Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Maturing

     We are physically mature when our bodies achieve adult form and function.  We are then able to reproduce and create new life which begins its journey toward maturity.
     We also need emotional and social maturity which enable us to be responsible and accountable within our families and communities.  We often tell our teenagers that privileges come with being trustworthy and responsible.
     As adults increase in maturity, societies will continue to mature.  Cooperation, democracy, equal rights, tolerance, and justice will prevail.  America has evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society; however, we will not reach our highest potential until all adults contribute their part, become accountable, and reach emotional and social maturity.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Keeping Up

     No matter what the pace of our lives, we all try in many ways to keep up.  On the job, at home, and with friends and family, we face the challenges of  keeping up with our responsibilities.
     By keeping up with housekeeping, organizing our finances, and completing other chores, we can actually simplify our lives and enjoy more free time.
     By keeping up with our health, nutrition, and exercise, we can use it instead of lose it.  Listening to our body and having annual check ups keep us up to date on our physical condition.
     By keeping up with friends and family, we get to know each other better and are able to help and support one another.  We discover things we have in common with every generation.
     By keeping up with current events and technology, we expand our place in the world.  We can increase our knowledge and perspectives.
     By keeping up with fresh ideas, we can avoid becoming stale.  Holding on to traditions without occasional evaluation can cause us to live in the past instead of finding our place in the present and future.
     As we try keeping up with the many aspects of life, we also need to keep our spirits up, keep our emotions and attitudes on the sunny side instead of living under a cloud.  Keeping up does take a lot of energy and effort, but the payoff will be having a fuller and more satisfying life.
      Could you share some helpful hints about keeping up?
   
   
       

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Diverse

     Being of a different kind or dissimilar to the standard puts many into the diverse group.  Today we often think these diverse groups are different than the standard white male, be it female, homosexual, or dark skinned.  And in the US it also includes those who don't have English as their native tongue.  We may wonder why the white male is considered the standard.
     The average male is physically stronger than the female and was better equipped to hunt tiger.  He was never encumbered with pregnancy.  He could easily dominate the female, but he needed her for reproduction, suckling the progeny, plus any other duties he wanted to relegate to her.  At times, he also needed to show dominance to other males to protect what was his.  Thus began his feeling of superiority which may remain in the male DNA today.
     As families began to move from home to other areas of the world, they ran across other races.  Often feeling that their race was still superior, the relationship with the "other" began which caused everything between war and assimilation.  In the US, the white race seems to have more power, authority, and wealth than other races. Perhaps subconsciously or from prejudice, many feel the white race is superior.
     Many religions often identify God as a father who created the male first with the female added as number two in many respects.  In the Bible and in history books, male accomplishments have been recorded.  In a few instances, a female story is mentioned.  The new testament continues to relate the lifetime of the Son.  Also in many religions, the male figure is the leader and the priest or pastor.  Here again the male has increased status.
      Many influences have  promoted the white male as the standard and that those who are different are considered the diverse element.  Many men have difficulty giving up this status.  The Republican party is beginning to realize that their survival depends on at least having a more diverse image.  The good old boys' clubs are in decline.  We no longer need to believe that the white male is the standard and the rest of us are diverse elements.