Who are the Ordinary People and who are the Extra-Ordinary People?
Would it be evident to others who the ordinary people are; or who the extra-ordinary people may be? Those who have accomplished success; are they ordinary people, or are they simply people doing extra-ordinary things that make themselves and the world a better place?
Most humans have been pre-programmed by creation to strive and produce extra-ordinary results. It is within us to do so in spite of challenges we face. Most often, the ‘hardships conquered? produce extra-ordinary results.
We are created in God’s image and likeness. There are many ways this is evident, especially the wonders of nature. Nature is fully programmed to sustain itself, in spite of human interventions. From the trees that provide oxygen for humans, to the waterways, the mountains, the streams, the waterfalls, the fresh water fish, ocean life, the grasses and much more. Just look around on a splendid summer day in Michigan.
A cherry tree does not challenge an oak tree for position and rite of passage. A cherry tree produces cherries once per year if cared for by humans and fed by nature; an oak tree provides shade, acorns for animals and most of all, oxygen.
Each of us human beings is capable of extra-ordinary accomplishments for self and the world around us.
Outsiders can share in another individual’s good works; yet others cannot choose good works for others. This brings it all back to the innate gift in all life; choice and consequences. We can praise another for good works and if that encourages good behavior it’s a bonus that benefits all. We can criticize and punish another for in-appropriate behavior who is the beneficiary of this if anyone? All in all, choice is a built-in consciousness granted to all humans and all living things.
It is everyone’s responsibility to develop a sense of well-being or self-assurance, better known as self-esteem from inside out. To be that, is to recognize it in others; thus fostering one-another respectfully. To ignore this crucial step in human development is to encourage jealousy and bullying to prevail in our midst.
Ordinary people accomplishing extra-ordinary results or extra-ordinary people accomplishing ordinary results; it is the process of learning, growing, experiencing individually and collectively in honor of self and all life.
Words have power; yet they have no more power than humans who choose them. If chosen to build understanding and communication, we all benefit. We have the responsibility as human beings to respect ourselves and one-another for our individual ‘human worth.?
I will always be humble and forever a respectful, caring, human being. Pay it forward!
Maria Rotondo Mark lives in Independence Township

In case anyone is aware, I took a break from submitting a column; to reflect / observe and further understand the bigger picture.
Humans are inter-connected / inter-dependent by design in multi levels:
? Connected to a genetic pool, via creation
? Spiritual / Emotional connection and free will, via creation
? Chemically / Biologically connected to Mother Earth / Planet Earth, via creation
? Astronomically connected to the Universe, from the stars, to the entire solar system and other planets, via creation
As human beings each of us affect the human race!
We are in the 21st century with great possibilities and difficult challenges to be considered.
To have an appreciation of whom each of us is; allows open space for others to do the same.
As creatures of habit, I believe, it takes approximately three weeks to break an old habit; or to adopt a new one. If this theory prevails and catches on; hope is a realized shift.
‘We are different in that we are alike and alike in that we are different.?
Respecting, appreciating, learning and bridging the gaps that divide; is a step toward co-existence explicit in our 21st century.
Human beings are connected via suffering, recovering, celebrating, socializing, producing, progressing, are just a few ways to access common denominators of understanding,
Regardless of where we live, media brings the world to all of us. An earthquake happens in Japan; we all feel the impact.
A devastating Hurricane in New Orleans, U.S.A. and the world takes notice. We are not only a world market economically; we are inter-dependent and connected.
More importantly, we are fellow human beings. Disregarding race trivia, color, geographic location, language or no language connections; in the bigger picture, these are mere images of our human race. When speaking of human ‘race?; it does not translate being in a race to crucify one-another on irrelevant matters.
Be it political viewpoints, power and position, economic status, man or woman, single, married, divorced and the list goes on. It is helpful to communicate with respectful intention for the bigger purpose, of good to prevail.
Each of us is an important component contributing to civilization.
What comes to mind is the urgency to access a higher dose of ‘tolerance? first and foremost to one-self, then extended to others.
‘No-one accomplishes the goal totally alone; yet we move courageously toward fruition.?
Those in leadership roles, need followers, workers, managers, marketers, economists, law-makers, legislators all inter-weaved creating a quilt of human-kind. All working to prosper.
We are worthy, we are capable and we are humane. Pass it forward!
Maria Rotondo Mark lives in Independence Township

While most relationships are chosen and cultivated; on the other hand, relatives are inherited.
To relate to relatives is a relatable choice. To be inherited is often taking things for granted, not to be misunderstood as free of attachment!
Often we seem to mistake love as the relationship. In reality love is the result of a good relationship built on day to day, month after month, moment to moment accumulation of joys and tribulations.
As we mature through the process of accepting, understanding, mending, resolving our miss-communication; we grow as people and as a result relationship builds on the bond of love. Respect the self, is to respect another, trust the self is to trust another.
One does not do the right thing for another without realizing the self-responsibility of checks and balances for our actions is no-one else’s but each individual to account for.
Can one fall in love and build a relationship later; does one build a relationship that can grow toward love?
Obviously most humans follow no formula; most stumble upon love or the notion of love.
Others may settle for companionship at any cost. Love is no settlement it is an ultimate gift granted upon humankind by our Creator.
When this gift is cultivated, maintained, cherished and shared there is no other substitution. To be worthy of love is to assign a worth to the self.
Fear is an emotion, a trigger, a blocker, a cloud that may have been implanted by previous relationships gone sour, thus produced a barricade. Identify the possibility to release fear and be free to choose again.
Enduring love is one that builds upon the day to day actions, interactions, forgiving yet not forgetting the lessons learned.
No one is perfect, no relationship is mistake proof, to understand the self is to know we are similar in nature; all capable of making choices to build relationship or put them in harms way. Recovery is always in our grasp.
There are doctors and hospitals to assist when illness occurs; similar are matters of the heart as they affect the emotional health of everyone. These times are opportunities to communicate, understand that we are all human and humans are capable of making mistakes.
If recognized, mistakes are like taking medicine to bring us to better health balance. Emotional good health is as important if not more so than physical health.
Relationships begin with self, when one is able to live with self; to live with another is to take a new step. To walk toward another is to learn how to walk all over again. Desire to be with intention is to align mind, body and spirit; a trinity agreement each individual must reckon with.
Each awakening day begins a new experience. Day after day a renewal to be open and vulnerable to allow love to flow in the blood stream of daily routine. Aligning with the intentions creates a free space for trust to live. Pain may be inevitable to attain the level of co-existence to prevail. Miracles do happen when alignment, awareness, commitment, accountability, responsibility, respectability and all the other necessary ingredients that cultivates the miracle of love to exist in our midst.
Maria Rotondo Mark is a resident of Independence Township

If one could comprehend the greatness of the power we come from; possibly respect could be an attainable goal.
Somehow separation has prevailed thus allowing greed to take center stage.
To know and understand true power is to bring humbleness to mankind.
As each of us become affected with awareness and take steps toward meeting our basic needs not our irrational wants, life will flow with ease and grace.
Who will lead this recovery process to appreciating and respecting since we all have the same basic needs?
They are food, shelter and water. We have managed to cripple shelter, one of the big three.
This is quite a disrupting reality to swallow for all human beings.
If land has no worth as it relates to dollars, where can one place one’s shelter if it could be materialized?
We have yet to see a house suspended in mid air. If it were possible who has rights to air space?
Quite ridiculous you say; yet if one stops to react to the dysfunction and begins to look at the bigger picture; only then can creativity and activity be realized.
If all this posturing for money and power could be seen by most as distraction, then accepting responsibility for individual actions with respect could bring hope to humankind.
One of the statements I have heard said is: ‘we must get back to basics?. What are basics in this economy? Housing is part of the basic needs of all human beings; food, water and shelter.
If we disrupt this order, there is a high price we all pay. The earth will not expand to give us more land. There are land barons holding on to their property, continuing to pay taxes in the hopes sanity returns and folks regain confidence in the system.
This is no time to gamble with the livelihood of people. Uncertainty will remain until a few basic rules of conduct are demonstrated in our midst.
We are community, we will unite and we are capable of greatness as individuals, families, businesses, co-workers all committed in ‘unison? for the greater good of mankind. It’s in our nature to pursue the natural flow toward prosperity in all ways.
Maria Rotondo Mark lives in Independence Township

What can one do to release stress?
Surrendering is a good place to start. Who did what to whom, where, or when, is mainly re-living past painful experiences?
Accepting personal responsibility is a life-long school, no one graduates pain free, we are all students and all teachers to one-another.
The process of accepting responsibility begins in childhood. No-one escapes without scars, which often re-surface in adult life. Too much responsibility may have been placed on one individual without adequate distribution among other members of the family; thus resulting in victimization of one individual.
As an adult in charge this process could be unconsciously re-enacted generally with much surprise to the person. When others do not meet our expectations, the automatic response is to criticize, blame or complain about those who are not affirmed either.
Relationships with others are a reflection of the relationship with self. If others disappoint us; it generally is the mirror of self-disappointment.
To forgive the self, is to see your actions; a recipe to access ‘judgment free living? with those we love.
The road to recovery may seem painful and time consuming, yet the only path to live free from the prison of disappointment, discouragement, despair and anger.
Those who are aware must be courageous enough to maintain balance of centered self, as others observe how we treat ourselves.
We are mirrors to one-another of human worth; the mirror is a mere object without voice.
Hope these thoughts can guide your path to ‘peaceful co-existence? not victimization.
Maria Rotondo Mark lives in Independence Township