It’s amazing what technology has done for all of us. And when you here the word technology, what do you think of? Computers.. Electronics.. Maybe alternative energies other then oil based ones?

But there are many forms of technology. One of the definitions of technology is: Human innovation in action that involves the generation of knowledge and processes to develop systems that solve problems and extend human capabilities.

Lately when I do use some of the many modern electronic technologies that I enjoy on a daily basis such as TV, the web, and radio; I’m assaulted. Assaulted by redundant advertisements for political candidates. After while you get so you recognize each one because you hear, read, or see them over and over and over… It’s the same old story.

It’s funny, all of these commercials remind me of what one of my college professors told me about writing a resume. He said a resume is nothing more then lying as much as possible without getting caught. It seems to me running a political campaign is much the same as writing a resume…

After years and years of the same thing, is it any wonder nearly half of the residents in this country don’t even vote? Sure seems like some new technology is needed for our current political establishment.

After all, what happens when there are only two choices? You turn off the TV…..

I’ve learned the difference between having a job and a career. A job is something you do to pay the bills. Its work. Its not enjoyable. But at the end of the day it puts food on the table and possibly provides brief moments of joy, before you have to return to it. In a sense, its a trap. One which requires courage to escape.

A career is something you enjoy doing. It gets you excited and motivated. Through excitement and motivation we move forth venturing outside our comfort zones to experience something new. The result is personal growth. The cycle continues and feeds itself. A career never ends, its part of who you are. I want a career!

This all came to a head recently for me at my job.. A colleague whom I had worked with at times over the years was leaving the company; after ten long years. He was going back to school to become a history teacher. He talked about a longing he had inside since high school. How he had always enjoyed history and felt he would enjoy teaching. I pressed him further on it, seeking his source of inspiration. It turned out he was in a new relationship and had been asked if he could see himself in his current job ten years forward. He said it was like a ton of bricks just hit him. NO! He yelled out to me. No way in hell could he do that. The new lady in his life asked him what he enjoyed. What was he passionate about. What drove him to learn more. He knew instantly. I want to be a history teacher he said, surprised at how easy the answer came when he didn’t think and just answered from his gut feeling.

I felt almost overwhelmed by the encounter. His complete confidence and calm sense of knowing; knowing that he was doing what was best for him, was truly awesome to see. The man was 40 years old and had just figured out what he should be doing with his life. He was leaving the safe haven of his “good job” and going back to school full time. And he had the fortitude to do it. I was inspired just by talking to him. I hope I can be as strong when that moment finds me.

Having started my job right out of college, I have worked with a lot of wondeful people that were older and wiser then I. Conversations have been shared about life and what we do with it. I’ve never made a secret that I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. Sadly many of my more senior co-workers express similiar sentiments. But almost all have really given up on that thought.. That dream.. And that saddens me. Car payments, kids, houses, vacations.. In short life took them on a roller coaster ride that they now find themselves unable to get off of.

When I see that look, a strong sadness resonates deep inside of me. Its like I can see the light inside them go out. That’s not to say they do not have joy in their lives. Or have wonderful experiences in life with their families & friends. Its like they have given up on themselves. Their I am me sense of self, is no longer present. Instead they live their lives for something or someone else. And give in to the drudgery of everyday life with a job they eventually come to resent and possibly hate. In short they have lost their passion for life… Sad times indeed.

So I ask once again, passion? Have you found yours? If so lets hear about it. How did you figure it out, what led you too it? I’m still searching for mine, but I feel as though I’m on the cusp of a major breakthrough and about to disover it. And once I’ve found it, my life will never be the same! Exciting times indeed!!

Back to the excitement of youth. For me growing up I always knew I would be one half of the American BullDog’s, the greatest tag-team in professional wrestling history. My mom said it was possible and that was all I needed to know. Growing up was fun to think about and at the time, I lived to watch pro wrestling on the weekends. Yes I was even a Hulkamaniac.

As I grew older my thoughts and feelings naturally changed. I began to feel the pressure to have my life all figured out. Of course by the time you are in your late teens and about to go to college, you should have figured out how you will spend the rest of your life. Right? Well sadly that’s how I felt and I feel lots of others out there did too! It was time to figure out what to do, to get that “good job”.

By giving into to the pressures of life and trying to figure out what would land me that good job, I disconnected from my feelings and ventured forth using only my logical thinking mind. In short I was out of balance and out of touch with me. I ventured from school to school trying things out. Always searching for the next thing that would provide a good job for me. A solid career that would earn lots of money and oh yeah, I want to be happy doing it too.. Anyone else get caught in this trap?

The problem was my search procedures. I was looking for a degree program that would land me a job that paid lots of cash, had long term growth potential, and would allow me to be happy.  In that order of importance.

After getting sold on a tech school degree program, I found myself with an associates degree, student loans, and still no closer to finding what I was looking for after four years.. I spent a few months on my mom’s couch and then went to work at the company my brother was employed by.

The questions still remained. I found myself in the self help sections of all the local bookstores and even in classes. It was fun to learn about myself, I found that I truly enjoyed that, and learning why I was the person I was. I lived by a simple rule, take the best and leave the rest. I took what felt right to me and left the rest behind. I began to reconnect with my feelings and myself.

In my time spent learning about me, I let go of my past and most of the constraints that held me back in life. I’d like to say I let go of all of them, but I’m not sure that will ever be possible. I made peace with myself and became secure in who I was. I had let go of the past and was enjoying the present. But what about the future?

In all the knowledge I had been trying to gain, I had discovered that finding your passion was the key to figuring out the future. Those that were happy and successful had let their passions lead them into life and their careers. Instead of looking for a career first.

So that’s where I’m at now. The questions still remain. Now I’m trying to figure out what my passion is and how to turn that into a career.

Passion. Have you found yours?

I had a post lined up this afternoon but while sitting on a park bench I saw something that, while probably not the most prolific of things, made me rethink the way I view everyday life.  My head was pounding from a sinus headache that, unfortunately, I seem to get once a week or so.  Walking outside to get some fresh air, I took a seat on a bench that was nestled nicely in one of the last few shady spots in the afternoon hour.  It was a beautiful day outside, and I had a strange feeling that the air conditioning in the building was the culprit of my headache, so I hoped this would alleviate some of the discomfort.

The bench was in a section of the city called Layfayette Court where two busy streets met in an even busier intersection, and a large monument marked a small clearing in which people could sit, read and enjoy the weather.  The train let out its typical “ding ding” in doppler fashion as it moved through the intersection, and despite the noise I could feel my head getting better already.

Normally during the lunch hour, the Church of Scientology sets up tables in the courtyard and solicits people to take “stress tests”, while at the same time offering sales of Dianetics and, I’m assuming, literature of the church.  I can’t really speak to the specifics of what they discuss as I’m usually not fond of solicitation in general, and to be honest, I’ve bought in to a lot of the bad press surrounding the organization.  The people running the stand, usually the same two gentlemen, have a robotic way about them and I think that may have added to my aversion.  That being said, from a people-watching perspective, they were a treasure trove.  The way the lunchtime traffic and the scientologists interacted was most certainly something to see.  I saw everything from genuine interest to those who were to shy to say, “No thank you, I’m not interested.”  The latter bunch was forced to endure a 15-minute test during which they would nervously look around hoping no one they knew saw them.

At this hour however, the courtyard was filled with a different crowd.  A line of people stood to get plates filled with hot stew of some sort (which smelled delicious, by the way!), fruit, bread and butter.  It was an organization called Food Not Bombs which collects leftovers from local grocery stores, restaurants and other businesses which would otherwise be thrown away.  Volunteers cook the food and serve it for free to those in need on the streets.  I noticed many of the people waiting in line simply because I saw them everyday on my lunchtime walks.  There was no question that the majority of them were homeless, and it was nice to know that groups like this existed so they were able to get a hot meal.

Sitting down on a bench next to me was a young couple that I often saw around the city, sipping Starbucks or enjoying ice cream during the summer heat.  They opened the lids to the meals they had just received and began eating the food in between conversation.  It struck me as strange that this couple would need to use a service like this since I had always seen them with rather pricey food items while walking.  They dressed nicely and their condition was not indicative of spending nights on the streets.  There were two options: either I was mistaken, or perhaps they truly did not need the service, but they opted for a meal anyway.  It was none of my business regardless, and I was glad to see that they were enjoying themselves. 

At the same time, one of the scientologists walked by me towards the courtyard.  I turned my attention towards him, thinking that perhaps he was going to take advantage of the situation and recruit some of the people while they stood in line at his usual spot.  That wasn’t the case.  He walked right up to the back of the line, stood patiently and with a smile made conversation with the volunteers as they served him his food.  He then sat down on the stairs of the monument nearby, took off a long sleeve shirt he had on in favor of a shorter one, and ate.  When he was done, he closed his eyes and you could tell he was relishing the afternoon sun.  Nothing spectacular, right?  Again, I didn’t say it was anything big, but here was a man who everyday worked with method and precision (to the point of eeriness) now enjoying a meal and relaxing.  For some reason, he seemed human to me, and it was refreshing.  He was no longer the “scientologist guy,” and while that won’t change my view of the religion, I won’t be so quick to judge the person in the future.

The couple next to me got up and left, and my smile faded.  They had finished their meal, but opted to throw half of it (I’m assuming the parts they didn’t like) on the grass and sidewalk where they had just been.  A empty can of some energy drink they had rolled around and settled near the curb.  It was not something that was rare in the city, but to see it done in such a cavalier manner was a little disheartening.  Apparently, I had judged those two wrong as well.

At this point, my head felt much better and white I was reluctant to go back inside, a conference call had my name on it.  I got up to take the short walk back to the office when I noticed another man that I saw around the city. 

His beard was long and dirty.  His hands were filthy to the point of almost being black.  Even though the sun was at its hottest point, he wore two or three heavy coats, and most likely additional layers under that.  That only added to the obvious fact that he had not taken a shower in what must have been months.  I often saw him talking to the hot dog vendors who offer him a free bag of chips during the lunch hour, and he would watch the noontime concerts that were held for free just a few blocks down from here.  I was surprised to see that was not standing in line for a plate of food.  Maybe he already ate before I came out, or he simply just wasn’t hungry, but that wasn’t what made me smile.

He was picking up the garbage the couple had left and was placing it in the trash can. 

Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, it’s true.

Moving a 3-4 bedroom house into a 1-bedroom loft proved to be an exercise in “trimming the fat” for both me and my wife.  While I was having issues with my books, DVD collection and other knick-knacks, she was having a difficult time with the holiday decorations, frames and artwork we had gathered.  There was no getting around it: we needed to get rid of this stuff before we moved or we would have no space to ourselves.  The process turned out to be easier than we thought, even though it was most certainly something we weren’t used to.  In the end, it was quite liberating, actually. 

For myself, coming to the realization that we hadn’t used much of the stuff we were selling/giving away made the process a little easier.  We were without a doubt clinging onto these things for two main reasons:  

1. Someday, we would (re)use these things.
2. We couldn’t part with something because there was a memory attached with it.

There wasn’t much in the house that didn’t fit into these two categories, and what I found was that #1 applied more to me while #2 applied to my wife.  There was no issue with the cost of the items, what purpose they served or how often we would use them.  It simply boiled down to practical and sentimental decisions.

Now, we made the most of the items we had, selling a bunch of it on craigslist.org, giving it away to friends and relatives we knew would get use out of them, and donating the rest to good homes at non-profit businesses, libraries, etc.  As the methodical process of deciding what was to go and what was to stay, I felt a mental weight being lifted.  Forcing myself to analyze the usefulness, necessity and worth of each item was a very enlightening experience.  When all was said and done, I knew that the things we were parting with (all things we had used many times or not at all) would find a purpose in someone else’s life, however small.  On the same token, I could almost see the figure on the moving invoice going further and further down.  That, was most certainly something I wasn’t going to argue with! 

I don’t think that the act of simply giving things away is enough to ease the stress of ownership, however.  Some of the things that we had, despite the other’s persuasion to get rid of it, were going to make the move with us - no if’s, and’s or but’s.  Two ceramic painted garden gnomes (that we keep in a spare bedroom for some reason) that my wife’s grandmother made fell into that list.  While I’m not fond of them and they scare everyone who sleeps in that room like some lurking spectre, I can most certainly understand the emotional attachment to those items.  Who am I to throw those away, after all?  The same hold true for some of my Dungeons & Dragons paraphernalia (yes, I am a geek of the higher levels).  My friends and I use pretty much each and every last item when we play, and I found it incredibly hard to give away something that we all enjoy and have a good time with.  The point is, there were compromises, but the majority of the stuff went.

Going through all of this, it got me thinking: why do we get so attached to inanimate objects?  Obviously, as it has been stated, we associate some of them with a memory or person, specific events and moments in our life.  By getting rid of the item, we almost feel a sense of betrayal or loss of the past.  I would imagine that is the most common reason, or at least the most easily understood.

The practical side of our minds would find a need to keep hold of things for their eventual use.  You may not need it now, but what if you find a use for it in the future?  How much of a shame it would be if you threw something away that still had use left in it - almost like throwing leftover food away.  Sure, you could shove it in your mouth and force yourself to eat it, but would you be better off for it?  If you’re already full, are you really helping those that don’t have any food, or helping yourself by overeating?  If you can honestly answer ‘no’ to that question, why would material goods be any different?  That old stack of magazines hasn’t been read in years, but what if you need to reference something?  I think you get my point.  Give them to the library where everyone can access them, including yourself! 

I’d love to hear your stories or reasons for hanging on to or getting rid of items that you owned.  It’s a very interesting process by which the human mind actually places a value or some sort, whether it be monetary, emotional or practical on an item.  Even more captivating are the ways in which people handle those values and apply them to their daily lives.

Do you believe it is better to live a ”trimmed down” life, or do you prefer to have potential necessities on standby?   

To be fair, since my friends live all over the country, the times that we get to see each other are few and far between.  Given that fact, one would assume that we would want to make the most of your time together, so why all the talk of the past?  Why spend a perfectly good dinner or campfire discussing things that have been so burned into our memory that it would be a cold day in hell before we were likely to forget it?  And if absolutely must bring up the same tales over again, why is the need there to embellish the truth - to make it something completely different than what it was altogether?  At that point, you’re not even remembering the past correctly, but rather defiling it, right?

I can only answer for myself when I say that there is a certain comfort to being nostalgic.  When I sit down with my friends over a beer or a meal, remembering stories from the past can be therapeutic, entertaining, enlightening, jovial or sorrowful.   

It allows the parties involved to remind themselves that they share a common bond together.  Even if the bond is the story itself, there is an instantaneous mental link connecting everyone - they all can see the same things in their mind’s eye.  They all know the story, right?  You watch a mental movie together, one that you’re a part of.  For friends that haven’t seen each other for a long time, it’s a fantastic way to journey back through the friendship and revisit those moments that helped shape the relationship.  Even for those who see each other on a regular basis, reminiscing can be everything from an escape to a form of entertainment.

I also believe there are strong human desires that take place when remembering the past.  How often do you ever someone older than yourself say something like, “Do you remember when a Snickers bar was 10 cents?” or, “Spending our days at <insert your favorite location here> was one of the best parts of the summer.”  The world tends to get more complicated as the years go by, or maybe the younger mind grasps the present better than one that has already been shaped through experience and age.  Nostalgic thoughts bring those simpler and better understood thoughts back, perhaps for review and analysis, or maybe just to bask in a memory of something that feels comforting.  It’s incredibly cliche - I was hoping to get through this article without the whole “simpler times” spiel, but alas I have failed.  What can I say, it has some truth to it.  Hindsight is a very powerful and insightful thing, and when given it, we tend to apply it to the life we’ve lived up to that point.  Sometimes we apply it as a lesson, and other times we simply just accept things happened for a reason.  Either way, being able to look back with some modicum of wisdom is an interesting way to introspect and perhaps even prepare for what the future holds.

Let’s not gloss over the fact that any good story is made better with one key ingredient: a good storyteller.  The lure of sharing a tale together hearing it retold is like watching a good movie.  You know what’s going to happen, but if the movie is a good one, you don’t care - you’ll watch it over and over again until you can spout the most trivial and cryptic quotes verbatim.  It’s the same thing.  Despite what others think (and many might dismiss this thought as comical), I truly believe that storytelling is basic human need - something just tells me that our brains our wired for it.  Whether we’re told the story through the TV, the radio, around a campfire or over a phone, a good tale can captivate and endear.  We are creative animals, and there is a creative instinct.  Revisiting old memories, adding something new each time, making the memory more than what it really was.  We build the story from a factual event to entertain, or perhaps reach a point.  Nevertheless, when someone tells a story in person, nothing seems to beat it.  That is why I know, or rather hope, that the art of storytelling never dies.  Check out the movie “Big Fish” by Tim Burton to see exactly what I mean - and I mean EXACTLY.  Man, that movie wells me up at the end. 

Why do you reminisce?  Is it for comfort, remembrance of something that you are afraid to forget, or is it to pour the wisdom of the present into events of the past?  I think one of the most important and interesting parts of the human psyche is the need, enjoyment and fear of delving into the past.  The mind never ceases to amaze me in it’s capacity to digest and relive the information it’s given.

So to my dear wife, I’m sorry, but you’ll probably have to hear the same stories at least a few more times - even though you can tell some of them more accurately then me or my friends at this point.

Part 1     Part 2     Part 3

Here is the next installment in getting everyone out there to meditate.  As in past posts I will assume that you have just completed Part 1 & 2.

At this time you should be soaking in that bath of energy that we left off in.  The mind should be relaxed at this time and you may be feeling like you are floating.  I like to attribute this to your soul ascending to a higher level of consciousness, but the truth is I have no idea why it feels that way.  Now it’s time to get in there and really relax the physical body.  After all, it’s the machine that stores us and we need to be good to it!

Let’s get started, shall we?

Now as you’re laying or sitting there, close your eyes if they are not already.  Breathe.  Nice, slow, deep breathes of air.  Feel the air leave your entire body as you exhale.  Feel it refresh your entire body as you inhale.  Feel it, don’t think it.

Now I want you to relax your toes.  Wiggle them a little if you want, but let them relax and hang weightlessly.  Now relax your entire foot.  Allow the tension and weight to release as you relax your calves and knees.  Breathe deeply.  Feel your legs begin to hang like dead weight.

Allow your thighs and hamstrings to relax.  Now relax your hips, let those muscles relax.  Imagine them relaxing into soft jello like masses.  Breathe, feel the lower half of your body relaxed and just the weight of it.

Continue to breathe.  Relax those stomach muscles.  Yes, you do have them no matter what you may be thinking!  And your lower back, let all the tension flow out of it.  Don’t forget those hands.  You might be surprised at the amount muscle tension you keep in them.  Relax them, let them go limp.  Work your way up your arms and chest, allowing each area to relax. Remember to breathe.

Don’t stress if you’re not actually feeling anything change as you go, the more practice you get at it, the more you will feel.

Relax those shoulders.  Give them a little stretch if you want, but feel the tension release and the weight of them as they relax.  Now it’s time for my favorite part.  The neck!  Let those neck muscles relax from holding that big head (in my case) all day.  Feel your head sink down into your pillow or whatever it is resting on.

Now its time to relax the head and face.  Continue to breathe, but slowly work your way over the face, relaxing each area as you go.  The jaw… your cheeks.. your eyes… your forehead… the back and top of your head.

You should be feeling like a big pile of jello or something to that affect.  All the muscle strain should be relaxed from your body.  You probably will feel heavy, feeling the relaxed weight of your body and gravity’s pull on it, more so then normal.

If you’re still having trouble keeping your attention focused or your mind just won’t stop thinking here are a few tips:

1. Try to focus your attention on your breathing.  Anytime you find yourself wandering, just come back to your breathing.  Focus in on the intake and outflow of air, into and out of your body.

2. If thoughts wander around that crazy mind, don’t get caught up in them.  Don’t worry or fret that you’re not doing it.  Find peace by relaxing, breathe, and watch.  Be the silent observer of your mind.  Think of the mind as a giant movie screen and watch what it shows you, until it goes blank.  That is the secret to finding “no-mind”.  I promise, I will write more on this topic.

 3. Don’t expect instant results.  It took me many tries before I got this down.  It may take some practice.  Each time it will get better and easier until it’s an effortless process.

4. If possible meditate with someone else.  Have them read the instructions aloud to you.  My personal feeling is that guided meditations are the best.  To each is own though.  Even record yourself reading aloud the steps and then play it back to yourself.

Next up we’ll run through another visualization exercise. After that, we’ll go through a meditation that will help you find peace and clarity. We’ll go on a mind journey to find your paradise. So start thinnking about where that might be.  The beach, a remote island, a wooded forest, perhaps it’s your couch! It could be anything, it doesn’t matter, but give it a little thought, we’ll be working with it.

Until next time, enjoy, and let me know if you have any questions or comments.

I believe the reason people smirk when I say I go to the movies alone, or have the same reaction to someone eating a meal at a restaurant by themselves, taking a vacation or going to a concert alone is this: there is a stigma attached with attending a social event in a non-social manner.  We imply that being alone is synonymous with loneliness, two extremely different things.  There is a stigma attached with being part of a social gathering or event in this manner because it is impossible to be social when you attend alone.  People are afraid of how their image will be portrayed if they are seen like this.  It warrants pity and questions from onlookers, much of the time without any measure of evidence other than the subject is not with someone else. 

Try and make time for yourself once a day.

With many of our busy lifestyles, time alone seems an impossibility sometimes, even more so when considered that it can be acheived daily.  Try not to think of it as so much of a formal experience, but rather something that is part of your day.  If you’re the type A personality, realize that in the long run, the stress that will be relieved and the clear thought that will come from just a few minutes of rest will help you be more productive.  Give yourself 10 minutes of your lunch to find a quiet spot and shut your eyes during work, fall asleep to a favorite show after the kids have gone to bed, or talk a walk after work.  The important thing is that you do it.  It doesn’t have to be active, it doesn’t even have to be meaningful or a long period of time.  It simply has to be yours.

Acknowledge it.

You’ve taken some time and given it to yourself, now what?  A lot of these opportunities will be to “wind down” from the work day and just to tune out from stress, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to turn your brain off.  Trust me, I can understand not wanting to think about work, finances, chores, and everyday problems - that’s not what I mean by keeping an active mind.  Let your thoughts focus on the moment.  One of the favorite parts of my day is the walk through the city from the parking lot down to my workplace.  It’s early morning, and in the summer the breeze and sounds of the city often calm me.  I don’t dwell on the issues I’ll have to deal with once I’m inside, I just enjoy the sensory experience and let any thoughts flow.  Focus on the spaces in between your thoughts as well as the thoughts themselves.  Thinking naturally, if that makes any sense, can be enlightening and adds a little variety to the thought processes we’re railroaded with throughout the day.   So next time you’re alone, take in your surroundings and let your mind wander.

Don’t be self-conscious.

If you’re bold enough, don’t be afraid to go out and do things by yourself every once and a while.  Sometimes treating yourself to a dinner, movie, quiet walk or shopping excursion can be just what the doctor ordered.  A lot of people may shy away from this one and think “why would I do that when I can just call up my friend and go with them?”  That’s a very good argument, but not one that’s really valid in this context.  You can’t get the same experience alone as your can with a friend or group, so why should you expect the opposite to be true?  This is time for you, and it’s about inner dialogue and exploration - two conversations are hard to hold at the same time. 

Use it as a tool to make you more whole.

I’ve always found that a certain level of detachment from the everyday grind left me feeling recharged and more mentally aware.  Be cognisant of the fact that there is a definite line between introversion and detaching on purpose.  Are you an introvert normally?  Are you getting to a point where being alone is the only time you feel comfortable?  What techniques or activities have you found make you happier in daily life?  These are all questions that if answered honestly can help you take the time you spend with yourself and foster it into a tool that allows you to be more adept socially and spiritually.  Use all of the avenues available to your for self-discovery, from meditation to journal writing to simply “shutting down” for a while.  The next time you venture off, whether it’s on the couch or the trail, think of why you’re enjoying that moment, how it makes you feel, and what benefit it will bring you in the future. 

Enjoy It.

This one’s pretty straightforward.  Above all, if you’ve given yourself time, regardless of the reason, use it for that purpose and achieve the result you’re looking for.  Is to de-stress?  Is it to unplug from technology?  Perhaps it’s for a little hard-earned entertainment and a night out.  Whatever the reason, make the most of it.

Do you ever sit and really think about what you get from the news?  I’m talking TV, radio, the web - all media outlets for news reporting.  Ever notice how the same story lasts for days or even weeks?  It continues to get watered down as the story repeatedly weaves its way through the various reporting agencies, but it’s essentially the same story rehashed over and over again.

Sure, different viewpoints will be questioned - from those closest to the situation, to those farthest away, but don’t you get tired of hearing the same thing?  No matter how you spin a story eventually it becomes old news.  Time to move on.  This could also be part of the reason we become desensitized…

Sorry, it has been one of those weeks in Western New York.  Sadly our very own Tim Russert passed away.   Since then we have been overrun with articles, news specials, interviews, etc in regards to the life of one of Buffalo’s most well known sons.

I couldn’t help but wonder how his family and friends have been able to truly mourn and move on?  How could you?  I know I couldn’t if everytime I turned the TV or radio on, that was all I heard about.  Try checking the news on the web?  Even Google News has listed several stories a day about the man.  I’m sure that is part of the price of fame, but still some respect? 

And while some may argue that it is respect for the man, that caused the media barrage, I simply don’t agree. This happens all to often, regardless if its the passing of someone famous or well respected, a murder plot, or political scandal, etc. How about some original reporting on new and informative topics?  Must they continue to re-report the same story continuously, interviewing people further and further removed from the story? True respect would be letting those closest to the situation move on and deal with the loss. Instead of squeezing every last shred of possible emotion out of the story.

It all came to a head for me earlier this past week on my morning commute to work.  While listening to the radio I came upon an interview with an intern on the set of Meet The Press who was speaking about what it was like to see the empty chair this week.  Seriously!  Is this news?  Does anyone care?  Is that how bad life and society have become?  Have we sunk so low as to be entertained or informed by this useless garbage being pawned off as news?

Don’t even get me started on the lack of class that is consistently demonstrated by those in the media.  How can you stand and ask someone who has just lost a loved one, “How are you feeling?” or “How are you dealing with this tragic loss?”.  Have we become so unattached from our own feelings that we are no longer able to put ourselves in the shoes of those suffering and empathize with them?  Are we that void of emotion that we must ask those in the throes of agony to describe their current emotional state like some sort of sick voyeuristic show, called the news?

I had to sit with this post for a couple days before deciding to publish it.  I’m not one to sit and complain (at least I like to think that).  I firmly believe that should you be interested enough in something to complain about it, you should be doing something about it.  Otherwise, shut up!

While I enjoy posing questions about life, I more so enjoy the discovery of answers.  The learning experience and various viewpoints that you get to check out, while finding your own personal truths, but this one left me void of hope and answers - thus my dilemma in posting it.

Have you ever been accused of not being able to see the obvious?  I’m very guilty of that, probably more so than I realize.  This was no different.  The very reason for this site and thousands of others like it, that cover all ranges of topics, is the hope and answer.

By using this media outlet, we the people, can share our views and opinions freely with the word at large.  We offer an alternative to the mainstream media whores of today and hopefully soon of yesterday!  Tired of reruns?  Try searching the web for sites/blogs that feature the content that interests YOU!  There is some pretty good stuff out there by a lot of intelligent original writers.

And the beat goes on….