This Week’s Word & Thought: Women of Color

Forgive my use of the title if it in any way offends you.  That is not my intent.  It was the language used in a movie I recently and finally had a chance to watch, “Hidden Figures”. 

http://bit.ly/Hidden_Figures_Trailer

If you have not seen it or read the book of the same name, you should.  The story is the historical events regarding NASA employees Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson.  In a nutshell, African-American women were directly responsible for helping to put the first American astronauts into space.

Again, like many other important incidents in human history, this very important aspect of the success of NASA is not included in most history recollections of this period.  Another example of this type of selective recollection of history is a photographic collection of WWII events that MSN published recently in the news section which had a photo showing a group of men in a concentration camp, all with triangles on their prison garb.  The caption was about Jewish men in a concentration camp.  I wrote to MSN to explain their mistake and how tired I was of history being swept under the rug so to speak.  Google the “triangle patch in concentration camps” if you do not understand the reference.

Based on an articles I read on www.essence.com, dated January 30, 2017, and www.shapeitrecruitment.co.uk, dated January 23, 2017, and some information from my ever favorite Wikipedia, here are some interesting facts regarding these exceptional women.  These facts give light to the intelligence and perseverance of their examples of the finest humanity has to offer.

Katherine Johnson, graduated from Virginia State High School at the age of 14.  By 18, she had earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and French, summa cum laude, from West Virginia State University.  She then taught from 1930 to 1951, both math and French, until she found out that NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics which later became NASA) was accepting applications from African-American women for “human computer” roles.  She applied and landed a job working as a human computer and surprised her supervisors with her brilliant mathematical skills as well as her very inquisitive mind. 

She was then transferred, after only two weeks, to Langley’s flight research division.  From there, Katherine managed to talk her way into attending briefing meetings which was unheard of for a woman at the time, let alone an African-American woman.  She went on to become the final authority for the flight calculations of Alan Shepard’s space flight and later for John Glenn’s successful orbit in 1961.

Katherine went on to work for NASA on the space shuttle program until her retirement in 1983.  Since then she has been awarded numerous awards and honors.  These include the 1967 NASA Lunar Orbiter Spacecraft and Operations team award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  The latter was awarded to her by President Obama on November 24, 2015.  In 2006, NASA unveiled the new $30M Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility in Langley.

Dorothy Vaughan, born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1910, was an exceptionally gifted student who graduated in 1929 from Wilberforce University, at the age of 19, with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics.  Initially, she was a teacher and mother. 

Dorothy went to work for NACA in 1943 as a mathematician on a temporary basis.  Even with the anti-discrimination Executive Order 8802 issued by Franklin D. Roosevelt that made it illegal to discriminate against people in the defense industry (which NACA was considered part), she along with all African-American employees had to work in separate areas and in this case, the West Area Computing Unit.

She became the lead for the West Area Computing Unit and ran this for 10 years.  In 1958, Dorothy joined the new Analysis and Computation Division and became an expert in FORTRAN programming.  This move came shortly after NASA abolished segregation in the work environment.  She worked directly on the SCOUT (Solid Controlled Orbital Utility Test) Launch Vehicle Program.  This program became one of the most reliable and successful launch vehicles.  Before her retirement in 1971, she worked with both Katherine Johnson and Mary Jackson on John Glenn’s orbital flight.

Mary Jackson was born in 1921 and grew up in Hampton, Virginia.  She earned a bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and physical science from Hampton Institute in 1942.  After graduation, Mary worked a series of different jobs including teaching, receptionist, and bookkeeping. 

In 1951, Mary was recruited by the NACA.  She started as a research mathematician, or “human computer”, at the Langley Research Center in her hometown of Hampton, Virginia.  There she worked under Dorothy Vaughan.  She found the segregation and treatment as a lesser human being difficult to deal with and was ready to leave the organization.  She had a chance meeting with another supervisor who offered her a position in his own department.  Mary accepted and went on to be promoted to aeronautical engineer.

In 1978, Mary moved into human resources with NASA.  Up until her retirement in 1985 she worked to help other women and minorities progress in their careers.  She was a strong believer in education and its power to help you to standout and be promoted.

Why focus on this?  Very simple.  The most important influences in my early life were all women of color.  From the beautiful and sweet Latina woman who took care of me in Laredo, Texas to the two separate women who took care of me from the age of about 5 to 7 in Livingston, Texas.

The first caregiver, I was far to young to remember her name, but I know she crossed the border every day to come and care for us.  I believe I was younger than 5, but do not remember exactly.  I remember her kindness and how she always smelled of wonderful spices, laughed loudly, and rattled off in rapid fire Spanish.  Had no clue what she was saying, but she gave the best hugs, cooked the most delicious foods, and was fiercely protective of us kids.  One night, don’t recall any of the specifics, but someone tried to break into the house while my parents were out, and she was taking care of us.  She not only got hold of my parents and the police, but also hid us while holding I believe a fireplace poker.

Next was Jessie, a young African-American woman who probably wasn’t over 20 to 22 years of age.  She was so sweet and had an incredibly gentle spirit.  I remember her becoming really ill and going with my Mom, who was a nurse, to check on Jessie.  I was fairly poor, but didn’t know it; however, Jessie and her family lived in a one room shack basically that actually had newspaper on the inside walls for covering and some bit of insulation.  I remember being moved to tears by the time we left and wanting to know from my Mom why Jessie had to live that way and why couldn’t she live with us.

Last of these wonderful women was Nanny.  Yep, that was all I ever knew her by per her choice.  She was this larger than life and terribly stereotypical of the name, geography, and time period (mid-1960’s).  She was this wonderfully kind and loving large African-American woman who was probably in her 50’s.  Nanny was hired only to take care of us kids, but she went ahead and cleaned, did laundry, cooked, and above all, would never leave us with my father alone (he is another whole story for far more in-depth writing at some point).

Nanny gave the best damn hugs possible.  She also always repaired, usually stitching up, my Leo the Talking Lion every time I damaged it.  She was my friend, my protector, and was someone as a small child I loved very much.  Nanny was a light in a life that at times was very dark.

Then I think of the other major influences in my life.  Many have been women, and many have been someone who in someway has struggled with discrimination in some way.  Whether this be due to race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, political beliefs, disabilities, or any other damn reason some asshole can think of to hate you or try to keep you down.

The common thread is always their humanity.  Their belief in better.  Their refusal to give into the hate of those who would persecute them.  Their lack of hate as a response to their mistreatment.  Truly brave individuals.

If your response to injustice is silence, then you are part of the injustice.  Don’t be.

Namaste,

Tom

This Week’s Word & Thought: Loss

Early December 23^rd of 2017, my Mom passed away.  She had lived a long time and was ninety when she died.  Her memory had slipped in the last few years and she needed round the clock care.  Although her death was not a surprise, it was no less painful. 

She was my Mom.

Lolamae Wilson DeSpain lived a long and interesting life with the interesting being both on the good side and the bad side.  She made good choices and bad choices and her decisions sometimes caused her and her children pain.

But, she was my Mom.

In many ways and for many years she was my best friend.  There was nothing I couldn’t tell her, and she listened mostly without judgement.  Sometimes, when she didn’t agree or thought my thinking was incorrect, she would tell me, not subtly either.

But okay, she was my Mom.

Lolamae was tough as a woman, compassionate as a human being, loyal as a friend, and funny as hell when she wanted to be.  Not always the best at being Mom and sometimes a bit focused on her own issues, albeit understandable.  However, the tough compassionate loyal and funny traits made me love her even more.

No matter, she was my Mom.

She taught me a lot about life, especially as an adult.  It was later in life when I was older and reached up and took her off the parental pedestal and looked at her as one adult to another, I saw the human side, with all the faults, flaws, cracks in the façade, and beautiful wonderful characteristics of a human being.  I was no longer angry at life as a child in our rather dysfunctional family.  Why?

Because she was my Mom, my dear friend, a beautifully flawed and awesome human being who I will miss.

I love you Mom.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen nor even touched, but just felt in the heart.” – Helen Keller

Take a moment, send a text or a card, make a call, send a letter, but tell those you love how much they mean to you.  Time stands still for no one and I know that I myself often take for granted that those I love “know” I love them.

Namaste,

Tom

This Week’s Word & Thought: Life

First, I apologize for my tardiness in releasing a new blog.  Between the holidays and work, it has been a bit hectic.

Second, let’s talk about Life.  What is life?  In this case, we are not getting into the whole technical and heavily debated scientific version of life.  I am speaking of YOU in this moment, in this here and now.  I am speaking about the very second you are reading this. 

Many people spend a great deal of time with regrets, mistakes, should have, could have, why didn’t I, etc., etc.  This is a pointless exercise in futility and takes up precious time at that moment.

Sivananda Saraswati (or Swami Sivananda) wrote, “Do not brood over your past mistakes and failures as this will only fill your mind with grief, regret and depression. Do not repeat them in the future.”

The Swami was a very wise man.  You should read some about him from my ever-favorite Wikipedia.  Here is a little recap and a link to the information on him.  He was born September 8, 1887 and died July 14, 1963.  Swami Sivananda was a Hindu spiritual teacher and a proponent of Yoga and Vedanta.  He was born Kuppuswami in Pattamadai, in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, India.  He studied medicine and served in British Malaya (now modern-day Malaysia) as a physician for several years before taking up monasticism.  Here is the link to the full information:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sivananda_Saraswati

The other is to get lost in dreaming of the future or striving for a rigid and all-consuming goal.  Many times, we become so focused on these dreams or goals, we forget to live life in the present.  We need to remember the greatest part of the dream or goal should be the journey.  Chandra Kochhar, born November 17, 1961, is the managing director and CEO of ICICI Bank.  She is widely recognized for her role in shaping banking in India. Her take on goals and the journey are very astute.

“Aim for the sky, but move slowly, enjoying every step along the way.  It is all those little steps that make the journey complete.”

Fascinating modern-day business executive.  Here is a Wikipedia link on her.  I believe you will find it both fascinating and interesting.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanda_Kochhar

So, now we have banished obsessions with the past and the future.  Then what? 

How about right now.  My all-time favorite philosopher is Buddha.  His words, granted as translated into modern English, always seem to be simple and to the point.  They offer wisdom without judgement and focuses on personal thought and well-being and love for all living beings.  One of his most famous quotes is, “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”

I would say the greatest change in becoming an older human being (and yes, when you near 60 you are an older human being, like it or not and no matter how good your plastic surgeon is), or at least for me, was developing patience, forgiveness to others and yourself for mistakes, hurts and wrongdoings, and learning to cherish this very moment.   

My focus on living and loving in the moment is because the flip side of that wisdom as someone older is that you find time is no longer this intangible thing you rail against as a young person that is preventing you from reaching your goal.  As a child wanting to be a teenager.  As a teenager wanting to be an adult.  As an adult wanting to be respected and working towards career goals and finding that perfect relationship.  All in such a hurry you do not take the time to simply marvel at the journey of life.

I promise you, slowing down and contemplating the here and now, is a far more relaxing and freeing way to live.  Be the best you possible, but in the here and now.  Don’t dwell on the past and don’t let the future be all consuming.  Another very wise quote from cancer survivor, Kathy Giusti, is very relevant to this topic.  Please take the time to learn a bit about her.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy_Giusti

“If I’ve learned anything, it’s to live in the moment, and the gift that cancer gives you is, you just assume I’m only here today, and I am going to seize that moment and cherish it.”

Live life!

Namaste,

Tom

This Week’s Word & Thought: Emotional Intelligence

I have spent the last couple of weeks reading various philosophers, artists, pundits, politicians, etc., to come up with words that would be useful given all that is going on around us.  First, I needed to recognize my own feelings of being helpless and inadequate.  Having the overwhelming urge to do something.  Anything.  Even if the action I wanted to do wasn’t positive or in line with my beliefs.  I know, wanting to smack the crap out some idiot espousing hate and bigotry would let you feel good for about 60 seconds.  But then, you are left with the horrible sensation of becoming one of them. 

I refuse.

In seeking answers for how to describe this “thing” and what to call it, I came across Emotional Intelligence.  This is a relatively recent concept as far as clearly defined.  However, you can find actionable references with classic philosophers such as Aristotle:

Anybody can become ANGRY

That is easy

But to be angry with

The RIGHT person

And to the right degree

And at the right time

And for the right purpose

And in the right way

That is not within

Everybody’s power

And is NOT EASY

So, then I started researching on the topic of Emotional Intelligence.  I found through intelligenthq.com the Five Components of Emotional Intelligence at Work. 

Self-Awareness:  ability to recognize and understand your moods, emotions and drives as well as their effect on others

Self-Regulation:  the ability to control and redirect disruptive impulses and moods

Motivation:  a passion to work for reasons that go beyond money or status

Empathy:  the ability to understand the emotional make up of other people

Social Skill:  proficiency in managing relationships and building networks

The best part of accidentally falling into this and reading about Emotional Intelligence was how this translates into relationships with family, friends, work, and in how you deal with the trials and tribulations of life.  Understanding your level of emotional intelligence and working to mature and improve these specific skills could alter the very enjoyment of life.

I guess the cliché “Moral of the Story” is that it is ok to have an emotional response to those events happening around us.  Even if that reaction is one of fear and anger.  But be sure it is measured, directed correctly, manifested in a positive and change inducing way, and let go of it when the work is done.

Love with the same maturity.  Be sad, or anxious, or reflective, etc.  But begin to try and analyze your emotions with a more intelligent perspective.  It will help you know YOU better.  The more can understand, accept, and love yourself, the more Emotional Intelligence you will possess.  This alone will allow great change around you.

I wish for you patience, insight, and calm in your journey of self-recognition and growth.

Namaste,

Tom

This Week’s Word & Thought: Time

Roy “Tutsi” James Hamilton died this last weekend at the age of 57, my age.  He was born December 6, 1959 in Stilwell, Oklahoma.  I knew Roy in school from around the age of ten.  We moved in different circles during school, but I have never forgotten him.  He was what I call an “everyday hero” because of his stoic gentleness and peace.

 

 

 The following is my definition of an everyday hero taken from a blog post I wrote in February, 2014.  Here is a link if you wish to read “Heroes”.

http://belikebuddha.blogspot.com/2014/02/heroes.html

The last group and the most unsung and quiet are what I refer to as the “everyday hero”.  This group of heroes I believe has the most lasting impact on others.  The doctor I spoke of in the opening of this blog post is an example of an everyday hero.  The absolute best example of this type of heroism was defined for me years earlier when I watch the movie based on the book by Amy Tan, The Joy Luck Club.  In the story there is an exchange between the main character June and her mother Suyuan.  She was explaining to her daughter why she was indeed special over her very successful, beautiful and demanding sister.  Suyuan stated (paraphrasing) that while June’s older sister always expected and took the choicest cut of meat at dinner, June always took the least cut of meat. 

I look for the everyday hero.  When you spot them, they are not flamboyant or looking for praise.  They are generally humble or direct in their mission.  Accolades are not what they seek and in fact are generally embarrassed by them.  I would like to think I would have the courage to be an incidental hero, but who knows unless it happened.  Not sure I’m in a place or have the skills to be a situational hero.  So, I strive daily to try to be an everyday hero.  It isn't easy and I am sure I fail more often than succeed.  I am so humbled by the sacrifice of others in all three types of heroes.  Find your heroes.  They may be as close as right next to you.

Over the years, I have often thought of Roy and wondered what he was doing.  In the last year I was able to reconnect with him through Facebook.  We had a few conversations back and forth and I had gotten the impression he was ill, but he never let me know the seriousness of his condition.  Again, very much like Roy.

It was my intent per our last conversation to try and connect with him for possibly dinner the next time I came back to visit with my Mom, who is a resident at the Stilwell Nursing Home.  I was there two weeks ago and it was a bit of an in and out trip.  I was going to try and see if Roy and I could have dinner, but couldn’t find the time and little did I know Roy was very ill at that time.

I am grateful that I had the chance during the last year to at the very least let him know what an example he was to me when we were young.  That I always thought of him as one of the most genuine and kindhearted people I had ever met.  This is not something I take lightly.  I hold him in regards the same as Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Socrates, Maya Angelou, and Nelson Mandela, to name a few. 

At this point in my life, I study a great deal the eastern philosophy of Buddha.  Not the religion that it has turned into, but rather the teachings of the man.  Roy reminded me most of Buddha’s teachings.  Selfless, generous, genuine, empathetic, and true. 

“We will develop and cultivate the liberation of mind by living kindness, make it our vehicle, make it our basis, stabilize it, exercise ourselves in it, and fully perfect it.”  - Buddha  

I write this blog for two reasons:  1) to honor someone who unknowingly and unwittingly had a very large impact on my life just by being a beautiful spirit, and, 2) to mourn the loss and passage of time without my having reconnected fully with Roy.  I regret this deeply.

To Roy I say, “Thank you for being an example for me to follow. May your spirit be free and full of joy.” 

To you I say, “Time is the only thing you can never get back, you can never purchase, you can never pause.  Do not waste time, especially when it comes to letting someone know that they are important to you.  Engage them now.  Love them now, for tomorrow my never come.”

Namaste,

Tom

This Week’s Word & Thought: Purpose

I have gone through an enormous amount of word play trying to come up with the right one to convey the thoughts I want to share with you.  It is amazingly difficult to find just the right one.  I believe I did so with the word Purpose.

Let’s focus on the definition of purpose as a noun in this post.

pur·pose (noun):  the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.

synonyms:  motive, motivation, grounds, cause, occasion, reason, point, basis, justification

With that in mind, I did some research on famous uses of the word purpose (or a synonum) as a noun.  Here are some of the quotes more on point to my thoughts.

“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.” –  Dalai Lama

“The thing to do, it seems to me, is to prepare yourself so you can be a rainbow in somebody else's cloud. Somebody who may not look like you. May not call God the same name you call God - if they call God at all. I may not dance your dances or speak your language. But be a blessing to somebody. That's what I think.” – Maya Angelou

“Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.” – John F. Kennedy

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” – Pablo Picasso

I have often puzzled my purpose.  My reason for being.  I don’t believe in fate or predestination.  I believe in a whole lot of factors; events, genetics, history, etc., that shape who we become.  I also believe our purpose changes over time for many of us due to where we are at in life.  A balance of what we have learned and our years.  At this point in my life, my purpose is focusing on enjoying the beauty that is humanity.  In studying and researching art, music, written word, history and the heroes of the past, and most importantly, heroes of today.  Not necessarily famous, but someone who connects you with humanity.

I must work to look past events of recent and realize that is not the majority, but really just focus placed on the sensational.  In a time where we keep hearing about the rise of extremists who believe in genocide and segregation based on either religion, race, sexuality, or gender identity, I say again, not the majority of people.

I believe in the innate goodness of humanity.  That humankind has an amazing ability to learn, grow, help, and love.  But, to counter that which is negative, our purpose must be, in our own and unique individual way, to grow this believe in humankind.  To focus on compassion, empathy, generosity of not just material items, but generosity of the spirit.

“The thing to do, it seems to me, is to prepare yourself so you can be a rainbow in somebody else’s cloud.”

Namaste,

Tom

This Week’s Word & Thought: Freedom

I was torn between “freedom” and “violence” due to all that is going on around us.  The conflict of freedom through peace versus the need to react to the violence being perpetrated on those who could not stop it.  The death of a young woman peacefully protesting or the mob beating of a young man by a group of cowardly thugs.  Take your pick, both have me seething.  I struggle with my reactions to this incomprehensible behavior.  I simply. Do. Not. Understand.

However, I cannot give up on my beliefs that to create a better world for those I love and our obligation to do so for future generations requires that be done through peace and love.  Violence and hate simply do not work.  Never have and NEVER will.

I have been reading a lot from those who inspire me most for their courage of peaceful resistance and commitment to peace.  It includes Dr. King, Aung San Suu Kyi, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Einstein, and Socrates just to name a few.  The truly remembered great humans in history are those who focused on peace.  Who understood to truly have freedom you must achieve it through peaceful methods.

To have freedom also means to peacefully fight to end poverty, to stop inequality at all levels and to stifle hatred and bigotry.  Believing in a perfect utopian world is simply not realistic.  Sadly, and inexplicably, there will always be those who hate.  My Mom, when I first came out to her, told me she was afraid for me, but told me, “Well I guess there are people who hate you because you have blond hair.  Some people just want to hate.”  Yes, and sadly, some people do simply want to hate.  I don’t get it, but that is just the way it is.

We, however, must fight this “normalization of hate” with every peaceful breath we have.  Stuff it back down where those who wallow in it realize that good and decent human beings do not stand for this bullshit!

But, NEVER with violence.  Please.

If you participate in counter rallies to all the hate filled events planned around our nation this weekend or in the near future, do so with love and peace.  I leave you with a quote to ponder.

“What has violence ever accomplished? What has it ever created? No martyr's cause has ever been stilled by an assassin's bullet. No wrongs have ever been righted by riots and civil disorders. A sniper is only a coward, not a hero; and an uncontrolled or uncontrollable mob is only the voice of madness, not the voice of the people.” – Robert Kennedy

Namaste,

Tom

This Week’s Word & Thought: Indifference

My apologies for slacking off on my writings, but sometimes I find myself worried that I am becoming indifferent to what seems like overwhelming world issues.  In between the daily routine of commuting and work, which both can be tiring, there are the stresses of finance, getting older, health, and the fears of intolerance at top of mind.  It seems very difficult at times to focus on the issues of our country, the world, or humanity in general.  I needed a little respite from it and thus my writings, which are my outlet of expression for my thoughts.

What do I focus on?  Is it the unbelievable situation we find ourselves in as Americans with the current very frightening administration?  Or should it be the bigotry, hatred and anger the previous has unleashed?  Should it be on climate change and the record heatwaves, typhoons, hurricanes, wildfires, or melting ice shelves and glaciers?

Perhaps it should be on the multiple places in the world that appear to be on the edge of war?  Like Venezuela, the Korean Peninsula, the entire Middle east, or even Russia?  Did you know that India and China have been exchanging some serious threats back and forth?  Could it be that previously said administration is going get us into a saber-rattling situation that we can’t get out of without bloodshed, usually from our country’s youngest and bravest?

Maybe it should be the fact that 1 in 6 children in the United States is worried about their next meal?  To put that into perspective, that is 16.2M children.  Perhaps I should focus on the almost 800M people in the world without enough to eat?  BTW, that small thing called “fake” climate change is killing an additional 300K per year.

Speaking of fake, should I focus on the danger of a lack of freedom of the press or maybe even freedom of expression? 

Or perhaps I should focus on what appears to be a reverse in direction in our country on the civil rights of all regardless of religion, gender, sexual identity, race, nationality, etc.?  Or maybe that there is an actual concentration camp or camps in Chechnya for gays?  That there is an ever-increasing spike in the level of violence against those who are different in the United States and abroad?

These are just some of the topics my mind seems to hone in on and at times I feel completely and totally overwhelmed and at a loss at what to do.  At times, this feeling of being overwhelmed makes you numb, or rather it can give you a sense of indifference.  This is dangerous.

Eliezer “Elie” Wiesel, a Romanian-born American Jewish writer, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate, and Holocaust survivor put it best.

“Indifference, to me, is the epitome of evil.”

So, even when it simply feels like too much, you must write, talk, protest, fight; but, never quit and never allow yourself to stay indifferent.  Take a mini indifference vacation if you must, but come back and never quit.  Those who fight for those who can’t are all that stand between chaos and anarchy in the world.  Your singular voice and actions do make a difference.  One more poignant quote from Elie.

“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”

If you are not familiar with Elie Wiesel I encourage you to learn more about him.  He was a remarkable human being.

Namaste,

Tom

This Week’s Word & Thought: Only Breath

Only Breath by Rumi

Not Christian or Jew or Muslim, not Hindu

Buddhist, Sufi, or Zen.  Not any religion

or cultural system. 

I am not from the East or the West,

not out of the ocean or up from the ground,

not natural or ethereal, not composed of elements at all.  

I do not exist,

am not an entity in this world or in the next,

did not descend from Adam and Eve or any origin story. 

My place is placeless,

a trace of the traceless. 

Neither body or soul.

I belong to the beloved, have seen the two

Worlds as one and that one call to and know,

first, last, outer, inner, only that breath breathing human being.

Rumi was a 13th century mystic poet and to read his words now, especially in the chaos the world is in now, shows the length and depth of the struggle to be human.  This was written over 750 years ago and I believe he was truly one of the most passionate and profound poets in history. 

He was born in what is now present-day Afghanistan in 1207 and died in 1273.  He produced his masterwork , Masnavi, or Masnavi-I Ma'navi, also written Mesnevi, Mathnawi, or Mathnavi, and it is an extensive poem written in Persian by him, whose full name was Jalal al-Din Muhammad Balkhi, celebrated Persian Sufi poet.  The translation to English consists of over 60,000 poems and the translation above is credited to Coleman Barks, although I did take some liberties with the rhythmic flow of the prose.  If you have time, please research him.  I would venture to say Rumi was a philosophical genius.

The statement of this poem is one of the most profound and simplistic views of being human I have ever read.  We all breath.  We all dream.  We aspire to be loved, accepted, and embraced at some point in our lives.  Hate and intolerance is not something you are born with.

Sadly, there are those who are taught hatred through ignorance or violence or by both.  There are those who lost their way and have become the instruments of this hatred and intolerance.  It is up to us to not lose sight of this faith in humanity and how very much we are all truly alike.  We, meaning ALL of us as humans, share 99.9% of the same DNA.

So, I say to you centuries after the wisdom of Rumi’s words, never give up the fight and keep it simple.  Just breathe and remember that the other 7.2 billion humans are also breathing.  It is only breath.

Namaste,

Tom

This Week's Word & Thought: Letting Go

Letting Go  Author Unknown
	To let go doesn't mean to stop caring; It means I can't do it for someone else. To let go is not to cut myself off... It's the realization that I can't control another... To let go is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences. To let go is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands. To let go is not to try and change or blame another, I can only change myself. To let go is not to care for, but to care about. To let go is not to fix, but to be supportive. To let go is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being. To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own outcomes. To let go is not to be protective, It is to permit another to face reality. To let go is not to deny, but to accept. To let go is not to nag, scold, or argue, but to search out my own shortcomings and correct them. To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes and cherish the moment. To let go is not to criticize and regulate anyone, but to try to become what I dream I can be. To let go is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future. To let go is to fear less and love more. Namaste, Tom

This Week's Word & Thought: Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 10, 1948.  It’s creation motivated by the experiences of the preceding world wars.  This was the first time that the U.N. Member Countries agreed on a comprehensive statement of inalienable human rights. 

It is sad to think that almost 70 years later, we still are working to achieve some semblance of this declaration.  Although there are improvements, until the majority and powerful commit to the foundation of the ideology and support human rights in a true to one’s own spirit, we will not succeed.  It starts with each of us reading, knowing, understanding, and practicing these ideologies.  It starts with curiosity of those different than ourselves and not fear or intolerance.  It starts one act at a time. 

“Defeating racism, tribalism, intolerance and all forms of discrimination will liberate us all, victim and perpetrator alike.”  -  Ban Ki-moon

Mr. Ki-moon is a South Korean diplomat who was the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 2007 through December 2016.  He is one of my favorites to hold this role.  His philosophies towards discrimination, fighting poverty, promoting education, and working to educate about global warming and climate change have been tireless.  When you read about him, and I hope you do, you will see in him the goodness of his spirit.  It gives you hope that a difference can be made, but it takes more us to do so.  Stop procrastinating.  Stop thinking you can’t change anything.  Start making a difference.  Start by reading the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and know that your voice makes a difference. 

Namaste – Tom

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

 Preamble

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable

rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice

and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous

acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world

in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom

from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common

people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last

resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be

protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between

nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their

faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person

and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote

social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation

with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of

human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the

greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, therefore,

The General Assembly,

Proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of

achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and

every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by

teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by

progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and

effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States

themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Article 1

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are

endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a

spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration,

without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion,

political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political,

jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person

belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other

limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be

prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment

or punishment.

Article 6

Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7

All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal

protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any

discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such

discrimination.

Article 8

Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals

for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10

Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent

and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any

criminal charge against him.

Article 11

1. Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed

innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he

has had all the guarantees necessary for his defense.

2. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or

omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or

international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier

penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal

offence was committed.

Article 12

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home

or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation. Everyone has

the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the

borders of each State.

2. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to

return to his country.

Article 14

1. Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from

persecution.

2. This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely

arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and

principles of the United Nations.

Article 15

1. Everyone has the right to a nationality.

2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to

change his nationality.

Article 16

1. Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality

or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled

to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

2. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the

intending spouses.

3. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is

entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17

1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with

others.

2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right

includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in

community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in

teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes

freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart

information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

2. No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21

1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country,

directly or through freely chosen representatives.

2. Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in his country.

3. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government;

this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall

be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by

equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22

Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled

to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in

accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic,

social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development

of his personality.

Article 23

1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and

favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.

2. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal

work.

3. Everyone who works has the right to just and favorable remuneration

ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity,

and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of

his interests.

Article 24

Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of

working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25

1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and

well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing

and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security

in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or

other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All

children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social

protection.

Article 26

1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the

elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be

compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made

generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all

on the basis of merit.

2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human

personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and

fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and

friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further

the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be

given to their children.

Article 27

1. Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the

community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and

its benefits.

2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests

resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the

author.

Article 28

Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and

freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29

1. Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full

development of his personality is possible.

2. In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only

to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of

securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others

and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the

general welfare in a democratic society.

3. These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the

purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30

Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or

person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the

destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

This Week's Word & Thought: Reflection

I recently read an article and watched a video of a young man coming out to his family and friends.  I believe it was intended more private than public; however, it was so moving it went viral, which led to the article.  Here is the article on the young man as well as the video. 

http://www.outsports.com/2017/6/6/15717310/preston-cope-weightlifting-ohio-gay-coming-out

It helped drive home to me the importance of self-acceptance and love as well as causing me a great deal of reflection.  Reflection on this version of me and how I got here.  This version I am comfortable with although not completely satisfied, wish it was a few years younger, but hey, wisdom has a price.  Hopefully we never become so complacent or egocentric that we stop growing and evolving as a person.

The most important thought in my reflection was how multiple times during my life, I had to be my own support system, especially growing up in a home where violence was the norm and not the exception or when I came out as a gay man. I learned to know it was ok to be me even at times when I thought I must be the worst human being on earth.  Learning to forgive those who hurt me or learning to understand that I was not defective and allowing myself to just be me which in turn has allowed many beautiful and loving people into my life.

I say to anyone out there who has dealt with violence, bigotry, or hatred, “Hang on!”  It does get better.  Know that there is always someone who will give you a hug or listen if you need a shoulder to cry on or be still and just listen.  Get rid of the haters, even if family or professed friends.  Reach out to those who consistently reach out to you.  Be the best version of you that you can and let know one tear you down.  Don’t dwell on what’s in the past and don’t dwell on what if.  Focus on the here and now, reflect on who you are and fight to be you!

Over 500 years ago, a very wise man, Leonardo da Vinci, wrote this:

“I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.  ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death.” – Leonardo da Vinci

Now, go kick some ass and let your freak flag fly!  Just be you.

Namaste,

Tom