There seems to be no limit to the insanity that is going on in our world today. I read something every day that makes me shake my head in disbelief.
A realtor was recently called to list a house. The owners had already left and were doing the business by email and/or text. When the realtor went to the house, she discovered the owners had left behind their beautiful German shepherd. Really? What is wrong with people. My animals are like family, even our chickens. It’s like leaving one of your children behind and believe it or not, I’ve read where that happened as well.
In some places it’s the political season and some politicians seem to have lost their minds as well. I don’t handle mud-slinging very well. I don’t understand why a candidate goes crazy because someone is challenging them. Those with integrity don’t mud-sling and I respect them immensely. A little competition is good and should keep you humble but that doesn’t seem to be the case in many cases. Politicians who have been in an elected position like to use the word “experienced” in their campaigns. While I know you should at least attend meetings and pay attention and have some kind of good sense, this is not like an engineering job and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist. Experienced to me, usually means you’ve been in office too long. No one should make a seat on a council or elsewhere a lifetime position. You need new ideas at times and someone to question decisions, etc.
Maybe I’m missing something here but people who have no political background at all, get elected to council, county, state and national seats all the time and most of them do a good job.
Taking up signs of the opposition is just childish, as it slashing the signs as someone did to Becky Smith’s in Roberta. How old are we anyway?
I’ve refrained from making any kind of public comments on social media a lot better and as much as possible. Don’t need the drama and the correct thing to do is approach the person personally to have a discussion. Social media is not the place for such discussions of disagreements. Can’t we all be adults and do the right thing?
I was reminded that what I feel is the right thing, someone else might not. True, but having integrity in each situations and chewing over your words carefully before uttering them, as well as filtering them through God’s word, goes a long way. God doesn’t like ugly and I remind myself of this all the time when I want to respond negatively. He is the only one I have to answer to and that fact matters to me and helps me keep myself in check most of the time. Hey, we all slip once in a while!!
Politics can certainly bring out the worst in folks. Brings out true colors and if I was going to vote for someone, as soon as they begin mudslinging, I rethink that decision. I do not want someone representing me who would do that to another person. To me, it’s unethical and downright mean- spirited. Is winning a seat on council or a commission really that important? There is enough tearing down of people in our world and we need to be encouraging people and uplifting them, not trying to tear them down. If you need to resort to mudslinging to help you win a campaign, I wonder if your heart is in the right place or what is your true motive for being in office. I don’t think I am the only one who feels this way.
It’s time we stop pointing fingers at others and look around our own door. There is an old Indian saying that goes, “Don’t judge (criticize) someone unless you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” We live in such a fast-paced world that is quick to criticize and judge, we haven’t forgotten to think about others and what they may have gone through.
We pass people every day on the street, but I wonder, are we really seeing them? Even the ones you might stop and talk with, are you really listening to what they have to say? Most of the time we are quick to make assumptions about people that we don’t even know. One thing I have learned over the years, is that you certainly cannot always judge a book by its cover. We need to apply that premise to people we want to judge or criticize.
Even people we think are so put together may not be as they appear. We can all put on a good front and put on our game face when in reality we are dying inside. Life’s challenges confront us all. Many people courageously carry a burden while also carrying on with life. There is no way we can know whether the person seated next to us has shoes lined in velvet or nails. More importantly, we don’t need to know. Did you get that, WE DON’T NEED TO KNOW!
Being compassionate and accepting can change the course of an encounter with another person. We should always offer a smile and be polite and when possible, offer a kind word. It will come back to you in ways you don’t expect.©2017

VICTORIA SIMMONS is an author, columnist, motivational speaker, minister and publisher of The Georgia Post/Byron Buzz. Contact her at: vsimmons54@gmail.com