The old normal is looked upon fondly especially by those preferring to live in the past and cultivate longing for days gone by and how wonderful they were when in reality they really sucked and there were no women’s rights and gay was a word that meant happy. Yeah, that old normal was nothing to write home about and its gotten kinda stale. Then there’s today’s normal, a normal that started out okay with good words in all the right places but has suddenly taken a turn for the worse. Yes, there’s been some improvement on social lines like discrimination and women are more empowered than before.

Of course, there are those that would like to go back to that old neanderthal normal and like I said that mightily sucks because like it or not you can never go back. People have memories and scars that won’t go away just because you wave your magic cucumber and wish things were like they used to be.

And I sit here at my humble keyboard reconstructing how things used to be and well they ain’t and what are you going to do about it? Huh? What are you going to do about it because unless we collectively do something about it, the neanderthals will have their way. Not that I have anything against neanderthals, but they need to stay in their own era and not try to inflict their gibberish on me or us.

I Call Bullshit

I call bullshit to all the busybodies trying to ruin lives just because they don’t like the color of their skin, the god they worship, their gender, nationality or any and all other crap that describes the current state of humanity.

I call bullshit to those who think that only they are right and everyone else is wrong and intend to inflict that inuendo to their last breath. Bullshit I say and scream and denounce all those that cloud folk’s minds with their own personal travesty. I don’t have to make you wrong to make me right. We can all be right or left or straight down the middle. A little bit of respect and manners goes a long way.

So how do we create this new normal and cut out the bullshit that has been reigning over us and dividing and trying to conquer us. How do we create a new normal that treats people kindly and people treat each other kindly and bypass all this bullshit of making one country, one race, one religion, one gender, etc. better than another. Who determines our happiness, our future?

You don’t have to be caught in this conundrum called life, sailing along without a rudder. You don’t have to be Pollyanna to want to live a life on your own terms without ripping another up for not agreeing with the way you walk or the way you dress, or, or, or. No, it is time for a new manifesto not nurtured by your pet peeves. But nurtured by the beauty that is in you, our loves and likes. Well in a nutshell we do! We are not beholden to anyone or any government or group for our individual happiness, not by a long shot. We must change the paradigm, repair the damage of the past and those stuck in the past and get along with the program.

Making Friends

Here’s an idea. What would happen if you made friends with the earth? What would happen if your friends and neighbors made friends with the world? What would happen if politicians and generals and even despots decided to make friends with the world? Let’s just make friends and all that that implies. We don’t have to create a make friends with the earth day, week, year. Let’s just do it cuz it feels good and feels right and feels much better to have friends than enemies. How about that for a new normal?

It does not take too much effort or time to say howdy to a neighbor. Instead of walking down the street with your face caught up in screens, take a little peak at the world and notice the things and folks around you and simply acknowledge their existence. Not only will you feel better, but they will feel better as well. There is nothing like acknowledging another person and validating their existence.

The other day, I was walking down the street from where I live and there was a homeless guy walking towards me. I wished him a good morning and he almost broke down in tears like this was the nicest thing ever said to him. He thanked me for saying hello, imagine that and fist bumped me, and we went on our way.

Solace

I find solace in art and music and yes poetry. There is something special about being in the presence of great art and how it exemplifies all that is wonderful about humanity. Unlike other activities, art personifies all that is right about humanity.

THE FRIEND

My childhood was nothing to talk about
filled with clouds of introspection
and faulty wishes without backbone
I felt small and insignificant.

I wanted to be tall
standing up for myself
not stand out in the crowd
find me through the noise.

There were dreams I forgot to dream
and relevances I found irrelevant
I needed to detach my roots
from the soil of my birth.

-O Joy – O Joy – Life consumes time
and the friend I alway sought
stared back at me from the mirror.

Our Video of the Week – Carole King’s You’ve Got a Friend

I’ve chosen a live performance of Carole because I just love watching her perform such a beautiful song.

There is something special about being a friend. I will leave you with that thought.

Shalom Shalom