Am Not! Not! Not!

Stubborn, that is. Well, I am, but should I admit to that? Is it a failing? Yyyyeeessss, it is. I never admit to something that is a failing. I am perfect (and that is a failing – honest[ha ha]). Well, almost perfect. If I don’t admit to the failings, do they exist?

Not a silly question. Think about it. Most people have a ‘thing’ they refuse to admit to. If they don’t admit to it, ignore it, does it go away? If you ignore the poor person sleeping under the bridge, say to yourself “it’s not my business” does it go away? If you spend money on credit and never pay it back because “well, something for nothing has to be good, doesn’t it?” Think about it.

I am stubborn. Okay. That’s the truth. I stick my principles in the ground and hang on for dear life. But I am not going to do the things that make my inability to be flexible become a danger to others. I am not going to ignore the fact of poor people in my community; I am not going to advise people to spend money they don’t have; I am not going to hurt anyone with a physical attack because I don’t like their driving, or their politics, or their religion.

I am going to be stubborn about standing up for my rights, the rights of all people (and a few non-human) in my community (that’s the Earth community), and about spreading my message.

What is that message? Good question. Sometimes, that’s a bit difficult to answer; other times, it’s as easy as opening my mouth. The message is simple (sort-of):

We all come from the same place; we are all connected; we are one!

But how do you give that message in so many different ways that people finally come to understand that wars and politics and disagreements come – not from differences in people, but from differences in power [read: ? ] structures. Politics, religion, economics – all seem to want to be ‘No. 1’ dog, alpha. Win the pissing competition regardless of the cost. Why has this become the way the world works?

Somebody decided that rich is better. That one person should aim to get everything they can before they die, so the world can say of them “they had it all” – but is that true? Did they get to take any of that with them? Did they get to spend real quality time in their community, sharing the things that do matter (laughter of kids, play [yes, grown-ups are allowed to play], community involvement [I’m not talking the fake stuff here where you get to be top dog and gain a little power in a little place], and love?

Well, did they have time for that? Not possible, if their aim was to die the richest dude.

I think I’d rather be stubborn. Stick my heels in and bash on about the principles I hold dear, help my neighbour, my friends; help the person who fell down in the street, hold the door open for an older person, talk to the local kids about things that interest them.

You know the stuff – involvement, commitment, participation.

What are you going to be stubborn about?

BTW – if you ever wonder why I get to these daily posts so late, it’s because in my time it is very early morning (today is Sunday) and winter; yes, I live on the underside of the planet!