I Believe The World Is Getting Kinder

People always talk about how the current generation of the country will be the end of the world as we know it, but I think for the fist time in a long time, people are wrong.

Though, maybe it’s not the first time in a long time? It seems we’ve always been building up to how we are today, which means people have been getting increasingly better as the years go on. Each generation has been inching toward acknowledging a need for shared rights between all people.

If anything, I think this country (and the world, at large) is getting kinder—or at the very least, conscious. It seems we are at least aware of the turmoil that surrounds us, and the impact our choices have on each other and our planet. The increase in human rights we’ve seen over the past one hundred years is proof, alone, that we are starting to become less egotistical: that we’re becoming more concerned with the happiness of our fellow human being than our own power.

The strides we’ve taken and continue to take for civil rights, women’s rights and gay rights are all very encouraging to me. These strides have taken a total reconstruction of the common thought and a hell of a lot of courage. The lawmakers and citizens who have fought for them needed to put themselves and their reputation as, “well-thought-of individuals”, on the line in order to do what was right. That, my friends, is what I like to call: gutsy kindness. Can’t get enough of that stuff!

Wonderfully enough, it doesn’t stop with these particular human rights. There are kindness ambassadors springing up everywhere for many different causes! I am very encouraged by the different sorts of activism I’ve noticed taking off around the country and beyond. From veganism and vegetarianism, to fighting against animal cruelty, to environmental groups, to veteran support, to serving the poor and homeless…The list goes on and on. Needless-to-say: I am constantly inspired and in awe of the giving hearts of my fellow people.

Even in cases such as Kony 2012, which, from what I understand, turned out to be a bit of a sham, I can say I am proud of the fact that so many people felt so inspired to speak out for their sisters and brothers in different countries who are suffering. I feel that people are starting to understand the most important piece of the puzzle in our human experience: That we are all only mirrors of each other and that only love is real. When you hurt, I hurt, and vice versa. This makes me believe the levels of empathy and perspective taking are increasing, as well, which, are key factors to people dolling out kindness with such generosity.

So call me a cockeyed optimist! Call me a fool. Just don’t call me Sally. I’m kidding. Call me Sally the most. But honestly, as much it can be easy to get discouraged by certain experiences in life, when I think of all the good and all the beauty there is in the world, it brings me to tears and propels me to move forward with an open heart. We are so lucky to live in a time when there is so much love, generosity and benevolence everywhere we look!

Maybe I’m a hippie, or maybe I’m just aware. You can decide what you think of me, if you care to judge. But I think it’s pretty inarguable that for a country that began with bringing a group of people here by force and enslaving them, while running a simultaneous genocide of the native people of this land, and basically keeping any person who wasn’t a white male away from any real rights, we have come a LONG way. I am proud. Go America! Go World! I can say from experience, it’s a lot less exhausting and far more inspiring to be aware of and grateful for all the good in the world. It makes one feel alive!

I appreciate the kindness today and am excited to see what tomorrow brings!

Sending you love,

Lo

Have Gratitude Now: It's The Little Things

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So this is slightly belated, but:

Happy Gratitude Day! What are you thankful for? Personally, I am most thankful for all the love in the Universe and for the ability to learn. I am Thankful for everything that has ever happened to me and everything that ever will. With each life event we have the opportunity to learn, grow and make our lives and the way we love more successful. I feel I have done this and I pray I will have the courage to continue to do so.

I am so thankful for all the people I’ve met on life’s path; for those who have faded away, those who have stuck around and for those who are yet to come: you are the loves of my life and I am extremely lucky to know or to have known you. Even when someone first seemed to be more of a nuisance than a blessing, I can honestly say every person I’ve ever met has taught me something and/or challenged me to find a deeper way to love. Thank you: I love you.

Of course, with that being said, I am most thankful for the people in my inner circle: my friends and family mean the world to me and I feel so blessed to have so many beautiful souls in my life.

I am grateful that I am unique and unwilling to compromise on who I am. I know there have been times in my life that have been more difficult due to my quirky soul, but I also know that being the person I am has helped others become comfortable with being their weird selves. I am thankful for this and very proud to be a goof. If you ever hide who you are, you are cheating the world from seeing your unique light. That's not fair to us. Shine on, babies, shine on.

I am thankful to love so much and so deeply. Though at times this, too, has made my life more challenging, it has also made it more rewarding. I know that whatever I goal I go toward in life, I’ll work to achieve it with the whole of my soul. I am glad that while I’m in this physical body, I’m getting as much out of life as I can! Similarly, I am thankful to have so much that I’m passionate about. I am grateful to love and be a part of art. I am glad that I dedicated my life to the arts at such a young age and that I've stuck with it through thick and thin.  I am thankful for my instincts, perseverance and belief in the power of a dream.

And, of course, I am thankful for my health, and the fact that I have all the materials I need to survive on a physical level. It is so easy to get down on ourselves for not having what we deem to be the perfect body, a stunning wardrobe, or the most gourmet food and drinks, however, we must focus on what we do have. I would like to thank my legs for carrying me around, my arms for conducting tasks big and small, and my face for the ability to smile through all of life's trials and tribulations. I am thankful that I have clothing, shelter and sustenance. Even small things cannot be taken for granted. Let us not wait until we lose something to appreciate the many blessings in our life. Have. Gratitude. Now.

Finally, I am thankful for you. I appreciate you: whoever and wherever you are. I am truly grateful that you are taking the time to read what's on my mind and track my path road to success. Know that wherever you are, I am sending you love and wishing that you attain the courage to achieve your dreams. I believe in you.

In love and Thanks,

Lo :-)

There is more power in promoting something you love than ridiculing something you hate

This blog might be brief because it is a simple thought, yet, it is so important.

In the wake of the election, and just a time, in general, when we are polarized on so many issues, remember: it is a more efficient use of your time to promote something you believe in than to fight against something you despise.

I need to remember this as much as anyone. I am certainly guilty of brining attention to issues and candidates I disagree with. When most of us see something that we don't like it is our first instinct to say that it is bad and why we think it is bad. This isn't very constructive, is it? Rather than giving energy to a negative thought and a force you find to be incongruous with your life thesis, why not bring energy and positivity to something that gives you hope and lines up with your beliefs?

Good thoughts attract more good thoughts, as bad attract bad. The more energy you give to fear and hate, the more prevalent they become in the world.

So in these last days before the election, for every time you feel compelled to say why you hate one candidate or another, try to think of the opposite, positive attribute you like in the opponent and state that instead. It might make this whole battle a little less bloody and a little kinder. For as we know, if there's one thing politics isn't lacking, it's negativity. Why add to that? Let's annul it. How?? As always, focus on the love.

Love,

Lo