Relaxing

Dinner is done. Glass of wine is in hand.  US apparently losing but still winning.  A boy missing for 11 days is found in his father's basement and Nancy Grace making the big reveal about it. Honestly I think that was a big over the line.  It should have been handled with a bit more discretion. We seem to be in an age where the media goes haywire quickly.  School shootings all over the news,  murder, mayhem and everything that goes bump in the night.

I think back to when I first noticed that I should become agoraphobic I think back right when the first Persian Gulf conflict was going on.  Then there's the LA riots,  all the kidnappings everything just exploded.  Gone were most of the positive stories.  We see the occasional item once in a while but what are we missing?

I think I've seen more about the positive side of the world from reading blogs,  and stories of strangers just being there for one another  Facebook more for seeing about local school events and ceremonies. 

Social media is great to give everyone a voice.  Those who have one louder then most in the newspapers reporting in their own words inputting their own style.  We are such a supposed advanced and moving forward nation the world at our fingers with a click of a mouse or a tap on the phone.  I broke down and broke out the twitter account just to see if it's as amazing as everyone seems it to be.

I come from a newspaper family.  Wrote the occasional story,  sold a little advertising and you know it was great.  The paper covered the positive about things as well as the recent mix of city council doings.  It brought to light what was being missed and not seen.  I wonder if there would be an interest in a station purely about the amazing people out there? Not trash TV but instead about a city coming together to find a way to build back up together? Stories of proposals and found lost loves. A channel that explores all the small places that people tend to walk by without stopping and looking around.

Coming from California one of the things that most amazed me is that most of the people (not all) had a beautiful beach close to them,  or a mountain range to visit.  But yet spent most of their time elsewhere. Busy bodies always go go go.  Now based on the cost of living that makes sense and with that even the people that move out there to take a shot at getting seen or heard end up falling in to place working 2 or 3 jobs and over time either being swallowed whole or never being the same again.

Central Illinois is quite different.  People here can truly look around and for the most part have downtime to relax around a bonfire, jog locally downtown,  and go see a show. They leave to go visit the beaches and mountains to get away and see something new. Some just drive a few hours to Chicago and take in new sights and sounds

I loved California. Years ago it was school and work then relax on the beach or going out to fish and hike.  Now here I sit in Peoria Heights looking at this downtown and it reminds me of home at times.  I enjoy that when the day is done I can sit on my porch with a glass of wine or drive a few blocks to the riverfront.

Why doesn't everyone just take a moment.  Turn off the news, put down the phone.  Look around at what is surrounding us.  If d something within it that we can love and appreciate. Go... Now... I'll be here when you get back promise.

Now what did you see out there? Did you really put your mind away a moment and take a deep breath.  Did you see the view? The kid down the block selling lemonade? And for the sake of your kids do something with them.  Don't just plop them in front of the TV and video games.  Teach them what's out there.  It's a harsh world and you either will survive or fail.  They want to focus on a career.  Great, help them build to it.

Kids look to us for advice,  guidance,  what are we teaching them by not listening to them?  Kids today do in a way have it harder.  Most of the older generations had parents that raises us with inner passion,  to get up and try harder.  Make something of our lives.  Not ignore them and think that on the day they step up at are handed that diploma and expect that they are worth our time to say hey time to move out.  We give our children what they need in life.  If we are not there then where do they turn?  Online gaming,  YouTube, drugs,  drinking,  getting pregnant?

When was the last time you spontaneously just got in the car and went for ice cream and to talk? No phones, no secrets just talked?

I wonder what difference that has with kids.  Take one child that has a parent or parents that do this often versus a parent that doesn't.  I really wonder if there are differences.

Well my wine is gone.  Until next time...