States of Change Chapter 43: Gem (Idaho)

 States of Change is an ongoing work of serial fiction.

The speculative story-line seeks to inspire thought on ethics, culture and our planet's future.

The year is 2076, decades after Oosa's defederalization. 

Fifty independent States have forged unique societies from 

revolutionary technology and ideology

Ten days paddling had taken its toll. The rush of the Snake River ebbed, flowed and tumbled. Autumn downpours had made things dicey here and there but thrillingly beautiful all the same. The dawn launch will lead Gem down the last thirty miles of their adventure. As a sun peaks above the horizon, enchanting Venus fades into the background sky. Gem powers to the center of the river and glides with the current, a smooth finale to their rollercoaster waterway experience. 

In a hybrid contemplative and meditative moment, they reflect silently: Hard to believe I have had my AR implants offline for more than a week; that's the longest I can remember ever being disconnected.  Ten days of old school, wetware adventuring!

Gem's skin glistens with the damsel-fly filigree of nano-wiring, all fully inactive. Not a single bit of data has synced or flowed for their entire trip. The emergency sensor array on the bow of the campinggear laden kayak is the only elec-tech even in passive mode.

Another thought rolls gently inside Gem's mind: The on again off again trance-like state of communing with natural wonder has been enlightening at a core level. Especially when I find myself shower-singing out of the blue. Is the singing simply to add some pseudo-companionship to fill the time or is there something deeper at work? 

Resist, a classic prog rock song from the Ooso prog-rock era now slips past Gem's lips as a tree speckled canyon slides by on both sides of the river.

I can learn to compromise

Anything but my desires

I can learn to get along

With all the things I can't explain

Pausing, Gem mulls the feelings in their heart: I truly have discovered something sacred these last few days. Early on, sure, the data disconnect was hard, missing social media threads, family and friend AR game nights, entertaining misinformation memes, interactive stoicism workshops, and just the never-ending pulsing flow of information and updates on minutia ad infinitum...data, data and more data. 

Was it day four when I let out that particularly exuberant sigh? After that I let the thoughts of everything going on that was out of my control just go. And then the paddling and maneuvering began to flow without afterthought. Past relationship memories, artistic ideas, and simple tasks ahead still surfaced but without any imperative intensity.

Mid-thought, mid-paddle, their lyrical outpouring continued:

I can learn to close my eyes

To anything but injustice

I can learn to get along

With all the things I don't know

With only hours left on the Snake River corridor Gem's accumulated inner peace caved momentarily yet the stream of consciousness continued of its own accord: By day's end I will be back in the ambition race. Will I be satisfied with that? Although living a life of peace for this trip has been centering, I know deep down there is more to life than this escapist, flowing, river meditation mindset. 

They inhale the air, deep and moist. It'll be okay. Maybe I'll figure out the relationship thing finally. A life with the right companion would be a completely new river to navigate, discover and enjoy. The challenge would be finding a great match, willing to spend time both together and separately, an in moments time might just stand still for each of them as they discover their best selves together. 

On that mental vision, Gem smiles, a smile that is part of a greater reality, a reality where warmth and chill intertwine in thin layer of river mist, a reality where the Rabbit Moon now gently drifts high in the western sky, a reality where Gem starts singing anew.

I can learn to resist

Anything but frustration

I can learn to persist

With anything but aiming low

Rush's full song Resist can be listened to HERE

Derring-Do

"Attack the day like birds of prey!" - Rush (Force Ten)

The circumstances of the world beyond our control might be labeled DESTINY, though I prefer framing that concept as "luck." 

Within ourselves, raw and refined DESIRE nudges and compels us to pursue a path through that seeming chaos. 

The third and perhaps most important element in this trifecta of sapient existence could be simply termed Derring-Do, or the will to act. I consider this mindful capability the crowning element. Sure, it can be driven by inner inspiration, but how we act embracing or defying the desire and luck of the moment is core to our inner character and our deeper efforts to pursue a satisfying journey.

How we act is guided by the accumulated experiences, skills and ethical concepts we've learned. Incorporating these lessons into our daily lives happens both unconsciously and with great contemplation. The devotion to building the best world and best self we can muster may require sacrifice and suffering, alas if goodness is the result we push on through.

One way to ratchet up our derring-do is to begin each day by envisioning the things, small and large, we want to accomplish. By mentally itemizing the things we want to accomplish, inside and out we give ourselves an agenda to strive towards. Whether it's working on life projects or personal virtue, executing everyday tasks, or pursuing pleasureful activities, reviewing them (perhaps in journal format) assembles a trajectory for our day to follow.

Subsequently, our intentional actions throughout the day will have a psychic framework of sorts to attach to. Whether we're pursuing these things alone or as part of a team or with a partner, the framework envisions each step we take as we navigate through the good and bad luck moments and channel our inner desires to make it real.

At days end, we can review our progress. By gently evaluating our accomplishments and comparing what we had envisioned to what we have actually done we can systematically improve our effectiveness. Whether as a journal entry or mental exercise this can serve as a check list moment, but also a practice of self-gratitude and self-guidance. Accepting ourselves as empowered though imperfect human beings strengthens our wherewithal. Mindfully growing our capacity for compassion and reason, we can increase the goodness we project into the Universe for ourselves, for the ones we love and for the flourishing of a joyful world.

Give the song Animate by Rush a listen

to amplify the Derring Do in your life

 

Desire

“Pity me that the heart is slow to learn
What the swift mind beholds at every turn.”

― Edna St. Vincent Millay

Desire is at the heart of the human mind's ongoing wishes for the future.

Billions of years of evolution have conditioned animal minds to be seekers of a panoply of good outcomes. Our very existence has depended on acquiring good nutrients, shelter and rest, warmth and care, reproductive and social well being, and more. As humans, our neurology and psychology are complexly predisposed to rewarding us for finding the things we desire, and to punish us to a degree when they are wanting.

In a modern context where survival within society is very different than out in the wild, the emotions that align with those primal desires weave quite the tapestry. We of course can feel happy and sated when our desires are fulfilled or sad and angry when deprived of something we want. We can also feel excited when something we desire seems possible, arguably fueling us to pursue that desire.

In romance, desire can get even more complicated. If mutual desire manifests it can lead them to spending time together in joyful discovery and an exploration of future life building. In the best of worlds, a healthy, lasting connection can result that inspires both people to pursue their best selves. Yet desire without mindful considerations can fan itself into an inferno or burn out leaving, rather than provide ongoing warmth.

"That which enchants, can also deceive." - Plato

Romantic desire that manifests at different levels between two people presents its own challenges. Unrequited feelings can cause hurt and stir up guilt even among the best of friends. Still, if there is respect between them, compassionate, rational minds can intervene and forge a compromise to move forward. Sometimes it just takes some time to reestablish a friendship with comfortable boundaries. Other times kindred spirits simply need to fly free to permit each other to discover their best selves on separate paths. 

(As an aside, I find it interesting that the desire themed adages "absence makes the heart grow fonder" and "out of sight, out of mind" both share popularity in our culture. Which I guess goes to show managing ones desire has an unpredictable side. Depending on luck and circumstance, sometimes it is inflamed and sometimes it is chilled.)

At the end of the day, desire is part of being human, of manifesting the drive to pursue the things we want in life. With a pinch of luck and mindful derring-do, desire can help steer the human ship toward its goals, alongside the goals of the those we care for.  Indeed, our desires can lift our spirits, and with compassion and reason engaged, help us soar high and navigate wondrous journeys.

Give the song  I Want You to Want Me by Cheap Trick 

a listen for a little musical desire connection

Destiny

"The essence of horror lies in the fact
that ancient ideas survive in modern minds." 
-unknown

As someone who doesn't believe in the supernatural, the idea of destiny is quite fantastical to me. I find no good evidence for divine creators, extraterrestrial manipulators, or reality simulation programmers. Sure, at some level the Universe obeys natural laws making for a decent amount of predictability. Planetary orbits, engine cycles, physical health and more all have some time tested science behind them. But destiny feels to me like wishful thinking at best or a dead end reason to do nothing and let life take whatever path it will.  I do believe our lives unfold, at least in part, from desire and derring-do (more on these in future articles). 

Destiny notwithstanding, I do believe there is a major element of luck in the world. Luck is at work tirelessly affecting our pursuits and pretty much all the things that happen around us. At any given place and time the events for billions of years on end have come together to create the current situation, an entirety of situation no one can understand fully. 

(This isn't to say ANYTHING can happen in reality; whether we like it or not the laws of nature have their limits. The human mind, on the other hand, has the ability to imagine extreme fantasies and horrors, paradises and apocalypses, daydreams and nightmares, all too often ignoring the questionable evidence and wishful thinking we permit ourselves.)

Now true luck isn't the passive, magical ability to conjure up a future scenario that someone wants for themselves. Instead real luck represents the myriad of elements in play at any given time and place. Generally these are things we have no control over. No matter how much research we do before taking an action or how intensely we feel the moment is right, we cannot entirely predict how other people will react, what random events in the moment might affect their thoughts and emotions, or even how we ourselves will react when things turn out differently from the way we wanted.

So destiny feels to me like a fever dream. No matter how hard we try, the outcome can be different than we expect. And we shouldn't be so hard on ourselves or others when our expectations aren't met.  Instead, we should find the best aspects we can in the moment while allowing any disappointment and sadness to dissipate over time. Living in the imperfect moment has its hidden joys if we stay present. With patience we can be ready to seize the next lucky moment and expand on it when it arrives.

In the end, though, it still can be very hard. Acceptance that our expectations won't ever be completely filled can be centering. Destiny aside, maybe the white lie "it wasn't meant to be" can be helpful to the human mind in coping with reality. The idea that outcomes aren't entirely under our control can help our human minds offload the blame from ourselves by recognizing luck, timing and circumstance are in play.

You might give a listen to the song Ghost of a Chance

(a sideways connection to these thoughts)

States of Change Chapter 42: Evergreen (Washington)

States of Change is an ongoing work of serial fiction.

The speculative story-line seeks to inspire thought on ethics, culture and our planet's future.

The year is 2076, decades after Oosa's defederalization. 

Fifty independent States have forged unique societies from 

revolutionary technology and ideology

The Olympic Mountains loom high in the distance through aqua mist. The campsite on the edge of the Hoh River is speckled with minimalist gear: several hammocks swaying in the breeze and improvised log benches circling a campfire circle of tumbled granite rocks. The moss draped maples of the surrounding rainforest challenges the mind with swirls of green impressionism.

A handful of booted old-timers stand in the river's fringe seeking the solace of ancient ways. Their fishing rods are authentic enough, but the weighted flies they swing around are hookless to conform to the Washingtonian Sentient Code: "All Thinking, Feeling Creatures Deserve Respect."

I jot some notes down to remind me later of the joyfulness that the people here glean from their immersion in nature. Salmon are left to swim and spawn and further upstream to feed the brown bears or die and decompose capping the web of life in this temperate environment. Many people are recording video, sound and other data for the citizen science collective. Some are simply observing from isolated locations seeking inner solace.

Thinking of the many-fold fullness of new Washington, I sigh. Over half the state embraces the principles of Nae Nae, founder of the sentient protocols. With her influence over nearly fifty years, the state was rewilded around its three megacities. If time had been rewound 20,000 years the wild areas would be more or less indistinguishable from their environmental balance of pre-ice-age times, inclusive of the mammoths and sabre-toothed cats reintroduced to the Olympic valleys.

One might say, it was the best of times. Hydroponic, veganic agriculture easily sustain the needs of the cities. The cities house the eleven million humans, their companion animals and its mostly enlightened society. Art and literature creation flourish, recreation and conversation varied and peaceful; by every measure, happiness was flourishing. 

I consider my happiness in the moment. An ache of joy and absence reside there that would not go away. My mindfulness meditation practice helps center me on a daily basis, but nothing can eliminate my feeling of loss. Before I had known her for a year let alone thirty, I had tried to mentally prepare for the inevitability that we all face, losing someone you love.

The tension of my memories slacken an iota as I imagine generations of humans contending with that very same emotional challenge. All our AI optimized wisdom, real-time counseling and transcendental exercises seem but the thinnest of salves on lost love. And yet for the most part we forge ahead. Someone once said, better to have love and lost, than to have never loved at all. 

With that thought in mind I set my notebook down and pull my shirt away and then dive into the chill waters of the Hoh. The body and mind unify if only for an instant in that microsecond of aquatic immersion that takes me back to a playful moment of my youth. Chill water for most every Earthling creature is an evolutionary memory, a chance to reconcile being in the moment with acceptance of the greater vista of the living world.

The Ultimate Resolution?

Yet another new year celebration approaches accompanied by the annual resolution parade. Too often these resolutions to exercise more, cut calories, and accomplish our overdue goals are full of high expectation as they fade faster than our digital calendars can update.

Perhaps the best resolution to make is simply to daily renew our resolve to think and act better toward attaining good outcomes. To that ends I present you with a handful of positive ethical systems that you can further research and revisit (links provided). Then, gradually, bit by bit you can incorporate better ways of thinking into your world view and daily routine as you judge fit. Each of these brings reason and compassion together with the intention of enabling ourselves to set goals that improve ourselves, our communities and the planet on which we all spin.

Atheism. Let's get this one out of the way. There simply is no good evidence that any supernatural beings exist, period. Yahweh, Zeus, Mohammed, The Flying Spaghetti Monster, Xenu, etc. etc. Religious stories are parables with a pinch of history at best (very potentially with lessons to learn from) and deliberate misinformation incorporating cultish Ponzi schemes at their worst. Getting past the indoctrination can be a difficult climb. With patience, reason conquers the wishful thinking, mysticism and mythologies. Nevertheless, atheists, including myself at times, can get too distracted with countering religious claims. Yes, religious nationalism and cultural indoctrinations need to be challenged, but there is a time to leave the god debates behind and focus more time on moving forward ethically. 

Scientific skepticism. This is the meat and potatoes of understanding the world better. The scientific method, when applied with integrity, clarifies how reality works. Although some might claim scientific findings are neutral ethically, because logic and authentic information are establishing truths, scientific skepticism is inherently an advocate against misinformation. Since scientific findings are at the foundation of creating technology that can enhance or destroy, there is also an implication that reflection upon the relevant outcomes is also of high importance.

Secular humanism. This world view is a solid follow-up once one has shaken off the panoply of religious indoctrination the human mind has spawned. Humanism has diverse positive ethical tenets that grow out of the basic idea that real purpose is of human origin. Generally, the movement encourages the betterment of humankind at its core with significant consideration for the environment, if only to support the thriving of society and the human individuals here on Earth. If secular humanism has an innate flaw, it might be that it overvalues the human presence in the whole of things, without considering impacts outside of the human experience.

Sentientism. A step beyond humanism, this ethical position supports the sustained thriving of all conscious beings, not humans alone. Cultural indoctrination has to a degree made the human-being sacred even though the spectrum of sentient beings certainly extends beyond our species. Humans, however, are uniquely powerful and positioned to be stewards of a healthy planet for all life in balance. A good start to being ethical along these lines is to pursue a vegan lifestyle which aspires to eliminate human created animal abuse whether for food, research, entertainment, or any other poor excuse. Watch Dominion if you have any doubt that your purchases of meat, dairy and eggs are funding animal abuse.

Stoicism. Not to be confused with the stereotypical emotionless "stoic," stoicism is a reflection philosophy intended to ratchet up personal virtue. Classic forms of stoicism do claim there is a natural epitome of virtue, which feels to me like a form of deism, wherein an absolute morality has been baked into the universe. In my opinion, the ethical journey is a personal one, and training ourselves to find happiness in bettering ourselves and feeling good about doing the right thing is a cornerstone of the process of stoicism. 

Of course there are many additional and rational ethical systems to explore and merge into your personal world view. I hope this short list inspires you enhance your personal journey on a daily basis. It is up to each of us to develop the ethical systems we live by to be the best they can be. 

Research, reflect, and reconsider the best ideas you find and then take action aligned with those findings toward attaining goodness for the self, for humanity and for Earth as a whole. Yes each and every one of us can resolve to do better!

Come January 1st, and the next day, and day after that, know you can wake up, shake off the blahs and resolve to begin anew the incredible opportunity it is to live each day with joyfully compassionate and well-reasoned intention!

Coping with the Coming Shitstorm

As we approach a four year stretch of likely authoritarian governance, we must do all what we can to cope. We must cope not only for our own psychological sanity, but also for the good of our communities and for ongoing, incremental  gains toward global world progress. Yes it's a tall order, especially given the challenges at all levels.

Although we must not turn away from the fact that our country right now would rather see a convicted felon, rapist and generally unethical human being at the helm than a woman of color wielding positive human values and level-headed leadership. Thus, as the new Republican administration takes their wrecking ball to American regulatory institutions and human rights we must do all that we can to cope. To be sure this is easier said than done, still here are my thoughts.

Pay attention to your own psychological self care. If you're anything like me, the mere mention of the Republican's cult leader is triggering. Still, we are no good for others if we aren't attentive to our own bodies and minds. Consider waking up to joyful music, a word puzzle, or an extended peek at nature. 

You might also include mindfulness exercises throughout the day which can center the mind on a positive path forward. Simply taking a minute to enjoy the act of breathing, to connect with the body's sensations, and to be in the moment  can recharge the self. Eating healthy and staying active will also go a long way to creating good energy for the self.

One of the big challenges we face is handling the information deluge. Yes it is good to stay informed, but exposing ourselves to the endless flood of emotionally charged news, rampant misinformation and unuseful rants, even as a catharsis, I find, is counterproductive. Better to scan the headlines, and carefully READ the details from reliable journalistic sources like NPR, The Economist, and the BBC, always keeping our fact checking, critical thinking skills engaged. To this end avoid getting into emotional exchanges with friends. Encourage gentler discussions of meaningful topics to plant the seed for healing and participating in grass root efforts. 

Grass root efforts is where it is at. As individuals we can plug into existing progressive organizations and communities that espouse like-minded positions that are well-reasoned and compassionate. Strengthening goodness within our social circles will make things tolerable. Marginalized people will be needing our support, so volunteer where you can. Of course, we all have limited time, so consider making extra contributions to the organizations you find most positive that fight for the bigger state, national and global issues that concern you most.

As the Republican administration seems to trample on positive ethics, the temptation will be to double down on escapism. Video gaming, streaming shows, fiction reading, etc.,  all have a place, still consider being mindful of your selections, and let your choices not just recharge you when you by losing yourself in them, but also inspire you as you notice their deeper themes of pursuing peaceful, rewarding connections with other humans and all of Earthlings.

In a technological world, it is too easy to succumb to virtual experiences. Connect with like minded folks in real world activities that remind you of the planet's wonder and the thrill of existing. Part of the progressive mojo is to be curious, compassionate, and creative on a daily basis in our lives. Explore a new hobby, read a mindful non-fiction book, watch a nature documentary and discuss the ideas with others. Stay clear of the cult-like appeals that return to nonsensical tradition and supernatural promises. 

Not only as Americans, but also as humans, we must strive to be better to grow our ethical world view ever more, each day. Yes, we have a four year burning jungle to work our way through, but along the way, and beyond, we can make each step full of radiating kindness and thoughtful action. In that way, we will rise victorious and bloom as good people no matter what else happens around us.