Moments D568: More Poppies

Today I decided to wear my poppy into work again.  As I pinned it on me this morning, I wondered why we didn't take more time to remember those who perished for us, for those that continue to fight in our name.  As I wake from a warm, dry bed, I wonder how those serving today aren't likely as fortunate.  As I look to my day ahead, drudging through the daily mundane task list, I think of them drudging through their days fighting for peace and freedom.

And so, today, I decided that November (yes the entire month) was going to be a month of remembering our protectors.

As a side bar, because I'm feeling a touch philosophical:  Do I wish we could abolish war?  Yes, of course! Unfortunately I'm not so naive.  I think we would all like to believe we can be humanitarian, share, and love one another in one big community watching out for one another.  If only life were that simple.  Simple it is not.

We live in a society that thrives on power and ownership.  A world where there are many different beliefs in how to achieve either, or, or both.  Naturally there is a clash of beliefs, a clash of wants, and sometimes an actual clash of needs.  I've seen enough apocalyptic and zombie movies to know that when push comes to shove, when someone comes to steal your way of life, you need to protect it.  Think about it.  What are your choices?  Give it away (and perish) or protect it (fight to keep it).   When someone is in dire need of something (and sometimes people are foolish enough to believe that their wants are needs), they will not stop until they either get what they want, or they are stopped.  Dark?  I suppose.  I think it's just reality.

All that being said, do I think we can slowly find better ways of sharing than the world we currently live in? To ease those extreme moments of clashing?  You better believe I do.  Everyday I chip away at that.  Everyday I try to find a special moment with people in my life to share with them.  Family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances.  I share.  I share my bizarre ideas of spreading light and positive energy.  I have (and will continue) to share my knowledge, my love, my patience, my food, my shelter, hell, my finances with many.  I will, at least I hope I will, always continue to do so because I believe that in sharing, we create a society of trust and love.

But I have learned, especially over the past year, that not all are deserving of trust and love.  Sometimes people will take advantage of you.  Sometimes they are malicious about it, in their search for power or ownership, sometimes it comes naturally and subconsciously.  Either way, no matter what the intent, the process is the same: they manipulate and take advantage of you for their own benefit.  This conniving, it's like someone trying to steal something you need away from you.  I am stronger now, and I recognize the manipulation more easily and I now choose to stand and protect myself from those people instead of being plundered.

Wow.  What a long winded way of me saying:  I think today, more than ever I can extrapolate from my experiences and see the reasoning behind armies and war.

So today, I wore my poppy into work again.

Not five minutes after I was sitting at my desk and Arizona asked me why I was still wearing my poppy.  I told her that I was going to remember our protectors all November.  She smiled, clapped her hands and told me she was going to wear her poppy into work tomorrow as well.

New tradition started?  Maybe.  Either way, that moment made me smile.

Moments pushing the limits and connecting dots.

Moments inspiring others.