Would you like to swing on a star?

Not me. Night stars are incredibly beautiful. They're the subject of many of my paintings. Still, I'm a true down to earth, feet on the ground sort of girl. Or, at least when I do soar, it's on my own terms. I suppose some might call me stodgy, except that I'm a definite left winger. LOL Maybe boring is a better term. I'm pretty much content with the simple things. They make me happy.

I've also never had much use the other kind of stars. Fame, fortune and all that goes with it doesn't appeal to me. I don't care which celebrity is pregnant, has just been arrested or what substance they're addicted to either. It's not that I think they're horrible people. In fact, it's that I think they're no different than you or I. Plus, every human being deserves a little privacy.

I don't have much use for flaunting my possessions either. Which is good, because I don't have many.

I lead a simple life. I like that. 

I don't say that with smugness, either. To each his own, as they say. You may enjoy reading about the hi-jinks of celebrities, while shopping like a “fashionista.” Have at it. It's just not for me. I'll be reading a book, writing, gardening or riding my bike.

I was raised in an era where pop culture didn't influence our daily lives so heavily. I guess that’s why I have no desire to buy into it.

Sales pitches are wasted on me. If you want me to buy what you're selling, the best approach is not to approach me at all. Don't stalk me on social media, trying to convince me your idea or product is worthy of my hard earned dollars. Don't park yourself outside the local grocery with your donation box. That's the quickest way to get me to say no. 

Unless you have Girl Scout cookies, of course.

I am not star struck, sparkly or blinded by the light. I'm not stupid, either. I know manipulation when I see it. I don't like things just because I'm supposed to. 

I think about the consequences of my lifestyle and don't follow the crowd unless they're doing something I agree with. Tradition can be a beautiful thing, but some traditions have traditionally brought us nothing but trouble.

So, as I said, to each his own. Would you like to swing on a star? Go for it. I'll be down here with my feet firmly planted. It suits me.

Do you know who I am?

You do? Oh, thank goodness! Well, let me in on the secret, will you? I've been trying to figure it out since puberty. Oh, I have the general gist of it, alright. I'm a tree hugger. I'm a friend to animals. I believe in a low impact lifestyle. (That's code for I can't buy anything because I'm too broke.) Still, my personality seems to morph with every epiphany and revelation I have.

I'm sarcastic, but friendly. The sarcasm is just for fun. I'm really quite shy and sensitive. I'm a neat freak, but I still manage to slobber all over myself when I eat. I love cooking for my partner, but he better not ever come to expect it. I'm no Suzy Homemaker, but I take total June Cleaver pride in my house. That doesn't mean it's spotless, oh crap no, I'm not THAT good.

And once I get out of the house, I never want to come home. I love road trips!

When I was a kid I read Sybil (spelling?). I was totally convinced I had multiple personalities. Now that I'm all grown up, I realize everyone does. Yup, you included. You can never fully know anyone. That's because as humans, we are constantly changing, based on our experiences and/or latent traits that we haven't brought to their full potential.

Do you know me completely? Heck no. I don't know you either. That's the whole point. That's what makes it fun. Being friends with someone who never changes or is stuck in a rut is boring. So, let's keep the mystery in it, shall we? Just when you think you know me, I'll reveal a side of me you had no idea existed. I'm cool like that.

A Johnny Depp quote and what I think of it

Who knows if he actually said it. It was a Facebook meme, after all. And yes, I know. Johnny Depp is awesome. And of course, he's way, way more successful than I am. But that doesn't mean he can't be wrong on occasion, does it?

So, that being said, here is a Johnny Depp quote I saw and what I think of it.

“If you love two people at the same time, choose the second one. Because if you loved the first one, you would never have fallen for the second.”

Well, OK, Johnny, you make a good point, but I have to say this is not always true.

What if the second one is one of those snow job artists who only wants you for money/stability but is really, really good at convincing you he or she is a prize package in order to get what he/she wants?

What if the second one has you blinded with awesome, different sex and when that sex goes away, you realize that was all you liked about him/her?

Or what if the first one is much better for you than the second one, but you're one of those people who's never satisfied because you think the person you're with is supposed to be perfect like those folks on TV or in the movies?

Or what if you're a real dumb-ass when it comes to choosing who you fall for and both of them are losers?

So, here's what I think. The first person could be the one you should be with. The second person could also be the one you should be with. Every circumstance is different. And no matter which one you choose, there will likely be some regrets.

So, here's an idea. How about you try being with one person at a time, rather than confusing the holy hell out of yourself and making everyone else involved absolutely miserable?

Hmmm. It just might work.

Stop making your own fish climb that tree

We all know this quote, right? We apply it to our kids, our friends that we disagree with and even our sworn nemesis, if we have one. We try like crazy to understand that not everyone thinks or acts alike, yes? But how many of us give the same consideration to ourselves?

Why are we so hard on ourselves when we cannot do what is against our nature to do?

In my case, that's probably to gracefully shut my trap. I am not someone most would describe as dignified or reserved. I'm pretty much a know it all and I will let you know it all in no uncertain terms.

I also detest being misunderstood. I'm not sure why. Perhaps it's because I often am or perhaps it reveals my insecurities. Who knows? But you know what? So what? Because all the things other people look upon as my imperfections are a part of me too.

And I like me. All of me. I like bat shit crazy me. I like silly me. I like happy me, friendly me and committed to my causes me. (Maybe there's a bit of a narcissist lurking in there.)

But who cares? And gosh darn it, anyway!

I'm going to stop making my own fish climb that tree just to make other people accept me.

Because that's not me they're accepting. It's who they want me to be. It's not who I am. And who I am is a pretty nice person with good intentions who has “faults” or at least what others think of as faults and is not perfect in any way and who occasionally loses it and spouts off like Old Faithful.

And you know what?

As long as you're not out there purposefully causing people pain and heartache or creating general mayhem etc., well, you should stop making your fish climb that tree too. Because you are beautiful for exactly who you are. We all are.

And pardon my “french” but fuck all if they don't like us for who we are. I never could climb trees anyway.

Welcome to the pond!

Why check the accuracy of your Facebook posts?

Do you Facebook for fun or for work? Maybe it's a little of both? If you go on Facebook mainly for entertainment, I'm sure you're not really concerned about the accuracy of your posts. In fact, many of your posts may be purposefully, sarcastically, inaccurate. Problem is, there are people out there who may be taken in by them them, even when you're posting in jest.

When that happens, they're spread around, even though there's absolutely nothing or very little that's factual in them. And that's when things get out of hand. Because once several people post them, they take off like wildfire, along with accompanying rumors, leading many other people to believe that the information contained in them is true.

What's the harm in that?

Well, let's take political posts. Or maybe we should leave them. LOL Because, while some are true, a lot of them are trumped up. (Pardon the unintentional pun.) Others are taken completely out of context. Still others have a bit of truth in them, which allows people to believe the entire post is true. Therefore, good people on both “sides” are being swayed to vote for certain individuals by way of deceitful Facebook posts and memes.

Now, there's this other factor to consider as well. If you've already made a decision as to who the right candidate is for you or what type of lifestyle you believe is best, you are more susceptible to false information that supports your views. That's just human nature. And of course, this means that you and your followers may be deceived by your posts.

Folks, just because a meme says something happened or someone did something, well, that's no reason to believe it or post it. Doing so just perpetuates potential lies, along with the political brainwashing that's so rampant these days. That old saying, “Don't believe everything you read.” applies to the internet too, you know.

So before you post anything, especially something potentially slanderous, be sure to do your own independent, unbiased research. And by that I mean, look at both sides of the story. Look at the whole story or video, not just a snippet. And not just Snopes or any other single source. Go to several different sources. And be sure the sources you use or their sponsors don't profit from the information that they're providing.

For instance, you don't go to the websites of political parties for information concerning either their party or the opposing party. Because either way, they are human too and therefore slanted in their beliefs, intentional or not. You go to a neutral source. Someone who has nothing to gain or lose by revealing the truth, slanting it or hiding it altogether. In fact, you go to several unbiased sources.

And then, because you can find evidence supporting just about anything online, use your head to analyze the evidence. Does it make sense? Does it sound probable? Has it been legally proven? Does it reflect the history of the individual concerned or of history itself?

Or does it sound like vengeance created to malign someone? Does it suggest that they are guilty of the same crime that their opponent has been found guilty of? In other words, does it fit the “Nanny nanny boo boo” or grade school behavior scenario?You know what I mean, right? Even adults behave like children sometimes, especially when they're passionate about their causes.

So folks, if you have any doubts, or you don't know for absolute certain that something is true, just don't post it. Because even though Facebook is an entertainment venue, some people take those posts very seriously. In fact, some people base their life decisions on what they've seen on Facebook.

That makes checking the accuracy of your posts extremely important, whether you Facebook for fun, work or a little of both.

Working on sainthood and judgment be damned

Ha ha. Joke's on me. I'll never get there. I'm not even Catholic any more, even though I was raised as such. Heck, I'm not even a believer. But still, I have a deep regard for doing the right thing, or at least what I feel is the right thing.

I suppose that it's for that reason, many people consider me to be overly kind and decent, or in some cases, a pushover. LOL

The thing is though, I'm no different than anyone else. I have unkind and cruel thoughts, particularly toward those who are unkind and cruel. Ironic right? And yes, people piss me off. Absolutely. And oh boy, do I ever wish some people in my life were doing a little closer to right, by themselves and others!

I'll never be a saint. None of us will. None of us will ever be perfect. No way. Because we're human beings and the perfect human simply does not exist.

One of the reasons that's true is because every human being has a different idea of what perfection is. Some folks are perfectly happy with maintaining a happy medium and living with an “all things in moderation” philosophy, while others find that unacceptable because all things are not acceptable to them.

There are so many approaches to life that all we can do is take the approach that's best for us and leave others to do the same. And while some of the things other people do may cause us worries and anxieties, unless they're being intentionally harmful, there's not much we can do about it, is there?

Or is there? Because while we certainly cannot change the directions other people choose to take in life, we can change ours. And sometimes our journey toward sainthood, so to speak, may just show us ways to make a difference in the lives of others without direct interference or judgment.

And we make sacrifices, especially for those we love, don't we? I mean, I guess that makes us saints of a sort. Sometimes we take up the slack when their burdens get too heavy, even if they brought those burdens upon themselves. I guess that's because we realize and remember the times when we stumbled and that we are no better.

Just because we're in a better place, now, well, that doesn't mean we always have been or always will be. Everyone makes mistakes, after all. Our mistakes may have already happened or be destined to arrive any day. That's the beauty of this crazy life. It's so unpredictable.

I guess that about all I have to say, except that here's my idea of perfect. You try. You dig in. You do what is in your power to do. You practice compassion, kindness and acceptance as much as possible. You live life on your own terms and stay true to yourself. You let others do the same. And you try not to be so quick to pass judgment on others, or even on yourself, for that matter.

None of us are perfect. And hard as we might try, none of us are saints. In fact, I'm pretty sure those who have been declared saints have made their share of mistakes as well. I'm also sure there are “bad” people who have done good from time to time. Don't you think?

Sainthood? I'll never get there. But I can try to be a good person. I can try to help people. I can try to be kind and compassionate. And if I'm lucky, maybe some folks will return the favor. But even if they don't, I'll know I did (or tried to do) what I feel is right. That's good enough for me.