2 posts tagged “fear”
The thing about this piece is that some of us think like this regardless of being a mother or a father. We worry about making ends meet, having a clean house, making sure our friends are okay and ensuring we are there for those moments when fears come to the surface and they come quickly. It happens, it's part of life. Which, in my opinion, is the reason we should love and respect one another regardless of our differences and be on the ready to ensure that "the kids" (whatever that might mean - an elder left behind needing care, the kids, the dogs or fish or cats and birds, the family heirlooms, the home, the garden that nourishes a community that one person keeps planted for all the neighbors and need to come gather food when in need. But then life takes hold and we tend to not think further than ourselves....but we should return to it often to help us reach our goals.
I was sitting here, as I often do, thinking about change. What will change? What will happen? Well, I know we'll all get uncomfortable, but probably no more than we all are right now. Things will eventually get back to normal in a few weeks or months, provided nobody does anything absolutely crazy. We'll all be back in our kitchens cooking for our families and friends, we'll all be back to work (whatever that may be, mine is house husband and to which I need to get on the ball or Keith will divorce me – oh wait, he can't because we're not married) and we'll all take our children to school, band practice or sports practice or art classes, we'll all get in our cars, drive to the stores, buy things, and be back in our comfortable little bubbles of life.
We will socialize with folks who are of like mind because it's many times easier. And who wants to discuss politics or religion with folks who disagree anyway? That's what politician do and love. I leave them to it for now. However, we will all still be on the globe together, we will all still encounter different cultures and we'll all be made uncomfortable by it from time to time, but life isn't always rosy is it? I will say it's most rosy when we act like things aren't going on around us that really matter. We put our heads in the sand like ostriches and hide, until we feel it's safe to come out. We peek, and if it's not safe, we hide again. That's the human nature we have created for ourselves.
Today, I'm going to a celebration party for the ending of the election, however, living where I live, I'm almost certain that one, Keith and I will be the minority because we'll be the only gay people there (that are out anyway) and two, we'll be of the minority in our political views, because we live greatly in the Bible belt here. However, I don't feel we'll be at all uncomfortable or confronted, because I believe people to be mostly good despite their fears and differences.
My only far away concern is that we will encounter someone drinking and feeling loosened of the tongue, make a comment that is unsavory, or even worse, cause a scene. I've been attacked before, mostly verbally, and as little while ago as my reunion a few weeks back. I will say, that I'm quick of tongue and do not back down from anyone if warranted. I have learned that from living a life with people who belittle, and even physically threaten, that to stand my ground, be prepared for injury, but be prepared and stand my ground (and I can sling a barstool faster than a redneck with a Bud in hand can blink). But all joking aside, I hope to not experience this in a restaurant where we were personally invited by the owners this morning. I'll keep my cool, I'll say my peace forcefully, yet coolly, warn and gently guide back into place the person out of line. Hopefully that's enough. As you can tell, I give thought to this when I should not have to. I should not have to worry about going out in public fearfully yet we live in a nation where folks still think that making someone feel less than or not as good as is appropriate behavior. I'm hoping to not encounter this on this of all days at a celebration.
Peace and Barstools!
JD