Living Proof

Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act has become one of the most controversial topics on social media. It thrives upon the First Amendment rights, yet it leaves some people feeling bitter and outraged about the underlining tones of feeling discriminated against. So for instance, if a gay couple wants to buy a cake for their wedding, they can be turned down. Ok, fine -- go to another baker who will do it. But is it really fine? Can they take their religious stance a bit further and discriminate against other people as well? They're setting us back 50+ years with this type of mindset.  So if 'this bakery' stands firm in their "freedom of religion" -- then so can the other bakery or florist down the road. Maybe a cafe wants to show their "freedom of religion" and ban gays and lesbians from entering their establishment too. Who knows -- the possibilities are endless. I've written about this before and I just feel like a broken record at ...

What happens when everything you knew comes crashing down as one big, elaborate facade? It's like your mind completely stops -- relinquishing all thoughts, dreams and hopes of a future once planned out so thoroughly and so carefully. It can be anything sudden, like a death of a loved one or finding out that the one person you were about to marry has decided not to go through with it. Maybe you were served divorce papers. Whatever the situation is, it's all relative. They all just seem to smack you with a dose of reality that there is nothing can be untouchable. Our future is not secure. Our future is actually an illusion if you want to even take it a step further. Nothing is set in stone -- ever. Maybe that's why we get so disappointed in certain situations. I mean, I always thought my dad would live forever and that my mom would never get cancer. I just 'thought'. I also thought my life would turn out differently, at least to the point of having a general idea of...

Have you ever spent time with someone who's just incredibly bitter at the world, that once you've separated from them, you kind of feel that same bitterness yourself? It definitely rubs off sometimes. There's a huge difference between someone who is going through terrible circumstances in life and someone who is just a chronic complainer of life in general. Everyone is to blame and they take no accountability for their actions whatsoever. And don't get me wrong, I'm no stranger when it comes to bitching about something or someone -- I just can't imagine doing this for no other reason than to start up a conversation about something... anything . For the most part, many people feel it's a funny thing to be bitter, especially those who twist it into a 'joking around' type of thing. And sometimes it is. But when does it come to the point when you realize that all you do is complain about other people? Or do you even notice it? I'm friends with ...

There's no rhyme or reason to any relationship. Each union has its own characteristics that make it unique. Dare I even compare them to snowflakes, but I won't. In my honest opinion, I've always felt you should choose your partner very carefully. Choose someone who will make you laugh, make you think, make you FEEL.  Choose someone who you can talk to as if they were your best friend -- because they should be your best friend. Choose someone who doesn't mind the silence in between and the chaos that strikes unexpectedly because one day when you're old and gray and no longer possess any sexual desire whatsoever, you're gonna want someone to back up the goods. Sex should be the bonus of a relationship -- not the main course. If you have both, kudos to you. You want someone that can make you laugh, someone who can hold a conversation and keep your interest. It's not going to be perfect -- no one's is. Every relationship has its storms, it's up to...

There's a lot to be said about what kind of energy that goes into whatever it is you do, especially cooking. See, I love to cook, so all my heart and soul goes into whatever I'm making. Another personal touch I do is praying over my food while it cooks. I make sure I have upbeat music going on and I'm usually in a great mood. The only time I order takeout, is if I'm not feeling so hot -- whether physically or emotionally. I truly believe whatever energy you have brewing inside you will also reflect in whatever you are cooking. Again, this can be through a physical ailment or some sort of emotional distress. I'll give both examples: I once got very ill the same day I ate Pizza Hut when I was younger. Still to this day, I cannot even look at Pizza Hut's pies. They make me nauseous. And now, I never eat pizza, period. I just don't like it. On an emotional scale, I remember my partner and I had a huge blowout at home. I believe it was one of our worst argument...

I haven't smiled in a long time... It's interesting to see how people envision "beauty" on themselves as well as others. Ever since I have been learning how to love myself, and trying the best to take care of myself without the unrealistic goals of being a size 2 or perhaps getting a little 'work' done -- I have never felt so comfortable in my own skin like I am right now. Call it the confidence of being in your 40's or...something else. Granted, I'm still a work in progress, but work in terms of being a better person or someone who can at least help somebody else. My focus in life isn't about size, looks, taking inventory of materialistic things -- that's all meaningless to me. And with the lack of focus on those particular things -- I have been taking care of 'me' for once, so that I can be of better help to someone who needs me. I've heard, "Wow, you look incredibly happy." and I think to myself, wow -- I do ...

My mama & my Rachel who followed me everywhere. Last Sunday morning, while talking to Madelene, I said, "Just for one day, I would love to go back to the '70's as an adult." The 'lesser' things were much more appreciated -- like the smell of the air after it rains, a long distance telephone call from your grandmother, the ability to function everyday normal life without a cell phone attached to us 24/7 and the way food used to be: clean, fresh, healthy. I want to take a drive in a 1975 station wagon over to the local butcher for our dinner and over to the mom & pop hardware store that closed down once Home Depot landed. Looking up information about something meant sifting through that huge 10 lb phone book and calling the business to inquire about whatever. There were "live" people there to answer your phone calls too. Dogs ran loose without any fear of anyone getting hurt. Friends and family genuinely remembered your birthday, instead of...