Werkapaug Inn 5k, new friends at Old Man Joe’s coffee. Fellow sociologist, so much to discuss at this point in time.
Old summaries about the rise and fall of civilizations apply, we live within fragile systems.
Reading Sapiens and then Nexus.
Listening to Eckart Tolle on repeat.
A comfort to dwell on the facts, we are and always have been only primates after all: money, guns, technology, aviation, automobiles, borders on maps do not move the needle on our biology.
Spirituality, and the ability to not identify with incessant mind activity, the ability to rise above thought is the only solution I see.
The only way out of suffering is meditation and resting open into the being behind the human.
Redirect attention away from thoughts increase the power to observe your own mind and emotions.
These teachings are ancient, Buddha and Christ described the same solution.
From the inside out, relax open to the present moment, end the illusion of time - past and future. Life is always now. Time is moving towards you, you are not moving towards the future.
The human being.
Human is the animal, the amygdala, the scanning for danger or threat, trapped in a time bound mind and a body on alert, the human never has enough, chronically dissatisfied. Occupies the horizontal dimension past and future.
The being is the spirit, the ghost in the machine, the one who is listening to the voice in the head and watching the images of the imagination, direct your gaze inward, look right at it, drop back, observe, rest open and feel the aliveness in the body, focus on your sense of hearing - on sounds in the now. Occupy the vertical dimension of present moment.
On the human side we are hardwired to love and protect our own, seeking safety in a hierarchy not equality. Conflict and fear along with violence have always occurred, there has never been peace on earth because we are animals. We’re too frightened to be spiritual when our attention is absorbed by mind activity.
Due to our storytelling minds and shared narratives where myth, imagination reign, we conjure up The Other instead of looking for how we are the same.
Death has always been and will continue to be the great equalizer for all beings. Such short lived creatures are we.
Truly great civilizations have come and gone, war and disease have always been since the homo sapiens secured the gene pool.
Back to the wonderful day to day living in peace for now. Lucky to have enjoyed peace so far.
Uncle Scott turned 69 at Al Forno’s, where I will always remember the amazing person I once met there three years ago, wishing we knew each other better.
Dads house for football games and whiskey.
Making connections at Shepards Run, beautiful space with outdoor heated saltwater lap pool, boutique gym, yoga studio and spa. Looking to begin working with clients again, training to age with strength, mobility, stamina in the face of estrogen loss. Develop a foundation at ages 45-65 to protect 75-95.
Fireplace going after work each day, bluebirds and deer in the yard each morning.
Happy for our espresso machine, thick feather duvets, car in the garage - little luxuries in winter.
Favorite new quote:
If you want to be happy for a year: get married
If you want to be happy for a decade: get a dog
If you want to be happy for the rest of your life : make a garden
