45 reasons

Salutations, Truly, truly, do you think I would list 45 reasons for anything? Nah. No need. I rose with the sun 16,425 times, not all the risings were pain free nor filled with overwhelming love, nonetheless I rose. When I think about celebrating just one day for rising, my head kinda gets foggy and my thoughts drift to the other days that don't get that special attention. Every day is so amazing and how deeply grateful these eyes and soul are, that they get to rise with it. Stretch my arms, feel my knees click and pop, shake the sleep that has taken a grip on my hand because it was tucked beneathe me all night, rub the wisps of dreams from these half opening eyes, flex toes, inhale deep, exhale slow...Gaze out my window through the plants and greet the day with true love and hope; hope that I will continue to learn, and be loved by all the wonderful people in my life. Yeah, everyday is my birthday and I

will continue to celebrate, until I no longer rise. Namaste.

Exotic Beauty~ Adulation or Affront

When we hear the term "exotic beauty" several images begin to form in our mind. Usually they are full lips, tanned skin, dark, wavy hair, and eyes cat like or almond like in shape. Mind you these are not words that I comprised, no, I read that this is what people perceive to be "exotic". A bit of a lesson shall we~ Exotic definition according to Merriam Webster~ strikingly,mysteriouly different or unusual. Beauty definition according to Merriam Webster~ a particularly graceful, ornamental, or excellent quality Sounds very lovely to be called that doesn't it? I thought so too, until I did a bit of research on the term. Come to find out that some psychologists think it's a microaggression. Microaggression "Simply stated, microaggressions are brief, everyday exchanges that send denigrating messages to people of color because they belong to a racial minority group. These exchanges are so pervasive and automatic in daily interactions that they are often dismissed and glossed over as being innocuous" ~Psychology today. Well...is being an exotic beauty a good thing then? I did futher reseach and came across this article from Ezine~ "As a psychologist, I am going to offer a more subconscious definition of exotic beauty that taps into the collective consciousness of universal beauty that most humans share that involves our basic instincts of mating and attraction. An exotic beauty is a woman who arouses and stimulates the raw, unconditioned, natural base of human sexuality. When you think of an exotic beauty you probably don't think of a woman with perfect eye shadow, lipstick and blush wearing a beautiful dress and designer high heel shoes. If you take a quick moment to think about an exotic beauty what will probably come to mind is a woman that society has trained you to think of as being overweight, unattractive and far from what most Americans think of as being representative of classic beauty. The exotically beautiful woman who comes to mind is probably naked, with dark long, flowing hair, brown skin, voluptuous breasts and nipples that advertises nourishment to a baby and comfort to her lover; round, generous hips, buttocks and thighs that cushions and envelops her man; and soft full lips that beg to be kissed. Exotic beauty is sexy and enticing without clothes and shoes and it surpasses cultural expectations and standards of beauty. Many people are usually embarrassed by their attraction to women who exhibit exotic beauty because they have been conditioned to find their beauty source in products and mainstream media propaganda ~Cassandra George Sturges Two very different views of what exotic beauty is, both from psychologists. Hm.... It just reminds me how all of us only have to see with our own eyes and only have our perspective. I think I will take being called an "exotic beauty" in the context I believe it was given, which was always complimentary. Besides I keep some very good company. For example,Rochelle Aytes, Michael Michelle, and K.D Aubert. If you don't know these women, give them a look and I'm sure you would be happy to be called an "exotic beauty" as well. Namaste

Slow down and enjoy more than the ruins of Italy

Salutations,
As I sit here and begin my blog all I hear is Erik Satie Gymnopédies 1. To be honest that is all I have heard in my head since I entered into Umbria about week ago. That musical piece and Umbria are a perfect match. Both slow and moving, rich and delicate, the notes linger in my brain as Umbria lingers on my palate. I realized something whilst here, I now understand that I am a country woman. For many years I fought the thought of loving the country, living in the country, always thinking that country folk were well, not to be rude, kinda slow. I know now that yes, they are slow, not in the insulting manner, no, actually they are slow in a positive way. As I walked through the countryside of Umbria and Tuscany, I noticed I was slow too; slow paced, slow to rush and slow to want to leave such beautiful surrounding. Italy has some of the most beautiful countrysides with some of the kindest people and the best food, oh the food...sigh...

I am back in Rome now, and well not to happy to return to the city. My heart and soul are comfortable in the country. I don't like the hustle and bustle of the city. The filth and non nonchalant behaviour of it's inhabitants. One would think coming to Rome would be one of best experiences of a lifetime, and perhaps if I hadn't become a country girl it might have been. Now don't get me wrong the ruins are amazing, but they are ruins. Artifacts that are left behind from our brutal past. The Colosseum known for it's many inhabitants that died there, for dare I say sport? It is a very contradictory place for me, Rome that is, as soon as I left the city proper I felt comfortable, I felt free, I felt slow....

I loved Umbria and Tuscany and all it brought out in me and all the joy it filled my soul with. As I sit here I can still smell the fresh truffles wafting into my hotel room, I can here the ladies exchanges words about the bread they just purchased, I can taste the fresh olive oil I had on my freshly baked ciabitta with rosemary and a cup of cappuccino. I can still feel the love I have of the country side beating in my heart. I am proud to say I am a slow country woman, and I wouldn't want to be anything else...

Tomorrow I had back to Purumrend, Holland and spend the last weeks there.

A Bohemian Rhapsody

"A forest thick with life and love, a time that stands still when nothing else does, eyes that seek the wood for the trees, and finds all the love there is in the thicket of Bohemian leaves."

I love the Bohemian forest and it surrounding villages. I have found true peace here.

Every time I come to Prague I fall just that much more in love with it. This time I fell head over heart. Just walking to the grocery store was like a romantic jaunt. I could feel the romance of the ages in the cobblestones as I wondered the alleys and lonely streets. I realized here that none of us are alone.

I sat one day and just existed in the moment, and in that moment I saw the exchange. I witnessed how though I do not know these people that passed me by, we shared a common thread, the breath. It was an amazing moment and I am so deeply grateful that I got to experience it here.

" A lone tree by the road a mother sees, lovely leaves reaching out to me. Clouds of hope drift above us, me, the tree, our moment to be. The tree reached high like a child for it's mother, a mother holding love in her heart as they stood together. The sky, played like an orchestra~ reds, represented the cellos, yellows, the soft violin, blues, the gentle flute, and the white of the clouds, they sang in angelic voices as they spread across the sky. Together, in that moment she feel in love again with all the reasons that she knew they were not alone."

Next stop Rome

Visiting a lesson learned over 2 years in Scotland whilst in The Czech Republic

What a way to open a blog, almost sounds like I don't like The Czech Republic. That is of course, not the case.

The thing about being in the moment, is being in the moment. I try to write my blog in the country or time, that I am in. Some how time got away from me, not that time really exists, but the concept of what it represents, got away from me. I learned something new about myself while I was in Scotland. I learned that if you truly are happy with who you are, no one can take that away, and no one can make you feel unhappy about yourself. I don't need validation to live, I don't need acceptance to accept who I am, and someone can not make my life worth living, more than I can. The beauty that is Scotland helped me see that. Last year when I began walking this path in earnest, I had heard of these concepts, but I didn't know if they were true. How would I know if I didn't try them, if I didn't practice them. Well, I read the practice on love and on the self. It explains how we are not improved by the people we amass in our lives, but by how we love ourselves. A real love.

This year I didn't get to sit with the flowers in the royal gardens, but I stayed in the town where Rob the Bruce is buried, I got to walk the grounds of an abbey where monks lived so many hundreds of years ago. There I understood what love was. There in the soil I felt how they lived and loved. It was an amazing experience.

Now, I am here. I love being here, and it wouldn't matter if the here where Prague or Corona, the best place to be is always here. The best love you can give is love for yourself.

Next stop Rome.

Paths are not always recognizable

Salutations,

When we walk from one place to another, there is a path that we knowingly use. Be it a sidewalk, a motorway, or just some path carved by such extended use. Paths, are our way of reaching our destinations. As a Buddhist I am learning to be mindful of the path I walk. To be in the moment and enjoy every single one. Of course, I am still learning and I don't always stay in my moment. While traveling through Brugges, I forgot which path I was on. I was trying to find the central station, and some how, well, got lost. How do you get lost, if you are always there? I remember that from last years venture in Ireland. I stopped once I thought I was lost, and took a moment to gather myself. I realized I wasn't in the present moment, I noticed that I had to look around and say to myself "Where are you?" Then like a light bulb coming on, I realized I was on the path of enlightenment. I was meant to find my way by being lost, meant to stop living in future moments and to be mindful of my surroundings. I found a path alright, a beautiful quiet street, no cars, no noise, just peace. I stood there in what I thought was a lost state, and I found my path again. I looked down upon the cobblestone streets and smiled. I said to myself, "here I am."

then with relative ease I found the station, and I found a store in which I purchased my new little camera. See in my haste I forgot my camera in Amsterdam and have been using my cell phone and my professional camera. Which is great, but I brought it with me for a purpose and it is not easy to carry my big boy. LOL

So, not only was I on the path the whole time, but I learned that at times when you can not see a path because it is not recognizable, if we stop and breathe and be in the moment, the path will be very clear.

Next stop Scotland.

A summer of growth

First stop Amsterdam~

Here I am, again, in Europe for the summer. I do so love coming here and experiencing all life has to offer. This time though, I brought my son with me. It is his first extended trip. I know at first he was scared, heck I was on my first extended trip. Yesterday we spent the day together, and he opened up to me. I won't go into details for obvious reasons, but needless to say, he is growing. At first he was afraid of being away from home, then he was just anxious, and now he is willing to grow and learn and expand his horizons.

I too find that I am growing as well. The way things look through someone else's eyes is always interesting,

I am grateful to be alive and even more so grateful to be growing this summer here, in Europe.

Next stop~ Belgium

Graduating in life to become HuMan

Greetings,

As you may, or may not know, I have a teenage son Jared is his name, actually I have a young man. He is graduating High School, and to say I am proud is an understatement. School it seems is a lesson not just in academia but also in every day living. How we deal with stress, new friends, old friends leaving, and new paths beginning. Jared, has worked so very hard at becoming a huMan. Yes, a huMan. We are all individuals and unique like everyone else, it takes a lot of change though to make us huMan.

So as my son begins a new path, yet again, I applaud him and will be there by his side to guide when asked and never interfere when given that side glance LOL. As his graduation gift he is getting to spend the summer abroad. More change, and change in cultures that he has no prior experience; and I know he will rise to the changes and be the huMan I am so proud to call my son.

Congratulations Jared, you are a star upon which I wished and it came true.

Namaste.

New York, New York...

What can one say about one of the busiest cities in the world? It is amazing. As I walk the streets I call home, my eyes look around and drink in all the familiar things I love about this city. I was walking to work the other day and I noticed one of the many tour buses, that I didn't seem to pay attention to before. I felt a strong connection to the tourist which sat in the sweltering heat. They had that wonderment smile upon their redden faces. I remember that smile, that feeling of "wow, I am here!" Now I am the passerby that they see and wonder about. That moment was very special and I will hold it dear to my heart.

I am happy to say I am back to work, and am very grateful for it. I'm back in the gym and feeling the ache of not working out for over 9 weeks! I missed the macrobiotic spot that I love to frequent, the bookstores, the coffee shops, the over crowded antique shops and the transit system...It's good to be home.

Someone in Scotland told me I was a citizen of the world, I thought about it, and came to realize, yes, I am...My passport may say issued by The United States of America, but my soul says it's borne a Citizen of the world. Loving all, living in the now, and enjoying every breath I take.

Namaste

The end of one journey, and the beginning of..

another. As I sit here thinking of all I have done over the past almost 8 weeks, the images of places and faces seem to flood my minds eye. But it all comes into focus after some minutes. The joys of children laughing, the yeses from proposals, I was lucky enough to hear as I passed, the changing weather, from violent to lush, the many greetings and friends I have made for life, they are all one image. One of love and compassion.

There is always some apprehension when one embarks on a life altering journey. Then when you sit alone in your room you realize, that the first step you took as a child was a life altering journey in itself. We always think we are alone but,

We are truly never alone, even when we wish to be, there is always someone to keep you company or a voice to soothe when the pangs of loneliness stir. This journey has taught me so very much. There were times when I would sit and just exist in that space and no place else. Then I would exist within a group, a Sangha, or with mother nature herself. it was and is all very lovely, and I do realize how very lucky and blessed I am.

This journey was about learning and growing. Accepting what can not be changed and change what I have accepted about myself so many years ago.

Though this journey is now at its end, it is just the beginning of it as well. To take all the lessons I've learned all the love I've experienced and living it, daily. Thank you all for being apart of my journey in this world and may you have peace and love in your daily lives.

Namaste

Texel is the heart of Holland

Greetings,

When this blog started on my journey here in Holland, it was negative. Now, that I have thought a bit there will be no animosity written.

Holland, beautiful flowers, lush fields, hidden treasures upon it's many canals, and yes great cheese. I spent most of my time with family and friends, so that is all I know Holland to be. Just love and laughter, joyous moments with children, smiles shared over the dinner table, and a picnic with nothing but good times.

I did find a very special place here in Holland, Texel. It is a lovely little island where beaches stretch as far as the eye can see. it is truly the heart of Holland way up north.

My journey is near it's end here, I leave Wednesday to return to the UK for a couple of days.

Will write a final blog then.

Namaste.

Rob the Bruce and William Wallace

What a land they lived and loved on. Scotland. Many stories have been written about it's battles with England, many famous writers hale from here and many a bagpiper wearing their kilts proudly, still play familiar songs that make you smile. There is so much more to this land than that. The highlands, the Lochs, the people, the incredible vistas. For a photographer Scotland is natures light box. It's rich sunsets, violent threatening clouds, erratic showers with splashes of sunshine. the rolling hills with mist tumbling down them, all of this is about. Untraveled paths that promise a surprise that will take your breath away. I fell in love, head over heels with it all.

I had stated on one occasion that if a place is well signed than the people are rude and if a place is not, the people are wonderful. I will retract that statement. Scotland has the best of both. Perhaps I shouldn't have judged places, just maybe I learned to accept a place for what it is and not it's inhabitants.

Scotland wears her kilts proudly as she does her history, and I am honoured to have had this time with her, upon her Lochs and rolling within her glens. I will be back for Scotland has taken a piece of me that I must revisit.

Next stop Amsterdam. Friends and good times await.

Namaste

Lucky charms and Leprechauns with pots of Gold

This is what we've come to know Ireland for. There is more to this emerald isle than that. Yes, there are lucky charms everywhere, the people are these charms. They are friendly, kind, funny and very helpful. Ireland is not a well signed place, meaning you will get misplaced rather quickly, but no need to fear the Irish are here. They will help you find your place.

I have noticed that in the various countries I have stayed in and the wide amount of cities that I have visited; that if a place is well signed the people have a tendency to be a bit rude. If the place is not signed well, the people are amazing. I wonder what that says about us? Here, in Ireland, I have been misplaced more times than I have in my entire life thus far. I have learned to enjoy the feeling of not knowing where in the world I am.

Now on to the leprechauns with these pots of gold! They do exist, yes it is true. I have met several of them while I was being misplaced. One of the first encounters, I was at a station named Howth. I was looking at a map trying to find a route back to were I was when I felt someone staring at me. I turned around and there he was! 5' nothing with a big smile on his face. He asked me if I was lost. I smiled and said "well I know I am here but where is here?" He smiled and said "follow me lass I'll get ya where ya needs to be." With that he laughed and showed me his pot of gold, his heart. See I think we were mistaken. It isn't a pot of gold it is a heart of gold. He went out of his way to make sure I got to where I needed to be. I couldn't thank him enough.

That is Ireland, so it's not a bad thing that the Irish are known for their lucky charms, and leprechauns with hearts of gold.

Next stop Scotland the land of kilts and bagpipes.

Traveling Buddha

Hi,

I felt that my little Buddha needed a blog all to himself. When I set off on this journey I packed my little Buddha and some prayer beads. Every hotel I stayed in I had him there with the beads. I felt a sense of comfort knowing that I had little Buddha with me. I could turn over and just be reminded of the moment. See, this little statue was like a bell of mindfulness, I would look at it and smile and be mindful of the place I'm at and the things I'm thinking. Today, I looked at it for a longer period of time. I took a photo, and only through my lens did I see the connection. This little Buddha, my mindful focus, was just like me, or I should say I was just like him. He too is traveling. He carries a knapsack over his shoulder. Wow, what a coincidence, I too am on a journey with a knapsack over my shoulder. That moment of realization was intense. I feel the steps that I am taking on this path, are true and I can feel the path grown and undulate beneath my bare feet.

When I came here to Europe I started by staying at better hotels. The first one in London wasn't but that is not the point. The point is I am now staying in very meager accommodations and my next stop will bring me to the lowest point of this journey.

It seems that only at our base, our most denied do we truly see what is around us. I am grateful for this bit of knowledge. Thank you for stopping by. Will be posting the Ireland blog next.

Namaste

Belgium is more than chocolate and waffles

As I sit here I don't really know how to start. Belgium has so many facets to it. There truly is a lot of peace here, among the rude and snarky people. If one was to judge a place base upon it inhabitance, then we would never leave our backyard. On this journey of peace and enlightenment, I'm learning that all the time. Belgium is beautiful. The parks are like fairy tales with all types of flora and fauna about, the food is amazing, the easy of getting around it also amazing. Even though I ran into the occasional snob, it did not change the beauty of this place.

One day I spent just walking around ponds. I witnessed some of the most peaceful acts there. Couples laughing, kids playing, mothers nursing, and fathers being real fathers. I sat in one of the park for hours. Then I had the honour of walking amongst the vast cherry trees, that line the middle of a street. It was a moment of pure joy and happiness.

Belgium has so much love and peace within it's old streets one could hear it echo as you pass by an alley, just laughter echoing all about. This is a beautiful place and I made some beautiful friends (Melinda and Genneah) They enhanced the charm of this place just by their mere presence. I looked at Belgium through the natives eyes, I tasted it through their pallets and loved it through their hearts.

Belgium is more than chocolate and waffles, it is a home.

The Old Country

Prague, what can't be said about a city that survived WWII without a scratch. It is a city rich in every sense of the word. It's Gothic architecture stares down upon you every street you walk down. It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Even the graffiti can't mar it's beauty. Every building has some group of angels or warriors watching over you. You either feel safe or you get a bit paranoid. The street heading into Old town and Prague castle, are littered with people. Though a different type, or maybe I'm different now. If you go down any other block sans the one heading to old town/Prague castle, you would think you are the only person in the world, last person on the planet feel. I love it, but I needed something else, something more...

I met a group of women here who like to meditate out in nature. Wow, what luck huh? I asked them where they were going to meditate, their response, the Bohemian forest. What? really? The Bohemian forest. Isn't that a place of legend? Yes, it is. On my journey out of the city I thought, "am I really going to meditate in a forest with women I don't know? What is wrong with you, you could get..." the thought ended there, for coming up over a hill was the most beautiful tree line I have ever seen! I just smiled and let the feeling run free.

We arrived in the town of Cesky Krumlov, in southern Bohemia. When I got out the van I felt an immediate sense of right. This is where I should be, the trees, the air, the smell of fresh flowers and the sighting of a bear. Yes, a bear. It just scampered off after I looked at it and nodded and gave a smile. I felt that everything wanted me, no needed me to be here. We walked for a bit until we came to a lovely clearing. We sat and jenny lead the meditation. On that day we became one with mother earth. we sent love and kindness to all, we connected to all around us, and it was beautiful. I was and am at peace...

Today is July the 10th. I leave this magical city Monday. As I walked today to get some groceries I saw something that made me stop, and stop hard. it was a blind man being lead by his wife? At first I didn't understand why I was so taken with him. Then it made sense. How does he view this city? this magical land of mystery a land you can just imagine a knight riding through the town. How can he appreciate all this visual beauty? I felt sorrow for him, felt like he was missing out on the best part of a movie. But as he passed he laughed at the woman who's arm he was holding, a laugh that I could see! It was beautiful. I smiled, and the woman said to him "she just smiled at you." He smiled in my general direction and wished me a beautiful day. I wished him and her a good day. I couldn't stop thinking that he was missing out on something, but no he is not. See, we see with our eyes and judge with them, he sees with his heart and judges not. I have learned more from that one encounter with that blind man than I did during my meditation in the forest. For you see in the forest I was sending out love and kindness and compassion, and wishing people beautiful days filled with vibrant images of love and life. Not once did I think of the blind or deaf or others who suffer with various ailments, who live on this planet. I did not once wish them good sounds and good vibrations, not a thought of sitting with a blind man and telling him how green the grass really is, or how clear the water can be.

I'm ever learning and I'm grateful to all who are willing to teach me.

next stop Brussels.

Namaste.

The path

Yesterday July 5th 2010, while sitting on a bus heading to Tooting Station, in Wandsworth London, I took my first true step on the path of enlightenment. Seated just 2 rows from the front of the bus, while music filled my ears, love and compassion filled my heart and soul. The first couple of days here were not as enjoyable as I thought they may be. I found it hard to meditate and to find solace. The rudeness of people was seen as such, then on the bus it started to clear. I saw not rude people, but people of different cultures and walks of life. That was when compassion filled me. Not thinking "these poor people." No, it was more "These people in a strange land away from what they know, rushed and huddled into situations that they don't know." How I loved them for their bravery. How I love them for breathing the air next to me and wanting a better life for themselves and their loved ones.

Some I felt compassion for just because they were weary and ached from a long days work, and though they receive pay, rarely do they receive gratitude. At one point a women came on the bus, it was clear she had some type of accident that scarred her face. She was carrying a baby, the baby was a sleep. She carried herself as she did her baby, guarded. I breathed in her discomfort and how she perceives peoples views of her, and I breathed out acceptance. She has to accept herself and not let what she thinks people are thinking of her bring her such ache. When she passed I smiled at the baby and her. The overwhelming love I felt made my heart thunder in my chest. That was when I realized I had taken my first step on the path.

I do love all even those that have caused me harm or who I may perceive as not being so nice. I wish no ill will towards anyone nor will I harm another human being or animal, as long as I have breath in my body.

There are so many joys in life, why would we focus on the negative when the positive is so very beautiful. Joy can heal and guide one through their darkest hour, so that they may find the path....

Namaste

Why do we have to search for peace?

Greetings,

Well, here I am in merry ol' England. My flight was pretty uneventful, sans all the babies crying. I had a bit of a lay over in Finland, my friend couldn't meet me because she was out of town (Tunisa to be exact) on a photo shoot. Made the best out of the layover by reading and relaxing. I began to think of this journey I am on. Why do we have to search for peace? Shouldn't it just be there, right in front of us? We never have to search for pain or suffering, they are always visible. So, I put aside those thoughts for the moment and just existed.

Upon arriving in London I had found something very interesting. This was not the London I knew. The crowds have thickened and the people have lost their English charm. I was greeted with shoves and curses, people in such a hurry that a woman and her stroller was knocked to the ground, and instead of the person apologizing they yelled at her for being too slow....Being to slow? Hm.

Realizing all the pain that surrounded me, my heart began to fill with sadness. The thought of finding these signs of peace would really be a challenge here. I was, sadly, right.

Today is Friday the 2nd of July, and so far the only peace I have found have been with the animals. Birds have come and sat on my sill and sang, squirrels run up and sit by me to eat their lunch, and the ducks, oh the ducks, they preen themselves and play in the water as I sit and watch them. Maybe I was looking for peace in the wrong place. Perhaps it doesn't lie within us, but in what surrounds us. Yesterday as I sat on a lovely stone in Dover, a seagull came and stood near me. He came very close and when I said hello, he crooned. I felt true happiness, but it wasn't to last....But for a moment a later a gentleman came up to sit near me and he waved his arms about violently trying to shoo away the seagull (btw I believe that seagull was the one and only Jonathan!) But the seagull held fast, and craned his head at the crazed man. The man picked up a stone to throw, and I stopped him. I said "This seagull is not bothering you, and he was here before you came along." The man just laughed and said "I see why you are alone." I just shook my head and said "I am not alone. For the seagulls, crows and hawks keep me company." He didn't understand what I was saying, but as if on command, a hawk landed several feet away. I smiled and said "see" The man just smiled and and shrugged his shoulders...That was when it was confirmed, I really was hoping to find people to be the source of the happiness I feel inside, I expected everyone to be as happy as I am just to have another breath, but that is wrong. The signs of peace are everywhere, and you don't have to search, you just have to be breathing in the moment to see them...

Next blog locale, Prague.

Namaste...

Life is a journey

There is so much beauty to experience in the world. Be it a child's smile, a person holding a door open for another, a couple laughing, I can go on and on. Most of us have a tendency to elaborate on the bad and forget the beauty that is there.

I have decided to do a photo journal of peace. Throughout my 8 week journey, through Europe, I will be photographing images of peace, love, and joy. From that child's smile to the elderly couple that will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary, I will be there with camera in hand and compassion filling my heart.

Wishing you all peace and light on your journey in life.

Namaste

Paint Balling isn't a sport. It's War.

Hello,
I have a 15 year old son, who's name is Jared. I don't dictate his life to him, nor should I. I give him my advice and hope that he will understand that this info doesn't come from me wanting to control him. He has a best friend (Jorel) yesterday, June 6th was his friends birthday. He was invited to go to a paint ball party. Hm, I have heard of paint balling, and I was told it can be very dangerous. I questioned him to make sure that this is what he wanted to do, and I asked if people under the age of 18 could even participate. He wasn't sure on the age limit, but he enlightened me to how his friend Jorel said that his father would be playing as well as his sister (who is in her late 20's) and his cousin. He went on to say how they like to get rough with it. OK, you're thinking, why didn't she stop him from going? Well I couldn't. This is his friend and he must make his own decisions. Jared began to paint (no pun intended) a very painful image of what was to come at this paint ball party. He said things like: "Well the father doesn't like to lose so he shoots you in the head and between your legs." The cousin sneaks up behind you and hits you with the butt of the gun and while you are on the ground writhing in pain, he shoots you up close."

OK, now I'm starting to worry. But, I didn't say no. I told him instead, "Just tell them you don't play like that."

OK, permission slip was signed (and yes if your child is under 18 you have to sign a waiver. Absolving the paint ball place from any injuries your child may obtain.) Jared seemed thrilled. We looked on the web for images of people playing paint ball. It looked like they were wearing fatigues and armor. The guns, well they looked a little to real for me. We read that the balls are coming at you around 200 mph! Huh? that is pretty damn fast, won't that really hurt upon impact? Well of course it would, if you weren't wearing the armor.

Can you see where this is going?

Yeah! I got the call! "Mom! I'm bleeding and it hurts so badly! They wouldn't stop shooting me! They shot me in the B%lls! Please Mom it hurts!" He is brought home. At first I thought, "well he needed this lesson." Then I saw him. OMG! what did they do to my son? Wasn't he wearing armor? Jared, was riddled with paint ball bruises on his upper and lower body. Some of the bruises were bleeding and had paint in the wounds. I was beside myself, I felt so bad for him. I had to clean paint out of the wounds. He was a real trooper with that.

OK, so why am I'm blogging about it? Wasn't it just a paint ball party? Doesn't this happen when you play war with balls whizzing by you at 200 mph? I signed the waiver? Yes, all of this is true but, my son is 15 not 18, and should have had on the proper armor and the participants should have stopped shooting once he surrendered! What? did I just type surrender? I thought this was a sport not war! How silly of me to think that a shooting game was just that, a game. It isn't and it shouldn't be played by anyone under the age of 18!
If you have to sign a waiver, you shouldn't let your child do it.

This photo is only one of the many bruises. I hope that whomever reads this will see that, Paint balling isn't a sport nor a game, it's WAR!