A very quick look at my newest lamb having some fun playing.
With respect, hope, joy and love,
Carmela
Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Each one of us is totally unique. As I am writing this I am remembering a pair of silly socks one of my children had growing up. It had a little stick figure hanging upside down with the quote “Normal Is Boaring”, and I truly believe the world is certainly a more beautiful place because of our differences.
Why then are there so many people who spend so much time and energy forming “hate groups” showing great animosity, hostility, and malice against people who act differently, or believe differently than they do? I can’t help but wonder what is behind that? Could it be because they are that insecure in their own lives that they fear differences are contagious? Do they think that living beside someone who believes or acts differently then they do, may cause them to one day wake up mysteriously acting like and following the beliefs of their neighbors? Or are they so inclined to influence and rule the lives of their children and grandchildren that they feel the need to make everyone else in the world act and believe as they do so there is never a possibility that their child will ever stray from what they feel is the proper way of life?
I sometimes like to ponder things such as this in other areas of our lives to get a different view. I live near the Amish community. I often will park near the buggy hitch and go over and pet the horses and talk with the Amish individuals. One day as I was talking to a friend we began to wonder, when they all meet and go to church do they ever come out and take the wrong buggy home? What if the world we live in required that we all drive exactly the same vehicle? I truly do not think I would do well with this. I recently was driving a white rental vehicle. My day was quite busy and a little stressful. I came out of the store and tried to get into two wrong vehicles before I finally found the one I came in!
What if we all had to where the same outfit, or if we wanted a pet and the only pet we could get was a Black Labrador? I choose to believe that we all were created with beautiful unique qualities, physical abilities, and likes and dislikes. We need to celebrate our differences and learn to accept and respect each other.
Most certainly the world would be a better place if we all began understanding each other. We need to move beyond simple tolerance and embrace and celebrate the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.
With respect, hope, joy, and love,
Carmela
As I am sorting through things from my dads past, the thought of what life would be like without a computer is appearing right before my eyes. My dad loved photography. When I got my first digital camera, he was so interested and amazed at how easy it was to download and print out photographs. I remember when I was young he allowed me to watch him developing pictures in the dark room that he had in our basement. The days of buying the developing solutions and keeping the room dark as you magically develop the photographs are long gone, As are the days of typing on his Royal Typewriter.
I know that it is possible to go back to typing out our communications and sending them through the mail however, this process changes not only one thing but many. The time in which it takes for your intended recipient to get the message and send the reply back is affected for sure, however I believe the biggest impact that I would miss is the convenience of how quickly we can research information and connect with many people who we may have never had the opportunity of meeting.
I have a grandson who has profound medical issues. You can read about them by clicking here. When doctors had a very difficult time coming up with a diagnosis. My daughter searched the internet for information on possible disorders and other mothers who may be experiencing similar situations. When you are dealing with a situation where the majority of people within your local neighborhood have never experienced, It is a blessing to be able to find others who are dealing with similar challenges. The ability to send email, photos, and communicate with his doctors to facilitate his home care has also been a tremendous benifit. I have heard discussions on both the positive and the negative side of modern day technology, but I must say that I choose to view it as a very positive addition to our lives.
With respect, hope, joy and love,
Carmela
The only way to have a friend is to be one….. Ralph Waldo Emerson
My closest friend is treasured greatly. With each year that I grow older, my understanding of friendship grows deeper. I have learned to be grateful for each day of my life. The pleasant, unpleasant, happy, sad, difficult as well as easy days are all needed in order to bring about total understanding and appreciation for who we are and how important family and friends are in our lives.
I truly believe that God introduces us to people who help us to better understand ourselves. As a caregiver I met people who, although I might have only known for a short while, they left a very positive and important impression on my life.
When we are willing to listen to others with an open heart, and show genuine care and concern for their well being, differences fade and similarities are revealed.
The quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson is quite profound… The only way to have a friend is to be a friend. If we are to preoccupied with our own needs we may not even notice that other people have needs also.
The good news is…. it is never to late to be a good friend. Open your heart and offer genuine care for other peoples needs.
With respect, hope, joy and love,
Carmela
I would like to share my pet Danka’s words on this topic. I hope you enjoy his guest appearance on this topic 🙂
With respect, hope, joy and love,
Carmela
My dream home is one filled with love. Just enough space to entertain my grandchildren and their families. Since I am currently living in a place that provides this. The only improvement I would make to this is to fix my leaky roof. If I were to ever win a dream home contest I would get great joy from donating the prize to Habitat for Humanity.
With respect, hope, joy and love,
Carmela