Day 103: It's not the topic, it's the criteria

As time passes and more thought is given, the anger starts to build.

My friend sent me a text a few days ago:

I was pretty neutral about it - a stark change from just a handful of years ago. Then I began researching and the pot began to simmer.

I read an article from The Globe and Mail, a Canadian news outlet, stating how Justice Alito takes the rear view mirror approach, for essentially everything, in asking:

Was there an abortion right in previous times, such as when the 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868?

The article goes on to quote: “He’s looking back to a historical period when women are denied the vote and, more generally, almost any legal rights,” Prof. Hasday* said. “And he’s saying that’s what the Constitution is embedding for all time.”
*Jill Hasday, the Distinguished McKnight University Professor and Centennial Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota Law School.

In Learning Adventures, U.S. Constitution: 1787-1789 - it states:

The Constitution of the United States is the foundation of our Federal Government. It is often called the supreme law of the land; no law may be passed that contradicts its principles. At the same time, it is flexible and allows for changes in the Government. The Constitution is known as a “living” document because it can be amended, although in over 200 years there have only been 27 amendments.

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE IN OVER 200 YEARS THERE HAVE ONLY BEEN 27 AMENDMENTS?!

Are we all dead?! This is supposed to be a LIVING document, isn't it?! 

So what gives?

Well, that's just it - there isn't any agreement on if the constitution is a living document or not. 

There is no line written that explicitly states, "this constitution is a living document." Which, to Justice Alito and other Originalist politicians, gives the green light for keeping and enforcing outdated ways of thinking and governing.

And until there is agreement - or an amendment establishing such - we will continue finding ourselves in these distressing and heated situations, no matter what the topic.

Our struggle as a nation really isn't the topic (at any given time), it's the criteria that's being used to assess it.

Day 102: Destined for Stardom

Commentator 1: It's red carpet season and we are live! We've already seen so many stars dazzling us this evening. It looks like - oh yes - this year's biggest sensation, Belly Pep, has just arrived!

"I saw his little curly-cue hair, and I knew he was destined to be a star."

Commentator 2: That's a direct quote from Belly Pep's manager, Starla Standgroom. And as a veteran of the Business, she knows a thing or two about stars. We have a few photos from when Belly was just starting out. Here's his casting photo...wow, he looks like such a youngster!

  

And here we see them together, post contract signing. It's clear Starla wants the world to know she 'knew him when' and saw the star potential before anyone else.

Commentator 1: Don't worry, Starla, we won't forget it. And how could we, with Belly's - now iconic - Green Beach shoot. As soon as these photos hit publication the world could not get enough of Belly Pep.

Commentator 2: That's right! We'll certainly all be watching eagerly to see what he does next . . .

Day 101: To Baby or Not To Baby - Is it Even A Question?

Have you heard the rumors?

I hope they're true.

I mean, FINALLY, someone else gets to make all of the difficult, incredibly important, and life changing decisions for me!

What a relief!

I'm talking about having a baby here, in case the title threw you off. And planning out my whole life path in advance - with titanium - so there's no possible way I can get thrown off course or, say, grow and learn about myself as a human and then change my opinion and preferences on things.

Nope, life is hard enough as it is. I'm totally game to shift that weight on to someone else.

I mean, if the government is willing to put in extra effort to decide if I have a baby or not, why can't it go a step further and make other areas of life easier?

Take eating for instance - do you know how hard it can be sometimes to decide what to make for dinner?!

It would be great if the government would just decide all of my meals for me. I can't be bothered with the energy it takes sometimes to pull a meal idea out of thin air - just tell me what I'm eating, Gov!

And while we're at it - it would be Fantastic if it could plan out all of my workouts, too. You know, picking all of the routines and letting me know what I'm doing each morning.

Because, as Tuesday's SCOTUS leak reminded us, the woman's role in the 21st century is still to make babies. And, pulling from what society has whispered in my ear my whole life, that has a greater chance of happening if we women stay fit and healthy so that males will find us attractive. Right? Did I get that right?

And our country cares SO MUCH about sacred human life, they will do whatever they can to make sure nothing tries to destroy it. 

Which, when you think about it, is kind of comforting. Our country really cares about us!
 - What's that? Oh, they only care about life when it's growing inside a woman's body, but after that everyone is on their own?

Huh . . .

Well, I guess it's just the first step towards revamping the way this great nation views the foster care system, early childhood education and childcare in general. Surely all of the money saved from abortion care and clinics will be more than enough to provide comprehensive care, training, therapy and monetary aid needed to ensure EVERY child, no matter what their living situation, is happy, healthy, and safe. I mean, this is America! We don't have orphanages . . . 

And then there's sex education and contraceptives. We don't even need 'em! Let's just revisit the idea of chastity belts and the whole problem will be solved. I certainly don't need to decide when the time is right to have a baby. I'd rather have the government decide when my life is going to change.

Because knowledge is power, you know? I know that deciding what's right for my life and body is much too difficult of a decision for me to make on my own, so the government should have all the power. 

See? Everybody wins!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Obviously, these are satirical sentiments. 

While I find this impending repeal of a woman's right to make decisions about her own body horrifying, I do have hope that many of the other taboo topics connected to reproductive rights (and health) will get the love they deserve.

To me, sexual education and convenient de-stigmatized access to free contraception seems like a great place to start. 

In my mind, no woman WANTS to get an abortion. 

No woman WANTS to make an incredibly taxing, mentally and emotionally traumatic decision that will stay with her for her entire life. 

To disregard and devalue the living, breathing human that is already functioning and contributing in the world, because there is a living organism inside of her that may join the outside world 9 months later, is wrong.

If, morally, this country wants all fertilized eggs to meet the outside world, then they need to start nurturing and providing for the hosts who carry them. 

This means 1000% religiously and politically neutral sexual education curriculum taught in ALL schools and at various age levels.

This means 1000% free and easy access to contraceptives and the accompanying education needed to ensure they are used correctly.

This means 1000% better mental and medical healthcare system, paid family leave, and free parenting and early childhood development classes.

What I see from recent news leaks is the opportunity to address the root cause of all of this. Abortion is a symptom of a bigger problem. 

So that begs the question - what is it that we really want?

Day 100: Day Reality - Acknowledge the Dream

So you want to turn your daydream into a day reality, huh? 

I do, too!!

The first step may seem obvious, but if missed you might as well kiss your daydream-turned-day-reality goodbye. It is:

1. Acknowledge the dream.

No matter how fleeting or expansive, frequent or rare, we have to acknowledge and identify the dream in order to do anything with it.

This step sounds easy, but if you're anything like me - with a lifetime of family and societal conditioning influencing your every thought and action - it can be quite difficult. 

That's where the new way of (investigative) thinking comes into play!

Allow me to illustrate -

In a recent daydream, I saw myself on stage at the Chicago Theater. Standing in front of a crowded audience. An audience that deliberately paid and traveled to see me and hear what I had to say. To see my show not only be entertained ('is she a comedian?!'), but to be inspired, lifted up and validated in who they are and what they are currently experiencing in life. They leave motivated and excited to apply new ideas and concepts they learned to their own lives. And eagerly share this information with others.

My dream was nowhere close to this when it first started knocking on my consciousness (and I've no doubt it will continue evolving). Yet, it kept throwing pebbles at the windows of my soul, over and over. Desperately trying to get me to take notice. 

Many nights as I was trying to go to sleep, my mind would be flooded by passionate narratives of various topics and themes.

Ooh, this is good - I should write it down! Ugh, but my bed is so warm and I'll have to turn on the light . . . I'll remember in the morning . . . I hope.

The willed memory the next morning almost NEVER worked. But the nighttime ideas continued, and I finally wised up to write them down.

What did I do with them after that?
Besides this blog - nothing.

When one approach didn't work, my internal desires would try another:

"When you think about it, we've always liked performing," my sister stated one evening, in reference to many childhood kitchen dance shows, during which behind the fridge was 'back stage.'

And another approach:

[Me thinking after writing down a bunch of thoughts in my journal]
'huh, why do I write as if I'm telling someone else these thoughts - as if they're not just for me?'

Sometimes, the best thing for getting in touch with what's going on inside of us is some good old fashioned silence. Time spent doing nothing.
Nothing but thinking and reflecting.

I thought about how I enjoy public speaking on topics I am passionate about.

I thought about how I like making people feel good about themselves and believe in their own abilities.

I thought about the declaration my best friend Elsa and I [somewhat jokingly] made in our early 20s about being inspirational speakers when we are old ladies.

I then thought about a question I was asked a handful of years later about this declaration, "Why wait until you're an old lady? Why not now?"

So I sat and reflected. And thought. And reflected some more.
. . . public speaking is a form of performing and I'm passionate about what I'm learning from coaching. I can incorporate speaking events into my coaching business - that would definitely be considered inspirational speaking. . . . and I could do experiential events! Kind of like simulation meets art gallery - that are interactive and engaging, entertaining and enlightening . . .

Ok, I was finally starting to get the message of all the subconscious hinting. I was finally hearing Mountain Man, my Inner Guide, rattling around in his cavity inside of me.

So that's it, right? That's all it takes to Acknowledge the Dream? 

I wish! 

No, that's only the first half - creating awareness to what the longing and desire inside is. 

The second half of Acknowledging the Dream is:

• creating awareness of the thoughts/beliefs that keep you pushing the dream away and
• how these thoughts/beliefs impact your current thinking, actions, view of yourself and view of life

Oof! If this content weren't enough to wrap this post up, the length definitely is!

[Dramatic cliffhanger music starts]

Acknowledge the Dream: Part 2 - To Be Continued

 

Day 99: Daydreamin

[Cue Lupe Fiasco feat. Jill Scott]

I was eating breakfast, listening to my pump-up, Live Life playlist and imagined it playing at the beginning of one of my shows at the Chicago Theater. I'm on stage - dancing willy-nilly to Andy Grammer's "Damn It Feels Good To Be Me" - smiling, feeling silly, and exuding joy.

Last month, I would have considered this an indulgent thought. But now - despite fear I most definitely feel - I consider it a future happening.

Take note of your daydreams. 

 

They aren't just passing thoughts or pipe dreams or even random (despite what past Sarah would have you believe)! 

 

They are your deepest wants and desires making themselves known.

And, as cliche as it sounds, the only thing keeping them daydreams, is you. 

 

They could be your day reality . . .

But how do we get there?

How the heck, indeed?!!

I think, it starts with the 5 Ws -

 

Who

What

Where

When

Why

Are we back in Journalism class?! 

 

I'm not sure, I never took Journalism in school. But I do know that these 5 words are the foundation to all investigative thinking. And that's the exact thing we're going to be investigating - a new way to think.

 

This way of thinking is not so limited as we are used to. 

It is so expansive it can be hard to even fathom (I'm still trying to fully wrap my mind around it).

It is not about 'manifesting' or 'willing' anything into existence.

It IS about, first, being honest with yourself. 

And second, being true to who you are.

And that's it! 

 

Simple, right?

 

What?! No! - I don't know what to do with that!!

 

Yeah . . . it's so simple, it can seem quite difficult. 

But don't worry, we can take it a step at a time, together. 

Because remember, this is Sarah's World - and Sarah's World is Awesome - and so are you.

Day 98: Keeping Up with The Good Life

I think a lot of us picture this idea of The Good Life as one of financial excess and freedom.

We think about celebrities and nice things and houses and traveling and all of these things that are simply that - things.

But that's not what The Good Life is. The Good Life is not Things.

The Good Life is a mindset, a perspective. Interestingly enough, it can in fact lead to all of the "things" our culture attributes to this label. Yet these are mere side effects, not the intent or goal.

I think about the first episode I watched of The Kardashians, my new guilty pleasure. Boy, was what I took from it much different than what I expected for a reality show.

What did I see?

Humans.

Underneath all of the fame, money, and curated persona there are real people on the screen - with real insecurities and struggles.

Doesn't matter who you are or what your circumstance, no one is immune to the human experience. And I don't know about you, but my human experience thus far has been far from straight or smooth.

The part that really stood out to me was Kim hosting SNL. This is a Perfect example of an individual navigating how to move forward in a way that serves THEM, rather than defaulting to what 'makes sense' [aka: pleasing others]. 

I think we should all take note. Not because she's famous (love her or hate her), but because she's human and we ALL have, and will continue to encounter, choices of this kind.

Choices to be honest with ourselves and what we really want.

Choices that don't have a guaranteed win or outcome.

Choices to trust in ourselves even if it feels scary or vulnerable.

What if we fail? What if we embarrass ourselves? What if people talk about us?

What if we try? What if we become alive with this new experience? What if we trust ourselves and learn we can fly?

There are two sides to every coin.

And we get to choose which side we work from.

THAT is The Good Life.

Directing your own life with confidence and excitement. Or at least curiosity - no matter how hesitant or fear-tinged it may be.

The Good Life is one in which we are honest with ourselves about what is important to us, what interests us, what makes us come alive, and what we want to bring to this world.

Once we tap into that, there is no limit. Even the sky can't hold us.

"I could have Kanye as the musical guest, that would make the most sense.

... But I kind of want this to be my own thing."

Stop right there, Kim! There's no need to think any further!

You want your chance to try something new. To have an experience of your own.

That's it.

No explanations or justifications are needed.

When we want (from our soul, not our physical senses), we connect to our own path to happiness. To question and deny it, to hide ourselves away or make ourselves small (ie - stay the same), never brings fulfillment. It just perpetuates emptiness and longing, for . . . 'Something.'

Pay attention to the inner wants. They are trying to tell you something.

"Come home to yourself. Your Good Life is waiting."

Day 97: Rain-walker

 Getting caught in the rain isn't ideal, but seeing this makes it better:

Plastic bags will never be the same.

 

. . . and neither will I . . .