Happy Memorial Day Weekend

President George H.W. Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush Welcomed Guests for a Special Screening of SnagFilms' HONOR FLIGHT (via PR Newswire)

WWII Veterans, Filmmakers and Secret Service Members Among Those Who Came Out For a Private Viewing in Celebration of Memorial Day Download image President George H.W. Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush hosted a screening of SnagFilms Honor Flight on Thursday, May 23rd. Photographed with President Bush are…

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Agree to disagree: Respect Diversity

"Just because others think differently about an issue than we do ourselves, does that mean they're right and we're wrong or vice versa?

I believe that we all are different and in many ways we each operate in our own reality. No one sees the world the same way as I do and the reason for that is that no one shares my own unique perspective on life and the world around me. Due to each persons own perspective I cannot expect other people to ever completely see things in the same way as I do. I have to accept this as fact and once I do that then I am better able to understand others and learn from them.

I shouldn't ever waste my time trying to make others see things the way I do. It isn't productive to argue with someone because they see something different then I do. I need to agree to disagree and respect their right to have a different opinion. I try to learn from the person and take note of what they feel about an issue and see if there is something I can learn from it. I've accepted that no one will be exactly like me, no one will think exactly like I think and no one will always agree completely with me. I wouldn't want to live in a world like that anyway. It would be so boring to live where no one had their own individual personality and thoughts. This is a diverse world and if we respect each other and look for the good in everyone then no matter how different we all are and how different we all think, we can always come together and be of support to one another.

This is who I am

We all go through trials in our life. Different people go through different sort of trials but they challenge us as a person all the same. A person may be going through financial difficulties, a divorce, legal problems, family fights, even life challenging illnesses. When we are faced with something of this type we often begin to allow that situation to define us as a person. It is at our lowest point when someone or something is standing outside of ourselves and telling us, we owe them, they want a divorce, you have a disease, etc, it is at that moment that we need to get very still and focus inside of ourselves and decide right then...No this is who I am! Define ourselves with a focus on the real person we are. Don't allow anyone or anything make you into something you aren't. When you are facing challenges, attacks from others, illnesses or any tough situation choose to look within yourself. You know who you are better than anyone else. You know how to get through whatever the challenge is. Just search your heart, your soul and reach out to others for support. True friends will be there because they love you just as you are.

- Posted by Sherry Lucas using BlogPress for iPad.

How does your spirit grow?.

The nursery rhyme goes "how does your garden grow" Some people have a "green thumb" a natural ability to grow beautiful plants with such ease. Other people can't get anything to grow and resort to decorating with artificial plants to avoid killing anymore of their investments.

This thought can also be applied to some degree when you pose the question "how does your spirit grow." There are people who easily recognize what is needed to grow their spirit so that it becomes a productive and useful part of their soul.

The first step in growing your spirit is acknowledging it and learning to respect it. Then the person must nurture it, and watch it grow and rely on it to get through what ever life throws at them. Through such reliance they better cope emotionally with daily struggles and any serious or tragic events in their life. They may for a short term lose this vision but they are easily able to get back on course.

Then there are people who become accustomed to ignoring their spirit for a variety of reasons and thrust themselves into the darkness of a life with no direction. Some of these people have been hit so hard by the realities of their life that they've lost their vision into their spirit. It can be a real struggle for some to regain their vision and get their life back on a positive path. Sadly some of these people due to their inability to acknowledge their spirit never are able to really know their inner self, their inner strengths and what they can do and deal with if they only look within their soul and feed their inner spirit. They then often resort to using artificial emotions to cope with their life, their struggles and adversities. They form these emotions as a coping mechanism because they are out of touch with their spirit which in turn puts them out of touch with their true emotions.

When we reference the term "spirit" different perceptions come to mind. Some of a religious nature but for the sake of this writing I'm speaking about the spirit we all have inside us. This spirit is what ushers us through the years on earth that we call Life. To only name a few? a person can have a mild and meek spirit, an adventuress, risk taking spirit, a courageous 'go gettin' spirit, a fighting spirit and once and a while you'll come across someone that has a spirit that will change the world or at least the world of those around them.

Does a person's spirit come naturally? Sometimes this is true, but there are also people whose spirit is shaped in large part by experiences they are forced by life to endure. How they react to situations in their life can and will shape them into the person they become. I've known people who were meek and mild mannered but once their life hit a hurdle or a bump in the road they became bitter and abandoned their spirit and looked only at the pain. I've known people who were angry and hateful but when faced with adversity their spirit softened and the person became nurturing, compassionate and a caring individual. In both of these cases they were sadly hit by unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances but one example looked at the pain while the other looked into their spirit and saw the true meaning of life.


So how do we grow our spirit? By looking at the wonders of our life and of the world we are so fortunate to be in. Looking at the good more than the bad, addressing the happy more than the sad. Realizing the blessings that life has given us and when all is said and done we see that there is more to this life on earth. Once we realize this then the spirit inside of us takes over and will comfort us, inspire us and most of all give us the strength and wisdom to face whatever life presents us.

Porch Philosophy Daily News for May 15, 2013

Read Porch Philosophy Daily News for May 15, 2013 on http://paper.li/PorchPhilosophy/1364356205


- Posted by Sherry Lucas using BlogPress for iPad.

What Is A True Friend?

Webster's dictionary defines friendship as a relationship where one knows, likes, admires and trusts another or where one is allied with another in a cause, or where one is a supporter of a group or a movement. I define friendship as a relationship between two people based on mutual respect, affection and admiration.

"The only way to have a true friend is to be one." How can we find true friendship in this often phony, temporary world? Friendship involves recognition or familiarity with another personality. Friends often share likes and dislikes, interests, pursuits, and passion.

How can we recognize potential friendship? Signs include a mutual desire for companionship and perhaps a common bond of some kind. Beyond that, genuine friendship involves a shared sense of caring and concern, a desire to see one another grow and develop, and a hope for each other to succeed in all aspects of life.

True friendship involves action: doing something for someone else while expecting nothing in return; sharing thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment or negative criticism.

True friendship involves relationship. Those mutual attributes we mentioned above become the foundation in which recognition transpires into relationship. Many people say, "Oh, he's a good friend of mine," yet they never take time to spend time with that "good friend."

Friendship takes time: time to get to know each other, time to build shared memories, time to invest in each others growth.Trust is essential to true friendship. We all need someone with whom we can share our lives, thoughts, feelings, and frustrations.We need to be able to share our deepest secrets with someone, without worrying that those secrets will end up known by others the next day! Failing to be trustworthy with those intimate secrets can destroy a friendship in a hurry.

Faithfulness and loyalty are key to true friendship. Without them, we often feel betrayed, left out, and lonely. In true friendship, there is no backbiting, no negative thoughts, no turning away. Loyalty is also essential to true friendship.

The famous maxim that "a friend in need is a friend indeed" is not the entire story of loyalty, however. A friend in triumph may be even harder to find. Isn't it easier to be a savior than a cheerleader for our friends?

It takes twenty-four-karat loyalty for a friend to soar alongside us when we are flying high rather than to bring us down to earth. Loyal friends not only lend a hand when you're in need; they applaud your successes and cheer you on without envy or jealousy when you prosper.

Real friends encourage one another and forgive one another where there has been an offense. Genuine friendship supports during times of struggle. Friends are dependable. In true friendship, unconditional love develops. We love our friends no matter what and we always want the best for our friends.

Real and true friendship involves freedom of choice, accountability, honesty, and dedication. Real friendship looks at the heart, not just the "packaging." Genuine friendship loves for love's sake, not for what it can get in return. True friendship is both challenging and exciting. It risks, it overlooks faults, and it loves unconditionally, but it also involves being truthful, even though it may hurt.

Honesty is a prerequisite to the true friends' relationship. It requires honesty that is carefully dealt in the context of respect. Dedication refers to the ability of two people to influence each others plans, thoughts, actions, and emotions, to spend time and effort on friendship, to give up something important or valuable for sake of friendship. Personal sacrifice. Selfless devotion. Commitment. These are the noble qualities true friendship requires.]

A true friend makes no excuses of having work or appointments or anything but will be with you whenever you need him/her. In your hour of desperation, a true friend will support you even if the whole world opposes you.

A true friend is not an opportunist. Instead of having hundreds of good friends, if you have one true friend, treat yourself lucky. If you can also become a true friend of someone, you will be blessed, because it is much easier for all of us to expect but very difficult to give.

Be a true friend yourself first.

Mother's day.... A note we all should take to heart

Remember to Call Your Mother...While you can

MOTHER'S DAY
By Sherry Denise Lucas

The sun shone bright onto her face, dancing on her eyelids. Within a few seconds, she opened her eyes to a new day. So full of promise and hope, just like the morning sunshine.

She bounded out of bed and pulled the blinds up. A gay spring day looked at her from the yard. Movement in a nearby tree caught her attention, so she stopped and gazed. Not wanting to startle whatever it was, she didn't move a muscle, only her eyes were lively.

Tiny heads peeped out over the top of a nest as a bird carrying a large worm hopped closer. Greedily, the babies took what was offered, then seemed to cry for more. She couldn't hear them, but their little mouths were wide open.

Smiling, she thought of her own children crying to be fed as infants. So dependent upon her, every need urgent and immediate. She watched as the larger bird flew off to find another morsel for the babies.

Turning around, her gaze came to rest upon the phone. Blinking back tears, she forced her attention elsewhere. Some said it was silly, and yet she yearned for that contact. Goodness knows, she could take care of herself, look at all the people she had taken care of for so many years. She got herself busy and did the things she needed to do. Still, the house was strangely empty. Nothing could match the atmosphere of children in the house. Like the baby bird, they had to fly and find their way in the world. She knew this in her mind, yet her heart still was saddened.

After a leisurely breakfast, she smiled and decided to relax by the window. It was such a beautiful day and it would be a shame to waste it. The plants were beginning to really take hold again after the long winter. The yard was a riot of color.

Sipping a cup of hot chocolate, she curled up by the window. She saw a young family walking by on the sidewalk. The young couple both helping to push the stroller with the baby in it. That sure brought back memories, she thought.

Her own children had already started their families. She wondered if they ever really understood. Laughing and talking, the young couple passed by. It seemed like that these days. Time marched on and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

She wasn't really sure she wanted to stop it, but it would be nice sometimes. The sun climbed higher and higher in the sky. The day was warming up nicely, it wasn't too hot this time of year. She opened the window to feel the nice breeze upon her gentle face.

'Would they love her no matter what?' she thought. It was so much like she was with her own mother. You did the best you could and that is all you could do. It was one of natures' cruel jokes that you had children when you didn't know very much. Then when you knew what you were doing, it was too late. Sure mistakes were made, but still she had tried to love them in adulthood. Shouldn't that count for something? They had been part of her body at one time. You sure couldn't be closer to someone than that. Rocking back and forth, she felt the warm breeze on her face. It just wasn't fair, you did the best you could, what you thought was right, and it didn't matter. Oh you wanted so badly to take all the pain for them, and make sure that no one ever hurt them.

Shaking her head, she knew that must have been bad for them when they did get hurt as a child. They wouldn't have learned how to stand on their own if she hadn't let them go those times. Like the baby birds being pushed out of the nest. They wailed and cheeped, but it was the best thing for them. Taking a sip, she thought, but, she was tough. She had survived many other things, what was a day like this meant for anyway? A bit of recognition? Hmm, she just imagined all the mother birds gathered together, complaining that their offspring never noticed them anymore. That brought a brief smile to her lips.

It was natures' way, she thought resignedly. Her tender love had nurtured them through the early years. She could at least know that they were ok because of her. Well, because of themselves also, of course. Society tried to teach her children what they wanted them to know. But, still they needed to know that... She shook her head, these thoughts were getting her nowhere. Wiping a tear away, she took another sip. It was so hard being a mother.

She didn't want to seem whiny or clinging. That is the reason she didn't call them today, not because she didn't care. Let her children express their love to her as they saw fit. It was so hard to wait, though. The sun began to slip further towards the west. It had been hours and she hadn't even noticed. The chocolate was very cold, and not very comforting. She felt no appetite and didn't want to move. Some things no one else could do for her but her children. Not a husband, a lover, a friend, or anyone else. This day was a bond between her and her children.

Sweet tears rolled from her eyes as she wrapped her arms around her knees. Had she really failed? Intellectually, she knew she had done the best she could do. Could anyone ask more? Yet, it didn't seem to be enough. She sighed deeply as she watched the phone awaiting its ring.

Her children were the ultimate judge on this day. Had she been a good mother, or like one of the horror stories one reads about in the tabloids. This, however, was one area where only her children could soothe her.

The sun finally dipped below the horizon, and still she had not moved. No calls and no visit today. It was like any other day. Do your duty and we will shuffle you off somewhere where we don't have to look at you. Why should I expect anything more?

Standing up and wiping her face, she resolved not to feel sorry for herself anymore. She had run the whole range of emotions today, and it hadn't changed a thing. Sometimes she wished this day would be abolished.

Her children were alive and well. That is more than could be said for some of the other women she knew. She did not have the anguish of burying all her children. That was a blessing. So what if they forgot again? It was just another day.

She bustled around and fixed herself a quiet supper, then curled up with a book in bed. The phone sat there like a sentinel, yet it didn't ring. She turned, so as not to see it, and continued to read.

Gaining some inner resolve, she held her emotions tightly reined. No matter what , she loved them. With a tender smile, a tear rolled on her pillow as she drifted to sleep.

- Posted by Sherry Lucas using BlogPress for iPad.