Kindness from Strangers

RAVE to the table next to us at a local restaurant. While celebrating my 80th with my family, the table next to us treated me to a glass of Champagne. How cute is that? Thank you!

RAVE to the man who pulled up next to my partner and me on Montlake while we waited at a traffic light with our convertible top down. He rolled down his window and said, “Pardon me, would you have any Grey Poupon?” I replied with, “But of course.” It was just like in those old Grey Poupon mustard commercials! It was such a simple “microaffection,” but with so much tearing at people from all sides these days, it was a sweet, uplifting and humorous moment.

RAVE to the person who found and turned in our lost car keys at Snoqualmie ski resort in inches of powder. We were stranded with our 3-year-old and no one was traveling through the pass for us to get home. You reinstilled in us the basic goodness of people.

RAVE to whoever hung the two simple and very meaningful banners on the overpass at Aurora Avenue North and North 130th Street. Seeing those blue banners with the words HOPE and HEAL really is hopeful and healing! Thank you so much for giving us a more positive day every time we drive by and read those banners. 

RAVE to an unexpected act of kindness. As I was walking through the forest in Seward Park, I came upon a lovely, small bouquet of wildflowers arranged in a small vase and placed in an hollow of a tree. “Whomever you are, these flowers are for you!” was written on a note. I had recently lost my brother due to a heart attack and was in the midst of grieving. The unexpected bouquet raised my spirits and for that, I thank you!

RAVE to the wonderful guy, Jeff, who witnessed a theft of my electric bike while I was inside a coffeehouse. He followed the suspect from afar, called out to him about the bike, causing the thief to abandon the bike and run. He then returned bike intact and ready to ride again.   Life is good.

RAVE to our King County Metro C Line bus driver. We boarded downtown and headed to West Seattle. We stopped unexpectedly in the middle of Highway 99 where he picked up all the passengers from a stranded C bus that had been in a fender bender. Not 1,000 feet later, he pulled over and picked up the passengers from a stranded 55! When we got to West Seattle, he smoothly converted his route, made every stop for the 55, and then just as calmly turned back into a C. Stopping in the middle of 99 was spooky, but he handled it with total professionalism. Kudos! 

RAVE to imagination and the little girl wearing a pink tutu who danced gracefully out of her ballet class. She crossed the street in front of my car, moving her feet daintily, and her arms arched overhead, ready for her pirouette. May we all carry a little pink tutu magic with us! 

RAVE to the two drivers who stopped to help me the evening of June 25, when my car was hit by a hit-and-run driver on Sand Point Way Northeast. Thanks to Amanda, Savannah and Madison in the first car who took right off and found the vehicle after the driver tried to hide in an apartment complex parking lot. The video they took of the car and license plate helped police and insurance find the driver. Thanks to my second unknown good Samaritan who came back to check in with me even after he could not find the car. I was very touched by their quick response to find the person. Thanks!

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Riddle Me this?

What do these words have common (other than having three letters) bee, sea, eye, jay, pea, cue, are, tea, you, why?

Each word is pronounced exactly like a letter of the alphabet

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Why Aren’t Juvenile Records Protected?


If rehabilitation is the founding mission of the juvenile justice system, then should not the protection of juvenile records be the most essential task? The lack of record protection makes juveniles likely to recidivate, as well as experience difficulties with education and employment. While the likelihood of juveniles being given a chance at true rehabilitation is slim, there are implications that can directly address the issue.

Rehabilitation needs to be the primary focus because juveniles do not have the luxury of choosing the environment they are born in. So, there should be no comparison of juvenile delinquency to adult criminal court records.

Additionally, it is vital for records to not be easily accessible on the internet and the public should not have access to the courtroom or sealed records. All juveniles deserve a fair chance to change their life. So, a cost-free record protection process would guarantee inclusivity, instead of adding to the overwhelmingly abundant inequities already present within the juvenile justice system. Similarly, all juveniles need to be informed about the process of sealing and expungement, not just a select few in favor of the privileged. All in favor of continuing to honor practicing inclusiveness? Aye. All youth, regardless of demographics, should be able to navigate this process independently, and there should be no limitation on which and when crimes can be expunged because that only encourages disparities. The most crucial step is to tell the juvenile when their records are eradicated electronically and physically, expeditiously.

If any individual or entity dares to blatantly obtain the audacity to ignore these rules, consequences should follow. As Theodore Roosevelt said, “No man is above the law and no man is below it.”

Sincerely,
Marshae Batchelor, MSW Student at Temple University

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Black Men

Black men and boys face myriad societal challenges that affect their mental health, including racial bias, police brutality, health disparities, and generational trauma. How does this affect them? They have to be the strongest, and they aren’t allowed to be vulnerable. If I’m to be in a relationship with a Black man, how is that going to work if he’ll never show me his vulnerability? Where’s the balance there? Black men are suffering. Look at how the world treats them. And then Covid hit, and we had to find the power to switch the narrative. Look at how many people—Black people, people of color—we were able to help during this pandemic. What I learned about men is that men need to be nurtured and singled out, because they often just don’t feel heard.

Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging”, as I know each of these pieces represents something

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Blinders

To create the life you want, it’s important to put those blinders up. Review your social media feeds and unfollow anyone you’re comparing yourself to, and work with a coach or mentor who is helping you unlock your magic vs. walking you through their plan. ⁠

Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…

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