I stand for goodness and truth in all things,
with kindness and inclusion . . .
high principles that my parents taught me.
I also saw the flaws
(or humanness)
in their values,
which opened my eyes to my own.
I have gotten myself
into a lot of trouble over the years
for depending on the better nature
of people,
who were pure at the core,
but lived by more mercenary standards.
Painful lessons all,
but they have helped me grow.
After one particular
soul-crushing hurt,
I wept and cursed the pain
as well as the people who had inflicted it
when a thought came to me.
I was at an important crossroads . . .
I could close my heart
and become a bitter, spiteful person,
or I could allow my soft heart to open,
go through the pain,
and turn aside from vengeance and hatred.
I stopped crying
and made an active decision right there
about who I wanted to be,
and have never gone back.
It was one of my moments of epiphany.
So I stand up for open heartedness
towards all sentient beings,
and have spent my time since then
learning how to do it . . .
understanding
that everyone and everything
is a true child of the Universe,
no matter how evil they seem.
That doesn’t mean
there are no consequences,
for of course there are,
but their bare essence
deserves the same love
that you and I do. ♥
Thank you, dear Sparrow, … “depending on the better nature of people who were pure at the core,
but lived by more mercenary standards”. Your post allowed to understand something essentially “wrong” about my own inner position, which was to fight for something instead of just being there in loving kindness as a basis no matter what. I can only apologize where this might have hurt you or someone else. It will be possible to transform this now and let go. Thank you dearly, thank you very much for your very touching and moving post.
I am committed to growth in Self Awareness because I sense that it is the only way I can grow enough to be an instrument of the peace we all desire. The peace that sees Mother Earth as our home. The peace that sees Creation as One and ongoing. The peace that plants seeds of agape love. The peace that leads with kindness and compassion. The peace that encourages us all to become servants. The peace that does not seek power but rather empowers our best selves. This question reminds me of John Lennon’s song, “Imagine.”
A wonderful question for Election Day in the US, and one I try to think about often, not only at big turning-point moments. As the saying goes, “The way you do anything is the way you do everything.”
This question came up in 2023. I know, because I wrote a blog post at the time to capture the thoughts it prompted. The list I wrote then still stands, although I might want to add to it. I wrote then on these:
Justice
Accountability
Mother love
Love
Friendship
Engagement and connection
Environmental action, both personal and systemic
Fundamentally I stand for making the world a healthier and more equitable place for all:
I’m sorry and I know this is very political. So I completely understand if you don’t want to read this. Please just skip ahead and I won’t judge. I get it. I too, can only ingest so much of this stuff before becoming ill.
Well, this is a good time to revisit something I wrote after the last election. But first, the one thing that I don’t think gets enough attention, is that right now, in America, if you are Latino (or look Latino) or Somali (or look Somali) or any other targeted group, no matter your legal status, you now have to walk around looking over your shoulder. It’s not safe on the streets for you any more, because of the way you look. You can be taken by the secret police. This is by design. It has nothing to do with immigration. It has to do with instilling fear in the targeted people and creating hate. This makes me incredibly angry and sad.
Okay, this is what I wrote two years ago. I’ve cleaned it up a little.
11/2/24
Just so we’re clear,
I stand for:
– [ ] Tolerance for others that identify differently than me
– [ ] Equality for everyone
– [ ] Woman’s health being between her and her doctor. Hard stop.
– [ ] The environment and working together to protect it from more human damage
– [ ] Fairness
– [ ] Compassion
– [ ] Welcoming and including others from different cultures and backgrounds (diversity)
– [ ] Clean water and air
– [ ] Anti racism
– [ ] Rule of law
– [ ] Democracy
– [ ] The constitution
– [ ] Government for the people
– [ ] Taxing the rich
If you are not on board with these things, then we have a problem.
You are free to believe whatever you want, but I will no longer just nod my head while you spout your hate and prefabricated grievances. I will call out your homophobic, racist, xenophobic, misogynist, and hateful comments. If you don’t know what these big words mean, look them up. I am not your ally or bro or brother. Just because I am a cis gendered white male, does not mean you can spout that crap in my presence, and I will come to the defense of anyone who is being mistreated that way.
You voted for this clown and his flunkies. Now be prepared to:
– [ ] Lose your health insurance
– [ ] Lose your social security
– [ ] Lose your democracy
– [ ] Lose your clean and livable environment
– [ ] Lose your children’s education
– [ ] Lose your workplace protections
– [ ] And on and on and on…
And it doesn’t stop here. Because you voted for this criminal, the slaughter in Gaza will continue and probably escalate to full unabashed genocide and the support for Ukraine will wither and the destruction and death will intensify there until your new besty Vlad, subjugates the whole region and starts eyeing Northern Europe.
All of this because you didn’t want to share a bathroom with a trans person, you confused a fetus with a living person, you got conned into believing immigrants were going to kill you, you got tired of being told how people wanted to be addressed, you thought the govmnt was coming for your guns, you thought your religion was under attack, and on and on…
All of this was manufactured to rile you up to vote against your own interest. And they succeeded.
For compassionate care for and deep listening to the people in my care and beyond with an open heart to lessen suffering and to be of service to possibly help peole onward. Thank you for all your posts today.
Great question, especially on voting day. I think the most important thing in life is to be kind, kind to others and kind to oneself. This requires a loving heart. Love is the way.
Today, I am helping to guide voters to the right answers, and being a steward of democracy by volunteering as a nonpartisan poll monitor. I stand for safety, ease, and confidence as people undergo the process of casting their ballots.
Thank you, Drea. I didn’t vote two years ago because of residency issues after moving and the hurricane, but I am very excited to go cast my vote today.
Give yourself the gift of free bi-monthly inspiration including uplifting articles, diverse stories, supportive practices, videos, and more, delivered with heart to your inbox.
I stand for:
Truth and Honesty
Goodwill toward mankind
Ethical and respectful behavior
Diveristy and inclusion
Peace & Kindness
Taking care of planet earth
I stand for goodness and truth in all things,
with kindness and inclusion . . .
high principles that my parents taught me.
I also saw the flaws
(or humanness)
in their values,
which opened my eyes to my own.
I have gotten myself
into a lot of trouble over the years
for depending on the better nature
of people,
who were pure at the core,
but lived by more mercenary standards.
Painful lessons all,
but they have helped me grow.
After one particular
soul-crushing hurt,
I wept and cursed the pain
as well as the people who had inflicted it
when a thought came to me.
I was at an important crossroads . . .
I could close my heart
and become a bitter, spiteful person,
or I could allow my soft heart to open,
go through the pain,
and turn aside from vengeance and hatred.
I stopped crying
and made an active decision right there
about who I wanted to be,
and have never gone back.
It was one of my moments of epiphany.
So I stand up for open heartedness
towards all sentient beings,
and have spent my time since then
learning how to do it . . .
understanding
that everyone and everything
is a true child of the Universe,
no matter how evil they seem.
That doesn’t mean
there are no consequences,
for of course there are,
but their bare essence
deserves the same love
that you and I do. ♥
So true and eloquently written, dear Sparrow. Thank You.
Thank you, dear Sparrow, … “depending on the better nature of people who were pure at the core,
but lived by more mercenary standards”. Your post allowed to understand something essentially “wrong” about my own inner position, which was to fight for something instead of just being there in loving kindness as a basis no matter what. I can only apologize where this might have hurt you or someone else. It will be possible to transform this now and let go. Thank you dearly, thank you very much for your very touching and moving post.
I am committed to growth in Self Awareness because I sense that it is the only way I can grow enough to be an instrument of the peace we all desire. The peace that sees Mother Earth as our home. The peace that sees Creation as One and ongoing. The peace that plants seeds of agape love. The peace that leads with kindness and compassion. The peace that encourages us all to become servants. The peace that does not seek power but rather empowers our best selves. This question reminds me of John Lennon’s song, “Imagine.”
🕊️
Your whole reflection,
dear Carol Ann,
reminds me of John Lennon’s song,
‘Imagine.’
You carry that spirit within you. ♥
Thank you Carol Ann. I needed to read this today. 🩵🩵🩵
A wonderful question for Election Day in the US, and one I try to think about often, not only at big turning-point moments. As the saying goes, “The way you do anything is the way you do everything.”
This question came up in 2023. I know, because I wrote a blog post at the time to capture the thoughts it prompted. The list I wrote then still stands, although I might want to add to it. I wrote then on these:
Justice
Accountability
Mother love
Love
Friendship
Engagement and connection
Environmental action, both personal and systemic
Fundamentally I stand for making the world a healthier and more equitable place for all:
https://biketoworkbarb.blogspot.com/2023/12/what-i-stand-for.html
Your Blog post is so powerful. Thank you for sharing.
I’m sorry and I know this is very political. So I completely understand if you don’t want to read this. Please just skip ahead and I won’t judge. I get it. I too, can only ingest so much of this stuff before becoming ill.
Well, this is a good time to revisit something I wrote after the last election. But first, the one thing that I don’t think gets enough attention, is that right now, in America, if you are Latino (or look Latino) or Somali (or look Somali) or any other targeted group, no matter your legal status, you now have to walk around looking over your shoulder. It’s not safe on the streets for you any more, because of the way you look. You can be taken by the secret police. This is by design. It has nothing to do with immigration. It has to do with instilling fear in the targeted people and creating hate. This makes me incredibly angry and sad.
Okay, this is what I wrote two years ago. I’ve cleaned it up a little.
11/2/24
Just so we’re clear,
I stand for:
– [ ] Tolerance for others that identify differently than me
– [ ] Equality for everyone
– [ ] Woman’s health being between her and her doctor. Hard stop.
– [ ] The environment and working together to protect it from more human damage
– [ ] Fairness
– [ ] Compassion
– [ ] Welcoming and including others from different cultures and backgrounds (diversity)
– [ ] Clean water and air
– [ ] Anti racism
– [ ] Rule of law
– [ ] Democracy
– [ ] The constitution
– [ ] Government for the people
– [ ] Taxing the rich
If you are not on board with these things, then we have a problem.
You are free to believe whatever you want, but I will no longer just nod my head while you spout your hate and prefabricated grievances. I will call out your homophobic, racist, xenophobic, misogynist, and hateful comments. If you don’t know what these big words mean, look them up. I am not your ally or bro or brother. Just because I am a cis gendered white male, does not mean you can spout that crap in my presence, and I will come to the defense of anyone who is being mistreated that way.
You voted for this clown and his flunkies. Now be prepared to:
– [ ] Lose your health insurance
– [ ] Lose your social security
– [ ] Lose your democracy
– [ ] Lose your clean and livable environment
– [ ] Lose your children’s education
– [ ] Lose your workplace protections
– [ ] And on and on and on…
And it doesn’t stop here. Because you voted for this criminal, the slaughter in Gaza will continue and probably escalate to full unabashed genocide and the support for Ukraine will wither and the destruction and death will intensify there until your new besty Vlad, subjugates the whole region and starts eyeing Northern Europe.
All of this because you didn’t want to share a bathroom with a trans person, you confused a fetus with a living person, you got conned into believing immigrants were going to kill you, you got tired of being told how people wanted to be addressed, you thought the govmnt was coming for your guns, you thought your religion was under attack, and on and on…
All of this was manufactured to rile you up to vote against your own interest. And they succeeded.
The whole kit and caboodle still has me confused about our populace, Charlie. Spot on from my vantage point.
You had it right, Charlie, right from the start. Thank you for reposting this. Well written and so accurate.
Thank you for this, Charlie. +1000.
I stand firmly
with you,
dear Charlie,
on all counts. ♥
Love.
Truth.
Peace.
🕊️❤️
For compassionate care for and deep listening to the people in my care and beyond with an open heart to lessen suffering and to be of service to possibly help peole onward. Thank you for all your posts today.
Thank you, Ose.
Be kind, be fair, honest, and true . All these will come back to you . You reap what you sow so sow well .
Happy new day everyone!
Great question, especially on voting day. I think the most important thing in life is to be kind, kind to others and kind to oneself. This requires a loving heart. Love is the way.
I’ll be going to vote with a loving heart,
dear Mary,
in about an hour . . .
can’t wait. ♥
Hope, connection, compassion and respect!
Oh yes, Yram. I forgot hope. And connection! Yes!
Today, I am helping to guide voters to the right answers, and being a steward of democracy by volunteering as a nonpartisan poll monitor. I stand for safety, ease, and confidence as people undergo the process of casting their ballots.
Bravo,
dear Drea! ♥
Good for you, Drea! Thank you for standing up for what you believe in. 🩵
Drea, politics can get quite crazy, especially these days.
Thank you, Drea. I didn’t vote two years ago because of residency issues after moving and the hurricane, but I am very excited to go cast my vote today.
A voice for the mistreated, compassion for the unheard.
Yes,
dear Contented One . . .
the invisible
and the forgotten. ((( ♥ )))
Love and Truth.
I stand for integrity and purity. Mind games and politics are the last things we need.
Decency, justice, inclusiveness, honesty, respectfulness.🍁