Something Else...

There's a whole lotta Ick goin' around right now. In the U.S., there's the horrifying Presidential campaign. In the midst of all that, there's also the reports of police brutality and citizens on both sides of the fight making things worse than they already are. There are hurricanes and flooding and then the "usual" crimes that seem to be front and center because everybody and their grandmother has a SmartPhone, at the ready, just waiting for the next thing to film and get their fifteen minutes of fame.

And that's just the U.S.

The world seems to be flooded with images of despicable people doing unspeakable stuff. All because this generation of tech wizards are looking for an easy way to make a buck, get their faces on the news, and maybe a contract for yet another ridiculously stupid "reality" show, with nary a stitch of talent to be found.

Ick. Ick. ICK.

But then....

There are those who somehow manage to find the Joy, despite the horrors. Those people who refuse to allow the Idiots of the world to dampen their spirits, taint their beliefs, get buried in bullshit.

WHO will NOT let this crap change their hearts.

It is for those of you who are in this latter arena, those of you who march onward, with your beautiful hearts and your unbreakable spirits and your generous acts of Kindness. YOU, Dear Ones, are the lights that won't ever go out. You are the glimmer of Hope that keeps the hopeless from jumping off the nearest cliff. You are the chosen ones...because you MAKE THE CHOICE to be who you are. For you, I open my arms and offer this:

NOTHING can stop us if we will just BE Kindness.

No.Thing.

I thank you all for your beautiful hearts and your cheerful smiles and your loving hands.

You are, each and every one of you, Treasures.

Carry On ~

the only reason you need

When I was a young lass (I just love the word, "lass"), my very first boyfriend sent me a dozen red roses. I was eighteen at the time and had never gotten roses from anyone, let alone a gorgeous man who said he loved me. I was completely blown away. It wasn't my birthday, nor was in Valentines' Day or any other "special" occasion. My first thought was, "why?". Then I opened the card. It read:

Just because.

Now I was even more blown away. Who was this guy? How did I get so lucky? Talk about romantic.

That was a very, very long time ago, yet, I still remember how it made me feel all these years later.

Just because.

I carry that little card around in my head, seeing the words, feeling the feelings they inspired. I smile every single time. I am also quite aware that those two little words carry over into my life in a huge way. Sometimes when I am feeling a bit Less Than {definition: Less Than All That I Am}, I will recall those words and do something nice for someone. Or send out a card. Or make an apron and mail it to a friend. Or call someone I love and tell them a dumb joke. Or let the pissy lady at the store get in front of me at the checkout line. Or tell the mother who looks haggard from all those kids yankin' on her just how beautiful her smile is. Or...well, you get the point. I do these things

{WHUT? You think they don't get tired?!}

Just because.

Because they feel good. To me and to whomever is on the other end of the thing. Because it's really fun to watch someone light up. Or hear them laugh. Or know I made their day, however small the gesture might have been. You see, I don't believe there's any such thing as altruism. I think people who claim to be altruistic are either full of shit or ignorant. Because of all the many people I've met in my life, I've never met a single one who didn't do those nice things for at least one selfish reason: it feels good.

Just because.

Maybe it feels good because we are all, way deep down, kind people. Or maybe it feels good because we know that if the shoe was on the other foot, we'd have some good karma to rely on. Or maybe it feels good

Just because.

But no matter how you look at it, there is always a reason to step out and do something nice. Even if that reason is

Just because.

After all, there's really no need to explain yourself to anyone, is there?