Be Happy

Our greatest strength isn't our ability to imagine brighter days ahead, but that we are empowered -- in every present moment -- to dismiss any dark thought or feeling that wants to diminish our happiness.

Abraham Lincoln said, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their mind to be."

Even our government is is finding happy thoughts for us.

Take "the doughnut hole" for example. For any young and healthy folks who don't know what that is... it's when the new program for medicare drug payments says you have used up all your allotted funds for your blood pressure pills and the like.

You have fallen into "the doughnut hole." Isn't that nice?

Not the black hole of doom and dieing, not the abyss of pain and fear, not the crack in time and it's time to get your affairs in order... Noooo It's "the doughnut hole."

Picture that sugary delight with pink frosting and colorful sprinkles as you count your dogs food pennies to pay for the lipitor.

Stay happy friends, it's the best revenge.

Yesterday Stacy got a call from her best friend in Portland. Friend's sister Judy lives here.

Judy's boss at the cheapo hotel where she works, stiffed her on two weeks wages because the place is going tits up and the owner is getting his first and the clerks and maids are last. Anyway, Judy had phoned her sister asking for help.



Judy is a recovering addict, a diabetic, has a disabled husband, 2 grown sons... Her sister worried about her recovery said she didn't have any cash, but called Stacy to see if we could help.



I've know Judy since she was maybe 12 years old. She is pretty, smart, talented, hard working, loving, sensitive, person. Of the three girls Judy has been the most lost.



Stacy's friend is hooked on beer. Mike the youngest, and only boy, also a diabetic, has been strung out on coke and has committed crimes since he was in grade school. Chris, the oldest girl has suffered greatly with her diabetes... She is on the list for a liver transplant and is very sick right now. (she is a tiny, sweet, lovely, girl. The picture of grace under fire.)



All the kids are good people. Both Judy and Mike are felons. Stacy's friend is the only kid who doesn't have diabetes. The have all worked hard, at hard jobs. but Judy, with a felony on her record, can't get so much as food stamps when they are starving. Judy can't get a decent job even though she has work skills in a wide area, from food service to office work.



Anyway, Stacy and I made up a care package of soup, potatoes, pasta, beans, onions, hamburger, fish, chicken, packs of cocoa, tea, instant coffee... toilet paper... and Stacy brought it over to them at their tiny apartment. Judy was embarrassed. She was grateful, but so embarrassed. She would have rather starved then have us know she was in trouble. Stacy said they had absolutely nothing to eat. NOTHING!



Here's the thing. Judy is struggling to stay in recovery. She is working hard every day at a low paying job because of one mistake, made quite some time ago, for which she has paid her dept to society. But she can't get food stamps, She can't get any help from the state, she can't get a decent job, she is always afraid people will find out about her mistake.

I mean the woman cashed some checks, a few thousand dollars worth... on a closed account... To pay for, rent, food, clothes, pampers, and as I recall... a funeral for the father of the boys when he was killed in a roll over on his way to work.



The question is; Why is Judy still being punished? She has done her time, paid the restitution, cleaned up her act, is attempting to be a good citizen, she isn't doing anything wrong... Why is she still being punished? Life looks hopeless, and she lives in fear as well as poverty.



If left on her own, would she resort to shoplifting food to feed herself and her old man? Perhaps cash a check with insufficient funds? Maybe rob a bank? Start using again under the stress?



People who are economically disadvantaged and desperate are sometimes forced to do things that are illegal to survive. Is that immoral? Is it wrong to want to eat? (yesterday was their third day of hot water and catsup)

More on this subject soon.