The road from A to Z

Taken from a thread on Salon’s Table Talk:

“Just the other day some yahoo in the breakroom called me a “bleeding heart liberal” and I looked him dead in the eye and said, “So what. I’m proud of it.” We need to stop being embarassed by the fact that we want health care access for everyone, fair wages, a clean environment, corporate accountability, responsible and ethical foreign policy, fiscal responsibility….. “

Lauren told me in one of our last few conversations that I was very “political” on my blog. And I remarked that yes, I am and that whole side of me is just a piece now coming through. This got me thinking about how I got from place A (apathy) to place Z (passion) as re: politics and I now see that it began right about the same time I started seeing my path in life.

I voted for the first time in 1992 for Bill Clinton which was really the sum total of my political action except for torturing my mother by affixing a Clinton sticker on her car adjacent to her George Bush (the first) sticker. This was done, of course, without her agreement and much hilarity ensued! (Well, *I* thought it was funny. Her? Not so much. (It does remain a great family story, though!)). Oh, and I did hang Hillary pics in my cube at work because it pissed off the republican idiots in my office. Mostly, though, I just couldn’t be bothered to actually read and learn about politics because I was of the opinion (and am, still somewhat) that they ALL have an agenda (ReTHUG and Democrat) and will serve the agenda regardless.

My good friend Mark has been instrumental in my life for several reasons – he introduced me to Maureen McCracken who helped stir the “healer” energies in me and he also, through his blog, taught me much about our political climate and what was really going on with this (mal)administration. The more the worlds intertwined for me (healing and politics), the more I began to understand about how connected we all are on this earth. We may have different ideologies but at the core of it, we are all the same. When you begin to open your eyes to that fact, it becomes very hard to carry around a lot of hate, fear and discord. And thus began my desire to actually learn what was going on and help create changes to the flow of negative energy in our land.

As Ghandi so eloquently said “Be the change you wish to see in this world.” I strive every single day to BE that change. Not just THINK about it (which is my natural inclination) but to actively go out in the world and BE it. One way I do that is to act on my intuition about how I can offer comfort and caring to those who have lost their beloved pets. I ask the Universe to send those that need what I can give my way each day so I can offer some consolation-if even just in a five minute conversation. And the Universe, as always, obliges.

So today, I am listing five ways I am magnificent in my world view:

1. I am a fabulous advocate for others.
2. It is my secret delight to bring the good deeds of my co-workers to the attention of others.
3. I treate Mother Earth with kindness and pick up trash when I see it. I also make sure the birds and squirrels in my backyard are well fed and happy.
4. I read all I can about what is happening with our country and find ways I can support those who are working to change it.
5. I make a point to send love and healing out to the Universe each day and ask that it be directed where it is most needed. (Good thing DC is close, hey? I am pretty sure lots of it goes right there!)

Props to my SIL of Love, Becky, for jumping into the Magnificence pool and my favorite hockey chick of love, Kim for sticking a toe in the shallow end and Ami (Raven haired angel of love) for joining us too! Anita! Where are ya, girlfriend?? Have you a secret blog I don’t know about??

And now, Officer P&S has joined us as well! (I admit that magnificence is not a word I use often but it came up twice in my life within a week of each other and you know me – I pay attention – hence, the challenge.) Pups for laying out your five. :)

Happy Wednesday!