Rambling THOUGHTS

Another view from the train, just cuz... #journeyoftrainsandplanes

An early view from the train #journeyoftrainsandplanes

If we in America are going to call ourselves World Leaders, we must be willing to accept there are things about our own society that need work. Listen to those who have different experiences and beliefs. I’ve chosen to work on one issue close to my own life experiences. That would be how we view mental health in education; but, if I’m going to change anything, I must first learn why and how we have the problems we have now. You can’t solve a problem if you have no variables to work with.

Bill Murray in Get Low

Right now I have so many big ideas fighting their way out of my brain, battling for a chance to turn into a reality. The problem is, they are all big projects. Oh, that and I am beginning the process of applying to grad school and studying for the CSAT. Does this happen to anyone else? You feel blocked and uncreative when you have the time to work on a personal project; but, the second you have something going on and no time, THAT'S when your mind explodes with a million ideas that all want your immediate attention. I keep telling myself I just need to get some notebooks for writing these ideas down. Fill the pages with my imaginings. The problem is, when I try to put my thoughts down on paper, half of the magic behind my idea retreats into the underbrush, clearly there but just out of sight. "Ok, so just go back and add to it later," I can hear you saying. Part of me wants that so badly, but the rest of my thoughts have already begun chasing after the next idea. I can't slow down enough to finish thinking anything through! At this exact moment, I want to write biography of my grandma; not a simple project to say in the least, but I feel pressure to at least acquire as many stories from her as soon as possible because she's my last living grandparent and is nearly 91 already. In addition, I want to learn how to sew; the reason is that, I want to make a quilt just like my other grandma used to do. Oh, and I want to put together all of the photos and videos I've taken this last year of the boy I nanny as a gift for his parents. Oh, and then there's the statement piece I want to paint for my living room. I'm sure there's plenty more floating around in my head, only that's all that I can think of at this exact moment; but I think you get my point.

True equality means equal respect to everything and everyone, regardless of differences. Differences are fundamental to life, it's built into the fabric of the universe. I would argue that equality on the other hand, is a human ideological construct; this does not make equality unimportant. Let's break this down first. It's much easier to manage such a giant idea when it's divided into teeny, tiny, bite-size bits. I like to do what I call, "following down the rabbit hole", in which I follow one trail of thought at a time and break it down as far as I can. That way I don't get stuck at the bigger steps, thinking of all they ways to go at once. I follow one fork in the road at a time, so to speak. Right now, that first division is: EQUALITY -> GENDER EQUALITY. That's still pretty broad, so I narrow it down further with the first idea that comes to my mind. That would be EQUALITY -> GENDER EQUALITY -> EMPLOYMENT. Now, you might be thinking that I'm done now. Employment seems manageable, but take a harder look. Am I talking about salary, maternity/paternity leave, top level vs. lower level percentages, or something else?Sure, they might all need changes, but have you ever tried cleaning every room in your house at the same time? Well, I can tell you, nothing gets done well, and it takes way longer than expected. Instead, focus on each change with individual attention. That doesn't mean you can't start on one aspect while you finish another, but have a plan first. My thoughts go to EQUALITY -> GENDER EQUALITY -> EMPLOYMENT -> MATERNITY/PATERNITY LEAVE. By now my thoughts are aimed more at specifics. I'm thinking, "what are the typical weaknesses in this area? Are there any examples of a better system? What is the feedback of those 'better' systems?" And various other things like that. In my example, I would even go as far ask, "is there one industry that needs more work than others? Why is that? What makes that type of career less equal than others?" If you don't understand the root causes of the issues you aim to change, how can you hope to really change it? We have a tendency (I'm not sure how far this extends, but I see it enough for it to be my universal "we") to write a policy and call the problem fixed. That's at most, nothing more than a bandaid over an open wound. It's not enough to say you don't like something, you must understand why it is that way in the first place, then you MUST (respectfully) stand up for what you believe, so long as you don't take away anyone's freedoms or safety by doing so. Remember, equality in any form must start from a place of RESPECT.

A morning visitor at the apartment... #prayingmantis #urbanwildlife

I'm often tempted to ask the question, "when did religion become about controlling people?" Especially when you think about all the times religion has been used to start wars or force political change. It's honestly a pretty simple answer; when you remove God as a default response, you're left with the basic foundation that organized religion was designed with controlling the masses at its core. Let's moved beyond this basic instinct however when we look at why religious beliefs (whatever they may be) are not bad or wrong to put faith in. I myself am a practicing Jew. What kept me being Jewish at times when I doubted my beliefs and questioned my place in the world was the freedom I felt to ask those possibly "blasphemous" questions; not just to myself, but to my family and religious teachers. I can't speak for religious communities I've not been a part of, including other Jewish communities, but what I can say is that my beliefs are complex and different than others in my own community, but that's not only allowed, it's almost expected! Most importantly, I've discovered on my religious journey that it's okay to depart from how things were in the past to fit into the ever changing world around. That doesn't mean giving up on my strongest beliefs or losing what I see as my Jewish identity; it does mean however, that there will be times I see things and may even do things not in line with my beliefs, but as long as I don't feel I'm putting myself or others in harms way, I can most likely live with it. If there's a way to change the things in the world I don't like, without blindly walking over the strong beliefs of others, I will choose that path. Sometimes that means a compromise for everyone involved, but isn't that how things should be?

The things I do for entertainment.... #selfportrait #art

Life beginning with a new year's return. Learning and growing, Innocent to the world's pains and joys, Wrapped safe in your mother's arms. Sunshine and raindrops hold magic in their ways, You laugh at the wind and see no danger, Curiosity and wonder, Life beginning. Life begins this way.

Bring back.... THE BEAVER! (Now imagine that was in RuPaul's voice.) 😁

If you always ask yourself one simple question you might find you get into less trouble and understand the world around you that much better. That question: "WHY?" Why is the most powerful question in the universe. Just think about that...

It's a hot topic among presidential candidates, but why are the only solution on the income inequality to raise minimum wages? I firmly believe there MUST be a better solution... Something actually focusing on long term problem solving. Raising the minimums wage on non-skilled jobs will only put a bandaid over a wound that really needs stitches. It's basic economics, raise average income, and the cost of living will only inevitably rise. A better idea, have higher education not only more affordable, but more accessible to people stuck in non-skilled jobs. If you are a single working parent without a high school education, you don't have much of an option for employment, and good luck finding one that will support both you and your family! Why can't that non-skilled job come with an option of assisting in further education? Instead of paying the employee a higher minimum wage, put that money to education, but not just that... Support your employees in getting that education!

This is WAY too true! #DoctorWho #DWM #fangirling

#wonderlust #pacificgrove #dogdaysofsummer (at Monterey California)

I've been thinking about history a lot lately. Not just recent human history, but ALL of Earth's history. Earth is OLD AF; by comparison, modern humans are still just toddlers in our evolutionary history. Even if you only look at our own timeline, we've been around (I believe) 200,000 years, but it took us 130,000 of those years before we even settled outside of Africa. And seriously, think about the fact that what we consider the beginnings of modern civilization only date back 50,000 years. Part of me is wondering if our European ancestral interbreeding with Neanderthals had a more drastic impact on our development and "progress" than anyone I know has yet to realize. What other conclusion am I supposed to come to? The way civilizations across the world developed in a remarkably similar way, except if you look close enough there are differences enough to make you wonder why. I've always asked that question of why. Most people tend to ask it the other way around I suppose. Why are they so similar? That's easy for me to answer; because we are all human. But if that's so, why are there some significant differences? Beyond resources and tools and such. Mostly, culture and degree of violence. I'm still trying to figure it all out; it's a rather complex theological puzzle, but it has rhyme and reason. I'm trying to understand where were are going. A question most would agree to be uniquely human.