Live and Let Live

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“The phrase “live and let live” has been used for centuries to express a philosophy of tolerance, acceptance, and peaceful coexistence. Its origins can be traced back to various cultures throughout history, where it was often used as a guiding principle in social interactions.”
https://crossidiomas.com/live-and-let-live/

I used to believe that we were getting somewhere with respecting each other, allowing each other to make their own choices and not imposing our beliefs on others. I used to believe that good people could make good choices on their own and not be judged by some hierarchical fanatic. I used to believe that we were working on the philosophy: “And it harm none, do what thou will.” I used to believe that supporting diversity, inclusiveness, and respect for all was something that should have been the logical process for treating everyone equally, not something that needed to be legislated.

And, then came the s#*! storm. So what was the precise moment where a majority of the nation decided that this idiom should become “Live and Let Die?” Was it the election, or had we grown so weary beforehand that we just gave up and let things happen?

Perhaps now there is a growing majority of those irrational believers waking up and realizing what they have done. I hope they are remorseful and are trying to fix things after the fact. Alas, I think they are also still scared. They have given into their fears and prejudices and are holding on to something that was enforced in them by their ancestors. They also still think that the make-believe nonsense about trickle down economy of the Reagan years was real. People, this never worked! Talk to economists and get an understanding of what this means so you can be more informed in the upcoming elections. Your educated votes make a difference in our world.

I thought that we were slowly rising up out of our past and recognizing that things had to change. And yet things have changed for the worse. I can’t give up on trying to educate and encourage others to do a deep dive into history, politics, and economics, and stretch ones’ brains to understand the differences between democracy, autocracy, and blatant fascism. (Look it up!) We are part of a greater world and should own it. We have to help nations in trouble and rise up out of this pettiness. We have to stop being afraid and break our individual bubbles, or at least absorb our bubble into the next person’s bubble and on and on until we are under one big bubble. I am reading and researching and writing more than I ever used to and I encourage young and old alike to do the same. We have to move on to the next step folks. We have to bring back a nation of love and understanding for all humans who live on this planet. Only then can we become harmonious and full of love for one another. We cannot give up!

I send out love and peace to everyone tonight. Hug the person next to you and engage in a productive conversation. Learn something new every day that you are alive!

Weight of the World

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–“It’s like the weight of the world is attackin’ me so slowly…”—Thought of You, Blind Meece
–“A responsible warrior is not someone who takes the weight of the world on his shoulders, but someone who has learned to deal with the challenges of the moment.”—The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
–“Don’t give up. It’s just the weight of the world.”—Josh Groban
–“The weight of the world is a trifle, if we all put our two fingers under it and try to lift together.”[emphasis mine]—Vera Nazarian
–“My mother might find a thin gold chain at the back of a drawer, wadded into an impossibly tight knot, and give it to me to untangle. It would have a shiny, sweaty smell, and excite me: Gold chains linked you to the great fairy tales and myths, to Arabia, and India; to the great weight of the world, but lighter than a feather.”—Anne Lamott
–And a few more at this website if you want to continue along this journey of exploration….
https://quotlr.com/quotes-about-weight-of-the-world/

I have been turning more and more to my writing and reading books that lift me up. I immerse myself into research and reading nonfiction books to make my characters and scenes more believable. Fiction is lovely to read, and is a break from my reality, but it can also bring anxiety into the picture. Additionally, if we watch too much of the images and destruction war brings, and listen to the words spewing out of terrible peoples’ mouths, we are triggered. This is especially true when it comes to war, death, and destruction.

The feelings are attributed to a new line of diagnosis called War Anxiety, Headline Stress Disorder, or Nuclear Anxiety. We get into a loop of worrying about the same things that “…may happen where you live.”

Sometimes we feel like watching all of the news and getting all the facts help us to gain a sense of control. In reality, it might just backfire and increase your anxiety in the long term. According to a WebMD article, “…the experts recommend focusing on things you can control, such as your general well-being. Try to:

  • Eat healthy foods
  • Get enough sleep
  • Drink lots of water to stay hydrated
  • Check on your loved ones to stay connected.” (Me: Delivered a meal to a friend, called kiddo and grandpa today!)

The experts recommend that you decide to “Accept uncertainty.” By focusing on what we can control, some of the worries or stressors that war may cause may be minimized at least one day at a time. For further information, see:
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/how-to-handle-war-anxiety

Currently, we have little control over what is happening in North America or overseas, but we can relieve some of the worries, by lending a hand to those who are affected by these actions. My favorite go to charity is World Central Kitchen. I can’t be present in the thick of things, but I can lend them a hand monetarily. I also bought their cookbook and it is fantastic! Trying new recipes calm me and gave me a sense of accomplishment, and it doesn’t hurt that $35 more was sent to them for their efforts! Gotta love Jose Andres!
https://wck.org/

A final thought to all of my fellow human beings. Let’s make it a daily habit to “Cultivate compassion.” Experts at Harvard Medicine state that “War anxiety can trigger anger, which also has its roots in loss of control. Anger can be directed toward populations or ethnic groups, or it may be displaced onto family members or friends with a different view.”

These experts also advise us to “Walk in Nature.” Today we noticed a lot more people in the dog parks and around the lake (of course it was also 72 degrees outside so a wonderful change in our crazy spring weather). Connecting with the outdoors can relax our jaws and necks and the tension goes away. Thus the stress is gone for a little while. For more information see:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/war-anxiety-how-to-cope-202205232748

So here are my thoughts on loosening the weight of the world on your shoulders for one night: Find a mission you can accomplish (like Anne Lamott’s untangling of a chain). Listen to some good music tonight, make a good meal, turn off the radio and TV, and read Anne Lamott (one of my favorite authors). Try and lighten the load.

I send out love and understanding to those who are really feeling worrisome tonight.

Mellow Music and Making Tamale Pie

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Today, I had plans, but they slipped away. I felt like being in the kitchen, away from the world’s woes. First I put on Spotify to listen to some mellow music, then I made homemade BBQ sauce. Next I went to my old recipe book, and pulled out ingredients for Tamale Pie. For those of you who don’t know about this delicious dish, it came out of Texas, or maybe California, and probably from a Home Economics class our mothers took. While it isn’t really a traditional Mexican Tamale recipe, it does involve meat and corn. Our mothers just made it a casserole! Here is some history and the recipe (no olives for me-Yeck!). Enjoy with you family and take a piece to your buddy (Connie, I’ll be there tomorrow, I promise!)
https://quaintcooking.com/2022/07/01/the-history-of-tamale-pie/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamale_pie

The one thing I did listen to (and later read the translation) was the speech French Senator Claude Malhuret gave to the French parliament. It was disheartening to hear what Europe is having to do because of that guy in office. I encourage you to listen, and then read the translation. What would our ancestors think of the state of our union, especially our WWII fathers and grandfathers?

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/french-senator-speech-trump-ukraine-russia_n_67ca0a83e4b0404dff3019c7

OR:

French Official’s Speech Goes Viral After Declaring ‘We Are Fighting Against a Dictator Backed by a Traitor’ in Reference to Trump

Is Returning to the Gilded Age Worth It?

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Gilded Age: A period of gross materialism and blatant political corruption in U.S. history during the 1870s that gave rise to important novels of social and political criticism. The period takes its name from the earliest of these, The Gilded Age (1873), written by Mark Twain in collaboration with Charles Dudley Warner. The novel gives a vivid and accurate description of Washington, D.C., and is peopled with caricatures of many leading figures of the day, including greedy industrialists and corrupt politicians.—From Encyclopedia Britannica

That guy in office seems to think he is part of this movement, when he is just a buffoon acting out for television. He envisions himself as a savior, and sadly enough, people still believe in him. They believe he will bring about a new Industrial Revolution, but he is lacking in the ability to understand that he is no President McKinley (who, by the way was assassinated in office). This belief in the robber barons won’t solve our problems. And his billionaire friends don’t want to bring back industry to the U.S. because they don’t want to re-invest their money or pay a decent wage to their workers. They simply want to stay separate from the rest of the world, and look down from their ivory castles. There is no thought to the dignity of others, especially immigrants and their current foreign employees.

And as for all those red states in the south and the mid-west who are farmers and craftsman, I ask you: “How does it feel now?” He is turning on you as well. When will you figure this out that he is not for the little guys who toil in the sun and soil. He has never had to work. I am sad to see that you still don’t get it.

We gardeners are all getting out in force and making little places in our back yards to feed ourselves. Wouldn’t it be lovely to see local small farms and CSAs thrive this summer? Wouldn’t it be lovely to see that we can work together to provide food for everyone, one neighborhood at a time? Something to think about.

Finally, it is a sad thing when over 60% of the military, police and fire voted for that guy in office. I was proud to be a part of law enforcement back in the day, as well as being a proud democrat. Now, I am having a hard time sympathizing with them. The federal cuts to programs and services, and especially veterans’ services should be a wake-up call. What did you guys think was going to happen? I feel for all of those who did their duty, and are now in need of protection and services, but somehow it is a dilemma that could have been fixed if you voted a different way. The Biden administration increased services to help veterans, as well as give money to programs to aid law enforcement and fire departments, and these were promptly slashed within this new administration.

So I am calling for everyone to listen to what Senator Elissa Slotkin said when she asked us to not TUNE OUT. In her speech, she said, “It’s easy to be exhausted, but America needs you now more than ever….If previous generations had not fought for democracy, where would we be today?”— Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin

I am asking that you all read more about our triumphs and failures and learn from the past. Support those who will listen to the people, and do the right thing. Keep demanding town meetings. Keep working towards a better voter turnout. Keep educating the new voters so they are better informed. Have conversations with your local mayors about what else we can do in our little towns. Question those representatives who are being ridiculous. Tell them how you feel about what they are saying. Tell them that they are spreading lies about what is really happening. Somehow the truth will rise up and maybe the cult can be broken.

I send out love to all tonight in hopes for a better tomorrow.

Wondering Why We’re All Here

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Today was a mixture of usual activities at work and one of those “I wonder why I’m here?”
I think I am helping everyone get ahead of the game, and yet it is a never-ending battle. I am a historian on how things have worked in the past, and by telling the history, I can hopefully give new folks ideas to make it better.

But, in this universal quest of pondering why we’re here, the answers are lacking today. I think it is a grand experiment to see how we can all get along, make a living, meet people, love in the time of hate, and survive in the world. The band Rush in their album Roll the Bones asks “Why are we here? Because we’re here, roll the bones….” Is it simply a roll of the bones, or is there purpose in our lives? I think we have failed miserably on many counts, but human beings are still here on this planet. It’s how we make things right in the future, work towards a harmonious existence, and strive for growth beyond our planet that will determine our fate. The stars are watching and it’s time to venture out into them.

Enjoy the moments, no matter how you can elicit them, and listen to these folks ponder the same question. From Frank Zappa to The Red Clay Strays to ….

Frank Zappa and you are probably wondering why I’m here.

The Red Clay Strays wondering why

Red vs. Blue video game why are we here

Or just some cool images and swag of why are we here

Keep living, keep loving, keep learning!

Generational Workplaces

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Workplaces today, have a multitude of age groups, from Boomers to Gen Alpha. Managers and coworkers must figure out how they handle the different generations and create reasonable expectations. Everyone contributes equally if they are treated with respect. Managers have to understand that every generation is different in how they approach work. They don’t always fit into a preconceived box that the past rulers deemed appropriate. Older thought processes of management must be displaced with new and innovative ideas to create viable work situations.

It seems to be a hard process for government job managers to understand this transition. Just because “It’s always been done that way,” doesn’t mean that the process can’t change. Obviously, most of these jobs are limited with their software, sometimes being older than the private sector technology. These workers have to learn systems that they have never worked with before so there is always a time lag for learning.

Managers also have to understand that most government positions pay less than the average private sector job in the real world. People come to these jobs to learn new skills and have different perspectives on how to respond to public demands. It is up to a manager to give guidance on how to conduct themselves as representatives of that governmental entity. Their peers need to educate them in a code of conduct, but not preach their views. Us old folks grew up in a different time where dress codes were different. We taught our children that they should be comfortable in their skins and express themselves. So sometimes, the younger people are more sensitive to criticism. I always think that a manager should just count to five before speaking. They should also try not to put a younger person in a box that will never fit them.

Many years ago, I remember traveling to Long Beach, California to work with the police. The D.C folks arrived in dark suits and ties. We westerners arrived in suits, bolo ties and dress shoes (men), suit coats and skirts, or shirt dresses, scarves, and heels (women) to greet them at their building at exactly 8:00 a.m. The Long Beach folks arrived around 9:00 am, in shorts or jeans, and Hawaiian shirts. They had long hair, beards, and huarache sandals. It took us a minute to get used to their way of life, but in the end, we relaxed a little and got the work done. And maybe a few of us took the suits off at last when we got home (me), preferring black jeans and button-down shirts (and black tennis shoes instead of heels) as our newly invented selves.

All I am saying is we can all work together if we don’t worry about clothing styles or 8 to 5 schedules. If managers just value the work, it doesn’t matter how we work or dress (within reason). If the jobs get done in a timely manner, it’s okay to have different lifestyles or schedules. Young workers have been raised differently, and are not a slave to their work. We hope parents raised them to be responsible, and do their due diligence, when they take on a job. And we hope as parents that the younger ones entering the market are embracing adulthood. Managers can benefit from figuring out a welcoming work environment where everyone can thrive. Everyone brings something to the table, past experiences, and new experiences and the old can learn from the young and vice versa. We can be a force of nature and do amazing things if a system is created for harmony, not discord. So, let’s just all try to get along!

I am learning something new everyday and send my love out to all of you each night!

See the Beauty in the Dark While You are Still in It

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–Quote for title is from The Flower Sisters, by Michelle Collins Anderson
Even in the darkest times, the stars will shine in the night skies, and bring hope to those who look up. Darkness can be calming, or it can become a nightmare. It’s how you interact with it that makes your life better or worse. If you can embrace your life as it is, knowing that the sun will, indeed, come up tomorrow, you can live in your own skin. You can accept that there will always be dark times, but hope does spring eternal, and we can look forward to another day of living.

Today was a reflection day of where we are going and why the turmoil is making us frazzled human beings. A co-worker died just a few days ago and it was a shock to my system. He was younger than me, and seemed in good health. Although we didn’t know each other well, we shared funny jokes and silliness. We had just said “Hey” to each other a few days ago and didn’t think anything of it. Sometimes I feel I am lucky that I haven’t gotten there yet, aches and pains and all. And sometimes I wonder what it will be like when my time comes. Will there be an afterlife? Will I come back? Answers that are beyond me at this point even though I ponder it. I hope for a very long life and sharing knowledge and love every day that I am given on this planet. I hope this co-worker found peace and happiness wherever and whenever he is in this time-space continuum. In Anderson’s book, The Flower Sisters, the grandmother was an undertaker for her small town, and had this to say when receiving a body and regarding death: “No one is special; no one is spared. It is a concept that is both infuriating and comforting, depending on my mood….”

As we age, we all think of ourselves as that eighteen-year-old kid who was bright-eyed and prepared for anything: going off to college, or trade school, traveling the world, or to fight in a  war. And we fled our homes in hopes that our lives would have meaning and we would make a difference in the world. We wanted to change who we were. We wanted to be different from our parents and ancestors. Yet, we understood that we couldn’t change where or who we’d come from, but those old places we lived, depending on the history, the good and the bad feelings, would stay with us throughout our lives. Many of us decided to stay close to home, and live our lives, in close proximity to our families and on our ancestors’ lands. But many of us ventured out into the world and tried to become someone else. The memories and heritage would always stay with us, but some of us knew that we wanted to create a different community and raise our families with those who were more likely to embrace a future that would be better for all.

Hopefully, we all found our place in the world, and our stories mingled with those new people in our lives. Hopefully, we were able to reconcile where we came from and where we were headed: towards a different future.

There will always be those heritage memories and some of us are able to reconcile our past with our current states. Some of us write about these memories to help us have a heart that is full but also open to new adventures and live a life that is full of love.

It’s hard to think of yourself as aging and needing help in the future. It’s hard to talk about parents that are gone, or aren’t aging as well as you are. But, we have to take care of our past, and our elders and pass on this sense of duty to our children.

My hope is that when we need help, our child will understand that it’s okay to help us take care of ourselves. We don’t want to become elders, yet it is going to happen. My questions for tonight are: “Why is this such a hard concept to those in power? Why is our country diminishing those in need right now?” Is it because they are afraid to get old? Don’t they understand that no amount of money will buy you out of your ending? It will happen when it happens.

I am taking this opportunity to tell the world this: Take care of yourself, but also take care of your elders. It’s okay if they weren’t the greatest parents and grandparents to you. They did the best they could. And I would like to tell the people in power: Take a moment to reflect before you cut services to those in need.

I love you all, and hope you can wrap your arms around those you hold dear. Hold them close as long as you can.

When You Most Need It

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Sometimes the world’s woes move in and sit overhead for a little while. And, then the skies open up and give us rain to help the flowers and gardens grow. I am thankful for the rain today and promise of spring.

I am also thankful for the windfall amount of money I got from Social Security today after all these years of paying into it. Thank you President Biden for passing this legislation and helping the people who really need a break right now.

And finally, I am thankful for my ability to continue to work for a little longer, to keep the brain sharp and balance my life once again. Some days to work, and some days to play will help me these next few months.

The universe will come back in balance for all of us if we just keep striving for a better world. I saw these lists and thought it might be useful for everyone to think of ideas on thankfulness and gratitude.
https://www.101planners.com/things-to-be-grateful-for/
https://thepositivitysite.com/a-to-z-gratitude-list/

Short and sweet tonight. Love to all.

Non-Sequiturs and Connections

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Non-Sequitur: an inference that does not follow from the premise; specifically: a fallacy resulting from a simple conversion of a universal affirmative proposition or from the transposition of a condition and its consequent. 2: a statement (such as a response) that does not follow logically from or is not clearly related to anything previously said.

Non sequitur comes directly from Latin; in which language it means “it does not follow.” Borrowed into English in the 16th century by logicians, non sequitur initially referred to a conclusion that did not follow the statements preceding it. The meaning has now broadened to include statements that are seemingly unrelated to the topic at hand, or that seem to come out of the blue.—Merriam-Webster Dictionary

A Non sequitur is produced inadvertently due to some confusion, and even sometimes deliberately to confound the audience, in order to point out the confusion existing in the situation or society at large.

Types of Non sequitur can be random statements that are completely unrelated to the previous topic or context.
1.         Red Herring: Introducing a distraction or irrelevant topic to divert attention from the main issue. Example: “You should vote for me because I volunteer at a soup kitchen. By the way, have you seen the latest movie?”
2.         Appeal to Emotion: Using an emotional appeal that doesn’t logically support the argument. Example: “We must pass this bill to help the children. By the way, did you know my opponent’s favorite color is blue?”
3.         Faulty Cause and Effect: Assuming a cause-and-effect relationship without logical support. Example: “I ate carrots yesterday, and today it’s raining. Carrots must cause rain!”
4.         Non Sequitur in Comedy: Deliberate use of absurd or unrelated statements for comedic effect. Example: “I asked for a glass of water, not a bucket of tears!” These came from a great website that you might want to check out:
https://www.examples.com/english/non-sequitur.html

Although this was a great exercise in language for me today, do you get where I am going? Sometimes in writing and news media we will hear conclusions about a subject that are so way out there in never-neverland, people believe that somehow these statements are connected. It can be an extremely outrageous connection, and yet people believe it because of the personality of the one claiming it as truth.

As a former analyst and now writer, I see this every day with people who stretch the truth to make a believable story that fits their definition of the way people or the world has become (in their minds). And, unfortunately, it becomes truth to many of the masses.

I love a great story like anyone else, but when it comes to making decisions on things that matter, or the un-connectedness of the information and its interpretation starts to hurt people, we must all act together to put a stop to it. So when you hear things that make no sense as a segue to what you are talking about, try to put the person on the right track. If they won’t hear of it, just try to move on the best way you know how. Sometimes you just can’t change people. They have to change themselves or just live with the consequences.

As a final note, Robert Reich is an amazing professor and speaker and according to Wikipedia: …author, lawyer, and political commentator…. The Wall Street Journal placed him sixth on its list of Most Influential Business Thinkers…. Reich worked in the administrations of presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. And served as Secretary of Labor of President Bill Clinton. Finally, he was also a member of President Barack Obama’s economic transition advisory board.

I urge you to go to this website to encourage action right now.
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/more-on-what-you-can-do

Better times will happen if we make them happen. Fight the good fight, then have a nice dinner and hug your loved ones and keep them close. Love to all tonight.

Seasonal Interpretation

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Reflecting on the Seasons and what I do….

Holidays/Winter:
Bake lots and lots of goodies and give them away
Lego Villages build events with kiddo and friends
Knit and create
Find fun and funny presents for my family
Take a class
Fitness
Volunteer one day a week
Make a joyful noise
Take lessons/learn something new

Spring:
Writing gets serious
Reading a slew of books and blogging about them
Make a connection
Go back to work part-time
Cleanup/Spruce-up/Repair
Put away keepsakes (Remember when the organizer people told you to buy plastic bins for storage? Well, now they are telling you to stop buying plastic bins. Full Circle and still needing to get rid of stuff!)
Get your garden seedlings going/Food for you!

Summer:
Plant your own garden – eat healthy even in the food deserts we have created
Plant your pots and beds with wonderful flowers/mulch and water around them
Support your CSAs/Emulate Michelle Obama!
Emulate P. Allen Smith! Admire and aspire to those who are amazing gardeners.

Fall:
Cleanup house and gardens
Ready for Winter
Go somewhere on an adventure
Writing continues
Reading continues
Prepare for Holidays

It feels like spring, and yet we know winter will return here in a few days. But I go outside and clean up when I can to prepare for a wonderful summer garden. Inside, I am working and cleaning and freshening up. It never stops. This is just what I do. Prepping for kiddo to come home on spring break and enjoy time with him. Making blueberry muffins a la Stephen Colbert and Evie McGee Colbert’s cookbook-wonderful recipe! Cake planning for hubby for his birthday (Spring baby!)

I am at peace today for a little while in my bubble of happiness. I am letting the world swirl outside my thoughts. Find your own sense of peace for one day. Love to all tonight.