Tag Archives: values

Racism, and you and I…

Yesterday — March 21st – was “International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination”.* I first began to pay attention to racism as an adolescent. At first, simple things: everyone knew people who used the word “nigger” were racists, and … Continue reading

Posted in Racism, reflections | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

“Do unto others…all the rest is commentary.”

Okay, folks; it’s been a tough-ish few months, I admit.  At times it’s been challenging to focus long enough to write a paragraph. On March 22nd, it was Raymond* whose twinkling eyes and affectionate smile would no longer warm our … Continue reading

Posted in accessibility, advocacy, friendship, grieving, Inclusion, loss, Raymond Cohen, values | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

One war souvenir with blue eyes…

The guy sitting in the underground path to the Manulife Center, just after our lovely lunch, had obviously been in a horrifying accident – perhaps something like an  “IED”* in Afghanistan, I imagined; or a car accident that involved a … Continue reading

Posted in accountability, anti-war, compassion, consequences, injustice, war | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

How do I recognize a friend?

Well first, I love his company. I look forward To seeing him anon. I am enriched By spending time with him. And when confused, I wonder what he’d say. When happy, With him I share my joy. When he’s in … Continue reading

Posted in communication, friendship, open, Poetry, reflections, relationships, values | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Desperate need…

Like most moms, I love my children enough that I would probably die for them.  I also enjoy their cousins and their friends, especially now that my kids are in their thirties, and the others have been coming around for … Continue reading

Posted in awareness, beliefs, causes, compassion, consciousness, empathy, Inclusion, injustice, mental illness, reflections, schizophrenia, social commentary, social justice, trauma | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Isabel, then and now…

At times it’s easier to reflect on the past more than  the present because the past contains more pleasure, less sadness (in some ways). Recently I visited my 92-year-old aunt*, whose mental state  – which used to be  sharp for … Continue reading

Posted in loss, Memories, old age, Reflection, reflections, relationships, senility, short-term memory, values | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Coming out as an atheist

When I was about 19, despite having taught Sunday school for three years, I delared myself an atheist.   Or perhaps it was because of Sunday school.  What had happened to the formerly ‘devout Christian’ me? My aunt, who at 92 … Continue reading

Posted in atheism, causes, compassion, fear, fundamentalist, gay, ignorance, Memories, peace, personal growth, poverty, reflections, religion, schizophrenia, social justice, values | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Blogging consciousness…

Why do I blog?   Probably the majority of bloggers ask themselves, occasionally, why they do it, what they are after.    Am I posting too often, or too little?   And ultimately “What is my goal?” * When I ask myself why, … Continue reading

Posted in awareness, blogging, consciousness, Insight, personal growth, personal power, Poetry, Reflection, reflections, social change, values | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Different drummer

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. It is not important that he should … Continue reading

Posted in causes, community, consciousness, history, Inclusion, Insight, love, marijuana, personal growth, personal power, reflections, social change, social justice, values, volunteering | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

‘Stigma-free’ — or Care?

If I were living in a “stigma-free zone”, what might that look like? For starters, I presume it would mean that people with mental illness would not experience stigma, or discrimination.   By some miracle?  It would mean ‘human rights’ principles … Continue reading

Posted in awareness, community, compassion, gay, Inclusion, mental illness, social justice, stigma, values | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment