Solipsist

SOLIPSIST from Andrew Huang on Vimeo.

Possibility

No matter how old we are, we are always faced with infinite possibility.

Passing Time

One thing I've noticed that I've been doing lately is passing time. I keep myself pretty busy, but a lot of the reason is because I'm passing time. Planning to do these few things before I go to this appointment, taking some time to get this stuff in order so I am ready for tomorrow's things. Constant planning doesn't make for much appreciation of what I am doing in the present moment. And of course the obvious question, passing time until what?

For awhile, I thought I was a pretty exceptional girl scout, always able to prepare myself well for whatever was coming, able to shift plans 'spontaneously' because I'd prepared for a wide range of possibilities. Now, it seems less about achieving a badge for efficiency and more about forgetting that the process is the most important experience in anything I'm doing.

It seems so easy to comprehend, and has been said by so many others - "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans" - but my mind kept pulling me back into the grind of planning regardless of this knowledge. I set expectations for myself that I had to achieve, which caused my mind to remain unsettled until, as it claimed, 'it got where it needed to be'. I wasn't yet where I wanted to be so I had to just remain diligent and aware that I wasn't yet 'ready' to move forward.

But, luckily, there is a loving person in my life who was able to reign me back from my illogically logical mechanical madness and remind me that the reason I do anything is because I exist and want to experience that existence.

At this point in time, I need to be continually reminded that I have all the power in my world. That creativity is borne only from my desire to have an amazing experience in my world.

I imagine that's where the importance of having a community can come into play. Upon reflection of the tumult that has been going on these days, in the middle east, in the eurozone, in our US cities at all of the Occupy movements, it seems clear. Humanity, above all, wants to be a part of a community where every person can grow, love, and be completely themselves without any judgement. That type of community would allow people to flourish, because their enjoyment of life would involve doing the things that inspire them, while also caring for and working to co-exist with the rest of their community. Enhancing and improving all aspects of the life we encounter is in our nature. Truly.

But. The glorious but. Can that world still exist, in a world that has so ignorantly forgotten their human community? Those who go out on the streets and protest without full understanding of the power they've been distracted into handing over the past decades, being called hippies and vermin (yes, I've heard this) by the people who have long forgotten to love thy neighbor, to make sure that they and those around them have the necessary means to survive before needlessly judging them and trying to condemn them because they live a life that they don't agree with or understand?

Either the world will release it's deeply held tension, or humanity will become part of the history books. I'll always continue to hope, because that lightness is what drives inspiration, awe, and adventure. Since our apocalypse may be imminent, I think I'll just enjoy what I'm doing right now.


P.S. Wikipedia is doing a fundraising drive - you'd be lying if you said you've never gotten lost on an endless informational tangent that Wikipedia so fluidly leads you through. Even $5 would help. They have a link directly to Paypal - you can shuffle around your money without ever seeing it more than ever before! Here's the link. (No I don't work for them)

In 3D (and 2D!)

Is it just me, or is the statement at the bottom right corner hilarious?

These days, everything is coming out in 3-D (and has a 2-D version to complement it). But to mention at the very bottom of your advertisement that it's also available in 2-D? 

That's like saying, "You must check out this amazing new enhanced technology! Or...you can see the old, unimpressive version too, if that's your thing." 

Maybe just stick with your marketing shtick and let people figure out the rest for themselves. 3-D is the THING these days, regardless that for most movies it's not significantly noticeable and I would be just as satisfied with their 2-D counterparts. However, if you NEED to do 3-D, just do it and don't give a lame shout out to the less dimensionally evolved movie from which your intensified version emerged.

And just for the record - I have no idea what this movie is about. It looks a little like Free Willy and I'm not particularly interested in seeing it anyway, so don't take this as an advertisement.  But it's in 3-D, so that's pretty cool, right? 

Lake in the Valley

The water in the hills trickles down into the valley where I like to go running. 

The result is a lovely lake.  

It makes me think about those experiences that wash over us, as compared to those other experiences that get trapped in our minds. What we become is a combination of those things that couldn't pass by unimpeded, and our ability to let go. For better or for worse, our compendium is unique, created by circumstance and chance. And of course, choice. But it would be unreasonable to assume we truly have complete control. 

But - the lake is beautiful, regardless of the water source, or the places where the water leaks out into the soil. 

Even in the Storm...

This unusual global warming weather that's causing flooding, tornadoes and hurricanes throughout our country is certainly upsetting. It seems unfortunate that we insist on waiting until the damage gets really bad before we admit what we've caused our Earth. Of course, Nature will do what she does, and there's a degree to which we haven't created this. But I think we're finally getting a response after all those years of, "Well, we're still here, so let's push off environmental innovation for another year".

Anyway. What I actually wanted to share wasn't a complaint, but to share my awe about how even in bad weather, there is some breathtaking beauty.

A New Day

So, the world hasn't ended. Lots of life savings are being missed by regretful believers, but other than some clothing on the streets without bodies in them and some Judgement Day-themed parties, everyone else is going on with life as usual.

Interestingly, I did experience my first 'earthquake' yesterday. I suspect the intense fear of those who did believe they were going to be vacuumed up into the heavens was strong enough to cause a little shudder in the Earth right near the source of all the preaching.

Or, maybe it was the vacuum moving through and it passed me by.

Well, if I've been left on the Earth with the rest of you sinners, I'm not weeping. We live in and around an immense amount of beauty, and I'm not complaining.

I'll stick with peace and relaxation for the next five months of the Rapture, and when the next Judgement Day comes and goes, I'll remain calm as those who prefer panic over peace scream and yell about 2012. 

We're gonna have to up our ante after 2012, and do a little more re-interpretations of the Bible to find the next big apocalypse. Those who haven't already given up their life savings can feel comforted that there will always be something more ominous around the corner - and the most exciting part is they can lead the flock next time!

My advice if you want to lead a flock: just make something up that sounds minimally plausible, and figure out ways to read the Bible so it sounds as though it's defending your point. It doesn't have to say anything relevant, but just make sure you read it passionately and then instantly redirect the listener's attention with passionate statements about their impending doom. If they question you, inform them of their ignorance and don't acknowledge their concern.

Works every time.