Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Please leave the holidays alone, they are not bothering you…

(c) 2014   P.Lynne Designs 
I am making a statement, which is one of my motto's for 2015.   For those who have been following me, do not worry, I am not going to be some militant writer, who is going on a 50-state rant across the country.  I am not going to ignore what is going on either, but I do have something to say about the holidays.
Lately, I have been hearing about all these cities across the United States trying to cancel Christmas, because the very thought of celebrating the holiday may offend some people and their beliefs.  My question is how are the cities doing that?  Let me you in one a little secret: ignore it.  You do not have to participate in anything you do not believe in.  Let those of us who love the idea of going downtown to see all the lights, sounds, and smells have our season.  Let me give you an example:
Where I live in Columbus, Ohio, we have horse drawn carriage rides.  They are only given during the holiday season.  Now I have never rode in one, unless you count the time when me and my family visited downtown San Diego, California in 2007, me and my mom rode one, while my father, nephew (then 11), and a family friend walked by the water.  I love seeing them around Columbus, because it is part of the Christmas season.  I am a Christian, but nowhere in the bible does it say that I cannot ride in a carriage taking a tour of downtown Columbus.  I do not have any restrictions so it does not bother me.  I just personally have taken the time over the years to fully enjoy a good carriage ride.  Ok, now say it did offend me.  Do I have the right to take away from others, just because a horse-drive carriage offends me?  No, I do not, because it is about freedom to do what you want, because it is within the context of the law of this country.  I am not an island, and no other person should feel like that they need to put others with them, just because the celebrations of the season put them in that position.
Now to those who live in the towns where Christmas is “cancelled.”  Christmas is not cancelled.  It is on the calendar, and no one has the right to take away your right to celebrate the season.  This is only year one.  After this is over with, write your congressman, and tell them your feelings about the cancellation.  These so-called elected officials have one year to restore celebrations to your city.  Do not let a few people take away your celebration.  Celebrate anyway.  The police do not have right to tell you what you cannot do in your own home.  This is the perfect time to celebrate with family and friends in your home.  There are more problems in the world to complain about, then the cancellation of a downtown Christmas tree, though it is pretty to look at. 
Try to find out why this year’s celebration is cancelled.  Have you ever heard of the game called Telephone?  It is a child’s game, where the first person whispers a name or a phrase.  The idea is to make sure that last person repeats exactly what the first person has started.  Most of the time that last person gets it wrong every time.  What does this game have to do with the cancellation of the Christmas celebration?  Simple.  The real reason for the cancellation gets lost in the shuffle, and the reason may not have anything to do with offending a few people.  It might have been due to budget cuts, construction, anything but being offensive.  By the time the reason gets to a news person, it turns into something that gets a town stirred up and then the anger starts.  That is how most fights get started.   Other names for this type of talk are called “rumors” and “gossip”. 
Whatever the reason, please have a pleasant holiday, and I am looking forward to my presents and celebration the birth of Christ.

Merry Christmas!

Monday, December 15, 2014

To Blog or not to blog, that is the question…

(c) www.howtostartablogforfree.com

Writing is one of the most freeing things you can do in your life.  I mean, after all, I have been writing in a blog since 2009, and I find it therapeutic for me.  It does not matter if I am writing out my heart and soul because I am angry at someone or something in my life on my personal journal, to telling would be card makers what glue is best for the type of paper they are using.  I even find writing a grocery list exciting, especially now that I can go into my smartphone, access the MS office app, and start typing (or speaking).
It does not matter what I do, I always do not want to give it up.  I know I have to sleep sometime, but even now, it is 1am EST, and I am typing out this post for this blog.   I have not given it up.  As a matter of fact, I have 5 blogs to keep up with, plus an account on a site called Hubpages. This is not my reason for the random thought.
My reason for my random thought is something that I have said over and over again:  If you are going to start blog, JUST DO IT.  You do not need anyone’s permission to start a writing blog, or any blog for that matter.   My tips:
·         Know what you are going to write about.  You cannot just start writing about fuzz balls and thinking that it is going to hold water, until the year 2044.  It is not (unless there is something you know that I do not know about).
·         Be an expert on that subject.  I.E. I know about papercrafting, Disney, organizing, and writing.  I also sell organizational items.  I have a passion about these subjects, and there is plenty of content out there.  I have no business writing about Quantum Theorem Physics (what the heck is that anyway?) See, and I am not looking it up.
·         Gain a following.  After all, you need someone to read it.  The newest thing to gain readership is to add a video to the blog.
·         Finally, have fun.  Add visional effects to it.  Add a little humor to your post, but at the same time, be respectful to the grammer (grammar) police.  Have something that will make a person crave for more.  Do not write just for yourself, which why there are personal journals out there.

I hope it helps. If you want a blog, just start one.  No one is stopping you but you.