Category Archives: Musings
Apathy
The greatest danger to our future is apathy. (Jane Goodall)
It’s so true, isn’t it?
Environmental concerns are what keep me awake at night, as do images of factory farming (animal factories) and poverty in 3rd world countries. I fear for the future of my unborn grandchildren. What kind of a planet will they inherit? What kind of society are we becoming?
And yet, do I speak up? Not often. I make contributions to organizations that are working to make a difference and I try to live in a way that leaves the least damaging footprint, hoping that I’m leading by example. But I know that is not enough. When I see other people’s apathy toward the state of our planet, or to absurd practises (ie. trophy hunting) I tend to keep my thoughts to myself. I don’t like to make waves, but I guess that’s yet another form of apathy.
(Photo credit: http://mrsgee.deviantart.com/art/Apathy-Bear-139883010)
Thoughts from two more of my heroes. 
Purpose
This diagram speaks to me – maybe not the ‘you are great at it’ part, (will always be working towards that – which is what makes writing challenging), or the ‘you are paid for it’ part (writers are generally poorly paid and many volunteers have a strong purpose), but all the rest, and especially the way they are interconnected. I think the ‘passion’ component could be slightly larger than the rest. It can come in so many forms, in how you live, how you love, what you believe, how you behave. It’s what I hope my family and friends will all find in their own lives, as it’s what helps us get through the grind of daily living.
(Photo credit: Titania Fernandez)
Father/daughter bonding. Really?
The trophy hunter being interviewed on the radio defended his ‘hobby’ by claiming that taking his 11-year-old daughter moose-hunting was the most incredible bonding moment he could ever imagine having with her. He spoke with a sense of awe and wonder. It didn’t matter that her first moose was a ‘small’ one, he said, (only 5 points on the antlers), the exhilaration of watching her shoot it, and seeing the thrill she derived from that experience was pure pleasure for him, “a life-altering moment”.
The interviewer pointed out that it was certainly a life-altering moment for the moose, and suggested that the hunter and his daughter might have derived the same pleasure by simply photographing the moose. The hunter disagreed completely, saying that a photo would get stuffed away in a box somewhere and forgotten, but by hanging the moose-head in their home they would always remember the thrill of that special time together.
I think he was serious.
We surround ourselves with like-minded people, so when I heard the sincerity in this guy’s voice I was flabbergasted. Killing a beautiful wild animal for the sake of a trophy would not be a celebrated bonding moment that I would ever consider sharing with my daughters. I always try to understand the point of view of people with ideas that are different than my own, but this one is just too mind-boggling for me.
Photo credit: http://huntfishmanitoba.ca/go-hunting/what-youll-hunt/moose-1662
Angels
There are angels at the nursing home where my mother resides. They are disguised as nursing staff and care aids. Their work is hard and often thankless, yet they treat the residents in their care with gentle humour, loving touch and respect. Their delightful smiles and cheery voices brighten the day for so many. They may be ordinary beings but they are doing extraordinary work. After spending some time in their presence I now see them as precious angels here on earth. I am so grateful for the care and caring that they give to Mom.
On Reading ~
“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
― Stephen King 
My name is Shelley and I’ve read 50+ books this year. I am a bibliophile.
There, I’ve said it.
Seriously, I did squirm a little when I tallied up the books I’d read in 2014. A little voice in my head asked, “Is that, maybe, just a little excessive?” Am I truly trying to hone my craft (writing) as Stephen King suggests or am I simply using reading as an escape?
We all try to find balance in our lives, making time for work, family, friends, exercise, recreation. When I look at it that way, I realize that reading is my recreation. I don’t follow any TV shows, I don’t play games on the computer, I don’t have many other hobbies. I choose to read quality books, often books selected for one of the 3 book-clubs I belong to. And, as Stephen King argues, a writer has to read. I tell creative writing students that all the time. (Throw out the TV if you want to get published.) I wish there was a measurable correlation between the number and quality of books read with the quality of your own writing. I’ll just have to trust that there is one. As for 2015, I intend to keep on reading, feeding my addiction, escaping, learning and honing my craft.
A child who reads…
We know it’s important to feed our children nutritious food, to provide exercise and fresh air and to nurture and love them. I would argue that it’s equally as important to read to them when they are small and encourage them to continue to read as they grow older. It is through reading that they will grow to be truly empathetic, compassionate human beings, because, as Joyce Carol Oates says, “Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another’s skin, another’s voice, another’s soul.”
Would there be war, greed and intolerance if we could, indeed, slip into another’s skin?
I don’t think so.
And another quote by an unknown author. “I have never met a bigot who was a reader as a child.”
Neither have I.
(Photo credit: (Patricia Polacco)
Happy Vegetarian Day!
Who knew? Not me. Apparently October 1st is a day designated for bringing awareness to the ethical, environmental, health and humanitarian benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle.
Here’s a little Simpson humour to mark the occasion.
The Real News
I found this on Facebook and thought it was brilliant. There are so many items I’d like to add under the What You Should Know About heading. I’d also like to change the YOU in the captions to WE on the left side and US on the right. 
Sadly, I’m afraid if the news did tell us what we should know about, no one would read it. It’s just too difficult to hear, unless there was always a how- an- individual-can-make-a-difference component added on. That’s really what we need to know.
Thirteen years and counting…
Sir Winston
Friend A: “My dog is 13 and I’m so sad because I know he is nearing the end of his life.”
Friend B: “Are you kidding me? My dog died when she was only 9! You’re lucky that you’ve had so much more time with your dog.”
It’s all in the perspective. Dogs have short life spans. We know that when we invite them into our families.
My old boy is really showing his age this summer. He doesn’t hear a thing, not even the front door banging shut when I return home. Jumping into the car to go to the trails for long hikes is a thing of the past. The hot weather exhausts him. He pants a lot. He sleeps deeply. But he loves us as fiercely as ever. His tail wags madly in greeting even when he’s too tired to lift his head off the floor, and he still finds the energy to bark hysterically at squirrels in the yard – there’s hardly anything left of the windowsills which his claws have gouged during these frantic episodes.
I’m grateful for 13 really good years together and hope we can squeeze out a couple more.
