Get your facts straight.

I was listening to the radio yesterday.  I don't normally do this because I enjoy the peace and quiet but my kids wanted it on so I turned it on.  A person was on there talking about something that he had overheard.  Now, he fully admitted that his radio was on and that he wasn't completely paying attention but he repeated what he thought he heard.  What he thought he heard was completely inflammatory and most certainly would send listeners into a tailspin of "How dare they!" combined with a whole lot of "Who do they think they are!!??".

Maybe it happened, maybe it didn't.  He admitted he wasn't sure so here is my point to my rant this morning.  WHY EVEN SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT?  Why is it that the stories that we want to share with the world are the ones that are ridiculous and anger provoking?  Why is it that we share things that we didn't see first hand especially if they are inflammatory?

I will return to my mother's advice.  If you don't have anything nice to say, then just say nothing at all.

I am in the middle of an inflammatory situation.  I did not do the things that I am being accused of and yet to some that don't even know me at all I am guilty as charged.  I am more than positive that if anyone else had been put in the same position they would have reacted exactly as I did and if they knew the facts would thank me but they don't know the facts and so life goes on.

This world has got enough bad, enough horrific, enough injustices.  If those are  the types of stories that you want to see then by all means watch the news.   However, might I challenge you this morning?

2 things.  1.  Don't repeat sensational stories.  As hard as that might be just don't.   2. If you hear a sensational story go to the person that it is about and say I heard this about you is it true.  My guess is the sensational story will change drastically.

Shut down the rumor mills people, because when they are up and running they get off track quickly.

Spread joy.  Spread love.  Spread kindness.  If you can't then take a moment to make the world a better place and duct tape your lips shut.

1983 me.

Meet me only circa 1983.  6th grade.  This is me when I was my daughters age.  11.  I have boy hair and a jacked up tooth just like my son did before he had braces.  I didn't have braces.  I remember borrowing a little rubber band from a friend of mine that had braces and putting it on that bad boy and I fixed it myself.  I feel my parents owe me a couple of thousand for that little feat don't you?
All through middle and high school I could have cared less what I wore or how I looked.  I remember feeling really good about myself when my sister Rachel would put me in her clothes or I had a matching outfit but I didn't make it a priority.
This picture was taken before the bicycle accident in which my lip fell off so I do notice some slight differences in myself.  Ok, no I don't but I do feel my nose is a bit different now.
Why am I showing you 11 year old me?
This was me.  I wish my hair was longer and fixed.  I wish I had on a cute outfit, but I didn't and you know what?  I don't remember caring one bit.  I remember the vending machine that for a quarter you got 2 pencils that were neat.  I remember loving my math teacher so much because she was nice.  I remember Amy Mason, because she got me.  She understood my oddities and she didn't care she liked me anyway.  I remember my mom having a snack for me when I got home.
I worry so much over the happiness of my children.  I don't remember the meanness that they are dealing with, could possibly be that I am oblivious to that stuff.  I don't remember having to have the latest and greatest...again with the oblivious thing.
I look back on my life and sure there are some things that I would have changed.  I would have loved to have been in any kind of sport or activity.  I wish I had cousins that I was close to, but honestly...truthfully I can not complain.  I have had a pretty fantastic life to this point and I hope for many more blessed years to come.
So, tonight as you go to bed remember you won't add one second to your life by worrying but you will most certainly lose precious moments if you do.  Life is going to work itself out.  Share love with those around you.  Do not promote ill will, and most importantly love yourself just the way you are.  Jacked up tooth, sad hair and all.