By SheelaR
Uncategorized
Moving Forward – 2018
By SheelaR
2017 Post – Update for 2018
2017 has been a year full of new challenges, good and bad. However, I could not be more happier and thankful for the experiences. Remember, your year is what you make it. Learn lessons, take risks, fail hard, nurture yourself and your relationships, and move forward. If you constantly find yourself in negative a space, try doing somethings differently. The small things make a world of difference in the bigger issues. Put yourself in front of negativity. Believe in yourself! It’s the only way to positive change and progression.
Every year, I set new goals for myself. Some I make and others die quietly. All we can ever do is our best, right? Make that a goal and everything else will fall into place. Set your mind to it, today! Remember, measure your failures and successes in increments. With all the negativity we’ve experienced in 2017, we have to do our part to make 2018 kinder and gentler.
As you go forward into the new year, give your fellow humans the benefit of the doubt. Regardless of color, sex, career, or religion, we are all part of one world. We have all been conditioned to judge, hate, and seperate ourselves from one another. Tribalism has no place in our global deeply world. We must be committed to spreading love, not hate…by starting small and building big. I love you all!
Onward to 2018! Happy New Year!
Friendship Dilemma
By SheelaR
I’m a super proud godmother of three. The youngest of which is a one year old boy. His mom and I haven’t spoken in about a week. She’s angry with me. I’ve apologized once and I have no plans to do it again, because I did the right thing for the right reason.
While visiting, I noticed him playing with a bell that was about the size of a pecan. He kept shoving it in his mouth and that made me extremely anxious. I jokingly pointed out that it was a choking hazard, to which she seemed to ignore. However, she would occasionally tell him not to put it in his mouth, to which he ignored. He’s only one so that was to be expected.
I freely show my friends how much I love them, with my words and my actions… And what I did next should have only been perceived in that way.
After she left the room, he stood up and then fell forward with the bell in his mouth. I got up and took it away from him, and that left him screaming at the top of his lungs. She came back into the room and I explained to her what happened. Her reaction startled me.
Why would a simple act of love and concern make you so angry? I don’t feel like I crossed a line. I love them dearly and would never do anything that wasn’t in their best interest. It’s not the first time I’ve seen him put something in his mouth that didn’t belong there. I feel like her reaction was more about rejecting what seemed like my questioning of her parental skills, in some ways, that’s exactly what is was. However, it was merely out of love.
I often bounce things off of my mother because she’s one of the most reasonable people I know. She has a great sense of morality and common sense. She said many things, but the thing that stuck with me the most was… “Your heart and intentions were pure and if she can’t see that moment for what it was, you don’t need to be friends.”
That moment has haunted me all week and I miss them. I don’t want our friendship to be over. However, maybe it’s time to close that door so that a new one can open. I hope this isn’t one of those times. All I can do is wait…
Juneteenth – Freedom Delayed
Update
By SheelaR
I really miss writing for my blog, but I’ve not had the energy or ability to string together a coherent thought lately. The time I normally spend writing, I’ve spent drawing, doodling, and trying to sleep. I’ve fallen back into a pattern of working too hard. I’ve simply lost my new-found sense of balance.
However, I’ve also managed to take more vacations. Albeit, they’re never long enough. I’m always in a hurry to get home and immerse myself in business. Every time I try to make some sort of drastic change I always end up back were I started…overworked. However, next couple of weeks is going to be filled with some travel for my business and then a couple of months of time away from the office.
I’ll soon be traveling to Hawaii, Wisconsin, and Idaho. All previously uncharted territories for my art consulting business. I’m actually excited about Idaho and Wisconsin. The thought of the unknown is fascinating. I’ve got all these preconceived notions on what to expect. I hope to be pleasantly surprised. What I’m not happy about…missing Art Central Hong Kong. Maybe next year 😦 I can’t do it all and it’s not cost prohibitive this time of the year. International travel is very expensive.
Well… I’m doing what I said I wouldn’t do. I’m going out to eat. I’m in search of an amazing turkey burger.
Race in America – Emmett Till
By SheelaR
It was the lynching that reverberated across America and help give birth to the civil rights movement. His name…Emmett Till, his crime…being black in America.
On August 24, 1955, 14-year old Emmett Till was visiting relatives in Mississippi, when he allegedly whistled at a white woman. Three days later his body was found in the Tallahatchie river; he was shot in the head and had eye gouged out, among other things. His murderers wrapped his neck in barbed wire and weighted his body down, with the hopes that it would never be found. It is and will always be one the biggest blackness scars on America. It was an heinous crime fueled by nothing more than racial hatred.
62 years later, Carolyn Bryant, has admitted to lying about Till whistling at her, which prompted a mob of white men to pursue and kill himi. In my humble opinion, we have to accept her confession for what it is… She has nothing to lose or gain at this point. However, the history books can now be correctly annotated with the facts… Emmett Till, a young black man lost his life simply because his murderers could, not because of his actions. I’m glad she told the truth for the sake of history and the legacy of the young man who lost his life as a result of her words, then for her to die with the lie, as so many others have!
It may not be the justice we want, but it is a step in the right direction. She doesn’t get to carry and perpetuate the a lie that stole a innocent life. Educate, organize, agitate, and resist!
Donald Trump by Michael Moore
By SheelaR
Here’s why Congressman and civil rights legend John Lewis is right that Trump “is not a legitimate President”:
1. Nothing, including an arcane, racist section of the constitution, can change the fact that 3 million more Americans voted for Hillary than for Trump. It’s either a democracy or it isn’t. If he had won by 3 million, I would sadly admit that Trump is the President the American people wanted. But that’s not what happened.
2. He is not well and needs help. He has a number of serious mental disorders that make him unfit to hold office — and they are on display every day in one cringe-worthy tweet after another. He is a full-blown malignant narcissist. He displays sociopathic tendencies. He will say one thing and 30 seconds later say the opposite. He is disconnected from the truth. And he has a stunning lack of human empathy. These behaviors make him a truly dangerous occupant of the Oval Office.
3. The Russians interfered with the election in order to get him elected. Even Trump now admits as much. That alone makes the election tainted and should be voided. We spend trillions on ridiculous weapons and ineffective police state-style homeland security measures to defend us against those who would “destroy our way of life” — but we are to remain silent when a foreign government is caught trying to get THEIR candidate elected as OUR president? AND they succeed! This is a joke of monstrous proportions — and the fact that conservatives, Republicans and patriotic good ol’ boys are actively defending this foreign aggression into our country confirms to me what I’ve feared all along: that they really hate our form of democracy, our Bill of Rights, our belief that “All men (sic) are created equal,” our one person-one vote system, that whoever scores the most points wins and that people of all religions are welcome here. They don’t believe that, and I’d respect them so much more if they would just simply admit it.
4. The FBI clearly chose sides, and FBI Director Comey’s interference in the 10 days before the election most-definitely helped tipped the balance to the FBI’s preferred candidate, Donald J. Trump. That our own federal police would so brazenly attempt to throw the election to the person with the least votes is mind-boggling, frightening and must be stopped. Attorney General Lynch must immediately, today, appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate what to me appears to be a criminal offense. If this is true, I want to see FBI Director Comey in handcuffs and behind bars. Short of murder and a few other heinous acts, is there a worse crime in our democracy than the highest ranking cop in the land attempting to throw the election?
5. Trump has nominated in Rex Tillerson the most powerful corporate CEO in the world as “our” Secretary of State. Why would the quarter-billionaire head of the world’s richest corporation want a “government job?” So that he, a personal friend of Putin’s, can get the US sanctions lifted off Russia so that his company, ExxonMobile, can get back to their exclusive oil deal with Russia — which will eventually net ExxonMobile three TRILLION dollars. This is nothing less than a bold, audacious robbery in broad daylight — and it says a lot about you and me that they think they can get away with it.
6. Trump has potentially committed a number of felonies — and a felon simply can’t sit in the Oval Office (I can’t believe I even have to state that). From his admitted sexual assaults to whatever he’s hiding in the tax returns, to possibly evading taxes, to his committing fraud with Trump U, to his long list of conflicts of interest — the chance of us having to suffer through his impeachment trial in the Senate is just too much to bear.
Donald Trump is, as John Lewis said, NOT a legitimate president. He is unfit, unstable and was elected with help from the Russian government. John Lewis has announced he will not attend the Inauguration, and eight other members of Congress today have joined him. Call (202-225-3121) or write your Congressperson and insist he or she not attend the swearing in of an illegitimate president. It’s the least you can do short of standing in front of this runaway train. — Michael Moore
Goodbye 2016 – Hello 2017
By SheelaR
2016 has been a year full of new challenges, good and bad. However, I could not be more happier and thankful for the experiences. Remember, your year is what you make it. Learn lessons, take risks, fail hard, nurture yourself and your relationships, and move forward. If you constantly find yourself in negative spaces, try doing somethings differently. The small things make a world of difference in the bigger issues. Put yourself in front of negativity. Believe in yourself! It’s the only way to positive change and progression.
Every year, I set new goals for myself. Some I make and others die quietly. All we can ever do is our best, right? Make that a goal and everything else will fall into place. Set your mind to it, today! Remember, measure your failures and successes in increments. Because of all the negativity we’ve experienced in 2016, we have to do our part to make 2017 kinder and gentler.
As you go forward into the new year, give your fellow humans the benefit of the doubt. Regardless of color, sex, career, or our beliefs, we are all part of one world. We have all been conditioned to judge, hate, and seperate ourselves from one another. We outnumber the 1% but our numbers have been systematically divided to favor those in power. Dont fall into the trap. Love thy neighbor, help thy neighbor, and spread love. We have to start small and build big. I love you all!
Onward to 2017! Happy New Year!
Upcoming Changes
By SheelaR
I wanted to go on some psychotic post election rant, but I honesty don’t have the energy for it. I want to move forward on positive energy only. I’d like to inject some light into all this darkness we’re experiencing. I don’t want to spend the next 33 years of my life wallowing in my disappointment with the world. Someone once said… Be the change you want to see in the world.
My short-term goal is to get my non-profit up running. During my one or two moments of clarity today, I completed the necessary paperwork to make that happen. I’m about five years behind on this, but better late than never, right? Success and happiness doesn’t mean anything if you don’t share it. It’s no longer enough for me to simply throw money at causes. I want my impact to feel more personal. More palpable.
He who shall remain unnamed, has propelled this country into chaos. We must dedicate ourselves to fixing this mess…one soul at a time. Well, that’s all for now. I’m logging off before my wine infused thoughts take over and the tears start to flow. Last but not least… Thanks for all the birthday love ❤️ I’m older, wiser, happier, and always hopeful.
America’s Rape Culture
By SheelaR
I wrote an extensive post about our 2016 Presidential election and the importance of voting, but abandoned it for something a little closer to home. The rape and sexual objectification of women. Having said that, it is Donald Trump’s exploits, among other things, that inspired this post.
We are living in a society that is deeply stepped in a rape culture. The term “rape culture” describes the normalization of sexual violence, particularly against women. There is no one thing that can be attributed to its proliferation, which makes it hard to understand and explain. It’s actually less about rape and more about passively condoning it. It’s an accumulation of social norms that have given birth to generations of men, and some women…who’ve landed on the side of complacency in the face of the sexual abuse of women.
I’m a sexual assault survivor and unwilling member of a generation of people who actively victim shame, blame, and disregard. If you’re a woman or a man with daughter, sister, and mother…you should rethink your indifference. Chances are…you or someone you know and love will endure the indignity of being raped or molested. I can guarantee, it will no longer be funny or uninteresting. You’ll no longer engage in perpetuating the idea that women are only sexual objects, and that sexual objectification is simply a fact of life…nor will you continue to think that it’s simply something that happens to other people. We are all sexual creatures, but it should always be a choice not an opportunity.
It’s a sad state of affairs when we happily hand out passes for egregious crimes, because the victims are women. We’ve chalked it up to “boys will be boys.” We’ve placed the responsibility for the policing of men’s sexual proclivities on women. That is unacceptable. It further sends the message that women don’t matter in our patriarchal leaning society.
I’ve seen this floating around social media for a few days now. I’m sickened and trouble by its very existence. In our electronic information driven society, rape has no place in the funny meme section. I realize that we all have a different sense of what’s funny, but I don’t understand any human being that find the horribleness of rape funny. It’s very troubling. What is off limits?
We must stigmatize and demonize rapists, not their victims. The one great thing to come from Trump’s candidacy is that it has not only fueled a pushback against men like him, but it is writing a new narrative of America as a “rape culture” as being unacceptable…I hope.
Thoughts of a Wordinary Girl 