$100

Have you ever considered what you would do if you were given an extra $100?  What would you do with that money?  No, it isn't a lot of money, but would you do a mini splurge and if so what would that splurge be?  Would you instinctively save it?  

Because I always spend any and every extra dime I have on my children, I would try very hard to be selfish with this extra and unexpected money. I have been wanting and needing some spa time.  I would have the mani/pedi and a nice massage.  Depending on where I got these things, I think I could squeeze in a facial.  

I know it seems frivolous, but for me, they are well deserved.  Any time an expense needs to be cut out, it is from me.  NEVER MY CHILDREN!!!  The funny thing is, I would probably still try to go get them a nail polish or something.


I look forward to hearing what you would do......

International Lefthanders Day

Did you know that today is the International Left-handers day?  Well I would like to send out a WOOHOO to all the lefties out there including my twin daughter leftie. On 13th August 1992 International Left-Handers Day was launched, an annual event when left-handers everywhere can celebrate their sinistrality and increase public awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of being left-handed.  It is often celebrated by left vs right sporting matches, left-handed tea parties, as well as left-handed activities where right handed parties are encouraged to try every day objects and tasks that left-handers are subjected to on a daily basis. There are several more ways to celebrate, but I think it is great thing anytime someone else is forced or at least encouraged to walk in another's shoes.  It encourages understanding on many different levels. 

 Actually, I think that left handed people tend to be quite intellectual and very deep people.  Maybe because to a certain extent they see and experience things vastly different than right handed people. 

Below is a link of an interesting article that you too may find rather cool to read.
http://www.livescience.com/17009-left-handedness-ambidexterity.html

Rehabilitated or Unrehabilitatable. That is the question.

Rehabilitation means "to restore to useful life, as through therapy and education" or "to restore to good condition, operation, or capacity".   The assumption of rehabilitation is that people are not permanently criminal and that it is possible to restore a criminal to a useful life, to a life in which they contribute to themselves and to society. (Wikipedia)

I felt it necessary to begin with this particular information before I went on with my little diatribe.  I used to believe in the entire "rehabilitation" process, but in reality, it seems that no one really believes a person is capable of being fully rehabilitated.  The assumption is that once you have made an error in your life, that is the extent of you as a person.  No matter how young or stupid you were, no matter how nonviolent,  despite the circumstance, a person is only defined by their criminal past.  Don't get me wrong, there are some people out there who are habitual offenders because it is just in them and that is all they know and have ever known.  That being said, have you ever considered how many people are out there who are, for a lack of a better way to say it, screwed because they made a bad judgement call when they were younger?

I have a friend, a beautiful person inside and out.  She is very responsible, polite, giving, and in general more decent than a lot of people you encounter in your daily life.  She is intelligent and when she does a job, does it phenomenally.  She realized that 25 years ago, after she had a brief encounter with stupidity and pride, that for the next 7-10 years, she would have to suffer and prove that she had been "rehabilitated" and worthy.  Unfortunately for her, she didn't realize that in the eyes of employers, she would forever be seen simply as a felon.  Despite how well she could/would do a job due to her skill set, how great her attendance is, how devoted to the company she may be, she could barely and rarely get her foot into a door to remain gainfully employed.

I find my heart aching for this woman because she really wants to just do well and live.  I also have to wonder how many other people are suffering this fate?  What do you do in these situations?  How do you maneuver around such a huge obstacle?  What advice could/would you give a person in this situation?  Additionally, I have to wonder if the lack of opportunity plays an intricate part in the lives of some repeat offenders.

Do you think a person can recover from a criminal error?  Is it possible for them to truly escape their brief criminal past?  Do you think someone who has committed a crime can ever be rehabilitated and be a productive member of society?  


 

Change

Change is this constant in our lives that keeps us on track.  It is both a constant and unrelenting mistress which makes demands on how we conduct our lives.  Typically we know when we need to change certain situations or circumstances, but sometimes we are just lazy or afraid to walk through the doorway that lies before us.  Some change is great and some not so much (at least initially).  The worst change is change that is forced upon you.  This change is hard, brutal, stressful, and seemingly never ending.  You find yourself asking questions like:

 Why is this happening? 
What have I done to deserve so much stress?
How much longer must I endure this? 
WHY ME?!?!?!?!?


In reality there were signs that eluded to the changes that needed to be made.  Now that fact that we ignored is not changes fault.  We are lazy and/or afraid, sticking our heads in a hole as if we were on ostriches hiding from the inevitable.  You only have yourself to blame.  The funny thing is, if we had made the small changes that were needed from the start, the changes in the end would not be as major. If you make the changes when you initially notice that I change needs to occur, life becomes considerably easier, less stressful, vastly more enjoyable.

That being, I suck at it.  Although I know change is a constant in life, I am a bit stubborn when it comes to certain aspects of my life.   The funny thing is, I usually am almost completely worn out mentally and emotionally before a forced change is implemented.  Yeah, I know.  Why not just make the change?  Because my rational side knows what needs to happen, but is typically overridden by my emotional side.  That and I am kinda like a bratty child when it comes to change and I just don't wanna.  

 Don't get me wrong.  There is some change that I am on as if it were second nature.  But life is constant, and I will hopefully get a bit better with my signs and actually acting them.  I am sure I am not alone....heck I can look at my Facebook news feed and tell that I am NOT the only one, but I digress. 

Eye

 

 

 

 

"The real voyage of discovery consists of not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes."                                                                                -   Marcel Proust