Here we are, eight days into this new year while the angry ghosts of a tumultuous past year linger still, certain to bang drums with their enraged rhetoric in the months ahead. 

There’s no need for me to reiterate concerning the many events, political and otherwise, which have now set the stage with a promise of unending drama for a somewhat fearful world audience.  What I hear, and see, most often is the constant commentary by others about how social media manages to bring every incident, inconsequential or tragic, to the forefront of public debate and much, much criticism.  True, that it does.   In reality, many of these occurrences have always taken place and any outrage over a particular situation was a matter of discussion at the office or around the dinner table.  Today, we have people engaging in verbal assaults on media websites and, of course, on various social media platforms.   As it’s often stated about cyberspace being a dangerous place, well, that’s an understatement!  It’s all out warfare with friendships disintegrating faster than political promises.

What I find most ironic is, while everyone has the right to state their opinions, that right bears a hefty price.  While some articulate their feelings better than others, any opposing views have created icy barriers in friendships that were created, even renewed, on sites like Facebook. How often do we read comments that state, “if you don’t like what I have to say, delete me as a friend!” or…there is a gradual distancing of any former playful banter that once was the norm between people.  Frankly, this really brings up the question of who a friend really is…or never was! Too many have regressed from being adults and now behave like tantrum-throwing children, engaging in one schoolyard brawl after another.  That’s definitely how I’ve been feeling in recent months.  I’m back in high school, always on the edge,  keeping my thoughts, dreams and damn opinions to myself.  

Well, almost always.  

After all,  this is my website and my stage…a place to have people read what I write and maybe laugh a little, cry, or simply look away.  I always hope that what I write will make someone stop and think about relationships, especially friendships. Some, well they aren’t to be taken too seriously because they are nothing more than proverbial candles in the wind. Others need nurturing so that they will thrive, helping people to stay connected and treat each other with respect.   It seems that too many of us have lost that ability to respect, even acknowledge, much of what we cannot change without launching emotional attacks on situations and those who don’t agree with their personal perspective.

Going forward, we will all deal with change and, trust me, I’m well aware that most will be highly critical of any powers-that-be who promise to be instrumental with the engineering of all things political.  It is what it is, can’t change the dynamics involved just… please…lose the despondency, the hatred, the negativity and look around at all that surrounds us; focus on the positives!  

This ride around the sun is getting shorter for many of us.  Enjoy it while you can.