To be quite honest, there are people out there that really need to put the mouse in it's upright and locked position and walk away from the computer. They need to put the remote in the toilet tank, and break off the on button to the radio. It isn't that keeping up with current events is a bad thing, it's not. We need to know about certain things to keep our kids safe and find the next miracle drug that can save our lives. It's the fact that some people live to repeat horrible news, terrible things that happen to others, and they do so with the gusto of someone who thinks it is more important that focusing on the good. "But don't you see....by keeping the negative, mind-boggling shit that humans do to humans, to animals, to property, to the justice system, blah blah blah, I am being positive and making the world a better place by telling myself I will not raise my children like that." You mean, your kids that are listening to the same stories as you and seeing the worried look in your eyes? The ones that get put on hold while you watch the news before sitting down at supper to sit there like good boys and girls while you piss away several minutes complaining about the sorry state of the world? The children that you are letting watch cartoons while you read foxnews.com instead of playing board games?

I'm not saying stick your head in a hole. Read the stories and walk away saying, "I can teach my kids to handle their aggression and anger by going on walks with them and allowing them to vent to me where no one will hear and they walk off the bad feelings." "I can teach them about kindness and respect by not shooing them away to focus on the latest school shooting, and instead, shoot some hoops and asking about their school's emergency plan." "I can make sure my kids don't become like those monsters by tucking them in, no matter what age, and telling them I love them and always will, even when I have to be the parent and criticize some choices, to help lead them to a better future."

Yes, I sound like a Hallmark card, a commercial for a daycare, a freaking, "Would you like a flower today and make a donation in the name of Jesus Christ?" I read those stories, and I am concerned about what goes on in the world, and how my kids are going to be treated and subjected at school. I just want some people to quit reading them to justify that they can hate the world, and start dealing with that mankind has always been horrible to each other, wars have occured throughout history, not just because George Bush is in the White House, and that if people would focus on raising their kids, a lot of these problems could be eliminated because someone actually paid attention long before a gun was needed to be taken seriously.

With that out of my way--it's my blog and I can make it a soapbox if I want to--this week will be filled with fun stuff. Pessimists, feel free to continue to have a black cloud of despair covering you as you shift your focus from what matters to the things you have no control over, because you are scared to face that you can make a difference in the world, and it's not by spreading horrible, shocking tragedies to others. It's by turning the negatives to a 2 in your mind and turning your appreciation for your family and the beautiful stuff in the world up to a 10. Optimists, much love to you, and thanks for pulling me out of my rut I was buried in and made excuses for. These are for those that can't at the moment stop to enjoy the flowers or the expanse of beauty above us: