#mylifematters

We’ve all seen it.  The debate over what lives matter.  The arguments go on for days each side getting louder and more aggressive with each response from the opposing side.  I’ve seen article after article about #blacklivesmatter doesn’t mean that all lives don’t.  I’ve seen #bluelivesmatter as a retort asking to be given the same allowances – by not being painted with the same broad brush they are being accused of using themselves. 

We’ve all seen the videos.  We’ve all taken “sides” on whether or not we thought good or bad prevailed on those days.  But what we haven’t done is waited for the investigations to be finished.  You know, the ones where all of the evidence is collected and analyzed.  The investigations that are not driven by public outcry or keyboard warriors, but by facts.

The “other” side will yell that “blue” shouldn’t be allowed to investigate “blue”.  Let me tell you, nothing turns their back on their own quicker than officers who think one of their own did something wrong, or bad, or with malice.  That blue line is thin, but it’s built on integrity.  All of the officers that I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting and knowing would tell you the same thing.  If you tarnish the badge, there is no room for you on that line. 

So here’s where I have arrived.  My new hashtag is this - #mylifematters.  It does.  It matters to me.  It matters to my husband, children, parents, siblings, in-laws and friends.  And for my life to matter, I have to take certain measures to make it matter.  I have to live my best life and serve others as I can with love.  Not debate them over hate.  We can only control ourselves.  It’s as simple as that. 

We have no control over rogue cops, street criminals, hate groups or even our own children.  Everyone has been given the freedom to operate on their own free will.  That doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences to those choices – there always is.  Some of those are good.   Some of them are not. 

So I will do my best to walk away from the television, log-off my computer and put my phone down and live my best life.  The only person I can change is myself, but I can affect a whole lot of people I come in contact with by living kindly and without anger in my heart.