Be True to Yourself

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everyone else… means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.  -e.e.cummings

I am not an avid reality show watcher, I never really have been.  Weekly watching someone else's life and all the drama that can go with the situation created is not what I consider entertainment.  Yet I will admit that I have a guilty pleasure of watching Survivor on occasion.  Although I still do not watch it on a regular basis, if there is something that catches my interest I will tune in occasionally, especially at the finale. 

 Last night I watched the finale of the most recent Survivor show.  One of the players was the nephew of a player in previous shows who truly proved what it meant to be an out and out liar and then to not have any problem with it.  Of course I am talking about Russell.  His nephew Brandon played this season.  On several occasions he stated how he wanted to try and return some goodness to his family name and the example that Russell had left in his previous 3 shows appearances.  He tried to play with honesty and an forwardness that I enjoyed.  Although I will say that there were some that did not like his manner of telling it like it is, I found it refreshing in a world where it seems that so many just tell you what they think you want to hear.

 

Most people are other people.  Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.  Oscar Wilde

He did not win of course.  It was his honesty and true compassion to help out another that did him in.  He spoke last night about how the experience changed and also strengthened him and his convictions.  He also talked about how because of this change and the manner in which he exhibited his passions on national TV inevitably alienated him from his family per their choosing.  He had no one from his family there to support him last night.  No one was there to congratulate him on a good game except his fellow players and others in the audience.  His uncle Russell was there, yet it was only to ridicule his ridiculous manner of playing the game. 

Many times in life we have opportunities to stand up for something we claim to the comfortable crowd that we believe in.  When I say comfortable crowd I mean those of like ways and beliefs.  It takes little courage to stand up in a room where so many others would say the same words as you.  Yet to walk among others who hold a different view can be a very unpleasant and often difficult experience.  I take my hat off to Brandon for standing behind what he claimed was him.  I commend him for continuing to do so even after his return home and the discomfort he received as well as the cold shoulders and lack of compassion.  It is people like him that will eventually make a difference.  Next time you are given a chance to speak your voice and say something to support the convictions that you hold deep in the corners of your heart remember… If we become so accustomed to disguising ourselves to other people  eventually we will also become disguised to ourselves. 

Never be bullied into silence, Never allow yourself to be made a victim.  Accept no one’s definition of your life;

 Define yourself. 

Dreaming of Jamaica

This morning I woke to a wonderful temperature of 18 degrees, a sure sign that old man winter is well on his way or in some cases already here and quite settled in.  It is a far cry from the recent vacation we took before Thanksgiving.  Vincent and I spent a wonderful 7 days in Jamaica.  It was a wonderful birthday present as well as a wonderful way to relax before all the wackiness of the holiday season.  It was the first time either of us had been to Jamaica so we were not sure what to expect.

 

  Touching down in Montego Bay the sun was just beginning to set.  Our resort was on the other side of the island so we had an hour and a half drive to our destination. We sat back to enjoy the ride.  The roads are narrow in Jamaica and we had to drive over the mountain.  The manner of driving was a bit different than what we were used to.  First they drive on the other side of the road which really was not all that bad.  The other thing was the way they would swerve to miss either pot holes or people walking along the road. Many times it appeared that we were driving straight towards an oncoming car, only to have one of us swerve out of the others way just before impact.  It was a bumpy ride at times and a bit scary but we eventually made it.

 

  Our room was facing the ocean and right on the beach.  After a quick supper we spent the rest of the evening just sitting on our deck watching the waves and enjoying the warm weather. Our early flight that morning and the bottle of wine we shared led us to an early bed time. 

 

Because we arrived after dark it was difficult to see much of the country side.   The next morning our view was much clearer.  We were served breakfast on our balcony.  What a wonderful way to wake up each day.  A beautiful sunrise and wonderful weather.  I have to say that it definitely did spoil me. Because of the time difference we were up by 6am each day.  Early maybe but the sun set earlier as well so we did not want to miss any of the wonderful sunshine.

 

We did not do much extra while there.  It was an all inclusive which I think is the only way to go if you can.  Our days consisted of breakfast than down to our place on the beach.  It was set up and ready each day with towels and a wonderful ice chest full of Red Stripe, water, and ginger ale.   We ate our lunch each day on the beach as well.  Jamaican Jerk was our mainstay for lunch.  I grew to love the spicy flavors as well as the variety of items served.  I am not much of a banana lover but I grew to love fried  plantains.

 

  Our afternoons were either on the beach or in the pool.  It would usually cloud up a bit as the day neared late afternoon.  It would then rain for a bit then let up before evening came.  A couple times while it rained we indulged ourselves and had couple massages.  Afterwards we would walk back to our rooms in the rain.  It has been years since I walked in the rain and splashed in the puddles it made.  (Something I used to love to do)  These walks as well as the many mojitos we had were my favorite part of the afternoon. 

 

Then off to the room for a brief rest and then supper. A wonderful way to end the day.  A relaxing supper and maybe a little time listening to the local musicians.  I do not know how it  could be any better.   Yea I know it doesn’t sound very exciting but it was the most wonderfully relaxing vacation I have ever had.  In fact, we decided from now on if possible we will do a similar vacation each year.  The dates fall just perfectly around our anniversary (Oct 30th) , my birthday (Nov 19th), and Vincent’s birthday (Dec. 8th).  It is a wonderful way to celebrate all three as well as give oneself a bit of a breather before the holiday season gets in full swing.   A different island each year should be something nice to look forward to. 

 

We did not get to see many gorgeous sunsets as it would cloud up and shower a bit each afternoon.  I did manage to capture this one though.  

The March Towards Yule

I can hardly believe that it has been so long since I last posted. Reading back over the last few entries it seemed that each time I promised to return and become more frequent again yet it seemed that instead I only was gone longer.  No more excuses.  It is what it is.  I was doing other things.

A couple weeks ago I celebrated the milestone of my 50th birthday.  Last year as I wrote about this event I spoke of all the things I intended to do throughout the year to prepare myself for the event.  This too did not come to pass.  Yet I have to say that spending my 50th birthday on the shores of Jamaica was not a bad way to end a year that let’s just say was not what I had anticipated.

As November 1st rolled around I could feel the change.  Since I began celebrating the new year at this time, I feel more in tune with the natural revolution of the year.  The new year seemed to come with much clarity.  Although the feeling of hibernation which was well in the air due to the coming of the winter chill, I could still sense a relief; as if things were lighter and possibly brighter.

Now Yule is upon us.  The smell of gingerbread feels the air, as well as home baked breads and fresh pots of home make stews.  I love this time of year as I spend so much of my time in the kitchen.  Many of the gifts that I give to friends and family consist of cooking.   It is a way I feel I can put a bit of myself into the present.

There is much to talk about as my absence has been long.  Yet for now I will not stay long.  I will not promise as before that I will be back again in the capacity that I had at earlier times, yet I will do my best to write when I have the time.  I have missed so many of you, from reading your own musings on your own sites as well as the wonderful comments that you leave on occasion  on mine.  Some of you have taken the time to write to me via email and to you I say thank you for your thoughts and well wishes.  And to the new followers who have become a part of Mother Moon I say welcome.  Til next time, I hope that your days are filled with warmth and a good helping of the holiday spirit.

 

Blessings,

Mother Moon