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Watching the World Burn

6/26/2022

Roe vs. Wade was overturned Friday morning, and the media has been filled with outrage. I guess nothing else has happened in the world, because every time I log in to something, it's about this for the third straight day. The outrage has ignited - again - and it's time to burn down the world.

But wait - didn't somebody say it requires a biologist to define a woman a few months ago? What changed? We learned to identify gender again awfully fast.

I'm using my platform for something slightly different: namely, to ask what happened to the middle ground? Moderates have been driven to extinction, forced to take sides that have become radicalized over the past couple of decades. What happened? When did this polarity evolve? When did we, as a society, decide that we won't allow shades of gray, we won't allow compromise, we won't allow a voice to all sides without screaming and fighting to dominate with our sacred opinions?

I turned it off firstly because I have a life. I had some home repairs to attend to late Friday morning, so I had to abandon the pundits on the radio to take care of my business. Unlike those filled with righteous rage, I have a life that requires active interaction to keep things moving, so I've been busy attending to my responsibilities. Adulthood is like that. It can be a real pain in the butt sometimes but alas, it is what it is, and I choose a contented, productive life which means focusing on what I'm supposed to be doing and keeping the ball rolling.

It means I have to shut it off every now and then and be a grown up.

I'm not saying you don't have a right to your opinion. I'm saying we all have a right on how or whether we express it, and I'm so sick of the screaming, so sick of the rage, so sick of the anger and protests and power plays that I don't want any part of this. I have enough to do in my real, day to day life. I'm sticking with that. I've been saying over and over that I want to do better, and that means having a proper focus and priorities. I've been in situations where circumstances forced me to live against my priorities for a period of time, and THAT'S a cause for righteous rage. I have no intention of voluntarily walking into that scenario again because I've been negligent or irresponsible in my personal life.

I know what matters and what's worth my energy. Protesting one side or the other isn't it for me. I'll just sit here, do my thing, and watch the world burn. Again. It seems to keep happening. A time will come to exercise my voice, and it's called Election Day. I will keep a casual eye on the news to keep up with what I need to know so I can make an informed decision when that day comes.

I know, you probably think I just don't get it, and you're right. I don't. Of course conservatives have stuck back after years of being screamed at and bullied by the left. That's what happens when you polarize and eliminate the middle ground. You create a war of wills. That's what we see now. We're reaping what we've sown. Frankly, I'm scared of where this might go.

That's all today. Take care, and have a great week.

Bye!

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Cool Tips to Beat the Heat

6/16/2022

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It’s not your imagination: summers are hotter now than they were even 30 years ago. It used to be unheard of for the temperatures to soar beyond the low 90’s. Now it’s a fact of life, and it’s not summer by the calendar yet. Believe what you want about global warming and climate change, but one fact is undisputable: summers are longer and hotter than they used to be. Industrialization has changed the world we live in, and this is the price of our modern lifestyle. Get used to getting hot.

There’s plenty of advice about how to keep cool and beat the heat. Today, I’d like to give you some lesser known tips to keep cool when the world outside is deep-fried insanity. Take it from a lifelong southerner: we know hacks to keep our cool when the world around us is cooking. For example:

Darkening curtains. HVAC units are designed to function in the range of outdoor temperatures of 30 – 95 degrees. Outside of that range, they’ll struggle, perhaps as much as 3-5 degrees. You can still be comfortable in this range, but it means that it will take longer to cool once the sun sets. Darkening curtains can help with this differential, especially in rooms that get midday and late afternoon sun.

Use fans. I recently spoke to an HVAC technician who said the best thing you can do is give your unit an assist with fans. Ceiling fans are good because they can help to reduce the humidity, which means you feel cooler. Cooking and showering also generates heat and humidity, and those exhaust fans over our stove and in bathrooms can help ease the heat and humidity as well.

Cut back on heat generating activities between 5-7 p.m. This is actually the time where activity on the electrical grid is highest, so it puts more strain on the system. Try to limit things like cooking and running dryers during these hours. Plus, it’s also the hottest part of the day. You may also want to open your garage door to ventilate it during these days, or even run a fan to circulate the hot air out of that area. As far as means, try to stick with ones that cook faster and implement fresh fruits and vegetables that can be served cold. Now is not the time to recreate a huge meal for “Christmas in June.” Go with seasonal fare.

Wear sandals. Southern girls grow up knowing this trick: how your feet feel affect your entire body. Dumping socks on the hottest days goes a long way in keeping you cooler. (Conversely, wearing them when it’s cold will keep you warmer). There are plenty of nice summer shoes that you can wear sans-socks. Invest in them. Believe me, it’s an investment in yourself and your own comfort.

Park in the shade. The temperature on asphalt and concrete can be up to 20 degrees hotter than the outside temperature. That can be particularly brutal when you get off work at 5:00 and the temperature is 100+ degrees with a heat index of 110. Help yourself and your car by parking in a spot that gets midday and late afternoon shade. Using a windshield shade and cracking your windows slightly can also keep your car from feeling like an oven after work.

Slow down. Our stress hormones rise with the thermometer, and often we don’t realize it until we embarrass ourselves with an angry outburst. It takes a lot of self-awareness to understand how triggers are creating stress between our minds and bodies. Heat is often the first trigger, so we need to be mindful and slow down to make sure that we’re staying on the track that we want. This article gives helpful tips to manage anger in the hot weather. In addition to identifying triggers, I’d also encourage you to slow down, and be more aware of taking care of your mental and physical health, especially when it comes to relaxation techniques that work for you.

Don’t poke or pick up sticks. There are three things I don’t like: live snakes, dead snakes, and sticks that look like snakes. That stick might not be a stick. This tip won’t keep you cool, but it will keep you safe. And sane, because that would be an unpleasant discovery indeed that will raise your stress and lead to problems that nobody has time for.

Above all, I urge you to use common sense. Stay hydrated, stay indoors during the hottest part of the day, and etc. These heat waves pass too. Hang in there. We’ll make it, and we'll appreciate fall more too.

That’s all today. Take care and stay cool. Have a Happy Friday tomorrow and a wonderful weekend.

Bye!

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Wake Up (Again)

6/6/2022

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I first saw that quote on Twitter, but I’ve seen it a lot lately and, in light of my break last week, I think I finally understand what it’s about, at least to me. I can see why it’s popular, though, because it can be interpreted in a number of ways that can inspire people to embrace their authenticity and to live true to their purpose.

To some, it’s a statement of authenticity. They’re tired of everybody telling them what to do, and want the freedom to be themselves. This was a big issue with me in my 20’s and early 30’s, and I certainly understand. It especially resonates in that way with me as the baby of the family. It seems that everybody has been in authority over my for my entire life, and I had to push a little harder and constantly remind people that I’m a capable adult with a mind and a will of my own.

To some it’s a statement of rebellion. I remember a line from Dazed and Confused that’s stuck with me for my entire adult life: “the older you get, the more rules they’re gonna try to make you follow.” There’s truth in that. There are some people who can’t win, and they get tired of being judged and deemed unworthy because who and what they are isn’t acceptable to the cliques around them. This dismisses the cliques and empowers individuals to make choices true to their calling. And really, I see the point because it is juvenile. It’s shameful to see adults behaving like middle school children and thinking that they’re being clever and professional.

To some, it’s a reminder to return to your purpose. Humans are easily distracted. If we don’t get distracted by something shiny and new, then we get burned out stagnation or slow progress, and fall into “maintenance routines” of getting by in daily life. This quote is a great reminder that building something takes time and consistent effort, which means you have to keep at it, every day, and never give up. It reminds us not to get discouraged by failure, slow progress, or what others think about what you’re doing. Keep working, don’t give up, and keep the faith.

And this is where this statement finds me: as an encouragement to keep the faith in building my dreams for this season of life, and not to give up despite discouragement. This quote made me realize that life moves in seasons, and I need to accept, embrace, and work with the season that I’m in. If I remain true and faithful, then the pursuit of my dreams will bring the right people with the correct connections to me. It’s not about saying “to hell with people.” Rather, it’s about giving yourself the space to find the right things and people in your life for right now.

I see why this quote is popular. It can mean many things, all of them inspiring. What does it mean to you?

That’s all today. Take care, and have a great week.

Bye!

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Watching the World Burn

Cool Tips to Beat the Heat

Wake Up (Again)

Escape Reality

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