Sharing Thoughts

Just a few words about my thoughts on any given subject. Hopefully to inspire or encourage reflection.

The Sound of Hurtful Silence

/ Penny L Howe / 12 Comments

Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil

It hurts … inside of me. Why has a country I am so proud of become so accepting of rude and crude behavior within both our social and news media?

I understand one can be angry about circumstances and situations. I can relate to the unfairness we see witnessed on many occasions. But the constant unrelenting barrage of rude and crude language and behavior is not needed and it makes of us so much less than what I know us (Americans) to be.

In the past handful of years, I first thought it was an anomaly occurring on social media with just a few indulging in profanity and boorish behavior. And then I began noticing more and more of the same along with intense verbal bullying and the degradation of an individual or a group. With each passing day I am witnessing even more of this same breakdown in what should be common respect and courtesy: Lack of moral fiber, the inability to say something without reducing the subject matter to the most base of terminology. And this is happening in both social and the public news media.

Many of those who do not engage in this behavior act as if it doesn’t exist. There is no moral outrage being expressed, just a pretended ignorance – this is so very sad. It says that we (the people) would rather accept this behavior than be vocal about the wrongness of it, for I am convinced that much of the negative emotions being felt and expressed in our daily lives are directly related to the universal acceptance of completely unacceptable social behavior.

Silence can be a good thing but it can also be a very bad thing when wrong behavior is happening and the majority of people pretend to ignore it, thereby making it acceptable. And whether it’s a popular celebrity or a politician (and an especial shame on them as their behavior is often emulated by those in the private sector) or we private citizens, the results are the same.

Small wonder our current political arena is such a mess. There is almost no dignity, only mud slinging and filthy rhetoric which as we all know is incredibly exhausting to us, leaving many indecisive, confused and fearful.

Public media (both social and news) should be about  people informing each other with information, and or an exchange of thoughts, ideas and feelings being expressed in terminology that is not degrading and disgusting.

My spirit is sad at this continuing painful and negative turn in the daily events of our lives. I am hopeful it changes and that each of us begin to accept a part of the responsibility for allowing this to not only happen but to fester, growing into the nasty beast it has become.

Thank you,

~ Penny

I Don’t Know About You But …

/ Penny L Howe / 4 Comments

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… Freedom Of Speech (while not coming with a specific caveat regarding good manners and acceptable social behavior) does indicate that it should not be intrusive or take away from another citizen(s) and yet (I shall repeat this) …

AND YET … voicing your right to express your opinion now obviously includes the right to be openly cruel, petty, malicious, mean, insensitive, and judgemental to others not in agreement. (That IMO is frequently voiced because of not adequately understanding/ misinterpreting facts or a situation, or just plain feeling the need to be obnoxious to get attention).

Whether it be any social media source or any news media source, rude behavior seems to have become the acceptable norm.

Verbal personal attacks are horrible examples to pass on to children and each other. It achieves nothing positive of value, in fact it would indicate our values are currently residing in the gutter.

Do I have a point, other than the obvious diminishment of self worth and respect for/from others? Yes, because it is just as important in our ability to come together (inspite of differences) as a country for the good of all of us for improvement and advancement of our lot in life.

The sad thing is I don’t anticipate much reaction from this except some head nodding in agreement because for the most part … WE have accepted this current status quo, meaning … We The People of this awesome country … are as guilty as those who actively participate in rude, crude, cruel and mean bullying behavior. Because we’ve  accepted it, which, as you know is painfully obvious each and every day!

Oh, and one other thing, being strong does not mean being brutish and insensitive to other people … EVER!

That’s it.

Emergence/Change … I come for you!

/ Penny L Howe / 12 Comments

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Emergence/Change

 If you believe tomorrow comes

Then, this be a perfect time,

For me to open up your heart

And claim what must be mine.

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But I fear I’m now not certain

I don’t know where to be,

There is too much, there is so much

And there is only me.

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You are but one of many

Still l know just what to do,

My certainty it overflows

For every one of you.

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If one believes in miracles

I can perform my deed,

Spread out my will and enter in

You’ll listen – you will heed.

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If only you were wiser

I could do what I must dare,

The way would go more swiftly

And I would take you there.

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If all the If’s were certainties

And all your dreams came true,

The rest would come so easily

To bring this time to you.

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It’s you who I must care for

You and only you,

Open your mind and let me in

It’s time – I come for you!

My name is Change

Please let me in!

changed

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~ Penny

All The Worlds A Stage – So How’s Your Performance Going?

/ Penny L Howe / 13 Comments

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There are a few people from the past of whom I think highly. One of them is William Shakespeare. It is interesting to note that almost every word he wrote, he did not write for posterity, rather he wrote for his players; the favorite people in his life, his fellow actors. And yet his words have endured.

I think about that occasionally, how things turn out in our lives. How we do one thing but another thing ends up happening (sometimes good, sometimes bad).

All the world may be considered a stage where we ”go forth’ in our lives but most of us, including yours truly, are thrust rather abruptly onto the stage of life, ill prepared and handed a bunch of props, told to go perform, leaving it up to us to figure it all out.

So how’s your performance going?

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Speaking for myself, well, I decided some time ago to take charge.

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“As playwright and director in the play called  ‘My Life’!

I’ve determined to give myself the staring role.

I will seek direction,

ask for assistance to secure needed props,

and surround myself with a strong supporting cast.

I will try to make my ‘play of life’ as successful as can be.

And hope for good reviews

and many, many repeat performances.”

~ Penny L Howe, 2014

And if I might recommend, I cannot think of a better person than yourself to become director in charge of the play called “Your Life”. I think you’ll also make a great playwright in that role as well. I’d certainly give it some thought if I were you, after all it’s your life we’re speaking of here! Nice to be charge of things that matter, like YOU!

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Thanks for stopping by, hope your having a great weekend.

~Penny

The Abyss of Autonomy

/ Penny L Howe / 10 Comments

Are you your own person? Congratulations but I caution you to remember the following:

A necessary component of independence will always be the ability to recognize not only one’s right to freedom, but also the acknowledgement (at the same time) of one’s own short-comings; to know that within your sphere of self- determination there also exists a need for others.

An abyss, exists as a deep and bottomless pit and if you were to find yourself within a physical chasm of this kind, there would be no way to remove yourself without the aid from others – and so it is in life. No matter how free, independent and “on our own” you wish to be, you cannot succeed without support.

Autonomy or free will of self, serves no useful function unless it is partnered with the shared need and responsibility of and for others.

Life shared is life well lived. No man or woman is an island, nor should they be. Our need for one another has never been greater than it is today.

Let us build no further gulfs between each other, instead, close the existing  gaps. Let us cultivate and grow within (and in spite of) our differences. There can be no autonomous abyss where free thought is coupled with the partnership of love and understanding among all.

Have an excellent week, with great affection,

~ Penny

Where Carcass Lay … Vultures Gather!

/ Penny L Howe / 11 Comments

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Often … following failure … illumination arrives! An enlightening expanded awareness, emotionalized by the pity of self.

Yes, self pity, frequently seen to be in attendance along with illumination, uncomfortably sharing space with one’s emerging realization of having messed up, lost the game, or the prize … and one does feel quite the fool, perhaps likening onto fallen prey just prior to expiration.

Although, retrospectively, we must assume the last thing on the dying prey’s mind would be illumination, perhaps rather just a single final thought, such as ” …Oh Crap”! That might do, but generally speaking however, those thoughts and feelings are left for those of us who live on after the fall, continuing to skirt the precipice between success and failure.

I will waste only a few words in the contemplation of mundane humans, and there are many, whose walk through life is an unmitigated bore because they come and go determined to make no waves, go with the flow, be among the passive, receptive only of “group mentality” and not interested (perhaps fearful or envious) of the original idea or thought, but with no goal in mind except to blend in, which they do until …

But enough about those, although they number greatly and are oft seen among the vultures sitting in the wait, which is usually viewed as a “safe” place to be, for all except the arriving carrion.

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Ah yes, the encroaching vultures, for they do encroach while waiting in the sidelines, certainly not cheering one on, unless it be towards failure. So they wait …

It would certainly be much easier to get up, dust oneself off and get on with things, if not for awareness of the waiting vultures. Their jeering and calling out with scathingly searing voices continually reminding of failures, shortcomings, errors and misfortunes. And they are never far away, are they? Their echoes repeat in memory’s shadowed losses.

And if true, where and when does “positive” illumination break through into the light to lift us up, make us whole again, prepare us to do battle, shore up the weakened places, make us stronger, more determined, if needs be, to achieve our ends. When does inspiration come? How does it come, through the darkness of known failures and ever expanding fears?

Does it peak around corners, wondering if it’s safe to come out, or does it consider alternatives and make carefully planned and strategic moves?

I think not!

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“Know this, all you free thinking creative ones – INSPIRATION is born from within where there be no rationale for the negative or wrong, only the mightiest sensation and manifestation of possibilities, the very essence and nature of inspiration is such that it springs into being within a single seed of potential found at the core of our soul’s universe – needing nothing more to come forth but … THE BELIEF THAT IT CAN!” 

~ Penny L Howe, 2014

Fudge – Anticipation and fulfillment of a comfort food!

/ Penny L Howe / 24 Comments
making fudge

Homemade Fudge

So I made fudge today.

It was one of “those days”. You know the kind, where something a little extra is needed and I do admit to loving chocolate. Homemade fudge is one of my favorites. There is something absolutely wonderful and soothing about fudge, but not just eating a piece (or two).

The whole experience is wonderful. The chocolate aroma that lingers not just in the kitchen, but throughout the house and of course the anticipation of …

spoon of fudge

Spoon Full of Fudge

… eating the fudge left on the mixing spoon (Emma called dibs on the spoon) notice she’s enjoying her fudge while she listens to her favorite tunes.

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Enticement of a pan of fudge

… to cleaning out the fudge left in the pan (Jordan called dibs on the pan.) Notice she even stopped her conversation on her iphone while she enjoyed scraping the pan for every morsel of the delicious chocolate.

fudge

Fudge – Have a piece, or two!

 

As for me … Well I had a few pieces of fudge with a glass of milk while I sat down and wrote this blog. I’d share the fudge with you if I could. Just know I’m thinking of you even as I finish the last little bite!

Mmmmmmmmmm! It is so yummy, yes definitely a comfort food! I feel very comforted right now.

Hope your week is going well for you, thank you for stopping by,

~ Penny

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The Game of Life – If you can’t win, be creative!

/ Penny L Howe / 13 Comments

Don’t you feel that sometimes life is like playing a game. And it can be especially difficult when you feel like you’re missing part of what you need in order to play the game well.

By pschubert

However, I like to think that for us ‘creative types’, we compensate for our game playing shortcomings with a most magnificent imagination. Changing (in our minds) the game more to our liking.

At least part of the time. As needed. Upon occasion. Every now and then. (Okay, sometimes more than we should!)

So stay creative, my friends. Keep your imagination alive and well. After all its what kids do best when they’re playing games. It works well for them!

Have a good day and better tomorrow,

~ Penny