If Only I Had Some Courage

Poor Lion.

If he only had some courage.

He shirks and shrieks at everything. More like a kitten than a lion, he might as well sit on your lap and have you pet him. In fact, during several parts of “The Wizard of Oz” he runs straight into the arms of Dorothy, afraid of…well…I’m not sure.

To be honest the Lion reminds me of myself not too long ago, unwilling to be who I really was, resistant to say the things that I really believed in. Not that I was looking for a fight, but I just wasn’t willing to come face-to-face with the nay-sayers.

If Only I Had Some Courage!

Fortunately for me it was difficult times that pressed me into a stiff resolution. I thought to myself, “This is who I am, this is what I believe. What I believe is just as legitimate as what other people think. If people don’t want to agree I won’t, but I will be cordial.”

I have no bones about growing up very very conservative. I have nothing against my past and thinking that everybody other than me was wrong. I am just not that person anymore and the process of becoming was very painstaking. Therefore, coming to terms with the incongruence in my life was very difficult. It was extremely hard to finally talk myself into deciding to be who I was going to be and own what I was going to believe.

It took courage.

Now I know that there are many individuals out there in this world right now that are hiding what they believe because they have parents that vehemently disagree with what they believe so they aren’t saying anything. They don’t want to rock the boat and rightfully so. However, it’s not about being right or wrong, it’s about being you, it’s about becoming yourself and owning your own beliefs. It’s about differentiation. And I know how painful that is.

It’s not about arguing. It’s not about debating. Don’t debate. Don’t argue.  JUST BE YOU.

So on this 4th of July weekend, learn to take some freedom into your life. Take courage. Be yourself.

Hope & Peace,

Andrew S. Dungan, MA

This is the World We Live In

Today (it is early in the morning already) I have the opportunity to go and hear about the Invisible Children with my wife.

If you don’t know anything about the Invisible Children I encourage you to take some time and learn about the atrocities that have taken place, as children have been stolen from their homes and forced into a war in Uganda.

Barbarisms such as these make me think of underdeveloped countries in general. However, when I look over my shoulder, I see slavery of all types. Even in America.

Fanaticism can lead to anger, disunity and even outright hatred.

Dogmatism can lead to ideological warring and unequal power distribution. From here there are all sorts of ends in sight. Most of which are not positive.

Can We Work Together For Positive?

Yet THIS is the world in which we live.

But do we have to live in a world that is constantly at odds? Or is this simply our social, religious and cultural expectation?

No, I believe that there is within each of us an ability to reach out to our neighbor, no matter the “distance,” and find unity.

I still believe that regardless of religion or sexual orientation or ideology, that humanity is capable of rising above its segregated past and pressing onward towards a more fruitful future.

I have been beckoned and now I beckon others to start believing the same.

Thank you Joe G.

Out.

Andrew.