Twitter/X; Should I Stay or Should I Go?

I've been considering leaving X for some time now, but haven't yet. I get a lot of my news from the sources I follow there. It has become such a platform for misinformation and there are just so many ads that I spend most of my time scrolling rather than reading.

+ I like that I can follow accounts without being followed back or that individuals can follow me and I don't have to follow them. 
+ I like that there are many sources and varieties of sources available.
+ I like that it is a popular social media platform.
+ It's free

- I don't like the ad targeting, but realize that I'm going to get that (to some degree) anywhere.
- I don't like that I'm seeing fewer posts from accounts I follow and more targeted posts that seem to be aggressively opposite to my tastes.
- I am not a fan of Elon Musk.

I don't know if Blue Sky will be the social media platform that people switch to, or if it will be something else. Blue Sky began in Twitter, before Twitter was bought by Musk, and has since separated. I've done a little reading about it and have opened an account there. I decided to stick with the  magicianary handle even though it really isn't me anymore. Look me up if you are on Blue Sky.

I have been working on spending less time on social media. I do like using Facebook to stay in touch with friends and family, especially since I never actually see many of them in person. Maybe I'll just drop X and not replace it with anything.
Facebook, Instagram, X, etc., can be good connections to news sources, but it's easy enough to go direct to the news sites or get links to breaking stories sent to your phone. The social platforms can be entertaining if you are entertained by the stories, experiences, and stupidity of other people's lives. They can also be educational if you choose to follow sites that share science, history, art, etc.

Since I only have a couple dozen direct followers to Out of My Hat, chances are good that you are here from a social media link. I don't think that people read or follow blogs as much as they once did. Both Facebook and Twitter were pretty much in their infancy when I started blogging and personal blogs like mine were popular. As more and more people turned to those platforms for expression, most of the blogs I followed just disappeared.

I suppose I have continued publishing Out of My Hat because writing helps me to organize the thoughts in my head. I don't expect to be a great influence in the world, nor do I think that my thoughts and ideas are particularly brilliant.
Mostly writing just gives me something to do.

Admittedly, I like when people read my words and feel moved to respond or leave a comment. I miss some of the bloggers that I once followed and that followed me. I wonder what they are doing and why they decided to quit blogging.
Some of us have kept at it, perhaps because we are set in our ways and unwilling to adapt to the changing world. We're like the group of old people you might find gathered for coffee and breakfast at any given McDonald's in any small town in the US. We often have different perspectives of the world around us, but the blogger community seems more reasonable about our areas of disagreement than other social platforms.

For now, I'm just going to leave this here. Maybe the only change I'll make is to spend less time on my social media accounts. 

John

Thinking of Spring

I know it isn't even winter yet, but this morning finds me thinking of spring and some spring gardening plans. It's another cool morning for sitting on the deck and the low southern sun shines on my face making typing on the Chromebook visually challenging. I don't complain about the bright sun because the sun is my friend. Sometimes it just makes it difficult to see.

Back to spring planning and spring planting.
I'm looking at another area for a long flower bed that I plan to fill with mixed zinnias. 
I recently read a story of a guy that owned a field next to a country highway. He planted the field with zinnias (and maybe some other flowers) and made them available to anybody that wanted freshly cut flowers for their home. There were paths to walk through the field. There were pruning shears to cut flowers, even vases to put them in. People stopped along the highway to cut flowers for themselves or for their friends. Some even left vases for others to use.
I don't have the traffic to really do that kind of thing, but I think I will make my flowers available to my neighbors and friends next year.

That story doesn't really have anything to do with planting another big flower bed in the back yard, other than to say that I'd like more flowers. Although zinnias are annuals, they are so pretty that I just want more of them!
I should probably work on my gardening for food game, but I currently find much more pleasure in the gardening for beauty game and just providing food for the birds, bees, and butterflies.

That is where my morning thoughts are taking me this morning.
I would like to add more perennials into my flower mix. I'm pretty much limited to full-sun flowers and plants because there is very little shade. The east side of the house only gets a few hours of morning sun, but everything else gets far too much sun for even partial-shade plants.

In my head -- it's always summer. 
I might be making plans for spring planting, but I'm really thinking about the summer beauty.
It might be cool on the deck this fall morning, but every once in a while I sit back, close my eyes and feel the sun on my face. With my eyes closed the sun is still so bright that all I can see is the brilliant yellow-red of the inside of my eyelids. 

Warm sun on my face  
Bright red glow in my eyes
Cool air inhaled through the nose
Neighbor's rooster crowing and birds singing
An occasional sip of my Ethiopian cold brew
Peaceful thoughts of summer in my head

Morning meditations should be simple sensory (or at least, sense aware) experiences.
In this moment there is no strife, there is no stress, there is peace.
I am aware that this peace is a privilege that not many will have today.
Work, money, family needs, health, food, shelter -- all things that will rob us of peace -- crowd into our heads and into our days.

I hope you have a moment today when you can pause, lift your face to the sun, breathe deeply for a few breaths, still your mind, slow your heart, and find a moment of peace.

Be well, my friends.

John

Sunday

 

How you doin'?

It's another cool and rainy day in the Ozarks, but it is November so I remind myself that you don't have to shovel rain. In the mountains west of Denver, my daughter has had plenty of snow already. The two big dogs (husky/shepherd/wolf) love the snow. The little pit mix, not so much.

Weather-wise, today will be a good day to stay home. Plus it is Saturday so there are more people out in public places and that is always a good reason to stay home. The deck is dry (mostly) and comfortable in sweatpants and a sweater. My feet are a little cold this morning and I may have to put on some socks. It's 50 (10c) now and it should make it up to 60 (15c) by this afternoon. 

I feel I need to check on friends to see how they are doing in the post election week. I have many that have some legitimate reasons to be fearful of the future. 
While my privileged life will go on without much change in the day-to-day routine, others are facing fears over losing health insurance and healthcare provided by the Affordable Care Act. 
Some are facing fears over their status as members of the queer community. Will they lose rights to live where they live, work where they work, and love whom they love? Will violence against them be ignored or tolerated?
Will legit citizens be harassed and deported? Will their families be divided? Will legal immigrants be denied work or housing?

Honestly, I have concerns about things like democracy and the economy, but they pale in comparison to my concern for the injustices that I fear will increase in our communities across the nation. I think this is why I'm not surprised at the results of the election -- I believe that most people will always do what they believe is best for themselves at the time. Our fear of what might happen to us or our loved ones will always be greater than our concern for the rights and needs of others.
Yes, I know plenty of people that are greatly concerned for others and work against the injustices of the world, but I believe they are the extraordinary exceptions to the majority of humanity. "Looking out for #1" is the way of the world and a base survival instinct. It is how we function without reason.

So...
How you doin'? (You have to say it like Joey on Friends)
Need a friend?
Need a hug?
Let me know.

John

Friday Fun Fact

 Hmmm...

I've got nothin'

It's Thursday and the day I usually post some religious or spiritual kind of thing, but today I really am not feeling it.
I'm not sure why. I do not believe it has anything to do with the election results. I don't feel particularly down about that to the point that I think it impacts my spiritual well being. 
I'm not feeling anger towards people, nor do I feel like lashing out with some word-salad rant.

I do recognize two things about myself in this moment--
     1) I do not feel like I have love to give
     2) I feel drained of energy or positive life force

I need to recharge.
Typically I recharge alone. There are a few people that give off that life giving energy and I am lifted up by their presence, but they are rare and being alone is relatively easy for this retired guy living in a rural area.
I have started taking walks around our 5-acre lot. Once around the perimeter is just under a half mile -- .48 miles (.78km). There isn't anything interesting about it. It's just an old fescue pasture. There are a couple of rolling hills to navigate with a 31' (9.4m) difference between the high point and low point, but that's about it. But it is a nice walk and being outside brings its own energy into the picture. I've walked it barefoot once and may do that today. Touching the earth is another good source of energy.

Nature's energy -- being outside, the sunlight, the ground contact, breathing the air around the trees at the back property line -- offers more than just its life giving spirit; it also comes with a calming peaceful aura. Feeling connected to nature makes me feel connected with nature's Creator.
And that's a good thing.
It has been a long time since I've taken a purposefully, meditative walk. Maybe I'll grab my mala today and use it to keep me focused. I haven't used it in quite sometime, either.

These are things I do to reconnect with God.
How do you connect or reconnect with God/the Universe/your true self/whatever you call that higher power?
What do you do when you feel like your prayers are lost in the void?
Where do you find peace in the chaos?
Is it a place?
Is it a person?
Is it a thing?
How do you recharge?

Find your peace
Be well
Come back next week and maybe I'll have something more spiritual to share.

John

Living in the Moment

While I am disappointed in last night's election results, I can't say I am too surprised.
While I am concerned about the future, I am not going to spend a great deal of energy on what is out of my control.
I am going to continue my self education in mindfulness and living in the moment.

In many ways, this Wednesday morning is no different than it would be if the election results had been different. It's cool enough outside that I am having my coffee and writing inside today. I'm still fat (something in my control) and need to eat better today, and I need to go downstairs and get on the exercise cycle for a little while.
I'll spend most of the day reading and enjoying the quiet of our home and then we will have dinner with some friends tonight.
I may or may not sit and enjoy a cigar today.
Tomorrow evening is the holiday dinner for the volunteer chaplains and spouses, but otherwise, tomorrow will be much like today.

Maybe it seems too simple and an unreasonable way to live, but it keeps me sane and in control of my inner peace. It helps me to be aware of the good things and good people in my life and reminds me to be grateful for what I have, where I am, and who I am becoming.

Living in the moment takes practice. We (in the West) could learn much from our Eastern friends about mindfulness and self-care.

Do not worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow can worry about itself. Concern yourself with today.
(my paraphrase of Jesus from The Sermon on the Mount, Matt 6:34)

John

Self Care, Check on your friends

It's going to be a stressful couple of days in the US. 
Election day is finally here. 

Truthfully, I don't expect to know the final results today. Even with all of the available technology, I expect that tomorrow will be the very earliest a reliable call will be made on the presidential election. Other national and local elections may have pretty accurate projections before the night is over and there are some significant Senate races and state amendments on several ballots.

Personally, I don't do stress. 
I rarely feel anxious about things.
I do not worry about things out of my control.
I'm not a big faith kind of guy that puts everything in God's hands, either. 
I just do what I can do, control what I can control, and find a way to deal with what I can't.

I know that it's not that easy for most people.

Find a safe place for your well-being today. 
Do something to distract yourself from the stress of not knowing what tomorrow holds.
Take a walk or go for a run.
Have a taco.  
And call a friend that might be stressing and be a calming influence.
Facing uncertain times together is better than facing them alone.

The sun will rise tomorrow.

John

Coming Together -- Is it a Possibility?

Tomorrow the US goes to the polls and elects our government for the coming years -- the entire House of Representatives for the next two years, 1/3 of the Senate for the next six, and the President for the next four years.
I expect both houses of Congress to be narrowly divided and the Presidential race appears to be a statistical coin toss.

And yet whichever party wins control will likely declare that America has voted and given them a mandate to steamroll over the opposing party and do whatever the hell they want to do. 
It's rather nauseating. 
That's not the way government is supposed to work.

Last night I was at a fundraising concert for several organizations that provide help and care for marginalized people in our community. The various groups provide permanent shelter for the chronically homeless, overnight shelter during the coming cold weather, aid to endangered teens, safety and help for abused women and children. and food for the hungry.
Area music groups donated their time and talent to provide entertainment, businesses donated items for a silent auction, and people gave generously to the cause of helping our neighbors -- people that live in our community.

The people that sponsored, provided for, and attended this event weren't doing it for themselves. They were doing it to make life better for others. 
Nobody cared about political affiliation. Nobody cared about sex or gender. Nobody cared about religion. 
Everybody cared about neighbors in need.

It was an uplifting experience for me.
I got to see some of the volunteers and organizers that I've worked with over the past four years and was reminded of the great people that exist and don't even know that they are great and inspiring people.
We were just a few hundred people that came together to do something simple for some friends. I wish our elected officials could see what people can do when they actually work together instead of opposing one another. 
Maybe that's something we should insist on.

For all of its faults, the USA is still a place where many people want to live. 
The US economy and recovery from global inflation is the envy of many countries.
Our privilege and potential is well known in the world.
I know it's not a very capitalistic view, but maybe we can be better about sharing what we have. 

Just a thought

John

Healthy Habits

At 60 (15c) degrees outside it is comfortable on the deck this morning. It has been raining overnight and cloudy skies with rain is the forecast for the next couple of days. I didn't venture out yesterday, nor did I watch any news. It was a nice, quiet day in isolation.
Maybe I'll make it out of the house today. Maybe I won't. I'm comfortable either way.
There is a fundraiser concert for the cold weather shelters this evening and my favorite local band is playing. Maybe we'll go.

I've gone a couple of days in a row without any walking or exercise so I need to get that taken care of today. The daily walk thing isn't a habit yet (obviously) and I really need to make it one. A few years and a few pounds makes a difference in the motivation to get out and do something. While there isn't much I can do about the years, I can certainly attack the extra pounds. The diet/exercise motivation is just tougher than it used to be. There seems to be an inertia about exercise and motivation. An old friend used to tell me that motion is motivation -- just get moving!
The light rain will keep me from taking a long walk, but I do have the exercise cycle in the basement and should probably put it to good use.

Motivation on dieting is a little tougher. I don't want to wait on a heart attack or stroke or other malady due to being overweight to do something about it. Self-motivated weight management might be harder than forced weight management, but it certainly has the benefit of preventing many health issues. The pay me now or pay me later maxim should be enough to keep us healthy.
Why isn't it?
Is it because we feel we are invincible?
Yeah, here's a news flash -- we're not!

How do you stay healthy?
What are your eating habits that are beneficial?
What are your healthy lifestyle activities?

John