One of aspects of politics that frustrates me to no end is the rampant hypocrisy.
In order to pander to their base, politicians say or do just about anything, regardless of their own beliefs on the matter.
And then we’re surprised they behave other than they claimed they would.
It’s scary how frequently interpersonal communication — the ability to communicate a simple idea from one person to another — fails.
The most obvious cases are when we see someone say X, mean Y, and the other person hears Z. It can be quite amazing to witness.
Empathy — the ability to understand, accept, and even feel the feelings being experienced by others — makes many people uncomfortable.
And yet it’s a requirement for a healthy society.
Face it, you’re going to make a mess of it. You’re going to screw it up. We all do. Whatever “it” is, we make mistakes. Many of them.
What matters is not that you’ve made them, or even how many you’ve made.
It’s what happens next that matters most.
Skepticism has served me well, and I wish more people were more skeptical than they are.
To begin with, I do not think it means what you think it means.
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
“Moderation in all things” is a saying we’ve heard so often that it’s become almost meaningless.
And yet, it’s important.
Here’s a lesson learned from being an online publisher: you will be judged, whether you like it or not.
And you will be judged harshly, unfairly, and repeatedly.
And the vast majority of it doesn’t matter in the least.
I have become convinced that nothing has harmed humanity more than religion.
This is unrelated to whether you believe in a god.
This is all about the organizations and individuals taking advantage of you if you do.
Abortion is a significantly more complex issue than many would have us believe.
It’s much, much more than killing babies versus letting women control their own bodies. It’s a toxic mishmash of biology, religion, politics, and power.
If you set aside all the competing irrelevant agendas, it boils down to one unanswerable question.
This is almost in direct opposition to my thoughts on “the secret.”
I also can’t explain it, but I’ve seen it often enough to believe.
The universe rewards a positive attitude.
A few years ago there was a movie, and a follow on book, called “The Secret“.
Oversimplifying, I’m sure, but “the secret” boiled down to something called “manifestation.” Basically, if you regularly envision or call to mind your desires, the universe will conspire to make those dreams happen.
On the surface, it’s bullshit. The top layers are even bullshit. But dig a little deeper and there’s an interesting kernel of truth.
I’m starting to notice that many more people have suffered trauma in their lives than I ever would have imagined.
I mean actual, life altering events that in retrospect we would refer to as trauma.
We are a damaged species. Each and every one of us, it would appear.
“Privilege” is a difficult term to define, and to talk about.
To some, it’s a derogatory term applied to those who have more than they do, or used to call out those who don’t behave as they “should.”
It’s not really a bad thing, but how we address it can be.
One problem with the massive amounts of information, news, and advertisements crossing our threshold is the overwhelming number of people, animals, places, and things in need of our help.
Some day’s it’s simply heartbreaking.
The message is “You can help! Please help!”
Over, and over, and over again.
I was watching a TikTok the other day where the person was summarizing something like the top 5 complaints women have of men. (I’m remembering poorly and paraphrasing to boot, but unfortunately TikTok makes it very difficult to go back to what you’ve viewed in the past.)
One item is something I’ve heard before, and thought on a great deal.
We say no too often.
Particularly after a lifetime of experience makes us cynical, it’s simply too easy to say no to new things and new experiences. Even familiar activities result in a “no” because they take us out of our increasingly sedentary comfort zone.
I’d rather stay home. I’d rather not drive. I’d rather watch TV. I’d rather be passive.
Being offended is a choice.
Offense is taken, never given.
Oh, someone might try very hard to offend you, but actually being offended is your reaction. It’s not something foisted on you by someone else. It’s a choice.
Make better choices.
ABR: always be reading.
This is something that’s been really difficult for me to stick to, and I know why. I suspect it’s a common problem.
It’s never been easier to always have a book with you. If you have a smartphone, you have a platform on which you can run Kindle or other ebook applications. You can always have a book, or thousands of books, with you, ready to read at a moment’s notice.
So why don’t we do it?
