The Right Choice

What drives someone to make the choices they make?
Religion?
Intelligence?
Common Sense?
Influences?
Emotion?

I would lie to believe that all of these factors are involved. For me anyway. I just hope that I am using the correct references at the right time. I would hope that I am capable of rationalizing the differences as to making a reasonable decision and not taking an easier more convenient way.

Who decides what the "right thing" is? If you disagree with me, does that make you right? Or me?

I think we must remember that a decision is a trickle of events to occur. Your decision may impact my decision and so on. How I handle a decision can offset other decisions. With that in mind, I carefully weigh out my choices.

It is important to me at this time in my life, to remember how does this affect me?

I too often choose the decision that will make the most happy. Too please those I love. Forget to look at how will it effect my happiness.

I do believe I can respect one's choices and still not be supportive of them. It is what I have decided to attempt. Even when respecting one's decision, it can be difficult, knowing the cost it will take.

Recently, a friend made a decision that I feel is wrong. She is doing what she feels will bring her the most happiness. I love her and therefore want her to be happy. I have been pondering her decision, her consequences, her reasoning. I have prayed for her, and I have prayed for those involved. However, it is too difficult to push the past away. People may change, but cruelty is a hard one to forgive and forget. Memories of her pain, losing herself and her dignity are hard to erase. She has struggled. She has gone through many hills and valleys these past few years. I just can't find it in me to let that all be swept under the rug and embrace a decision to go back to something that nearly completely destroyed her.

I can't support it. In doing so, I understand that consequences are attached. It will be painful for me but necessary. I have to look at how these decisions affect me. Sometimes I think I am not as strong but then I realize that actually I am stronger. Therefore, this decision I have made is the right one. Right for me. Right for those that will be affected through me.

Life is full of choices. But, we only get one life. You have to make your decisions carefully. The impact can change that one life you have to live.

the red thread... a novel

Instead of giving you a recommendation for a good read, I am going to give you a recommendation for an audio book that I just finished.
THE RED THREAD, a novel by Ann Hood. It was marvelous, not only thought provocative , but got me googling for more information on the subject matter.
I don't know what it was about this audio book that made me pick it up. I had never heard of it. Not aware of the "red thread theory", nor had I ever heard or read anything from Ann Hood. To be honest, I didn't know what I was picking up. The jacket said briefly it was a novel about a woman that opened an adoption agency in the wake of losing her daughter.
I got much more.
It is a wonderful journey.
About the conception of little girls born in China, the story of their mothers, and the story of their adopted parents. It is about 31 people and how their lives intertwine.
It is beautifully written (and luckily read by a very good reader Hillary Huber). The author takes you back and forth through the eyes of the biological parents and the adoptive parents. It educates you about the Chinese superstitions, the laws, and the culture of the Chinese.
The Red Thread Proverb~ Is how we are connected by a red thread. That this thread connects us by destiny, from birth to death, the connects of people in your life. That the thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break.
I became not only deep into the novel, but thirst for knowledge and understanding to these customs I did not know existed. I did know little, but found myself very uneducated. I learned so much more because of the interest this novel gave me. I found myself bewilder in discovering how girls are portrayed in China. I was not aware that this way of life continued today.
It makes me want to pray for them. It makes me want to adopt. It makes me want to educate.
Tiny steps, like a baby.
Please read, listen or google more about this!

My Favorite Television "Sport"

While some people love to watch Football as the fall is beginning, I have another love that I am excited for new seasons to start. I have never been a very competitive person, however I can not even begin to tell you how much I love to watch the "competition" on the following shows.

1. Project Runway. Has already begun and we are well into episode. I am currently rooting for Valerie & Mondo. I am amazed that these designers can come up with the incredible creations in a nano second. Although I have been a tad more impressed with previous designers, I am enjoying the drama in this season. I catch this one on Lifetime Channel Thursday evenings.

2. America's Next Top Model. Oh Tyra Tyra Tyra! You had me at, "you wanna be on top?" I LOVE this show! It started 7 years ago when the girls were 12 and 14. IT was THE SHOW, that we enjoyed watching together, picking our favorites and enjoyed for the next several years. We dreamed of them being on it and what would you dos. It was my sure ticket date night with the girls. However, now that the girls are off to college, I typically watch solo, then chat to them or my Sis about it later. Last night was the premiere and I was as giddy as a young girl, watching and hoping along with them as they learned who would be the chosen 14 to start the competition. I'm leaning toward Ann and Kayla. Kind of the underdogs. I like them. It is my Wednesday night show. Catch it on the CW.

3. Finally, we have the upcoming~ Dancing With the Stars. Oh how I love this one! Not only do I get to enjoy the "stars" they have tons of guest stars that are so entertaining as well. I sit with phone in hand and vote every vote I can get out. A little disappointed with this season's line up. Really, did we need Sarah Palin's daughter? Bristol? She is hardly a star, certainly not a role model! But, I am sure she will not last and soon the competition will get intense I imagine with Brandy and Rick Fox. I am hoping Margaret Cho will surprise everyone will talent galore! Monday and Tuesdays will occupy my evenings on ABC.

I will occasionally watch The Bachelor/ Bachelorette, Big Brother, and America Idol (especially in the crazy early auditions with the crazies). I will admit that I have seen some of the really awful stuff like Brett Michael's Rock of Love, SuperNanny,Wife Swap, and a few other wacky ones... Remember Farmer Gets a Wife, The Surreal Life, and Tool Academy? Okay, truth be known, on a boring night when Sergio is out of town, there is nothing better than a glass a wine & Daisy Love or Flava of Love.

Happy Labor Day

"No business which depends for existence on paying less than living wages to its workers has any right to continue in this country. By living wages I mean more than a bare subsistence level–I mean the wages of decent living."
- Franklin D. Roosevelt