Power Points

Power Points

Funny, is it not, that a little dog's paws feel like they weigh 30 pounds each when they happen to step on your foot. Or, if you're reclined on the couch and they hop up on your chest or stomach, wowsers bowsers!

I reckon it's a matter of physics, you know, weight to size ratios and such. Don't ask me to explain, I only know it to be a physical truth by experience. Likewise, I heard a scientist say, "According to the laws of aerodynamics, it should be impossible for a bumble bee to fly."

Nevertheless, the fuzzy hummers zip around extremely well in defiance of what smart-aleckly and know-it-all scientists think.

And, wonders never cease when it comes to us two-legged uprights and what goes on in the ole gray matter betwixt our ears. Funny, is it not, that our brains are referred to in this way when perspectives and opinions often seem so black and white. SHEESH!

I've lived long enough (not that is necessarily matters with some) to understand that most issues are rarely as simplistic as seen by opposing arguers. Call me geezer, but many from my generation include words or phrases in our vocabulary such as common sense, deductive and inductive reasoning,  and of course, line of logic.

Then again, I must remind myself that when we were being raised or instructed, we were especially expected to think for ourselves and be critical thinkers. We were typically applauded for analyzing and questioning supposed positions, stances, and claims, and more so when providing a well thawed out (tee hee) or thought out rebuttal.

Somewhere along the way, this behavior and value fell from favor or was shoved aside to make room for blind and mindless compliance.

Okay thinkers, I heard you sigh when you suspected a coming rant. Applause! You were right, I truly wanted to go there, but then I'd hafta make this post far too long. And,my hypocrisy has a short leash, as in I'd feel compelled to admit my own failures of occasional lazy thinking.

However, (stop sighing, dang it) being in the latter part of my journey, I prefer to think myself a tad wiser and  rather than being compliant, I've learned to know when an expenditure of time and brain cells is more likely to be wasted. So no, don't confuse my perceived lack of interest with compliance. I just know how to pick my battles now. There, on to the conclusion. Go ahead, clap, but please keep reading beyond the first few words below the pic.

Political and social issues. I said keep reading, purrrdy please.

You're feeling the feet of those 1000 pound Jack Russel paws aren't you.

Forget television and movies, those really old but effective societal manipulation  and narrative steering machines, we have Facebook to contend with. It's the equivalent of a gazillion disproportionately pointy and potentially hurtful paws all poking and needling at once.

See, the trick to handling hurting pokers like all those perceived divisive and injurious posts online, or those actual pointy nails pictured above, is to view and consider them collectively. You could step on that bed of nails and not break skin because they're condensed into a tight area.

Ah, but therein is the nasty catch these days, that dang ole lazy and flawed reasoning, reasoning whose line isn't a line but more like 3 dots in a row. I exaggerate, it's two dots long.

Glance at the posts online, both sides of an issue. You don't even hafta read them to know what agenda they're pushing or defending. Keep your feelings out of it and pull away far enough to maybe see the bigger picture. Then, have the self-supportive and nurturing guts to ask, "What's the higher, more valuable, and life enhancing choice to make here in response?"

You can do what you want, as for me, I'm too old to waste energy and spirit on blindly following or complying with social engineering efforts designed to cripple and destroy meaningful and health-promoting human connection and fellowship. That, and the experience-toughened muscles and skin of my heart, mind, and spirit refuse to let heavy pawed critters, actual or figurative, jab me into a joyless journey or worse.

So, join me in being like the name of one of my favorite groups and rage against the machine with reason and assertive non compliance.

Let's unite, not divide, and instead move collectively toward what matters most; helping one another achieve our greatest positive potential.