The last few years I have had a hard time getting the Christmas Spirit...I see the lights, I eat the treats, and I start the Christmas list for the naughty and nice. But why does it take me so long as of late to feel all Christmasy inside?
I think when we are younger we are so just so excited about everything to do with Christmas. I used to get so excited and work myself up so much that I would make myself sick the day before Christmas...I know i was such a crazy child. I don't know when it was that I figured out I was making my self ill and had to learn to not get so excited and breath! Then I found myself as a teenager working retail...and despite the store playing the same tape over and over from the day after Halloween I still loved the season. When we moved to Idaho the snow and cold maybe helped me feel like Christmas...or maybe the excitement of getting out of school helped the season shine.
But the last few years I have had a hard time. My friend Chelsea would say it is due to the fact that I won't allow Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. Last year was most likely because was I was working on a film in Hawaii...hard to feel like Christmas when you can go swimming and there is no one around to remind you it is December. We actually had to hike in to this water fall one day of the shoot, and it was long and hard...and I had to carry all the wardrobe (my pack was heaver than the camera packs.) Not feeling the Christmas Spirit I decided to make the hike better by singing every Christmas song I could think of...much to the annoyance of my coworkers I'm sure. That didn't really help...I think it took me going home and being with my family to finally feel it.
This year has been the same...well not the Hawaii part, but I did gt to see palm trees and desert Landscapes decorated with Christmas lights in St George while working on a little project. (That looked like Christmas where I grew up.) I have not felt like doing the holiday baking, and the shopping, and yet I've been trying to anyway. I think it has been three years of Christmas time blah. And I started getting a bit worried about my humbug self. What happened to the girl that lit up with the season? Who couldn't get enough of everything.? Who watched all the movies about the season, and remembered to wish everyone happy holidays? Who tried to pull out all kinds of Christmas cards...even if she didn't ever finish them? That girl who drove others a bit crazy by singing full voice with the the car radio and department store Christmas track? The girl that put up a tree in her apt and made the whole place look like Christmas even though she was really going home for the Holidays? Did her big heartbreak a few years ago at Christmas kill the seasons joy and excitement? Did she just O.D. on Christmases Past? I've been getting a smige worried!!!
Sunday we had our Christmas program in church. Our Choir isn't so big...infact we had a double quartet. When we had our Choir Practice that morning I still wasn't feelin the Christmas. But then as we stood to sing our first song my grinch heart grew three sizes. I couldn't stop smiling, the holiday cheer had come to stay. I really do love this time of year, and am glad that my Christmas Spirit isn't broken...just needed a jump start :) So with all that, I will wish a very Merry Christmas, Seasons Greatings, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year to all!!!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Prop 8- powered by both sides with love...yet so much hurt.
Unable to sleep I have been turning out current problems with Proposition 8 over and over in my mind. I think that a lot of pain, hurt misunderstanding and unfairness have touched about everyone that has gotten involved on either side. As far as I can see it, it boils down to semantics. What is the meaning of the word Marriage? I also can see that there is a huge division by the anti and the pro. I say that both sides are fueled with love, and that is the problem…for the opposition to each party is seen to be fueled by hate. Are their feelings of hate on both sides? There are those with in each party that perhaps feel that way, but I honestly think that the two basic stands are driven for the most part by love.
Anti Proposition 8 is viewing this as a civil rights issue. Their love of freedom and liberty and the pursuit of happiness speaks to their heart of letting all be able to have everything the same. Many supporters of this side of the coin feel that they and only they are being fair, loving, kind and rational. They view that the word marriage should be attainable for all. But in the state of California very little is changed for Gay couples if they have or don’t have this word and certificate. The rights to be admitted to see their sweetheart in the hospital still stands, tax and benefit laws are intact. And possibly I am too open minded here, but I would even say that they become each other’s family. Families come in all different shapes and sizes, and mean different things to different people. Michael Scott from “The Office” would consider all his coworkers his family. I consider my roommates and some of my close, close friends as family. Some people do not have love or happy thoughts of family because they knew great pain from theirs- often times because it was dysfunctional or a source of much animosity. Others take family for granted. But most feel that families are very important, wonderful and who they love the most.
Pro Proposition 8 views this issue as a religious issue. Their love of God, and desire to maintain that of traditional marriage which they define as being man and wife is what speaks to their heart. Many supporters of this side of the coin feel that they and only they are being fair, loving, kind and rational. They view marriage as something sacred, and for most as a binding of a man and woman before God first, and then to man. There are many heterosexual couples throughout the world who find marriage stifling, archaic and many who do not want to enter into this covenant for different reasons…yet they still have love and commitment to their life partner. Are their marriages that are messed up, broken, vows discarded- but still legal because of law only? You bet there are! Are their people who marry for the wrong reasons? Absolutely. Is marriage between man and woman always beautiful, spiritual, filled with fidelity, trust, compassion, and consideration for each other? No. Having the word and the certificate does not bring happiness or entitle one to “Happily Ever After.” Are all families created under marriage happy homes? Negative. But those who are making a stand on this point are filled with love for their understanding of what marriage is.
So what is the solution? I do not claim to have all the answers. I do not think that we can wave a magic wand and make everyone happy, or cause people to agree on what Marriage means for them. But I hoped to point out that though this debate, vote, fight, ideal, view, and argument that both sides are fueled by love and their concept of the word “Marriage.” Neither side is trying to truly stand for hate! There are exceptions, but as a whole I feel that both sides are trying to listen to their heart, and conscience. But some see this a civil rights and others as religion/tradition. There is a huge difference to both sides and points that the other won’t concede. Our nation is circling each other in a giant boxing ring, going head to head in a fight that is not for fame and fortune but for love. I am afraid that both boxers have been hit in the head too many times to see things clearly, rationally or calmly. Yesterday as I read 517 comments back and forth on a news article I was appalled at how many people were name calling, hitting low blows and getting so nasty with each other that love did not seem to be anyone’s fuel. It felt more like school children fighting and bickering. One person on there made reference to someone’s mom.
To those that are of a religious background may I say shame on you for not practicing what you teach, if God is Love why are you hating? To those that do not carry religious ties may I say shame on you for not holding to the golden rule- do unto others as you would have others do to you. I would challenge each person responsible for allowing hate to creep into their heart, conversation or stance to take a deep breath, count to ten, act like an adult and try and view the opposition’s point as being backed by love…not hate. Maybe then we can learn and accept and respect each other even if we disagree on what a word and a certificate means.
Anti Proposition 8 is viewing this as a civil rights issue. Their love of freedom and liberty and the pursuit of happiness speaks to their heart of letting all be able to have everything the same. Many supporters of this side of the coin feel that they and only they are being fair, loving, kind and rational. They view that the word marriage should be attainable for all. But in the state of California very little is changed for Gay couples if they have or don’t have this word and certificate. The rights to be admitted to see their sweetheart in the hospital still stands, tax and benefit laws are intact. And possibly I am too open minded here, but I would even say that they become each other’s family. Families come in all different shapes and sizes, and mean different things to different people. Michael Scott from “The Office” would consider all his coworkers his family. I consider my roommates and some of my close, close friends as family. Some people do not have love or happy thoughts of family because they knew great pain from theirs- often times because it was dysfunctional or a source of much animosity. Others take family for granted. But most feel that families are very important, wonderful and who they love the most.
Pro Proposition 8 views this issue as a religious issue. Their love of God, and desire to maintain that of traditional marriage which they define as being man and wife is what speaks to their heart. Many supporters of this side of the coin feel that they and only they are being fair, loving, kind and rational. They view marriage as something sacred, and for most as a binding of a man and woman before God first, and then to man. There are many heterosexual couples throughout the world who find marriage stifling, archaic and many who do not want to enter into this covenant for different reasons…yet they still have love and commitment to their life partner. Are their marriages that are messed up, broken, vows discarded- but still legal because of law only? You bet there are! Are their people who marry for the wrong reasons? Absolutely. Is marriage between man and woman always beautiful, spiritual, filled with fidelity, trust, compassion, and consideration for each other? No. Having the word and the certificate does not bring happiness or entitle one to “Happily Ever After.” Are all families created under marriage happy homes? Negative. But those who are making a stand on this point are filled with love for their understanding of what marriage is.
So what is the solution? I do not claim to have all the answers. I do not think that we can wave a magic wand and make everyone happy, or cause people to agree on what Marriage means for them. But I hoped to point out that though this debate, vote, fight, ideal, view, and argument that both sides are fueled by love and their concept of the word “Marriage.” Neither side is trying to truly stand for hate! There are exceptions, but as a whole I feel that both sides are trying to listen to their heart, and conscience. But some see this a civil rights and others as religion/tradition. There is a huge difference to both sides and points that the other won’t concede. Our nation is circling each other in a giant boxing ring, going head to head in a fight that is not for fame and fortune but for love. I am afraid that both boxers have been hit in the head too many times to see things clearly, rationally or calmly. Yesterday as I read 517 comments back and forth on a news article I was appalled at how many people were name calling, hitting low blows and getting so nasty with each other that love did not seem to be anyone’s fuel. It felt more like school children fighting and bickering. One person on there made reference to someone’s mom.
To those that are of a religious background may I say shame on you for not practicing what you teach, if God is Love why are you hating? To those that do not carry religious ties may I say shame on you for not holding to the golden rule- do unto others as you would have others do to you. I would challenge each person responsible for allowing hate to creep into their heart, conversation or stance to take a deep breath, count to ten, act like an adult and try and view the opposition’s point as being backed by love…not hate. Maybe then we can learn and accept and respect each other even if we disagree on what a word and a certificate means.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Anonymous no more
Everytime I want to comment or do things I am limited...why? Because I was too lazy to set things up with Google. But I am fixing that and creating a blog...hmmm- I thought I was doing well when I had both facebook and myspace. I am sure I will get addicted to this as well.
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