joyful2beeblogs

Last night I had trouble going to sleep. I realized that at least part of the day I had had unsettled feelings. I felt like the old person who is always saying, “I long for the good ole days when everyone got along (or wasn’t like this!”)

I couldn’t watch the news showing one group of people hating on another group of people for whatever reasons. I don’t know whether to feel angry or sad that there is so much hatred and judgmental people causing suffering, stirring up prejudice because of the color of some people’s skin, or beliefs, nationality, or just because the people are “different,” “disagree with what some believe or like or stand for.” Then I thought about the number of shootings. The Soviet Union is still firing on Ukraine. Then there are those, who are firing on students and/or teachers for no good reasons! So many are suffering and I can’t do anything to stop it all.

Why are people so angry? What in the world is happening to us? I learned a few years ago that anger is often a camouflage for fear. We go into “fight or flight” mode when one or more of our systems of behavior or beliefs are challenged by someone who exists in ways differently from our own. Some people go off on: “We are the right ones after all! How dare someone challenge what we believe! They are different and therefore wrong! If they’re not wrong, then could we possibly be wrong? No, we are right no matter what!”

I think people are afraid. Afraid to trust others; afraid to try something new; some are afraid of not having enough money, or losing their homes. Some are in denial about the possibility that the above situations could affect their lives. People are afraid of being homeless, if they don’t make enough money to live on. Whatever should we do? More panic and fear?

Suddenly the first line from an old song, “Get Together” came into my mind as I tried to cope with all of this. “Come on people now. Smile on your brother. Try to love one another once more.” Those lines kept going through my head, until I looked it up on my computer. Aha! The words were a song from 1996. Then the song came back to me as I read the words by the group, “The Youngbloods.”

That made me feel the importance of staying up to write this post till a little after midnight. I hope it makes a difference as a reminder that we need to get to know each other, care about each other, and accept each other as we are and most importantly try to love one another. Especially in our country, the United States, we should be able to accept other people’s differences; differences in beliefs, religions, race, and politics. After all, we are one of the countries, made up of a variety of people with a variety of beliefs, lifestyles and so many things different from each other. Yet we have the freedom to be ourselves, within the parameters of the law, of course. Does it ever help a situation, to hate, judge, fight, shoot, or kill someone, who is different in some way from us? Does it ever do any good??

Here are the words to the song, sung by The Youngbloods, a group from 1996 titled “”Get Together.”

“Love is but a song we sing
Fear’s the way we die
You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry
Though the bird is on the wing
And you may not know why

Come on, people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now

Chorus

Some may come and some may go
He will surely pass
When the one that left us here
Returns for us at last
We are but a moment’s sunlight
Fading in the grass

Chorus

If you hear the song I sing
You will understand, listen
You hold the key to love and fear
All in your trembling hand
Just one key unlocks them both
It’s there at your command

Come on, people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now

I said come on, people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now
Right now
Right now

(I left off several of the repetitive choruses)

Source: Musixmatch. Songwriters: Jesse Colin Young Get Together lyrics © Bernard’s Other Music, Pigfoot Music, Irving Music Inc.

I live in a condo with a microcosm of people. There is a Muslim couple, who babysits their grandkids everyday so their son and his wife can work. There is a Hindu couple who are doctors and they love their adult children and are so proud of them. Their is an older couple whose daughters are grown and working. One is married. There is one lady of German parents who grew up in Texas. One lady is of Irish parents who met here in the States. There is another couple who are from Ireland. There is a young woman who works everyday and comes back late afternoon. There are two retired couples, an elderly lady and myself.

We all get along like a family! When I had two surgeries one year one of the older ladies scooped my two cat’s litter boxes. She also drove me to physical therapy weekly for a month, after my right heel surgery. People bought me food when I had Covid. The Muslim couple are always giving me gallon bottles of spring water, chocolate and we greet each other with smiles. The Hindu couple are both as kind and nice as you could want for a neighbor. The three Catholic Christians are frequently praying for everyone to heal, be safe, get well, or whatever they are asked to or inspired to pray about. These are all good people! We all watch out for each other! I have helped them and watch out for the older ones if I haven’t seen them in a while. I care about these people and they care about me.

We all came from the same source, have bodies and needs the same as everyone else. Can we please try something different? Try to Love one another right now! Let’s try to be openly kind, friendly, at the least courteous. Make our world a better place. Please!