Make Someone Happy

The Pursuit of Happiness: What does this mean?

I don't know about you, but I am seeing a shift in the meaning of the phrase "The Pursuit of Happiness."  I think our government is forgetting the first part of the phrase--the PURSUIT.

According to the Declaration of Independence, all of us have unalienable rights:  life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  It seems that the pursuit of happiness is being shrunk down mean the guarantee of happiness.  The key to that phrase is the word pursuit, which has been left by the wayside in the quest to make all lives equal.

So what is the pursuit of happiness, and does this country still abide by this principle?  The pursuit of happiness doesn't necessarily mean happiness will be the end result, but that all have the right to work toward it.  Each of us has the freedom to make decisions which will affect our own happiness--how you apply yourself will determine your own happiness in the end.

As a country, we need to focus more on the opportunities to achieve happiness, and less on making sure that everyone is equally happy, for we all know that will never happen.  

For three years, I had the opportunity to work for Habitat for Humanity, an ecumenical low income housing non profit organization.  On the surface, Habitat for Humanity built homes in communities and sold them to low income families at no profit and with a no interest mortgage.  It was an amazing to stand in the doorway of a newly built or refurbished house and hand a key to a mother and father who never thought they would be a homeowner.  That key meant to much to them, but beyond the house and the ceremonies and work was the most important key to that family's future--opportunity.

Habitat didn't give anything away, but hope.  For over a year, volunteers and I would walk alongside a family as they learned what it meant to be a homeowner, from financial training to home maintenance and cleaning, yard work and helping others.  Those tools were far more important than the hammers and drills and wrenches that constructed the house.  The home was built with determination of the family to lift THEMSELVES up, and the community supported them as they learned how to do that on their own. 

I wish every American could use Habitat for Humanity as a blue print to change lives.  Not the building of the house, but the building of the home--the family, the future and the determination to rise above the challenges of life.  This blueprint can be adapted for almost any situation if you are creative enough.

Unfortunately, we have become a nation of give aways and hand outs,  and we are not solving the problems that keep people from happiness.  Instead of giving out temporary happiness to everyone, we should invest in the pursuit of that happiness, the opportunities for people to help themselves, to find the determination within themselves to change their lives for the better and for forever.  Until we as a nation focus on that, we will never begin to solve the problems that keep us separated by levels of happiness.

The song for this post, "Make Someone Happy,"  has been sung by just about everyone, from Frank Sinatra to Seal.  Making people happy is a gift we all have, and it is our decision to use it--it should never be forced upon us.

Cold Beer and Remote Control

Every night, I get off work and come home, do a few chores and rest for the evening with the television, my constant companion—other than the two cats of course.

 

Tonight I am in the unique position of having the day off, so I thought I would start the Spring Deep Cleaning of the house a little early.  Obviously, that isn’t going well.

 

It’s been a while since I posted here, and have to thank Nibby for getting me back on the horse so to speak.

 

So I opened up a cold beer, and used the remote control to turn the TV off.  I mostly watch news anyway, so I am none the wiser to shut it off once and a while and let my mind wander.

 

 

When I was a little girl, I was told I could do anything-be anyone I wanted to be.  I danced around that question until I found my passion for service and community and have been happy ever since.  I can’t help but wonder what the world will be like for the youth of today years from now.   I wonder if they enjoy the small things that lit up my life not so long ago.  We see such frustration in the country and in the world, it’s hard to find the bright spots in our own back yard.

 

You know, it’s funny.  I get on Facebook every night just to see what all of my friends are doing.  It has brought back a load of memories that make me smile, cry and laugh out loud from time to time.  It helps me realize why I am here, and what I want to do for the rest of my life.  The number one thing is to not let opportunities pass me by.  To quit saying someday I will….and then watch idly by as someday turns into could have. 

 

So I am picking up my journal from the past, and am crossing things off my list.  One by one, I will do all of the things I have wanted to do for so long.  Things I never shared with a friend, things I never thought I would really do, but want to do nonetheless.  Here is a list so far.

 

1.        Go back to Montserrat.  I did mission work there, and four years after I helped put the little island back together, a volcano erupted, almost destroying the sweet paradise I grew to love so much.  I want to go back there and help clean it up again—to make it the paradise it deserves to be. 

2.       Go to a NASCAR race.  Nine years ago, I had nothing better to do, so I watched the Daytona 500 and was fascinated.  Since then, I have grown into a silent fan.  I get to cross this off in April, and I am so excited.  I don’t know if I will enjoy the experience, but I am glad to give it a go.

3.       Keep in touch with my friends better than I have.  Well, Facebook helps this a whole lot.  But I want to visit them, travel with them and share real life experience with them.  I hope to put a bunch of checks next to this one.

4.       Play the guitar.  I have always wanted to play the guitar, and a few days ago, my older brother asked me if I wanted to learn with him.  Well, I jumped at the chance, and now have someone to teach me once I buy a guitar.  My hope is to be able to play well by Christmas.  Only time will tell if I can check this off.

5.       Visit Rome.  OK, there is no way I can do this for a while, but I have to put it here nonetheless.  Who doesn’t want to see Rome? 

6.       Laugh each day.  This one shouldn’t be too hard.  I laugh too much as it is.  But I felt the need to make it a list item so I will be conscious of the moments. 

7.       Fight for what I believe in.  We don’t do this as much as we all should.  We live in a country that provides us the right and the responsibility to stand by our convictions and we should not be afraid to civilly and respectfully stand up for those convictions.  Most know that I have a very eclectic group of friends that represent the entire religious, cultural and political spectrum.  We have had debates, but we have been fortunate to show each other respect and have agreed to disagree.  It doesn’t have to get nasty or hateful and when speaking from conviction, it shouldn’t .

8.       Help start a community foundation in Henderson, KY.  I believe this can happen when the right people come together.  I hope to begin laying the groundwork for the foundation this year.  Henderson is a very giving community, and a community foundation would help the non profits in the city flourish. 

 

 

That’s all for now.  The song for this post comes from the Indigo Girls album, Come On Now Social.   I will post the lyrics to Cold Beer and Remote Control, because the lyrics truly tell the tale of today for so many people.  I have been a huge fan of the Indigo Girls for close to 20 years, now and once went through two wrecked cars to see them at Miami of Ohio.  I have gotten to see them twice, and would see them play whenever and wherever I could.  They are awesome!!!

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"Cold Beer And Remote Control"

All of my days have been misspent
Stuffing out the sofa and the antenna's bent
Inside my heart's bustin' out at the seams
I work for the impossible American dream
I got a job at the grocery store
A few bucks an hour and not much more
The world comes in just to take things away
And eat it all up and then they sleep into day 

I try not to care I would lose my mind
Running 'round the same thing time after time
Only two things bound to soothe my soul cold beer and remote control 

Once upon a time I was nobody's fool
Two jobs and showing up for school
I guess it comes apart so little by little
You don't know you're there till you're stuck in the middle
So I try not care I would lose my mind
Running 'round the same thing time after time
Only two things bound to soothe my soul cold beer and remote control 

Sit down the room is dark the blurry graffiti on the benches across at the public park
The plastic's black and buttoned the haze is blue
And all I want is nothing to do 

'Cause it's a long walk to the bus stop 
It's a long wait for the turning clock
A two-tired car sitting up on the blocks
And things I put aside like that pile of rocks 

I try not to care I would lose my mind
Running 'round the same thing time after time
Only two things bound to soothe my soul cold beer and remote control 

I try not to care I would lose my mind
Running 'round the same thing time after time
Only two things bound to soothe my soul
Cold beer and remote control

How

I read an article today about the Catholic swing vote—how it will be big this year. It said that Catholics were pro life, leaning to the Republican ticket, but when it came to social justice issues, it leaned more with the Democratic Ticket. What a quandary!?!

I have my own ideas about this, and most people may not agree, but I feel the need to share them.

First, social justice is about lifting people up, searching out those alienated from our society because of poverty, homelessness, and disease among other things. That’s the way I see it. What I don’t understand is how one would think if the government gave everything someone needed to that person, what would that person have to fight for? How would that person rise out of poverty if the government told that person, “We will pay for your health care, give you food stamps for food and give you a small apartment as long as you are poor.” What would that person need? Why would that person go and try to find a job, go to school to learn a skill or make healthier choices for a promising future? We are telling them that they can’t do it on their own—they aren’t good enough—and the poor remain poor.

I will admit that I don’t think anything is working—from both sides, but it seems to me that giving everything away would keep people down—the very thing we don’t want to happen.

My conclusion is this—on social justice issues, NOONE gets it right—not Republicans or Democrats. It does bother me that so many people think that the Democrats get it right all the time. How? Someone tell me how their programs create opportunities for people to get out of poverty, and not just survive within it?

The song today, How, by the Cranberries, from their album, Everyone Else is Doing it, So Why Can't We?  I like song, and it seems that the title of the album has a good ring to it as well.  

Windin' Me Up

Ok--I am HOOKED!  I was 11 years old and in the sixth grade when Geraldine Ferraro accepted the nomination as the first female Vice Presidential candidate in our nation's history.  At thirty five, I am proud to whitness this piece of history, and am looking forward to watching this history play out.  Whatever happens, she sure did wind me up tonight.

I know you are wondering--where is that song from?  Well, it is from Sass Jordan (I know the name says it all!), and it is from her album, Racine.  I found this cd back in college.  She rocks it like Melissa Ethridge, so I think it fits from all aspects of the evening.  We'll see...

Delicious Surprise (I Believe It)

OK, so I am going to title my blogs after songs--deal with it. The delicious surprise of today was Sarah Palin becoming the VP candidate with John McCain. Now, I don't know if you realize this, but I trend Republican while 99% of my friends lean heavily to the Democratic ticket, that's America! I like McCain because he has crossed the isle on many things, steering away from the scary right wing. Campaign finance reform, global warming and immigration reform just name a few. I am tired of grid lock and want to see some practical changes in Washington, and was worried about who McCain would pick.

I have read up on Palin, and I am fascinated to say the least. She is a tough woman who took on the corrupt Republican establishment in her state and truly brings an aura of reform to the ticket. I am anxious to see what happens next week. This truly will be an extraordinary election.

We'll see what happens.....


(Delicious Surprise..I Believe It is a Jo Dee Messina song. I saw her for free at Churchill Downs years ago. It was a good show!)

August and everything after...

It's August, so the title fits. It also happens to be the title of the Counting Crows first album, back in 1993. I went to their concert--they opened up for Cracker at the Brewery in Louisville. I am pretty sure it was Louisville's first official mosh pit concert, because they were serving beer in bottles--big mistake. The power went out during the show--but all in all it was pretty good.

I have never written a blog before, but am hoping to track my thoughts and share them with anyone who wants to read. Thoughts from what's going on in the world, to what is going on in our own back yards. We will see what happens...