There's a great passage from Maria Popova's Figuring about Emily Dickinson's prolific output and relating it to the place where she wrote them — her bedroom. Popova sets the scene, standing in Dickinson's bedroom in her historic home in Amherst, Massachussetts:

I am struck by the contrast between the bellowing darkness of her poems and the fount of sunlight flooding in through the two fully windowed walls. I am struck, too, by the scale of it: Her mahogany sleigh bed is practically child-sized, her cherrywood writing desk almost a miniature at seventeen and a half inches square. I am reminded of recent findings in embodied cognition — the study of how external physical parameters influence our interior states — indicating that large open spaces and rooms with high ceilings enhance creativity, and I find myself wondering whether there might be an embodied-cognition analogue to Kierkegaard's assertion that “the more a person limits himself, the more resourceful he becomes.” Deliberate constraints, after all, are a mighty catalyst of creative breakthrough

[...]

Seventeen inches square. More than seventeen hundred poems

Amazing. It brings to mind something I hadn't heard of much before but now want to learn more about — embodied cognition. How does it relate to our own day-to-day analog/digital lives?

Taking a vacation from work for the first time in a long while — a week in the North Carolina mountains with family. I’m taking care of the crucial things, but otherwise giving myself the space to unwind for a bit. It’s probably been 3 years since I took a week off of work.

I dreamt of you just now.

You are still as beautiful as you have always been.

De kunst van het slapen

Expositie : Slapen door belangrijke mensen met een missie Waar : Museum van Aaargh te Hypocritia Wanneer : 11 juli 2021 tot en met 11 juli 2025

Goedenavond lezzzzers vandaag een slaapverwekkend stukje over de expositie in het saaiste museum van Nederland. Het Museum van Aaaargh in Hypocritia de hoofdstad van de provincie Heiligdom. Het zal u niet zijn ontgaan dat u niet de enigste persoon op deze aardkloot bent die slaapt. Iedereen knijpt meestal dagelijks beide oogjes dicht. Ik ook, u ook, zij ook, zelfs politici, artsen, boeren en kunstenaars slapen. Het Aaargh is het museum voor kunst, economie, kapitaal en politiek. Na gedegen ellenlang overleg over het onderwerp voor onze om de vier jaar wisselende expositie hebben we na vijftien stemrondes besloten de komende vier jaar een tentoonstelling te maken over slapen in het algemeen en slapen van kapitalisten, belangrijke politieke bestuurders en andere economen in het bijzonder.

Over een maand openen we dit heerlijk saaie evenement. 11 juli om middernacht openen we de achterdeuren met stille trom. Bezoekers mogen dan op sokken en in pyjama met oogkleppen voor door de slaap en expositie zalen sluipen, onze museum rondleiders laten u dan alle hoogtepunten zien en fluisteren informatie over de duur betaalde kunstwerken en archiefstukken in u beider oren. Onze beste politici en rijkste ondernemers zijn slapend in eigen bed of in de eerste of tweede slaapkamers vereeuwigd. Zakenlui thuis of elders in de buurt of liggend op hun gouden slaapmeubilair door de hipste kunstmakers uitgebeeld. Enkel kunstenaars die een keutel kunnen kakken en daar honderdduizend Euro voor krijgen kwamen natuurlijk in aanmerking, dat zijn onze favoriete authentieke kunstebakkers. Geld maakt hier de dienst uit en dus ook de kunst, ben je niet populair kom je nooit in ons museum en je mag zeker niet een V.I.P. verbeelden met verf, stof, afval of restmateriaal.

Naast werk van deze niet te missen beeldhouwers, video artiesten, kunstschilders en erger soort omhoog gevallen lui zijn onze andere zalen gevuld met belangrijker spullen van politici, ondernemers en economen. Fijn beslapen bedden van liberale leiders, oordopjes van onze leiders, glazen waarin kunstgebitten hebben gerust van rijke zakenmensen, gebruikte tandenborstels, oogkleppen voor werk en slaap van alle politieke partijen uit heden en verleden, snurk geluiden in een dansmix van Martijn Gerard Garritsen oftewel Garrix maar dan weer in de ambient new age slaap mix van Kitaro.

De lp's van dit kunstwerk kunt u kopen in de schitterende museum superwinkel daar vindt u ook dealers in de betere matrassen, kussens, slaapmedicijnen en slaap advies door niemand minder dan bijna bekende Nederlanders. In ons museum theater kunt u ook kijken naar slaapverwekkend toneel, laptop artiesten en een dodelijk saai praatprogramma over veranderingen in ons belastingstelsel of verbeteringen in de bureaucratische infrastructuur.

Ik wil het niet leuker maken dan het eigenlijk is en daarom zeg ik u kom alleen langs als u echt niet kunt slapen. We hebben ons zelf met deze expositie overtroffen deze is namelijk nog vervelender dan de tentoonstelling over het verdwijnen van het korfbal middenvak en de ophef die dit veroorzaakte in de beide kamers en de hype in alle tussenhandel met middenvak memorabilia, korfbal middenvakspeler plaatjesboeken, juich gebeden bundels en dergelijke. Toch hoop ik u te zien maar dan alleen in mijn snelst vergeten dromen.

Komt u toch op 11 juli dan wens ik u alvast

Welterusten

Dig? (the 1960s lingo kind, not the shovel kind)

There's nothing to do about it, because nothing's actually happening in the sense that dreaming-it-is makes it seem.

So how do you like them somnambulist apples?

Embracing Challenge

I feel like a trope. I am a living, breathing sitcom joke. The way I push back against household chores or actual paying work is the stuff of bad television shows. My habit of making things “have tos” permeates everything.

I have a task at the moment and a deadline of ASAP. I worked hard on it last week and through the weekend. I set aside my cycling for mental health goals because I “have to” do this work. My jaw has been tight for four days. Things that may bring pleasure or any self-care ideas are only fuel for shame. I should be done with my work already so that I can enjoy myself.

Like a cancer, my mind absorbs the joyful things and makes them “have-tos.” Rather than enjoying a dog walk in nature and relaxing with the bird songs and the breeze on my face, the walk becomes something I must do. Like the star of an 80's sitcom, I hate my job and it has made me bitter about everything.

There are layers here. I do have some sense of them. I am afraid of failure. Procrastination and frustration come from the same place, shame. I have been taught that shame is a motivator. Thinking “I cannot enjoy myself until I finish my work” is supposed to motivate me to finish. However, it just demoralizes me. I have done it for 40+ years and gotten comfortable with the narrative that I do not deserve enjoyment or success.

If I see work and tasks as “have-tos” I can project my emotions onto others like a boss or a family member. I will imagine that they are disappointed with me. Once again, it is shame.

My mind turning everything into a “have-to” means I will not experience any unfamiliar emotions. I could not handle experiencing happiness after completing a task and then failing a different task the next day. This wall, a guard I cannot let down protects me from disappointment in myself. The hills and valleys of a natural, emotional life are too jarring for me. I'd rather stay in the valley, it is predictable.

In this way, I avoid embracing challenges and feeling accomplished when I overcome them. The cancer of shame taints everything and I become robotic. I am singularly focused on finishing work. If I meet a deadline, I feel as if I miscalculated my estimated time and feel shame for that.

There is a glimmer of something else in art. In the process of painting, creating and shaping my artwork I feel hope. I see joy. I let go of perfectionism. Shame will poke its head into my artwork. Shame tries to compromise with me and tries to convince me to make art a hustle. Sell your artwork. To do that you must produce more, daily. Yet, it does not ooze its way into the actual process. There, I enjoy the challenge.

It's a difficult balance. There are things that “have-to” be done. There are legitimate reasons to set aside art, like a paycheck. Those genuine needs are where shame thrives. You are not doing enough and do not deserve the hope and joy of art. Get back to work. Biologically, this is a group of neurons that have created a super highway within my brain. “Neurons that fire together, wire together.” The plasticity of the brain is well documented and change is possible. Unfortunately, it will not happen overnight and I call it a super highway because those neurons have wired together 40+ years. Time will be necessary for healing. Shame will always live within my mind. It would be nice if I could trim that super highway into a rural road, though. Perhaps accepting and embracing challenges is one way to do that.

To: Mr. Saad Eddine el Othmani
    Head of Government, Kingdom of Morocco
Cc: Her Excellency Souriya Otmani
    Ambassador for the Kingdom of Morocco

Your Excellency:

I write to you again out of concern for imprisoned Sahrawi activist Mohamed Lamine Haddi. I am in frequent contact with your ambassador to Canada, her excellency Souriya Otmani. She assures me that M. Lamine Haddi has frequent, unrestricted access to communicate with his family, however, I have recently learned that the family has had no contact of any kind since 9 April 2021.

Her excellency was quick to point out that Lamine Haddi is a convicted terrorist, but failed to acknowledge the credible allegations that the Gdeim Izik mass trial was not conducted in accordance with international fair trial standards. No effort has been made to investigate the defendants' claims that they had been forced to sign confessions under torture. The civilian court that confirmed his sentence in 2017 did so using the problematic statements Lamine Haddi claims he made under torture.

I call on you again to ask you to end the solitary confinements of Mohamed Lamine Haddi, to grant him access to adequate medical care, and to ensure that his detention conditions conform to international standards. Please also ensure that he has regular access to his family and lawyers. In keeping with the Mandela Rules, please transfer Mohamed Lamine Haddi (and the other Gdeim Izik prisoners) to El-Ayoun prison to be closer to their families.

I look forward to your reply on this urgent matter.

Sincerely, Shawn Nock

Tuning de zelf tuner

Heb ik een volgende gedachte aan de lijn, Hallo bent u daar? Ja , ja hallo Eh ja ik ben er! Oké Wat denk ik Weet jij wat ik nu denk? Heb ik dan een grote prijs? Een kaasschaaf van goud? Nee volgens mij niet, maar wat heb jij voor mij in gedachten. Iets over boodschappen, een oordeel over de cd The cause of doubt & A reason to have faith van L.A. Salami, of eh de pc opstarten maar eerst d.... kkhhgghbvffgoojjhggb...kggghgfddrgvhjj..hyyygddsef hjjjhhyyyhhggbhj .. in Hong Kong is het al dagen onrustig nu de zon daar niet langer voor niks wil schijnen, de door de overheid ingestelde zon tax is een struikelblok bij vooral de rechtse Midden partijen en de Ming Vaas Dynastie partij die al 17 jaar aan het roer staat van dit zwabberende land... Dan nu het weer Zonnig behalve in Hong Kong hgghyhyttvbjijhgggh....vttdssfcvvgyyrefvhjjj...gttrdddsegjbnjj...iijjjjyfdccxwszd ja dat kan wel zijn dat A volgt op B maar hoe zijn wij terecht gekomen bij A, welke logica zit er voor deze logica en welke daar weer voor, het lijkt er toch echt op dat we alleen rationeel willen zijn als het ons uitkomt en de mening van een ander ons niet uitkomt.... ghbvfrhiiihtrdrvbbh..hhjuufdserguujyybvddff....vvgcddfttdfghuj..jijggvffg Shout Shout Let it All.... bgtfthuugfdcvjjikk..gfddgguyrrdcbn’kkugrrghhh..bhhyfreergjjjhgf..hhj .. een diepe bal op Nozem die laat de bal van de voet stuiten, de Smegma verdediger Verhip gaat er met de bal vandoor maar loopt zich vast op het middenveld, hij struikelt over zijn eigen voeten, iedereen hoopt nu dat zijn hart het vast houdt, ja gelukkig, de bal is wel over de lijn en Lucoradelodeli mag ingooien, het wordt een lange ingooi op Bop de nog maar vijftien jarige spits van Chocolakije, maar wat is het al een volwassen speler. Hij neemt de bal aan draait weg van de verdediger en schiet, ruim naast, doeltrap voor Smegma, rommelige fase.... fhyyrtygfrdfguyhyg...hhhhttfrrtyygfdduiookjgf...bgtfvdsdgnjj In geen tijd u zelf in de schulden helpen koop nu een Hyundarri Mesmerato met honderd kilometer begrenzer, volledige nationale dekking op alle doorgaande wegen bestuurbaar, heerlijk rubber voor ons asfalt, koop nu en krijg een Oranje krik cadeau, La la laa la die laa Naar Links Van Rechts, Naar Rechts Van Links Bij vijftig euro aan chips, bier en worst een Klimaat veranderzegel cadeau! Bij de Super Enorm Henk Dumbo, nu ook bij de Henk Dumbo een kek Oranje desinfecterend plastic zeepzakje.. ggtggrghh..gghgttghjiuhggg..bggffghhjjj..vvgggggggffghj De koffie wordt koud verdomme vggffhyygffvbhg..hyyffvvbhhh..jjhb Aardappels, Bloemkoolroosjes, Waterijsjes, Koekjes, Banaan vervangend Snoepgoed, WC verfrisser, chemische tandplak verwijderaar en tong poetser, Kipfilet ggtgfggghhh..ggyhyygrdddgh..vgyyhhgreedgjiiiii Oh wat is dat toch al twee dagen geen app, mail, bericht Waar is iedereen..Wat doe ik verkeerd vgthyygdrtyyhgfdrf...ffgggtguuhgfdddfgb...frtvddghh Eerst maar douchen, omkleden en dan naar de Henk Dumbo voor een snelle hap, geen zin in lekker smaakvol eten..

> Selfishness has become its own pandemic. It's time to > stop looking constantly inwards to your own desires. It's > time to look towards others. It's time to help the less > fortunate people we know in our lives. Be generous, > treat them well, and they will ultimately be there when > we need them.

What the hell does any of that have to do with the price of Pronoun Correctness....? ;–)

Ho hum, haven't posted for a while. As in like it really matters, right?

Productivity central, here... so much accomplished at the rental... fixed, shower hot water value relocated lots of small stone to make room for a gravel more in line with cars parking, spread the gravel after it arrived, created a couple moveable posts with a couple 10-foot 4x4's Qwikrete'd into large flower pots, employed them to create a sunscreen for the patio, much more “looper the new axe” practice, and whatever I'm not remembering.

See? You didn't need to know any of that. It's not like we're ever going to meet. Or even exchange private communication.

The point to this is/was... what was it, again? I'm forgetting what key the song of blogging is in....

Oh, that's right... for me it's morphed about 99.99% to good 'ole “getting my money's worth”.

I've observed something universal, and while it is essential, it isn't an original concept. I've lived amongst the very poor and the very rich, and the one universal truth I've managed to discover is that while we are alive, we all suffer in one way or another.

This isn't an original concept. The first buddha Sittharta Guatama discovered this truth thousands of years ago and founded the Buddhist faith. The then Prince Siddharta decided that there must be an alternative to the constant cycle of suffering and death he was observing on an unsanctioned excursion from his palace. So he made it his mission to find the key to its cessation, casting off his privileged upbringing and venturing out on his own.

His methods were ultimately centred around the self. He tried to end suffering for himself, so he could teach others what he had learned so they could help themselves. In principle, that works if you're a Buddhist, but most people aren't willing to go to the lengths in their lives that he was to end their suffering. Would you give up love, money, possessions, your hair? Most people reading this would likely not do any such thing. I know that, for the most part, I wouldn't like to do that either. I'm just amazed that he found out this fundamental truth so long ago and our societies are still creating suffering on a global scale despite our supposed 'advanced' cultures.

In our modern world, there is a growing disparity between the rich and poor. Many wealthy people can use their possessions and power to overcome a great deal of the natural suffering present today. For example, if you have a bad back, you can pay a doctor to help you, or buy an expensive mattress or massaging device to sort it out. Poor people often cannot do this, so they must endure the pain.

We can all agree that suffering sucks, and we'd all like to avoid it like the plague. Whether you believe in a life after this one or not, the only commonality between everyone I have ever observed is that we all avoid pain and suffering whenever possible. It's in our nature. Some of us are just better equipped to do so than others.

When you have your fancy job, car, house, and your suffering is reduced to life's inevitable painful losses that are unavoidable, what then? Is it time to look outwards and begin to reduce suffering for others?

Unfortunately, our old pal fear prevents us from doing so. Most of our lives are motivated through fear, and helping others doesn't have a 1:1 effort-to-benefit ratio. Often we need to put in a lot of time and money to help people out of situations where they are suffering intolerably.

Now I don't condone wasting resources on those who don't want help or purposefully cause their suffering. Workaholics are a classic example of this phenomenon. They earn enough money, but mental illness spurs them on to earn more and more through fear, and the ever-increasing workload begins to break them down and cause suffering. These people need help, but they also need to want that help in the first place. The first step is theirs, reaching out.

It is important to remember that stockpiling money and resources will not defend you from the inevitabilities of life. For example, when your grandparents, parents, uncles, and aunts all pass away, all the money in the world will not dull the pain of that loss. It rather obviously won't bring them back or take their place, either.

But perhaps the other people remaining around you whom you have helped with their suffering will return the favour and comfort you, distract you and help to pick up the broken pieces of your life.

Selfishness has become its own pandemic. It's time to stop looking constantly inwards to your own desires. It's time to look towards others. It's time to help the less fortunate people we know in our lives. Be generous, treat them well, and they will ultimately be there when we need them.

In a way, this is my way of reaching out for help, and reminding people that I too am suffering and in need of help. My posts are never selflessly motivated. To claim otherwise would be disingenuous. But if you help me, I'll help you, and the world will become a slightly better place to live for everyone.