Words are like weapons...

I have recently been told some things that happened in my grade school days about which I was completely oblivious. I imagine I was oblivious about a lot of things in my teen years, it just kind of comes with the territory. But all in all, my school days went pretty easily for me. Not so for everyone it seems. Yes, I know... shocking, eh?

Hey, I did say I was kinda oblivious.

I got along with most everyone. I got along with the popular kids without actually Being one. I got along with the 'outsider' types though I wasn't an outsider. I got along with the 'Heads' (for you uninitiated... that's what we called the drug crowd) without ever trying drugs (in grade school anyway).

I was never the shy type but wasn't the performing type either.

I Was the artsy type and the language class type,

(5 long years of Español).

La escuela era 'pan comido' para mi.

At school and growing up in general, I was always told (from my earliest memories) that I could do whatever I wanted if I worked hard at it. Why would you tell anyone anything different?

So I was chatting with a school mate/very close friend and I found out that this person's high school days were not like mine at all.

The most important thing I found out is this... If you are a teacher, FOR GOD'S SAKE be careful what you say to an individual!!

That seems almost like common sense, doesn't it? Apparently not for everyone.

An offhanded comment might mean very little to you but it might make a lasting impression on that student.

Case in point, my friend was told not to plan a career in a particular field as they were 'not particularly talented'...

um, What? REALLY?!?!?!?

I was pissed!

Who in their right mind tells a young person this?

Okay, I can see telling an adult who is tone deaf that becoming the next Tony Bennett is probably not in the cards, but... come on.

This statement has followed this individual throughout their life and has nagged and eroded their self confidence the entire way.

I was so livid to learn this and totally flabbergasted. I just couldn't imagine being told such a thing at a young age, especially when it involved a beloved avocation.

My reaction was so forceful that my friend became very emotional, having realized that Someone now understood how damaging the statement was in this person's life.

Please, folks... be careful what you say to children.

"Words are like weapons... they wound sometimes."

It's been a long day...

While driving home from an unusually difficult workout, Peg thought through the possible reasons for her atypical disposition.

Feelings she would describe as less than her usual Joie de vivre were evident, yet she couldn't discern their cause. Maybe it was a general dis-ease following the strange events of the last week. Although she had been excited and energized by the unexpected earthquake, perhaps she was now experiencing some mild form of post-traumatic reaction. Then of course there was the hurricane, certainly a bit more stressful than a typical August day in central Virginia.
It could simply be a reaction to the unprecedented amounts of alcohol she consumed at Sidewalk the day after the storm. Having awoken to a neighborhood still without power, she went into the city in search of breakfast and solidarity... Sidewalk offered both of these, not to mention a well stocked bar.

Finally seated at a booth in the back corner of the small, yet charming eatery... Peg saw her friends enter and she waved them to their seats.
They ordered food and drinks... of course she'd already had one Bloody while waiting - Tequila instead of vodka, her usual M.O. Now she switched drinks, though NOT liquors... she ordered a Tequila Sunrise, a real blast from the past.

The food came and went and Peg hardly remembered consuming any. It was evident to her friends if not to her that she had had a bit too much to drink. She began to understand her drinks had consisted of the infamous "Edwina Pour". Well, she thought, there was no electricity at home so no real reason to rush anyway. But really... how long could she continue to take up real estate in the busy pub? All this ran through her not completely coherent brain as her phone chirped... that little noise it makes when a text message is waiting.
"I'm on my way to you." it said.
Heart fluttered, pulse quickened and a bit of a blush evidenced itself as she realized she was very excited... you know, in THAT way.
Well, she thought... this day is looking vastly improved.

Ever evolving meaning of FRIEND...

Some people talk about how many "friends" some of us have on Facebook. They talk about how no one could have that many friends. How we just 'collect' them so that our numbers will be really high. And some people talk about 'spring cleaning' and 'clearing house' etc of their FB friends to lower that number... make it more manageable.

Some people like to make fun of those of us who enjoy social media networks. As if it was a total waste of time. REALLY, it is NOT a total waste of time! It CAN be, but it doesn't Have to be. It can be lucrative for your business, it can be beneficial to your craft, it can be a balm to your very soul. Who knows... it Could be healing for the world, lord knows FB is a INTERNATIONAL phenomenon.

I believe we are honestly becoming a world without borders... if only governments would recognize that. BUT that's a subject for a whole other discussion.

Everytime I think about purging some of my friends list I look through it and think, "I really need to whittle this down a bit" but I can't bring myself to delete anyone. Someone once said to me, "but Peg, you've never met a stranger, have you?" And I guess he was right.

So what about that LONG list of Facebook friends? Are they really friends? In my case, I have a long list of people with whom I attended highschool. Now, it's been my recent, exciting and Wonderful experience that so many of these people have definitely become friends even if we really weren't close when we went to school.
Then there are the folks I've met through motorcycling, teaching motorcycling, massage school, massaging, teaching massage, past jobs.

There are some FB "friends" that I've never met in person. But I still consider them friends or in some cases, colleagues.

But through it all there are those... the real Tried and True Friends, the ones you KNOW will be there. Some of them you talk to (actually talk to... on the phone or in person) every single day. Some of them you only get to 'talk' to via a computer, a text message, skype perhaps. Some of them you communicate with on a sporadic basis. Some of these aren't even ON Facebook (and to those few I will cut and paste this). But you KNOW they are there and they always will be. To those friends I offer a song.

If I was with you at this moment I'd actually sing it for you

(whether you want me to or not... hah).

Thank you for being a friend
Traveled down the road and back again
your heart is true you're a pal and a confidant
I'm not ashamed to say
I hope it always will stay this way
My hat is off,
won't you stand up and take a bow

And if you threw a party
Invited everyone you knew
You would see, the biggest gift would be from me
and the card attached would say, Thank you for being a friend

Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend

If it's a car you lack
I'd surely buy you a cadillac
Whatever you need, anytime of the day or night
I'm not ashamed to say
I hope it always will stay this way
My hat is off, won't you stand up and take a bow

And when we both get older
With walking canes and hair of gray
Have no fear, even though it's hard to hear
I will stand real close and say,
Thank you for being a friend (I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend (I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend (I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend (I want to thank you)
Let me tell you bout a friend (I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend (I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend (I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend

And when we die and float away
Into the night, the Milky Way
You'll hear me call, as we ascend
I'll see you there, then once again
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend (I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend (I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend (I want to thank you)
Thank you for being a friend
Whoa, tell you about a friend (Thank you right now, for being a friend)
Thank you for being a friend (I wanna tell you right now, and tell you again)
Thank you for being a friend (I wanna thank you, thank you, for being a friend)
Thank you for being a friend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOqyygAQSX0

Artistic Awesomeness...

This piece of ART is by Danny Grant, a friend of mine.
And he GAVE ME A PRINT!!! It will be framed and on my wall in a matter of days!
For the uninitiated, it depicts the interior of the anterior lower leg. It will be a tattoo for one of my favorite people (not to mention, one of my favorite students... shhhh, don't tell her).


For more wonderful pieces and info on his work... check out Danny Grant's site at:

http://www.madebygrant.com/

if I haven't said it yet... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This is an heart-felt assessment of MY condition... that is all!

My new year's resolution is to keep drama OUT of my life... at least as much as possible.
I'm leaving any pain and loss behind me and I'm starting new. I'm concentrating on my ability to help people heal their bodies and on my ability to pass knowledge along to my students. It is the path I was meant to take and I'm damned good at it ... I truly love it.

As I looked back at my life and my psyche , I know that not only do I strive to help people with their physical bodies I also wish to help them heal in every way. I guess that's the goal [curse?] of any healer. I've wanted to be able to fix everything and I have to realize that's not possible or even desirable in every situation.

I have a problem of not being able to say 'no' most of the time and it stretches me very thin... this I'm striving to change.
I have a problem of believing too readily. I'm not gullible, but I do tend to take people at their word... I will strive to step back and look at the situation a little more objectively.
I have a problem of thinking actions by others reflect their feelings for, or opinions of, me... this is egocentric... I'm striving to change this as well.

A friend told me the other day that she wished I had "someone" in my life (she's happily married). I said I have lots of people in my life. Yes, she was talking about a "partner/spouse/whatever". I'm not sure why she thinks I need such a thing. THAT would not be the way to simplify my life! If I think about it honestly, I don't WANT a spouse... been there. I don't WANT to have to compromise that much. I like my life.

I guess I'm just trying to simplify my life as much as possible.

Over the years, friends come and go but I've noticed the true friends always stay.
When I love... I love forever, no matter whether the person is around or not.



"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle". ~Plato

Eeeeasy 105.9 in Myrtle Beach

Met radio personality Bob Natale in Myrtle Beach, SC at Taste of the Town

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