Someone
asked me today if I was religious and my answer was no; I wouldn’t want to be
seen as religious but I do consider myself spiritual. I can’t associate myself
with religion because I for one believe that being religious is a slippery
slope; one that is hard to maneuver and is an oppressive conception for some. First, how
can I condemn my brother or my sister for believing differently than I do?
Shouldn’t everyone have the same right to choose for themselves,
and decide without fear their path in life? Secondly, I cannot embrace anything
that would take a person’s life for simply daring not to agree. You choose
freely your philosophy and your way of life; why try to convince another or
condemn them when they refuse yours. I see the religious turn
their backs on loved ones who dare to live their own lives. I see the religious
watch without sorrow as someone die because they dared to choose their own path.
I have watched the religious deny children a place in their lives and hearts because
their parents dared to choose for themselves. I see on the news in various
regions of the world the religious take the life of another in the name of
religion. No, I am not and never will be religious. I am not judging the
religious because that would make me no better than them. I am not denying the
religious their right to judge others for not believing what they believe. I am
simply stating what I have witnessed. I
want to live a life led by my love; and not by the dictations of fictitious laws and
rules intended to enslave the oppressed. I want to have an open heart that
includes everyone no matter their beliefs. I want my heart to also guide me and not just a Book; holy or not. I want to treat each person with tolerance and not judge
them based on their beliefs. Who gave me the right to say that you are wrong. I
refuse to be anyone’s God
Somewhere off Barton Street .....
A quirky chronicle of my life my neighborhood my views and thoughts.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Saturday, April 26, 2014
GETTING FIT
Sometimes life is like an uphill climb and the more we climb
the more problems and stress we encounter. Just like any hill, the fitter we
are the easier the climb. If we are out of shape we will get tired more easily,
making the climb physically more challenging. It’s the same thing with life; therefore
we need to exercise. Exercise temperance, patience, understanding and love, and
not just towards others but towards ourselves. Start off by doing small simple exercises
then gradually work our way up. Soon we will notice the benefits. I believe tolerance
and a deeper understanding of “self” and others will lead to a happier
healthier life. We might develop the tendency to be more
understanding thus
slower to anger. Stretching leads to flexibility. Being flexible and compassionate
when dealing with others could eliminate over re-acting to things that won’t
matter a year down the road. The rewards can be countless and others around us
would definitely notice the transformation. We could also experience less sweating;
the small stuff. Exercise is essential to our well-being which can be very helpful
while jumping over the hurdles of life. Walking is easy and according to experts
it is one of the safest methods of exercise. So walk; walk in the other person’s
shoe, before we judge or penalize them too hastily find out the reasons behind
their actions. Last but not least breathe; breathe deeply before we lose our
cool. I am getting ready to walk so I am breathing deeply as I stretch. Looking
for a walking partner; somewhere off… -Marcia A. Tulloch.
Monday, April 21, 2014
The best things in life are free!
Even though the proverbial best things in
life are free, by no means do they come easy. Achieving the best things even the
free; takes effort. The bottom line remains, you can’t expect the best things
if you don’t do the right things. Take me for instance, only when I took the necessary
steps was I able to enjoy some of the “free” things that life had to offer, and
only because I identified earlier on what the best things meant for me based on
my value system. I didn't have to venture far but I had to sacrifice a few
things such as some of my favourite TV shows, sleeping in on the weekends, and even
some of my family time in pursuit of the free. It paid off because, there is
nothing I could compare to sitting by a stream or a swift moving river
listening to the chirping of birds, with the sun’s rays peeping through the
branches like sparkling diamonds at the break of dawn, to the backdrop of the
relaxing, melodious sound of the water as it makes its way to the ocean in the cool
of a lovely summer’s morning.
Or watching
the sun slowly rising over the city as I sit on top of a hill and breathe in
the fresh morning air as the first rays of the sun hits my face (an hours’
journey or more worth every step) or, to watch the sun going down over the
horizon, stretched out on my back on grass as soft as carpet, looking up at the
infinite sky while clouds floats lazily by; immersed in the warm glow of the
setting sun as it permeates my cells and orange is no longer a colour but a
feeling. Acutely aware of the fact that as it disappears it is rising somewhere
else, ushering in a new day with new promises of hopes and dreams and possibilities
like the one I just had. How about to be
in total bliss as I marvel at the heavens
as
the stars sparkle like diamonds, wrapped tightly in my lover’s arms on a cool summer’s night, or watch my children search the night skies for dippers or shooting stars - priceless. These are some of the things that remind me of who I am and where I fit in the bigger scheme of things, and of how minute and temporary I am on this little planet - Earth. Most importantly I had to remember that not everyone valued the same things. It had to be a personal choice, which meant charting my own course and being confident enough not to be influenced by the choice of others. It took courage for me to decide that I didn't want to imitate the self-appointed victors who moonlight as critics of the masses. Even though I crave material beauty like everyone else, I had to deal with the hand life dealt me with self-love, patience and understanding for my own well-being. I had to reach beyond the physical to the things that made me feel balanced and connected to something greater – Source. Living a life of simplicity; interpreting beauty and success through my own eyes, somewhere off ...
the stars sparkle like diamonds, wrapped tightly in my lover’s arms on a cool summer’s night, or watch my children search the night skies for dippers or shooting stars - priceless. These are some of the things that remind me of who I am and where I fit in the bigger scheme of things, and of how minute and temporary I am on this little planet - Earth. Most importantly I had to remember that not everyone valued the same things. It had to be a personal choice, which meant charting my own course and being confident enough not to be influenced by the choice of others. It took courage for me to decide that I didn't want to imitate the self-appointed victors who moonlight as critics of the masses. Even though I crave material beauty like everyone else, I had to deal with the hand life dealt me with self-love, patience and understanding for my own well-being. I had to reach beyond the physical to the things that made me feel balanced and connected to something greater – Source. Living a life of simplicity; interpreting beauty and success through my own eyes, somewhere off ...
Monday, April 14, 2014
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
As I sit here this evening my heart is full of gratitude for
all the love that surrounds me. I am a rich woman because I am here with my
beautiful daughter and my wonderful man and I am so loved by both. We spent the
whole day celebrating life and births. A lazy morning, good food and an evening
full of laughter. I was outnumbered, and as usual I was the brunt of the jokes but
it was awesome. It is a joy to be with these two because it amazes me to see
two people so alike when I am the only connection, the common denominator, the tie
that binded them together and not genealogy. They are indeed father and daughter, not by
blood but by choice. It was love at first sight even though she was 20 and
cynical. She loves him intuitively and he lets her. He loves her instinctively
as if he knew she needed him. It’s a relationship I believed she would never experience;
a father’s love. You see, her real dad
was diagnosed with cancer when she was 3 and passed on when she was eight. He
is the first father figure in the 12 years and he remembers with pride and
great joy the first day she called him “dad”. His eyes lights up whenever he retells
the story. Today, I was on the outside looking in and the view was beautiful. I
was looking at my life. And I am here enjoying it, living in the moment; and
wise enough to recognize the wonderful gift that life has bestowed upon me;
family. I don’t mean to get so sentimental
but I can’t help it because I know the value of moments like these – Priceless.
Cherishing every moment, living in the here
and now, somewhere off …
Sunday, April 13, 2014
THE LESSON OF THE PALM
As I got closer to take the picture of this beautiful palm
tree on my recent vacation, I was turned off by all the dried shrubs and bushes that surrounded it. Then
I noticed something interesting. The palm tree grew above those shrubs and
looks splendid with its beautiful blossoms; and if you don’t look down
you would never notice the unsightly shrubs. That was another reminder to me, that neither
my situation or station in life, my surroundings, my family or where I come
from should prevent me from being the
person that I know I can be. I can do
this by uplifting myself through education, the seeking of knowledge and truth and
the conscious effort to grow as a person. I will stand apart by my actions, the
words that I speak and the way I carry myself. I want to be always like this palm tree and
separate myself. You can learn so much from nature; they can be such great
reminders of how life ought to be… so amazing!
THIS OLD HOUSE
A lesson in Humility
..she walked in about 12:30 and I’m not sure why I took note of her, but it could have been the way she entered the kitchen with an air of superiority. She didn’t stay long or said much to the lady I was assisting, but from the bits and pieces of their exchange that was audible from where I stood slicing ham, she would be back to help as soon as she took care of a few other things. After three separate trips to tell the woman cooking that she would be back shortly, she was in the kitchen talking down to everyone with that same air of superiority. The other ladies all had thick accents identifying them and their diverse backgrounds; some struggled with their English which could have been why she with her proper English and her noticeable American accent felt superior indeed. As my irritation grew I
became more defensive and critical and caught myself thinking of leaving since I was not about to have none of that from her. I felt she could have been friendlier and spoke to us in a nicer way, then suddenly as if in an epiphany I remembered why I was in that kitchen; I was there to serve. I had volunteered to help give these people a Christmas dinner, so it was no longer about me. I realized that I was committed, not just to my community or the people who we were preparing the meal for, but to me. So, regardless of how that woman was acting or anything else discouraging or unpleasant that may be happening I needed to be in control, not controlled by my emotions and feelings, and because I was committed I needed to humble myself and not be so sensitive. At that moment my defenses came down and I began to serve with joy. Gradually, I no longer noticed the tone of her voice or how unfriendly she sounded, I noticed none of the things that irritated me five minutes before, and it was a reawakening. By the end of the evening she was so full of gratitude for my help, but unbeknown to her I was the grateful one. Something was rekindled in my spirit and I remembered the feeling of fulfillment I got when I served others; she had unknowingly helped restore my spirit of humility. I don’t know about you but for me it takes humility to cancel any feelings of defensiveness, fear of hurt feelings and misuse. In humility I feel no need to protect or defend myself from what others may say or do to hurt me mentally or emotionally (I am not speaking of violence or physical hurt). In one of the stories of the bible, it says that the meek shall inherit the earth and I was always a believer in that proverbial expression. I went to help others but instead I was helped, those people left grateful for a free meal and gifts for their children, but I left grateful for the gift of giving, humility and meekness. This all happened yesterday at the corner of Barton and Sanford, in this holiday season when the spirit of giving is at a high, many things are happening off Barton Street and some of them are phenomenal. -Marcia A. Tulloch
became more defensive and critical and caught myself thinking of leaving since I was not about to have none of that from her. I felt she could have been friendlier and spoke to us in a nicer way, then suddenly as if in an epiphany I remembered why I was in that kitchen; I was there to serve. I had volunteered to help give these people a Christmas dinner, so it was no longer about me. I realized that I was committed, not just to my community or the people who we were preparing the meal for, but to me. So, regardless of how that woman was acting or anything else discouraging or unpleasant that may be happening I needed to be in control, not controlled by my emotions and feelings, and because I was committed I needed to humble myself and not be so sensitive. At that moment my defenses came down and I began to serve with joy. Gradually, I no longer noticed the tone of her voice or how unfriendly she sounded, I noticed none of the things that irritated me five minutes before, and it was a reawakening. By the end of the evening she was so full of gratitude for my help, but unbeknown to her I was the grateful one. Something was rekindled in my spirit and I remembered the feeling of fulfillment I got when I served others; she had unknowingly helped restore my spirit of humility. I don’t know about you but for me it takes humility to cancel any feelings of defensiveness, fear of hurt feelings and misuse. In humility I feel no need to protect or defend myself from what others may say or do to hurt me mentally or emotionally (I am not speaking of violence or physical hurt). In one of the stories of the bible, it says that the meek shall inherit the earth and I was always a believer in that proverbial expression. I went to help others but instead I was helped, those people left grateful for a free meal and gifts for their children, but I left grateful for the gift of giving, humility and meekness. This all happened yesterday at the corner of Barton and Sanford, in this holiday season when the spirit of giving is at a high, many things are happening off Barton Street and some of them are phenomenal. -Marcia A. Tulloch
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