We All Should Care

Accept the call for a deeper purpose.

TRUST

Is there a more simple and yet more complex concept than Trust.

Trust takes a lot of different shapes.

It can be the trust of a Mom giving the house key to a kid, or the trust a boy who leaves his girlfriend for a long trip.
It can be the fact to put your life in the hands of a doctor, or simply the little secret you’re giving to your friend.

Trust is something we all think to know about. And yet,  Idiscovered lately, that  Ididn’t know anything about real, pure trust.

Usually, you give your trust, after having been proven right, that you could trust the person.

I do the exact opposite. And ended up crushed and hurt , an obscene amount of time.
Yet, I still give my trust. I still want to believe the best of people, first.
That makes me naive for certain, genuine for others.

But lately, I’ve been proven right.

I met a friend, she’s my soul twin , as she told me. I don’t really know her, at least, we’ve known each other from letters and chat, during several months. We only met once and yet, one day without news from her seems like an empty day. Not sure what is her favorite color, or when is her birthday…

But I know many things about her and vice versa.

And yet, she’s the person I trust the most in the world. And I ‘m doing my best to prove her she can trust me, with everything , the bad and the good.

Trusting implies a lot of risks. But sometimes, it can give you the best of life that you could ever imagine of.

Trust is a huge gamble. For example, take a Star. No, I’m not talking about those beautiful little dots in the night. I’m of course, talking about actors, singers, famous “characters”.
Nowadays, they’re  “hunted”, every part of their lives is watched. Up to the brand of their morning coffee. And, that makes me wonder. I met one of those “Stars” last month. His name is Jackson Rathbone. You already heard about him on that blog , right? I tried talking to him, at the end of the show. And, immediately regretted it. No, he was just perfect gentleman, looking straight into my eyes and all, focusing on my words. ( which could be quite hard with my awful french accent ^^) And then,  I felt it , inside my guts that he was wary and probably worn out too, by the attention pursuing him all the time, during the week end. I ‘m not sure I made myself understood, I was only there because of how his words, his voice keep coming right to my heart and how they even cut throught it. HOwever, that’s not the point.  But, that memory made me wonder. How can he trust a person, a nobody like at me , that would come to talk to him, even if the person’s motivations are the genuinest possible? ( Cause I was, genuine. But I disgress). When his every moves are watched, every single clothe he chooses , from his boots to his hat, are checked and criticized even single day?

And he’s not the one most hit by that phenomenon of crazy fans…
How could those persons trust? How can they rely on someone else, to share their secrets, fears and doubts?

And how can you live, without that release?

I have never felt more alive than since I can tell and discuss things freely with my new friend. That might seem sappy , but it is true. I do think every one need a friend like that. And sometimes, when you’re lucky, that person is not a friend but a soulmate, someone you love and that loves you back. Though, I’m not sure we’re all blessed to know that. Having at least a friend like hat, is more that I could ever have hoped for.

While growing up, we learn that Trusting is not a good idea. A classmate ratting you out to the teacher, a colleague stealing your results and claiming them as theirs, a love that cheats on you, or hurts you without a single coherent reason. And it is not my soul twin that will disagree with me. We learn to be wary, we learn to be suspicious, some more than others.

But, last month, my little nephew, barely 15 months old, taught me what trust really is.
He was sick, the poor dear. Coughing as if he was trying to get rid of his lungs. And, I ‘ve been through that too.  I know how it hurts, and how scary it is to be choking, not able to control your own breath. For hours in a row. At least, as long as you cough , it means air is still coming in and out from your lungs. And he was feverish. He was crying in his bed and I was baby sitting him for a few hours.

So I went in the room and took him in my arms, against my chest.

At once , he quieted down. He was still coughing though.
I mean, I’m not a fairy, I can’t make a cold go away with some Fairy dust hidden in my hair. Wish I couldd.
Yet, it was enough to make him feel safe. And he showed me, how much he trusted me.
Just his little arm thrown casually around my shoulder. He gripped my shirt with the other hand, huddled in my embrace and close his eyes. His whole body relaxed and he was completely relying on me.

I must admit he was heavy. But , for all the treasure of the world, I would not have let him go.

I spent the evening like that, walking around the house, holding him, talking softly and humming some lullaby up until he  finally got asleep.

But that moment, when he relaxed at the sound of my heart beat, made me feel trusted as I had never been in my entire life.

No question asked, nothing to prove, he just trusted me entirely.
And you can’t even  think about disappointing that kind of trust.

That day, he showed me, that despite everything I was, how plain, insecure, over bearing and how much of a nobody I was,  I was his aunt, and he loved and trusted me. Just like that.  I did nothing to merit his trust. I was just there, since his birth. I never did anything incredible. I was just there, laughing with him a few times, helping my sister to feed him, though I never accepted the nappy changing job!^^

Nothing expected in return. He just did.

He still does.

I wanted to share that exprience with you, tonight.
And, to all those persons who fear trusting, I do hope, that you will finally find that trust.

Now, I just have to give that trust myself, and I will.

If everyone could rely so completely on at least one person, then, I’m pretty sure the world would be a better place. I might be naive , but I do feel it.

And I wish you to feel it to, and know that at least, you’re important to one being in the world. And that you could never disappoint and/or lose that trust.

And I wish you do experience that, Jackson.

Angie

This rant is brought to you by Damien, Spider’s 6 year old son. He is the most passionate, caring person that I know. Young and old alike.

Out of somewhere (he has a train of thought, I can’t say nowhere) he says to Spider and I quote:

“Everything is made in China, and although stuff made in China is cute,the way they treat kids and other people is NOT cute.”

Do you ever think to pick up a product and look at the label, to see where it’s made?

Do you even know how badly people and especially the children, who work in those “sweat shops” making a lot of these products that we frequently buy, are treated?

Have you ever even given a second thought to it?

Damien has.

So, look forward to more posts from him, “Rants By Damien” is the newest addition to We All Should Care,next time under his name.

His mom may have to help him type it, but the tangent will belong solely to him.

Damien, you ROCK.

It’s been a while, since I’ve spoken of Spencer Bell here, and perhaps you’re wondering why, since I did, in all honestly promise a post a day for Spencer.

It hasn’t been that I’m being a slacker, it hasn’t been that I’ve lost the passion to show his legacy to the world, it’s that he deserves so much more than a lukewarm, mediocre post daily.

Quality over quantity if you will.

So why now,right? Why today?

Because after finding out that my grandmother is dying of cancer, reading Richard Bach, reflecting on so many things in this life…
I have been hit with something very bittersweet.

Bach believes, as I always have, that once your purpose on this planet is finished, that you leave this world.
Maybe to begin again elsewhere, maybe to look over the ones you love, all of that is left up to your belief system.

My point? If you’re still here, your purpose is unfulfilled.

Spencer not being with us, hurts so many,(His family, and friends that I cannot thank enough for sharing him with the world) and even though I have a harder time grasping someone being taken from this world so young, maybe he had fulfilled his destiny, his purpose.

Maybe it was to enlighten many about art, and how it should be.
Even though he was extremely talented, he was a firm believer, that music, and any art really, comes from the heart, the soul, it doesn’t matter if the rest of the world thinks you’re good at it, so long as you love it, and are impassioned by it.

That alone is inspirational.

His wit, his bravery, his unwavering sense of self that is very clear in his legacy, it is awe inspiring.

I know that nothing can bring those that were close to him comfort, that they miss him EVERY SINGLE DAY, every minute of every day, and that no reasoning in this world is good enough that he isn’t here.
That nothing eases the pain, the void that is abundantly clear every time something happens that makes them think of Spencer.

I also know that my mere words falter, so often, that if people could read solely what is written upon my heart, and embedded in my soul, that this message would come out more eloquently….

Since finding his Legacy, Spencer Bell has touched my life in ways that are hard for me to explain. He picked me up when I didn’t think I could stand, and forced me to persevere when I wanted to quit.
His legacy has introduced me to friends that I know will last a lifetime, his words, his art, his music resonate more loudly, more beautifully than the most professionally composed symphony.

Once again, Jackson Rathbone (FRIEND of Spencer Bell, human being), said it better than I could ever put it: ” my hero was much younger than I when my hero was immortalized… ” and then “…there’s no grave for the soul no vinyl coffin made of gold”

Every Friday, we have deemed “Spencer Bell Day” on Twitter.. but quite honestly, we should celebrate the life that this young man had, every day. When I started using the hashtag #spencerbellislegendary I meant it very literally.

Nothing, not even death, can hold him back from expressing the depth, the intensity, the erring human soul, that was and IS forevermore Spencer Bell.

[[image courtesy of spencerbellmemorial.ning.com]]

Why can’t I get a great job to cover all my bills? Why did my ex get over me so quickly? Why do friends move on? Why did I or a loved one spend their entire life doing nothing but give, give, give only to end up with some horrible, debilitating or deadly disease? Why must we suffer? Why? Why? Why?

These and countless others are questions we ask ourselves in our many, and quite varied lives. It seems sometimes that life becomes far too much a burden to handle. Even I, the great and powerful Damij sometimes gets overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of all the unanswered questions and endless fall-backs and shortcomings that permeate the foundation of our existence.

We are matter made conscious by whatever means. Particles that formed together to become aware and to identify as “self” and as amazing a process as it is, it often leaves us empty.  Our individuality often leaves us feeling lonely or scared.

A great many people choose some religious or spiritual method in trying to cope with the harsh reality we face every day. There are many others that choose more secular methods and I imagine that there are probably still other who simply never even think that deeply and don’t really care one way or another.

I do realize that I ramble so I will get on with it.

The point that I am trying to make is we are trapped inside these human bodies and with our human consciousness, we have only a very limited perception of what reality actually is. It is difficult for us to understand that sometimes things go on the universe that is not only outside our understanding but also outside our ability to be aware of it. I feel that we are all connected in some way or another, since we are all a part of this universe in which we live. When you have all those questions going through your mind, just go outside and look up into the sky and just think about how even though we are but a blip in the existence of the universe, what choices we make determine the impact on the people that are with us in our lives.That makes us important, I think.

There is simply so much in our lives that we cannot change.  If i could heal all the sick and feed all the hungry and answer all the questions that we all have in and about our lives then by damn I can guarantee you that I wouldn’t be busting my ass all day for minimum wage. With as big of a geek as I am, I’d probably go to the trouble of getting a really cool cape if i could afford it but  for all those things we cannot change, there are many things that we do have the ability to alter. Do your best, that’s all I ask. I may not know you but I have faith in you. I may be walking a different path than yours but I know we have probably often taken similar steps along the way.

I’m going to be thinking about you…yeah you *points*

So what are some of the questions that you all have out there in internet land? Sometimes it feels good just to get it all out, ya know?  Just don’t ask what I’m on, I swear I’m sober. lol

Rid yourselves of the preconceived notions that you have about suicide, and just try to read this objectively.
I know how hard that is, but please try.

I have often heard that suicide is a cry for attention.
Perhaps, in some rare cases, that is true.
More realistically? For those that honestly intend on taking their own life, it is a lot more involved than just wanting a hug.
And it happens among all races, sexes, and ages.
It is not exclusive to one type of person.
It’s only requirements? That you’re broken, scarred, hurting, aching, agonizing and wanting OUT.
You want the pain to stop.
You don’t stop and think about what will happen in the morning when the sun doesn’t rise for you, all that matters is that hollow in your chest will be gone.
You’ll no longer have to put forth effort to merely breathe, and put one foot in front of the other.
No more auto pilot.
No more pretending.
You’ll be free.
So see, there is someone who DOES understand.
But you know what?
It’s not true.
It won’t make the pain go away, it will only cause more. It will hurt people that love you, and I can promise you, even if you don’t talk to them daily, there is someone that can’t live without you.
There is someone that loves you so much, that their lifeline is connected to yours.
Do you want to be responsible for THEIR hollow? Their pain?
If you’re reading this and you’ve been there, I may not know you (or I may) but I CARE.
If you let me, I’LL REACH BACK when you’re extending your hand.
Nothing may ease your pain, but by damn, I’ll share it with you.
But ending your life? Stupid, inconsiderate, selfish, cowardly.
You’re above that.

Statistics to back up what I’ve said:

• Males take their own lives at nearly four times the rate of females and represent 79.4% of all U.S. suicides.1

• During their lifetime, women attempt suicide about two to three times as often as men.5

• Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death for males and the seventeenth leading cause for females.1

• Among males, adults ages 75 years and older have the highest rate of suicide (rate 37.97 per 100,000population).1

• Among females, those in their 40s and 50s have the highest rate of suicide (rate 7.53 per 100,000population).1

• Firearms are the most commonly used method of suicide among males (57.6%).1

• Poisoning is the most common method of suicide for females (39.1%)
Among American Indians/Alaska Natives ages 15- to 34-years, suicide is the second leading cause of death.1

• Suicide rates among American Indian/Alaskan Native adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 34 (21.7 per100,000) are 2.2 times higher than the nationalaverage for that age group (10.0 per 100,000).1

• Hispanic female high school students in grades 9-12 reported a higher percentage of suicide attempts(14.0%) than their White, non-Hispanic (7.7%) orBlack, non-Hispanic (9.9%) counterparts

• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 25-34 year olds and the third leading cause of deathamong 15- to 24-year olds.1

• Among 15- to 24-year olds, suicide accounts for 12.3% of all deaths annually.1

• The rate of suicide for adults aged 65 years and older was 14.7 per 100,000.1 Nonfatal, Self-Inflicted Injuries*

• In 2005, 372,722 people were treated in emergency departments for self-inflicted injuries.6

• In 2006, 162,359 people were hospitalized due to self- inflicted injury.1

• There is one suicide for every 25 attempted suicides
In 2007:

• 14.5% of students, grade 9-12, seriously considered suicide in the previous 12 months (18.7% of femalesand 10.3% of males).4

• 6.9% of students reported making at least one suicide attempt in the previous 12 months (9.3% of femalesand 4.6% of males).4

• 2.0% of students reported making at least one suicide attempt in the previous 12 months that requiredmedical attention (2.4% of females and 1.5% ofmales)

You can read the full post of statistics HERE

Remember, when you think you have nobody, that nobody is there.
Look a little harder, a little deeper.
If you can’t talk to someone you know, if you can’t talk to me, then please ASK FOR HELP HERE
It’s a site with all the numbers you’ll need to find someone to help.

In my search of morning gossip to go with my coffee, I stumbled upon something quite disturbing, yet amazing at the same time. Now, with everything that I’ve seen in my short 24-years on this planet, I am not easily shocked and although this didn’t shock me, per se, it sure as hell surprised me.

A Los Angeles based sperm bank, California Cryobank, has separated their sperm donors into celebrity look-a-likes. So now you can have the baby you always dreamed of having!

How superficial.

I am really on the fence on how I feel about this. Part of me says that it’s fabulous. That people day dream of having, say, Justin Timberlake’s, baby all the time so now, they can have a little bundle of joy with those signature curls, bone structure and of course, the baby blue eyes.

At the same time, should you really be so shallow about your babies looks? Especially if you’re going to a sperm bank to get impregnated (let it be known that I do not judge those who do, the thought has crossed my mind a time or two, actually.) shouldn’t you be happy to have a baby that is yours and healthy? No, that’s not enough… now the baby has to look like your favorite star too.

On the list of names, some are rather disturbing. Why you would want to have a baby that looks like Bob Saget or Tom Green is beyond me. Anton Yelchin is on the list, and here I didn’t think anyone knew who he was… apparently he’s famous enough for you to have a baby that looks just like him! How adorable!

Names that I was surprised to see on the list? DJ AM and Heath Ledger. No matter how adorable those babies would be, I think that’s a little tactless.

What do you think about this service? Would you do it or recommend it to a friend?

[[image courtesy of google.com/images and yes, that's really Justin Timberlake as a baby. Too cute, right?]]

We all know Jackson Rathbone from his role as Jasper Hale in the pop culture phenomenon TWILIGHT, or his roles on The Cleaner and Criminal Minds. Possibly you’re even aware that he is also an amazing musician and is in a band, 100 Monkeys,but are you aware of the softness of his heart? Since I decided to do this “post a day for celebrity charity” I have come to know our celebs on a more personal level. As I write this, I have realized that I no longer have a girlie crush on Jackson, no, I am in complete awe and admiration with him. When skimming pictures to post of him for my last Jackson Rathbone post, I happened upon a picture that was of course gorgeous, and captivating, no doubt. What I noticed other than that, was the blue puzzle piece on his lapel. I am very familiar with the charity that it represents AUTISM SPEAKS. I am raising my god daughter (who is mildly autistic), and helping to raise my god son (who is severely autistic,and living with his grandparents), so anyone that is involved with this cause, has my utmost respect. I started searching, and what I found surprised me, he wasn’t bragging about any of his charity work, with this cause or any other. But he did attend the Autism Speaks 6th Annual Acts of Love event. The only thing I can even find on it, is his picture, which tells me, when he gives, he doesn’t just give out of pocket, but from the heart.
That is what brought tears to my eyes. Jackson has also been linked to supporting another cause that touches the deepest place in my heart CUPCAKES FOR CANCER which was started by a brave cancer survivor, 13 year old, Blakely Colvin . After having lost so many family members TO this disease, and seeing how many lives it affects first hand, it is so beautiful to see even the youngest survivors and supporters working to do their part to help find a cure.
Jackson Rathbone has been added to my list of my real life’s quiet heroes.

[Image by Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos]

[[This article of mine was originally posted at TEN GOSSIP]]

Spencer Bell. If there are words to describe him, I do not possess them in my vocabulary.
I cannot tell you personal stories, I wasn’t fortunate enough to have him in my life. However, I consider myself blessed beyond words to have been touched by his soul now. Because now I can share him with everyone else.
Adrenal Cancer sadly, took this young artisan from his family, friends, and the world much, much too soon. BUT you can help his legacy live on.
Go to Spencer’s Memorial Page and learn all about him,buy his merchandise and you could also make a donation to the Adrenal Cancer Research fund here: DONATE.
All of these things honor Spencer. One of my favorite pieces of his, is a journal entry, that you can read here:MY NAME.
If you have read the post I put up yesterday, you’ll know, when you sign up for his site, if you email me your link on his page, telling me your favorite piece of his art (be it lyrics,journal entries, drawings, what have you), then I’ll send you a beautiful tye dyed bracelet, that has his memorial site address, and the words “The Music Lives On”
on it. So, go forth now, and do it. You’ll be amazed, have a few laughs, perhaps a cry, but regardless, something on that site will change your life.

[[Image courtesy of spencerbellmemorial.ning. com]]

We <3 you Spencer Bell.