It’s Ok to Disagree

“Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.”

— pleasefindthis

The enigma known as me has a few people scratching their heads. I’m sorry, just my opinion, man, no disrespect, a world of ideas is the world I choose in which to live. If you disagree, I will listen to you, I’ll hear you, and maybe you can enlighten me. As do you, I have thoughts, and only through dialogue can we help each other find their truth. Some don’t’ like my reality, and I don’t prescribe to others truth, but that is ok; I was taught as a young man, it’s ok to disagree.

I don’t hide; if you want discourse, I’m here; you are free to share your views on social media, as do I.  I commented on single motherhood and interpreted it as a knock on abortion and another that I was attacking or somehow demeaning single motherhood. I may or may not have missed the mark; I attempted to point the finger at the men who leave their mother of their children in a lurch and a government that seems to support this behavior.

Here’s a little snippet from an article from Robert Rector. “Historically, marriage has played a critical role in the raising of children. In most cases, the economic benefits of marriage are substantial. Marriage among families with children is an extremely powerful factor in promoting economic self-sufficiency: the ability of families to support themselves above poverty without reliance on government means-tested welfare aid. The reason for this is simple and straightforward. In most cases, two parents working together can support a child more efficiently than one. For example, some 37 percent of single-parent families lack self-sufficiency (and are officially poor) compared with 7 percent of married-couple families.

Facts support my theory that people are better off in a two-parent household. Although I don’t think people need to get married, it is not a flawed institution. I’m a single fellow as of the writing of these words. I pen thoughts to cleanse my mind; I share cooking in my mind’s microwave oven. I call it soup, and it’s here to get you thinking about something unique or hear a perspective that might differ from your own. 

Ideas are good, facts matter, if you deem me an agitator, touche’ that is a bit of my mission.  I have a lens that has been formed over my 51 years on this earth; it’s flawed, it’s cracked, it’s not perfect, but it is how I have learned to view the world.  I surround myself with people that think like myself and people that think much differently. Through those differences, I can learn and grow and maybe help another human see a different idea or concept.

Enough about me, how are you? How are you feeling? Life got you up in the clouds or down in the gutter. You know we are all in the gutter, but some of us choose to look at the stars (Wilde). I prefer my sky gazer friends; most people in my life look up and not down. They tend to lean into life, taking personal responsibility for their actions, trying to be part of the solution over the problem.

We made our flights to fly back to Denver for my speaking gig; we will stay in the condo, check on our cats, hang out downtown and head out to check on our mountain house remodel. A quick trip of 3 days, it will be good to see our friends if only for a minute.  I miss my C.O. crew like I miss my Indy crew when out west. Duality living has its benefits and downsides.

I think we will meet the kids today and watch the games, eat some food and have a couple of drinks. I’m hoping for a Bills and Bucs Superbowl, but I think it will be Green Bay and K.C.  I will wear my Bills Mafia shirt and cheer for my friends John’s team. My nephew and his wife live in Buffalo; I’ll cheer for them as well.

Have you been to Buffalo? I have, I visited for my nephew’s wedding. It’s a lovely little city with great wings, good beer, and a football team that becomes competitive every 25 years.  2021 is the year; let’s go, team! As a kid, I watched the Bills go to four straight super bowls and lose. Heartbreaking for the fans and players, Jim Kelly, I think was the Q.B. all those years, I could Google it, but will let my “maybe mind” offer the answer to this riddle.

With the internet, there are no more maybes. Only definites, Siri or that whore Alexa, can answer any question you pose. Is there an answer the internet can’t answer?  Here’s something, how many times do I have to throw this dog toy before PVHT finds it boring. We are at 139 and counting. Our little puppy is now at 35 pounds; she shows no signs of stopping her growth; so much for that little dog we brought home five months ago, our baby will be a beast. It’s good to have a creature when living on the top of a mountain.  Besides a mountain lion, I think our pup can hold her own with most other mountain creatures.

That’s enough for today’s class; you may go home; my lesson is simple, it’s ok to disagree, not get angry with others, and open your mind to different ideas and concepts. It is helpful to hear and see things that challenge your preconceived notions about life, liberty, and what happiness is or is not. Happiness is letting your dog outside, throwing a toy 150 times, and waiting on a Queen to slowly dance down the stairs giving sugar before she gets her coffee. -cheers, I’ll see you tomorrow.

“Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.”

— pleasefindthis