If it feels good, do it. That's how the saying goes. Many people associate that thinking with an evil way of life that must be stopped. You may know some people that are like that or you may be one of them. You know the type. At the mere mention of that phrase they produce a knee jerk reaction that goes something like "The world would be in a total state of chaos if everybody felt the same, there'd be anarchy." Usually the comments they produce aren't nearly as well spoken. To those people, and you can already tell I'm not one of them, "If it feels good, do it" to them seems to evoke images of all sorts of things they don't want to see happening.

First, let's analyze the statement. If it feels good, do it. Don't we all like to do things that feel good? Sure we do.. Unless we're depressed, and then nothing feels good. But, that's another story. Everybody out there likes to do things that feel good. If you are hungry, it feels good to eat. It feels good to stuff your belly full of food and then slug out on the couch. Sometimes the guilt sets in for eating too much, but just push that out of your mind and promise to get some exercise tomorrow to make up for it. There, that's nice isn't it? How about when you have to pee really bad? Feels good to just let it out doesn't it? Is there anything wrong with that? Nope.. people have been peeing for all of history, and it makes them all feel good. How about getting a little drunk? You had a stressful day at work and you need to unwind. You could go home in the evening and sit around thinking about all of your unsolved problems. On the other hand, you could go grab some Guinness on the way home and have a few and just forget about your problems. It's not the perfect solution and your problems will still be there the next day, but you've managed to patch the situation and start fresh tomorrow. If you don't overdo it, you won't have a hangover and your fresh approach may be just what you need to solve the problem.

So we all do things that make us feel good. I could come up with countless examples. So what problem do people have with that statement? From my observations, it seems that people that have a problem with that statement have a lifestyle they are content with. They like the way they live.. AND they think everybody should live the way they live. Uhhh.. Wait, there it is. There's the problem. They think everybody should live the way they live. They don't like to see other people doing things they themselves won't do. Whatever reason they have for not drinking, living the gay lifestyle, carrying a gun, driving fast, having sex, getting naked and whatever else it is they don't approve of is fine with them and they want everybody else to abide by the same rules. For some reason, it makes them uncomfortable to see and or think about those things. So, what is that reason? Perhaps they think they are much smarter than those other people and the people that do those things need a little parental style guidance to keep them "in line". Perhaps they have some deep rooted need to control things. I'm sure everybodies case is a little different.

Ok, here it comes.. the rant. As smart as the people who don't like the "if it feels good, do it" philosophy are, they aren't smart enough. Is it right for them to try and force their lifestyle on other people? Is it right for them to try and force people to do the "right" thing in their eyes when nobody else is getting hurt? Think about it. Just put aside your pet beliefs for a second and honestly think. So many people get defensive when you ask them to question their beliefs. Trust me, I question mine all the time and it doesn't hurt anything. If some gay couple is walking down the street holding hands or kissing, how in the world does that affect you? Have they caused you some harm? How about if somebody is carrying a gun down the street? Does that affect you? You may be a little shocked, or scared. But there's no harm being done that isn't the result of your own inability to adapt and accept things. I've had some people talk about the right to be "free from fear". Well, you may have the right to be "free from fear", however nobody owes you that right. In other words, you may persue your freedom from fear all you want but it doesn't grant you the right to force everybody else to see that you are provided with your freedom from fear. If a bee flies up in your face and scares you, then you know fear. If you're scared of thunderstorms, then you know fear. It's no different than feeling fear when you see a gun or feeling shock or whatever you feel when you see a gay couple walking down the street or a hooker working a street corner. The problem is in your head. It's your problem. Deal with it yourself and don't expect or try and force others to make the things you don't like to see go away. That's just selfish in the worst kind of way. People that don't like the philosphy of "if it feels good, do it" tend to claim the other side is selfish. Well, guess what? It's the complete opposite.

The only way peace will ever come about is if we all give up our selfish tendencies to make others behave in ways that we see as acceptable. Our country tries to force democracy on other countries. Democracy is not necessarily the best way for anybody to live. It's even less likely to be the best way if we as a nation teach them to live that way using the barrel of a gun for motivation. If you honestly think about it, there only needs to be one law. Love your neighbor as yourself, or do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Those two statements are pretty much the same idea. Most people that read that think it only means to do kind things for your neighbor. It's much more than that. It also encompasses the idea that if you do not want somebody to force you to live the way they live, then don't try and force them to live the way you live. That can apply to nations such as ours trying to force other nations to adopt our form of government or it can apply to the church trying to force our governement to ban gay marriages. If the church doesn't want somebody to try and force the government to ban churches.. then they shouldn't try and force the government to ban gay marriages. To do so, is a very UN-christian act. If you don't want somebody telling you what you can and can't read, then don't try and force that person to give up his guns. And vice versa. Live and let live. Deal with your own fears and don't project them onto other people as problems to be solved. To you christians, Jesus taught these things, according to the bible. Don't judge, love you neighbor as yourself, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, let those that are without sin cast the first stone.. etc. Do you understnad what that means? You can't legislate religion or personal beliefs without violating those rules. Many people throw the statement around "what would Jesus do?" They throw it around as a battering ram to try and force others to do what they think is right. I believe the truth is that Jesus would not judge those people and try and force them into doing what is right. He would simply give them an option to think about without resorting to using the government as his boxing gloves. He would sit down with the hookers and the drunks and the gay people and the gun toters and have a meal or a drink with them. He may suggest they try a different way of life and he would lead by example not force. He would accept them as they are. That's just my opinion.

There are a lot of things I see people doing that I would not choose to do myself. I'm not gay, probably never will be since I just don't see the attraction. But, if people want to be gay, that's fine. They don't hurt me any. I don't walk around naked.. much.. :) but if somebody wants to, go for it. It doesn't affect me. I do carry a gun at times and if it bothers you, then see the above statements. It doesn't affect you. I do listen to music and watch movies with swearing and play violent video games. If it bothers you, then see the above statements. It doesn't affect you so butt out and quit trying to have the government force me to change my lifestyle you freaking idiot. Ahh yes, freedom of speech.. remember that?

Well, that got a little deeper than I intended, but then, my thoughts usually do. If you aren't hurting anybody and it feels good, then do it. If you are hurting somebody, and they like it and want you to keep hurting them.. well.. then go for it. :) And if you can't deal with people that do what feels good to them and try to force the government to take action.. then may whatever God you believe in have mercy on your soul.

Now go pee.