Social Media Brain

A strange thing happens now when I think I'm almost done. I think "I'm just going to post a few pictures and then set down my phone, computer, iPad, whatever." Then I post a few pictures. Then I wait a few seconds. Then I check to see who's liking them.

We saw Bernie Sanders speak at the KS Democtrats Conference last night in Topeka. He was as wonderful as I've seen on TV and the internet.

I went to KMEA this weekend. It was very good. Not as expansive as last year, but still very good.

Does my blogging further contribute to my social media brain? Is blogging as healthy as journaling by hand? Journaling by hand is so much slower that it's hard to get my thoughts down as quickly.

Today I worked outside a lot. I am thankful for warmer weather even if it is paired with anxiety about Climate Change.

Women's March: Topeka, Kansas

Following the presidential election, I became immediately motivated to take action to show support of people threatened by intentionally threatening campaign rhetoric.  I noticed on Facebook that there was a Women's March planned in DC the day after the inauguration. A couple days after that, a sister-event in Topeka, Kansas showed up and I thought "I can do that." A few days after that, feeling like I wanted to do more, I created a Facebook event arranging a caravan from Emporia in hopes of providing transportation for people who may not otherwise have it.  Shortly after that, I thought "The Skirts have to take our music to this event." Even if we wouldn't have been invited, we planned to take our instruments and make music wherever we could. In early December, The Skirts played a concert in Lawrence organized by our own fiddle player, Rachel Allai, benefiting the Money Bridge Project. During the planning of that event, Rachel met Terry Manies and that night she told us we needed to come to Topeka sometime. Mid-December Terry recommended us to the organizers of the Women's March and my communication with Susan Christensen began. We were so honored that the organizers, a group of newly connected individuals, would like us to officially perform for the event. Each of the members of the band strongly identifies with the intention of the Women's March and we knew our music would set a tone of peace and harmony at an event and during a time when so many marginalized populations and allies are feeling uneasy and concerned, to put it lightly. We are also obviously concerned, but as many of the speakers noted today, we must not allow the new leadership of our nation to drive us towards hate and division. Today was an absolutely incredible experience. I am truly humbled by the opportunity. We have been looking forward to this event for the last two months and now we get to cherish the memory of this experience. What is most exciting right now, is remembering that this was only the beginning of the unification of diverse groups of people, all of whom have commonalities regardless of their differences. I truly believe we all want the same basic rights, and today I got to stand on the steps of the Capitol with my sisters and show I want those same basic rights for EVERYONE. I am so grateful for all the previous generations of people who have stood up and showed our government and governing bodies around the world what the people want through peaceful actions. We brought songs today that have been used to express discourse since the civil rights demonstrations of our parents' generation. I am so thankful for their guidance. Since the election, I've heard too many baby boomers say "we though we'd accomplished more than this." But they made great strides towards equality and paved the way for us to continue the work.

After-Afterthoughts:
Today we changed the world.
The last time I felt like this was after I rode the DK100.
Now that our shadows are showing themselves clearly they may being to be healed.
An older friend took my best friend and I to KC see AniDiFranco when we were 15 years old. It was a beginning.

Reflections on Return of the Bird Tribes by Ken Carey

My first introduction to Ken Carey was in 2012 when I read The Third Millennium. That year, I was reading all the new-age, self-help, spiritual, conscious-expanding books I could find. Eckhart Tolle, Marianne Williamson, Brene Brown. I was beginning Heart Rhythm Meditation and noticing that my yoga practice was more than physical. I didn't realize until recently I was actually undergoing a customized training program of my own design. I knew I needed something, so I started searching. While I feel like I have gained many new understanding and a completely new self-concept over the last 4 years, I am filled with excited anticipation knowing that there exists and infinite amount of possible insight to be accessed.

My basic understanding of Ken Carey's writing process is that he doesn't write books, but books are written through him. During the last two decades of the 20th century, he received cognitive downloads from an unidentified, divine source. I may have just lost you, and if so, I wish you well on your path of limited possibilities. If you're still with me, I would strongly encourage you to get lost in Return of the Bird Tribes, or if you'd like a more reality-grounded first experience of his work, try The Flat Rock Journal, which reads like a new-age Walden.

Return of the Bird Tribes tells the creation story in a way I hadn't previously encountered. The concepts outlined are all-inclusive and exactly what most of us have been working towards.

LOVE>fear
UNITY>division

There is an awaking occurring. Right? Because there is me. And I think there is in you too. We're all thinking it. Wondering if others are too. There are still many signs of the old consciousness fighting for their last breath, but don't be discouraged by them. Those motivated by fear need our love. They provide an opportunity to demonstrate compassion as we gently present a brighter future.

Careers

I can't even spell it. One r here, another one there. I want there to be two in the middle. 

I had this thought today that careers are another aspect of our culture in need of drastic reform. I started watching a series recommend by a freshman girl called The 100. It's cheesey and made for teenagers and I'm hooked. Future. Post nuclear disaster. Humans fled to a space station. Three years later attempting to return to Earth. And this particular character caught my attention. A woman. A doctor. Who is also overseeing the Earth mission from above while fighting tyranny and trying to ensure the safety of her daughter. Capable of performing surgery to save someone from a bullet wound as well as secure the future of the human race. 

A month or so ago I was sitting with diverse a group of high school freshman listening to the tech college power plant instructor promote his program. He especially encouraged the girls to consider the field because it is in dire need of differing perspectives. He references a group of guy who Allah tee up together working together at a coal plant. When there is a problem, they all attempt to solve it in a similar fashion. Which isn't a very god way to solve problems. 

We must become or regain our Divergence. 

We cannot limit ourselves by committing ourselves entirely to one job, task, or skill. We are humans. We can do anything. And we may very well be required to do more soon. 

PS

I love my job, but it's only one part of who I am and what I am capable of doing. 

Accelerated Change

The world is changing before our eyes. When I think about all the events my 90 year-old grandparents have witnessed, I am awed. 

Awed and then overcome by a sense of compassion for people that some would say don't deserve it. These people grew up in a world where travel was not a common occurrence, and the speed of communication required patience and wonder. My own grandparents, thankfully, are very loving and accepting people, but they also haven't been directly confronted by the diversity now present in our society. I wonder about the first time they saw someone of a different skin color. I wonder what their parents told them about people that were different. When they started watching television. I wonder and I can't even imagine living their lives. 

The world is changing so quickly. I am curious about what future issues may will surpass me. Will there be topics that I don't want to discuss? Will there be lifestyles I hope my children don't adopt? Will society be accepting things I cannot? 

All this leads me to a place of compassion for those who, from a place of fear, cannot accept those they view as “others.” Discrimination is not to be tolerated nor taken lightly, but compassion does not equal approval nor acceptance. 

Rather than asking “how can you be so...” what if we said “of course you feel that way. Let's talk about the reason and try to expand your fear-based belief.”

Self-Limiting Beliefs

1. Living in the country or a small town is better than living in cities because country life is more authentic, more self-sufficient and more wholesome. 

False. Life can be lived in any location that best aligns with needs and values.

2. People with a college education are people smarter than people without a college education. 

False. Duh.

3. Someone else's success takes away from my own success. 

False. There is plenty of abundance to go around. Be as rich, beautiful, happy or successful as you want. Prosperity has no limit. 

4. Humans are parasitic to the planet. 

False. She made us. We evolved. We may screw it up and kill ourselves off, but nature doesn't make mistakes. 

5. Someone else will make it better. 

False. We must make it better. 

6. You have to see it to believe it. 

False. Our senses are extremely limited.

7. There is never enough. 

False. See item 3. And know that we are currently producing enough food to feed every person on earth, we just don't have systems that allow that type of distribution. A too-huge majority of the food we produce is wasted throughout the system. 

Points of Interest

This is a mess of interesting things I've come across.

Jonathan Pie has a lot to say in his Trump rant.

Jonathan Pie is a satirical news reporter character created and played by actor Tom Walker. He is known for his outtake-like rants of a conflicted reporter speaking his mind about the state of UK politics.[1][2][3]
His first spoof news report was released just after the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of opposition in the UK Parliament. The "report" was in response to mainstream media reporting, in particular the weight given to a past relationship with Diane Abbott and the fact that he "stuck his willy in a woman".[4]
Walker was soon approached by several media companies, including RT UK, the Russian government-funded television network, who offered him complete creative control. He worked with them for several months until deciding to split in July 2016 prior to a show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.[5]




A Love Letter in Response to the Elections

Brother Phap Hai (Dharma Ocean), is a senior monastic Dharma teacher living at Deer Park Monastery and board member of the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation. He was ordained as a monk in 1997 and was formally authorized to teach in January 2003."


Ani DiFranco 

See more of Ani's photos from the #nycprotesttoday on her Instagram feed: www.instagram.com/anidifranco

https://www.facebook.com/glennondoylemelton/photos/a.213343589709.128680.178909129709/10154696553584710/?type=3&theater