December 26, 2012

Life’s Little Detours

By Tammy Derouin

I took a much needed break and jumped off the news wagon for a short time.  Unfortunately, the world doesn’t have a pause button.  Jumping back on and trying to play catch up had me reaching for the ibuprofen.  It was a nice break but I’m still dragging my feet.

With the year coming to a close, I’ve spent some time reflecting on the events of the past year.  Life is a learning experience.  I’m of the belief that events in our life happen for a reason.  We may not understand at the time why things take place, especially the bad and harmful events.  If given the opportunity to look into our own future, would we have willingly traveled the path that we have taken?  We make decisions with our best intentions.  We want what’s best for ourselves and for those that are in our lives.

I have learned that it’s the struggles in life that make you who you are.  As much as I like sitting at the beach reading and relaxing, that’s all it is.  Life on the beach, no matter how inviting, isn’t living.  Life involves risk.  Life involves stepping out of your comfort zone and daring to do something you never thought possible.  There will be failures and there will be victories.  Don’t stew too long over the failures, learn from them.  Enjoy life’s victories. 

As I put 2012 behind me, I leave financial security, a home and many material possessions.  I leave behind fear, false accusations (I do enjoy those little victories); loss of freedom and that terrible sound of the exterior door handle twisting open as I pretend to sleep.  What have I gained?  I’ve gained financial insecurity, a small apartment and freedom.  I haven’t been this happy in years!  I have family that has always stood by me and has been willing to help every step of the way.  I have friends that have been supportive and care about my well-being.  I even have friends that have helped build my confidence to levels that have allowed me to enjoy life once again.  Humor is a wonderful coping mechanism.  Having such friends at work is an even greater blessing.

I’ve also enjoyed opportunities that wouldn’t have come about had I not gone through this difficult situation.   I believe every life has purpose.  We would not come in contact with certain people or have opportunities without being exposed to experiences that seem to be the darkest moments of our life.  Nobody wants to get stuck in a ditch.  Who or what we come in contact with because of life’s little detours is what makes life challenging and even a little exciting. We are able to appreciate the good by how we handle the bad.  That however, involves those paths that we wouldn’t have willingly taken but did.  

I have a greater understanding of what is taking place in our country due to my experience.  I’ve dealt with a narcissist.  I understand how the Left manipulates a situation.  There is one set of rules for “their” side and one set of rules for “my” side.  The rules for me changed without warning.   My life was monitored.  Everything from my location, to purchases, possessions and communications were under surveillance.  It happened slowly over time and without my knowledge.  I had a nice home.  I had financial security.  I didn’t have freedom.  What I have just described is socialism and communism. 

We the people of the United States are losing our freedoms.  It has happened slowly over time and without our complete knowledge.  It has been disguised as a need for safety and security.  It’s for your own good, for your protection, says the narcissist.  There are those who say, “If I’m not doing anything wrong, why should it matter if I’m being watched?”  It matters because the one watching is the one making the rules.  You will always be guilty until proven innocent.  Are your freedoms, your rights, worth giving complete control to the government?  The federal government can’t handle the few duties assigned to it by the Constitution.  Do you want the government to have even more control of your life?

I’ll take capitalism.  I’m no longer financially secure.  I am however, free.  I’ll take freedom and all the risks that come with it over servitude.  Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, you can’t go wrong.  Capitalism puts you in control.  The Constitution gives the control to the people.  That’s why those in power call the Constitution outdated.  If we give up even one of our rights, we give up control.  Servitude and enslavement will become our normal way of life.

“Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality.  But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.”

Alexis de Tocqueville