REFLECTIONS OF THE TIMES

 

A series of essays....

REFLECTIONS OF JOYFULNESS AS THE WHITE HOUSE 
IS ILLUMINATED WITH FIREWORKS AND COLOR
ON THE EVENING OF INAUGURATION DAY!

Photo Courtesy of The Wall Street Journal

....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

“The music didn’t help. It was upbeat and cheerful, but it had a way of getting into your blood and making you want to feel as alive as humanly possible.”

— The Irish Cottage: Finding Elizabeth by Juliet Gauvin

Music...

This particular quote epitomizes how many of us feel this Inauguration Week. Even while we’re still reeling from the past four years of non-leadership and constant frustration and so many lies—the filtering of Irish music into our souls in the form of a good man by the name of Joe Biden cannot be helped. His music is upbeat, cheerful, and strong and makes us feel as alive and hopeful as humanly possible; as delighted and visceral as an Irish Step Dance performed on a Saturday night.

So, this is not the time for any of us to wallow in sadness any longer. Certainly there are a multitude of duties to be performed by the ‘powers that be’ in Congress which includes an impending trial within the Senate. President Biden (I can’t tell you just how good this title sounds!) and his new staff of intelligent, hard working, and forthright human beings have hit the ground running in order to expedite the changes needed to reverse a legacy never wanted in the first place.

I sit here, alone, as the sun rises over the pristine facade of our Capitol Building reflecting the shimmer of hope that resides in our hearts this golden morning. I am at peace. I am at peace with myself. I am feeling the peace of Irish music flowing around and through me, upbeat and cheerful—enticing me to feel more alive than I’ve felt in over four years.

“To heal we must remember.” — From the Inauguration Speech of President Joe Biden

Change...

His physical body might be in a different place, but his damaged mind and corrupt heart will remain with him wherever he goes. Because he is such a hateful man and perpetrator of horrific crimes against the wellbeing of others, no matter where he resides, this will never change; he will never be able to see or enjoy the positive light that illuminates those of sound mind and character.

It is entirely up to us to make good change happen. We must believe in ourselves and the power of acceptance and unity in order to wake-up with joy in our hearts. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are only the competent hors-d'œuvres! There is a long road ahead of us. We must not become complacent knowing that good people are, once again, placed by we the people, in pivotal positions designed to create laws of responsible protection, leadership, and future advancements for ALL of the citizens of this great nation.

Before the full blast of unity can be achieved, our immediate agenda needs to pinpoint equality as its main goal. I don’t believe unity can be fully met until we understand how important it is to see all people equal in one another’s eyes. I’ve written often before about how the elimination of white supremacy in this country is the premier ticket to the unification of our people. Once we eliminate separation by color and class and fully embrace diversity, with means of education and advancement—unification will always be left drifting in the rear view mirror.

“Somehow we’ve weathered and witnessed a nation that isn’t broken, but simply unfinished.” — Amanda Gorman, American Poet

Hope...

Shortly after January 6, 2021, a friend was feeling down and out and floundering in the muddy existence of disgust and fear. I proceeded to write her back with these words of encouragement: “Hope is a commodity, as useful and valuable as water is precious...never lose it.” Never, never lose hope. Lose some weight, lose a bad attitude, or lose the feeling that the world revolves solely around you—but, never allow yourself to lose the feeling that what we want or expect can be had if we truly desire it badly enough. 

It is time to fall in love with life again. We must find areas of our life that are working well and capitalize on them.  It’s time to be totally aware of how someone has emotionally affected us in such a way that they have opened up our mind to feeling happy and absolutely appreciative of the world around us. We must be able to wake up in the morning and instantly tap into that blissful feeling of appreciation and carry it with us throughout the day! Dare we hope that this feeling will awaken our spirits and allow us to love life again?

Walls of apprehension shall be torn down in order to make way for positive deeds and thoughts; new chapters of our life. I deeply hope that through the guidance and leadership of our new administration brand new attitudes and avenues are explored, widened, and fortified with the spirit of our Founding Fathers, the characteristics of a new Renaissance period, and the wisdom and love of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., Congressman John Lewis, and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg! Indeed, our cup would runneth over if we only dared to hope.

“American Aspiration is what drove the women in this nation, throughout history, to demand equal rights.” — From the Inauguration Speech of Vice President Kamala Harris

I hope you stay safe, happy, and healthy. Always take good care of yourselves and those you love.

Copyright © 2021 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved

THE ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT: THOU SHALL NOT BECOME COMPLACENT!

A series of essays....

COMPLACENCY IS THE ENEMY OF PROGRESS.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BECOME COMPLACENT.

....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E Hughes

Today is the day—the moment of truth. A day that will go down in infamy, filled with scandal and dishonor, or—it will be one to be proud of knowing that Americans believe in the freedom and happiness that stems from a good life with equal opportunity for everyone! Today is a day marked with historical connotations that will either cradle these times within the gentle hands of democracy and truth, or beat up already weakened minds and bodies with fists of rage, continued oppression.

Today is the day—the moment of truth!

The idea of being or becoming complacent should have, at least, been one of the Ten Commandments. Not knowing which of the original Ten Commandments it should have replaced, it may have become the Eleventh Commandment instead: “Thou shall not become complacent.”

Remembering my Catholic upbringing and teachings, I recall that the Church doesn’t see the Ten Commandments as arbitrary rules and regulations from the person upstairs, but as commandments for our own protection. “Obey them and eternal happiness is yours. Disobey them and suffer the consequences.” When explained in this manner, my young, six or seven-year-old self would look at the elaborately layered and robed priests and nuns as flesh and blood symbols authorized to dole out any punishment they saw fit if we did not comply by these simple rules of the Church.

It’s not until we grow-up do we come to realize that we are our own judge and arbiter of our personal life and habits. We alone determine if we will allow the commandments to be our guide to being a person of sterling character with an elevated ethical behavior.

Today is the day—the moment of truth!

Thou shall not become complacent, comfortable, content, smug, or lazy. The moment we reach the pinnacle of self-satisfaction or the most successful point in our lives and feel there is nothing more we can do, doubting there are any new accomplishments to strive for, we have become complacent. We are experiencing a feeling of quiet pleasure and are often unconcerned with unpleasant realities or future harmful possibilities.

If we continue to drop our guard and stop protecting ourselves against trouble, relax our vigilance, we could end up in a world of hurt. Unfortunately, on November 8, 2016, we did just that. Through our acute feeling of complacency, belief and rationale that others would ‘get the job done for us,’ and they would vote for the moral and ethical logic of Hillary Clinton, we allowed for a wide enough crack in our standards to permit the hatred, lies, and indecencies of a dishonorable man to infiltrate our lives and infect our souls.

We need time to peel back the layers of hate and mistrust after the last four years; time to heal and then surge forward with our positive ideas and plans for a better life.

As we sit here on Election Day, battling for the soul of the nation, I have to ask myself if we’ve truly learned invaluable lessons during the past four years? Do we now understand that it is never a good time to let our guard down and become complacent? And, most importantly, will we allow the hate, bigotry, and selfish greed to carry on for another four years and watch the country be crushed even further by hopelessness and despair?

Today is the day—the moment of truth!

It’s about time we grow up, shed our childish fears, and become adults. If you haven’t voted already, today is your final chance to make it be known that you’re not going to be bullied any longer! You will not give up the right to participate in our political process by relinquishing your vote. You will become an active participant in the consequences of your own future. You will not be complacent and later only wish that you had exercised the honor and privilege of making your voice be heard.

Yes, today is the final day—your moment of truth. Go to the polls, masks on, and MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT!!

Copyright © 2020 by Jacqueline E Hughes

All rights reserved 

 

COMPLACENCY: The Eleventh Commandment?

A series of essays.....

 

 

 

MOVING ON.....2015: Pink to Aged Beige

.....as seen through my eyes!




By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

Elbow deep in Behr Ultra, (PPU7-9) Aged Beige, to be precise, one more pink-walled room is biting the dust......and, I couldn't be happier!!  Cookie-cutter homes are like that.  You're just so darn happy to be purchasing it that the initial choices made at the Design Studio, before the slab is even poured, can be daunting.  It's like decorating an entire house with choices pulled together within a span of an hour or so.  Like I said....daunting!

My goal has always been to eliminate the original 'pale mauve' walls that have dominated every vertical surface of our home since its birth in 1998.  Each time a new wall is released from its 'pink prison,' an angel gets its wings......or, something like that.  At any rate, following this painting extravaganza, which may or may not include the formal living area/library across the foyer, we should have only two 'wingless' angels left awaiting their flight instructions....

Ahh!  Another Angel Is Sighing

Complacency, as defined in the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition is a feeling of contentment or self-satisfaction, especially when coupled with an unawareness of danger, trouble or controversy.  To be complacent, a person (or group) has become satisfied with the current situation and unconcerned with changing it, often to the point of smugness.  No specific political references here she writes, with a shrug and a wink.

Standing in our dining room with 'Aged Beige' dripping down my arm like coffee flavored ice cream in a plain cone succumbing to the heat of a long summer's day, it's becoming clearer to me as to why I've suddenly thrust my whole being into this often tedious domestic project.  To be satisfied, content and unconcerned about everything that is happening around me is just not my style.  If there had been an Eleventh Commandment written down on tablets of stone by Moses who was inspired by God on Mount Sinai it would have to have read: "Thou shalt never, ever dwell in a world of complacency."  Or, something to that effect.

No matter how great our achievements are in this lifetime, there will always be room for bigger and better ideas that will thrust us far beyond our original hopes, dreams and initial accomplishments. 

Comfort breeds complacency!  Great things never came from comfort zones.  Thomas Edison once said, "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."  Seek brilliance and never be afraid of getting your hands a little dirty in the process...  Hard work strengthens character, develops the imagination and helps us rise above the ordinary. 

"Be the change you want to see in the World,"  This quote by Mahatma Gandhi resonates with so many of us and has always helped to ease the transition from personal silence to the power our change can make in this world if we choose to utilize it.  Begin a recycling program if you haven't already.  Remember, change begins with the small, doable things and can lead to huge and amazing changes once we have agreed to leave our 'comfort zone.' 

"To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often."  Thank goodness Winston Churchill never had a chance to see my unchanged and imperfect walls of almost sixteen years!  I don't think pink was even close to being his favorite color, anyway.  But, I get it...  How does anyone note improvement within either themselves or others if there are never any changes made to be used along with a basis of comparison? 

Let's all agree that a solid baseline, or imaginary line, the standard of value by which things are measured or compared, is drawn at birth.  That pretty much places all of us on the Starting Line together!  Our initial change is physical, of course, and constant as we begin to evolve into the person our DNA, environment, peer influences, education and adult examples provide for us.  This is not a permanent 'mold' by which our lives must be measured by.  This mold gives us shape, depth and minimal security and is meant to be broken whenever we feel the urge, the need, to spread our wings and fly.


This new flight pattern can be attributed to a particular teacher, mentor or coach who has had an influence on us.  Even a horrific incident that occurred in our lives such as an accident or the passing of a loved-one can ultimately bring change, sometimes in a negative slant, but often in the form of pulling us up from the depths of despair and raising us to heights that were previously unimaginable.  We will always be influenced by so many factors in our life, however, reflecting upon Anne Frank's wise words, "The final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands."  We must ultimately take responsibility for our actions.

I mentioned before that this new painting project of mine was born from something far greater than myself and reaches across the ocean depths with such power and force that its affect upon all persons should be one of such profound feelings of disquiet that change is inevitable!  No one should feel satisfied, content, unconcerned or complacent about the recent actions spawned by Hate, under the guise of Religion, that has taken place in Paris recently.  "Je Suis Charlie," a powerful slogan that has risen-up from the dark depths of this heinous crime, represents the solidarity we share with our fellow man; the battle cry of Freedom of Speech, Life and the Future of each and every one of us!  If the Haters are not displaced or eradicated, these Freedoms will be in constant jeopardy!

So read the history books from the dawn of recorded time!

Carefully Calculating Change In Our Lives

Tackling the almost eleven foot high dining room walls and covering them with fresh color and a new look is a difficult job, to be sure.  Not changing them after all this time would be a travesty of life.  If I dislike the pink walls....they should be changed.  Besides, getting down and dirty for the sake of a positive change is a cathartic release.  Penned-up emotions are flowing from my paint brush and hands like ice from Elsa's fingertips and forming a metamorphosis from complacent person to highly motivated individual.

If I dislike the injustices served mankind by the treacherous deeds of others, I must react to them because these 'thieves of freedom' mean to eliminate anyone who does not agree with their own set of ideals.  This frightens the hell out of me!  Life is a glorious gift that should not be discarded lightly for we are fragile, mortal beings who live side-by-side, hand-in-hand as we recently witnessed in Paris as people literally filled the Place de la République to march in Solidarity for all of those brutally murdered in the terror attack several days ago! 

Je Suis Charlie As Far As The Eye Can See In Paris
 

Cover Of New Edition Of
CHARLIE HEBDO

The pen and pencil with the words 'Not Afraid' emblazoned on them  have become the symbols of Freedom of Speech around the world.  As a writer, the significance of this is monumental for so many powerful reasons.  The latest cover of Charlie Hebdo proves this point as the satirical magazine that just lost twelve members of its staff refuses to roll over and shut its doors.  Drawn by cartoonist Renald Luzier, it depicts a sad Prophet Muhammad saying that all is forgiven, I am Charlie.  Undoubtedly, this cover will keep the fire burning for a very long time.



JE SUIS CHARLIE, I Am Charlie.....We are ALL Charlie when it comes to freedom and integrity and making the choice to live our lives rather than cave to others who hate so openly.....so desperately, that they are willing to ruin so many precious lives left in the wake of their disturbing swath of destruction.  I don't believe this is exactly what God had in mind when He proclaimed, "Love Thy Neighbor!"

Symbol For Freedom of Speech

With each stroke of my paintbrush, with every swipe of my paint roller, I feverishly cover-up, masque, if you will, the pain and sorrow, death and destruction, and attempts to steal our freedom by all terrorist groups around the world!  The 'pale mauve' is disappearing behind a fresh, new 'face' of paint.  I am becoming stronger, happier and more comfortable in my own skin while I come to terms with what I already knew and already believed.  Long live the power of the pen!!! Je suis Charlie, yesterday, today and tomorrow....

There's absolutely no hope for the pink library walls.  You're.going.down!!!

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

Copyright © 2015 By Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved