This Country Needs a Big Friggin’ Enema

10.  Idol Worship & Hollywood – It is not normal to wear a size 0, get everything you want, and sleep around.

9.  Political Correctness – Call ‘em Like You See ‘em.

8.  Abortion and Hooking Up – Bottom Line…teach kids to keep their pants zipped.

7.  Isolation – Social Media, TV, Blogging, Gaming has replaced family conversation, projects, and opportunities.   Everything in Moderation–including moderation!

6.  Education Systems that Indoctrinate Our Children into Thinking EVERYTHING is okay and parents are the ones who are behind the times and don’t understand.  NO, WE DO UNDERSTAND and we don’t like it…hence, HOMESCHOOLING.

5.  Designer Crap – In the 60′s if something had holes in it, we gave it away.

4.  Honey Boo-Boo, Kim Kardashian, Joy Behar  (It’s a 3-way tie)

3.  Bicycle Helmets and Growing up Without Playing Outside

2.  Apathy – The General Public’s Acceptance of Media Information as Gospel

1.  Godlessness in our Society.  The farther away we go from our roots, the more bad things happen.

Add them all up and much of this country can see its reflection in a mirror.   The Waltons are on the brink of extinction.

We need to DISCIPLINE ourselves. 

Start thinking about the consequences of our choices.  We have all the power within us to bring American life back to a simpler, more loving time.

Start with stopping yourself. 

Start with thinking, “Is this the best thing I can be doing right now?”  “Am I alone?”  If you catch yourself alone most of the day, hidden in a Farmville world or watching a roster of YOUR shows, that is a problem and a waste of LIFE.”  “How is what I am doing helping my family?”

Stop accepting all the crap that is visually thrown our way by TV and in print.

Start thinking for yourself and working to make yourself a better person.  Engage in the positives:  read the classics, talk about ideals or ideas and enjoy an artful conversation.  Surround yourself with people whom you respect and whose goodness and smarts you aspire to.  Visit a museum, help a neighbor with yard work, open a door, shock someone with a random act of kindness, and smile at each person you pass.  In the end, the gift is yours.

Hold children accountable to be respectful and productive.

Respect starts in the home.  Parents need to know the difference between discipline and punishment.  Discipline is corrective and employs a moral; punishment hurts (feelings or physically).  When we correct little ones with respect, we build a foundation.   Let them skin their knees and play outside until the streetlights come on.  We may not live on the prairie, but there are jobs within each home that children should be expected to complete.  In this way, they develop a sense of duty, teamwork, and success.  They belong.  Let them have adventures sweetened with a good amount of joy and  a salty bit of disappointment.  Most things that are good have both sugar and salt.  

Keep your middle finger to yourself.

You didn’t see the California wave prior to 1970.  Back then folks would virtually flip someone off  with elevated English –which was much more amusing and creative than an extended digit coupled with a skunk eye.  You could burn someone with your wit and get your point across while maintaining superiority over the situation and keeping your dignity.    Oh how I miss sarcasm and the turn of a good phrase.

Dare to dream.

Start building your own “Ville” where 2013 is filled with family discussion and visiting grandparents to learn about your history.  Trump somebody’s Ace.  Go camping or take handheld walks with someone you love, slow down–meditate and pray, listen to classical music, play a practical joke, build a potato gun, reminisce,  plant a family garden, play board games, bake from scratch, rub a dog’s belly, paint something, sit face to face and really engage each other, tell jokes and LAUGH!

Take this thoughtful way of life, these disciplined measures, out into the world.  Speak up, show up, and help others.  Always do good.

The restoration of our country as a whole begins one decision at a time.