“Hippies, terrorists all the same thing” – Eric Cartman
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions” - Albert Einstein
Quantum Physics tell us that as an entity we are made up of cells of pure energy; and that we are really not solid. If we look at ourselves under a microscope you would see movement and would cause you to think how do we stay together?
Energy can be described in 8 different forms; Kinetic, Potential, Thermal, Gravitational, Sound, Elastic, Electromagnetic and Light. It is the latter which is the subject of today’s blog.
The title of the blog is Aurora Borealis; which is better known as the Northern Lights, a phenomenon which can be seen twice a year between September and October and March to April. The lights can be seen throughout the Northern Hemisphere but are clearer and more prevalent the nearer you are to the North Pole due to the longer periods of darkness and magnetism.
The Aurora Borealis are known in the region by “the Cree” a local Indian race in Canada “The Dance of the spirits”. The sight of the bands of green, oranges, purples and all spectrum possibilities and combinations bounding across an icy vista would of inspire a worship system that is more tangible than written words 2000 years ago, as the dancing spirits are actually witnessed and their faith would be restored bi-annually due to there regularity .
So what is light? Well it is radiation of a wavelength that is visible to the eye. Of course the radiation can be invisible but let’s just concentrate on the reality of what we can see. Light has three primary properties namely, Intensity – frequency – wavelength. To break it down further it is Brightness – Band (Colour) – Speed, Distance.
Our imagination tells us that all light is white and can only be changed by the introduction of what we call a prism or concave lens. When light is placed through a prism it refracts and through this a whole spectrum of light is visibly formed.
I am sure you are all very much aware of prisms but how did it changed metaphysics? The most important work with light was by John Locke the British philosopher who influenced Voltaire, Rousseau, Hume, Kant and of course the American revolutionaries whose influence is reflected in the American Declaration of Independence. It just so happens that they are all also characters in the American Series “Lost”. (Cue twilight zone music, I have figured out the ending)
However today we are looking at the metaphysical qualities of Light and the refracted colours from prisms. Now Western Physicists Goethe and Newton did research and publish the colour range from various prisms in the form of colour wheels; however what is quite amazing is the co-incidence and similarity the Eastern religions that all practice the awareness of the Chakra or Ki and the relationship of the colour to vitalize the body.
Now a chakra in short is one of seven colours that were also associated with seven parts of the body. Each chakra and colour was in place to control certain organs of your body, personality and potentiality. It was also felt that any illness, malady or situation could also be associated to any colour chakra and by applying focus could reverse the situation with wearing the colour or with treatment – as described later.
Now treatments was more or less most of the time meditation, but the ancient Egyptians who also believed in this in a different format used to sit its subjects into light rooms and the coloured glass panels (The Egyptians invented glass thousands of years before the west) used to bathe the affected person with light.
Light therapy is become more common and is especially used with the treatment of skin conditions such as Acne, Eczema and Psoriasis. This comes via a light treatment which has medically proven to reduce bacteria in the pores by 99.9%. The light is of UVA standard and is not too far aware from a tanning salon tubes but with the cancer forming properties associated with the latter.
Light therapy is also used to cure depression which is sometimes brought on by the winter seasons; this condition is usually called Seasonal Affective Disorder. When bright light is shone onto the patient the melatonin levels increase and creates serotonin, this of course is one of the chemicals released by the brain and assists happiness.
Now the above of course can be cured by spending as much time outdoors as possible, and a good walk can cure all ills but the benefits of light therapy is simple but let’s now look at the evolvement and also bring us back to the prism, colours and chakra and exploring Colour therapy.
We all have favourite colours however have we ever thought about the psychology behind this? My favourite colour is orange and was shocked to learn that this chakra colour was based in the pelvic region and kind of explained a lot to me and a lot about me for of all you who know me.
Red: First Chakra: Located at the base of the spine. Used to stimulate the body and mind and to increase circulation.
Orange: Second Chakra: pelvis area. Used to heal the lungs and to increase energy levels.
Yellow: Third Chakra: solar plexus. Used to stimulate the nerves and purify the body.
Green: Fourth Chakra: heart
Blue: Fifth Chakra: throat. Used to soothe illnesses and treat pain.
Indigo: Sixth Chakra: lower part of the forehead. Used to alleviate skin problems.
Violet: Seventh Chakra: top of the head
Modern day colour therapy is often known as Chromotherapy and is branded as a pseudoscience, but the tools for treatment are gemstones, wands, candles, prisms, coloured fabrics and coloured lenses. They can be combined with hydrotherapy and aromatherapy for maximum therapeutic affect.
Chromotherapy is known to help with a range of illness and injuries and certain behavioural conditions such as ADHD, ADD and Autism. This is a genuine offered treatment as is Photobiomodulation which is basically A low level laser concentrating on an area on the body with different wavelengths for a desired effects.
To date it has been medically proven to heal soft tissue injuries, nerve regeneration, tinnitus, wound healing, bacterial infection and chronic pain.
The power of light is very profound and as we are reaching the crescendo of a spiritual renaissance, the thought of nature being able to cure all of our ailments by possible walking naked in the sun should liberate us.
This knowledge should lead us to become more Agrarianism, and live out our wild free dreams. Maybe Ralph Waldo Emerson was right after all, it was not him however who inspired me but the fictional K-Paxian Prot, who in a soliloquy described to all of us that his mode of travel was an invisible wavelength of UV light that he used to transport himself across the universe. We of course believe this as we all were inspired by the Agrarianism and his innocent endearing nature. (Watch K-Pax – Kevin Spacey is excellent)
To appreciate light we have to look for and appreciate natures striking phenomenon’s with examples of rainbows, sunsets, sunrises, lightening all of which change with the seasons. There is beauty in looking at water and if there is a thin layer of oil the light refracts and you can see the full spectrum within the pollution.
Light also governs the nature of all animals especially birds; there is a couple of ironic circumstances such as people who complain of birdsong along with campaigning for brighter street lighting. Also a sad irony is people who keep birds but silence them by blocking any light source from there small cage by placing a dark cloth over it.
A profound metaphor for the above is that if you do not like birdsong, do not keep birds. Think about that, an original quote. All birds should be free, they have wings for a reason.
So why was Light and it variations the subject of today blog? Well my Grandmother passed away recently and Thursday was her funeral. During the service your emotions are heightened as is awareness and in these circumstances the smallest things become relevant and part of your lasting memories.
My lasting memory of this service was the rays of light penetrating the chapel and bouncing of the silver handles of my Nan’s coffin. There was a point when the coffin was lowered to be cremated that the beams of reflected light were the last vision before being committed to the incinerator.
The light in the chapel was also of a yellow hue and in chakra terms is associated with fire, thus creating a greater sadness in the subconscious.
After the service it seems somewhat traditional to view the flower arrangements that were sent in respect of the occasion. These were placed in a piazza surrounded by low level buildings which all had ironworks surrounding its perimeter. This created a natural shade and a shadowed blue hue smothered the area of reflection which of course is the chakra colour of the mind.
The Indigo chakra is also a reference for the western phenomena known as Indigo children.
Upon returning home that day seeing my son Johnnie whose recent 5th birthday yielded him a special toy? This toy is a wooden turnstile, with hanging off every arm long strips of mirrors, with red and blue backs and below then are bells. When you spin the turnstile the noise of the bells and movement of light places the child into a state of calm.
I wonder whether the blue and red reflections into the mirrored light can cause any changes? Or would a toy that encompasses all four elements of Water (blue), Fire (red), Air (movement & bells) and Earth (wood, mirrors) and the creation of a spectrum from the mirrors can put anyone at peace.
I will finish with a medical term, a test that shows we are at the full level of consciousness. This can be shown in the acronym P.E.A.R.L – Pupils Equal and Reacting to Light.
React to light, the colours from light and bask in its healing benefits and emotional healing properties.
To bring us back to the original top line quote from the eminent Eric Cartman one man’s Hippie is one man’s terrorist. My greatest crime and gift is imagination, as it will guide me to fulfil my dreams.
Peace and groovy Man!
Scott x
Sunday, 24 May 2009
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Making your Mind Up
“A peace is of the nature of a conquest; for then both parties nobly are subdued, and neither party loser” - William Shakespeare
If you are like me, (a camp, frilly, Pop Queen) then Saturday you would have been watching The Eurovision Song Contest live in Moscow.
Now for some, this annual event is met with derision and the inevitable indignation towards every country that do not vote for us and places us dead last. I have before fell into the trap of conspiracy theories, block voting and general bitterness towards us and assumptions of jealousy.
Before we even started there was a campaign for us not to vote for Norway (eventual winners so did not work) because a referee from the aforementioned Norway decided to display the worst ever officiating performance that has ever graced a football match and left Chelsea lets say “Peeved” as the injustice and suggested bias towards Barcelona.
Now before you all wag your finger accusingly at me of being a Europhile and a sympathiser lets take a minute to possibly look at this from their point of view.
Firstly we have to accept one thing, and would like you to think about this. Just because one country likes something different, it does not make it wrong.
So let’s start with the title of the contest, The Eurovision song contest. The premise is that a song that is widely regarded as the most popular by a combination from every voting country wins. The conspiracy is that all Scandinavian, Balkan and Ex USSR countries all vote for each other and is known as block voting.
I think that after the fall of the Berlin wall, the break up of Yugoslavia and the USSR with all the countries fighting for their right to be recognised, and in some cases engage in civil war. That maybe not voting for your neighbour in the Eurovision song contest is not a catalyst for further military action. I do believe that Georgia voted for Russia.
They flipping invaded them last year, I do not believe that the military withdrew on a promise that they will use there vote wisely or air strikes will reign down upon them.
I think that the conspiracy theorists, which there are plenty of, need to probably let this go as laying all the blame at “the bloody foreigners” as we say is just not acceptable and actually racist and xenophobic at least.
I think that Eurovision is a beautiful thing and when a country enters with a traditional song, whilst wearing there national dress they do so to promote the beauty and arts of their homeland and open themselves up to the world.
We take this as beneath us and possible even sneer at them with a superiority complex, as we would not demean ourselves to this level.
I would love nothing more than at the next Olympics than to be represented by Pearly Kings and Queens and jingling Morris dancers, as this is us. Alas more disjointed street dancing free-styling with no substance it is to be : (
It is the sneering culture amongst us all, and it is not just the UK as there are elements all across Europe and it is in the guise of Racism, Homophobia and Religious intolerance.
I would like to take this back to the UK now, as it is my point of reference and would like to revisit the “Bloody Foreigners” attitude which seems to be prevalent and fuelled by the “British Jobs, for British People” political proviso and The Daily Express attack on every immigrant in the UK.
Let’s look at our attitude or one that is regularly portrayed, “Bloody foreigners, come over here and take our jobs!”
Now lets look at that statement and assume that he is referring to a job that he has held or not held and also lets assume that his paymasters or job centre have overlooked his output or potentiality and went with a foreign worker. Why do you think this happened?
Firstly we are in Europe and it is perfectly legal, the same opportunities are available elsewhere. Secondly possibly the job went to the best person due to attitude, reliability and experience.
Thirdly they were prepared to be 100% flexible.
Now I am not saying that all British people are like this, far from it. However the loudness of their voice is what political parties use as there background manifesto and newspapers push their propaganda and create a fear culture. We fear what is different; we produce a defence mechanism of being superior to all and sneer at everyone who is basically not us.
We live in an Island and we are very insular which maybe causes some people to display paranoia and to be defensive. The only connection to the outside world is via the media, whether it is Radio, Television, Internet or Newspapers all of them with one agenda and that is to create more readers, viewer ship and listeners so that it can earn revenues through advertising and other streams of income. The easiest way to do this is to run a commentary about the outside world which you need to be informed of the newest danger.
I like the idea of Europe, and was thinking about this blog and recalled a book by Plato, called Republic. Now I have made reference to Plato before and one idea that stuck with me was the idea of Utopia. A land that was governed by Philosophers and wise men and every person in the Republic had a place in society and every role was equally important. In the book Plato did explore other ideas and with some contrasts, but the idea itself is beautiful.
This of course could have inspired Karl Marx who had the same vision in communism, but the vision was corrupted. The thought was that we could live in a classless society does appeal on a base level. There was one flaw and that man is inherently selfish and would always crave more, it is just a primal desire!
So maybe sneering is a primal desire or it could be a defence mechanism, but whatever you feel it is we need to control it as one thing we must have towards our fellow man, and that is tolerance.
Tolerance is looking at something from another point of view, from the Eurovision entrant who wants to promote their country and culture and consider it an honour, to the migrant worker who has a desire to have better things for his family, and as the primal desire kicks in as a hunter and gatherer he will swallow the sneering as his circumstances will improve.
I do however love the stiff upper lipped, stoic, foppishly dressed, chinless English aristocrat and do not need to go any further than Noel Coward’s performance in “The Italian” job. This represented the English attitude and the audacity that an English team will drive into the heart of Turin, under the noses of the police, the army and the mafia and steals millions in gold bullion.
Ironically the only way that the situation turned, was down to the brazenness and celebratory arrogance by the English when they were clear and free. This of course alludes to the premise that only an Englishman can beat an Englishman.
We can win the Eurovision and there is a way to do it, firstly what music does Europe like? This is important as essentially it is a popularity contest and the clue is in the title. What is Popular?
Secondly when we carry out analysis and test the market, take feedback in an open and honest way and act upon it.
Thirdly, does it satisfy our home audience? This is imperative as a sense of association will only help but drive more interest.
Finally, appreciate other performances and be honest about what you like and don’t like. It is only your opinion and during each day we have around 20,000 thoughts. When the result comes down essentially they may not agree with 1 thought. All in all that is not a bad ratio.
I really liked Greece and Germany’s performances this year but they did not do so well, but that’s what Eurovision is and some acts in some cultures polarize opinion. I have seen some crazy things over the years and boy have I been surprised at some of the outcomes.
Thank you for reading and keep up with your feedback and see you again x
The quote in the start of the blog put simpler means, it is the taking part that counts. That all life is, that is all of society is and humankind just taking part is enough x
It is what it is xx
If you are like me, (a camp, frilly, Pop Queen) then Saturday you would have been watching The Eurovision Song Contest live in Moscow.
Now for some, this annual event is met with derision and the inevitable indignation towards every country that do not vote for us and places us dead last. I have before fell into the trap of conspiracy theories, block voting and general bitterness towards us and assumptions of jealousy.
Before we even started there was a campaign for us not to vote for Norway (eventual winners so did not work) because a referee from the aforementioned Norway decided to display the worst ever officiating performance that has ever graced a football match and left Chelsea lets say “Peeved” as the injustice and suggested bias towards Barcelona.
Now before you all wag your finger accusingly at me of being a Europhile and a sympathiser lets take a minute to possibly look at this from their point of view.
Firstly we have to accept one thing, and would like you to think about this. Just because one country likes something different, it does not make it wrong.
So let’s start with the title of the contest, The Eurovision song contest. The premise is that a song that is widely regarded as the most popular by a combination from every voting country wins. The conspiracy is that all Scandinavian, Balkan and Ex USSR countries all vote for each other and is known as block voting.
I think that after the fall of the Berlin wall, the break up of Yugoslavia and the USSR with all the countries fighting for their right to be recognised, and in some cases engage in civil war. That maybe not voting for your neighbour in the Eurovision song contest is not a catalyst for further military action. I do believe that Georgia voted for Russia.
They flipping invaded them last year, I do not believe that the military withdrew on a promise that they will use there vote wisely or air strikes will reign down upon them.
I think that the conspiracy theorists, which there are plenty of, need to probably let this go as laying all the blame at “the bloody foreigners” as we say is just not acceptable and actually racist and xenophobic at least.
I think that Eurovision is a beautiful thing and when a country enters with a traditional song, whilst wearing there national dress they do so to promote the beauty and arts of their homeland and open themselves up to the world.
We take this as beneath us and possible even sneer at them with a superiority complex, as we would not demean ourselves to this level.
I would love nothing more than at the next Olympics than to be represented by Pearly Kings and Queens and jingling Morris dancers, as this is us. Alas more disjointed street dancing free-styling with no substance it is to be : (
It is the sneering culture amongst us all, and it is not just the UK as there are elements all across Europe and it is in the guise of Racism, Homophobia and Religious intolerance.
I would like to take this back to the UK now, as it is my point of reference and would like to revisit the “Bloody Foreigners” attitude which seems to be prevalent and fuelled by the “British Jobs, for British People” political proviso and The Daily Express attack on every immigrant in the UK.
Let’s look at our attitude or one that is regularly portrayed, “Bloody foreigners, come over here and take our jobs!”
Now lets look at that statement and assume that he is referring to a job that he has held or not held and also lets assume that his paymasters or job centre have overlooked his output or potentiality and went with a foreign worker. Why do you think this happened?
Firstly we are in Europe and it is perfectly legal, the same opportunities are available elsewhere. Secondly possibly the job went to the best person due to attitude, reliability and experience.
Thirdly they were prepared to be 100% flexible.
Now I am not saying that all British people are like this, far from it. However the loudness of their voice is what political parties use as there background manifesto and newspapers push their propaganda and create a fear culture. We fear what is different; we produce a defence mechanism of being superior to all and sneer at everyone who is basically not us.
We live in an Island and we are very insular which maybe causes some people to display paranoia and to be defensive. The only connection to the outside world is via the media, whether it is Radio, Television, Internet or Newspapers all of them with one agenda and that is to create more readers, viewer ship and listeners so that it can earn revenues through advertising and other streams of income. The easiest way to do this is to run a commentary about the outside world which you need to be informed of the newest danger.
I like the idea of Europe, and was thinking about this blog and recalled a book by Plato, called Republic. Now I have made reference to Plato before and one idea that stuck with me was the idea of Utopia. A land that was governed by Philosophers and wise men and every person in the Republic had a place in society and every role was equally important. In the book Plato did explore other ideas and with some contrasts, but the idea itself is beautiful.
This of course could have inspired Karl Marx who had the same vision in communism, but the vision was corrupted. The thought was that we could live in a classless society does appeal on a base level. There was one flaw and that man is inherently selfish and would always crave more, it is just a primal desire!
So maybe sneering is a primal desire or it could be a defence mechanism, but whatever you feel it is we need to control it as one thing we must have towards our fellow man, and that is tolerance.
Tolerance is looking at something from another point of view, from the Eurovision entrant who wants to promote their country and culture and consider it an honour, to the migrant worker who has a desire to have better things for his family, and as the primal desire kicks in as a hunter and gatherer he will swallow the sneering as his circumstances will improve.
I do however love the stiff upper lipped, stoic, foppishly dressed, chinless English aristocrat and do not need to go any further than Noel Coward’s performance in “The Italian” job. This represented the English attitude and the audacity that an English team will drive into the heart of Turin, under the noses of the police, the army and the mafia and steals millions in gold bullion.
Ironically the only way that the situation turned, was down to the brazenness and celebratory arrogance by the English when they were clear and free. This of course alludes to the premise that only an Englishman can beat an Englishman.
We can win the Eurovision and there is a way to do it, firstly what music does Europe like? This is important as essentially it is a popularity contest and the clue is in the title. What is Popular?
Secondly when we carry out analysis and test the market, take feedback in an open and honest way and act upon it.
Thirdly, does it satisfy our home audience? This is imperative as a sense of association will only help but drive more interest.
Finally, appreciate other performances and be honest about what you like and don’t like. It is only your opinion and during each day we have around 20,000 thoughts. When the result comes down essentially they may not agree with 1 thought. All in all that is not a bad ratio.
I really liked Greece and Germany’s performances this year but they did not do so well, but that’s what Eurovision is and some acts in some cultures polarize opinion. I have seen some crazy things over the years and boy have I been surprised at some of the outcomes.
Thank you for reading and keep up with your feedback and see you again x
The quote in the start of the blog put simpler means, it is the taking part that counts. That all life is, that is all of society is and humankind just taking part is enough x
It is what it is xx
Monday, 11 May 2009
Tanganyika Laughter Epidemic
“On stage, we just want to generate hysteria. We don't care about looking cool or posing” - Adrian Edmondson
“Our country is now geared to an arms economy bred in an artificially induced psychosis of war hysteria and an incessant propaganda of fear” - Douglas Macarthur
I would like to talk today about Hysteria especially the Mass Hysteria that we buy into on a day-to-day basis. We could talk about different levels such as Susan Boyle to Swine Flu all of which have been generated from the one same source – The media.
If you are long time readers of my blog you will know that I do not engage and participate in the mass media and mass hysterical work of Newspapers, Magazines and gossip columns who all do there bit to generate an emotional response to a news item.
It is widely thought that if you engage someone emotionally they will be more likely to return to hear, read and surf your take on any topical subject that arises.
Yes, I can see the irony of writing this blog too.
So Mass Hysteria or other terms it is known by such as Herd Behaviour or bandwagon effect is most likely a primal throwback designed to protect our evolution.
We, unlike other species (although subjective, granted) have an intelligence to communicate with each other to warn of danger.
A Nice Parable to illustrate (albeit longwinded) my point
There are three cavemen in a field; two walk off to capture and take some tusks off a warthog as they look like good digging tools.
So let’s set the scene, and call these ancient cavemen Dave, Fred and Randy.
“Hey Randy, me and Fred are going to the woods as we have noticed an animal called a warthog who just happens to have tusks that would help us tremendously in digging out post holes to put up our new pergola” – Commented Dave
“Ok Dave, look after Fred as he is young and needs guidance from a wise caveman such as your. Would you mind awfully to be back for supper at 7pm as tonight we are having cous cous salad and it dries up something terrible if left?” – Lamented Randy
So the intrepid travellers made there way into the jungle to seek the warthog, two mighty warriors seeking their destiny. They were Dave the wise elder whose bravery was legendary and the young Fred who was strong as an Ox, but his sense is yet to come to fruition.
They tracked the warthog and by using strategies straight from the teachings of Sun Tzu (gained from a visit from Doctor Who in his Tardis, who accidentally left his DVD player behind) they flanked the animal and went in to kill him and collect there bounty.
At the crucial moment Dave went to pounce on the fearsome beast but tripped on a trailing piece of leopard skin cloth from his shoes and fell flat on his face.
The fall and the force of his landing frightened the warthog; so that he rose up on his short squat legs about turned and ran in the opposite direction.
There was silence, only after the sound of the warthogs coveted tusks had pierced through the abdomen of young Fred. Even with his strength, he was as fallible as all men born with human flesh that can so easily be broken.
As Dave regained his composure and re-tied his giant leopard skin shoelaces, he sat and cradled the dying Fred in his arms and vowed to him that he will talk about his braveness to all the others in his tribe.
Fred died cradled gently in Dave’s arms, which he then closed his eyes for the last time and kissed him gently on the forehead and said goodbye.
Dave rested Fred on the jungle floor in front of him and thought to himself
“Shit!”
The situation was not as straight forward as he had hoped, he was a well revered and wise man within his tribe so.
“Maybe an alternative story would be more fitting for Fred” thought Dave as the actual chain of event could prove embarrassing for him.
So David pondered this for a while, conscious of the time and the effort Randy was obviously putting in preparing his Cous Cous salad, an idea was struck.
The were some keys elements to the story that Dave needed to include such as people convincing, frightening enough so that no-one comes to the jungle and also could do some good in the long run.
The story was confirmed in Dave’s mind, he then buried Fred in a shallow grave as his supper time was approaching and he made his way back to the tribe to tell his story.
The sight of Dave stumbling from the jungle alone and with a look of fear and personal tragedy on his wise features caused all the tribe to stop what they were doing and run to assist there wise, strong elder.
Randy had been one of the first to see Dave stumbling from the jungle and quickly rushed to the scene. He was frantic as Fred was not with him.
Although Fred was the strong silent type, Randy had fallen for him and they were inseparable. They were in love and they naturally want just to exist like the fall and rise of the sun and moon. There love had to be suppressed due to the narrow thinking ways of the tribe.
Randy and Fred had often dreamed about moving to a secluded cave in the mountain, were the two of them could be together and they would raise quails.
Dave had reached the centre of the tribe’s communal area, out of breath and clearly distressed he was folded over hands on his knees head forward trying to gain his composure.
“Where’s Fred” Randy asked in a strained high pitched panicked voice
“Fred has been taken, he was taken by WITCHES” replied Dave to an astonished crowd who all gasped with the revelation
Dave explained further
“A group of witches approached us in the jungle, and they took Fred. They used there wicked magical powers to take all my strength from me. They wanted Fred for a mate”
“They said that if we ever went back into the jungle they would kill him, they let me go so that I can give you this message”
The tribe was outraged and all talked furiously between each other; there was tears and Mother’s taking there children and hiding them in the caves and covered by religious symbols.
Randy fell to his knees and started beating the bare earth; he was crushed as his lover and soul mate had been torn away from him. In an uncharacteristic show of strength and resolve he rose to his feet and climbed onto a nearby rock to address the tribe.
“I stand before you a broken Man; Fred was dear to me and to all of us. He dedicated he life to protecting us all with sensitivity, devotion and discipline. If this happened to anyone of us then Fred would be the first to go into the jungle to rescue him. We owe it to him and to all of our futures and safety to rescue him. Who is with me?”
A roar of approval and the tribe was united and committed to rescue Fred with the unlikely figure of Randy leading the vengeful mob who were all fully intent in dishing out justice to these witches. They made there way towards the jungle.
Dave was swept up in the euphoria and was asked to take them to the last known location of Fred.
“That did not go well” Dave thought
Dave led the mob through the jungle; careful to take them as far away from the freshly dug shallow grave of Fred.
“All this because of a Leopard skin shoe lace and my desire for a pergola” Dave chastised himself
They travelled for hours and rested in a clearing in the jungle to take on water and to speak with Dave so more.
Suddenly around 150 yards ahead a young girl approached the nearby stream, Randy noticed her and beckoned Dave to see him and asked.
“Was that one of the witches you sure?” Randy asked
“I am not sure, as witches can hide there true selves and live amongst us” Dave replied, almost instantly wishing he had not said a word
A small radicalised group from the mob were dispatched to capture the witch; the group were the self pro-claimed Guerrilla Unit of the outfit and the formed G-UNIT did not make mistakes.
They snatched the young girl; they asked her the whereabouts of Fred and she denied all knowledge so they silenced her and took her back to the tribe for judgement.
There was no doubt that the conscious of Dave was heavy but now the lie had escalated so much that revelation would certainly signal his own death by the mobs hands. He was not concentrating and followed the mob as they made there way back to there settlement, he was oblivious to the fact that they were heading in the same direction as to the final, albeit shallow resting place of Fred would be uncovered.
The area of the covered up crime was approaching, and by some cruel fate Randy signalled to the mob to rest on the very spot.
The sight of Fred’s corpse being pulled apart and feasted on by wild animals had done one thing. It had sealed the fate of the captured woman.
The rage within the tribe delivered the most cruel of deaths to the young girl, they burnt her alive and asked her to confess so her soul would be saved.
Over many years, mobs and smaller hunting parties have gone to the jungle and captured witches. It was apparent when anybody took ill or the crops failed then the presence of witches were blamed and even sought within their own tribe.
*************************************
The ending is how you can imagine. The picture you really have to paint yourselves and manifest your own Horror, my interjection cannot affect your fears any more successfully than your own subconscious.
So “Mass Hysteria’s de Jour” are as follows;
Swine Flu - This is originally the direct result of pigs being infected by Human Flu. So there is a wicked irony, when it is given back via an inter-species germ tag match.
I over heard a conversation on the bus the other day which was unintentionally flawed genius and wrong on every level.
I often listen to conversations, and liken this to being the third person in a crazy world, made up of poor reasoning and mass hysterical judgement.
I kid you not; this is verbatim between two students.
“All this swine flu happened for a reason you know” Person 1 said
“Really, what do you know about it?” came the reply from Person 2
“Well, you noticed that Muslim’s and Jew’s have not caught it?” Person 1 incorrectly stated
“Nah, really why do you think that is?” Person 2 said aghast
“Because it is an unclean animal and against our God, Pigs were poisoned by spiritual elders to kills all the infidels and anti-Semites” Person 1 stated, whilst proud of solving the mysteries of the universe
I think no comment can really be made after that.
Susan Boyle - I was watching Television the other day with a friend and a there was a clip of some woman singing on an advert. We paid it no mind and made no comment and carried on with the conversation.
Then suddenly Simon Cowell came on the television and lavished praise and made some powerful validating comments.
The person who was watching TV with me then responded,
“I agree she has the best voice I have ever heard. She was something special” They said
I did not comment, but thought that this person would not have made that validating statement unless Simon Cowell praised her.
Has any heard of the fable of the Emperors New Clothes?
Some other examples of Mass Hysteria - Taken from Wikipedia
Dancing mania was a social phenomenon that occurred primarily in mainland Europe between the 14th and 18th centuries; it involved groups of people, sometimes thousands at a time, who danced uncontrollably and bizarrely, seemingly possessed by the devil. Men, women, and children would dance through the streets of towns or cities, sometimes foaming at the mouth until they collapsed from fatigue.
One of the first major outbreaks was in Aachen, Germany, on June 24, 1374; the populace danced wildly through the streets, screaming of visions and hallucinations, and even continued to writhe and twist after they were too exhausted to stand.
Fan death is a South Korean urban legend which states that an electric fan, if left running overnight in a closed room, can cause the death (by suffocation, poisoning, or hypothermia) of those inside. Fans manufactured and sold in Korea are equipped with a timer switch that turns them off after a set number of minutes, which users are frequently urged to set when going to sleep with a fan on
The Tanganyika laughter epidemic of 1962 was an outbreak of mass hysteria, or mass psychogenic illness (MPI), rumored to have occurred in or near the village of Kashasha on the western coast of Lake Victoria in the modern nation of Tanzania near the border of Kenya.
It is possible that, at the start of the incident, a joke was told in a boarding school, and that this joke triggered a small group of students to start laughing. The laughter perpetuated itself, far transcending its original cause.
The Tanganyika laughter epidemic is sometimes understood as implying that thousands of people were continuously laughing for months. However this may not have been the case. Other reports tell that the epidemic consisted of occasional attacks of laughter among groups of people, occurring throughout the vicinity of the village of Kashasha at irregular intervals. According to reports, the laughter was incapacitating when it struck.
The school from which the epidemic sprang was shut down; the children and parents transmitted it to the surrounding area. Other schools, Kashasha itself, and another village, comprising thousands of people, were all affected to some degree Six to eighteen months after it started, the phenomenon died off. The following symptoms were reported on an equally massive scale as the reports of the laughter itself: pain, fainting, respiratory problems, rashes, and attacks of crying.
Mass Hysteria is still prevalent in our society but it is now managed in a way called Marketing, Media and Spin. A lot of you guys out there understand the Law of Attraction and there are a lot of people teaching it. There is always someone who has a new hidden message, new easier ways, new secrets, the hidden secret and the hidden secret easier way. This is marketing my friends plain and simple.
Everything that I have purchased in my pursuit, I could have got free. Every secret that was revealed was a re-packaged truth. There was one thing and one thing only that you should buy, and that is the energy and enthusiasm they deliver the truths.
The self development and motivational world is just like Disneyland! When you get off the ride you have to walk through them merchandising shop.
The moral of this blog is to think for yourselves, do not be part of the herd, and be the leader of your own independent mind. I want to help, motivate people and inspire people but financial gain is not my lead thought but part of my harmonic plan.
“This above all; to thine own self be true” - William Shakespeare
“Our country is now geared to an arms economy bred in an artificially induced psychosis of war hysteria and an incessant propaganda of fear” - Douglas Macarthur
I would like to talk today about Hysteria especially the Mass Hysteria that we buy into on a day-to-day basis. We could talk about different levels such as Susan Boyle to Swine Flu all of which have been generated from the one same source – The media.
If you are long time readers of my blog you will know that I do not engage and participate in the mass media and mass hysterical work of Newspapers, Magazines and gossip columns who all do there bit to generate an emotional response to a news item.
It is widely thought that if you engage someone emotionally they will be more likely to return to hear, read and surf your take on any topical subject that arises.
Yes, I can see the irony of writing this blog too.
So Mass Hysteria or other terms it is known by such as Herd Behaviour or bandwagon effect is most likely a primal throwback designed to protect our evolution.
We, unlike other species (although subjective, granted) have an intelligence to communicate with each other to warn of danger.
A Nice Parable to illustrate (albeit longwinded) my point
There are three cavemen in a field; two walk off to capture and take some tusks off a warthog as they look like good digging tools.
So let’s set the scene, and call these ancient cavemen Dave, Fred and Randy.
“Hey Randy, me and Fred are going to the woods as we have noticed an animal called a warthog who just happens to have tusks that would help us tremendously in digging out post holes to put up our new pergola” – Commented Dave
“Ok Dave, look after Fred as he is young and needs guidance from a wise caveman such as your. Would you mind awfully to be back for supper at 7pm as tonight we are having cous cous salad and it dries up something terrible if left?” – Lamented Randy
So the intrepid travellers made there way into the jungle to seek the warthog, two mighty warriors seeking their destiny. They were Dave the wise elder whose bravery was legendary and the young Fred who was strong as an Ox, but his sense is yet to come to fruition.
They tracked the warthog and by using strategies straight from the teachings of Sun Tzu (gained from a visit from Doctor Who in his Tardis, who accidentally left his DVD player behind) they flanked the animal and went in to kill him and collect there bounty.
At the crucial moment Dave went to pounce on the fearsome beast but tripped on a trailing piece of leopard skin cloth from his shoes and fell flat on his face.
The fall and the force of his landing frightened the warthog; so that he rose up on his short squat legs about turned and ran in the opposite direction.
There was silence, only after the sound of the warthogs coveted tusks had pierced through the abdomen of young Fred. Even with his strength, he was as fallible as all men born with human flesh that can so easily be broken.
As Dave regained his composure and re-tied his giant leopard skin shoelaces, he sat and cradled the dying Fred in his arms and vowed to him that he will talk about his braveness to all the others in his tribe.
Fred died cradled gently in Dave’s arms, which he then closed his eyes for the last time and kissed him gently on the forehead and said goodbye.
Dave rested Fred on the jungle floor in front of him and thought to himself
“Shit!”
The situation was not as straight forward as he had hoped, he was a well revered and wise man within his tribe so.
“Maybe an alternative story would be more fitting for Fred” thought Dave as the actual chain of event could prove embarrassing for him.
So David pondered this for a while, conscious of the time and the effort Randy was obviously putting in preparing his Cous Cous salad, an idea was struck.
The were some keys elements to the story that Dave needed to include such as people convincing, frightening enough so that no-one comes to the jungle and also could do some good in the long run.
The story was confirmed in Dave’s mind, he then buried Fred in a shallow grave as his supper time was approaching and he made his way back to the tribe to tell his story.
The sight of Dave stumbling from the jungle alone and with a look of fear and personal tragedy on his wise features caused all the tribe to stop what they were doing and run to assist there wise, strong elder.
Randy had been one of the first to see Dave stumbling from the jungle and quickly rushed to the scene. He was frantic as Fred was not with him.
Although Fred was the strong silent type, Randy had fallen for him and they were inseparable. They were in love and they naturally want just to exist like the fall and rise of the sun and moon. There love had to be suppressed due to the narrow thinking ways of the tribe.
Randy and Fred had often dreamed about moving to a secluded cave in the mountain, were the two of them could be together and they would raise quails.
Dave had reached the centre of the tribe’s communal area, out of breath and clearly distressed he was folded over hands on his knees head forward trying to gain his composure.
“Where’s Fred” Randy asked in a strained high pitched panicked voice
“Fred has been taken, he was taken by WITCHES” replied Dave to an astonished crowd who all gasped with the revelation
Dave explained further
“A group of witches approached us in the jungle, and they took Fred. They used there wicked magical powers to take all my strength from me. They wanted Fred for a mate”
“They said that if we ever went back into the jungle they would kill him, they let me go so that I can give you this message”
The tribe was outraged and all talked furiously between each other; there was tears and Mother’s taking there children and hiding them in the caves and covered by religious symbols.
Randy fell to his knees and started beating the bare earth; he was crushed as his lover and soul mate had been torn away from him. In an uncharacteristic show of strength and resolve he rose to his feet and climbed onto a nearby rock to address the tribe.
“I stand before you a broken Man; Fred was dear to me and to all of us. He dedicated he life to protecting us all with sensitivity, devotion and discipline. If this happened to anyone of us then Fred would be the first to go into the jungle to rescue him. We owe it to him and to all of our futures and safety to rescue him. Who is with me?”
A roar of approval and the tribe was united and committed to rescue Fred with the unlikely figure of Randy leading the vengeful mob who were all fully intent in dishing out justice to these witches. They made there way towards the jungle.
Dave was swept up in the euphoria and was asked to take them to the last known location of Fred.
“That did not go well” Dave thought
Dave led the mob through the jungle; careful to take them as far away from the freshly dug shallow grave of Fred.
“All this because of a Leopard skin shoe lace and my desire for a pergola” Dave chastised himself
They travelled for hours and rested in a clearing in the jungle to take on water and to speak with Dave so more.
Suddenly around 150 yards ahead a young girl approached the nearby stream, Randy noticed her and beckoned Dave to see him and asked.
“Was that one of the witches you sure?” Randy asked
“I am not sure, as witches can hide there true selves and live amongst us” Dave replied, almost instantly wishing he had not said a word
A small radicalised group from the mob were dispatched to capture the witch; the group were the self pro-claimed Guerrilla Unit of the outfit and the formed G-UNIT did not make mistakes.
They snatched the young girl; they asked her the whereabouts of Fred and she denied all knowledge so they silenced her and took her back to the tribe for judgement.
There was no doubt that the conscious of Dave was heavy but now the lie had escalated so much that revelation would certainly signal his own death by the mobs hands. He was not concentrating and followed the mob as they made there way back to there settlement, he was oblivious to the fact that they were heading in the same direction as to the final, albeit shallow resting place of Fred would be uncovered.
The area of the covered up crime was approaching, and by some cruel fate Randy signalled to the mob to rest on the very spot.
The sight of Fred’s corpse being pulled apart and feasted on by wild animals had done one thing. It had sealed the fate of the captured woman.
The rage within the tribe delivered the most cruel of deaths to the young girl, they burnt her alive and asked her to confess so her soul would be saved.
Over many years, mobs and smaller hunting parties have gone to the jungle and captured witches. It was apparent when anybody took ill or the crops failed then the presence of witches were blamed and even sought within their own tribe.
*************************************
The ending is how you can imagine. The picture you really have to paint yourselves and manifest your own Horror, my interjection cannot affect your fears any more successfully than your own subconscious.
So “Mass Hysteria’s de Jour” are as follows;
Swine Flu - This is originally the direct result of pigs being infected by Human Flu. So there is a wicked irony, when it is given back via an inter-species germ tag match.
I over heard a conversation on the bus the other day which was unintentionally flawed genius and wrong on every level.
I often listen to conversations, and liken this to being the third person in a crazy world, made up of poor reasoning and mass hysterical judgement.
I kid you not; this is verbatim between two students.
“All this swine flu happened for a reason you know” Person 1 said
“Really, what do you know about it?” came the reply from Person 2
“Well, you noticed that Muslim’s and Jew’s have not caught it?” Person 1 incorrectly stated
“Nah, really why do you think that is?” Person 2 said aghast
“Because it is an unclean animal and against our God, Pigs were poisoned by spiritual elders to kills all the infidels and anti-Semites” Person 1 stated, whilst proud of solving the mysteries of the universe
I think no comment can really be made after that.
Susan Boyle - I was watching Television the other day with a friend and a there was a clip of some woman singing on an advert. We paid it no mind and made no comment and carried on with the conversation.
Then suddenly Simon Cowell came on the television and lavished praise and made some powerful validating comments.
The person who was watching TV with me then responded,
“I agree she has the best voice I have ever heard. She was something special” They said
I did not comment, but thought that this person would not have made that validating statement unless Simon Cowell praised her.
Has any heard of the fable of the Emperors New Clothes?
Some other examples of Mass Hysteria - Taken from Wikipedia
Dancing mania was a social phenomenon that occurred primarily in mainland Europe between the 14th and 18th centuries; it involved groups of people, sometimes thousands at a time, who danced uncontrollably and bizarrely, seemingly possessed by the devil. Men, women, and children would dance through the streets of towns or cities, sometimes foaming at the mouth until they collapsed from fatigue.
One of the first major outbreaks was in Aachen, Germany, on June 24, 1374; the populace danced wildly through the streets, screaming of visions and hallucinations, and even continued to writhe and twist after they were too exhausted to stand.
Fan death is a South Korean urban legend which states that an electric fan, if left running overnight in a closed room, can cause the death (by suffocation, poisoning, or hypothermia) of those inside. Fans manufactured and sold in Korea are equipped with a timer switch that turns them off after a set number of minutes, which users are frequently urged to set when going to sleep with a fan on
The Tanganyika laughter epidemic of 1962 was an outbreak of mass hysteria, or mass psychogenic illness (MPI), rumored to have occurred in or near the village of Kashasha on the western coast of Lake Victoria in the modern nation of Tanzania near the border of Kenya.
It is possible that, at the start of the incident, a joke was told in a boarding school, and that this joke triggered a small group of students to start laughing. The laughter perpetuated itself, far transcending its original cause.
The Tanganyika laughter epidemic is sometimes understood as implying that thousands of people were continuously laughing for months. However this may not have been the case. Other reports tell that the epidemic consisted of occasional attacks of laughter among groups of people, occurring throughout the vicinity of the village of Kashasha at irregular intervals. According to reports, the laughter was incapacitating when it struck.
The school from which the epidemic sprang was shut down; the children and parents transmitted it to the surrounding area. Other schools, Kashasha itself, and another village, comprising thousands of people, were all affected to some degree Six to eighteen months after it started, the phenomenon died off. The following symptoms were reported on an equally massive scale as the reports of the laughter itself: pain, fainting, respiratory problems, rashes, and attacks of crying.
Mass Hysteria is still prevalent in our society but it is now managed in a way called Marketing, Media and Spin. A lot of you guys out there understand the Law of Attraction and there are a lot of people teaching it. There is always someone who has a new hidden message, new easier ways, new secrets, the hidden secret and the hidden secret easier way. This is marketing my friends plain and simple.
Everything that I have purchased in my pursuit, I could have got free. Every secret that was revealed was a re-packaged truth. There was one thing and one thing only that you should buy, and that is the energy and enthusiasm they deliver the truths.
The self development and motivational world is just like Disneyland! When you get off the ride you have to walk through them merchandising shop.
The moral of this blog is to think for yourselves, do not be part of the herd, and be the leader of your own independent mind. I want to help, motivate people and inspire people but financial gain is not my lead thought but part of my harmonic plan.
“This above all; to thine own self be true” - William Shakespeare
Monday, 4 May 2009
I love the rain on my scars
"'There's no use trying,' said Alice, 'one can't believe in impossible things.'
'I daresay you haven't had much practice,' said the Queen'When I was your age I used to practice for half an hour a day.Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.'"
- Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
“My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or the other of us has to go”– Oscar Wilde
I have now been writing my blog for over 3-months, the main purpose was to help with my burning ambition to become a writer.
Over time I have been experimenting with my writing style and subject matter, choosing difficult subjects and different research methods. I have tried writing in the morning, afternoon and night, with exercise and without exercise, with music and without music. I have eaten before and after writing and feel now that I have discovered my own winning formula.
With this formula my first novel is well on the way the being completed, and everything is on course for my book to be fully edited and a publish date ready for its launch. How do I know this? Well I believe it will happen it is just that everyone involved just do not know it yet.
I am know longer little Alice, doubting all her surroundings who would rather give in to her fear than believe what is front of her eyes. I do believe, and have witnessed my daughter fall down 99 times when trying to walk but on the other side she rose 100 times and succeeded.
My son Johnnie, who you may be aware has various disabilities and has trouble walking down slopes, yesterday he tried yet again this gargantuan feat. Even though half way through he shouted and screamed in frustration, he never gave up, and carried on going until he completed this task. There was a look of satisfaction and achievement on his face as he tasted success.
The title of this blog is “I love the rain on my scars” a ‘Streets’ lyric that encompasses the contents and topic of my weekly blog.
We all go through personal journey’s some positive, some that are not but along the way some self created limited beliefs.
I know that my journey has taken me to a better place, none other when I get negative feedback from my blog. I am not talking about the usual grammar and spelling mistakes (grateful for them) but the personal attacks or what is known in the blogging world as “flaming”.
There is no point in lying to you all, a few months ago this would rile me to a point where I would not be able to sleep with the rage that would build up inside of me, and would have usually reacted by publicly abusing them back in a personal, aggressive and more insulting way.
Now I just let it go, it does not matter. The only person who can affect my behaviour now is me and those who I allow to do so. However some of these messages have although negative have inspired me and can see a positive message from them all, and will expose them to you all and to feel “the rain on my scars”.
The subject on a few of them, was in general to get out and be positive not to sit and write blog’s and do things like skydiving etc.. I will single out skydiving as cheesy metaphors can be derived from it.
Now the suggestion was that to experience life fully you should try something new like skydiving, which actually I agree what a rush that would be the experience of your body resisting against the air current then suddenly pull your cord and you rise sharply as you view the eternal vistas of the land before you as you spiral towards the earth. You land and execute your little tuck and roll, gather your parachute and make your way back.
So that took let’s say 20-minutes, so what next? The adrenalin from that jump is addictive; the dopamine released has created an unbeatable euphoria and you cannot wait for the next fix. However when you’re breathing returns normal along with your heart rate the euphoria starts to dissipate and is replaced by a highly emotional state that is in contrast to the experience several minutes before.
In short, what goes up must come down.
Now replace the act of skydiving with some other activities which can create temporary euphoria such as shopping, gambling, spending, eating, fighting, stress, drinking, drug-taking, sexual acts, television programmes, winning, gossiping and of course asserting power over people.
All of these acts give you all temporary highs with the associated crashes when the feeling from act has dissipated. The cycle of addiction starts when you depend on repeating the original euphoric act to release you from the crash. Then guess what?
The cycle repeats.
So what is living without the above? I am not saying that we should not skydive as everyone should try this once and other acts as the feeling of the adrenaline is natures high. The thing that you need to be careful is not to become an Adrenalin Junkie.
There are people who are not comfortable with the term Junkie but let me put some things into context for you; people drink constantly because there happiest memories have been whilst drunk, people overeat because they associate food with feeling good (self hatred also, but another blog) we gamble higher and higher as the feeling of winning against betting everything they own creates such stress that the high is so much more powerful. (Only examples, majority of issues are more deep rooted)
I am sure you can take what you will with the above, but the original question put to me was why don’t I go out and enjoy life. I do! seeing my children grow gives me such a sense of self worth and contributing with there development balances a man as it is their primal purpose. This is the same feeling as cooking and bringing them food.
There are occasions when going out drinking socially is great as a good night is had by all without comparing it against constant depressive episodes of the withdrawal when it is over, thus no negative connotations are associated with it.
However, what ever comments that were made, do have there origin from sound reasoning (although poor examples). I do believe they are well intentioned, and what they do encourage is for you is to not sit in what is known as your comfort zone, and you can only leave your comfort zone by doing “something everyday that scares you”.
Positive thinking is not enough as thought is not action, and action is the missing element for most of us. If this was simple for us then it would be easy to do, however we do have to push ourselves through the barrier and the phrase “Do something everyday that scares you” is the mantra we should all live by.
A lot of you may not realise that April was the world stress awareness month; stress is created by developing limited beliefs for various reasons. They can be related to an addiction created before or after the action / behaviour. Stress is more often than not a cog in the cycle of addiction.
“I have a poster behind my desktop PC, which depicts a man climbing up a vertical ice stalagmite without safety ropes. I purchased the poster as it suggested to me that man can achieve un-limitless things when he puts his mind to it, at the time this was a powerful visual to have when working on the PC. Now, I find myself asking why was he climbing that ice stalagmite was it a sense achievement? Was it ego? Or was it because it scared him?
Whatever he did, it was the right thing for HIM to do. I did think that if it was the last two of ‘ego’ or that it ‘scared him’ that he would be a single man or a family man that was selfish and an adrenalin junkie.
So what have I done every day that has scared me? Well there have been many little things, there was a time when I would not even answer the phone and used to screen every call – I no longer do this.
I used to have a fear of the hairdressers, as when I was young the tip of my ear was cut off by a hairdressers – I am no longer afraid to have a haircut
I used to spend every night frustrated and angry about the day’s events, as never used to say anything when things annoyed me – I no longer am afraid
I used to think that there was never anytime for me to relax – I now make time
I used to think that it was everyone else’s fault that I was not happy – I now truly accept myself
I used to be affected by other people comments and actions towards me – I no longer grant permission for anyone to affect me
I no longer walk around without a smile on my face and smile at everyone – OK a bit of work needed, but will do this
I no longer ignore or do not talk to strangers – I aim to speak with everyone whom I make eye contact with, even if it a good morning
So here I am, 34 years old stripped naked and standing before you all and singing “I love the rain on my scars”
To quote Oscar Wilde and using his dying words to describe my previous limited beliefs and fears.
“My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or the other of us has to go”
The wallpaper is just a metaphor for the coverings we put up in our life through stress, ego, limited beliefs and vanity.
Lots of love, Scott xxxxx - who just wont sit idly by, with a tut and a sigh
NB:
I have written this as an afterthought, when thinking about Oscar Wilde who was the purveyor of many quotes, some with such cutting wittiness. We should not be afraid to poke fun at ourselves at times, as life is fun and should not be taken as serious as sometimes the media portrays or I do at times.
I am reminded of one of Oscar Wilde’s later works ‘De Profundis’ and the self-depreciating quote aimed at me, so will ironically quote it.
“Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation”
Seriously, the blog is my mental Sudoku and by taking quotes, ideas and interpreting and expanding them helps me.
Life is what it is – First and foremost it’s YOURS!
'I daresay you haven't had much practice,' said the Queen'When I was your age I used to practice for half an hour a day.Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.'"
- Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
“My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or the other of us has to go”– Oscar Wilde
I have now been writing my blog for over 3-months, the main purpose was to help with my burning ambition to become a writer.
Over time I have been experimenting with my writing style and subject matter, choosing difficult subjects and different research methods. I have tried writing in the morning, afternoon and night, with exercise and without exercise, with music and without music. I have eaten before and after writing and feel now that I have discovered my own winning formula.
With this formula my first novel is well on the way the being completed, and everything is on course for my book to be fully edited and a publish date ready for its launch. How do I know this? Well I believe it will happen it is just that everyone involved just do not know it yet.
I am know longer little Alice, doubting all her surroundings who would rather give in to her fear than believe what is front of her eyes. I do believe, and have witnessed my daughter fall down 99 times when trying to walk but on the other side she rose 100 times and succeeded.
My son Johnnie, who you may be aware has various disabilities and has trouble walking down slopes, yesterday he tried yet again this gargantuan feat. Even though half way through he shouted and screamed in frustration, he never gave up, and carried on going until he completed this task. There was a look of satisfaction and achievement on his face as he tasted success.
The title of this blog is “I love the rain on my scars” a ‘Streets’ lyric that encompasses the contents and topic of my weekly blog.
We all go through personal journey’s some positive, some that are not but along the way some self created limited beliefs.
I know that my journey has taken me to a better place, none other when I get negative feedback from my blog. I am not talking about the usual grammar and spelling mistakes (grateful for them) but the personal attacks or what is known in the blogging world as “flaming”.
There is no point in lying to you all, a few months ago this would rile me to a point where I would not be able to sleep with the rage that would build up inside of me, and would have usually reacted by publicly abusing them back in a personal, aggressive and more insulting way.
Now I just let it go, it does not matter. The only person who can affect my behaviour now is me and those who I allow to do so. However some of these messages have although negative have inspired me and can see a positive message from them all, and will expose them to you all and to feel “the rain on my scars”.
The subject on a few of them, was in general to get out and be positive not to sit and write blog’s and do things like skydiving etc.. I will single out skydiving as cheesy metaphors can be derived from it.
Now the suggestion was that to experience life fully you should try something new like skydiving, which actually I agree what a rush that would be the experience of your body resisting against the air current then suddenly pull your cord and you rise sharply as you view the eternal vistas of the land before you as you spiral towards the earth. You land and execute your little tuck and roll, gather your parachute and make your way back.
So that took let’s say 20-minutes, so what next? The adrenalin from that jump is addictive; the dopamine released has created an unbeatable euphoria and you cannot wait for the next fix. However when you’re breathing returns normal along with your heart rate the euphoria starts to dissipate and is replaced by a highly emotional state that is in contrast to the experience several minutes before.
In short, what goes up must come down.
Now replace the act of skydiving with some other activities which can create temporary euphoria such as shopping, gambling, spending, eating, fighting, stress, drinking, drug-taking, sexual acts, television programmes, winning, gossiping and of course asserting power over people.
All of these acts give you all temporary highs with the associated crashes when the feeling from act has dissipated. The cycle of addiction starts when you depend on repeating the original euphoric act to release you from the crash. Then guess what?
The cycle repeats.
So what is living without the above? I am not saying that we should not skydive as everyone should try this once and other acts as the feeling of the adrenaline is natures high. The thing that you need to be careful is not to become an Adrenalin Junkie.
There are people who are not comfortable with the term Junkie but let me put some things into context for you; people drink constantly because there happiest memories have been whilst drunk, people overeat because they associate food with feeling good (self hatred also, but another blog) we gamble higher and higher as the feeling of winning against betting everything they own creates such stress that the high is so much more powerful. (Only examples, majority of issues are more deep rooted)
I am sure you can take what you will with the above, but the original question put to me was why don’t I go out and enjoy life. I do! seeing my children grow gives me such a sense of self worth and contributing with there development balances a man as it is their primal purpose. This is the same feeling as cooking and bringing them food.
There are occasions when going out drinking socially is great as a good night is had by all without comparing it against constant depressive episodes of the withdrawal when it is over, thus no negative connotations are associated with it.
However, what ever comments that were made, do have there origin from sound reasoning (although poor examples). I do believe they are well intentioned, and what they do encourage is for you is to not sit in what is known as your comfort zone, and you can only leave your comfort zone by doing “something everyday that scares you”.
Positive thinking is not enough as thought is not action, and action is the missing element for most of us. If this was simple for us then it would be easy to do, however we do have to push ourselves through the barrier and the phrase “Do something everyday that scares you” is the mantra we should all live by.
A lot of you may not realise that April was the world stress awareness month; stress is created by developing limited beliefs for various reasons. They can be related to an addiction created before or after the action / behaviour. Stress is more often than not a cog in the cycle of addiction.
“I have a poster behind my desktop PC, which depicts a man climbing up a vertical ice stalagmite without safety ropes. I purchased the poster as it suggested to me that man can achieve un-limitless things when he puts his mind to it, at the time this was a powerful visual to have when working on the PC. Now, I find myself asking why was he climbing that ice stalagmite was it a sense achievement? Was it ego? Or was it because it scared him?
Whatever he did, it was the right thing for HIM to do. I did think that if it was the last two of ‘ego’ or that it ‘scared him’ that he would be a single man or a family man that was selfish and an adrenalin junkie.
So what have I done every day that has scared me? Well there have been many little things, there was a time when I would not even answer the phone and used to screen every call – I no longer do this.
I used to have a fear of the hairdressers, as when I was young the tip of my ear was cut off by a hairdressers – I am no longer afraid to have a haircut
I used to spend every night frustrated and angry about the day’s events, as never used to say anything when things annoyed me – I no longer am afraid
I used to think that there was never anytime for me to relax – I now make time
I used to think that it was everyone else’s fault that I was not happy – I now truly accept myself
I used to be affected by other people comments and actions towards me – I no longer grant permission for anyone to affect me
I no longer walk around without a smile on my face and smile at everyone – OK a bit of work needed, but will do this
I no longer ignore or do not talk to strangers – I aim to speak with everyone whom I make eye contact with, even if it a good morning
So here I am, 34 years old stripped naked and standing before you all and singing “I love the rain on my scars”
To quote Oscar Wilde and using his dying words to describe my previous limited beliefs and fears.
“My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or the other of us has to go”
The wallpaper is just a metaphor for the coverings we put up in our life through stress, ego, limited beliefs and vanity.
Lots of love, Scott xxxxx - who just wont sit idly by, with a tut and a sigh
NB:
I have written this as an afterthought, when thinking about Oscar Wilde who was the purveyor of many quotes, some with such cutting wittiness. We should not be afraid to poke fun at ourselves at times, as life is fun and should not be taken as serious as sometimes the media portrays or I do at times.
I am reminded of one of Oscar Wilde’s later works ‘De Profundis’ and the self-depreciating quote aimed at me, so will ironically quote it.
“Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation”
Seriously, the blog is my mental Sudoku and by taking quotes, ideas and interpreting and expanding them helps me.
Life is what it is – First and foremost it’s YOURS!
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