Humpday Happenings...
First humpday of the "new" year...or as I like to call it:
Cinco De Enero.
I have to begin today's post with a reference to yesterday's Glenn beck Show (radio or TV - either one works)
He is starting off this year with a challenge to ourselves. (sounds a lot like my posts from times past)
He calls it the E4.

And those four "Es" stand for:
- Enlightenment
- Education
- Empowerment
- Entrepreneurship
It's an intriguing premise, I must say.
WE, THE PEOPLE, are the key to the reclamation of this nation BACK to it's original intent and spirit.
Gotta say we're both on the same page there....I've said that for quite a while now.
I know I'm getting pretty damn sick and tired of being "told" (by those in the ivory towers), as to how my life should be conducted.
I'm a "big boy" (grown up, that is...I'm still only 5'7" tall...LOL), and I CAN think for myself these days.
And that can be said of most of us, I believe.
If we had a decent upbringing, and paid the hell attention to what we were taught as "young'uns" from our parents, teachers and even relatives, we carried all that forward into adulthood...or at least we should have.
And we've arrived at some point where we began thinking FOR OURSELVES.
We take command of our OWN ship of life, and chart our OWN course, as it were...
We've navigated uncertain waters, came too close to the shoals on more than one occasion, and perhaps even beached ourselves in order to rest a spell and get our bearings before we set out to sea again.
We've been storm-tossed, becalmed, and even towed a few times, in order to reach a "friendly port".
Now, I use these nautical terms, because they paint a picture we can all relate to. Even the most land-locked among us (probably living in Kansas...lol) can visualize in our mind's eye what these things mean...and how they relate to our lives. Hopefully, we've become good captains of our very own ships of life along the way.
And yes, we've probably made some errors in judgment in our voyage, but like any good seafarer, we come away from the experience more "seasoned" and better able to deal with a similar problem should it ever occur again.
So, on the whole, as a people, in general...we don't do all that bad.
In many respects, I fully agree with Beck's challenge to ourselves.
Hell, I challenge myself almost EVERY day.
Sometimes, just waking up is a challenge (all the body parts don't like to get up at the same time).
But there is always a "plan", if you will.
The day you wake up without ANY plan in mind whatsoever, or decision to make in the day you'd best check the old PULSE.
Every single day we are alive is filled with one decision after another...think about it.
There is not a solitary thing you do in ANY day that is not performed after you make some sort of decision.
Even NOT deciding to do something is a decision. For most all of us, getting that decision-making "coffeepot" brewing is second-nature.
We go from task to task, item to item, and decide on the WHATS, HOWS, WHENS, WHERES and WHYS...
And we barely blink in the process.
That's pretty amazing stuff.
Our minds are racing along in hyperdrive, doing whatever it is we're supposed to be doing (even if it's taking a nap) and we try to accomplish as much as we can in the time we have.
Sometimes, we get it done, while other times we don't.
Not a big deal (unless you're putting out a fire or doing the Heimlich maneuver on someone).
And at day's end, we look back and usually ponder one of two things:
1) Where did all the frigging time go?
2) Damn, I got a lot done!
We want to always do MORE than we can, in whatever capacity.
That's a marvelous part of the HUMAN CONDITION.
And, you could even say it's pretty darn charitable, too.
We LIKE to help...sorry, that's just the way we were "made".
Now, we all know that CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME, right?
Pretty simple to figure out.
If we can't exhibit charity in our OWN home to our OWN families, how the hell can we take this gig "on the road"?
Are we being charitable to OURSELVES?
What do we give to ourselves each and every day?
Are we giving ourselves the ability to better ourselves? Are we being charitable with ourselves when it comes to knowledge...or wisdom? See, we have to begin WITHIN, in order to proceed OUTWARD to others.
Do we take the time we need to get THAT done?
Is THAT part of OUR (daily) plan?
Well, it should be, if we are to renew ourselves with much of that American spirit our ancestors had within them.
And, by God, I think we can all do it, and benefit greatly from such a thing.
As you go through your day today, make sure you have a plan and make those good decisions.
Doesn't take but a thought to get that ball rolling. Think of it as a subliminal "hint" to yourself.
Do something that promotes charity within yourself, and then find a way to extend that to another.
And the smaller you start out, the better.
That way, you will see the growth that comes from planting the seeds of such things.
This nation has always been one that set the pace for others, and it's high time we took back that mantle.
We CAN do it..we SHOULD do it...and we MUST do it.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there, America.