Healthy Happy Loving Life: Election Day Gratitude

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Dealing with stress, Election Day, freedom, Gratitude, Kebba Buckley Button, stress, The life you want, Vote

©2020 Kebba Buckley Button, MS, OM.  World Rights Reserved.

Photo by Tiffany Tertipe on Unsplash

Election Day in the US will be 4 days from now, Tuesday, November 3. Ours is a fairly young country of only 244 years. Although the country was founded on principles of freedom, of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” our election history has evolved in steps. Yesterday, I dropped off my ballot at a box at the Scottsdale City Hall before meeting a friend for lunch. I took photos in the garden-like landscaping along the Scottsdale Mall.  Today, we vote with relative ease and flexibility, but this wasn’t always so.

Much has changed in the World in the last few centuries. We have so much to be grateful for.  There are countries that have no open elections, or the ballot has only one candidate. Or the non-elected candidate refuses to accept the election results (search “Venezuelan presidential crisis”).

In the US, we have indigenous and immigrant populations. Some people were here already, some were dumped here before 1776 as British prisoners, some sailed here, and unfortunately some were brought as cargo.  African Americans were emancipated by the 13th amendment in 1863. But, in a lot of different steps, they finally got the national right to vote unimpeded, with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  Yes, this was a big issue until 1965 (search “Martin Luther King”).  And, thanks to voter suppression (search “voter suppression”), not all Blacks who want to vote are yet getting to vote.  Currently, Blacks are 13.4% of the US population, and in 2008, the Black vote increased to a proportionate 13% of the total vote.

Women in the US got the right to vote with the ratifying of the 19^th Amendment in 1920 (search “women’s suffrage”).  This was hard-won, beginning with the efforts of Susan B. Anthony and others in the 1800’s.

Photo by element5 digital on Unsplash

Decades ago, voting was done on Election Day, at polling locations only. You needed a written excuse to get an absentee ballot you could mail in or provide to the Recorder’s office.  Only several excuses, like “employed in another country”, were acceptable.

Today, in Phoenix, we can get a mail-in ballot just by requesting it, which we can do conveniently online.  We are then able to consider our votes in the quiet of our own homes, studying at least 3 election information booklets that have arrived in the mail.  After marking our ballots, we can then mail them in by a clearly given deadline, or drop them off at clearly available locations. Partially due to long lines in recent elections, the hours and locations for voting have been greatly expanded in many areas.

Now people can find drop-off locations by checking links on their cel phone.  And that’s how I  ended up at the Scottsdale City Hall and followed the signs. And found an unattended box, with no line. And saw a steady trickle of people also dropping off green envelopes.  Monday, I’ll take advantage of ballot-tracking online, and see that my ballot has been counted.

As the commercial used to say, “you’ve come a long way, baby!”  And there is so much to be grateful for.  We are blessed to live in this country in this time.  And I am really feeling the sweet joy of Healthy Happy Loving Life^sm!  Are you in?

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Kebba Buckley Button is a stress management expert and award-winning author who celebrates life.  She also has a longtime natural healing practice and is an ordained minister. Among her books are: Discover The Secret Energized You (http://tinyurl.com/b44v3br), Inspirations for Peace Within:  Quotes and Images to Uplift and Inspire, and Sacred Meditation: Embracing the Divine.  The books are available on Amazon and through Kebba’s office.   To email us, kebba@kebba.com .

Books by Kebba Buckley Button

Healthy Happy Loving Life: Freedom to be Different

Tags

at choice, Billie Eilish, Billy Porter, Dealing with stress, Feeling energized, freedom, Freedom to be different, Kebba Buckley Button, stress, The life you want

©2020 Kebba Buckley Button, MS, OM.  World Rights Reserved.

Do you ever think about your freedom to be different?  We in the USA celebrate our broadest freedom:  people’s right to live as they choose. Most Americans want people to live entirely as they choose.  Each American can choose how to express himself/herself.  Yet how much do we exercise this vital freedom?

Can others tell you what is right to wear?  Each year, the fashion world changes the colors and shapes of fashion that are “in”.  Some people like to play the game and buy new colors and styles, mixing up their wardrobe collection to have fresh looks.  But there are extremes of cultural ideas about what fashions are important to match.  in 2009, I saw a video scene that still burns in my memory.  In a Taliban-ruled community, girls at age 11 were expected to start wearing a light blue burka with an open-weave eye opening.  One day, twenty girls looked at each other and asked, “[W]hat would happen if we took these off?”  They took them off and joyfully ran down a hill, together, celebrating their humanity, not their sameness.

In the 1930’s, in the US, a woman could be arrested for wearing pants in public.  From the 1990’s, comedienne Ellen Degeneres has always performed in pants outfits.  For several decades, flamboyant pianist Liberace wore some of the most dramatic and much-discussed caped, bejeweled outfits.  For centuries, some people have been “cross-dressers” and in recent decades, some have even changed their bodies to fit a gender they prefer.  In personal expression, today, we have fashion groundbreakers such as Billy Porter, who wore a tuxedo dress to the Oscars.  Unheard of 50 years ago, people now sport blue, red, purple, or green hair; singer Billy Eilish has made green-layered hair part of her trademark look.

Being different isn’t a bad thing.  It means you are brave enough to be yourself.

~Unknown

Some of our differences are aspects we are born with.  I was born with white-blonde hair, 10 fingers and 10 toes.  My sisters were all born with rich red hair, each with 10 fingers and 10 toes.  We were often called “cotton top” and “carrot top”.  Riding a train one day, leaving New York City, I helped a woman with a beautiful baby in a carrier.  I had never before seen a baby with 6 perfect toes on each gorgeous little foot. So where is it written that 10 is the correct number of toes?  These were perfect.  My ideas of what is normal, same, and usual expanded that day.

A priest friend of mine has a son, Christopher.  When he was about 6, my friend shared this story, which I am sharing with her generous permission:  “Christopher came home from his 2 nights at church camp raving about the ‘coolest man who was born with only one hand!’ The fact that he was born this way delighted the child and clearly expanded his worldview immensely, because it hadn’t occurred to him this was a possibility before. We may get nervous when our kids stare at someone who looks different than them, but Christopher made it clear that differences are marvelous, exciting, and inspiring. Children are curious about people and want to celebrate the uniqueness of others which then, I imagine, makes the other not quite so other. And I am pretty sure that’s what the world needs. Thanks, Christopher!”

How much do we believe everyone is or should be the same? When we take delight in our originality and our differences, we are free.  In what ways would you like to be or act your differentness?  Celebrate your freedom and feel the joy. As you are able, exercise your freedom to be different.  Truly, we are In/Joy/Meant.  And that’s being: Healthy Happy Loving Life^sm!  Are you in?

———————————————

Kebba Buckley Button is a stress management expert and award-winning author who celebrates life.  She also has a longtime natural healing practice and is an ordained minister. Among her books are: Discover The Secret Energized You (http://tinyurl.com/b44v3br), Inspirations for Peace Within:  Quotes and Images to Uplift and Inspire, and Sacred Meditation: Embracing the Divine.  The books are available on Amazon and through Kebba’s office.   To email us, kebba@kebba.com .

Books by Kebba Buckley Button

Different Stress: Freedom to be Different

Tags

at choice, Dealing with stress, Feeling energized, freedom, Freedom to be different, Kebba Buckley Button, stress, The life you want

©2016  Kebba Buckley Button, MS, OM.  World Rights Reserved.

Do you ever think about your freedom to be different?  Each July 4^th, we in the USA celebrate our broadest freedom:  the founding of our country, on the basis of people’s right to live as they choose.  We rightly remind ourselves that, “[F]reedom isn’t free.”

Hundreds of thousands fought and even gave their lives, here and abroad, to establish and keep the freedom this country enjoys.  Most Americans want people to live entirely as they choose.  Each American can choose how to express himself/herself.  Yet how much do we exercise this vital freedom?

Can others tell you what is right to wear?  Each year, the fashion world changes the colors and shapes of fashion that are “in”.  Some  people like to play the game and buy new colors and styles, mixing up their wardrobe collection to have fresh looks.  But there are extremes of cultural ideas about what fashions are important to match.  Last year I saw a video scene that still burns in my memory.  In a Taliban-ruled community, girls at age 11 were expected to start wearing a light blue burka with an open-weave eye opening.  One day, twenty girls looked at each other and asked, “[W]hat would happen if we took these off?”  They took them off and joyfully ran down a hill, together, celebrating their humanity, not their sameness.

Being different isn’t a bad thing.  It means you are brave enough to be yourself.

~Unknown

Some of our differences are aspects we are born with.  I was born with white-blonde hair, 10 fingers and 10 toes.  My sisters were all born with dark red hair, each with 10 fingers and 10 toes.  We were often called “cotton top” and “carrot top”.  Riding a train one day, leaving New York City, I helped a woman with a beautiful baby in a carrier.  I had never before seen a baby with 6 perfect toes on each gorgeous little foot. So where is it written that 10 is the correct number of toes?  These were perfect.  My ideas of what is normal, same, and usual expanded that day.

A priest friend of mine has a son, Christopher, who is now 7.  When he was about 6, my friend shared this story, which I am sharing with her generous permission:  “Christopher came home from his 2 nights at church camp raving about the ‘coolest man who was born with only one hand!’ The fact that he was born this way delighted him and clearly expanded his worldview immensely, because it hadn’t occurred to him this was a possibility before. We may get nervous when our kids stare at someone who looks different than them, but C made it clear that differences are marvelous, exciting, and inspiring. Children are curious about people and want to celebrate the uniqueness of others which then, I imagine, makes the other not quite so other. And I am pretty sure that’s what the world needs. Thanks, Christopher.”

How much do we believe everyone is or should be the same? When we take delight in our originality and our differences, we are free.  Celebrate your freedom and feel the joy. As you are able, exercise your freedom to be different.  Truly, we are In/Joy/Meant.  And that’s Upbeat Living!

_____________________________________________________________

Energy – Peace – Meditation

• Kebba Buckley Button is a stress management expert.  She also has a natural healing practice and is an ordained minister. She is the author of the award-winning book, Discover The Secret Energized You
• (http://tinyurl.com/b44v3br), plus Peace Within:  Your Peaceful Inner Core, Second Edition. Her newest book is Sacred Meditation: Embracing the Divine. Both that book and Peace Within are available through her office.  Just email books@kebba.com. 
• For an appointment or to ask Kebba to speak for your group: calendar@kebba.com.

 

Celebrating Freedom – From Sameness

Tags

freedom, freedom from sameness, in/joy/meant, stress

©2015  Kebba Buckley Button, MS, OM.  World Rights Reserved.

Today is the ultimate freedom day. 

 

Each July 4^th, we in the USA celebrate our broadest freedom:  the founding of our country, on the basis of people’s right to live as they choose.  We rightly remind ourselves that, “[F]reedom isn’t free.”  Hundreds of thousands fought and even gave their lives, here and abroad, to establish and keep the freedom this country enjoys.  Most Americans want people to live entirely as they choose.  Each American chooses how much to be the same as, or different from, other people.

In peace ministry, I saw a video scene that became indelibly imprinted in my mind.  In a community ruled by the Taliban, girls at age 11 were expected to start wearing a light blue burka with an open-weave eye opening.  One day, twenty girls looked at each other and asked, “[W]hat would happen if we took these off?”  They took them off and joyfully ran down a hill, together, celebrating their humanity, not their sameness.

Riding a train one day, leaving New York City, I helped a woman with a beautiful baby, when we were asked to change cars.  I had never before seen a baby with 6 perfect toes on each gorgeous little foot. My ideas of what is normal, same, and usual expanded that day. My mind was more free.

A priest friend of mine has a son, Christopher, who is 6 years old. Recently, she recounted this story, which I am using with her kind permission:  “Christopher came home from his 2 nights at church camp raving about the ‘coolest man who was born with only one hand!’ The fact that he was born this way delighted him and clearly expanded his worldview immensely, because it hadn’t occurred to him this was a possibility before. We may get nervous when our kids stare at someone who looks different than them, but C made it clear that differences are marvelous, exciting, and inspiring. Children are curious about people and want to celebrate the uniqueness of others which then, I imagine, makes the other not quite so other. And I am pretty sure that’s what the world needs. Thanks, Christopher.”

This great vignette illustrates freedom from sameness, freedom from believing everyone is or should be the same. When we take delight in our originality and our differences, we are free.  Celebrate your freedom, give thanks often, and let that lead your joy.  And you will easily remember that we are In/Joy/Meant.

_____________________________________________________________

• Kebba Buckley Button is a stress management expert.  She also has a natural healing practice and is an ordained minister. She is the author of the award-winning book, Discover The Secret Energized You (http://tinyurl.com/b44v3br), plus the 2013 book, Peace Within:  Your Peaceful Inner Core, Second Edition. Her newest book is Sacred Meditation: Embracing the Divine. Both that book and Peace Within are available through her office.  Just email books@kebba.com. 
• For an appointment or to ask Kebba to speak for your group: calendar@kebba.com.