Life - simple but, always complicated!!

Shame that many judge me without knowing all the details of an illness that engulfed me & controlled me. Many friends & family forgot the real me , and my values & beliefs that sometimes were ignored due to a terrible & powerful illness. Yet, I clung onto my vow "until death do us part", I didn't quickly abandon when things got really bad or hard. In other words I wasn't the one who quit, I sought help.  I had struggled with illness a couple of times before, but on the opposite pole & much different symptoms. But, I had been in a medical health care center only a few months before for Four weeks, before my partner threw in her cards. Wasn't interested in it for the long run. I found out not the fighter I was. Unfortunately, the other person quit, couldn't stand by a few of the vows.  For better or  worse , in  sickness  and in health, until death.. I don't remember a free get out of vows card ever being issued. 😒😒 I tell you thi

Matthew 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" In an incredible act of compassion, the brother of the black man murdered by white Dallas cop Amber Guyger hugged her and offered her forgiveness Wednesday as she was sentenced to 10 years behind bars. Victim Botham Jean’s brother, Brandt Jean, was reading a victim-impact statement in the Texas courtroom when he broke off and asked the judge if he could hug Guyge.

Nice to know , but I wonder if I die in a similar manner on a Sunday morning will it also be reported that I had attended Mass & received communion. The media gets a bit out of control, by reporting truly irrelevant facts about celebrities. My father received Holy Communion & last rites hours before he died. How do I know? Because I went into the hospital & grabbed a priest, I was only one who shared the Eucharist with him. Mark 3: 31- 35. Yet, less than two weeks later my actions that day did not matter to family, as I was locked out of a shared family home. No sorrow for those actions by many responsible. I do believe my actions were family love, not sure about being barred from a family home.  🙏 😥 But, guess what?  I did not communicate my Dad receiving last rites  to people at the funeral home , nor with the priest who officiated at his funeral. He was a man of faith, not a saint. Yes, it is a tragedy that Kobe , Gianna, & 7 others perished at young ages in

Ah, Raffi ! When my daughters were very, very, young; Raffi's music cassettes were usually playing in our home, or in the van on road trips. 🎶 😊 . His music & songs never got old. I'm happy to hear he is still entertaining many. Oh yeah, we also had his VHS tapes to watch. https://youtu.be/-CSxGHve60E https://www.cbsnews.com/news/raffi-songs-for-the-very-young-and-young-at-heart/

Parvas, Stone, Manafort, Collins, Cohen. Remember when your parents told you; When we were younger, we were most likely warned by our parents to be careful of whom we choose to spend our time with. They said this in reference to the way others would judge us in accordance to our friends, in addition to the influence our friends would have upon us. The type of people you surround yourself with speaks of your values and what you stand for. We have all heard of the concept of being guilty by association, the act of people associating your behaviors and thoughts with the people you hang out with. If one of your friends acts in a negative way, you will be lumped in with him or her. Despite if this is true or not, it is all based on perception. Regardless if you believe yourself to be an altruistic person, a time may come when your bad company starts to influence your good behavior. I heeded this advice, it's apparent not all who are in leadership positions do. 😲😲 What you leave behind

"Encourage and support your kids because children are apt to live up to what you believe of them.” — Lady Bird Johnson "Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.” ― Benjamin Spock, pediatrician All true , all good. It's the best times of your life, frustrating -yes, rewarding - infinite.  ---  AJS   III

In the fall of 2018, I got up in front of group of 75-80 men at a weekend retreat and gave a 2-3 minute talk about the perils & destruction of depression. It wasn't easy, but I needed to share. It has caused much destruction in my life, but we all have destruction in our lives.  What is important is that I recovered from the destruction & perils, many abandoned me, so be it, but it was my talk therapy, faithful medical professionals, proper medication and most of all my FAITH in GOD that got me through the despair & darkness of depression. That was the message I was trying to convey. FAITH is our rock. Read on... FINDING LESSONS IN BIPOLAR DEPRESSION BY Melody Moezzi Battling depression includes working with your doctor, paying attention to your sleep hygiene, eating healthy, exercising regularly—and, above all, fighting self-doubt. I’ve always believed in setting high expectations: in school, work, relationships—everywhere. Whenever someone tells me I can’t accomplish