Shakin' My Head

 C-Span circa 3:45 AM April 26  .... I was checking the coverage of the aftermath of the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on various "News" channels and had planned to stay a few minutes with C-Span.  Here's what happened...

Two moderators  -- or it may have been one moderator and the other an interviewee who was at the dinner -- were seeking reaction responses from viewers.  It was a Call-in "block" with a drop down window that covered a large portion of the TV screen.  C-Span had set up three different (800) phone numbers for incoming calls:

         one for Republicans

         one for Democrats

         and one for all Others

I asked myself why differentiate?  Are we not all Americans concerned about yet another act of violence? Can we not unite in response to this -- against this violence? Once again an obviously left leaning commentator was trying to fit everyone into separate neat little boxes. I am so tired of that.  

When asked by a caller if the C-Span moderator(s) felt that the media was in any way responsible for contributing to the atmosphere of conflict and rage leading to violence in our United States of America  -- there was an immediate and blatant refusal to answer -- instead -- the one moderator immediately turned the question back on the caller saying that obviously the caller had an opinion on the matter implying that the caller thought the media was guilty of doing just that... thus throwing up lines of division once again. It was a total unwillingness to even discuss a possibility that might lead to an improvement of a bad situation.

I turned off the TV.  I had had enough.  Sometimes it is hard not to just give-up hope that our wonderful country might find a way to unify. Hatred and intolerance are real. Once again -- wish I had a magic wand to make things better for all Americans. The key word in that sentence is all.  What's it going to take?

The Best Medicine?

Not sure if this is a world wide phenomenon, or if it is just in the United States, but there has emerged a frowny sort of subcultural that just seems to love being angry.  Ouch!  It hurts to watch.  I have watched them swear -- cringe worthy. I have watched them sing - painful. Now I am watching them yell -- surprisingly odd. Sad really.  It seems to me that this disjointed, and often unkempt group, hardly notice anything but their own reflection in a mirror and they are getting better at being angry as each day passes.  Along with that is an increase in intolerance and hatefulness on their part toward others. They seem to have become their anger. That's what happens when you practice.  The question I keep asking myself is why? Are some of them paid to act this way and to incite others to behave so badly and sadly? I don't understand. There have been lots of Presidents in the past that I found insufferable, but I didn't let that cast a ugly angry spell over my entire life.  I didn't let that dissatisfaction make me destructive or intolerant of others.  Like I said before -- sad really.  

Here's the thing.  There are single moments in life that one comes to cherish. In contrast to the above, they are moments of pure joy. There is no way to explain these moments.  They just happen.  Some of them -- few and far between -- are moments of sudden and spontaneous bursts of laughter. You never forget them.  They are healthy and restorative. Laughter from deep inside -- maybe from the soul.  You are really fortunate if you share a moment like this with a friend(s).  Then you can both/all recapture that moment in memories shared.  Gifts all.  Rare gifts. Personally -- I love to laugh.  I find it healing...a blessing. I have even been known to laugh uncontrollably at a funeral -- spontaneously. That one is hard to explain -- you sort of had to be there. It was a long time ago.  My friend sang at his own funeral. How often do you hear of that happening?  True story....    

Laughter is contagious too.  Bonus. Then again sometimes you have to let it in. Give it permission. My wish is that some of these frowny faces could have such moments. Is it possible to shift gears in some way to be able to find something positive at least once in a while?  I have thought about asking a couple of these perpetually negative people that very question, but I really don't want to get my face bitten off. Oh how I wish I could make them laugh -- or at least smile. Positive is more constructive...always.  It's healthier as well.

Some really smart person once wrote  -- "We are all responsible for the energy we bring into a room."  I wish I could remember who it was and where I read it.  It sounds like something Joseph Campbell would say.  I do know it was long before Oprah made it a topic on one of her shows.  That I do remember.  Anyway - all this being said....

I wish you laughter... the kind that makes your stomach hurt for a moment as you continue to laugh.  That kind.

It's A Lot

There is a lot going on these days.  I have been thinking about this as I watch the world from the safety and comfort of my home. I don't know about you, but am hoping that you, too, feel like the United States of America is coming back and the world is a safer and better place because of American strength and ingenuity. It's is difficult to be patient until everything settles in,  but ... perhaps we are now somehow able to dream again.

• Artemis II.  Perfection. Americans are back in space and home again safely -- looking forward to future accomplishments beyond my imagination.
• Common Sense is attempting to make a comeback. There seems to be a return to valuing law and order that is spreading across the nation -- slowly, but there.  People's  demands for justice and incarceration of those who break our laws are being heard. Weaknesses in the judicial system are being exposed and remedied.  
• Corruption is being exposed across all political fronts. Slow but sure progress -- hopefully the positive direction will continue. One step at a time.
• Woke "stuff" has been sort of forced to go underground in many ways.  We need to keep an eye on that, but at least it isn't smacking us in the face and kicking us in the teeth all the time -- trying to limit free speech of those with differing opinions. Hopefully their 15 minutes is almost up. That world is so frowny and sad.  Negative...  They seem stuck to me.  Time to change. Hopefully.
• Then there is the fact that a country determined to kill all Americans and probably a good portion of the rest of the world seems to have been set back more than they want to admit.  Thankful for that. Keeping an eye on that as well. Yet they somehow seem farther away today -- less dangerous.

As I write today, I am thinking about the safety of the future of my children, grandchildren and on.  A strong and courageous America makes me feel safer about this for sure. Peace through strength....

2026 on Earth is a lot

                                                  How are you doing?  

Overthink Overthinking

 Someone invented the word “overthinking” for a reason.  It's apt.  I find myself doing it once in a while, I get stuck in my thought process and find it hard to get out.  I read a “meme” recently about overthinking that suggests that if you find yourself in that process,  count backwards from 100 in intervals of 7 and it will get you out of that loop you find yourself in.  Apparently the brain cannot overthink and do math at the same time.  Personally I cannot do anything while "mathing" including math itself.  

This notion is interesting to think about though.  It is also interesting to try to do.  I tried. I am not good at it at all. I am practicing.  Perhaps making a chart to memorize would help.  I could take a picture of said chart and have it handy on my phone.  Okay -- now I am overthinking about overthinking and am caught in some sort of irritating loop once again. Obviously even the idea of counting backwards by sevens from 100 makes me overthink. I do not do numbers well at all – especially the odd ones.  I am a word person.  Maybe I could try doing the alphabet backwards?   Give me a minute....

No not able to do that well either.  I keep jumping ahead by three letters to remember what they are and then going backwards to continue. There must be another way.  I will think about it.

Theo of Golden

Recently a good friend recommended a novel to me. Since I have come to trust her recommendations without question over the years, I immediately found the book and began to read.  The title of the book is Theo of Golden.  The author is Allen Levi, an American writer.  I would enjoy a conversation over lunch with this person or even a chance to talk for a few moments over a cup of coffee. It is one of those books that will hang around in your thoughts and perhaps influence your perspective on life for a long time – maybe forever. It is a story of connection between and among human beings. 

Anyway ... I find this book to be remarkable on a couple of different levels.  I didn’t read anything about it before I started it, so I had to find my way through. The experience is beyond thought provoking.  I recommend that approach.  The process is similar to unwrapping a gift that has several layers of wrapping paper along with some annoying bubble wrap that is all stuck together with packing tape.  My interest grew as I peeled back each layer. It is one of those books that you want to read as slowly as possible so that you don't miss one single thing. It is a book of hints and suggestions. It encourages thinking and feeling really.  It is a mystery of mindfulness on an entirely different level  ... hard to explain.  

For the first time in my life I feel like sending a Thank You note to an author.  I may do that. I haven’t read much about him, but I do know that this is his first book.  I hope there will be another.   

I don't want to do anything to diminish the power of this book. To say more is to say too much. Anyone who reads it will find their own message. Theo of Golden has my highest recommendation.