A little doldrum: the top-down has turned from the bottom-up

A culture to be considered
I've been quite enjoying the start of a four-day weekend.  The first day spent taking care of me.  I went for a mani-pedi.  I started a marathon of paint-ing while today I took my dog Buddy for a long walk, with ear buds setting pace to my walk and singing to my spirit.  You'd almost think that it would be classical wouldn't you?  Nahhhh, it is more rock.  Not pop music, country or ballads for me.


When writing slows down
I want to take a look inside and reflect upon why that would be so?  I maybe feeling uninspired?  That can happen to the best of us.  Pulling yourself out by the collar, takes strength, resilience and determination.  I have taken a break from painting and nothing of interest draws me to the TV.  (I've heard enough about "Brexit" for years, not even days, never mind hours).  



In keeping with the positive
An attitude adjustment may be in store.  Which is where I will write about "theCLUBHOUSEproject" I'm about to embark on later on.  Am I feeling melancholy?  Fed up? or Flipping out?  None of the above.  Just nawhthing that is rocking my boat of late.  I got a nice note from a colleague that I had written a recommendation for, and that gave me some umphhh:
there is hardly a better way of springboarding out of the doldrums than making someone else feel special.  If they happen to notice, or better yet, respond with a positive vibe, I know I have hit my mark.  It does make me feel better.  

A reflection from within
surfaced a concise take on a situation with these words:

I'm sure you'll go far now you're out in your-new-land, circulating

 around the head honchos.  I still get the giggles over that email that was sent out that day from your computer because you left it on .... "tomorrow pizza's on me!!"  Too funny eh?  I hope you will check out my blog

 and share it around your circles.  It is the truest to who I am,

 not the stifled version that works at a company

 we both know, that's for sure. 

 They put me on a new team and it is like working

 under a vice grip.  My TM is just waiting for me to mess up

 to enable it to pounce on me.

  I find it hard to believe that they are trying to make people

 when it looks like they really want to break them.  

Do you really know your cultural?
Or is it an image drummed up by the marketing and creative types?  I keep trying to tell people who are not listening carefully:  if you say it is so, it does not make it to be.

Who mans (or WOmans) your ship?
I sure hope it isn't a 20 something who can't get a grip on what your customers want, and cannot relate to who they are.  That seems to be the most common.  The value an organization puts to their social media is atrocious for the most part.  I'd bet they are paid less than your receptionist.

The value of first impressions
Centrically lies at your front door, who people see first when they enter your castle.  In today's world, I'm going to guess that something like 75 percent (conservatively speaking) outsource their reception kingdom.  Chances they are very young, very poorly attired, misappropriately mannered.  

A call for Ms. Manners
Do they even have such a thing around anymore?  Golly, we all remember Audrey Hepburn in that role about a rough-around-the-edges girl turned into a lady!  Yet we park the "before" version as the first person your very best customers, investors, creditors, shareholders, potential employees see.  

The tables are turning
The potential investor, customer, shareholder, sought after graduate is going to cross you off your list based on how important everything is in your organization, where responsibility lies at the top-down, not the bottom-up.   

A Sergeant Major leading troops
Belongs in the army or marine corp, not your company!  Yet, so many top organizations lean on to lean into the masses, push the bad ones out and the good ones too, where the mediocre survive, deafened or immune to management style that intimidates or incriminates, bracketed by a title that would indicate is your support person or advocate but is more inclined to promote themselves long before anyone else, unless it is one of their cohorts in the middle management aisles, defending each other, protecting themselves.

What is your personality?
We know what you tell the shareholders and the media viewers who skeptically buy everything you dish out.   If you were to walk into your company fresh tomorrow, as though you were looking from the outside, what would you see?

People friendly and engaged
Falls far behind stats, metrics, diplomas or degrees.  You really aren't looking for anyone that can think for themselves when you've kept the guard strong, stifle any ingenuity because that would only threaten the troops and take the majors off their game, briefly, before they are marched out or escape themselves.

As the economy rebounds
Many will have good memories.  They will recall the mishaps they scanned a while ago and have your company on the "stay away from" list faster than a nod on the "apply inventory".   

Respect, professionalism, ethics
Will far outway corruption, politics,  nepotism,  favoritism.  The leaders of those gangs exhausted and put out to pasture to make way for energy, enthusiasm, ethics, put out the steam of egos.

Roll up your sleeves and work
Without concern for who gets credit, because credit will always fall on the most deserving, not the stolen ideas.

Where training prevails
 Not as a fake lost leader but a real orchestration of talent pooling and magnetic to only the best of the best surface from.  

Out with the same ole same old

ART credit:  

er_cervello on instaGRAM 

Today is one of self-reflection
Thoughts uncorked.  Am I doing my purpose?  Do I love what I do?  What makes me the happiest when I'm doing it?  Out with the same ole same old and in with the new, refreshing, optimism.

Negative
The only negative vibe I have on my brain right now is why the heck am I getting so many job invites? It does irritate me that my information is spread around the big blue yonders of Twitter and Facebook.  I try not to be judgemental, however, it's harder to do when I get so many emails inviting me to be a Shipper or Receiver because my profile jumps out at them.

Savvy does
There is this really savvy recruiter with the last name McCabe that has caught my attention.  Brilliantly, he sends me snapshots of jobs he thinks I should apply for.  I've never connected virtually or otherwise.  He Am I doing my purpose?  Do I love what I do?  What makes me the happiest when I'm doing it?

Website delights
Or horrors depending upon which one you go on.  The people creating those forms are razzle dazzling the person with the wallet while they walk away snickering.  A sarcastic sense of humour with a superior knowledge, that is so relatable to the stats without any clue on how to do things like create, teamwork, imagineer creatively.  I could go public with the more excruciating ones.  The really savvy ones have already had me create a extended profile by answering the psychographics questions all nestled into the safety of their site.  One really really REALLY big BIG brand out of the US, which is known for its marketing ingenuity have already gotten answers from my test results.  

I already had this done 
Before I had set aside a website I had to go back and finish.  Then miracle by miracle they had an email address to response and attach Resume, references the old fashion way.  That is, before digital cartwheeling. 

Act your job
I decided that a National Social Media Director of an internationally recognized brand had to have some jive ... beat of their own song, know themselves a bit more, and share it honestly and transparently:  So here I went:


Of note
That big gihumongous company just sent me a note saying I fit in their cultural mode.  Interesting.  Is that a reflection that big companies are trying to create a positive culture by hiring the right people who will work together fabulously?  Fascinating eh?  Oh, back to the application.  Which by the way, will hardly be recognized because Calgarians are known to consider outsides and bring in the best from afar, so they don't hardly look at someone in their own backyard.  Or is that companies that are failing in establishing strong culture?  For pondering more, I'm sure.

_____________________________________________________________________ //
Good afternoon,

I am really happy that I stumbled upon your ad on Linked In.  It jumped out to me.

You see, I have been working actively in Social Media since 2010.  I was wondering what the fuss was all about, so I hopped on and happily formed a hobby.

The dream is to take all that great, juicy knowledge and apply it to someone who I can resonate for.  

I'm a kind of results driven gal.  Does that make me bossy or pushy, nah.  I've figured out that the best way to get people's attention is with well timed humour, think deeply about meaningful things, blog about it, tweet a message, share a quote, pin an image, and just promote promote.

If you're willing.  It is a new adventure for Big Rock.  Can we do it together?  Let's decide when we meet face to face to see what unfolds:  having me as your National Social Media person.  

I'm not completely a leap of faith.  I studied about demographics way back when I was at Western Living magazine starting in the late 80s. I'm particularly proud of one claim :: all awards, president clubs, aside :: I sold the outside back cover of the Olympic 1988 issue for Calgary Magazine's commemorative printed host for those Winter Olympics.  That was after the company I worked for doubted any one of us locally could sell one small ad, never mind the coveted position on any magazine.  The organization sought out an ad agency from Toronto.  See, that city has been the center of Canada's universe for quite a few years.  I learned how to collaborate, corroborate before "Team Work" was just important as creating revenue.  

I would welcome the opportunity to be considered.  Kindly reach out by reply to myemail@email.com or my cell 000.000.0000 which you will likely receive a message.  It would be nice if you would suggest a few optional times for this momentous event.

To show that I am completely legitimate, I've attached my resume for you to gaze through and think of a few questions to ask me.  After you read through some things people have said about me.  Or, you can find me on Linked In.  (Or I could make it easy for you by including thelink). https://ca.linkedin.com/in/jeannette-marshall-4075a11b   

Best,

Jeannette Marshall

_____________________________________________________________________ //

Sidebar

Maybe there are myths floating around that we're in a recession.  Lots of naysayers around, not enough jobs, outta job.  Well, apparently great companies are looking for outstanding talent.  They cast out a wider web to find the best real fit.  For the direction of the company, who they want to be their Ambassadors, their voice.  So keep on trying to be better at who you are and hang on to who you want to be.  It isn't impossible.  You just have to focus a little big more. 

Mystery Company?

Maybe I'll announce that company after I get the chance for a face to face.  Last time I did that, LOL (snickers out loud) I was called in to interview with one of the biggest, greatest technology companies of our time.  Guess who I go in to interview with?  A guy who managed a big box store, rhymes with Dome Peepo.   Another side story, that's me, definitely.  On my last real Goof Off day, I was in a mall and the store with the really big fruit was packed while the other had staff talking to each other to keep themselves awake.  I didn't say they were wrong.  I just wondered at the very moment after asked about him, good interview etiquette  by the way.  What was a guy who is seasonally oriented towards tools doing being the leader of a big technology name?  Earth to Mr. sounds like Yates.    Maybe opinionating is a worthy root for this blog.  I seem to have a number of topics I comment on.

Thank you

I thank you for popping in.  I enjoy having you.

Gone to hell in a Facebook basket

11:47PM

thanks for accepting my friends request

very welcome

how are you doing jeannette

well thank you .... writing and posting like a maniac

i am Morrissey from Detroit,Michigan 

i certainly hope so or else someone just hacked your account buster!

::: ________________ :::

Well ... there you have it. That is about as magical as it gets and annoying even more so.

It reminds me of that old commercial that an elderly lady softly groans: "I've fallen and I can't get up."

For me it is I've fallen into Facebook hell and can't get out.

Granted, many who approach aren't going to be accused of superior intelligence and by no means even in the same hemisphere as genius.

Do people think that women, in particular, can't identify a pattern or know a little bit about culture?

I'm guessing the answer is YES :: well for starters, mostly gents with often fake photos who want to assume a North American identity, we don't go by our last names first.

Otherwise it would be "TrumpDonald" or "SandersBernie" which both sound like candidates for a sitcom dontcha think?

Why is the opening line after examination and exclamation about my looks: where you from?

If you spent half the time looking at my photos, you would clearly see I'm identified as being MARRIED.

It seems like only a moron would hit on a lady who visually shares that she is married. Oh, yes, she does have a Facebook Page which she seems to obviously be on Facebook to begin with for.

My children, family and very close friends have my personal Facebook profile. I presume they follow the optioneerJM Page at their own risk by their own choice.

I think it is fascinating for my three girls to see me beyond a mom, wife or career person. Not by my sister, Diana, who experiences and witnesses the genuine joy I have from meeting new people ::

I'm sure she'd check for KICK ME sign pasted on my back. She'd know I don't bargain for that kind of attention.

I'm just passionate when I love something and I tend to pick passionate subjects or images. Vivid colors, optimistic vibes, and seemingly little fear.

I experienced real fear for one of the very few times in my life. That is pretty lucky for me, considering what goes on in our world.

Faced with someone I know under serious MENTAL HEALTH issues :: it is no longer someone else's problem. My family know this person. I forcibly stopped myself from identifying gender or any specifics.

That will be a Blog better suited to MEANDERINGS :: but the power of social media as it relates to Facebook has its great and disappointing issues.

I've been writing like a MADwoman .... doesn't look like I'm very used to two days off in a row, else I wouldn't be rambling and clicking rapidly on these keys.

Whether you followed me adventures tonight from my Blog (all four of you) or Facebook posts, or Tweets, you've certainly joined me on a ride about identity, discovery and ... meanderings.

::: _________________ :::

What the heck, there is all the music Apple picked out for me in iTunes to listen to:

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/playlist/behind-the-boards-bob-rock/idpl.fd1bce122aa4435282bcf8eacd43e897

::: _________________ :::

Or enjoy the beautiful inspiration by The Boss - Bruce Springsteen that Google found for me and is winning me for the night:

Smooth, soft to the touch and embraces you

All about the magazines ..... you would almost think I was talking about physical intimacy wouldn't you?  Naw, of course not, that's not like me to talk about that stuff on a blog... yet, LOL.

I miss the mass of magazines I used to accumulate and in a scattered pile.  The pillar of my information, absorbed, read and experienced in my chosen leisure time.  When I could have soft music playing and a fireplace on, creating the ambiance of the world I was entering:  a magazine.

Today, when I got home, like most of us do, at least twice a day to the millions of people who some appear nonchalant about, while some can barely lift their eyes from the smartphones no matter where they are, driving, on the bus, under the desk, feet up on the desk pretending like it is a really important email from a client or shareholder or employee, or handset glued to the ear as if what you are listening to FAR exceeded in importance in no matter what you are doing: a seminar, a meeting, or online company page.

I drifted off from my point for a few seconds.  As often I do when I'm hit with a flurry of ideas or responses to something I read, and sometimes I hear.

I was inspired so overwhelmingly, I rolled up my sleeves and composed a comment.  Again, perhaps some spend their days posting and commenting lest somebody forget that they're online.  I don't very often.  I want to far more.

I admit that as a huge fan and connoisseur of magazines, my attention will drift to the better known and simultaneously printed magazines, first before any online avenue.  

I often detour to read one major player's articles first before the scattering of other noise posted on various social media.  In this instance, I saw a distance from writing perspective. 

One can't help but understand that traditional printed media who are defining their online power, default to Bloggers.  I am even connected to this writer on Linked In and read his/her posts there.  So, I clicked on the article seeing the title and who it was issued by default. 

I observed some disturbing things:

The most glaring error of NOT editing Bloggers is the key differentiator:  Bloggers are typically selling themselves, their beliefs and promoting their services, shouting  "for sale, FOR SALE" to rise among the noise.  

Typically, as a traditional magazine avid fan, it is not hard for me to gravitate towards magazines over newsprint, as I did today.  I always relate traditional magazines as credible, carefully crafted design, and intimacy with its readers which they feel embraced by this safety net.
  
Alas, the distinction is blurred to my grave dismay.  I discovered this article included by an online self-promoter, Blogger, expert, social media personality all tied into one.  It was a quick scan, not even an absorbed read (which the intellectual online reader is, above average in intelligence), it was ablaze with me, I and my.  

Slipped through the cracks of editorial review, where now is too late, the distinction of credible traditional magazine experience, was lost.  Real writers don't talk about themselves, they lose themselves in their topic or their characters or subjects.  

It is a huge disservice to loyal readers who have graceful swayed from the printed environment to the online environment.

People forget that magazines are about the experience, where fact checking is taken for example, and rarely without editorial hand.  If you are going to give Bloggers a spin, don't allow them to promote their spin.  They should talk to their subject and let their words stand.  Just like.  Beautifully touching (sliding sheets) softly dimmed (photographic brilliance) where the naive think that most just read it for the ads, like Vogue.  The most gifted presentations allow the readers' eyes to drift from article to advertisement to advertorial, with little differentiation with a lot of trust in hand.  

Now that online former credible printed magazines have been overtaken by Bloggers, they will dimmer and diminish among the noise trying to become noticed in a crowded clouded assembly of just about anybody. 

Viral advertising is a scam #bestofeverything

David Ogilvy

"Our business is infested with idiots who try to impress by using pretentious jargon."

~David Ogilvy

This is the time of year when the count down starts.  Media organizations clamber for attention in this space:  so WHAT were the top stories of 2015?  We can all decide what resonated with us when we include the hashtag #bestofeverything and start it trending, to stay at the top.  WHY?  Because it is up to the populace to decide what we think, not the media to tell us what they think we should.

The emergence of the IoT:  Internet of Things or what I would like to consider the power at the disposal of anyone and everyone who wants to make a difference.  We can decide what is best for making our world a better place.

Consider what surfaces in trending on Twitter tends to be what the people say it is.  What story resonates with people in real time?  The hashtag is now the tool for everyone to use to decide what they want to read.  It has no borders, it has no financial gain, it has no political clout.  It is simply what people everywhere, anywhere use to strengthen their position on what matters to them.

"Never write an advertisement which you wouldn't want your family to read.  You wouldn't tell lies to your own wife.  Don't tell them to mine." 

~David Ogilvy

If you're anything like me, I'm a little tired of being told what is important to me.  Thus, the creation of #bestofeverything hashtag.  I will say what songs I like, what movie is best, what charity is doing the most with the donations, what matters to me at the present day, present time.  The beauty of a hashtag is that you can go back on it and click so that anything and everything covered under #bestofeverything is sorted and appears in a sequence.  

#bestofeverything

Pretty inspiring if you think about it.  

I look back at a blog I wrote a couple of years ago called:  "Advertising boxes out Social Media"  where I evaluated the news and opinions at the time on how traditional advertising is being hung on to by the major brands.  I would endeavour to state that it was because the decision makers who plunk their money down on the roulette of response or ROI: return on investment.

"I notice increasing reluctance on the part of marketing executives to use judgment; they are coming to rely too much on research, and they use it as a drunkard uses a lamp post for support, rather than for illumination." 

~David Ogilvy

I'm a little giddy now.  It IS happening.  Brands are hiring agencies to spin stories in such a way that it fools the viral community into thinking it is a feel good story and is shared like the California Wild Fires

I called it back then, assertively calling it for what it was:  West Jet's feel good story back on giving gifts to unsuspecting recipients -- advertorial that leverages social media:  You Tube sensation and beyond.

"You now have to decide what 'image' you want for your brand.  Image means personality.  Products, like people, have personalities, and they can make or break them in the marketplace." 

~David Ogilvy

This week, I watched a story on Canada's CBC News on how West Jet is putting together another story that they hope will have the same results as before.  It was calculated, it was created and it was formulated so that people will click on it and VOILA!  They have free advertising ... in their own words.

"The pursuit of excellence is less profitable than the pursuit of bigness, but it can be more satisfying."  

~David Ogilvy

I called it back then and now it isn't surprising.  Social media gurus have been saying for at least five years, that social media has the ability to be free, explosive and immediate by reaching all corners of the sphere. As in all things remarkable, there is the good and the bad.

"Never stop testing, and your advertising will never stop improving."  

~David Ogilvy

This is where my opinion comes in:  back in the day, when I was in magazine advertising sales, and it still holds true to print media still today, that a story has a greater impact than any other form of advertising.  My first business book I read was just after high school in the early 1980s, on the eclipse of media power, "Confessions of an Advertising Man: Ogilvy on Advertising" an icon to many of that world, sharing his opinion and valuable advice that telling stories will have a greater appeal than an image or creating desire.

To the dismay of so many government bodies and regulatory organizations, they have no power over the internet.  Although print media has to have the disclaimer "Advertorial" on the top of any advertisement that appears like a story to fool folks out of thinking that they are reading a carefully crafted advertising piece.  

So, how do you distinguish the targeted, intentional advertising that has a main goal: to go viral.  They have teams of artistic, creative geniuses behind the force to create a viral hit.  The accidents will be fewer and farther between, while many folks will be fooled to think that it is a viral, feel good story.  When, in fact, it is created, written, acted (sometimes with or without employees or with hired actors), filmed, video, recorded and launched on social media:  You Tube, Twitter -- two of the greatest fuels for hashtags.  
Reader, observer:  beware.  They are trying to trick you into thinking it is an accidental capture of a feel good, or tear jerker  so that you will share, comment, and send it off into viral heaven.  

Best Online Advertising Tools

"If it doesn't sell, it isn't creative."  

~David Ogilvy

One can't help but wonder if any regulatory enforcement will be launched to force brands to tribute it as such:  advertorial.  Perhaps a warning:  "If you click on this, you will be helping this company advertise for free."

The interesting part is there are folks that can and still do launch a viral explosion without a creative machine behind them.  Will people be able to distinguish it as such?  When I commented on West Jet's viral hit a few years back, I had a lot of irate people rant at me for not appreciating the wonderful work that West Jet was doing and couldn't I just be nice and accept it as a nice story that happened to go viral because people got free gifts (including a pair of socks).  According to others, it was hailed as "marketing gold".  For what?  Tricking people?

"A good advertisement is one which sells the product without drawing attention to itself."  

~David Ogilvy

I was trying to let the cat out of the bag then, and now they're broadcasting under CBC's story on how they are putting together this year's viral hit.  I'd like to think people are more informed and savvy.  However, the rules on print media to label "advertising" as what it is should be captured by the You Tubes and Twitters of the world to only allow it if it is labeled as a "sponsored promotion".  Make the rules for those who think they are so clever to break it.

One can't help but wonder if these same airlines paid as much attention to their customers by ensuring they get frequent flyer program points they may end up in the same monetary gain.  Rather than padding themselves on the back for fooling people.

It should be labeled as advertising.  It should be highlighted as "sponsored ads" and within the rules of marketing that has been around for decades.  Or simply, people will just ignore it and they will have to chalk it up to a poor return on their investment .... or the fact that people are wiser now.

"The best ideas come as jokes.  Make your thinking as funny as possible."  

~David Ogilvy

My choice for the best print ad for 2015

Happy TGIF Friday

I love Fridays, and actually, get to experience one

again. It seems likes years. Understand and you'll 

see .... I've been working shift work for the first time 

in my life, going on two years.



Count me as one who works any 7 day of the week,

any morning, afternoon or evening or combination of

them all.  



There is nothing more wholesome and 

rewarding as Friday. A tradition we start in our

teens, and moving into our daring years, into our

children's lives and then all back again. 


Most important, in all of those memories are the 

friends we hold dear. Yes, I mean you. 

One who thinks to reach out every single day.





Perhaps for some that is the only brightness for their

day. You bring that to people, the world, and so

much more. I don't have to name names, for you

know who you are.

xoxo Jeannette

I wrote that last night. Rarely would I think this

reminiscing should appear on the more serious veneer

of optioneerJM. 


It does tend to fall into our twenties. Not important,

the early or late years. Your career starts to take off

somehow. You spin around, just to see everyone IS

looking at you.


You are a model citizen, responsible adult with some

post-secondary education that no matter how thick is

a foundation you can pull forward in those wondering

times. Was it work ethic, looks, personality, educa-

tion or street smarts? That won many others over and

where you were allowed to spread your wings.


Nowadays, to get a foot in the door, you have to have

heeps of experience, or make degrees and diplomas

walk out of the door. How lucky I am and even at the

time I still did. How did magical things happen to

this average ole kid.


Wait a minute. You were an average old kid? Like

does that mean when you were a kid you seemed

older, or as you got older you got hipper?


I mean average. Really? Does that mean academics?

Should you be reminded how in grade school, your

meanest toughtest teacher on record, yet you don't

even remember his name. The one who pushed you

above so many in leaps and bounds. So that the next

year, away you sat with three other boys, working on

a higher math book, not even the next, one designed

for those who may benefit. Guess that ain't ole

average.


I got on a tangent as I often do. Forcing my attention

back to the matter at hand.



The 1980s were fab-tas-tic-u-lust. Opps, was that an

accident or on purpose? I'd hazard a guess that what

makes a writer creative is the disguise he or she wears

creating characters that they could dream up while

never would dare, do or try what their characters

could.


Some call the 60s just outtasight. But wasn't it the

70s that gave us our might? Skipping along with our

brothers or sis humming or tap tap tapping like a

drum, to the music that made those a decade ahead,

who believed that peace, science and academics were

what all matters in stead.


I was born in the shadows of that rebirth, long before

greed, politics, money because the currency of luck.

After all, our immediate forefathers, young enough

and wise enough we considered as brothers.


Then what happened? We huddled behind our desks,

cozied up on our couch, watching wholesome TV

shows like Mr. Ed the horse, or the Mr. Ed before

Sullevan.

We were too young to understand all the fuss over
four young arrived on a bus, or was that an airplane?

Don't laugh too hard but when we graduated from 
High School, it was all about Disco, lights and all that
fuzz.  Agreeably, we were mostly ignorant about beer or getting a buzz.

That wasn't our scene.  Do you wanna know what was?  Going to school, then getting all gussied up like those 50s gals, except with very high heels and more conservative skirts than the 60s, yet not abandoned like the 70s.

We were a generation when it was about life
being about the basics:  having a family, going to Midnight Mass at Christmas, with newcomers at
the table because it was unthinkable, when it was not at all that new and while still authentic, for anyone 
from the neighbourhood, school or work be left alone
on the Holidays.  Funny, some folks went to church, 
more often than not, it was never a conversation at the
dinner table was a religion as a topic sought.

Yes, the 80s were rad.  You can't disagree when all
the Millinnials embrace the decade.  It was a time life
was pretty basic with much less controversies, scandals, violence in our sphere.  We pushed on and
went to school year after year.

We weren't in the years when what our peers did or thought, was more important than our home, our families, parents, siblings and such.

Now there was drugs, alcohol and permiscuaty in
back alleys not permiated by media, television, radio,
newspapers and magazines.  In fact, that is when I
read and read.  Nothing felt better or safer in bed, with a book.  Being called to set the table, dinner was
ready, would nearly break the captured imagination
just put down.  Then we skooted outside so the adults
could breathe, instead of the chatter and noise four kids bring, when turning on the TV was the very last
thing.

Whoop whoop to the 80s.  Think about it, that was
when the computer and music playing instruments 
were being revolutionized.  Ignorant were we that
it would only be a phase.

The emergence of drugs and crime started to hold us spellbound.  Theatrics and lies joined them as the norm in the 90s.

Then we hit a new century.  Brought on alongside sheer panic that we were doomed when the clock was to pass midnight 23:59 1999 to 24:00 2000.  Makes
you think, maybe we were really that lucky.

We were into our 30s by then.  Usually happily married or two times past.  Consumed with a passion
never before known:  the power of money is what did
bloom.

Whoever said "money can't buy you love" as a quote turned into a famous tune?  Wasn't really far off when
you consider how fast hatred, jealousy, terrorism, violence grew pedals and bloomed.

Our own children now in their twenties as we near closer to 2020s.  Mixed with fear, and far less optimism than we were allowed.  Where diseases as bola, violence created by religion was long before born.  

Yet they are the children of the 80s youngsters born of the 60s, wherein lies as when the basics were born.  Long before a child could ride a bike alone, and still make it home.   Long before millions became billions
..... in debt.  Where politicians, not parents or teachers, became scorned.

We were brought up in a world where politics were
faded in the background, until a corrupt President was
scorned.  Scandals were drugs, pre-marital sex was 
very private, and violence against women, even less
children was known.

The faint dew drops of that optimism allows many to soar and others to bloom.  Behind them strong parents, with morals as the main foundation was
formed.

When searching for royalty free images to enhance this Blog, I thought it ironic that The Times cover would symbolize the new century.  When the horror in Paris would mark this year approaching its end: 2015 my friend.  

Bowing my head over these keys, gives me pause as our refrugees arrive in Canada today with the belief that ours is a much safer world, with opportunity, humanity and peace.  Let us remember that "our" means our world, our harmony, our hope, our peace is not your, mine, me, or I.  It takes a lot of people to keep us from harm.

Vincent Van Gogh "Sunny Meadow"

Can we get back to the basics?  Only personally and privately we may reflect.  To help others, the poor, the fearful, to never neglect.  We have the power to make it safer again.

Sunny camomile meadow - Margaret Raven Art Gallery