that is all acceptable and ironic to me and you will understand why as i paint this picture.
also know, this is a topic that i've written about many times, all disguised inside stories, links and posts.
but the truth of this is important and timely. people have talked about this with me and i never hide, i never dismiss it or downplay it, this is something that must felt, witnessed and in a way, accepted.
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this is the truth, through the vision i have found over my time here... we may disagree, and thats ok, you have your belief and truth, i have mine. when people tell me their truth, feelings and beliefs, i accept them as is, through their vision of their own unique experience. i could never judge that. i hope through sharing, we can all influence each other to see multiple points of view and motivate growth, evolution and positive change in our culture and society.
your reality is yours, shape it how you choose. i pray we find common ground together.
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the left to right, up to down of the screen will effect this.
these thoughts are circular, overlapping, weaving and change colors.
one line cant be taken as one line, they balance and lean on each other.
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i dont want to die. we should clear that up before i also say, i dont enjoy this world.
the irony is, about 20 feet to my left, my two oldest daughters are rehearsing, i think for fun, a musical. you would think they, along with a wife, new born baby, great job and co-workers, a wonderful coaching career, and a couple friends would keep from saying "i dont enjoy this world," but it doesnt.
its a deep, uneasy feeling that i've had my entire life and cannot find a pattern or vision to shake it.
why?
before i answer that, i know i'm not alone.
a few years ago, on the anniversary of Kurt Cobain's and Layne Staley's deaths, I wrote "trap door in the sun." it was semi-vague, general, and i wrote about the fog of depression with a few examples, enough where people knew i was not writing to write. the days that followed the post, several friends contacted, not to ask "can i help you?" or "are you ok?" but "thank you."
the "are you ok?" was a concern upon posting and is usually why i sensor myself.
the "thank you," was bitter-sweet because I didnt realize how many people in my "friends list," felt the way i did.
but why?
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we live in a very strange world, getting more strange every few months. everyday really, but it moves so slow, we dont feel it until their is a shift and we go "whoah, when did this happen?" it's been happening all around us, you just didnt feel it.
we have these tools at every turn.
technology, money/credit, jewels, clothes, cars, homes, etc. a wonderful set of dishes, a new set of couches, that great new coffee table you always wanted, shit everywhere. we collect things. we work and trade time to accumulate a bank acct that we swap a certain value of numbers for more things to stack in our homes. these things will never really do anything for us of real value. they will serve to mask pain, discomfort and hide us from our truth.
the truth that a great many of us have invested our entire lives to a game. a finite game where there are no winners or losers, and no one survives.
on a level, that reads very dark. you can probably see why i started how i did by writing what i did in the top 2 sections.
let me ask a few questions and you can decide a few things for yourself:
How many people do you know in debt?
How many people do you know that do not enjoy their jobs?
How many people seem genuinely unhappy?
How many people do you know with drug or alcohol addictions?
Low self esteem?
In poor relationships?
Out of shape, bad health?
How many people do you know on anti-depressants?
How many people pass you and smile? How many stare at the ground?
How many xmas cards do you send and receive?
How many friends do you scan passed on social media and think "idgaf," at their posts?
How many people do you love? Love you?
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according to cnn, the most prescribed drug is anti-depressants
what could be attributed to his climb? we have more tools and information than ever. we have apps to help us meditate, we have trainers and doctors and gyms and spas and self help books and Dr Phil! (is he still around?)
...but americans are going in and getting meds for depression more frequently and at a faster rate than ever.
do you know what other area is growing as fast as these meds?
technology has isolated us.
we have relationships on phones with thumbs, and not in flesh. you barely need verbal, social skills.
we have friend lists of 100, 300, 800 people, who do not say hi when they see you.
we email and text, we dont talk.
we highlight a fake persona on social media, a vision we want, we wish, was reality.
we have gone fucking crazy. absolutely crazy.
this is not what we were designed for.
in our push to advance and grow and achieve, we have lost our truth, ourselves, our human connection, our heart. without human connection, we will all continue to fade into darkness. you can mask it all you like with a busy schedule and running the kids and your "thing," you do, but without touch, without laughter, without self reflection, without time, you will fade.
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we need to go backwards. we need to set these things tools down, these phones, and engage.
we are receivers and transmitters and all senses need to be activated.
our eyes, ears, mouth, nose, our skin... we need to feel alive. we have to breathe hard, we have to strain our bodies, we have to face challenges and work together.
i heard jim carrey say that "depression is your self telling yourself, that you do want to play this character anymore." i felt and feel that very deeply. i know when i can walk into a room with a person and have truth and love with me, i know when i walk into a room that will demand a character. too many of those character rooms and i will fade away.
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balance.
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we have to use the tools, within balance.
there are times the characters are needed, find balance. for every moment a character is required, find 3x that a mount of truth and love. and truth and love may even be within the character, but if its still a character, you will drain yourself.
are you playing a character?
would you know if you were?
do you know how to find out?
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you may have seen quotes or memes or whatever, wherever about "awake," or "woke," right? usually a funny hippie thing or something with Neo from the Matrix maybe. this vision is about the recognition of the character, the avatar, the ego that ive referenced many times.
my definition of ego has been consistent, a mask or series of masks. we can wear one for any occasion or none. some have value and use, some are destructive. are you wearing one?
"the killer awoke before dawn, he put his boots on, he took a face from the ancient gallery and he walked on down the hallway." this is what Morrison was talking about.
"Let the ocean swell, dissolve away my mask." same here.
it has been written time and time again, in music, poetry, movies. references to these masks, faces and egos.
burn them away and become your truth.
we do so much to hide the pain, to bury the pain. to mask over the mask... but all we have to do is burn them away.
ask...
ask.
yes.
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i saw a shrink years ago... she didnt think i was very crazy, which now makes me wonder if she was qualified? anyway, she said "theres nothing wrong with you, you just havent found your tribe."
then i saw another and she set these headphones on me and sent me spelunking in the caves of my subconscious.... down there was a file cabinet and when i saw it, the music started... i reached for it and she warned, "only open it if you're serious and ready..."
then i saw another one who asked my name and "how long have you been suicidal?" within 5 minutes.
i didnt and dont mind the conversation or topic. you would all break my heart, but this isnt the same.
none of these were even set appointment, just conversations.
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no, i have zero fear of death... catch me at a certain hour and i might talk about seeing the other side. but having "lost," my mom a little while ago and feeling this hole, i wouldn't and couldn't pass it to someone else. so theres that. did that sound too casual? ..if you got it.
and this my battle... the pull vs the push. its not fun.
but as much as the darkness weighs on the back of my neck, when it does shine, its blinding... its overwhelming. im much more emotional now. i cry at greatness and beauty and innocence. i see a kid do something "kid," or unique and i live through that energy.
i see a genuine smile and i feel it in my soul.
ive been witness to magnificent breakthroughs in the gyms, on the fields, in the offices... and they all get me. i pause and witness.
"we just had a moment we will remember"
i have no normal moments, no normal days. everything carries weight w ability to tip the scale one way or the other... and i play to stand centered.
this is my yoga.
i balance right between it.
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i think you know this when we talk... its ok, it wont be a thing. it makes it all better... it means more now. think about it.
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Simon talks about infinite games vs finite games.
finite games have a set of rules, a clock, we agree we play til x.
an infinite game is played to survive... it only ends when a player is done playing. they quit or cant afford to continue.
given the theme here, you probably thought i was leaning "infinte game," but no.. the key word was "clock." knowing the clock adds value to everything. when we know time is limited, it means more.
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without music, without knowing how to workout, without the girls, without the people ive found to help send me down the path that lead to answers to not feel so alone... i wouldnt be here. thats alright... we cant choke this shit down and keep saying "im alright," and lie. we're not alright. alot of us are flat out, fucked up. fine. sit w me. we'll have a fucked up little bench. then a few more people will go "hey, i'm uhh, you know, i'm like..." and ill go "yeah yea, i get it..." and i'll slide down to make room for you. and we'll need more benches.
and then we'll actually talk to each other again.
(this song was playing as i wrote that last paragraph)
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peace, love and empathy
