A Celebration of the Unique

Somewhere in the western region of Poland, lies a section of the forest where the trees bend at a 90 degree angle just near the base of the tree.  And they all bend in a northerly direction.  This section of the forest is relatively small....about 400 trees.  No scientist has an explanation of why this small group of trees have grown this way yet all the trees surrounding this section have grown straight up, as usual.  But I think it is as beautiful as it is unusual.

The 'Crooked Forest' has a place on this Earth.  The thought that comes to my mind is: it is perfectly okay to be unique...to be different....your uniqueness should be embraced and enjoyed.  There are so many people in the world who loathe people and traits that are different from their own.  Fear is probably at the root cause.  They cannot see the beauty.   They cannot understand the 'How' or the 'Why' for the differences.  So, they criticize and condemn the uniqueness.  That's sad.  Because by closing yourself off to the more unique and different aspects of life, just look at what you might be missing?!  A forest of curvy tree trunks....

I dream of a more tolerant world...a world where we at least try to see the beauty and unique visions surrounding us.

Can a Tortoise Win In American Politics?

I have found myself dreaming of a media that allows me to decide who's a front runner in the GOP candidate decision.  A world where a debate is televised with all the candidates rotating to the middle placement positions and NO commentary from the press afterwards.  Just me and my thoughts trying to decide who believes in the kind of fiscal policies that can jump start our dismal economy, who knows how to be civil to everyone's ideas and mostly, who can beat Obama with the largest margin! Because after each televised debate I am thinking, wow, I really like what Huntsman and Cain have to say, and what kind of bee is up Santorum's behind?! But, then media people start talking.  They say, "we" like Perry and Romney and nothing else matters. Well, maybe they will point out the funniest joke line of the night, but who the heck cares?!

I also find myself describing the candidate race as kin to the story behind the race of the tortoise and the hare.  I like this analogy and dream of one of the candidates the media is not focused on slowly but surely ends up winning the prized position.  And everyone rallies behind him/her and the media is furious! I like the slow and steady types.  My husband is a slow and steady type.  In the end, he wins. Hey, he "got" me, didn't he?! Still, not everything about being a tortoise/turtle type is wonderful (as evidenced by this short video)...( which you probably cannot see due to my lack of sleep last night and finding it difficult to even post a U Tube Video properly, this morning!):

http://youtu.be/_sMFN69l_ZY
http://youtu.be/_sMFN69l_ZY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sMFN69l_ZY

The man turtle seems more like a Rick Perry than a Cain or Huntsman, I'd have to say! 

Image via WikipediaThe real reason behind my complaints with the media is that I believe they unfairly influence the public's opinions with their poll findings and their comments on who's the strongest candidate(s).  The majority of voters still sit comfortably in the center of politics (either leaning a little to the left or a little to the right) and this majority doesn't often answer the phone polls on who they like.  They don't respond to Facebook ads or even watch the debates, for that matter.  It's just the way most Americans behave.  So, in reality, the polls and the comments from the media are not an accurate depiction of what the majority of voters believe, so they are irrelevant.

Even my Zemanta link tries to influence my decision making.....example, even though I mention Huntsman's name, there is no link or picture available for me to link to.  Now, Obama, Perry, Romney?  I get a million posts and pictures for them!  Huntsman, Huntsman, Jon Huntsman.......(still nothing!) Okay, finally a picture of him as Governor of Utah and one as the Ambassador for China! But, I think you understand my point and my frustration.

Finally, I have a simple request from some of the heavy hitters who are NOT planning to enter the GOP race: please pick your choice for candidate now, especially if you are routing for one of the tortoises in this race.  Your opinion matters to a lot of us.  Yes, Paul Ryan (link to opinion piece from The Daily Beast) and Chris Christie, I am talking to you two!! You could even kick up the wow factor by stating that if, say, Huntsman or Cain is selected, you would be their Vice Presidential running mate.  Now, wouldn't that be a kick in the pants?   Come on.....I, for one, would love to see how the media commentators handle this bold move!

Just How Unique Are You?

So yesterday I was filling out my profile for Timeless Bliss writers and they asked me a question like, "how am I unique?" and after staring at my blank computer screen for 17 hours (minutes), I write "that I can see the good in every situation". Good for me, except I truly hope that that this is not a unique quality and that at least a dozen others (probably bloggers) possess this attribute.

Really, if you think about it, it's almost impossible to be unique these days. For instance:

1) I'm divorced (so are 50 % of the adult population);
2) I have an amicable divorce (probably 25% of the divorced folks can say that);
3) I have lived in 10+ places in my life (we are a transient nation);
4) I find humor in most situations (ask blogrankings and they'll tell you I am somewhere in the middle of a large pack of humor finding people);
5) I'm remarried (big whoopee, lots of people remarry);
6) I've married twice to guys with the name Bill (now you're getting somewhere....);
7) I've been the breadwinner, the breadspender and the breadbaker in this family, at various times (adds some depth....)
8) I have a great family (lucky me, but lots of other folks claim this as well);
9) I have a football-shaped birthmark on my right hip (interesting, but very few studies on birthmark shapes leaves this area of unknown uniqueness);
10) I easily tire of writing lists like this one (most bloggers who do memes understand this one!).

So, it's time to digress. Is it important to be unique as a blogger? The answer can go both ways. You want to be unique (think Jenny, The Bloggess) where people are able to say, "she's hysterical" because you 'get her' and you relate to her on some level. If you are truly unique, probably people would read your blog and say, "I don't get it", never to return. Maybe all the truly unique bloggers quit writing after a year because no one reads their blog. I guess the correct answer is one should strive to be somewhat unique.

I think we are taught at an early age to be unique and we try to be unique but come to the realization when we are ancient (like me) that this is a goal we can never really achieve. We've been chasing after a fairy tale. And, I bet if my daughter who's a freshman in college right now were asked that question, she would come up with a answer immediately and without hesitation.

For you, I will venture out today with the goal of doing something unique. Who knows....I just may get dressed before noon today. Any thing's possible. At least when you can see the positive and humor in anything like I can you know the day's going to be fun and worthwhile. I will use my unique quality to the fullest today. Lookout world, here I come!