Officer Blogget, Blog Police: "Joe, you've been delinquent in posting to your blog. It's been over a week!"
Joe: Officer Blogget, It's not my fault. It’s not that I didn’t want to post, but I've been experiencing a "thought bottleneck", sump'm awful. It’s the opposite of "writer's block". I don’t know which is worse.
Officer Blodgett, Blog Police: "What in the world are you talking about? What do you mean? What's the difference?"
Joe: " Well Officer, a long time ago, I bought into the "muse" idea in my creative writing class, which set me up for writer's block. I used to sit in front of my computer, staring at the screen and waiting for the muse to open the door to my creative unconscious for all this great stuff to come out. But the only action I ever got was MS Windows automatically "saving" my blank Word page! Other than that, nothing! No ideas. It was time to quit when I started obsessing on, "I need a cigarette". I don't smoke!
My muse abandoned me! I was "a-mused"--literally--and not amused!
But this time, it was the exact opposite. I had too many ideas! I either can't remember them all, or I can't type them up fast enough to post on my blog.
Officer Blogget, Blog Police: (Taps his night stick on the computer and looks at his watch impatiently.) I haven't got all night and I'm still not hearing a good reason.
Joe: Just a few moments more, Officer. There's not that much more to tell.
Officer Blogget, Blog Police: Where were you the afternoon of Saturday?
Joe: Ummmm...I happened to pass the psychic development institute in our area (a big field of interest in my neck of the woods) and noticed they had a free psychic faire. So I stopped in on a lark and got Ellen, who practiced giving me a reading. She explained,
"Joe, thoughts are energy. You are energy! If you don't write your ideas and insights shortly after you have them, you risk the energy of your thoughts bottlenecking and falling back into your leg, slipping along the leg meridian. It'll coagulate there."
Then she squinted at me as though peering into me and passed her hands within inches of my head.
"I'm feeling your energy aura around your head and upper torso. As I suspected. Your thought energy is bottlenecked at your 3rd cervical vertebrae and it's starting to migrate downward."
Officer Blogget, Blog Police: Gimme a break Joe, I don't have all night. Are you telling me you really believe this?
Joe: I really didn't know what to believe. I felt trapped in my own private X-File:
"But Mulder, what's the evidence? Just saying this is so doesn't make it true! Believing this without evidence is just plain delusional."
"Scully, quit clinging to the rationality of your scientific paradigms. Be in wonder! Just open your mind and entertain the 'possibility of all possibilities'!"
"Mulder, I'm trying to, but..."
Officer Blogget, Blog Police: Look Joe, I said I don't have all night. You just started this blog and you're not getting off on the right. (Pointing his night stick into Joe's face). Mister, don't give this me quiche kinda explanation, give me eat and pitatis!
Joe: Well, after I wished Ellen a great rest of her life, I researched "thought bottlenecking" on the web. There was a ton of hard research on it! It's a great blogger malady!
Yeah...did you know that at every moment, the brain processes millions, maybe billions, of bits of information. Nature keeps keeps unaware of most of it, otherwise we’d be bonkers with constant data overload. But the thoughts we are aware of, go into our short-term memory banks, a memory cache in the brain’s buffer.
Thoughts are like dreams. If we don't talk about them or write them down, they accumulate in short-term memory until they expire or exceed my short-term memory capacity. Then, they just vanish!
That was my "thought bottleneck" problem!
I get all these ideas I want to write about. I'll write about this, no I'll write about that. While I'm deciding, they're all going into my short-term memory, when I can't do anything about them, like when I'm driving to work or working out at the gym. Then, they disappear.
Officer Blogget, Blog Police: "Fine, fine, fine. So, what did you do about it? Tell me here or tell me at the station!"
Joe: Officer, I tried taking a pad and pencil with me, but it didn't work. I pert near killed myself taking notes while commuting to work at 80 mph. I've seen women whiz passed me on the highway, putting on make-up in the rear-view mirror. But, I don't multi-task that well.
And I tried taking notes when I'm running the treadmill at the gym, but my pencil lead tears the sweat blotches on my paper.
So, unless I write them down, my thoughts and ideas exceed my short term memory's capacity or they fall into my leg and vanish.
That's why I didn't post all week!
Officer Blogget, Blog Police: So you do believe the stuff about memories falling into your leg!...gullible bloggers (mumble, mumble).
Joe: I don't think I've really lost all my ideas. Larry, my personal fitness trainer, amateur psychoanalyst, and all-'round guru assured me, "Don't worry, Joe. 'When the student is ready, the teacher will come.' There is a wisdom in the body and in the unconscious mind; they never forget anything. When you need them, your inner wisdom will bring your ideas back up for you."
Officer Blogget, Blog Police: (Looking impassively at Joe) "Hmmm...me thinks thou protesteth too much!"
Joe: "OK, Officer, you got me...I was lazy."
Joe
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Angels in our midst
This past weekend was a weekend of "tears" for me. Yes, even for me! (At least I know I'm alive!)
It was the long Martin Luther King weekend. We were going to go away for several days, but we ended up just relaxing at home. No, I didn't cry about that!
Instead, we saw the movie, "Hotel Rwanda". A true story and what a powerful flick!
The setting of this story is the bloody and brutal confrontation between the Tutsi tribe and the Hutu tribe Rwanada, that occured during the Clinton administration; almost 1,000,000 people were slaughtered. (No, that word's not too strong!)
Ironically, this story helped me to recognize something of hope...
Now, I don't know if you want to call them "angels", "saints, or just "people of good will", but there are people, who have lived, and, I dare say, who yet live among us, who are, well..."angelic and saintly people of good will". They're ordinary people, who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances, and who, somehow find it within themselves to "step out", often at great personal risk, to make a difference in the lives of others.
We might know them as Martin Luther King or Mother Theresa of Calcutta. They might just as easily be a friend or a neighbor, about whom we know nothing.
In this case, it’s Paul, a simple hotel manager, and a Hutu, who is married to a Tutsi. The story was about the compassion and courage he showed toward the Tutsis who were victimized during the brutal Hutu uprising. I won't give away the story, but I would recommend it to anyone.
Maybe what hit me in the story was the irony of finding, no, of “encountering”, a spark of goodness in the midst of brutality.
All I can say is that when you encounter true goodness and compassion in a person, I don't know how anyone couldn't be moved to tears. I certainly was! (I was going to complain to theater management that their too salty popcorn caused me to retain water, which seeped from my eyes, but then I figured it out!)
Anyway, you can learn more about the film here: http://www.hotelrwanda.com/intro.html.
Oh yes, someone sent me this link, which also moved me to tears. Whether you believe in God, a "higher power", or nothing in particular, maybe you'll find something here for you! Just follow the link, turn up the sound, then click "View Presentation".
http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/windowmovie.html
Joe
It was the long Martin Luther King weekend. We were going to go away for several days, but we ended up just relaxing at home. No, I didn't cry about that!
Instead, we saw the movie, "Hotel Rwanda". A true story and what a powerful flick!
The setting of this story is the bloody and brutal confrontation between the Tutsi tribe and the Hutu tribe Rwanada, that occured during the Clinton administration; almost 1,000,000 people were slaughtered. (No, that word's not too strong!)
Ironically, this story helped me to recognize something of hope...
Now, I don't know if you want to call them "angels", "saints, or just "people of good will", but there are people, who have lived, and, I dare say, who yet live among us, who are, well..."angelic and saintly people of good will". They're ordinary people, who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances, and who, somehow find it within themselves to "step out", often at great personal risk, to make a difference in the lives of others.
We might know them as Martin Luther King or Mother Theresa of Calcutta. They might just as easily be a friend or a neighbor, about whom we know nothing.
In this case, it’s Paul, a simple hotel manager, and a Hutu, who is married to a Tutsi. The story was about the compassion and courage he showed toward the Tutsis who were victimized during the brutal Hutu uprising. I won't give away the story, but I would recommend it to anyone.
Maybe what hit me in the story was the irony of finding, no, of “encountering”, a spark of goodness in the midst of brutality.
All I can say is that when you encounter true goodness and compassion in a person, I don't know how anyone couldn't be moved to tears. I certainly was! (I was going to complain to theater management that their too salty popcorn caused me to retain water, which seeped from my eyes, but then I figured it out!)
Anyway, you can learn more about the film here: http://www.hotelrwanda.com/intro.html.
Oh yes, someone sent me this link, which also moved me to tears. Whether you believe in God, a "higher power", or nothing in particular, maybe you'll find something here for you! Just follow the link, turn up the sound, then click "View Presentation".
http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/windowmovie.html
Joe
Friday, January 14, 2005
McFerin School
Here's an interesting news article lead in today's WASHINGTON TODAY --
"President Bush's second inauguration will cost tens of millions of dollars -- $40 million alone in private donations for the balls, parade, Bobby McFerin’s performance, and other invitation-only parties. With that kind of money, what could you buy?
According to an Inauguration Planning Group Representative, "Well Sir, we're assured that our inaugural strategy meets the nation's needs at this time. We've been so advised by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the “Bobby McFerin” School of Presidential Inaugurations. Please learn more about our inaugural strategy at the NIH website."
Joe
"President Bush's second inauguration will cost tens of millions of dollars -- $40 million alone in private donations for the balls, parade, Bobby McFerin’s performance, and other invitation-only parties. With that kind of money, what could you buy?
- Two hundred armored Humvees with the best armor for troops in Iraq.
- Vaccinations and preventive health care for 22 million children in regions devastated by the tsunami.
- A down payment on the nation's deficit, which hit a record-breaking $412 billion last year."
According to an Inauguration Planning Group Representative, "Well Sir, we're assured that our inaugural strategy meets the nation's needs at this time. We've been so advised by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the “Bobby McFerin” School of Presidential Inaugurations. Please learn more about our inaugural strategy at the NIH website."
Joe
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Do you "herd" what I "herd"?
I was standing on the corner of California Street this evening. California Street is a wide and very busy urban street and people drive fast. The light was red and I waiting for it to turn green to cross. A young woman was standing on the same corner too. We made eye contact and smiled at each other. She looked away quickly, and turned to survey the traffic in both directions. She was looking intently, first left then right, then left, then right, etc.
While she did that, I stood there watching her watch the traffic; I finally glanced away and casually scanned it myself. I felt no sense of urgency. Maybe she was in a hurry or maybe she felt uncomfortable with me being there (after all, it was dusk in the big City). I don't know.
But before the light turned green, she spotted a lag in the traffic flow and bolted across the street against the light.
I watched her go. A few seconds later, and without thought, I also bolted into the street against the light into on-coming traffic! But the traffic situation had already changed! It had increased and I did an eye lock onto headlights careening my way into the intersection! The rest is a blur! All I can say is that I made it to the other side--Thank you, Lord! (If He hadn't been with me, I would have literally "made it to the other side"!)
But talk about the herd instinct!
I admit that I didn’t bolt just from pure instinct! Just before I jumped off the curve, I remember vaguely thinking, "If she's going to do it, I won't be a wimp about this either." Then, whoosh, I was off!
This is an example of my "amygdala" (the primitive and instinctive part of the human brain) reacting to her sudden movement (originally for survival), coupled with the male cultural conditioning of my "neo-cortext" (my so-called modern, 'advanced' brain).
In this case, my "advanced" brain justified the folly of my primitive brain's reactivity, resulting in my dumb action.
Wildebeests have been known to follow herd leaders over a cliff in a stampede. It seems this "modern man" had a "wildebeest" moment!
(Rats! The lens just fell out of my good reading glasses!)
Joe
While she did that, I stood there watching her watch the traffic; I finally glanced away and casually scanned it myself. I felt no sense of urgency. Maybe she was in a hurry or maybe she felt uncomfortable with me being there (after all, it was dusk in the big City). I don't know.
But before the light turned green, she spotted a lag in the traffic flow and bolted across the street against the light.
I watched her go. A few seconds later, and without thought, I also bolted into the street against the light into on-coming traffic! But the traffic situation had already changed! It had increased and I did an eye lock onto headlights careening my way into the intersection! The rest is a blur! All I can say is that I made it to the other side--Thank you, Lord! (If He hadn't been with me, I would have literally "made it to the other side"!)
But talk about the herd instinct!
I admit that I didn’t bolt just from pure instinct! Just before I jumped off the curve, I remember vaguely thinking, "If she's going to do it, I won't be a wimp about this either." Then, whoosh, I was off!
This is an example of my "amygdala" (the primitive and instinctive part of the human brain) reacting to her sudden movement (originally for survival), coupled with the male cultural conditioning of my "neo-cortext" (my so-called modern, 'advanced' brain).
In this case, my "advanced" brain justified the folly of my primitive brain's reactivity, resulting in my dumb action.
Wildebeests have been known to follow herd leaders over a cliff in a stampede. It seems this "modern man" had a "wildebeest" moment!
(Rats! The lens just fell out of my good reading glasses!)
Joe
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Biceps in Time
It's 7:34pm. What am I doin' here??
I'm back in the office again, after having worked out at the gym. Several colleagues are also still in the building working. You know, some people just don't like to go home!
But I'm not one of them! I like going home; I really do! But I'm one of that cadre in the American workforce called the "distance commuter" ... woohoo! We live our lives on the road! ... getting ready to get on the road! being on the road, ... getting off the road! ... and recovering from having been on the road!
Our internal clocks are finely honed, and our internal compasses point forever to, well, "any place but here"!
Oh, no, we don't grow grass under our feet! We're forever gassing up our cars, stepping in gas puddles, looking for parking, and then running short cuts across lawns, late for early morning appointments.
We're also skilled and perennial negotiators and coordinators. We constantly negotiate time, and car coordination.
So why am I still at work? Let's just say that I had a lapse in my negotiation strategy.
I'm waiting for my wife to pick me up for our commute home. She has to work a “work event” this evening. This means that she has the car, which means that I have lots of idle time and solitude on my hands.
But, I'm feeling good. My body's awake from my work out, and I am "buff" (For our foreign visitors, that's American slang for my muscles being all "pumped up", and "inflated" in size!! According my dictionary, "to be in the state of buffness". You get the picture.)
Unfortunately, there isn't anyone around here to impress with my buffocity. Hmmm, I'll take a walk down to Starbucks for a coffee. If I suck in my gut (For our foreign visitors, that's American slang for, oh never mind...) and flex my arms, maybe someone'll notice my buff biceps before they deflate.
Where idle time abounds, there ego abounds all the more!
Joe
Spam, my song bucket, and Orion's belt
Well, it's been a few days since I posted to my blog. I thought to post this weekend, but after spending so much time in front of my computer at work, it was hard for me to rouse myself to my home computer.
Besides, I reeeaallyy didn't feel ready to come back to work after the Christmas/New Year holidays, and I was tired this weekend and the last few days. I usually fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. But lately, I've been dozing more, rather than really sleeping, remembering and thinking about different, often disjointed, things. Psychologists might diagnose me with "loose thought associations" (a not too favorable clinical symptom--but that may not be as big a stretch as all that!) I imagine it must be around 2 or 3 in the morning when I actually nod off into real sleep.
Anyway, I wanted to do nothing more than to just lie low this weekend, which is what I did.
And speaking of being unwilling to use my home computer...slowly but surely, I've stopped checking my email at home. I recently went several weeks without checking it. Then when I went to download my email, it wouldn't download! I called my provider, who checked my account from the back end and he confirmed for me I had almost 10,000 pieces of spam... CIAL, Viagra, sexy camgirlsonline, great mortgage rates, loan pre-approvals, and oh yes, "Congratulations! You've earned your PhD!"
Well no wonder it wouldn't download! Spam's like cholesterol in the arteries. It'll take any person down..it certainly took my system down! So, I've resigned myself to this fact, for the moment anyway, and I basically suspended my home use.
Last night I had my first singing lesson right after work! It was really fun! There are only 6 of us in the class and the teacher seems pretty good. At first glance, I thought she might be a country singer, so was I surprised when she said that she's an operatic mezzo-soprano! Based on my stereotypic imagination, she's nothing like what I would imagine an operatic mezzo-soprano type to look. She's a slender blond woman with short unruly hair, which she grabbed often as she spoke (I guess that caffine's good when you're trying to teach tired students, at the end of a long day). She had a gap between her front teeth, similar to the one a famous blond fashion model from the 1980s had, and whose name escapes me. She wore old jeans and a shirt that was one size too small for her, and boots. And she’s funny! She has a real comedic quality to her!
And she's very physical in the way she teaches singing. She uses her hands and arms in big motions, and she had us doing physical things too! She had us lying on the ground to “feel” how our backs and postures aligned with the floor. She also had us moving our hands and arms in big swooping motions to give us a visual of how air is supposed to move through our bodies as we breath. For a breathing exercise, she had us turn to a partner to coach each other in breathing. We did it by holding we each other's rib cages and coached each other to expand our rib cages as we breathed. ("Uh, wanna go for coffee later?") John, who was about 6 feet 3 inches, had to bend way over to hold the ribs of Lisa, who was about 4 feet 7 inches. Together, they reminded of a high C and a low C on the musical scale. (I know they went out for coffee after class.)
And of course, we started vocalizing.
We were all over the map in terms of our abilities to inhale, to exhale with control, using the diaphram, and to sustain our breaths. You had to put all these elements into a mental “ song bucket” in order to carry a tune, without leakage. My "song bucket" was tight enough, but it certainly has some holes in it.
I started thinking about kareoke. What a great place to practice your singing techniques in public. People graciously applaud and even whoop, just for you getting up there - no matter what you sound like!
In this one class, I really felt for the first time what it meant to sing from the diaphram, and not from the throat. And I already heard some improvement in some of my classmates. The one thing I could never master was vibrato. But I have a feeling that I'll be able to develop it a bit more with her.
She gave us a short song to memorize. We have to sing it solo at our next session for feedback...an interesting choice of lyrics:
When I can read my title clear to mansions in the skies,
I'll bid farewell to every fear and dry my weeping eyes.
I feel like, I feel like I'm on my journey home,
I feel like, I feel like I'm on my journey home.
Should earth against my soul engage and hellish darts be hurtled,
then I can smile at satan's rage and face a frowning world.
I feel like, I feel like I'm on my journey home,
I feel like, I feel like I'm on my journey home.
That's it! Those are the lyrics!
Oh, and speaking of dozing (my thought just jumped back to my opening paragraph--loose thought associations, remember?) ... During my dozing and late sleeping episode last night, I "woke up" at 12:49am to go to the bathroom. I happened to glance at the hyper-clear night sky out of my bathroom window and I saw the "belt" of the constellation Orion framed squarely in the window! And there was "betelgeuse", the bright star that forms one of Orion's shoulders. (Bellatrix forms his other shoulder)! What a picture! At any rate, after admiring Orion's belt for a moment, I "fumbled" with mine (ahem), and shortly afterward went back to bed and fell asleep.
Besides, I reeeaallyy didn't feel ready to come back to work after the Christmas/New Year holidays, and I was tired this weekend and the last few days. I usually fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. But lately, I've been dozing more, rather than really sleeping, remembering and thinking about different, often disjointed, things. Psychologists might diagnose me with "loose thought associations" (a not too favorable clinical symptom--but that may not be as big a stretch as all that!) I imagine it must be around 2 or 3 in the morning when I actually nod off into real sleep.
Anyway, I wanted to do nothing more than to just lie low this weekend, which is what I did.
And speaking of being unwilling to use my home computer...slowly but surely, I've stopped checking my email at home. I recently went several weeks without checking it. Then when I went to download my email, it wouldn't download! I called my provider, who checked my account from the back end and he confirmed for me I had almost 10,000 pieces of spam... CIAL, Viagra, sexy camgirlsonline, great mortgage rates, loan pre-approvals, and oh yes, "Congratulations! You've earned your PhD!"
Well no wonder it wouldn't download! Spam's like cholesterol in the arteries. It'll take any person down..it certainly took my system down! So, I've resigned myself to this fact, for the moment anyway, and I basically suspended my home use.
Last night I had my first singing lesson right after work! It was really fun! There are only 6 of us in the class and the teacher seems pretty good. At first glance, I thought she might be a country singer, so was I surprised when she said that she's an operatic mezzo-soprano! Based on my stereotypic imagination, she's nothing like what I would imagine an operatic mezzo-soprano type to look. She's a slender blond woman with short unruly hair, which she grabbed often as she spoke (I guess that caffine's good when you're trying to teach tired students, at the end of a long day). She had a gap between her front teeth, similar to the one a famous blond fashion model from the 1980s had, and whose name escapes me. She wore old jeans and a shirt that was one size too small for her, and boots. And she’s funny! She has a real comedic quality to her!
And she's very physical in the way she teaches singing. She uses her hands and arms in big motions, and she had us doing physical things too! She had us lying on the ground to “feel” how our backs and postures aligned with the floor. She also had us moving our hands and arms in big swooping motions to give us a visual of how air is supposed to move through our bodies as we breath. For a breathing exercise, she had us turn to a partner to coach each other in breathing. We did it by holding we each other's rib cages and coached each other to expand our rib cages as we breathed. ("Uh, wanna go for coffee later?") John, who was about 6 feet 3 inches, had to bend way over to hold the ribs of Lisa, who was about 4 feet 7 inches. Together, they reminded of a high C and a low C on the musical scale. (I know they went out for coffee after class.)
And of course, we started vocalizing.
We were all over the map in terms of our abilities to inhale, to exhale with control, using the diaphram, and to sustain our breaths. You had to put all these elements into a mental “ song bucket” in order to carry a tune, without leakage. My "song bucket" was tight enough, but it certainly has some holes in it.
I started thinking about kareoke. What a great place to practice your singing techniques in public. People graciously applaud and even whoop, just for you getting up there - no matter what you sound like!
In this one class, I really felt for the first time what it meant to sing from the diaphram, and not from the throat. And I already heard some improvement in some of my classmates. The one thing I could never master was vibrato. But I have a feeling that I'll be able to develop it a bit more with her.
She gave us a short song to memorize. We have to sing it solo at our next session for feedback...an interesting choice of lyrics:
When I can read my title clear to mansions in the skies,
I'll bid farewell to every fear and dry my weeping eyes.
I feel like, I feel like I'm on my journey home,
I feel like, I feel like I'm on my journey home.
Should earth against my soul engage and hellish darts be hurtled,
then I can smile at satan's rage and face a frowning world.
I feel like, I feel like I'm on my journey home,
I feel like, I feel like I'm on my journey home.
That's it! Those are the lyrics!
Oh, and speaking of dozing (my thought just jumped back to my opening paragraph--loose thought associations, remember?) ... During my dozing and late sleeping episode last night, I "woke up" at 12:49am to go to the bathroom. I happened to glance at the hyper-clear night sky out of my bathroom window and I saw the "belt" of the constellation Orion framed squarely in the window! And there was "betelgeuse", the bright star that forms one of Orion's shoulders. (Bellatrix forms his other shoulder)! What a picture! At any rate, after admiring Orion's belt for a moment, I "fumbled" with mine (ahem), and shortly afterward went back to bed and fell asleep.
Friday, January 07, 2005
Human Formation
I recently spoke with my friend about her experience as an elementary school teacher.
And then I ran across this quote from St. John Neumann (1811-1860). I believe he's the patron saint of the Catholic education system in the U.S.
"Since every man (read “person”) of whatever race is endowed with the dignity of a person, he has an inalienable right to an education that corresponds to his proper destiny and suited to his native talents, cultural background, and ancestral heritage.
At the same time, this education should pave the way to fraternal association with other peoples, so that genuine unity and peace on earth may be promoted. For a true education aims at forming the human person with respect to the good of those societies of which he is a member and in whose responsibilities, as an adult, he will share."
What an interesting phrase “...that corresponds to his proper destiny...” It sounds like we, as humans, have a common destiny to which we need to be oriented for our fulfillment, simply because we’re human. Perhaps we share more in common that divides us?
The saint's philosophy's not bad for an early 19th century thinker!
But I wonder if a child educated in this way would succeed in our much more enlightened 21st. century American No Child Left Behind "just-pass-the-bloody-test" educational system?
Joe
And then I ran across this quote from St. John Neumann (1811-1860). I believe he's the patron saint of the Catholic education system in the U.S.
"Since every man (read “person”) of whatever race is endowed with the dignity of a person, he has an inalienable right to an education that corresponds to his proper destiny and suited to his native talents, cultural background, and ancestral heritage.
At the same time, this education should pave the way to fraternal association with other peoples, so that genuine unity and peace on earth may be promoted. For a true education aims at forming the human person with respect to the good of those societies of which he is a member and in whose responsibilities, as an adult, he will share."
What an interesting phrase “...that corresponds to his proper destiny...” It sounds like we, as humans, have a common destiny to which we need to be oriented for our fulfillment, simply because we’re human. Perhaps we share more in common that divides us?
The saint's philosophy's not bad for an early 19th century thinker!
But I wonder if a child educated in this way would succeed in our much more enlightened 21st. century American No Child Left Behind "just-pass-the-bloody-test" educational system?
Joe
Thursday, January 06, 2005
I am resolved...conundrum
New Year’s Day is a time for a new beginning (actually, any day is a time for a new beginning). But I’m not so sure now.
While so many people broke their new year’s resolutions, I used to be pleased to announce every year that I consistently KEPT my new year's resolution. My resolution was simply this: "I resolve not to make any new year resolutions", so there was nothing to break and I was happy!
But someone pointed out to me that I have actually been consistently BREAKING my resolution!
What??
I break it when I resolve not to resolve to resolve to make a new year's resolution.
Huh??
I broke my resolution not to make a resolution, by making a resolution not to make a resolution!! By not keeping my resolution, I broke it!!
Hmmm...so I've decided to change this year’s resolution to this: "If there is anything I need to change, I resolve to do it when I'm ready."
“Therefore, be it resolved forthwith wherefore untoward that: ‘If there is anything I need to change, I resolve to do it when I'm ready.’”
Ok, let me try my resolution out...
Self: “Joe, stop being lazy and clean out the garage.”
Joe: “Nah, I’m not ready!”
I did it! I kept my resolution and felt good about it! (And I even understand it! Do you?)
Joe
While so many people broke their new year’s resolutions, I used to be pleased to announce every year that I consistently KEPT my new year's resolution. My resolution was simply this: "I resolve not to make any new year resolutions", so there was nothing to break and I was happy!
But someone pointed out to me that I have actually been consistently BREAKING my resolution!
What??
I break it when I resolve not to resolve to resolve to make a new year's resolution.
Huh??
I broke my resolution not to make a resolution, by making a resolution not to make a resolution!! By not keeping my resolution, I broke it!!
Hmmm...so I've decided to change this year’s resolution to this: "If there is anything I need to change, I resolve to do it when I'm ready."
“Therefore, be it resolved forthwith wherefore untoward that: ‘If there is anything I need to change, I resolve to do it when I'm ready.’”
Ok, let me try my resolution out...
Self: “Joe, stop being lazy and clean out the garage.”
Joe: “Nah, I’m not ready!”
I did it! I kept my resolution and felt good about it! (And I even understand it! Do you?)
Joe
Tsunami Dots
Sometimes when we're far away from something, we don't really see things for what they are.
5am -- My alarm goes off. I'm dozing in bed, and I hear a commentary on National Public Radio about the tsunami in SE Asia/India.
The commentator says that when her young daughter looked at a picture of the aftermath of the tsunami she described what she saw as "thousands of colored dots in the water".
11am -- Well, here's what those dots were. (Scroll down)
Maybe you can send a few bucks (http://www.interaction.org/sasia) and prayers to help them out?
Joe
5am -- My alarm goes off. I'm dozing in bed, and I hear a commentary on National Public Radio about the tsunami in SE Asia/India.
The commentator says that when her young daughter looked at a picture of the aftermath of the tsunami she described what she saw as "thousands of colored dots in the water".
11am -- Well, here's what those dots were. (Scroll down)
Maybe you can send a few bucks (http://www.interaction.org/sasia) and prayers to help them out?
Joe
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Dank and calm
Ah, finally a sun crack in the dank clouds and sky!
We've been having tsunami rain this past week -- and now some calm. This is the grand cycle of weather. First the dank, then the calm, then the dank, then the calm...
It's kinda like life.
Life's "dankness" means all ways in which we might experience "suffering".
I was sitting at work and in the "dank" (all these deadlines and here I am writing this!), but then someone stopped by to talk "work". Our conversation then drifted to what we did over the holidays. And I told her about my trip way down south to Texas, where I visited my cousins and wonderful Goddaughter!
And there it was...a sun crack in the "dank"!! Cool! (Actually, it was summer shirt weather when I was in Texas.)
Hmmm...dank then calm. So, life's pattern follows the weather's pattern?
Some people get stuck in life's "dankness" and can't find the calm. Others are so stuck in clinging to calm, they can't stand the "dankness" when it comes.
"Dank" and calm people are both are pretty uptight. I've been in both places myself. But for the moment, I'm in a better place.
I think that where we "find" "calm" or "calmness, helps us know how to deal with "dank". So, what do you consider the source of "calmness"?
Well, one type of "calm" is that kind that you "do". For example, one of the things I do is teach people to meditate, to imagine relaxing scenes, to warm their hands, and to call up the "relaxation response". Do any of those things and that'll help calm you alright. And that's great for the moment anyway, if you can make it part of your lifestyle. Otherwise, you're back in the stratosphere again.
But for me, that's not real calm. I'm interested in the kind of "calm" that changes your life!
Maybe real "calm" isn't what we think it is. It isn't something you "do" or control. It's something you give yourself to. Well, I think it's more like a surrender, though not the "I give up on you" kind ... although it's smart to know when to stop doing something that doesn't work.
Nope. Real calm is more of a surrender to something, and I would say to Someone, bigger than us when we're in the middle of dankness. Then from that space, acting in a definite way to make a change. Don't worry, I won't get too mystical about this.
For example, I used to be a hill-runner. There are rolling hills in my area--cattle and wine country, home of the famous "cattleberry bush" (just kidding!).
After work, I'd go running up the hill. When I didn't feel like it, it was agony! (The deer and ground squirrels were none too happy either.) I often finished my distance quota by sheer force of will...oy! It was a pretty dank experience, and I didn't really enjoy those times. I would tighten up and just plain hurt!
Then I decided to stop forcing it and just surrender to the reality of the hill and my body, and to the One who sustains all of this. "Yeah Joe, so just calm down! Forget your distance quota and go with it as much or as little as you can!" So, I started running just because the hill was there, it was what it was; I was there with my running shoes on and felt what I felt. Then I put one foot in front of the other.
It was a different experience altogether!
I felt carried along! I felt my muscles and heard my breath; I felt the soil give or crumple under my foot at each step; I heard the high dry grass crackle as I brushed them by; I heard the sound of wind at the sky of the hill.
I went from "hardly breathing" when I was forcing it, to "hardly breathing hard" when I just surrendered!
Hmmmm...the idea of "doing" and "surrendering" as a way of dealing with dank, reminds me of something I read about the difference between "willfulness" and "willingness" in your life. It's a great distinction, I think.
Willfulness is about doing, often forcing; willingness is about seeing and accepting what's real as it is.
Willfulness is often desperate; willingness is usually about faith and surrender.
Willfulness is about energy; willingness is about being present.
Willfulness is a rock, willing is water that wears away the rock.
We need both.
The way to change anything, especially ourselves is to see and to accept the reality of the situation and who we are and to surrender to Someone bigger than us (willingness). Then from that place, acting to make a difference (willfulness).
Then keep that cycle going.
So, maybe there's no real split between dank and calm. Real calm is surrender and faith in the middle of the "dank"; "dank" is an exciting calm that invites us into action.
What do you think? Post a comment!
Joe
We've been having tsunami rain this past week -- and now some calm. This is the grand cycle of weather. First the dank, then the calm, then the dank, then the calm...
It's kinda like life.
Life's "dankness" means all ways in which we might experience "suffering".
I was sitting at work and in the "dank" (all these deadlines and here I am writing this!), but then someone stopped by to talk "work". Our conversation then drifted to what we did over the holidays. And I told her about my trip way down south to Texas, where I visited my cousins and wonderful Goddaughter!
And there it was...a sun crack in the "dank"!! Cool! (Actually, it was summer shirt weather when I was in Texas.)
Hmmm...dank then calm. So, life's pattern follows the weather's pattern?
Some people get stuck in life's "dankness" and can't find the calm. Others are so stuck in clinging to calm, they can't stand the "dankness" when it comes.
"Dank" and calm people are both are pretty uptight. I've been in both places myself. But for the moment, I'm in a better place.
I think that where we "find" "calm" or "calmness, helps us know how to deal with "dank". So, what do you consider the source of "calmness"?
Well, one type of "calm" is that kind that you "do". For example, one of the things I do is teach people to meditate, to imagine relaxing scenes, to warm their hands, and to call up the "relaxation response". Do any of those things and that'll help calm you alright. And that's great for the moment anyway, if you can make it part of your lifestyle. Otherwise, you're back in the stratosphere again.
But for me, that's not real calm. I'm interested in the kind of "calm" that changes your life!
Maybe real "calm" isn't what we think it is. It isn't something you "do" or control. It's something you give yourself to. Well, I think it's more like a surrender, though not the "I give up on you" kind ... although it's smart to know when to stop doing something that doesn't work.
Nope. Real calm is more of a surrender to something, and I would say to Someone, bigger than us when we're in the middle of dankness. Then from that space, acting in a definite way to make a change. Don't worry, I won't get too mystical about this.
For example, I used to be a hill-runner. There are rolling hills in my area--cattle and wine country, home of the famous "cattleberry bush" (just kidding!).
After work, I'd go running up the hill. When I didn't feel like it, it was agony! (The deer and ground squirrels were none too happy either.) I often finished my distance quota by sheer force of will...oy! It was a pretty dank experience, and I didn't really enjoy those times. I would tighten up and just plain hurt!
Then I decided to stop forcing it and just surrender to the reality of the hill and my body, and to the One who sustains all of this. "Yeah Joe, so just calm down! Forget your distance quota and go with it as much or as little as you can!" So, I started running just because the hill was there, it was what it was; I was there with my running shoes on and felt what I felt. Then I put one foot in front of the other.
It was a different experience altogether!
I felt carried along! I felt my muscles and heard my breath; I felt the soil give or crumple under my foot at each step; I heard the high dry grass crackle as I brushed them by; I heard the sound of wind at the sky of the hill.
I went from "hardly breathing" when I was forcing it, to "hardly breathing hard" when I just surrendered!
Hmmmm...the idea of "doing" and "surrendering" as a way of dealing with dank, reminds me of something I read about the difference between "willfulness" and "willingness" in your life. It's a great distinction, I think.
Willfulness is about doing, often forcing; willingness is about seeing and accepting what's real as it is.
Willfulness is often desperate; willingness is usually about faith and surrender.
Willfulness is about energy; willingness is about being present.
Willfulness is a rock, willing is water that wears away the rock.
We need both.
The way to change anything, especially ourselves is to see and to accept the reality of the situation and who we are and to surrender to Someone bigger than us (willingness). Then from that place, acting to make a difference (willfulness).
Then keep that cycle going.
So, maybe there's no real split between dank and calm. Real calm is surrender and faith in the middle of the "dank"; "dank" is an exciting calm that invites us into action.
What do you think? Post a comment!
Joe
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
A Firster
Well, I took the plunge! This is my first blog. I'm about to turn myself inside out. My "privacy quotient" is usually pretty high, but I'm lowering it here.
I have to wonder about this sudden upsurge in blogging in our society... living your private life in public? And why am I doing this?
I guess some more cynical folks would say that blogging is "institutionalized narcissm" and "sanctioned voyerism", but I'm not a cynic ... nope, not me.
There's so much noise out here in the world. Blogging will, I think, help me think out loud with my fingers; to see in my hand what's in my heart! I'll “read’ my brain, instead of listening to it.
My entries are thoughts-observations frozen in time and place. They're cyber-history of interest to almost no one but me and anyone who cares to read it and to comment; it's a conversation with myself---and I hope with you!
Anyway, this is my first installment.
Joe
I have to wonder about this sudden upsurge in blogging in our society... living your private life in public? And why am I doing this?
I guess some more cynical folks would say that blogging is "institutionalized narcissm" and "sanctioned voyerism", but I'm not a cynic ... nope, not me.
There's so much noise out here in the world. Blogging will, I think, help me think out loud with my fingers; to see in my hand what's in my heart! I'll “read’ my brain, instead of listening to it.
My entries are thoughts-observations frozen in time and place. They're cyber-history of interest to almost no one but me and anyone who cares to read it and to comment; it's a conversation with myself---and I hope with you!
Anyway, this is my first installment.
Joe
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