So. The world didn’t
end. We are all still here. I made my snarky comments on
Facebook…(So..."the Apocalypse" turns out to be the stark realization that no big event is going to come save us from having to wake up, shut off the damned TV, and learn to take care of each other...lest rot in our own filth.)... here we are almost past the first quarter. Now what?
The thing is this….we are in big trouble. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to an
astute observer. Whether you are a
consumer of mass media (of the reputable or junk sort)….or an indigenous
tribesman that has no concept of today’s advances, you have noticed we have a
few “problems” to face before handing this world to our offspring. In fact, we have known we were in big trouble
since before I was an identifiable part of the “we”. One has to grant me a small bit of
consideration for my anger that no one seems to care about the trouble we are
in unless it wears the guise of some mythological persona come back to end the
world in one giant cataclysm!
I admit…I was half hoping, no….praying, for something to
come and expedite the restructuring of our current social conundrum in some
drastic and permanent way. I would even
wonder if just the power of self-fulfilling prophecy and the human intent was
enough to fabricate some form of event. I mean it was our imaginations that
dreamed up everything else we enjoy….why not an apocalypse?
But maybe it really isn’t luck. I look around the world from time to time
(obviously when I am able to stomach what I may find) and must admit that not
all news is bad news. Sadly, for me to
want to even get out of bed and continue running this race anymore, I really
need to believe that we were meant for something in all of this. I like to say that humans didn’t evolve out
of rock-scum into the perfect matter manipulation machines just to die off
because most of us are inexcusably…uh, ignorant…(We will go with that word as
opposed to a preferred alternative).
I need to believe that there is hope and a reason. I realize that I may NEVER, ever get the
vindication of proof…just living on the likelihood that we do all this for a
reason. And for now, I am happy with the
notion that we may just be a data gathering organism of a cumulative
consciousness sort…taking all of our experiences back to this organic,
energetic “collective”. Isn’t that a
warm and fuzzy? It certainly works for
me.
Some of the first pieces of good news to come to my
attention this year have really helped me find that warm and fuzzy spot of
hope. Following are three examples I
found that made me smile and provided me with the will to read the news another
day.
The End of Cancer As
We Knew It…
There is now (thanks to an amazing kid named Jack) an early
test for the detection of three very deadly forms of cancer (Pancreatic, Lung,
and Ovarian)…meaning that humans will have an affordable proactivity tool to
prevent these horrible cancers from ever forming fully…provided a person can
get medical care at all. But I am
focusing on positives here…for now. J
So this, and a bunch of other amazing advances I read in my
ScienceDaily.com subscription every single morning bring to mind a
thought. Not so fast thinking that you
may avoid taking the proper responsibility for what has happened to our
home…you may live a whole lot longer than you ever thought. How scary is that?
A Change In The Way We
Grow…
There are groups that have put their back into the green movement
everywhere I look…like this Steve Ritz guy I watched present on a TED
talk. His Green Bronx Machine has the
capacity to transform the way we look at food production.
Growing food in our kitchens and public spaces is not just a
good idea, it is a revolutionary step toward changing our lives back to a
sustainable model of living. It will
encourage us to eat better. We will
waste less as a society and use less fossil fuels to transport food
inefficiently. Our food will be more
nutritious, last longer, and even taste better!
And imagine the educational opportunity our children being a part of
their own food production really provides them!
And most importantly, our basic needs will not be dependent on a supply
chain that can be cut at any time.
I personally donated a measily $10 to a great project I
found on Kickstarter.com…leave it to another place with real winters to take their food sourcing seriously.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2056017617/vertical-harvest-of-jh-a-growing-system-for-change?ref=activity
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2056017617/vertical-harvest-of-jh-a-growing-system-for-change?ref=activity
Yet another example of those that take their local ability
to sustain themselves very seriously.
And this amazing blog about a student implementing his
project….
A Time For Everyone To
Share…
Someone I know very well has a radio show here in Alaska on
a Fox News station. The fact that I can
say I know someone who has a FOX News show…of ALL networks is kind of a
miracle…let alone a self-described conservative! J
But what is so “ positive” is that from 4 to 6 PM, Tom
Anderson, as mentioned, a person with a tendency toward conservative views, has
breached a list of topics that, in my opinion, need to be addressed. And though I can honestly say that though I
often don’t align with Tom’s views, he is in fact fair and balanced…just as he
claims to be.
Why is his show my example of a major positive in the world,
you ask? I mean, it’s nice that one
wants to promote a friend’s show and all…but really?
Here is my reason.
Mr. Anderson has chosen to grant Dr. Faheem Younis, M.D., normally a
regular guest on his show, a few moments of time, now on a daily basis, to
discuss issues affecting us all in regards to the Muslim-Christian/Judaic
conflicts in our global society. In my
opinion, a conservative talk-show host granting a minute of his time to help
breach the gap of cultural understanding, despite the potential pressure it
could cause him from his peers that disagree with his decision, is a phenomenal
step toward changing the world we share.
To be fair (the saying is “fair and balanced for Alaska”) he also
provides the “Stand For Israel” representative Rabbi Jonathan Greenberg.
Now, I admit that I have found myself angry or disagreeing
with things I hear both Mr. Younis and Mr. Greenberg say with their moment in
the light. I do not agree, nor will I
ever, that any sort of religious dogma or claim to what is “holy” by some group
of naked apes (uh, I mean humans) is reason or justification to fight over
imaginary lines in the dirt or kill one another…extending a religious war
several centuries or millennia. I realize that both are doing their best to
encourage peace…but in my opinion…holding on to this BS idea that something is
holy or divine OTHER than human life, is missing the point completely.
However, in the spirit of knowing it is my duty to always
acknowledge a person’s right to speak their truth, I am just glad someone is
willing to let both speak. At very least
it sheds some light on what these people are thinking. I say bravo to Tom and encourage him to keep
up the excellent work…though I don’t think that in light of what he has
accomplished in life, anyone’s permission to go on and do wonderful things will
be required.
A Time to Focus on New
Goals…
It occurs to me that this might just be a turning point for
humanity; a “changing of the guard”…so to speak. We have so many wonderful things to be
thankful for and regardless of our mistakes; we must learn to keep our focus
“above the line”. I can almost picture
the lines of an altimeter in my vision…telling me if my thoughts are pointed
above the horizon….am I eventually going to crash if I keep flying in this
direction? In that way, this mental
imagery I have crafted…this analogy that helps me process how to deal with what
is important, right now. Staying in the
now…or what I call mindfulness…is my form of mediation.
And do you know what?
Scientists are finally quantifying what the Tibetan monks have known for
centuries….meditation works!
Even the U.S. military has been using it in their dealings
with PTSD prevention.
It is an ancient trick.
Some have called it “The Secret”…others magic or malfeasance. All it is really is tapping into the energy
created by attention and intention…knowing that the human focus crafts
reality. Anyone ever told you to be
careful what you wish for?
It is never too late to admit we are wrong. It is never too late to pull up. Humans are beings of their own
imaginations. That for which we fixate
will be our future. If we want to fly,
we just have to keep that picture in our minds…and keep our thoughts and heads
up!
BTW....as I am posting this...right now....there is a frenzy of media coverage regarding a meteor that has just hit Russia....and yet another that has just hit near Cuba. Both have been estimated to be the size of Cadillac Escalades. For those unaware, recently, we here on Earth have been tracking DA-14, a meteor the size of half a football field....yet this morning we were struck by two meteors coming from opposite directions. If rumors of Earth passing through a debris field are true...this could get ugly. Makes me wish we had more of those urban farms up and running. Good luck and Godspeed. Do not forget to tell them you love them....whoever they may be. If there is one thing I wish to share with those wanting to know....there is so much beauty in the world. I looked at this page today (http://pinterest.com/eclectica78/awesome/) and the tears started streaming down my face. There is so much beauty in the world...and this is just a fraction of what I have seen and been able to capture. Infinite amounts go unnoticed....how fantastic.
