Beach Day/ Other Influences
Visiting the beach is always a source of peace for our family. Going to the beach on a national holiday when it's over crowded however is not apart of that peace. We have a lot of customs in this country that have been passed along by our families. The reality is that my generation is far more open to dealing with this countries mistakes. We challenge long standing belief systems and traditions that shouldn't have existed in the first place. The truth is that African Americans were not freed on the 4th of the July. If I'm going to celebrate this nation's freedom, it would have to be on a day that all people of this country were free.
We go to the beach every weekend, but this time it took an hour to find parking. Chea dropped us off at the beach, then drove around to find parking. Amirah and I played in the water and ate while we waited for her father. After he found a parking spot, he joined us on the not so normally crowded beach.
You know I just want to say something about people that smoke and or cuss around children. It really bothers me when people smoke cigarettes or blow those vapor machines into crowds. If you are going to do something to harm your body, do it somewhere that only affects your life. It is completely disrespectful to smoke around anyone on this planet that did not agree to inhaling cigarette smoke. There are a lot of people I love that smoke, but that doesn't change my views. My father actually recently quit smoking after about 30+ years. He never once smoked in front of or around me. I actually wouldn't have known he smoked if it wasn't for the ever prevalent smell it leaves on skin. Smoking is something that affects others, therefore it needs to be done in a private setting. I wish that people could put on a special helmet and be forced to inhale the smoke and it never comes in contact with other innocent lungs. It would be one thing if it just smelled bad, I would just deal with it. The upsetting thing about second hand smoke is that it actually kills people, causes cancer, and harms the environment. So it's not a matter of preference, but more about health. I suffer from an autoimmune disease and take good care of myself. It's not fair that I make healthy choices, then have to suffer because someone else doesn't want to make a healthy choice. That should be a choice made in private in your own air supply.
I'm very open to everyone living different lifestyles and making different choices. The only time I ever care is when it is affecting my health or my child's innocence. I moved our blanket three times due to people being inconsiderate smokers and using inappropriate language around children. I don't understand why adults don't make better choices, but that would be our nation's biggest issue. Even though we had some minor set backs, we still had a wonderful time together on the beach.
What I am learning more and more as a mother is that we can only protect our children so much. All I can do is give my daughter good morals and character and pray she uses it daily. We all affect one another on this planet indirectly and directly. If more people thought about the choices they were making and how they affected those around them, I'm positive this world would be better off.
@AshleySirah