Good Morning Let's Make Today Happen

Yesterday I participated in a political protest for the first time. I have always hated politics so I would have never thought to do this. However, I am a doer and feel the need to do something about this tyranny. Will it make a difference? I do not know but we will not know until we try.

A few things I noticed. It was fun and felt right and good. Everyone was friendly and courteous. It was great to be there with my husband and wonderful friends. It was a lot of fun to read everyone’s clever signs.

While researching ideas for signs this one struck me so much that I cannot stop thinking about it. “Ever wondered what you’d have done in 1930s Germany? You’re doing it right now.”

This gave me chills and I am so glad I am doing something.

• I hear some say I cannot listen to thia anymore. Ok, I get it. Take a break. Take care of you but come back. Keep informed. I think many people choose trump because they were not informed of the truth.
• I hear some say we cannot do anything about it. That is NOT OK. We can be powerful. If trump and have a powerful voice than so, can we. I have been listening to many feeds and trying to figure out what I can do. This is what I have learned.
  • Write letters. I have heard they make a difference.
  • Go to a protest.
  • Learn-keep informed
  • Talk to people.
• If anyone knows of anything else, we can do please add a comment. I would really love to know.

So, my question to you is what are you doing right now. Are you putting your head in the sand saying I cannot listen to this anymore. It doesn’t matter what I do. It will not make a difference. Now turn your head and look at your Jewish neighbor in 1930 and say these things.

All of these thoughts brought to my mind the following poems by Pastor Martin Niemoller. He was initially an antisemitic Nazi supporter, however his views changed when he was imprisoned in a concentration camp for speaking out against Nazi control of churches.

First They Came by Pastor Martin Niemoller

First they came for the Communists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me

And there was no one left

To speak out for me.

What are you doing right now?!

We need a president not a car salesman. Musk’s stocks are down and people are burning his cars. I do not agree with the violence, but the president should be taking care of us instead of assisting his budding. We have a right to protest and let our voices be heard. (At least until you take that away). Again I do not agree with the violence but it is crazy to think of how upset Musk and Trump are over cars yet they deny the insurrection where people were hurt and died. They say that was a peaceful protest. Why, just because Trump said it was? Nope, it was violent and wrong. Trump is trying to sells cars for Musk at the White House. Cars the average person can not aford and stating he does not care that the cost of other cars are going to increase due to his tariffs. That is taking care of his rich buddy and not American citizens. Placing a Tesla at the White House and providing basically a commercial for Musk is so embarrassing and Not OK.

I believe in being able to own a gun. But I feel because of gun violence we should have something in place to protect us and our children. I do not necessarily have the answer but I have some ideas. I believe it is the person holding the gun and not the gun who kills. However, we have an increasing problem and need solutions.

1. No one needs an assault gun of any type. PERIOD
2. There are some that should not have guns even if they are not a criminal. I worked with someone who tried to act like a “big shot”, and he was all for conceal and carry because he was going to “save the day.” I believe he would get an innocent person killed. I attended active shooter training at our church presented by a police officer who put a fantastic program together. A person I highly respect and did not see this attitude coming actually argued with the police officer about not getting involved. Mainly because if he is shooting his gun the police will think he is the active shooter not to mention the innocent people who might accidently be killed by him.
3. Background checks for everyone owning a gun. Maybe even for rifle and shotgun.
4. Bring the tone down. Stop trying to impress people or being a cowboy. This is not the wild west anymore. Let’s not make owning a gun such a big deal as in “I own a gun I’m a tough guy.” In at least the European countries, not many people own guns, they do not make a big deal about it and guess what…not a lot of gun violence.
5. Require safety classes and licensure to own a gun. When teaching our children how to drive I told them this (car) is a weapon. It can kill you and others. Treat it that way. We all had to take classes, didactic and on the road, to learn and earn a drivers license. In WI (don’t know about other states) I had to take a hunter’s safety class, didactic and hands on, to be able to purchase a hunting license at age 12. You need to take classes to have conceal and carry.
6. The classes should teach respect for the gun and people. By taking these classes people especially children might be given a different perspective. For example, if a person’s parents do not respect life and gun safety and encourage gun violence. Maybe the interaction with someone teaching safety and respect will have an influence. I have seen this happen with myself on different topics. I had an attitude or opinion because of my upbringing but then once educated I was able to change my mind.
7. Growing up we had guns in the house. They were not locked up. I respected them. I knew not to play with them.
8. As an adult we had guns in the house including a handgun. When it was given to me I took a class on how to properly use it. All guns were locked up. The ammunition was locked up in a different place. We probably should have had trigger locks.
9. Even with all of this said I have lost an adult child to gun suicide. So, yes everything we had in place and thought we did correctly we still experienced gun violence.

This increase in gun violence is not OK!

Good Morning I love you. Message for the day: we are rich only through what we give, and poor only through what we refuse…Ann Sophie Swetchine

Good Morning I love you. Message for the day. St Pat’s Day is an enchanted time – a day to begin transforming winter’s dreams into summers magic…Adrienne Cook

We have a realtor in the white house who wants to take over Greenland, Mexico, Panama Canal, and Canada. How stupid. We need a President who will help our country, not take over other countries. He wants to take the Gaza strip, “take over” Gaza, take a “long-term ownership position”, and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East”. What deal is he cooking up? What is the underlying plan to take over the strip? Convince the people to live somewhere else while he builds it up. Then does Trump say well you abandon your country you cannot come back. Then gives it away to let’s say Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Putin? If it is considered that the Palestinians abandoned their country can other countries, then take over like Isreal?

The United States doesn’t “take over” other countries we help them!

Journal

• I am not a journal(er) by the sense of diary writing. But I write lots of lists and notes. Bullet Point Journaling.
• I write down my schedule on scratch paper (repurpose) each week. Yes, I have a calendar with all this information. However, the act of writing it down helps me plan and sink into my head. I can physically see my week. I write down all the activities and projects I want to accomplish those days. There is such satisfaction at the end of the day to physically cross these items off. Then even better to rip up the paper at the end of the week knowing jobs well done!
• With ease see what is done and what is left to do.
• Keep a record to see your accomplishments.
  • Log that you walked 2 miles each day (small portion of project) five times a week. At the end of the week you will be able to acknowledge you walked 10 miles. At the end of the month you will be able to acknowledge you walked 40 miles. That should put a smile on your face.
  • I write a goal each year of the number of books I want to read that year. I divide it up into fun books and religious/educational books. I write down each title I have read. I was shocked to see how many books I read and try to increase the goal each year. Imagine if you read 15 minutes a day seven days a week that would equal one hour and 45 min depending on how fast you read and the size of the book will determine how many books you read.
  • I keep lists of my authors and books they have written. This way I can keep track of the new releases, books I still need to read and those I have already read. If feels good to check these off the list as I read them. minutes.
• If you don’t want to bullet journal or keep lists. Use the “task” option your outlook calendar.
• Nowadays I am sure there are many techy ways accomplish journalling, lists or keeping track of accomplishments. Do what works best for you.

As a circulating nurse in the operating room, you sometimes need to run out of the room to get unexpected equipment, supplies, medications etc. One of our golden rules is don’t grab just one grab two. It is inevitable that it will fall on the floor, and you will need to run back and get another. Yes, we are a superstitious breed. We also learn productivity and how to walk less steps. I know strange thinking in a world trying to increase steps. Nurses don’t need to do that. We walk many miles. We learn to step efficiently.  I use this thought at home. If I need to walk to my bedroom to bring something to the kitchen, I do not go empty-handed. I pick up the jacket in the living room on my way and hang up in the closet. I let some items build up at the top of the steps (not for a long period of time) knowing I need to go to the basement. Then I take all those items down and gather what I needed rather than making several trips up and down. Now to reverse that thinking if you are not concerned about time and want the exercise then by all means take everything down one item at a time.

Waiting! I hate waiting and losing more patients as I get older. Thought we were supposed to gain patients. Well kind of like Habit Staking there are things you can do while waiting. And just think if you get these tasks done during empty non planned times you will have more time later for fun. I find it frustrating when driving to run into a long stop light or traffic jam. You can organize your purse or backpack. Have a small bag for garbage and clean around you. Organize the glove box. Have wipes in the car and clean dash console and steering wheel. Make a needed phone call. Whatever you do just keep your eyes out for the break in traffic or green light so no one hanks at you for wasting more of their time and be safe. While getting gas clean your windows even the inside if you have time. Even if it is just one. Check emails. Send that text or quick phone call. Write notes or grocery list. Play that game. You can do the same when waiting in line at store, for the elevator, for a show to start, or whenever you find yourself waiting.

Along the same line waiting let us say you are 5, 10, 15 minutes early getting ready to go somewhere. Don’t just sit there waiting. Answer an email, throw a load of laundry in the wash, pick up the toys in the living room, empty dishwasher, pay a bill. Imagine now when you get home a small piece of that bigger project is done.