Things I like to share...

I love stumbling across random blogs and finding a musing that inspires me for the day - sometimes longer. So I feel I owe it to cyberspace to give as well as take ('that's what she said' - any office fans out there?!)...

In thinking about whether or not I'd like to keep blogging, I've decided just to blog when I want to and publish when I feel it's something worth sharing, if I want to reach out, get random, dare I say, 'advice' from strangers who have followed this here blog, or sometimes just because I feel like it.

So, today, I feel like sharing something - it's not about weddings or babies, but it is about L.O.V.E...

This week I lunched with someone I l.o.v.e like a sister and this is how the conversation went:

She: What does it feel like to be in love?

Me: I'm not really sure what to say to you. I imagine it's different for everyone?!

She: My friend says its when you can't stop thinking about someone...

Me: No, that's just obsession lol...or maybe infatuation lol....thinking about someone all the time is probably a prerequisite for being 'in love' but experiencing those things doesn't always mean you're 'in love'...why are you asking...

She: [looking at me blank and desperate for an answer]

Me: I personally think being 'in love' is when you are so obsessed with someone that you want to share things with them and want them to share things with you, then you end up knowing them and sharing so much with them that you discover things about them that you don't like, yet you love them anyway, possibly even more than before you knew all the bad stuff... 

[eloquent I know!]

...and so the conversation continued.

I still don't know if that was the 'right' thing to say to her... but then today, I was clearing out my inbox (after about 2 years!) and I came across an email about kid's opinions on love...I had to share. 

These were my personal favourites:

'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.

Rebecca- age 8

'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'

Billy - age 4

'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.' 

Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'

Noelle - age 7

'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'

Cindy - age 8

'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image!)
Karen - age 7

Apparently, the winning response from these kids was a four year old child 

whose next door neighbour was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbour, the little boy said,

'Nothing, I just helped him cry'

Next time I'm asked, I hope I can come up with something as profound as these kids have done...

Still me, Still Mrs O

x

Do I need to blog?

Why do I blog?

Why did I start blogging?

Do I need to continue blogging?

Who benefits?

What else could I be doing with my time?

There are so many things that I want to do, and although blogging doesn't take up much of my time, it is still time that I could be using for other things... I like the blogging world and when I feel I have something interesting to share - I do. But mostly, its just me ranting/keeping an online non-private diary.

Maybe I should just start keeping a diary again - at least I wouldn't need to sensor it. : )

Perhaps its time for me to stop blogging...now?!

My take on today's current affair: The riots aren't fair

London's burning
What are you doing?
Birmingham riots
What are you doing?
Everyone's fighting
Why??
Why are you doing what you're doing?
Justice?
Free stuff?
Just doing what your mates do?
Just doing what the bbm said?

Tottenham.

Why?
Why not, I suppose?
What have you to lose?
Sure, it's your local area, but does it feel like your community?
What did your local teachers ever do for you?
What did your local police ever do for you?
Do you feel like you belong?
Do you feel like anyone gives a damn?
If not,
Why not?

Clapham.

So what, you think you have
No options?
Bored?
Frustrated?
Nothing to lose?

Enfield.

So, loot why don't you?
Fight?
Mug?
Thieve?
Why not?

Hackney.

Morals?
Please.
Nobody ever showed you what that means,
So how should you know, right?
Why should you care, right?
If no-one cares for you,
Why should you care them.
Plus, you don't even know 'them',
Do you?
They're just buildings, right?

Birmingham.

Copycats.

I'm not excusing looting,
I don't condone your fighting,
Your mugging does not impress me,
And the Bible clearly told you not to thieve.

It's not right.
It's not OK.
And you know this.

It has to stop,
Lest the whole country burns to ashes.
Then who wins?
Not you!?
Not me!?

Now, Leeds.

Come on.

You will tire eventually,
So will everyone else.

Liverpool.

It's getting silly now.

People will get hurt,
And when they do, please don't mug them,
That's just deep beyond comprehension.

This mess is gonna cost money to fix.

Just stop it.
Nothing lasts forever.

But, can't you just stop it now.
I've heard you.
I've seen you.
I almost get it.
Almost.

But now, just stop.

So what if the clean up costs money.
It's not your money,
You don't pay tax,
No-one would give you a job, right?!

It would have cost money to invest in building your community
It would also cost money to invest in supporting you and your family
It would also cost money to invest in building your morals, aspirations and hope
Dammit, they didn't spend enough to help build your future, right?

Why don't I ask them, 'why? why not?'

I already know why.
That would only have reduced inequality,
Our 'society' doesn't like equality,
Not one bit.
It's fine for people with money, education and power to 'seize' opportunities,
God forbid you do it though,
That just renders you a thug, right?

Politicians know that this is not about poor angry people messing up their own lives.
They know its not about getting free stuff.
They know its not about thuggery,
They know its not about poverty,
Its not even about justice - at least it isn't anymore.

Its about inequality.
Its about things not being fair.

The policies aren't fair.
But you know that already don't you.

But here's a brainwave,
The riots aren't fair.

Our supposed society is not 'fair'...because what we want for society is not what we want for ourselves.
We're all selfish, some more than others.
We're all watching our own backs.

And so we continue....