Hi. It’s me, Rachel, founder and owner of corner of peace+love.
First, I would like to take a moment to say thank you for taking time out of your day to read my blogs, for pausing to view my posts, and for liking them. It means a lot to me that you find the words meaningful.
My decision to write these blogs was based on a desire to change the tone and the messages that we have been seeing too frequently on social media platforms, after finding so many angry people yelling at others for not thinking or believing like them; after finding that the tactics used were harassing, belittling, and absolutely hateful. When I found myself responding in the same accord, I remembered exactly who I am not. I am not a hateful person. Regardless of what is going on in the world, I choose to love and I prefer a peaceful world.
What I find amusing is that I agree with most of the posts in my feed, even if I do not voice my opinion. And the reason for that is simple, I believe that my family members, my friends, and the people who read my blogs and posts, are pretty damn smart and know how to make a decision. Whether or not the people I love are aligned with my opinions is moot because, more importantly, we are all adults, responsible for the choices we make. That’s what life is, a series of choices. It is the things we choose to do, the people we choose as an integral part of our lives; the person we choose to be; all of this is what sets us apart as unique individuals.
Over the last four years, what has been a bit troublesome is that certain people we have held dear to our hearts and minds, have surprised us with hateful rhetoric and have exhibited vile mistreatment of people of a different color and/or ethnicity; they have judged people harshly for personal decisions that do not align with their own personal belief system, as well as mistreatment of couples of the same sexual orientation. It is also sad and surprising to hear people justify separating families at the border, and allowing them to live in cages without proper healthcare, or simple humane treatment.
This is not love.
What kind of a people are we? That is not the kind of history I want associated with me, or my generation.
Our only responsibility is to love one another. That is what I was taught as a child. My parents raised me in a non-denominational Christian church, where I learned about, and fell in love with God, and understood the meaning and purpose of Jesus Christ. All of that said, I do not refer to, or even introduce myself as a Christian. It is my firm belief that our actions dictate who we are in our heart and mind. If one cannot recognize a person cut from the same cloth, then doesn’t that make us blind to the truth of what we claim to believe? One should not be defined by a label applied over our heart. It’s pretty simple really, we should strive to be good to every person we come across, every time. Does being a Christian make me perfect? Not at all. If anything, I am just sharing a little bit more behind who I am, Rachel, the person writing these blogs; just another human aspiring to be a better person, wanting to live in a better world; just like you.
Who we decide to be is a choice, not only as an individual, but as community members in the place we call home, in our nation, as well as within this global society where we all breathe in, and breathe out, the same air. We are interwoven as intricate parts of our social fabric. We don’t have to agree, or even like each other, but we do have a choice in how we treat each other. We choose to love, or to hate. We choose to be mindful, or uncaring. We choose to be good, or not. We choose God, or we don’t.
Perhaps the most critical and greatest choice we are facing today is the presidential election. In the United States, it happens once every four years. The goal is always to select a person that represents the people in the greatest light possible. A person who will best represent us in front of foreign leaders with class, dignity, truthfulness, and most importantly, with strong ethics and integrity. We look for a leader who will welcome foreigners, so that we, as US passport holders, are also welcomed in other countries when we travel for work or adventure.
We also look for a person who will consider the best course of action that will benefit ALL of its citizens, regardless of wealth, skin color, religion, and/or political stance. We need a person who will unite the people, and not purposefully stoke hate and violence that leads to potential assassinations of opposing leaders, or even encourage running the opposing political candidate off of the road! This is OUTLANDISH! I refuse to be a part of this country I call home in this current state. There are so many deep fundamental considerations to mention, but I will stop here, and ask you to think about what is right for the future of our country— our children, and our children’s children.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 3rd, is an important day. This is when we come together as a community and choose the person who will represent our country in the best light possible as the President of the United States. My vote will be for love, compassion, unity, and a peaceful way forward because quite simply, I am not sure I can handle another four years of hate. I am ready for a semblance of normalcy.
Vote!
Vote for Love!