Tag Archives: philosophy

What Makes People Go Bad?

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“Human nature….We seem cursed with the need to acquire control over each other and our environment. To rule. To change everything we can possibly meddle with.” [Charles de Lint. The Little Country (p. 273). Triskell Press. Kindle Edition.]

Today, I am pondering human nature and why we have gotten to the place we are today as a collective of beings who should be taking care of each other, no matter what. Human nature wants to have control over someone else when their lives aren’t what they hoped they would be. Friedrich Nietzsche once said that “Underneath the reality in which we live and have our being, another and altogether different reality lies concealed.” And it is that reality we must attempt to achieve, not the personality we have sought after, the hero of our own drama. The hero will die an un-heroic death if we don’t embrace the good and the bad of our perception of ourselves and others.

The current state of affairs, unfortunately, is all about people in control who have the most wealth. And they believe that fairness is only for those who can afford it. Don’t buy into the adage that the privileged get away with crimes and misdemeanors at the expense of others. In a Woody Allen movie, Professor Levy is heard saying, “The universe is a dark and indifferent place which human beings fill with love, in the hope that  future generations will understand more.” [From: Crimes and Misdemeanors, Woody Allen, 1989]

So before you decide to go “out the window,” or check out of this reality, reflect on what you can do to stop the hate, the bad people in charge, and commit to a kind deed every day that you live. Embrace your rebellious teenage years and speak up, demanding justice for those being attacked. Demand that your government representatives take action against those who think they are above the law of the land.   

I recommend you buy and read this very short but highly impactful book. It is amazing! The Greatest Sentence Ever Written, by Walter Isaacson. A must-read for people who are fighting against the orange one and his mania. And here is that sentence in case you forgot:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

And to my fans: I have fine-tuned the cover on Frankie & Jamie. Take a look and buy an escape, for a little while, into the story in the depths of the Grand Canyon in this second book of the Silver Rangers Mini-Series, available on Amazon.

I send love and hope out to all of you every day that I am alive and kicking! Brave the wind and do something fun!

The Heat is On

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As I ponder the many things I can do inside because of the heat I return to my writing once again and try and capture the thread that will finish the book. But, alas, my mind wanders, there are loads of inside chores to complete and I return to the blog, if only to get some writing in today.

Summer Solstice is upon us and I want to return to a simpler time when I danced with the goddess on the longest day of the year with my fellow merrymakers in sacred spaces. I once believed that I was on the right path to enlightenment and the world’s woes were slowly being resolved. I once embraced the path that we as a people of this great nation believed and cared for each other. The police I knew were starting to come around and be the friendly neighborhood protectors instead of using evil [gestapo] tactics. They were proud to be a part of the neighborhood. People weren’t shooting each other in my neighborhood. Neighbors left their doors open, had block parties and shared beautiful food and music without interference from the evil ICE folks, or local police using military tactics for no reason. I want to return to hearing that violent crime is down. Maybe it was all an illusion, but I was proud to be a part of that illusion of the world.

Today, things are rapidly deteriorating to fear tactics and hating BIPOC [i.e., the brown people or anyone who doesn’t look exactly like you]. I still don’t understand how some people can embrace this in their lives. I want those people to wake up and fight back no matter what. I want people to take away all the guns from those that are insanely violent and hurt those who are trying to do the right thing. And I want to return to the belief that we must allow justice to take place and punish those in the wrong (you know who I am talking about). I want that weird secret police to go away and stop harassing those who believe in the democratic process and are just doing the right thing within their jobs and the courts. I want to believe that we can return to finding enlightenment within our lives without worrying about be accosted, or even worse, shot.

So, enjoy the peaceful moments today. Go inside and leave off the TV and phone. Write to your heart’s content your thoughts and musings in your beautiful journals (or laptops!). Read a good book. Work on a puzzle with your family or play a game. And, put on some 80’s tunes (Glen Frey) and get away from it all for a little while.
The Heat is On

I love you all and hope only great things happen to you!

Writers are Brave

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Or: New thoughts are bold and scary. Anne Lamott once said about her father: “Writing taught my father to pay attention; my father in turn taught other people to pay attention and then to write down their thoughts and observations.” Lamott’s father was a writer, and had students that were inmates in San Quenton prison who took part in a  creative-writing program. He taught his students and his daughter by example. He asked his students to put a little bit down on paper every day, and to constantly read great books (and poetry).

I know how important math and sciences are and am grateful for the education my child and I have had in our lives. But sometimes I think society has forgotten the fact that creativity in the form of writing and reading has helped us in the past. I wonder if the reason that we don’t encourage others to engage in the simple act of reading is because the people around us begin to change. They expand their thinking because they are more enlightened on a subject and aren’t afraid to discuss it. A subject may change their lives and they may drift away from you because you may not want to follow the thread of this new idea and life in general.

If we don’t read, we don’t want others in our inner circle to change. We are stuck in some reality that actually doesn’t work but if others leave us we feel threatened by them. Reading (and writing) helps us evolve and become who we are today.

Bold stories make us ponder all of the history writers have written about, and philosophize about deep subjects which leads us to become incredible critical thinkers. When young people tell me they don’t like to read, I am saddened to think how much they have missed in their lives. I am saddened to think of all the incredible stories that have been told in the past and are currently being told today. They are missing out on how humans have evolved (and devolved of late) from past understandings of how the world and society as a whole works.

I was really dismayed when I looked at what all of us, especially women, have gone through to be allowed to learn and especially ponder life’s greatest mysteries by asking intelligent questions. Reading and writing have been essential in my life and I hope I have passed on these life-changing thoughts to my child. I hope to pass on the importance of turning off that constant scrolling and pick up a book (or audiobook) to discover life’s mysteries both past and present. Be a brave reader and get curious!

Here’s a kicker from my past:  My mother would constantly tell me not to read under the covers with a flashlight late at night because it would ruin my eyes. And when I said I wanted to emulate Madame Curie, who worked through a problem night and day and didn’t even take a bath, she stated, “Well, you have to bathe!” And I muttered under my breath, as all teenagers do, “Wow! That’s what you got out of that?”

And finally, to a quote Emily Dickinson: “Women were not encouraged to read because men feared it would joggle their minds.”

I encourage everyone to read my favorite book on writing of all times to gain perspective on us writers:   Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott

I love you all and hope you are having fun creating a magnificent garden in your back yard. Summer is upon us!

Mental Processing

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“The gears of the mind turn in mysterious ways, propelling us through the complexities of thought and emotion – a captivating dance that forms the very essence of our human experience.”—Neurolaunch, 2024

Today was an overload day. We went to the Xfinity store and got our new phones. We went from Samsung Galaxy S8s to Galaxy S25+. What a dramatic change! Everything looks a little different! The initial purchase was a whirlwind as everything is up in that giant nebulous satellite world, even the Sim cards! And we got a huge discount because it was before March 18th. Most of the information downloaded okay in the store, albeit it took a very long time on the Bluetooth connection. We had to come home and fix a few things, but now we are slowly getting used to them. There were sooooo many apps that I had forgotten about! And we had to login to everything once again. My brain is in overload mode right now.

So after making dinner and cleaning up, I looked up mental processing. I found some interesting facts. A website called Neurolaunch speaks of our thoughts as an “…intricate ballet of neural activity, hidden beneath the surface of our consciousness….”
The study is a “…journey to unravel the enigmatic workings of the human mind, exploring the very core of what makes us who we are.”
https://neurolaunch.com/mental-processes-definition-psychology/

The 8 mental processes can be “…broadly categorized into eight types: Sensation, Perception, Attention, Learning, Memory, Language, Motivation, and Emotion.” These categories shape human cognition. https://psychemaster.com/mental-processes-definition-in-psychology

“These cognitive mechanisms shape our perceptions, guide our decisions, and influence our behaviors in ways both subtle and profound. By peering into the inner workings of the mind, we gain invaluable insights into the human condition, opening doors to improved mental health, enhanced learning techniques, and a deeper appreciation for the richness of human cognition.”
It is important for us to understand that mental processes are:
1. Internal and often not directly observable.
2. Involve the manipulation of information within the mind.
3. Conscious or unconscious.
4. Dynamic and can change over time.
5. Influenced by both internal and external factors.

Mental Processes in Psychology: Defining the Core of Human Cognition

Further information can be found at:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/theory-knowledge/202006/what-are-mental-processes

So I believe that our brains are enormous and process so much information so very fast. It’s when we get overwhelmed that we have to just sit a minute and breathe. Yes, we can learn lots of new things at a time, but sometimes our plates are so full that we get a little stressed out. I am the worst person to be telling this to everyone else because I probably am one of those stressors. I want to know it very fast and forget to close my mouth before the next thought comes forward. (And I usually say it out loud!) I have to realize that we all process at different rates (Bluetooth transfers to home connections comparisons in this case). So, take a breath, count to 10 and then ask the next question. We’ll all figure out those life lessons (and new phones) more quickly if we take a break between thoughts. Thanks for listening tonight.

I love you all! Stay safe out there!

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!

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.

Creating a Local Utopia: Building Communities of Equality

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The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines Utopia as a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions, and an impractical scheme for social improvement.

There’s quite literally no place like utopia. In 1516, English humanist Sir Thomas More published a book titled Utopia, which compared social and economic conditions in Europe with those of an ideal society on an imaginary island located off the coast of the Americas. More wanted to imply that the perfect conditions on his fictional island could never really exist, so he called it “Utopia,” a name he created by combining the Greek words ou (“not, no”) and topos (“place”). The earliest generic use of utopia was for an imaginary and indefinitely remote place. The current use of utopia, referring to an ideal place or society, was inspired by More’s description of Utopia’s perfection.

More’s use of the term “Utopia” was intended to show how people could live in peace and happiness if they did what he thought was right.

Utopias are often discussed as aspirational goals for society, and to criticize how current societies work. Utopian and utopianism are also terms used to describe visionary reform that is often impossibly idealistic. Perfection is impossible because everybody has different ideas in which they believe; a utopia would have to emerge from a combination of them all.

There is no society then or now where institutions and policies are entirely governed by reason. The order and dignity of such a state was intended to provide a notable contrast with the unreasonable polity of Christian Europe, divided by self-interest and greed for power and riches. Sound familiar?

As a person who believes that all people are equal and should have a place at the table, the current environment will not support this at the global level. I can only hope the world will evolve to embrace this thought of a society where we can all ignore the media and hatred in the coming years and keep a haven in the community where we currently live. If we can keep this in our hearts when dealing with others different from ourselves, society may evolve through our grassroots efforts. We must go beyond hate and start small.

This holiday let’s welcome one person to our dinner table for an opportunity to gain knowledge and experience from one other. Perhaps we can create a small utopia in our neighborhood. Thank you for continuing the conversation. I look forward to hearing from you.