Several weeks ago a young girl who was bullied and harassed by her fellow school students decided not living was better then living a personal hell and so she hung her self.
Bullying is a terrible thing and unfortunately as been going on since the dawn of time.
No one deserves to be treated badly by anyone and especially not by fellow class mates.
What was so terrible about this young girl was it her British accent,her shyness,her not being able to fit in with the "Cool kids"?
Was it fun for those who taunted her? Did it make them feel big and important? Was no one brave enough to stand up and say "leave her alone".
In the real world if you abuse anyone,be it mental or physical,you are arrested and sent to jail.Yet in the school yard why is this considered acceptable behavior to attack the weak in order to make others feel strong?
Why are we more concerned about sex education and denying children the right to pray in class then we are about how our children are allowed to treat a fellow student whom we should consider precious?
We spend more time in schools worrying about a word like Christmas and how it will offend someone from outside the school system,then we are concerned about the offensive nasty words that come out of children's mouths every day that truly degrade and belittle another.
There are many reasons and people to blame for such things.The teachers who do not get involved,the parents who say "not my child how dare you pick on my child",the principle who tolerates unacceptable behavior.
I feel there should be classes in kindergarten to teach these children empathy while they are still innocent enough to understand and care.Children should be taught "put ups" not "put downs".
Zero tolerance should be allowed for bulling and early interventions for both those who are bullied and those who do the bulling should be acted upon right away.
No child should have to spend every day in dread and fear and now days not even be able to escape it when they get home because of computers and cell phones.
Parents need to take more time to help encourage their children into activities and not be afraid to punish their children for irresponsible behavior.The state should not walk in an interfere with your rights as a parent.
It takes many people to raise a child and those who do not have the support they need at home need to have support from elsewhere.Granted we put way to much responsibilities on our school systems and teachers but sometimes all it takes is one person to interfere in the life of a child to make a special impact on them.
Monday, April 12, 2010
taxes
Yesterday at the end of my shift I started to write up my nurses notes when suddenly it struck me "today is April 11Th Oh My Goodness I have only 4 more days to do my taxes and mail them in".
Now I must tell you I am not opposed to paying my fair share but I am opposed to filing three separate forms,one federal and 2 state.Why you ask all these forms?First I work in Mass.then I reside in Conn. and thirdly I am a citizen of the good old USA.
My federal taxes are pretty easy compared to my Connecticut state form.Every year I dread this form.It is to complicated and although I send them my W-2 form to prove I have worked in Mass. I now also have to furnish them a completed copy of my Mass.tax form.
Now I'm sure you say to your self why don't you just move to the great state of Massachusetts and save your self some paper work and kill a few less trees?
See my husband is a landlord and owns property in Connecticut and we don't even want to talk about how complicated that whole issue would be if we were to move.
Well you say why don't you just work in Connecticut? I like the idea but Mass.has more job opportunities then Conn.does and besides I work 10 minutes away from my home which is great in the winter on the days I have to drive through the snow.So at present until I come across a career opportunity worth jumping at I still have to file a Mass. and Connecticut form.
My whole answer to this mess is that the federal and state government should take a certain percentage of my pay every week and just keep it.All this playing around with dependants and tax write offs is just foolishness and set up for the rich anyways.
Render onto Caesar I say and let me move on with my life.
Now I know there are plenty of people,Lawyers,tax preparers and such,who would disagree with this notion and what would become of all those poor IRS employees whose job it is to process forms thus taking and giving money to we the people.
What would become of all these poor people left unemployed? That I can't answer but I've been to Washington D.C. and the Dept.of Agriculture is a pretty sizable building they could probably absorb a few of the displaced there and not even realize it.
All I know is make my life easier folks and go with a percentage tax then I and many like me,can enjoy April 15Th instead of dreading crunch time.
Now I must tell you I am not opposed to paying my fair share but I am opposed to filing three separate forms,one federal and 2 state.Why you ask all these forms?First I work in Mass.then I reside in Conn. and thirdly I am a citizen of the good old USA.
My federal taxes are pretty easy compared to my Connecticut state form.Every year I dread this form.It is to complicated and although I send them my W-2 form to prove I have worked in Mass. I now also have to furnish them a completed copy of my Mass.tax form.
Now I'm sure you say to your self why don't you just move to the great state of Massachusetts and save your self some paper work and kill a few less trees?
See my husband is a landlord and owns property in Connecticut and we don't even want to talk about how complicated that whole issue would be if we were to move.
Well you say why don't you just work in Connecticut? I like the idea but Mass.has more job opportunities then Conn.does and besides I work 10 minutes away from my home which is great in the winter on the days I have to drive through the snow.So at present until I come across a career opportunity worth jumping at I still have to file a Mass. and Connecticut form.
My whole answer to this mess is that the federal and state government should take a certain percentage of my pay every week and just keep it.All this playing around with dependants and tax write offs is just foolishness and set up for the rich anyways.
Render onto Caesar I say and let me move on with my life.
Now I know there are plenty of people,Lawyers,tax preparers and such,who would disagree with this notion and what would become of all those poor IRS employees whose job it is to process forms thus taking and giving money to we the people.
What would become of all these poor people left unemployed? That I can't answer but I've been to Washington D.C. and the Dept.of Agriculture is a pretty sizable building they could probably absorb a few of the displaced there and not even realize it.
All I know is make my life easier folks and go with a percentage tax then I and many like me,can enjoy April 15Th instead of dreading crunch time.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Circumstances
Have you ever thought you knew exactly how you felt about a certain thing only to be shot down and redirected by circumstances?
I always think I know how I will deal with situations but just looking into some ones face or hearing someones story can turn my whole out look on something around.
I have this annoying habit of being able to tell by someones demeanor what sort of mood they are in.It doesn't take me long to size someone up and decide what I'm up against.
This can be very distracting.Just when I think I have every thing figured out I'm thrown a curve ball simply by how someone speaks,looks or acts.
Although this is a great quality when taking care of people as a nurse,it can also be a double edged sword.When you think you have gotten your best laid plans all in place suddenly they are smashed into a million pieces.
Maybe this is what the Holy Spirit is all about.Suddenly your filled with empathy and grace for another person and your own personal view flies right out the door.
How do you go from self centeredness to otherness any other way?
I can tell you it can be very upsetting to suddenly turn from its all about me to its all about you and your problems.
They say we all have gifts and maybe this is one of mine.Its not exactly the gift I would choose for myself but maybe,for some unknown reason,this is a gift to be worked on and figured out.
I always think I know how I will deal with situations but just looking into some ones face or hearing someones story can turn my whole out look on something around.
I have this annoying habit of being able to tell by someones demeanor what sort of mood they are in.It doesn't take me long to size someone up and decide what I'm up against.
This can be very distracting.Just when I think I have every thing figured out I'm thrown a curve ball simply by how someone speaks,looks or acts.
Although this is a great quality when taking care of people as a nurse,it can also be a double edged sword.When you think you have gotten your best laid plans all in place suddenly they are smashed into a million pieces.
Maybe this is what the Holy Spirit is all about.Suddenly your filled with empathy and grace for another person and your own personal view flies right out the door.
How do you go from self centeredness to otherness any other way?
I can tell you it can be very upsetting to suddenly turn from its all about me to its all about you and your problems.
They say we all have gifts and maybe this is one of mine.Its not exactly the gift I would choose for myself but maybe,for some unknown reason,this is a gift to be worked on and figured out.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Clutter
Now that spring is upon us and the weather out side is bright and sunny my house is in a sad state of affairs.With Holy week last week and Easter on Sunday not much has been done here except the smallest chores.
Today was a good day to start to slowly attack all those overwhelming things that I steer at each and every day and say "I'll get to that on my next day off" but never do.
I started with the smallest room in the house,which always seems to take me the longest,the bathroom.You know it doesn't seem like something so compact could require so much time but it does and although I did a pretty good job on it I know that a full cleaning of walls and such will be put off until my energy level is a little higher.
You know life is like my spring cleaning it seems everything gets put off until the nice weather has come then looking at my life seems clearer and more in focus.
I'd like to say that resolutions seem to work out better at this time but they do not.All those things I promised to do in January seem to be slowly losing there appeal and the bright sunshine seems to be in every nook and cranny showing me the dust that has accumulated in my life.
This time of year I always vow to get rid of all the unnecessary things laying around cluttering up my house and my life.I always want to scale down my life to the minimum.I look at all the unneeded clothes and things I stored away through the winter months and think some one else could use that,since I am not.
I feel the same way about my emotions things I felt so close to and had such a need for seem to be stepping aside allowing new feelings to emerge,some good,some not so good.
Feeling are a funny thing many times they just get in the way and confuse us but then we refocus on new feelings and things seem alright again.
Suddenly I have this need to search and try to understand if where I am in my life is where I need to be or if some sort of change is about to happen which I can not fully comprehend as of yet.
Never put to much stock in feelings they tend to change with the weather but do put recognition into the gut feelings that could sway even the most cowardly of us to new heights and directions.What ever those directions may be.
Sometimes in my mind and heart I feel this need to just wander out into the world.No real destination just walk out the door,down the street and put just one foot in front of the other,its like a beckoning which I know at this point in my life is not a reality.
Its good to feel this need of freedom and its good to know that small changes in our lives can at some point lead us to larger and greater things.I am very fortunate I have a wonderful husband and son but I think the time has come to clear my mind and soul with some walks in the park or trails in the local forest.Sometimes being closer to nature allows me to be closer to myself thus helping to clear the dust from my brain and my soul.
Today was a good day to start to slowly attack all those overwhelming things that I steer at each and every day and say "I'll get to that on my next day off" but never do.
I started with the smallest room in the house,which always seems to take me the longest,the bathroom.You know it doesn't seem like something so compact could require so much time but it does and although I did a pretty good job on it I know that a full cleaning of walls and such will be put off until my energy level is a little higher.
You know life is like my spring cleaning it seems everything gets put off until the nice weather has come then looking at my life seems clearer and more in focus.
I'd like to say that resolutions seem to work out better at this time but they do not.All those things I promised to do in January seem to be slowly losing there appeal and the bright sunshine seems to be in every nook and cranny showing me the dust that has accumulated in my life.
This time of year I always vow to get rid of all the unnecessary things laying around cluttering up my house and my life.I always want to scale down my life to the minimum.I look at all the unneeded clothes and things I stored away through the winter months and think some one else could use that,since I am not.
I feel the same way about my emotions things I felt so close to and had such a need for seem to be stepping aside allowing new feelings to emerge,some good,some not so good.
Feeling are a funny thing many times they just get in the way and confuse us but then we refocus on new feelings and things seem alright again.
Suddenly I have this need to search and try to understand if where I am in my life is where I need to be or if some sort of change is about to happen which I can not fully comprehend as of yet.
Never put to much stock in feelings they tend to change with the weather but do put recognition into the gut feelings that could sway even the most cowardly of us to new heights and directions.What ever those directions may be.
Sometimes in my mind and heart I feel this need to just wander out into the world.No real destination just walk out the door,down the street and put just one foot in front of the other,its like a beckoning which I know at this point in my life is not a reality.
Its good to feel this need of freedom and its good to know that small changes in our lives can at some point lead us to larger and greater things.I am very fortunate I have a wonderful husband and son but I think the time has come to clear my mind and soul with some walks in the park or trails in the local forest.Sometimes being closer to nature allows me to be closer to myself thus helping to clear the dust from my brain and my soul.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Spiritual Needs
Easter Day proved to be a rather interesting afternoon for my family.
We began the morning with an Easter Breakfast then went to my sister in law house
for lunch.My brother in law,Nick,brother Sam and his wife,from Bridgeport,were also present.
As always the conversation seems to turn to religion.Sam tells me that the Bridgeport Orthodox Church,which they build just last year,as been growing with an influx of people being converts to the faith.
They had so many people at Saturday evening service that as they stood in the entry way with their lit candles awaiting the great entrance into the church,the heat from both bodies and candle flames set the fire alarms off,so the fire department became an uninvited but welcomed guest.
"Christ has risen" even for the Bridgeport Fire department.
Sam went on to say that since they now have 2 priest they do two Sunday Services,one at 9 am for the converts and those who prefer an English spoken service and one directly afterwards for those who want the traditional Romanian Service.
His wife,Louise,told me that all this mesh of different kinds of people has enriched the church and helped it to grow.She said that many is the time you can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit among all those gathered together in prayer.
At one service in particular,the priest spoke about how when he was young he was always into trouble. A man who no one would have expected to turn his life over to God.He talk about his conversion and how unworthy he was to have had God take this special interest in him. When he concluded he had every one stand and sing "Amazing Grace".They said there was not one dry eye in the church.
On another occasion Louise talked about a woman in their church who found out she was very ill.The priest asked her to come to him he blessed her with holy oils then asked every one in the church to come forward place their hands on the woman and pray.Louise said it was the most stirring thing she had ever done and the warmth of all those prayers and hand touching helped this woman to feel like a true part of the community and regain her courage as she fights her battle to become well again.
Some time I think we spend to much time worrying about traditions and getting everything right and we forget that the reason we are in a church community is to be just that "a Community".We are suppose to up lift,comfort and help the other members of the church so they know they are not alone.
We are a family and how much closer can one get to another human being then to pray for them and physically touch them.
St.Paul talks about "holding all things in common and sharing as each one has need".
Need can mean many thing to each person but the aim of the church and its members should be to help fill needs no matter what they are.
We began the morning with an Easter Breakfast then went to my sister in law house
for lunch.My brother in law,Nick,brother Sam and his wife,from Bridgeport,were also present.
As always the conversation seems to turn to religion.Sam tells me that the Bridgeport Orthodox Church,which they build just last year,as been growing with an influx of people being converts to the faith.
They had so many people at Saturday evening service that as they stood in the entry way with their lit candles awaiting the great entrance into the church,the heat from both bodies and candle flames set the fire alarms off,so the fire department became an uninvited but welcomed guest.
"Christ has risen" even for the Bridgeport Fire department.
Sam went on to say that since they now have 2 priest they do two Sunday Services,one at 9 am for the converts and those who prefer an English spoken service and one directly afterwards for those who want the traditional Romanian Service.
His wife,Louise,told me that all this mesh of different kinds of people has enriched the church and helped it to grow.She said that many is the time you can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit among all those gathered together in prayer.
At one service in particular,the priest spoke about how when he was young he was always into trouble. A man who no one would have expected to turn his life over to God.He talk about his conversion and how unworthy he was to have had God take this special interest in him. When he concluded he had every one stand and sing "Amazing Grace".They said there was not one dry eye in the church.
On another occasion Louise talked about a woman in their church who found out she was very ill.The priest asked her to come to him he blessed her with holy oils then asked every one in the church to come forward place their hands on the woman and pray.Louise said it was the most stirring thing she had ever done and the warmth of all those prayers and hand touching helped this woman to feel like a true part of the community and regain her courage as she fights her battle to become well again.
Some time I think we spend to much time worrying about traditions and getting everything right and we forget that the reason we are in a church community is to be just that "a Community".We are suppose to up lift,comfort and help the other members of the church so they know they are not alone.
We are a family and how much closer can one get to another human being then to pray for them and physically touch them.
St.Paul talks about "holding all things in common and sharing as each one has need".
Need can mean many thing to each person but the aim of the church and its members should be to help fill needs no matter what they are.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Resurrection
When we think of Resurrection we think of Jesus rising from the dead on Easter Morning.
But a Resurrection is also a dying to ones self and rising up to God.Every time we choose to do the right thing in God eyes we die a little to our selves.We rise closer to God and farther from ourselves.
We as Christians are told we are not of this world.Jesus said that if we were of this world we would be loved by this world but we are not of this world so we are hated.
We live a life style contrary to the world.We are not to be all about us but all about our brothers and sisters.We understand that there are rules and regulations to our lives and we freely give our selves over to these rules even when they are uncomfortable and confusing.
Jesus said "they hated me and they will hate you." "You are not greater then the master and you will be treated badly because they treated me badly."
But we are part of the Devinne plan which at present we are not allowed to see.We willingly give up our selves to be something hard and difficult something closer to God and farther from us.
Is it frightening? yes it is!
The Bible says we are tested like metal and become purer from the flame and heat.The harder we become the stronger we become until the steel no longer fractures from the stress of the pounding.
Being a christian requires perseverance,dedication and most of all love.We must love all in some way because every one is a part of the almighty himself.Even Jesus nailed to the cross said "Father forgive them for they know not what they do".
To take on the life of Christ and move forward with him means picking up your cross and letting your personal self be nailed on it in order to be resurrected to a life in God.
Today is Holy Saturday the day Jesus went down into hell to rescue those who believed in him. Many we're asked but how many made the trip out of hell with him?
We are no different every day Jesus puts his hand out to us, beckoning to us to take hold and be raised out of our personal hells.
He wants us to become one with him and the Father and make a personal Resurrection to a better life.
Tomorrow is the day Jesus tramples down death by death for us.What will we trample down in our lives for him?
But a Resurrection is also a dying to ones self and rising up to God.Every time we choose to do the right thing in God eyes we die a little to our selves.We rise closer to God and farther from ourselves.
We as Christians are told we are not of this world.Jesus said that if we were of this world we would be loved by this world but we are not of this world so we are hated.
We live a life style contrary to the world.We are not to be all about us but all about our brothers and sisters.We understand that there are rules and regulations to our lives and we freely give our selves over to these rules even when they are uncomfortable and confusing.
Jesus said "they hated me and they will hate you." "You are not greater then the master and you will be treated badly because they treated me badly."
But we are part of the Devinne plan which at present we are not allowed to see.We willingly give up our selves to be something hard and difficult something closer to God and farther from us.
Is it frightening? yes it is!
The Bible says we are tested like metal and become purer from the flame and heat.The harder we become the stronger we become until the steel no longer fractures from the stress of the pounding.
Being a christian requires perseverance,dedication and most of all love.We must love all in some way because every one is a part of the almighty himself.Even Jesus nailed to the cross said "Father forgive them for they know not what they do".
To take on the life of Christ and move forward with him means picking up your cross and letting your personal self be nailed on it in order to be resurrected to a life in God.
Today is Holy Saturday the day Jesus went down into hell to rescue those who believed in him. Many we're asked but how many made the trip out of hell with him?
We are no different every day Jesus puts his hand out to us, beckoning to us to take hold and be raised out of our personal hells.
He wants us to become one with him and the Father and make a personal Resurrection to a better life.
Tomorrow is the day Jesus tramples down death by death for us.What will we trample down in our lives for him?
Friday, April 2, 2010
Good Friday
And on the third day he arose from the dead...
Today is Good Friday the day Jesus took our sins onto himself and bore them to the cross were he died for our unworthy sake.
The apostles were in fear their leader had been crucified and was now dead.What were they to do? How could they possible go on? What about them? would they too be arrested and killed?
How frightened they must have been.How little faith they had left.It was not suppose to end this way.Wasn't this Jesus Christ the Messiah the Jews had talked about for generations? Wasn't he to be the great military leader striking down the Roman world and raising up the Jewish faith,the chosen people?
What was it he said.. in a little while you will not see me,and again a little while you will see me again because I go to the father.What did he mean by this? Speak clearly.. we do not know what he is saying...In a little while...you confuse us..
Sold for thirty pieces of silver to the Jewish leaders by a friend,denied three times by a chosen one,who he affectionately called the Rock,born false witness against by his own religious leaders,sentenced by a Roman Governor, mocked,beaten,whipped and nailed to a cross by Roman guards who divided his clothes for gaming wins.
What now? does the story end here on a hill surrounded by thieves and murderers?
Does the body placed in an new tomb mean the final end for a man these apostles thought would save them?
Was the slaughter of this perfect pure first born lamb really necessary to full fill something to great to comprehend even by his close and chosen disciples?
Luckily we as Christians know the ending,unfortunately the disciples did not.They feared for their lives but little did they know at that time how great a mission they had left to accomplish.Little did they know that in the year 2010 their witness would bear the grace that would save you and I.
Come Easter Sunday a new and bright dawning is coming.Jesus will rise from the dead and his apostles will know the rest of the story and bear witness to us so we in turn can witness to future generations.
All this because this simple God/man called Jesus died today Good Friday to a lost world only to be raised up to a new dawning.A new testament.
Today is Good Friday the day Jesus took our sins onto himself and bore them to the cross were he died for our unworthy sake.
The apostles were in fear their leader had been crucified and was now dead.What were they to do? How could they possible go on? What about them? would they too be arrested and killed?
How frightened they must have been.How little faith they had left.It was not suppose to end this way.Wasn't this Jesus Christ the Messiah the Jews had talked about for generations? Wasn't he to be the great military leader striking down the Roman world and raising up the Jewish faith,the chosen people?
What was it he said.. in a little while you will not see me,and again a little while you will see me again because I go to the father.What did he mean by this? Speak clearly.. we do not know what he is saying...In a little while...you confuse us..
Sold for thirty pieces of silver to the Jewish leaders by a friend,denied three times by a chosen one,who he affectionately called the Rock,born false witness against by his own religious leaders,sentenced by a Roman Governor, mocked,beaten,whipped and nailed to a cross by Roman guards who divided his clothes for gaming wins.
What now? does the story end here on a hill surrounded by thieves and murderers?
Does the body placed in an new tomb mean the final end for a man these apostles thought would save them?
Was the slaughter of this perfect pure first born lamb really necessary to full fill something to great to comprehend even by his close and chosen disciples?
Luckily we as Christians know the ending,unfortunately the disciples did not.They feared for their lives but little did they know at that time how great a mission they had left to accomplish.Little did they know that in the year 2010 their witness would bear the grace that would save you and I.
Come Easter Sunday a new and bright dawning is coming.Jesus will rise from the dead and his apostles will know the rest of the story and bear witness to us so we in turn can witness to future generations.
All this because this simple God/man called Jesus died today Good Friday to a lost world only to be raised up to a new dawning.A new testament.
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