Tired Already?

A new year brings a lot of things to mind. Resolutions, diets, new looks, diets, new jobs, clean closets, and just a general cleaning up of things in one's life.

This year, I've done a couple of those -- and even though the closets DO need cleaning, I don't see it happening this month (no, let's just say, not this year!). But I have rethought some of the things I did in 2005 that were mainly just the useless spinning of my wheels. I desire to become more selective where I put the essence of my efforts and more abandoned in the way I live life with my family. Have you heard the song, "Live Like You Were Dying"? It'll make you think!

Anyway, all that said, in the last couple of days, I have been battling some kind of virus, flu bug, so have been pushed to just let it ride itself out! I am in the minority with that, I realize, because I know many, many people fight, never stop, never give in, push through it -- and then it lasts longer and often there are relapses. Understanding the very mystical sounding saying, listen to your body, I do try to do just that. So, I have searched the web, listened to the radio, and watched way more tv than is normal for me -- because of all that, I have heard too much. Here are three things that I am already tired of!

1. The Golden Globes and all the media attention that comes with it. I watched some of it because so many of the girls that I minister to are into these kind of things, I feel I need to be able to give some kind of "somewhat intelligent" comment about it. It's bad enough that 36 consecutive hours after the event was filled with fashion experts, gawking commentators decked out with their own bling-bling, and more cleavage and strutting than a person can stand just filled the airways. Now, tonight, (gasp!) it was revealed that one of the stars actually was given a gently-worn (USED) dress to wear to the after Globe parties!! Heaven forbid that the dress was not new and that it did not cost thousands and thousands of dollars. Where in the world are we heading with this? And what about the millions of girls that watch these fashion analysts commenting on the horrors of wearing a used dress to something like the Globe Awards. What message is this portraying to our society? One that is already embedded way too deeply, especially into much of this collegiate generation.

2. Racist, bigoted comments from ALL sides of the political and social spectrum. There are days that my traveling wings itch so badly to board a plane and head back to West Africa to live out the rest of my days! While there is prejudices everywhere in the world, the one associated with the color of the skin is falling on intolerant ears - mine! When I was in junior high, integration (the blending of black and white students into one school system) was just happening. My jr and sr high school years were very interesting and very tense at times, but I learned what I believed about some things. I didn't like racism then and I certainly do not like it now. While I could give a thorough dissertation on the moral and spiritual harm of this kind of continual bashing of how we treat each other as blacks and whites, that is not what I desire to do here.

But I do want to point out that Hillary Clinton has shown some (only some) of her true colors in Harlem this week during a MLK celebration. Comparing the runnings of the current government to the runnings of a plantation (and, she reminded the audience, "you know what I mean"). Okay, do we really know what you mean, Ms. Clinton? Perhaps New Orleans' mayor Nagin knows what you mean since he, too, has decided to make his own extremely biased and not-so-smart comment about race. Yes, he did. That's exactly what he meant. Nagin, too, showed some of his true colors when he said that he hoped that NO would be rebuilt again as a chocolate city!! Okay, you can't get more blunt than that! And this is my issue....when high-profile public servants(?), not because they deserve to be, but because people that do not have a clue, vote them into these high-profile positions -- when these people continue (over and over) to feed the fire of racism that burns omniously underneath our feet, it's irresponsible and should be illegal. But, yadeyadeya, freedom of speech and all that! It's sloppy, sad, and should not be acceptable AT ALL!

3. The impatient drivers in my city and the ones that need to go to parking school. Three times in the past week, I have had to find alternative parking spots because of people who were either impatient or incapable (or, most likely, BOTH) of putting their cars in between the two visible white lines, parallel with the others around them. Earlier this week, I could have sworn (and I'm not the swearing type) that I was back in West Africa where the ability to continually blow the horn while in the driver's seat was the most coveted right as a citizen. What in the world has gotten into this city? Are we all so important that our agendas supersede the graciousness of living in the south? There's probably a myriad of answers, but I am so weary of going 28 mph in a 25 mph school zone, and having people riding my bumper and honking their horns because they THINK they are more important than the children that are represented by these speed limits. Could we please re-find the graciousness. I promise you'll live longer without all the unnecessary stress that goes with thinking that your importance is the most important thing in the world.

There, I feel somewhat better (if only my virus-riddled body would agree).