Dances with Wolves scrolled by last evening reminding watchers that there have been some very admirable cultures and societies on Earth (choosing to dwell on the natives today not the rape and pillagers).
Writers have conjured and dreamed of possible future and/alien peoples; Roddenberry's Federation and Cameron's Navi are prime examples.
Share with us your knowledge of nations, subcultures, societies, or tribes that exist today you believe resemble, or maybe a better word is exemplify, the attributes of community, respect, awareness, politics, spirituality, etc.
Being 1 of 7 Billion is an overwhelming concept. There is no single way to cope with this mind pending reality, but there are many ways to make your time on Earth meaningful. Despite being a minuscule piece of the puzzle, without you the puzzle is incomplete. How do you walk and then leave behind the "trail of of a good human"?
There is a dichotomy to existence; life is simultaneously simple and complex; one struggles with feelings about being abnormal. One realizes along the way that striving to produce positive outcomes is accomplished by practicing the art of making thoughtful choices. The path to understanding and harmony is as basic as choosing to view life as a series of actions and consequences. There is a "Knowing."
"Make my hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice. Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people. Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock." from a Native American Prayer
One is.
One tries.
One gets overwhelmed.
One observes.
One has moments of clarity.
One moves forward.
To build the community center, many skills are needed.
The team has planners, diggers, nailers, decorators.
Joining the effort creates an atmosphere of togetherness.
Realizing that alone one can observe, reflect, shift, transform,
But now it is time to create, work with others; trust and support.
One realizes that the evolution of me reaches a point of aloneness.
Sharing my growth may start out like bumper cars and teacups,
But eventually it transitions to four seats across, strapped in,
On the roller coaster together, leaning into the turns.
Adjusting, compromising, finding the reward together.
It is about learning to manage the swirl of emotions,
Rebooting when necessary to allow for errors.
Winds change, so when the sails catch a gust,
Be flexible, aware, present and shift as a crew.
Direction is ever changing, intention stays the same.
Mistakes will occur, so apply patience and understanding.
The individual gets stronger with support and teaching.
Stumbling is still a forward movement when others help you up.
"When one sits in the Hoop of the People, one must be responsible because all of Creation is related. And the hurt of one is the hurt of all, and the honor of one is the honor of all. And whatever we do affects everything in the universe." Lakota Indian teaching
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Rap
Day 2.5 in the Bay Area already reveals this trip to be a time of excellent bonding and discussion about relationships, friendship, community, teenagers, wives, partners, and song titles. We speak in prose and move through words of wisdom, reflection, summation, projection, time passages, truths, vulnerability, and learning from all we do toward all we will become.
This is a crowd of people who are making a impact, have made an impact and will make an impact. From global leadership, to learning to what it takes to be a man - these days, picking up those skills naturally is a challenge for men of all ages. Raging Against Power or Recognizing A Possibility, events plow a path into tomorrows.
And now for an excerpt of the draft for the next publication or e-book:
"If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything."
ONE of 7 Billion Observed.
What do I produce?
Not vegetables
What do I make?
Where does my energy go?
The ads push for consumption;
Consequences are not important.
Taste it, drive it, wear it, smell it,
All despite waste and obesity.
Drinking soda
Produces empty cans.
Eating candy
Leaves wrappers.
Producing trash and fat.
I am a landfill contributor.
Not a good result.
Change to positive impact
Do something that is useful.
Energy toward good;
My brain, my hands achieving
Creativity, contribution, solutions.
Leave behind no trace.
This is a crowd of people who are making a impact, have made an impact and will make an impact. From global leadership, to learning to what it takes to be a man - these days, picking up those skills naturally is a challenge for men of all ages. Raging Against Power or Recognizing A Possibility, events plow a path into tomorrows.
And now for an excerpt of the draft for the next publication or e-book:
"If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything."
ONE of 7 Billion Observed.
What do I produce?
Not vegetables
What do I make?
Where does my energy go?
The ads push for consumption;
Consequences are not important.
Taste it, drive it, wear it, smell it,
All despite waste and obesity.
Drinking soda
Produces empty cans.
Eating candy
Leaves wrappers.
Producing trash and fat.
I am a landfill contributor.
Not a good result.
Change to positive impact
Do something that is useful.
Energy toward good;
My brain, my hands achieving
Creativity, contribution, solutions.
Leave behind no trace.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Bay Area
MLK had the balls to stand up for what he believed in and lost his life because certain elements of society did not want to hear his message anymore. As a firm believer in "conspiracy" theories and having lived through the times when JFK and Bobbie were gunned down, and then eventually John Lennon met his fate at the hands of a "deranged" guy, I cannot help but be reminded this week of these similar assisnations.
It cannot pass by these pages that these days the people that stir the pot of hate so much brazenly get air time to deny their influence. You doth protest too much.
But as my dear love reminds me, lets focus on happier things. Celebrating and recognizing the life and ideals of MLK is what this weekend is all about, and none does it better than Rhythmic Concepts, Inc. in Oakland. I did not intend to get so personal or shout out names of people I know on this page, thinking for the last month I would have this site be anonymous to a certain degree, therefore allowing this work to have a broader appeal and reach (I will always try and avoid having new humans arriving here feel they are left out of some inner circle of wink wink kind of messages) ....... but here is an exception.
Stacey Hoffman, my sister, has nurtured, labored, and steadily developed and overseen a conscious and artistic masterpiece in her MLK Tributes, alongside her Jazzcampwest.com and jamcampwest.com projects. I am sooooo proud.
So Landrus and I are off to the Bay Area to visit, volunteer, raise a glass, and be part of the best accomplishments in my family. I don't have a lot of time today, but wanted to go on record while referring back to earlier posts that mention getting involved and trying to give back and endeavoring to make a difference. I offer my sister as the #1 prime example of a woman who since the early 1980's has modestly raised money, awareness, and devoted her time to her passion, while providing leadership, instruction, and opportunity for humans of all ages to participate in the joys of the Arts. Music and dance, voices and instruments, raising spirits and the "hair on your neck" with resounding heart and soul, while celebrating the best of our species. AMEN!
his message t
It cannot pass by these pages that these days the people that stir the pot of hate so much brazenly get air time to deny their influence. You doth protest too much.
But as my dear love reminds me, lets focus on happier things. Celebrating and recognizing the life and ideals of MLK is what this weekend is all about, and none does it better than Rhythmic Concepts, Inc. in Oakland. I did not intend to get so personal or shout out names of people I know on this page, thinking for the last month I would have this site be anonymous to a certain degree, therefore allowing this work to have a broader appeal and reach (I will always try and avoid having new humans arriving here feel they are left out of some inner circle of wink wink kind of messages) ....... but here is an exception.
Stacey Hoffman, my sister, has nurtured, labored, and steadily developed and overseen a conscious and artistic masterpiece in her MLK Tributes, alongside her Jazzcampwest.com and jamcampwest.com projects. I am sooooo proud.
So Landrus and I are off to the Bay Area to visit, volunteer, raise a glass, and be part of the best accomplishments in my family. I don't have a lot of time today, but wanted to go on record while referring back to earlier posts that mention getting involved and trying to give back and endeavoring to make a difference. I offer my sister as the #1 prime example of a woman who since the early 1980's has modestly raised money, awareness, and devoted her time to her passion, while providing leadership, instruction, and opportunity for humans of all ages to participate in the joys of the Arts. Music and dance, voices and instruments, raising spirits and the "hair on your neck" with resounding heart and soul, while celebrating the best of our species. AMEN!
his message t
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
What is the Premise?
After years of looking around the Web for places to go every morning over a cup of coffee to read interesting, creative content that is not overly political or drum beating religious, that swings through hot topics, is current yet stable, refreshing, edgy, different and includes fascinating twists on reality, I have looked in the mirror and seen the future.
OK - I got a little carried away there. People have been telling me for years I should write more and recently my son mentioned a friends success on the Web of building a Blog based on her writing skills and unusual slant on life.
In 2010 my goal was to write a book, and with the encouragement of 2 particular friends, I finished a rough draft of ONE of 7 billion. While we wait for the art to be completed (the book is in children's book format but is written for all ages), the fact that sometime in the next 16 months the human population of Earth reaches 7 billion seems significant and worthy of mention in the context of what do we know, where are we headed, what have we learned, what have we forgotten, who are we following, why are we going there, etc. ????
Since moving to SoCal in 2004, I had a great experience in Borrego Springs because of the eclectic people people out there participating in all kinds of community based, non-profit projects in the Arts, Healthcare, and Education. The quality, commitment and intention of the folks in small town America (and Borrego was not the first time I experienced this having lived on Whidbey Island in Washington state and in Sedona, AZ) is very different than the people in suburban SoCal.
My resume includes the non-profit start-up Hospice of Central Arizona, as Director I brought Special Olympics of Santa Cruz County to the mainstream of Santa Cruz awareness, and I have started three for-profit businesses in construction, alternative energy, and online Life Coaching. At 59, I thought it would be efficient to join with other leaders to manifest giving back to my community.
I have encountered and briefly joined forces with 2 "pied piper" characters since moving full-time to North San Diego County. Although these guys may have great intentions, their lack of skills for organization, their scattered brains, their inability to be completely honest with themselves and therefore others regarding what is truly going on for them, while separating their fantasies from the truth about the process it takes to build a team that will band together to take on a cause that is just, made it impossible for me to continue. A lot can be said about me and I am far from the best model of consistency, but I do stay true to basic beliefs about integrity, accountability, communication, and focus.
So I have launched 1of7b.blogspot.com and my plan is to write about what is on my mind, influenced by what I see today, what I experienced yesterday, and what I foresee for tomorrow. I hope to get others on board and I know our identity will unfold organically. But as a farmer knows all to well, planting the seed is only the first step; you must get sunshine, water, fertilizer, and hoe away the weeds that want to invade the young seedlings growth. With patience there will be a harvest.
I have now worked in Retail for 7 years. I think I have a decent idea of what makes people tick, what they live for, and why they do what they do. I see how many different cultures live in America, the huge disparity between levels of education and what I call worldliness. I am fascinated by the connection we have on a molecular, DNA level, and I wonder about humans ability to successfully be the dominant animal on this planet. When you consider the millions (billions?) of years that this planet has sustained some kind of life forms, humans have only dominated for a few "seconds" of that span and it seems as if we are destined to destroy ourselves because of core instincts gone awry, fear/greed, love/hate, etc.
Take a moment and leave a comment below. I invite you to come back daily for a peak into the mind of XOQ.
OK - I got a little carried away there. People have been telling me for years I should write more and recently my son mentioned a friends success on the Web of building a Blog based on her writing skills and unusual slant on life.
In 2010 my goal was to write a book, and with the encouragement of 2 particular friends, I finished a rough draft of ONE of 7 billion. While we wait for the art to be completed (the book is in children's book format but is written for all ages), the fact that sometime in the next 16 months the human population of Earth reaches 7 billion seems significant and worthy of mention in the context of what do we know, where are we headed, what have we learned, what have we forgotten, who are we following, why are we going there, etc. ????
Since moving to SoCal in 2004, I had a great experience in Borrego Springs because of the eclectic people people out there participating in all kinds of community based, non-profit projects in the Arts, Healthcare, and Education. The quality, commitment and intention of the folks in small town America (and Borrego was not the first time I experienced this having lived on Whidbey Island in Washington state and in Sedona, AZ) is very different than the people in suburban SoCal.
My resume includes the non-profit start-up Hospice of Central Arizona, as Director I brought Special Olympics of Santa Cruz County to the mainstream of Santa Cruz awareness, and I have started three for-profit businesses in construction, alternative energy, and online Life Coaching. At 59, I thought it would be efficient to join with other leaders to manifest giving back to my community.
I have encountered and briefly joined forces with 2 "pied piper" characters since moving full-time to North San Diego County. Although these guys may have great intentions, their lack of skills for organization, their scattered brains, their inability to be completely honest with themselves and therefore others regarding what is truly going on for them, while separating their fantasies from the truth about the process it takes to build a team that will band together to take on a cause that is just, made it impossible for me to continue. A lot can be said about me and I am far from the best model of consistency, but I do stay true to basic beliefs about integrity, accountability, communication, and focus.
So I have launched 1of7b.blogspot.com and my plan is to write about what is on my mind, influenced by what I see today, what I experienced yesterday, and what I foresee for tomorrow. I hope to get others on board and I know our identity will unfold organically. But as a farmer knows all to well, planting the seed is only the first step; you must get sunshine, water, fertilizer, and hoe away the weeds that want to invade the young seedlings growth. With patience there will be a harvest.
I have now worked in Retail for 7 years. I think I have a decent idea of what makes people tick, what they live for, and why they do what they do. I see how many different cultures live in America, the huge disparity between levels of education and what I call worldliness. I am fascinated by the connection we have on a molecular, DNA level, and I wonder about humans ability to successfully be the dominant animal on this planet. When you consider the millions (billions?) of years that this planet has sustained some kind of life forms, humans have only dominated for a few "seconds" of that span and it seems as if we are destined to destroy ourselves because of core instincts gone awry, fear/greed, love/hate, etc.
Take a moment and leave a comment below. I invite you to come back daily for a peak into the mind of XOQ.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Quick Post
So many directions to go when you are posting up. The Colorado Basketball shirt brings curious questions about the connection, but with limited time on an early work schedule it will have to wait until dark. Interesting old school movie that is with one of the Hepburn's (Audrey). The distant cousin follow us here, so a shout out to relatives. Relatively speaking, college sports is sham at the top levels and pure student athlete competition in the smaller sports and at the smaller schools. We have a small town, big hearted family member playing American pro football in Italy this year and the boys are going over in late May to hang out and see more of the world. The expression "youth is wasted on the young" does not apply to this crew lead by our boy Landrus.
Quick oats from Henry's are in the van cause my girl emptied her Quaker can this morning. Always keeping an eye on the prize and not missing a step, she'll have her cereal tomorrow. The ethic of doing for others is a Quaker ideal and in the back bone of caring humans that put others first. So raise a toast today if you can't find a barn to build on your way home. Hug the loved one and return again for more posts.
Namaste,
Quick oats from Henry's are in the van cause my girl emptied her Quaker can this morning. Always keeping an eye on the prize and not missing a step, she'll have her cereal tomorrow. The ethic of doing for others is a Quaker ideal and in the back bone of caring humans that put others first. So raise a toast today if you can't find a barn to build on your way home. Hug the loved one and return again for more posts.
Namaste,
Monday, January 10, 2011
Don't Let it Go
The news cycle is keeping the world abreast of the condition of Gabrielle Giffords, the Arizona Representative shot in the head on Saturday. The background information about the shooter and the reasons why he blasted away at 15-20 people on Saturday clearly indicate the themes discussed here under the Heading "Degrees" over the weekend.
By next week at this time, the world will have moved on to another story, from another place, probably just as horrific, sensational, and/or revealing about the condition of humanity. When you see a parent abusing a child, or see a shoplifter stealing merchandise, or witness a accident while driving to work, do you do something about it or just let it go and mind your own business?
What is our motivation? How to we become more concerned? Can 1 out of 7 billion people make a difference? (Thanks to Casey for updating us on the fact that the 7 billion threshold will be reached in 2012.)
The answer is not simple. If we don't specifically react to an event we see on TV, are we just another person that does not care? If we don't confront the shoplifter, does it mean we are afraid? If we drive past an accident that might include injuries are we wisely getting out of the way to allow emergency vehicles through?
It goes beyond who is being the judge of any of these reactions. The question revolves around how are we making a difference somewhere in our circle of life. If enough of the rest of the 7 billion do something positive that impacts things they touch, than it stands to reason that so much more would be right in the world.
Don't let it go. Chose something outside of your SELF to support, help, assist, carry, fund, change, Do something everyday. Be a giver not a taker.
By next week at this time, the world will have moved on to another story, from another place, probably just as horrific, sensational, and/or revealing about the condition of humanity. When you see a parent abusing a child, or see a shoplifter stealing merchandise, or witness a accident while driving to work, do you do something about it or just let it go and mind your own business?
What is our motivation? How to we become more concerned? Can 1 out of 7 billion people make a difference? (Thanks to Casey for updating us on the fact that the 7 billion threshold will be reached in 2012.)
The answer is not simple. If we don't specifically react to an event we see on TV, are we just another person that does not care? If we don't confront the shoplifter, does it mean we are afraid? If we drive past an accident that might include injuries are we wisely getting out of the way to allow emergency vehicles through?
It goes beyond who is being the judge of any of these reactions. The question revolves around how are we making a difference somewhere in our circle of life. If enough of the rest of the 7 billion do something positive that impacts things they touch, than it stands to reason that so much more would be right in the world.
Don't let it go. Chose something outside of your SELF to support, help, assist, carry, fund, change, Do something everyday. Be a giver not a taker.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Degrees
Radical elements of every society disrupt millions of people with acts of violence. The thoughts, feelings, expressions, and distorted realities of these individuals have been flamed by the media, drum beaters, and self-proclaimed leaders of the groups formed around the belief that is the systems of organized government that are the cause of what is wrong with their life and the condition of the world.
Observing the truth about the place of these individuals in the history of humans, it is evident they have always existed in very small %'s of populations on every continent. It is not surprising that they exist because in analysis of beliefs amongst humans there is a disparate specturm of thinking from "left to right" everywhere. The significance of this particular slice of humans, is that their behavior is so extreme and violent that they stand out as the biggest threat to the peace and well being of the rest.
Let's not move away from this reality without pointing out a fact. Sarah Palin has posted on her websites images of rifle sitings, actual cross hairs aimed at the cities and towns on the map of America where she believes there are political servants who deserve to be targeted for their beliefs and votes in Congress. This is the kind of irresponsible action that influences the decisions of assassins and should be illegal and prosecuted as an act of violence.
If you think that America is built on a Constitution that allows, even permits this kind of action under the heading of freedom of speech, than you need to read more, study more, and learn more about the men that wrote the Constitution, know more about what motivated them to be on this continent, where they came from, what those times were about, what was happening in the towns of the early settlements, what they learned in school, in church, and from their families. When you get your degree in History, and have read the biographies of Washington, Jefferson and 10 other of the circle of leaders from 1770, report back about what they were setting out to do in the "New World".
The word "degree" has many meanings. It is a recognition of completing a course of study. Used in forms of measurement, it can be how far in one direction or another is the temperature, an angle in math, and/or the torque of a wrench. It is steps in a process, like degree of difficulty. Relative intensity is measured by a high degree of accuracy. A specific division of crime might be murder in the second degree. As a classification of the severity of an injury, doctors will treat a third-degree burn. A skilled practitioner is said to have a high degree of competence.
Education is vital for humans to be productive and to live peacefully and in harmony with the planet and each other. The further the pendulum swings toward a planet with an ever smaller percentage of people with fresh water and an ever larger population of 7 billion people in which billions of living beings do not have vegetation, are exposed to filth and disease, and are not able to fend for themselves, the more mornings we will tune into reports of chaos, mayhem, and get ever closer to collapse.
Oh, by the way, Mother Earth cares little about these issues. It is going through its own changes and periods of ice ages, earthquakes, violent tornadoes, etc. all in response to the forces bottled up below the crust and the Sun flares, meteors, and celestial events that make what humans do seem beyond trivial.
Observing the truth about the place of these individuals in the history of humans, it is evident they have always existed in very small %'s of populations on every continent. It is not surprising that they exist because in analysis of beliefs amongst humans there is a disparate specturm of thinking from "left to right" everywhere. The significance of this particular slice of humans, is that their behavior is so extreme and violent that they stand out as the biggest threat to the peace and well being of the rest.
Let's not move away from this reality without pointing out a fact. Sarah Palin has posted on her websites images of rifle sitings, actual cross hairs aimed at the cities and towns on the map of America where she believes there are political servants who deserve to be targeted for their beliefs and votes in Congress. This is the kind of irresponsible action that influences the decisions of assassins and should be illegal and prosecuted as an act of violence.
If you think that America is built on a Constitution that allows, even permits this kind of action under the heading of freedom of speech, than you need to read more, study more, and learn more about the men that wrote the Constitution, know more about what motivated them to be on this continent, where they came from, what those times were about, what was happening in the towns of the early settlements, what they learned in school, in church, and from their families. When you get your degree in History, and have read the biographies of Washington, Jefferson and 10 other of the circle of leaders from 1770, report back about what they were setting out to do in the "New World".
The word "degree" has many meanings. It is a recognition of completing a course of study. Used in forms of measurement, it can be how far in one direction or another is the temperature, an angle in math, and/or the torque of a wrench. It is steps in a process, like degree of difficulty. Relative intensity is measured by a high degree of accuracy. A specific division of crime might be murder in the second degree. As a classification of the severity of an injury, doctors will treat a third-degree burn. A skilled practitioner is said to have a high degree of competence.
Education is vital for humans to be productive and to live peacefully and in harmony with the planet and each other. The further the pendulum swings toward a planet with an ever smaller percentage of people with fresh water and an ever larger population of 7 billion people in which billions of living beings do not have vegetation, are exposed to filth and disease, and are not able to fend for themselves, the more mornings we will tune into reports of chaos, mayhem, and get ever closer to collapse.
Oh, by the way, Mother Earth cares little about these issues. It is going through its own changes and periods of ice ages, earthquakes, violent tornadoes, etc. all in response to the forces bottled up below the crust and the Sun flares, meteors, and celestial events that make what humans do seem beyond trivial.
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