Reflections From Within

This article began with conflicting feelings from within my own thoughts. I purposely do not talk politics nor subscribe to any set religion. There`s plenty of those articles available for those with the need of its consumption. I include myself in that statement as well.

With the exception of a poem, called “Character”, and “That Sticks in My Craw”, I feel I have maintained that for my publications here on One Soul`s Journey (OSJ). My message is meant to be all inclusive, from believer to non-believer. Most of my life has been spent questioning those things I was taught as a child and that I have come to believe and or understand as an adult.

OSJ is about my journey through the exploration of my emotions and thought processes. Throughout my journey, I have tried to find light where there was darkness and love where there was hate. I do not place myself above nor below anyone. I seek to just BE. To allow myself to fully embrace the spirit within and all that I am before leaving this earthly plane. Yes, at times it is overwhelming and uncomfortable to have so much emotion and know that others think of me as too emotional- too deep- too (fill in the blank).

I want to share my authentic self despite the fear of losing subscribers or followers. For in the end if I write to please instead of what is truly inside of me I have failed in my desire to share myself authentically with you the reader and with the purpose I sought when deciding to publish my creations. Honestly, I`d rather lose followers than lose the entirety of myself.

With the above being said I will attempt to share the feelings that led to this article.

I, like many of you have a morning routine. Before Substack it was with my YouTube feed and its list of my favorite commentators or clips of news from a variety of sources. I “cut the cable” as they say to broadcast TV a decade ago. I stream via the internet and find what I like mostly from YouTube.

Since I`ve been on Substack publishing some 34 days ago, I have found and follow some of those same people here. I`ve also found new people to follow, read and view. What is different is my interactions. From the TV the comment section was a non-existent thing to me. I knew how to hit like or subscribe but didn`t share my views or comment on content. Here that has been new to me, and I find myself typing in response to the things I run across or read.

My internal conflict-reminding myself to breathe and think before typing when I find something irritating or provoking. Realizing that yes, some things are written to get that very response while others are to reinforce a shared belief. I`m also learning to not comment at all. That my opinion is just that an opinion one of many.

My struggle- I am not seeking to be confrontational or disrespectful to anyone yet to go along with every feeling about (this is where it`s political) people who voted for (dump), I cannot. Not only because of personal relationships with people I know, who are not MAGA, (not bigots, homophobic, nor misogynistic in any way shape or form), but because to me we are stereotyping the lot (dump voters) for the actions of the extreme Magat’s.

My reasoning- When I was young and raising my family I didn`t have the time, energy, nor care what the politicians were doing. My voting history was spotty at best until Obama ran for president, and I was proud to cast my vote for him and share in watching his inaugural speech with my oldest child.

But when (dump) came down that escalator, my interest in politics took off. I absorbed as much information as I could and it`s been a steady diet for ten long years. There has been so much hate, so much division and so much turmoil.

I like many am angry he was once again elected to office. But I cannot bring myself to place that blame fully on that lot as a whole. I blame the politicians who did not hold him accountable during his impeachments. I blame the Attorney general who slow walked the indictments but went after Bidens son for so much less. I blame the judges who had the power and the right to violate his Precourt release and send him to jail. I blame those people that sat back and said nothing who had the ability to hold him accountable in real time but instead waited for their book deals. I blame both Dem/Reb who did not uphold their oath and follow the constitutional amendments that prevented his running for another term. The last analysist I saw showed that democrats stayed home or were disenfranchised by the bomb threats called in by an adversary nation, as reasons for dumps victory.

I don`t want to feed hate into my heart. And I think that is what has me so bothered. I am trying to understand those disillusioned enough to vote for a man like that. To be that put off by politics and politicians and society as a whole.

Some feel that he was voted out, yet no accountability followed. None that was substantial. His money and influence paved his way. The theatrics of politics and the cowardly mainstream media normalizing lies and failing to do their job of informing the public with facts, not opinions.

We are not born to hate each other. That is taught and that is a result of marginalization. There will always be people we run across in life we disagree with on any number of topics. I for one will treat everyone respectfully until given a reason not to. Opinions are different from actions. Words have meaning but actions give those words and their meanings life. People with different opinions can be persuaded to change those opinions by the actions of another. That happens every day in every walk of life.

Jesus spoke in parables. He allowed the listener to seek within their own heart his message. He did not beat it into them nor hate those who hated him or were blinded by greed. He offered hope, he gave forth love for all that seek the light of salvation. He did not give us religion in a dogmatic form. He gave it to us in faith. He did not condemn those that crucified him. Jesus looked up to his father and said, “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do”.

This is how I process life. I do not have the answers or think I know more than or think I am better than. I am just trying to do better than I did yesterday, last week, last year. I am just trying to shine what light I have and learn to love beyond my pain, my sorrows and my distaste for what humanity has become. And in doing so I hope the glow from that love I tried to show lights a path out of the darkness for somebody else.

I think I need to detach myself from political news, at least not fill my every online moment immersed in it.

Thank you for following me on this journey. For stopping by and reading the things I share. This platform has opened that door of expression I`ve longed for my whole life. Don`t get me wrong, I`ve attempted to several times but the timing never clicked with my desire. It isn`t about how many times we`ve fallen, it`s about the willingness to get back up and try again.

✨Be the Light✨