A Rat Race is for...Well, Rats

Today I was looking through one of my old journals searching for something that I thought I had written down in great detail, but couldn't find what I was looking for.  However, I did find something very interesting.

July 7, 2004 Wednesday

Don't ever confuse the two: Your life and your work. The second is only a part of the first.  If you win the rat race, you're still a rat.

But you are the only person alive who has sole custody of your life. Your particular life. Your entire life. Not just your life at a desk, or your life on the bus, or in the car, or at the computer. Not just your mind, but the life of your heart. Not just your bank account, but your soul.

It is easier to exist instead of living.

I don't know about you, but I needed some encouragement today.  It was a rough one. I hope that your spirit is lifted, if it is only a little bit.   

Illusion of Intimacy

We need to think about the kind of connections we want to have with each other. We are lonely, but afraid of intimacy. Our little electronic and social media devices are so powerful that they not only change what we do but who we are.  They bring the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship.  I think that we are setting ourselves up for trouble. We are getting used to a new way of being alone together, but, also, be elsewhere at the same time. We want to control where we focus our attention.  People are hiding from each other even though they are constantly connected.  Because of these devices our view of what we consider a relationship has changed.  We have Facebook, Twitter, texting, email, and numerous other social media devices.  People are texting at funerals (seriously?). Talking on the phone in the bathroom. Befriending strangers on Facebook. Yet, where is the intimacy? What has happened to the human touch?

In a recent study, there was an old woman pouring her heart out to a robotic seal (paro). It had white fur with big eyes and long eye lashes.  The seal made comforting sounds when the woman bared her soul to the tiny robot.  Somehow she was comforted by this robot.  It made her feel understood, but the machine understood nothing. The old lady was surrounded by people who could have given her this kind of comfort, but opted not to.  However, they cheered a connection between a human and a machine and they thought about all of the possibilities for those lonely people who have no one to share their innermost thoughts with.  We expect more from technology than from each other.  At end of her life, she deserves to have people around who knows her story and can learn from her.  Can a device do that for anyone? What has become of her value?

By Len Barcousky//Pittsburgh Post Gazette

A couple of years ago, when I was going through my divorce, my brother, his girlfriend, and many friends and relatives were at my side whenever I needed them. My brother came over every day and would cry along with me. Those times were and are priceless. I literally would not have made it through such a dark and lonely time without all of them telling me that I can make it.  It is shameful to imagine a little old lady or man with no one to share their heart and soul with. For that matter anyone can be lonely and in need of companionship. Were we not made to be in pairs?

Looking at the Soul

Imagine what life would be like if we could see each other's soul instead of what's on the outside

Shelley Galbreath: Small Devotional Tackling Big Issues

Shelley Galbreath is an inspiration to me.  A petite woman with a big heart. We reach for God in many ways. Shelley does her reaching through her writing.  When I first met her, I was awed that someone with such a gift ended up working with me in an office full of constantly ringing phones. I am so glad that she did. She wrote a book called, Discouraged Mom's Devotions to Go. It is a small pocket sized book of encouragement. Haphazardly, I opened the book and the first page I see is about forgiveness. Oh this book is talking to me already.  As I read through her book, I realize that there are so many areas in my life that really needs work, especially forgiveness, which seems to be the hardest.  We never fully acheive the "godliness" in life that we would like, at least I haven't. However, we should never give up trying.  This book is small enough to keep in your purse or car to pull out whenever you need to read something uplifting and only have a few minutes.  I keep mine beside my bed.



Shelley is currently working on her first novel. 

Job Fulfillment: Reality or Illusion

How many people do you know who are truly happy with their job?  Are you working in the vocation that you have always dreamed of? The other day, I was talking to a lovely lady about work in general and she described a position in a company that she held for 10 years, but it wasn't like work for her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she told me that her position was eliminated.  She was in her element while working in this position.  She wrote articles to her hearts content and was doing what she truly loved. Yet so many people have jobs to just get by, not feeling any sense of fulfillment. I need money, I need insurance, I need a roof over my head and have to feed my family, they tell themselves.  All the while dreading the next day and upon arriving at work, they are waiting for quitting time. 

Is it the American dream to have a fulfilling dream or just an illusion? The reason I ask this is that people in various parts of the world have no choice.  To have a job is the greatest of luxuries.  I was reading an article the other day about Moroccan students who have degrees still find it hard to get a job in their own country. Some even go to great lengths of setting themselves on fire in protest. We, here in America, cannot imagine doing something so drastic. 

You is Kind, You is Smart, You is Important

These words resonated throughout the movie called "The Help".  It deals with prejudice in the south during the 1960's. We are all important and have value, yet some think that they are better than others just because of skin color.  What amazes me is all of the white people who lay out in the sun to brown up real good. But if they bring someone home who is brown, then, oh my, the world is coming to an end. We all have our prejudices whether we want to admit it or not.  I think that if we look at people on the inside then the world will be a better place to live. 

Look beyond the cover to discover what is written on the pages. Embrace the difference and learn from others and other cultures. Who knows, you may have a richer life for expanding your horizons.

With the Intent to deceive

“With the intent to deceive” kept going through my head all night.  One of my co-workers asked me if I could marry someone just to get out of terrible living conditions. It didn't take me long to respond. I’m not sure that I could do this. Yet it happens all of the time. People marry for various reasons, some honorable and some, well, not so honorable.  Since my divorce, I have been having a hard time financially. But to marry someone just to help pay my bills is deceitful and has never entered my mind.  I say this because I would rather do without or make a way for myself than to hurt someone intentionally. But not all people think this way. The used person has a heart, has feelings, and has a soul. Yet many people are used as if they have no value once the user is done with them.  They are cast aside like garbage. I read of many people, especially women, who are deceived into marrying someone from abroad with talk of love and devotion, only to find out that it was all a lie from the very beginning. Their self esteem plummets. The ‘victim’ often doubts their own self worth or plays the “what if” game in order to try and make sense of what happened. Users lie to the spouse, each other, and most of all to themselves, it is no big deal to lie, because they have been doing it all of their lives. “She pushed me away,” he said, “she has trust issues.”  The list can go on and on.  But the truth is he had another plan, an agenda. He was planning the divorce long before the marriage ever took place. He scoured the internet until he found his victim. She was his ticket to freedom. I guess you can look at it as you helped one person out of their misery only to put yourself into misery for trusting.  A heart can be broken and trusting another will be harder the next time around. But this too will pass. I would rather have the intent to love sincerely and not be afraid of God and karma to come looking for me. 

Picture came from here

Life is...

Life is more than just breathing

more than a religion

 

more than traditions

Life is about living it to the fullest and biting the boy who gets in my way.