Honestly Speaking

Or writing my impressions of what I perceive

Eris, the Goddess of Chaos, being sworn in on Olympus.

I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The truth is, I don’t know anything for certain. I only know my impression of things. I could be wrong. It happens. It always shocks me but it's true. My perceptions may or may not have a real connection to anything that can be called real. It seems this way to me.

Today, I’m listening as usual, to a number of people share their experiences and their perspectives. This is a regular practice of mine. Last night, I was digging into my ideas for how we could architect a system for global management optimizing life for all species. I dug in deep and attracted a bit of positivity from a voice that I respect here - one belonging to a person that I’m grateful to have found here on Substack; Everyday Junglist.

My concern is that we, as a species, are not conducting ourselves in ways that are particularly helpful for the planet and all life, including our own progeny. We can do better. Will we? Time will tell.

I just shared 𝐌𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐳’s The Yoga of Money with a few friends. Not sure they’ll pick up what I’m laying down, but you know? You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. I’m talking with these friends about how my life has been more of “a careen than a career” and that is true. It’s like “ Love Rollercoaster” by the Ohio Players:

Talk about historical cultural artifacts. We are fortunate to be able to look back.

If we’re going to be telling the truth, this tune from Traffic really hits me where I live. There was a time in my life when this was on frequent rotation. It was in the 80’s and I was working at the Geddy Foundry as an apprentice in the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. I would leave that gig in 1990 before completing my apprenticeship and becoming a journeyman, which, I’m fairly certain, would have ended about 20+ years later, had I stayed. I didn’t. It’s all good.

As it turned out, instead, I’d walk away from that gig in January, 1991 having received a fellowship to work on a database which would give unprecedented access to non-German speakers to an 18th-century vocational textbook created between 1767 and 1777. A few volumes were added a couple of decades later. A friend of mine, with whom I shared a love of this tune, would take my place in the shop during my absence. I love that ripple effects emanate from my good fortune, or, my decisions. I’m grateful beyond words that I remain connected, albeit at a distance, with that person. We form a kind of “mind-sphere” of shared experiences which are now part of the Akashic records, if that is an actual thing.

I commented earlier today in a note that my friends are like jewels sprinkled around the globe. In my mind, they sparkle. I’m certain that we, collectively, have made an impact. In some cases, I can see evidence of it. Here’s a good example:

I had the good fortune to have a long conversation with Odette a couple of months ago:

All of these friends in my life enrich me beyond my reckoning. I’m simply lucky.

At the same time, I’m here wondering what I might do to make this world still better.

I’m stuck here:

I said in the title of this essay that I was going to endeavor to tell the truth. Honestly, I do not know what to do, but I have some ideas. I am attempting to articulate them here on this platform. It’s “The Work” in the Gurdjieff sense, you know? Trying to shock myself into awareness of the impact that a single life can make on the world, I am reminded constantly that we have, through our actions of the past, co-created the world we perceive. Are we satisfied? If not, why not?

For me, I’m not satisfied because I believe that we can aspire to far greater things that we have yet to accomplish. What do I mean by that? Well, I think we have the ability to treat each other with loving-kindness for starters. We can do this without exception. I like to call it “The Mr. Rogers Method” - I can accept each person exactly as they are, here and now. If we know better, we can do better. This brings me to the old standard covered by MoonAlice here:

Originally written by Allen Toussaint and released by the Pointer Sisters in 1973, here are the lyrics:

Now’s the time for all good men
To get together with one another
We got to iron out our problems
And iron out our quarrels
And try to live as brothers

And try to find peace within
Without stepping on one another
And do respect the women of the world
Remember, you all had mothers

We got to make this land a better land
Than the world in which we live
And we got to help each man be a better man
With the kindness that we give

I know we can make it
I know darn well, we can work it out
Oh, yes, we can, I know we can, can
Yes, we can, can, why can’t we?
If we wanna, yes, we can, can

I know we can make it work
I know that we can make it if we try
Oh, yes, we can, I know we can, can
Yes, we can great-gosh almighty
Oh, yes, we can, I know we can, can

And we gotta take care of all the children
The little children of the world
‘Cause they’re our strongest hope for the future
The little bitty boys and girls

We got to make this land a better land
Than the world in which we live
And we gotta help each man be a better man
With the kindness that we give

I know we can make it
I know, darn well we can work it out

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Allen Toussaint

I was ten years old. It was 53 years ago. We can still achieve this vision. We just have to want it enough to work at it more efficiently and effectively than we ever have before. Honestly speaking, I believe we have the power to do this in our hands and can use the technological improvements being made presently to enable it. I’ve been writing about it. The vision is incomplete so far, but I am concerned that we are not all in the same mind on the future we are co-creating.

I am just off of the phone with my friend, Lori Cardille, who I hope to have as a guest on the Harrowings Podcast and we talked about the power of ensemble acting; teamwork in sports, in working as the fingers on one hand. We can make it if we try, right?

Lori and I caught up last October 9:

At about 12 minutes into this walk, she jumped in and it’s worth the price of admission. The next visit should be more focused.

Tomorrow, if all goes well, I’ll be talking with Sophy Burnham again. We spoke last October 15 as is recorded here:

The point, if there is a point here, is that we can accomplish more together than separately and it’s time we got into action in meaningful ways.

I’d love to hear more feedback from all of you, so here:

Onward.