Asia/ Tsunami

We just heard that our friend is safe in Thailand. It is difficult for me to imagine the numbers of people that have been killed by the tsunami and its effects. On google they have a link for relief and aid. When i began to look into the organizations that are taking donations to help, i was surprised. i'm sure i sound naive, but i can't think of a better word. maybe there are so many things fighting for my attention that i miss these things. it was inspiring to see a list, of organizations...of people...that work to bring relief and help to others. i have known of red cross and habitat for humanity, save the children and unicef. i have heard of doctors without borders. but, i never saw these organizations as anything but a minority of people. the exception to the life that i see most people living, or at least i thought. what a powerful thought it would be to see those things as the majority. as the norm. to see other occupations and distractions as the exception to outward concern, relief for pthers around the globe and in our neighborhoods. i wonder why it isn't that way?

http://www.google.com/tsunami_relief.html

the above link if you want to help and don't know how, like i did. there is another blog about tsunami relief. tons of information on the internet. thankfully. if you dont know how to help, you can learn instantly. the information is right at your fingertips. not just for extraordinary tragedies like the tsunami. helping in anyway - it's available everywhere.

why aren't these things the focus of our news? this is the stuff that is good. this is the stuff that is important. the caring. the helping.

i love the show extreme home makeover. it makes me cry :) whoever thought of it is a genius. so simple, but so powerful and good and hopeful. it's lovely. it's amazing. it makes me feel so good to see what happens on that screen for an hour or so.

i'm reading a book called The Future of Peace. I like it. I am sorely misinformed about many things. Or not informed enough. people that work for peace. for understanding. that is so important in this world.
i'm so thankful for them.

Finding #2

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,12899,00.asp

these articles are interesting. i have only been a "blogger" for less than an hour and already i am ashamed! :)
hmmmmm. okay let's see. vanity. yep, i can see that as being an obvious assumption. Ego gratification. Antidepersonalization. Elimination of frustration. Societal need to share. Wanna-be writers.

Hmmm. What about curiosity? Relaxation? I wonder why people keep any kind of journal, let alone an online journal. When I was young i started a journal, my mom gave me my first one. i kept a journal off and on for years and years. all of it was uncensored (of course it was NOT on the internet for anyone to see). some of it, okay - 75% - was hellish adolescent confusion that is irrationale to anyone who is not an adolescent. it was interesting to learn my uncensored self. uncensored from company, or expectation. these days i hardly have time to breathe, or think. that's why i thought this might be a good idea. sometimes after being busy all day, and inundated by all kinds of things beating for attention from all my senses, it feels good to be quiet and let my thoughts return to the natural fumbling way that they go from one thing to another without any prompting. then i take a breath and think about what is really important in life. I mean, i ask myself - what is really important? when i am old and gray and unable to do much for myself or others. when my health is failing and all i have time to do is sit... what will i think is important in the world? what will i wish i would have spent more time paying attention to? what will i wish i would have spent more time ignoring? despite sounding depressing, it's really more of an uplifting idea to me. becaue i'm not old and i have full ability to direct my life, pay attention to what's important. i want room to breathe and think. i'm busy just like the rest of the world, but one thing i've learned is that there will never be time, unless you make it.

i think it's important to breathe, to think about what matters, and to make time for what really matters in life. i suppose it will be different for anyone.

Finding #1

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,27443,00.asp

so, i googled "blog rules" first to see if there's any etiquette or whatnot and the thing that i found is the above website. so, i guess some people are fed up with hearing the word blog so much these days. well, i thought the article was interesting and mildly funny (as I'm new to all this blog stuff). i promise i will try not to use big fancy words, i am not a promoting author in disguise, i cannot give props to fellow bloggers (due to not knowing any), i am too shy to shed politeness and use profanity so early in the game, i have enough jargon at work to deal with, and i will never intentionally use a cat name for my blog, seeing as i don't have any cats because they give me hives. with that said, welcome to all who are not annoyed or bored already :)

i do love my job, and i might add some poetry in the future. can't please everyone, eh?
tonight though, it's time for bed. sleep is top priority to me. over and out.

Here goes...

Okay, so this is blogging. I keep hearing this blog word and it sounds interesting. So here I am. Blogging. Is that a word? I really should read up about blogging first, so until then, over and out. Happy New Year