What Kitties Want...! Part 3 (Staring Teddy Cat)

What Kitties Want...! Part 2 (Staring Teddy Cat)

What Kitties Want....! Part 1

(c) Kendall Benton

Do as we say not as we do.....

Do you remember when you were very young and you learned via your parents, teachers, books and television how you were supposed to behave in the world? It was laid out for you in black and white. 

Don't tell lies. 
Be kind to others. 
Share. 
Don't fight. 
It's wrong to bully people. 
Be gentle to animals. 
It's not whether you win or lose it's how you play the game.
Being different is great!
Family and friends are there to help you.
It's okay to be sad or scared and crying isn't shameful. 
Having fun and laughing is important.
And so on....


When you're a child you're encouraged (on the whole) to giggle, be creative without judgement, play, play, play, make friends, have adventures, be respectful to your elders, have a sense of wonder and whimsy....


Why is it that once you become 'an adult' this has to change? Why after a certain age are we suddenly allowed to berate, gossip, bully, scheme, work without joy, never play with toys, keep sadness inside, pretend you're not frightened, never burden family or friends with your troubles, play to win, laugh at others and not with others...and so on...


Why are there special programs for kids on television to teach them basic manners and lessons about 'doing the right thing' but once these same children get older these lessons no longer apply? Then what was the point? Surely what's important to learn as a child is still important as an adult?


What do you think? Do you think us older folk could use a refresher course on life? We want to preserve the innate innocence and goodness of children and give ourselves up as lost causes...I don't think we are....

 

I Should Like Camping...

No scratch that! I should LOVE camping! 

Why should I? Well:

• My partner and closest friends love camping
• I love nature and spending time in tranquil surroundings
• It's a get-away option within my budget
• I love adventure and going off the beaten track
• I love campfires and gazing up at the stars away from the glare of city lights

Considering all of this....surely I must love camping right? Nope. When people say to me "Hey we should go camping!" my insides gurgle and my heart sinks. I don't like camping. 

So why am I telling you this? I want to love camping. I really have only been on school camps and I think this has clouded my judgement. They were stressful and left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. Camping for me means endless hours of hiking up hills for no reason, terrible food, sleepless nights with rocks sticking into my spine, various annoying activities paired with people I didn't get along with, very little free time and no showers or toilets. 


I know that REAL camping must be so much better than this! I bet REAL camping allows you to dawdle along at your own pace, to stop and smell the flowers or take a dip in that sparkling creek. I have a hunch that REAL camping would let me read a book in peace under a large tree with dappled sunlight dancing over the pages. I suspect REAL camping would give me quality time with those I love. 

I should like camping. So next time I'm in your neck of the woods and you're planning on a REAL camping trip....please ask me along! I'd love to go camping!

Quick thought.....

I was purchasing a Dare (iced coffee drink) from the boutique supermarket close to work the other day. The drink was scanned. I was told the price. I paid the money. A receipt was printed out. I was asked if I wanted the receipt. I declined. I don't need a long paper record to show me that I'd popped down the road on this date at this time to buy an iced coffee. It made me wonder why the process doesn't call for cashiers to ask if you need a receipt THEN print one out if you do in fact need one. How much paper is wasted on receipts that we either throw away or hoard for no reason? It's a small drop in the ocean I know...but still...it made me think...