Category Archives: Resistance

Jun9

Thoughtful Thursdays #6

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I saw a lightening bug as I was walking to my class this morning at about 8:30 am. That’s unusual because lightening bugs usually come out in the evening on hot August nights, not in June. The reason why I am mentioning this is it reminded me of the cemetery. Not because  I am into ghosts, the dead, vampires or Dracula but because the cemetery is a sanctuary for wild life. I live across the street from an old 1700’s cemetery with a lot of history and wild life. The wild life has rabbits, cats, countless birds and raccoons,opossums all kinds of bugs,birds, butterflies, worms and beetles. I haven’t seen them but I have heard there are even lizards. Well, maybe that’s not true because here in NYC they wouldn’t survive the weather.

Nature has a way of always righting itself. In the past city officials decided to spray for West Nile bugs. When that happens all the butterflies and lightening bugs disappear for the season. Since the area was not sprayed again the next season the butterflies and lightening bugs returned with a vengeance. One night last August the cemetery was lit up like a bright summer morning by the fireflies. The entire neighborhood came out and people stopped in their cars to watch.

There were hundreds and hundreds of them happy to have returned to live in a popular spot. Blinking and swimming in the air, floating their fat bodies in the humidity and clinging to anyone or anything that got in their flight path. My dog snapped to catch one and I stood there in awe and amazement. I had six in my hair and my dog had four on his fur. It  made me so happy to see them alive again in my neighborhood.  Watching the lightening bugs ebb and flow from season to season was inspiring. Even though the area was  infected with poison for bug control nature re-calibrated itself to wholeness again. Like magic the ground was made meticulous for the new crop of lightening bugs. Nature was back to normal to keep the fireflies alive and the other creatures too.

This brings me to the following conclusion: Nature always rights itself with us too. If a catastrophe happens, the upheaval leaves us rearranged for a while. What happens next is the same as the lightening bugs. We pick up where we left off stronger that before.

Happy lightening bug hunting.

Jun2

Thoughtful Thursdays #5

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You caught me on an interesting day. My middle daughter just graduated college and I am very proud of her. Kudos to my daughter, she worked very hard to get her biology degree. I don’t want to take anything away from her, we had a great day at the graduation ceremony.   BUT …

I also go to college to finish my fine art degree. I just got my grades for four classes. I got three A’s and one C. The C was in printing class. I went to every class. I made 15 plates and printed many of those plates. I missed 2 classes and there were no other grades during the semester. I am challenging the grade and we will see what happens. I have never had to challenge a grade. I think that if the teacher had a problem with my work he should have said something during the semester. But we got along really well, I learned a lot and had fun. So where was the problem? I don’t feel I should turn the other cheek or let it go because I am perplexed why he gave me this grade.

Here’s my point: I think it’s BS to forgive those who woefully hurt you because of their own invisible agenda. People express their own crazy subconscious on those who are innocent or remind them of their own problems or perhaps they just like to hurt and misuse their power especially in a school setting. In college, professors are hired for their knowledge not for their ability to teach. That’s too bad because even professors need people skills.

I am challenging the grade and I will state my case honestly in spite of a dishonest grade. Until next time.

Update: I got an “A”
 

 

 

 

May19

Thoughtful Thursdays #3

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Thoughtful Thursdays #3

Think about all the strange actions you have committed and have no explanation for. Why did I over react to a particular situation? Why did I risk embarrassing my self? Why did I lose my confidence? Why did I mouth off?

Because most actions we do as humans is below our consciousness. Really the only way to circumvent these actions is to pay attention to what your behavior is. It is enlightening to know your true motives. But with that knowledge you have the power to change.

Change is the hard part. However, in some cases it is so obvious what needs to be changed that doing so is easy. When change is hard it indicates a number of things, Perhaps your not willing to change the situation at the moment. Maybe you don’t know how. Maybe your are afraid, complacent, naïve, oblivious, sadistic, masochistic, don’t really care, happy being unhappy, don’t know any better, etc, etc, etc.

Ask yourself
Is THAT The Best You Can DO?

May5

Thoughtful Thursdays

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Here’s the first post for my new series “Thoughtful Thursdays”. These posts will be some of my rants and thoughts and insights. Read well and enjoy.

Resistance is invisible most of the time. Invisible in the sense that resistance is not obvious. It comes in the disguise of lethargy, thinking negative, giving up, amnesia, distraction, illness. Why does resistance exist? I’ve read it’s our lizard brain. That’s the part that wants to be safe all the time. So it negates and sabotages all effort to change. From my own experience, for most of my life I didn’t recognize resistance.

As I aged I recognized my own resistance abundantly and realize where I let resistance win. It’s hard to not be overwhelmed by the missed opportunities and lack thereof.  But all is not lost. I have come up with a formula. Resist resistance cold turkey. Just the way I stopped smoking. No more pussy footin’ around. Yes it’s time to change. Yes this is going to be a monumental effort and now is the best time. That lizard brain will learn a new set of standards and rules. Mine.

Determination is the key to action and action changes everything. So the next time I feel resistance, I will move into an action, any action and change will happen for the best.

Read Steven Pressfield’s Book”The War of Art”