America. Grown up.

There have been many times I have said "I'm embarrassed to be an American." Sometimes I think our country has lost it's way. Years ago when the reality tv craze hit and news stations started presenting the news so they could get better ratings instead of providing information, I made a statement something like, "We have turned a corner and there's no going back."

Last night I watched a woman give a speech that opened my heart. I was so proud of her. I cried tears of joy for her and her family. I cried because she touched my heart. I am so proud of her and her husband, the president, that I must say, "if they are the representatives of my country, then I am proud to be an American."
I was raised in a place that most definitely one would call racist. I was raised in a family that I would call racist. I was most definitely raised in a fearful racist environment. I don't blame my family or the environment. It was all they knew. But, never-the-less, I was born in a time when the idea of Barack and Michelle in office would have been a joke, maybe even an insult to my America.

Now, there they are. I am proud of them and I am proud of my country for growing up and voting them in. I am proud of my country for choosing a man to be president, based on his values and integrity, not his color or social status. I realize that our country has come a long way from that environment I grew up in that was all about fear.Thanks Michelle for stirring up my feelings of pride in my country.

Thanks America for acting like a grown-up in the world again.

Voice

Each of us has a voice, and this is mine:

I am a great human being. 

I am full of wisdom.

I live in perfection because a human being is perfect.

I get to breathe and I don't have to worry about it when I sleep.

I wake up. 

I am awake.

I live. Without trying to.

I am amazing. 

Incredible.

All I need is air, and it is everywhere.

I am grateful.

To myself.

I have carried myself through so many things.

I am dependable. 

without me, I don't know where I'd be.

I take care of me.

I care for me.

I care for you.

I will take care of you for a while.

Then I want you to take care of yourself.

Because I care for you.

I know who I am.

I know me better, the longer I know me.

I've known me for quite a while now.

I think I'm getting better at being.

Me.

I use the word I very much.

It's easier to type than most words.

I don't always take the easy way out though.

i would be the easiest.

i am the easiest.

I takes much more mindfulness.

So, in closing, I would like to say.

I hope you have as wonderful a life as I do.

Not so much...

So yesterday, stiff and sore. Today, not so much. I'm feeling free and loose, so I guess I'll get that run in now. Funny how a little money in the bank frees things up a bit. I use to think that money wasn't  important. Now, "Not so much..."

Just lucky, I guess...

Lucky Stiff

So I woke up stiff today. Not woody stiff. Old stiff. Yeah, that’s where my mind goes first too. I woke up stiff. Just wanted to say it again. I’m feeling tight and stiff. My body is sore from kickboxing yesterday and, oh yeah, I also did 300 push-ups and 100 pull-ups before that during my cardio-bodyweight-cardio workout. So, I’m stiff. Thought about running hills today, but I think my hip-flexors might close down on me if I do. So I think I’ll just get out the magnesium oil and give myself a rub-down. Yeah, I don’t want to stay stiff, you know.

Surrender

I knew the words you used were lost

Before you even said them

I searched for signs under the frost

But lost all my momentum

Now your words are clear and bright

You take your promise back

I spend another quiet night

The fears and doubt attack

Away from you my heart still beats

Although my head is reeling

With love the letting go competes

Surrender dawns the healing

JKF

8/1/12

Bean The Moment

Bean The Moment

How many moments in your day

Do you stop, have a thought and say

Life is perfect, just this way?

JKF

3/6/12

Revive

Revive

Sitting home a quiet darkness

All my blood runs clear

Being one inside myself

Ever knowing this

When I am on my own two knees

When I am seeking not

What I am and where I am

Is centered in my heart

JKF

3/3/12

Guilt For Lent

Guilt For Lent

There is not, where there is now.

I’m sure I’ve got that right.

There is what, where there is when.

I know it’s just my mind.

I am.

We are.

Nothing “should” exists.

JKF

3/3/12

Now

Right Now

Your life begins right now,

This second starts your chance,

To create yourself the way you want,

It doesn’t have to follow,

The dreams you had before,

You never have to remember which way you were going,

No need to be right,

Just be, right now!

Jkf

2/12/11