As you have read on my blog, my topics vary quite a bit. I really enjoy keeping up with the latest political news. This not only allows me to learn what is happening in the world, it allows me to find topics to share with my readers. I spend at least an hour a day reading various blogs to see what others are thinking in terms of today’s political problems.

Another topic of great interest to me is religion. I am not a religious person but I do like to learn and read about the various religions. I spend time searching for great religion related article resources to find out as much as I can about all the worlds religions. I feel that by understanding the religions of others, you can understand why people do what they do.

Because reading involves knowledge, I vary my reading to include many other topics. I enjoy reading pets articles since I am an avid pet owner. As you all know, I raise chickens and I have a beautiful German Shepard. My other interest is mostly finance and investing type articles which help me make the right decisions when it comes to my money.

No matter what your interest are, if you are a blogger, you have to have a love for reading and you have to express that love to your readers. It is also important to instill the love of reading onto your children and the younger generation. It is a great time to just find some cool stuff to read about. As you read, you will find that you are gaining more knowledge and it will expand your whole world.

This is what America is all about. This what our fore fathers wanted and this is how we did what we did in our short history as a nation. Do we still want it? I know I do!

I Do Not Choose to Be a Common Man

It is my right to be uncommon—if I can.

I seek opportunity—not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.

I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.

I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia.

I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat.

It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, “This I have done.”

By Dean Alfange

source: http://daveramsey.com

*Originally published in This Week Magazine.
Later printed in The Reader’s Digest, October 1952 and January 1954.

 The core belief of Buddhism is the four noble truths:

1. All life is suffering

2. Suffering is caused by desire

3. Remove the desire and remove the suffering

4. Follow the eight fold path

The first means that a human life is full of suffering. We suffer the loss of love ones, we suffer when we experience poor health and sickness. We suffer a loss of love or a loss when we lose our worldly processions. We get depressed when we lose something we feel we can not live without. In the final suffering, we die.

The second one points out that all of the suffering is brought on because of of our own desires for happiness. We desire after both physical and mental happiness. “If I only get that new car, I will be happy.” The car does not provide the happiness you desired so you move on to the next thing or person to make you happy. The car will wear out and rust and it will not last forever. Attaching your happiness to such a thing means you are setting yourself up for more suffering. The same applies to sex, if you just need that sex to make you happy, it will not fulfill your need. The more you desire and get, the more you need.

The third states that if you remove the desire, you will remove the suffering.  If you quite relying on other things to make you happy, you will lose the desire for those things and you will lose the hold they have on you. From releasing this desire you can be enlightened and achieve a state of Nirvana. This is a state of release and freedom. There will be no more fear, worry, troubles and you are in a true state of happiness.  It also means you yourself are released from the world and it releases you from the chains of rebirth or reincarnation.

The fourth noble truth is a way of life that we all should strive for (Buddhist or not). It is the eight fold path:

1. Right view

2. Right Intention  

3. Right Speech

4. Right Action

5. Right Livelihood

6. Right Effort

7. Right Mindfulness

8. Right Concentration

Basically, live your life the right way and watch at all time what you say and do.

Does this mean you can not enjoy pleasures we all know? No it mans that we should let them control us. Your happiness is inside you and not wrapped up in your desires. You can enjoy all of life both the good and bad without letting it effect your happiness.

We can learn a lot from what Buddhism has to say rather it is a religion or a philosophy.

The key is to respect others no matter what their belief is. If other treat you bad, say That Blozzz and move on for your happiness is not wrapped up in their opinion.  

I have family who cares

I have friends who I see everywhere

I have gidgets and gadgets of many different sorts

I have pleasure of life that can’t be ignored

I have a roof over my head that doesn’t leak when it rains

I have people who care when I am in pain

I have plenty to eat as you can see by my frame

But I live in a country so full with its shame

There are people who have nothing to eat

There are so much sorrow that fills many of our streets

Santa comes for many while others he ignores

There are children who never see the pleasures that I feel in plenty

So I ask from my heart to anyone who will listen

Pass the gift on to others and make their hearts glisten

My parents are proud and did not want to ask but our neighbor put my brother and me on the Angel Tree. When my mom found out she started to cry and was so thankful for the gift we will receive. My brother who is four and has nothing but hand me downs was excited that he might get a new toy. For me, the joy is gone because I fear what will come next. Don’t get me wrong I am grateful for the help and the pleasure my brother will feel.

The problems come when the gifts are opened and the charity is done and everyone goes back to their lives. You see while we eat a good meal at the local church on Thanksgiving and Christmas day, I always wonder what we will eat when the holidays go away.

My daddy lost his job right after my mommy got sick. He spent what we had on medicine for my mom and now we have almost nothing. He applied for some jobs but employment is scarce and he just can’t find a job. He does what he can with his odd jobs but that only barely pays the rent. I am not complaining because I know that he is doing his best. I do not mind the holes in my shoes even though the other kids laugh. I don’t mind wearing the same winter coat that the neighbor boy once had. I don’t even mind that often I am hungry because I know my daddy really tries.

My fear for me and my family as a whole is what will happen when the holidays are over and everyone forgets. Please can someone tell me what do I do?