News 2011
People are Ultimate Illusions
by Cynthia Cox on 01/27/12
People are the ultimate illusions of the fantasies we make ourselves to believe about them. What we assume about a person doesn't make it true. - Cynthia Cox
Children are the prime examples of what it means to have people illusions.They believe early on the adults and parents in their little lives are super human beings. These adults and parents are invincible and can do no wrong in their little eyes. This could explain why so many teenagers rebel in exploring new things that they were told not to do. Teens just want to find out for themselves about people illusions too.
Have you ever wonder why opposites attract? Do you ever wonder why you dated that one person that your parents or others warned you about? You ever recall all the jokes about waking up with someone ugly beside you because you had a few too many the night before. Probably the worst case scenario of people illusions is waking up and being married to the wrong person. Could all this human interaction be explained simply by the illusions we see in others? Most believe that the best times in life are illegal, out lawed or you can not have fun because maturity tells no and those that uphold the golden rule to act your age.
I have fell into the trap of people illusions myself. The individuals who say one thing but do another. The individuals who paint their lives as a portrait in an album instead of the real issues that lie beneath. But that's OK. Each person has control over their own paint brush of life on this Earth. How you perceive and interact with people will become the canvas for painting your own life up.
For me, I would be an abstract person that many do not have the patience for. I am an obsessive compulsive character that lights fires for fun and to help others. But then I hide into a dark, captive solitude when I have enough fires burning to self-mend. I am actually learning that this is part of my PTSD and not neccassirily an indication of personality. But I roll with it. Most others can not though. Because on my high days of living life in compulsion it is a hoot. But on the flip side it can create very down and dark days for me and those in my company.
I am like that with my songs too. Sometimes I will shuffle my iTunes or CDs and absorb every ounce of the variety compilations I have. Other times, I am obsessive over one song. Learning the guitar and singing doesn't help these obsessions either. I want to take those original songs that I love and tweak them to make them own. If I am working my vocals off and my fingers to the bone to learn this fun stuff for me then you better believe that I am going to claim it for my own.
The song of this week for me has been a hit by 3 Doors Down. In learning to play guitar, I love many of their songs. The soul of the vocals, the lyrics to the music, and the collaboration of heart that radiates from their music touches me deeply especially when strumming or trying to sing it my way.
There is a unique beauty that is not an illusion when capturing lyrics, notes, chords and music by your own hands or vocals that many would not understand. There is a mystery of depth in this affection toward music that is wonderful to elaborate on for your self. It's an appreciation for self limitations, self challenges, and above all a gratitude for mind, body, and soul to produce such a bliss in a craft that surely should be embraced by all.
There are 7.2 million YouTube viewers who have enjoyed Landing in London (All I Think About Is You) by 3 Doors Down and Bob Seger. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rguhxKEBlr4&ob=av2n There are many reasons this song became a hit. Perhaps it is the illusions of the special love we secretly hold dear that many relate too. Perhaps it is the dreamy atmosphere we get lost in with this song. Perhaps it is that lyrical announcement of weakness made in this song that we need someone to hold us when we are weak too. Whatever the reason as a learning musician or appreciator of music one has to give 3 Doors Down and Bob Seger their dues for keeping it real. No reverbs. No vocal enhancements through technology. Straight up instruments, lyrics that are real, and a final unity that leaves a person feeling somehow understood in this song. http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/0-9/3_doors_down/landing_in_london_crd.htm
What ever illusions you believe to be in others, your self or the world around you, never assume. If you do know something do not fear to just ask. Many great friendships and relationships would have been lost if fear and assumptions of illusions took precedance over the beauty of the truth of a person. Nothing is sweeter than embracing the truth of self and others. No matter how strange it might be.
I Don't Care Anymore
by Cynthia Cox on 01/25/12
There is one thing for certain, I am not alone in my views that I don't care anymore! 1.8 million YouTube viewers agree apparently with the notion that they don't care anymore with this Phil Collins song that sums it up perfectly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLpfbcXTeo8&ob=av2e
Many of the song choices I have are not for the emotionally self-detached or heartless person. Many of my messages are not for the closed minded nor the majority acceptance peoples. I only have my backbone, my voice, and what little bit of writing ability I have to give about a truth of this preoccupied world and the life I have experienced to share.
It's all a take it or leave it approach I have. I do not fear objections. I do not fear opinions. I do not fear for any point of view about my life, my circumstances, nor the choices I have made. This is my life and as each day passes I try real hard not to care anymore for my own sanity but that day will never come that I truly do not care.
If I could be one of the selfish people that lives life by the closed vision that many have, damn would I enjoy it so much more! But I can not. I never have. I have never as an adult who does not open my mouth without spewing about education, building awareness to something and spreading the "What if it could be more?" approach to every thing I do.
I actually realize that this compulsive need is actually defined as a symptom of PTSD so what in the hell do I really know to validate my own life or others when someone is always standing out there to discredit what I do, what I say or what I attempt because I have been medically labeled and classified now?
Screw you and your scientific approaches to have a life when at least I know the conviction in me is based on hurt, pain, love, honesty, and compassion for something besides a fill in the wallet. The worst of my attributes is really the best of what others wish they had in the ability of insight and to not just hear but to feel the world around them and those in it. I am not classfiable by no standards. I am who I am. Take it or Leave it.
It does not matter. It will not stop me. Every day, I view three important aspects that are in my view while typing at my desktop computer to brighten up my day and keeping me on the caring side of life even in the deepest of oppositions.
Number One is poem that a dear friend made and sent to me from Scotland. A 8x10 black frame hand stitched prayer poem titled Alone by Samuel F. Pugh. This is her way to hug me daily though we have never met to remind me that I am not alone. I have a Cissy in Scotland who through different by similar circumstances have become common bond sister in life.
Number Two is a wall quote from my best gal friend that hangs above my monitor that states: "In a world where YOU can be anything...BE YOURSELF."
Third though Last but by far the most important to me every day is a framed poster size cover of my memoir titled, "The I in Me: a young girl's escape to living'. The words "I give my voice to you today, you can ignore it, but it won't go away..." radiate the smile on my face of this book cover poster and enlighten my daily load even when I lie and say I do not care anymore.
We all need to have those breaks in life and in our self that we can lie to ourselves and say we do not care anymore. It is healthy. It is beneficial. It is renewing. There's nothing wrong with ever being a Bitch when a person needs to be or being an Asshole. It has taken me many years to stand upon for the vocal Bitch I can for the betterment of myself and others. Pardon my language if curse words offend you but sometimes the cursing receives more response and understanding than the typical synonyms used to portray strong characteristic traits and personalities!
Opposition for the right reasons is the only way to be in seeking truth toward self. If majority guides this path for you then you lose with them and create discrimination as you go with them too.
I share my Alone poem with you and another inspirational poem of verse today.
Do not ever let yourself fall so far that you do not care about yourself anymore. There are many will that tell you that you are a piece of shit, a horrible person, a mean person or would be better off dead. Hell, any person that has a conscience has probably repeated the same things to their self especially those that are honest. Suicide is only a thought. It was never meant to be an action.
Taking a break to not to care anymore is renewing the mind and body for a greater fight than self to make a difference in life. But never stay so low for so long that you feel that you are not worthy to speak your mind today. Never fall so far that you feel that you feel you do deserved to be ignored and above all, never let anyone have the satisfaction to think that you have just went away!
Sit when you must in silence. But stand up with a proud and boastful venegenance so when you enter anywhere, they knew you were there and miss you even more when you are gone.
Alone by: Samuel F. Pugh.
“I am not alone
By night, or by day,
Or by circumstance;
Neither in the silence,
Nor in the city’s roar;
Nor as I lie
At the door of death,
Or stand on the threshold
Of a new life;
For Thou art with me –
Around me, underneath me,
Bearing me up,
Giving me strength,
Luring me on.
I am not alone;
Thou hast been,
Thou wilt be
Thou art with me.
Lo! I am always in Thy care. Amen.â€
(Even when we do not want to care, we do! Because none of us are "alone.")
Fracis of Assisi shares the key to positive living and I shall pass it on to you when you are ready to admit to caring again.
“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that
I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console;
Not so much to be understood
As to understand;
Not so much to be loved, as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned:
It is in dying, that we awaken to eternal life.â€
I am finished now in Feeding the Fuel of Thoughts for today...as I enjoy everyday. You are welcome! Thank you for reading.
Common Sense on Life Support
by Cynthia Cox on 01/24/12
Common Sense on Life Support
The more I watch the local or national news the more my heart grieves for Common Sense. There is absolutely a shortage of this life's neccessity that I fear. Common Sense is now on life support barely holding on to this Earth for the few that believe in it. It is pretty bad when Common Sense is no where to be found while the ignorance continues to grow, build, and escalate. Without Common Sense in any of our lives, we would succumb to poverty, addictions, harmful behaviors, harmful hurt to self, unemployment and worse-death prematurely before our life should have orginally ended. Sounds like a typical summary of most news days right?
I have seen many headlines where individuals with masks and guns go into a store to rob it. Customers with concealed weapons permits defend their self killing the perp. Then you hear the sobs of the criminals families crying for their family member who was shot while committing robbery. Then you hear the praises of the person who had a concealed weapons permit and used it to defend their self and protect others in the store under robbery. No one wins in a scenario like this.
I am sure most of us would speculate and assume what we would do in a situation like this but until it is our eyes looking into the arms of any gun man, we really do not know what we would do. However, this kind of theft behavior with a weapon lacks Common Sense prove death.
I use to believe as a mischievous teenager that honor was claimed by fist fighting and defending one's name. This is so lame and immature. It never mended the first altercation I was ever in by fist fighting. But I do believe as an adult now that one should never show your fists or a weapon unless you are willing to die by the actions you create or partake in. I know that if I were ever threatened in this manner that I would too lose a grasp on Common Sense to sustain my life even if choosing to use a weapon of fists or a gun to defend and protect myself.
In today's society it is really no wonder that many turn to violence, addictions, drugs, alcohol abuse and forget to call on Common Sense for help. We all have a conscience. That's pretty much all that Common Sense is. Listening to the intuition of our gut feeling or those silent words that tell us right from wrong. We can no longer afford our own safety by holding up those we claim we to love who choose not to listen to their Common Sense first. To defend another who has no Common Sense is enabling crimes to be committed against all of our society. It has to stop.
Our Congress is the supreme example of how Common Sense does not survive in even the political arena and aspects that affect all of our lives. If you do not register to vote and act by voting then you are allowing them to continue to play games, wreak havoc, and kill out what little Common Sense might thrive in Congress. Many will agree that they have been partakers of the wrongs committed against family, friends, and work associates but never intervened to make that wrong situation right. Without intervention of facts versus assumption, Common Sense dies and Karma will be the only reward bestowed up on any of us.
The United States Postal Service is getting its Karma now and working into it's own demise. We have many broken, ineffecient and uneffective systems in America that is destroying our democracy. The USPS is the supreme of what not to do!
The USPS headlines scream financial death. The customers of USPS voice their disgust that USPS should be disassembled and privatized so tax payers won't have to bail out the USPS. Stop the assumptions and learn the truth of Common Sense with USPS.
The USPS is the only government entity to Americans that is NOT tax payer funded. As hard as it is to believe those First Class Stamps sales is what makes or breaks the USPS, not the taxpayers, not the monies from blue-collar workers and not from investors. Hard to believe that a single 45 cent stamp is all that is needed in purchases to save the USPS.
Here's my take on a Common Sense approach to begin saving the USPS. Perhaps, I am wrong but it seems logical and above all, Common Sense to me.
The USPS and PM General have no one to govern their actions or authorities. There are so many branches of USPS operations that standarization does need to occur but not in the screw ball tactics that anyone has proposed.
The PRC and Congress are there to offer input and oversight to USPS but when it comes down to creating changes or stopping adverse actions on the customers and employees of USPS, no one can officially stop them!
First off, the USPS is a service obligation organization and not a business! USPS can provide business services but it can not supercede it's duty to service the American people first. At least if the PRC and Congress had authority to sign off on those USPS changes and proposed resolutions, Americans would have a chance that their rights to service obligations of USPS would be upheld. This is an American right and not just another business transactions.
I read recently how if every employee of USPS purchased one book of stamps per month, that USPS would again be restored to financial profits. Why are USPS employees not making a pact and effectively communicating together to save their jobs and employment? It sounds like a very simple plan but when the math is done, it will add up!
If Postmasters would call their Postmasters buddies and make pact to buy one book of stamps per month it would help. If Supervisors would call their fellow Supervisors and make a pact to buy one book of stamps per month it would help. If Carriers would communicate with the Carriers in their unit to make a pact to buy one book of stamps per month it would help. If District Managers, Review District Coordinators, MPOOs, and any business that thrives because of USPS business would make a pact to buy one book of stamps per month it would help. Most Americans can not begin to phathom the beast that the USPS is and what it takes to deliver and bring mail securely and safely to your mail box every day. It's a monster organization that takes many hands and minds to process, organize, and deliver the mail. But if these employees won't even make their own attempts to secure their jobs then how can we as Americans save them too? This appears to be the quickest solution to buy time to allow the USPS, Congress and the PRC to work our amends that would make USPS sustainable again in restructuring.
Another fix to USPS is to stop the erratic delivery practices that USPS does every day. Quit those manually pain staking walks of door-to-door deliveries and enforce curbside deliveries. Standarize delivery operations in USPS to make it the most effiecient delivery method possible. Rural Americans have been doing it for years. Why can't this avenue of studies and savings analysis be conducted? Is USPS unions really so strong and so bold that they would let their members lose their jobs instead of considering restructuring for the better benefit of all? Would the Postmasters organizations really let their members lose their jobs instead of compromising for a bigger picture to save their jobs and position titles as Postmasters too?
It is not one aspect of USPS restructuring on the line but every job and business that thrives on USPS is not safe. I see and read the panic of ideas proposed to give resolution to USPS but none of these are real solutions that have potential to save USPS.
Congress right now has the greatest strength even above the USPS authority to create, enforce and start the financial solvency of USPS. The pre-retirement fund of USPS is absurd. If USPS is obligated to pay this and all I read they are.
Congress can stop payments, delay payments and are in charge of this payback from USPS. But if Congress was truthful about the usage of this USPS pre-retirement fund I am sure that they would admit that these monies have been used elsewhere increasing a national debt ceiling even higher. It is the only thing that makes sense to me by taking from Peter to pay Paul, so to speak. If Congress would provide a payment plan that was doable in our struggling economy like any other business, organization or foundation-then USPS could thrive in changes and return to financial solvency. The American people should not have to play referree to Congress and USPS over this. Congress has the power and the tools to solve this issue of USPS.
Congress also has the authority to enforce the USPS to offer year incentives and financial incentives to the many potential retirees to down size USPS employees in restructing USPS. Many can not afford to go or chose to go because retirement benefits are not enough for leaving prematurely. If incentives for time was offered and financial monies offered many would take it faster than USPS or Congress could keep up with.
The issues with USPS, Congress, and the PRC in the headlines is mostly speculations of Common Sense gone wrong. Without Common Sense being on board along with the proposals and needed changes to USPS, Karma will hang that bankrupt or Closed door sign on the legacy of USPS American privelege and rights for all of us.
We can not ever afford to forget Common Sense in any aspect of our lives or with or without formal education. Common Sense gives us the ability and conscience to thrive, live, and succeed not only for ourselves but the many that become affected by the decisions we make. Even in American homes, one must have Common Sense to fix a problem that arises even without the educated tools to keep a roof over our heads. This should be a lesson that any one who has a job that impacts another should reflect upon also. What ultimately may appear to affect only you will actually be the Karma or the Common Sense that affects us all too in the end. Think about it.
