Tag: random thoughts

Thursday’s Thoughts

+ We wonder why there are so many crazies/narcissists/self-interested/self-impressed weirdos in leadership positions in our politics and other institutions in our society and the reason is, who else could possibly want to take on these awful positions? What sane, reasonable, equitable, logical, self aware person would want to be a politician? So until we heal the systems and the institutions themselves, we will be continued to be lead by crazies/narcissists/self-interested/self-impressed weirdos. And things will only get worse and worse. One particular person isn’t the answer. One particular party isn’t the cure. We need to heal the systems and the structures in our society. We need to get back to the bare bones of what is truly important to the majority of people: Our families and loved ones, our health, our safety, our communities, our resources, our opportunities, and our freedoms, and we need to work together to clean the rest of the noise/drama/junk/control issues out of the structures of our institutions. The best that we can do, in the meantime, is to become the best sane, reasonable, equitable, logical, self aware versions of ourselves, and focus on what is truly important to us (with the awareness that the others around us also deserve these basic priorities in their own lives): Family, freedom, health, safety, community, resources, opportunities. A huge mass of people living healthy lives of universal values (all stemming from love and kindness) will eventually drown out the noise of power hungry individuals, and then true leaders will emerge to help us all leave the mess and wreckage behind us in the history books, as reminders of where never to go/never to do again. One day, we will finally learn.

+I’m currently reading Paul Newman’s new biography that just came out. Revelations (from as far as I have gotten so far): Paul Newman was half-Jewish and suffered anti-Semitism, his family of origin owned a high-end sporting goods store that survived the Depression, and he served in the Navy during World War II. Paul Newman died at the age of 83. I think that my biggest takeaway of the book so far, is more of a general takeaway. Paul Newman lived for over eight decades. Reading about his different adventures during major happenings in world history, is a huge reminder to me, of just how vast our individual life experience really is, especially for those of us who are fortunate enough to live long lives. When I read about others’ adventures and stories of their own lives, it inspires me to take more chances, to really revel in my experiences, and to reflect on how these experiences shape me. Reading others’ biographies, is a reminder to keep my own biography interesting, and compelling, and to cherish “the stories” as they are happening.

+I was at the grocery the other day, staring at package of ready-made caramel apples. I had already tried them and they weren’t that good, but I was pondering on giving them a second chance, with the hopes that perhaps I had just bought a bad batch. A women sauntered up to me, by the apples and said, “Honey, get a tub of Marzetti’s caramel dip, and a bag of Heath toffee chips and mix it together. Your kids will eat a dozen apples in a day, with that stuff on top.” Kids?? Ha! Did she mean the kids who are all adults and do not currently live with me? I did not admit that fact to her. I kept that fact to myself. Instead, I just nodded emphatically and racewalked to the baking aisle for the Heath chips. I can attest that I have probably eaten about two dozen, nice sized apples (which I have never been a huge fan of), and the “dip and chips” is almost all gone. Go to your grocery store now for just three ingredients: Apples, Marzetti’s caramel dip, Heath toffee chips. You won’t regret it. Happy Fall. You’re welcome.

Are you passing on love or are you passing on pain? Heal your pain and pass on love.

Read and Write.

I’ve been looking for new inspiration for my writing, which is not a particularly easy feat during these pandemic times of social distancing. I feel kind of “redundant” lately, which I suppose is bound to happen when you write a daily blog, every single day of the week, going on three years. I read this quote, this past week:

“Inspiration is everywhere and so is distraction.” – The Naked Poet

I think that if I were still in high school, I would put that quote underneath my picture.

Here’s another good one:

“Writing is free therapy. Reading is free education.” – Wise Connector

I used to answer a lot of questions on Quora, but I stopped doing that for over a year now. It was just too time consuming. Yesterday, I got a random upvote on a relatively obscure answer that I had written back in early 2019. I like what I wrote. It was probably cathartic for me to answer that particular question for myself back when I wrote it. And it was a good educational reminder to me, yesterday, of my own thoughts and philosophies, which are reflections of the true compass of my heart, which ultimately guides my life,and keeps me walking the line.

In short, friends, what this quote is saying is: read and write. Read and write. Read and write. Never stop doing these things, if you really want to understand what makes you tick. Read and write. It really can be that simple.

Finally, I woke up this morning with pink-eye. It is my only symptom of a virus. But of course, nowadays our minds always go to THE virus, am I right?! I am going to try to put those worries out of my mind and I am going to heed Buddha’s good advice:

“Most problems, if you give them enough time and space, will eventually wear themselves out.”

Are you passing on love, or are you passing on pain? Heal your pain and pass on love.

Thursday Thoughts

I think that soon designers are going to come up with lines of fancy bullet proof vests. I think they may even become a staple in people’s closets. My friend said that bullet proof book bags are already available for kids. Sad. Very sad.

I read an article today that said that those of us born in the 1970s and older are the last generations to remember what life was like without the internet. We are called “digital immigrants” or “innocents.” The article’s main premise is that we are the last humans to realize how good it is to have “digital detoxes” in order to just sit with our inner worlds and our imaginations. The author reminded us that the internet, itself, was invented due to someone’s imagination.

My friend’s elderly dog passed yesterday. She has had a tumultuous decade, raising two teenage boys primarily on her own, after a nasty divorce. The last year or so, she has really gotten her groove back and is on an even keel upward. I think that our pets sense when it is okay to pass on. They understand when we have our strength back. They know so much more than we give them credit for, sometimes. A lot of the times.

I started taking Burdock root a few months ago, as part of my daily supplement regiment. I forgot why I started taking it. I looked it up on the internet. It is great for joints. I realized that my joints have not been so stiff lately. I think it must work.

I like this tweet from u.fo:

may the next few months of 2019 be filled with pleasant plot twists, spontaneous fun, and good vibes.