A space for observation, discovery, and growth
The Past Week or So Left Us a Lot to Think About
Pelosi and Team Step Down
Not unexpectedly, Speaker Pelosi announced this week that she was stepping down as party leader in the House after a 20 year run. Her two key deputies did the same. A few points to highlight:
It Was the Best of Times; It Was the Worst of Times…
Well, That Was Interesting
Much still going on out of the elections and important matters yet to be decided. Still, we know some important outcomes from all this. First of all, at least two people were right – Joe Biden and me (forgive the hubris on this one).
Biden went straight to the country in hammering home two points. One, this is not a referendum on himself – it is a choice on what we do and who we are as a country.
We Will Know Shortly What Our Fellow Citizens Have Decided About America’s Future
Well, Here We Are
I suppose at this point we are all, whatever our political persuasion, tired of hearing and saying that “This is the most important election of our time.” But once again, this one does seem to qualify.
This blog is being posted on Election Day. Many millions – a record number for midterm elections – have already voted, by absentee and through the mail. Millions more will vote today, in person. We honestly do not have much of a clue of how the election will go,
Join the discussion at: It’s Election Day, America – Hold Your Breath, Cross Your Fingers
Hard to Believe We Are Where We Are – But There Are Some Hopeful Signs
First, The No Surprises List
In anticipation of this Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, a number of outcomes were forecast. So far, all have come true.
There is Value in Laughing WITH – and Even Value in Laughing AT
Laughter is a Good and Necessary Thing
Those of a certain age will recall when they likely saw the words in the title of this posting. Laughter is the Best Medicine has been a section of Readers Digest (remember that thing?) for many decades. And they were exactly right. Science, medicine, sociology all have ample evidence that laughter is important to us, individually and socially. There are even laughter coaches and laughter yogis out there.
It certainly is important to me,
Join the discussion at: Laughter Really Is the Best Medicine
Lots of Odds and Ends in the News & in Our Heads This Week
It is That Time of Year
A lot of things man-made and natural come to the forefront this time of year, and a few extras are up front this year. Let’s take a look. The first three are inexorably linked to each other, the rest, free range.
Lack of Electoral Enthusiasm by Youth and Blacks
This promises to be one of the more unusual and more important midterm elections in many decades. Some polls and pundits indicate that enthusiasm is lower than it might be among young voters and among Black voters
I surely get it that any number of people and groups feel that not enough has been accomplished yet on their agenda priorities and for the nation’s good.
The Effects are as Good on You as They are on the Dog
This Blog Gets Happier in a Moment
But first, a couple of necessary sad notes. We received an urgent call this past weekend from a close friend who was about to lose her dog. After a long series of illnesses and related problems, it was time to let Hairy the Corgi go. Never an easy decision, even when it is the right thing at the right time, as this was, but there comes a time when what is best for the dog is to set them free from pain and problems.
Join the discussion at: The Subtle and Wonderful Experience of Walking with a Dog
Almost Every Place on Earth Has Had Previous “Owners”
What Conveys Whose Land This Is? It’s Tricky Applying Modern Standards to Historical Facts
I have a difficult time thinking of any sizeable piece of ground (or waterway) on this planet that does not come with multiple, conflicting claims of whose territory this is or should be. This disagreement has long been a leading cause of human conflict from our very beginnings as an identifiable species.
In the modern era (“modern era” being what we call the present time. Amusing to think about how others will call this ancient times before too long),
Join the discussion at: Whose Land Is This? Lessons from Ukraine, Taiwan, Israel – and the US
Three Recent Examples Bring the Lessons Home Delightfully
What Is it About Music?
Music seems to almost magic in its power to motivate, activate, sooth, and inspire the human creature (and other creatures, too; more on that later). You get this observation from someone who does not play any instrument nor knows how to read music. Well, I did have a short musical interlude. I had an impromptu kazoo band that showed up uninvited at Pentagon ceremonies when I worked there. And I once attended a dulcimer workshop. At the end of that first session, the instructor and I agreed my future was in the audience.
Nature is Kicking Our Butt Over Water, with Too Much and Not Enough. It’s Mostly Our Fault
The Term “Our Chickens Have Come to Roost” Sounds Right
I have been thinking about this posting for a few weeks. A good assortment of articles and reflections are being written about all this just now. Many are well worth your time to read, based on what I have been seeing
For our time together today, I thought we might reflect on the extreme opposites that are pounding the world and what their occurring at the same time mean for us all.
Join the discussion at: Water, Water Everywhere. And Yet, Not a Drop to Spare
