This is happening. This is Really happening.

Compassionate Conservatism


....and Donald Trump is in the lead for the Republican nomination.



....What?



When Donald Trump threw his hat in the Presidential ring, a lot of people, who were tired of a lot of things, did a little happy dance.  I'll admit,  I found this intriguing.  No political background, but an impressive entrepreneurial history would make the campaign trail  more interesting.  And wasn't this a huge problem in America?  Career politicians? I thought (and still think) so.

"Let him shake up the system,", I thought.  "He's got a snowball's chance of making the primary, let alone the election.  Maybe his popularity will send a message to Washington that we're tired of their b.s.."


I never believed it would go this far.  But fast forward to today and now, I'm a little nervous.


Who thought this easily label-able bad boy would make it to the front of the pack in this well choreographed process we call politics?  It appears that the only thing he has done with impressive zeal is to refuse to play the game by their rules and America is eating it up.  With zero political correctness and a seeming desire to make himself a press target, this opinionated tufted warbler has become, at least in the telling caucuses, a contender. 


So....fast forward to 2017, post inauguration.  What does THAT look like?  I'm being serious here.  I know some people are of the opinion that he will fail in foreign policy and fail in social services and there will be mushroom clouds and people starving in the streets and Vladimir Putin will buy a summer home conveniently close to the White House and oh, me, all is lost.  But what would it really look like?...

Here are some pictures of cute baby animals to get your blood pressure down.  Better?  O.k.

I am no political scientist, by any stretch. But I think I can see people for what they are.  I don't like Obama's smug attitude.  It always feels like he is hiding something.  Just my opinion.  But the previous administration had its problems as well. Honestly, every administration since I've been aware of politics has had a little something to hide.   I've thought for years that the skill set it takes to get to that level of politics has a bucket full of unattractive character traits.  It seems like Trump's unattractive character traits, might not be that much worse, and part of his appeal is that he makes no qualms about them.  It's his human-ness that makes him all the more attractive. 


I don't know that Barak Obama had any foreign policy experience, or economic experience on a global level, or conservation experience. (Or W. for that matter)  But yet, we trusted them.  Or at least, we trusted their advisors that, behind the scenes, guided policy.  Because isn't that how it works?

So, it seems that the presidency is part leadership, part project manager.  Those skills seem to be in Trump's wheelhouse.  If there are two areas that Trump can excel at, it's economics and running stuff.  And if he is wise in his selection of cabinet and staff, all will be well.  But that doesn't sell commercial spots on CNN, MSNBC or FOX.  Keep that in mind with the sensationalist propaganda on ALL sides of this election. 


My biggest concern with Trump is his incredible wealth and potential inability to relate to middle America.  To me.  Yes, we need a stronger economy, but we need strong families and greater opportunity for affordable education and to care for those the simply cannot care for themselves.

I want our borders tighter, I want our social services to be more discriminating to allow people that need help, faster help and people riding the system to be kicked off the bus.  How about some covert drive bys?  An Escalade in the driveway and Coach purse are not indicative of poverty, in my book.  People need help, yes.  America has not found the right way to help them up.  Our help programs need help.  Perhaps liberals fear those programs will be disbanded.  That would be terribly unwise, but an overhaul?  Please. And regardless of whether you believe Al Gore or not, there are trash islands floating around and rainforests being slaughtered and animal species wiped out in the name of economic progress.  We suck.  We have to get better at this.  Even at the expense of profits. 


 Less IRS agents, more program auditors.  Less blank-check food cards, more commodity cheese and beans. More mandatory recycling and less disposable crap.  Does that make me a mean republican?  Or a hippie liberal? Or compassionately conservative?


I haven't thought much of the other candidates, either Sanders or Clinton as they just aren't as, well, sparkly. But Donald, with his crazy hair and trophy wife and tanning-bed-eye-ovals might just create a new brand of world leaders.  And if he wins, I think it will be o.k.  But I need to see his heart.  Do we bring back jobs to strengthen our economy, or to strengthen our communities?  This is what will make or break my final decision.  The right thing for the right reason.  And so Mr. Trump are you a compassionate conservative or non-compassionate conservative?  I think America needs to know.
If you were flat broke, Mr. Trump, what would go to charity, then?  Can you even imagine?

A Vision for 2016




In January of 2016, I created a vision board.  It's a powerful thing, this board of mine. 

It's unattractive, mind you.  Not nearly as pretty as it could be.  I worked alongside 10 other women and we laughed and searched and pasted and they found beautiful tropical escapes and spiritual logos.   I searched magazines for the perfect visual reminders of what I wanted the Universe to manifest in my life.  But alas, the Universe apparently didn't want to manifest any visual reminders.  Or at least, not pretty ones. 


But this jumped off the page at me.  And it demanded to be snipped and pasted onto my board. 

I've been a repressed writer for years.  Well, semi-repressed.  If we're friends on Social Media, you may have noticed that I was a paragraph and a title away from blogging 4 days out of 5, anyway. 

 I didn't intend to start my blog tonight, but, while wandering the internet, found a blog written by someone I know and I thought, "hey, I can do this".  And so, I did. 

This has been a consistent theme with this vision board.  I've been bopping along, doing my life thing and then...BAM.  Something jumps in front of me. Something that is in line with those items I put on the board.  And those "somethings" seem to be consistently...do-able. 

And so, this first post on my writing adventure is themed, "Where did that come from?".

Our minds are powerful things, capable of great good, not so good, and complete apathy.  I am stunned to see what a little vision can accomplish.  I have some theories on what is happening through this process with so LITTLE effort on my part.

The first theory is that the Universal Power, whatever you choose to call it, better understands what I want and is allowing me to "speak into existence" these hopes and dreams.   This would be similar to an Elmer's GlueAll prayer process. 

The next theory is that because I have made a conscious decision to put some things in my cross hairs, I am now hyper aware of those opportunities that present themselves.  So there aren't necessarily more opportunities, I simply notice them more.

The last is that I am capable of changing the things that are in front of me, as I am energy and they are energy and like attracts like.  Similar to the book/movie "The Secret". 

I'm very curious about your theories on this.  Just to catch you fully up to speed, I've had some seriously creative and productive days at work,  woken up in a great mood more mornings than not, and lost 6 pounds.  I've also been much better about saving money and have been relentless at removing clutter in my house and yard.  All of these things are on the board.  But my previous process of making a list, planning my days, and forcing myself into action has been conspicuously absent. 

Whatever it is seems to be working some strange magic in my life.  I'm sold on the vision board and this will probably be a consistent activity in my January.  I find that a little exciting. 

Please jot down a thought or two.  I'd love for this blog to be a 2 way conversation.  I'll respond as I can, when appropriate. 

Much love fill your day and light your way, until we meet again.

Dawn