Nine Things Making My Head Hurt

Can Anyone Soften the Blows?

At the moment, my temples are getting hit. And getting hit hard.

Gotta admit, my mind is completely haywire. And my thoughts are battering about like silver pinball spheres.

Usually that means that I double down on restoring order to the universe. At least my little sliver of it. However, my friends, I'm tired. So tired. And honestly, a bit defeated. For now. So, for this week at least, I'm going to go with the flow. And let randomness have its turn. Hopefully, it takes me somewhere interesting. Care to come along? Your thoughts and guidance this week are as welcome as ever!

1) The Belief in a Single Truth and in being the Possessor thereof is the Root of All Evil in the World. - Max Born

No one has empirically proven that they have a monopoly on the truth. So, without such proof, how do you serve your faith while leaving room for others to serve theirs? What if you don’t believe in a deity at all? Don’t you deserve your space, too? These are big questions that share one answer- tolerance. For you can’t expect tolerance from others if you’re not willing to offer it yourself.

2) The Urge to Save Humanity is Almost Always a False Front for the Urge to Rule. - H.L. Mencken

Religion has become so political that it’s hard sometimes to separate the two. Should they be separate or intertwined? And if so, how? And what exactly did Jesus mean when he said, Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and Unto God the Things that Are God’s? From that thought, it seems that theocracies are to be avoided. They certainly haven’t worked out too well, so far. There’s a reason the Dark Ages are called the Dark Ages.

3) We Say We Know Others Well. Yet We Spend Much of Our Life Knowing Little About Ourselves. One of These Statements is Absolutely True. The Other is a Gross Overestimate. – Clark Gaither

If you can’t figure yourself out, how can you understand others? Live with them? Work with them? Share your ideas and yourself. Your real self that is.

4) People Aren’t Against You, They’re for Themselves.

As we navigate how we all get along on this planet, keep in mind that you have your values and I have mine. And we’re just two people in a world of 8 billion. At some point, our ideas are bound to clash. Sometimes in minor ways, sometimes in major ways. Politics can be personal. Politics can be global. And politics can be an ugly mess. And while compromise may not feel totally satisfying, usually, that’s exactly what’s called for.

5)  Everyone Wants the Truth But No One Wants to Be Honest.

I’m pro-life!

(And pro-death penalty.)

 I’m for free speech!

(Except when I shout you down because I don’t like what you have to say.)

 I’m patriotic!

(But damn if I don’t love the Confederate traitors who attacked my country.)

 We must combat climate change!

(Is the private jet fueled up, yet?)

Unfortunately, it’s easier to fight for one’s principles than to live up to them. At the risk of posing a false equivalency, both parties are hypocritical.

Some politicians are sincere liars, others bald-faced. Funny how offended hypocrites get by the truth. No one likes to be called out, especially a hypocrite.

6) America Will Never Be Destroyed from the Outside.

If We Lose Our Freedoms, it Will Be Because We Have

Destroyed Ourselves from Within.  – Lincoln

7) People Who Are Induced to Believe Less in Free Will Are More Likely to Behave Immorally. – Kathleen Vohs, Psychologist, University of Utah

It’s not my fault! If you’re not in control, couldn’t you say that about any of your actions? That they’re not your fault? After all, how could you be held accountable? Would you even try? Seems that if there’s no one to blame, that we allow things to slide. Including our morals. We feel less responsible, and we give in to our appetites. Physical and emotional. It’s true.

8) I Don't Know Why People Are So Keen to Put the Details of Their Private Life in Public; They Forget that Invisibility is a Superpower. - Banksy, Artist

9) If We Extend Unlimited Tolerance Even to Those Who Are Intolerant, if We Are Not Prepared to Defend a Tolerant Society Against the Onslaught of the Intolerant, then the Tolerant Will Be Destroyed, and Tolerance with Them. We Should Therefore Claim, in the Name of Tolerance, that Right Not to Tolerate the Intolerant. - Karl Popper

Bonus Thought:

It Is Easier to Fool People Than to Convince Them That They Have Been Fooled. - Mark Twain

Wrap-Up

When it comes to thoughts & energy, that's all I got today.

But I'm learning that that's ok.

So, here's to the occasional speed bump.

To not beating ourselves up too much.

Here's to your understanding.

Here's to next week.

Here's to the future!

Wegs