Hungry Mood

I’m in a hungry mood

Don’t get between me and food

Simone Biles

Everyone, and I mean everyone in the whole world, needs to step back and give Simone Biles space and understanding while she works through her challenges in her own time and at her own pace.

No one knows what this young woman is going through.

Is it a lack of confidence? We have all experienced that, and most of us don’t make our living flying through the air, spinning wildly, and trying to land on our feet without breaking a number of bones.

Is it fear of being injured? That’s certainly understandable.

Is Ms. Biles distracted by a health issue or a family matter that has not been publicized? If so, that’s really none of our business.

Is the pressure that she’s feeling coming from outside? Is she being harassed by a stalker? Is she receiving hateful messages or death threats from people who aren’t ready to accept dark faces in competitive gymnastics? I doubt if any of us can imagine the kind of soul-crushing comments that she has had to endure as her prominence on the world stage has elevated.

The bottom line is this this is a human being, and human beings suffer crises from time to time.

Are you disappointed? Do you feel that it’s unfair that she withdrew from the competition at the last minute? Are you upset that the team didn’t win the gold medal? If that’s the case, you should ask yourself why so much of your self worth is invested in what other people do, particularly people who are barely older than children. Maybe it is those constant, nagging expectations, the pressure to be “the greatest” and to do things that no other human would dare attempt that has triggered this turn of events.

It’s time for all of us to stop viewing athletes as unbreakable machines. We need to appreciate them for who they are, people who will thrill us with astonishing performances on good days but who need to rest and withdraw at other times when an alarm goes off inside them, urging “No! Not today. You need a break. You need to take care of yourself.”

I Can’t Do This

When you’re tempted to think:

“I can’t do this”

Consider that you might be

The only one

Who can

Priorities Of The Day

The Day’s First Priority is to work on your health

The Second, develop your skills

Third, work on something that you truly love

The Fourth is to pay the bills

The Fifth is to keep yourself organized

The Sixth, do nice things for yourself

And if Someone supports you through all of these steps

Put That Person ahead of all else

George Lucas Warned Us

I’ve been thinking about the scene in Star Wars where Obi Wan uses mind control to misdirect the storm troopers. “These are not the droids you’re looking for.” He explains that some people are easily fooled by the power of suggestion.

One of the Capitol rioters was sentenced to prison today. He apologized saying that he had gotten swept up in the moment. This fellow didn’t harm anyone or destroy and property, but who knows what he might have done if he had encountered a member of Congress and gotten “swept up on the moment.”

Other defendants are facing more serious charges. A number of them have entered as their defense that they were motivated to attack the Capitol because they believed the ex-president’s rhetoric, the “stop the steal” conspiracy theory that they now refute as false. It’s amazing how the thought of doing time in prison can clear the mind and sharpen the perception.

The Star Wars franchise is a cautionary tale about authoritarianism. George Lucas warned us that people could be tricked into believing things that aren’t true, especially if it’s presented in a way that confirms existing biases.

People have been convinced that climate change is a hoax so oil companies won’t lose money.

People have been convinced that socialized medicine is inferior while for-profit medicine enriches big companies and bankrupts working families.

People are being convinced that vaccines are part of a plot to control them and rob them of their freedom. I don’t understand who actually benefits from that Big Lie, but someone is pushing it with great enthusiasm. (The Russians, perhaps?)

Fox News went on the air in 1996 with the mission of affirming the beliefs and stoking the fears of conservative viewers. Twenty-five years later, American citizens can’t agree with their neighbors on basic facts.

George Lucas warned us.

Being Needed

I received a message from a colleague whom I used to see every day at the office but haven’t seen in person since early in the pandemic.

“Hey, how are you doing? I wanted to check on you!”

He then promptly asked for my help.

I could be cynical and remark that people show up only when they want something, but the reality is even more blunt.

If people didn’t need things from us, we would rarely see them at all except by random chance. They would effectively vanish from our lives.

So when someone show up and asks for your help, avoid the temptation to be cynical. Instead be grateful that you are in a position to add value to that person’s life, at least for a fleeting moment.

Being needed is as important as being loved and typically more durable. The world is full of past lovers who separated when someone didn’t get what they needed.

Honest Debate

If while making a point you feel compelled to impugn someone’s character, intelligence, or patriotism, you have not made your point effectively.

Snack Attack

People ask why I snack on dried grapes. I must have a thousand raisins.

Vaccine Effectiveness

Chris Hayes mentioned this on his program. I wanted to make sure that the numbers were accurate, so I looked up the data and verified the conclusions independently.

Compare two states, Vermont (pop. 623,251) and South Dakota (pop. 896,581).

Both states have Republican governors.

Covid-19 Vaccination rates:

VT: One dose: 74%  Two doses: 66%  Rank: 1

SD: One dose: 51%  Two doses: 46% Rank: 28

Total Covid-19 cases:

VT: 24,445

SD: 124,641

Total Covid-19 Deaths:

VT: 258

SD: 2,039

South Dakota has had FIVE times as many Covid-19 cases and EIGHT times as many deaths. 

Policy matters.

Vaccines make a difference.

Please get vaccinated and encourage those around you to do the same.

Fun Facts About Me

Here are some fun facts about me:

I walk every day and sometimes I run.

I try to sleep at least once a night.

Between meals I often enjoy a snack.

I like movies, but sometimes I watch them on television.

I listen to music because it’s more fun than looking at it.

If I don’t have time to plan something, I wing it.

I find that the best conversations are improvised. Rehearsing them in advance doesn’t work for me.

When I go to the market, I sometimes bring a grocery list, but I always bring my wallet.

I tried keeping a list in my wallet, but I ended up buying the same thing every time.

I speak my native language fluently.

I never look up things that I’ve memorized.

No matter how far I travel or how long I’m away, I always return to the same house.

How about you? What’s interesting about your life?

Random Thoughts - 20210709

Random Thoughts - 20210709

Expectation is the foundation of disappointment.

Getting away with a mistake doesn’t justify repeating it.

An embarrassing moment will haunt you forever, but only if you let it.

Getting better is more satisfying than getting even.

If you aren’t measuring your progress, you’re wasting your time.

I’ll leave you with this thought.

New York Minute 185 - Homeless Sightings

As I was walking home after a trip to the store, I glanced across the street to a spot where I’d seen a homeless man lurking earlier. He’s a regular in the neighborhood. I watch out for him because he’s creepy. He stares contemptuously at pedestrians and frequently makes nasty comments as they pass by. He was still there.

At the end of the next block, I glanced across the street and noticed a second homeless man standing beside a trash can. He was wearing a blue T-shirt and cheap green sweatpants. The clothes were clean, but something about their quality signaled that he was down and out.

He also seemed somewhat confused, for lack of a more clinical word. He was pulling his T-shirt up and down, exposing and then re-covering his portly belly. I reasoned that perhaps he was feeling overheated and needed to cool down, but the act of raising and lowering his shirt seemed to provide the man with a sense of fascination, like a small child exploring his growing body.

The man pulled his shirt up one more time and then suddenly, shockingly, pushed the waistband of his trousers down to his ankles exposing … everything.

© 2021 Daniel R. South

All Rights Reserved

Rules Of Hypocrisy

Sha’Carri Richardson banned from the US Olympic Team:

“She doesn’t deserve to go! She broke the rules!”

Excuse me, sir. You need to put on a mask:

“I don’t need to follow your damned rules!”

New York Minute 184 - Corner Scaffolding

On the way to the store, I came to a block where the sidewalk was narrowed by considerable scaffolding. As pedestrians walked up and down along the avenue, a few people were trying to blend into the traffic from a side street. They were hesitating, unsure when to cut in. When they spoke, I realized that they were European tourists and were apparently intimidated by the hustle and bustle of New York pedestrian traffic.

I stopped and motioned for the tourists to cross in front or me. A lady who’d been behind them also hesitated. I motioned for her to go ahead as well.

A tall gentleman who had been standing behind the lady smiled at me and remarked, “It HAS to be your turn now!”

I smiled back and thanked him as I accepted his offer to walk ahead of him.

© 2021 Daniel R. South

All Rights Reserved