Finding Center...Is Balance Possible?

Sometimes in life I find the need to step back, breathe deeply and try to find center again. While my life is not yet out of balance, it certainly isn't boring and each day serves up a tasty variety of joy and not-so-joyful. This morning I watched my son wade through a labyrinth of personal challenges and I sensed his frustration; I shared joy with a new online friend over progress made in a very personal aspect of his life; I felt an ache in the pit of my stomach when I got news that the transmission in my car needed to be rebuilt or replaced; and I cringed with disgust as I watched the afternoon news and found myself not able to accept over half of what was presented and unable to trust the other half. And this was not due to any particular media spin. This was in response to the surreal events that have bombarded our network and cable news channels these past few years.

Almost three years ago I became more politically aware of the people and events in my country and around the world. It took a great deal of dedication to research issues and listen to the pros and cons of the important events here and on other countries on this planet. My awareness may not be balanced, but I know what to me is acceptable and what is not. I'm learning to trust my own instincts without the need to justify the "why" of my views. However, I also have come to accept the responsibility that comes with these views, and to me that means listening to opposing perceptions and being open to the fact that we're all entitled to have and hold our own fundamental beliefs and moral truths. 

All too often these days I find myself extremely cynical of the explanations offered by the leaders of my country. Even worse, I dislike the fact that I cannot trust the attitudes and actions of most people of power. Some cynicism is healthy, it cautions us to ask questions and not be so quick to accept everything we see, hear and even feel. Anything worth acceptance deserves quality attention and a willingness to take everything into consideration and then trust our own intuition...whether it's regarding a personal decision or a political platform. 

As a result of my own quality attention to the important issues in my life, I have become aware that my views are as viable as those of anyone else. One of my greatest achievements in life was not just accepting, but taking pride in the fact that my personal and moral truths are worthy. Overcoming inferiority is not easy, but once the light finally goes on, there will always be someone at home, and that someone is me. And coming back to blogging for me means that I have returned to a forum that will allow me to share my own perceptions and then learn from the responses of others, something I now know is necessary if I am to grow beyond the person I am today.

Taking Responsibility...It's Your Responsibility

This morning I woke up with the issue of responsibility on my mind. As I observe this particular aspect of life I know that there can be too much of one and not enough of the other creating a careless balance which can affect work/career, relationships and self-image. I grew up the oldest of four daughters, of the oldest daughter, of the oldest daughter of the oldest daughter, and my first child was...you guessed it, a beautiful daughter. I did not want to burden her with the same responsibility for her younger brothers, but as time and life went on, I found myself falling into the same unavoidable pitfall that my mother, and her mother before her, was born into. Yet, because of a smidgen of awareness, I also was able to make some corrections, hopefully in time to allow my daughter the right to step out of that "oldest child" role.

While I lived in a world with too much responsibility, some people also live in a world (sometimes of their own choosing) where many of the opportunities to exercise personal, and God-given responsibilities has been slowly taken away from them. Personally, I feel this is very sad because it is, in taking responsibility for decisions and actions, or the exercising of free will, that not only human beings but those inhabitants of the animal kingdom learn the valuable lessons in life necessary to wisdom. 

Parents who try to make life easy for their offspring do them no favors in the long run. I'm not against being able to give children advantages that can enhance their life, make less dangerous, or open up a world of safe and valuable information sharing, such as the Internet. However, too much of a good thing can also be terribly detrimental, and at times extremely harmful to health, happiness or personal welfare. 

In our country we have the Big Government/Big Daddy making more and more decisions for it's citizens, passing laws to keep us safe or hopefully prevent some of the other dangers in life from compromising our life and lifestyle. Yet, it has been proven time and again that you can't legislate stupidity. There will always be that handful (OK basketful) of people who will do what they want, whenever they want, and how they want regardless of any pre-existing laws, legal, moral, or otherwise. 

Yes, they are indeed the bad apples that spoil it for the rest of the citizenry who would rather decide for themselves how much salt they want to ingest, whether or not to wear a seat belt, or whether or not they would be wise to purchase private health insurance. After all, isn't this the land of the free and home of the brave? It's not the government's responsibility to define our freedoms or save us from the consequences and/or disasters from misplaced or reckless bravery. Plain and simple, at least it is to me. 

It has been written, quoted and pontificated that it is the wise person who will (or can) learn from the mistakes of others, and I agree with that 100%. Unfortunately, there are too many who, like myself, forget that pearl of wisdom and think that I'm the exception to the rules. And, when it comes down to the bottom line of whatever issue currently lands with both feet in the middle of my life, if I did not choose wisely, then I must accept responsibility for the good, the bad, or the ugliness of my own life and of my own making. 

Don't you think it's time our own government let US, it's citizens, take their lumps and learn their life lessons? Some argue that doing so would cause chaos with everyone doing what they want. But I have news for the naive of our country...they're doing it anyway! so why not let them live with the consequences instead of passing more laws to prevent more chaos that are in actuality creating a society of zombies who can't make an educated decision about their life issues because Big Daddy Government has usurped our rights to make mistakes, learn from them and gain wisdom for future reference. 

So, what does Government have against it's citizens gaining wisdom? Even the Bible grants us that right. Why does the government of the country which is, for the time being anyway, the greatest on this planet deny us that precious, unalienable right? This inquiring mind would like to know!