Welcome to the 2020 WATCH “RWISA” WRITE Showcase Tour!
Featured Author for Tuesday, 11/10/20…
RWISA Author, Jan Sikes!
“WALK TO YOUR OWN BEAT”
2020 has been a year.
And that is a gross understatement. No one could have predicted the diverse levels of craziness we’d experience as the year unfolded.
Not only are we dealing with a worldwide pandemic that has us wearing masks and hiding in our homes, but here in the United States, we’ve witnessed hatred and divisiveness to a degree I could never have imagined. While we watched and perhaps joined people taking to the streets to protest injustices, we also saw organized groups invade our beautiful cities and set them ablaze. Everyone is in a hypersensitive mode. History is being erased with the dismantling and destruction of national monuments, while sports teams are changing their names because someone is offended.
The culmination of it all has left us reeling.
I do not watch the news, and that is a personal choice. I can name lots of reasons why I stopped, but the main one is, I do not believe even half of what they report. The media uses its power to incite and ignite more hatred and division amongst us.
Folks take to social media to try and coerce others to bend to their ideals and beliefs. And they do it in the most aggressive ways imaginable. It seems no one wants to allow their fellow man to have his or her own opinions. People are not willing to tolerate differences. Families are split by these differences, leaving children confused. We are allowing those in power to turn us into a society focused on isolation and fear.
So, what can we do?
I heard a song the other day that says it better than I ever could. The music artist is Brent Cobb, and he gave me permission to quote some of his lyrics.
He sings about how people want to tell each other how to live and how to die. You don’t get too low, don’t get too high, which is precisely what the pharmaceutical companies exhort.
The best thing you can do is don’t listen too close. Walk on to your own beat. Keep ‘em on their toes.
What does that even mean? To me, it means staying true to your authentic self. Don’t be a part of the herd that follows blindly. Make decisions for your life based on your truth, not someone else’s. Go where your heart tells you to go. I genuinely believe your heart will never lead you wrong.
Then, rather than to try and convince others to follow your truth, tuck it deep inside where you can nurture it and make it grow. You will never persuade another person to change their way of thinking because of the words you speak, but you can lead by example. And you can keep them on their toes. Keep them guessing about you. In other words, don’t be so utterly transparent.
Maybe this says it better. Keep ‘em on their toes, your business outta sight. Make ‘em look left, if you’re gonna hang a right. If the pot’s hot, don’t let ‘em see your hand. Make ‘em gotta know what they wouldn’t understand. The best thing you can do when the ignorance shows, is walk on to your own beat, keep ‘em on their toes.
I love that! We live in an electronic age where privacy is a thing of the past. The only way to have real privacy is to be completely disconnected, including no cellphone.
I have had many experiences that prove to me we are always under observation. It’s easy to understand how an ad will randomly pop up after browsing for an Amazon item. But I have had things pop up about something relating to a simple conversation with a friend. Big Brother is listening. No, I’m not paranoid. Just honest and see reality.
I do not know where we are headed as a society. The rose-colored glasses part of me wants to believe this hatred, division, hypersensitivity, and deadly pandemic we are experiencing will all come to an end, and we will go back to living our lives peacefully. But reality tells me we will never go back to the way we were before all of this chaos hit.
We are forever changed by it all.
So, the big question remains, “Where do we go from here?”
I can only answer that question from my point of view, from my truth. I will continue to be kind. I will continue to share and celebrate others’ accomplishments. And I will continue to love my family and do my best to impart any hard-earned wisdom to my grandchildren.
I can’t visualize what this world will be like ten years from now. I can’t even picture it a year from now. So, I must live for today in the best and most honest way I know.
I will walk on to my own beat―do my best to keep ‘em on their toes, and my business out of sight. That does not mean I can stop caring or go numb. In fact, just the opposite. I will celebrate every positive moment life brings, and I hope you will join me. Together we are stronger. Together we can make a difference.
Together, we can keep ‘em on their toes!
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These are terrible and very confusing times, Jan. Indeed, we have to walk our own beat because that’s all we can control. Anything else, we will be lost! Thank God, there’s always a way out!
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Well done,Jan.
Such a sensible view on America’s upheaval. However we have a glint of light and promise on the horizon.
A new vaccine to keep us safer. And for you a new President of the United States.
We across the pond have felt your pain and hoped so much for the change coming just around the corner.
Much love and good wishes to you all.
Joy
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Thank you for your uplifting comment, Joy!! Yes! We have lots of good changes ahead of us!
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Jan, hope your day was fabulous! We had a new member to join today who cited all the posts around with our hashtags all over Twitter, so there!
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How wonderful, Nonnie!!
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Lots of food for thought and action in these trying times, Jan! Sharing…
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Thank you, Bette!
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Being true to yourself is a high calling, Jan! Thank you for sharing that truth with us along with ways to shut off the many voices that pull us in different directions, trying to mold us into something we aren’t. Love your wisdom, insight, and how you guide us to give ourselves permission to be who we are.
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Oh, Patty, you are most welcome! In truth, all we can be is our authentic selves. Everything else is just pretend. Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a comment! I appreciate your support!
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Cheers for you Jan Sikes! I agree with this post and agree with your suggestion to live my own life and keep others on their toes. Thank you for writing this.
Harriet
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Beautiful and thought-provoking post, Jan. Thank you for your insights. Some days, with all that is happening, it is hard to feel calm. You have given us some coping strategies that can help us get through it all.
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Thank you for the kind words, Maura Beth. I appreciate your taking the time to stop by, leave a comment, and share!
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Great piece, Jan! I, too, hope that our country can become kind again. 🙂
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Yes, yes, and yes, Yvette!! That is my focus and my intention as I start each day. Peace and healing! Thank you for leaving a comment! Hugs!
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Hi,
I’ve learned that Newspapers and Social Media cannot help me to think. I’ve had to learn to listen to the still voice within me and like your have said dear Jan, to walk, to dance, to sing the road that leads to my destiny. Sometimes that means walking it alone because no one understands you, but you keep moving forward.
Thank you for revealing yourself and sharing some things that are deeply personal to you.
Shalom aleichem
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Very often, Pat, we find ourselves walking alone to the beat of our own drum. And that is perfectly okay because I do not believe we are ever totally alone. We have a whole team of angels, guides, and teachers walking with us! Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment! Have a beautiful day!
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Reblogged this on Walk On and commented:
Good Morning Everyone,
Please join me on the second day of the RWISA WRITE Showcase Tour as we listen to what Jan Skies has to say about her life and how she lives it.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat Garcia
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Thank you for reblogging, Pat! Much appreciated!
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I Iike the line keep them on their toes, Jan. Yes, we have to venture away from the hate and find our peace. I keep thinking about how there is a us vs them. I try to understand both sides views and listen, its exhausting. When we realize there is only an us can we find the peace lacking in society. All we can do is amplify the love , starting with ourselves. Thought provoking post with a line I will remember.
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You are absolutely right, Denise. The us and them mentality has to end because we are ALL in this crazy world to learn together. Thank you for leaving such a beautiful comment. I want you to know how much I appreciate your support!
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🙂 xo
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Jan, you are a wise soul and 2020 has certainly been a year for reflections.
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Oh my goodness, Wendy. Now you’ve given me something to live up to. I appreciate your comment!
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Thank goodness for a little sanity in these trying times. Jan sums up the current madness so well! I heartily agree with everything she said. Thank you for putting into words what so many of us, dare I say the majority of us, truly think.
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Thank you for your awesome comment, Ray! I’m happy to share my ramblings, such as they may be. 🙂
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