If you want to sing, learn to love your own voice first. Become very familiar with how you sound, you don't want to go out and try to sing someone else's song in the exact same way they sang it. You need to own your voice, roll it around on the tip of your tongue, savor it.
I love to sing. It's taken me a while to learn how to sound good, like a lot of things in my life I've enjoyed doing it before I really started understanding myself or digging deeper into the task itself.
I know it was grilled into me as a kid - practice, practice, practice. Perfect practice makes perfect. Practice makes permanent. So, practice to do well, then practice better and better.
It is, now, something newer to me that I directly understand the implications of that practice. I enjoy it all the more when I do something I like to do well - and I have the time to practice, and the motivation. Ok, with the little one, not all the time in the world. Obviously :)
But to be at a point in my life that I have the perspective - knowing exactly how working on something can pay off, and that at this point it seems that the payoff for something fun, like music, or exercise, or pottery - etc. - that peak is what I can't see the top of. But the whole of it, each step up, is just more beautiful.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Prop 8 FAIL!!! (and other ramblings on marriage)
Oh, just had to gloat a bit that that stupid bit of legislation just got flushed.
But, I am sure will be appealed by the moral "majority" who funded the whole rot in the first place. It was pointed out to me by someone wiser than myself tonight on all things Politically Scientific in the Grand Ol' USA that the way this proposition was defeated sets a disappointing precedent of National versus State law. I then confirmed this disappointment with my wonderful husband who happened to also study Political Science. Poopsicles.
Take a look-see here: Same-Sex unions are frowned upon by churches. They are frowned upon in the Koran, the Bible, the Torah and many other texts that are sequels to these wonderfully mono-visioned pages of worship. Most of the progressive, non-religiously driven folk I have spoken to of this matter, and even quite a number of folk who do happen to believe in a higher power (and are quite capable of viewing their literature with a worldly grain of salt) agree that same-sex unions do not interfere with marriage between a man and a woman.
I certainly don't feel any threats. I got married and had a baby, too. And no gay person stood in my way to stop me, or tell me that I had poor morals. Why is it that people who think morals came directly from god, or more than one of them, would tell those same neighborly folk they should not get married?
Again, it goes to moral superiority. If my book tells me this, it is true. I have faith in the whole shebang.
Morals can actually be supported by evolutionary science, as well. Many things we do in communities would cause a negative backlash, and we have adopted a code in each individual society to protect ourselves and offspring from such backlash. In a family setting, it is frowned upon to murder a family member. Hey! It's an easily recognized moral then; that killing your own is wrong. Bring this to town, and realize that the backlash of killing a member of another family could conclude in more of the same visited to your family, and we have a societal moral value. Let's all agree not to kill each other, MmmKay?
You can then draft your own morals again from following trends set in your community. Many of these people are involved in mono-theistic activities, or a sub-culture, that is a part of our earthly whole. While I take these folk at face value and do think that it would be nice for them to broaden their scope of values to include people who are different from themselves, they apparently do not. They do not take me, an atheist, at that same level. They like to point to differences and infer based on what they have been taught by their separate religious leaders that different folk are inferior folk.
They might claim to view things differently, but corner one of them sometime. You'll find they start any argument based on verbage passed out at their gatherings, and if you find logical reasons that even they can see to disagree, they usually fall into fits of anger or end conversations by saying, "we will have to agree to disagree, then."
Seriously, how in the world does same-sex marriage take anything away from opposite-sex marriage? They'd like to say it's a fundamental thing, but it really always turns into a monotheistic world view. There are no problems derived in nature with same sex couples beyond the direct inability to produce offspring (without a simple work-around).
Marriage ... while this debate is roaring and whooping, I nearly feel it's just a blank on the tax form to the Federal Government, but it is very important to those who would like to become bound to their partner in a socially recognized way. It is a loophole for some immigrants. It is a bother for some Roman Catholics who decided they like someone else.
The rights of same-sex couples should be protected by the constitution. Besides those religious folk in our country who decree that there should be a definition of marriage based on their dusty, antiquated texts, can you come up with another reason to dwell on the issue of same-sex marriage? I can't. To me, it's a done deal. It should be allowed.
While on the topic of marriage, however, I would like to add that I really also think the institution of marriage should be completely voluntary. There are still countries in the world where people are forced into arranged marriages. There are polygamous sects in the US that have also been found to have these tenets in their creed - marriage should be a choice always.
And yes, while I'm at it - I believe that polygamous (consensual) couples should also be allowed to marry. If they want to figure out the tax forms, let 'em. I think that the consensual age limitations should stay in effect. I also strongly feel that no person should ever be sold, bought, bartered, gambled, or promised in a marriage they are not ecstatic about. Leave the underage kids out of it!
And then speaking of children, I believe that children can be healthily raised in a non-traditional family just as easily in a traditional family, and may have even more resources as they grow up. Like an extended-immediate family. I still also fully believe children and people should be (and are) protected by laws from depraved people who would abuse or hurt them, and that living in a non-traditional family does not pose any extra risks to these children, as long as you follow current prescribed law for abuse and assault.
That sums it up for tonight.
But, I am sure will be appealed by the moral "majority" who funded the whole rot in the first place. It was pointed out to me by someone wiser than myself tonight on all things Politically Scientific in the Grand Ol' USA that the way this proposition was defeated sets a disappointing precedent of National versus State law. I then confirmed this disappointment with my wonderful husband who happened to also study Political Science. Poopsicles.
Take a look-see here: Same-Sex unions are frowned upon by churches. They are frowned upon in the Koran, the Bible, the Torah and many other texts that are sequels to these wonderfully mono-visioned pages of worship. Most of the progressive, non-religiously driven folk I have spoken to of this matter, and even quite a number of folk who do happen to believe in a higher power (and are quite capable of viewing their literature with a worldly grain of salt) agree that same-sex unions do not interfere with marriage between a man and a woman.
I certainly don't feel any threats. I got married and had a baby, too. And no gay person stood in my way to stop me, or tell me that I had poor morals. Why is it that people who think morals came directly from god, or more than one of them, would tell those same neighborly folk they should not get married?
Again, it goes to moral superiority. If my book tells me this, it is true. I have faith in the whole shebang.
Morals can actually be supported by evolutionary science, as well. Many things we do in communities would cause a negative backlash, and we have adopted a code in each individual society to protect ourselves and offspring from such backlash. In a family setting, it is frowned upon to murder a family member. Hey! It's an easily recognized moral then; that killing your own is wrong. Bring this to town, and realize that the backlash of killing a member of another family could conclude in more of the same visited to your family, and we have a societal moral value. Let's all agree not to kill each other, MmmKay?
You can then draft your own morals again from following trends set in your community. Many of these people are involved in mono-theistic activities, or a sub-culture, that is a part of our earthly whole. While I take these folk at face value and do think that it would be nice for them to broaden their scope of values to include people who are different from themselves, they apparently do not. They do not take me, an atheist, at that same level. They like to point to differences and infer based on what they have been taught by their separate religious leaders that different folk are inferior folk.
They might claim to view things differently, but corner one of them sometime. You'll find they start any argument based on verbage passed out at their gatherings, and if you find logical reasons that even they can see to disagree, they usually fall into fits of anger or end conversations by saying, "we will have to agree to disagree, then."
Seriously, how in the world does same-sex marriage take anything away from opposite-sex marriage? They'd like to say it's a fundamental thing, but it really always turns into a monotheistic world view. There are no problems derived in nature with same sex couples beyond the direct inability to produce offspring (without a simple work-around).
Marriage ... while this debate is roaring and whooping, I nearly feel it's just a blank on the tax form to the Federal Government, but it is very important to those who would like to become bound to their partner in a socially recognized way. It is a loophole for some immigrants. It is a bother for some Roman Catholics who decided they like someone else.
The rights of same-sex couples should be protected by the constitution. Besides those religious folk in our country who decree that there should be a definition of marriage based on their dusty, antiquated texts, can you come up with another reason to dwell on the issue of same-sex marriage? I can't. To me, it's a done deal. It should be allowed.
While on the topic of marriage, however, I would like to add that I really also think the institution of marriage should be completely voluntary. There are still countries in the world where people are forced into arranged marriages. There are polygamous sects in the US that have also been found to have these tenets in their creed - marriage should be a choice always.
And yes, while I'm at it - I believe that polygamous (consensual) couples should also be allowed to marry. If they want to figure out the tax forms, let 'em. I think that the consensual age limitations should stay in effect. I also strongly feel that no person should ever be sold, bought, bartered, gambled, or promised in a marriage they are not ecstatic about. Leave the underage kids out of it!
And then speaking of children, I believe that children can be healthily raised in a non-traditional family just as easily in a traditional family, and may have even more resources as they grow up. Like an extended-immediate family. I still also fully believe children and people should be (and are) protected by laws from depraved people who would abuse or hurt them, and that living in a non-traditional family does not pose any extra risks to these children, as long as you follow current prescribed law for abuse and assault.
That sums it up for tonight.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
I'm up too late
I had a wonderful weekend with my girlfriend and her friends (who are now my friends, I think) and was able to share my concerns and give advice and feel pretty good in spite of the personal issue and work issues I'm going through. The best part? I don't have to thank any supernatural beings for having such a good friend, or being caught in a big safety net when I could have had a big fall.
I don't have to believe Karma caught me or anyone's mad at me for this all to be happening, either. This gives me the total freedom to trust my instincts (after all, I have a lot of life experience that really gives me a lot to work with). I ask who I want for advice. I don't have to solicit advice from someone with ulterior motives, or a ridiculously superstitious world view. Again, I rely on fact and people I can trust.
So trusting myself - that I'm making the right decisions, that I am soliciting the right people for the right advice, and that I am taking care of myself and the situation to the best of my ability? Priceless. Having a weekend long retreat with my ladies? What a great thing, and with phenomenal timing. I will make a point of doing this again in the future, it was very rewarding and very much boosted my spirits.
I (again) don't have any superstitious doubts. I've made up my mind and am sticking to it, until I get more information, and more helpful information. I'm not relying on some supernatural power to look my way and help me out - I have a plan a, b, and c. I'm creative enough and resourceful enough to do this with the help I've surrounded myself with, because it would take a freaking long time to do on my own, and really would absorb so much of my life to flounder without good directions from people who have been through it and study what's been going on. I have a hard time thinking I could accomplish all of what I need to by myself.
I also want to say that society has evolved so much in even the last 100 years - we don't have to rely on misinformation and old wive's tales. The biggest problem I see today is finding misleading information from respectable looking sources. That, though, is where that intuition and trusting myself (gut instincts and all) really comes in handy. If I am suspicious, or if it sounds too good or too far off-base, it will get very close evaluation.
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