2014
After putting so much time, energy and work into yesterday's post
I hope you'll consider reviewing
That which was added, last night and this morning
As always, the choice is yours
As for me
My mind is too tired to say more
So, rather than writing, today
I'm about to submerge in hot tub
And melt, I mean exercise
Thus shedding more of those
Unwanted five pounds away
Wishing you a five star day ...
Your determined friend,
Annie
Friday, September 5, 2014
Thursday, September 4, 2014
1126 (53A) NO! NO! NOT AGAIN! REVISITED 71
(Word to the wise, this post is in need of editing, not in content but grammar. Later. Right now, my niece, Jessie, and I are about to enjoy a girl's afternoon out)
53A
If adult stability depends upon a mutually supportive value system, a child's sense of security depends upon their role models' solution seeking skills. If emotional and financial stability proves scarce at home then common sense suggests that we've ignored a value system, based in balance in all things, for far too long. Whom amongst the founding fathers thought democracy would lead to monopoly? That capitalism would create anarchy? It's high time we all spend time with—Nick.
If, over these past forty years we're still blindly partaking in rebellion against Victorian values, and if history is cyclical in nature then which stage of our development might Western society be cycling toward? Is the healthy time of life limited to our uphill climb? At my stage of life, It's not healthy to believe that to be true. Has Western culture peaked, suggesting that the fall of Rome is hitting home … in home after home, as I write and you read? I mean if change is the only constant in life that means we won't remain stuck in the same place for long. Whether we're on our way up or down remains a matter of choice—'capiche'?
2014
Aha! Some brilliant mind in Hollywood needs to write a script, showcasing a superhero named Captain Nickintyme, whose superpower has the ability to shoot a solution seeking chip into every brain that's about to take a flying leap into the future. This chip will open eyes and ears to reality, offering each of us a global scope, concerning the importance of considering turning points away from denial before breaking points knock us out of the game of thrones. Another chip will connect brain to heartfelt compassion in order that we not give lip service to brotherhood while wagging forked tongue, which stabs brethren in the back.
53A
2002
Swinging ...
“Through story telling, I can show how ‘The Pill’ catalyzed a snowball effect, which steamrolled right over family values, causing society's stability to unground and barrel downhill.”
"How did taking the pill relate to the family's undoing?"
"Well, fifty years ago, we could not foresee the domino effect that followed in the aftermath of the discovery of The Pill. Our scope was so limited as to cause us to believe that with the discovery of The Pill women were spontaneously as liberated—sexually—as men.
2014
In hindsight, that train of thought proved as naive as the White House declaring the war with Iraq was over when, in truth, change for the better encounters countless hurtles, based in deeply imprinted patterns of thought, rooted in thousands of years of attitude, which take time to overcome. Do you know why the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years when The Holy Land proved to be only a stone's throw from Egypt, suggesting walking in circles for decades? Good question, right? Here's the answer I was given: Slave mentality could not have developed the leadership skills necessary to build a nation of many strengths. That fell to the next generation, suggesting, again, that our future lies in the hands of our children—bringing to mind: As we sow so shall we reap.
Those who built the Holy Land into the mighty nation where Solomon ruled, wisely, and David slew Goliath, bravely, proved to be the descendants of slaves, who, having left subservience behind, had nothing more than brotherhood, coupled with faith in wise leadership to offer their offspring. And thus did future generations face the necessity to call forth creative inventiveness to secure a self respecting life, which proved admirably sustainable in the new land.
This does not mean that once freed, the Israelites were never again enslaved by the dominance of brute force. It means that each time these people were beaten into submission,, their passion for education saw them rise from the ashes to value self empowerment, freedom of thought and mutual respect, repeatedly. Self-empowerment. Mutual respect is not to be confused with enslaving those less fortunate souls who look to leadership to provide security.
As we know the Israelites to be the ancestors of the Israelis, I wonder that so many throughout the world, today, believe the nation of Israel did not exist until after The Holocaust. Perhaps that points to the fact that our shortsightedness, concerning the past, proves no different from short sightedness, concerning the situation, which persists, today. Perhaps, upon delving more deeply into the history of today's Israelis, the world will understand the meaning of Never Again! more deeply than ever before.
Hopefully, one day, descendants of those who people Israel and Darfur, today, will have reason to gather with other well informed nations to create a new and improved United Nations, where all join hands while declaring Never Again! concerning genocide on a global scope. At least that's my far-sighted vision of change for the better, fueled by a well educated, positively focused hope.
A quick glancing into the history of human nature shows ancient tribes enslaving neighboring tribes—Attila—Vikings—Crusades—Japanese invasion of China—Spanish Inquisition—Dissection of Poland—Wars of Roses—English domination of Irish and Scots, colonization throughout the world—Napoleonic wars—wars for independence—world wars—Vietnam Nam—Korea—Cold wars, overheating—Desert Storm—internal revolts—the on-going, unending crises in the Middle East, the twin towers and terrorist cells, presently invading the world at large—genocide in Darfur while we sit in the dark, wearing 3D glasses at the multiplex, munching popcorn, watching super heroes do our life saving work for us when we need to see Newsreels of real-life heroes, sacrificing life and limb, day after day—makes me wonder when we'll see leadership assembling historical puzzle pieces in hopes of deepening a global sense of the necessity to participate actively in 'writing' The History of The World, Part 2—where justice will serve more than those few with the Midas touch. I believe that world leaders have not thoroughly absorbed insight into yesterday's mistakes by studying world history more deeply than ever before in hopes of educating today's masses to understand why working toward the betterment of society, as a whole, is the only way to resolve our differences in a manner that focuses upon solutions, based in securing a sense of peaceful, prosperous co-existence for all.
2014
In hindsight, that train of thought proved as naive as the White House declaring the war with Iraq was over when, in truth, change for the better encounters countless hurtles, based in deeply imprinted patterns of thought, rooted in thousands of years of attitude, which take time to overcome. Do you know why the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years when The Holy Land proved to be only a stone's throw from Egypt, suggesting walking in circles for decades? Good question, right? Here's the answer I was given: Slave mentality could not have developed the leadership skills necessary to build a nation of many strengths. That fell to the next generation, suggesting, again, that our future lies in the hands of our children—bringing to mind: As we sow so shall we reap.
Those who built the Holy Land into the mighty nation where Solomon ruled, wisely, and David slew Goliath, bravely, proved to be the descendants of slaves, who, having left subservience behind, had nothing more than brotherhood, coupled with faith in wise leadership to offer their offspring. And thus did future generations face the necessity to call forth creative inventiveness to secure a self respecting life, which proved admirably sustainable in the new land.
This does not mean that once freed, the Israelites were never again enslaved by the dominance of brute force. It means that each time these people were beaten into submission,, their passion for education saw them rise from the ashes to value self empowerment, freedom of thought and mutual respect, repeatedly. Self-empowerment. Mutual respect is not to be confused with enslaving those less fortunate souls who look to leadership to provide security.
As we know the Israelites to be the ancestors of the Israelis, I wonder that so many throughout the world, today, believe the nation of Israel did not exist until after The Holocaust. Perhaps that points to the fact that our shortsightedness, concerning the past, proves no different from short sightedness, concerning the situation, which persists, today. Perhaps, upon delving more deeply into the history of today's Israelis, the world will understand the meaning of Never Again! more deeply than ever before.
Hopefully, one day, descendants of those who people Israel and Darfur, today, will have reason to gather with other well informed nations to create a new and improved United Nations, where all join hands while declaring Never Again! concerning genocide on a global scope. At least that's my far-sighted vision of change for the better, fueled by a well educated, positively focused hope.
A quick glancing into the history of human nature shows ancient tribes enslaving neighboring tribes—Attila—Vikings—Crusades—Japanese invasion of China—Spanish Inquisition—Dissection of Poland—Wars of Roses—English domination of Irish and Scots, colonization throughout the world—Napoleonic wars—wars for independence—world wars—Vietnam Nam—Korea—Cold wars, overheating—Desert Storm—internal revolts—the on-going, unending crises in the Middle East, the twin towers and terrorist cells, presently invading the world at large—genocide in Darfur while we sit in the dark, wearing 3D glasses at the multiplex, munching popcorn, watching super heroes do our life saving work for us when we need to see Newsreels of real-life heroes, sacrificing life and limb, day after day—makes me wonder when we'll see leadership assembling historical puzzle pieces in hopes of deepening a global sense of the necessity to participate actively in 'writing' The History of The World, Part 2—where justice will serve more than those few with the Midas touch. I believe that world leaders have not thoroughly absorbed insight into yesterday's mistakes by studying world history more deeply than ever before in hopes of educating today's masses to understand why working toward the betterment of society, as a whole, is the only way to resolve our differences in a manner that focuses upon solutions, based in securing a sense of peaceful, prosperous co-existence for all.
Does that concept feel so far fetched as to cause us to escape into the dark where super heroes do our work of saving fantasy worlds, so we can deny the fact that we're imploding on a global scope? If leadership cannot comprehend the main root of world-wide confusion, today, then that reality is surely cause for all of us to shake in our boots, 24 hours, every day …
And—if leadership can't resolve conflicts within their families, how can we hope to solve conflict on a global scope?
And—if leadership can't resolve inner conflict in well balanced ways then …
Is it any wonder that with these trains of thoughts circling round inside my head in need of productive release, I'm drawn to write, each day, until my processor pulls out of a tunnel and into each next station, where my mind, guided by insight, unloads the weight of suppressed frustration along with excess baggage?
Upon pulling into each station, I refuel my locomotive, enjoy some heartfelt down time with those I love and get a good night's rest before awakening to greet a brand new day where positive focus, concerning the future well-being of mankind, guides me toward my computer, think tank chugging full steam ahead, yet again. Why? Because—for most of my life, I had hope but no voice with which to express my deepest thoughts—and now that I do—this is 'my thing'.
And—if leadership can't resolve conflicts within their families, how can we hope to solve conflict on a global scope?
And—if leadership can't resolve inner conflict in well balanced ways then …
Is it any wonder that with these trains of thoughts circling round inside my head in need of productive release, I'm drawn to write, each day, until my processor pulls out of a tunnel and into each next station, where my mind, guided by insight, unloads the weight of suppressed frustration along with excess baggage?
Upon pulling into each station, I refuel my locomotive, enjoy some heartfelt down time with those I love and get a good night's rest before awakening to greet a brand new day where positive focus, concerning the future well-being of mankind, guides me toward my computer, think tank chugging full steam ahead, yet again. Why? Because—for most of my life, I had hope but no voice with which to express my deepest thoughts—and now that I do—this is 'my thing'.
Is it possible that while denial closes our eyes to how often world history cycles round (like the Israelites wandering in circles for forty years after Moses, our first super hero, waved his magic wand—uh, make that staff—parting the Red Sea while guiding our path toward freedom before our fearless leader had reason to climb up and swoop down from on high with two of three tablets in hand, thus empowering his bretheren to make our way into The Promised Land, at last) we'll turn on the lights in the movie theater only to find that while grumbling about world wide disillusionment—which greed has foisted upon mankind, again—WW III may have already begun???
Have you looked at the headlines, lately? Revolts taking aim at aggression everywhere we look! Scary, right? Hopefully, we'll awaken Nick before missiles turn into catastrophic bombs dropping as unimaginably as has happened—before—with this caveat: This time round, we may find ourselves the recipients of devastation. Perhaps a cosmic reason exists for the fact that Manhattan is airing on TV, right now. Thoughts of the A-bomb gives me chills. Where's Nick? In a phone booth, I hope, straightening his cape, readying himself to save the day …. Why Nick? Super heroes prove necessary until a candidate, who, as yet, remains unnamed, inspires my confidence while my ears block out smear campaigns, which waste so much time, energy and money—all of which could put to better use—ohhh, just thinking about politics makes my blood pressure rise—Ohmmmm …
Have you looked at the headlines, lately? Revolts taking aim at aggression everywhere we look! Scary, right? Hopefully, we'll awaken Nick before missiles turn into catastrophic bombs dropping as unimaginably as has happened—before—with this caveat: This time round, we may find ourselves the recipients of devastation. Perhaps a cosmic reason exists for the fact that Manhattan is airing on TV, right now. Thoughts of the A-bomb gives me chills. Where's Nick? In a phone booth, I hope, straightening his cape, readying himself to save the day …. Why Nick? Super heroes prove necessary until a candidate, who, as yet, remains unnamed, inspires my confidence while my ears block out smear campaigns, which waste so much time, energy and money—all of which could put to better use—ohhh, just thinking about politics makes my blood pressure rise—Ohmmmm …
2002
Each time an amazing discovery catalyzes dramatic changes in society's thinking patterns, the naive side of human nature believes that we've got the brass ring within our grasp, and there it will remain, forever. All too often we forget that mindsets, transitioning through stages of change, offer up a mixed bag of tricks and treats.
Once young women got hold of the pill, values got such a shaking as to cause traditional mindsets to swirl as dizzily as a merry-go-round, spinning out of control—no brakes in sight. Suddenly, young women, feeling as free as young men, set their values aside in favor of frolicking with lust as naked as the breeze. Soon after that change, divorce pushed family life through revolving doors, and finally, teens, mimicking their elders, began to beget so many children that the availability of birth control was coveted above high school degrees. And now, decades later, this question continues to rage on in our homes: To educate youth about birth control or not? Seriously? Just as with politics‚ real life is not a tea party.
= When societal values swing from one extreme to the other, overnight, mindsets swing, like pendulums on metronomes, from one end of the spectrum to another. If values swing to extremes, overlong, the well-balanced state of a society's stability is bound to crack in half before common ground is founded in common sense. (Think back to biblical times, when newly freed slaves, minds running wild, worshipped a golden calf, while the mind of their leader climbed ever upward, reaching skyward toward a moral code. Why only Ten Commandments when we're clearly in need of more? Didn't you see History Of The World, Part 1? And anyway—why have more when we continue to ignore the first ten?)
As mindsets swing from one end of the spectrum to the other, unexpected change proves hard to accept on both sides—until a new and improved sense of balance begins to shape up as each unforeseen stage of change moves forward through an entire cycle, where an equalized sense of stability develops, over time. BTW, I'm sure you know that women are not the only ones working, steadily, decade by decade, to break through glass ceilings. Right?
Glass ceilings exist wherever those who have risen to the top look down, disdainfully, at whomsoever is working determinedly to climb each rung of the ladder of success, next. Whom amongst us doth not seek the golden egg? Money doth not disappear. It just changes hands. How much of the U.S. has sold out to China? How much of our nation do Eastern powers own? I'd feared that our national government would own our souls by becoming Big Brother, when in truth, Big Business, having usurped that role, owns our elected officials' souls. As far as mom and pop shops? Some things change for the better, some things just go by a different name: We still owe our souls to the company store.
Each time an amazing discovery catalyzes dramatic changes in society's thinking patterns, the naive side of human nature believes that we've got the brass ring within our grasp, and there it will remain, forever. All too often we forget that mindsets, transitioning through stages of change, offer up a mixed bag of tricks and treats.
Once young women got hold of the pill, values got such a shaking as to cause traditional mindsets to swirl as dizzily as a merry-go-round, spinning out of control—no brakes in sight. Suddenly, young women, feeling as free as young men, set their values aside in favor of frolicking with lust as naked as the breeze. Soon after that change, divorce pushed family life through revolving doors, and finally, teens, mimicking their elders, began to beget so many children that the availability of birth control was coveted above high school degrees. And now, decades later, this question continues to rage on in our homes: To educate youth about birth control or not? Seriously? Just as with politics‚ real life is not a tea party.
= When societal values swing from one extreme to the other, overnight, mindsets swing, like pendulums on metronomes, from one end of the spectrum to another. If values swing to extremes, overlong, the well-balanced state of a society's stability is bound to crack in half before common ground is founded in common sense. (Think back to biblical times, when newly freed slaves, minds running wild, worshipped a golden calf, while the mind of their leader climbed ever upward, reaching skyward toward a moral code. Why only Ten Commandments when we're clearly in need of more? Didn't you see History Of The World, Part 1? And anyway—why have more when we continue to ignore the first ten?)
As mindsets swing from one end of the spectrum to the other, unexpected change proves hard to accept on both sides—until a new and improved sense of balance begins to shape up as each unforeseen stage of change moves forward through an entire cycle, where an equalized sense of stability develops, over time. BTW, I'm sure you know that women are not the only ones working, steadily, decade by decade, to break through glass ceilings. Right?
Glass ceilings exist wherever those who have risen to the top look down, disdainfully, at whomsoever is working determinedly to climb each rung of the ladder of success, next. Whom amongst us doth not seek the golden egg? Money doth not disappear. It just changes hands. How much of the U.S. has sold out to China? How much of our nation do Eastern powers own? I'd feared that our national government would own our souls by becoming Big Brother, when in truth, Big Business, having usurped that role, owns our elected officials' souls. As far as mom and pop shops? Some things change for the better, some things just go by a different name: We still owe our souls to the company store.
During the Sixties, The Pill catalyzed an attitude of free love, which made such a shamble of responsible family values that common sense fell through the cracks in the foundation, which had stabilized Western society for thousands of years: The man had been the head of the house, the brains and brawn of the operation, the warrior hunter, who'd ruled with club in fist—the little woman, the bearer of children, the nurturer, the warmth of heart, hearth and home, the partner who kept the 'gonsa' machine humming in well oiled fashion. In fact, I heard that the first human conversation went something like this: Me Adam, you Eve. Me hungry. Followed by: Yes Dear. The club was put down. Fire invented. Then the wheel. And life rolled forward—except for one thing—Eve got hungry, bit into the apple and everything changed. Interesting, isn't it how apples come up in stories? I mean think of Snow White, who bit into a different variety of apple, which caused this sweet maiden to fall into a deep sleep until awakened by true love's first kiss, at which time, the damsel in distress arose to hear the prince say 'King me' and Snow, feeling ever so grateful, said, Yes Dear—and life rolled forward just like that until—The Pill caused such a ruckus that Jack and Jill's marriage barreled downhill. As to the serpent, who slides in and out of our minds ... Well, please take note that that character be not a he or she, if you ask me, but rather the dark side of human nature, which exists within us, one and all.
I know, I know—Woman's suffrage championed women's rights way before the sixties, so winning the vote must be lauded as a leap in the right direction, concerning women rising up another rung while reaching toward the glass ceiling in a (mostly) peaceable fashion, demanding to be considered man's equal in all of life's endeavors. My point in differentiating the woman's suffrage movement from the sexual liberation of the fair sex is this: Winning the vote demanded decades of work, brain power, patience, trial and error and time. Creating The Pill took brain power, patience, trial and error and time; however, taking The Pill created an overnight sensation, resulting in a shambles of family life as affairs, leading toward divorce, became all the 'rage'. I am woman, hear me roar! With divorce, an army of distraught women filed into the work place, The War Between The Sexes was declared, and the little woman was no more.
As family values cracked open like Humpty Dumpty, falling off a wall, all the King's horses could not stop the tug of war between the sexes, which had long been shoved under the rug. While traditional values of family solidarity pulled in one direction, 'free love' ran wild in the streets, and rather than remaining married while indulging in clandestine affairs, as had been the norm for thousands of years, marriages, which seemed solid on the surface, shattered, shocking the pants and panties off of everyone, who had run wild without considering—far reaching consequences—most especially for confounded, little kids.
No, I am most certainly not condoning the secret affairs of yesteryear. Just pointing out how one unforeseeable change leads to many more. And who suffers most? Children, who lose their innocence and sense of security much too early in life.
As newly divorced homemakers were forced into the workplace in droves, confusion, fear and fury roared to be heard. Resultant of unresolved anger, vindictive attitudes flooded home after home. Children, torn between warring parents, ran for emotional cover, until they learned to repress or mimic the rebellious attitudes displayed by mothers and fathers, and thus have we watched a commitment phobic generation grow up, creating the directionless direction of young leadership, today.
I know, I know—Woman's suffrage championed women's rights way before the sixties, so winning the vote must be lauded as a leap in the right direction, concerning women rising up another rung while reaching toward the glass ceiling in a (mostly) peaceable fashion, demanding to be considered man's equal in all of life's endeavors. My point in differentiating the woman's suffrage movement from the sexual liberation of the fair sex is this: Winning the vote demanded decades of work, brain power, patience, trial and error and time. Creating The Pill took brain power, patience, trial and error and time; however, taking The Pill created an overnight sensation, resulting in a shambles of family life as affairs, leading toward divorce, became all the 'rage'. I am woman, hear me roar! With divorce, an army of distraught women filed into the work place, The War Between The Sexes was declared, and the little woman was no more.
As family values cracked open like Humpty Dumpty, falling off a wall, all the King's horses could not stop the tug of war between the sexes, which had long been shoved under the rug. While traditional values of family solidarity pulled in one direction, 'free love' ran wild in the streets, and rather than remaining married while indulging in clandestine affairs, as had been the norm for thousands of years, marriages, which seemed solid on the surface, shattered, shocking the pants and panties off of everyone, who had run wild without considering—far reaching consequences—most especially for confounded, little kids.
No, I am most certainly not condoning the secret affairs of yesteryear. Just pointing out how one unforeseeable change leads to many more. And who suffers most? Children, who lose their innocence and sense of security much too early in life.
As newly divorced homemakers were forced into the workplace in droves, confusion, fear and fury roared to be heard. Resultant of unresolved anger, vindictive attitudes flooded home after home. Children, torn between warring parents, ran for emotional cover, until they learned to repress or mimic the rebellious attitudes displayed by mothers and fathers, and thus have we watched a commitment phobic generation grow up, creating the directionless direction of young leadership, today.
Once a new mindset runs wild, while a traditional mindset remains planted, solidly, in values, which are shaking furiously in their boots, a chasm opens, causing opposing mindsets to—divorce. More than once. (Learn about yourself and your history or repeat your mistakes and perhaps your parents' mistakes as well.)
As more and more families tore apart, traditional values were buried neath an avalanche of negatively focused change, which got off to a running start during the sixties, dividing mindsets into warring camps, resulting in the development of emotional, financial, and political chaos, which we've not yet figured out how to stabilize, today. (Makes me wonder if congress can't get their act together, because the values of the haves and have nots are engaged in an undeclared war?)
Is The Pill responsible for spoilage of society's value system? Not all of it, of course. But the same gluttonous adulterous behavior that proved rotten in Denmark, when the Bard gave us Hamlet, is in need of attention, today. I mean, wisdom, which proves classic in terms of history repeating itself, never gets old.
As insight into problem solving continues to speak to me, intuition, which propels me to sit down to pen complex thoughts as lucidly as possible, day after day, suggests it's way past time to put our heads together and seriously consider gathering all of the puzzle pieces, which have accumulated over these past fifty years, in order to assemble the bigger picture of a world in transition, socially, financially politically … morally, because, you see, I believe everything that poured into today's post is interconnected. How'bout you?
Who is at fault in 'no fault' divorce? Not who. But what: Human nature.
How many lovers who marry believe they'll divorce? Why are first marriages now called 'Beginner Marriages'? Because more than 50% of us divorce. Close to 60% of second marriages do the same. Family is synonymous with revolving door.
How many lovers who marry believe they'll divorce? Why are first marriages now called 'Beginner Marriages'? Because more than 50% of us divorce. Close to 60% of second marriages do the same. Family is synonymous with revolving door.
As more and more families tore apart, traditional values were buried neath an avalanche of negatively focused change, which got off to a running start during the sixties, dividing mindsets into warring camps, resulting in the development of emotional, financial, and political chaos, which we've not yet figured out how to stabilize, today. (Makes me wonder if congress can't get their act together, because the values of the haves and have nots are engaged in an undeclared war?)
Is The Pill responsible for spoilage of society's value system? Not all of it, of course. But the same gluttonous adulterous behavior that proved rotten in Denmark, when the Bard gave us Hamlet, is in need of attention, today. I mean, wisdom, which proves classic in terms of history repeating itself, never gets old.
As insight into problem solving continues to speak to me, intuition, which propels me to sit down to pen complex thoughts as lucidly as possible, day after day, suggests it's way past time to put our heads together and seriously consider gathering all of the puzzle pieces, which have accumulated over these past fifty years, in order to assemble the bigger picture of a world in transition, socially, financially politically … morally, because, you see, I believe everything that poured into today's post is interconnected. How'bout you?
As a chaotic chasm has flooded minds with confusion/fear/fury, for half a century, we still seem blind to and thus stymied by the ways in which dramatic-change-in-transition propels society, as a whole, toward a future in which the unexpected and thus, unforeseen, becomes the norm. With attention to hindsight we can see that once confusion settles down, the center of the bell shaped curve, which stabilizes any group, establishes a middle ground, which allows society, as a whole, to dig into the past in hopes of clarifying that which is really causing the turbulence of the little that we can see on the surface, today.
Wonder what's gotten into children, today? Let's open our eyes to adults, flinging disrespect all around town while sex runs as wildly through our streets as on TV, on magazine cover shots, at the multiplex in widescreen 3D … pretty much every place our wide-eyed children, with big ears, look—mimicking adult misbehavior. As Barbra sings, loud and clear: Children are listening …
Adults who wonder why kids run wild need to take a good long look in the mirror while answering this question: Have you been an active part of the problem or are you role modeling positively focused attitudes, resulting in thought provoking solutions, based in values practiced rather than preached?
Where on the bell shaped curve do you stand? Are you lagging behind in the past with those who peopled The Me Generation, or do you stand with open minded young minds, intent on pulling the curve toward a future, where creating change for the better for today's children, at home and throughout the world, depends upon re-balancing each role model's life, beginning, right now?
See why I believe positive change needs to start with a grassroots movement, concerning the widespread development of mutual respect, in home after home? This is not Pollyanna talking; this is the voice of sages through the ages, whispering unwaveringly, patiently, hopefully into your ears and mine—imagine Socrates, Plato, Shakespeare, Dickens, Jane Austen, The Bronte sisters, Ellen Gilchrist, Ellen Glasgow, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Pearl S. Buck, Alice Walker and Henry James along with financial masterminds leading the nations of today's world—well, maybe not Plato. He thought women were inferior to men … Sigh … enough of that already!
Wisdom, which proves classic in terms of history repeating itself, never gets old. (BTW did you know that the Bronte sisters novels were published under pen names, suggesting to publishers that they were—men? I read a book recently and loved the title: Anonymous Was A Woman)
In the aftermath of The Pill, divorce grew so commonplace that a temporary sense of family established its place in the center of the bell shaped curve, which strained this way and that while society moved forward on the historical time line at a snail's pace. Retrospectively, it's important to note that at those times when widespread change causes traditional values to transition through widespread pain, the future, which moves all of us forward, feels unsafe, rocky, for this reason: Time stops for no one, no matter how scary emotional and financial instability proves to be. When adults experience tension, anger and fear, children do, too.
Wonder what's gotten into children, today? Let's open our eyes to adults, flinging disrespect all around town while sex runs as wildly through our streets as on TV, on magazine cover shots, at the multiplex in widescreen 3D … pretty much every place our wide-eyed children, with big ears, look—mimicking adult misbehavior. As Barbra sings, loud and clear: Children are listening …
Adults who wonder why kids run wild need to take a good long look in the mirror while answering this question: Have you been an active part of the problem or are you role modeling positively focused attitudes, resulting in thought provoking solutions, based in values practiced rather than preached?
Where on the bell shaped curve do you stand? Are you lagging behind in the past with those who peopled The Me Generation, or do you stand with open minded young minds, intent on pulling the curve toward a future, where creating change for the better for today's children, at home and throughout the world, depends upon re-balancing each role model's life, beginning, right now?
See why I believe positive change needs to start with a grassroots movement, concerning the widespread development of mutual respect, in home after home? This is not Pollyanna talking; this is the voice of sages through the ages, whispering unwaveringly, patiently, hopefully into your ears and mine—imagine Socrates, Plato, Shakespeare, Dickens, Jane Austen, The Bronte sisters, Ellen Gilchrist, Ellen Glasgow, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Pearl S. Buck, Alice Walker and Henry James along with financial masterminds leading the nations of today's world—well, maybe not Plato. He thought women were inferior to men … Sigh … enough of that already!
Wisdom, which proves classic in terms of history repeating itself, never gets old. (BTW did you know that the Bronte sisters novels were published under pen names, suggesting to publishers that they were—men? I read a book recently and loved the title: Anonymous Was A Woman)
In the aftermath of The Pill, divorce grew so commonplace that a temporary sense of family established its place in the center of the bell shaped curve, which strained this way and that while society moved forward on the historical time line at a snail's pace. Retrospectively, it's important to note that at those times when widespread change causes traditional values to transition through widespread pain, the future, which moves all of us forward, feels unsafe, rocky, for this reason: Time stops for no one, no matter how scary emotional and financial instability proves to be. When adults experience tension, anger and fear, children do, too.
If adult stability depends upon a mutually supportive value system, a child's sense of security depends upon their role models' solution seeking skills. If emotional and financial stability proves scarce at home then common sense suggests that we've ignored a value system, based in balance in all things, for far too long. Whom amongst the founding fathers thought democracy would lead to monopoly? That capitalism would create anarchy? It's high time we all spend time with—Nick.
If, over these past forty years we're still blindly partaking in rebellion against Victorian values, and if history is cyclical in nature then which stage of our development might Western society be cycling toward? Is the healthy time of life limited to our uphill climb? At my stage of life, It's not healthy to believe that to be true. Has Western culture peaked, suggesting that the fall of Rome is hitting home … in home after home, as I write and you read? I mean if change is the only constant in life that means we won't remain stuck in the same place for long. Whether we're on our way up or down remains a matter of choice—'capiche'?
2014
Aha! Some brilliant mind in Hollywood needs to write a script, showcasing a superhero named Captain Nickintyme, whose superpower has the ability to shoot a solution seeking chip into every brain that's about to take a flying leap into the future. This chip will open eyes and ears to reality, offering each of us a global scope, concerning the importance of considering turning points away from denial before breaking points knock us out of the game of thrones. Another chip will connect brain to heartfelt compassion in order that we not give lip service to brotherhood while wagging forked tongue, which stabs brethren in the back.
Nick's storyline would allow us to time travel back and forth, allowing us to re-consider what may result when tender, young shoots are uprooted and replanted in an emotional wasteland, where one hot winded sand storm after another swirls up with such a howl as to cause everyone to shut their eyes and ears tight. In the absence of emotional nourishment, which establishes each child's sense of security, how might today's generation of latch key, day cared, three days here, four days there, bewildered youngsters fare? The lead-in-line to this movie would be: Dare we look reality in the face before it's too late?
Whew! Guess today's post suggests that if everything's connected, stream of consciousness can start with: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth and just go on, forever, after that …
If today's post is cause for frowns, do not despair—experience has taught me tis better to confront reality than to hide in denial until it's too late to embrace an active role in the kind of brainstorming that creates change for the better in your home and mine—we already have all we need to achieve a step by step approach to success: minds connected to heartfelt voices, eyes and ears. Once we make good use of these ingredients to whip up change for the better, all that's left is to open the door to welcome the concept of all-for-one-and-one-for-all into our hearts, home by home …
Please make no mistake. When I mentioned latch key children, no way was I bashing over-worked men and women. In fact, my hat is off to every well-meaning adult, working overtime to feed their kids and make ends meet. I watched my dad and Will's Mom do that very thing, so Will and I could grow up to realize our dreams. The point I'm making is this: The time is ripe for change, and whether we like it or not, change is afoot, so doesn't it make sense to follow in the footsteps of another sage, thus listening attentively each time the spirit of Gandhi's swoops down from on high to perch on one shoulder, while Socrates' wings hover above the other, as both take turns whispering words of wisdom, which prove classic, universal, timeless, into your ear and mine:
'Know thyself'
'Be the change we hope for the world' …
Whew! Guess today's post suggests that if everything's connected, stream of consciousness can start with: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth and just go on, forever, after that …
If today's post is cause for frowns, do not despair—experience has taught me tis better to confront reality than to hide in denial until it's too late to embrace an active role in the kind of brainstorming that creates change for the better in your home and mine—we already have all we need to achieve a step by step approach to success: minds connected to heartfelt voices, eyes and ears. Once we make good use of these ingredients to whip up change for the better, all that's left is to open the door to welcome the concept of all-for-one-and-one-for-all into our hearts, home by home …
Please make no mistake. When I mentioned latch key children, no way was I bashing over-worked men and women. In fact, my hat is off to every well-meaning adult, working overtime to feed their kids and make ends meet. I watched my dad and Will's Mom do that very thing, so Will and I could grow up to realize our dreams. The point I'm making is this: The time is ripe for change, and whether we like it or not, change is afoot, so doesn't it make sense to follow in the footsteps of another sage, thus listening attentively each time the spirit of Gandhi's swoops down from on high to perch on one shoulder, while Socrates' wings hover above the other, as both take turns whispering words of wisdom, which prove classic, universal, timeless, into your ear and mine:
'Know thyself'
'Be the change we hope for the world' …
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
1125 (52) NO! NO! NOT AGAIN! REVISITED 70
52
2002
If asked how my library in this arena of speaking and listening respectfully began to stimulate positively focused change for the better while I was in my twenties, I'd reply: My desire to grow ever more self-aware of my attitudes, mindsets and behaviors proves to be the crux of the story of my life, which I'm intent upon writing.
“Yes, Mom. All of that is undeniably true. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with taking the pill. I'm saying the discovery of the pill led to changes, that undermined family values, which had grounded society's sense of stability for thousands of years ... As my stories unfold, I plan to offer examples of the ways in which The Pill led us into a maze, where fear of abandonment created confusion, which continues to reign supreme—to this very day. And as we wander, blindly, ever more deeply into this foggy maze, where marriage, ending in divorce, proves to be a revolving door, I intend to offer examples of the ways in which denial undermines the value system that enabled the leaders of thirteen colonies to create a nation that developed such a variety of mental strengths as to become a world power.
If human nature has two sides, then common sense suggests examining sudden changes that inexplicably cracked the foundation of family life during the decade of the sixties, because if we don't analyze our history, we repeat it, flaws and all ...
2002
“Annie, do you know how effective communications became such a passion for you?”
“I think so, Mom. It must have started when Barry turned two. I'd thought raising children would be warm bubble baths, playing with blocks, swinging at the park and reading stories before tucking sweet, little tots into bed. You know, just like babysitting for children I'd loved. And though all of that proved true, I wanted to discipline in positive ways when Barry turned two and declared his independence, but I didn't know how. I mean, think about my past: As a teacher, who'd loved other people's children, it's easy to imagine how naturally I'd love my own. And who in their right mind wants to yell at a child, who is deeply loved? What I didn't know then but do, now, is this: Children walk into a fifth grade class programmed to respect their teachers as authority figures. Children at home need to be taught by role models, who love them, to embrace the concept of mutual respect within the family. Since children learn by way of monkey see, monkey do—monkey hear, monkey say, it's vital for role models to develop depth in self awareness, thus insuring that we do as we preach.
When we stop to think about it, parents prove to be each child's most important teachers. Sad to say, most of us remain unaware of this fact: When we don't learn how to treat each child as respectfully as unconditional love demands, we reap what we sow.
If we observed teachers in school disciplining with the punitive methods we resort to at home, we'd make a beeline for the principal's office, demanding dismissal in a flash. Children, who feel insulted by those who are responsible for teaching the young to follow their lead while shielding them from harm, do not grow up to be high self-esteeming adults. In fact, I believe we grow up with so many mixed messages, roaming freely in our brains, that all too many go through life feeling more mixed up about love, friendship and respect than we know.
When we stop to think about it, parents prove to be each child's most important teachers. Sad to say, most of us remain unaware of this fact: When we don't learn how to treat each child as respectfully as unconditional love demands, we reap what we sow.
If we observed teachers in school disciplining with the punitive methods we resort to at home, we'd make a beeline for the principal's office, demanding dismissal in a flash. Children, who feel insulted by those who are responsible for teaching the young to follow their lead while shielding them from harm, do not grow up to be high self-esteeming adults. In fact, I believe we grow up with so many mixed messages, roaming freely in our brains, that all too many go through life feeling more mixed up about love, friendship and respect than we know.
If asked how my library in this arena of speaking and listening respectfully began to stimulate positively focused change for the better while I was in my twenties, I'd reply: My desire to grow ever more self-aware of my attitudes, mindsets and behaviors proves to be the crux of the story of my life, which I'm intent upon writing.
At first, my interest in this subject focused solely on my relationship with my kids and their relationships with each other. Then, I realized that conflict causes adults to react just as disrespectfully as undisciplined kids, so off the top of my head, suffice to say that my library evolved from one aspect of 'self help' to another, one book at a time. And today, much of the knowledge, which I still feel eager to absorb, is stored in files, within the 'computer' inside my head. By now, there are lots of files. Ask me a question, watch a file fly open, as though all on its own. Push one of my hot buttons, today ... watch my file, titled Line of Control, fly open, spontaneously. First sentence in that file states: Stop to collect your most intelligent thoughts before answering as clearly and respectfully as possible.
2014
Though practice does not make perfect, practicing what I teach goes a long way toward calming my temper on the spot. The calmer I feel the less adrenalin is pumped into my brain, the more clear headed during conflict I remain. If attitude is everything then it makes sense to choose a solution seeking attitude instead of allowing a fighting or fleeing or freezing attitude to usurp control over my think tank. By engaging my whole brain upon solution-seeking, pain leads toward gain, on both sides, rather than pain increasing, all around. Thank goodness, I held my children's hands as we walked this path, training our brains to absorb the art of respectful, positively focused conflict resolution, step by step, as you shall see ...
As years passed, much of what I'd experienced and read had served to expand my perspectives, concerning love and life, and having successfully worked to achieve one goal after another, I decided to weave insights, gathered along the way, into true stories, thus showcasing concrete examples of how one mind-bending experience leads to the next. By way of writing these stories, I hope to offer people throughout the world an Annie’s Notes version of knowledge gleaned from a wise variety of tried and true professional points of view.
2014
Though practice does not make perfect, practicing what I teach goes a long way toward calming my temper on the spot. The calmer I feel the less adrenalin is pumped into my brain, the more clear headed during conflict I remain. If attitude is everything then it makes sense to choose a solution seeking attitude instead of allowing a fighting or fleeing or freezing attitude to usurp control over my think tank. By engaging my whole brain upon solution-seeking, pain leads toward gain, on both sides, rather than pain increasing, all around. Thank goodness, I held my children's hands as we walked this path, training our brains to absorb the art of respectful, positively focused conflict resolution, step by step, as you shall see ...
As years passed, much of what I'd experienced and read had served to expand my perspectives, concerning love and life, and having successfully worked to achieve one goal after another, I decided to weave insights, gathered along the way, into true stories, thus showcasing concrete examples of how one mind-bending experience leads to the next. By way of writing these stories, I hope to offer people throughout the world an Annie’s Notes version of knowledge gleaned from a wise variety of tried and true professional points of view.
Look at it this way, Mom—think of everything we’ve just discussed—doesn’t the fact that you keep asking questions validate this fact: The concept of division of labor suggests that everyone does not need to investigate this subject in depth in order to absorb that which I hope to convey, concerning the ways in which denial harms relationships by refuting reality. *As no man is an island, we each in our own way (excluding pirates) choose to study and disseminate some vital aspect of expertise for the betterment of mankind as a whole. For example:
*Just as we don’t need to attend dental school to learn to take good care of our teeth, everyone doesn’t need to amass a library or grow deeply analytical to expand our understanding of both sides of human nature—the self assured, compassionate side vs. the insecure, power struggling side. What we do need to remember is this:
Our friendships are like our teeth
We only need to take good care of the ones we want to keep
When we don't take good care of our teeth
They loosen and fall our of our mouths in the same way that
Friendships, which we don’t take good care of, fall out of our lives.
(I just expanded a funny insight that I'd once read on a poster, tacked to the ceiling in my dentist's office while I was reclining in the chair—I simply extracted the teeth and implanted friends, instead.)
Our friendships are like our teeth
We only need to take good care of the ones we want to keep
When we don't take good care of our teeth
They loosen and fall our of our mouths in the same way that
Friendships, which we don’t take good care of, fall out of our lives.
(I just expanded a funny insight that I'd once read on a poster, tacked to the ceiling in my dentist's office while I was reclining in the chair—I simply extracted the teeth and implanted friends, instead.)
Once Mom and I enjoy another laugh, Ms. Motormouth has no intention of winding down—
*“I believe most of us would like to offer the most positively focused, emotionally supportive, productive parts of our minds to those we love. And with that belief in mind, here's what I hope to inspire by baring the story of my life:
I hope to inspire a desire in many others to work consciously at listening to oneself and each other so attentively as to question attitudes which sidestep clarity, because at times when conflict won't resolve, at least one mindset is mired in denial.
I hope to impart a healthy sense of curiosity, concerning depth in emotional intelligence.
I hope to entice more of us to muster the courage to peel away at denial's walls, uproot the wounds of our egos and peer honestly into hot spots in need of healing, which spin the emotional portion of our minds out of control.
I hope to encourage patience while 'peeling the onion' in hopes that more of us will work toward detecting self defeating patterns, so that lasting changes, which strengthen our relationships, have time to develop—because surface changes are short lived.
I hope that as more of us expand our personal views, life and relationships may improve.
Mom, are you aware of how often I bring the war between the sexes and sexuality into conversations?”
I hope to inspire a desire in many others to work consciously at listening to oneself and each other so attentively as to question attitudes which sidestep clarity, because at times when conflict won't resolve, at least one mindset is mired in denial.
I hope to impart a healthy sense of curiosity, concerning depth in emotional intelligence.
I hope to entice more of us to muster the courage to peel away at denial's walls, uproot the wounds of our egos and peer honestly into hot spots in need of healing, which spin the emotional portion of our minds out of control.
I hope to encourage patience while 'peeling the onion' in hopes that more of us will work toward detecting self defeating patterns, so that lasting changes, which strengthen our relationships, have time to develop—because surface changes are short lived.
I hope that as more of us expand our personal views, life and relationships may improve.
Mom, are you aware of how often I bring the war between the sexes and sexuality into conversations?”
“Yes. And to tell you the truth, I'm perplexed about that, too.”
“Well, I've always taken a passionate interest in the welfare of children, and in many ways I believe ‘The Pill’ has led toward the family’s undoing.”
“The birth control pill? But, Annie, I know you believe in contraception. In fact, you've relied on the pill, yourself.”
If human nature has two sides, then common sense suggests examining sudden changes that inexplicably cracked the foundation of family life during the decade of the sixties, because if we don't analyze our history, we repeat it, flaws and all ...
Monday, September 1, 2014
1124 (51) NO! NO! NOT AGAIN! REVISITED 69
51
2002
Swinging— (briefly recapping ...)
"Well Mom, some of us thrive while analyzing and reconstructing parts of the human body that malfunction. Some create life sustaining medicines. Some analyze and reconstruct cars. Planes. Rockets. Some compose soul stirring music. Some create mouth watering morsels that nourish our senses as much as our bodies. Athletes thrive while striving to attain personal goals that feed our need to cheer our teams on to victory. Some thrive by focusing their minds on piloting planes, space exploration or connecting our minds to sound waves via ear phones plugged into iPods. Some thrive while analyzing computers, children's' toys, tennis strokes, golf swings. Crimes. The mind thrives with innovative discovery. I thrive while analyzing relationships that stand the test of time vs. those that don't. I'm intrigued by the inclusive and illusive nature of ... Love"
"I know that, Annie. But why?"
"That's a very good question, Mom. The truth is, I don't know that answer—yet. But you know what 'they' say: Ask the question, today. Live into the answer, tomorrow."
"Well, that's another thing—who in the world are 'they'? And why are 'they' so sure the answers will come?"
(Now I'm chuckling, because, once again, the same people, who suggest that I've grown too deep are the very ones who ask questions that stimulate my desire to dig even deeper than before!)
"Well—that's a really astute question, Mom! Let's see ... off the top of my head, I'd say: 'They' represent the spirit of wisdom, which passes strings of insight forward along the time line from one generation to the next. As to why they're' so sure that the answers will come, down the road ... well that perception makes sense, because hindsight suggests that, with time, as emotional turmoil clears, objectivity is more likely to emerge. But we need to do more than wait for answers to appear. If answers lay within, we need to quest, openly and hopefully into ourselves.
If we fear self awareness, denial will make certain that the brain's hopeless sense of foggy darkness will not lift. And since that train of thought makes sense to me, I'll stick with my perception until such time as experience may offer me sound reason to replace today's sense of truth with insight into deeper truth, which tends to emerge in bits and pieces until insight into a bigger picture comes together. Each time a deeper truth disproves today's train of thought, my perception has sound reason to change, somewhere down the road ..."
2014
At that earlier time in my life (more than a decade ago), I'd not yet identified the underlying reason, which drives my need to analyze life, love and conflict resolution to this very day. I had no clue that over the next decade, life was about to offer me experiences, which would drive me to explore self awareness ever more deeply than ever before. That during the decade to come, 'they' (the spirits of sages, which pass insight from one generation to the next) would prove right on the mark, concerning: 'Live until the answers to your questions emerge from deep within your own mind'.
Had Mom questioned me, today, I'd not have felt stymied, concerning that which fuels my passionate quest for clarity, concerning the heart-brain connection, which creates each person's perception of reality. All I knew at that earlier time was this: My life's work as a teacher of children began to develop a greater sense of depth while observing my eldest child mimic me—first by smiling when I smiled, laughing when I laughed, following my example by mimicking my body language while waving bye-bye and responding to 'how big is the baby'. Then came the day when my child responded to my sense of authority with his own by mimicking a resounding,"NO!"—in such a free spirited, independent manner, which should not have shocked me, because of this fact: My sweet cherub's tone of voice had so resembled my own ... and though I'd no clue of relating my child's mimicking me to my mimicking role models when I was a tot ... the depth of that perceptive awareness would come, along with endless strings of insights, concerning conflict resolution, which pop out of my mind each time a puzzling experience challenges my sense of self to develop ...
Had Mom asked me those questions concerning my need to write about the affects of self awareness, concerning lasting friendships vs, those that self destruct, here's what I'd reply, today: When friendships self destruct, at least one mind blocks insight into deeper truth by raising defensive walls, behind which egocentric attitudes, negative focus and power struggles, based in fear, run the show.
Lasting friendships, which thrive, depend upon each person's self confidence to muster the courage to look inside where both sides of human nature struggle for dominance within each mind. A true friendship is based in self confident, positively focused, solution seeking traits, which free both minds to engage in intelligent, heartfelt debates, suggesting the ability to muster the humility to glean insight into change for the better by listening attentively to opinions, which may be better informed than one's own. On the other hand, many levels of friendship exist, suggesting that loved ones need not travel on the same mental wavelengths to enjoy each other's company or to come to each other's aid. A true friend is one who does not feel a need to level playing fields by putting you down as soon as you turn your back. That last description highlights a frenemy, of which I choose to have none.
Proving to be a person who loves people, this subject, concerning the conscious development of openminded, compassionate character traits, eager to create change for the better, first at home, then expanding, over time, to embrace the world, fascinates me to no end. And if we listed those traits, necessary to create lasting change for the better, near the top we'd find ... listening skills.
As the only constant in life is change, and as change creates conflict, you and I can see why my think tank awakens, feeling passionately inspired to simplify mental complexity by writing, daily, for hours about creating change for the better by offering you a bird's eye view of a family that learned to brainstorm toward mutually respectful, conflict resolution as naturally as others fight their way through life. And in hopes of inspiring attitudes, the world over, to focus on creating positive change for the better in home after home, I cast each train of thought into cyberspace as soon as my mind pulls into a station, where my life force can rest and refuel in hopes of awakening each morning, eager to achieve the kind of success that offers my spirit sound reason to thrive and even soar ... if not every day, at least many more days than had been true when my mind felt as confused as a maze, causing my spirit to feel heavy when my needs conflicted with the needs of those I love until I got a clue as to how often denial runs interference with clarity. Whew!
Story by story, I aim to show you how one child grew up to achieve heartfelt goals, which proved long range, by mustering the courage to stand up to take one small, positively focused step forward after feeling shot down, time and again. And not until this child grew up to understand both sides of human nature did she recognize the importance of discerning what thinking for herself, meant in depth.
Somehow, a fortune cookie, which I'd taped to my computer, comes to mind: Lust is about getting ... Love is about giving. In order for lust and love to last throughout a lifetime, I've come to believe that our hearts and minds must embrace a healthy, strong spirited, respectful sense of balance in all things, suggesting that one person cannot keep pouring from the pitcher without taking time out to receive replenishment, because common sense suggests that without replenishment even the most generous of hearts experiences an exhausted sense of despair of being heard ... "Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears ... ". Mark Anthony
78 nations and counting ...
2002
Swinging— (briefly recapping ...)
... "I’m writing our story in hopes of connecting with those who believe in the importance of personal growth. I recognize that most people work so hard at other endeavors that there's little time or energy to attend evening or weekend seminars, much less read and absorb the findings of hundreds of authors, concerning effective communications, love, friendship, and family. As division of labor proves necessary—this has become my labor of love.”
“Annie, I still don't understand why you need to spend so much time analyzing love and friendship ...”
"Well Mom, some of us thrive while analyzing and reconstructing parts of the human body that malfunction. Some create life sustaining medicines. Some analyze and reconstruct cars. Planes. Rockets. Some compose soul stirring music. Some create mouth watering morsels that nourish our senses as much as our bodies. Athletes thrive while striving to attain personal goals that feed our need to cheer our teams on to victory. Some thrive by focusing their minds on piloting planes, space exploration or connecting our minds to sound waves via ear phones plugged into iPods. Some thrive while analyzing computers, children's' toys, tennis strokes, golf swings. Crimes. The mind thrives with innovative discovery. I thrive while analyzing relationships that stand the test of time vs. those that don't. I'm intrigued by the inclusive and illusive nature of ... Love"
"I know that, Annie. But why?"
"That's a very good question, Mom. The truth is, I don't know that answer—yet. But you know what 'they' say: Ask the question, today. Live into the answer, tomorrow."
"Well, that's another thing—who in the world are 'they'? And why are 'they' so sure the answers will come?"
(Now I'm chuckling, because, once again, the same people, who suggest that I've grown too deep are the very ones who ask questions that stimulate my desire to dig even deeper than before!)
"Well—that's a really astute question, Mom! Let's see ... off the top of my head, I'd say: 'They' represent the spirit of wisdom, which passes strings of insight forward along the time line from one generation to the next. As to why they're' so sure that the answers will come, down the road ... well that perception makes sense, because hindsight suggests that, with time, as emotional turmoil clears, objectivity is more likely to emerge. But we need to do more than wait for answers to appear. If answers lay within, we need to quest, openly and hopefully into ourselves.
If we fear self awareness, denial will make certain that the brain's hopeless sense of foggy darkness will not lift. And since that train of thought makes sense to me, I'll stick with my perception until such time as experience may offer me sound reason to replace today's sense of truth with insight into deeper truth, which tends to emerge in bits and pieces until insight into a bigger picture comes together. Each time a deeper truth disproves today's train of thought, my perception has sound reason to change, somewhere down the road ..."
2014
At that earlier time in my life (more than a decade ago), I'd not yet identified the underlying reason, which drives my need to analyze life, love and conflict resolution to this very day. I had no clue that over the next decade, life was about to offer me experiences, which would drive me to explore self awareness ever more deeply than ever before. That during the decade to come, 'they' (the spirits of sages, which pass insight from one generation to the next) would prove right on the mark, concerning: 'Live until the answers to your questions emerge from deep within your own mind'.
Had Mom questioned me, today, I'd not have felt stymied, concerning that which fuels my passionate quest for clarity, concerning the heart-brain connection, which creates each person's perception of reality. All I knew at that earlier time was this: My life's work as a teacher of children began to develop a greater sense of depth while observing my eldest child mimic me—first by smiling when I smiled, laughing when I laughed, following my example by mimicking my body language while waving bye-bye and responding to 'how big is the baby'. Then came the day when my child responded to my sense of authority with his own by mimicking a resounding,"NO!"—in such a free spirited, independent manner, which should not have shocked me, because of this fact: My sweet cherub's tone of voice had so resembled my own ... and though I'd no clue of relating my child's mimicking me to my mimicking role models when I was a tot ... the depth of that perceptive awareness would come, along with endless strings of insights, concerning conflict resolution, which pop out of my mind each time a puzzling experience challenges my sense of self to develop ...
Had Mom asked me those questions concerning my need to write about the affects of self awareness, concerning lasting friendships vs, those that self destruct, here's what I'd reply, today: When friendships self destruct, at least one mind blocks insight into deeper truth by raising defensive walls, behind which egocentric attitudes, negative focus and power struggles, based in fear, run the show.
Lasting friendships, which thrive, depend upon each person's self confidence to muster the courage to look inside where both sides of human nature struggle for dominance within each mind. A true friendship is based in self confident, positively focused, solution seeking traits, which free both minds to engage in intelligent, heartfelt debates, suggesting the ability to muster the humility to glean insight into change for the better by listening attentively to opinions, which may be better informed than one's own. On the other hand, many levels of friendship exist, suggesting that loved ones need not travel on the same mental wavelengths to enjoy each other's company or to come to each other's aid. A true friend is one who does not feel a need to level playing fields by putting you down as soon as you turn your back. That last description highlights a frenemy, of which I choose to have none.
Proving to be a person who loves people, this subject, concerning the conscious development of openminded, compassionate character traits, eager to create change for the better, first at home, then expanding, over time, to embrace the world, fascinates me to no end. And if we listed those traits, necessary to create lasting change for the better, near the top we'd find ... listening skills.
As the only constant in life is change, and as change creates conflict, you and I can see why my think tank awakens, feeling passionately inspired to simplify mental complexity by writing, daily, for hours about creating change for the better by offering you a bird's eye view of a family that learned to brainstorm toward mutually respectful, conflict resolution as naturally as others fight their way through life. And in hopes of inspiring attitudes, the world over, to focus on creating positive change for the better in home after home, I cast each train of thought into cyberspace as soon as my mind pulls into a station, where my life force can rest and refuel in hopes of awakening each morning, eager to achieve the kind of success that offers my spirit sound reason to thrive and even soar ... if not every day, at least many more days than had been true when my mind felt as confused as a maze, causing my spirit to feel heavy when my needs conflicted with the needs of those I love until I got a clue as to how often denial runs interference with clarity. Whew!
Story by story, I aim to show you how one child grew up to achieve heartfelt goals, which proved long range, by mustering the courage to stand up to take one small, positively focused step forward after feeling shot down, time and again. And not until this child grew up to understand both sides of human nature did she recognize the importance of discerning what thinking for herself, meant in depth.
Somehow, a fortune cookie, which I'd taped to my computer, comes to mind: Lust is about getting ... Love is about giving. In order for lust and love to last throughout a lifetime, I've come to believe that our hearts and minds must embrace a healthy, strong spirited, respectful sense of balance in all things, suggesting that one person cannot keep pouring from the pitcher without taking time out to receive replenishment, because common sense suggests that without replenishment even the most generous of hearts experiences an exhausted sense of despair of being heard ... "Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears ... ". Mark Anthony
78 nations and counting ...
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