JENenergy--Life, Love, God and Other Stuff

I  had an incident happen when I was subbing today that has got me thinking. Long story short--I made a girl cry. This sweet kid, and I knew she was sweet, said a rude, sexist thing to a classmate. When I asked a kid to come help me, I said, "I need a boy. I choose you," and pointed to a boy. The girl said, "I don't know if he's a boy." That's when I said: "That is a bullying comment and I won't tolerate it." I probably said it in capital letters. I used my, I'm-not-pissed-but-what-you-just-did-really-wasn't-cool voice. It's not a lovely voice. It's a boy-did-you-blow-it voice. Yes, I used that voice. And she started to cry. Not big, wrenching, red-faced sobs. The head bowed, let-me-fall-in-a-hole crying. Several girls swarmed to comfort her, but no-one shot me any what-a-meanie-you-are looks. They knew I was right. The class, previously bouncing off the walls, went silent. It was a rather poignant moment, if you wan...

In the last few years when Facebook became a legitimate means of communication with people I will never meet face to face, I have become aware of a common penchant that has become epidemic. Now, it may be that this practice is as old as anything, but it didn't seem as rampant as it is now. This epidemic is people's need to tell others what to do . I think, for the most part, these people are coming from a caring place. Someone, meaning me, complains or whines or even just makes a statement (my boss said the yuckiest thing at work today) and immediately, someone is there, lickety split, with a solution. I've heard more advice from my friends, Facebook and real, than I ever got from a therapist. It's like everyone is an expert. Okay, so here's the thing. Many times I actually ask for advice. Yo, I'm not shy. If I don't know what I'm doing, I am the first person to say so. I have been known to go into a shop and actually bleat: "I NEED HELP....

I have been struggling with negativity. I mean, come on. Our whole world is blowing up. The United States went from a country where most of the world liked us to one where most everybody hates and fears us. You know what's happening. I don't need to go on. The bummed out, angry, devastated, oh-my-gosh-what-is-happening-to-our-world collective consciousness has infiltrated our household and it was like almost everything hubs and I said to one another was mean, impatient, critical, unkind, or just lame. Oh, we had some laughs. But it felt like there was this big blob of black weight in our house and instead of getting rid of it, we just tossed it back and forth to one another. And it got heavier all the time. It sucked. So after a rather icky day yesterday (and it was the Sabbath and our son gave an amazing talk in church and the sun was shining and we have enough heat, water, food, &c so what was our problem anyway?) God planted an inspiration in my head and I vo...

 For weeks, I've been blogging and replying to a multitude of FB posts to STAY POSITIVE. Don't name call. Don't get angry. When people who are following other candidates say something horrible, don't reply! Unless it's with respect and kindness. I have had many positive responses to my plea. Sadly, I've received negative responses to this. too. I can't say this strongly or pleadingly enough--DO. NOT. GO. TO. THEIR. LEVEL. It is so hard to not get upset. My goodness! Lying, cheating--blatantly! Little to no honest mainstream media coverage. I mean, the list goes on and on. But so does Bernie. And so will we. Here's the thing: The people who have been planning this evil have been doing this for years, maybe decades. # Berners are a rather new (and amazing!) phenomenon. And we are rocking the boat! But as we gather tighter, closer, and more filled with love, passion and courage, that ball of light that is US (not me!) will dispel the darknes...

It is a few days after Bernie did not get the win we wanted in New York. And yet again, there were problems with voting. There were problems in Brooklyn, his stompin' grounds. There are lawsuits a-plenty. Am I being paranoid to say that something--AGAIN--smells fishy? I refuse to get discouraged. There are many true, honest, good people in place who are not going to stand for this and I consider myself to be one of them. And I know many thousands, tens of thousands, millions who are also insisting that we have honest elections. And I am so grateful. But I have to ask myself, how can winning the election be so important that either it's been handled poorly from stupidity, trying to save a buck (that isn't working out so well now, is it?) or because people have lied, are still lying? Isn't there value in honesty and integrity? Aren't these values a huge part of America? What is the cost of truth in voting? And how can we make sure that EVERY. VOTE...

New York. The Big Apple.  291 delegates This is an important contest for Bernie. Which is exciting! He will shine. And he will win . Why? Because he has rallied millions of people to believe we can heal our nation and is bringing us together for a better America. On Tuesday, April 19th, New Yorkers from the entire state are excited, filled with purpose, courage and love and will vote for Bernie to give him the win he deserves.   As we ponder this amazing opportunity to show our support for Bernie Sanders, we focus only on the good: Bernie's plan to change things for the better. The love and exuberance people feel being Bernie supporters. Seeing his campaign grow in momentum. Being kind to all and avoiding negativity toward any other opponents, candidates or those who don't agree with us. Love them. Forgive them. Don't worry about them. At. All. Do not dwell on what he needs. Only focus on what he will do and what we want and what he and we ar...

  Several years ago, I worked for a company and loved the work--at first. After I'd been hired, one of the people on my team (marketing) got 'let go' without any severance, but did get a good recommendation. Before he left, this man had told me the story of his hiring in the first place. He was known around the computer tech business as a cracker jack HTML guy. This company, I'll call it FFF, called him in a panic that their HTML guy had quit and they were in Big Trouble. He came in and saved the day. For two years, he saved the day. Then, with no notice, he had two weeks to work out a severance (huh???) and off he went. I was too new in my position to do anything more than ask a few quiet questions about it and the answers were sparse. I didn't know what was what. Yet. After a few months, a theme began to become clear to me. FFF was nothing but about money. Innocently, I discussed some issues and later realized these led to my downfall. They were: I naively...