tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63379049024555209782024-03-21T02:57:48.236-04:00Morphing Into A Better WorldMorphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-28552818580679412112023-04-10T13:48:00.002-04:002023-04-10T13:48:27.662-04:00<p> </p><div class="post-header" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: #fff2d1; color: #655a3d;"><h1 class="post-title unpublished" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; color: var(--print_on_web_bg_color, var(--color-primary)); font-weight: var(--font_weight_headings_preset, bold); line-height: var(--line-height-36); margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.6em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Is it Fair for us to Assign an Identity to Someone Else?</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.6em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: start;">I was minding my own business yesterday, leafing through Facebook, when I came across a post from a FB friend - I’ll call him Joe. He was an acquaintance from the YMCA where my wife and I exercised years ago. We’d spoken maybe half a dozen times, over as many years and he’s certainly not an introvert. He did not keep his political beliefs or sexual orientation to himself then, nor does he today. Joe seems reasonably smart and I just discovered he’s the current editor of a publication addressing diversity - certainly a worthwhile cause.</p><div class="captioned-image-container" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 400; margin: var(--size-32) auto; text-align: start;"><figure style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; margin: 0px auto; width: 728px;"><a class="image-link is-viewable-img image2" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe64c15fc-ecd9-4f23-8801-d91ec022b1a8_1000x750.jpeg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; border: 0px; cursor: zoom-in; display: flex; flex-direction: column; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; width: auto;" target="_blank"><div class="image2-inset" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; display: flex; position: relative;"><picture style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><source sizes="100vw" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe64c15fc-ecd9-4f23-8801-d91ec022b1a8_1000x750.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe64c15fc-ecd9-4f23-8801-d91ec022b1a8_1000x750.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe64c15fc-ecd9-4f23-8801-d91ec022b1a8_1000x750.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe64c15fc-ecd9-4f23-8801-d91ec022b1a8_1000x750.jpeg 1456w" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); 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cursor: pointer; display: flex; height: var(--size-32); justify-content: center; opacity: 0; position: absolute; right: var(--size-12); top: var(--size-12); transition: all var(--animation-timing-fast) var(--animation-smoothing); width: var(--size-32);"><svg class="lucide lucide-maximize2" fill="none" height="16" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" stroke="#FFFFFF" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="16" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></div></div></a></figure></div><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;">In yesterday’s FB post he really vented about an obviously gay dude who surprised him by sending a meme in support of a former president who’s not known for being supportive of minority groups. To my knowledge, Joe knew nothing about this stranger other than his sexual and political orientations, yet he seemed proud of how he blasted this new adversary. He threw as many nasty names and insults as he could, and then unfriended him. Boy that must have hurt. I’m sure the exchange dramatically changed the guy’s political trajectory! I Jest.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><br /></span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">Although I’m no fan of the former president and have my guesses as to what Joe was angry about, I was particularly struck by </span><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">HIS </strong></em><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"></span><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">blanket disdain for anyone, based solely on one thing that he didn’t like or understand.</strong></em><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"> Imagine that!</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><br /></span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">After seeing his rant, I did a little fact-checking about our former president and the LGBTQ cause. It is NOT as black and white as I thought it would be. The HUGE problem is that “News” networks like Fox , MSNBC and CNN rarely report news that doesn’t fit their agenda and groomed audiences. Anything worthwhile that Trump actually did do regarding the LGBTQ community would have </span><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">at best</em><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"> been aired on Fox, but even that’s unlikely considering the subject matter.</span></p></h1><h2 class="header-with-anchor-widget" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; font-family: var(--font_family_headings, var(--font_family_headings_preset, "SF Compact Display", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol")); font-size: 1.625em; font-weight: var(--font_weight_headings_preset, bold); line-height: 1.16em; margin: 1em 0px 0.625em; position: relative;">Why such anger?<div class="header-anchor-widget offset-top" id="§why-such-anger" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; height: 35.8125px; left: -56px; position: absolute; top: -72px; width: 56px;"><div class="header-anchor-widget-button-container" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; display: flex; height: 1.2em; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 72px; width: 40px;"><div class="header-anchor-widget-button" href="https://markvanlaeys.substack.com/i/111017500/why-such-anger" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; border-radius: 50%; cursor: pointer; display: flex; height: 40px; justify-content: center; opacity: 0; width: 40px;"><svg class="header-anchor-widget-icon" fill="none" height="20" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" stroke="currentColor" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M10 13a5 5 0 0 0 7.54.54l3-3a5 5 0 0 0-7.07-7.07l-1.72 1.71"></path><path d="M14 11a5 5 0 0 0-7.54-.54l-3 3a5 5 0 0 0 7.07 7.07l1.71-1.71"></path></svg></div></div></div></h2><h1 class="post-title unpublished" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; color: var(--print_on_web_bg_color, var(--color-primary)); font-weight: var(--font_weight_headings_preset, bold); line-height: var(--line-height-36); margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">My suspicion is that Joe had pre-emptively put his FB “friend” in a nice neat box. But then he discovered that his “friend” had the gall to sneak outside that box. Joe’s world revolves around </span><em style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">his identity as defender of diversity,</strong></em><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"> but it’s possible that his FB enemy doesn’t live there. Maybe he just visits the issues of homosexuality or diversity as necessary. His FB enemy was a unique individual, just like all the rest of us.</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0; text-align: start;">People are enormously complex and make their choices for a whole host of different reasons. When we know very little about someone, we’re almost coerced into trying to make connections between their actions and the identity that we have unknowingly assigned to them. But sometimes, we don’t see the dots.</p></h1></div>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-4316723667287051612023-02-04T09:48:00.004-05:002023-02-04T10:04:29.705-05:00Labels - Can't Live With 'em, Can't Live Without 'em<p><strong><em></em></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMxDC8ohXeay-g6U9hq7ZjxedIXDvVj_qYNqGJLRX5BLGF8NgJoYrKr_ry5JT4pjqb5fh8d9Sdk-PUJRth4VHA65fGeIcyHIuKSy4_sjUrbLsgkRA7G5xi-orBKhp30uJVN2tz8-yeUvgAx0tHQFg34Y5dGTzXDk5E1KYEjjwXG1nTfFWlEXPEbb298w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="403" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMxDC8ohXeay-g6U9hq7ZjxedIXDvVj_qYNqGJLRX5BLGF8NgJoYrKr_ry5JT4pjqb5fh8d9Sdk-PUJRth4VHA65fGeIcyHIuKSy4_sjUrbLsgkRA7G5xi-orBKhp30uJVN2tz8-yeUvgAx0tHQFg34Y5dGTzXDk5E1KYEjjwXG1nTfFWlEXPEbb298w=w268-h403" width="268" /></a></em></strong></div><strong><em><br /><br /></em></strong><p></p><p><strong><em>(Photo by Nathan Dumlao)</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>What’s the one thing that all of the following have in common</em></strong> - beyond the fact that they’re all labels?</p><p><em>High-achiever, moron, quitter, republican, racist, druggie, mean bastard, entrepreneur, democrat, athlete, failure, hero, janitor, optimist, imbecile, angry white guy with a weapon, homeless loser.</em> Anyone who immediately goes to the comment icon and contributes their guesses, will get a FREE virtual hug, handshake or high five from an unknown author. If you also answer correctly, you’re the grand-prize winner and will get all three.</p><p>Before I give you the answer, let me just say that I’ve always struggled with the concept of labels, in part because I’ve often been on the receiving end of too many. Who knows, the buried psychological trauma from being called “Spaghetti Arms” throughout junior high, might be the underlying reason for me writing this post. I do jest and recognize that labels negatively effect all of us. To many, it’s far from a joking matter.</p><p>Just recently I figured out another reason why I personally detest “labels.” Their sole purpose in life is to provide a mechanism for us to file away people and things into nice, neat categories. Well, I really dislike filing anything. I prioritize being neat right up there with cleaning the hairballs out of our vacuum, and I’m not sure what the word “organized” actually means. But I digress.</p><p>To answer my opening question, <em>ALL of the italicized labels above have been or are ...</em></p><p><em> This is an excerpt from my new and improved blog / newsletter - "Us AND Them" and is continued at</em></p><p><a href="https://markvanlaeys.substack.com/">https://markvanlaeys.substack.com/</a><br /></p>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-76843354624943848452023-01-22T13:51:00.003-05:002023-01-22T13:56:39.099-05:00Stepping Back to Get A Better Shot at Moving Forward<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiNCf7As4AARRfRSMcfO2ykkrrXFnIQ15SufDDGOmSUwUOiA5YP-NMqt0h2AtCoQPAylqa_2RK9mAmZjW4DEZkmHXdpXYjPaBSZJmhKOdhpjRYxiOuhpxrvkQ0NI_Dq6ErBxIg6ViKJX7amDWeaC5kLLZSeYlth9XQ1TYdaXIRx_ed3JIdUoRNhYhEQ/s275/Two%20guys%20talking%20on%20a%20porch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiNCf7As4AARRfRSMcfO2ykkrrXFnIQ15SufDDGOmSUwUOiA5YP-NMqt0h2AtCoQPAylqa_2RK9mAmZjW4DEZkmHXdpXYjPaBSZJmhKOdhpjRYxiOuhpxrvkQ0NI_Dq6ErBxIg6ViKJX7amDWeaC5kLLZSeYlth9XQ1TYdaXIRx_ed3JIdUoRNhYhEQ/s1600/Two%20guys%20talking%20on%20a%20porch.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Periodically, I find myself immersed in a conversation with a friend or acquaintance when I notice two different types of subtle changes in their demeanor. The first may be the wobbling of their upper body with closed eyes and almost a snoring sound. I take this to be a good sign - that maybe I have a soothing voice. There’s another pattern I’ve noticed - maybe the twitching of their eyes, a little foam leaking between pursed lips or clenched fists pounding on hard surfaces near my head. I’m a pretty perceptive guy so when I see either of these patterns, I have this little timer that goes off in my head - and within say 10 minutes I automatically shut off my efforts at enlightening them. <strong>ONE DAY I LEARNED THAT ALL MY FRIENDS AREN’T ALIKE!</strong></span></p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><span style="font-size: medium;"> George is one of my best chums here in our small mid-western town. He is very active in local causes that help the poor and the disadvantaged - he’s a good guy. We go to the same UCC. For the un-anointed that stands for “The United Church of Christ”. I’m at least intrigued by the less traditional interpretation - Unitarians Considering Christianity. But I digress. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> We both enjoy things like tinkering with and riding our motorcycles, though his is a Harley Road Glide and mine is a Kawasaki Z 900 RS - quite different though fundamentally the same. He’s helped me attach the wings on the ultralight airplane I was building. We do occasional bacon and eggs at the local diner but mainly just appreciate shooting the breeze. Speaking of shooting, we’re both gun owners who would never support nixing the Second Amendment. However, he worked for decades as an FBI agent, and I’ve worked for decades as a Physician Assistant doing a lot of ER shifts. I’ve worked in a couple of refugee camps. We’ve both seen first hand what bullets can do and yet we have widely different views on gun safety . . . and a few other hot button topics.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> A few months ago we were having a nice, low-key discussion at a town park during a festival. Then the exchange of ideas drifted toward something political. Over the course of less than fifteen minutes, it became progressively more heated until all of a sudden George threw up his hands signaling - “TIME OUT”. . . I’m really not used to that! He then followed up with - <strong>“ <em>I value our friendship too much to continue this conversation.” </em> </strong>With minimal reflection, I not only agreed but especially appreciated his mentally stepping back and establishing boundaries. This was a most valuable lesson for me.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Every conversation or transaction that we partake in has potential risks, benefits, and opportunity costs. We each have the option of grabbing the steering wheel when we see falling “rocks” up ahead. How would things be different if every time we witnessed an interaction going sour, we merely stepped back and asked - “What’s the most important thing to take away from this moment? </span></p><p><strong><br /></strong></p><p><strong><br /></strong></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><br /></figure></div><p></p>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-29289437275281502212023-01-10T20:27:00.002-05:002023-01-18T10:33:49.654-05:00If We Can't Hit The Notes, Harmonize<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-1523df49-7fff-bc47-aa0b-fd608b133c67"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gsYdkFo2NAMLxTyMI9yw0diXKy0Np5JB799AdgiKZ5jf-79_o6J_45iQn9kHmR7Gmnt9f7n3_lIKvKl8u5TKklarGcjUOTudKZlZIz-OwCmwOLFkIfcV6xEDCPSGLzL4EPyNcXEZiOzlFwjoLta8aUjMFzJYQP4fbastvphwsEeW_Q0XWExystqrOg/s480/earth-space-spinning-rotating-day-footage-061145737_iconl.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="480" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gsYdkFo2NAMLxTyMI9yw0diXKy0Np5JB799AdgiKZ5jf-79_o6J_45iQn9kHmR7Gmnt9f7n3_lIKvKl8u5TKklarGcjUOTudKZlZIz-OwCmwOLFkIfcV6xEDCPSGLzL4EPyNcXEZiOzlFwjoLta8aUjMFzJYQP4fbastvphwsEeW_Q0XWExystqrOg/w410-h229/earth-space-spinning-rotating-day-footage-061145737_iconl.webp" width="410" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">Each of us got to wake up this morning, at some</span></div></span></div></div></div></div></span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-af7127e2-7fff-cdf4-188b-377a75bc2a61"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 76.5pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">specific point, on the ride of our lives. We're hurtling</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">through space at 67,000 miles an hour, riding a</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">spectacular blue and green planet unlike any other -</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">it is teaming with life</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. And to make matters extra inter-</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">esting, none of us knows exactly when our trip will end. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Please hold up one second and let that settle in! </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> On this journey, we are </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">so much more alike</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> than </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">different. However, we are </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">still not the same</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - any </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">more </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">than</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the instruments of an orchestra. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> As I try to grow through my mid-life crisis, I’m </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">realizing </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">that my biggest challenge shouldn’t be to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">join in with the disparate voices around me. I’ve learned </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">that, with all of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">our different roots and experiences, we </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">just can’t hit the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">same notes. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The purpose of our “RIDE”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">together might be </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to discover the best way </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HARMONIZE</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with an ever </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">enlarging family of fellow </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">travelers and this amazing earth.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In order to better harmonize, it really helps to first </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">understand <i>why the voices around us seem so different. </i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And that’s a large part of what my blog is about. Please </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">join me in this discussion - EVERY VOICE COUNTS</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 90pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Comments and “Shares” are greatly appreciated !</span></p><br /></span>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-5399441399372520732023-01-03T14:05:00.013-05:002023-01-26T15:38:54.349-05:00 Why am I here?<p><span> <span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNR_ihfa2Mr1wyCJAgJYGhRDdyKXhUXuZI5YAB8XTbZkbXBd39NgTFIx0WeFqMik8o2BPwtxFeQmYKgH7BqYuKiizBgryfkuiNskmvBjj1nmouJCx0X_YyhQnRNpcCRY--mUEsM4i_oMVpwdnj4PIMix9_wEdFlbwidpBTvGXbqPJVMK86kEviscyT0A" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="369" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNR_ihfa2Mr1wyCJAgJYGhRDdyKXhUXuZI5YAB8XTbZkbXBd39NgTFIx0WeFqMik8o2BPwtxFeQmYKgH7BqYuKiizBgryfkuiNskmvBjj1nmouJCx0X_YyhQnRNpcCRY--mUEsM4i_oMVpwdnj4PIMix9_wEdFlbwidpBTvGXbqPJVMK86kEviscyT0A=w378-h139" width="378" /></a></span></span><p></p><p><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> I've been blessed with a number of days where </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>the answer was </span></span><span>not only suggested, but placed right </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>in my hands. One of </span><span>the more </span>dramatic experiences </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">happened when I was working as a relatively new </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>ER physician </span><span>assistant in Upstate NY. As I was </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>charting on one patient, </span></span>I heard over the hospital speakers:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"CODE BLUE - Radiology." As I stood up, I saw an </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">X-Ray tech running down the hall toward us. Drooped </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">over his arm was a completely lifeless two-week-old </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">baby boy! <span>I tipped </span><span>his head back, </span><span>but still no breath, </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>no pulse, no heart sounds. I </span><span>started thumb </span><span>compressions</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>as the ER doctor located a newborn-sized </span><span>face mask. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>With my</span><span> hands squeezing his </span><span>tiny chest, that little</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>guy not only came </span><span>back </span><span>to life, but let out a glorious </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>wail! And that day </span></span><span>I knew why I was </span><span>here. </span></span></p><p><span><span style="font-size: medium;"> As with a large portion of people who <i>work hard </i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><i>every day</i> in their </span></span>chosen field, my job had morphed </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">into more of a grind. I spent most days just running </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">to put out simultaneous brushfires. In the back of my</span></p><p><span><span style="font-size: medium;">mind I always knew that it was usually a significant </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>event that </span></span><span>brought </span><span>our patients to the ER. </span><span>But this </span></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">one little boy woke ME up!</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Some special days we're just blessed with an </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>opportunity to make a </span><span><span><b>tangible </b></span></span><span>difference in someone's </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>life. </span><span>First responders, </span><span>teachers, scientists, </span><span>plumbers, </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>and even politicians* </span><span>may </span><span>benefit others all day long</span><span>, </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b>but </b></span><span><span><b>the </b></span></span><span><b>best of them just do their fine work noiselessly</b></span><span>,</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>making the world a</span><span> </span><span>better place, and that's </span><span style="color: #990000;">A GREAT </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000;">REASON </span><span style="color: #990000;">TO </span><span style="color: #990000;">BE HERE !</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: medium;">*Counselors, electricians, parents, laborers, waitresses, &</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="color: #274e13;">CPR instructors, etc. - </span></span><span><span style="color: #274e13;">you get the idea.</span></span><span style="color: #990000;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-17302373804301826162023-01-01T13:16:00.008-05:002023-01-02T20:31:51.598-05:00Resets Are Merely An Option<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAPooXZpU7HbtRDT6S7vGjyjHckKAhQmQwOG2wUrFppqHUhwUKHQA5N_tH2_nG-xfkkeX5qN5UgAhW5kME7bWJQ1JcBvAgt8Punc5VrKCPoT3a4uC34EehoKTSmxXRicUZAWaXQFsHdGQoECgWHXCYsGNL5rWjXHetrp4sfIwyWQ9JxYfCgI0aiPYbDw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="615" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAPooXZpU7HbtRDT6S7vGjyjHckKAhQmQwOG2wUrFppqHUhwUKHQA5N_tH2_nG-xfkkeX5qN5UgAhW5kME7bWJQ1JcBvAgt8Punc5VrKCPoT3a4uC34EehoKTSmxXRicUZAWaXQFsHdGQoECgWHXCYsGNL5rWjXHetrp4sfIwyWQ9JxYfCgI0aiPYbDw" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-size: medium;"> "Nightbirde", an inspiring Singer-Song-writer & winner of America's </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Got Talent. December 31, 1990 - February 19, 2022</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> What do kindergartners, NFL quarterbacks, and the conductor of </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">the London Philharmonic Orchestra have in common?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> They all get <b>TIME OUTS !</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b>Be it naptime, commercial breaks, or the pause between movements in</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">a symphony, these are all well acknowledged opportunities to step back and </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>reset</i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> January first of each year is an opportunity to not only turn the page of a </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">calendar but to replace the <i>whole thing! It could be a big flippin' deal -at</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">least symbolically (and punetically). We get to reflect on where we've been, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">where we are and where we'd like to go. For some, that's admittedly and </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">unfortunately a sad look, but attitudinal adjustments can be life-altering. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #666666;">To quote <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZJvBfoHDk0" target="_blank"> Nightbirde </a>*, (Jane Marczewski)</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #666666; font-size: medium;"><b><u>"You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore until you decide to be happy".</u></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #666666; font-size: medium;">These are words I need to repeat to myself every day.</span></p><p><span style="color: #666666; font-size: medium;">* link to a performance that showcases her amazing talent and beautiful heart.</span></p><p><br /></p></div>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-74154202708604107812022-12-30T18:10:00.004-05:002023-12-27T21:20:29.100-05:00In 2023, Are We To Be Enablers or Explorers?<p> <span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvwoEvW-FTM1eS_aOToxMzTcYEZcvBtYJ8LWWCjpQfDSTaupsV1fnSLY80IwdcqfXkWA1qcX1trksY2kF_DTb_-MLSo-xlIyVDsZOMOfR2jpea6jwGF83sMRXhIAfkuFtNRJYxXURX9tC4SCaV6qOrOax7kbw5ZZMD1B7XdA_HBb3CIp6CfUggcJz4SQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="276" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvwoEvW-FTM1eS_aOToxMzTcYEZcvBtYJ8LWWCjpQfDSTaupsV1fnSLY80IwdcqfXkWA1qcX1trksY2kF_DTb_-MLSo-xlIyVDsZOMOfR2jpea6jwGF83sMRXhIAfkuFtNRJYxXURX9tC4SCaV6qOrOax7kbw5ZZMD1B7XdA_HBb3CIp6CfUggcJz4SQ" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"> </span></div><p></p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">We are, in some sense, a part of every problem that we encounter.</span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"> We can be a passive observer, </span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"> We can be an enabler, or </span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"> We could be someone who gives their best to facilitate positive change.</span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"> <i>We Get To Decide !</i></span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"> We are, in a similar way, a part of every problem that we face within.</span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"> We can be passive observers,</span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"> We can be enablers, or</span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"> WE could be explorers that dig deeply and honestly to</span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"> uncover the true obstacles that keep us from</span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"> moving forward.</span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"> In 2024 - We Get To Decide !</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-35766424259774084722022-12-29T11:16:00.002-05:002023-01-06T18:02:30.549-05:00Surviving Stupid - The First in a Series<p> <span> <span style="font-size: medium;"> <b> I like to think that there's a big difference between <i>acting stupid </i></b></span></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>and </span><i>being stupid, </i>but periodically I have blurred that line. The ability </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>to</b><b><span> ignore red flags of </span>reason was a trait I picked up from </b><b><span>my father.</span> </b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">It's never intentional, but like many maladaptive behaviors</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">it just weaves its way into one's life story.</span></b></p><p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_Mkf2AhlIDQ2FTJUd6XtUWiS4lLaBTK3SWgazMGXmJI5-IaeO_CrVYnt6YPK2JPlxHYIY2ezFeDS3JFbsPClWK_RSowfKdc0hxxxxh_tB_Cuqc6LXwVKIkPHbwBEZAMpTFRCLRSb8CEtEJtizU4Z0ScUn4aVrKNrlbH-F339IN0b7pktMHMK6rdmxNg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="650" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_Mkf2AhlIDQ2FTJUd6XtUWiS4lLaBTK3SWgazMGXmJI5-IaeO_CrVYnt6YPK2JPlxHYIY2ezFeDS3JFbsPClWK_RSowfKdc0hxxxxh_tB_Cuqc6LXwVKIkPHbwBEZAMpTFRCLRSb8CEtEJtizU4Z0ScUn4aVrKNrlbH-F339IN0b7pktMHMK6rdmxNg=w476-h293" width="476" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><p></p><p><span><b> <span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">A Beautiful, Horrifying Experience</span></b></span></p><p><b><span> <span style="font-size: medium;">When my daughter was just a toddler, my </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">wife </span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;">and I took her to </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span>the Knoxville Zoo in Tennessee.</span><span> Relatively few </span></b><b><span>animals were </span><span>confined </span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span>to <i>small</i> cages </span><span>and most, such as the grey wolves, </span></b><b><span>had large </span><span><span>enclosures.</span></span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span>All three </span><span>of us </span><span>enjoyed aimlessly wandering, </span></b><b><span>as we </span><span>took </span></b><b>in the</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span>marvels of </span><span>God's handiwork. By late afternoon </span></b><b>however, I started</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span> to wonder. How </span><span>could any </span><span>respectable </span><span>zoo </span><i>not have </i></b><b><span>a big </span></b><b>cat area? </b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span> We turned onto the only remaining asphalt path</span></span><span> which eventually </span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span>led to a huge enclosure </span><span>in the trees. Bordering the path </span></b><b>was an old</b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>split-</span>rail fence. And set back from that was a tall </span></b><b style="font-size: large;">heavy-duty</b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><span>anchor </span></span><span>fence surrounding the enclosure. A small</span></b><b><span> </span><span>cement </span></b></span><b style="font-size: large;">building sat</b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span> </span><span>in the front corner, surrounded by a bright </span></b><b><span>halo of the </span></b></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>setting sun.</span> </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> It was then that I got to "thinking." <span>Even </span><span>with </span><span>my toddler </span><span>on my </span></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>shoulders, it would </span><span>be so easy to just step over </span><span>that fence. What mortal</span></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>could resist? </span><span>As </span><span>we neared </span><span>the dark building, the sun's glare </span>eased, </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>and my </b><b>eyes started to adjust. I saw a heavy door with a few bars in its </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>opening. </b><b>As I started to look in, there was an enormous WHAM as a </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Siberian </b><b><span>tiger pounced and shook that door. </span><span> The encounter lasted a mere </span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span>second </span></b><b><span>but I </span><span>still vividly recall that amazing animal </span><span>eying </span><span>my precious </span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>daughter</b><b><span> like </span><span>she was </span><span>some twenty-five </span><span>pound Big Mac. </span><span>"Oh Shit," was </span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span>all</span><span> I could </span></b><b><span>get out as </span><span>I slithered away.</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Over the years I've thought about this little incident many times and it </b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>still gets my </span><span>juices flowing. Then there are the lessons, the biggest</span></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>being a new perspective on those </span><span>ridiculous warnings that we all detest. </span></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>"Don't carry </span></span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>packages from </span>strangers onto airplanes," or "Don't operate </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">chainsaws </span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;">while on <span>mind-altering drugs." Those messages are for everyday </span></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>people, </span></span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>all too much like me.</span><span> </span></span></b></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-54636995396615119642022-12-21T10:02:00.005-05:002022-12-29T11:45:18.235-05:00A Tiny Glimpse Of a Bigger Picture<p> <span> <span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh91G3kAKD6S61FLaQMSQ0_idJdsDxi0NlKzOK1Lhx7i7ukF1QkFfWJZMgEwhxeVTjkwhWXiySIIcAzD91TnZn7KoaYFViW3H4kFStdzXIVBExgaoSB8IVXoyNFu-kBx6-Wd-4MGkPMDhntxRxK6FXIwhK2Gqm7m7qRjtLXZkSVQk-RWS7vdKaJV0_XKQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh91G3kAKD6S61FLaQMSQ0_idJdsDxi0NlKzOK1Lhx7i7ukF1QkFfWJZMgEwhxeVTjkwhWXiySIIcAzD91TnZn7KoaYFViW3H4kFStdzXIVBExgaoSB8IVXoyNFu-kBx6-Wd-4MGkPMDhntxRxK6FXIwhK2Gqm7m7qRjtLXZkSVQk-RWS7vdKaJV0_XKQ=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><span><span><span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> Hopefully everyone has had at least one really fine moment when they've</span></span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>sensed a connection with a force or spirit beyond comprehension. </span><span>Maybe it's </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">a fleeting glimpse of some bigger picture or the suggestion of a higher purpose</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">which rattles our spiritual foundation or lack thereof. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> One pristine summer day, maybe twelve years ago, I was headed from the</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>mountains of </span><span>Upstate New York to Wrightsville Beach in Virginia. I was riding</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>my newly acquired, </span><span>600 cc </span><span>Honda </span><span>Shadow. </span><span>It was pretty much a toy version of a </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Harley Davidson Sportster. Think "Easy </span><span>Rider", but with a </span><span>top speed of eighty in </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>a racing tuck. </span>I had <span>worked my way from </span><span>country roads to the </span><span>eight-lane beltway</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>around Annapolis. </span><span>My throttle was wide </span><span>open,<i> I was lost</i>, and continuously </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>tail-gated</span><span> / surrounded</span><span> by </span><span>tractor </span><span>trailers. I could </span><span>be cool and suggest it was </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>just a </span></span><span>hassle</span><span>, but I truly </span><span>thought </span><span>I was going to die right there - </span><span>my legacy being </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>an </span><span>unrecognizable splat </span><span>in the road. T</span><span>o my great relief, the traffic </span><span>eventually </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>thinned </span><span>and I </span><span>triumphantly </span>exited at the first rest area I saw.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> As I relaxed my derriere on the wide supportive surface of a picnic table, </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>an elderly </span><span>couple walked by, talking in hushed tones. I said something </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>like, "H</span><span>ow are you </span><span>folks doing on such a beautiful day?" They gave a </span><i>positive</i><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>answer </span><span>but their tone </span><span>betrayed them as they looked at each other. My response </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>was, </span><span>"I'm not convinced."</span><span> They came toward me and over the next twenty</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>minutes or so, </span><span>shared a snapshot of </span><span>what they and their seriously ill daughter </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>were </span><span>dealing with. </span><span>I listened </span><span>as they shared the many</span><span> dead ends they were </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>facing. Their story </span><span>was </span><span>heart-breaking, but </span><span>the despair they </span><span>initially emanated </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>lessened as their </span><span>floodgates </span><span>opened.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> After we hugged and parted, I pulled out my map to figure out where</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> I was, and how to get back on track. Then I had a thought - What </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">if I was on the right track the whole time?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-44450697012035792662022-12-15T12:14:00.010-05:002022-12-20T07:43:04.470-05:00When an Instructor Becomes the Student<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEincP51KroKb05bGoBjy2m1IvuaBFe2wZLhWAUswmyX9et6D06_lNrdvfJjuVSSEWZWKhDUURfQjfy-zlEtwPP0rtADnpZs-lFG2eX1NYCJxVSpk51Qy1D9gwWoIUkFhDgngQ66kRkeTSXtFwqfwXy1-1QXmrzQJqyeAuD7Bs9H0d_j9aW-QN2TqeYvgQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="634" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEincP51KroKb05bGoBjy2m1IvuaBFe2wZLhWAUswmyX9et6D06_lNrdvfJjuVSSEWZWKhDUURfQjfy-zlEtwPP0rtADnpZs-lFG2eX1NYCJxVSpk51Qy1D9gwWoIUkFhDgngQ66kRkeTSXtFwqfwXy1-1QXmrzQJqyeAuD7Bs9H0d_j9aW-QN2TqeYvgQ=w405-h272" width="405" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #073763;"> <span> For quite a few years I've worked teaching adaptive sports to people with </span></span></span><div><span style="color: #073763; font-size: medium;">physical and cognitive disabilities. I learned early on that there's no helpful </span></div><div><span style="color: #073763; font-size: medium;">place for pity to dwell in a particularly challenging life.</span></div><div><p></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #073763; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Last month, I met a guy named Tim while traveling through Racine, </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">a city near Milwaukee. He was in the local Kwik-Trip gas station </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">blindly tapping</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #073763; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">his way up the aisle - I mean literally! He was holding a frozen chicken pot pie </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #073763; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">in one hand and finding his way with the other. When I said - “Hello,” to let him </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #073763; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">know I was up ahead, he gave a hearty “Hi” like we were old friends. He </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">looked</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> to be </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">close to fifty and had a ruddy complexion suggesting he wasn't</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">any </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">homebody. H</span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">e asked - “could you do me a </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">favor </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">and tell me how I'm</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">supposed to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">cook this?” I </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">slowly</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> read the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">instructions, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">then </span></span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">reminded </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">myself</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that this guy is </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">blind, not dull. He thanked </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">me, and we </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">said </span></span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">our </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">goodbyes.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">After I’d made a </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">pit </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">stop and gotten my coffee, I headed </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">out </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">toward </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">my car. </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #073763; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #073763; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> There he was, cheerfully tapping his red and white cane through the gas </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #073763; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">pumps and </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">cars toward the four-lane highway. I “nonchalantly” raced over </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">and asked if I </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">could help him, to which he responded - “I’ve been here a lot </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">and I’m just </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">headed to the motel down the road”, as he pointed toward the </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">setting sun. But </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">I didn’t see any motel. I gave him a ride and about a </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">half-mile down the road </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">he told me to “go in the next driveway” (based on my </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">speed). As we went </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">around the curve, he pointed ahead - “room 34 should </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">be “about there” and he </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">was off by one car width in the pothole-laden parking</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">lot. The motel was a dive </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">but he seemed perfectly content. As we came to a </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">stop, he put out his hand, and with </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">a smile, introduced himself. </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">“I’m Tim, but </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">there are a lot of Tim's out there, </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">so my friends just </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">call me </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">‘Blind Tim’" </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; white-space: pre;">Thanks for the ride. “</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-414c5910-7fff-295e-d047-ee102709a2b6" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #073763; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> As I drove off I realized Tim showed no outward signs of carrying any extra </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #073763; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">burdens i</span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">n life. <i>He</i> seemed perfectly OK with the hand he'd </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">been dealt.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><i>As for me</i>, I'm afraid I would have found a little room for </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; white-space: pre;">self pity. </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; white-space: pre;">But then again, I'm not close to a finished project.</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div></div>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-6837252058990435742022-12-12T18:18:00.005-05:002022-12-13T09:30:03.816-05:00Dragons - Facts Versus Fiction<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HUHZLMuYEDQLsVoA9JkJh0IaTn2U0GGXI_Go_cs9uegSBwCePL5gqkSUDrnC20WFchN9DbkDjKTY2pIHMt-MccY53OlENslJz43hCHuLAXEqnMl3A_TiosgVW0Azmhz7nnKs1ka-lJb_cpWdj4bAlCrxIrM9AmEQWeQsbB_-Jx_lNAf6irqtXJxz5A/s2016/Waddles%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HUHZLMuYEDQLsVoA9JkJh0IaTn2U0GGXI_Go_cs9uegSBwCePL5gqkSUDrnC20WFchN9DbkDjKTY2pIHMt-MccY53OlENslJz43hCHuLAXEqnMl3A_TiosgVW0Azmhz7nnKs1ka-lJb_cpWdj4bAlCrxIrM9AmEQWeQsbB_-Jx_lNAf6irqtXJxz5A/s2016/Waddles%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQ9GY-XguNLozMBl_o5C_na61hpW6H2ICtvEowj0eBc4IhP_j2pZuS6shVVTqSTjWYXly4krHKSYp7Hge9pmLKsS_HdxQqCeAE9yYeBW_eZJz9x-JdyG_2DPat_8MYwO8JrQBEBb4neqNLFMk0UTra3kaxXEjHaBpkuv0HEX_ea6s1k_H-cjpADuf-JQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="602" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQ9GY-XguNLozMBl_o5C_na61hpW6H2ICtvEowj0eBc4IhP_j2pZuS6shVVTqSTjWYXly4krHKSYp7Hge9pmLKsS_HdxQqCeAE9yYeBW_eZJz9x-JdyG_2DPat_8MYwO8JrQBEBb4neqNLFMk0UTra3kaxXEjHaBpkuv0HEX_ea6s1k_H-cjpADuf-JQ" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> My six year old granddaughter “Belle” and I were having a <i>heated</i> discussion this morning about how long dragons live. She was riding a green rubberized, pre-adolescent "girl dragon." According to attached paperwork "Waddles" had immigrated from China. Belle has spent literally half her life with this gentle dragoness from Walmart who, disappointingly, has never even let out so much as a puff of smoke, let alone fire. Nonetheless, Belle </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">just knew</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, “dragons live twenty-three years.”</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-dc26bd0e-7fff-36e5-ecee-c47da0905c59"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> My wife chimed in - "hundreds of years." </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She's into metaphysics, and was adamant. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She’s</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> so well read</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> about this kind of thing and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">even </span><i style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">knew about</i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> real drawings of dragons who had been thriving for centuries. That kind of information is hard to argue with.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> But I got to thinkin’. I’m the oldest and wisest here - and I’m not buying any of this. There are actual scientific wizards somewhere who can prove it’s impossible for dragons to survive beyond one year after they’ve burped their last fireball! Just imagine all of the action figures out there who have dedicated their entire lives to eradicating these vermin and now they’re gonna be defenseless! </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The truth is, “I may not have any actual evidence but I have a lot of theories.” Thus, the facts are irrefutable. <i>A dragon's days are numbered after it passes it's last flaming gas. I challenge anyone to prove me wrong!</i></span></p></span>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-63770264784105157942022-12-09T12:53:00.007-05:002023-01-27T15:37:31.515-05:00DARK ROAST AND MAGIC<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhm2z82ocH4EqgDHS2I2h4e9bgDAZL0gmA7PnX-QEryXGoBN5Qu-tJ9GycjH1-6vYdPTjBBx4Rygfb8eTT1rVvua4cmh0F_8nT4iLZurzzC8G7qJd7FIvrovMnNyi5xwvIce2BnjBFikJwKo3MyIU5G-5VRQUDWwsPWWMqsL5bgKOAaSrZGuXWBmObowA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhm2z82ocH4EqgDHS2I2h4e9bgDAZL0gmA7PnX-QEryXGoBN5Qu-tJ9GycjH1-6vYdPTjBBx4Rygfb8eTT1rVvua4cmh0F_8nT4iLZurzzC8G7qJd7FIvrovMnNyi5xwvIce2BnjBFikJwKo3MyIU5G-5VRQUDWwsPWWMqsL5bgKOAaSrZGuXWBmObowA" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It’s 2 AM, and my cup is full - not with coffee but with blessings (the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">java was consumed five hours earlier while driving home from a concert). </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had just slowly awakened to the song - “The Rebel Jesus” by Jackson Browne. It was running through my head but I was stuck on the first line: “The streets are filled with </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">laughter </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and light and the music of the season,” but I couldn’t remember the word laughter. In my half-sleep, I kept wanting to insert the word Magic.</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Back to last night - with my precious granddaughter on my lap, and my wife Emily & daughter Vera to my left side, we are watching my nine year old grandson, Nathan*, on a Christmas stage with fifty other kids. They are singing their hearts out. “Nathan” is not, and probably never will. He’s on the non-verbal “</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">end</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” of the autism spectrum if there is one. We watch as he smiles and makes a slow turn to check out the voices behind him. Then, with his hand on his butt, he checks out the singers on the other side. The clarity & beauty of voices surrounding him almost hurts, but it’s therapeutic. </span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">( *Nathan is not his real name)</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b> As my wife dries her eyes, I see my daughter's loving arm wrap around her shoulder, and I silently pray. I’m praying, not for him to sing, but merely for a sign that he can in some way connect with those kids that are having silly fun all around him. Nathan turns again and I realize his pivot point hasn’t changed in over five minutes and that’s amazing progress for him. As the third song ends, the crowd goes wild and Nathan joyfully claps. My daughter comforts her mom with a smile, adding - “he's having a blast” - and it’s true.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We make our way to their van and then back to their house. Nathan runs into the dark to his frost-covered swing. Ten minutes later he joins us for a parting hug as we head out the back door. My bride and I walk slowly to the car parked out front. As I get in, I notice silhouettes. Nathan and Vera are watching us from the front picture window. I wave like I have dozens of times over the years. I see Vera point to us as she waves. And </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">for the first time ever, my much loved grandson waves back! </span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Is it any wonder that I can’t sleep and can only think of the word Magic?</span></b></span></p>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-51769414044015673832022-12-05T10:52:00.006-05:002023-01-02T22:47:41.194-05:00Peace - Good Conversations Around Large Tables<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we think of the word “peace,” we tend to default to big conflicts - “out there.” Things like the unfathomable horror in Ukraine, or </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the worst neighborhoods of Chicago might come to mind. Maybe the deepening </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">battle </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">for limited resources exemplified by the water issues in the Nile Basin</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,” or in Colorado or Arizona. These are certainly complex and divisive issues that require the insightful work of creative and compassionate peace makers.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-abe21fd7-7fff-a3ec-31cf-b763ca871af0"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Lq7_743M5vf1Fbveznt95wmR6901ddScyV3jwZOcG0GO0PbtrSq0eGSDQdRH3fXa1Pw-twvUpt4pRqZC9AzLWgyYbq7WPIeWe7IVQnQerh_JWvJ1Vq75QKSkfFOpthQ75GC0tI67Q47X5-TgkIcHq3kyxT--AXbLsmj_8rukcclmxsj_Z2l7EDMrYg/s2240/River%20in%20the%20winter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="2240" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Lq7_743M5vf1Fbveznt95wmR6901ddScyV3jwZOcG0GO0PbtrSq0eGSDQdRH3fXa1Pw-twvUpt4pRqZC9AzLWgyYbq7WPIeWe7IVQnQerh_JWvJ1Vq75QKSkfFOpthQ75GC0tI67Q47X5-TgkIcHq3kyxT--AXbLsmj_8rukcclmxsj_Z2l7EDMrYg/w431-h206/River%20in%20the%20winter.jpg" width="431" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> But what about the conflicts residing closer to home? Consider the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">countless soldiers </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">trained or conditioned to dehumanize the “other” as a pretext for killing in wars. What happens when that </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">other</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> moves in next door? Or the indigenous American farmer forced to till dry, sandy soil because they can’t afford the land with rich dark soil taken from their ancestors . Or consider the uneducated, elderly, black woman, struggling to make ends meet, not knowing that there’s significant help available at that “dreaded government office” a few blocks away. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> There can be no enduring peace when our society accepts the exploitation of our most vulnerable - for profit or gain.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Peace ... good conversations around large tables.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-48693820835046114912022-12-03T21:12:00.001-05:002022-12-03T21:20:32.028-05:00A Flying Experience and Life Lesson<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4R0DtnAWq2QtnDmJkjTFCVea8Q5S-uhEhJZBA1vova5y3-AZzPZyuslZKCcfIrvy9sa_yvSfBAVbpUP--bklTJMHZ4ssG7T1IrsL-_jzcloMTB05zDWdkAY3hr69xjnTS9nxeLggNSotFdB_Sc-qdm1eSUrmtcX87QJB7mU7U5irPIWYrbn-y_dD2Q/s259/Skycycle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4R0DtnAWq2QtnDmJkjTFCVea8Q5S-uhEhJZBA1vova5y3-AZzPZyuslZKCcfIrvy9sa_yvSfBAVbpUP--bklTJMHZ4ssG7T1IrsL-_jzcloMTB05zDWdkAY3hr69xjnTS9nxeLggNSotFdB_Sc-qdm1eSUrmtcX87QJB7mU7U5irPIWYrbn-y_dD2Q/w397-h297/Skycycle.jpg" width="397" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> For as long as I can remember I’ve been mesmerized by soaring birds…and airplanes. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Being a practical sort, I’ve also taken solace in the concept that pilots don’t usually die while they’re flying but when they </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">stop flying. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-c7218fc9-7fff-0860-aff1-50cfff8159c1"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Fifteen years ago, I almost did - </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">just that</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">! I was taking off from a grass airfield in Upstate New York. I had a dacron and aluminum hang-glider with a motorcycle engine spinning a wooden prop a thousand times a minute. I had just taken off and was about fifty feet up when a wire connection broke and that screaming engine went silent in a microsecond. Any airplane with its nose up in the air will drop like an anvil if its forward momentum is not sufficient to provide enough lift to the wings. I immediately yanked the control bar in pointing the nose toward the ground and maybe a second later threw the bar out to flare into a landing. The total “flight time” was probably 10 to 15 seconds.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We’ve all heard of the “fight or flight” response. Well, the above is what that looks like on a good day, when training, conditioning and divine intervention join forces to save someone's butt. And we can ponder, what would have happened if I had even entered the “oh shit” phase? A different outcome for sure. Sometimes in life there’s simply no time for fear or emotion to creep in. Fortunately, 99 percent of the time there is and we just have to work through it and then regroup. That’s the time when we’re supposed to reflect, deal with the “what ifs,” and then hopefully move on. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> But what if we never move on to a recovery phase - where we step back and mechanically explore what worked or didn’t, and then weigh different corrective measures to minimize the chances that life would go sour in the future? </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes we get so stuck in the emotional response to a situation that we end up residing there immersed in its paralysis.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> When we lose our objectivity or our ability to step outside our emotions to problem solve, we run the risk of fearing life itself and that could mean - </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> NEVER FLYING AGAIN!</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-81174721507427232212022-12-01T19:32:00.010-05:002023-01-19T14:47:04.475-05:00Boundaries Are Good<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Good Fences Make Good Neighbors” - Robert Frost</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-877f5152-7fff-9074-fbf9-2c5a0368d2eb"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 17pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTYqTaBBM56bDuSyJCs1sIsmHfyu2CbXfNT1adJcdKuBfp82aVgJd2Rv_u8o_V5laLhy-ZrW4y91S6T5CeOCrGJErJNYVVsx5B2vvdkyiN6n6oewrMg6rxI7l5DFANvhFKSIHmc6d9o5-upUt7YdbqEYVQ_Vf48AsyRZzN6EYVYsbbLIfJF-OMSHDN-g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="750" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTYqTaBBM56bDuSyJCs1sIsmHfyu2CbXfNT1adJcdKuBfp82aVgJd2Rv_u8o_V5laLhy-ZrW4y91S6T5CeOCrGJErJNYVVsx5B2vvdkyiN6n6oewrMg6rxI7l5DFANvhFKSIHmc6d9o5-upUt7YdbqEYVQ_Vf48AsyRZzN6EYVYsbbLIfJF-OMSHDN-g" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 17pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wayne is one of my best friends here in our small mid-west town and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">we have much in common. He is very active in local causes that help the poor and disadvantaged. Like me, he’s done a considerable amount of volunteer work outside our country as well. We go to the same UCC church. We’ve enjoyed working together doing things like mounting the wings on my ultralight, or just plain shooting the breeze over crisp bacon and eggs. Speaking of shooting, we’re both gun owners who would never support taking away the second amendment. However, he’s worked for twenty plus years as an FBI agent and I’ve worked for 35 years as a physician assistant. I’ve spent thousands of hours in emergency and operating rooms and others in two camps for war refugees. We’ve both seen first hand what bullets can do and yet we have widely different views on gun violence … and a few other hot button topics.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Well one fine day, George and I were having a nice, low key discussion and it drifted toward something political. Over the course of ten minutes it became progressively more heated and he put up his hands signaling - “Time Out”. I’m frankly not used to that. He then followed up with - ”I value our friendship way too much to continue </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">this </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">conversation.” With minimal reflection, I not only agreed but especially appreciated his mentally stepping back and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">establishing boundaries. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This was a most valuable lesson for me.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Every conversation or transaction I partake in has risks, benefits, and opportunity costs. I have the option of taking the driver’s seat when I see boulders ahead. How would things be different if every time I witnessed an interaction going sour, I merely stepped back and interjected the thought or words - What’s the most important thing to take away from this moment?”</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-1783976556473500152022-11-27T07:22:00.007-05:002022-11-27T09:36:17.750-05:00The Other Side of Karma -<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 17pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 17pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1048XqFWJVbspne0KhrHPhnEh_vNyKbFQS_g-sNTPsLDt_8CDiqQGM7mNlu1aiYtklGoa6zFlwKUoyQoONdNisozTwWT98hyVhIMAvsp0W8GjmxZtb9isCLlh4gMGuuaoFMtXWZK2lHE3WEged_hNIHZ2gnPZiuqLIweeCRK7iiteVvM45wwOmrDWuw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="780" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1048XqFWJVbspne0KhrHPhnEh_vNyKbFQS_g-sNTPsLDt_8CDiqQGM7mNlu1aiYtklGoa6zFlwKUoyQoONdNisozTwWT98hyVhIMAvsp0W8GjmxZtb9isCLlh4gMGuuaoFMtXWZK2lHE3WEged_hNIHZ2gnPZiuqLIweeCRK7iiteVvM45wwOmrDWuw=w461-h346" width="461" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b630bcc5-7fff-049d-86fa-437edfcf138c"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Lots of we commoners who have trudged, floated or cruised many laps around the sun have learned that there’s some truth to - “What goes around, comes around.” If we’re </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">paying attention</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, we don’t have to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">look too hard to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">find examples in our own lives. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Well, last week </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">! It was a beautiful, crisp morning at the therapeutic riding stable where I volunteer. The sun was making its way up over the paddock pen and was reflecting off the tops of the frozen horse buns. I </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">was chipping away at the tundra when I noticed a beautiful rose gray-colored mare admiring my handiwork. In an instant I was transported back to one of my first real jobs - scooping out dog pens at my Uncle Bill’s German Shepherd kennel. Back in the day, I would fill maybe a garden bucket with malodorous crap. However, I got paid in real cash and at the end of the day if I was lucky, I would get to have a Rolling Rock beer with that fine though complex man. He was after all, the doctor who would inspire me to take the convoluted road toward a career in medicine. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I got to thinking - I wish I could have told that teenager - “Hang in there, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">You have no concept of the heights to which you’ll climb. Someday, after you’ve spent thousands of dollars and many years learning your trade, you’ll work your way up to this day November 22, 2022 when you’ll be dumping an entire wheel-barrel full of horse manure into a compost pile - AND LOVIN’ IT .</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-21052222157122683862022-11-26T08:20:00.007-05:002022-11-28T09:38:02.300-05:00Just A Small Stretch of the Imagination<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5FqVQBabzTYAEMxH7329lH1le4Rp9RC2mnaacCqxxHlXV3IFxJeqLUSnNi6_RJwtSHMhbJCDp504WbfwaSmYoVphQKdfSGJxE-dOnWYKJAUVUDXhShHgEgMEy6OePtez5y2xQ8sxp5lFAXzAJ_8LgliimpoPaVnpHXvapDyQdiQq1FUHO7tc7kYD1SQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="650" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5FqVQBabzTYAEMxH7329lH1le4Rp9RC2mnaacCqxxHlXV3IFxJeqLUSnNi6_RJwtSHMhbJCDp504WbfwaSmYoVphQKdfSGJxE-dOnWYKJAUVUDXhShHgEgMEy6OePtez5y2xQ8sxp5lFAXzAJ_8LgliimpoPaVnpHXvapDyQdiQq1FUHO7tc7kYD1SQ=w370-h370" width="370" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We appeal as human beings to human beings;</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1abe6d9-7fff-7006-95cc-3672979bc054"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> remember your humanity </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and forget the rest.” - Albert Einstein</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This past Sunday, a cold, destitute, homeless man</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">named “Richard” wandered into our church. The public library</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was closed and escaping the single digit temps outside</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">made perfect sense.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> While we gathered around the social hall table - he took</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In one hot cup of coffee and let out three napkins full</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of regrets. His story was patchy, sad, and discombobulated.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, with surprisingly little effort, I was able to imagine </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">myself in </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">his well-</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">worn shoes had I not had so much support </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">from </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">my very imperfect family, friends - - - and the random </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">kindnesses and decency of<i> everyday people. </i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Examples of these <i>wonderful human encounters</i> will be </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">introduced in some of my subsequent posts - Please stay tuned.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">https://www.janery.com/blogs/news/9-ways-to-help-the-homeless-this-winter</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-79471536397753057312022-11-24T09:44:00.004-05:002022-11-28T09:40:46.951-05:00Giving Thanks - But For What?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHtNlMrIxqToKaT89mRw8bFjzIhMMJZHQftGw1gwhl8H541P2_V7cb0RTp6I1UJJ0LPYrTLn8-bvf8BLow8JpvkfFwRqcIoQgK6FbyGoAEQnFquMVBoeRDvZh5DWoYOWy-5BNSpag1--oTX9P3mJcGKXsWDKfVKSLFEN07WyRtWCWY8dThfI52yInMw/s2016/IMG_9788.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHtNlMrIxqToKaT89mRw8bFjzIhMMJZHQftGw1gwhl8H541P2_V7cb0RTp6I1UJJ0LPYrTLn8-bvf8BLow8JpvkfFwRqcIoQgK6FbyGoAEQnFquMVBoeRDvZh5DWoYOWy-5BNSpag1--oTX9P3mJcGKXsWDKfVKSLFEN07WyRtWCWY8dThfI52yInMw/w297-h222/IMG_9788.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the gray hairs replace those that were so recently brown but originally red, I’ve noticed that what I value has changed. Sure, there are the usual - family, friends, and stuff. Then there are the things like freedom and good health - which I’m not so quick to take for granted. Then there are personal gifts I’ve been blessed with. All of these are still very important.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> At one point, I thrived on, and looked forward to, big family get-togethers, traveling, and all kinds of new experiences - </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I still do</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. But good friends and my parents have moved on to greener pastures and perspectives change.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-1a965c2b-7fff-9a39-ae46-025e91fba30d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Nowadays, I’m more inclined to savor time with individual people, and those random encounters with beauty or kindness. And then there are moments of sheer joy as I connect with those closest to me - like holding my granddaughter’s hand and watching my grandson’s beaming smile as </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">we watch the end of the movie “Lyle, Lyle the Crocodile” - and Lyle SINGS!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Some of my greatest gifts these days are simply </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">moments</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for which</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am eternally grateful. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span><div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-3801981869108589692022-10-26T11:59:00.010-04:002022-11-27T09:51:49.565-05:00"Only a fool learns from their own mistakes... <p> </p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHg6Y47O2Oy9FzAnJ_EzITg8KrsL81sKtyBwPwf4d510ckoueZW7tJylPddxayjc9X7GS7uVfR9kFE4_zs0qm7Omt6QF2uz7wY2uauA7r1SyeDrMspIVpO8z8cIPlV1H7AwL-FdwgFSbRo_UomdDtANTE7EZi_6PFkf4V0nvydGBEv9Yd-MSBPgjIfZg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2927" data-original-width="2311" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHg6Y47O2Oy9FzAnJ_EzITg8KrsL81sKtyBwPwf4d510ckoueZW7tJylPddxayjc9X7GS7uVfR9kFE4_zs0qm7Omt6QF2uz7wY2uauA7r1SyeDrMspIVpO8z8cIPlV1H7AwL-FdwgFSbRo_UomdDtANTE7EZi_6PFkf4V0nvydGBEv9Yd-MSBPgjIfZg" width="189" /></a></div> <div> <div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> ...The wise man learns from the mistakes of others".</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Otto von Bismarck</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> These days, it is especially poignant that we at least learn from our own.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> Six years ago, few would have fretted over the thought of Roe vs Wade being overturned after decades of established precedent. All it took was </span><span>three Supreme Court candidates l</span><span>ying while under oath to accomplish just that. Though abortion is an extremely complex and emotionally laden issue, more and more state legislators think otherwise and are working to</span><span> completely ban all abortions. Ironically multiple polls show that roughly 75% of Americans believe abortion should be legal during the first trimester if that pregnancy either places the mother's life in jeopardy or is the result of rape or incest.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> In 2022 an amazing 157 out of 211 House Republicans consider dismantling Social Security and Medicare as core tenants of their proposed budgets if they take the majority of the House after midterms. Most Americans have contributed to these funds their entire working life. And most use it as their main source of income as they retire. Lots of complacent folk feel we shouldn't get all worked up - "the Republicans would never take away those programs".</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Please remember Otto</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p></div></div>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-51804526362789870472022-09-11T15:12:00.003-04:002022-12-12T10:40:20.374-05:00What Would Bill Do?<p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1nXnNNEpd7NTMzlgelY7yTwZPFCaqrI83e9x-k0pKh73cIMPU5_W-L_P_0PXLKxv0TXYApVpi0gFqupJuBHhcmGh5SmItDnpmOkgBGHeE0Zq2eW2zqXpvvvNiwy2eb7yLx-u5nJj6o4T4p9P4HXfeS3fyjc8r_xa_6hSfBAySph7lJKWPFv1PXWzhvQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="2560" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1nXnNNEpd7NTMzlgelY7yTwZPFCaqrI83e9x-k0pKh73cIMPU5_W-L_P_0PXLKxv0TXYApVpi0gFqupJuBHhcmGh5SmItDnpmOkgBGHeE0Zq2eW2zqXpvvvNiwy2eb7yLx-u5nJj6o4T4p9P4HXfeS3fyjc8r_xa_6hSfBAySph7lJKWPFv1PXWzhvQ" width="320" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Many of us are blessed to have wise friends or mentors that keep </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">us grounded - or at least try to do so. They're fortresses in the midst</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">of chaos. Yesterday, I could have used one.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> My bride and I had two separate disagreements that devolved into </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">arguments which by nightfall were upgraded to Class 3 hurricanes with </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">crushed spirits and remorse but no apologies . The latter was uncommon</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">for us. After a poor night of sleep and lots of reflection, I realized my </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">old friend Bill could have rescued us. He would have listened very </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">attentively. Then he would </span><span style="font-size: medium;">have let out a long "Hmmm" followed by </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>something simple like - </span><span>"From what I've heard, it seems like each of you </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>were mostly right." </span><span>Then he would have asked a simple but thoroughly </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>annoying question such as - </span><span>"Did I just hear correctly that you both had </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>major spats with your best friend over </span><span>five minutes of waiting, and one </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">brief scene in a movie?" </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> As I stepped back </span><span> I would have realized he was </span><span>right.... and then </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>recognized that the proverbial slugfest we </span><span>had endured,</span><span> had </span><span>way more </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>to do with the particularly challenging stuff </span><span>we were living through than</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">any wrongs committed by either of us.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Sometimes it's even healthy to <i>pretend</i> that we have a wise friend to</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">bounce thoughts off of - some of their wisdom might still be with us,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">even if they're not.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-82337005617760703142022-08-08T13:57:00.012-04:002022-12-12T10:49:37.398-05:00"You're Not Listening"<h1 style="text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIx6wZMeMcA1Ur4tEmtb72fX3EPyUyISB2o-I0QDihgzW7xI_ndYZ7oxsS8y0DuyQTHWW3VIKQsg_oPlDdpg6RRtTQ4bjTOe2aWaQP3OWUUlg23919PD4VotB9t8j0QLPr4DTst-VGANW_tHZEFGa5DBFHKbxfbudF7IO6B0W8ogZ8_2v31A3pVQBiZg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="700" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIx6wZMeMcA1Ur4tEmtb72fX3EPyUyISB2o-I0QDihgzW7xI_ndYZ7oxsS8y0DuyQTHWW3VIKQsg_oPlDdpg6RRtTQ4bjTOe2aWaQP3OWUUlg23919PD4VotB9t8j0QLPr4DTst-VGANW_tHZEFGa5DBFHKbxfbudF7IO6B0W8ogZ8_2v31A3pVQBiZg" width="320" /></a> </h1><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span> Imagine that you were born into a conservative family in a conservative town, taught by many teachers who had rarely traveled </span><span>more than 50 miles from home. </span><span>Imagine hearing war stories from four out of five male family </span><span>members and then watching a brother go </span><span>off to Vietnam with the Marines. Then imagine you became a 17 yo private pilot only to have your dreams of flying in the USAF </span><span>crushed because of a pair of glasses.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> That was me, but my second dream was to become a doctor. Instead of </span><span>following in my father's and brother's footsteps, I became the black sheep of the family and went off to a liberal arts college for my undergrad education. T</span><span>o make matters worse for family relations, I learned to ANALYSE and QUESTION. I had to read twenty books for one mandatory class the first term and learned that few things are as simple as they seem, and that truth often lies in the details. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></div><div><span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Fast forward to 2022. I'm frequently tempted to demean, if not despise, gullible people who </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>believe anything and then pass on emotionally laden lies as fact. However, if I had had perfect vision in high school, I could have easily become one of "them"</span><span> - immersing myself in the same </span><span>fear-mongering, anger provoking news and social media that so many well- intentioned people are addicted to. Our own experiences, insight, </span><span>intelligence, education, family, and local culture effect how </span><span>we think, yet most of these aren't earned. Fellow Americans have different filters, but they are not our enemies, regardless of the pressure to believe so. </span><span>Our challenge is to <u>truly listen</u>* to their concerns, and maybe dislodge the filter or two that are blinding them (or us) to reality. This is admittedly a difficult task, but our </span><span>country's future is worth the </span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">effort.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> A wonderful book to help prime the pump is:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Youre-Not-Listening-Missing-Matters/dp/1250297192" target="_blank"> "<b>You're Not Listening" by Kate Murphy</b></a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /><br /></b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-13758244131751042202022-06-02T11:21:00.003-04:002022-12-22T16:14:59.565-05:00Children Depend on US<p><br /></p><p> <span> <span style="font-size: medium;">Up until recently, only a handful of depraved Americans would have ever </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>argued that an </span></span><span>individual's </span><span>right to own anything was more sacred than the right</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>to life itself - especially </span><span>that of our children. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCZPLTiLolvKXFNkv-g229JZs1CNnKyeN5brE9qHgaFrCF7xOxXg7XUymnrG1vqxDvSzMAmJ4y0I7sFnGsvX66GFka1vLX1f6I_gbe9eXJAxj1Uc7UQ_agnIewPIxS6nuAKWTShFAWhTfmrPW6mx8eMkb4T-O5kRw7TfpdBwdl5m7xYW7xJn-GiZYZdg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCZPLTiLolvKXFNkv-g229JZs1CNnKyeN5brE9qHgaFrCF7xOxXg7XUymnrG1vqxDvSzMAmJ4y0I7sFnGsvX66GFka1vLX1f6I_gbe9eXJAxj1Uc7UQ_agnIewPIxS6nuAKWTShFAWhTfmrPW6mx8eMkb4T-O5kRw7TfpdBwdl5m7xYW7xJn-GiZYZdg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span>Our Constitution features: "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>These were </span></span><span>considered </span><span>unalienable rights to be given by God and protected </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>by our new government. </span><span>The second amendment </span><span>was an add-on, just like the </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>other twenty-six. It was never meant </span><span>to </span><span>be a guiding principle for our </span><span>country </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>or the foundation for a twenty billion dollar gun </span><span>industry.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqpIMHaUqvLpCxBet32HzL8PmK5CepafLzDIfNHA52IGHbMFAHSE_-HnVWydq96vRnBnLN39tjbvK2Kel2dqIE1QM3jlVX98czoSafyPNN_uMFzZ1g1E1mCyPr550dr9KY-VH584jOMjhW01UkUHFZsQsfoxt0z_vIdaM_7fjbPoLQbsZLpXnYoZ5GSg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqpIMHaUqvLpCxBet32HzL8PmK5CepafLzDIfNHA52IGHbMFAHSE_-HnVWydq96vRnBnLN39tjbvK2Kel2dqIE1QM3jlVX98czoSafyPNN_uMFzZ1g1E1mCyPr550dr9KY-VH584jOMjhW01UkUHFZsQsfoxt0z_vIdaM_7fjbPoLQbsZLpXnYoZ5GSg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Custom coffins for children by Trey Ganem</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span>Throughout our history, there have always been </span><span>those who have looked the </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>other way or </span></span><span>even </span><span>rationalized the suffering of groups of people </span><span>different </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>than themselves. However, </span><span>when any agenda </span><span>becomes more important than </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>our most basic instinct </span><span>to protect young </span><span>children, we've crossed a pathetic </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>threshold. When our most precious citizens are </span><span>massacred and the best our </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>elected leaders </span><span>can do is political posturing, we're witnessing </span><span>the demise of </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>our society. Mowing down young kids </span><span>is only the tip of the iceberg, but if </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>that </span><span>preventable horror can't stir us to action, what can?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLf1ELuUzbaw-qyCywiUaESwEI4ltY4qYXx2Ve49KloOfPQTOyAjf23y5vlWT8szW74-xZK7xACoOwVhxoKLB-uXPNuupTBC1ouJZ__zvQGkE9alteIUC8jN05s_BrGXobyE64WHe3HNVgNX_CjT24ns6mgVLnBHysZhpyVHGG_xOV2H_TOtPf3rsX1A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="540" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLf1ELuUzbaw-qyCywiUaESwEI4ltY4qYXx2Ve49KloOfPQTOyAjf23y5vlWT8szW74-xZK7xACoOwVhxoKLB-uXPNuupTBC1ouJZ__zvQGkE9alteIUC8jN05s_BrGXobyE64WHe3HNVgNX_CjT24ns6mgVLnBHysZhpyVHGG_xOV2H_TOtPf3rsX1A" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> Our survival demands genuine leaders who are more </span><span>concerned with the safety </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>and </span></span><span>welfare </span><span>of all </span><span>Americans, than with stirring up their base to get </span><span>more votes </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>and power. And </span><span>lest we not see it, guns </span><span>are all about power, especially to those </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>who feel </span><span>powerless. No </span><span>single leader can fix very complex </span><span>societal problems </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>on their own. However, a true servant </span><span>of the people would be reaching across </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>any aisle to </span><span>develop policies that would decrease </span><span>this plague of </span><span>violence. We </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>need servants of the people, not </span><span>disciples of the gun lobby and </span><span>the NRA. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"> Please elect leaders who prioritize the welfare of our children.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #cc0000;">They Depend on US!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-22817023984557204442022-04-25T11:44:00.006-04:002022-11-27T15:38:42.987-05:00The Opposite of Being Poor , is Having Enough .<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhliV4wvz5rNMQjLKbnLbRrW-ISfPW8XyYr5apz_5pfSDaZscQHuy45IecY9LXVu4EaqNDEjJlHZa13jnops2VsasUrQhtw6Wp28-eMewqoxOVEwW16EjDJRATwXpQD4JTL9Jj8aq4ibdnKybtjbt4ua1Qvkwsesnh7zHzimPRYhXit1HoSdhGcqP-x6A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="2070" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhliV4wvz5rNMQjLKbnLbRrW-ISfPW8XyYr5apz_5pfSDaZscQHuy45IecY9LXVu4EaqNDEjJlHZa13jnops2VsasUrQhtw6Wp28-eMewqoxOVEwW16EjDJRATwXpQD4JTL9Jj8aq4ibdnKybtjbt4ua1Qvkwsesnh7zHzimPRYhXit1HoSdhGcqP-x6A=w445-h299" width="445" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"> It's fair to say that there are countless ideas of what the words "poor" and "enough" mean. I'm reminded of the late Supreme Court Justice Potter Steward when trying to define "pornography". He famously said something like - "I'll know it when I see it". </span></div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Images and hot button topics quickly come to mind when we think of "poverty" - maybe news coverage from Africa or the slums in your nearest city, food stamps, the homeless guy with the cup or the child depending on school lunches for her daily nutrition. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> How about the word "enough"? That's a tough one because so few of us ponder what that actually is. Wealth and "enough" are rarely considered synonyms. I've met and worked with lots of people who, by all appearances, were dirt poor. Whether it was in Ethiopia, or all across the USA, sprinkled among these common folk were those who had enough. Just enough food, shelter, faith, companionship, love, peace of mind, and sense of purpose. <span style="color: #7f6000;">They were an inspiring lot.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> On most days I really believe I have enough. The older I get however, the more I lose sleep over two groups - those who truly don't have enough and those who will never <u>think</u> they have enough.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-90848576266721741672022-04-20T19:39:00.010-04:002022-11-27T10:14:47.426-05:00Time to Change the Conversation<p> </p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span>Here in the United States our survival as a democracy is in serious jeopardy. Fear, anger, and a sense of despair have enveloped our collective psyche. We're directionless and no single human being can steer us out of this mess. The best that we can hope for, is that a CRITICAL MASS of Americans would work together to change our country's trajectory. Kind of like putting "The Hundredth Monkey" principles that author Ken Keyes, described - into action.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b> Every citizen can point a blaming finger at someone else or some group. It's quite easy and common to offer up overly simple solutions to very complex problems. Band-aids have replaced the difficult work of identifying root causes of national crises. We would much prefer to demonize and theorize than actually strategize - especially with those we're told are our enemies. Mainstream media ratings and profits seem to be directly linked to the perpetuation of the "us and them" myth. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19WgG78rXxefXvbf_O2KKhOMY0DoMJSTH_Wl1DXtB3ZwKY92ELE_y8OM-MU0zuN4UI022WXuchMx7C0KjiVI7pP2CLZ8-AZJ_6eN6MWZi9wWCmXGeI9U-Yn2oi9HAlWyvjoV_b35ehSB9d3IKFYWpr7bTy0YR4psbb7XfxQpDAnn57_1ytc9VbfZ3sw/s300/American%20flag%20and%20clouds.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19WgG78rXxefXvbf_O2KKhOMY0DoMJSTH_Wl1DXtB3ZwKY92ELE_y8OM-MU0zuN4UI022WXuchMx7C0KjiVI7pP2CLZ8-AZJ_6eN6MWZi9wWCmXGeI9U-Yn2oi9HAlWyvjoV_b35ehSB9d3IKFYWpr7bTy0YR4psbb7XfxQpDAnn57_1ytc9VbfZ3sw/s1600/American%20flag%20and%20clouds.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b> HOWEVER - the last time I checked we are still -</b></span><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The UNITED States of America - </b><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">and it is our duty to see that it stays that way. </b><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Anyone who has seriously pledged their allegiance to our flag has also vowed to support "...one nation under God, INDIVISIBLE with liberty and justice for all". Social media and many news outlets have focused on that which divides at OUR expense whether or not we realize it.</b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></b></span><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> The status quo hasn't been working for everyday Americans. Please note -dividing us is a tool that concentrates wealth and power - and guess who's been winning?</span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b> Those who recognize that our country's problems are way bigger than politics and name calling, can take active parts in this dialog. It's an enormous challenge but then again so is keeping a spirit of hope for our country in 2022. Healing can't start until self-injury stops.</b></span></p><p><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> To paraphrase Yogi Berra -</span></b></p><p><b style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-large;">If you don't know where</b></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><b> you want to go,</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><b> You're not likely to get there.</b></span></p><p><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> The path our nation has taken isn't sustainable. I challenge YOU to share your DREAMS FOR AMERICA. </b></p><p><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"> Let's start the conversation.</span></b></p><p><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><b>How would your America look different in 2035?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></p>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337904902455520978.post-73063070369601172102022-02-10T11:57:00.002-05:002022-11-27T10:21:58.690-05:00Chasing Our Higher Self <p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNrDZ80kMLkd9BbQ1lzhfrXQnWm0jVHkZC-JYO9SXN-hY18biz_MzxEFwIfh0uIbj00SaWLNqHvXgVPGZ0Lnfhh9Xezs4UU_cs569498bvi01TzeL0fVUZbbySFKDozqBlezTfh5h2VywN0xJ-YPfpAUeLN3hfVydYpuJqPs5Jd1YAJiPM5UutmUloHQ=s300" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNrDZ80kMLkd9BbQ1lzhfrXQnWm0jVHkZC-JYO9SXN-hY18biz_MzxEFwIfh0uIbj00SaWLNqHvXgVPGZ0Lnfhh9Xezs4UU_cs569498bvi01TzeL0fVUZbbySFKDozqBlezTfh5h2VywN0xJ-YPfpAUeLN3hfVydYpuJqPs5Jd1YAJiPM5UutmUloHQ" width="300" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Virtually every day we make choices</span><span style="font-size: medium;">. </span><span style="font-size: large;">A significant portion of these affect the direction our entire day or even future goes. Should I watch an extra ten minutes of news, start a wood-working project, watch some screen, or shine some light into a dark place? We all make these types of choices and some of us struggle periodically as we make them.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> If we follow the trends perpetuated by swarms of highly vocal people, life could become simpler. Do you repeat to yourself daily - "Whatever makes my life better is all that matters?" We've all been there at times, but it seems that some people reside there. Life might seem easier when we focus on ourselves, or even our tribe, but is it actually better? As we focus on ourselves, it's only natural to think about what others have.... and is it at our expense? This obviously makes us angry and fear-filled as we recognize we could lose even more to those outside our tribe. (If only I could start a "News" network that could weaponize and monetize this fear-mongering. I'd be rich or become president! But I digress.) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> In the early 1960's President John F. Kennedy was best known for his challenge to Americans: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Over the next twenty years that morphed into Ronald Reagan's re-election campaign slogan: "Are you better off than four years ago?" Fast forward to 2022, we've lost all but a remnant of JFK's ideals. Almost half the country is obsessed with personal freedoms, with complete disregard for the welfare of the most vulnerable in our midst. As millions whine about losing their freedoms, on February 8th alone, more Americans died from Covid complications than from the terrorists attack on 9/11. We fought two extremely long, bloody wars to make sure we'd never have another attack like that and yet, nowadays many just callously accept thousands of needless deaths daily. It's almost like a powerful voice is yelling: "Whine, whine and whine some more because you're being treated unfairly. Nothing should trump YOUR freedoms." </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Another 2300 Americans lost their lives yesterday. Tiny acts of altruism would halve that number in six weeks, if we collectively chose to follow our higher selves.</span></p>Morphing Into A Better World http://www.blogger.com/profile/06949295268280396584noreply@blogger.com0