October 2020 ~ Not Good At Normal

October 31, 2020December 8, 2020

How The Salem Witch Trials Continue

Why witch hunts could still happen today

The Salem Witch Trials of 1692, in what would become the state of Massachusetts, are world renowned. Everyone knows or at least has heard the story. Could it happen again? The hysteria? The events may change, but the mob mentality continues. Can we stop it?

It’s just a witch hunt

The church plays a powerful place in a community.

Let’s take a minute to look at what really went on in Colonial Mass. In 1689 war between France and American colonies sent refugees into the Massachusetts bay colony. Salem already had slim resources and splintered families. By 1692 tensions were high. In the strong Puritan area, it was believed the devil would give people powers to harm others. These people were mostly women. Older or single and different. They were called witches. The Salem witch hunts were about to begin.

First Minister

The Reverend Samuel Parris became the first ordained minister and was immediately disliked as a greedy, ridgid leader. It was the reverend’s own daughter Elizabeth and niece Abigail who started having what were called fits and could not control themselves. Other girls soon began acting the same way. These girls began to blame their behavior on witches. Names were demanded. 3 women who were poor and different from others. Two had claimed innocence and the third confessed to the devil giving her powers and claimed there were many more like her as well.

Twenty people died during the Salem Witch Hunt.

The Real Threat

The real threat was that there were people who were different and willing to change or challenge the way of life in the puritan village. The word of someone without evidence, can and is taken as fact. Luckily, the Salem Witch Trials didn’t last very long. But history shows us that hysteria leads to the mob mentality and it happens often.

World War II, German and Italian Americans were harassed and thought to be sympathizers with Stalin and Hitler. Even worse, after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans were held in camps. Americans were scared of those different than us, even if they were born here. Hitler was one that grew as a result of mass hysteria. The mob mentality made him a deadly leader.

It wasn’t long before another witch hunt took place here in America. In the 1950’s Senator McCarthy began what has become “The Red Scare” finding communists or those who joined the communist party. This action caused many to lose their jobs and split friendships as people were asked once again to name names.

“Drinking the Kool-aid”

The sign welcomes the unsuspecting
sheep to Jonestown. (photo-jurist.com)

In the 1970’s people followed Jim Jones, the term Drinking the kool-aid is from his when he talked people into killing themselves, by drinking poison kool-aid. The expression is used for when people blindly believe anything they are told as the truth. In the ’90s David Koresh in Texas became the name to follow.

Think it can’t happen again?

Questions about a persons politics or personal political beliefs. It happens all the time. That’s the thing about mob mentality. Otherwise educated, reasonably responsible people follow a slick campaign or believed injustice or made up news. They call people with a different opinion names. Look at both political parties. The Democrats and the Republicans, both have the party faithful who will go along with and even try to persuade others to follow as well. It may not be a cult or as dangerous as other times and situations in history-but remember, in this sound bite society when most people believe the 5 second headline anyone can rise above the noise to gather followers and lead them astray.

The Facts and Freedoms

I look for facts. I base not on TV news, social media or what an online acquaintance may say. I don’t vote on party lines but on evidence of how a person has and may vote that best represents my view and values. In recent years, the girls from Salem have been thought to have eaten fungus that caused muscle spasms and vomiting and hallucinations.

Charlatans, haters, rioters, movements, snakes, conspiracies, witches. A few causing mass hysteria and lost lives. Real or imagined, it can and will happen again. A Witch Hunt. The Salem Witch trials. Don’t be a follower and go with the flow.

October 11, 2020October 11, 2020

You’ve Always Had the Power

The Power of Positive Thinking

Long before the book and movie The Secret (Rhonda Byrne) came out in 1997, Wallace D. Wattles and James Allen wrote, at the turn of the 20th century, books that told of the power of the mind and how to use it.

As A Man Thinketh by Allen and The Science of Getting Rich by Wattles tell of how, by using your mind, you can create or change your life.

New teachers

Today, there are all sorts of thought teachers and leaders. Some are straight forward and some may be a bit more “out there”, but if you keep an open mind, you are sure to find someone to whom you connect and resonate with. So many speakers, authors, teachers, preachers. Some of my favorites have been Les Brown, Dr. Catherine Ponder, Florence Scovel Shinn(The Game Of Life and How To Play It), Bob Proctor and Louise Hayes. The books and teachings of these and many more live on to reach generations to change their thoughts.

Motivation

Some motivational speakers try to get you to realize only you can motivate yourself. If you want to change, you are the only one who will do it, and only when you are ready. People like Mel Robbins, Lisa Nichols and Tony Robbins are paid handsomely to try to get you out of your comfort level. All are really saying the same thing, maybe in different ways. You have to hear the same thing or study the same thing over and over, many many times before it become a habit or true for you. Sometimes, hearing the same thing, but said by someone else will trigger you to remember or change. Lisa said when she was working toward her goal as a speaker, she was working a job, but called it funding the dream.

Power to Change

Just as you have the power to decide if you want to get out of bed in the morning, you also have the power to change the trajectory of your life. Why is it that we can tell ourselves once or twice we can’t do something or are not good enough and believe it, yet it takes many, many times telling ourselves yes, we can do it before we believe? Yes, it’s nice to have someone in your corner, someone who has confidence in you, but it’s your choices that ultimately move you into action.

Feelings

Think back over your own history of the “wins” in your life. The times that you have gotten what you wanted. In order to help speed the process of knowing you can do and create and be anything you want is to feel it. Remember the feeling of getting that new bike or job you wanted. Your wedding day. The feeling is what makes it real. You knew the color you wanted, the style. That feeling of knowing what you want and getting it is what is real. The power of believing in yourself is the most important and powerful in the world.

Confidence

Confidence grows when you do something you put off, or that you don’t think you can do, but do it anyway. Each time building yourself up. When I feel like I failed, I tell myself that I can do it, I have in the past and will again. Like Lisa Nichols, I am funding my dream by currently working for someone else until I am ready to make it happen.

LOA

The Law of Attraction may seem to you like a bunch of mumbo jumbo, voodoo, crazy new age stuff. But when you think about it, God gave us free will, that we may think for ourselves. You can think your way to changing your life. As Napoleon Hill says, what you think about most, you bring about. If you think about lack and poverty, that is what you will see. What dream are you working on? Or what is it that you think you need an extra push on? Who is your favorite speaker or author you enjoy listening to?

October 7, 2020December 21, 2020

The Emerald City, Wizard or Man?

“You’ve always had the power, my dear”

Remember how excited the four traveling companions were when they first set eyes on the beautiful, shiny Emerald City? Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow all thought it must be the most wonderful, magical place. They couldn’t wait to run to see all it beheld behind the beautiful facade. It was magical from afar. Would it be just as magical up close?

Things are not always what they appear to be

The man behind the curtain in the Emerald city

At first glance, beauty and newness can be overwhelming. Remember a time when you were so excited you could hardly wait? The anticipation grew as the day approached. You get what you were waiting for or you finally meet that person who seemed so genuine. And then, it’s kind of a let down.

Like the visitors to Oz, all is not as it seems. The Emerald City was indeed beautiful, but was it magical? Dorothy needed guidance and wisdom. She was after all far from home, she needed to find her way back. What she received instead was a man pretending to have the answers, hiding behind not only a literal curtain, but of what others thought him to be. A great and powerful wizard. Dorothy thought seeing the wizard would solve her problem and she would be sent home. Then she and her traveling companions were given a nearly impossible task.

Treasures

Though the Emerald City did hold treasures, they were the kind you take with you in a different way.
That horse of a different color? Unique and unusual? An everyday occurance in Oz. That you can be anyone you want: The doorman, taxidriver, wizard and Professor Marvel, all the same person. You don’t have to limit yourself or pretend to be someone you’re not. That true friends stick together, and that we all have inner strength.

Strength

Like our friends from Oz found out, it won’t always be easy. You will most likely run into obstacles or people who don’t want you to succeed. They may even go out of their way to cause you to think you can’t do something. Dorothy was almost stopped by fear, by thinking she wasn’t smart enough or too young, to figure it out.
Because Dorothy found strength, courage and flexibility to see beyond what is at face value that enabled her to fight the witch and carry on to push past her comfort zone.

You’ve heard the saying, It’s not the destination, it’s the journey along the way. The road to get there should be just as thrilling. Take time to see all that is around you. Stop and smell the roses, only maybe skip smelling the poppies. Life is about the people you meet and lessons you learn. In trying times, try to remember you are growing through it.

Home

As Dorothy watched her new friends receive a heart, a brain and courage, she realized there wasn’t anything in the wizard’s bag for her. It was at that, she knew these people here in her dream, represented the strength she already possessed. She had to help herself. She knew the real strength and power lie within believing in herself.

As Glinda the Good Witch told her, “You’ve always had the power, my dear”! Drop a comment below of what you learned from this most classic MGM movie or what ways you have found your courage to really be you! How many times have you watched The Wizard of Oz? Was the Emerald City as spectacular as you thought?

October 1, 2020October 14, 2020

Every Scar Tells A Story

What does your story say?

Do you have a physical or emotional scar? Imagine you are at your sink washing dishes. You face a window overlooking the sprawling backyard. Glancing out seeing a flash of red, think nothing of it. Continuing washing you realize your three young children are playing in the backyard, and your husband is showing his visiting uncle how the new industrial size riding lawn mower works. As the dish drops and shatters as it hits the floor, you run outside to the mower as fast as you can. The next few days a blur as you are in and out of the hospital room with your youngest daughter, a 2 year old. At least this is what my mother recalls. This is not my story. It is my scar, but not my story.

Cold and dark

It was dark under that heavy piece of cold steel. I was scared. I heard screaming. This would be my story, if I remembered it. Thank God for not remembering ANY of it. I do sometimes think I recall the sound of my bones hitting the under blade. Maybe that is part of the emotional scar. I don’t have a story to tell, I have my mother’s story and hers alone. My father refuses to speak about it. I haven’t spoke to him at all in years. He is a coward, and no not because he feels bad about it. He still has that mower and displayed it as a trophy recently. Another part of the emotional scar? Maybe.

Physical

Let’s fast forward to today. My lasting impressions of this summer day so long ago:

Left hip long, thick scar, notice the dent where the chunk of skin is missing.

From just past the middle of my back at the spine, going along the left side of the hip and down toward the other side of my thigh. All along the left side of my body there are scars. One and two inch lengths along my arm, on the back of my head, and a thick one halfway across my knee. It truly is a miracle I was not cut in half or lost my leg in two places.

Miraculous

The true miracle is that I am even alive. I can walk and even had a natural childbirth! God is Good! I do now some 40 plus years later, have days where my hip hurts so bad I can’t stand for long or sit for long, but that is so minor to what could have been. At first I was surprised that this long after an old injury, one could have issues, but upon researching (something I love doing), I learned old scar tissue can continue to grow into bone and tighten and thus arthritis is also starting.

There are different types of scars. We all have them. Some are larger and more visible then others. Some you can’t even see, but there are still there. Hidden, ready to come back at you when you least expect it. Like a song or memory you thought you left in the past, it shows up to remind you it’s still there.

Dealing with the pain

The way each one of us deals with the emotional aspect is as similar as the physical scars on our body. Each one unique as we are. Is The act of what happened to me emotionally painful? Not as much as a bad relationship with a controlling, narcissistic person I am still trying to recover from and get back in touch with my free spirit. If you were in an abusive relationship, the emotional scars usually last longer then the physical ones.

Testimony

I think I have an amazing testimony. I am so blessed. Look at all the people God has used to share their stories with us. Our scars make us who we are. What we choose to do with our story is our choice. I used to hide them. I didn’t like wearing shorts. Bathing suits would be the long skirt kind. Now part of my healing journey was a tattoo cover up. I designed it to still show just a bit at one end (just over an inch). To me, it represents “I may have been ripped apart, but underneath, I am pure stone-strength. You will not break me”. As the flesh is pulled away, you see a vibrant slab of turquoise stone. Turquoise gems represent strength. Plus I have always loved the color!

Trauma

Do I deal with this like its a past trauma? I don’t think so. Some might say anger toward a man whom I have zero relationship with. I don’t know him, so I feel like you don’t miss what you don’t know. My journey has led me to being a lifelong seeker of truth. I knew from a young age I was here for something greater. I can walk and breath and am alive for a reason. God is my father and I will tell my story to all who will listen. What story do your scars tell?