Time for a New Song #acceptance

Much doom and gloom is around us all so let us stand and sing in unison. It’s time for a new song! In the words of the song, ‘Don’t weep and moan because he’s blown, just face the world and smile. Coz when your crying, don’t you know that your make-up starts to run, and your eyes get red and  scrappy…. but when your smilin’ keep on smilin’  the whole world smiles with you.’ 

Yes, I have cut and pasted the lyrics but I am sure you get the picture. We need to embrace the positives that we have. We need to reject some of those negatives and steer them towards positive thoughts.  Let’s not let that evil overpower us, let’s cast those devils to the wind and cry for them to leave our presence and take their horrid attitudes and stick them where..… oooops!! I believe I’m probably getting a tad too descriptive at this point but again, I think your get the picture. 

So many of us live in a world where bullying, selfishness, alienation, greed and ambiguous love exists.  It’s time to sing a new song where pure unadulterated love and caring are set free to reign -  love that has no limitations, love that has no rules but to love and be loved in return,  no hidden agendas. It’s time for a new song where caring for our fellow man/woman has no limits and no thoughts of cost or time or energy - a caring for others that we do not expect the return of said to boost our egos, a caring that is beyond mere words.  A caring that puts us on the edge and makes us think, have we actually done enough.  And enough is non-existent in the caring and loving fields of our lives.

 

yourdreambuilt.com

It’s time to take on the love of the innocent, and remember the simple approach to life,  a life that everyone is equal that everyone has their voice, and together as one voice we can move  mountains. 

It’s time for a new song that embraces the aged, the children and the in between’s on life’s treadmill.  We are all equal after all, in the eyes of anyone’s God. The Gods that we worship are built on love no matter what denomination we believe in.  The rules that are read into our God’s love are just written by people who may as humans, isolate and persecute others for just being themselves. So, it’s time for a new song  to bring back the unified chorus of the people to our religions.  Our Gods have never wanted anything but love and caring.  It is the human element that has destroyed people, put up barriers, built prejudice, built hierarchy and taken the simple love from our beliefs.

It’s time for a new song that our politicians remember they are elected by the normal people and in being elected, they are there to carry out the wants and needs of the people who voted for them.  They are not there to dictate their prejudice and their pet hates. Their job is to be the voice of the people who elected them to office. Their job is to ensure that the needs of the people are priority with health and well-being of their constituents at the top end of their agenda.  Their job is not to glorify themselves and believe that they are untouchable from the mortal man/woman. 

So too our religious leaders, they should be the voice of God. Their bias and prejudice should not give them the right to condemn, to cast judgement, to  isolate minorities owing to their personal bent on life.  Our Gods are built on love, and only humans interpreted the very essence on which our religions are built in the first place. 

So let’s scream it is time for a new song and cry out loud that we are equal, that we are worthy of a voice, and that we will join in unity to make this gloom and doom turn to better place that we can co-exist, and fear will be a thing of the past.  Yes, there will always be some tough times but together through love and caring we can make this world a better place that we may all keep on smilin’ and share a love that has more power than that of evil.

Let’s make this our challenge - to think positively, to encourage others to join with us to stomp out fear, prejudice and hatred and bring in love and caring to make this world a better place.  

                                     When You're Smiling - Louis Armstrong

The Life Beyond and The Life Left Behind

I sit and contemplate Alec’s entrance into the after life.  I see how he farewelled this life with hesitation (90 odd years)  but, I am sure he has entered the next, with music in his heart and at his fingertips.  This man will be tinkling the ivories with the best of them that are in that concert hall.  He will be sharing with his new found friends, and family, the wonderful memories of his life with Mary and the girls.  He will have already mapped the quickest ways to get around this great space and no GPS required.  This man was the master of transport and music.  His dry wit will have each, and everyone, in stitches and his loveable and jovial nature will bring all to sit beside him to hear of his life and love of a great woman.  

As we sit here thinking of how to carry on now that he is gone, we can only think of the void that is left with his absence.  Instead, we should think of this no fuss man who would not want us sitting around moping his leaving the building.  He would want everyone to carry on as before without the troubles of the last few years.  He would want the world to go back to normal and, for everyone, especially his beloved Mary to start living again.  He would want for all to remember the fun that they had experienced.  He would want everyone to rejoice, that the time spent was an adventure, and that the next adventure is just around the corner waiting.  And indeed, when our time comes we will all find that adventure with him at the helm no doubt. 

Death is very hard for us to bear but, if we think beyond ourselves for a moment, we will see the only people suffering are those that are left behind.  The departed are already planning the banquet, and the music, for our entrance to that great concert hall of our afterlife.  All they want, is for us to enjoy and make a better life for those that we will leave behind.  We have to make a difference, a contribution, so that when we leave our mortal coil, someone will be at least a little happier for knowing us. 

In dying, the challenge that Alec and many before him have set for us, is to do exactly that, to make a difference, to reach out and touch someones life.  To create memories, to encourage others to dream, to leave a footprint on this earth that others may follow. 

Life is going to be tough for a while, while we are looking around to see if our loved one is there.  However, if we think outside the square, and look to our side, that loved one is right beside us forever.  No, not in the physical sense, but their love is so strong that we will feel true love whether it is visible or not.  That love has been bequeathed to us, so that we may pass it on to those that we will leave behind someday. 

If we have truly been loved, and we have truly loved, that love can never die.  That love will simply ignite from us to others around us, if we only pass that love forward.  We owe it to our departed to keep their love alive and to pay it forward, to nurture love and kindness and make this a better world for when our time comes to finally close our eyes. 

So now Alec has left us, we owe it to him to not weep and mourn because he has left us but to be positive, to be out there and rejoice his life, and share the happiness that he so wanted and gave to those around him. 

We look forward to one day catching up with him. But for the next while we must carry on and build memories and love for those that we intern will leave one day. 

Take care, be strong and spread the love!

Always - Ella Fitzgerald 

Spring! #newbeginnings #newseasons #love

At last Spring has sprung!  Its time to break out the deck chairs, open those drapes, toss the cover rugs, wash everything in sight, make the house sparkle like the sun, open the bubbly stuff and, wish your partner cheers as you hand him the list of jobs which I have just mentioned.

Seriously, Spring is a beautiful time of the year where you can see, you can feel, and you can witness new birth, new beginnings. You see churches and chapels fill with well wishers for the couples venturing on new horizons. The beaches start filling again accompanied with the smell of the coconut oil wafting. The ice creameries peddle their latest spring flavour.  The bistros and the side walk cafe's start filling again with people, half clad, chomping on salads so as to rid themselves of the winter comfort food inches, that they have gained. The hair removal salons are packed to the rafters with men and women seeking their Amazons be turned to Brazilian wonders.

To me spring is a time of looking to a new future. It's a season of hope. It's a season of looking back briefly to the past, checking the things you have accomplished in those darker and colder times. Strategically deciding if the things of the past should indeed be left there and not revisited. Or, should they be refreshed, given a lick of paint, and viewed in a new light with renewed vigour.  Some things are unachievable and, we must not spend time on things we can't change.  Beating a dead mullet with a stick is not going to bring it back to life.  So move on, change your way of thinking! You can't change the past, if the past is embedded in stone.

So often, we try so hard to change things, that we get tied down. We forget to move forward, stumble on those embedded stones and, fail to reach for the rainbow that we sought to achieve in the first place.  I guess what I am saying is, that if we put the spring in our step, move forward, share the beauty that life has to offer and show the world in our own way, that we will move forward. Forward with love, with excitement, with hope, and a sense of belief that if we lead by a good example, those that knock and condemn, may respect, and accept, that a life spent with love, is far better than a life spent with negativity, inequality, and discrimination.

Let's celebrate together! Reach out, share new hope, share the growth of new beginnings.  Put the spring in our step and believe that love, can indeed, conquer all.  Grab a friend by the hand! Feel the summer breezes that are coming up from behind and, let the warmth that we share, carry us into a greater future.  To those in the Northern Hemisphere, observe the rainbow the falling leaves shed as the troubles of the past, and move forward, with your southern friends and enjoy a life of freedom and equality.

Till next time keep the emails coming in and take care as I propose a toast from my deck chair for a world of harmony.  Salute!

Cheers!

Bitchescoz

Contact: luke65mcbride@gmail.com

But for the Grace of God! #love #compassion #caring

My post on the blog, the other day, expressed my feelings of loss and sadness with the passing of Robin Williams. I am obviously not alone in my grief, as the tributes and accolades continue to pour in from many around the world.  To those who read my post and emailed, agreeing to adopt my 'you & me' policy, I thank you.  To those who replied in a less than courteous manner, my response is 'But for the Grace of God go you'.

Not one of us have closed our eyes eternally as yet. Unless, of course, you are one of the minority who responded in a disrespectful manner to my writing. You too, are probably the same ones that caused Zelda Williams to close her accounts on social media because of your inhumane ramblings on his passing. Do you not think that this family has suffered enough. They were gracious enough to share their beautiful thoughts and memories, with a public that mourned with them. To you that are eternally closed eyed and venom mouthed, I hope that you may one day learn a sense of compassion, and acceptance, for minorities that are born like the rest of us with skin and, a need for oxygen to exist.  

Until we all learn to accept and tolerate our differences, this world will be a source of angst for any minority.  Discrimination of any kind should not be tolerated and actually be penalized by every country in this world.  I know this is probably a 'pie in the sky' ambition, but only then can we co-exist on equal footing.  Let us as caring human beings be there to help, be there to guide, be there to comfort others, that we classify as somehow different to what we perceive as normal.

This man took his life out of desperation, a desperation born of depression. This desperation can manifest itself differently from person to person.  This desperation may strike anyone at anytime. Therefore, we should try to be there for them. And, be there for those that are left to cope with the trauma that befronts them, as well as their personal gut wrenching loss.

Not one person on this earth should suffer discrimination at the hands of people (and I use that word nicely) who evoke hatred and separatism. Our lives have not ended and we cannot tell what is around the corner for any of us.  I believe love can cure all, and that love has no gender, race or disability. The love that we share, and reach out to others with, should be as personal as we want the love in our own lives to be.  The good books of life, no matter what religion, are based on love, compassion and care.  Why should religions adjust the fundamental ability to love on the basis of man made laws. The God of whatever we believe in, gave the gift of love.  Not a gift that has provisos of who we should love or how we should love.  We we given from birth a heart untouched by bigotry and hate and therefore, no religion nor government should place boundaries on who we love or who we help.

I believe that as long as we are not hurting anyone in our love, no one should be discriminated against.  I believe in the case of Robin Williams, not one of us has the right to judge his actions. I have nothing but admiration for this man and feel a deep sense of sadness that he had reached a point in his life where he felt he could no longer go on.  None of us know his desperation, emptiness and sadness and, until we walk in his or anyone else's  shoes, we do not own the right to discriminate nor judge him or anyone else.

To those who believe in my 'You & Me' policy, I am with you 100%.  To those with empty heart and closed eyes, my wish for you is that you may turn your anger to compassion, your hate to love, and your discrimination to equality.

And in recognition of a great man who lost his way I beg that all may turn to the person on their right or left and say, 'You are not Alone'.

Till next time keep those emails coming, and take care,

Cheers,
 
Bitchescoz
Contact: luke65mcbride@gmail.com

Don't Touch my Bike Seat! #share #payitforward #love

Quite often we complain our heads off, that our loved ones don't take any notice of us, or, don't show interest in what we do.  When they do, we must learn to be gracious and thankful that they do.

For instance the other day I wrote my piece on 'Roses are Red'  not thinking for a moment that he, my partner, would read, let alone comment on, my reflections.  He showed a positive reaction that only was fit for a queen and the subtleties were beyond imagination.

It all started with his caring and concern for my needs while hunched over my iPad writing. The coffee, and the hot chocolate just appeared beside me, as if we had imported a top waiter from one of the finest dining establishments in Europe. The canapés appeared as fast as they came out of the oven.  His positive vibes were encouraging and up lifting.  My best friend phoned a few times to inquire of my day, and I began to smell a rat as to why she kept the inquiry up!  Why she quizzically hinted how great it is that partners were so thoughtful!  And was mine?  As I am sooooo non conspiratorial, I just agreed and kept on agreeing that owing to the latest developments I was indeed blessed.  

news.com.au

 
Late in the afternoon we went on our usual sojourn to the shops and suddenly my suspicions which others possess (usually not I, he he) surfaced.  Each time my 'just in case' items appeared in the trolley, they stayed!  No Houdini fairy acts today I thought.  We approached the checkout and there I was thinking I was home clear when, he suddenly needed a tinkle, leaving me to pick up the tab. Leaving the supermarket and spying some nice fashion statements, I ask him of his lotto ticket obsession, considering he had already just pulled one of my favourite tricks just before.  But no, he said, 'No need for lotto today, I purchased on line.'  Something I had never experienced before. But ok, I thought and we pushed the trolley to the car with the 'just in case', the regular, and his bargain items. This was fast becoming a strange turn of events.

We arrived home, trundled the purchases into the house and suddenly he said, 'Going for a ride, you care to join?'.  I said not at the moment but would catch him up in a while after I packed his 10 packs of bargain 'kleenex' in an appropriate space along with my 'just in cases'.  I then raced to the bedroom to deck myself out in the new sports clothes I had bought a few days earlier while he was having his trickle.  Thought how fab I looked and proceeded to the garage to my bike to meet him at our rendezvous point.

Right then and there the penny dropped -  my best friend's quiz, his over concern, his trickle at the checkout, buying the lotto on line.  Those pennies dropped, like a coin vending machine before my very eyes, when I looked at my bike with the seat missing completely.  The language of compassion flowed through my mind and out of my lips that I am sure he would hear even though he be deaf and kilometres from home.

When he arrived home his care was astounding as to why I had not joined him.  I just said to him that my seat had fallen off my bike and I must have misplaced it last time I rode.  His little look of the executioner appeared and he said that, I still should have joined him, as my new clothes and myself would have fitted snugly on the bike! Then he uttered his final word of, 'touché'.

Ok we settled the problem discretely. The bike seat was re-attached and all was forgiven so we moved on.

The moral to the story is, with those around us we should be true, non secretive and open to each other. Only then can we really know the depth of love. Only then can they be open and loving to us. Above all, that love should accept, appreciate, share, and forgive each other for both our flaws and our potential.

Ok, now that I have established the seed of forgiveness with him, and have assured him, I will not send him to trickle or, encourage his lotto penchant, he has given me a great idea that is much more discreet. I have his credit card in hand, and I'm off to the computer to browse some online fashion stores :) 

Until next time, keep safe!

Cheers!

Bitchescoz

Conctact: luke65mcbride@gmail.com 

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue! #love #acceptance #tolerance

I am sure there are a lot of you out there, that  are from my planet 'Shopalot'  and, for those who are from the planet,  'Do-you-really-need-it',  this may help you to understand our dilemma

As most of you are aware, I love fashion, love shoes, love gadgets.  Ok, I just love shopping!  For the retailers out there, I am sure you love me and others from my planet. Yes, we are the ones that go ga ga and very rarely pass those promotional stands you place so provocatively in the stores.  You bring the zing to our to our credit cards and, put the bling into our lives.

My partner and I have one of those mixed unions, he is from the 'Do-you-really-need-it' Planet and the suburb to which he belongs is 'Bargain-Basement' but, for most times there is no difference in equality. That is until we shop together.  When grocery shopping, I am forever having this little fairy throw a cloud of fairy dust into my trolley and those little extras just disappear (poof) before we hit the check out - amazing his powers! Those 'just in case items' never get to be quantified on the shelves at home. (That is when we shop together.) Otherwise, when shopping alone I have a steady supply on the shelf for those 'just in case' situations.

As afore mentioned I like fashion and shoes!  <3 <3  I don't quite understand how he gets so thingy about my ins and outs to clothing stores, when I allow him to peruse the bargains for the 'on sale' items in the cleaning isle of the supermarket, to the point of my distraction.  He should never complain, because I don't waste his time in fitting rooms!  I just buy off the rack and never try on -  just buy and take home and if they don't fit I never drag him back to the shops for a return.  And after all, he wears my clothes anyway. He quite often says, that with being able to wear my clothes, he never needs to shop for 100 years.  So, I am doing him a favour right?  And when I buy a shirt for that special occasion, do you hear me complain that he has worn it and got food stains on it before I have even had time to remember I actually bought it.  Never!  Ok, I may lower the height of his bike seat but I never complain.  (Ooops)

Shopping with someone of a different persuasion can really strengthen your patience levels. It gives you an insight into how the other half live.  This is healthy right?  It helps you to appreciate the differences and to work on them so there is no misunderstanding for future reference.  Impulse and procrastinatory shoppers can live in harmony.  Those from my planet must learn the techniques of disguise when shopping. Put the things for 'just in case' at the bottom of the trolley so he doesn't see until at the register. Because then he gets too embarrassed to hand back, without causing a stink about it, in front of the checkout operator. When you spot a store whose clothes look wonderful, ask him if he needs to go for a wee walk or buy the lotto ticket so you can make your dash, and while he is in for a trickle you buy and secrete until you get home. It takes practice, but, with time you get better, he he! Linger patiently over his bargains, as then you have leverage for those times when you can't just grab and run with your fashion statement.

Yes this is tongue in cheek stuff, but it does show that we all have differences and we all must get along with each other.  Respect our differences and work with them.  The pleasure of knowing that we are all different, and yet can accept each other for what we are, can be and is a rewarding insight into life's joys and peace.

These are my thoughts! Anyway, until next time remember:

 'Roses are red, 

Violets are blue, 

Ask him to stay home,

And our love will be true!'

Cheers!

Bitchescoz

Contact: luke65mcbride@gmail.com