Make it your principle not to look back

The problem with moving forward but turning one’s head to look back, is that the direction of a person’s momentum is still moving forward, but no longer has visual guidance as to what is ahead, for that is being concentrated instead on what is behind, which means that any obstacles that come our way, will trip us up.  Further to the point, while there may well be things that we regret having done, these represent our past, and to constantly dwell on such is a mistake, because it will not change what has already occurred.  Additionally, to constantly focus on the past means that we are not forward-thinking enough, and thereby are short-changing our ability to make positive progress, which should be our main objective in life.

 We need to remind ourselves that we live in the ever-present, and if there is something that we need to meaningfully address, the best way to do that is to concentrate on that very thing, which is why looking back is typically not going to be helpful for us for it often serves as a distraction.  Still, there are plenty of people who do not desire to leave the familiar because that provides them with comfort, but at the same time, they need to, at a minimum, at least occasionally push themselves out of their comfort zone, or else they will stagnate, and stagnation is anathema to growth and progress.

 So too, by looking back, we discount the future, so as to emphasize the past, which isn’t going to be beneficial for us in accomplishing what we need to accomplish, because we aren’t focusing on what needs to be done to get to the destination that we were meant to get to.  Indeed, some of those who live in the past are fearful of the future, because the future is uncertain, but that is always the case, and those that will not prudently risk something to gain even more, have essentially buried their talents to live on their past accomplishments, as if that is all that they need do.

 Look, it has to be said, the race is not necessarily to the swift, but it certainly is never to those who aren’t even moving, for stagnation just doesn’t accomplish all that much.  The important thing is to have a worthwhile goal and to thereby do what needs to be done to accomplish that goal, which necessitates not only acquiring necessary knowledge, but also developing and obtaining the accouterments that will bring that success, without ever wavering from that goal, by always staying focused upon such, which thus means that in that objective, the past remains the past, and the drive to get to that goal, is the actuator of what we do and say.

 Each of us is meant to leave behind that which will hinder us in progressing to where we are meant to be, for that extra baggage will slow us down, while also serving as a distraction, of which the new is meant to push out the old, and to thereby replace that old wineskin with the maturity and accomplishments that newly earned wine richly deserves.

Your cellphone knows everything about you

The fact of the matter is that our smart phones are so robust nowadays that they have the capability through apps to open up our house door, to start our automobile, and to save our credit and debit cards, for pretty much this device contains and thereby represents who and what we are, for all of our text communications, pictures, videos, as well as our location as we moved about our day is duly noted, stored, and recorded.  This signifies that while there are massive conveniences to having a device that we can call upon to surf the web, to call a friend, to conduct business, to take pictures, to make social media posts, and so on – we also have a device that remembers everything that we do and in the hands of some other entity with access to our passcode, would provide them therefore with a very detailed biography of who and what we are, for our phones surveil our own self, exceedingly well.

 It isn’t too much of a stretch to believe, that governments the world over, are absolutely delighted that cellphones know so much about us, for therefore everything that we have essentially done either on our phone, or in our movements in the community that we are a part of, has been recorded, and whenever the government or some other entity has access to that information, this can be utilized to manipulate us, to control us, and to compromise us, for there is always going to be some information meant exclusively for just one party or one person, that in the hands of a different party or a different person would serve to alienate us or to hurt us.

 We thus live in a day and age in which, if we do not have ironclad guardrails put into place as to who and what controls our information dissemination on our cellphone, then we have essentially ceded our private information to private enterprise and to the governance that regulates the same.  This is not, therefore the brave new world that we believe that we have entered, but rather this is a world in which “Big Brother” in any of its myriad forms is watching us and in that watching, putting itself in pole position to “groom” us in whatever direction serves its purposes.

 It is somewhat ironic, that all of the domestic spy agencies that spy on its own, are presently salivating that never has there been a time such as this, in which social surveillance is done voluntarily by the user which is not only incredibly accurate but also incredibly detailed, of which, many of those that are being surveilled, are blithely unconcerned, unaware, or clueless, as if they believe that living a life as an open book, in which everything is known about them, will somehow never be used to influence or to harm them.  As it is been said, information is power, and the type of information on our cellphones is so detailed and so complete that in the absence of an individual having personal sovereignty over that information contained on their cellphone, they are at the mercy of those who do.

Don’t make the mistake of being so quick to accuse

In life, there aren’t that many people who don’t have an issue with being unjustly accused of something wrong or bad, such as stealing or cheating or of gossiping, because not only does it reflect poorly upon the character of the person so being accused, but also because there is many a time, when someone is accused of some bad act, in which, truth be told, they are innocent of it, and so then not only is the accusation false, but since it impugns upon one’s character it is the type of thing, that can seriously damage friendships.

 Look, no doubt, there are those times when there appears to be money missing or an item has been broken and in our haste to finger the guilty party, we go right ahead and assume things, without really carefully thinking them through, which is poor policy, because before we accuse someone of some crime against us, the least that we owe ourselves and the person so being charged, is a thorough examination of what we believed happened, so that we don’t make any stupid mistakes, before we make our accusation.

 For a certainty, we don’t always get things right, and when we are already upset about something bad having happened, we have a tendency not to think as clearly as we would normally, which doesn’t help us in maintaining our sensibility, which is why, whenever there appears to be something missing or damaged, it is best to try to piece together what might have occurred and to consider all possibilities, before we accuse someone of doing something to us.

 Indeed, for those who reflect upon those times when they have accused someone of doing something wrong to them, an honest analysis would tell us, that we don’t always get it right, and while there is something to be said for those times for having gotten it right – it does not even come close to how much damage we do when we get it horribly wrong, for not only do we have serious egg on our face, and thereby have to suffer the embarrassment of being wrong, we also have to put forth a suitable retraction of what we said, for it doesn’t feel good to have accused an innocent party of a crime that they didn’t commit, when we subsequently find out that we had it all wrong.

 In truth, nobody gets it right 100% of the time, which is why the better part of valor, is to give the benefit of the doubt to the other, before we accuse them of something, for if we want to maintain our moral high ground, this means that we need to get our facts right, and not only that, but we need to make sure that we have taken into account as many possible contingencies that would justify or would serve to nullify what we consider to have been a crime against us.

 In sum, whenever it appears that we have been wronged, there shouldn’t be a rush to judgment of the other, but rather we should want to be thorough in our investigation, and only when we have come to what appears to be a reasonable conclusion, should we accuse anyone, and when doing so, we should do so in a way and manner in which we are considerate to the other, just in case, we have it wrong.

Not everything that glitters is gold

One might think that the highest ambition of schooling is the search for truth, which would certainly make sense, but in actuality, it seems that when it comes to schooling, there is less emphasis on questioning authority, or of examining history, and more emphasis placed upon students that they should just conform to whatever narrative has been structured for them to memorize and to accept.  To live thereby in a society in which nothing of substance is ever questioned or examined is to live in a society in which obedience supersedes the search for truth, and in a construct such as that, society is the lesser for it.

 Each of us has been gifted with a mind, that should be utilized to its fullest extent, of which, one of the purposes of thinking is to examine what we have been taught or are being taught to see why this is being accepted as true, which thereupon permits us to know through such examination whether that information propagated is or is not factual.  After all, while we cannot examine or question everything, we have a duty to ourselves and the society that we are a member of, to get beyond simply obedience, to question that which should be questioned, because not everything taught is the whole truth and nothing but the truth, for it could be something inimical to truth, itself.

 Look, it has to be said, that those who pursue a false agenda under the misimpression that it is true, are on a pathway that will not permit them to know the truth, for that pathway has already been averted.  This is why, we must do our homework, so that we can not only keep other people in check, but also because it is necessary in order for us, to know for a certainty that what we are doing, actually serves a good and higher purpose, as opposed to believing that it does, though it does not, of which, because having failed to properly examined such, thoroughly, truth has escaped us.

 The greatest crimes which are committed by humankind are done by those who, for whatever reason, believe in what they believe, because they have been told to believe so, but have not themselves bothered to question what should be questioned.  Indeed, this is what many a corporation or government desires from those that they consider to be their minions, which is to obey their dictates, which permits the machine to operate at a much higher efficiency, since there isn’t any pushback, even though, if truth be known, there would for a certainty be pushback.

 In life, we are responsible for our actions, and if we don’t trouble ourselves as to whether our actions are right or wrong, that puts us into a rather vulnerable position, in which, we are doing what we do, because we have been told to do it or believe in it, without having done our due diligence, which is the least that we owe our fellow society members, and the least that we owe our soul, which is our responsibility to answer for, come what may.

The brilliance of publicly traded corporations

In any given society, there are going to be members of that society that have extra money, that is to say, money that they don’t need to pay immediate expenses with and therefore they have a desire to do something with that money, beyond just saving it, which in many a case, means that they have a distinct desire to invest that money for profit.  Nowadays, one of those things that people can invest in, is publicly traded corporations in which the investor, whether at the Initial Public Offering (IPO) or later when the stock is publicly traded on a national stock exchange, the person so investing can buy into the desired corporation, for the expressed purpose of receiving a benefit from that corporation, which would include stock appreciation and/or dividends.

The reason why investing in publicly traded corporations is so brilliant is that a significant portion of the money raised to invest in a specific publicly traded corporation comes forth from people who are passive investors.  That is to say, these investors pretty much have no say in how the business will or will not be conducted, but have full faith and confidence in the business enterprise that it will be successful or will continue to be successful and therefore the monies invested, by these passive investors, will work out well for them.  So too, the reason why there are publicly funded corporations in the first place has everything to do with the fact that for corporations to exist, to grow, and to maintain or augment their position, they need capital, and companies that do not have enough capital are typically restricted in what they can or cannot accomplish, which is why finding passive investors is ideal for many a corporation, for in exchange for receiving this necessary capital, they sacrifice little in return, for the reins of the business enterprise remains in the hands of the Board of Directors, who have little or no interest in being supervised or controlled by those that put up the money for their business, which means that for both parties the stage is duly set for each to benefit from the other.

 Indeed, money makes money, and those who have fair access to capital have the very thing that will enable them to stay not only current but to excel over all other companies that lack the same access to capital, or are, as a company, too slow to avail themselves of that option.  For a certainty, there are plenty of corporations that have great ideas, but a great idea, that lacks capital isn’t going to have the same success rate, as a great idea that is backed by a substantial amount of capital, because those that are capital poor, not only have fewer options, but they aren’t able to handle as well the vicissitudes of everyday business that a well-capitalized company can.

 All of the above signifies that passive investors who invest in well-managed publicly traded corporations that have a need for a lot of capital to best achieve their goals, has a strong chance to result thereby in that desirable win-win outcome, which is not only good for those that participate in such, but also good for America, as well.

The mislabeled flavored sparkling waters

The amount of money spent on sparkling water in America is billions upon billions of dollars, of which it is believed that the main reason why so much money is spent on sparkling water is that water is good for you.  In fact, water is very good for the body, though, regrettably, not everything that is labeled as water is truly water.  That is to say, a significant portion of flavored sparkling waters use artificial sweeteners such as stevia, aspartame, and sucralose that thereby makes these waters to have a very sweet taste, and though these artificial sweeteners have barely any calories at all, they are not good for the body, and are especially problematic for those that believe that what they are drinking is pure water when it is not.

 It doesn’t seem right that artificially sweetened water is on the same shelf as regular water, along with water that is “naturally” flavored, because these “waters” are not all the same thing.  In reality, artificially sweetened water shouldn’t be considered to be water, but should be seen as water that has been artificially sweetened to give those who crave a sweet taste, that very taste, though in doing so, they have taken the goodness of water and corrupted it.

 For a certainty, many people want to drink what is good for their body, and they know that water is one of those things that is good, so that when they mistakenly believe that artificially sweetened water is the same as pure water, they have been fooled, which is quite unfortunate, and is the reason why artificially sweetened water should be clearly labeled as something other than water, or should simply be placed on shelves that contain soda, which it has a lot in common with. To do anything less than that does a disservice to the consumer, because many a consumer is easily fooled, or allows themselves to be fooled, or simply do not have the knowledge to know when they are being fooled.

 It isn’t so much that artificially sweetened water should be banned, it just needs to be clearly identified so that people that buy and consume it, recognize that its sweet taste comes from that water being artificially sweetened, which is not something that is going to be healthy for the body over the long term.  That is to say, to believe that artificial sweeteners can give a person who craves a sweet taste, that very taste, without some price being extracted for the tricks so done to keep that sweetness without the calories, misunderstands the bargain that they have made.

 It is one thing for a manufacturer to desire to give the consumer a sweet or flavored taste, but it should be done, when the product is water, in a way and manner that the value and goodness of water is not compromised, because when that occurs, many a consumer of the product believes that they are consuming a product that is good for their body, when in reality, they really are not.

The American empire defends its corporate interests globally

Whether or not America wants to own up to it or not, it is a global empire, for no other country in the world has as many military bases as America, in which it is estimated that America has a staggering 750 military bases, large and small, situated all over the world.  While some might think that our bases are there in order to protect and defend our homeland, the reality is different, for one of the main purposes of having so many bases, spread all over the world, along with the necessary military personnel situated strategically, is not only to make sure that the trade routes are secure and safe but that they consistently remain open, so that international business can be fairly conducted without undue fear that something tragic will happen, as well as also representing a prominent warning sign to foreign nations, and especially those nations that lack any meaningful military might, that America is prepared to do whatever that it feels is appropriate to do to protect its interests, which definitely includes not just its intellectual property and trade, but also to make sure that whatever that the businesses of America needs to get done overseas, is done in a way and manner that American enterprise is secure and able to fully conduct their business enterprises.  After all, when America invests time, materials, and labor into a foreign country they aren’t interested in seeing what has been structured for the benefit of American enterprise, being messed with, and one way to assure that this will not happen, is to make it their point, to let the host nation know that America takes care of its own, one way or another.

 Indeed, it is always easier to conduct business overseas when that business enterprise knows that there is zero possibility that the billions of dollars invested into overseas enterprises are somehow ever going to be nationalized by the subject country, which is very bad for business, and makes those that suffer such a fate, business shy, in regards to their future endeavors.  So then, American enterprises make it their principle to tell their government that they need to know for a certainty that what they have invested their time and materials in, no matter what changes within the political atmosphere of that foreign nation, won’t change the agreement already agreed to, so that knowing that their investment is secure, they can ramp it up, without undue concern that things might go sour, especially in those nations that are somewhat unstable.  This is also why America takes a real interest in who the leader of a foreign nation is, and will interfere directly or indirectly in elections or coups to make sure that the result is always favorable for American enterprise.

 So too, there are rare earth minerals and semiconductors that are vital to American enterprise, in which the absence or delay of these very things could wreak havoc on the economy of America, which is why. America makes sure that subject nations know that crucial items to America will necessitate, if so necessary, an appropriate response by that nation, which is the greatest military power in the world, bar none.

The European exploitation and genocide of the Congolese

There was that time when most of Africa was under the control of various European powers, divided up by those European nations into various colonial sections, thereby structured so that those European powers could profit from the abundant mineral wealth and other natural resources of those African countries, through the intense exploitation of those who were native to those countries.  This meant that the people of Africa were subject to not only having their labor being fully exploited, but also being under the control of a European administration, of which failure to adhere to the conditions so set upon those Africans could easily lead to harsh punishment, death, or dismemberment.

 Concerning what is now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo, this territory was, in the late 19th century, under the aegis of the Belgian nation, and specifically, this territory was subsequently under the administration of King Leopold II of Belgium.  The purpose of the exploitation of the Congolese was for the abundant rubber resources that it was known for, so needed for automobile products such as tires, as well as being used in the production of latex.  To extract these resources necessitated a lot of labor, and the native Congolese were ruthlessly exploited to produce the products so needed, and failure to adhere to the rules of the Belgians led them to suffer great punishment, even unto death.

 As might be imagined, it is always easier to treat others harshly when they are viewed as something less than human, of which the Congolese were considered to be uneducated subhumans, not deserving of anything but contempt, who were thereby tortured and killed as the Belgians saw fit.  The reading of history tells us that it is believed that 10 million people in the Congo suffered death during the peak period of this relentless exploitation, which represented the years 1891 through 1911, so perpetuated by the Belgians, all in the pursuit of rubber products and profit.  The Congolese were continually at the mercy of the Belgians, of which, in the business to extract that rubber, they backed up this enterprise with ruthless violence against the native population, and in absence of the Congolese having modern weapons or even an armed force, the Congolese had little or nothing to fight back with, though they could resist through noncompliance and duly did so.

 History is replete with many examples of humankind’s inhumanity to its own, often led by the dominant faction believing that it has the right to exploit the weaker, and done so typically in a way and manner, that cares not a whit about the other, because the exploiters do not equate the other as being on the same high level that they are.  This is the reason why great crimes are committed by humanity and sanctioned by the nation-state, because it is believed that some are meant to be exploited, even unto death, and where there is profit to be made, so much the easier to justify, because for those fixated on profit, power, and exploitation of the other, there is work to be done, because their good life is dependent upon the other being fully exploited and then discarded, as if the other has no value, except what can be extracted by violence perpetrated or threatened upon them.

The East India Company and the American Revolution

Most everyone in America is familiar with the “Boston Tea Party,” which is the name given to the event in which the disguised colonists threw into the water 342 chests of tea, that belonged to the East India Company, and thereby by that revolutionary action placed those American colonists on the distinct pathway to revolution with the British Empire, for they no longer believed that there could be an accommodation between themselves and Great Britain that would fairly resolve their differences.

 It is important to note that the East India Company was a powerful force, backed by the military might of the British Empire, that if not put into check by American colonists, could easily change the dynamics of the export and import trade of those colonists to the detriment of the colonists, by the East India Company becoming the favorite vehicle for trade to be conducted within America.  In other words, the East India Company could legitimately be seen as being deliberately favored by the British Empire at the expense of the colonists, who would lose out through taxation on goods as well as losing out via trade overseas to this favored foreign entity that they had no sovereign control over.

 Indeed, the East India Company had already proved through its trade in the East Indies that they would exert themselves in the East Indies in a way and manner, that the Indian subcontinent would be subservient to the British Empire and in particular, would permit the East India Company to profit through the conditions of trade so conducted within that subcontinent.  That is to say, the East India Company was basically given free license to do whatever that they needed to do to make profit, which was beneficial for the investors in that Company, but also beneficial for the British Empire through their exploitation of those that were the denizens of the India subcontinent, in which, the population of the India subcontinent was substantially higher than Great Britain, but because the India subcontinent did not have the military might or political power to fight back, they thereby became subservient to the East India Company as well as the British Empire.

 The colonists were no fools, and what they did not desire to see happen to them was to be controlled or impacted negatively by the East India Company, through unfair taxation and high tariffs, which would greatly impact their own interests and subvert whatever autonomy the colonists had earned.  This is why the colonists made it their point to take a stand, because they feared that if they did not, that they would thereby cede control of their trade and their interests to Great Britain, in which, because they had no voice in Parliament, this would signify that they were at the mercy of the British Empire, and thereby subject to whatever decisions made by that Parliament and its kingdom, favorable or not.  So then, the colonists fought back, in the sure knowledge that failure meant their ruin, but success meant they would have freedom and liberty throughout the land.

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!"

The above quote comes from the gifted hand of Sir Walter Scott, and those who successfully take in these sage words should know for a certainty that lying and deceit take us away from the straight and narrow, thereby leading us down unfavorable pathways which serve to damage our good character. No doubt, there are times when it can be rather convenient to be deceptive or to lie, because, for instance, we do not desire to face the consequences of where the truth would place us – but to believe that deceit has not its own consequences is to misunderstand that every wrong action taken, in which that action taken lacks integrity and is structured to deceive, has its very own consequences, that will be paid, sooner or later, and often to our lasting regret.

 The thing about the truth is that the truth has but one story, and therefore it is relatively easy to speak to the truth because it is not only what we believe, but to the best of our ability, consists of the truth of the matter.  On the other hand, when we lie or deceive, we thereby have to construct a story, and the offshoots of that story can continue for quite a distance, because once we begin our travel down the pathway of deceit, that deceit, has a habit of taking on a life of its own, which not only makes it difficult for us to keep our story straight, but also makes it difficult to remember that lie completely, because what we said happened, didn’t happen that way, thereby presenting a conflict in our mind, and making it difficult to remember that for this story, we need to keep lying the exact same way or else that inconsistency could itself betray us.

 So too, there are those storytellers, who tell the story one way to one person and a different way to a different person, in which neither story is true, which thereby makes it nearly impossible for them to not only remember it that way, but also places the storyteller in the unenviable position in which if notes by these two different persons are compared then the storyteller will be seen as being deceitful, and the object of the exercise when a given person lies, is for that lie to not be exposed, for when they are found out, their integrity and credibility take a most serious hit. 

 Indeed, when our credibility is damaged, it makes even telling the truth and having it believed by others, much more problematic, because once a person is known as a liar, this signifies that what they have to say or recount is going to be properly discounted, because they have already proven that their word really isn’t worth all that much, which means, those that have bad reputations are going to have to work a heck of a lot harder, to recover their loss integrity, of which, none of this would be in play, if they hadn’t decided to weave their web of deceit in the first place.

Judgment day for corporations

In America, we are so used to corporations that there is a general belief that corporations have been around forever, and further to the point, are beneficial for Americans.  Perhaps corporations are beneficial, but they certainly haven’t been around forever, for corporations are artificial constructs of the state, subject to the laws of the state, and created through the expressed permission of the state, signifying that what the state has so created, they also have the right to uncreate or modify, should a corporation behave in a way and manner that is inimical to society.  Yet, how few corporations, if any, are ever legislated out of existence, as opposed to the capitalist market itself putting some of them into receivership, or the filing of bankruptcy by a given corporation, because it cannot pay what it owes for damages done to the environment or society or for bad business practices.

 Presently, there are a multitude of corporations that have existed for well past the average lifespan of a human being, and each year, there are a significant number of corporations that earn profits that well exceed the earnings of any individual taxpayer, no matter how rich.  So too, while human beings are subject to eventually departing this world, when their body no longer can function, and therefore their estate, is passed on per their wishes to a foundation, or heirs, or charity – we do not find the same criteria affecting a corporation, which continues to ply its trade, year after year, and decade after decade.  Perhaps this is a good thing, but it has to be recognized that for humans, there will inevitably be that day of reckoning, but apparently for many a corporation, this day of judgment can be postponed, seemingly indefinitely, and therein lies the rub.

 To believe that it is good for society, that certain corporations continue to grow and to accumulate massive amounts of wealth, without there ever being an end time, when that corporation will have to face the music, is misguided, for the greater the accumulation of capital into the hands of corporations, the greater is the incentive for that corporation to do what it considers it has to do, to continue to profit, ad nauseam.  In other words, corporations are in the business of making money and of returning thereby to their stockholders and directors as much profit as they can extract through the business enterprise that they are in.  This signifies that what motivates a given corporation isn’t going to necessarily be what’s good for society, but rather it’s going to be what is good for that corporation.

 In a construct in which lots and lots of money is going to equate to power, it has to be admitted that corporations have the most money, and therefore can utilize that money and their position to exert their power, so that what is good for their business, becomes the clarion call of seemingly what a significant percentage of American governance believes is good for the country, even when it is not.  So too, in the sure knowledge that there doesn’t appear to ever be a judgment day for corporations, signifies that, unlike humans, corporations do not have a conscience, which is why they need to be regulated in a far more robust way, or else they will essentially run riot over our democratic institutions.

Frustration harms relationships

Relationships are prone to getting into all sorts of trouble, of which the object of the exercise for both parties, if they are willing to address this, is to deal forthrightly with that which is harmful to their relationship.  In fact, one of the main reasons why relationships go sour, has an awful lot to do with frustration, and often that frustration is built around one party believing that they are not being appreciated enough, and because they feel that they are being effectively ignored when they need to be paid attention to, this will often lead to the types of bad acts that frustration creates, which consists of resentment, and a desire for some sort of emotional payback as a form of punishment to the other.

 Look, it has to be said, that people who are frustrated in their relationship, are going to want to relieve that frustration, and in absence of a mature discussion between the parties, they are probably going to resort to an action which will harm the relationship further by taking away something from the other in the sense of affection, concern, loyalty, or caring.  In other words, frustration really does breed disdain, and those who have contempt don’t care so much about doing something proactive and positive in order to help repair what appears to be in dire need of repair, but rather, they give in to simply being emotionally destructive, in subtle and not-so-subtle ways.

 So too, the best way to take care of a potential problem is to address it before it begins to wreak its havoc, which is why couples need to make it their point to set aside time to talk to one another, without interruption, and in a way and manner in which important and meaningful things are discussed, because miscommunication as well as a lack of communication are not ever going to make for a wholesome and sound relationship. Indeed, good communication is necessary for a healthy relationship, because to believe that we are mind readers or that we know what’s really on our partner’s mind, just isn’t possible, and because we can communicate, we ought to make it a priority to communicate, because the best time to address an issue is well before it turns into something toxic, such as frustration or something much worse.

 That said, some people just aren’t reasonable, especially when they fail to consider that as much as they might desire this or that, it isn’t really something that is practical or achievable, and unrealistic goals or objectives should be tempered with maturity and wisdom. After all, to believe somehow that what we want should always be granted to us, by whomever, isn’t possible and it probably isn’t prudent, because not everything that we desire from the other is fair to the other, which is why we need to understand better that troubled relationships can be somewhat complicated, and not helped by those who aren’t reasonable.  To keep a relationship in a good place necessitates sensibility as well as good communication, which helps in reducing misunderstandings and frustration.

Disappointment often comes from unmet expectations

There are advantages and disadvantages to really looking forward to an event, or a meet up with a good friend, of which, some of the advantages are represented by just the anticipation of all the good things that are going to occur, as well as the anticipated enjoyment that we will get from the event or meet up.  On the other hand, the disadvantage of being overly excited about an event or meet up is that things may not even come close to the great expectations envisioned, and the further away we are from what we were anticipating, the greater will be that disappointment.  This is why we need to be mindful about our expectations, especially when an event or meet up is not wholly in our control, which is often the case, because things happen, and not everything that happens is going to be good, and when that is the case, we typically feel disappointment, and for some people, that disappointment lays heavy upon them.

 That said, it isn’t like it’s wrong to feel disappointment, but it’s wrong when we allow such disappointment to overwhelm us, without understanding, that life has its unexpected and unanticipated challenges, that we are going to need to adjust to, or else, we will find ourselves suffering disappointment more often than expected, because the world does not revolve around us, and further to the point people and the societies have their own expectations to be met, which may not mesh up well with what we have in our own mind.

 Indeed, to believe that the happiest life is the life in which everything goes our way and according to our plans, may seem to make eminent sense, but since that isn’t the way that society works, we need to recognize that as much as we might have high expectations about this or that, we need to temper such with the acknowledgment that the more important thing is that we do our level best with what we have to work with, and that we not get so fixated in our mind and thoughts that we can’t adjust to what needs to be adjusted.  For a certainty, those who truly comprehend that life is a two-way street are going to do better with dealing with the vicissitudes of life, as compared to those who believe that life is always going to be smooth sailing.

 It is good to have goals, and it's good to have expectations about events that have yet to come to fruition and are highly valued.  Whether or not things go as anticipated, or perhaps even go better, is something that is unknown until it becomes known, and may well be subject to the input that we bring, as well.   While it is true that none of us will ever have all of our expectations met, the more important thing is how we deal with adversity and disappointment, in which, those of maturity and vision, will learn from such experiences and become better for it, and those lacking good character and sensibility, will rue the day, seemingly unable to ever let it go.

Race, gender, religion, class, wealth, or age

When we look at the biggest societal issues within America the most obvious issues include those between one race vs. another, or one gender over another, or one religion being favored over others, or that one class in society is favored over all others,  or that the wealth of the nation is concentrated into too few hands.  There is, however, another conflict that doesn’t seem to get nearly as much press, though it ought to, which is the generational conflict now occurring between the older generation as compared to the younger generation.  Indeed, in America, a foundational belief is that each generation achieves more and has more than the previous generation, which certainly seems to not only uphold the American dream and the values of that dream, but is beneficial for those who are its youth, for they would thereby logically have their day.  The crux of the issue, though, is that as things are presently, it would seem that the youth of America are not well positioned to have their day, and therein lies the rub.

 In life, there are going to be all sorts of battles, some expected and some unexpected.  This signifies that most of the conflicts and civil unease in America are all things which are well known, and are being dealt with in their own way, of which, to a large extent, a lot of progress has been made to provide a better construct for race relations, gender equality, and religious tolerance.  The fact that this progress has been made makes for a more inclusive society, which thereby makes for a society more in keeping with what America represents at its best.  That said, there is that worrisome concern that those of the present generation, rightfully feel, which is that even though they are in aggregate more educated than previous generations – that somehow they have lost out on or are losing out on job security, job advancement, and job income, so needed to have an upwardly mobile life.  In fact, most of the youth today would be somewhat puzzled that there was ever a time when a family was supported financially with just one income, and that they were still able to own a house and a car.  This would presuppose that America, for those who are the youngest generation, has somehow lost its mojo.

 Indeed, when we consider that the vast majority of the wealth is held in the hands of the aged, it cannot just be assumed that this will be gifted to the young, for some of that wealth, is earmarked for charities and foundations, of which, in any event, just because somebody is aged, doesn’t mean that they are decrepit or about ready to die.  All of this signifies that the youth of America who are stuck with massive federal deficits that need to be paid back and serviced, as well as conceivably their own large debts to Higher Educational facilities, must feel that all is not okay with this construct, which might well lead them to believe that their burden that they are carrying upon their aching shoulders, isn’t fair, and thereby needs to be reevaluated or else there will be the type of civil unrest directed against the aged, not so much because they are hated, but mainly because the aged have the power, the money, and the clout to thereby live lives of the highest quality; whereas those on the precipice of the prime of their lives, are struggling, with limited horizons, which will surely lead to some serious civil unrest, yet to be fully felt.

What do you worship?

A lot of people believe that by definition, if we worship, it thus follows that what we worship is going to be something spiritual and soulful.  While this may be true in a technical sense, it isn’t true in a whole sense, for even those who are completely agnostic or atheistic worship something, and what people worship has everything to do with what they are most involved with, day by day.  In other words, for example, if it is all about making a good income, and everything else in life is secondary to that, then what that individual is worshipping is money.  If, for instance, someone is quite ambitious for a powerful position within a corporation, politics, or the society that they are a member of, then what they worship is power.  If someone, for example, is determined to do what they can do to help make their community a better place, by volunteering, by organizing, and by helping out where help is needed, then they are worshipping, serving for the greater good.  Each of us worships something, even those who are apathetic, who simply thereby worship lethargy or sloth.

 Indeed, the best way to figure out what we worship is to look upon what we focus our highest attention to, each and every day, and while there are plenty of people that focus their attention on a variety of things, depending upon what is of most importance or concern, it typically isn’t going to be difficult to figure out, what they, in essence, are mainly worshipping, because it is that which they have prioritize the most often in their life, of which, their attention is drawn to that again and again, which is going to represent front and center of what they worship.

 The next question that we need to get an answer to, therefore, is whether or not, we are satisfied with the decision that we have made in what we worship, for perhaps we haven’t ever taken the time to really contemplate and to focus upon such, but simply get done what we get done, and don’t think into the matter, very deeply.  But this is the type of serious question that deserves a serious answer, and if we can’t figure out what the answer is, then we ought to ask others who know us well, in order to have them, weigh in, because we need to know, and in that knowing, this may make a difference in whether we continue upon the path that we are on, or change direction.

 After all, as it has been said, an unexamined life is not worth living, which shouldn’t be taken literally, but instead should be seen as a “wake-up” call that we need to take the time to know ourselves in a way and manner, that it is clearcut to us, as to what we worship, and if what we worship is worthwhile, to continue the course, and if it is not, then to have the strength of character to change what needs to be changed, so that our individual worshipping reflects something of substance, instead.

Dehumanizing the other

We find that in war, as well as in incarceration facilities, that part of the psychological warfare upon the other is to dehumanize them, because by doing so, it is far easier to get those who are supposed to accomplish missions, perform their duties, and to get other tasks done, to accomplish these very things, which includes when called for, such as in war, the killing of the other.  For those who are working at incarceration facilities, it is often considered necessary to have good control of the inmates, believed to be best done by taking away their individual identity, and replacing such with something as simple as seeing them as nothing more than a convict or prisoner of war so identified by a number.

 The crux of the problem though with dehumanizing the other, is that it also dehumanizes us, because the more that we see fellow human beings as something less worthy than we are, as less than we are, so that we see them as being subhuman, the more that we lose touch with who and what we really are, at our essence.  Because it isn’t possible to see the other as subhuman, without at the same time, being less human ourselves, because to be human necessitates characteristics such as compassion, empathy, consideration, and concern, which is one of the salient reasons why so many of those that have fought in oversea battles, return to the States, a changed man, but not the sort of change that makes them a better person, but rather makes them to feel haunted by that which they have participated in.

 So too, to believe that we can treat people with humanity and respect on the one hand, but with the flip of the switch, see them instead as being subhuman, represents a viewpoint that is not only inconsistent with what humanity actually is, but isn’t consistent to what we know – for all humans, no matter their race or creed, are innately created equal.  To believe somehow that some humans are more deserving of love and respect than other humans, as mandated by governance, or believed in by our faith, or told to us by our superiors, is to misconstrue what humanity actually is, and when we get this wrong, all sorts of troubles ensue.

 To take the life of another human is not natural, and because we know that it implicitly is wrong, except under specific circumstances, we find that the powers that be make it their point when it comes to war or the corralling of captives into a prison, that they must take control of the narrative, which is why they do their level best to impress upon the minds of those that have been given the duty to do that killing, that all is right – which is essentially easier to digest, when those that have been targeted to be killed, have been reclassified as something less than human, and thus fairly deserving of their fate for whatever reason.  While this may well be effective in the short run, such a viewpoint as that ultimately takes a very heavy toll, because no matter how it is written up, that which is wrong is never actually going to be right.

It took a lifetime of experience to figure out my parents weren’t so dumb or wrong

While there are plenty of children who get along famously with their parents, there are also a multitude of children who have their differences, of which some of those differences are quite meaningful and significant.  That is to say, when we are growing up, we typically live within a construct in which our sovereignty is not in our control, but rather rests in the hands of those that are superior to us, such as our parents, which therefore means that there are inevitably going to be decisions that are going to be made, that we aren’t going to be in agreement with, of which, some of those disagreements are upsetting, especially when it seems that our voice and our viewpoint has been effectively silenced or ignored.  But be that as it may, that is the way that it is, because parents have that authority, of which, there is many a child, who can’t wait for the day, when not only will they be free of parental pressure to conformance, but also that they will be able to stand up to them, and let them to know, how wrong that they were or currently are.  Yet, in the end, that day may not actually occur, because the thing about time, as well as maturity, is that our perspective is subject to change, and usually that change is for the better.

 While not every child is selfish or completely self-centered, there are plenty of kids who just want what they want and aren’t interested in hearing the word “No.”  This isn’t too surprising, because children are prone to being impulsive, suffering from peer pressure, and also wanting to have what they believe their friends have, in the sense of greater freedom, material objects, or of choices, and when denied these very things, they aren’t going to be happy about it.  Further to the point, children lack the understanding that their parents have their own issues and problems to deal with, so that even if one’s parents desire to be more accommodating, it simply isn’t going to be an available option.  Additionally, while there are parents who are willing to have a discussion, a lot of times, though, they don’t see the point, because there isn’t any chance that their decision will change.

 While it is seemingly true that time heals all wounds, and that the way that we remember the past, can be colored by the present, the fact of the matter is that as we get more experienced, and/or become a parent, ourself, is that we begin to perceive that our parents who seemed so out of touch, back in the day, actually not only knew what they were talking about, but more than that, we probably should have listened to what they had to say, back then, because in actuality, they really did have our best interests in mind.   So then, experience does matter, especially when that experience leads to wisdom, and those who do not pay close attention to those who do know best have done so to their own regret, old or young. 

When your electricity is shut off

In this modern age, having electricity isn’t ever going to be seen as a luxury, but rather it is always going to be seen as absolutely mandatory.  Yet, as important as electricity is for everybody, not everybody has the money so needed to pay their bills always on time, and further to the point, unexpected expenses can absolutely wreak havoc on a family’s budget.  Therefore, there are those people who fall behind on their electricity bill, not because it has not been prioritized, but more to do with not having enough capital to pay all their bills.  Regrettably, for those that fall behind on their bills, the turning off of a family’s electricity is something that utility companies have the right to do, and is, in many places, set at just 45 days from the original due date.  No doubt, the turning off of electricity, thus makes the turning back on of such the highest priority, which in effect, simply means robbing Peter to pay Paul.

 It would seem that since utilities are regulated, that there should be more consideration for folks who have fallen behind on their electricity payments, so that they would not have to have their electricity turned off completely, as opposed to that being the case for those who are past due by a mere 45 days.  While utility companies can fall back on stating that they provided fair notice of what they were going to do, that isn’t the issue.  What the issue is, is that the turning off of electricity seriously changes the living conditions within the residence, and doesn’t take into fair account that people aren’t necessarily irresponsible, but simply don’t have the funds to pay their bill at that time.  This signifies that rather than electricity being turned off completely, there should be a policy that electricity would be reduced to just eight hours a day, for ninety days, until the bill got current, and if that did not occur, then all power would be turned off.

 Look, it has to be said, if the basic attitude is the law is the law, and that’s it;  this doesn’t seem to take into consideration the vital importance of electricity, along with fact, that sooner or later in most cases, the electricity company is going to get whatever monies are owed to it, anyway, because once a given family fails to make good on their electricity bill, and they subsequently apply to get electricity in the future, they won’t be able to do so, because of their previous delinquency.  So too, while there are exceptions made that electricity has to be kept on for very cold winter days or very hot summer days, depending on the rules of a given utility, which does show consideration, it isn’t going to be enough for those who still lack the funds.

 Additionally, every business has a contingency for delinquencies, of which some of those delinquencies are not going to ever be paid, but because these businesses have so many accounts, they can successfully still make a reasonable profit, anyway.  To believe, somehow, that the best policy is to shut off power for those who haven’t paid their bills, within 45 days of their due date, seems to be the type of policy that should be amended, because electricity is fundamentally important.  To not do so would seem to reflect that profit trumps reasonable accommodation.

What to do about dog poop

As they say, dogs are humankind’s best friend, and since they are living and breathing animals, they have a constant need to eat and to subsequently defecate.  At the present time, dog owners seem to be doing a much better job of picking up after their animal, when their dog has pooped, of which, the default for many a person is that they then put that waste matter into a plastic bag and sometime later into a trash can.  Regrettably, while this does remove the dog poop, which typically may contain parasites and bacteria, the bottom line is that we find that at our waste landfill facilities, this disposal of dog poop, is not going to successfully decompose, which seems like the wrong result for people that are being considerate, especially in consideration that they really do desire to do the right thing.

 A better solution, to help take care of dog poop, which would be better for the environment and more sustainable would be to deposit dog poop into a compost bin, of which people might have the space to have one situated in their backyard, or there could be compost bins located at parks along with other areas of interest that people tend to walk their dogs at.  Indeed, using a compost bin thus permits dog waste to break down eventually into organic matter, which can subsequently be used in soil as an additive, and thus makes for a better solution to a problem that needs a sensible solution, as opposed to simply depositing such into trash receptacles.

 As in anything, how much dog owners get into doing this type of thing, firstly comes down to their being educated about the importance of this, along with providing them also with alternative ways to deal better with dog waste, that they may not be currently aware of, or are better suited for the area of the country that they live in.  For a certainty, it was a great leap forward for the cleanliness and thereby the health of society when indoor plumbing came into play, so that it would certainly behoove the powers that be to desire to do the same sort of thing for the millions of dog owners that America has, so that they can contribute better to keeping our environment clean.

 Indeed, the health of people, along with the environment, should be something that everyone buys into, because this is where we live and congregate, so that every action that we take collectively that is sensible and helps to make society better and healthier is something that is well worth our while in doing.  Additionally, many people desire to do the right thing but simply may not have the knowledge to do so, and thereby would appreciate learning more about viable options to help do their part to keep their neighborhood clean.  So too, in order to effect meaningful change, there needs to be not only proper dissemination of pertinent information, but also a buy-in by the general public, that good dog owners compost their dog’s waste, as their obligation to the society that they are a good member of.

Have courage

Aristotle tells us that “Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others.”  Indeed, when we think of positive characteristics such as integrity, justice, and honor, it is courage that provides us with that ever present help for us to do that which needs to be done, or to make that stand where a stand needs to be made, because those that know what the right thing is to do, but have not the courage to act upon their belief, have betrayed who and what they should be to give in to their cowardice.

 To be courageous is no easy task, especially when doing so, risks exposing us to possible public shaming, or when we are opposed by forces that could hurt us, but we need to be cognizant that every time that we have a choice to be courageous but fail to do so, we have given in to injustice or a wrong, as a personal convenience, because we do not wish to expose ourselves to the possible negative consequences of being courageous.  While this may well be the case, it isn’t what we were meant to be or to do, for those who believe firmly in the right because it is right, but will not defend that right, when it is being assailed by others, lack both courage and integrity.

 That said, a wise person understands that not every situation calls for courage at that immediate time and place, because we know that there are certain situations in which discretion and prudence will overrule an action which, while courageous in its principle, is unwise given the circumstances presented to us.  In other words, a brave person recognizes that there are going to be those times when we must bite our tongue, because the outcome is not going to be helpful right then and there, and further, they recognize that not every negative action needs an immediate response.

 Additionally, it is courage that we are impressed to demonstrate whenever we are placed in the unenviable position of answering a difficult probing question or are facing taking an action that we know for a certainty is going to make somebody in authority or someone that we respect, upset.  But when we do not dare to do the right thing, because we are worried about how others will respond, then we have sacrificed our sovereignty for the sake of getting along, and in addition, we have strengthened that which deserves no further strength by having failed to challenge such.

 Those who are courageous are the best of human beings, because these are the people who are willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good, because they recognize that through their sacrifice that they are helping to make society a better place for their courageous actions taken within it -- for all those then that have a voice but will not use it appropriately when called upon, or those that need to take action where action must be taken, but fail to do so, these may be good people, but what they are not, is courageous, and there is a world of difference between the two, for when you have not found something worth fighting for, you haven’t found anything worth living for, either.