Back at it! 💚😁 {Second attempt to give my kidney to a random stranger}

https://www.kidneyregistry.org/

https://www.nkdo.org/considering-kidney-donation/

You’ll never see exactly where the road will lead you
And when it comes to love
You gamble when you need to

https://youtu.be/xPZeg2bEBhY

The process has begun!!!

And I couldn’t be happier or more full of joy!

😁😁😁😁😁😁

So happy things are falling into place, and I’m finally trying again!! I’m thrilled!! Just to have this opportunity to at least try.

Shortly before the initial virus outbreak, I began the process of anonymous kidney donation to whoever is next on the waiting list here in Philadelphia or surrounding areas. I never received a follow up phone call or anything then the virus broke out, and everything changed. My financial/work circumstances in the last few years were no longer ideal for having kidney donation surgery if I’m found to be healthy enough. Now three years later, I’m trying again!! Back then I contacted a kidney transplant center directly. Now I’m going through the National Kidney Registry hoping to have better communication than with the last place. And I already do! I now have a mentor who is a living kidney donor herself who will be helping me throughout the process up to the surgery! She has already been SO helpful! I was in the middle of trying to figure out what lab tests I need done soon and was confused and out of nowhere, she texted me introducing herself as my living kidney donor mentor. I never even knew I have one! 😆 And I asked what tests I need done now, and she responded instantly! I just had an interview with her, and it went so well! My basic application for health history was accepted so I can move onto the next step!

I want to share my gift of health with someone in need. I’m going to be getting the initial medical test soon to be sure I’m basically healthy enough (heart, kidneys, thyroid, glucose, no infections…), then a more thorough battery of medical and psychiatric exams if my basic lab results come back perfect.

💚

If my lab tests are all clear, I’ll be choosing a hospital here in Philadelphia to have extensive medical testing on my whole body in and out and psychiatric testing to make sure I’m emotionally stable enough to handle the gruelling process of extensive medical testing, the possibility of finding out I could have serious health issues myself, and the potential of serious complications during and just after surgery, including death, and where I’ll be having kidney donation surgery if all goes well!! yay!!! They also want to make sure people wanting to donate a kidney are for the right reason (simply to help someone) and not feeling forced or anything associated with mental illness (because only a cray cray person can want our body cut open and a piece of it removed to help a total stranger, right?? 🤣).

The whole process beginning now will probably take around six months. So hopefully all goes well, and one of my kidneys will have a new home in six months giving someone else the gift of health and life that I am so lucky to have. It will not only prolong their life expectancy (possibly moving it to average or near average) but will significantly enhance the quality of their life, making it normal/near normal, enough energy, ability to work and travel, get off dialysis or prevent it, which is hell for people on it but if not, they die soon, they’ll get to do just about everything a healthy person can do with something as small and simple as my kidney!! Since I’m alive, my kidney would be expected to last in their body up to twenty years. If the person is already an older person, the kidney can carry them to their full lifespan. This is what I’m especially hoping for but really don’t mind how old the person is, it’s just good to think my kidney can last the rest of someone’s life instead of eventually having to be thrown in a biohazard can somewhere and being replaced by a new one. But that’s ok, it will help someone for however long it does! Even a few years is good! And even if it doesn’t work at all for some reason, at least I tried! That’s all that matters!

Kidney disease is so common, there are countless people out there on the wait list waiting for someone to die or care and donate while alive. Helping one of them is a true gift and feels like my “calling.”

Three (actually more like five I have been actively planning it and many more that I eventually knew I would try it) years later and still on my mind. So yeah, I think it’s something I must go through with! ❤️

The gift of health is better when shared with another! ♥️

I’m already very physically active and fit and full of energy myself, I have a mostly healthy diet especially recently when I cut out almost all sugar and sweets (even my beloved iced caramel lattes with extra liquid sugar and extra caramel syrup, that’s not easy! 😆), have fruits and veggies everyday, no alcohol, smoking or other drugs, not on medication for anything physical or psychiatric, no serious life problems, live at home with family who will help me after the surgery…I do have a couple things that aren’t the best like no health insurance myself. The health insurance of my potential recipient will pay for all my medical/psychiatric exams and my surgery because that’s all considered their treatment. But their insurance won’t pay for anything I need myself like if any complications arise during/after my own surgery. I also had emergency kidney surgery many years ago, but the kidney and me made a full recovery. This probably doesn’t look the best to the kidney donation team. But we’ll see!

This has been my dream for many years since I was young and read a true heartwarming story about a man who donated his kidney to a random stranger shortly after altruistic (or non directed) kidney donation became legal. It felt like home to me, my first feeling was “Oh, of course,” and I just knew it would be me one day giving my kidney to a stranger.

♥️♥️♥️💚💚💚♻️

#onesenough
#everyoneisfamily
#holdonimcoming
#wishmeluck
#endthewaitlist

I hope you’re having a beautiful day or night wherever in the world you are! Wishing you all the love & health!

Xoxo Kim 🤩

Love 💕❤️

“I had not loved enough. I’d been busy, busy, so busy, preparing for life, while life floated by me, quiet and swift as a regatta.“

I had another post planned for today but it’s not prepared yet so I’ll probably post it tomorrow!

Xoxo Kim ❤️

Being Kind💕

• 

(not my photo)

Being Kind – Empty Hands

“Last night I’m walking home
And a homeless man says ‘hello’
With a smile to let me know
That he’s got a lotta’ hope

He says have faith, young man, we are fine
The world is kind, one small act at a time

Small acts we do together
Even though may be alone
Changes the world for the better
So we can call it home”

People in person are so, so, SO much kinder and more civil and open minded than people on social media. I don’t understand it. There is so much arguing and snippy comments even over petty stuff like a silly meme. I get more positive comments than unpleasant but I definitely get unkind messages/comments somewhat frequently sometimes and I see the pointless negative and mocking comments others receive. And the threads I see with people debating, almost always end up full of vicious insults and ridicule. It’s like people *look* for things to be angry and offended over these days, and go out of their way to be unkind to others online. Even just slightly negatively sarcastic comments are often slung online when they probably would be less likely in person because through a screen, we feel more bold with a degree of anonymity, or we see people as less human and less worthy of respect.

Would you all do this in person if it was all the same people but in each other’s faces without a screen as a protective barrier? I would think we would be embarrassed to act in person how we do online and should be embarrassed acting that way online too.

Recently I was out in person with a group of lgbtq people, who all just met each other, and it was so much a pleasant interaction talking about all kinds of stuff, lgbtq related and not, even a couple of debates where some disagreed with others, that I realized even more how very toxic social media can be because of how people choose to use it. On social media we want to jump down each other’s throats then use our big bad blocking power to ultimately put them in their place after chewing them out.

The conversation I had with people in person are some of the very same I have/see online and it was a totally different experience in person, much more pleasant and a deeper sense of connection. I missed it and haven’t experienced it in so long.

It was like a “breath of fresh air” to be able to chat, laugh, joke about things that online would have triggered unnecessary insults, negative tones, ignorant comments, people blocking. And there was no exclusion or judging, just a bunch of people accepting and understanding each other completely.

The scary thing is though, these keyboard warriors and anonymous a$$holes online are real people who exist and they must be somewhere in person so where are they? Are they pretending to be kind in person because they don’t have the nerve to act how they do online? Or maybe they just stay in being all “bad” online and never showing their faces for real. Not sure, but I can say the in person world is a much friendlier place than social media world.

This morning I woke up to an online lgbtq debate by people at each other’s throats, slinging insults and accusations and ridiculing each other, even people on the “same side” just because of how something was worded or a minor disagreement on something else. When I was out with people in person recently, we had this same discussion/debate that I saw here and not once did anyone insult each other or ridicule each other or get snippy. No one scoffed at each other and there were no laughing emojis as a tool to use invalidation and ridicule as abuse.

It was just a totally safe space and a feeling of togetherness.

Everyone offered their own views and experiences and were all happy to hear the views/experiences of others.

Also, in person when talking to people we just meet, it’s easier to get an idea of the person’s character and tone and true intentions than through a screen. There was a debate that could have gotten ugly fast and if I was witnessing it/engaging in it online, I may have thought some people were the biggest a-holes and not have wanted to interact with them anymore but in person, we really see where the person is “coming from.” We can detect their tone and pick up on body language/energy, nuances, mannerisms to a greater extent than online.  Not everyone is the d!ck we may think they are online, when we are face to face with them, in the flesh. It’s much easier to judge and dismiss online than in person. People’s intentions are definitely more obvious in person sometimes. And it’s easier to see them as human, as flesh and blood, as full of emotion, as a person with many different aspects. Online, it’s easier to think of them as just an online figure or “just some a$$” who lives across the country/world.

The internet, if not handled carefully, is a tool that can be used to dehumanize people.

So many online interactions end with people blocking and reporting each other’s accounts; our recent in person interaction ended with us making plans to meet up and all hang out again.

It reminds me of when people say they are in an abusive relationship/family/have     sh!tty friends for so long and they finally get out and meet someone new who shows them how they really should be loved and that they are better than how they have been being mistreated. Most of my socialization and conversations and the ones I witness about lgbtq/political… issues are online. Getting back out in person reminded me how social interactions should be, not the abuse we endure online.

Social media is a great thing and allows us to do so much good and keep in touch with/meet people we never would without it but it’s so unfortunate how people misuse it to carry out abuse.

I suggest we all be more kind in person and online. And remember online people are real people, not just some online figures we can use as targets for abuse then go our merry way without a care in the world. Those thumbnail pictures we see and the usernames represent actual people with real lives and emotions.

And a reminder to people who have only/mainly social interactions online and encounter much hostility, it’s not an accurate reflection of the outside world! People are generally kind. It’s just the internet tends to bring out people who choose to be unpleasant in interacting with others and allows them to feel less awkward being unnecessarily unkind.

I hope you are having a beautiful day or night wherever in the world you are!

Xoxo Kim 💜🏳️‍🌈

Blood donations help save lives💚 Alison’s Story

This is something I posted on social media and sharing here now. This mama and baby are doing well now, thankfully!! But the mom almost died during childbirth because of a rare and unexpected complication. Yes, that still happens! It seems like something that happened in like the 1800’s and not anymore but tragically, even today, some moms still die and almost die giving birth. If it were not for blood donors, this mom in the picture above, wouldn’t be here today.

This is horrific. This is why we desperately need regular blood donors and more of us. Blood donation doesn’t just help people live healthier and make things go more smoothly, that too. But in some urgent cases, like this here, it literally saves lives. This young mom wouldn’t be here today if not for people choosing to give a little bit of blood.

“Placenta percreta is the most rare and severe form of placenta accreta. This condition results in the placenta not being able to detach during delivery and risks catastrophic hemorrhage and death for the mother.”

Imagine if there wasn’t enough blood available that day when this occurred for this family. Or if one day there isn’t for another family.

Thank you to the Red Cross for sharing individual stories, like this, with us and showing the faces of the real people affected. They aren’t just imaginary even though we can’t see them and do not know them; they are real lives in need. And it can be any one of us one day in their position, needing a stranger to share some of that life sustaining stuff running through our veins. We would count on them to help us. So let us be just as quick to help those counting on us now. ❤💚 #veintovein #oneblood #itsinustogive #lovesomeonetoday #givelife #donate #blooddonor #redcross

Not everyone can or wants to donate blood but there are other ways to help, volunteering at the Red Cross, donating money, even just sharing links, information, the importance of blood donations. Many people don’t even think about donating blood. It doesn’t even cross our mind but some people would if it was brought to their attention. And some do not realize we can donate it regularly and when we learn, it resonates with us and we choose to. I’m trying to reach the people who have potential.

Much love to all,

xoxo Kim ❤

#GetUsPPE 💚💚💚 #GetMePPE

This is something I posted on social media last night and sharing here now. I already posted about it here before and will be again later. This isn’t over. Now we have healthcare workers quitting their jobs because they are fearing for their own lives because they don’t have the adequate equipment needed to keep them alive while they help save the lives of countless strangers. No one should have to work like this or quit work because of lack of proper safety measures. The horrific reality of it may not hit us as hard as it really is if we do not work in healthcare or have friends/family who do but let us all imagine and tap into that compassion and empathy we all have for others. We all know fear, pain, distress and all long for comfort, safety, happiness, health…now let us project that onto these real people who are doing their best to keep us safe & alive while fearing for their own lives. The average person, like us, probably cannot do much to help but there are people with power who can do more and are not.

My love goes out to our healthcare workers all around the world, both the ones who are staying and the ones quitting. 💚 Thank you.

Please consider donating money(and/or professional supplies if you have it or making the equipment needed if you are qualified) to https://getusppe.org/donate/ and/or signing the petition https://getusppe.org/advocacy/ to help ensure the safety of our doctors, nurses, and other healthcare healers. They are risking not only their own lives(and mental health – many are traumatized) but the safety of their familes, to take care of US, complete strangers. There is still a *SEVERE* shortage of personal protective equipment(PPE) in the U.S, which is crucial for keeping them safe. PPE is *NOT* an option or a luxury. It is a basic necessity, like food, drink, air is to all of us, for medical professional people to survive their work environment each day. They are in *mortal* danger without it and their family members can also be at risk and have to risk or already are experiencing family separation.

Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers, along with their families, should be the first to be protected. Imagine going to work everyday at any job, and not having the equipment needed to work effectively. How stressful, frustrating, anxiety provoking, infuriating. Now imagine how much worse it is when the job is working in hospitals and health clinics, saving lives, and everything is running low and running out and having to wonder when and even IF there will be more of it. And on top of that, imagine literally fearing for your own life and the lives of your family each and every day, while choosing to save and take care of the lives of total strangers. Those strangers are us. They are all doing this for us. Protecting, serving, saving, caring for, and healing us. There is so much additional and unecessary fear and distress because of extreme lack of essential equipment. This is completely unacceptable and should not be tolerated by any of us.

All of us can do something, even if just sharing the link to the organization and/or sharing the tags #getmeppe and #getusppe in the hope that someone somewhere will see it and help in some way. The situation is urgent and has been for a long while now. It is utter ridiculousness that this is a thing.

Our doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers choose the jobs because of their passion for helping others. The least we can do is donate money and/or share a link and tags anywhere on social media or wherever. And sign the petition urging our government to get them adequate equipment *NOW*. Not next month, not next week, not tomorrow…NOW.

Doctors and nurses have been pleading for help with this for months now and doing *everything* they can. And still greatly suffering with the lack of supplies they desperately need. Their emotional turmoil and distress with this is beyond what we, who are not healthcare workers, can fully imagine. How much longer can this go on? Something has to give, right? Immediate action in imperative. Let’s help them, please.

No more emotional suffering, added to the suffering already, because of lack of basic necessities that people need to LIVE, keep their families safe, & work effectively and without additional emotional trauma.

#getusppe #getmeppe

The money we donate goes directly to help our healthcare workers around the U.S. Every single one is worthy.

Please donate money if you are able. No matter what, it will be used in some way to help our healthcare workers.

Thank you to our doctors, nurses, and other healthcare healers for all the work you do saving lives; it can be an exhausting, devastating, stressful, terrifying, even traumatic job, along with all of the hope, and care, and healing, and positive impact, and love. But you show up each day for us. May you receive everything you need to keep your own self and families safe. Much love, strength, & light, xoxo

And thank you to everyone who helps in any way to get our healthcare workers #ppe . Even if all you do is share the links/tags, please do something!! Ty

xoxo Kim ❤

The gift of Life 💚❤

Bleeding Out – Imagine Dragons

“I’ll bleed out for you“❤

Thank You to the Red Cross for making it possible to give life to multiple strangers every two months! What a gift!! 💚❤ Anyone interested and healthy enough can donate blood to the Red Cross every two months. I never knew this until someone posted it on social media a couple years ago. So in case there is anyone like me back then who does not know, and is healthy enough and also has the desire, here is the Red Cross link: Blood Donation . It is a fairly quick and simple process usually taking no more than one hour. I just lay on a bed thing and a Red Cross nurse sticks a needle in my arm and drains my blood. lol Not really drains it; that is a bit dramatic but fills up a bag. I never get sick, dizzy, or lightheaded or have any problems. And I go right to work after. We do not have to see the bag if we don’t want to. I usually don’t see mine but some days, a nurse puts it next to me on the bed when I sit up. I don’t mind and hope to get a picture of it one day but never got up the nerve to ask yet! lol I want to gross out my mom & sister and send them a pic of it😭😂😹🤣 I am not at all disgusted by body parts or fluids of any kind including vomit(I can eat while talking about vomit and my sister and mom don’t understand it 😹), bodily functions…or anything.

There is a blood donor app in the app stores on our phones:

Here is a screencap of my account.

It is possible to have some chronic illnesses and still be able to donate blood. Just so long as the illness will not make it dangerous to a blood recipient or us. They will let anyone know if it’s ok or not. No infections/viruses like hep c/hiv as this can infect the patient…Many, many people are in need of blood each day, every couple of seconds! There is always a severe shortage of blood donations, some days more than others. People in need count on the kindness of strangers to help them. ❤❤❤ There are other ways to help for people who cannot or do not want to donate blood. Sharing links, information, volunteering with the Red Cross…!! Thank you!!

Much love & light to everyone, everywhere!! ❤❤❤

xoxo Kim

Note of appreciation❤ & #getusppe

I’m a petnanny and work for a company, seven days a week. It’s the best job I can imagine having. I get to be out all day and night with a dog by my side! Most of our clients, these days, seem to be nurses/doctors/first responders/healthcare workers… All of my coworkers chose to leave work until further notice so just my boss and me are keeping the business going everyday as best as we can with just the two of us(and I must say, I think we are doing quite well!). Every once in a while someone writes me a sweet note of appreciation like this! This note is written to me by a sweet nurse who works long hours at a hospital. Our healthcare angels love to know that their furbabies are well loved and taken care of while they are out saving(and risking their own) lives all day & night, seven days a week. All that hard, exhausting, and dangerous work they do and they still take a minute to thank the pet nanny! How sweet!

This is a reminder to stop and show appreciation for someone or something today. Even thanking a stranger online for a positive social media post. A bit of appreciation can go a long way! It puts a light in the world, no matter how simple or brief.

I saw a doctor talking on a youtube video and she said she appreciates all the simple messages of appreciation to doctors, sent by people all around, and she mentioned that it helps doctors to receive them, just knowing people care.

Thank you to all of our healthcare healers! I have always appreciated medicine and healthcare workers before it became trendy! I’m so thankful people are now beginning to realize all the work medical professional people of various kinds do for us! And if your furbaby is one of mine, I will take good care of that little one, you have my word!

Here is one! 🐾😻😍❤ (I have permission to take/share pics of any furbabies I share!)

And thank you to my bloggy friends for all of the recent likes/follows!! I will get back to you soon!! I’m so happy that people take time out of their own day to read something I write! That is a big thing because it’s a minute or minutes you can never get back and you give it to me! What a gift, thank you!! ❤

And one more thing! Our medical healthcare healers, ALL of them, doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, first responders, emts, techs, assistants…are STILL experiencing a severe shortage of supplies they need to keep themselves safe while taking care of and saving strangers. Like wth This is absolute ridiculousness and very, very uncalled for. It is something that does not have to be and should never be. They are in mortal danger. There is no justification for such a thing. It’s not an option. They NEED this equipment, called Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), to live and to do their jobs effectively. It is a basic necessity. How long is this going to go on? Here is a place we can help, even if just a little bit:

getusppe.org

Donate – money and/or supplies

Make PPE if we have the skills and supplies

Sign the petition

Most of us can sign the petition and it’s possible for the average person to have a certain amount of money because most of us do have access to money to some degree(though many people don’t even have enough money for themselves and may not be able to donate any) but I don’t think the average person has actual medical supplies or can make it. It’s not homemade stuff that we can put together with materials just laying around the house. We need true, professional medical supplies and a professional ability to make it, if I understand correctly.

Or if you can’t do any of these or don’t want to, please just share the link and/or tags: #getusppe & #getmeppe, anywhere on social media, in the hope that someone else who can help will see it and help in some way. Something as simple as that can help in a practical way and just shows we care.

Thank you!!! 💛

Much love & light to all, may you be well; may you be peaceful; may you be happy; may you be loved❤

xoxo Kim💚

Actions speak…❤

“Now I wanna tell you of a great love
It will light up
It will surely light up darkened worlds
If you just believe
Stoned love”

Stoned Love – The Supremes ❤

There’s a man I was trying to avoid when I was out for work. I have nothing against him; he’s just not good news. lol Today, when I saw him, I turned around and began going a different way and he began yelling to me loudly, “Well fuck you too you fucking conceited bitch!!!” and he was yelling a whole slew of other insults at me all the way up the street. Strangers were turning to look at us.

I was very amused. And also very inspired by the word “too” in his one sentence “Well fuck you too…”

I never said “fuck you” to him and was not even thinking it. I was merely trying to avoid a less than pleasant encounter. As we can see, I did not succeed! I probably provoked an even less pleasant one than if I would not have turned to run!

The way he said “too” made it seem like I said it first. And maybe I did even though it was unintentionally and not verbally. We “speak” in ways that are not always verbal/language. Our actions say things just the same. And we may not always realize what our actions are saying to others or to what extent.

Turning my back on one of my brothers in this life/another sentient being, no matter the reason, is not very kind seeming or very pleasant to the one it is happening to. I was not trying to be unkind but was also not even thinking of being kind either. I was not thinking of the man at all. I was thinking of myself wanting to avoid something I thought I would not find pleasant.

What could I have done better? I could have looked at him and smiled and maybe even said hello, then be on my way. I could be very wrong but he does not seem to be the kind of person who would appreciate a warm smile or friendly hello. But I do not know him at all and this is pure judgment on my part. And even though it’s a completely neutral observation, based on things I have seen about him previously, not a negative judgment, who am I to judge at all and act on it in a less than pleasant way? For all I know, my friendly smile or warm hello, may inspire happiness in him, maybe joy, or a feeling of being accepted. He seems to be generally very unhappy and seems to have a difficult life. I have seen him have outbursts on people before for not doing him favors when he asked. And even if my smile and hello would not touch him for the better, the point is just to be loving and try. It puts positive energy out into the uni-verse. We can never go wrong with an act of kindness even if it is not received or appreciated as we intend or hope for.

There is nothing wrong with avoiding people we do not wish to encounter. It’s just we can still be mindful & kind about it. And there may even be occasions it’s necessary for our safety, to avoid someone. This was not the case here though. I don’t think he’s a dangerous man, just not the most pleasant seeming.

As he was yelling, I was laughing and thought about turning around to smile at him and show him I have nothing against him, that we’re in this life together. But I was afraid my laughing and amused smile may be misinterpreted as arrogance or me mocking him. He already perceives me as conceited. I am just someone who is very easily amused. I laugh at everything. It was not about mocking him or not caring about his unhappy situation. It just seemed funny yelling at and cursing someone out in public and a bunch of curious strangers turning to look. How dramatic! But he doesn’t know that. So I kept going. My back stayed turned on him as he slung all the insults he could come up with.

But this interaction reminds me to be more mindful and loving not only with my words but with my actions, even when there is something I wish to avoid. Our actions say things to each other. I wasn’t truly trying to say “fuck you” but my action did say something very unpleasant. It said something like “I want to avoid you…you’re not worth my time…I would rather not deal with you today…I don’t care to see you…” so basically yeah, turning my back said “fuck you.”

Just that one word that he uttered to me, “too,” said so much to me. It holds so much wisdom, he may not have fully, consciously realized but he did realize to some degree. In this moment, he was wiser than I was. He was letting me know that I said so much without saying anything at all.

“What would you do if my heart was torn in two
More than words to show you feel
That your love for me is real” ❤

More Than Words – Extreme

I’m so very thankful for the life lesson. Imagine how many people will be touched for the better, in the future, by the wisdom he revealed to me. It’s really true, anyone can be our teacher if only we let them. A seemingly difficult person, a loving person, a child, a homeless person, an animal, an insect, an old person, any situation…Let us be alert in each moment and interaction, with anyone, and welcome any bit of inspiration and wisdom they offer us.

And let us be more gentle and kind in our words, thoughts, & actions. They touch others for better or worse. Let it be for the better. Let’s smile at each other more, say hello, make eye contact, acknowledge each other, and validate each other’s existence, be more welcoming of one another, even those who may seem unpleasant or difficult. It doesn’t mean we have to hang out with someone for an hour, go over and have a chat, or become close friends. All we have to do is look at each other and smile. 🙂 Let our actions say, I see you, I love you, I acknowledge you, I hear you, I am you, we’re in this life, in this love together…❤

Thank you, Brother of mine, for your life lesson. When I see you again, I won’t turn my back.

Much love & light to all,

xoxo Kim ❤

Keep Loving…❤

Keep Loving – Empty Hands

“Whether you’re different, same, ignorant, or intelligent
Whether you tell the truth, lie, or embellish it
Whether you live in gratitude or for the hell of it
It doesn’t really matter, we’re still one single fellowship
Whether you’ve been lustful or livin’ celibate-
Whether you’re an optimist or only see the negative-
Whether you’re dead broke or rich from inheritance
It doesn’t really matter, we’re made of the same sediments
Whether you got a family or single parentin’-
Or you’re Asian, African, European, or American
Whether you pray-to-God or atheist is irrelevant
Cuz what you got inside is the same as all your brethren
So keep loving,
It’ll change your heart; it’ll change your mind”❤

“May I be happy; May all beings be happy” ❤

Recently, on social media, I saw a thread where a single young mom, with multiple divorces, with five kids, and various dads, and a few pets, was being ridiculed, destructively criticized, mocked, slandered, judged…by complete strangers all because she had multiple kids when she was very young and has a history of failed romantic relationships, which she said broke her heart. By what she wrote, she clearly loves her kids and pets. The comments people were writing are vicious and mocking. They called her “trash” and other insults and were sarcastically calling her “a real winner.” They said she would always be single and no man would ever want her and many more insults. They mocked her because she made a couple spelling mistakes. They ridiculed her for her interests and activities she likes to do for fun(makeup & fashion are a couple). They even criticized her physical appearance! They talked about her hair and everything. And for every unkind comment, there were a bunch more people who “liked/loved” each toxic comment, even ones who did not comment themselves.

One person posted her picture on his account as a screen capture with some facts about her and him and his online friends all got together and began saying as many insults as they could about her. He blocked her account for the post so she wouldn’t see. There were over 100 comments. I’m in awe (and not in a pleasing way lol) that 30 something year old adults and older are still cyber(and maybe in person as well!) bullies! I can even understand just being unkind once in a while or even in general but actually mocking and ridiculing people just for laughs. There are better ways to heal and cope with our own pain than doing this to someone else.

The overwhelming majority of comments were this. Only a couple people commented with something positive to say about her or to come to her defense. Probably because they knew if they stepped in to defend her, they would be bashed too, like bullies in the schoolyard. Except here, we’re all adults. I can imagine there were probably other moms like her reading and maybe angry, crushed, feeling low about the comments, that can also apply to them. And people with bad spelling/grammar may have been reading and feeling inferior.

I can just imagine what all these people would say about me if they had the chance and knew things about me! For all I know they already are! This can happen to any of us! Imagine someone on your friends list or a follower of your account taking a screencap of your pic of yourself and posting it to that person’s own account so all the friends can roast you without you even knowing! There is a game called “roast me” where people put their own pic on so online friends can say as many insults as possible! lol! But this person has no idea she was subjected to this.

If we stop and think how this can be us or someone we know, it can deepen our compassion/empathy for those it happens to. This applies to anything good or “bad.” When something happens to a stranger, pleasant or not, imagine if it happened to us or someone we know and remember that stranger feels the same way we would were it us it happened to. And even if we wouldn’t care if it happened to us, others may be devastated or angry if it were them. So that’s another good thing to keep in mind, that we all handle things differently and have different reactions. And all are valid.

I think this is also a good example of how we can influence each other for better or worse. What if this young woman posted her own picture and facts about herself where all those same people would see? They probably would not have reacted the way they did. They saw the original poster of the screencaps and went along with him, probably to please him and have a feeling of “all in this together,” and have some laughs while coping with their own pain/unhappiness. I don’t believe any of those people have good self esteem or are happy or they would not have done that. Focusing on someone else’s mistakes, pain, misfortune…helps take our mind off our own but so does focusing on love, well wishes, happiness for others. Let us influence each other for the better! ❤

“…Now, many years later, I understand the power of loving-friendliness. It helps us swallow the bitterness of life.” (Loving-Kindness In Plain English – The Practice of Metta ❤)

I was so confused about all the destructive criticism. I couldn’t understand it. Why would we want to drag someone down like that? What provoked all this unkindness? Instead of seeing her as one of our sisters in life, a fellow sentient being, they saw her as a punching bag, an easy target, an opportunity to get out all their own pain by inflicting it upon someone else. My confusion lessened a bit when I remembered the saying:

“Hurt people, hurt people.”

I believe that is the reason people choose to try to make someone else hurt or suffer; those people are suffering themselves and do not quite know how to process it. The man who began the thread to ridicule this person, just the day before, admitted to being depressed, anxious, suicidal, and socially isolated, and in need of a friend. He admitted that his quality of work is suffering because of his poor mental health. Is this a justification for trying to inflict pain upon others? Absolutely not. But understanding this can help us help someone to heal.

Some of us turn our own pain to greater compassion for others and some of us turn our own pain into bitterness to try to hurt others. Anyone who does this can change it for the better. Choose kindness.

Let us remember to be kind even to those who are acting in an unkind manner; the ones we feel deserve it the least are probably many of the ones who need it the most. Loving them does not mean we condone what they do, just that we know kindness makes the whole world a better place. Love heals. Our Love for them may help them become more kind one day. Just keep loving even when it’s difficult.

“One who truly loves himself will not harm others. She who loves herself will tune in to the energy of loving-friendliness and understand how magnificent it would be if every heart in the world would share this feeling.”❤ (Loving-Kindness In Plain English – The Practice of Metta)

I want to share some love here and tell everyone it’s ok to have a difficult, messed up, unpleasant…past(and even present), ok to make mistakes and have a history of failed relationships, whether they are married ones, romantic and not married, or platonic friendships; it does not mean someone is a bad person or that the person will never be a good girlfriend/wife(or whatever gender/gender identity) or friend to someone else.

And yes, if you’re a single mom(or even not single) with five kids(or even just one kid), and love your kids, you ARE a winner no matter how young or old you were when you had them(or adopted), no matter how many different dads they have, and no matter how many failed relationships or breakups you have experienced. I know not all kids have a mom & a dad; that’s just the example I’m giving because the woman here was being criticized for having multiple dads for her kids.

And not everyone has good grammar/spelling skills. And some people are doing the best they can writing in a language that is not their native one. Some people have learning disabilities to some degree or just not very skilled at something. (I am terrible at basic math) And I think most of us on occasion slip up and spell something wrong or write something that is not correct in terms of grammar. I definitely do this myself. Sometimes it may be autocorrect or sometimes just me slipping up. It’s really no big thing.

Kindness is always good but especially these days when so many of us are struggling with depression, anxiety, stress of any sort, suicidal tendencies….In our society (U.S.), and maybe other societies, we are too judgmental and too critical of each other and our own self. One word of kindness or one word of cruelty can go a long way. If someone is already struggling, just one simple, brief compliment or wishing someone well, can possibly allay the person’s pain a bit or even if not, at least bring some love, joy, and comfort, to the person in the midst of the struggle.

And if someone is already suffering, callous remarks, or even just a cold tone, can add so much to the pain, even more than intended.

And even if we’re not struggling, we love acts of love!

“Metta is not ordinary love. It is the quality of love we experience in our whole being, a love that has no ulterior motive — and no opposite. It can never become hatred; the love-hate dichotomy simply does not apply.” (Loving-Kindness In Plain English – The Practice of Metta)

We’re not responsible for someone else’s suffering, feelings, choices, happiness…we’re responsible for our own. But we can still remember the impact our choice of words, comments, remarks, both in person and online, can have on others and choose to be kind or even just saying nothing when we just cannot bring ourself(this is a word lol) to feel or be kind. Sometimes holding our tongue is an act of kindness. Constructive criticism is good in many cases. But intentional destructive criticism is always toxic and unnecessary. I am not innocent of this and think most of us have room to grow.

Who cares if we’re financially rich or poor, working seven days a week or out of work, have ten kids or are childless(I prefer childless over childfree because “childfree” makes it seem like children are a burden as opposed to a gift. I never wanted kids; I just have no inclination, but still love them and know they are a gift! Many childless people are offended by the word “childless.” “Childfree” is what I find off-putting), single, happily taken, divorced more than once…whatever! Who cares if we are neat and organized or a total slob(me!), very educated or not much of an education, very intelligent or not so much, look like a supermodel or not society’s concept of beauty, and we all may have interests/activities someone else thinks are dumb(sometimes I play with virtual pets lol), whatever mistakes we have made and will make, doesn’t matter…We’re all the same underneath and all have things others can mock us for or criticize us for. And all have qualities someone, somewhere would love if the person/s knew us.

No matter what or who you are, I’m your safe space even if we disagree on something. 💚

“Though we all have the seed of loving-friendliness within us, we must make the effort to cultivate it. When we are rigid, uptight, tense, anxious, and full of worries and fears, our natural capacity for loving-friendliness cannot flourish. To nurture the seed of loving-friendliness, we must learn to relax. In a peaceful state of mind, such as we get from mindfulness meditation, we can forget our past differences with others and forgive their faults, weaknesses, and offenses. Then loving-friendliness naturally grows within us.” (Loving-Kindness In Plain English – The Practice of Metta)

Let us remember to always be a bit kinder than necessary to everyone we meet.

And “ourself” means all of us together, not any specific group. We learn that “ourselves” is the correct grammar and it is also. But a loving Buddhist Teacher taught me that “Ourself” implies Oneness and togetherness, including ALL, so I prefer that version!

Chants of Love:

The Chant of Metta ❤

Om Mani Padme Hum ❤

&

Loving-Kindness Meditation ❤ (13 minutes & 26 seconds)

May I be well
May I be happy
May I be peaceful
May I be loved

❤

May you be well
May you be happy
May you be peaceful
May you be loved

“Loving-friendliness motivates you to behave kindly to all beings at all times and to speak gently in their presence and in their absence.” (Loving-Kindness In Plain English – The Practice of Metta)

Much love & light, always,

Kim xoxo❤❤❤

Every two seconds {Blood donation}❤❤❤

“Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. It is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. Whether a patient receives whole blood, red cells, platelets or plasma, this lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation.” (redcross.org)

Schedule donation appointment

There is an URGENT need for blood donations at the moment!! Our country(U.S.) is currently experiencing a SEVERE blood shortage, worse than usual. It’s a state of emergency! We always have a shortage of blood donors but sometimes it’s worse than usual. Every two seconds a person needs someone else’s blood to survive. Childbirth and surgery complications, massacre/accident victims/survivors, traumatic injury, sickle cell disease/cancer, and other diseases…these are people with interests, goals, dreams, a favorite color and movie, favorite songs, people with plans and hobbies, people with friends, family, pets, people who want to live and count on us who are healthy, to give to them. We are the luckiest to be in a position to help, to be alive and healthy, how about give back and pay it forward by sharing a bit of our health & life with someone in need, a fellow human who is just like us? As long as we feel healthy and know we do not have any infectious virus(such as HIV or Hep C), it’s good to give it a try. Even with various health conditions and medications, such as heart problems, being diabetic, increased blood pressure, birth control, depression/anxiety meds… as long as the conditions are kept under control and we do not feel sick, we may be qualified to give the gift of blood. It’s worth a try just so long as our blood is pure & healthy. Remember, every two seconds!! It’s senseless for someone to die when there are enough of us to donate. Let’s line up to give just as soon as we would line up to take if we were the one in need.

One thing, it is important not to donate blood merely to be tested for a virus such as hep or hiv. This is because if it was recently contracted, it may not show up for six, or maybe more, months, on a medical test but can still infect someone just as much. So after an accident of some sort (needle stick for example) or high risk activity (such as sexual contact of any sort with an infected person or sharing needles with someone, even someone not known to have an infectious disease), it’s important to wait at least one year before donating. We want our recipients to be safe.

I understand if someone cannot or just doesn’t want to! But just in case anyone does and needs a reminder or inspiration, please try to donate some blood to the Red Cross! Especially now. We are in DESPERATE need!! This is an absolute emergency. There are people all around the country potentially dying of lack of blood/blood products. Of course I care just as much about those in other countries but since I’m in the U.S., I can only help the people here with my blood but I invite people all around the world to donate to your blood banks wherever you are if it’s safe for you. Thank you!! Unfortunately, I can’t donate it again until April. I think they should just take it now since we’re in a lack of blood crisis. But since it’s not safe for me, as all my blood is not replenished yet, they won’t! But I think it’s even more unsafe for the people who need a transfusion, to not get one. So what if I’m a bit anemic! It’s worth it to save a life.

I would give them ALL my blood if I could! But that’s not legal. I plan to stay alive as long as I can to keep on giving this life sustaining liquid flowing through my veins! How beautiful! Life is beautiful and I want to share it with as many as I can. If you have O-negative blood, what a gift! You can give it to almost anyone! It’s the blood most in demand, the universal loving blood. I don’t have that kind even though I’m a universal lover myself. ❤❤❤ It would be fitting for me to have O-neg!

~Love someone today~

#veintovein ❤

I’m wishing you much love & light, wherever in the world you are! And lots of healthy blood!

xoxo Kim