Coexist

A week ago tomorrow I got another tattoo.  I've lost count now, but I don't see the tattoos stopping anytime soon......no matter how many times my parents give me "the look."

My latest tattoo......

I chose this particular marking and it's location on my body very strategically.  It's a chest piece (and it's tie dye....how kickass is that?? Thanks Rick Gray !!)  I wanted it to be close to my heart because I truly believe with everything in me that there IS a way for EVERYONE on this earth to live in harmony.  It's a matter of choice.  No one says we all have to be friends.  No one says we all have to back down from our own beliefs.  But nothing is stopping us from tranquil coexistence except our own egocentric ways.

I have many friends with whom my beliefs about life, politics, religion, etc. are polar opposite.  I make a conscious effort to understand WHY they believe the way they do and why we're so different, yet I can love them regardless.  This isn't to say that I don't get a little irritated.  I LOVE just as much as anyone to jump on my Peace-Love-Harmony-we're-all-the-same-love-your-neighbor-what's-wrong-with-your-thinking soapbox.  But at the end of the day, if I have it, I'll give it, no matter who you are or what side of the fence you fall on.  I don't care what color you are, I don't care who you love, and I don't care if you're godless or God fearing or who that god might be......

It can happen.  We can make it happen. I choose to live this way, and I've chosen to raise my kids this way.  They're good little people who will do for you because it's the right thing to do.  

<3 your hippy friend,

H

Cheesy Pointless Tearfilled Blog

It's closing in on my daughter's 16th birthday.  I'm sure this won't be my only post about her in the coming weeks.  As most of you know, her big "soiree" is coming up.....so I have plenty of reminders that my baby isn't a baby anymore.

And the tears start.....

I just caught a glimpse of my beautiful daughter as she was walking into the next room.  She's built like a woman now.  I hadn't noticed it before, scary.  But as much as I'm concerned about how her body has changed, I'm MORE concerned with how her mind is changing.  Have I done the things I'm supposed to do to prepare her for life "on the outside?"  I'm not great at this little adventure myself, so how the hell am I supposed to lead anyone else through the turmoil and trials and tribulations?!?!?

I'm pretty frank with my kids about what I've gone through in life and the challenges I have created for myself.  I'm honest when I tell them that every choice we make will have consequences...good or bad.  They see me frustrated and angry at times.  My deepest hope is that they also see me digging my way out of my struggles and fighting with everything I have IN me to BE me.  I might be a quitter of many things, but I couldn't have quit any of those things if I hadn't started them in the first place.

I pray that my children will never be backed into a corner and made to feel like their insides don't match their outsides.  I hope they forge ahead and shove past anyone and anything that tries to hold them back from doing what will make them FEEL successful.  I want them to make the world fit them, not the other way around.

All this because Savannah asked me what she should make for dinner.....