People with Disabilities

People with Disabilities

I was recently asked what my background of working with people with disabilities.  I had an answer and shared various experiences.  Upon further reflection, though, I better understand my philosophy of "working with people with disabilities".

1. People are people.
2. People want connection to others.
3. Everyone has varying degrees of abilities and disabilities.  Some of the disabilities are federally recognized as needing special accommodations and some are ones that we have to figure out on our own.

If I take time to truly connect with another, I can learn to understand the other person.  I can learn how the other person accommodates their own disabilities.  I can share my own special needs. I can make a connection with another.  I can be a person.  I can be me.

Bobby Lee Byars, Jr. (8/24/1950 - 11/8/2012)

My Arizona Dad passed away on November 8, 2012.  This is the obituary that I had the honor to write for the newspaper notice. Thank you, Mom, Rae, Bobbie, & David for your input and edits. -gmh

Bobby Lee Byars, Jr., was born on August 24, 1950 in Wickenburg Arizona. He lived 22,723 days full of adventure. There wasn't much he didn't do.  He was a cowboy, paratrooper, lumberjack, construction worker, musician, truck driver, short order cook, warehouse worker, ferrier, pigeon wrangler, sawmill worker, exercise jockey/horse trainer, bull rider, forklift operator, pool shark, fisherman, taxi driver, actor, comedian, tour bus driver, landscaper, politician, community minister, humanitarian, artist, theologian, court clerk, coach, counselor,  adventurer, encourager, real estate salesman, visionary, believer, chaplain, story teller, shuttle driver, student of everything that he found interesting, gardener, scholar of life, deputy registrar, poll worker, philosopher, singer-song writer, child of God, dad, husband, grandpa, brother, son, and friend.

He was generous and compassionate.  Bobby loved people.  He never met a stranger and he never forgot a friend.  His heart was big enough to welcome anyone, and accept everyone. He didn't have much, because he didn't need much.  When he was given anything, he would promptly find someone who needed it more.  He was truly a public servant and genuinely wanted people to be happy. He inspired others to follow their passion and live life to the fullest. He loved his family, especially his grandchildren.

This amazing man will be missed by his Dad, Step-dad, Wife, 3 Brothers, 4 Children, 5 Grandchildren, Cousins, Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews and 6 billion wonderful friends.

Memorial Services are as follows:
Viewing:                  
Saturday: 5-7pm. at Lozano's Flagstaff Mortuary (4th St),
Sunday: 1-2pm. at Lamb of God Bible Church 2615 E7th. Ave

Funeral service:        
Sunday 2pm. at Lamb of God Bible Church

Graveside service:    
Monday 1pm. (with military honors) at Citizens' Cemetery.

*Donations to help cover costs incurred from his passing can be made to Arizona State Credit Union with "Bobby Byars" in the memo line.

JOURNAL: Colorado Trip, 2012

Ongoing journal of my first ever solo road trip. -gmh


Colorado Trip, 2012
9/7/12:
Music today: Red Elvises CD (BellyDance) & radio station (KRTZ, I think)

I have fallen in love with road trips. I love, love, LOVE solo road trips. Will have to see if there's any person that I could handle a road trip with...or that can handle one with me!

Left Flagstaff at 7:30a.m.
At the Camp Townsend-Winona intersection with 89A, I realized that I could drive with my windows down, my music cranked up, and singing as loud as possible.

Stopped at 4 corners. Had never been there. Got some good pictures.

Got to Telluride around 3:30p. (CO time). Trip took 7 hours with various stops.
Took a little walk by the creek. Put my feet in the water. Went with some of the others up to Mountain Village.

Spaghetti dinner (yum). Attached scarves to pack. Talked with Hailee. Went to bed.

Excellent day.

9.8.12
IMOGENE PASS RUN!!

Most interesting thing that happened on the run: saw a rock fall on the Telluride side of the pass.

Got some good pictures (including a marmot!).

Got a ride the last mile up the pass from Jerry (a retired Navy pilot).

Another excellent day. (but trying to decide if I *really* want to do the AZ Trail in a couple of years.

Asleep by 10:15p.m.

9.9.12
Music today: Big Bad VooDoo Daddy CD (listened to Mambo Swing at least 37 times...got interesting scene & story that this song would be good for)

Woke up at 6:15a.m. because I had to pee. Excellent sleeping. Dreams swirling.
Sent birthday text to Kevin.

Decided to get up and go to the other condo & have coffee & watch the sun rise.

Hung out. Took time getting ready to leave. Had lunch in Telluride. Left there about 12:10p.m.

 Beautiful drive through Ouray & Silverton. Colors are already changing there.
Got to Pagosa Springs. Hung out with Kristeen & her deer. We went to the "Healing Waters" hot springs. Ahhh!!

Deciding how I'm spending the rest of the days here. Am I going camping or am I going to use Pagosa as jumping off point to go explore? Haven't decided yet.

Will probably be asleep before 10p.m. tonight. Well, not until 11p.m. local time. The tablet still has my home time and it currently says 9:59 pm, but here in CO it's 10:59 pm! OK. No wonder I'm so tired!

Realization that I came to while talking with Kristeen: I'm sad but my feelings are not hurt. That's different from other "break-ups". I'm very solidly me and very complete as me, so it's not something that I'm taking perzonally. But. I am sad.


9.10.12
Music Today: Nate Stone CD (Love & Tragedy) Excellent music for the overcast drive up and over Wolf Creek Pass. Listened to song #13 many, many, many times. Entire CD was incredibly cathartic, but, that last song...wow.

Started the morning by dressing up in my Luche Libre costume ("Esmerelda McGillacuddy") and went to Kristeen's class (a group of 2nd graders). Played "Ripped Pants" and "True Blue Bill" for them. They all wanted me to take my mask off! Funny...the 1st graders didn't even think of that!

Went downtown, had coffee & breakfast sandwich along the river.

Stopped at all the "scenic views" I passed. Including Lobos Lookout on top of the Continental Divide. Beautiful!!!

Interesting things about the day:
Cemetaries were calling me. I did a sudden turn into a cemetary in Shaw County (will have to re-remember the name). There were only two headstones there, I picked up a rock & put it on the headstones. As I started to drive out, I saw a hawk sitting on a pole. I stopped, took a picture. Then, got out & just watched it. Nate Stone's <song that I can't remember right this second> was playing (again...I'd already listened to it about 5 times before then!). Another hawk came up and they both started flying around. I think they were Harris hawks. They flew around together, I watched them, listened to the music & cried. Then, I kept seeing them (and others...probably 4 total). They were sitting on the right side of the road (on the poles). So, the next road that came along on the right, I took it. I was wondering why. I went around a corner, and there was another cemetary. I got out, walked around it for at least 40 minutes. Then, back in the car.

At Villa Grove, I decided to see if I could find Flagstaff Mountain and thought that I could visit Bonanza, too. Found Bonanza. Weird place. It was along an area with a bunch of other "ghost town" mining townsites (Keber, Eschequer, ...) I saw a sign for the Eschequer cemetary. I had already passed it, so didn't stop at it. But, decided I should stop at the Bonanza Cemetary (that I had passed when first going through Bonanza). I turned up a little road. It was tiny and enclosed with a chainlink fence. I went in. The first ones I saw were for two children (aged 1 & 2). Passed in the late 1800s. Put a rock by the crosses. Then, felt drawn to look at the other gravesites (about 20 total). Put rocks or pinecones or sticks on them as I felt led to. "Ashley" family buried there (all died in 1800s early 1900s).

Then, left there. Decided to explore another turn off to see if there was a good camping area. Found signs to Flagstaff Mountain! Told Colorado that it had me moving rocks & visiting cemetaries and that it could give me a great camping spot. I was driving on this tiny road. Got to a point that it looked a little too scary for my little car. Stopped, got out, looked at the road ahead and then turned to go back to the car. HH! There was a campsite right behind me! Complete with a fire ring & a little bit of firewood. As the sun was getting ready to set, I decided to camp there. Didn't see ANYONE all night. Didn't HEAR anyone all night (except for some jets high overhead). Did hear coyotes all night.

It was the first time I've ever camped ALL ALONE. It was a little scary. I woke up in 2 hour increments. At 2a.m., my heart started racing for no reason at all. I had to consciously NOT THINK of all the scary stories I could ever imagine! At 4 a.m. I opened my tent flap & watched the moon shine through the aspens & watched the stars. It really was a beautiful area. An amazing aspen grove.

Only bad part of the experience was the fact that no one really knew where I was. I didn't realize I was going to be so off the grid & didn't have ANY coverage once I left the main road. Bad. So against what I tell everyone & try and do. But. Glad it all worked out. Better planning next time! I definitely want to visit this area again.

Reflections:
"Love you give will be returned"
So, what love have I given Kevin?
Acceptance of who he is. Didn't ask him to change to fit my idea of what he should be. Loved who he is. Loved who he could be. Loved his love of life.
Loved his laughter.
Loved his caring.
Unconditional...didn't want him to be someone else.
Complete acceptence and would have done anything for him.

To do list for today (9.10.12)

Be powerful. Be brilliant. Be gorgeous. Be talented. Be me.

Running Ruminations: Warrior Reflections

What is a warrior?  We have the image of a defender protecting the innocent in righteous anger.  *I* say this is not the true image of a true warrior.  A true warrior is one who is dispassionately compassionate.

Aren't those two words at odds with each other?  To some extent, yes.  But, that's a part of what makes the warrior.  She is able to hold two opposing concepts in her head and let them be.  So, dispassionately compassionate.  What does that mean?

Compassion is defined as, "The deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it."  (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/compassion)

Dispassion is defined as, "Freedom from passion, bias, or emotion. Objective." (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dispassion)

So being dispassionately compassionate means that she will show compassion in a way that is not emotionally charged.

That's not saying that there will be no emotion.  Because a warrior who is dispassionately compassionate can actually share the emotions of everyone around her.  And that's where the dispassion comes in.  She has to be able to differentiate between which is hers and what belongs to another.  Once she figures that out, she can then figure out if she is going to share the emotion with the person it belongs to or let it be.

It is a path that is full of oxymoronical paradoxes, but completely worth the journey.  *NOT* that the end result is worth it, but the JOURNEY.  But, that's a topic for another day.

Skeptical Mystic Applies for Hosting Position with SoulPancake

This is in response to this "casting call".  I've received an automated reply from the Casting Chancellor (which is an AWESOME title!)  I'll keep you updated on any developments.

GinaMarie Harris
Email: clevermoniker (at) gmail (dot) com
Cell: 928-xxx-xxx

Blogs:

• Random Ramblings of GinaMarie
• (Catchy Poetry Title)

Address:
xxx
Flagstaff, AZ 86001

GinaMarie Harris was born at a very early age.  She started reading Dr. Seuss books from the very beginning (although she occasionally likes reading them from the very end).  Her favorite Seuss character has always been the Cat and she is absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to share in the catty-antics.  Contrary to what her father always teased her (that she was found sitting on a fence post) she is proud to say that she comes from a long line of people who have had children and she will always be a child at heart. (Bio from latest production program.)

I have:

• Valid AZ Driver's License (and a car that should be paid off in November 2012)
• Valid U.S. Passport
• No pets
• Hep B vaccination, tetanus shot within the last 10 years
• An interesting way of looking at the world
• See FaceBook Photo Albums: http://www.facebook.com/#!/Clevermoniker/photos
• All of my unenhanced original body parts (minus baby teeth and wisdom teeth…the Tooth Fairy was relentless)
• A goofy sense of humor
• An insatiable desire to make the world a better place
• Ran various races:
• PF Chang’s Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon
• Imogene Pass Run
• Bisbee 1000
• Tough Mudder
• Ability to get to Los Angeles in 3 different ways:
• Flying
• Driving
• Amtrak

Most radical political idea:

What if a “high up candidate” told the public, “I’m no longer accepting contributions.  Instead of donating to me, I want you to donate to organizations and causes in your community.  Take the money that I would have used to make one more attack ad and do something that makes your community a better place.”  I think, if a candidate did this, it would freak people out!  And it would truly be stepping out of the political arena.

Some of the things in my community I am involved in:

• Made in the Shade Beer Tasting Festival (Fund raising for SunSounds of Arizona) 
• Theatrical Productions (most recently cast as Cat in the Hat in Seussical the Musical produced by Flagstaff Youth Theater)
• Drumming into the Seasons (community building alliance)
• Cross-Cultural Dance Resources Symposiums

Who I would love to interview:

• Neil deGrasse Tyson
• Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
• Dr. Joann W. Kealiinohomoku (Dance Ethnologist & amazing woman)
• Elsie I. Dunin (Dance Ethnologist & amazing woman)
• Steve Conrad (Swing Dancer, Director of Development for Lodestar Day Resource Center)
• People who like to laugh
• (Added at time of this blog posting)
• My grandparents
• Lamberts
• Johnston
• Byars
• My parents
• Cheryl
• Bobby
• Jacob
• My Siblings
• (Added 8/8/12)
• George Breed (interesting Flagstaffian character/philosopher/photographer) 
• Magic Molly (the name says it all!)
• People who like to contemplate life's big (and little) questions

Who is GinaMarie?

(written 6/28/12...as part of my continued desire to understand myself, Life, the Universe, & everything...)

GinaMarie is a person who tries to be in touch with the Universe around her.  She finds beauty in the world around her…in every person around her.

GinaMarie wants to make the world a better place.

GinaMarie is smart and likes learning new things.  She has a knack for processing things and repeating them in such a way that others can understand.

GinaMarie used to be incredibly emotional about everything.  Not so much now.  It depends. 

GinaMarie is a lover, a friend, a confidant, a big-picture/small detail type of person.

GinaMarie can be very organized…almost to the point of OCD, but can also be unorganized…almost to the point of hoarder.

GinaMarie is a dreamer.

GinaMarie is mostly optimistic. 

GinaMarie can be a procrastinator.

GinaMarie is a goofball and loves jokes.

GinaMarie can be a prankster.

GinaMarie can stand on her own when she needs to.

GinaMarie accepts and asks for help when she has to.

GinaMarie is quick to laugh often.  She is quick to cry, sometimes.

GinaMarie is a student of tradition, but loves innovation, newness, improvements on a system.

GinaMarie is an atheist on a good day, agnostic on a bad one.

GinaMarie is an artist, a dancer, a writer, a singer, a juggler, a culinary experimenter…but not really a sewer.  She can mend things, but hasn’t really pursued MAKING things by sewing.

GinaMarie can be a thoughtful, adventurous lover.  She can also be “non-interested” (or “take-it-or-leave-it”).  It depends on the timing.

GinaMarie is one of the most amazing people the world may never know.

Thank you for your consideration of me as a host for SoulPancake.

References, resume, and other random riff-raff available by request.

:)

GinaMarie Harris

"Life is too short to take for granted.  Life is too important to take too seriously!"

Misery has enough company.  Dare to be happy.

Power starts when you strike the proper balance.
                           --Luis Alberto Urrea

You'll never do a whole lot unless you're brave enough to try.
                          --Dolly Parton

To Do List

1.       Breathe.
2.       Be kind.
3.       Stand your ground.

It’s interesting what a good deep breath does for clearing the mind! 

And I’m reminding myself that “be kind” includes MYSELF as well as others. 

Standing your ground…there’s always places to find common ground & compromise for moving things forward.  But then, there’s times that knowing where you are and truly BE-ing there is incredibly important. 

And combining standing with kindness & breath makes sure that it’s not done out of a place of ego and stubbornness, but of love, light, true compassion and a desire for things to be what they SHOULD be for all involved!

Have a good week.

Thank you to Adam for sharing The Three Things with me!  They've been instrumental in helping me stay focused and calm.  And they've given me much to reflect on as I continue on the journey of me.

Perfection

I found a raven’s feather a few weeks ago.  It was a huge one.  Absolutely beautiful and just laying on the sidewalk. 

This morning, I was looking at it and appreciating its beauty.  I thought, “It’s perfect!  No jagged, mite eaten areas.  Full, wide, with just the right amount of taper…perfect.”  Then, I wondered why, if it was perfect, did the raven lose the feather?  And then came the following thought:

Sometimes, perfection has to be shed to make way for flight.

Walking the Spiral Path

Walking the Spiral Path:

This is just a sharing of some of the ponderings I’ve been having while walking & meditating on my own spiral. 

If I do not walk the spiral, the spiral will walk me. 

That’s not saying there shouldn’t be time of stillness & introspection.  That’s just saying to remember to MOVE and follow where I am supposed to go. 

As I breathe along the spiral path, I will become more aware of where I am.  I will be able to do what needs to be done.  I will be able to move where I need to go.  I may have to run across the spiral to chase a piece of paper, but I can always come back to the turning.  I may decide to “cut trail” and cut across the spiral, but I will get to where I’m going and I can always come back to the meditation. 

I can pick up the lessons I need to learn—and am able to learn—on this pass.  If I can’t take them with me at this point in time, they’ll be there the next time I come this way. 

In the same regard, if I find myself along a similar point in the spiral, I need to assess and figure out what it was that I didn’t learn the first time.  I have the ability to change…or not.  It’s up to me.  But, if I choose to not change (when I probably should) the spiral will keep returning me until I do.

I am choosing to walk the spiral.   

What do I want?

An acquaintance asked what I wanted in relation to a job.  It's not all about the job, but it made me reflect and here's what I replied.

So.  What am I looking for?  I want to make a difference.  I want to help contribute to the health, happiness, and well-being of my community.  I want to know that I am helping others reach their full potential.  I want to continue learning.  I want to help others learn to be better stewards of our world.  I want to help others learn to communicate better.  I want to be.  Ha.  I know that's not necessarily what you meant, but, that's where my brain went and I decided to share!

As far as a "job" and salary requirements...  I know that I cannot progress very far with the degree that I currently have.  I'm *mostly* okay with that.  It's something I need to continue to assess and figure out what I am going to do!  I don't want to get a degree just to say, "OK, I have this, now give me a promotion, " even if I may end up having to do that someday soon!  If I can get a job where I could actually support myself and my family, I'd be content with that.  Right now, even low 30s would be more than what I currently make!   

I like challenging jobs in which I can help problem solve or that take some level of creativity.  I would love a job that pushes me to grow but recognizes my talents and the fact that I actually have a brain!  I enjoy interacting with others and helping accomplish goals, plan events, and see projects through to completion.   

I'm a good writer and would love to be able to expand my capabilities in that area.  I'm not as good of a technical writer, but I know that I could learn more and become better.  I'm a fairly good editor and actually like the editing process.

I like flexibility because I volunteer with several organizations and want to be able to continue my work with them.  That goes back to my desire to continue actively contributing to my community.  (However, I don't particularly want to go into politics!)   

I don't know that it will ever help in a job situation, but my personal goal over the next 10 years is to learn as much as I can about physics & evolutionary biology.  Again, I don't see how it will help any career moves, but,  those are things I want to learn.  

Slightly meandering, but...there you have it!  The complex pondering of the mind that makes up my reality!

NAU: Director-Alumni Relations/Community Outreach Cover Letter

Note:  I applied for a job at Northern Arizona University (Director-Alumni Relations/Community Outreach).  This is the cover letter that I included with my resume & application.  I was turned down, but, I personally really like the letter, so decided to post it here! I'm sort of sad that I didn't conclude with "...I look forward to working with the 'Harvard of Flagstaff'."  -gmh

 

Northern Arizona University

Job Title: Director-Alumni Relations & Community Outreach

Job 10#: 559060

Location: Alumni Relations

March 17,2012

To Whom It May Concern;

 

As a native Flagstaffian with Arizona roots that go back several generations, and as a

first generation NAU Alumna, I have seen Flagstaff and Northern Arizona University

grow from small enclaves with lofty goals to communities with worldwide vision and

global compassion. Our communities have embraced opportunities to be international

leaders and empathetic voices of future development.

I understand the vital role this position plays in the overall success of Northern Arizona

University. The Office of Alumni Relations and Community Outreach provides a

platform for continued growth and support between the communities of NAU and

Flagstaff. It offers an exciting opportunity to participate in the prominence and renown

of NAU and is a thrilling chance to share the marvelous community that is Flagstaff with

the rest of the world. I would love the opportunity to take on this challenge.

Flagstaff is a growing part of a global community. Northern Arizona University stands at

the leading edge of this growth. I look forward to being an active member of this

phenomenal team. 

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

GinaMarie Harris

Coming Out--Atheist Christian

12/22/11—Atheist Christian

I am a christian by upbringing, atheist by choice.

I was one of the militant religious who believed that it was my duty to make sure the entire world heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  For the most part, I did it out of truly wanting to help people.  I really believed that God would help people and change their lives.  And I saw it happen.  I saw people in dire situations “give their lives to God” and have peace and help in times of trouble. 

Yet, at the same time, I never asked God to “prove that He was real”.  And only recently, I realized it was because I was afraid that I wouldn’t get an answer.  Actually, I *knew* I wouldn’t get an answer. 

So, I’m having to re-evaluate my time as a Christian.  How much was based on fear?  How much was based on faith?  How much was just general naïveté?  How much was my need for connection with something outside of myself?

Since deciding that I’m an atheist, I’ve seen many in that circle who are rather militant about their atheism.  On one hand, I understand their desire to educate the entire world; to “convert” people to rationality.  I won’t be able to be one of them.  I chose to not be a Christian because I didn’t agree with the path of “it’s my job to save the world”.  AND because I find critical thinking, rationality and reasoning way more interesting and uplifting.  I’ll share my views with people who are interested, but I am not on a mission to change their thought patterns.  I’ll give my reasoning and encourage them to look beyond their own little pea brain, but, they will have to come to their own conclusions and convictions.  If they are wrong, irrational and foolish, I can’t control that.  All I can control and be responsible for is my own actions.

When I chose to be an atheist, I realized that THEN I could be “good for goodness sake”.  Not out of love of some unseen entity.  Not out of fear of hell-fire and eternal damnation.  Not out sense of duty or responsibility to a greater reward when I died.  I care for my fellow human beings, for my community, for the world we live in because I want to make a better world for the future.  I want those who come after me to be able to build upon what I have done (not have to tear it all down and start all over.) 

My parents are still Christians.  I don’t try and change their minds or convert them to my view of the world.  At first, I would debate with them about the existence of hell (that was what started my journey into atheism).  And try and get them to see how much better it was to know there wasn’t a hell!  There is no changing their mind.  So, when I took the final step into full-fledged atheism, I knew there would be no discussion with them.  But, I’m okay with that.  I don’t want to change who they are.  They are the two Christians in my life who have CONSISTANTLY lived what they preached: care for others less fortunate, love others, feed the hungry, house the indigent.  I will not insist that their surety of why they do what they do match mine.  They, in their way, are working to make the world a better place. 

Do I wish they would be able to put down the fear that I know is in the back of their mind?  Yes, of course I do.  But, I know that it would change their entire world view and I don’t know how they would handle that.  Imagine the “there’s no Santa” stories if the child believed it for 60+ years and THEN found out?  I will not be that life-shattering person.

Funny thing, to me…I never believed in Santa.  I was 3 and asked my mom if there was a Santa.  She replied, “What do you think?”  I replied, “I think those presents from Santa are from Grandma Lambert.”  She told me I was right and I never believed in Santa.  How is it that I believed in God for so long, though?

I do still think that everything in the universe is connected. 

Do I think there is a benevolent being that watches over us and cares about what happens in our lives?  No.  Do I think that there is a vengeful being that will punish anyone who doesn’t accept his way of continuing life & into the afterlife?  No.  Do I believe that people are gullible?  Yes.  Do I believe that people need some connection with community or “other” outside of themselves?  Yes. 

I do still think that everything in the universe is connected at some level.  I’ve seen too many “miracles” and healings to think that there is NOTHING anywhere. 

But I think there are rational reasons for those things and I look forward to the day they can be explained. 

I may never hear the explanations, but I still anticipate the day that we understand.   

Weekend Ponderings 3/11/12

This is a list of things (ideas, quips, thoughts) that came into my head this past weekend.  They're funny to me!

"This is really memorizing!" (on driving through Vermillion Cliffs area)

Standing on Navajo Bridge, looking at critters in the water:  "Those are too big to be crawdads.  I think they're lobster-dads."

Kevin spit off of the bridge.  We watched it fall to the base of the cliff below.  I said, "Wow.  That took 10 seconds!"  Kevin replied, "Well, it's not very aerodynamic..."

We stopped at the Interesting Rocks that are west of Navajo Bridge.  Kevin walked between two of the large boulders and said, "When do you get an opportunity to squeeze between two giant boulders?"  There was a brief pause and I answered, "Every. Day."

How does a child "know" to color the sun yellow? 

Inconsequentially Essential

Inconsequentially Essential
2/27/12

The Universe is at least 150 billion light-years in diameter. 

The Earth is 4.6 billion years old.

The oldest person in recorded history was 140 years old. 

If the modern person is fortunate, she will live to 90 years old.

Inconsequential.  Massively so. 

If I’m truly inconsequential, what does it matter if I fail?  And if it doesn’t matter, why not go all out, all in, step out past what is expected and be great?  Why not be greater than great?  Why not be the greatest there ever was?  Or massively fail trying to be so.

Inconsequentially unnecessary. 

This place that I inhabit is an infinitesimally inconsequential place of less than a speck of dust.  And while this is true, for this short place in the immense history of what is, doing what is every day, what is mundane, what is common is so minuscule as to be spectacularly unique. 

So, get over yourself.  Get over the, “nothing I do will ever account for anything”.  Get over your petty “this is mine and I’m not sharing”.  Get over your inability and unwillingness to get along with others.  Get over your irritability and stupidity.  Get over your senselessness and hatred of what isn’t understood.  We’re all that each other has.  This moment is all that matters at this vitally negligible point in time, this insignificantly critical spot in space, and this inconsequentially essential being that is me.