My daughter was going through a rough patch with a new job recently. We were talking about the circumstances and she said something like, "but I am not good at that". Trying to be supportive, of course, I told her that she could do anything that she needs to do. However, looking back- I might change that advice.
Sometimes, we have a hard time just doing what we need to do in a particular situation to make it better. We could just learn the lesson that evidently alludes us and hopefully we won't repeat it, but we fall into the same dumb pattern and suffer even more.
I have always been a procrastinator. I come by it honestly, my mother programmed us as children and the routine continued. I told myself I work better under pressure (I really do) and that circumstances end up dictating my struggle to be on time, finish a project, or pay a bill. The truth is until just recently this created a great deal of stress in my life. There is something to say about taking your time, making a plan, and just to be able to think in a calm and rational manner. Suddenly, operating in a calm and well-thought out way has helped me to see other options and live in peace for the first time in many, many decades.
Believing in the concept that we need to learn these lessons or the universe will continue to throw us these problems until we learn, I now feel the quicker we figure out what doesn't work, the quicker we can move on to a happier life.
So, Syria has been in turmoil for awhile now. It is horrible what is happening there. Chemical warfare is being used and the general population is suffering from the horrendous effects. The military is unharmed by their usage. They have the protective gear that the citizens do not. Unfortunately, the innocent bystanders in this country are tortured by this inhumane weapon. Buildings are not destroyed, only the lives of many are at stake.
What kind of people are they? To dictate their political objectives at such a cost of life. Safely in our homes in this country we are debating what should be done and what are the repercussions from whatever action we take? Do we send in troops, bomb from the air, rally the world to impose complete sanctions on the government and their allies, or send in humanitarian groups to treat the victims? Do we care more than the opposing factions in this faraway country? I am afraid we do.
Our President and Congress need to think long and hard before they decide what our next step will be. Can we survive in an economy that is fueling another military invasion? Do we have the right to intrude in their domestic mess? Are we morally accountable to help stop the torture and certain death of many people in a foreign land? Do we need to sacrifice more of our young people by sending them over to fight another fight?
Are we ready to learn the lessons from the past? Think outside the box and make decisions based on sound knowledge and experience rather than a knee-jerk reaction to another crisis in the Middle East? I certainly don't have the answers, but I do know if we expect a different outcome from the same old practices...we are going to be doomed to failure. What do you think?
Until next time...
