The State of Dis-grace

Well, we've done it. We've become a society of selfish, egotistical, heartless, self-righteous and indignant units driven by greed. Oh, sure, there are those of you out there going, "What the hell are you talking about? I volunteer and give to charities, go to soccer games on Saturdays and church on Sundays. I give!" I'll just bet that in the back of your mind somewhere, the next line is probably something like, "Yeah, I give - when there's something in it for me!" It's rare to come across people who just wants to do something for the sake of helping out, no matter how small it may seem, and without recognition or reward. And if you think about it, this also means showing a little grace now and then by simple acts of thoughtful kindness, such as letting the young mother, tired, stressed and struggling with the baby on her hip, cut ahead of you in line at the grocery store because you're really not in any hurry and she only has a couple of items. Or by letting another driver in to the lane of traffic ahead of you. You know what I mean.

This concept has been around forever, and every few years or so someone coins another 'fad phrase' like "Today is the First Day of Your Life" or "Practice Random Acts of Kindness". But as of now, late September in the year 2009, it seems as if the human race has suddenly become so cold and insensitive to one another that it's time to come together, to find common ground and learn to love each and every one of us, working for that elusive world peace everyone keeps talking about.

Have you ever noticed how out-of-tune we are emotionally? So much so that we can barely look each other in the eyes. I read somewhere about a simple experiment that you can try yourself: for one week (the original experiment was for one month, I think), every person you pass on the street, in the hall, in the store, where ever, look at them straight in the eyes as you pass each other and greet them hello. Just make yourself do this and you'll be amazed at the responses you get ... or don't.

Then people think you're crazy, but who cares? Think seriously about this for a few minutes: what would happen if we all stopped worrying about what someone else may or may not think about us? Don't we have enough pressures from society already?

The past couple of days I have encountered so many incredibly rude people, many of whom are setting examples for our future generation by acting out such behaviors in front of their own children. Thus the tirade against humanity and it's gross negligence of common decency. And I could go on forever, high up here on my holier-than-thou soap box, reprimanding humans for becoming so uncaring, insensitive, and merciless. But in all honesty, as humans we are flawed and imperfect, and the variables that contribute to the growth and development of each of our lives are too numerous to even consider. I am certainly not here to judge. Isn't there a happy balance in life where we can all be ourselves without having to compete with one another, while living peacefully and harmoniously world-wide?

Good night, then, and please try to be good to all living things. Remember that the more love and gratitude that you send out to the universe, the more love and gratitude you receive. I'll just leave it at that.

New Venue - New Hope

I've finally gotten around to moving my blog to a more accessible site, so here it is!

For the longest time, my best friend Theresa and I have been trying to get people to notice "The Last Word" and all it stands for. It is our hope that somewhere along the way, we can help others who have suffered with these horrible memories of abuse, neglect, and assault by finding ways to face their demons head-on and learning to live again.

By sharing our own horror stories, we want to encourage women - and men! - to relate their own experiences, and to show them how to finally let it out, let go, and then to live a life free of the guilt, shame, humiliation, and pain that we have all endured over the years.

And so, let that inner child out to play, and learn once again to laugh out loud!

The Last Word

Tuesday, May 20, 2008. Today marks the beginning as she sets a new precedent for women – and men – everywhere. Theresa is pioneering the way for others to perhaps put the years of countless nightmares to rest at last.

No one could possibly even begin to comprehend the atrocities children suffer at the hands (and more) of a child molester, most often a close relative. No one could understand except, of course, another victim. The disgust, the shame, humiliation, and the guilt that these souls carry with them throughout their lives cannot be measured, certainly not by any who have not suffered through a similar experience.

Many of these casualties growing up in the 1950's, 1960's and '70's were kept quiet by those closest to them, who knew but kept silent, believing they could simply ignore what was going on right under their noses, never listening to the cries late into the night and never seeking justice for these hurt and lonely children.

Over the next 40-50 years, the children became adults. Along they way, so many turned to drugs or alcohol as means to escape the horror of their memories, to escape the guilt by drowning them in to silence, in to a haze of chemicals to dull the pain, surfacing now and then to awaken the dark memories and open old wounds that never seem to heal.

Sometimes the obstacles of living such a life seem insurmountable and our minds and hearts cry out to be healed … no one listens. But today, Theresa will seek out the grave of her molester – a relative! – and brand him for the world to see as she affixes the small, engraved plaque that reads simply, "Child Molester" to this hateful man's headstone. I pray that the epoxy holds until the end of the earth. And I pray, as she slaps that brass plate just above his name, that my best friend, my 'anam cara', will be able to finally close the door on those awful memories, of the filthy old man who touched that little girl so long ago and darkened her beautiful, innocent heart.

Leave it there, my friend, and come home to help lead others like us find healing and closure in their lives and their hearts – show them that they, too, can have the last word.