I know I write about myself quite a bit—usually just about my observations. What I am going to write about this time is very personal. Well, not about me per se, but about how what I am experiencing is affecting me. Maybe some of you are observing and feeling something similar, in your own personal way, or maybe not. I am curious to know, so make sure you tell me.
I was reading some of the comments about holiday parades and it reminded me of a significant teaching experience I had back in the 80’s. Our school system had a new superintendent…whose goal was to get rid of the “older” teachers to save money…but that is another story! Among many other demands, he implemented the rule that only one party per year was allowed. This meant no classroom birthday celebrations, special holiday happenings etc. I taught kindergarten and the little parties we enjoyed were more than enjoyment…they were a way of connecting, having fun, and learning about our culture and each other. Happily, I was one of those older teachers forced to resign and I found a job in Charlottesville, Virginia. When I arrived there I was battle worn and very much familiar with being treated with little respect as a professional. The happy discovery was that my new school system was run by a superintendent who was supportive of teachers and supported a child centered classroom…so parties were allowed and served as a basis for fun and learning. The school where I taught was filled with happiness …I am not exaggerating. I was so fortunate to have this time in my teaching experience…
Was thinking just the other day…what happened to all the parades we used to have? Easter, Thanksgiving, Santa Claus? Homecoming weekend, the start of the annual Exhibition and Fairgrounds? There used to be half dozen or more throughout the year (growing up in Ontario) and now the only one is Pride (or Disgust depending on one’s outlook).
We, as a community, don’t seem to celebrate anything anymore.
Your post today reminded me of something a friend of mine shared on her facebook recently. A quote from Kurt Vonnegut, an author I connected with initially in my teen years hanging out in the library away from the shit show of school life around me (social distancing started many many years ago for me). Without him and others like him, I don't know how I would have survived. Here is the quote:
Kurt Vonnegut tells his wife he's going out to buy an envelope:
“Oh, she says, well, you're not a poor man. You know, why don't you go online and buy a hundred envelopes and put them in the closet? And so I pretend not to hear her. And go out to get an envelope because I'm going to have a hell of a good time in the process of buying one envelope.
I meet a lot of people. And see some great looking babies. And a fire engine goes by. And I give them the thumbs up. And I'll ask a woman what kind of dog that is. And, and I don't know. The moral of the story is - we're here on Earth to fart around.
And, of course, the computers will do us out of that. And what the computer people don't realize, or they don't care, is we're dancing animals. You know, we love to move around. And it's like we're not supposed to dance at all anymore."
Let's all get up and move around a bit right now... or at least dance.
I so miss this man to help me make light of this strange world I find myself in now.
Maybe at this point in my life (aging body and increasingly obstreperous personality) I accept the current isolation as self-imposed and normal. And as with any situation there are good and bad aspects to consider. I welcome not having to drive through traffic to a brick and mortar store, negotiate the zombies wandering the aisles to only discover they don’t have what I’m looking for and I’m forced to buy online anyway. My free time now allows me to putter around in the oasis I call home and neighborhood doing the creative things that give me pleasure. I interact with the people who bring me joy and limit my exposure to those who don’t. And when I’m not doing that I can read thought provoking articles and comments such as these. As bad as the outside world is becoming I am at peace.
Yep. All true. And even though we can see it for the danger that it is, we slowly give in to the convenience. Because we’ve become lazy. Exactly as you said.
Being aware isn’t enough. Are we doomed? Does resistance do any good when the majority of the population is already zombified?
So very true Todd, wonderfully expressed (as always). My favourite moments were hiding away in a cozy corner in a local bookstore as well, it was the only real break from the chaos of raising three teenage girls. It's all gone now, as you say - can't hide in a cozy corner in Amazon. I really, really miss those very special times, even though the teenage girls are now long grown and on their own.
I instinctively avoid crowds now, and more and more I spend most of my time at home. I am mercilessly eliminating dead end friendships now, very intentionally, and I am not even sure why now? I seem to be following deeply intuitive feelings that will not acquiesce to 'middle of the road' choices any longer.
Although I miss all those 'crowded' activities of my previous life, they are gone now and every day I try to accept that at deeper and deeper levels. I think this new world (whatever the hell it is - literally) is a world for the 'inhuman' and those of us who are deeply 'human' must remove ourselves from that world in any way possible. We will have to build our own 'new world' because we will not survive in what is now considered the normal world.
Maybe our new human world will be small at first, maybe only our own home and yard, but we will eventually find each other and it may mean physically relocating, I don't know. But I'm pretty sure, if we try to stay and relate to whatever is happening 'out there' in the society being created, we will loose whatever it is that makes us real, true human beings.
So, for me, isolation is a good thing. It's just difficult, and sometimes a bit lonely.
I hear you. Life without a smart phone and zoom are still doable. My husband and I still go to concerts, eat in restaurants, shop at small boutiques like Douce France on the Danforth and farmers markets in Toronto, buy from real artisans at craft shows, shop at used book stores, and visit our friends. Yesterday was the Celebration of Life for my brother who died in January, and we got to interact with over 300 real people and had real conversations, which felt quite normal. So living an authentic life is possible, it just takes effort. When things are awful, we have to keep an image of something beautiful in our mind. So Todd, maybe take a drive around the area where you live and look for that gem of normalcy - a cafe or a small store that you might not have noticed before. There are still bits of goodness out there. I too need to be reminded that not everybody is a zombie.
I used to live in a beautiful 1930’s home (not far from the little bookstore you mentioned in N. Hollywood). When I moved there 27 years ago, I knew all my neighbors within a week and we all got together often. Sadly, due to CA politics, crime and insanely high taxes (and friendships that evaporated due to my not going-along-to-get-along when I came to the jab), I was forced to move. I now live in another state where I bought a home in what appeared to be a tight nit community with walking trails, lakes. I’m surrounded by nature. Yet, I rarely see a living soul. It’s been 7 months and I still don’t know my neighbors. Why? No front porches, for one thing. No place to sit and wave to a passersby (when there is one). Everyone enters their homes through their garage. They spend all their time in their backyards. I feel as isolated as I did in CA.
Joy is one of the most powerful metrics for making decisions that empower and enrich your life
Improving mitochondrial health boosts cellular energy, which is crucial for making empowered decisions and aligning with your authentic self. Effective decision-making is energy-intensive, requiring robust cellular energy to function optimally, underscoring the link between health and mental clarity
Recognizing and altering negative thought patterns is also crucial for fostering a more joyful mindset and embracing life’s opportunities.
The concept of "vorfreude," or anticipatory joy, significantly improves happiness and well-being by allowing you to savor the anticipation of future pleasures.
Strategies to enhance joy include consciously appreciating the brief moments just before experiencing something pleasurable, treating yourself, writing down your plans, unleashing your creativity and much more
This is the point of globalisation. We are being turned into rats in the rat race. The people are pushed to live in cities so it easier control us.
Remember when, during lockdowns ,they kept telling us not to do our own research and trust only mainstream media? We are animals in farms for the globalist elite.
Not many solutions left to use against the tyranny.
If you have a chance to get away from city and live somewhere where you have no access to media then do it. otherwise, we have no choice but watch our world turning into a state of corporate fascism.
Hunger games of Brave New World.
Sabotage works well against the tyranny, as well. But problem with sabotage is that honest people turn into criminals.
You are right Dr. Hayen. It's happening to us all. When I walk my dogs (they will keep you human)I see people with their earbuds in-- cut off from the sounds and experience of nature. We are taking input, info all day long from our devices. All of us seeing and hearing different things rather than the collective experience of nature. It's kind of spooky when I see people approaching on my walk and I know they are hooked up to the internet, and even though they look present, their minds are far away.
Yes, all these so-called conveniences have displaced us, divided us, and secluded us from each other. Ah, perfect says the planners. We are social beings they know that. Cut off the social opportunities, you shut off the human-ness to living.
I was reading some of the comments about holiday parades and it reminded me of a significant teaching experience I had back in the 80’s. Our school system had a new superintendent…whose goal was to get rid of the “older” teachers to save money…but that is another story! Among many other demands, he implemented the rule that only one party per year was allowed. This meant no classroom birthday celebrations, special holiday happenings etc. I taught kindergarten and the little parties we enjoyed were more than enjoyment…they were a way of connecting, having fun, and learning about our culture and each other. Happily, I was one of those older teachers forced to resign and I found a job in Charlottesville, Virginia. When I arrived there I was battle worn and very much familiar with being treated with little respect as a professional. The happy discovery was that my new school system was run by a superintendent who was supportive of teachers and supported a child centered classroom…so parties were allowed and served as a basis for fun and learning. The school where I taught was filled with happiness …I am not exaggerating. I was so fortunate to have this time in my teaching experience…
So true! All of it.
Was thinking just the other day…what happened to all the parades we used to have? Easter, Thanksgiving, Santa Claus? Homecoming weekend, the start of the annual Exhibition and Fairgrounds? There used to be half dozen or more throughout the year (growing up in Ontario) and now the only one is Pride (or Disgust depending on one’s outlook).
We, as a community, don’t seem to celebrate anything anymore.
Your post today reminded me of something a friend of mine shared on her facebook recently. A quote from Kurt Vonnegut, an author I connected with initially in my teen years hanging out in the library away from the shit show of school life around me (social distancing started many many years ago for me). Without him and others like him, I don't know how I would have survived. Here is the quote:
Kurt Vonnegut tells his wife he's going out to buy an envelope:
“Oh, she says, well, you're not a poor man. You know, why don't you go online and buy a hundred envelopes and put them in the closet? And so I pretend not to hear her. And go out to get an envelope because I'm going to have a hell of a good time in the process of buying one envelope.
I meet a lot of people. And see some great looking babies. And a fire engine goes by. And I give them the thumbs up. And I'll ask a woman what kind of dog that is. And, and I don't know. The moral of the story is - we're here on Earth to fart around.
And, of course, the computers will do us out of that. And what the computer people don't realize, or they don't care, is we're dancing animals. You know, we love to move around. And it's like we're not supposed to dance at all anymore."
Let's all get up and move around a bit right now... or at least dance.
I so miss this man to help me make light of this strange world I find myself in now.
This post- Being Human, rings so true- it made me subscribe for a year just to say 'Thank you!'
I'm an agnostic who values the machine model of mind briefed at https://www.susanblackmore.uk/reviews/review-of-the-robots-rebellion Among other movies exploring that view, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendence_(2014_film) might interest.
Maybe at this point in my life (aging body and increasingly obstreperous personality) I accept the current isolation as self-imposed and normal. And as with any situation there are good and bad aspects to consider. I welcome not having to drive through traffic to a brick and mortar store, negotiate the zombies wandering the aisles to only discover they don’t have what I’m looking for and I’m forced to buy online anyway. My free time now allows me to putter around in the oasis I call home and neighborhood doing the creative things that give me pleasure. I interact with the people who bring me joy and limit my exposure to those who don’t. And when I’m not doing that I can read thought provoking articles and comments such as these. As bad as the outside world is becoming I am at peace.
Yep. All true. And even though we can see it for the danger that it is, we slowly give in to the convenience. Because we’ve become lazy. Exactly as you said.
Being aware isn’t enough. Are we doomed? Does resistance do any good when the majority of the population is already zombified?
So very true Todd, wonderfully expressed (as always). My favourite moments were hiding away in a cozy corner in a local bookstore as well, it was the only real break from the chaos of raising three teenage girls. It's all gone now, as you say - can't hide in a cozy corner in Amazon. I really, really miss those very special times, even though the teenage girls are now long grown and on their own.
I instinctively avoid crowds now, and more and more I spend most of my time at home. I am mercilessly eliminating dead end friendships now, very intentionally, and I am not even sure why now? I seem to be following deeply intuitive feelings that will not acquiesce to 'middle of the road' choices any longer.
Although I miss all those 'crowded' activities of my previous life, they are gone now and every day I try to accept that at deeper and deeper levels. I think this new world (whatever the hell it is - literally) is a world for the 'inhuman' and those of us who are deeply 'human' must remove ourselves from that world in any way possible. We will have to build our own 'new world' because we will not survive in what is now considered the normal world.
Maybe our new human world will be small at first, maybe only our own home and yard, but we will eventually find each other and it may mean physically relocating, I don't know. But I'm pretty sure, if we try to stay and relate to whatever is happening 'out there' in the society being created, we will loose whatever it is that makes us real, true human beings.
So, for me, isolation is a good thing. It's just difficult, and sometimes a bit lonely.
I hear you. Life without a smart phone and zoom are still doable. My husband and I still go to concerts, eat in restaurants, shop at small boutiques like Douce France on the Danforth and farmers markets in Toronto, buy from real artisans at craft shows, shop at used book stores, and visit our friends. Yesterday was the Celebration of Life for my brother who died in January, and we got to interact with over 300 real people and had real conversations, which felt quite normal. So living an authentic life is possible, it just takes effort. When things are awful, we have to keep an image of something beautiful in our mind. So Todd, maybe take a drive around the area where you live and look for that gem of normalcy - a cafe or a small store that you might not have noticed before. There are still bits of goodness out there. I too need to be reminded that not everybody is a zombie.
I used to live in a beautiful 1930’s home (not far from the little bookstore you mentioned in N. Hollywood). When I moved there 27 years ago, I knew all my neighbors within a week and we all got together often. Sadly, due to CA politics, crime and insanely high taxes (and friendships that evaporated due to my not going-along-to-get-along when I came to the jab), I was forced to move. I now live in another state where I bought a home in what appeared to be a tight nit community with walking trails, lakes. I’m surrounded by nature. Yet, I rarely see a living soul. It’s been 7 months and I still don’t know my neighbors. Why? No front porches, for one thing. No place to sit and wave to a passersby (when there is one). Everyone enters their homes through their garage. They spend all their time in their backyards. I feel as isolated as I did in CA.
Joe Mercola addresses this topic today too. Our revolution is personal and social. https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2024/04/22/vorfreude-anticipatory-joy.aspx?ui=89d9be74f69081763f45c409182855326c2fe92d47a179a444824f3ed56ffba6&sd=20221014&cid_source=dnl&cid_medium=email&cid_content=art1HL&cid=20240422&foDate=false&mid=DM1561182&rid=2541763
Joy is one of the most powerful metrics for making decisions that empower and enrich your life
Improving mitochondrial health boosts cellular energy, which is crucial for making empowered decisions and aligning with your authentic self. Effective decision-making is energy-intensive, requiring robust cellular energy to function optimally, underscoring the link between health and mental clarity
Recognizing and altering negative thought patterns is also crucial for fostering a more joyful mindset and embracing life’s opportunities.
The concept of "vorfreude," or anticipatory joy, significantly improves happiness and well-being by allowing you to savor the anticipation of future pleasures.
Strategies to enhance joy include consciously appreciating the brief moments just before experiencing something pleasurable, treating yourself, writing down your plans, unleashing your creativity and much more
This is the point of globalisation. We are being turned into rats in the rat race. The people are pushed to live in cities so it easier control us.
Remember when, during lockdowns ,they kept telling us not to do our own research and trust only mainstream media? We are animals in farms for the globalist elite.
Not many solutions left to use against the tyranny.
If you have a chance to get away from city and live somewhere where you have no access to media then do it. otherwise, we have no choice but watch our world turning into a state of corporate fascism.
Hunger games of Brave New World.
Sabotage works well against the tyranny, as well. But problem with sabotage is that honest people turn into criminals.
Rogan and Carlson discuss your theme: https://www.theburningplatform.com/2024/04/22/congressmen-are-terrified-of-the-intel-agencies-tucker-carlson-warns-theyll-frame-them-with-kiddie-porn/. Your complaint provided the prescription. Be open, honest, authentic, spontaneous, humorous, free in everything you do.
Get outside young man.
You are right Dr. Hayen. It's happening to us all. When I walk my dogs (they will keep you human)I see people with their earbuds in-- cut off from the sounds and experience of nature. We are taking input, info all day long from our devices. All of us seeing and hearing different things rather than the collective experience of nature. It's kind of spooky when I see people approaching on my walk and I know they are hooked up to the internet, and even though they look present, their minds are far away.
Yes, all these so-called conveniences have displaced us, divided us, and secluded us from each other. Ah, perfect says the planners. We are social beings they know that. Cut off the social opportunities, you shut off the human-ness to living.