Oustide of my mind...
Every once in a while something happens that distinguishes real life against the day to day nonsense that we each process ourselves through. In these tiny and (what we think are rare...oh how not bright we are) a light bulb, a light switch, a shining beaming obnoxious chaotic jolt of lightening presents itself in our mind, and if we are fortunate enough not to be too full of ourselves in the "process" of whatever we are doing... We stop. We look. We become aware. Aware that what was just seen, heard, witnessed, and any other avenue this light presents itself... we are aware that this is a special and intimate moment. One that maybe only a single person sees, or the iconic and ironic realization that so many other human beings "just got it" too.
I had one of these "jolts" on Thursday night listening to the President speak at the Tucson Memorial. No worries or angst to arise in you now, this is not a political rant, nor is it one that bears my own personal feelings and beliefs in the world of government... instead it is an insight into the bigger picture of who we are as people and what enormous, gigantic, breathtaking, anomaly of responsibility we have been given. A gift in fact. (Though to show my sarcasm and hesitation on all humanity, my belief that everyone had the same jolt is not something I have hopes on, but at this time I am not focused on all those others - it is on me. On those around me I call family and friends and you.)
At the end of the speech he spoke (and I am not naive enough to think he wrote the speech by himself... but human beings working together wrote it... that is fine with me) back to point… he spoke about the little 9 year old girl shot and killed. Here is what transpired in my kitchen during this.
While the TV is on I told my 2 sons they could go and watch their TV show in the living room for a short while, while I finished watching the speech. My 6 year old ran for the opportunity, however to my surprise, my 9 year old said he wanted to stay and watch the speech. He sat quietly throughout (when normally he has 1,001 questions) he had tears in his eyes when I paused the speech (DVR's is a great invention!) I asked him if he was okay. He responded by telling me what they had discussed at school about the Tucson tragedy. After he reviewed with me, he asked about little Christina. I told him that like him, she was born in the week of 9/11 (in fact she was born on 9/11) We talked about everything the media has told the viewers about her dreams, her involvements, and her personality, how those around her described her, everything. I pressed play on the DVR and we both sat together watching the remainder of the speech. For me personally, the words spoken about meeting the expectations of our children hit home... however my "jolt" happened when I turned off the TV and looked at my son.
In all of his things to learn in life, he has the child like insight that if we as adults (who get in our own way on a daily basis because of what we believe is the right action, perspective, and word) back to topic – if we as adults had this insight, oh how the world would be a different place.
Without looking at me, he stared at the powered off TV and asked "Mom, do you think any adults who were there or watching will take the challenge just said? Do you think that they can all stop long enough to see the example they are setting instead of what they should be setting? Will adults work to exceed children's expectations for the world we live in for the kids, or will everything that was just said be forgotten. I mean she was only 9, and that other guy was a judge, and what about the older people who loved each other and died saving their spouse?!"
Jolt, jolt, and jolt again... I made him look at me and said that it starts with one person to believe in the expectations of children for the world they will grow into; that parents and adults are human, however each of us should never use that as an excuse but rather a driving factor to do better, be better, and love stronger all those around us.
RIP to each of those that passed one week ago today. Your lives meant something while air came in and out of you, the lessons, legacy, and love your existence has shown millions over the past week is a silver lining blessing in such a sad and tragic event.
Now to the rest of you - set your expectations high on yourself, push harder to be good to those around you, treat those you know and those you don't with respect in how you talk to them and about them, hold yourself accountable for being the smiling, door holding, car merging, grocery carrying, drive thru difference, amazing person each of you/us can be. For us, each other, but mainly - for the expectations the children should have for the world when they inherit it.
Much Love,
Me.
I had one of these "jolts" on Thursday night listening to the President speak at the Tucson Memorial. No worries or angst to arise in you now, this is not a political rant, nor is it one that bears my own personal feelings and beliefs in the world of government... instead it is an insight into the bigger picture of who we are as people and what enormous, gigantic, breathtaking, anomaly of responsibility we have been given. A gift in fact. (Though to show my sarcasm and hesitation on all humanity, my belief that everyone had the same jolt is not something I have hopes on, but at this time I am not focused on all those others - it is on me. On those around me I call family and friends and you.)
At the end of the speech he spoke (and I am not naive enough to think he wrote the speech by himself... but human beings working together wrote it... that is fine with me) back to point… he spoke about the little 9 year old girl shot and killed. Here is what transpired in my kitchen during this.
While the TV is on I told my 2 sons they could go and watch their TV show in the living room for a short while, while I finished watching the speech. My 6 year old ran for the opportunity, however to my surprise, my 9 year old said he wanted to stay and watch the speech. He sat quietly throughout (when normally he has 1,001 questions) he had tears in his eyes when I paused the speech (DVR's is a great invention!) I asked him if he was okay. He responded by telling me what they had discussed at school about the Tucson tragedy. After he reviewed with me, he asked about little Christina. I told him that like him, she was born in the week of 9/11 (in fact she was born on 9/11) We talked about everything the media has told the viewers about her dreams, her involvements, and her personality, how those around her described her, everything. I pressed play on the DVR and we both sat together watching the remainder of the speech. For me personally, the words spoken about meeting the expectations of our children hit home... however my "jolt" happened when I turned off the TV and looked at my son.
In all of his things to learn in life, he has the child like insight that if we as adults (who get in our own way on a daily basis because of what we believe is the right action, perspective, and word) back to topic – if we as adults had this insight, oh how the world would be a different place.
Without looking at me, he stared at the powered off TV and asked "Mom, do you think any adults who were there or watching will take the challenge just said? Do you think that they can all stop long enough to see the example they are setting instead of what they should be setting? Will adults work to exceed children's expectations for the world we live in for the kids, or will everything that was just said be forgotten. I mean she was only 9, and that other guy was a judge, and what about the older people who loved each other and died saving their spouse?!"
Jolt, jolt, and jolt again... I made him look at me and said that it starts with one person to believe in the expectations of children for the world they will grow into; that parents and adults are human, however each of us should never use that as an excuse but rather a driving factor to do better, be better, and love stronger all those around us.
RIP to each of those that passed one week ago today. Your lives meant something while air came in and out of you, the lessons, legacy, and love your existence has shown millions over the past week is a silver lining blessing in such a sad and tragic event.
Now to the rest of you - set your expectations high on yourself, push harder to be good to those around you, treat those you know and those you don't with respect in how you talk to them and about them, hold yourself accountable for being the smiling, door holding, car merging, grocery carrying, drive thru difference, amazing person each of you/us can be. For us, each other, but mainly - for the expectations the children should have for the world when they inherit it.
Much Love,
Me.
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