The Lottery of Life

I have played the lottery a few times in my life but haven't won any thing than perhaps my $1 back or maybe $5.   It certainly isn't some thing I do on a regular basis, and even when I buy a ticket, I really don't expect to win.

With my time off from work, I have been reading more and watching some very interesting documentaries. Over the past few days I watched Half the Sky which is about oppression of women around the globe.  After watching this, it occurred to me that I had won the lottery of life.

The portrayal of girls as young as five being sold to brothels where they are used and beaten, the story of countries in Africa where the rape and beating of women is thought to be normal and the practice of female genital mutilation which is tradition and still done to 130 million girls a year.  I don't see myself as better than these women; just had the feeling that on the ladder of life, I got lucky.
Being born a white female in the Midwestern United States during the 20th century most certainly was a lucky break. Granted, if I had been born in a previous time, even in the United States, I would have not had the right to vote.  I also could not have owned property; I would have been my husband's property.  This does not mean that my life has been perfect, but in comparison, I have had a remarkable chance at a good life.
My heart breaks for these girls and women and if it were in my power to make it all go away, I would.  There are some small breakthroughs occurring, and women are becoming more empowered.  Perhaps in the next fifty years, these atrocities can be reversed.  It's important that we are educated about the reality of what others around the globe must contend with.
As for the lottery, I think I'm done buying tickets.  I have already won.
Thought for the day:  He who allows oppression, shares the crime.    Erasmus

The Times, They are a changing

One thing that is constant in life is change.  It seems that as human beings, we are not quite in tune to that fact.  Perhaps it is a survival technique we use to protect ourselves from the inevitable.  As we go about our day to day existence, there is a feeling that it's always going to be this way, however, if we look at the history of our lives, we know this isn't true.

My own life has been through many changes in the last few years.  On the scale that is used to determine impact on your psyche, mine would rate fairly high.  The following is a list of those changes:  divorce, remarriage, loss of both parents, children left home, became a grandparent, changed jobs, and moved.

Other changes I have experienced throughout my life have been a total turnabout.  When I was younger, I loved summer.  I was somewhat of a beach bum, loved the heat and laying in the sun.  Now I look forward to fall and winter and seem to embrace the cold.
From the time I was born, regular church attendance was a part of my life.  I started out as a Lutheran but changed course at about age 32 at which time I headed to a nondenominational church.  About ten years ago, I realized that Unitarianism fit me the best and now church attendance is no longer a part of my life.  So it has been a spiritual journey and now nature is where I feel the closest to God.
The latest change that has occurred is the giving up of meat.  I grew up on a hog farm, and eating meat at almost every meal was how I was raised.  As time went on, I noticed that while I still ate meat, it was less than previously.  Recently, I watched two documentaries.  The first was called "Fresh" and showed how animals are mistreated and where our meat actually comes from; the second was called "Forks over Knives" and documented the health issues of eating meat.  It focused on patients that were able to get off all their meds and have their diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure virtually go away.

So I am now approaching my third week of not eating meat, and it's going very well.  I don't miss it at all and have found that it also makes you more aware and conscious of every thing you eat. It causes mindfulness.

So really nothing ever stays the same, even though we may think it does.

Thought for the day:  When you are finished changing, you are finished.   Benjamin Franklin

Thoughts on Walden

I am currently working my way through Thoreau's Walden, and it's definitely not the "can't put it down" type.  However, loving him and his ideas as I do, there is no choice but to do it.  As I am reading his descriptions of moving away from society and making his home in the woods around Walden Pond for two years, I can just feel the solitude and serenity.  As I look at the blazing colors of autumn that are abundant right now, I can almost hear him walking through the woods and hear the crunching of the leaves. 

He talks about not being lonesome; if you can become one with the nature that surrounds you, one need not be lonesome.  If you can become one with the universe that envelopes us, there is companionship in that.  I tend to be an introvert, a loner, one that can't seem to handle extended time with noise and people.  So for me, the thought of living deliberately away from the constraints of society, sounds like paradise.  I love days that just unfold, ones that have no agenda. 

 

I would rather sit on a pumpkin all by myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion

Henry David Thoreau

 

 

 

 

 Thought for the day:  I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life and see if I could not learn from what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.       Henry David Thoreau

The Scars of Life

Last week as I was driving home from Minnesota, I was contemplating my car.  I drive a red 1999 VW Beetle that has seen its share of bumps and bruises.  My first thought was that most people would be uncomfortable driving a vehicle that isn't perfect, but it doesn't bother me.  In fact, I generally like the imperfections of life.  My suspicions are aroused by people or things that seem perfect.  As a realist, I know that nothing is perfect.  There are no perfect people, relationships, jobs, friends, homes, etc.  Once we embrace that idea, it allows for the freedom to just accept and enjoy, rather than attempt to fix or change.

You can look at a car, a piece of furniture or a human being and see the scars that life can bring.  Having spent quite a bit of time lately with babies and young children, you can just see the newness and lack of wear that life brings.  In contrast, I think of my parents and the way they changed through aging and how I am now doing the same.  We all have inner and outer scars that make us who we are, and without those imperfections, we would be stagnant.  It's the way the world is supposed to work; for every thing there is a season. 
If you look at nature, there is a definite cycle.  This cycle also applies to humans, and unfortunately our society does not allow for that perfect cycle.  It pushes staying  young, looking young through unnatural means.  It makes me very suspicious.

Thought for today:  A beautiful thing is never perfect

Understanding The Journey

Last week I posted just a simple sentence that my blog was on hold due to lack of confidence.  It was meant to be sort of a joke.  I was surprised when two of my daughters seemed upset that I wouldn't be blogging any longer.  It made me feel like what I am saying and doing is actually worthwhile.  Therefore, my confidence has been once again boosted. 
I am back from another week helping with the care of my grandchildren in Brainerd, MN.  This is my first week since quitting my job two months ago that I will actually be home all week.  This morning was spent decluttering and organizing "stuff" that was moved from our home in Minnesota.  We have been here almost a year, and it's about time to get that done.

One of the things I have pondered that has made me find confidence again is that this is a journey; not an instant dream come true.  The Thoreau quote states go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  I realized that is exactly what I am doing.  Not every thing will fall into place exactly the way I intend, but I have to hold on to confidence despite any setbacks.  If I take a couple steps backwards, it is okay.  The point is to keep going.

Part of my journey is learning to embrace who I am which includes my beliefs and disbeliefs.
Our book club recently read Cutting For Stone which contains some lovely thoughts and ideas.  The one that stood out for me was this:  The key to your happiness is to own your own slippers, own who you are, own how you look, own your family, own the talents you have, and own the ones you don't.  If  you keep saying your slippers aren't yours, then you'll die searching, you'll die bitter, always feelings you were promised more.  Not only our actions, but also our omissions, become our destiny.

So at this point in my life I am trying to "own my own slippers" which can be a constant struggle if we allow ourselves to be swayed and influenced by the big world out there.