SO, that is the question, right? WHICH C.A.F.E.?
NO! in a world that keeps insisting on making
every issue have a “YES” or “NO” answer,
I have decided that, when I think about it,
most of my answers are NOT “YES” or “NO”!

There are SO many points to consider about
each issue that is challenging in our world –
it seems TO ME that the only people pushing
for “YES” or “NO” answers are somehow
benefiting from forcing that response . . . why?

I have felt the CHAOS and the ANGER and
all the others negative feelings in the first C.A.F.E.
BUT, I have also felt the CALM and ALTRUISTIC
feelings in the second C.A.F.E. – which has often
left me feeling very CONFUSED . . .
UNTIL I stopped and asked myself
“what do I think?” not what am I being told
to think or being told there area only two answers
to choose from on an issue or a situation
—humans are more complex than that!

SO MY ANSWER to every issue is
“NO”!
I will not accept that I only have two choices
AND
“YES”!
I will think about other answers, maybe check
out some ideas from different sources,
and INSIST on finding a “middle way” –
a way that goes beyond just “YES” or “NO”

MY CHOICE IS to
STOP all the chatter going around in circles,
REJECT all the distractions and judgements
of people and situations I know nothing about
and insist on staying on the “issue,”
REFUSE “Yes” or “No” questions,
DISMISS those who try to change the
conversation to condemnations instead of
examining possible solutions,
and

I WILL
PAUSE before making a comment on
any issue so I can respond, NOT react,

I WILL
CLAIM my right to my opinion while
being willing to explore without judgement
the opinions of others,

I WILL
MAINTAIN and DEMAND respectful
interactions with others . . .
IF you must curse and condemn others,
take a long walk in the woods and feel
free to express yourself there

I WILL
REMEMBER – people with differing opinions
can be “right from their perspective” but that
does not make someone who disagrees
with them “wrong”
which is WHY
opinions should never be stated
as facts (including mine)!

I am on a journey to find
the MIDDLE WAY so I will be
making adjustments as I go along . . .
it seems that this its the way throughout
all of time that has worked the best –
define the goal,
take a step,
assess its result,
make adjustments to follow the path
to the desired goal

HOW DO I WALK THE MIDDLE WAY?
first: define my goal . . .
simple, not easy!