The Wealth of Friends and Family

I am currently sitting in the family living room. I trust my friends will not tell lies. They do not need to impress me. I am impressed with performances and my family and friends are beyond that. The people who live in my heart don't need to impress me. They are gathered in. They have come to my aid when I've needed it and I trust they see me not any show I might put on. I trust my ego is just something in me like teeth or blemishes. When I say I love you, its not about impression. It's about honesty.

Endless BAD news!

What does it achieve? Alienation from the group! Its easy to disengage from bad news than good news. It makes us feel we are not to blame. Blame! There's another reason we disengage. When it's so good there is nothing to be afraid of!. We can carry on believing we are okay and those who suffer brought it on themselves. This is how we create the space to think only how well we are doing. The world is working just fine because I am fine. More than anything we need to care for others not because we can congratulate ourselves on being fine but this whole project call the world is a mark of how and what we are doing. I know that if my neighbour is being battered its not my fault but fault is a means not an end. It lets me know how well I am doing and how distant I am towards the general public. We cannot press one button and change the world. We need to find ways to reach out and listen. We can't congratulate good fortune for ourselves. We can't blame ourselves either if we haven't done harm to others unless we did do something to hurt them. But we are not free to assume all is well if we are happy. This is a complex world. The killer reported on the news might not have done bad things and the good guy might not be good. Judging is useful for our own well being but it does not guarantee rightousness. I need to know what is happening even though it doesnt make me a good person. Good and bad. Oversimplifications. Only helps one to be smug and self satisfied. Those who have good education, nice homes, happy families did not necessarily deserve it. Winning awards, higher education, and good luck does not prove we deserved it, neither does bad luck means we deserve to suffer. Good and bad, rich and poor, right and wrong - are not indicators of our worth. Our minds and hearts are complex. What we feel and think is mostly about observation and opinion is about what we believe for our own satisfaction.

Who Are We?

 

Such a question is bound to receive contempt from many readers?

I know I am a woman in her seventies.

When I was younger I was pretty. vacuous and insecure. I would easily dissolve in tears. Because I watched my mother spend all her waking hours, cleaning, cooking and gardening. Sometimes she would sit down and light a cigarette. Her advice was short. But she was popular with men which was more of a hindrance than asset in the end.

In our family we were doers more than thinkers and so success or fame was out of reach. But we were practical people. I was happy to sit and draw, sing or act in plays. When I told my family I wanted to be a film star. They laughed.

Now I understand why.

Wealth, greed and beauty is a performance. Most of the advertised beliefs are directed toward the public to keep us in "the dream". I soon realized this was not happy-making. I even believed it was not necessary to be "a success". It was to keep the public occupied. 

We cannot be happy continuously trying to get ahead, feeling insecure whenever we hear of someone's success, trying to be top of the class.

Now I want everyone to be happy.

Shazam The Movie

 I watched this from beginning to end to try and find the meaning in the story.

All I can remember is the power displayed by the heroes. Becoming monsters, crushing ordinary people, and developing the power to blow them about, to become large, angry and scary.

Lots of loud sound, lots of rage, big monsters crushing ordinary people, then ordinary people rising above this with their own strength. It lasted for more than 2 hours, things blowing up, flying, falling down.

Big sound.

Antisemitism - We must stop it

 

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/anti-semitism-101/

I feel strongly that hatred of people who come from different histories, reveals hatred for humanity. And now that billionaires are blamed for ruling the world, we, humanity must find new ways to go forward.

Contempt for life itself is the cause of fear in our minds and hearts.

Happy Birthday Simon

Wishing you a lovely evening to finish off the beautiful day.

And may all your hopes come true.

much love Granny

I LOVE HEALTH CARE WORKERS

It can't be easy. Going to the homes of those who need your service, need to be bathed, need to ask questions about health when hospitals and doctors services are so difficult to find. Waiting lists are long for any public service and private services cost so much.

Needs for people are everywhere and tv programs are mostly cartoonish struggles to win, cats and dogs with superhuman powers. Yes it can be entertaining but it has no real message for humanity in a time when it appears our world is taken over by a starving economy. Now more than ever we need compassion, social responsibility. 

People willing to visit sick and disabled people are not likely to be praised even though their service is saving lives. 

Can We Survive the Monitization of "Truth"?

 

As I scroll through the emails waiting quietly on my mail, I wonder if they are worth the time?

First of all most of them have not been invited. Some are easily deleted and some are welcomed. But then I wonder who should I believe? Is it worth the wondering?

You Will Never Amount to Anything

 

they said.

It might have been a common response to any female child who had opinions.

Or any person who was an immigrant but not rich.

Or anyone they did not agree with or like.

This is what I heard from Aunts, Teachers and any adult who I annoyed.

So I attempted to be something.

My mother's family came from France in the second World war.

Expressing my opinion was easy for me. I was the kind of child who started singing when I thought my kin were asleep. It showed me up for being conceited and uncaring about others. This was when I was afraid of my father.

I didn't have academic ability and would drift off during class. I was driven by my own opinions, thoughts and needs.

When arriving in Canada at 16 I believed I would be special because I came from England. I entered the Miss Canada Pageant, eager to make friends. Becoming famous was the goal although I didn't attach any skills. However a man at the office where I worked said I have nice apples and so I was noticed.

I believed as long as I feel safe all was well. At that time the beauty contests were reasonably clean and they protected the contestants from scheming men when they could. I mentioned to them I was getting scared because the man who drove me had planned to take me to a place he was to visit after the pageant and that conversation in the car was about sexuality - sort of like grooming. When I told the pageant staff they arranged for me to get a plane from Toronto back to Montreal. It was a lucky day for this new Canadian.

I wanted to be famous, it was an ego need for someone who couldn't seem to do anything well, had a high opinion of myself. Although I didn't have fame or money.

But what did it mean that I would never amount to anything. What kind of fame was I after. I was ignorant and vain but that didn't show up on my inner opinion of myself. It was my ego who was determined not my real self, my cloak of self deception. Oh and the modern advertising to get people to care only about how they look to the outside world. I swallowed it all.

Eventually I found love, got married and had three children. Then I had to think seriously about them. 

Would the mother who would never amount to anything be a source of wisdom and kindness? Allowing them to find fame and wealth? 

My naïveté was not dangerous in the sixties. My opinions and the readiness to share them. Helped although there was the time a man who had a high position wanted to see me. The hierarchy was tight and women, young women, would try to please any man who has power. I was taken to his office where he fondled my breasts. Sighed and let me go. Then I was demoted although I never told anyone about it. I thought a different person tried to protect me. 

Naomi Klein is a hero

"To be clear, calm is not a replacement "

 "To be clear, calm is not a replacement for righteous rage or fury at injustice, both of which are powerful drivers for necessary change. But calm is the precondition for focus, for the capacity to prioritize and act strategically. Which may well be the reason so many powerful people seem determined to deprive us of our ability to find that focused state – whether it’s Donald Trump bombarding us with a non-stop barrage of shocks, outrages and baseless conspiracies, or Sam Altman telling us that “intelligence” is a “utility” we will soon be purchasing like electricity or water. In other words: Don’t bother making sense of reality yourself – outsource all that bothersome cognitive labour to the algorithm, and it’ll do it for you" Naomi Klein

two problems with the future of humanity

 1. That a group of people have been taught that power over others makes them superior.

2. That people who have power don't want to know how those without are treated.

3. If power is the only thing we value, it's easy to let those who suffer continue believing you are only guilty if you hurt others.

4. You are not guilty of knowing injustice is done to others.

5. Innocent or guilty is not the issue. The issue is being engaged in the politics of your people, is also your responsibility too.

6. How humanity deals with injustice is how our children survive or perish.

What is stupid is controlling minds of humanity

 https://alisav.substack.com/p/are-americans-just-stupid

We have lived through scary movies which say we are destined to die in terrible pain. We are warned that money is something we must have. People will not look after you when you're poor. 

I believe we can prioritize life over things.

Also we must love ourselves enough to not harm others unless it comes to survival. If someone uses a gun they are afraid.

Humanity has been filled with fears coming from capitalism, religion, war and traditions that diminish life beneath power.

tonys celebration of life

He left last night 

not knowing (I like to think) 

It was not his choice 

it was decided for him I tell myself. 

He stopped breathing 

and the machine was taken from him. 

It's not that he looked comfortable

or happy or proud 

in fact the machinery with all its attachments 

with all its needles 

he was not happy 

he struggled to breathe to move 

in fact he couldnt move. 

I lost him before then in the diagnosis

his eyes looking up 

as if he made his way to heaven. 

How I love the sentiments we invent 

the creation of a heaven 

waiting to welcome the ones we depend on for love. 

No way around it 

we don't want you to leave 

even if it makes you comfortable. 

You were never a sentimentalist 

creating a heaven in your mind 

where you could look down on all who loved you as I did. 

It was not my choice to share you with others 

but now you have moved 

from being the warm arms 

I fell into 

the advice to comfort 

the face to kiss 

the knowledge 

rules and connection 

like light returning 

every morning

 

the breakfast in bed 

supper in the evening 

and television shows 

now I understand 

how much you meant to everyone 

you cared for 

after supper

poem

"love is not love which alteration finds

or bends with the remover to remove

oh no

it is an ever fixed mark" Shakespeare

I Wear Your Sweaters

Old, stained, well worn bring comfort
when I’m inside

their out of style frumpish gape around my body

say my looks
don’t matter
but the way I wear you

covers my skin intervenes between me and the outside world

an undeniable belonging attachment to a common algorythm

as I shrink into
obscurity beyond economy radical attention knowing

I am loved by you
and wild birds who lend me their wings temporarily

moving across my window in sunlight.

Violence Is A Disease

Violence Is A Disease

https://thelefthook.substack.com/p/how-america-can-cure-its-addiction?utm_source=podcast-email&publication_id=2686450&post_id=202178727&utm_campaign=email-play-on-substack&utm_content=watch_now_button&r=pwb38&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email 

Violence works like a disease. Listen to this man.

It's Time To Build A World That's Life Loving Not Greed

Money, Stocks, Education, Power are ways to support life not trash it. 

But we humans who can  must do everything in our power to support it.

It's not Me versus Power, it's Life versus things.

 

I Lost My Beloved

He left last night 

not knowing (I like to think) 

It was not his choice 

it was decided for him I tell myself. 

He stopped breathing 

and the machine was taken from him. 

It's not that he looked comfortable

or happy or proud 

in fact the machinery with all its attachments 

with all its needles 

he was not happy 

he struggled to breathe to move 

in fact he couldnt move. 

I lost him before then in the diagnosis

his eyes looking up 

as if he made his way to heaven. 

How I love the sentiments we invent 

the creation of a heaven 

waiting to welcome the ones we depend on for love. 

No way around it 

we don't want you to leave 

even if it makes you comfortable. 

You were never a sentimentalist 

creating a heaven in your mind 

where you could look down on all who loved you as I did. 

It was not my choice to share you with others 

but now you have moved 

from being the warm arms 

I fell into 

the advice to comfort 

the face to kiss 

the knowledge 

rules and connection 

like light returning 

every morning

 

the breakfast in bed 

supper in the evening 

and television shows 

now I understand 

how much you meant to everyone 

you cared for 

after supper

Have You Seen Anything Today?

Like flowers in your back yard? Butterflies? Tiny bugs travelling across your ceiling? Your friend visiting? Your husband preparing supper? Rain? Today I learned about the life of a woman who posts really interesting news which you have been meaning to learn more about? Do I seem lazy? Because I don't do vacuuming these days. My husband does do housekeeping because I cannot walk. I cannot even stand up without hanging onto something. Well today I learned about a woman who lived in Germany in the thirtees. Her name was Hannah Arendt. She wrote about justice, society and how we can get along. To read more about this wise woman look into what has been written here ... Hannah Arendt. She never married and her thoughts and papers were published.

SERMON FROM THE BED by Karen Vickers

I know it doesn’t seem like it, against the scale of what is happening globally, but even getting out of bed and going outside to enjoy the sunshine, sing to the birds, love your husband, and feel the glorious joy of the wind running through your hair is an act of defiance these days. 

Those, who cling to money and power want you to be afraid and glued to your screen. Our world is collapsing, and it must collapse before something more beautiful can be born. There are many people around the world doing the work and new consciousness is arising, but it is going to take time. 

You will not see it. Sometimes I wonder if I will even live to see it. But I do see change happening around me. You are the wise elder now. Teach those who want to learn. Write about the beautiful world you know is possible. Enjoy the garden coming to life as spring arises. I’ll be there soon for tea. Karen

What Can You Do?

Scrolling through posts online - there was one on a young man serving customers in a large store. It revealed to me the harshness of this age. 

Ten years ago we were heading towards this world where "isolated humans competing for most of what each of us wants" has dehumanized us.

How can we bring back humanity?

By getting at the truth of our lives.

From this minute on we can ask ourselves what we can do. And do it!

Nothing is going to fix everything.

No we are not isolated individuals competing for most of what each wants.

We are goddesses and gods trying to mend this wage.

 

so check the mood

We are told by media that Trump is winning. But what exactly is he winning? He is not winning in the polls. Or the economy. Do your friends, your teachers praise him?

What is winning is the notion that power is the only thing worth fighting for.

What is power today?

It's money, guns, bombs - all dedicated to the use of power. All applied to masculine power, all funnelled into violence.

How can we tell when power is abused? The first task of power over is to make sure the public don't know. Create new games we call 'DISCIPLINE,