Inspirations and Opinions by paul barksdale

Disclaimer: This article may be a bit offensive or over bearing for some people. It is not my intention to offend anyone, only to express my opinion.

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Well first off, this is a mighty deep and touchy subject I am about to get into here so hang on. These are of course my opinions and you don't have to agree with them so please don't get offended if you don't. There are way to many aspects and dimension's of this particular article to get into all of them, but I will attempt to at least touch on what I think most of the problems stem from. So here goes...

A baby is born... it's a boy! 9 pounds 6 ounces of absolute joy and splendor! Totally innocent, pure, honest, and uninhibited. He has no political persuasions or any denominational interests. He's just happy to be here. Little does he know what he's in for.

He goes through all the baby stages and really seems to be turning out to be a well rounded individual who's whole life is in front of him. Then as he grows older, maybe around two or three, his parents have to start working two jobs to make ends meet, that is, if he even has two parents. Heck, babies are expensive. So they have to do what all parents faced with this dilemma do, they hire a baby sitter. Now while they are off working to pay for his upbringing the baby sitter is busy taking care of him. Changing diapers, feeding him etc. and everything is going along just fine.

Now he's around six, seven or eight and he's parent/s are still having to work extra jobs to make ends meet because now it's really getting expensive. School, clothing, shoes and my gosh, he has to eat. By now he may still have to have a baby sitter too and that's fine, but he doesn't need quite as much watching all the time so he is pretty much left on his on to watch television or play video games or maybe even the explore the Internet. He's left on his own to absorb the evils of today's society and what it pours into his still fairly innocent mind.

When his parents finally get off work and come home they are just too tired to pay him much attention. All they want to do is relax and take it easy because they've been working so hard to keep up with all the bills. They have no clue what's been going into their little boys mind all day and what his brain has been soaking in and quite frankly, as sad as it may be, some probably don't even care. They have know time to teach him morals, ethics or even plain decency. It's just too much trouble and they're too worn out. So more time goes by.

Now he's twelve or thirteen and he's at that age in life where he has to stand for something or be somebody or his peers will rip him apart. They will make fun of him and ridicule him because most of them came from the same kind of family that he did and they simply don't know any better. Now remember, this is the same little boy that at age six, seven or eight was left on his on to absorb things.

So off to school he goes and he finds out real quick that it's a tough world he lives in. People are not so nice and they don't care about anything but themselves and what's in it for them. Now the peer pressure to fit somewhere kicks in when somebody offers him a joint or pill or porn or whatever and the vicious cycle begins.

He really doesn't know any better and isn't to blame because his parents had no time to teach him the benefits of being a good person and caring about the other human beings around him. Respecting other people's belongings or property are things he has no clue about.

Now he's seventeen, eighteen or nineteen and probably never finished high school and his parent's, well they gave up on him because they can't control him and don't understand his behavior, and pretty much just write him off as a lost cause. His future fades away off on the horizon like the setting sun. What will his future hold? Does he even have a future?

He is now at a turning point in his life that can be absolutely devastating and critical to the out come of his entire life. He didn't finish high school so he can't a get a decent job and he maybe doing drugs so he has to have money to support his habit. So he robs, cheats and steals his way through life with no hope of anything better coming along any time soon.

Little by little the small crimes turn into bigger ones and before you know it he has shot and killed an innocent person that was in the wrong place at the wrong time while he was attempting to pull off yet another job to support all of his expensive habits. Or maybe he thinks that all of his problems were his friend's fault because they just didn't like him or understand him in school and goes on a shooting spree.

And now he gets the death penalty or at the very least gets to spend the rest of his life in prison.

So who's to blame here...

The rest of the story coming soon in Part 2. Stayed tuned.

Continuation of a previous article on January, 22, 2008.

Who's to blame... well in my opinion, at least for the most part, the parents are, because in today's society it's much easier to just 'let things go', than take responsibility for what you either by choice, or not by choice brought into this world.

If you brought a child into this world by choice, and don't take the time to raise it correctly, shame on you! If you brought a child into this world by mistake, and don't take the time to raise it correctly, shame on you again!

Definition of Parents: A parent is a father or mother; one who sires or gives birth to and/or nurtures and raises an offspring. To act as a parent to; raise and nurture. To cause to come into existence; originate. Could you please tell me where in the above definition it says anything about; If I have time?

Parents, have got to step up and take some responsibility for the actions of the children they bring into this world.

Our whole society has gotten away from the teaching of morals, ethics and decency in the home, which is where it should be taught. Parents let kids do what they want to, it seems, while they are growing up because it's easier than doing it the right way. The right way would take time and effort on their part and they just don't seem to have it. It's easier to say 'Yes' these days than it is to say 'No'. Because when you say 'No', you will probably have to explain why you said 'NO', and that of course would take more time of the time that you already don't have.

We absolutely must provide our kids with a certain amount of discipline along with "nurturing" and "raising" as they grow up, and lead and guide them through their lives with what we have learned from our own life experiences. It's time we started acting like their elders instead of their friends.

Now, I am very sorry if I have made some of you mad. It is certainly not my intention to get on anybodies bad side but as my Dad used to tell me, son, sometimes the truth hurts.

I will be the first one to admit that there is NO such thing as the perfect child, but if we don't start paying more attention to what our children are doing, it's only going to get worse.

With the Internet and all the Video games and such on today's market that are ready, willing, able and just waiting to influence the minds of our children, it's my prayer that they at least have some good, solid moral teachings to stand on.

Take a few minutes today and sit down with your child and spend some good, quality, getting to know you time. A few minutes here, a few minutes there, and before long, you can be influencing the very society that shapes his or her future and the future of your grandchildren.

Tell your children how much they mean to you and how much you love them. Tell them what special people they're going to be. Ask them what they would like to be when they grow up. Then help them get there. Don't let the peer pressure and today's evils seep into their minds and destroy the hope of a wonderful and prosperous future.

I could go on and on about this subject matter and have talked to many people concerning it. Every time I get a different answer on the subject about what's really important as far as their upbringing goes. But the one thing that we can all seem to agree on is; without good, decent and moral influence, to the kids, from the parents, the evils of today's society will take over and prevail.

Introducing the SIFA Choir. This is a letter all MPM members received and I would like to share it with you in hopes that you might be interested in helping.

It's time to give all of you an update on the 20 kids who comprise the SIFA Africa Choir - the ones Together We Can Change The World (TWCCTW) is bringing over from Uganda to tour the US and sing for 6 months. So many wonderful things are happening with this undertaking - lending new meaning to TOGETHER We Can Change The World!

It's also time to tell you how you can help - and how you can meet all the TWCCTW Kids!

The kids are so excited about coming because they know their 6 months here will enable them to take back an expected $160,000 - money that will be used to build a school, build more houses and take care of more of their friends who are languishing and dying on the streets and dirt roads of Uganda. They have no concept of America - they just know they are leaving so they can help their friends!

All of us here are doing as much as we can to make this a reality for them. TWCCTW& My Power Mall are giving financial aid and working closely with Carrie Harless, my little sister and the coordinator for the SIFA Africa Choir.

Brad Gerver, the MPM Director of Marketing, put out a letter to our merchants and the offers started coming in...

We have a shoe store that is going to provide 50 pairs of shoes - 2 pairs each for these children who will have never even had shoes on their feet until Carrie flies over in late March to bring them back. Shoes.com was eager to be part of this special undertaking!

A luggage store is providing both Duffel bags for their clothing and Backpacks for their school books while they are here.

We have another merchant who is trying to provide the Sound Equipment they need, and we're talking with Rental car places about the two 15 passenger vans we need.

It's now time to let you know what else is needed and also give you a chance to host the choir for a concert and also possibly have some of the kids and chaperones stay in your home - giving you a double blessing!

Please go to www.sifachoir.org.

Click on Calendar and see where the Choir is going to be. If you would like to host the kids, contact Carrie Harless at carrieme2@integrity.com. Let her know her "big sister" sent you. :)

Thank you in advance for your help. Paul Barksdale

What are you getting out of life?

Well I can tell you for a fact that if you put garbage in, you'll get garbage out.

So what is your life like? Are you prosperous. Are you expanding your horizons? Are you successful? Are you giving back to your family, friends or community? Are you a complainer, whiner or just a very unhappy person?

When I wake up every morning I make a conscious decision that it's going to be a great day! It doesn't matter that I have to get out of bed a little slowly and loosen up all my joints. It doesn't matter that I sometimes have aches and pains. It doesn't matter if I'm having sinus problems or I stump my toe on the way to the bathroom. I choose the decision that it's going to be a great day no matter how I feel.

As I am driving to work, I don't cuss the guy out that just cut me off in traffic or the gal that is driving like a nut while she is putting on her make up (sorry ladies). I don't get mad when the next traffic light, that I really don't have time to stop at because I'm running a little late, turns red. I make a conscious decision that I am absolutely not going to let anyone or anything steal my joy!

Yesterday I got a call from my wife while I was at work. She told me that the heat in our home was not working. She reminded me that our AC/Heat system was around 20 years old and that we may have to bite the bullet and replace it. I told her not to worry that I would call a friend to check it out. Although I was trying to keep a positive attitude about the whole situation, I had a tendency to lean toward her way of thinking. I called my friend who said he would be there to take a look at it. After checking out the system he discovered that a very important switch that controls when the AC/Heat comes on and off had gone bad. He replaced it and within and hour of the time I called, we had heat again.

My point is that we were both getting ready to set ourselves up for a huge bill that we really could not afford at this time. We were setting up for a terrible outcome when it was only a small problem.

It's human nature to expect the worst, but you must re-train your thinking to expect the best. Garbage in, garbage out.

I try my absolute best to look at everything with a positive attitude and expect the best from it all. I know it's not easy sometimes, but if you think the worst will happen, it will! Life will give you back what ever you give to it. It's the law of attraction. Think good thoughts, get good things back. Think evil thoughts, get evil things in return.

I challenge you to get out of bed every morning and just be thankful for all that you have and decide that no matter what your situation is, make a conscious decision that it's going to be a great day. Try it, I dare you!

If you practice this each and everyday it will come to pass. Garbage in, garbage out.

My dad always told me that what goes around, comes around. It's the same thing. If you decide that it's going to be a good day, and go about it as such, you whole out look will change and people around you will change according to your attitude. If they don't, it's there problem, not yours.

Decide today to make each and every one of your days a good and happy day no matter what.

Don't make the mistake of putting garbage in and getting garbage out. It's your life, it's your decision, which choice will you make?

Everybody is trying to get more, make more and do more. I am guilty of it too. But I have to make myself step back sometimes and just look at how blessed I am already.

I am sure if you'll do the same thing and be really honest about it you will find that you're rich already with things that you take for granted each and every day. Each morning as your feet hit the floor, just smile and thank God that you are going to be involved in a brand new day. Make a decision right then to be happy all day long no matter what obstacles cross your path.

I can hear you now... "You don't know anything about me or my life and the things I have to put up with". You're right, I don't know anything about you, but I know for a fact that life will give you back what ever you put into it. Be gracious and forgiving and life will be gracious and forgiving back. Be mean spirited and evil and life will give it back to you.

So be thankful for what you already have and get up every day and just say thank you, I truly am blessed.

Oh yeah, and Always remember, "What goes around, comes around". Always has, and always will. So be nice to people and give from your heart with the expectation of nothing in return, just do it because you know it's the right thing to do.

Deep at the centre of my being, there is an infinite well of love.

I now allow this love to flow to the surface. It fills my heart, my body, my mind, my consciousness, my very being, and radiates out from me in all directions and returns to me mutliplied. The more love I use and give, the more I have to give.

The supply is endless. The use of love makes me feel good, it is an expression of my inner joy.

I love myself; therefore, I take loving care of my body. I lovingly feed it nourishing foods and beverages, I lovingly groom it and dress it, and my body lovingly responds to me with vibrant health and energy.

I love myself; therefore provide for myself a comfortable home, one that fills all my needs and is a pleasure to be in. I fill the rooms with the vibration of love so that all who enter, myself included, will feel this love and be nourished by it.

I love myself; therefore I work at a job I truly enjoy doing, one that uses my creative talents and abilities, working with and for people I love and who love me, and earning a good income.

I love myself; therefore, I behave and think in a loving way to all people for I know that that which I give out returns to me multiplied. I only attract loving people in my world, for they are a mirror of what I am.

I love myself; therefore I forgive and totally release the past and all past experiences and I am free.

I love myself; therefore I live totally in the now, experiencing each moment as good and knowing that my future is bright and joyous and secure, for I am a beloved child of the Universe and the Universe lovingly takes care of me now and forever more.

And so it is... by Louise Hay