Religious rant, with no disprespect...ish

I wish I had a pen and paper to write this down as it was happening but, I'll try and remember what I can while ranting my opinion (respectfully and that no one has to agree upon).  My amazing, adorable, mush of a nephew was Christened today, and so naturally there was a battle between my reasoning and I related to the Christian faith and all that it stands for.  It just so happens that when my brother and his wife got married, I was a bridesmaid and therefore had to put aside the fact that my refusal to enter a church again would have exceptions.  This is especially because my brother means everything to me, being on my side in the parents versus children war that has always divided adults and younger adults, throughout our entire lives.  Here's  list of things I will try and talk about it in depth, eventually (if not now)
1.  "God's" forgiving nature that damns sinners to punishment.
2.  The words of the priest referring to how babies are Baptized while their parents can speak for them
3. Children in the church and their need to play "bobo-ski-wantin-tantin'
4.  How frightening it is to hear a church full of people saying the same thing at the same time.
5.  The sand castle reference
6.  The reference to those living without jobs due to the economy are sinners and unbelievers
7.  More importantly, the reason for the economic crisis was those who do not following the path of God
8.  The laminated sign metaphorically put in a treasure chest (yuuup), oh, and a side note about the essence of the sign and the box ad what people "sacrifice" for Lent

The Power to Change the World

I've decided that I, way too often, come across really incredible things (be it websites, reality shows, etc) that literally hold the power to change the entire formula of this crazy, crazy world we all are a part of.  I want to start sharing these with my 3 followers (one of which, sadly, is myself...).  Before I get into my first rant, it should be known that whatever I write about, anything I mention with this immense power, I will always leave out one thing.  This one thing is you.  Because individuals can change so much through conversations, thoughts, insights, without even realizing it.  So realize it!

I'm torn between two of the most powerful things that I've experienced that, through word of mouth, and deeper thinking, have the power to legitimately change so much about this place that are so, so very wrong.  I ultimately decided to go with a website that I adore and have adored fr several years now.  Silicone bracelets are sooo Lance Armstrong ball cancer but, I always wear a baby blue silicone bracelet, even though I may be breaking the rules of fashion (yeah, I don't know, just roll with me here...).  My cultivate piece bracelet is more than just a hippie statement.  It's a promotion for just a small part of a large website that is so practical, so innovative and so amazing, that once you're there, you will never have to go anywhere else to buy fantastic jewelry, used books, and even play addicting games.  The Greater Good network speaks for itself but, I'll do some speaking about it myself.  You can do something as little as click a link everyday (no strings) and feed a child.  I think I was looking for a present for someone at one point and came across the hunger site (my favorite cause/sub-site in the network) when I came across pages and pages of jewelry made by people in countries that have been through the unthinkable.  Once, I ordered a book off of amazon for like, a buck, and it came with a bookmark.  Low and behold, buying that book donated a significant amount of money to literacy programs for our schools.  Depending on the cause and what you're looking for the network itself helps feed the hungry (50 cents pays for a meal, a 20 dollar bracelet with real stones feeds 40 people), fund literacy programs, sends solar cookers for the women of Darfur (otherwise, the walk the take to feed their families will likely end in brutal rape and death), breast cancer research, animal shelters, etc.  You can actually play games and watch how much money is going towards your cause.
In conclusion (I didn't even have the time to wrote this), I'm not even asking you to spend money, the sponsors of the network will do it for you.  But, if you're looking for a book or a cute bag, a gift for someone, check it out before going to the mall.  The mall is filled with disrespectful teenagers who dress inappropriately anyway...peace and love

Racism review...review

So, as some of you may know, I am currently making huge strides academically.  Several credits away from an MA, I am now starting to run a pilot study which will, hopefully, become my thesis.  I am studying the concept of modern racism.  I don't just study it, I live it.  I watch the documentaries, I practice what research has shown to reduce prejudice, I read the articles, I am constantly soaking up everything I can in order to surpass the expectation of a well-deserved grade.  I want this to be my life.  Research has already made clear that the problem exists, hypothesized the origins of the issue, and shown evidence of the enormous toll it is taking on minority races in this country.  My thesis-my life-brings about those actions, thought patterns and motivation that society needs in order to move forward.  Kenneth B. Clark, a prominent researcher in Psychology, made enormous impacts during the anti-segregation movement.  In the late 1980's, the frail, yet sharp man made a statement that will forever be embedded in my head:  he mentioned that this country did in fact desegregate schools, however, schools are still very much segregated (take a minute).  He did mention that there is hope for true equality.  All it takes, he suggested, is self-respect and motivation.
I wanted to quickly introduce just some of what consumes my mind everyday as well as promote one of the most powerful organizations I have come across thus far in my journey.  Racism Review sends their newsletters daily, that only scratch the surface of what these people find everyday in this country.  If nothing else, just take a quick glance at the website, you're not required to sign up.  However, should you sign up, a.  let me know and b. I promise an eye-opening experience.  Peace and love.

Personality: picking up the pieces

A simple, yet essential concept in Psychology was brought to my attention by one of my professors.  Being that personality is strictly a construct, separate from behavior, and cannot be seen nor analyzed.  This is because of the fact that, just because we act a certain way, we simply are playing roles.  Humans have a persona to put on according to the situation we find ourselves in but, until a person truly gets through to you, begins to understand you, we can never assume we know anything about another human beings personality.
Once the personality is fully developed, the only way we and other humans we encounter can ever see our personality is when we experience a psychological break down.  Perhaps this can be attributed to my ever decreasing contact with the general public.   While by the age of 26, I should be well on my way to stabilizing my personality--becoming the person I am going to be, for the rest of my existence, I am all of about 9 years behind.

While a lot of those poor individuals experiencing physical trauma (being that of abuse, starvation, etc) tend to have stunted bodily growth, it has also become clear that psychological trauma tends to stunt mental growth.  While chronologically, I (unfortunately) cannot stop the years from adding up, I am behind those my age in terms of maturity and coping skills--in a way.  It has been almost 9 years to the day that I so suddenly lost my brother--and the events that followed still haunt me to this day.  I plan on taking more time to delve into discovering the events leading up to this day-uprooting memories repressed, analyzing how it is I am the person I am today, that which drives me to get on with my life-to do whatever it takes to follow my passion, and how just months ago I came to realize that, when I hear the front door open, it is not, nor will it ever again be, John.