Perspective

Yesterday, I was talking with my folks about Fiesta here in Santa Barbara. It began yesterday and will continue through the 5th. It's the celebration of "Old Spanish Days". It's always a good time, however I was lamenting to my Mom and Dad about the rodeo.

I enjoy watching the barrel racing and the team-penning, but I have a difficult time with the rest of the events. I know, call me "silly", I don't care to watch an animal have its legs yanked out from underneath itself while it's running, then have its neck bent back and thrown onto its spine. It's just not my thing.

Well, then my mother started yelling about boxing. She said that she thought boxing was much worse than a rodeo. I said, that at least the boxers have a choice whether or not they want to be there, the animals don't have that luxury. She failed to convince me that the boxers probably didn't have any other means of making a living...I told her that I had a difficult time believing that.

But, we didn't argue about our differing opinions. We discussed our points of view, but didn't yell like we've (I've) been known to do.

Then, later that day, I called my oldest brother Chris to wish he and his wife a "Happy Anniversary". We were talking and somehow got around to the coincidence of certain dates on the calendar. And just how uncanny it can be to have the same dates pop up again and again with family members, or good friends...it can just be weird.

So then, we started talking about Quantum mechanics and the Law of Attraction and then I said, "Have you ever seen the movie, 'What the BLEEP Do We Know?'?"

And he (listens to Rush Limbaugh) replied with a touch of disdain in his voice, "Michael Moore didn't make it, did he?"

And I chuckled and said, "No...he didn't."

Even though we have very different opinions on a variety of different matters, we didn't argue. It was a light-hearted conversation and I was glad for it.

I guess what I'm getting at, is that after posting that little "rant" yesterday, which was quite cathartic (thank you for tolerating my bitch session, I don't really want to "punch her square in the face and pull her hair"...okay, maybe a little), is that I didn't feel a need to be "right" or to express my opinion to the point of screaming it. And it felt good.

It was liberating to know that I don't have to be "right", or even acknowledged so much as I need to be kind...to everyone and everything that I can be kind to. Because that's who I am and always want to be.

Even if sometimes I want to punch someone square in the face and pull their hair, I hope that I can stop myself from saying anything hate-filled and try to remember to be kind...or at the very least, to be silent.

Because, in actuality, there's not really a whole lot worth fighting for...

Yesterday's horrible bridge collapse reminds me that I have NOTHING to complain about. It's quite the contrary.

I have the world to be thankful for, my life and my friends and my family.

And when I reflect on it all and acknowledge how truly grateful I am for this moment, I feel like the richest man alive.