Standing for Something

I'm in bed right now, partaking in one of the many benefits of having a laptop that I, personally, have never experienced before; having computer access... in bed. I just finished reading and now I'm considering going to bed early. We'll see how long this journal lasts.

I walked out of the house this morning in beautiful 65 degree weather. By lunch time it was snowing (at least in Dickson, TN). Just Tennessee weather for you I guess. It really does bug me sometimes, but I've been lucky to have not gotten sick thus far. Work is pretty crazy. I'm installing 16 flat screen LCD tv's in a pediatric dental office. The TV's hang flat face-down from the ceiling and are for the kids to watch while they get their teeth worked on. WHAT? Kids these days!

Outside of work I've been working. I've been trying to do my best at this Road Managing gig. I've never really done anything like this before, so I have my fair share of questions and I'm trying my best to have all of my ducks in a row before I walk into the communication obligations that the job requires. I leave for SC on Thursday night at 11:45. We get there in the morning and I'll be working all day trying to get everything set up just right. I'm nervous. Of course I'm nervous! This is big and I'm getting paid for it! I'm trying to be confident in my abilities and knowledge, but it's hard. I know enough to know that I don't know near as much as I wish I did.

I like the music though. I know my friends all hate Christian music, and I've gone along with that for a while. Sure, there's a good bit of it out there that is repetitive, uncreative, and lame. Sure there's a good bit of it that comprises an entire culture that I think is wrong. But there does exist stuff that I really like, and I'm not going to be ashamed that I like it, in fact, I will stand up for it. You can't hate something just because it is called "Christian". We do live in a society, after all, that considers blanket statements to be a no-no.

That leads me to another though I've been having. The things I stand for and care about I tend to compromise on a regular basis. I'm so tired of that. I don't want to make people uncomfortable is what it stems from. But a lot of the people around me will attack the things or people I care about and I don't attack back. I just brood about it. But the way I feel is that you are entitled to your opinion to not care for something that I care for. Like sushi for instance. If you say "Gosh, I don't really care for sushi. I just don't like the way it tastes." I can't argue with that. That's how you feel. But if you say to me, referring to someone or something I love, "I hate that, it's stupid. People are dumb for liking that." What you have done is you have included me in your disliking. Then we will probably have a heated debate about it, or perhaps even an argument.

Basically I guess it just comes down to respect. In the company of someone else, have a respect for that person and their tastes in things and people. I mean there are limits to everything, but choose your battles wisely.

On the other side, I don't think it's wrong to stand for something, even if your own friends persecute you for it. My friends don't persecute me for listening to Christian music, but I'm using it as an example. People do get persecuted by the ones closest to them for what they believe.

I guess I didn't go to bed early after all. I'll survive. I just need a good night sleep, to stay asleep. Having dreams about her a lot. Bad ones. I also had a dream that I was being tortured last night by a special ops guy who was trying to induct me into their secret society. The special ops guy turned out to be my grandfather, but I didn't recognize him at first. It took me a second. He was a lot younger, close to my age.

So having said that, maybe I can get some rest tonight. No ex-girlfriends and/or militant torture please.