It's something that has been really tested 10 plus year later.

Imported post: Facebook Note: 2009-12-03T11:08:05 

Just my humble opinion...

    Remember that the world has over 7 billion people, all of whom believe very differently then the person next to them about gods and religion. It does not make anyone wrong or evil. Being human is just that, being human and I personally rejoice in that. It makes my soul happy to know that during these holidays, one in particular inspired by pagan rituals thousands of years old, that perhaps people can find joy in tolerance and understanding of all religions, creeds, colors, races, and sexual orientations. 

Remember...

    Not all Christians are straight and intolerant. Not all Catholic priests are child molesters. Not all people of Islam are Jihad extremists. Not all Buddhist are peaceful. Not all Republicans believe the fear and ignorance that people like Glenn Beck espouse. Not all democrats like President Obama. Not all communists want to take over the world.

    Most people just want to live, love, and grow old without hate and fear in their lives. Most people don't want to run around and kill other people. Most people want to see others happy. Most people just want something safe to eat and safe water to drink. Most people just don't have time to hate anyone else.

    There are a scant few people who would kill you as soon as look at you. There are a scant few people who really believe hate is a family value. A scant few people think war is a good idea, like those that profit from it and don't live in the middle of it. A scant few people enjoy torturing others in hate or think it is OK. Still, they exist and the rest of us have to figure out how to deal with it.

    So this Holiday Season, think about what the rest of humanity would like you to do compared to just a few fanatics that want to control you and keep you in fear. Be happy for the whole world, not just your small view of it. Remember that there are over 7 billion people, and most of them are good decent folks who just want to be happy too. Yes, there is unhappiness, ugliness, torment, and inequity in the world. What will you do about it besides complain or give up? So have a happy holiday and maybe let yourself have a little unrelenting hope for the world, as a whole, to become a better place for all. Peace.

Just my humble opinion...

After the X-Mass Effect

    You know, it's tough as hell feeling like you need to keep up and buy everyone something even if you know you can't afford to do so. But when you just can't, you feel like you're the biggest loser ever. And we all know that's just not the case. People that you love will always understand, and frankly, screw them if they don't. But it's also being far away from your loved ones, family or friends, during the holidays. No shit, right?

    So I was trying my best to deal this year, no dice. I felt so awful the whole 4 days I had off for X-Mas. And I know it's silly to feel that way. But I also have MDD and my brain went into a serious nosedive. Maybe it was too many carbs and then a deeper dive. Not really, but a factor as that's something that affects me for a few hours, but not days.

    Here I am a couple days out and I'm feeling a lot better. Being at work helps. Though I am getting better at my home time and not just watching movies and series. I play a couple of games but what I really want is to play with more electronics and tech. That, I like to do a lot. I really want a 3D printer to create stuff on. I may just go ahead and get one. But, we really need to pay off bills, not make new one. And we still need to catch up financially.

And now, a picture of the sunset on the Solstice last week.

Mars. I'd go.

 Couple of folks I know posted a panorama of mars, but the sky, it looked pretty suspicious to me. Looking into it, sure enough, someone had composited a very cool Earth night sky panorama with a Perseverance panorama. It's the internet folks. Not everything is true or good info. But I know you liked it and wanted to share it with others. I totally get that. I'm sure I piss off people at times.

The Mars Nasa site 

This guy makes me sick...

Putrid Upper Middle Class

Seriously, this guys has so much wealth in my opinion. And he thinks he could have done better. Seriously? Yeah, maybe I'm a little jealous and bitter to boot. But life worked out great for this guy, not so much here. Some of it was luck, some of it hard, work and a lot of how you started out.

Don't mind me while I steal food from your dog to survive in my old age. 

Learning to Flourish Instead of Just Surviving

There's a lot more thought and deliberation in writing a blog over just posting crap on “FaceBorg”. And it's not easy for people to pull away from such a simple system that keeps them shackled to see what their friends and family are up to. I saw a meme recently that talked about knowing phone numbers, going to visit people and knocking on a door to see if they were home, and actually holding a conversation on telephones without seeing someone’s face. No, I'm not being that old guy... OK, maybe a little but hear me out. I mean, I live 1800 miles from family and friends now so knocking on doors is right out. I could call more but no one answers their phones or just think it's creepy.

 

So, what do we do to feel less isolated and needing less online dopamine junkie moments when someone likes or comments on a post? As I sit here and write in my blog, hoping for some interaction over here. I tried to be away from FB. But, that 1800 miles man. I can't just go to a coffee shop I know. Hell, the coffee shops around here close early because they don't get night business. I thought about opening my own and having it stay open later and try to pull in the artists and poets. Not really an option right now.

 

Yeah, I miss everyone. I want this job I have. I want clean air. I want less traumatic temperature extremes. But I want my family and friends. I left Utah so very sad and disillusioned. All my memories of death there. All the heart broken memories. Yes, there were good ones and you people back there really are spectacular. But I was so sad. I still am though. I just want to have my damn cake and eat it too. But we paid into this here so we're going to stick it out and try our best to flourish more than just survive. I trapped myself into a survival mode and I must break out of it.