A friend of mine had been volunteering at one of the resource centers, working with families on welfare just after the reform, explaining the changes to the system. My friend had a very frustrating job, as she saw a lot of apathy and lack of motivation. She asked her mentor what she could do to get people to be proactive, to be responsible. Her mentor replied: "The one thing, the greatest thing you can do for them to encourage them to be more responsible is to give them responsibility." 

The problem is, people rebel against responsibility. It's so much easier to have someone do the work for us, to be handed everything we want. So when it comes time to actually have to work, we are psychologically unable to. We live in a very spoiled world. Coming from just being spoiled with many nice gifts at Christmas, I want to make sure I stay focused on what's important. I like to think of myself as responsible; I understand the value of a job, no matter how difficult or laborious, a job is work, and the result of my hard work is money with which I can buy food, provide shelter, and clothing. I didn't need a Kindle, or a fancy new camera, or a few dozen ice cube trays. These are things I wanted, of course, and I am very grateful to have them, but my survival does not depend on whether I have these items or not. I want to go to Disney World again, but no one is going to just hand me the thousand dollars that is required to go. I need to work, to earn money, to save for the things I want. I'm not going to apply for welfare, I'm going to apply for jobs. I don't have all the answers; I only know that I observe more and more people expecting someone else to do all the work for them, relying on handouts from the government, becoming apathetic, unmotivated to work. That is very dangerous, spreading dependency rather than responsibility.

Merry Christmas!  We had a very good Christmas in our household.  I posted earlier that T-Rex and I had given each other guns for Christmas, which we bought in November.  The gifts didn't end there!  I also gave T-Rex an Asian-inspired gong wind chime and some reloading accessories.  He bought me a Bissell Little Green carpet cleaner and a metal S&W sign.  We were spoiled by extended families too, with a new Leatherman skeletool, a new wallet, and digital meat thermometer for T-Rex.  I received ice cube trays (I collect them), a pastry cloth, and gift cards.  My parents also gave us shelves for storage (since our apartment is lacking in pantry space).  From my in-laws we each received a Kindle Fire, I got a new camera, and T-Rex got his Lee reloading kit. That long list doesn't even cover the stocking stuffers we both received.  We are very very spoiled.
Today we're both home, so T-Rex is busy setting up his reloading press, eager to make ammo, while I clean up and put things away.  It's nice to have a quiet day at home before heading back into the work week.  

Shikin Haramitsu Daikomyo

Here is what Shikin Haramitsu Daikomyo means:

Shikin
A greeting, sensation of harmony, perceived by the heart.

Haramitsu
Wisdom from courage and effort fosters sincerity, loyalty and faithfulness.

Daikomyo
Bring respect and reliance, illumination from the inside to the outside.

Taken together,
Every encounter is sacred and could present the one potential key to the
perfection of the great universal enlightenment we seek.

14-Point Code for Powerful Living

I protect life and health,
I avoid violence whenever possible.
 I respect the property and space of all,
I avoid taking what has not been offered.
I develop signifi cant relationships,
I avoid abusing others for selfi sh gain.
 I thoughtfully express the truth,
I avoid the confusion of dishonest words.
I cultivate a positive attitude, a healthy body and a clear mind,
I avoid whatever would reduce my physical or mental well-being.
I communicate health, happiness and peace of mind to everyone I meet,
I avoid violent, disturbing, and unduly critical speech.
I promote harmony and positive momentum to bring the best in everyone,
I avoid causing alienation, doubt, and division among others.
I encourage all to speak purposefully from the heart,
I avoid the dull contentment of gossip and small talk.
I am as enthusiastic about others fulfi llment as I am about my own,
I avoid treating others’ successes as the cause of my lacks.
I promote the enjoyment of life, and encourage others with my smile,
I avoid setting myself against the world.
I promote the search for personal realization of truth,
I avoid the seductive comforts of narrow-mindedness.
I accomplish what must be done in a timely and effective way,
I avoid putting off doing that which will benefi t me and my world today.
I strive to be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind,
I avoid the negative effects of worry, doubt, and regret.
I work to build love, happiness, and loyalty among all members of my family,
I avoid putting temporary personal benefi t ahead of the welfare of those I love.

Mr. Bain brings up a good point that our government is causing us to be "apathetic about this kind of thing while they take away your rights one at a time." No matter what the legislative issue is, everything that's come out of the government has been taking away our rights one at a time...and no one really seems to know or care...and that's what scares me the most.





The next American Revolution might very well be a civil war.  

When I worked as a nurse aide, I'd occasionally come across a resident whose hands had become closed into clenched fists.  As an aide, it was my job to clean those hands, to get under and in between the fingers, and to make sure there were no sores on the palms.  It was painful, I know it had to be so painful for the resident to stretch those arthritic joints.  I think keeping a closed mind is much the same way.   When we get set in our ways and refuse to see things differently, our minds are like those clenched fists.  Then, when we need to open our minds, it's painful, it's difficult to let go.  We need to learn to keep our minds supple, to see every angle, to step back and distance ourselves from the situation, so we can approach it better.  I've heard it said there are always two sides to an argument.  Can we also find a third?

Merry Christmas to all those who currently serve or have served our country.  Thank you.