with the world today -- and that is sad. I have always been an eternal optimist. I've always lived my life (thanks to my Mom's gentle wisdom) knowing that there is always a bright side, the cup is never half empty, it's always DARKEST before the DAWN. I truly believe that. I have raised my kids to believe that. My mother always told me something else that has stuck with me and I find particularly pertinent today - "you ARE the company you keep." An ideal that has served me well.
Working in the legal field for most of my adult life, spending five years at North Carolina State University and then working for a short stint as a high school teacher - I learned (sometimes the hard way) to keep my political opinions to myself - not an easy task for someone who can be as brutally honest and outspoken as me. But it is becoming increasingly more difficult (almost impossible for me) to hold my tongue any longer as I just can NOT believe what is going with "our" Government.Let me say right off the bat - I am an conservative leaning INDEPENDENT voter, and as an independent - I am disgusted with what is going on in Washington. I don't know about you - but I feel as though I am living in a fog.
My family's breakfast/dinner table - instead of being a place of warm, reflective conversation - lately has turned into a place where we all (kids included) discuss the politics of being an "American," as we each share our, "Can you believe?" "Did you hear?" "Are they actually going to...?" stories, as every day it seems that we are presented with yet another unbelievable scenario of how life, as we know it - is being mandated to change.
"Change." I used to appreciate the word "change," for while it not always meant change for the better - it typically represented movement - to a better place. And even I will admit that earlier in the year (for a brief, very brief period of time) hearing the word "change" actually gave me hope for that movement - to an even better place (as I was NOT unhappy with the place I was in.) But over the last ten months - the overly touted and now, in my opinion "tainted" word "change," has taken on a whole new meaning. One I don't care for one bit.
I'm not sure where I'm going with this. But as a family of proud Americans, here in the Recca house, we have all been discussing what's been going on with our country and even Sabrina is asking, "what can we do about this?"
First and foremost - I tell her to remain informed. And keeping informed does NOT mean engaging or listening only to those that you agree with - but also listening carefully to those you do not agree with. I've also told her that we are now going to start voting in ALL local elections - something which I have never consistently done. Whether it's for school board officials, local city, county government, etc. - it is important we start at the bottom of the pyramid and work up - for is is the BOTTOM of the pyramid - is what "supports" the top.
And finally, we need to get INVOLVED. At this point, I'm not really sure where we are going to get involved - but WE ARE GOING TO GET INVOLVED. I'm in the process of researching appropriate political causes/issues that she and I can get involved in - together. It is important that we teach our children that "change" doesn't just happen - it is created. If you don't like the direction that things are moving - it is YOUR responsibility to do something about it. It's time to take our country back and take control of our destiny.
Now ....... go paint or sew something and think about what YOU can do to create the CHANGE that YOU desire....
