Wednesday
Golf, Dogs, Punts and Parents
Its amazing how looking at one’s golf swing (and dogs/babies for that matter) can give many clues on the psychological make-up of a human being; Control, patience, attention span, goals, data storage/retention.
The golf swing, as with the punting stroke and as in life, is a process that takes focus/ memory to successfully execute. Once the basics are learned, we need to figure out (and practice) remembering “how” to do it, but at the same time “how not” to (think).
Own the moment, not the scene. Or better yet, own the process (swing, motion), not the game (scene). By saying the “right” thing, wearing the best clothes, using the most technically advanced equipment won’t make you a good golfer, punter or parent.
Process vs. Results
In order to attain a desired results, it is the process that needs to be mastered; mentally and physically. In this results driven society, the most common error is to think “we got it” and not take the time to do the work. Take the time to 'watch our minds' and execute our pre-shot/punt/life routine; ultimately forgetting to “read the directions”.
There’s nothing wrong with having the desire to succeed, however, once you “step into the batter’s box” up “onto the tee box” or 'back to punt", we must go thru a simple pre-shot/swing routine and then, ZEN.
We have to have the ability to ignore negative mental chatter and execute the entire routine/process/swing. Having 'the gift of being'..... The ability to approach life with a 'Ce La Vie' approach, will allow us to “Let it Happen”, be absolutely Present, free our mind with the rare ability to totally Focus, Relax, and Execute.
When we approach life with a 'Half Full' attitude. We will be blessed .
The Do's ...........“Let go” --> Set and Pull, Seeing Great Results, Quantum Positive, “put a good move on it”
vs.
The fatal 'Half Empty' approach........
The Don'ts --> Over thinking, Focusing on negative thoughts, Tightening up, Forcing it, Making it Happen/The Results, Squeezing it, White Knuckling it, Panicking.
One thing I’ve noticed about people(the majority) is that most want to keep things “in a box”, simple, generally vague(and boring) --> Regular and Normal. No one really wants to take the time to slow down and “smell the roses” or “read the directions” in order to execute “the process”........... Focusing on results, 'What if’s' and 'Oh no's' is death.
When we(they) “get stuck” and forget to go thru the process, the brain will malfunction and lock onto the negative thought pattern and/or focus only on “one part/aspect” of the swing(life) . The only is destiny will be disaster....... leading an incomplete and abbreviated swing-> forcing. An incomplete swing by attempting to make the results miraculously happen, when we must focus on what we can control..... Ourselves.....Our process.......... Our “catch to kick” .
Moral to Story - Focus on what you actually CAN control. The swing (Process) versus the shot (Results) .
Conditions
As in conditional love, we can’t approach a motion by focusing on “what we need/want” in order for to get the desired results. And focusing/complaining about these said conditions(obstacles) will ruin the movement(process). When we fix(work on) ourselves, all those around us will gladly follow suit.
“We Are What We Teach”
Which brings me to the dogs and children. The inherent personalities are a sometimes a grave reminder of who we are and how we approach life.
“Now Noel, you don’t want to discipline away her personality” was once said by a doting grandfather to his daughter in reference to the disciplining of of her wily 4 yr old.
“Lord, give me the strength, to accept things I cannot change, to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”
The Art of Listening (Listen to Learn)
For us to learn(and teach), we have to learn to listen. We can’t expect someone to “fix us” and/or teach/learn with a predetermined “way we want”. We have to be patient and allow the the results to manifest. So PAY ATTENTION .......... and LISTEN.
Being prepared to learn is an art. And being patient enough to teach is a miracle.
The Art of Learning
Most people only want to hear what suits their needs. And in some cases, project their insecurities upon us in the process.
Good News - Once these mind viruses are purged, it is then we will learn. It is then we can take life to the next level........ and Free our Minds!
Bad News - Most are lost souls destined for mediocrity. Trapped in a life they “thought” they wanted ... living “results driven” and eventually, the stress of not being “in control”, will kill them. As the Montgomery Mirror Approach states.... if you kid yourself, ignore what you see in the mirror and think you’re in control, especially when you’re a pleaser, a “yes man”, “a follower” and NOT a thought leader........ the future is bleak At the end of the day, you'll have no control......and no friends. Only subordinates and feaux aquaintances. I speak from experience......If you’re dumb enough to think people don’t notice your lack of control.... your EGO ....... and you foolishly confuse your paycheck with wisdom, you will.... mark my words... pay HALF! It's like shooting fish in a barrel.
Moral? - Pay Attention!
It's a fact ........ that a head strong student/friend/family member will sometimes need to be totally exhausted in order to finally let go. Try not give up on them For the tired body (and mind) will eventually give up “trying to DO the motion(life)” and finally ALLOW the motion(life) to unfold. I've been blessed to have the ability to “unlearn” my “control moves” in life and now strive to partake with a free mind, body and spirit. ................ And that, my friends, will continue to be the all too elusive trick.
How's that for a Wednesday morning rant?!
Piece - GM
..
Tuesday
HELLoooo....Is There Anybody Out There?
As you can imagine, throughout my many years of playing college and professional sports, I've heard some classic quotes from some classic coaches. And this one stands out. George Perles, my head coach(and teammate of my father) at Michigan State said, "You either hang together ... Or you hang separate".
And it's that simple.
Those of us that have been on 'the dark side' need to recognize some things if we're going to 'make it'. There are many levels of depression, and we all know them well. My recently named position of National Spokesperson for everyminute.org is living testimony that I'm on the right track.
That being said, as George Perles said, all those that want to be in our lives need to make a choice. They need to figure out who's side they're on and where they want to go....and with whom. Because we're going to succeed(recover) with them or without them.
This leads me to the question of "Are we ever going to get through"?
'Smart money' says "No".
Even though we really appreciate their concern, all those friends and family that are 'stuck in the past' need be kicked to the curb(gently). Once their job of 'saving us' is taken out of their hands ..... and they can no longer inhale the fumes of our victory(recovery).....it is then we find out who our true friends are.
As Jack Kennedy said, "Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan." The funny thing - this quote inadvertently applies to all of us.
I had my latest epiphany in W Palm Beach while visiting with an old 'friend'.
We really have to 'let go'.....let go of the 'chains of guilt'.....and stop swimming in the 'river of deceit'.
We all know the definition of insanity. And that question is usually directed at us when 'those that care' are hammering us with stories of our past trials and tribulations. The real issue of insanity is this - 'Why do we continue to believe that 'these people'(that have never understood us) are going to miraculously going to catch our drift? News flash - It ain't happening.
Here are a few open questions for you to chew on.........
How do we get our friends and family to open(clear) their minds?
When the mind viruses of 'our handlers' are rampant, how do we know when to move on....cut bait?
How do we avoid activating their EGO when the conversation turns to them?
In order for them to grow with us, do we need to give them scientific facts that explain how their brain (ego) functions?
How many parents/teachers/coaches that learn they were originally “wrong or mislead” (while parenting/teaching/coaching) actually make 'the shift'(to enlightenment)?
Is there a 'soft approach' for us to use when it's their turn to list their old habits and ways of teaching that could be improved upon? .... The very root of our pain.
Are we the only ones that need/want to grow(mind body spirit)?
In this day of PhD's, MD's, Fox News and "say’s who's?", it is very difficult(and frustrating) for us to get through to those that need written proof we are on the right track. It's sad that he very people that 'think they are helping' just so happen to be using an extremely rigidly programmed belief system based upon what they’ve “heard” and what they “thought” was right/correct/effective. What if they are(were) wrong?......... And if so, do they really care?
I've learned that this is a very slippery slope. And there will come a time when we need to make a decision. And that decision will be ours, not theirs.
On that note, I'm going to 'therapy'. GM
And it's that simple.
Those of us that have been on 'the dark side' need to recognize some things if we're going to 'make it'. There are many levels of depression, and we all know them well. My recently named position of National Spokesperson for everyminute.org is living testimony that I'm on the right track.
That being said, as George Perles said, all those that want to be in our lives need to make a choice. They need to figure out who's side they're on and where they want to go....and with whom. Because we're going to succeed(recover) with them or without them.
This leads me to the question of "Are we ever going to get through"?
'Smart money' says "No".
Even though we really appreciate their concern, all those friends and family that are 'stuck in the past' need be kicked to the curb(gently). Once their job of 'saving us' is taken out of their hands ..... and they can no longer inhale the fumes of our victory(recovery).....it is then we find out who our true friends are.
As Jack Kennedy said, "Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan." The funny thing - this quote inadvertently applies to all of us.
I had my latest epiphany in W Palm Beach while visiting with an old 'friend'.
We really have to 'let go'.....let go of the 'chains of guilt'.....and stop swimming in the 'river of deceit'.
We all know the definition of insanity. And that question is usually directed at us when 'those that care' are hammering us with stories of our past trials and tribulations. The real issue of insanity is this - 'Why do we continue to believe that 'these people'(that have never understood us) are going to miraculously going to catch our drift? News flash - It ain't happening.
Here are a few open questions for you to chew on.........
How do we get our friends and family to open(clear) their minds?
When the mind viruses of 'our handlers' are rampant, how do we know when to move on....cut bait?
How do we avoid activating their EGO when the conversation turns to them?
In order for them to grow with us, do we need to give them scientific facts that explain how their brain (ego) functions?
How many parents/teachers/coaches that learn they were originally “wrong or mislead” (while parenting/teaching/coaching) actually make 'the shift'(to enlightenment)?
Is there a 'soft approach' for us to use when it's their turn to list their old habits and ways of teaching that could be improved upon? .... The very root of our pain.
Are we the only ones that need/want to grow(mind body spirit)?
In this day of PhD's, MD's, Fox News and "say’s who's?", it is very difficult(and frustrating) for us to get through to those that need written proof we are on the right track. It's sad that he very people that 'think they are helping' just so happen to be using an extremely rigidly programmed belief system based upon what they’ve “heard” and what they “thought” was right/correct/effective. What if they are(were) wrong?......... And if so, do they really care?
I've learned that this is a very slippery slope. And there will come a time when we need to make a decision. And that decision will be ours, not theirs.
On that note, I'm going to 'therapy'. GM
Thursday
The Matrix - Finding Our Purpose Through Quantum Thinking
Even though we all might not be 'action hero' and/or Keanu Reeves fans, the 'quantum thought' based movie, The Matrix, has numerous messages for all of us to chew on. And that being said, I strongly suggest you all rent it and watch it with pen and paper handy. Be prepared to pause, rewind and write down any dialog that makes you scratch your head. Sit back and enjoy; for there is another dimension of life that is sitting right in front of you. GMFor more interpretations and symbolism in the The Matrix, please visit http://onwardoverland.com/matrix/philosophy.html and http://www.thematrix101.com/matrix/symbolism.php
Other must-see movies regarding quantum thinking and finding 'our purpose' : What The Bleep Do We Know?! (www.whatthebleep.com) and The Shift (www.theshiftmovie.com)
Monday
Keeping My Eye On The Prize
I had a great conference call this morning with a couple colleagues, Sue Veldkamp and Ray Singletary. One point that stood out was that I really need to 'stay in my lane' when it comes to sharing my story. It's become evident that, in my true bipolar fashion, I've strayed a bit from my goal of spreading awareness. I've been writing more about my 'recovery' than the fact I had to recognize there was something(anxiety/bipolar/depression) to recover from in the first place.
In order to break the stigma of mental illness, the first order of business is to recognize that bipolar disorder and depression exist. The biggest hurdle for those suffering, and their family member for that matter, is to know it's 'OK' to reach out for help. In the past 10 years ,especially in the competitive athletic arena, anxiety and depression have been treated as a taboo subject. Due to the lack of information, society has viewed anxiety and depression as a weakness; causing most athletes to be very hesitant in seeking help.
It wasn't until recently that the reality of anxiety and depression(in professional sports) has been exposed. With the likes of Terry Bradshaw, Ricky Williams, Delonte West( and the much publicized Super Bowl saga of Barrett Robbins for that matter) finally 'coming out', society has slowly begun to understand there is an issue that needs to be addressed.
The only way this stigma can be broken is for us to continue an open dialog, study and shed more light on this all too common disease(s). Please take the time to share your stories and help me come up with ideas on how I can achieve these goals.
Thanks in advance - GM
In order to break the stigma of mental illness, the first order of business is to recognize that bipolar disorder and depression exist. The biggest hurdle for those suffering, and their family member for that matter, is to know it's 'OK' to reach out for help. In the past 10 years ,especially in the competitive athletic arena, anxiety and depression have been treated as a taboo subject. Due to the lack of information, society has viewed anxiety and depression as a weakness; causing most athletes to be very hesitant in seeking help.
It wasn't until recently that the reality of anxiety and depression(in professional sports) has been exposed. With the likes of Terry Bradshaw, Ricky Williams, Delonte West( and the much publicized Super Bowl saga of Barrett Robbins for that matter) finally 'coming out', society has slowly begun to understand there is an issue that needs to be addressed.
The only way this stigma can be broken is for us to continue an open dialog, study and shed more light on this all too common disease(s). Please take the time to share your stories and help me come up with ideas on how I can achieve these goals.
Thanks in advance - GM
Sunday
Civil DISobedience and Bipolar DISorder
The following text was written by Henry David Thoreau in 1849. As I continue to explore my 'illness', my 'disorder', I'm thinking we need to go ahead and remove the 'dis'. Being tricked to think we're freaks, projects and head cases, I'm sick and tired of being 'dissed' (pun intended). The parallels and metaphors are endless. It turns out we should probably remove the 'dis' from Thoreau's title as well. Our country, our minds, our 'obedience', would seem better served if we stopped taking in the ass and stand up for our colorful views and intuitions.
I mentioned yesterday my Chinese horoscope insinuated that our "somewhat chaotic intuition was more right than wrong" We all know to take horoscopes with a grain of salt, however this one seemed oddly accurate.
The themes in Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" are timeless and the specifics are slavery and the Mexican-American War. Ironically, even those period-specific themes have great bearing on us today. Not to mention how the mental illness epidemic continues to grow in the name of capitalism. Enjoy.GM
Civil Disobedience
I heartily accept the motto, — “That government is best which governs least”; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe — “That government is best which governs not at all”; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have. Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient. The objections which have been brought against a standing army, and they are many and weighty, and deserve to prevail, may also at last be brought against a standing government. The standing army is only an arm of the standing government. The government itself, which is only the mode which the people have chosen to execute their will, is equally liable to be abused and perverted before the people can act through it. Witness the present Mexican war, the work of comparatively a few individuals using the standing government as their tool; for in the outset, the people would not have consented to this measure.
This American government — what is it but a tradition, though a recent one, endeavoring to transmit itself unimpaired to posterity, but each instant losing some of its integrity? It has not the vitality and force of a single living man; for a single man can bend it to his will. It is a sort of wooden gun to the people themselves. But it is not the less necessary for this; for the people must have some complicated machinery or other, and hear its din, to satisfy that idea of government which they have. Governments show thus how successfully men can be imposed upon, even impose on themselves, for their own advantage. It is excellent, we must all allow. Yet this government never of itself furthered any enterprise, but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way. It does not keep the country free. It does not settle the West. It does not educate. The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way. For government is an expedient, by which men would fain succeed in letting one another alone; and, as has been said, when it is most expedient, the governed are most let alone by it. Trade and commerce, if they were not made of india-rubber, would never manage to bounce over obstacles which legislators are continually putting in their way; and if one were to judge these men wholly by the effects of their actions and not partly by their intentions, they would deserve to be classed and punished with those mischievous persons who put obstructions on the railroads.
But, to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government. Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it.
After all, the practical reason why, when the power is once in the hands of the people, a majority are permitted, and for a long period continue, to rule is not because they are most likely to be in the right, nor because this seems fairest to the minority, but because they are physically the strongest. But government in which the majority rule in all cases can not be based on justice, even as far as men understand it. Can there not be a government in which the majorities do not virtually decide right and wrong, but conscience? — in which majorities decide only those questions to which the rule of expediency is applicable? Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience then? I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward. It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right. It is truly enough said that a corporation has no conscience; but a corporation of conscientious men is a corporation with a conscience. Law never made men a whit more just; and, by means of their respect for it, even the well-disposed are daily made the agents of injustice. A common and natural result of an undue respect for the law is, that you may see a file of soldiers, colonel, captain, corporal, privates, powder-monkeys, and all, marching in admirable order over hill and dale to the wars, against their wills, ay, against their common sense and consciences, which makes it very steep marching indeed, and produces a palpitation of the heart. They have no doubt that it is a damnable business in which they are concerned; they are all peaceably inclined. Now, what are they? Men at all? or small movable forts and magazines, at the service of some unscrupulous man in power? Visit the Navy Yard, and behold a marine, such a man as an American government can make, or such as it can make a man with its black arts — a mere shadow and reminiscence of humanity, a man laid out alive and standing, and already, as one may say, buried under arms with funeral accompaniment, though it may be,
The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables, posse comitatus, etc. In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense; but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well. Such command no more respect than men of straw or a lump of dirt. They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs. Yet such as these even are commonly esteemed good citizens. Others — as most legislators, politicians, lawyers, ministers, and office-holders — serve the state chiefly with their heads; and, as they rarely make any moral distinctions, they are as likely to serve the devil, without intending it, as God. A very few — as heroes, patriots, martyrs, reformers in the great sense, and men — serve the state with their consciences also, and so necessarily resist it for the most part; and they are commonly treated as enemies by it. A wise man will only be useful as a man, and will not submit to be “clay,” and “stop a hole to keep the wind away,” but leave that office to his dust at least:
He who gives himself entirely to his fellow men appears to them useless and selfish; but he who gives himself partially to them is pronounced a benefactor and philanthropist.
How does it become a man to behave toward the American government today? I answer, that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it. I cannot for an instant recognize that political organization as my government which is the slave’s government also.
All men recognize the right of revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance to, and to resist, the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable. But almost all say that such is not the case now. But such was the case, they think, in the Revolution of ‘75. If one were to tell me that this was a bad government because it taxed certain foreign commodities brought to its ports, it is most probable that I should not make an ado about it, for I can do without them. All machines have their friction; and possibly this does enough good to counter-balance the evil. At any rate, it is a great evil to make a stir about it. But when the friction comes to have its machine, and oppression and robbery are organized, I say, let us not have such a machine any longer. In other words, when a sixth of the population of a nation which has undertaken to be the refuge of liberty are slaves, and a whole country is unjustly overrun and conquered by a foreign army, and subjected to military law, I think that it is not too soon for honest men to rebel and revolutionize. What makes this duty the more urgent is that fact that the country so overrun is not our own, but ours is the invading army.
— Henry David Thoreau
Now tell me if you see the parallels with how we are treated when it comes to our 'illness'. Our gift of bipolar 'order' needs to be taken seriously and monitored very closely. In most cases we need to be regulated and stabilized with some form of medication. But to think we are crazy? C'mon. Let's stop drinking the Kool-Aid being served up by the Jim Jones' of modern psychiatry. It's pathetic and criminal that they all need to be in bed with Merck, Dow Pharma, Bristol Myers Squib, Amgen, Pfizer and Eli Lilly in order to make a living(another story).
Stand up tall, stick your chest out and wear the "Bipolar Badge of Honor" proud. If I get one more look and or comment from one of the 'Regs'*, I'm gonna ..............
*' Reg' as in Regular , inside the box, 9-5 working shallow thinkers who always end up saying "what happened"?
.
I mentioned yesterday my Chinese horoscope insinuated that our "somewhat chaotic intuition was more right than wrong" We all know to take horoscopes with a grain of salt, however this one seemed oddly accurate.
The themes in Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" are timeless and the specifics are slavery and the Mexican-American War. Ironically, even those period-specific themes have great bearing on us today. Not to mention how the mental illness epidemic continues to grow in the name of capitalism. Enjoy.GM
Civil Disobedience
I heartily accept the motto, — “That government is best which governs least”; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe — “That government is best which governs not at all”; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have. Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient. The objections which have been brought against a standing army, and they are many and weighty, and deserve to prevail, may also at last be brought against a standing government. The standing army is only an arm of the standing government. The government itself, which is only the mode which the people have chosen to execute their will, is equally liable to be abused and perverted before the people can act through it. Witness the present Mexican war, the work of comparatively a few individuals using the standing government as their tool; for in the outset, the people would not have consented to this measure.
This American government — what is it but a tradition, though a recent one, endeavoring to transmit itself unimpaired to posterity, but each instant losing some of its integrity? It has not the vitality and force of a single living man; for a single man can bend it to his will. It is a sort of wooden gun to the people themselves. But it is not the less necessary for this; for the people must have some complicated machinery or other, and hear its din, to satisfy that idea of government which they have. Governments show thus how successfully men can be imposed upon, even impose on themselves, for their own advantage. It is excellent, we must all allow. Yet this government never of itself furthered any enterprise, but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way. It does not keep the country free. It does not settle the West. It does not educate. The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way. For government is an expedient, by which men would fain succeed in letting one another alone; and, as has been said, when it is most expedient, the governed are most let alone by it. Trade and commerce, if they were not made of india-rubber, would never manage to bounce over obstacles which legislators are continually putting in their way; and if one were to judge these men wholly by the effects of their actions and not partly by their intentions, they would deserve to be classed and punished with those mischievous persons who put obstructions on the railroads.
But, to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government. Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it.
After all, the practical reason why, when the power is once in the hands of the people, a majority are permitted, and for a long period continue, to rule is not because they are most likely to be in the right, nor because this seems fairest to the minority, but because they are physically the strongest. But government in which the majority rule in all cases can not be based on justice, even as far as men understand it. Can there not be a government in which the majorities do not virtually decide right and wrong, but conscience? — in which majorities decide only those questions to which the rule of expediency is applicable? Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience then? I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward. It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right. It is truly enough said that a corporation has no conscience; but a corporation of conscientious men is a corporation with a conscience. Law never made men a whit more just; and, by means of their respect for it, even the well-disposed are daily made the agents of injustice. A common and natural result of an undue respect for the law is, that you may see a file of soldiers, colonel, captain, corporal, privates, powder-monkeys, and all, marching in admirable order over hill and dale to the wars, against their wills, ay, against their common sense and consciences, which makes it very steep marching indeed, and produces a palpitation of the heart. They have no doubt that it is a damnable business in which they are concerned; they are all peaceably inclined. Now, what are they? Men at all? or small movable forts and magazines, at the service of some unscrupulous man in power? Visit the Navy Yard, and behold a marine, such a man as an American government can make, or such as it can make a man with its black arts — a mere shadow and reminiscence of humanity, a man laid out alive and standing, and already, as one may say, buried under arms with funeral accompaniment, though it may be,
“Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note,
As his corse to the rampart we hurried;
Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot
O’er the grave where our hero was buried.”
As his corse to the rampart we hurried;
Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot
O’er the grave where our hero was buried.”
The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables, posse comitatus, etc. In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense; but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well. Such command no more respect than men of straw or a lump of dirt. They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs. Yet such as these even are commonly esteemed good citizens. Others — as most legislators, politicians, lawyers, ministers, and office-holders — serve the state chiefly with their heads; and, as they rarely make any moral distinctions, they are as likely to serve the devil, without intending it, as God. A very few — as heroes, patriots, martyrs, reformers in the great sense, and men — serve the state with their consciences also, and so necessarily resist it for the most part; and they are commonly treated as enemies by it. A wise man will only be useful as a man, and will not submit to be “clay,” and “stop a hole to keep the wind away,” but leave that office to his dust at least:
“I am too high-born to be propertied,
To be a second at control,
Or useful serving-man and instrument
To any sovereign state throughout the world.”
To be a second at control,
Or useful serving-man and instrument
To any sovereign state throughout the world.”
He who gives himself entirely to his fellow men appears to them useless and selfish; but he who gives himself partially to them is pronounced a benefactor and philanthropist.
How does it become a man to behave toward the American government today? I answer, that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it. I cannot for an instant recognize that political organization as my government which is the slave’s government also.
All men recognize the right of revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance to, and to resist, the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable. But almost all say that such is not the case now. But such was the case, they think, in the Revolution of ‘75. If one were to tell me that this was a bad government because it taxed certain foreign commodities brought to its ports, it is most probable that I should not make an ado about it, for I can do without them. All machines have their friction; and possibly this does enough good to counter-balance the evil. At any rate, it is a great evil to make a stir about it. But when the friction comes to have its machine, and oppression and robbery are organized, I say, let us not have such a machine any longer. In other words, when a sixth of the population of a nation which has undertaken to be the refuge of liberty are slaves, and a whole country is unjustly overrun and conquered by a foreign army, and subjected to military law, I think that it is not too soon for honest men to rebel and revolutionize. What makes this duty the more urgent is that fact that the country so overrun is not our own, but ours is the invading army.
— Henry David Thoreau
Now tell me if you see the parallels with how we are treated when it comes to our 'illness'. Our gift of bipolar 'order' needs to be taken seriously and monitored very closely. In most cases we need to be regulated and stabilized with some form of medication. But to think we are crazy? C'mon. Let's stop drinking the Kool-Aid being served up by the Jim Jones' of modern psychiatry. It's pathetic and criminal that they all need to be in bed with Merck, Dow Pharma, Bristol Myers Squib, Amgen, Pfizer and Eli Lilly in order to make a living(another story).
Stand up tall, stick your chest out and wear the "Bipolar Badge of Honor" proud. If I get one more look and or comment from one of the 'Regs'*, I'm gonna ..............
*' Reg' as in Regular , inside the box, 9-5 working shallow thinkers who always end up saying "what happened"?
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My Chinese Horoscope for 01/03/2010
Gregory,
Your subconscious mind is done with the mental hiccups and suddenly you are finding that your somewhat chaotic intuition was more right than wrong. If you are trying to sort things out, try keeping a journal for a while - the human memory is a tricky thing.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm
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