April 10, 2025 - Hope & the Little Things

Part of what I'm talking about today is something I have talked about before, but in light of the impact of one of the ridiculous executive orders which targets the trans community, I wanted to again post a short video to encourage and to hopefully provide some facts. Now as I have said, I am not a lawyer, but I am able to read and I looked up some information to get the facts on trump's executive order banning gender-affirming care and learned the following . . . 

• If you have private insurance which covers this care, then it is still available for you. Only government insurance - such as Medicaid - is impacted by this executive order.
• If your State has laws which protect Trans Rights - such as Michigan and California do - then you will be protected.
• These progressive States are protecting the residents of their States by suing the trump administration over the executive order.
• The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) and other groups are also suing the trump administration.
• For trump's executive order to become actual law, it needs 60 votes in the Senate - which it will NOT get.

So, while this is scary, frustrating, and maddening, stop and take a breath. Check the facts - you will find information at this link and this link. Know you are NOT alone. There are people who are advocating for you! There are people who love you!

And on this note, please again, use this to pull you closer to the people in your life who love, accept, and support you. Don't let anything come between you and them. If ever there was a time to accept their love - and let them know you love them, too - now is it for sure! So, make the commitment to show love to the people in your life who love and support you. Sometimes we show love in big ways, but there are also little things we need to remember to do as well. We may think the little things do not really matter, but the thing about the little things is sometimes they are actually the "big" things. 

With this in mind, let's think about some of the "little/big things" . . . 

• If you enjoy cooking or baking, make time to prepare a special meal or treat to brighten the day of the people who love you. 
• Make time for the hugs - pay attention and be generous with your hugs. When my grands were younger I told them hugs were actually a way to help them live longer - my then five year old middle grand said, "Well, then you are sure going to live for a long time because you give a lot of hugs, grandma!"
• Listen. Put aside tech and truly listen to the things your loved ones have to say.
• Make time to connect in ways which matter - go for a walk or a bike ride together, play a game, make popcorn and enjoy a movie together - just make time to connect.

These may seem like a small things, but discover what your "little things" are and then pay attention to them. Do not forget them, because some of the "little things" are really the big things - the things your loved ones will always remember.

So, again today, I want to send you another virtual "hug" - some days we need more than one hug - You matter. You deserve to be loved and are loved - I love you! You make our world a better place - we need you in this world. I hope you have people around you who tell you these things, but if not, please let me be someone who does. Yes, I say this every day, but these words are true and will always be so. You will find the video at this link.