Cut the Crap; We're Better than This

Why on Earth do people think they need to spew every drop of brain vomit they can conjure up?

Why do people keep creating new social media outlets for that to happen?

Honestly in the last 10 years or so, I have watched "society" devolve at such an alarming rate it is mind boggling.

Why does a celebrity need to weigh in on a terrorist attack via Twitter?  Of course they are saddened! I would question their humanity if they weren't.  Every time a terrorist attack happens the celebrity news outlets all post HUGE headlines with titles like ""CELEBS TWEET THEIR SUPPORT"  Wow, those 140 characters are really going to help the people bleeding on the streets in France or Turkey.  A real headline would be "JOE CELEBRITY DONATES FOOD, WATER AND MONEY TO FIRST RESPONDERS".

I have watched relationships fall apart over misunderstood conversations on Facebook.  I have watched INTELLIGENT people argue a point "because they read it on the internet" get shot down with reality again and again.  98% of what you see on the internet is false and I would fact check the remaining 2%

I cannot even tell you how many times I have simply checked facts and been able to debunk what others are spewing as gospel truth because someone tweeted it.  Or because someone said it out loud about someone they disliked and it got repeated.

EVERYONE has an opinion.  Well, everyone has an asshole too, doesn't mean you should share it or that anyone else on Earth has to agree with it or give a DAMN about it.  It's unfortunate but the internet has become a place where too many people have become comfortable shoving their opinions down the throats of others.  People are comfortable bullying and demeaning others from the comfort of their keyboard.  WHAT THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH YOU?  How many people think before they type furiously to get their OPINION out there for all the world to see...on the internet...where it is there FOREVER.

Now, I am not going to say that I am not a Facebook user, I am.  I have a Twitter handle.  I have an Instagram account.  There are days I feel like I am the only one who thinks before I post. Before anyone goes ballistic on that statement, please know that I am not referring to posts with fun kid pictures or animal pictures or anything like that.  I think you know what type of posts I am referring to...in 2016, after much domestic and international violence, an election year, etc.

I think...will my Mom cringe when she reads this?  I think...will someone be hurt by my words?  I think...why would anyone care about this but me.  I think...hmmm, this isn't very nice so maybe I am going to keep my mouth shut.  Don't get me wrong, I am as opinionated as the next person and I am passionate about many of my opinions.  But I also know everyone in  the world does not think like I do.  Not everyone in the US thinks like I do.  Not everyone in Illinois thinks like I do.  I am guessing not even everyone in my house thinks like I do.

And that's OK.

I don't think that everyone should agree with everything I post and I certainly do not bully them with the 100 reasons why I think they are wrong.  I don't belittle anyone for not thinking like I do.  Really what purpose does that serve?  Why don't leaders and wanna be leaders do this?  Why don't celebrities do this?  Why don't people who are supposed to be examples to OUR CHILDREN do this?  Why??

Because they have the anonymity of their keyboard.  I would bet that if asked, people who spew their brain vomit daily would admit to not having the guts to say what they say online to someone's face or in front of a live audience.  Why?

Because deep down an intelligent person knows it is wrong.

So think before you gripe and complain about the Lucas museum being built on Chicago's lake front unless perhaps it will render you homeless.

Think before you spew forth that any political figure is going to jail unless there has been an indictment, a trial, a verdict and a sentence; because unless you are some expert on law, chances are really good that you're going to get PROVEN wrong and people won't respect you or believe anything you say.

Think before shout the rally cry (Insert color here) LIVES MATTER.  ALL lives matter even if YOU may not like people of all colors.  I do and this is my blog.

Think before you shoot down things like the Affordable Care Act, same sex marriage, abortion rights, right to life.  I have asked people I thought were friends, point blank if they didn't like the Affordable Care Act because its biggest champion happened to be our first Black President.  I wasn't surprised when they couldn't give me a valid reason besides that.  Know also that the Affordable Care Act allowed me to have the very best chemo treatment without having to worry about losing my house.

It's time to cut the crap and use social media for real, intelligent conversation and debate about issues.  You are not better than me and I am not better than you.  There are scumbags in every race, religion, gender, sexual orientation...and on and on.

 Take responsibility for what you type, tweet and say because the brain vomit is teaching our children that HATE is OK, BULLYING is OK, KILLING PEOPLE is JUST PART OF REALITY, DIVISIVENESS IS ACCEPTABLE.

We as humans are better than that. It's time that the voice of eloquence, intelligence, decorum, kindness and REASON drowns out the voice of hate, greed, intolerance, and ignorance.

Breathe In Breathe Out

So, my oncologist said it's possible that I could have PTSD from my little health adventure.  I am not sure I agree with him.  I mean, I didn't fight in a war. Or did I?  I didn't almost die.  I am not a hero.  Still, there are times when fear paralyzes me.  When I flash back to a time in the hospital.  When I am reduced to the shakes and a feeling of dread.

I had a routine, non cancer related doctor's appointment today.  It was the first time I had been back to my GP's DesPlaines office since she sent me to the hospital and we know how that story shook out.  I got to the office this morning and was gripped by such a wave of anxiety, I was frozen in the front seat of my car...heart pounding, head spinning, words like "masses" and "biopsies" flopping around in my brain.  In all of my 48 years, I have never had a panic attack until today.  It was just a minute or two but it felt like an eternity.  I could feel my pulse pounding in my temples.

Just as quickly it passed...slowly, things started to refocus.  My pulse slowed...breathe in...I could hear the car radio again...breathe out...just a check up...breathe in...feeling great...breathe out...need my umbrella...breathe in...suite 310...breathe out...update personal info at the desk...breathe in...pay my co-pay breathe out...I kept at it until the nurse called me back.  BP 119/78...breathe in...breathe out.

When I do my breathing exercises, I go to my safe place...a hammock, on the deck, on a summer day, with a lake breeze.  It smells like pine, food on a grill and sunscreen.

Is it PTSD?  I don't know.  I have to see my GP again in November.  I made an appointment for the same office as today.  I need to conquer the anxiety...from my hammock by the lake...breathe in...breathe out.