Role Models for our kids….

The big media hype for the day is the death of Heath Ledger. Early reports are calling it a possible suicide. More recent reports show that it may not have been suicide but don’t suspect foul play. There are a couple of things that really get to me though.

If it is suicide, what kind of message are we sending to our kids. Heath is one of many that is a role model for kids. My kids are familiar with him in A Knights Tale. This is just one example of someone famous or in a position where they are looked up to by kids of various ages that have taken their own lives. We can expand it even further to those who chose to lead lives inconsistent with what we as parents try to teach.

I know that as a parent, it is my responsibility to help lead my kids away from idolizing these people or to explain when these things happen. The hard part is when you find someone who seems decent, something stupid like this happens.

If this isn’t suicide, then we have issues with the media speculating prior to discovering the truth. A lot of times we find that reporters and news agencies want to be the first to break a story but the integrity of truth is lost when we rush to be first but don’t wait to be accurate. This is not the only incident where such has happened and the media is required to print a retraction. They usually are in a significantly smaller font than the original story and they are hidden somewhere in the paper where it is not apparent. I honestly think that these news agencies should be required to admit error in the same manner and scope of the original error.

Imagine how much news, print and television, would be willing to make sure of the truth of the matter. “But the information we had at the time lead us to that conclusion,” you might hear them say. Well, WAIT!!!! WAIT for the coroner to examine the body. WAIT for the official declaration. In a broader perspective, VERIFY both sides of a story before drawing conclusions.

Anyway, I have a love/hate relationship with the news. I don’t trust them but they do help get information out quickly so we can stay informed. How to balance the timely dissemination of information with the accuracy of that information is a very thin line.  I just don’t like that people jump to conclusions.  Sometimes that conclusion creates some very lasting memories on the general public.  If it is ruled as something accidental, a lot of people will only remember the “suicide” tag that was placed on him.

Two Gallons!!!

Not many people know that I routinely donate blood to the American Red Cross but when they called me to remind me of my appointment, they told me not to forget to ask for my 2 gallon pin.

2 gallons!!! Can you just imagine how much 2 gallons of blood really is?  Can you think about how many people have used that to help them recover or even to stay alive?  It’s amazing!!!

Anyway, the main reason for this post is to remind all of you that you should donate if you can.  They told me they are really low on O Neg blood.  If you aren’t sure of your blood type, you can go donate and they will tell you.  I hope you will think about it and schedule your appointment today.

Leading the Busy Life

I didn’t realize how long it has been since my last post.  Not that it matters because I don’t think anyone really reads this but that’s ok.  Its about me anyway.

Most people will talk about how they want to do one thing or another but they spend their time living life, doing the things to keep their heads above water.  Sometimes they win, other times they get overwhelmed.  Either way, they get caught up in the rat race that keeps them away from anything truly meaningful in their life.  Or doing anything that they want to do.  How many hobbies have gone by the way side?  How many different games or activities or even equipment gets stored in a basement or garage only to be set out the next time you have a garage sale?

How many of those things were going to change your life?  How many were things that you were going to use for personal time?  How many were things for families to do together?  You can’t help but look at disgust at them as you pass by them.  How much disappointment when you realize that you spent all that money for the various items, and didn’t get a chance to make a habit of them?

We have cluttered our lives with so many things that we don’t realize that it is slipping by.  I looked at the last time I posted a blog on this site and it was in October.  How many activities do I have to blog about?  None.  How many really cool events happened that I could mention in a blog?  None.  How many days have gone by where I have not noticed anything except that I’m still breathing?

Its time to de-clutter.   Its time to fix things.  Its time to begin working on things regardless of time.  Its time to cut out the things that really suck to do the things that would be really cool.  Its time to get off the butt and work on something.  ANYTHING.

Once I figure it out, I’ll let you know.