LONGEVITY EXPERIMENTS: PART 1

 

LONGEVITY EXPERIMENTS: IMPROVING ON CREATION OR MADNESS?

Do you really want to live forever?

 

All writers use common tricks to catch a reader’s attention.  You either rope them in with an intriguing title or with a few suspenseful paragraphs.  Writers know; lose them on the first page and you will have lost them forever. Where is he going with this?  Is this a religious tome?  A tale filled with suspense?  Have I caught your attention?

Where is he going with this?

What provided the germ for this article?  What inspired it?  Besides writing, I do read a lot and I must admit that I am always intrigued by books that hint at some kind of revelation, a secret revealed, stories packed with ancient history that fuel our endless fascination with things that are supposedly lost; ancient mysteries that beg to be found and revealed.  And…each time I get suckered into yet another tale that promises a lot but delivers very little in the end.  After whatever is lost, and then found after an epic struggle with nefarious factions hell-bent on keeping the secret for themselves, it usually turns out that an important detail is still missing—hence the need for a sequel—or, as the elusive subject is tantalizingly close and within reach—a  last minute disaster destroys the much coveted object forever.

Beware of all writers!

“Oops, I guess I am one of them!”

And where can some of these secrets be found?  It usually starts with a book, written in a lost ancient language, left behind by obscure societies that once upon a time purportedly possessed magical powers and potions.  Usually, the one and only remaining copy, is either secreted away in the Vatican archives or protected by an elusive cabal in a monastery that is housed on top of a mountain in an area out of bounds to foreigners.  The protagonists are usually white males with incredible sexual appetites and stamina and impervious to bullets and attacks.  There is usually a female to counterbalance the male testosterone that oozes from the pages.  As a reader I sometimes experience near real physical exhaustion after ten or more harrowing pages filled with wild escapes and much leaping and dodging.  The only thing that usually disappoints is the ending.  Most are rather slippery, anticlimactic and disappointing.  But there is a reason why those books continue to stir our imagination.  Let’s face it, wouldn’t it be neat if something of real value was actually discovered and shared with the world?

Do we really know what we really want?

And…what is the most coveted secret that most of these authors are after in their novels?  Most of their books deal with immortality.  The secret to eternal life, or at least, living a heck of a lot longer than we presently do.  And not only living longer, but a better kind of life, a life free from disease and debilitating ailments.  The Elixir of Life.  The Holy Grail.  The Philosopher’s Stone.  The writers of these magical and adventurous thrillers love to delve into ancient lore, magical potions and spells, mysterious and rare medicinal plants or a well containing a chemical that restores and rejuvenates human cells.  The possibilities are virtually endless.

We are so enamored by the potential, or is it fooled, by the lure of buried and lost treasure, especially those that hold so much promise.  This is my narrative about our fascination, our obsession, with living longer and better lives.  On our planet there are animals and plants that can reach a lifespan of two hundred years or more.  There are trees that can live thousands of years.  And not all of these creatures are tiny.  The Bowhead whale can live more than two hundred years and the Giant sequoia tree, barring natural disaster and a sharp axe, can survive well beyond three thousand years.  But…would you like to trade places with either to live a bit longer?  If a sense of awareness is present in all living species, no matter how limited, would a Giant sequoia be tickled pink about being firmly rooted to the same spot for let’s say four thousand years?  Would you like to trade places with the Galapagos Giant tortoise that can live up to two hundred years?  You’re not stuck like a tree and instead you trudge around the islands for a very long time, nibbling on a steady diet of greens and even mating on occasion.

We cannot undo what we have turned into.

Whether we call it creation, evolution or creation by design, all of it has been rather even handed in regards to life in general.  All lifeforms follow the same predictable pattern.  Life starts out small, either as a seed or an egg.  Nearly all lifeforms show a huge initial burst of growth, until maturity is reached and then the inevitable decline sets in.  Cells no longer divide, or divide less rapidly, and an ageing process takes over.

Perhaps the secret of life lies in its imperfection, limited in lifespan and rife with obstacles and disappointment, but perhaps the best way to preserve the integrity of species?  Perfection might render a species obsolete.  The struggle has been ongoing for billions of years and all life on earth follows a similar pattern.  Therefore it begs the question, is there order in all that chaos?  A purpose?  Why do we bother with improving on something that is perhaps best left alone?

Intelligence has given us an edge over all others.

There is however one species that would like to alter the natural flow of things…and now we’re talking about selective design and manipulation…with only one particular species in mind.  Humans.  You and I.  Would this actually be a desirable endeavor?  A worthwhile pursuit?  It is a question I would like to put to all of you who are reading this.  I have no personal bias.  No preference.  I am not hung up on any theories.  However, we rarely talk about the concept of either an eternal physical life or a spiritual one.  What does it really mean?  What would it entail?  Have we ever honestly sat down and pondered the consequences.  Is this one of those—beware what you wish for—issues?

There is not a single other species on our planet involved in this elusive chase for the elixir of life—reversing, slowing down or even stopping the ageing process.  And not only ageing, but the removal of all diseases and ailments that currently affect so many.

Is there merit in these experiments?  Is the current process not only natural, but something to be desired in the overall grand scheme of life?  Because of a consciousness and awareness that we can readily share with each other, we seem to think that we are not only far superior than other species:  We have also evolved with a sense of entitlement, a perception, that we are not only better, but more deserving and therefore we can act differently and at the expense of other species and the planet all of us depend upon for survival.

In this narrative I will put forward some persnickety questions and observations that will hopefully pique your interest as well.  Once the germ of this tale took hold in my mind I couldn’t stop thinking about it and contemplating the ramifications if we seriously pursued immortality.  Because let’s face it—if your goal is three to four hundred years, why not even longer!  Whether we like it or not, we will never stop exploring and pushing the boundaries.  Our natural sense of curiosity will never limit itself unless we’re done in by its consequences.  And that is not so farfetched either.  I am reminded of one great line I came across a few decades ago:  All superior intelligence is inherently self-destructive and therefore any attempt to alter its course is futile.  By the time we actually uncover the key to longevity we may have exhausted and depleted the natural bounty and resources of planet Earth.  Even ‘eternal’ bodies need nourishment.

There are a host of questions that simply leap from every page and there is no doubt in my mind that you will have many of your own.  Why live longer?  Why eternal life, in physical or spiritual form?  What is the lure?  Why even consider it?  In my humble opinion, eternity in whatever form, is a nightmare.  Can boredom be genetically erased?

Feel free to comment or share.  wbes6646@gmail.com

THE LEAD UP TO BAD CHOICES AND BAD DECISIONS

 

THE LEAD UP TO BAD CHOICES AND BAD DECISIONS

The human pendulum.

Nothing in our lives appears out of the blue, our human lives that is.  None of us have any control over the rhythms of the universe and how it plays out in unpredictable ways: from reacting to human impact, to seemingly indifferent.  We’re only one planet, one out of billions, within a universe that stretches for billions of lightyears all around us.  We’re part of a cosmos that lacks emotion, compassion or concern.  Mostly an unending stream of physics experiments reacting to energy bundling and releasing, causing a ripple effect of momentum that can sometimes shake us to the core.  Humans have become experts at trying to harness some of its powers to build some pretty nasty weapons, but they are no match to what the universe can throw at us.

We are ruled by forces over which we have no control.

As products of evolution, and impacted by the constant forces of energy and momentum, we are relentlessly driven onward.  A higher form of intelligence has provided us with an awareness that is more frightening in scope than a blessing.  An awareness molded and shaped over time and keeping pace with our advances.  We didn’t become what we are today by pure happenstance, waking up one day from a Rip van Winkel kind of slumber and looking around in pure amazement.  The human reality check is pretty basic: changing circumstances demand constant changes.  We either adapt or disappear.  It has created struggles within our species that are explicitly ours and which don’t apply to any other species in the natural world.  Our seesaw nature is reflected in the times we find ourselves in.

Uncertainty will lead to bad choices.

None of us set out to be bad and for convenience sake let’s define ‘bad’ as anything adversely affecting ourselves and others.  Our awareness is about a blunt as a battering ram because from the day we’re born we are exposed to a never ending stream of all the things that can impact us personally, as well as everything around us. Life is fragile and the unexpected can and will happen.  I don’t think that the thousands of people buried by mud and debris in Nepal saw that one coming!  Awareness also impacts on our emotions and we can be swayed by a tide of information and opinions.

We’re born with a clean slate, but from our first cry to our last breath, what is imprinted on that slate is influenced by dozens, if not thousands of others: through community exposure, learning, level of interest, circumstance and the list goes on and on.  And it is different for everybody.  Nobody on our planet is exactly the same, not just in looks, but in how we think and act.  That meaningful, individual path we seek is often paved over by community driven actions and activities.  The personal and individual taking a backseat because group behavior trumps individual interest and desires again and again.

Our awareness can be as dubious as our intelligence.

And when it comes down to our awareness levels; it would be absolutely marvelous if it were fully formed at birth and modelled on superior intellectual attributes, a tribute to all the humanitarian values we have come to celebrate: wisdom, tolerance, compassion, caring.  Just to name a few!  Unfortunately all of us progress in dissimilar ways (often heavily influenced by time and circumstance) and those that excel in the optimum range of the human department are a rare breed.

Always swaying between good and bad.

I am leading up to the bad choices part and it is never clear cut, or defined by a specific incident or event.  I dread using the man’s name, but Trump would never have been nominated in his first presidential run if it weren’t for the undercurrent of pervasive negativity that had started to make its way in the daily discourse of the nation and the court of public opinion cannot be ignored.  The seeds were planted early and then steadily watered by the media in an unending stream of ‘concerns’.  A lot of media platforms tends to cater to what we want to hear, not to what we should be paying attention to!

The human pendulum.

We’re like a pendulum, swinging from one extreme to the other and the psychic of a nation is fueled by public opinion.  As a people we swim with the tides and not against it.  Mavericks in our society are rare and usually recognized posthumously.  Pro-democracy voices for instance can be drowned out by a hardening of opinion by people on the far right or left.  It is extremely frustrating to fight that pendulum when we observe it swinging in the wrong direction:  towards violence and autocracy, as people fear for their livelihood, status and future role and wellbeing.  Discontent, fear and paranoia are a breeding ground for base emotions and behaviors.

A shift in the national psychic.

Bad choices and decisions emerge as a result of a kind of psychic chaos that is unleased in the minds of a nation’s people; nurtured and fertilized, willingly and unwillingly.  Professional media sources have been conditioned to observe and report.  They can’t be seen to take sides.  Of course, I am referring to the kind of media sources we have come to rely upon as being impartial.  The fact that we’re surrounded by unscrupulous media platforms that absolutely delight in feasting on our ignorance and that rely on our insatiable appetite for the outrageous, is one of the main reasons why the pendulum so often swings from reason to unreason. 

Once we swing towards the extreme it simply becomes a matter of feeding our fragile minds with a daily dose of what we crave the most and fact and reason no longer matter. 

Our laws and constitution reflect our times.

A nation’s rulebook comes with expectations and is a reflection of the time it was written in.  Look upon it as a roadmap to what we should aspire to as a nation.  Democracy for instance is about checks and balances, due process, fairness, the rights of the individual, freedom of choice and the press.  All lofty ideals that are the backbone of our nation.  It is a most difficult and exhausting model of governance, because it requires reasoned and respectful debate, consultation and study.  Always being mindful of the rights of visible minorities.  No short cuts.  No confirmation without consultation.

When the rulebook gets tossed aside or is ignored.

Everything we have enshrined in law and in our constitution emerged as a result of the work undertaking by sound minds, based on what we should aspire to as a nation.  The expectation of normal, and I want to define normal as falling within the range of widely accepted values, ethics and morals.  In other words, the way a society is expected to function and should function.  But what do you do when a Trump, Hitler or Putin comes along?  Our systems were not designed to cope with outrageous, out of control, power hungry autocratic leaders, with little or no regard for the law and due process.  For human lives!

In healthy, productive and prosperous times none of the aforementioned characters would stand a chance seizing power.  And it is never one single thing that will shift and change the psychic of a nation, the swing from good to bad.

Dormant, but never for a long time.

There are several species in the natural world that can lie dormant for years, even decades, waiting for specific cues to emerge.  Saving themselves from prolonged droughts or for a specific climate change to emerge before springing back to life.  The Periodical Cicada is one, the African Lungfish another.  Within the human fabric there is always a cantankerous element waiting for just the right time to explode; the chronic whiners and losers, professional complainers and gripers.  They don’t need any specific cause or reason, just hand them one and they will run with it.  Put them in a uniform and let them loose.

Hitler had his brown shirts terrorizing the nation into compliance.  Putin has his secret police and Trump has turned ICE into a police force that loves to round up suspected illegals while wearing facemasks to cover up their identities.

Responsible journalism always struggles.

When negative energy starts to dominate the national conversation it turns into a near unstoppable force.  Our trusted media sources are guided by a rulebook they strictly adhere to.  One is source confirmation, the other accuracy and the most important one of all: independent, unbiased reporting.  Unscrupulous media platform just rub their hands in glee when they watch the regulars squirm, biting their tongues and throwing up their hands in frustration.

The political systems we have designed aren’t able to deal effectively with deliberate rule breakers.  The bad apples absolutely love it when they literally get away with murder (January 6^th Capitol Hill riots).  Once a wave of negative energy has been unleashed it has to run its course.  In my novel Energy & Origin I explain this process in much greater detail.

Our societies are modelled upon acceptable behaviors.  Our judiciary is a reactive force because “Bad” has to happen before it can act.  And our political bad apples can really upset the balance because the majority thumbs their noses at a nation’s constitution and judiciary.

For some people inflicting pain, misery and injustice on others is like manna from heaven.  When it comes to our levels of awareness it is not always about what is right or wrong or who is right or wrong, but about what is dominant at this historical juncture in time.  We can’t underestimate public opinion, what shapes it . . . and where it may lead us.  A lot of it is out of anyone’s control.

Feel free to comment or share.

wbes6646@gmail.com  

THE BABOON BUFFOON AWARD OF THE YEAR . . . AND IT GOES TO . . .

 

THE BABOON BUFFOON AWARD OF THE YEAR.

AND IT GOES TO . . .

 

Breaking new, breaking news, breaking news.

 

It didn’t come as a surprise, the award that is, and when I stuck my microphone in front of his face he couldn’t resist.  He wanted to do a bit of venting and he knew I would let him.

“I know that my numbers are down a bit, not according to my inside sources, but according to those misfits out there who claim to represent the press.  Of course, my new bimbo press secretary didn’t pan out too well, but I’m kind of running low on people who’re willing to explain me in glowing terms.  What about Putin, you say?  A bit of a personal sticky matter.  He can be a real pain in the you know what, but I participated in a few embarrassing situations—I’ll never admit to it, of course—but he’s got a bit of dirt on me and I have to play nice.  My kind of guy, really.  We’re quite a bit alike.  Basically, you f@#^K with me and I’ll f@3^k with you.  I get things done.  I’ve got people in place who explain to certain other people what I expect to hear, like that perfect memory score.  Aced it.  That’s what they told me, anyway.  How do I explain myself, my success.  There is always somebody willing to suck up to me.  And I like awards.  Should have gotten a Nobel.  Other people get them, so why not me?  You’re a great guy, but the other journalists.  Stupid.  The news should be about me and it irritates the hell out of me when I’m ignored.  Whether it is baseball, soccer or nuking Iran, I want to be in on it.  I have an opinion.  I am Super Intelligence.  AI is modelled after my brain.  Reporters!  Bunch of green-eyed, envious, pathetic little losers.  It takes a special guy to run America, hell, the world.  And I’m it.  Just keep the awards coming.  Thanks for taking the time, great buddy.  I know you’ll set my record straight.”

Feel free to share.

IGNORE THIS PILLAR OF SOCIETY AT YOUR OWN PERIL!

 

IGNORE THIS PILLAR OF SOCIETY AT YOUR OWN PERIL!

 

Fear public displeasure because at our worst, we do the worst!

 

Less than two centuries ago there were only two main pillars in society that were dominant: Church and State.  Both featured heavily in the lives of ordinary people, many of whom were nothing more than indentured servants to one or the other.  Only a small percentage—today we refer to them as the one percenters—were entitled to pursue life and pleasure as they saw fit.  If you were born into a certain strata of society you were expected to stay there.  Know your place.

Pillars do however change and World War I for instance led to the demise of many ruling monarchies that insisted on maintaining absolute power in the face of rising social unrest and rebellion.  Resentment.  Public opinion was turning against both Church and State and demanded changes.  The entitled refused to acknowledge that a storm of discontent was brewing.  New political ideas were stirring the pot while the old guard continued to strut in their uniforms and danced the night away in fancy castles and grand palaces.  Blind to their own excesses and the plight of ordinary people who often worked hard and for pitiful wages.  Packed in like sardines in dirty urban slums and lacking proper services.

The one thing all governments fear, no matter of what political stripe or color, is the court of public opinion that can turn against them if provoked to such an extent that an outright confrontation is inevitable.  Ignore economic, financial and social stability, the basics the masses crave, and public opinion can turn into a steamroller and demolish everything in its path. 

In prosperous times we crave normalcy and we’re an affable and compliant species.

Happy people don’t make waves and in a happy environment governments can handle the odd ripple.  Tip the balance in the wrong direction and all bets are off.  In most of my articles I stick with what I know best.  I am a product of the western world and therefore it becomes the template for most of my work.  I am not familiar enough with other parts of the world and the intricacies of how they evolved and developed.  But I am pretty sure that all face similar scenarios. 

World War II was a bit of an anomaly; unfinished business of the previous war leading to widespread political unrest and revolt and some pretty bad political actors emerged who would lead the world into one of the blackest chapters of human history.  It shook the world to its core and when we emerged from the ashes and massive destruction, there was a resolve amongst world leaders, and especially in the West, that we could never allow this to happen again.  The yoke of the old industrial revolution was shed by workers and owners alike.  New societal pillars emerged.  A new era of interactive cooperation.  Not that the old ways didn’t work, they simply weren’t tolerated anymore.

When we do get it right, it works!

From the 1950s onward it appeared as if the western world finally got it right.  A new era of widespread prosperity was ushered in with the West leading in modern advances and democratically elected governments.  A victory for ordinary people shedding the shackles of oppression and abuse.  Peace, prosperity and plenty of opportunity.  Trade unions were instrumental in how workers and employers interacted with each other.  A celebration of the individual, their worth finally recognized and appreciated.  Our part of the world at least was maturing in what many attributed to a growing intelligentsia.  Our evolving societies demanded an educated and skilled labor force.  A rapidly expanding human population not only created an industrial boom, it necessitated the erection of new societal pillars to support a society brimming with confidence, spreading its wings and . . . with a whole new set of demands.

However, no matter how large we grow in numbers, there are still tribal characteristics that are the pillars of any nation, whether new or old.  In no particular order: Shared territory and living within a defined geographic area or region and sharing a social network.  In order for modern societies to work effectively social interaction and cooperation is essential as members engage in ongoing relationships like work, play and education.  Societies also develop cultural norms with shared values and traditions, languages, religious beliefs and with expectations that guide acceptable behaviors.

Governments had to evolve as well to meet evolving expectations and many turned into social institutions, not only to maintain law and order, but to guide the economy to help maintain and meet basic human needs and demands.  An interdependence developed and on a scale never witnessed before.  One could even say that too many people are now too reliant on government for their existence and livelihoods!  Governments are drowning in a sea of red ink.  Borrowed money to stave off societal collapse.  Borrowed money to stay afloat.  Never before in human history have so many people become reliant on government services for jobs and their livelihoods. 

A reliable continuum has never existed.

Not only do people rely on each other for support, it becomes increasingly difficult for governments to ignore the plight of its people, especially when uncomfortable truths come knocking on our doors.  The stability we crave to guide our lives along in an orderly fashion rarely lasts for any length of time.  Never long enough to truly change the ways in how we behave and act.  A celebration of intelligence that includes the ability to overcome hurdles and hardship in a truly humanitarian fashion.  A pipedream that has never materialized.

When rifts turn into an abyss.

The human applecart is easily upended by setbacks, unrealistic expectations and unaffordable demands.  Combined with our fragile nature and existence and blessed with near primordial emotions when challenged, it poses a serious threat when it comes to harness the court of public opinion.  When it comes to expressing tribal displeasure we’re pretty darn consistent in exposing the worst humanity can bring to bear on itself.  Once more we have arrived at such a crossroad and the human pendulum is dangerously veering in all the wrong directions.

The dangerous games we play.

At this juncture in time the American mid-term elections are approaching and my neighbor to the south is struggling, and they are not the only ones.  Governments around the world are grappling with huge debt levels.  Politicians are jumping through hoops to keep everything afloat . . . and . . . it’s not just jobs or the economy.  Governments are now the white elephant in the room, costly, overburdened and massive in size, trying to appease the court of public opinion, that oddly enough in America, through the efforts of Trump, and supporters cut from the same cloth, have actually fanned the flames of discontent, of anger, fear and frustration.  Rather than being part of the solution, the Trump circus is accelerating the process of societal disintegration.  Even if the mid-term results favor a Democratic majority, there is no guarantee that the Trump camp will be restrained or put in neutral.  They have become experts at manipulating the masses.  The fires of dissatisfaction were lit a long time ago and even if neutered, the nation itself is fractured and the pillars of society are no longer firmly supported.

We are a species in turmoil and election results are no guarantee that a sense of normalcy will return.

Our numbers are now dragging us down.  The cost of housing and supporting our numbers with an affordable lifestyle have mired us in bad debts.  We’re not an investment and have turned into a liability instead.  No amount of technology can stave off what we have turned into.  We are no longer self-supporting.  Self-reliant.  Our impact has been devastating and if public opinion turns us into loose cannons, the anger unleased by the likes of Trump and likeminded political actors, will only add fuel to the fires of discontent.

Desperation measures create awkward situations.  We are faced with a global affordability crisis and a loss of confidence in government period.  The good ship stability is leaking like a sieve and nobody knows how to stop the bleeding.  All Trump and Company have achieved is hastening the slide of America into mediocrity.  Trump and Company are not the disease, they are merely symptomatic of what is killing our societies.

It always comes down to numbers.

Our numbers are killing us.  What used to be within reach—and we did create an enormous amount of wealth in a very short period of time—is no longer available to the majority of the masses.  In a sad way, we’re really done in by success and we’re about to pay the price.  Too many people and we’re running out of opportunity and options.  Too many people vying for rapidly diminishing resources.  Too many people negatively impacting on the planet and what is left of it.  Bottom line: we’re not sustainable.

The human ledger is turning into a sea of red ink and the toolbox is nearly empty and what’s left inside is not nearly enough to turn things around.

The 21^st century ushered in hope and a huge increase in overall prosperity and with a genuine desire by the many to move forward in a positive direction.  In a technological sense we leapt forward with giant steps, determined to improve lives.  We did.  In terms of achievement we succeeded beyond anyone’s belief and imagination, but the however lies in the cost in how it was achieved.        

We inhabit a planet that is finite and which has a finite potential.  Our huge debt levels mirror the reality of a planet that can longer sustain our numbers and extravagant demands and needs.

I observe and interpret and I prefer to phrase it in such a manner that most people will understand what I’m writing about.  As a human being I take no delight in describing the current human journey and the predicaments we face. 

Feel free to comment or share.

 

DEFINE HAPPINESS

 

DEFINE HAPPINESS

Life’s road travelled is not always chosen or avoidable.

As an author, a student of philosophy, history and the humanities I am sometimes drawn to a subject often ignored or taken for granted; yet they are important to most people.  Happiness has to be near the top!  How many Happy Birthday cards do you purchase?  Celebratory cards galore.  But instead of glossing over the usual rather superficial gestures I will make it a bit more personal.  How you feel is important.  Are you happy?  What makes you happy?  It is important enough to have found its way into the American Constitution: the pursuit of happiness.

The personal.

“Are you happy?”  “Am I making you happy?”  “Why can’t you be happy?  “Be happy.”  Do we ever sit down and think about it?  Contemplate happiness, or what it means in our lives?  Are we as blasé about happy and happiness as we are about all the “I love you” endearments that flow from our lips with such ease?  We say stuff, but do we really mean it?  Is happy something you really want?  Desire?

Look at all the different connotations in daily use that apply to happy or happiness, the celebratory comments, the best wishes.  If I were to ask you point blank, “Are you happy?”  Or, “What makes you happy?”  I don’t think I would get two similar answers.  As a philosopher and a humanitarian I am going to take a stab at defining happiness.  Bear in mind that philosophy is a discipline and it deals in facts and what can be proven.  It tends to get a bit esoteric when we delve into what makes humans tick or when we try to interpret an aspect of humanity . . . happiness is apparently one of them . . .  or attempt to define what makes us human (most of the time as in different from other lifeforms).  We’re so superior!

Let’s see what sticks.

My approach to this topic is throwing a whole bunch of ideas, observations and suppositions pertaining to happy at that proverbial wall and see what sticks!  Let’s see if we can come to a conclusion that is hopefully satisfying.  And I will purposely stay away from everything that makes us unhappy.  At least I will try.  It is also possible that your ideas of happiness are miles apart from mine.  There is always room for an interesting dialogue!

Where do you start?  I am a copious note taker and each year I go through nearly a half dozen notebooks (200 pages each).  It’s not quite like throwing shit at a wall and see what sticks, but it comes close.  I use them as a guide and as I’m writing I add, reject, change and then I edit and edit, until I’m satisfied that it vaguely resembles my thoughts and assumptions.  Trust me, I do weed and throw stuff out.  But it is all about getting those brain juices flowing and what you get is original and all mine.  AI is for people with no imagination and who rely on other people’s thoughts.  Well, if you use mine, I’ll be flattered.

Where do you even start?  How about starting at birth?  Where you are born, who your parents were; all are factors that define your start in life.  The social strata they move in, skin color and overall wellbeing, their financial status, occupation, health.  And we can’t ignore the overall family dynamics.  All and more will have an impact on defining who you are and how you mature.  How you develop is enormously important and to paraphrase one of my favorite sayings.  Life is a crapshoot from start to finish.  Our existence is finite and fragile and we have little or no control about all the things that take place around us.  Another fine example of Energy & Origin.

Talent, interests, expectations, aptitude, discipline, motivation.

Wow!  I think we’re getting closer to all the hurdles all of us face when growing up and maturing.  The road ahead for most of us is not paved with opportunities and lofty promises.  Let’s start with education.  We usually realize how important a good education is when it’s too late.  When you’re involved in the process, the daily attendance, the smelly sneakers, damp clothes, crowded classrooms, a certain level of resistance, boredom and distraction is almost a given.  You want so many things and you’re really not capable of making adult, responsible decisions.  We’re easily distracted and that impacts heavily on any personal resolve and perseverance.

The unexpected?

Now we’re talking coincidence and happenstance.  Who do you meet and what is their impact.  Positive or negative.  Good friends or ones that steer you towards a life of crime.  There are a lot of bad things out there and once you steer in the wrong direction it is easy to get lost and extremely difficult to find your way back.  We’re not a forgiving creature and second chances have to be earned.

The environment you grow up in will leave an indelible stamp.  I grew up in a small farming community, sheltered, protected and fortunate enough to hook up with lifelong friends.  Good people.  All of them.  Your start in life is so important.  Stability, security, family, friends, jobs.  We can’t lose sight either of where you are born or under what circumstance.    I can’t imagine what it would be like to be born black, in the Sudan, stuck in a refugee camp and exposed to daily deprivation and violence.  The times we grow up in play a factor as well.  My parents lived through two horrendous world wars, the great depression and the marvelous resurrection of the prosperity of the 50s and onwards.  In this day and age we’re exposed to more change than in all previous centuries combined.

Exposure.

What we’re exposed to on a daily basis has an impact and if you feel like a ball that constantly gets tossed around, it will leave little time for a respite, for reflection, for taking a step back and taking stock of your life.

Nothing is ever simple.

So, when I ask you the question, “Are you happy?” it is not a matter of a simple yes or no.  The same applies to unhappiness.

How are you dealing physically and psychologically with your life’s choices and circumstances?  How are you coping with stress, misfortune, loss, setbacks and failure?

Who are you sharing your life with?

We all thrive within healthy relationships.  With our families, partners and the community we live and work in.  Those relationships can be affected by a number of things.  It is not easy to accept yourself for who and what you are.  Self-acceptance is a hard sell for many and how often do we look back and reflect on our lives with an honest degree of introspection.  Defining the health, depth, duration and stability of your relationships takes courage.  Do you float along on the currents of life or do you actively pursue positive changes.  What we desire and what we aspire to are two different things.  How realistic are our expectations and how realistic are we about the efforts we put in?

We are what we are.

It is not easy to leave your station in life and most of us remain firmly stuck in familiar territory, daunted by the challenges and setbacks and the realization that nothing comes easy.  Challenges can be physical, mental and cultural and for some a faith-based upbringing can put a damper on spreading your wings and trying new things.  We all come with baggage and nothing in life is guaranteed.  Especially as a writer I know that life is not a bed of roses and it most definitely doesn’t come with certainties or a guaranteed success.

We can start by accepting the simple fact that life is fragile and the road ahead is not guaranteed for anyone.  Concentrate on what you can control, not on what you cannot.  Instead of obsessing about anything and everything, learn to turn off and cruise on neutral for a while.  Taking a breather.  A pause.  Reading does it for me.  Just me and a book.  Taking a step back.  Enjoy the little things like walking, cycling, any kind of sport that veers your mind away from anything that annoys and obstructs.  Appreciate your family and friends.  Nature.

Perfection is nothing but a curse.

Perfection for instance is the worst thing you can strive for and it usually has the opposite effect: leading to disappointment, frustration, resentment and even anger.  As I am ageing I have to accept my physical limitations and that I can no longer do the things I used to do without effort or having to think about it.  That doesn’t work anymore. 

In the 1990s I watched a beautiful program on TV that featured a sociologist who wrote a book about expectations and how society is growing out of whack because of unrealistic expectations.  She used sex as an example.  And that the expectation of all sex acts to end in a mutually gratifying fabulous orgasm is a marvelous example of how unrealistic expectations have become.  Her chosen example is not without merit because it contains all the elements of life and what many of us expect.  As if it is a given.  Something expected as in demanded.  When in reality life is about acceptance and the simple fact that life is about the good and the bad and everything in between.

Sometimes age has its advantages.

When you have lived a while you realize that the importance in a relationship is not about the perfect sex, but that it is about comfort, respect, friendship, resilience and trust.  That home is where the heart is.  Walking through your door and feeling welcomed by peace and a sense of belonging.  In other words, something that lasts a little longer than the sex act itself.  And my thoughts at the time, yes; a pause is indeed needed between erections.  You can’t be constantly aroused, upbeat, dancing through life and pretending it is one great party.  Highs and lows.  You can’t appreciate the highs if you have never experienced the lows.  Reality is that life seesaws between the mundane and boring repetitive tasks we have to engage in on a daily basis, and yes, we look forward to those rare exciting and rewarding moments to add a spark.  A little diversion from the expected and ordinary.

I am probably leaving you with more questions than answers.

Don’t put yourself on a treadmill of unrealistic expectations.  Learn to appreciate moments of silence and contemplation, quietly reflecting on life.  Be the answer.  Your life.  Your choices.  Be well.

Feel free to comment or share.  Tell me about what defines your happiness.  And if you have found inspiration in my words, then I have done my job as a writer.  I hope that I didn’t leave you unhappy!

WHAT DEFINES THE STRENGTH OF A NATION?

 

WHAT DEFINES THE STRENGTH OF A NATION?

Pulling together or pulling apart?

 

When it comes to defining nationhood there are two dueling forces competing for the hearts and minds of its people.  Some believe that a nation is only as strong as its people want it to be.  But what defines a nation?  Is it the land it occupies, language and culture, recognition by others, wealth, prosperity, or a lack of all of the above that is the main cause for discontent?  I don’t think there is a nation around the world where there are no undercurrents of dissatisfaction.  Nearly all nations are divided into regions, provinces or states, especially when distance plays a role and distinct differences exist within its borders: ethnic backgrounds, language, culture, a diversity of economies and income.

We always want and demand a lot.

Federal governments have a difficult time keeping everybody happy, especially in this day and age as massive population numbers challenge a nation’s ability to provide for all in a fair and equitable manner.  For the sake of convenience I am going to stick in this article to the nation I belong to: Canada.  Canada will do nicely to illustrate the differences that do exist within its borders.  Made up of provinces and territories it hosts a wide variety of languages and cultures.  Big, diverse and with widely varying backgrounds in development and economic strengths.  Separation sentiments and anxiety have played a role for decades and you need to take a look at what feeds it.  Ignore the happy feelings for a moment because it has little to do with happy.  I mean, does anyone really suffer in Canada?

Striking a chord.

Emotions play an important role in how people feel about themselves and where they live.  Separatism is often fueled by sentiments of alienation or by developments perceived as a threat.  Individuals harboring strong national feelings identify with the whole, confident about the role federal government plays and how it protects the nation.  Separatism is often marked by feelings of isolation, of being cut off and a loss of control.  And it doesn’t have to be based on fact. 

Feed into the unhappy.

How we feel, even as a nation, often resembles the flow of the tides, either pulling one way or the other.  We need to recognize that there are no wrong or right feelings, just dominant ones.  Separatism reflects human nature.  Let’s use personal relationships as a comparison.  Sometimes we put up a good fight in making it work and sometimes we are determined to leave and if necessary with a good fight.  Combative and determined versus a more conciliatory attitude.  Once the knives are out in earnest it often takes a miracle to avoid a bloodbath.  A status quo rarely works as feelings of resentment continue to linger and we no longer ask the important questions that we should be asking of ourselves.

Are we stronger as a whole or fragmented?

What are the consequences of fragmentation?  Because that is what separatism is all about.  Once you separate you’re no longer part of the whole.  You are either in or out, and you can’t just pick and choose as to what you want to keep: open borders, currency, protection and foreign trade agreements and relations, just to name a few of the biggies.  Keep one and reject another.  One foot in the grave and one out.  Does the satisfaction lie in the act of separation or is it something truly desired, justified and responsible? 

No half measures.

In the case of Alberta and Quebec it is all about keeping the perks but ignoring the obligations and responsibilities of nationhood.  Federalism comes at a price and it occupies the bigger picture for a good reason.  Like it or not, we are living in a global environment, we trade on the world stage and the world prefers to deal with Canada the nation.  One face, one voice.  And that important factor has been driven home lately when the entire world is facing an out-of-control American president who has been driving a wrecking ball through global financial and political stability.  A person who loves to divide and conquer and then pretends that he can pick up the pieces.  No rhyme or reason, just an unfortunate loose cannon who got elected . . . and . . . based on pure emotion and sentiment!

We rarely follow reason.

Once upon a time Alberta didn’t have oil, blissfully unaware of the gooey stuff buried beneath the soil.  And it needed the rest of Canada to connect and prosper; building roads, bridges, railroads, ports, etcetera.  It has oil now, but oil will eventually run out and it is not a case of. . . if . . .  but when.  When this happens they will be back to square one.  Then what?

It is typically human to exaggerate and nothing showcases it more than cranking up the rhetoric on a political issue and each side excels at blowing grievances out of proportion.  We dig in and some of us keep digging and digging.

This by the way is a global phenomenon and is the main reason why so little is accomplished to diffuse conflicts.

You don’t get out when you have something you don’t want to share and reserve the option to get back in when things sour.  When your luck runs out.  The fortunes of any nation and its strength depend on how it comes together in times of need.  Do we pull together or do we pull apart?

What will our legacy be?  In my humble opinion nationhood should be motivated by a willingness to share, respecting differences, but making things work despite differences.

How do you feel about separatism?  A worthwhile exercise to take the pulse of the nation and see how it feels?  Or . . . best leave it alone.  Don’t fix what isn’t broken.

Feel free to comment of share.