I had a great day...went to the shooting range in Hickory and definitely killed some paper. Spent some time with my wife (who is 100 days sober now...so proud of her!!!); had a wonderful fried shrimp and perch lunch...and set my sights on what my evening may have in store.
Life is certainly strange....but only because some people make it so. If it wasn't for their idiotic and unexpected (sort of) behaviors our journey would be a breeze...speaking of breeze Skynyrds "Don't Ask Me No Questions" is on...appropriate for what is troubling me tonight.
You see what I'm doing now....some people get paid decent money for. They do this through advertising on their blog site....every time someone clicks an ad...even if by mistake...they get a little stipend. For some it's all they need to do to sustain a decent lifestyle, they are fortunate to have an established following they've worked hard (well most of them) to grow.
That's what gets the advertisers attention....site or blog traffic. How many people a day....or week....are visiting the site....which translates to potential media exposure. As proof of this, just ask any TV exec how their ad funding is going...in many cases they are losing out...big time...to company's who are putting their resources (advertising dollars) towards social and electronic media formats...not to mention alternative and subtle measures to get their name & products out there.
As our society advances...evolves...changes...adapts...and grows, individuals, corporations, churches, school systems, local, state, & federal governments and the court system does the same...or at least they all should or they will be left behind for hindering the progress of the other aspects of our daily, nightly and yearly lives.
And that is what upsets me tonight (among a few other things). All it takes is a few backwards, ill-informed, biased people in the right place at any time to throw a wrench in the gears of progress. Some people are stuck in the past...some want us to forget our past...some look forward to the future...others want things to stay the same...and then there's the rest of us that live for the day, the moment...and let tomorrow bring what it brings.
But that's the rub...we know what tomorrow brings...so we don't worry about today. Why? Why worry about it....sure we all have cares and obligations...bills to pay...but in the big scheme of things if you died in the next hour...who would really care if you paid that last car payment?
Last year at the end of December I made a post with a New Year's resolution...just one... and it was short...here's a copy, pasted & posted over so you don't have to go find it:
Sunday, December 31, 2017
2018...Winds of Change
As we move in to 2018 I have one resolution. It is simply to help find a way to bring our
country together as a nation. Wow, that’s
a big goal, but I cannot think of a better one given the state of our country
today. The divisiveness we are
experiencing, if left to continue, will only serve to weaken us and strengthen
those who would tear us down.
As a first step in a complicated plan I offer this: Let’s all agree that as a nation we have flaws and weaknesses, but let’s also agree we do a lot of things well and have many strengths. If you constantly dwell on the negative and cannot acknowledge the good in something than you are destined to be a miserable and negative person.
I am not so naïve that I cannot see the negativity in this
country, but at the same time I feel our strengths can overcome anything and if
we take off the blinders of our own biased opinions we can be a better nation
for it.
Left, right, black, white, rich, poor all blend together as
God’s children. The 2016 Gallop poll
showed that over 80% of the people in our great nation had a belief in
God. Let’s start there with this
commonality of belief and treat each other with respect, because even though we
may be divided on politics, immigration, taxes, etc., etc. we are common in our
belief of God. So let’s not dwell on the
inequalities and failures of the past but rather realize we are more equal now
than ever and move forward to champion our success as a nation.
All the best to you and yours in 2018….God Bless and God Inspire.
12/20/2018 9:24 PM EST
I could make the same post tonight...and simply change the dates, but there would be a problem with that. You see the resolution I made in 2017 for 2018 has been accomplished...albeit in a small scale.
I have made a difference in several peoples lives this year...my stated goal (resolution) was to bring our country closer together as a nation. I know for a fact I have impacted the "attitudes" of numerous people who going into 2018 were very divisive in their belief structures. Thru conversation and this blog I have been successful in getting them to see a little bit of the other side's point of view, whether they or I agree with it or not. Just simply explaining to someone why someone feels the way they do about something sheds a glimpse into that persons personality, background and social beliefs.
I could go on into tons of examples where people are stereotyped and glanced upon in a negative light when all they are really doing in life is trying to be a positive influence. But...how bout you think of a few....and I'll take a break while you think about it......
Stevie Ray's "Cold Shot" is on now...gotta turn it up a bit....so today I was threatened. I have other means of communications besides this blog, and sometimes wires get crossed and people take things the wrong way. So was the case today, but I quickly resolved the situation, although not necessarily to the other party's satisfaction...but I didn't give a crap...they threatened me first.
So anyway, I had a great day...even with having to deal with an external threat that was quickly extinguished. But, I have concerns, and they have to do with 2019. The balance of this month is fine and my rent is paid for January 2019...but not February's. So here in lies my concern.
Which of the numerous opportunities that abound out there should I take advantage of and why limit myself to just one. Well, maybe advantage is the wrong word...which ones do I capitalize on....yeah I like the sound of that better...after all we live in a capitalist society and economy...as it should be... despite what some would have you believe...but that's a whole nother thang.
Today was a good day for another reason...I had 123 visits to the blog...that was up from 19 the day before. It puts me at less than 400 visits to reach 12,000...the new goal my publisher has set for me before they will offer "assistance" to get the contents of this blog in some fashion of book form.
I am so excited to see what moving forward with publishing this blog will do in 2019. What many people don't realize is that writing, editing, producing and publishing a book is the easy part...the hard part is marketing it and getting folks interested in it. It takes time...time many authors who have wonderful talents...don't have.
Between crafting their writings and their day to day job, there isn't the time to get their face out there. To have people ask questions, to give responses and generate interest for your skills and opinions, whatever they may be, whether it is wood-working, drawing, writing, landscaping or iron working...you have to get people...or at least some one, to take interest in your abilities and get you over the hump of that day to day grind...cause that what it is...let's face it...a grind...but a necessary and capitalistic grind.
Anyway, I've said a lot here, but two things remain. #1 who from and what was the threat and #2 what is my main priority for 2019 as far as seizing a perceived opportunity:
#1) I received a phone call today...my wife was with me, but she didn't know I was on the phone as the conversation only lasted a minute or so...I don't play long when I'm threatened.
The call was from a member of the Episcopal church in Jacksonville, Florida. As you know my last post was a re-post of a letter (with commentary) I wrote over 10 years ago. I am still friends with some of the ex-members of St. Paul's church in Jacksonville and several follow my blog occasionally. Well today was no different as one of them seen the post and thought it would be cute to forward it to a couple of the members, deacons and current rector at St. Paul's...half the several that saw it had never seen the letter before...even though it has been on my blog for over 10 years and if you search St. Paul's hard enough thru Google it comes up on like the third page last I tried. The threat was minor as it was totally unfounded and without merit.
So you see somehow in the midst of the 123 visits to my blog site today, was several from their membership group, and they were not happy. They threatened to take legal action (sue me I guess) if I didn't take down my "Letter from the Past" post. I actually listened to this blabbering idiot for about 20 seconds and said..."Hold on their Bessie...my blog is free-lance and totally copy righted, who what where and why I write and post something is my own business and if you want to be part of it...send a check, or in your case cash...and if not shut the hell up or bring it on...my lawyers are better than yours...and we personally know the judge." There was little response..I told you...homie don't play.
#2) My priority is two fold I guess, as I feel I have two major "callings" if you will. In addition to the obvious to glorify our Living God...I feel I can best do this through writing and music...in that order. I say this because at this point I feel I can have more control over the writing, the music industry has many players...and sorting out the pretenders from the accomplishers can be challenging.
It is full of folks trying to make a quick buck, of those that would take advantage of your talents and use them for their own greed driven gain. Don't get me wrong a good producer, director, technician investor, or motivator is worth every penny...because they got a little skin in the game too.
With my writing I can choose who what and where much easier than I can trying to meet the demands (if any) of someone else's commitments.
So that is my priority, get a steady cash flow to pay the bills and pursue getting the blog published while I dabble in the music side of things a bit. And in this way continue the resolution I made in 2017...with the added stipulation to capitalize of my God given talents as He sees fit for me to do so.
Now I gotta go...it's 10:15 PM EST and I gottta band to check out at the Oaks. C Ya (:...
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