Welcome to Caneyhead and welcome to The Challenge!  Those of you who followed me through the challenge in previous years know that I usually do some form of personal story line.  This year I decided to stray from that and go a slightly different direction.  This year I will be sharing perspectives.  Simply put, my perspective on anything and everything.

To understand from where I draw my perspective you may need a little background on my life.  I was a child of the 60's, born to parents who had grown up during the Great Depression.  Both of them were born and raised in small Texas towns/communities, just like I was.  My father and most all of my 16 uncles fought in WWII.  Neither came from well-to-do families and neither did I. Working class.  Work ethic.  Strong Protestant Christian morals and values.  Rural/country lifestyle.  Gardens and farms.  Education was prized and pursued but did not always lead to professions.  You voted.  Patriotism was considered natural and good, even if you didn't agree with everything government did or said.  Mother raised my sisters more or less by herself in a time when there was no government assistance.  Manners were taught and expected to be minded.  There is a proper way to do things and a proper time and place for things.

I married into a family that also had roots in the land.  In the woods.  A heritage of a frontier mindset.  From a community that kept to themselves for the most part and did for themselves.  Their ideas were not as straight laced, but the basic ethical structure was the same.  Work ethic.  Marriage.  God.  Neighbors.  A little tougher, a little less refined.  Survivors.  After thirty-three years, they are as much a part of me as my own family.

All  of this goes into the make-up of me.  While I have thoughts, ideas, dreams, likes, dislikes, beliefs, etc. all of my own, all of them are colored and flavored by my life, my family.

In these times of discord popping up all over, I still feel that that we, as people, as Americans, share many perspectives.  And even when they differ, I think it is still possible to simply discuss how they are different and agree or agree to disagree.  Total agreement is not needed to be friends, or neighbors; in fact a real friend accepts where you differ and still enjoys the things you share in common and respects your individuality.

And even this is my perspective.  In April, I will be bringing you my perspective on a variety of subjects/topics.  Most entries will be rather light I suppose.  A few may be rather weighty.  It is my hope that you will come, read and consider my perspective.  Then please share yours!  No negativity.  No disrespect.  Just friends sharing their thoughts and views on a topic.

Do you have friends whose perspective on certain issues differs greatly from yours?  Are you comfortable sharing your perspective in a non-judgmental environment?

Barbara in Caneyhead