Blessings

There are so many blessings in our lives, but sometimes we choose to not look at them, be thankful for them or acknowledge them. I understand that most times it is because our problems and stresses can overtake our mind and be set as a priority...but if you ask me, that is a huge mistake!  

I heard a saying many years ago, you get what you give..and while I am sure that is not always true..for the most part, it is.  If you always be thankful for the little things, you will find, I believe, that life is much easier to get through. When we focus solely on the negative aspects, which is easy to do with so many world issues and so many people without work, we become negative..which may attract negative energy; obviously what I am getting at is the opposite holds true. 

I have been really depressed and feeling sorry for myself. I am in another country, very far away from my family and friends..Most of the people I have met here are shallow and self absorbed..not all, but almost all. It does not set well with my sense of fairness and my natural need for harmony and peace..So, I have been pondering home, the familiar and those that I know and love, who are not shallow and self absorbed.  These bouts of being homesick are not easy to get through, they are so turbulent, I feel a need to leave NOW, not later, and..I can't. I must remind myself why I moved here to begin with..but none of that has worked out..some of it my fault and most of it "just the way the cookie crumbles".  While I love this country and I love the friends I have made, as well as the family I have met..but ultimately, it is not my family and it has been made (gently) clear by them on a few occasions. Sometimes, I think moving so far was a lesson..to not take for granted the family you have and the friendships you've maintained for over 25 years. Though, new experiences and new friends have also been a wonderful experience..except when they went sour. I do have one friend here who I treasure..but she too... is far away from me. 

I do feel discouraged at times when it is always me telling family and friends "I miss you and love you"..when I do not get in return...It makes me wonder, am I missed as much? Am I loved as much? I have thought about the idea of stopping myself from doing it to see if anyone writes that to me...yet, I can NOT because that would be denying them my love (from afar) and the possible joy of knowing that someone who loves them, also misses them. 

The blessings in which this post is about is to be thankful for your past, present and hopes for the future. I am grateful for the internet, Skype and tinychat..I have been able to talk to my family and friends for hours, for free..I can see them and hear their voice, as they can see me and hear mine. It makes home seem not so far..and it helps me sleep so peacefully knowing I have connected with them on that level. 

I feel blessed for food on our table, a roof over heads, the good health of all my children, husband, siblings, my parents and friends..Though I am saddened that my mother in law is not doing so well..I hope that they (The doctors) are able to get her back on track. I'm grateful she the care of a medical facility and good doctors. 

I feel blessed that I have compassion and empathy, it seems to me that not many do. So many or driven by lust and money..they forget or do not even think about those that are destroyed in the crossfire. So many abuse a child or an innocent animal to feel powerful, because inside they feel so weak - or are mentally destroyed. What the excuses are do not concern me as much as the harm. WE all know right from wrong and they do too, otherwise they would not try to hide it and conceal it.

I am blessed because I feel, because I think, because I care and because one day I know, being positive about my circumstances will bring good things into my life. If I focus too much on all that is wrong, I will be buried in darkness and sadness and that is where I would stay. I refuse to let my shortcomings define me.

xoxox Sobria.

Hypocrites

I think we can all agree we've met at least one, if not a few in our time. I find these people quite interesting; I often wonder if they even take a look at themselves before they go spouting off at the mouth?

An example might be a man who steals tools from building sites, smacks his child so hard he leaves his handprint, and is so dominant over his wife, she grabs her kids and runs when he goes into "red alert" mode. Yet, this person, I wouldn't call him a "man", believes he is a great parent and husband, sees nothing wrong in HIS stealing or doing illegal drugs, and doesn't seem to actually find any faults with himself whatsoever. Yet, this person has security cameras around his house..no one better try to steal from him, only he can steal... 

In many ways, his spouse is no different as she too enjoys many hits off the pipe throughout the day and knows that she has to hide the children's misbehavior from the father. While I believe she likely feels she is protecting them, she is paving the way to a life of deception. Children do learn from us as they watch and learn how we handle things. I'd think parents would fully understand this. Obviously not. The mother spends her time messing up the kitchen and leaving it, probably to take a few hits off the pipe, making the children something to eat and handing it to them in the living room, so they can still watch television. I read an article once that described such a practice as the reason so many children are obese.  I suppose that it also does take away from time that could very well be spent at the dinner table where all meals, in my opinion, should be eaten, but it's possible it could improve digestion; to be sitting up straight and eating properly. I'm no expert, I'm just guessing about digestion.  

Both of these individuals come from another country, no, this is not their motherland. They elected to come to this country, to build a life away from the drugs, crime, and gangs in their homeland. So why then do drugs? Why then be a part of crime (stealing)?  They also don't even like the people of this country, they refer to them in many foul ways and claim to have never met a "smart" one yet! 

I am not certain that I see too many smart things about them either to be honest. Certainly, jeopardizing your children's welfare by physically abusing them, growing an illegal drug, or even having said illegal drug in your possession is not very smart, nor is stealing very expensive items from building sites very smart, the higher the value, the bigger the crime, and what if one of the workers caught him? What might they do? Would they call the police or would they figure out that he's the guy stealing everyone's expensive tools that they rely on to get work to feed their families.. There is a strong possibility of street justice over calling the police.  What good does that do the family income? How smart is that? How smart is it to be of childbearing age and not be on any birth control and drink alcohol and smoke pot all the time?  I don't find that to be very smart either.  How about sitting outside, talking on the telephone, cussing your neighbors up a storm, and being dumb enough to think they can't hear you..that's not very smart..it's also not very smart to borrow things from said neighbors..you know they heard you.. I'd be careful what I borrowed and put in my mouth!  This is the same person who calls others backstabbers and users. 

I can't think of a better example at the moment to describe a hypocrite!