Take The Time...

I have met many people and I have seen many changes take place over the years. Parts of our world today are totally unrecognizable to me. I have watched changes take place everywhere, all the way down to changes within myself. I have noticed changes in people, as a whole, and I am going to try to see this in a positive light. 

Technology has been and always will be the driving force of change even in how or what we think. It has changed dramatically how we interact with others. So, it can make one wonder if technology has caused these changes in the way we interact or simply exposed them. Either way, it's sad, yet exhilarating.to see and watch. So, I watch, and I try to learn. I think it's safe to say that we all learn that way.

Social media has come a long way in such a short time period. Yes, I use it so I'm not throwing stones. Curiosity has always been my motivation for as far back as I can remember so I have learned to have an open mind. I learn to understand and not to judge. As similar as we all are, we have so many differences that make each of us unique. Social media has had a profound effect on anyone that uses it, especially on a daily basis, because of the availability of information. It's a total smorgasbord!

My point is, with all of this information, have I learned anything? I have. I don't interact with others like I used to. Back in the day making friends was quick because either one of them or I could not be there the next day. It was a military life and that's how it was. Now, I like to take my time. It's easier. You will need patience because getting to know folks properly does take time. But it will be most rewarding in the long run. 

The "IDGAF" mentality has taken root and is growing at an alarming rate. But you might as well throw that shit out the window because if the real truth were known, we would realize that we do give a shit more than we let on. None the less, as a society, we have less empathy. We have less patience. We certainly have less real interaction. We have become more self-absorbed. There are more assumptions (judgements) being made of others even when we don't know them that well. People have a chip on their shoulder that they cannot see but can see the chips on other shoulders. How many folks actually know who their neighbors are? People want instant gratification but can't find the time to wait for what is really important. 

In a time of fast this, instant that, or "get it now!", it does no harm to just slow down for a spell. I'm not so naive to think everyone likes or wants to know a lot of people. As I said earlier, everyone is different and there is everything right with that. There is nothing wrong with good judgement either. We are all free to pick and choose who we wish to get to know. The challenge is taking the time and to not make any assumptions about anyone. You most definitely can't judge a book by its cover. We need to remember that if we have our own struggles that we don't discuss, others will have theirs as well. Many things should remain unsaid because we really don't know what's really going on with others. 

Slow down and take the time to get to know whomever you wish. They will let you know what they want you to know in their own time. Until you know anything, you don't. 

I'll Figure It Out..

It's been a strange day today. I simply can't explain any of it. I did a few things I wouldn't normally do but that's pretty much normal. I can't put my finger on it for some reason. I know life will throw a few curve balls at me from time to time, as it has lately, as well as the last few years. A lot of that is now water under the bridge and I do the best I can with what I have with the rest. Tomorrow is predictable as life continues to throw either flowers or shit and not at my discretion. 

Happiness...

If there can be only one thing that stirs my soul, it would be to see happiness. You can't really define it. It's as individual as we are different. As I was sitting at a local park here a few days ago, I saw a lot of happiness. It was a gorgeous day so maybe that had a lot to do with that. I watched everyone do whatever it was that made them happy, if only for a little while. Kids and grownups were swinging. Some folks were jogging while others were just strolling along, leisurely. If I had had some peanuts with me, I would have fed a squirrel or two and that would have made me very happy. That day, I watched happiness, and it was good. 

The Hardest Thing...

Every morning, it's SOSDD. Coffee, smokes, and PC time. Then it's time to get ready for work. That's been my routine for as far back as I remember. Time has passed and changed to some degree. Situations change. We change. Amongst all this change there are some things that are, or should be, non-negotiable. 

First and foremost is love of self. The love you have for yourself is exactly the same love others receive from you. Otherwise, it's only pretended. 

Honesty can be categorized under love, I suppose. Without it there is no real love. There is no trust. That's a lot of crushed eggshells tight there. 

Self-assessment is the hardest thing to do, much less master. Brutal honesty is the main ingredient. And it can and more than likely will, kick your ass! Well yeah. It won't be the last either. That's true for us all. We must be ever mindful in how we influence others because we do. 

I Miss That

It was a busy moment, and I was quietly working. After a few seconds I sensed a presence and I looked up and there you were, just peacefully looking me right in the eyes. I looked away after a few seconds and then looked back. You were still there, eyes to eyes. I wasn't sure what to think, but I went with it because it was one of the most wonderful moments I have felt in a very long time. I miss that! 

 A TIMELY INVESTMENT...

There is a common denominator in everything and that is time. Time has an effect on EVERYTHING!!! Throughout...um...time, it has been and always will be the greatest commodity, seemingly increasing in value as it runs out. Nothing is free and that includes time, and no replenishment or bartering is allowed, ever! Can we have power over time? I don't know for sure. Maybe?

I have met and come to know many people in my lifetime, and I have a handful of people I have known for decades I still visit with from time to time, just to chat, keeping in touch and each one of those persons is different from the other. How's that for diversity, huh? Anyways, there was a price to be paid for each encounter from everyone and that cost was time. Was it worth it? How much value was there? That would depend on the system that each one of us has developed to evaluate encounters and our relationships with each other. 

Does time have the ability manipulate us or anything? Or is it just being? We have the power over how we spend our time, according to what our particular needs are. We can't control it, but we can utilize our time to our favor. Patience is definitely a virtue here. Get to know the people around you, time permitting and don't be obnoxious and don't make assumptions. Don't judge! Time permitting. There are layers upon layers of thoughts and emotions that are somewhat sorted for some to be shared and the rest, not. Tell your stories and listen to other stories. Knowledge is not power. It's understanding. 

This Funk...

It's a quiet night, thankfully. Sleep evaded me until about 4:30 this am and having to get up at 9 for an earlier shift, it doesn't lead into a great day.  I was physically tired, last night, but my mind was on fire! It would not slow down for some reason. So much has been going on and everything seemed to be snowballing, and I couldn't outrun it. I also had a day that is almost unexplainable. Have you ever watched yourself, in your mind's eye and think. You're acting like an idiot! Yeah, it was one of those days. I can only hope no one noticed what I saw. 

Today, with a few of those idiotic visuals of myself still dancing around in my head, it was pretty much uneventful. I did my work, with some comradery blended in and went home. I'm a tad exhausted but fine. I left the paranoia at work in hopes of some much-needed peace. So, in spite of a very minor nagging headache, it's been a pretty good day. This brings me to the funk.

I have noticed in the last few years an addition to one of my aches and pains of aging. Depression. No other word for it. But I wonder about self-doubt, how related is that to depression? It's a part of life for all of us, even if for brief periods, I would think. But it can be devastating to some, no doubt. I have somewhat learned that if I choose my battles I can at the very least break even. Most of the time I'm fine, but there are times when I just don't give a shit. Not very often, thankfully, but those times do occur. 

It's been a couple of weeks since I started this. Maybe I can bring it to some kind of a conclusion. Practically the same scenario, no sleep until around 6 this morning. Work was dreadfully slow and uneventful. And some thoughts that have kept my mind busy for some times now are beginning to evaporate, allowing more space for the funk fog to roll in. 

I still have no real conclusion for this. To be continued...