Paul Kilmon: A Life Illustrated in Words & Photos: Be Aware Of Your Surroundings

Welcome!

Through my writing, photography, career, and personal challenges, you will discover I am just like you, a person on a journey. My goals are simple, to be healthy and happy. You will learn I have many interests. The driving force for all I do is communication, the sharing of ideas and my passion for laughter. It really is the best medicine and a great stress reducer.

I consider myself a down-to-earth guy, who is just making it up as I travel through life, adding a virtual laugh track here and there to amuse others and myself. I have a friendly personality, which is expressive, warm, upbeat, fun, and positive. I love meeting new people. I thrive on communication, organization, diversity, creativity, and laughter. – Paul Eric Kilmon (paerki)

Sunday, June 08, 2014

Be Aware Of Your Surroundings

I observed some unsettling behavior as I was walking home from downtown Baltimore on Friday evening. I am sharing here what I conveyed on my Facebook page because this is a teaching moment. We must be aware of our surroundings, at all times. – paerki

Friday Evening

Wannabe Muslim man, you may not say, "Take that bitch down!" As far as I am concerned, the Maryland Avenue mosque is a hideout for thugs. I have respect for the Muslim faith and those who are true followers of Allah. Sadly, the Maryland Avenue mosque doesn't deliver. This is the fifth time I've walked by this mosque to hear someone talking inappropriately. Never leave a mosque with bitterness in your heart. Yes?! (Thugs come in all shapes, sizes and colors.) I loathe a fake anything. You might not like my rhetoric, but you'll always get real from me.

Follow-Up Comment

The comment was not directed at me, but at a woman standing on the corner. I walk past this particular mosque a few times each week and what I hear doesn't always sound positive. It's not my intention to judge, but some of the members of this mosque do not engage the community, as they should. I have witnessed threatening body language – again, not directed at me.

I guess I should mind my own business, but this is a big deal to me. It’s bad enough the Muslim faith gets a bad rap here in the United States, but this type of activity doesn’t help build bridges, mend fences or tear down walls. It doesn’t offer hope to a community that doesn’t always thrive as it should.

I am not the biggest fan of religion, but I can appreciate faith, hope and love, and no matter what you believe, those three ingredients must be present in any religion, especially if we want to lift people’s spirits higher, while offering them hope for a new day. I’ll also add tolerance and forgiveness.

In this case, actions really do speak louder than words.

I will not stop walking by this mosque, and I will do as I have always done – observe. There might be a time when I’ll be inclined to call the police because of an inappropriate action.

It’s a two-way street with me. I would be equally disturbed if a citizen from the community spoke inappropriately or exhibited menacing behavior towards a mosque member.

Learning to live in peace and harmony has its challenges, but it is doable and I am never without hope. Education is key.

What would life be like without memories? It’s fair to say, there would be no life at all. Memory is our communication, reason, coherence, our action and more importantly, our feeling. Memories create our path in life, developing our psychology and leading us emotionally.

One of the best ways to create and store memories is with video. These simple effortless little snippets of time create diaries and become perpetual time capsules, which justify our walk on earth, telling all with great enthusiasm… I was here! I mattered! I lived! Please, don’t forget me.

Share your views, thoughts and opinions in the written word. Snap photographs so your eyes can travel back in time, remembering the happy and sad moments that made you the person you were, are and became in life. But, whenever possible, capture video to enhance the memories you leave behind, so that others may pass the essence of your life on to future generations. – paerki

I love photographs! They have this amazing ability to tell stories of fun places, special moments, memorable events, and exciting places. They give us reason to pause and remember friends, family, coworkers and so many others. One photograph can conjure up a flood of memories taking us on a journey. They help us remember the past, enjoy the present and ponder the future.

On a cold and rainy day I love sitting in my living room with a roaring fire, a glass of wine, classical music playing in the background and my many photographs scattered about me. I love sifting through what I call my special collection, which refers to my favorites. They remind me of the saddest and happiest moments of my life. They remind me of challenges and overcoming.

My large collection of images are a testament to a life lived. Life happens all around us so it’s important to collect special memories, and what better way than with a photograph. – paerki

It’s hard to believe I’ve been blogging for more than 12 years. This art form has allowed me to showcase and express my creativity. It has bolstered my confidence (not that is was lacking). At times it has been therapeutic, but more than anything it has given me a much deeper view of the world and how I see myself in it.

I use my insights as a barometer for self-change, which helps me reconcile the past, adapt to the present and navigate carefully into the future. I have enjoyed the roller coaster ride of thought as my hands write it and my eyes see it. As always, I hope you can relate to my stories, appreciate my views, savor the wisdom, reflect on the concepts and, more than anything, respect my friendly and genuine interest in connecting with others.

Find you own voice. Think about writing your own blog. Learn your style, share your views and open a whole new world of possibilities for you and your readers-to-be.. – paerki