Intention, Intention, Intention!

So this is something I've been noshing on for quite a while and I finally feel ready to bang out a post. It seems my focus as of late revolves around communication, and this post is a short little diddy dedicated to the ol' dialogue.  My last post documented the rare existence of the Conversational Assassin.  This post will introduce a new sub-species in the world of talkage: 

The Intentional Manipulator

To Compete, or Not to Compete...

That is the question...

I know I dipped out for a while, and I'll get into what I've been up to these past few months in the next post or two.  I figure it's better to let ya'll nosh on some perspective whilst I type up the ol' manifesto, so here she is...

Competition, or Comprehension?

I've been coming to terms with a couple of things lately.  Mainly self-stuff, which ain't surprising, given that I've made some real changes in my life in the last quarter year.  It's not out of the realm to see the blight float to the surface when you turn your world upside down. 

Example: I've noticed that when I'm around certain people, and they begin waxing optimistic about their accomplishments and general bad-assery, I sometimes get a little twinge of regret or, dare I say it, jealousy. 

Salute the Short!! Lovin' Mama Earth...

Recently, I was listening to a podcast by Hiro Boga, a business strategist who relies in life on what she calls "energy alchemy". Energy alchemy is essentially recognizing that the power of the Universe lies within, and if we tap into that power, we can conjure amazing things. 

But this post isn't about energy alchemy, at least not directly.  

When Hiro touched on our connection with the earth, it broke something loose inside of me. I've always had a very deep love for nature, and while I am in no way a salt of the earth survivalist, munching on roots and digging pit latrines, I am a rainbow-laced environmentalist. I love to be outside. I love dense forests and steep mountains, bubbling streams and raging squalls. I love to lay in the grass - sans shoes - and soak up the sun. I have an affinity (or, some would say, obsession) with trees. I am absolutely convinced that each and every one of them has a soul. I also think they have gender and sometimes classify whether they are male or female as I drive down the road. 

I be silly that way...

As I listened to Hiro talk about our connection with the cosmos and our planet, I started thinking about relationships. I often think about the cycles of nature and how we, as human beings, factor into them. The biggest contribution we make is something we rarely think about: breath. We breathe in and out and give life to millions of organisms. By default - by simply existing - we enable life on this planet. Yet, these self-same organisms also enable our lives through breath. We have a deeply intimate connection with one another, a relationship where give and take occur without question or demand. It's a beautiful allegory for relationships in general and how easy it is to give without even batting an eye.

A smile.

A hug.

A dollar.

An idea.

A laugh.

A shoulder to cry on.

A slow dance.

A high five.

These things are simple, and often times, reflexive. We give them to others without deep contemplation. It is in these uncalculated, off-the-cuff moments that the true nature of who we are shines. Perhaps it is a quiet and inconspicuous nudge to be more present, and to live by the instinct in our hearts. Clearly, it is in our nature to give (breathe out), just as it is in our nature to receive (breathe in). It is a kinetic reality that bursts with philosophical truth. When we give, someone else will receive, and vice versa. Therefore it is never selfish to take what others have to offer. Rather, it is charitable, for it grants them the privilege of contribution, and most importantly, it allows them to enter into relationship. 

Truth is all around, present in the simplest things. Look a little closer and you'll see it peeking out at you...

   

Jump on the Soul Train

It’s been about three weeks since I last posted on my blog and there are really no excuses.  No justifications.  I’ve been busy, and writing took a backseat. Sounds a little crazy, given that writing is the same as breathing for me. However, in order to write well one must live well. We do write what we know, after all. Sometimes life is less about pondering and scribbling and more about engaging and living. This has been my focus for the last fortnight and a half: engagement.

With that said, a lot of changes have occurred since we last shot the breeze.  You may or may not know that I work for a law firm as a Paralegal. I am also a writer (obviously), and a Top Notch Creator. I have a lot of different interests, but the endless cycle of 9 - 5 has really begun to take its toll on me. Add to it, the fact that I am sick of working in the legal field, and you’ve got yourself a Toxic Cocktail with a multitude of dream-killing side effects.

Salute the Short!

Every so often I will bang out a short, concise little blurb, and today be one of those days, mon! 

Short of the day:

Compassion

We all get it for the most part. We dig it, compute it, and have a pretty decent handle on what it means. Compassion is the thing you do when someone you know is hurting. You reach out to them, feel their pain or understand their plight, and offer up a nugget of wisdom, love, or even a good swift kick in the butt (hey, we all need one from time to time). Compassion is the tool we humans use to help guide others out of darkness and into the light, preferably where a giant sun, a white sandy beach, and a cold Corona awaits. 

Oh, and a hammock. No good fantasy is complete without a hammock.

Perhaps this is why "compass" lingers so casually inside our word, like an inconspicuous ninja ready to kick out the kindness. Through love, consideration, and relate-ability, we lead our friends, family, and even foes, away from dank and dirty mindsets on to new horizons. 

When it comes to life, it's easy to lose the way, but our fellow hominids are here to help us out. Never be afraid to reach out to someone who is hurting, and never be afraid to ask another for assistance. Often times we forget the importance of self-compassion and heap all our love and joy onto others. Remember that we all deserve love and acceptance, especially in our darkest hour. 

Compassion is a vehicle for wisdom. Through it we experience the great diversity of life.

Who am I, or Who I am?

Who am I?

Who the heck am I?

Who in hell am I?

 

Who dat?

It’s a pretty typical question, and one that everyone, at some point in their lives, has asked themselves. Identity is an integral part of human nature. Even as kids, we focus soul-hard on the idea, trying to figure out who we are, where we stand, and what we’re doing on this crazy and colorful planet. Philosophers have spent entire lifetimes trying to divine an answer to this question, each pulling out his or her own personal conclusion—Plato had his Cave, Aristotle, his logic, and Freud, his mother.  Curie had her science, Dickinson, her prose, and Earhart, her courage. These philosophers and innovators were perceptive, but they were also artists, and their work emerged by virtue of one very important element: a novel impression of life. 

Little Miss Alignment

I’m sure some of you are familiar with the Mr. Men and Little Miss characters created by Roger Hargreaves. They are fabulous books that teach kids about the many different personality traits that run through the human race. My daughter has several of the books, as well as a few hard plastic and soft plush dolls. Her favorite characters are Mr. Bump and Little Miss Daredevil.

My favorite character is Little Miss Alignment.  She's a great--

Wait... You've never heard of her?

Well, I guess I can understand that, because she's not really a Little Miss character, at least not one created by Hargreaves. Little Miss Alignment is the side of humanity that governs balance and symmetry. She is the voice of truth, that soft whisper that gently reminds us to listen to our gut and clear our heads.