I was but a young boy when people like me lived in the shadows.
Stonewall Inn New York NY circa 1969
Thanks to a few courageous souls who had had enough, I’d never really fully know that life they were forced into.
Where it began
Inspiration
Rebel Alliance
Mayors stand up for what is right, yes this is a link…go ahead click it…you know you want to.
Not just mayors but governors. Good politicians with a moral compass who wish to pass a viable planet on to their children stand up.
The message that made me post a link to that article is that this is not a time to get bitter. Now is the time to lead. Lead by example. Lead with good honest morals. Lead by taking steps to not only meet the standards set for us by the Paris Agreement, but exceed those standards. Lead by taking these steps in each of our daily lives and in our communities, cities and states.
Say “Fuck You” to the weaklings who put personal gain and personal comfort over the love of their fellow man, the planet, the animals, the unborn descendants of us all. Those assholes aren’t leaders, those assholes are spineless greedy selfish cowards.
Don’t let such short sided dimwits make you angry & bitter, that’s what they want. Follow the lead of these courageous Mayors and Governors. Follow the inspired responsible one’s lead, starting with your personal choices and follow them with your support. Together we can un-do any mess and any harm that those that are misguided ignorant narcissistic demagogues dish out.
Love, smiles and purr
Yes Fearsome is posting a cat video, kittens no less. It will make your day a better day.
This is just one of the many reasons we support The San Diego Humane Society. This feature short highlights their kitten nursery that cares for, nurses to health, spays, neuters and manages to find homes for more than 5,000 kittens a year. Yes that is FIVE THOUSAND kittens per year.
The San Diego Humane Society “got to zero” in July 2014 and has remained at zero since that date.
“Zero” means that zero rehabilitatable animals are euthanized by this facility. We are proud to stand with and support such a facility.
Could it be that maybe we are fostering a second Yorkie? Maybe a cousin of Phoebe?
Why yes we are, and her name is Betty!
Betty
Values
“A Nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but it’s lowest ones”― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
“We’re all human, aren’t we? Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
“Good works is giving to the poor and the helpless, but divine works is showing them their worth.” ― Criss Jami, Killosophy
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.”
― Albert Einstein
“No one has ever become poor by giving.”
― Anne Frank, diary of Anne Frank
“Don’t tell me what you value, show me your budget, and I’ll tell you what you value.”
― Joe Biden
“Those who don’t value their words, will never value your wishes.”
― Amit Kalantri, Wealth of Words
-Some Fearsome thoughts- …It is time I again contemplated values. My values, good values, value of others, value of the material and value of the spiritual. Contemplation helps me to re-enforce my core beliefs and personal morals. I post these quotes for inspiration from words that resonate with me.
I’ve found in my life that by living my values, I lead by example. In some way we all lead others and in some way we all follow others. I sincerely hope I follow good ones and that those I lead have found a good leader. Each day I must try to simply do my best. I must strive to do good and share goodness.
We can each make the world a better place. We simply have to start with ourselves and start right where we are.
Why not start right now?
Joe Biden stands with us
If you are so inclined to believe in equality and respect for all, please consider reading Joe Biden’s latest Washington Post Editorial.
Thank you Joe Biden for being a man of reason, integrity and respect. We are grateful that you are a part of our culture and our lives. Keep up the good work leading by example with true American values.
Finding words
Is it that I don’t have anything to say? No I really don’t think it is that.
Is it that I am too rushed and don’t set aside time? Very possibly.
Could it possible be finding the words to express myself? Most likely.
I have a lot to say. By saying it through the written word I go deeper. When writing I learn. Expressing myself through writing helps me explore me.
Why oh why don’t I stop more often and write? Why don’t I discipline myself? Is it possible to make it a habit?
Since starting Fearsome Beard I have learned more about myself as well as grown in ways I never expected, it was all through writing. I had never written before in my life. I have never journaled, kept a diary, written prose nor hardly ever even written a letter. I recorded nothing.
Posting pictures of a beard seems like a daily place holder. I’m not saying that posting those beards isn’t. However I do have to find them and I do usually post one that reflects a thought or mood or at least a fondness I am feeling. I also caption them ever so slightly with a word or two. It’s a good daily habit as it brings me here and it does take effort. Effort no matter how minimal.
Writing takes a bit more effort and often requires a little inspiration. I have found that the more I do it, the easier it is. Finding words is an art that comes easier and easier with practice and habit.
I guess my contemplation on this cool San Diego evening is a thoughtful challenge to myself, to express myself through written word more often. I do not want to get so caught up in the whirlwind of my daily life that I forget me.
I love blogging.
With gratitude
Ellen,
I am unable to Thank You enough for your strength and courage.
What is the key?
It’s you.
May the force always be hers
Beautiful…
Thanks Carrie for helping this little boy dream.
An Angel
There is no mistake that Dolly is one of my many angels.
I’ve known this since that time I first ever remember hearing her voice come from the lone single rear speaker of that AM radio in the back of my mother’s white 1967 Buick as dad drove us through darkness along the back roads of Tennessee. That night we were en-route to visit mom’s family out in cotton country along the mighty Mississippi.
Dolly was singing her ‘Jolene’ that long dark night. I can remember the warmth, care and love in her voice as if it were yesterday. I’ve loved her ever since. I know to my core she loves me too. That’s just Dolly. She is pure love.
Dolly Parton, Peace Train.
Beard of the day
Love, Peace & Beards
Peace, it’s better
Retaliatory bombing is not good…
Hate cannot destroy hate, only love can do that.
War is not the answer…
Darkness cannot end darkness only light can do that.
I believe in peace. I believe in love. I believe in better. I believe in diplomacy. I believe in discussion. I believe in enlightenment. I believe in education. I believe in understanding. I believe in working together.
In times like these it never hurts to let your voice be heard for what you believe in.
Contact your senators HERE.
Find your congressional representative by clicking THIS.
Your governor can be found at this LINK.
One call or e-mail may not seem like much. One call, one e-mail and one vote is all that is needed to make a difference, to tip the balance, to instill motivation, to change the outcome.
Silence=Death
Silence=Complacency
Silence is Complicit.
Wrap My Hijab
Totally awesome.
Hijabi by Mona Haydar
Beautiful too.
Best day of my life
Yesterday sucked.
Yesterday sucked ’cause I made a mistake. My mistake was I didn’t count my blessings. I couldn’t see the forest for the damn trees.
Today will be different. It starts with choice. It starts with attitude. It starts with perspective. I get to choose my perspective and my attitude.
Today I choose to see the forest. May your day be the best as well.
Life
Life.
Living it gets busy. Living it is interesting. Living it is stressful. Living it is joyous. Living it is beauty. Living it is ugly. Living it is bliss. Living it is amazing. Living it is a gift. Living it is work. Living it is love. Living it is a protest. Living it shares. Living it takes. Living it gives. Living it is tiresome. Living it invigorates. Living it supports. Living it teaches. Living it disappoints. Living it excites. Living it is understanding. Living it is respect.
We can make life what we want. The only thing in life we can truly change is how we see things, how we react and how we choose to run with it.
I choose beauty. I choose love.
I’ll just leave this here
Pentatonix Imagine
I needed a tissue. I have hope.
Decency
Decency: noun /di-sen-si/ behavior that is good, moral and acceptable in society.
I believe in living a good, decent and moral life. I believe in leaving behind better than I found when I leave, not only any place I go but also this life and this planet when I leave. I believe in doing good. I believe in truth, honesty and integrity. I believe in respect. I believe in kindness. I believe in sharing. I believe in caring. I believe in humility. I believe in love. I believe in helping. I believe ecology. I believe in character. I believe in education. I believe in equality. I believe in humanity. I believe in oneness. I believe in decency.
What do you believe in?
Magnitude of attitude
It’s all in how we start. If we find ourselves off the track, we simply start again.
Life… stay sunny.
The Pain of it All
This is getting old, really old.
Get a little better, get a little worse, get a little better, get a little worse. Fuck this hurts!
Look here… I prefer life on the sunny side. I am very blessed with every aspect of my life. Blessed I’m telling you. I focus on the blessings. I feel gratitude. More and more wonderful things come my way. The more I focus on good, the more good I get.
Why the hell do I want to write this down? Why do I admit pain?
Once in a while we all must take a moment, acknowledge the less than perfect aspects and then get on with moving on.
My shoulders both hurt dammit. Both.
The left post surgical is getting better little by little and is mostly just sore with challenging movements it hasn’t yet mastered since surgery. Expected slow post surgical recovery sensations.
The right, and formerly good, shoulder is driving me batshit crazy. Damn it hurts. The impingement burns and feels like a ripped open gaping wound. Reaching for anything is agony and don’t even think about turning it.
When both shoulders act out at the same time it can be defeating, debilitating.
Today is not a good day…however…I will focus on healing and tomorrow being better. I will get better in time. This, too, shall pass. I’m a healthy guy. I’m blessed with good health insurance. I’m blessed with a positive outlook. I’m blessed with love and support. I’m blessed with the ability to recover from life’s little bumps. This is just a little bump.
Setbacks? They are just setups for life’s greatest comebacks!
Watch out life, here I come!
Meeting wisdom
I go to meetings. I rather enjoy my meetings and am quite active in my 12 step program. My sobriety is very important to me, for it not only saved my life but also gave me back my life.
I hear a lot of good wisdom in meetings. Yesterday I heard this prayer, a prayer that I feel is worth sharing.
“Dear God, may others treat me tomorrow as I treat others today. Amen.”
A prayer I pray at this very moment. A prayer I may choose to pray daily.
