Truth

If someone told you, your spouse is cheating on you, would believe that person? Do you believe that news about events that happened in the world, your city or town? How about the ads  on TV and in magazines promoting medications you should tell your doctor about? Did you really believe that car salesperson about the car you looked at last week? It all comes down to trust and factual honest truth. Believe it or not, we are surrounded by lies, and the truth. It is up to us to figure out what the truth really is. And sometimes that's hard.

Truth is defined as, "That which is true or in accordance with fact or reality." Truth sometimes comes down to your perception of the truth. Things we are taught or told for years, we usually believe. maybe it is read written be a so-called authority on that topic. But the bottom line is, FACT or REALITY, not your perception, or the news report, or ads. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, is bias. So are the news reporting, ads, your friends and family. Pick any topic and you will heard so many opinions on that topic, it will make your head spin.

Let's take one topic that is controversial, but not in the news daily. "Are we the only life in the universe?"  You may say "No" and the next person may say "Yes". Which is true? How do you find out what is true? Easy, check the facts and evidence.

I don't believe everything I am told, hear or read. If it is something that is no big deal or a come-on to picking a heated debate or argument, I don't get involved. But before I do enter into a controversial topic, I do my fact checking before I open my mouth. Many people don't. They just open their mouth and insert the size 10. That's my size. Of course I have put my foot in my mouth many times, and after getting my dirty foot push farther down my throat, I check the facts and reevaluate my position.

Now wait! I am NOT saying you should not believe everything you hear or read, but listen and check the facts first before you jump in. People who have been caught in lies before are probably not a good source, or a TV channel and/or a newspaper that are obviously bias one way or the other, should not be considered to be a reliable source. And the internet is not the best reliable source either. Again I am not saying don't use the internet, but take-in many sources and see what the majority says on that topic. There are many sources of reliable truthful information out there. You have to just research it for yourself. My rule-of-thumb is get 3 or more sources that agree on a fact and go from there. Some people have a mindset there only believe what they THINK is the truth. No, No, No!  And someone will always debate or dispute your side of the topic. If you checked the facts and feel you have done your due diligence of research, then jump in to the debate with caution. If you haven't, you may be eating that size 10, without salt and pepper. And, believe this, it doesn't taste good.

Take care, stay safe, and check those facts.

I hope this will be a Happy New Year

It is New Year's day and hopefully the beginning of a better year. 2022 was a year of turmoil and separation, starting with the January 6th inceracation of the Nation's Capital, the invasion of Ukraine, to the denials over the elections and mass shootings.All of the media has a habit of reflecting back on the past year to remind us of how hard it is to be a democratic country. It ain't easy. So we try another year of getting better, make resolutions to lose weight and exercise more, and to spend more time with the family as we also try to figure a way to make ends meet.

I know, I sound like the annual reflections of the media. My resolution is the make an effort to pay tribute to the people the media seldom remembers in their New Year's Day reflection. I want to remember the fallen firefighters who died from cancer caused by the toxic environment we all worked in. The caregivers who died while caring for patients of Covid, AIDS and other diseases. They died along with the victims. To the teachers who we intrust our children to and tried to protect them during a killers spray of bullets. To the peace officers who die during a normal traffic stop and hit by a driver not watching and is busy texting.To the guy who broke into a school during a blizzard attempting to just stay warm and found himself using the school snowblower to save stranded driver struck in the frozen cars and got them to safety. And to the brave Ukrainians people who have withstood so much in the fight against the Russian forces. For all those people, I wish them, and their families, a MUCH BETTER 2023.

People struggle all over the world with difficulties in the country and personal lives. We should NEVER forget that. We, as one of the richest countries in the world, do help as much as possible, but we should ALL help, as much as we can.

Years ago, we were touring in Turkey. Nancy, I and a couple fellow travelers were walking to dinner restaurant discussing what to have. As we walked by an very elderly lady dressed in rags sitting on the curb picking through trash, she held up a slice of bread and offered it to us. This lady had nothing but yet she was willing to share with us. We stopped to thank her and said we were to fat already. Jokingly of course. She smiled and we walked away quietly and humbled. 

I love this story because it proves to me that not all people are not bad and have love and care for others. We are all humans in this cruel place called earth. We have it inside, we just have to let it out and show it to others.

After a few weeks not writing this blog, I felt a need to share again. And on this rainy desert day I remember that after the rain, or snow to some of you, flowers appear, and the earth is renewed. I truly hope and pray this next year will be that way. That people will come together, shake hands, hug and make peace so love will reappear in all of our lives. 

One last note. I won't promise I will be here EVERY week. Sometimes a good blog is not easy to write. This blog started as a travel blog, and during Covid turned into a Harrold's opinions blog. I would like for it to go back to travel. I will try. Please leave your comments here.

God Bless, take care and stay safe. May you have a VERY Happy and healthy 2023.