot of other stuff. This is a natural cycle of life that a lot of people have very little understanding of, including a lot of young women thanks to our poor educational system. We can't help it, it just happens. Blood start flowing from our vagina about once a month, if you're lucky enough to be on a regular cycle. Some women - like me - are on very irregular cycles. Periods are finicky things, really. You can breathe wrong and suddenly you're three days late for no reason at all. Okay, maybe not that finicky, but periods are affected by what we eat, what we do, the amount of stress we have, etc. You could be three days late because you're stressing about work, you started a new exercise routine, you changed your diet, etc. Unfortunately, periods also bring with them some pretty awful side effects such as bad cramps, and in some cases, *gasp* diarrhea. This is particularly problematic at work. You have to use the restroom several times a day to change your preferred period product, which is a hassle if you work with customers who may get annoyed at your constant need for a break. Periods suck, anyway, but now you have angry people to deal with. You would be cranky in this situation, too.

     Equality. Women deserve this. Respect the decisions we make for ourselves. We aren't hurting you. And no, you can't hit us. Stop using this tactic to scare us back into submission. This isn't a power struggle. The only thing you are losing is the ability to be a self righteous ass. Your opinions of our sex life and our periods are none of your concern. Stop cat-calling us. Stop harassing us. We don't owe you anything. Sex won't stretch our vagina; it's a muscle not a tendon. Plus, we push mini humans out of those things, you really think that women who have had kids now have gaping craters down under? Your penis isn't that awesome, sorry. Periods are gross, but not as gross as misogyny. No, women aren't man haters, and if you spout off "not all men" then you're likely part of the problem and you need to evaluate yourself. Let us be human beings. Stop shaming and belittling us for our choices - choices that harm NO ONE. And mind your own damn business.

     Thanks.

We Are Love

     Why do we feel the need to kill each other? Why do we hold such hatred and contempt for our fellow humans? They say it's just human nature, but I don't believe that. Writing this hatred and behavior off as "human nature" is ableism. It's a way to continue down this road of anger, bigotry, contempt, and hatred for one another without feeling guilty. Because having to actually look at the monstrous beings we've become is too scary to acknowledge. Having to correct our ways for the better is too much work, and people are too lazy for self-work. No, it's so much easier to just ignore the problem. But ignoring the problem will result in mass extinction, I promise. If we continue down this road of hate and anger.... Well, we're one wrong move, one wrong word away from World War 3, and everyone has nukes now. Do you really think that we'll survive? We are killing ourselves by polluting into the air, into the water, by cutting down the trees that give us the air that we need to breathe. Honestly, if we wipe ourselves out with war, then we deserve it. . . But.... We have the power to change our fate. We can, each of us, look in the mirror and acknowledge the monsters that we have become and we can choose to be better. Every single day, we can choose to be a better person. We can choose love. We can choose compassion. We can choose kindness. We can choose goodness. We can choose to be decent human beings to our follow human beings.

     "We are Love, Limitless. Always, and in all ways." ~ Emily Jean Benson (Check this amazing being out on Facebook. She has the most amazing videos and posts.)

Non-citizen Immigrants: You're Welcome Here

     So I have seen a lot of hate towards immigrants lately (hmmmm..... I wonder why...). Or basically anyone who doesn't "look" American (America is a continent, by the way). Most immigrants that come to the United States are trying to escape a terrible life. They are faced with death threats, kidnapping, rape, and other very nightmarish and traumatizing events. Most of these people actually seek out the border patrol. They have just walked miles and miles in a hot dry desert after very dangerous human trafficking conditions - yes, they get dumped somewhere and have to find their way to safety. They are happy to see that border patrol agent. They are then taken into the custody of that patrol officer, willingly. Then they go through the whole application process of becoming a citizen which can take YEARS (one man just got his citizenship after over TWENTY years).

     I'm also seeing a lot of, "Oh, you came here and now you want us to give you special treatment? Oh boo hoo. Cry me a river!" Well, that's total crap. First of all, we help our citizens who need it. Extra help in school. Help finding jobs. Etc. So why can't we find it in our hearts to help a stranger who wishes to be a friend? They can't speak English, or speak broken English? Then be patient and help them to better understand, and while you're at it, maybe expand your own horizons and learn a foreign language. Seriously, the U.S. is one of the only countries who doesn't require learning at least a second language. Why are we so full of ourselves? We are not better than the rest of the world and learning a new language or two is fun. Secondly, a lot of these hateful people are sorely misinformed about what non-citizen immigrants have access to. Let me make it perfectly clear for you. Non-citizen immigrants have ZERO (0) access to government assistance. Absolutely none. And no, they are not stealing your jobs. A job is impossible to steal. They applied for the job, and because their employer can get away with paying them less for the same amount if not MORE work, they are obviously going to hire a non-citizen immigrant because employers are greedy assholes. If you have a problem in regards to jobs, you're all pointing your fingers in the wrong direction. Which is exactly what the corporations want. If they keep the masses distracted and angry at each other, no one will notice their messed up game. Also, non-citizen immigrants actually pay taxes to the government. So they pay into something they may not ever be able to use if their application for citizenship is denied.

     In the end, non-citizen immigrants aren't looking for "special treatment". They want to be understood and treated with dignity and respect. They want to be seen as human beings. They want to be equal. Come on, people! Where is your humanity? Where is your love and compassion? Your understanding and empathy? We are all in this together. Why are we treating each other like shit just because they look different and speak a different language?

     Let's find our peace and love, everyone.

Invalidation

     So I'm feeling invalidated. I know I am not alone in this. You get people talking over you, interrupting you, or just flat out ignoring you. You feel like a doormat. You feel unappreciated. You don't feel like you really matter. It's not a nice feeling, that's for sure. And it's not like it only happens once every once in a while. No, that would be tolerable. It happens every single day, multiple times a day. It wears on you. It hurts. It's eroding your emotional and mental state of being until all that's left is a hollow shell of who you used to be. You get angry, and those who wronged you in the first place are blaming you for being angry at being used as a doormat. So you bottle it up and just deal with it the best way you know how: try to be invisible. SO you get home, and then what do you do with all that bottled up frustration? Nothing. What can you do? This, however, is not healthy.

     I can tell you some things that help me cope with this. At first, I would try to shove it down further and forget about it the best that I could. But that was just a disaster. Now, I step back, take a deep breath and look at it objectively. I ask myself questions to try to analyze the situation. I try to understand the other person better. Why does this person feel the need to speak over me, interrupt me, or just ignore me? Did I do something to trigger this? What are they going through? Granted, this doesn't always work, and I still feel angry and upset. Exercise has also helped me. I have also found that smudging my apartment does wonders to lift my mood.

     In the end, however, you really just need to find a way to get yourself safely out of that situation. That kind of mental and emotional beating wears on you after a while, and that's not good. Depression and anxiety may start to creep in. And those lead to whole messes of other problems that are a pain to get rid of. I also look at each situation I find myself in as a learning experience. What can be learned from this situation and my feelings? Ultimately, you have to do what's best for you.

     Much love to you all!

Mother's Day

     So Mother's Day is this Sunday May 14, 2017. This means that you're either a mom who requires a much needed break or that you have at least one woman in your life whom you need to celebrate. Mother's are special. They are heroes. They work hard to make sure their babies have everything they need. 

     How are you celebrating the Mother in your life this Sunday? You may be among the many people who are having trouble deciding what to get your Mom or the Mother of your children for Mother's Day. Some suggestions include: clean the house, cook dinner, get the kids dressed and fed (LET HER SLEEP IN), etc. For you single Moms, you are most definitely a rock star! You do this day in and day out with at least one job to keep your kids clothed, fed, and make sure they have a roof over their heads. That is incredible, and you deserve to be treated, too! 

     For those of you who still aren't sure what to get that Goddess for Mother's Day or for those of you who do this all on your own, I have a special going on until May 21, 2017. Buy one Reiki session at full price ($50 USD) and get a session free. 

     But what exactly is Reiki?

     Excellent question! Reiki is the use of Universal Life Energy to promote relaxation and healing on an emotional and spiritual level, as well as a physical level. In essence, it is a form of energy healing. 

     I offer sessions over Skype. A Reiki session typically lasts about an hour. Please note that it does not replace the medical care of a doctor, but rather works in harmony with traditional care. If you want to know more or want to set up an appointment, contact me on my Facebook page: Reiki Healing by Ashley.

     Happy Mother's Day!!

Revising School

School: something everyone is required to participate in. However, it does much more harm than good. We need to stop treating students like they are all the same, like they all have the same learning styles. No, students are unique and need to be treated as such. The school system is broken with too much testing and not nearly enough learning. We’re forced to memorize things that float out of our heads as soon as we select the answer on the test and then do it all over again. This is not making us smarter. Education needs to be tailored to the learner, not to government testing.

“Oh, but that’s unrealistic. How are we going to tailor learning to each student,” ask the naysayers.

Well, we have currently standardised testing. Instead, it should be a test to see how each student learns in each particular subject. This test should be in middle school so that all the basics are learned there. Then, when they move to high school:

~Freshmen students ought to learn things like how to budget a bank account/check book and by extension, how to budget for bills and necessities (basically money management in general). They should learn basic cooking skills and housekeeping skills. They should learn basic maintenance of a house, how to fix a small electrical problem, small plumbing issues, etc. Health class is really important here: now we should be learning about mental illness and other important things. Extensive reproductive education is also very important. A physical “education” class should also be in place every semester until graduation, except there should be options: yoga, swim, walking, running, weights, zumba. Let the students try everything until something sticks. This is very important for mental health as well as physical.

~Sophomores should now choose a field of study or career path that they are interested in and take classes specifically tailored to that choice. This on top of all the basic knowledge classes so they get lots of practice before actually heading out into the real world. Add a recreational class of their choosing in which they are learning something that they really have an interest in. Expand the mind. A new subject may be selected every semester until graduation.

~Juniors should shadow someone in their career choice (if one is chosen). Also, learning how to write proper resumes should now be introduced as well. Still keeping up with all the learning of how to function as an adult (though this should now be limited to maybe one class a day rather than the whole day as it is in the Freshman model).

~Seniors should start volunteering and becoming aware of social issues that plague their area. Such as homelessness, hunger, environmental, etc. Volunteering will help them become well rounded on an emotional/spiritual level and learn to have empathy for their follow human beings. They should also now have a pretty good idea of adult life and should be looking at apartments if they choose not to go to college (because there is nothing wrong with not going to college if it’s not for you!). If they aren’t actually going to move out right at first, then it’s at least important to know how to go through the application process of apartments. Now is the time to start applying all of that basic knowledge and taking the leap into adulthood. Fly, little birds! Chase your dreams!

Obviously this model needs some work, but it is so much better than testing our youth to death. Seriously, we don’t take that many tests as adults. How many of us actually remember anything we learned from high school? It’s ridiculous. And yes, I hear the naysayers again, “Shouldn’t the parents do all of that?!” Why, yes, yes they should be doing that. However, how many of them actually know how to do all of that safely? How many parents are even home? Today, both parents have to work just to keep a roof over the family’s head and food in the fridge. So let’s teach the kids how to do this stuff in school so that they can properly function as adults.

It takes a village.

Bullying

      This is another topic that is near and dear to my heart. Bullying. As a lunch lady, I work with and see kids everyday Monday - Friday throughout the school year. I make connections with these kids, get to know them. But what I get to see is only a snap shot of their lives. There's only time for the quick small talk. "Hi, how are you today?" "Are you excited for the weekend?"

      I get to see them interact with each other, mostly. Yes, I do have "favorites", but that's only because I have developed a deeper friendship with these particular children than the rest. One little girl, for example, was having the worst attitude problem last year. Let's call her Colette. Colette was giving myself and my two coworkers a lot of trouble. I suspect that many of the adults she interacted with during the day didn't treat her with respect, which I believe also had to do with her race (Because yes, there is still a problem with racism in 2017). Colette is this adorable little girl, and she's black. From my observations, a black child is treated differently when they are having a bad day than a white child is treated. So I made it my mission to treat this little girl with all the respect and understanding that children need and deserve. After a few weeks, Colette's attitude did a 180. All she needed was to be treated like a person. And they way that she was treated was an example of adults not necessarily bullying this little girl, but not respecting her. Which in my mind, is borderline bullying. How are these children going to grow up to be well rounded adults when they aren't given basic human respect in the first place?

      Then I see kids bullying each other, and of course I step in when I see it. I saw a whole table of kindergartners bullying one boy at the table just because his reaction was funny to them. They were across the lunch room, and I could hear this little boy scream out to them to stop, red faced and crying. You bet your ass I gave them a lecture about bullying and then informed a teacher. These kids have to learn to respect each other. They have to learn kindness and compassion. It starts with the parents, honestly. Directly after the parents are those who are immediately involved with them once they are born (grandparents, siblings, aunts/uncles, cousins...). If a parent is trying to set boundaries for their child, and an immediate relative ignores the parents to allow the child to do as they please anyway, then you are teaching that child that it is okay to disrespect Mom and Dad, and by extension, that it is okay to disrespect others.

      Kids need to realize that what they say hurts others, because then you get adults who are rude and disrespectful. We get adults who have no concern for the lives of others and continue to bully, mock, and make fun of those who are different. Different either because of continued bullying or other issues. "Safe spaces" are genuinely needed, and that is mocked and shit on. Why? We wouldn't need such places if people actually had compassion for each other. Why. Is. It. So. Hard. To. Care. About. Others. Why? Why is unconditional, universal love and understanding such a hard concept for people to grasp? I just read a story where a man stabbed his pregnant girlfriend, her cat, and himself over drugs. The comments section on the article were ridiculous. Those who were commenting cared more about the cat than the fact that the pregnant woman was stabbed. How is that okay? Why do they care more about the cat than a person? Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love animals and believe they should be treated with all the love in the world. But to make jokes and judgement about the poor woman... "Why did she stay with him if he was abusive?" "She should have left. She must have low self-esteem." People, it starts from birth. They learn self-worth from birth. This all starts with the parents and the immediate family....

      People inflict self harm, suicide, because of the awful things that are said to and about them. Bullying is no joke. It causes mental and emotional damage, and that can be so much worse than a physical wound. A physical wound will heal, but an emotional/mental wound can takes years to overcome. Now this child who was bullied has self-esteem problems, they think lowly of themselves, and they very likely suffer from depression. It makes me so angry and sad to see people treat each other like shit. Where is your humanity, people?! Please... Treat each other with care.

      If you are a victim of bullying, I see you. I've been there. I know how you feel. In middle school, I was made fun of so badly that I cried myself to sleep and thought about killing myself every single night for half of sixth grade. I was called "E.T." and "alien" because my upper jaw was so narrow and my teeth over lapped each other. I got braces and was moved to a different school about halfway through the year, and my confidence began to blossom as I was actually treated with respect and started to make friends... And then I was moved again. This time, the bullying started up again. And it was never just bullying at school, either. My whole life, my mother bullied me and made me feel like I was the scum of the earth. And now I was at a school where even the teacher said that I "didn't want to be an author [my biggest dream that I am still working on] because they don't make any money". The cutting began in eighth grade on a beautiful sunny day. My mother had just said something awful to me, again. (Side note: my mother was never a good person. She hung out with bad people, one of whom raped me. She beat me, my brother, and sister with horse whips, belts, hangers... but her favorite was a metal spatula. When I would actually find the motivation to do my school work, she would say "You aren't going to do that anyway, so just go clean the barn." She nearly stabbed my sister one night (my sister was in fourth grade) in a drunken rage, and it was unusual for her to be home instead of the bar on any given night. That's just the tip of the iceberg. So no, I am not being "a typical kid" in regards to my mother.) So I had bullying at home, bullying at school, and those thoughts of self hatred finally boiled over. So I began cutting. I never received help for my depression. I had to figure it out on my own. I get it. I know how you feel. I am here for you. I love you. You are important and incredible.

      If you are a bully - stop. Ask yourself why you are bullying others. What are your insecurities? What do you need to work on? Apologize to your victim(s), and if you don't have the guts to do it face to face, write a sincere letter of apology and give it to a trusted adult or individual to deliver it. I understand, you're stressed, right? Overwhelmed? Need to feel like you're in control? Stop. There are much healthier ways. I urge you to speak to a trusted third party whether that be a counselor, friend, parent, anyone who would help you on your journey to self improvement. I believe in you. You have every capability to be a beautiful person that spreads love and understanding. You can do this. I love you. I believe in you. I see you.

      I send you peace and unconditional love. It is up to you to spread it through the world like wildflowers.

Healthcare and the Christian God

I was told today that healthcare is not a “God given right”, but that it would be perfectly acceptable if it were a “government given right”. I disagree with the first point, which in turn affects the latter. The first affects the latter in this way: a majority of the people in the U.S. seem to think that this is a Christian nation (which it absolutely is not), and therefore it is nearly impossible to seperate church from state as it is supposed to be in all subject matters in regards to the law. Given that there are a lot of suffering people, not only in the U.S. but also the world, I can say that I am truly heartbroken by this kind of rhetoric since a majority of the people use their religion as a scapegoat to get out of helping those in need. Before I go any further, allow me to clarify something: I am not currently a Christian, but I was. I renounced my faith for personal reasons as outlined in one of my earliest posts. Now, let’s continue onward.

Have you ever noticed that a majority of those that call themselves Christians are some of the worst people? Those are Sunday Christians. They do what they want, then attempt to pray it all away at church just so they can do it again all over. This is the wrong way to go about religion. *Side note: if your religion excuses your hatred, bigotry, greed, and pride, then you need to find a new religion. End note.* I am very fortunate to have met a few really amazing Christians who truly read, comprehend, and carry out what their holy book says. And that is beautiful; it gives me hope that we will be able to work together for a better tomorrow. I am truly grateful for them and am happy to call these kind hearted people friends.

So let’s tackle that “healthcare isn’t a God given right” thing, shall we? A quick Google search brings up many links on this topic. Let’s take a look at some.

Matthew 10:8-11 ESV

“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.”

Now this looks super familiar to me, and anyone else who has read Utopia by Sir Thomas More (that book was written in 1516 when people were devoutly religious and went to church, so God is referenced many times in the book). In the land of Utopia, people were allowed, with a kind of passport and permission, to travel freely between towns and stayed very much like that mentioned in the verse taken from Matthew. It is very clear here that Jesus and his followers believed in helping those in need without receiving payment except for a place to sleep and food. What else do you need if your necessities are taken care of? Clothes can be sown and they could find a good walking stick on their journey if they needed one. The verse above can be summed up as such: Healthcare is free. It is a God given right.

Luke 14:13-15 ESV

“But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, ‘Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!’”

This is not directly related to healthcare, but it does say to be welcoming and accepting of those who are sick. It says to treat them as equal. It says to be loving and kind, despite the fact that they “can’t repay you”. To do anything else would be to deny that which one claims to believe. Do not be greedy. Help those in need. Open your hearts as Jesus opened his for you. That is, if you have chosen to believe in him. If not, that’s cool, too.

Matthew 9:9-13 ESV

9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. 10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Mercy, not sacrifice. A little backstory to this particular verse: Jesus had just told the paralyzed man to get up and walk. To the amazement of the crowd who saw it, the man did indeed get up, pick up the mat he had been lying on, and walked home. Did Jesus say, “Oh, sorry. I can’t heal you, because you’re broke”? No. He simply did it, because it was the right thing to do. Notice also, that Jesus said that he has not come for the righteous, but the sinners. In my personal opinion, the word “righteous” has a negative connotation to it. Those who think they are better than others or don’t have to contribute to the common good are often those who think highly, or righteously, of themselves. Therefore, they are unable to accept constructive criticism and suggestions on how to better themselves. Whereas “sinners” in this context sounds more like people who know they could be better and just need some guidance. So… Are you too good for betterment, or are you ready for some guidance?

Deuteronomy 15:7-11 ESV

“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and you be guilty of sin. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

Need I say more? This. This right here says to give fully out of the kindness of your heart. This addresses a whole slew of problems. If someone needs something, you should give it freely. In this case, we are talking healthcare. People need health care. People get sick; there’s no way around it. Why do we then deny the needy treatment? If they are unable to pay, the common consensus is to let them be sick or let them die. Why is everyone so concerned about money? It is a failing system that should be abolished. (And as in previous posts: No, I will not give my money to anyone simply because I don’t think it should be used. I will continue to use it until we can come to a better agreement in the realm of our currency. To do otherwise would be foolish). We as humans should care about and for each other. If you are Christian, do you not believe that your God is the embodiment of love? Does he not call you to be like him? So God must be a hateful, bigoted, and prideful, right? If you are truly the body of Christ, he must not give a shit about anyone, right? Because that’s not what I learned. I learned that as the body of Christ, we are to help everyone in need. Jesus was a humanitarian, and his true followers are few and far between. Don’t say you are Christian if you won’t be kind, if you won’t be loving, if you won’t help those who need it.

I believe that healthcare should be 1) free, and 2) that it is indeed a “God given right”. Please, if you are going to believe one thing, study the book you’re referencing. This doesn’t even cover when Jesus healed a blind man with his spit (Mark 8:22-25) for free. This doesn’t cover when Jesus raised a girl from the dead and healed a sick woman on his way there (Mark 5: 21-43) for free. When he raises his friend Lazarus from the dead (John 11:38-44) for free. And so so so many more. He never demanded payment. Simply to go and do for others what he had done for them. Spread the goodness and love.  

Get Back Up

      So I went on this amazing bike ride earlier today with my love. My boyfriend loves bike riding and has this really nice road bike. I bought a new bike last year so that I could join him on his long treks on back country roads. Why not? I love nature. I know how to ride a bike and love doing so. He insisted on a helmet, which I thought was silly. I haven't fallen off my bike since I was first learning how to ride! I'll wear a helmet for horseback riding, sure... But I got the helmet anyway to appease him. Next were the shorts. The tight ones with the padding on the butt for added cushioning. Even with that added cushion on the butt of the pants, my butt still looks fan-freaking-tastic! So, I got the new bike, the helmet, and the fun new shorts that make my butt look awesome. But there was one more thing he suggested I get... New shoes and pedals with clips.... To lock my feet... To the pedals.

      Um... What?

      Yeah, that sounds pretty scary. What if I need to stop quickly? I'm going to die! Well, Today, we went on our first long bike ride together. Things were going great until we reached this hill. Coming up from behind us was a huge dump truck! My love was leading, and he was slowing way down. So slow that I almost ran into him and thought he forgot to signal that he was stopping. I fell. In the middle of the road.... With that dump truck coming straight at us. That was scary shit, let me tell you. Fortunately, I survived. (Obviously, or I wouldn't be writing about it). However, I now have a giant purple bruise on one knee, a huge knot on the other, and my palms are a bit scraped up.

      Man, those clip in pedals mean business!

Book Review

One of my very dear friends wrote a cute children's book for her autistic son. He sometimes finds it hard to make decisions throughout the day. He loves books, though. So my friend Love Simzisko wrote Chaz Makes Choices.

The book is about “ a little boy [Chaz] who is faced with choices throughout his day. He has to think about the choices and consequences he is faced with and learn to make the right choices. Follow along as Chaz makes the right choices and has a good day.”

It’s an adorable story with charming artwork. You can buy it on Amazon here, and show an author some love!

Earth Day

Today is a very special day. Today is the day we celebrate the Earth. Our home. Our Mother. What’s sad, however, are the multitudes of people who deny that She is in danger, the people who deny that climate change is real and that humans are the number one cause of it. What’s sad is how Her resources are used and abused while humans live way beyond our means without restoring what was taken, without giving back what we borrowed.

Today, I helped plant trees in a local park. It was so incredible to see all the wonderful people come together for a common cause. We didn’t fight about politics nor religion. We came together to help renew and restore our Earth, one little sapling at a time. It was so wonderful and grounding. In solidarity with this very special day, the March for Science took place all over the world. Wow, that is incredible. On one hand, I am so happy to see so many people come together to show the powers that be that we care about what happens to our Mother… On the other, I am deeply saddened that we even have to.

Today is Earth Day. However, it should be every single day that we protect and renew Her. It should be every day that we fight to defend the water that flows through Her, the trees that grow on Her, and the air that surrounds Her. It should be every day that we defend the life of all the animals and insects and to live in harmony with them. For the Earth is also their home.

Every. Day. We need to work together to heal Her, to restore Her. We need to work together to clean Her waters and forests and air. We need to work together to keep these disasters from ever happening again. Our Mother has cancer, and it’s name is “humans”. Let us realize our terrible mistake and correct it. We can do this. Together. So… What are you going to do to help the Earth?

Globalization

WARNING: The following is not a popular opinion.

Globalization. What is it? Why is it bad? Let’s answer that first question with an easy Google search for the definition:

glob·al·i·za·tion

ˌɡlōbələˈzāSHən,ˌɡlōbəˌlīˈzāSHən/

noun

1. the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.

Now, so far, I don’t understand why this is bad. What I see is the definition of humans working together for the common good of all. No? You still think it’s bad? So does Google, apparently. Let’s check out the context they used to word to show us how to use it properly:

"fears about the increasing globalization of the world economy"

Now, I have copied and pasted all of the definition and the sentence used by Google. Don’t believe me? Google it for yourself.

Why are there fears about increasing globalization of the world economy? I’ll tell you why. Greed. Greed of money. Greed of resources. Greed of power. Greed of things. Pride. Ego. Everyone wants to be the best at the expense of others. But why would you want to have more than you need while someone else suffers?

We have the power to turn this world into one of love and peace. It is possible through hard work. Yes, it is so much easier to ignore the problems of others, because… Well, fill in the blank however you like. There are literally thousands of excuses to not pay attention past “you” and continue to ignore those who are in need.

Oh, but what about jobs? We’re losing jobs to those awful foreigners! That is what’s so bad about globalization, you dimwit!

Oh, I’m sorry… Have you not been paying attention? There are jobs a plenty for everyone. The powers that be, no matter where you are in the world, have all been telling us there there is scarcity. Not enough of this or that. While that is partially true, it is easily remedied. If. We. Work. Together. We can come together as a collective to break our chains of slavery. We can come together as a collective for the common good of all. And let’s not forget, that if we actually did what was best for all of us as a collective (humans, animals, the environment… Earth), money really wouldn’t be worth anything. Really, it’s just paper and metal. Yes, I hear you. No, I won’t be giving you my money just because I don’t agree with the fact that we have to use it. Sorry, but I won’t be giving it up until we can all give it up. All that will take is for everyone to realize that we have that power to say “No. I won’t be controlled anymore.” Because if you think about it, a large majority of the elites in this world are like an abusive partner in a relationship, and we the common peoples of the world are the victims. We don’t have to put up with this abuse any longer, Beloveds. We can leave and make a better life for ourselves.

We are One. We are Limitless. We are Love. We are Peace. Come, the sun is rising on this brand new day. Brush the dust off and begin the healing journey. I’m here. I stand with you.

You are not alone.