June 26, 2013

All Points North

By Tammy Derouin

The word Karma was mentioned in a conversation I was part of this past week. Although it was said for a different reason, the reminder couldn’t have come at a better time.  I believe everything happens for a reason. 

I developed a love for history and heritage at a very early age.  History and heritage collided when I went to Northern Michigan for the first time.  I was twelve.  My heritage is French/Canadian and my interests quickly turned to all points north.  Northern Michigan is full of French and Canadian influence.  Was this heaven on earth? 

Travers City and Charlevoix are two of my favorite stops as I travel to the jewel, Mackinaw.  The city and the island are full of historic sites.  The Mackinac Bridge is my beacon.  When others head south, I prefer to head north, regardless of the time of year.

I had hoped to share this love of history and heritage with my girls.  I wanted to wait until they were a little older so they would be able to appreciate the experience.   

Karma is the belief that your actions today will determine how life treats you tomorrow.  I grew up with the Golden Rule; do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Living by this philosophy doesn’t guarantee you will be treated well but it establishes a code of conduct.  Living by the Golden Rule allows me to look in the mirror with the knowledge that I didn’t intentionally hurt or cause someone harm.  There are times when difficult decisions must be made.  Someone, and usually more than one, will end up being hurt.  Avoiding the decision inflicts pain on yourself and eventually those around you.  It’s like pulling off a Band-Aid.  You know it must be done.  You can linger, slowly tearing one hair out at a time, causing much discomfort or you can pull it off and be done with it.  Oh, there will be pain but much less than the endless suffering you are putting yourself through by hesitating.  Most painful decisions, regardless how much better you know your life would be, require much thought and consideration.  Such life altering decisions aren’t made in haste. 

It’s easy to be strong and to say everything happens for a reason when life is going well.  An individual’s strength and character are tested when they’re under attack.  My nemesis delivered such a blow this past week.  I was informed that my girls would be traveling to Northern Michigan.  All points of interest to me would be covered.  He waited until we were face to face to give me this news.  Northern Michigan is a location he never wanted to visit again.  He has nothing nice to say about the area.  I endured many derogatory remarks about my French heritage, usually along the lines of running from a fight.   Well, this French Lady decided to fight.  I joined the resistance and didn’t back down.

Controllers will use anything and everything to get their way or to attack you if you go against them.  To say it doesn’t hurt would be a lie.  I’m human.  I’m not made of steel like the Mighty Mac.  A controller will only win if you allow them to win.  I wrestled with a dagger to the heart this past week but I didn’t allow it to control me.  I will not allow it to change my philosophy on life.  To do unto him as he has done unto me would be the beginning of my self-destruction.

My crime; I refused to be controlled.  I drew my line.  I said enough was enough and walked away.  I angered the one who thought he was all powerful.  I’ve been dodging bullets and an occasional bomb ever since.  I will take a little comfort in knowing he just spent money and time traveling to places he never wanted to see again. 

When others use personal knowledge and information as a weapon against you for the sole purpose of inflicting pain, the Golden Rule is still the best principle to follow.  It allows you to have a clear conscience.

When our government has knowledge of our personal information just because it wants to, we as a nation become vulnerable to attack.  Information is powerful.  That’s why the government is eliminating the press.  That’s also why the government wants to know everything about everyone.  Humans have the ability to be petty and vindictive.  Allowing the government to get away with such behavior will lead our nation down the path of self-destruction.

“He who knows best knows how little he knows.”

Thomas Jefferson