The rigors of daily life can weigh a man down. With a job, school, family and God knows what else, it's tough to get a break. This is why I can completely understand the reason for such animosity against the homosexual community. I mean, come on, to want the right to marry the person you love; to expect not to be judged when holding hands with the same sex; what the hell is the world coming to. No wonder there was an earthquake in Japan, it's because of those damn gay people… right?

Seriously, however, am I the only individual that finds anti-homosexuality to be a complete waste of time? I, for one, love a good scapegoat for my problems, so when I see an asinine organization such as the God Hates F@gs group I cannot help but wonder "What are those individuals running away from?" You see, I learned a long time ago, that 99.9% of the time, when someone is blaming someone else, or even worse, an entire group of people, for their problems they are covering some problem up in their own lives. Honestly, someone else's love life with a consensual of age individual only concerns the people involved. Perhaps the most useless topic of all is "is being gay a choice or a natural occurrence". If you are not gay and are not looking for a gay lover, mind your own god d@mn business. And as far as the loving God hating gay people, I would imagine that he has more important things to worry about. And let us not forget, everything that happens is God's will, anyways, so gays are just another part of the plan… correct?

"Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind." – Albert Einstein

Patriotism, nationalism, "my country is the best-ism", it's all madness. When hearing the words "People should learn to speak English when they come to America" it makes me wonder, did the forefathers of this "nation" learn Navajo when they committed genocide against the natives. So easily history is forgotten and understandably so. Our schools teach a horribly fragmented view of past events. America is boasted as the greatest land on Earth by people who have never been anywhere else to compare it to. And our "borders" are promoted as physical landmarks, as if Earth felt that America was indeed the most valuable property she had to offer. This sort of ignorance seems juvenile when looked upon from a distance, but when emotionally mixed into it (and that's all that's going on, childish, emotional property claiming) people feel as if this land truly belongs to them. And while it seems almost taboo to say such a thing these days, this behavior is the equivalent of standing on the top of a hill and pushing everyone else off. But, much like a sign that says "Johnny was here" there is no real significance. Furthermore, just like that fool at the top of a hill trying to claim it as his own (or worse, claiming it was God given) he must eventually return to the bottom, because that is where all of the life nourishing resources are located. Let's imagine, just as a wild notion, that the folks in the Middle East had the defensive power to tell Americans and other invading countries to keep to their own business. We'd have no oil for our vehicles. Or the copper or zinc mines in Africa, lets imagine the developed nations weren't able to plunder their resources either. Well, there go your computers and cell phones. And then, let's take another second and just imagine, what if, just what if, we had resources that other countries wanted and they decided that they were blessed by the big white dude in the sky and warranted an invasion.

That would suck.

With a human mind it is difficult, perhaps impossible, to be totally free of illusions. We conceptualize everything. Our environment, our relationships, even ourselves become just another figment of our mind's imagination. So rare are the times when we actually let go of our concept of reality and just observe it. This behavioral tendency lends itself all too often to the "shoulds" and "shouldn'ts" of daily living. The problem is outside of moral delinquency, nature does not embed within us the massive list we are expected to know. Furthermore, we are always encountering situations that defy the things we "should" or "shouldn't" be doing. Often, this list comes up in relationships, life courses (and expectations) and daily activities. But what happens if someone does something they "shouldn't" be doing? If you aren't married, ask someone in a marriage how motivated they feel when their spouse tells them what they "should" be doing as a wife/husband.

Should is a dangerous word. It implies that reality is wrong, as if somehow the great laser that is reading the DVD of "My Life" is somehow playing it wrong. This, of course, simply is not true. The grandest illusion is the one we play on ourselves. Life is ever changing and constantly brining us hurdles to jump, it doesn't care if you have a broken leg.

 

I'm not sure how it is in other parts of the world, but here in the U.S. of A. the common folk have a tendency to walk around with a perma-scowl on their face. It's as if every morning someone re-ran over their dog and then hung it for them to see. Perhaps this is why people feel threatened when they see someone who is usually happy or often in a good mood. Somewhere in our past, humans formed the notion that, once grown beyond the age of twelve, life is a miserable experience. And those who are enjoying their lives are somehow fooling themselves and bound for some great fall. This notion seems to have spawned a slew of other beliefs such as the dos and don'ts of adulthood (like video games should not be played once over 30), perceptions about relationships and finding job security no matter the job is a $#!T box.

Life, natural life, is not a stringent place. It is ever expanding and needs room to grow, chances to experience failure and opportunities to overcome boundaries. If there is one constant in life it's that change will always occur. Perhaps this is why there are only couples with small children at the zoo. Adults rarely allow themselves to experience child-like wonder. After all, it was that wonder that motivated us to explore who we are and what the world holds for us.

There is a reason why uncomfortable silences are so common. People, quite simply, do not shut off their minds. Most are unable to. And, sadly, many feel that they are vulnerable to attack when silence surrounds them. Why the feeling of discomfort? The answer, as always, lies within. The answer, in fact, is the same reason why people drink to "loosen" up. If people do not have a distraction to block inner reflection/introspection they are forced to face whatever madness is rolling around in their head. And, let's be honest, people today, all over the world, are used to blinding themselves to their problems. "If I do not distract myself, I will have to see what is really going on." – the ego.

So, when people enter silence, reality rears its potent head. The scene is akin to a gentlemen's bar. The neon lights are dim. The makeup is caked on like a cheap birthday cake. And all of the imperfections one would see in the sunlight are well covered. That is until the lights come on. That's when you see the train wreck you've been dazzled by for several hours. However, if you take the time to realize that you are indeed fooling yourself with extraneous cover-ups, such as relentless and meaningless chatter, drinking alcoholic to "loosen up" or even fidgeting with something because you are bored, you will begin to enter a far more splendorous reality.

Our minds are like broken recorders, constantly repeating what it heard from days and months or even years prior. We travel around, constantly living with this broken device, disturbed by the amount of noise it produces. Sadly, most do not know that it is their own mind that creates the dream or nightmare they live in. But there are those who are aware; those who caught a glimpse of the reality of their mind. At this juncture in life the next quest is to find out how to shut it off when necessary.

How? How does one go about shutting down the rollercoaster that keeps on going?

We must recognize that we have the ability. Our perception of our own abilities is crucial in this step. All of the worries about the past and fear over the future will not stop on their own. So long as man waits for the arrival of someone or something to save them, they will never be free. If you caught a religious commentary in that you are perceptive, IT IS! Christian, Jew, Muslim, Pagan, Atheist, Tarot cards, whatever you claim as your salvation, you have to start making choices for yourself and stop waiting for someone to save you, even your scientist. You have the freedom of choice so that you make mistakes and evolve from them.

This is your life and it is your mind. Take a deep look into it and find out what needs work. Get off you're a$$ and discover the noise that rules your world. Question everything. Don't take anyone's word for reality, not even mine. Investigate it. Put your mind to work and then learn to put it away when finished.

Fear is a debilitating force. It can be cause by a number of things. Mainly it is the mind's safety mechanism. It keeps us from venturing too far away from what we "should" be doing. Sadly, however, we humans have a horrible tendency to allow fear to prevent us from change, even if for the better. But if we face it, we can have life altering experiences that will forever improve our lives.

This is often the reason why people find themselves stuck in a reoccurring life situation. Countless numbers of people have let opportunities slip away, leaving them forever lost in regret.

Often, you hear the words "Why are you doing that?" in response to something new you are trying, as if trying something new is not only unnecessary, but also a foolish move only performed by a mindless dreamer. The response I have for these people is not an explanation as to my motives, but a very simple "Why not?" In fact, I'd like to give them a solid "Why the Hell not?"

Life is short. You can spend it bitching and moaning about the world around you, occasionally venturing outside of your comfort zone. Or, you can try some new $#!T out and live a little.

Of all the emotions that I have lost friends over guilt seems to be the most corrosive. Anger and sadness, to the contrary of what may be expected, are often easily forgiven and surpassed. Guilt, however, eats away at the psyche; it forces its host to push away loved ones, it blames others as to avoid being dealt with, and it will lead to a slew of many other subsequent emotional reactions. Countless friends have faded away because they find themselves feeling guilty over choices that affect none other than themselves. An endless number of arguments have erupted because people choose to sublet their emotional responsibility onto others instead of dealing with their problems directly. Guilt can act like a cancer, quickly growing in the mind if not dealt with. Worse, even, is when the guilt is passed on to another and so carried through generations. American society can feel these effects directly.

A very recent discussion/argument with a dear friend acted as an incredible reminder. Perception is our reality. We humans have a tendency to try to "convert" others into our ideological viewpoint without realizing we are doing so. We also tend to judge in the process as to make the other person see that our view is right and theirs is wrong. And this process works both ways. I found myself feeling the need to defend, as if there were a fort buried underneath my skin that this individual was "attacking". However, there is no fort, only an ideological barrier constructed by the ego. The beauty is the best way to end the war is to stop fighting. Weather the person is wrong or right does not matter. They are trying to warp you into their world and you are doing the same. An easy way to see if this is the case is to observe the discussion. Does it seem to be going somewhere? Are you listening to each other without the need to interject? Are you listening to each other's point of view or is it one sided on both sides? Do you find yourself or the other person saying "You aren't listening to me" (which really means "you aren't taking my side and stop defending yourself")?

Remember, when heated or even just talking, that it is very easy to judge another person for their actions and to call it "what it is". However, it is only "what it is" from your point of view. And, furthermore, judging a situation that you take no part in absolves you of personal decision making and responsibility; two factors that immediately change your course of action and perception if you were in the situation. So, in essence, when conversing with another person or even yourself, it is a very good reminder to remove judgment from the situation, no matter your age, sex or position.

After all, when was the last time you felt great after someone laid the hands of judgment upon you?

It's a common site. Crowds gather at the bar to chat and dance. People meet. Hips sway. And some, those lucky enough to woo the object of their desires, will reap the benefits of "cutting loose" (that is unless they catch something afterward, but that's a different blog). Life can be a blast when we cut loose, and not only at the city club. Unfortunately, for way too many, this release of inhibition comes only after a fermented beverage has slipped into their gullet.

Why only then? Why not face the demon that stops you from cutting loose at your own will?

I could answer that, but truthfully, people need to investigate their individual answers, no matter how common it may be. My point here is that we as a whole need to begin to face our fears, if not with the toughest of situations then at least when we are having fun.

Humans have run their course in stagnation for long enough. It's time to evolve, damn it! This is not a plea to get people to stop drinking; it's a plea to get people to think about doing something on their own. Drink responsible, of course, but also try to enjoy yourself with the need of some external source.

Learn to enjoy what you do without needing your brain functions to slip away by some external force.

There once was a King whose rule presided over a vast and prosperous land. He was a just and merciful ruler, never demanding too much or giving too little. He cared for his subjects and they in return gave him unwavering loyalty and respect.

One day, however, a band of madmen came from a far away land. They were jealous of the peace, harmony and abundance the King and his people shared. In spite, they poisoned the water supply turning the kingdom mad. Soon, no drink would quench the people's thirst. No amount of pleasure would squelch people's lust. They now demanded more and gave less.

The King was the only one to avoid drinking the tainted water supply, but he was now alone. He did what he could to give the people what they wanted, but soon the kingdom's abundance turned to depravity. For months the kingdom's people pounded on the gates of the castle demanding the King be killed for his betrayal. For, they felt it was he that was mad.

Before long, the people broke through and stormed their way to the King's quarters. With little option left, the King drank the tainted water becoming poisoned and mad himself. It was on this day the people rejoiced.

 

These days, one often hears much about the "ego". Many gurus and spiritual teachers talk about it.

"The ego is this…" "The ego will do that…" "Take control, don't let your ego rule your life…" But what is the ego? What is this thing that all of a sudden seems so negative and detrimental to our health and living?

The ego is like dog living your house. However, in most people's homes, the dog is untamed, neurotic and out of control. It is this way because people don't realize they are creating the imbalance that forms its bad behavior. Our lifestyles and trains of thought are often the root cause of this. And often, when on a journey of self discovery, people turn the ego into an enemy or worse, some monster that's out to get them. The ego is a function of the brain run amuck. The key is to put the ego into perspective and learn to work with it. A person can never get rid of the ego. For one, it's just a word. And why try to get rid of something that's largely just a mental construct anyways. That will drive a person nuts. That's also why so many people are looking for answers and never resolving anything.

The key to this life is balance. Realize that you are more than just a bag of bones but know that the bag and the bones are equally important to a healthy life. After all, all of the Earthly pleasures, treasures and all else that moth and rust consumes is part of the reason you are on the planet. Don't forget that.