Returning

Have you ever noticed it?

I've been impressed by patterns in nature, and in the lives of animals and people "returning" to places they once knew, either personally or collectively. How does "returning" show up for you?

‘Returning” is a pattern that we see in nature. The Farallon Island experience is a good example. A recent article in our local newspaper speaks of opening up the Farallon Islands to tourism. 

The Farallons are a small group of six islands 28 miles off the San Francisco coast. On a clear sunny day, you can see their jagged peaks on the horizon. The Farallons are a natural wildlife refuge, and home mostly to seals, sea lions and birds. The waters around the Farallon Islands are also a playground for humpback whales and other sea life. With the exception of a small shack and a handful of researchers, these islands are free of human contact.

As with any good thing, however, there is talk of opening the islands up to the public. But, there is fear of what tourism, even if limited and controlled, would do to the islands' fragile wildlife.

Well, I have a bitter-sweet clue as to what might happen...

In San Francisco's early history and growing populations, people would steam out to the Farallons to visit, and to pilfer exotic bird eggs for special dish restaurants. This decimated the habitat and the wildlife.

But when legislation finally set the Farallon's apart as a wildlife sanctuary, the birds and sea lions “returned”. Again the Farallons flourish!

The urge to "return" shows up in many ways in people.

For example, my family and I are immigrants to the US.  I was just a young kid when we came here, with vague memories, but my cousins and I talk of returning to the "old country" to visit, to reconnect with it for some reason. “Returning” also shows up in my interest in family genealogy.

Or how many people have done Facebook or Google searches of friends and acquaintances from the past? Perhaps you wanted to reconnect with them or with a particular period of time, or you were just curious how their lives turned out or how they look today. This is a kind of "returning".

The pattern of “returning” is, I think, a way of completing a "gestalt" in nature, whether animal or human nature.

"Returning" is what alumni clubs are all about. After graduating from college years ago, I recently joined my university’s alumni organization. I always look forward to getting back on campus whenever I'm in the area. The place has changed and not changed, and so have the students, but I'm still drawn to return. Universities recognize the "returning" urge in their alumni and create good will and opportunities for us to do just that - and of course to get our donations!

And maybe "returning" is what so-called "comfort" foods are all about...

Communities also “return”...

In Russia, people are returning to Chernobyl, to settle. Chernobyl is the site of a dangerous nuclear reactor leak that occurred some years ago. I don't recall the half life of radioactive material, but I know the risks of "returning" to radioactive Chernobyl is high, but I guess the need to "return" is compelling!

Not only that, now as well as shortly after the Chernobyl accident, the marriage rate in Chernobyl sky rocketed! This gives new meaning to the term "glowing bride"!

I don't know what the source of this "returning" is, whether genetic, based on individual memory or a collective unconscious, or just convenience as may be the case of the Farallon Islands, but I know that "returning" seems to be a compelling phenomenon.

If you think about it, how many times have you "returned" to people and places with which you or your family were associated? More specifically, to whom and to where do you return?

Joe

Isolated places

On a recent NPR radio program, I heard a commentator describe his special interest in America's early history. He was especially fascinated with the idea that there were vast wildernesses in this country that were completely devoid of human presence, and where one would feel completely lost and isolated.

And he wondered if places of such isolation still existed in the US. So, he made it his project to search our country for such locations.

In one location, I think in Wyoming, he hiked a great distance over sharp lava beds outside of a wilderness national park. He was ecstatic to find what he thought was a truly isolated place--until he found machine gun shells in the area. Evidence of prior military training exercises.

On another occasion, while in a deep mountain valley in the wilderness of Utah, he began to feel that he had found a truly isolated place--until an airplane droned overhead. More evidence of human presence.

After visiting many other locations, he lamented that no truly isolated places still exist in the US. Such places are now just part of America's myth.

But he went further. He said that even if such places seem to exist, they would not be "truly" isolated, because Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) are capable of, and often do, scan tremendous percent of the earth's surface.

I don't necessarily agree with his conclusion that no place of true isolation exist.

My thought is that true isolation nowadays is of a different character. It’s not necessarily found by hiking in distant places or via Global Positioning Satellites. It can be found in the streets of our cities and in the human heart.

Joe

Philosophers stoned

I go through "intellectual" phases of falling in and out of interest in studying philosophy. Philosophy seems fascinating, but when you do it, it's tough.

I've had a couple opportunities to do so in my life, but with varying success.

My first time was in college. I recall sitting on the stairs of an overly-crowded, standing-room only lecture hall, while the professor lectured on the philosopher, Popper. He was animated and obviously loved his subject. In each and every class, I tracked and understood everything our professor said up to and including, "Good morning", but then everything became a blur.

I had a bit more success in the seminary, when I was considering becoming a Catholic priest. I had to study classical philosophy as a prelude to Theology. I was fascinated to learn that the thought categories of Greek philosophy form the basis of Western thought and culture. It also gives us the language used in Theology. I got more out of this class because we got the philosophers predigested with the chance to read snippets from the direct sources.

But still, the study of philosophy called for a mental openness, intellectual flexibility, and rigor that was tough for me at that time.

Philsophers discuss ideas and abstractions. They create new concepts and make new thought connections. They coin new words and use old words with new definitions. You also need to understand their historical and cultural backgrounds and their working assumptions to follow their reasoning.

But that's ok. That's its appeal, and I guess that's why we're back to the "let's learn philosophy" phase.

My wife recently bought a series of philosophy texts on sale. They're books arepretty unique, because they are written with tons of big drawings of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, with thought bubbles containing their main ideas, and strategically placed summary prose.

Ok, the phrase "philosophy texts" may be an overstatment; they're really more like "philosofy komix"... 2 or 3 steps below, "Philosophy for Dummies".

But maybe this is what I need to finally master the Masters! Here's my experience of reading one of these books last night. It went like this (sort of)...

Part I The Philosophy Masters

About Plato
"Plato was born in a rich family. He was a student of Socrates. After Socrates died, Plato wrote down his teaching so that people would not forget Socrates. He wrote them down in a book called Dialogues. Plato started the first university. He called it the Academy. At the Academy, his students tried to answer difficult questions like, "Is there a perfect world?" Aristotle was one of his star students. Plato's most famous book is The Republic."

(Hey, I understood that...fascinating... I'm tracking; I'm doing philosophy!)

About Socrates

"Socrates is the Father of Western Philosophy. He did many others things before becoming a philosopher. He was a soldier, politician, and a stone mason. He didn't write anything down, because he liked to question other people about their opinions about truth. He didn't say what truth is. He only like to question what others believed about it. He also liked to talk about other things that are hard to talk about like virtue, piety, good and evil, and life.

(Feelin' good about this, because I'm still tracking! It's getting a little deep here talking about things like truth, virtue, etc. But, I'm ok! I'm ok...just breathe!)

And so it went! Before I knew it, a whole 20 minute had flown by. And more surprising, I was already more than half way through the book! Great, I'm jazzed! I'm getting it, finally!

This is all great history and biography of the Masters; I was ready for the meat! I think I have their system down pat!

Here we go...!

Part II

Philosophy Meat

"In Part II of this book, we will talk about some fun philosophy ideas. Lots of 'em came from the book called The Republic by Plato (360 BCE). Socrates (remember him from Part I?) and his student Polemarchus are talking here.

(Ok, now I know what to expect in Part II...bring it on!)

Socrates: "Dude, why don't you glide on over here and let's chat about life!"
(So far so good...this is the philosophical  "meat" and I can understand that...)

Polemarchus: "Your Mastership, kewl! Pray tell, whilst we imbibe and chat."

(Uh oh, fancy language. Let me check the dictionary...hmmm..."Pray tell"..."pray tell"...Here it is, "old fashioned way of saying, '"You're on!', also refers to "Do it, tell me!". And "whilst" is the old fashion way of say, "while". Check! I'm following...)

Socrates: "So Dude, order us a brewsky and let me bop this question over to you."

Polemarchus: "Kewl, muchly! Two brewskies over here! Now, pray tell, Your Mastership!"

Socrates: Listen up, Pole, and tell me then, O thou heir of the argument, what didst Simonides say, and according to you, truly say, about justice?

(Huh?)

Plomarchus: He said that the repayment of a debt is just, and in saying so he appears to me to be right.
(Hey, wait!)

Socrates: I should be sorry to doubt the word of such a wise and inspired man, but his meaning, though probably clear to you, is the reverse of clear to me. For he certainly does not mean, as we were now saying that I ought to return a return a deposit of arms or of anything else to one who asks for it when he is not in his right senses; and yet a deposit cannot be denied to be a debt..."

(I, uh...!!?? Huh?)

With a sigh, I closed the cover of my philosofy komix. The pictures were nice, but maybe next year!

Honey, what's on MTV?

It's all in the body

Well, I had another singing lesson. It was pretty fun and very interesting!

I mentioned in an earlier blog how “physical” my teacher is when she teaches.

In this class, she worked with one of our students, a 50+ year old software engineer, who really needed help with his voice projection. So she had him lie down on the floor in front of all of us, and then sing a song. As he lay there singing, she lifted his feet to her posterior and literally sat on his feet as he sang. Every time his voice projection got weak, she sat back hard against his feet, which pushed his thighs into his abdomen, which pushed against his diaphragm, which pushed more air out of his lungs, and his voice got stronger. Each time she did that, which was pretty often, she also sent him skidding a foot or two backward across the floor.

What was only a 45 second song turned into a 5 minute song, because he was laughing so hard he couldn't get the words out. During the course of his song, she chased him across the floor by more than a couple of yards.

It was only after class that we pointed out to him the dust and skid marks on the back of his pants. Next time, maybe he should dust-proof himself with Pledge, and bill the school for custodial services.

But there was more. This time, I was an accomplice.

With another student, a tall 40+ elementary school teacher, my teacher asked me to “hang her up by her skull” as she sang! This student tended to jut her head and neck forward as she sang, which constricted her voice. So the teacher had me stand behind this student, clamp her skull between my hands and then lift her as she sang. Not only did this help the student, but I got a really great upper body workout. (Maybe I can sell the concept to Ronco!)

It amazes me how much singing isn't really in the throat at all, but actually tied to the body's breath mechanics. And it's interesting how easily we lost touch with our bodies. In retrospect, I think she was trying to help us get back "into our bodies".

Teachers don't work with students this intensely unless they believe students have potential they aren't using. Althought I was relieved to have been spared this type of intense work in her class, I don't know if I'm happy about it. Did she not work with me because my singing's flawless or because it’s hopeless?

After class, my teacher announced that she was going to New York to audition for an musical play, and that we'll have a sub for the next couple of weeks.

Really, Teach, you don't need to skip town!

Ok, so "break a leg" in New York!

And that's the size of it!

Size matters! (No, I'm not referring to it in that sense!)

Let's try again...ahem...

Size matters! That's why I have to wonder if building contractors and land speculators know something I don't?

A number of new home developments cropped up in my area recently. I wondered at first, "Is it my imagination or are houses a lot larger nowadays?"

But then I figured it out. It's an optical illusion!

It isn't that the houses are bigger, but that the neighborhoods are smaller!

The streets are narrower. I knew it was hard to maneuver my car past another coming the other way on my street in an older neighborhood, but the streets in these developments, or what passes for them, are more like historic Boston "cow paths"--and that's said only with slight hyperbole. Two skateboarders would be lucky to pass each other if one were on the street and the other flying off a ramp over her.

And the space between the houses is like that of San Francisco! Almost all the homes in San francisco butt up against each other, side to side. In most cases, you have enough space literally to slip a deck of cards between them, but in the 'burbs"? No way!

And the "yards' in these new developments are no larger than the interior of a Port-0-let. (Watch where you fling that Frisbee. That is a Frisbee, isn't it??)

And so, that's the illusion. The houses are stacked one on top of the other throwing shadows across narrower streets, giving them the illusion of being bigger than they really are.

So I ask again, do building contractors know something that's not common knowledge?

Well, I think I found the answer.

There's a reason for smaller neighborhood spaces. Space is at a premium, because according to major reports the earth is shrinking! Yes, shrinking!

When I was a kid, I remember hearing that the advent of the "jet plane" made the world a lot smaller. But that was metaphorical shrinking. And more recently, airlines report that the average American girth is larger, which makes the seats smaller. But that's a relative shrinking.

What I'm referring to is a literal shrinking!

A recent Reuters headline cited that "Italy Sounds Alarm Over Shrinking Beaches". It explained that Italy faces a "national emergency". Its beaches are shrinking at an "alarming rate, posing a threat to nature and to the country's huge holiday trade". It continues, "Europe loses 5.8 square miles of beach a year...Italy, with 4,700 miles of coastline, is one of the hardest-hit countries... 1.5 square miles of local beaches vanished 'in recent years'".

This is a blight on Italy's tourism, but it's a boon to the building industry...build narrower, build up; build smaller and look bigger; push those prices up!

Need more evidence of a shrinking world?

Take a look at Mount Everest! Don't worry, you can use scaled-down binoculars.

The Canadian Broadcast Corportion recently cited, "China Fears Mount Everest Shrinking". They said that China is sending a team of scientists to re-measure Mount Everest because, according to Chinese state reports, the snow-covered mountain top is believed to have shrunk to a low of only 8,848 metres.

This a blight on tourism and on the potential for world record climbs.

But as reason would have it, if Mount Everest shrinks anymore, it'll have to push up somewhere else! The Gobbi Desert will become the Gobbi Mountain Range! And with its new elevations, the region will reap the economic boon of skiing and tourism!

"Saaaayyy! Have I got a deal for you! May I interest you in some shares in our beautiful new 'Gobbi Peaks Ski Chalet'?"

Joe (Aspiring building contractor and land speculator)

Appraisal time

What a week! I feel like Jack Karouac's book title, "On the Road", sounds. I've been "on the road" conducting training for line managers at various locations.

We're moving into the beloved performance appraisal cycle at work, and managers are suddenly feeling the crunch of getting employee performance appraisals done!

Many of those in my classes are "working managers". This means they also do the work they supervise others doing. Of course, guess where they spend most of their time and attention during the year! Right! And they forget to pay attention to the big picture.

When appraisal crunch time comes around, I can see the panic in their eyes as they scamble in a dither to get organized. Then I hear all the excuses why they don't do them or don't want to do them...

"I've go to get the work out! I don't have time for this!"
"I haven't spoken with her about her performance, since I can't remember when. So what am I going to write?"
"I haven't given her an appraisal in three years. I'm going to start now?"
"His performance was pretty raunchy last year, but his previous boss appraised him as Outstanding. So I'm supposed to be the bad guy? Sheesh!"
"I've go a weak heart and a bad back. What if she yells at me?"

Actually, I think that a number of them are faced with the existential crisis of having to leap into the "Content Void". They need to find something meaningful to say when they haven't paid attention and have little or nothing to say. Then they wrack their brains looking for useful content.

They report that when they finally have something to share, they now have to face the brunt of employee reactions--and some can get a little vocal and emotional--when they learn their bosses didn't think they were as hot as they thought they were.

But it's fun to work with managers during this time; they're putty in my hands. And that's where we get some real energy going. They drop their guard and offer you some real reactions and questions, especially "How do I handle..." type dilemmas!

As I said, it's great fun, I must admit, especially since I work in the mode of a management consultant/trainer.

I get 'em geared up, equipped and ready to go. After the class, they go back to their offices to do the hard work of applying the skills they learned in class.

And, me? Well, I go and get coffee.

I'm gearing up now for an "on the road" reprieve--drum roll please: "The Son of, 'On the Road'".

This afternoon, I'm teaching a management course on how to identify and to set performance expectations. This is the basis of next year's performance appraisals. This'll be a more relaxed class, because it's future oriented, rather than "appraisals", which is oriented to the previous year. They're being prepped for next year, rather than being held accountable for the previous year.

Although I'm addressing them as managers appraising others, I also hope they listen as employees, who will be appraised by others.

"So, shall we get on the road?"
"Yes, let's"
"To Oz?"
"To Oz!"

Joe