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A change of perspective can be a humbling experience. It can also remind us that all perspectives are, in essence, very subjective interpretations of circumstances, as various as our background, psychological and emotional baggage, cultures and, perhaps especially our fears.
I used to housesit in a place where a couple of squirrels decided to check in as bed & breakfast guests. There was a small cubby in the wall, next to my bed, where I had stacked sweaters. One morning, as I began to... Read Full Story
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It is not easy to allow others their own path. We think that if we know what to do, or how to perform a particular task, we must act on this knowledge. Interestingly, our particular knowledge may not be what is needed at the time; it may also be inaccurate. Righteousness leads to a level of struggle that often far exceeds the energy expended for action.
It is possible to learn this lesson, little by little. Once learned, it is self-evident and simple to implement, though not easy. All that... Read Full Story
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As children, we often draw the same pictures day after day, carefully laying the same characters, buildings, animals, plants and colors on the page, as well as the same perspective. Psychologists can read into these drawings and identify distinct trauma, joys, tendencies and character traits. A psychology article explained that, when children draw people without placing their feet on the ground in the picture, it is an indication that they feel uprooted within their own family unit. Interest... Read Full Story
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I entered first grade with the strange, for a seven-year old person, yet distinct notion that formal education would somehow fail to show me and my classmates how to live and how to fend for ourselves outside of set cultural parameters. “How could knowing how to spell serve me if I am lost in the woods?” I thought.
Thirty-eight years later, and over twenty-five of those fending for myself, have revealed both the truth and error of my original notions about education. This was confirmed, mo... Read Full Story
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Someone on the radio was talking about knowledge in relation to rank. I believe the discussion topic pertained to the employee/employer relationship. In this relationship, there exists an underlying, and rarely challenged, hierarchy that permeates all aspects of business operations.
It is very similar to the landlord/peasant relationship, even today. In fact, modern political and business leaders do refer to citizens and subordinates as “peasants”. The term is even used in legal documents... Read Full Story
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Everybody should work part-time only. We should reconsider our current understanding that a “normal” workweek is comprised of a 40-hour contribution to an employer. Employers themselves might reconsider their commitment.
The 40-hour workweek entered our culture with the automotive industry assembly line. Granted that jobs in almost any field are truly a form of assembly line, this does not mean the model is still viable today, at least not for everyone. High-productivity does not have to... Read Full Story
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What happened? Almost every single culture tells the story of a teacher or prophet, a savior who bears Good News of love and hope. I believe some prophets are real and I believe some were imagined, but the result is the same. Worldwide, all stories of prophets bear one common thread: Someone who grasps how the world and human relations work warns us about our own wrongdoing toward others and repeatedly reminds us that good is at hand. It is a choice.
If this Savior is part of our mytholog... Read Full Story
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We take the occasional dramas of life very seriously, and we should. It is important to decide how to react, what to choose, where to go, who to confide in and how to stand tall and live on. In the midst of a crisis, the world stops and we become its center. Actually, it is still spinning, and we are standing still, in the midst of a tornado. Any movement could catapult us miles away, into unchartered territory. Sometimes, this is the best way to discover new horizons.
In 1984, my mother a... Read Full Story
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I do not know what prompted me to talk about what follows tonight. Perhaps it surfaced naturally, as a result of today’s activities. I began the day with the intention of reorganizing my art supplies and ended up reorganizing my entire artwork corner. It felt good, cleansing, like a sort of preparation for a new journey. I guess this reminded me of what might be considered rites of passage, or moments of enlightenment.
Tonight, I was going to talk about tourists and their sometimes-annoyi... Read Full Story
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I watch a few TV shows and movies on Hulu, on my computer. Nine years ago, when we began our life together, Roderick and I chose to live without television. I find advertizing rather invasive. From what I have seen when I visit houses with television, it has not changed.
Like any media business, Hulu must generate income. Fortunately, the ads are extremely short, yet useless and bizarre products manage to find their way onto the screen and to make me question this human race, our concerns... Read Full Story
