Interesting encounters

I don't even know how to begin this post. I can't think of a good first sentence for whatever reason. I guess this'll do.

Something I just want to share: A friend of mine contacted me out of the blue on Tuesday and gave me a mission to get out of the house immediately and do something I'd never done before. I'd been thinking about how people are so afraid of other people -- how often do you walk down the street and people avert their eyes so they don't meet yours? So I went downtown with my little brother to the farmer's market with a 'Free Hugs' sign and gave free hugs to whoever was "brave" enough to get one. It was awesome! I gave hugs to people from all over the world -- one woman was from Portugal, another family from Chicago, a girl from New York, another couple from London, another from Argentina. Some people commented on how fantastic it was that we were doing what we were doing; others wanted pictures; and then others were just so grateful for a hug. One elderly man I gave a hug to, when I asked how he was doing, he sighed and said, "Oh, better now... thank you so much, I really needed that," and truly seemed the better for a simple hug. How easy is that?

A gentleman came up and gave me a hug with his sister in mind, he said, and my brother a hug with his brother in mind. He was a bit scruffy, looked like he might be homeless, seemed like a nice guy. He started talking about how he's the Comedic Priest for some underground church, and how he's going to destroy Hollywood with his own movie making... okay, that's fine, high ambitions are good. He asked why I was doing what I was doing, and I told him that we were trying to get people to step out of their fear and just realize that coming from a place of openness and love is the way to go.

"Yeah, but hate is real good, too," he says. I told him that I feel hate is just fear that is so vulnerable that it requires an emotional furnace to keep it alive. All of a sudden though he turns real aggressive. "Oh is that so, huh? You know SOOOO much. Who are you, some guru and I'm your pupil? Who are you to tell ME shit?!" I told him I wouldn't dare to presume to be a guru of any sort. "Oh, haha, look at you! Trying to be wise and shit. Hate is POWERFUL, fuck love! Love doesn't do shit for anyone but FUCK YOU UP! So FUCK YOU and fuck your love!" I told him that I wished him well with that mentality. He gets in my face. "Oh, now your passing judgements on me, huh?" Turns to the farmer's market. "LOOK AT HER JUDGING ME! SHE LIKES TO THINK SHE'S COMING FROM LOVE, BUT SHE'S JUDGING ME!" He turns back to me and I seriously thought he was going to try to hit me -- at this point I'm already on my guard and in a stance to be able to defend myself. At this point I would really have loved to crack him in the balls, but that would've been sort of against what I was down there for, haha... so I just tell him that I'm not judging him, and I'd like to keep the energy positive so if he could please go on with his day that would be awesome. Now, I'm proud of myself at this point, because what he says next makes my eyes almost pop out of my head. "You know what? You're Morgaine, and I've met Guinevere, but I'm fucking Lancelot, so you and I have a rivalry, don't we?" Um, no, I don't think we do, actual-- "Fuck you and your love. You're just a woman. You like to think you're so great, but in reality, THE IGNORANCE OF WOMEN WILL BE THE DEATH TO ALL MANKIND! You're SO damn ignorant, you're all scheming!" and he continues to spout off shit even after I've turned away from him. He finally starts walking away, taking people aside and pointing at me and saying that me and my kind will be the death of all.

To be honest, this interaction just bummed me out because, hell, I wonder what happened in his life to make him so damn bitter? How does he justify trying to deface what I was doing? (I'm thankful that he left my brother out of it, at least -- my inner mama bear would've had to kick some ass.) Anyway, it was obvious that he wasn't quite right in the head, and I've heard enough derogatory statements about women that it was less than a shock.

Take responsibility for your own emotional baggage, man.

On another note, RIBBON DANCING FINALS! As much as I like to bag on ribbon dancers because, c'mon, ribbon dancing... they really are pretty fantastic. Those girls can bring their feet up to their faces from behind while dancing. That is insane!

Oh and, I can snatch a 24 kg 'bell now for reps -- suh-weet. I also came across some pictures from a couple of years back and I couldn't believe the differences I've made. I love carrying muscle, and this leaning down process has been amazing. I do swear by KBs now whenever anyone asks me what it is that I do to train... my arms, quads, glutes, and especially my core is more solid than it ever was when I was just training with free weights at the gym. AMAZING stuff, I can't get enough of it.