Daily Archives: September 9, 2015

This issue first started bothering me shortly after I escaped from my domestic violence situation. Before that, I barely paid attention to all the awareness events. October rolled around, and I discovered that domestic violence awareness was the same month as breast cancer awareness. I have a few friends that have been affected by breast cancer, so I am in no way minimizing this important issue; but I was mad. “That’s not fair! Something very important to me is now overshadowed by something else I’m supposed to care about!” Of course the guilt set in after that…how could I be so callous?

The second time this bothered me was last year when I volunteered in a hospital gift shop. A woman came in for an awareness bracelet, and started complaining that her particular problem only had a very putrid-looking greenish-gray bracelet (I can’t even remember what her illness was). She became very upset about how all the other illnesses had pretty colors, why did hers have to be so ugly. Oh come on, people. This is getting out of hand.

An article titled “What Good is ‘Raising Awareness?’” in The Atlantic, states:

According to a commentary published this month in the American Journal of Public Health, the United States has almost 200 official “health awareness days.” (The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services lists all national health observances on its website.*) And that’s not counting all the unofficial ones, sponsored by organizations.

A New York Times article, “Awareness is Overrated,” comes to the conclusion:

But the funny part about all of this awareness-raising is that it doesn’t accomplish all that much.

There are only 12 months, 52 weeks, and 365 days (except Leap Year), every year. Some health issues, tragic events, or causes are going to be left out or overshadowed. Then throw in all the current events with hashtags in social media, and curmudgeons like me just want to throw our arms up in the air and yell “Enough already!”

Here’s a novel idea…how about if we become aware of the human beings around us and the struggles that everyone goes through, and try to show compassion to everyone we meet? After all, do we really know what’s going on behind that smile or those tears?

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*I started to type out all of those awareness days, but just go to the website if you’re really interested…I don’t have all day!

Tagged: awareness, compassion

There was a big write up in the local paper about the fire at my mom’s. An excerpt (link to full article on gofundme update page.)

Brandi Harris fights back tears as she talks with friends on the front porch of her home on North Fayette Street in Jacksonville. Dirt, ashes and fresh scratches cover her hands, reminders of her effort to save pets from her house after a fire early Tuesday. More than half a dozen pets died from smoke inhalation and several more are missing.

 

They were also interviewed by a local tv station today, though I’ve not seen any footage posted yet.

The article teaser was about the police officer who had to seek hospital treatment for smoke inhalation. I was impressed with the way they kept it focused on my sister and brother in law’s efforts to save their pets, though, rather than playing up the overloaded power strip causing the fire. Even my fundme page was mentioned in the article, though there’s been little activity on it. Speaks to the charitable nature of this place.

The death of the kitty at the vet’s office brought the total up to nine cats and two ferrets,plus all her pet frogs. Rocky is still fighting and sis says she is going to keep him since he’s fought this hard and they’ve invested so much money in his vet care. Long as he’s loved, excellent.

My nephew has been beating himself up because it was his room, his power strip, that started the whole thing. Less than worry about property damage considering he lost all his stuff, he feels responsible for the death of all the cats.

I went to the fire department today and got two brand new smoke detectors. I don’t trust the ones that came with this place, not after seven years. So everyone- check your smoke detectors, the batteries, even if your landlord is responsible. And hope they work better than the ones the landlord installed at mom’s. No way it should take flames leaping out before smoke is detected.

Thanks to everyone passing this on, to those who have donated, to all those wishing my family well. It is greatly appreciated.

P.S.- The cats listed as “missing” in the article have all been found and are being housed by a relative, in great shape.

May the lost pets rest in peace and know they will not be forgotten.

 

You bug me.  Yes, you.  Whoever you are.  If you're reading this, you bug me.  And so does everyone who's not reading this.

Right now almost everyone and everything irritates me.  A lot.  And I don't know why.

I'm severely limiting my social interactions, digitally and in real life.  Because I can't keep up the facade.

I can't pretend the things you're saying or doing or wearing or eating aren't making me crazy.  It takes so much energy to be polite and smile when I really just want to go off on a diatribe about how ridiculous I find you.

I absolutely know how self-centered this sounds (because it is).  I understand how un-Christlike this sounds (because it is).  I get it.  And in my heart of hearts I don't feel this way.

But in my nerves I do.  I don't want to.  I'm working on it.  But right now I do.

And my isolation is for both of us.

I'm certain my facade will eventually break down when we're together, and I'll tell you how whiny I think you are.  I'll tell you to quit complaining and either do something about it or just shut up.  Which will hurt you.

Which will hurt me.  Because I will feel your hurt and carry the weight of that in my heart and on my back.  And I just don't have that strength right now.

I think part of the reason everyone and everything is bothering me is because I feel like it's my job to fix all the problems.  All of them.  All of them in the world.

I know it's not.  In my head.  But in my heart I feel differently.  Accountable.  Responsible.  At fault.

And I want the world perfect.  I want the world to be the way I want it.  That includes the people and their behavior.  And if I'm accountable, at fault, then it's my job to fix it.

But it isn't.  And people get very irritated when I try.  (As well they should.)

So I'm just going to pull back and give myself some space to get through this.  It's kind of like taking my ball and going home because you won't play what I want to play, only a bit more mature (I hope).  You can keep the ball.  I'm just going home.

You bug me.  Yes, you.  Whoever you are.  If you're reading this, you bug me.  And so does everyone who's not reading this.

Right now almost everyone and everything irritates me.  A lot.  And I don't know why.

I'm severely limiting my social interactions, digitally and in real life.  Because I can't keep up the facade.

I can't pretend the things you're saying or doing or wearing or eating aren't making me crazy.  It takes so much energy to be polite and smile when I really just want to go off on a diatribe about how ridiculous I find you.

I absolutely know how self-centered this sounds (because it is).  I understand how un-Christlike this sounds (because it is).  I get it.  And in my heart of hearts I don't feel this way.

But in my nerves I do.  I don't want to.  I'm working on it.  But right now I do.

And my isolation is for both of us.

I'm certain my facade will eventually break down when we're together, and I'll tell you how whiny I think you are.  I'll tell you to quit complaining and either do something about it or just shut up.  Which will hurt you.

Which will hurt me.  Because I will feel your hurt and carry the weight of that in my heart and on my back.  And I just don't have that strength right now.

I think part of the reason everyone and everything is bothering me is because I feel like it's my job to fix all the problems.  All of them.  All of them in the world.

I know it's not.  In my head.  But in my heart I feel differently.  Accountable.  Responsible.  At fault.

And I want the world perfect.  I want the world to be the way I want it.  That includes the people and their behavior.  And if I'm accountable, at fault, then it's my job to fix it.

But it isn't.  And people get very irritated when I try.  (As well they should.)

So I'm just going to pull back and give myself some space to get through this.  It's kind of like taking my ball and going home because you won't play what I want to play, only a bit more mature (I hope).  You can keep the ball.  I'm just going home.

You bug me.  Yes, you.  Whoever you are.  If you're reading this, you bug me.  And so does everyone who's not reading this.

Right now almost everyone and everything irritates me.  A lot.  And I don't know why.

I'm severely limiting my social interactions, digitally and in real life.  Because I can't keep up the facade.

I can't pretend the things you're saying or doing or wearing or eating aren't making me crazy.  It takes so much energy to be polite and smile when I really just want to go off on a diatribe about how ridiculous I find you.

I absolutely know how self-centered this sounds (because it is).  I understand how un-Christlike this sounds (because it is).  I get it.  And in my heart of hearts I don't feel this way.

But in my nerves I do.  I don't want to.  I'm working on it.  But right now I do.

And my isolation is for both of us.

I'm certain my facade will eventually break down when we're together, and I'll tell you how whiny I think you are.  I'll tell you to quit complaining and either do something about it or just shut up.  Which will hurt you.

Which will hurt me.  Because I will feel your hurt and carry the weight of that in my heart and on my back.  And I just don't have that strength right now.

I think part of the reason everyone and everything is bothering me is because I feel like it's my job to fix all the problems.  All of them.  All of them in the world.

I know it's not.  In my head.  But in my heart I feel differently.  Accountable.  Responsible.  At fault.

And I want the world perfect.  I want the world to be the way I want it.  That includes the people and their behavior.  And if I'm accountable, at fault, then it's my job to fix it.

But it isn't.  And people get very irritated when I try.  (As well they should.)

So I'm just going to pull back and give myself some space to get through this.  It's kind of like taking my ball and going home because you won't play what I want to play, only a bit more mature (I hope).  You can keep the ball.  I'm just going home.

You bug me.  Yes, you.  Whoever you are.  If you're reading this, you bug me.  And so does everyone who's not reading this.

Right now almost everyone and everything irritates me.  A lot.  And I don't know why.

I'm severely limiting my social interactions, digitally and in real life.  Because I can't keep up the facade.

I can't pretend the things you're saying or doing or wearing or eating aren't making me crazy.  It takes so much energy to be polite and smile when I really just want to go off on a diatribe about how ridiculous I find you.

I absolutely know how self-centered this sounds (because it is).  I understand how un-Christlike this sounds (because it is).  I get it.  And in my heart of hearts I don't feel this way.

But in my nerves I do.  I don't want to.  I'm working on it.  But right now I do.

And my isolation is for both of us.

I'm certain my facade will eventually break down when we're together, and I'll tell you how whiny I think you are.  I'll tell you to quit complaining and either do something about it or just shut up.  Which will hurt you.

Which will hurt me.  Because I will feel your hurt and carry the weight of that in my heart and on my back.  And I just don't have that strength right now.

I think part of the reason everyone and everything is bothering me is because I feel like it's my job to fix all the problems.  All of them.  All of them in the world.

I know it's not.  In my head.  But in my heart I feel differently.  Accountable.  Responsible.  At fault.

And I want the world perfect.  I want the world to be the way I want it.  That includes the people and their behavior.  And if I'm accountable, at fault, then it's my job to fix it.

But it isn't.  And people get very irritated when I try.  (As well they should.)

So I'm just going to pull back and give myself some space to get through this.  It's kind of like taking my ball and going home because you won't play what I want to play, only a bit more mature (I hope).  You can keep the ball.  I'm just going home.