Wonderful world, incredible universe, happy humans

I heard on the news recently that most people value character over candidates' positions on the issues, but I am curious about the latter.

Of course there is a relationship between who people are ("the content of their character," as Martin Luther King said), and what they do, but I think action is more important than existence. I don't admire "good" people who do nothing.

I wish I could find a site that would have info on how candidates feel about issues such as
1. abortion
2. the war in Iraq
3. terrorism
4. health care
5. education
6. taxation
7. job training for the unemployed
8. immigration (I don't like the phrase "illegal aliens"; I prefer "illegal immigrants")
9. global warming
10. gas taxes
11. birth control
and so on.

I wonder if I sometimes criticize religion (especially Christianity) because I feel scared and outnumbered... and therefore wrong. Maybe I want to justify my atheism. Maybe I am insecure in my atheism. Maybe I'd be happier if I had more faith in more things.

Despite the reasonableness and kindness of many religious people (such as my wonderful Uncle Emory), I try to reduce my arguing about religion by telling myself that arguing with religious people is like arguing with bricks.... only noisier and more upsetting.

I should try to find the text of Bill Clinton's speech supporting religion and criticizing extremism.

I should follow Christ's advice and be more agreeable.

I read part of a book that put religious feelings in the nonlogical half of the brain. Makes sense to me. Using logic against faith is like using cooked spaghetti to try to stop a garbage truck..... ineffective. I'm stupid to do it. I should stop it.

I guess a lot of people don't get the rest they want. Sometimes it is hard for me to get out of bed and get going. I have a list of things... and that list helps me get up and get going. Nothing on the list is really that hard, unless you count "getting out of bed." That can be hard for me.

I didn't know that poor sleep affected the heart. I fear that I don't get mine pumping enough. The best I have been doing is to walk the dogs. Good for the heart and soul.

I.M.H.O., my feelings depend on
1. external reality
2. internal reality (my thoughts and feelings).

I try to improve both areas. Doing things to calm myself, doing things to increase my income, doing things to entertain me..... those are things in the external realm... but I need internal motivation to do them.

Direct change of internal states is not easy for me. I do meditate in a variety of ways:

1. Something I concentrate on the sensation of the breath in my nose.

2. Sometimes I count (to 8 or 4).

3. Sometimes I focus my attention on what I hear, or feel, or see.

4. Sometimes I try to think of pleasant things that actually exist.

5. Sometimes I daydream of what changes I would make to this world to make it more in tune with my wishes.

For example, I might imagine a world without disease... where hospitals would become hotels... and doctors become teachers.

I might imagine a world where breeding of humans, cats, and dogs was more difficult. I.M.H.O., overpopulation causes habitat destruction and death.

I want to be stronger. I want to be healthier. I guess they are related.