Blunt Perspectives

The new year is here 2008,  just turned the corner,  I look around and everything seems so familiar.  The sky is the same, the hills and mountains haven’t disappeared, people still pass by on the streets, work starts and then is finished, taxes are still collected,  food is bought and rent is paid.

But something I had hoped would have disappeared, in my wishful thinking,  is still here with a vengeance, - Lack of Character -.

In my my wildest dreams, I know character will not be found, in one (not the most important which is family) of the most important bodies in civilized society, government.  It has turned into a joke, yet the media doesn’t point it out as such. The politicians make all kinds of ridiculous and erroneous  statements and when confronted with it  stoop to claiming  something  totally different was said which doesn’t make sense in reality or even logically, yet the media will not point that out.

That,  my friends, is why we have so much of it, because they are not forced to explain how they could have come up with their  “new” revision of a statement that they made, which is completely opposite or far removed from what was said. I actually meant, … what I was really saying, … I was referring to, … I misspoke, … I was misunderstood or even I was misquoted.  is getting really boring.

They all, and I repeat all,  must be thinking we’re one sandwich short of a picnic… I think that shows lack of respect for us and worse, no confidence in themselves to be honest and truthful and being able to come through, with dignity,  from the criticism  they would shurley receive.

If we don’t make them tell the truth, in such minor matters, then how are we to be certain they would tell the truth at any other time… I frankly don’t think that will happen at all.
Our politicians  don’t inspire confidence in the future with that mentality in charge of events.
…        Good luck to all of us. The search for character continues.

~ Juris

A couple of comments on things I read today in regards to the above items.

When and where and for what reason, and under what circumstance can an individual be called a hero, legitimately.

Heroes are heroes for legitimate reasons, whatever they are. In a false “honorable” war he can’t be a hero to  “right”, but to his fellow soldier, in any conflict, those he protects without concern for his own safety, he can be.
To Grunty1, get your facts straight before expounding on treason, “dissent is not treason. You probably think that a German soldier in WWII who would have dissented against the killing of the Jewish people, and all the countless other ethnicities who followed in their footsteps, should have been branded as treasonous.

Heaven forbid if America ever marched towards despotism, and you were there to cry treason, to folks who dissented against that march.
Those of you who think we have “learned a lesson” about being fooled into going to war, and that we will think more clearly before allowing it again, are wishful thinkers. We, and the rest of the world have time and time again been fooled into going to war. Look at all the world wars and all other wars, starting with all foreign nations. We ourselves were escalated into Vietnam by Pres. Johnson, remember the Gulf of Tonkin? How about the Bay of Pigs before that? Though that one didn’t work out because the President backtracked at the last second, negating his commitment to those on the beaches of Cuba. But it could have worked if carried through, all the lies were in place. Look around at history before making statements like that,… please.  Looking at history, it seems impossible to think we couldn’t learn from it, but we never do.

I have never seen a government that didn’t lie, and frankly don’t expect to find one at any time in the future, whether Republican, Democrat, or anything else that comes along in its place.  Lies and lying are ingrained into all governments psyche, they, I think,  find it necessary and advantageous for themselves to do so, even under any and all circumstances.

Expect it!, then you won’t be surprised….  Still watching, and still thinking.

~Juris

It gets to be a chore to read the so-called News of this modern age.  That statement is a fact, and not an opinion of mine, stated to you.  It takes me quite a while to get to the facts of an article and it’s summation, which I would cherish, if I could find such an elusive thing in today’s massive amount of articles.  What has occurred is a proliferation of…opinion…sprinkled sparingly with the facts of the subject at hand.

News writers have forgotten that there, even today, exists an editorial page, which should be dealing with those kinds of things.  So, I stopped to think about it for a while, and decided there was probably a reason for it being that way.  My reason may be wrong, yet then again, I may be right or somewhat right.

As the internet has opened up the world to every hidden corner that used to be beyond reach to most of us, and is now at our beck and call instantly, the writers at these remote places have to make it seem relevant, important, and interesting just to make us think we were lucky to come across their article and have us come back for more.  I’ll admit I fell into the trap many times and went back, but found the same strategy used over and over to keep enticing me to come back, even to the point of…yes…bookmarking those sites. I WAS HOOKED.  But I went to RAA (Readers Anonymous Already) and worked myself out of the addiction, cleaned up my bookmarks and am quite looking forward to a new web site that one of the ex chief executives of CNN is starting in Iraq. It will bring all the important “news” to one site. Sounds good, but I hope that it does not turn out to be a gigantic…bookmark, as in my opinion, The Matt Drudge report is. … Later - with less facts and more opinion. …       Juris

I spent 5 months in early 2004 living in the true “Heart of Texas”, a few miles from Independence where the Texas constitution was signed, Sam Houston used to attend church, in Washington County with the historic “Independence Trail”.

I think Texas is a great state, or I would not have chosen it for building my business. But I do have to disagree with the fact things are bigger in Texas. Simply put, things are more excessive in Texas.

Now Texans, don’t get mad at me, I had folks from “the Heart” laugh about my perception and call it okay… unlike an accidental joke about the Alamo.

There are tons of Bluebell and Indian Paintbrush flowers in the spring, the steak falls off your dinner plate (when you order a medium size), and it comes with a stack of toast, “side” bowl of gravy, and a buffet bar (full of breaded fish, veggies, and anything else you can batter) … oh and did you want a potato or fries?

Excessive amounts of beer (I was told that Washington County, TX has the highest consumption of alcohol in Texas, possibly the whole USA), too much driving drunk as a byproduct, when Texans get mad they get “mad as hell”, and their love is truly larger than life.

Sure it’s bigger in Texas - bigger steaks, fists, hearts, and bar tabs…

God Bless Texas.

It is interesting to me how some people are just not good at taking advice, even a healthy dose of constructive criticism. Personally I do all right, I however am into “self improvement”, and tend to enjoy hearing others perceptions of my interactions and personality. I have my fair share of proud moments as well, where I can be very defensive about what I thought I did quite right, or at least the theory behind why it *should have been right*.

It’s a 12-step program, but physical instinct is in the way…

Becoming one with criticism is really a transformation of one’s perception of the situation. As a natural defense mechanism our minds will defend our position through adding adrenaline (the fight or flight syndrome) as we perceive the situation to be turning threatening. This is a defense mechanism that will keep you alive when used correctly, but can have a detrimental effect when not controlled in a modern society - after all, we’re not being chased by lions and bears anymore.

Sure, it’s can be a quite unpleasant situation to be proposed by another that you are a flawed human being - and they recognize it. Many people get mad, stomp their feet, cry, and scream, become anti-social or resort to violence. All of these reactions are normal. Our pre-disposition to a “threatening” situation is the fight (anger, yelling, violence) or flight (crying, anti-socialism) - so don’t get mad at me, I’m just telling the truth! But what we do have over other beings on this Earth is logic and reasoning - and this is how we turn the tables.

Step 1: Counter the Natural Response (Guard Down)

No matter what we will have the adrenaline shot into our bloodstream and begin sending us in the wrong direction, but this is when you can gain control. When being offered criticism or unfavorable/strong suggestions (let’s call these things “advice” from now on), when you’re getting “advice” from someone first realize you are not being threatened, especially not in a way that demands a strong physical response. Stay calm and breathe, do not talk, fidget, or walk away. Uncross your arms and get in a comfortable physical position.

Step 2: Control Perception (Open Up)

Once you have slowed the flow of adrenaline and increased oxygen flow to the brain, you are ready to begin taking over the situation with logical control. Use reason and logic to establish there is no danger. Tune in to their voice and what they are saying, re-iterate to yourself who this person is and what they mean to you - admit their intent is in your favor. Realize that in-fact you *are* a flawed and imperfect human being, and this is a part of learning and becoming better. Just like working out, it is good to have a coach and learn from others - and the opportunity for growth is presenting itself to you.

Step 3: Seal those Lips (Listen)

The best way to lose good advice is to open your mouth. Whether it is agreeing with the other or defending your position - just keep quiet. Giving advice typically consists of 3 stages: they will begin with a preview of the problem, possibly with a question to establish their ground, move into providing examples (shhh… listen), and then offer you suggestions on improvement. Take time to sort through everything inside your head. Be careful not to disregard the general piece of advice because of a few minor inaccuracies. Listen for the “bigger picture” of what they are trying to say to you, and realize that giving constructive advice is just as hard as receiving it. Let them talk, a simple nod or “sure is enough to let them know you are listening.

Step 4: Humble Yourself (Learn)

Admit it… we are all wrong more often than we would like to admit. Although we prefer to paint ourselves as near-prefect individuals to people, showing strength business and personal, the reality is far from perfect. I do it all the time, usually even tend to be wrong more than I am right - but I ask you to please keep reading I recall often some advice I received from my father when I was a young(er) business man… “Scottie, be humble. Be humble when you speak to others and when they speak to you.” This helped me tremendously both personally and professionally - especially as there is an unfortunate issue of youth-prejudice at times, which I fully understand. Being humble means realizing you are imperfect, being open to learning, keep quiet at the right times, and be self-confident.

Definition from Wikipedia:
Humility is the state of being humble. While people may have different ideas about the meaning of humility, a protypical humble person is generally thought to be unpretentious and modest: someone who does not think that he or she is better or more important than others.

Step 5: Reanalyze (Sort Through)

Now that you have opened up to advice and listened to it, now it is time to complete the learning process. Hopefully if you did a good job listening, there were a few things you learned from the advice you received. Possibly there was an example that hit home, once you were humble enough to admit it. Possibly you were able to take a suggestion and envision a way to use it in the future. It is now time to take the advice you received, all of the examples and suggestions and process them, apply some additional humility to the examples to find more ways to improve. Process the advice you received, as well as some you found on your own and take these suggestions to heart. Apply them to real-life scenarios in the past, and think about how to use them in the future.

Step 6: Increase Awareness (Observe)

Now that you know what you are looking for, begin looking for others around you who may be using what you have learned. Many say the best way is to lead by example, and by observing others you can find a passive yet powerful opportunity to see it in action. You will also begin noticing folks who may be in need of the advice you received as well, which provides you with a unique opportunity to look at “yourself” in action. Take what you learn from those around you and begin modifying your strategy, or create options for yourself incase some of the ideas do not work out. While you can, live vicariously through those around you!

Step 7: Implement (Execute)

Lights, Camera, Action! You have a chance to use what you have learned and implement it. Either the situation has presented itself again or you took the bull by the horns and decided to act. This is truly the hardest part of all 12 steps and takes a TON of brainpower; you will need to continually tell yourself how to implement the advice. Telling yourself to walk the extra mile, not to slouch in your chair, to be less confrontational - whatever the advice is, keep reminding yourself of it. Do not lose yourself however, maintain harmony with your control of the situation and keep paying attention to the details you have already perfected. Make mental notes on easy and difficult areas, as well as things that are aiding or denying your success.

Step 8: Progress Check (Look Back)

The hardest part is over, time to look back at the situation and review the mental notes we took during that strenuous exercise. This is a time for refinement of the process, where you keep, toss, or modify ideas you tried in order to use the advice you had received. Come up with new and more creative ideas, think of other situations, and review your past again to find other examples where you had difficulty. Chances are you have been in this sort of situation before in your life, and it is always easier to learn from past examples than have to repeat them in trial-and-error again.

Step 9: Get Feedback (Survey)

The first seven steps are focused on receiving and implementing the advice you received. Once you have been successful using advice someone has provided, it is a good idea to take your humility a step further and actually solicit for advice from those around you. Do not just walk down the street or call all of your friends and ask them if you’re a great person or not. Ask those around you who you *respect*, and who are close to you for their “honest opinion on how I can do better.” This can be a broad question or fairly narrow, but be careful not to get too narrow - allow then adequate freedom to provide you with the raw feedback you asked for. It is likely you may have to convince them that you will not take offence, that you actively seek advice in hopes to implement it. As well, sometimes the best raw feedback can come from new people or semi-strangers, as they might be less worried about offending, sugarcoating, or tailoring the feedback. Also, please be sure to avoid disrupting certain relationships by soliciting feedback, especially in business. If they ask for your feedback in return, just beware that they may not handle it as well.

Step 10: Appreciate “Advisors” (Thank)

Like I said, giving advice can be just as hard as receiving it. It is not easy to tell a friend, family, or business partner that there’s some way they are failing, or can do better. They ran a high risk by providing advice; your natural “fight or flight” reaction was very likely to have a negative impact on the relationship. When you receive advice, and after you have successfully implemented it, you are now an improved person. There are two people you should be sure to thank for your progress: Yourself for making it happen, and the person who brought it to your attention in the first place!

Step 11: Provide Others “Advice” (Practice)

You have now come full swing in receiving, using, and respecting this unique opportunity to self-improve. You have opened your eyes to your surroundings as well, and have been able to see where you were not the only one who was in need of some improvement. Avoid becoming a preacher, and definitely avoid providing unsolicited advice on a regular basis - especially in sensitive circles or situations. Remain Humble. Providing advice many times can come across to the other as if you are putting yourself on a pedestal, and at their expense. Sometimes the best way to give advice can be by presenting the suggestion as a gentle breeze, guiding them in a direction of least resistance. Remember to empower them as the ultimate decision-makers. Most people are smart enough to take a good idea or a subtle hint and begin to chew on it, the ultimate result being the desired outcome - improvement. Avoid talking about yourself, outright offending them, and dictating their life - they will accept your advice more readily.

Step 12: Seek “Advice” Regularly (Maintain)

If we reached complete perfection we would end up in Heaven or reaching Nirvana - and if you are still showing up in the mirror then there is still work to be done. Many times improving yourself is not a simple cheer at the beginning or end of the day, or being observant in a certain situation, but rather takes a few hundred reminders through a full conscious day in order to make a real, lasting change. This especially rings true for people who may be trying to quit smoking or drinking, drugs, nail biting, posture, swearing, attitude, depression, eating habits, burnout, breakup/divorce, etc. Most of what we do as humans are habitual or instinctual, and require a powerful and regular mental opposition in order to make the change successfully. Continue to work at advice you have received in the past, and continue to solicit and work on future improvements. Best of all, look inside yourself and self-improve.

“Be humble Scottie…”

Thanks Dad.

While sitting and listening to a dose of Ambient Jungle, I return to a draft of a contemplation that has been occurring to me on a regular basis. Simply put, I believe that exposure to nature has an inherent effect on society’s moral structure, and our ability to cope.

I have a 6-year old daughter; she now lives in the metropolitan center of a +million person city in Colorado. Luckily we Coloradoans have access to killer weather and tons of nature, but even in the city, you have not much more than a small park to play in. I grew up in a fairly rural Wisconsin town (10,000 pop), only 30 minutes from the metro known as Milwaukee. I grew up on an acre of land with an abundance of open fields and other similar geographies at my disposal.

The core difference is access to enough space to be free…
I have been recently suggesting to some kids in the neighborhood that it might not be a good idea to throw stones - they could hit cars or someone’s window, even someone else. Their mothers were stunned at the boys’ insistence to throw these stones despite directives otherwise. I was not so surprised, by their *need* to throw stones and rocks, nor by their disobedience. I threw stones as a child, heck I did it daily for more of my life than I can remember - what’s the difference?

It’s all about energy, discovery, and human “nature”.

There is an absolute need that children display to get out energy, generally expended through discovery and play. Parents of today seem to have more and more problems keeping their kids in-line. I believe it is because we have a significantly more stringent place for them to live. When I used to throw rocks and stones, I could throw it so hard sometimes my arm hurt. Friends and I would contest who could throw it farther, or hit a target. There were an unlimited number of stones owned by nobody, and the infinite opportunity to throw until it was time to come in.

I didn’t just throw rocks, I collected them too!

There were always a few rocks that just looked really cool. Smooth, or jagged, lined with crystals, or in cool colors. It was not only fun finding them, but fun cleaning them, and even destroying them. Like a jailbird I used to take the hammer or sledge to a rock and bust it into powder, again allowing me to discover and release energy - even frustrations. Eventually the powered and crumbled rocks would become a part of imagination and fantasy play (sometimes fueled by early Nintendo games). I also learned very quickly to wear safety glasses or squint my eyes, and also to warn those around me of the danger.

It’s the kind of learning you cannot get elsewhere.

Release of energy, discovery, emotion, teamwork, and imagination all from a rock?! Sure, scientists get paid big bucks to look inside of rocks, dig holes, and stare at rocks in outer space. But the benefits of having access to this rock, and all the wonder it contains - is priceless! Now come back to the kids living in apartments in the metro - why can they not experience the same thing? Because we have neighbors and windows, and rocks someone landscaped and owns. Most folks do not have a hammer, and if they do it’s guarded even more aggressively then a gun in many occasions.

There’s plenty of “discovery” in the Urban Jungle, isn’t there?

Sure, but let’s be real - how many times can you visit a museum, shop at the mall, do the annual carnival, go to dinner, play at the same park, or hang on the sidewalk with friends. The rock sounds pretty fun right about now, doesn’t it? That is really the point, our children today are restricted in ways many of us never were growing up. Parents are more watchful and paranoid, activities because they have to - the opportunity for them to offend someone or be stolen is far greater in the metroplex.

The Jungle can be a scary place, and you have to adapt.

Kids adapt to survive in their environment. I learned that if I fell from my bike it was up to me to get help if I was hurt, I also learned that being hurt and injured were two different things. I used to watch out for poison ivy, my daughter has to remember to scream if a stranger is taking her. Unfortunately the things a child has to learn in order to survive in the concrete laden metros of the USA are not light-hearted. When Iw as a kid I thought of guns being useful for hunting (and eating the critters), urban kids know they are for protection (or worse).

Society wants to blame it on movies, music, and video games…

I am not suggesting that all of the above are righteous and do not have some level of contribution to a depressed and violent society, but rather that there is a deeper correlation between nature and the human element. When I look up at the stars, I forget about it all. I feel so small in a big place - I feel wonder and amazement. My mind fills with questions about life, my heart becomes calm and content. There are no stars in the light-polluted urban areas. When I walk in the woods, the fresh air and nature provides me refuge from the depression and aggression of “real life”, and I can almost become a kid again - exploring and expending extra energy. Many times I return to real life with a new appreciation and greater energy.

“Human Nature” requires Nature, so eat your veggies.

I have discerning tastes when it comes to veggies just like anyone. But I do force myself to eat them, and fruits, in an attempt to get the “recommended daily intake”. My suggestion is not to go pick wild raspberries and mushrooms and have a feast, but rather that there are some things we know are “healthy” for the human body and spirit - I used veggies as an example. Exposure to nature is a mandatory part of a well-balanced diet. If you’re not getting enough nature, you are not experiencing the positive effects, and may even find yourself stricken with problems.

Take a hike - in a pill…

In order for me to feel the calming effects of nature’s nightly stars, I have to see and experience them. In order for me to de-stress and relax or get more energy, I have to take a walk through the woods. If I am not seeing stars or walking in the woods, then inherently I am not receiving the positive effects. If I had no access to these natural remedies for good health (body and spirit), how can I get relief? Well, the pharmaceutical industry has made hundreds of billions of dollars answering that question. Take a muscle relaxer, anti-depressant, blood pressure, weight loss pill - just make sure you don’t overdose and take with water. Also do not mix them or it could kill you.

Last time I checked - mixing stargazing and hiking weren’t fatal

Well, as we are all aware the side effects from taking medicine are not usually good, and medicine is really expensive. Healthcare and prescription drugs continue to be one of the hottest topics in our society. I am extremely glad that there are biotech companies working on cures for diseases, and anti-itch lotions for when I take a hike through poison ivy. But realistically, if we could take the money one spends on prescription drugs and allocate it to nature - we’d have a pretty cool earth. And conversely, we would not need as many drugs to cure what ails us - our mind and soul would be calmed and focused, our bodies would be lean and healthy.

But nature is so far away, and I might get lost!

Oddly enough, one of the best things about getting lost is what you find. When you’re on a crazy adventure there is so much more, it’s about letting go of what you know. As a kid I learned how to find my way out of the woods, and it was usually no worse than walking until I got to some form of civilization, but that was after I left the trail and went exploring. Luckily we do not have to travel thousands of miles over years, hunt for our own food, and protect ourselves from wolves like Lewis and Clark - you can hop in your car and go home after camping or hiking in nature.

I eat healthy, work out, and meditate. Who needs nature?

You do, and so do I. Honestly I think taking in a little nature is way better than the above, although not an absolute replacement. Getting some nature is simply another component of well-being, complimentary to the above. I’d rather take a hike than climb the Stairmaster and watch TV news while listening to my iPod. And do not forget, it’s not illegal to take technology into the woods. Grab your laptop and finish that contract that is due Monday - it’ll be your best piece of work yet!

This is absolutely linked to the fabric of our society, and how!

Now that we understand the benefits of nature, and it’s comparison to our current lives, we turn back to the lecture at hand. When you have not the healthy benefits of nature the opposite (unhealthy) effect occur, such as; weight gain, aches and pains, depression, anxiety, stress, burnout, anger, confusion, boredom. None of these are minor, and all of them have a pharmaceutical to assist in addressing them, but therein lies a larger issue. If these issues remain untreated they avalanche into a much larger series of responses such as violence, mental breakdown, disease, and death.

I repeat… violence, mental breakdown, disease, and death.

Aggression and depression lead to violence. Depression and stress lead to mental breakdown or suicide. Lack of exercise and mental fatigue lead to disease. Lack of exercise leads to lowered self-esteem. I can go on naming combinations and the inherent results. Ultimately all of these lead to an untimely, premature, or violent death. Even if these issues are addressed through medication, it is likely another exists. The side effect is then a slim pocketbook because of prescription drugs, and the unfortunate wasting away of one’s life in an unhappy or less-then-optimal state.

The top problems facing the USA: Obesity, violence, and mental issues.

And I am pretty confident there are an adequate number of statistics that back that statement up. I see more ads about fixing mental issues than anything else, except for maybe the latest weight-loss fad. Watching the nightly news reiterates the violence problems, and even weight and mental problems. What amazes me is how we continue to blame and search in vain for the answer to these problems affecting out society and its moral thread. But when I star up into the stars, it becomes clear what we’re missing.

My hometown had 1 murder in 100 years, and its share of crazy folk…

Okay, so even if you compare the 10,000 population of my hometown to say Milwaukee, I am pretty sure that it’s had more than 100 murders in 100 years. Methinks it is more like half of the annual number. Just as well, our town had plenty of people with major issues, including obesity and mental instability. The problem is more prevalent in the metro centers, but it exists everywhere. Our lifestyle has made it too easy to forego nature - drive from work to home, eat some takeout or fast food with our pills, and watch the world happen though our television (or Internet).

Like eating your veggies, you have to learn to enjoy it.

Getting to nature takes some work - time from your schedule, a drive, sunscreen and boots. Might even cost you in camping gear and a park pass. However, compared to your typical Urban Weekend, camping will be way less expensive and tons more fun. I have come to enjoy a salad, fruit in the morning - and they are still not as mouth watering as a juicy steak and buttered/sour cream baked potato or bacon and eggs, but I sure feel less like a walking heart attack. I also have come to appreciate those juicy steaks and bacon when I have them. Experiencing nature is very similar, you have to put forth some effort to get there, but the effects are a long and healthy life.

Contribute to repairing society - add nature to your diet.

Chill yourself out, but most importantly get out there for the kids. Let them throw rocks and hurt themselves. Let them go and explore and expend energy. Give their minds and bodies the chance to avoid the terrible effects of Urbanization and a conveniently lazy society. My daughter and I enjoyed a first for both of us last weekend - we went river rafting. We were both scared and reserved - I wanted to stay home and clean and she wanted to play on the computer, but we both decided to get outside our “comfort zones” and experience something fun and in nature.

We had fun, relaxed, and experienced something new…

And based upon that simple fact, I am pretty confident that despite all the stresses in her little life - she’s unlikely to be an overweight, psycho, serial killer. That is good for all of us!