Manners & Respect- What happen to them?!

Society has gone MAD!!  

I was raised up on please & thank you's, I was raised never to "invite" your self somewhere. I was raised on waiting until everyone is served to "eat" when in a large group. I was taught to RESPECT others - SPECIALLY my elders.  

My father has always openned the door for my mother. My father had always (if the door was opened before he could get too it) allowed all others to enter before he did.  He always walked beside- NOT behind & NOT infront of his wife.  My father always kissed his bride good bye & hello when leaving or coming home.  My father always was the last to grab his food from the plate at the center of the table.  

I was taught to be respectful of others & their differences. It wasn't polite to share. It wasn't polite or accepted to taunt. Swearing & cussing was not allowed in my household. We were only allowed to EAT what Mom cooked for dinner. There were no other "special" meals because "Little Leah" doesn't eat peas & ham. Guess I would starve that night & NO SNACK- before bed! No games were played at dinner time like if you eat three more bites you can be done. WE were told lil white lies such as eating carrots would make our eyes nice & strong. Eating peas would allow our hair grow really long & beautiful.  

Speaking of dinner- family dinner was a MUST. Everyone had to sit down to eat at dinner. There was NO dinner in front of the TV. TV wasn't on. IPOD's, Cell phones were not a thing of our pass- so those weren't an issue but I will be sure to tell you if they were they would be a BIG NO NO.  If the house phone rang- no one got up to get it.  Family gatherings were also a must.  Gatherings happened often including immediate & extended family & close family friends.  Everyone was accepted & everyone was welcomed.  Neighbors were friends & family.  

Speaking of neighbors- it did take the whole village to raise us. I remember receiving "spankings or lectures" for the NON parental form.  Well they were parents- just not mine! If we didn't mind our p's and q's when visiting others- my parents knew & we were in TROUBLE.  

Drugs & ALCOHOL were a big no no in the house.  We received the SEX talk at a very early age.  And my parents (who were actually very easy going) were very trusting & tough at the same time. They found the value in teaching us strong values so we made the right choices in life.  

And on another note: CHOICES as we grew older became our own choice. We were watched closely but allowed to make our own choices. Our choices at many times were both right & wrong.  When they were the wrong choices- my parents stood there & allowed us to fail.  They wouldn't let us "fail" to the point that we were harmed majorly, but they allowed us to fail so we knew what failure was.  They allowed us to fail at a sport- not make a team.  My parents understood that not everyone was "made" to be a football player or a cheer leader.  They allowed us to find our own avenues of entertainment. They never deterred us - just because it was something they never enjoyed.  

I pray as I begin to watch  my child grow (inside my belly) that I can do HALF as good as my parents did. I pray that I can be HALF the parent my MOM & DAD were to me & my siblings.  I hope that they have instilled enough manners & respect in me to have the ability to show my child the same manners & respect.  I fear the biggest thing that will stop me from accomplishing my goals as a parent- is society.  My parents didn't have society against them when they were raising children. I should say they had some of society against them but society wasn't so "nosy" back then.  I'm not dumb enough to believe that "my son" will be nothing less of an Angel- but if teachings and parentings are interrupted by society - may cause him harm in the future. If you don't believe me just look at the "kids" running around this world right now.  They lack lack lack the main basis of life... Manners & Respect. 

"Blood is thicker then water"

"You can pick flowers, your nose and your friends but you can't pick your family"


According to the Websters dictionary a family is: : a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head : household

2

a : a group of persons of common ancestry : clan

Not at all times do we think our families are that great. But when it comes down to it all- its truly the only family we got.  Cherish your family. Cherish the life that your family (parents) that have given to you.  Be thankful for those problems that they created in your life. 

Greatest memory  I have & probably my first memory that I can ever remember involves (yep you guessed it) my family.  

1st memory: Involves me and my two brothers and one pink pair of Karate PJ's!  I don't know why or how I got the Pink PJ's but I did and apparently it was something I wanted or I really liked them.  The entire memory is a little foggy but the biggest & most exciting part of the memory is... Me (wish you could see the image that I have in my head right now) starting from the end of the long hallway where my bed room was running full speed down the all, through the "family room" springing off the step & jumping on both my brothers who where laying flat on their stomachs in front of the TV in the "living" room.  I landed across their backs & they both screamed "Mom" Leah hurt me! ha ha.. but the best part is as I jumped in the air I yelled "hiiiiii ya!" Yep I was the Karate girl in the pink PJ's!!

Greatest memory is going on family picnics to Memorial Lake. Memorial Lake was (what I though at the time) this GREAT beautiful lake that you could boat, fish and swim in/on.  WE use to get KFC and take it to the picnic area at the lake and EAT dinner at the lake. Dad & my brothers would fish (I would try too) while Mom just hung out & enjoyed the sunshine.  WE never had much money but my parents really knew how to show us how to have fun with what we got and what we had around us. 

I do think its important to remember your roots. I think its important to carry on some of your traditions that you shared with your family. I believe its important to show your children the ways that they were for you.  But most importantly its also a special aspect to develop your own ways and own "traditions" for what is perfect for you and your emerging family. 

Lastly its important to continue on the history of your family. Teach the history of your Mom, teach the history of your Dad.   

Bothersome...

As I sit here staring out my window, I'm still plagued over the fact that my own blood won't talk to me. Still plagued over the fact that he seemed to think I'm "such a drama queen".  I thought I did all the right things by admitting to him that he's right- my problems will never amount to the recent pain he had to endure, but that got me no where. I explained to my own blood that I didn't want to play this "I'm mad at you game." I told him "lifes too short" to be fighting with someone that you have known for 29 years of your life & had AT ONE time been very close with.  Wasn't good enough. In the end I stated I was sorry that he felt I was too "dramatic" for him, but I asked him to step outside his life for a minute & consider the circumstances to which I live under.

I guess he can't fathom the idea of meeting thousands of new people a year only because they called me because they were sick, injured or need help of some sort.  I guess he can't picture walking up to an accident (adreneline rushing through your viens) with all your equipment knowing everything that you were trained to do only to find someone you went to school with sitting behind the wheel barely consious.  I suppose that he will never know what it will be like to help a 33 year old (close to his age) who actually looked like he was 90 years old because he had to go to the hospital because his stomach cancer is back- from drinking too much when he was younger.  He WILL never know what its like to do CPR for 15 minutes on an infant "just for show" because you already know she was obviously dead.  He WILL never know what its like to do CPR on a 5 year old who got hit by a high speed car who's head was so crushed in you wondered how a minutes ago he was actually talking to you.  He has never looked anyone in the eye as they died. He has never looked someone in the eyes as they told you they didn't want to die. He never listed to a grown man who was in the process of dying profess all his sins about such a "life of wrongs" he had made & never had to fix.

I wasn't placed on this earth to play GOD. I am by no means GOD. I was put on this EARTH to assist GOD in his choices for each and every one of us.  If its your day, there is nothing myself or anyone will ever be able do to be able to pull you from death.  I truly chose me & others like me to do this job because he knows we can handle it- we have strong backs, strong minds and strong hearts but that doesn't mean that we don't worry about the rights & wrongs that we could of did or didn't do.  Doesn't mean that we don't turn to other avenues to suppress the feelings of terror and thoughts of our calls of help that went well and didn't go so well. It is really a trick that we all have to master in our own means. Some blow off their "steam" so to speak of the days work by working out, drinking, over eating, blaring music, riding horses, reading, keeping quiet, smoking or any other form of stress relief.  Most times you will find the world of fire fighters and EMS personal having some of the "sickest" minds. Its because to do our job- you almost have too.

So I ask you this... when fighting with others (no matter their occupation or place in life is) take into considerations the "stresses" that they have in their lives. Don't like a simple set of words or actions cause you to loose your faith, trust and friendship of others.  Life is WAY TO SHORT to be angry at the ones that you love or care about so much.  I hope that eventually my own blood will come around.  I just hope he takes the time to find out for his own & work through his own problems.  That in my opinion is what is holding him back, until then I shall miss him & hope that we don't loose our chances to understand each others problems & accept them and start talking again.

Words HURT

I'm not totally sure that people realize how much words actually hurt some times.  I'm not the only one that has been on the end of hurtful words. I'm sure there has been plenty of times I have had hurtful things and I should be more forgiving. But honestly I'm tired of those who supposedly "care" or "love" me are so hurtful & hateful.  I attempt to make myself forget about them or pretend that they don't bother me but today I have had my fill. My meter has been pegged for some time now and as soon as I think I'll explode the meter goes down, but today has just filled & over flowed the flow! I just don't understand, I feel like I give so much but NEVER NEVER get what I deserve back.  I've learned several times in the past that I am the door mat for friends to clean their feet on.  But yet I still let those kind of ppl in my life. Am I really that desperate for friends.... I guess so- I'm no better then the next person.

Is it just me or has the world gone crazy?

I often wonder if I've gone nuts or has the rest of the world gone nuts.  But then I get to thinking more, if I seem to have all these issues whether big or small with so many people- then it has to be me.  But is it me? Is it too much to ask a friend to care about me as much as I care about them? Is it too much to as a friend to NOT lie about me about some of the stupidest shit?  Has the world changed their ways and began to "fake" their way into a friendship & then fake their way out... I see so many people bitching about the next person that I wonder what they have to say about me when I walk away.  Most days I just assume that sitting in my house & sulking, pretending life is ALL good when really I feel that I'm being left behind. How can people believe in such fake friends? I can't bring myself to A$$ kiss, I can't bring myself to be fake, I CAN NOT bring myself to thrive on the dama that others create.  Jesus- what am I doing wrong. Since when has truthfulness, faithfulness and sincerity gotten you nowhere?! I just don't understand... I suppose the only way you can hold on to friendship anymore is if you lie, cheat and steal.  I guess I will be forever friendless.... Because I just can't bring myself to be fake.

Why Lie?

Why do people lie? To get themselves out of trouble, because they think the truth will hurt more & most times for absolutely no reason.  I would be lying to you if I said I never lied before.  But I learned at an early age that lying will not get you far and it tends to hurt people more in the end.  People lie for different reasons and why they lie sometimes is beyond me.  What I don't understand is why people lie about some of the stupidest things.

When you lie to me (specially when its not essential) you tend to fall down on my list of people of  those who I can trust.  Lying creates problems in all your relationships.  If you lie, it makes your character weak and cancerous like.  Once someone realizes your lying to them- they tend to back themselves out of your life, no one really wants to deal with a constant lier.

What gets me is those who constantly lie that they start to believe their own lies. It's amazing to see this happen. These people create such complex stories of lies that it must be hard to keep track of. No matter they are tired & run down by the end of the day.  I guess I just don't understand the reason behind lying and I suppose I never will.  I just know that I have had plenty of "so called friends" who just continue to lie to me about some of the stupids shit.  I just don't understand their reason behind the lies.  Why not tell the truth? In general the truth is nothing to be worried about or need a lie to cover it up.  Makes you wonder when a serious issue does arrive- how truthful are they?!

Time Management-speach

(This was not written by mean. I just really liked the story & thought I would share it with others.  I do not know who wrote this- if anyone knows please feel free to let me know.)

TIME MANAGEMENT EXPERT

One day, an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget.

As he stood in the front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said, “Okay, time for a quiz” and he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouth mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. He also produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “Is the jar full?” Everyone in the class yelled “Yes!” the time management expert replied, “Really?”

He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. He then asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?” By this time the class was on to him. “Probably not,” one of them answered. “Good!” the expert replied.

He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, “Is this jar full?”  “No!” the class shouted. Once again he said, “Good.”

Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, “What is the point of this illustration?” One eager beaver raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!”  “No,” the speaker replied, “that’s not the point.”

He continued, “The truth this illustration teaches us is:

If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all. What are the ‘big rocks’ in your life—time with your loved ones, your faith, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching or mentoring others?

Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you’ll never get them in at all. So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the ‘big rocks’ in my life?

Then, put those in your jar first.”

This pregnancy is robbing me of my beauty

Now- I have managed to make it through junior high and high school with little to NO acne or even a blemish- but I get pregnant ONE time and I'm like pepperoni pizza.  I have no idea how to control the blemishes in a safe & effective way! When younger I was graced with such good skin a daily cleaning with my favorite skin cleanser (Noxema) couldn't keep at bay. But these day Noxema won't touch the amount of blemishes I have covering my body! I don't just have pimples on my face, but on my chest, stomach, legs and butt! Yes BUTT! Pfff you say I'm glowing- I ain't glowing I'm radiating RED- from blemishes.  This child is robbing me of what LITTLE beauty I had. Ha ha. I love this growing kid in me & I haven't even met him or her! But geez- can I keep what little beauty I had. ha ha.

My hair- GEEZ is a dying wreck.  So many people said "Oh the pre-natal vitamins are so great. They made my hair long silky and smooth.  HECK- not me... this child had taken every ounce of whatever pre-natal vitamin might have helped me. ha ha.  My hair is bone stick dry- stringy even.  My scalp is dryer then EVER- which has always had been dry.

My skin is itchy, pale & blotchy.  My nails break off more and more. (which I was told would grow like weeds when pregnant) WRONG WRONG all WRONG. Guess my child needs all that extra love because she/he isn't sharing!

But all this is well worth it. Because you know what I can't wait to meet our little one in June. I would do it all again- even if it meant loosing all my beauty. I just hope I get it back! ha ha.

Till next time...