Kenn Bivins's Blog, page 5

big, important or tall

Have you ever thought to yourself, “It’s not easy bein’ green?” No? Replace the word green with a word that better describes you – physically, culturally or situational. At one time or another, you’ve gone down the rabbit hole of comparing yourself to others and their situation. Don’t. That’s a one-way ticket to depression.

When Kermit the Frog sang the song, “Bein’ Green,” he was reflecting on his nephew revealing to him that he didn’t want to be a frog anymore. He wanted to be an international pop star. Kermit led off the song, “It’s not easy being green. It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things,” but then something amazing happened. He contradicted the negative with “And green can be big like a mountain, or important like a river, or tall like a tree.”

Your version of green may seem to be ordinary and bland, but it’s really about perspective. We are who we believe. Contradict the negative. You can be big, important or tall too. Be you, be proud and be.

If you’re not familiar with the aforementioned song, here it is…

And here’s one of my favorite remakes performed by the incomparable Andrew Bird…

that’s NOT love

Love isn’t supposed to hurt – physically, psychologically, or sexually. If it does and that hurt is routine and intentional, that’s not love.

Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States – more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined.
There are 1,500 shelters for battered women in the United States. There are 3,800 animal shelters.
One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime.
Police are more likely to respond within 5 minutes if an offender is a stranger than if an offender is known to a female victim.
Battering occurs among people of all races, ages, socio-economic classes, religious affiliations, occupations, and educational backgrounds.
Battering tends to increase and become more violent over time.
25% – 45% of all women who are battered are battered during pregnancy.
Domestic violence does not end immediately with separation. Over 70% of the women injured in domestic violence cases are injured after separation.
Boys who witness domestic violence are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children when they become adults.
Children who witness violence at home display emotional and behavioral disturbances as diverse as withdrawal, low self-esteem, nightmares, self-blame and aggression against peers, family members and property.
30% to 60% of perpetrators of intimate-partner-violence also abuse children in the household.
The average prison sentence of men who kill their women partners is 2 to 6 years. Women who kill their partners are, on average, sentenced to 15 years.
Domestic abuse is not a gender-specific crime. According to CDC studies, over 40% of victims of severe physical violence are men.
Between 600,000 and 6 million women are victims of domestic violence each year, and between 100,000 and 6 million men, depending on the type of survey used to obtain the data.

Sad and startling, huh? Want to read more stats?

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. Domestic violence is a violent confrontation between family or household members involving physical harm, sexual assault, or fear of physical harm. If you know someone close to you who is a victim or a perpetrator, please intervene before it’s too late. It is your business.

the ballad of Autumn Penelope

she collapses onto her back,

making snow angels where snow had yet to fall

wearing a scarf and bonnet with a bow,

this maiden is still without gall

cancer and circumstance had stolen much from her,

since she was but a wee child

a sundry of loved ones had left her,

yet Autumn Penelope never abandoned her smile

the seasons give her consolation

that as often as things would change

there was an accord in the cyclic routine

that, as often, life remains the same

the thaw of Winter rolled down her cheeks,

while Spring’s hope lept in her womb,

Summer happened along to remind her

that she would not be forsaken as unmarked tombs

she was always faithful in waiting

while believing, staring into the cerulean sky

beyond branches and leaves, insomnia and dreams,

she would understand it better by and by

her namesake is her sanctuary

where leaves applaud, wind lauds and colors elope

Autumn Penelope smiles in anticipation

that soon early Winter gives birth to her Hope.

fall en

yesternight, full moon rocked

this night’s show, autumnal equinox

day and night are equal, again

yin and yang and us akin

spring, I fell forward

but now I just Fall in.

like Judas

if we’re truly honest with ourselves, we would be cognizant that we have the propensity to be like Judas while striving to be like Jesus. the enemy isn’t always charging toward us. sometimes, he is us. resist him, and moreover, be aware of negative influences – outside and inside.

know Your Worth

neither ignore nor indulge in people’s praise. instead, love and work with steady diligence, regardless of public response.

defense

thankfulness is the best defense against adversaries like anxiety, disappointment, depression and even despair, despite what strongholds have you right now. try it and see what happens. #defense

make your own

joy isn’t made in a factory or packaged for consumption, it’s made by you. fresh. daily. #makeYourOwnHappiness

where is your heart?

wherever you retreat without obligation, there your heart is also.

looking backward

looking backward is a temporal exercise for the eyes to strengthen them, so that they can better focus and look forward. #eyesForwardNow