Gallantry

Not amorous pursuit, though that's ok too.  Let your conscience be your guide.

I'm thinking of spirited and conspicuous bravery.

It might be big or small.  It could be wartime bravery such as Audie Murphy or Desmond Doss.  It could be exposing child rape rings and prosecuting them then rescuing kids.  Or it could be spending a dying dog's last painful minutes in a street till help comes.

Healing might consist of a smile or surgery.  Healthy alternatives in the face of illness or other choices come to mind.

It can be simple politeness and courtesy.  Or it might be making sure others are treated fairly.  It is standing up for what is right.

It is proclaiming Liberty and ensuring it lasts amongst us.  It is stopping a threat to Freedom.

Our enemies are craven cowards and liars who cheat and steal.  It is the direct opposite of what we, I hope, should be doing.

There is nothing wrong with looking good.  But we must not become dandies obsessed with appearance.  We must delve much deeper than that.

Knights were rough men.  They did take care of their armor so it would last to help protect them, so it might shine.  They would enter the fray for the sake of others and to defend themselves.

There is no easy way to Freedom.

Perhaps what the First Lady has proposed is appropriate to finish this post.

Be Best.

That is the core of gallantry.

10 Thou

No. It will take considerably more to finance Heart in the City.  That's the movie dedicated to Ruthann Popcheff and Victim Assistance.  I'm referring to something Patrick McGoohan said to me.

When I first met him, he cautioned me that there were thousands, tens of thousands in LA alone, many of whom were/are quite talented.  Many/most will not get noticed/considered.  An Irishman wished me luck and later was an advisor re writing in particular.

I stood the test, both his and the odds.  There are ways and other ways, all decent not dark, to not just get noticed but to get considered and to sell/publish.

Success can be relative and that's not excuse.  And whatever you pursue, it is content of character that's integral.  And THAT'S not cliché.  It's simple truth.

There are avenues for some to come forth.  You don't have to sell your soul.  Honest.  There are good people/people of Light even in Hollywood.

It's not easy. It can be grueling.  But what do you want?  And how bad do you want it?

Develop an instinct for who what where works.  That I leave to you.

And to broader or even more specific methods, well same thing.

Out of how many billions will you reach?  Message and method.  From one to another.  And another and another.

As Pat said I wish you luck.

If

It's a big word.

Was reminded of part of my past today.  In my child days neighborhood.  We had dinner with my daughter's roommate's family.  I talked about growing up round there and some of my experiences as a Lutheran student minister.

If I had zigged when zagged comes to mind.  But I had a fulfilling time serving others as a student minister.  No regrets as they say.  I've mentioned some of the circumstances re that time.  I'll tackle it again later.  But my time was well spent and I'm glad I could help in this storm of life.

There continue to be, even as I write, of memories from my childhood.  Good things pour forth.  The bad are there but they didn't predominate.  The good is stronger.  Light overcomes dark.  Yes we get through valleys to shine at the mountaintop.

Most importantly, we talked to our deployed son.  What a joy and love and good memories came forth.  It is also his birthday.  He is indeed a man, not just chronologically, but internally.

When I was a kid we had a maiden Great Aunt who treated us like her own kids.  She visited and spent birthdays and holidays with us.

Every year she would send heartfelt cards.  For my 21st, she sent me a card proclaiming me as a man.  Still had a lot to learn though lol.  It included the poem 'If' by Rudyard Kipling.

I'm leaving this post with those words.  Thanks to all of you who care about Freedom 

If

IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Mind Prison

It's worse than mountains out of molehills. The worst enemy can be ourselves.  To be so manipulated to talk oneself out of something is horrific.

There are great odds, we are told of failing some project.  Speaking out is dangerous we are told.  Censure and even doxing may await us.  Oh and if you are exposed, spotlight the world!  And remember karma.

Protect yourself.  Assure that people cannot get to you.  And have a redoubt.  It is indeed war between god and evil.  Battles are won and lost.

Listen to your inner voice.  Don't buy into failure, for if you don't attempt, make an effort, then you will forever be a prisoner of doubt.  What ifs will haunt you as you pull the covers over your head and never achieve anything, save failure to act.

There is a reverse side.  Some intend harm, do evil.  They often start small then metasticize.  Interestingly, with no limits, there is little that stops them internally.  Externally is another matter.  Be among those resolved to stop a threat.

And lest we forget, many do something for which they are ashamed, then stop, only to revert after a while.  It is incumbent for these to heed any warnings that come.  That kind of reticence can save them.

Prisoners of own device and checking out but never leaving.  Sums up the prison the mind can become.

It's never too late til it is.

Breakout.