Not a typo
Merely a contemplation
Of choosing to decide a far
From Sophie’s choice decision
To experience the weather
As it is in the moment
Or to experience the weather
As it is allegedly forecast
Which is a gamble at best
Either way, both are illusions
The choice then becomes
To live in the forecast by
Spending attention on that
Or living in the actual moments
The “weather” is occurring
“I’ve had a lot of worries in my life,
most of which never happened.”
– Mark Twain
Whether driving down the road
Or living life as it occurs
It is best to be prepared for
The actual conditions and
Circumstances that arise
Better than hopeful projections
Or assuming everything will
Go horribly wrong and proceed
From vague hypotheses of
What may happen as opposed
To what happens in each
Subsequent moments
Played out in “real” time
The inspiration for this…..
I watched a group of drivers
Facing a “Winter weather advisory” *
(It may snow and be very windy)
It was interesting to watch them
Live in the moment and speak of
How they might react to something
That was occurring in their heads
“Guaranteeing” what will happen
If, then, what, maybe of possibilities
Due to figments of wild imaginations
Did I have concerns, of course
However, their projected plight
Of maybe……. doom and gloom
Tipped over trucks, lost jobs
Fatherless families, dead dads
Helped guide me to live / be
In the moment that was happening
In the now, in a warm dispatch office
Instead of gazing into a nonexistent
“Crystal Ball”
“I wonder what tomorrow has in mind for me
Or am I even in its mind at all
Perhaps I’ll get a chance to look ahead and see
Soon as I find myself a crystal ball
Soon as I find myself a crystal ball, “
– Styx
The weather experience
As woefully expected
Never came to fruition
“Human sacrifice!
Dogs and cats living together!
Mass hysteria!”
– Bill Murray as Dr. Peter Venkman
“Ghostbusters”
Could we have run? Probably
Did layers of management
Make the right decision? Probably
The interesting parts were the
Multitudes of experiences experienced
Without having any actual experience
Save that so few seemed to be
Living in the moment of now
* “Winter weather advisory” used to be
Tomorrow’s forecast
Simple, honest, direct language
(Even with all the best technology
It winds up being their best guess)
Unfortunately, the word advisory
Portends the illusion of authority
It still is coming from
The same weatherman
Ooops, “Weather-person”
Ooops, meteorologist
Or….teleprompter reader
“People like to sound important; weathermen on television talk about “shower activity…” sounds more important than “showers”.
I even heard one guy on CNN talk about “a rain event.” Swear to God,” he said “Louisiana is expecting a rain event.” I thought “holy shit, I hope I can get tickets to that!”
… “Emergency situation…” News people like to say “police have responded to an emergency situation.” No, they haven’t. They’ve responded to an emergency.
We know it’s a situation… Everything is a situation!”
– George Carlin
And lately, since people are programmed
To trust authority, regardless of its skills
They surrender their intuition and gut instinct
Blindly away from their internal knowing of
Any outcome or an experience to be had / have
Backing it up with fearful projections to
Scare the shit out of themselves of
What is not actually happening in the first place
“The phantoms
Of our imagination
Are as real as the
Beliefs in our brain”
– Angelo Devlin
From a completely
Different perspective
For I have no team
Not even a local one
Since I see most sports
As the distractions
They are meant to be
“Give them bread and circuses
and they will never revolt”
Roman satirist Juvenal (circa 55–127 A.D.)
The distraction (game) was about to begin
I even stood, hand over heart
For the Pavlovian music ritual
Of the Star Spangled Banner
As a participatory nod towards
It clichéd complete irrelevance
That has absolutely nothing
To do with sports or games or
Patriotism, for that matter
Save knowing how easily
The masses can be controlled
With a few notes and colorful rags
Back to the game
The “jump” ball is tossed up
A physical roll of the dice
To see which taller person’s team
Gets to start the game
Same as a 50/50 coin toss
Statistically useless info in
Predicting the game’s outcome
Hope, anticipation, and confusion
To initiate the divinity diversion
Back to the game
It was with the first ball bounce
That, it occurred to me to watch
The game on a molecular level
Starting with the agreed to construct
Of all of the molecules in the vicinity
To behave as the collective particles
Of the physical things they make up
The basketball, the air inside, the floor,
The rim, backboard, referees, players,
Me, my ears, my eyes, my brain, the
Overpriced snacks for a captive crowd
Audience, bleachers, scoreboard, etc.
Back to the game
I could sorta see, but mostly sense the
Activity of the participating molecules
Arranging themselves as an orange ball
“Hitting” the floor, a sound emanated
Throughout the gym and to my ears
That alone made the silly game
Miraculously interesting to follow
Since understandably, there is
“No thing” there to hit the boards
It’s just a magical mirage of the mind
Back to the game
The outcome was irrelevant as the
Guy screaming at the refs for calls
That didn’t serve “his” team winning
Following our current geopolitical
Reflection that if I am / my side is losing
It must be someone else’s fault
Back to the game
Like me, the molecules do not have a team
They are doing what they do
Participating when observed by
The collected collective, then when not
Relaxing as waves waiting to be witnessed
“All of that
Which has reality
Has no basis
In reality, “
– Angelo Devlin
Is a loaded * question
Loaded with backup
Questions of why am I
Questioning what
Is being questioned
It is certainly not to
Find a finite definite
Encompassing answer
But rather to ask and
Get better questions
* sometimes loaded as full
Others as carrying second
Or third, or infinite meanings
To expose benign, mixed, or
Some other ulterior motives
To which, even the inquired
Does not know why they do
What they do…… because
They are afraid to ask themselves
Dismissing it unquestioned
That, that is who they are
“I gotta be me, right? I gotta be me.
Why do you have to be you? You’re awful. Why not find someone better than you, and be that person? You knew what I mean?
Just throw a rock, hit someone better than you, and do whatever shit that person does.
You don’t have to be you, ok. There’s no secret you that the world has to know about. If you want to be a good person, just do good things. You are what you do.
If you steal someone’s wallet, you are a thief..if you give lots of money to a charity, you are a philanthropist.
//
My point is, saying, I gotta be me is not like a hall pass just to be an asshole.”
– Christian Finnegan
I want to know why
I do what I do
Does it serve humanity
Like the butterfly effect
Will it cause harm later
Is it an indoctrinated behavior
Or an unconscious habit
Could it be altered
Even if I didn’t want to
Challenge my limited free will
Perhaps I can change something
Or at least come to a better understanding
Of my need to ask loaded questions
“I must love my enemy
For I am
My own worst enemy.”
– Angelo Devlin
Not by making mistakes
But by applying logic
Following intended actions
To their probable outcome
Saves a lot of time with
A mental flowchart of…..
If this behavior manifests
This projected result or a
Repeated known result
Then, do “x” next, if not
Go on to “y” scenario
Repeat as necessary
Ultimately, the lesson learned
Is that keeping my mouth shut
Works in most situations
Knowing my wisdom
Shines through by
Not being heard
That is when
Grin and bear it
Turns into
Grin and be at peace
Discerning that speaking
Will fall on deaf ears or
Competes with deep
Indoctrinated beliefs,
Behaviors or mindsets
Or rather “mind” “sits”
“This is really weird, I like getting older // I really do enjoy getting older. I thought I wouldn’t, but life is easier as you get older.
Because you become prejudiced, because you’ve dealt with things.
Not against race or anything like that, just against things, because you’ve dealt with them before and you know it’s gonna be boring.
And you just close the doors // (door closing sound)
People come up and go, “HEY, let’s go try this new thing!”
“Sorry, we’re closed” (door closing sound)
And I think the secret to enjoying getting older is being able to be honest with yourself.”
– Steve Martin
Learning humility
Two cents at a time
Knowing the ego responder
Hasn’t unloaded useless
Information no one will use
For any situation is
“What would the universe
Want me to do?”
For the answer changes
After every moment passed
Changing circumstances until
You or the universe answers
It’s best to listen to the universe
Your ego has different plans
“What would the universe
Want me to do?”
Be silent
Help
Evaluate
Flee
Cry
Ponder
Ignore
Justify
Hide
Ask again
Rise
Stop
Contemplate
Move
Sleep
Tell
Listen
Absorb
Shed
Know
Detach
Ask again
Project
Decipher
Ruminate
Proceed
Quit
Love
Ask again
“What would the universe
Want me to do?”
Wrap it up
Blog this post
Edit, schedule
Let the words
Land where they may on
Open hearts
Closed minds
Fence walkers
Open minds
Closed hearts
Your ego wants to
Control
Manipulate
Cling
Scare
Hate
Anger
Agitate
Expect
Hoard
Falsify
Have
Keep
Maintain
Conceal
Fear
“What would the universe
Want me to do?”
Realize the question has
Ten syllables so that one
Can anchor each in a finger
To remember the question
Thumb (T)
Index (I)
Middle (M)
Ring (R)
Pinky (P)
“What (T) would (I) the (M) un (R) i (P) verse (T)
Want (I) me (M) to (R) do (P) ?”
Universe : “Stop rambling and post.”
Me : “Thank you, Universe.”
What is going on
In my own world
Why should I
Concern myself
With what is
Happening in
Someone else’s
Let alone the other
Eight billion people
Especially the one
Who needs everyone’s
Undivided attention
It keeps me away
From my divinity, that
I already scarcely know
Selfish? Perhaps, but
Like the airplane analogy
One must put on their
Oxygen mask first, so
They might help others
Or, should one decide to be
The lantern in the storm *
It would behoove them
To protect their own light
Otherwise, all will be
Lost in total darkness
*
The Lantern in the Storm
During a long night storm, a traveler carried a lantern to guide others along a dangerous mountain path. Each time someone stumbled, he held the lantern out for them—but he never stopped to shield the flame from the wind.
Eventually, the flame weakened and went out. In the darkness, no one could see the path anymore—not the traveler, and not those he meant to help.
Only after relighting and protecting his own lantern could he once again light the way for others.
Lesson: You don’t help people by letting your light go out. Care for the flame first, so it can shine farther.
– AI
“Could you put your light on, please,
It’s kind of dark tonight.
And I feel a little lonely,
Yes, I need a little light.
Could you put your light on, please,
Let me hear a friendly sound.
I could make it through ’til morning
If you could let your light shine down.”
– Harry Chapin
Just think of how
Bright, we might be
If every one shined
Their light collectively
To guide through darkness
We could each shine
What have we got to lose
All we have is time
“I write to expunge the darkness
So that someday
Light may shine through”
– Angelo Devlin
Call for loving measures
Peace and compassion
Not for unleashing anger
Death and destruction
Unfortunately, we have an
Alleged leader at the helm
Whose narcissistic ego
Will never be quelled
So it is time to do
What we do best
Look out for each other
To take care of the rest
For all that we have
Is this moment right now
Have a desire to serve
Then, ask yourself how
It could be as simple
As giving a smile
That goes a long way
Longer than a mile
Even a gestured
Nod will work, too
When you realize
It also affects you
Something greater will
Have been exchanged
Which can be more
Helpful than loose change
Because one way
Or another
You will see yourself
In the mirror
“I must love my enemy
For I am
My own worst enemy.”
– Angelo Devlin
It tastes like compassion
For those who are afraid
To hear unpleasant truths
I bite my tongue
To cease my speech
What I might verbalize
Makes zero difference
To others, indifferent
From seeing themselves in
Their surrounding mirrors
Besides, who am I to make
Opinionated observations
Of stuff in all likelihood I
Might be wrong about anyway
Why, you ask?
Because a long time ago
I recall a Charles Schultz
Peanut’s cartoon where
Lucy and Linus exchange
Lucy: “I just think I have a knack for seeing other people’s faults.”
Linus: “What about your own faults?”
Lucy: “I have a knack for overlooking them…”
“Some people find fault like there is a reward for it.”
― Zig Ziglar
“No reward is worth this!”
— Han Solo
The reward is in remaining silent
Recognizing the outcome
Remains exactly the same
Saving precious valuable words
Exhausted breath, a tired tongue
Scratchy throat and vocal chords
The walk away is knowing that
You have not strayed away
From betraying your divinity
It is also listening to the universe
Telling me to zip my lip
Which sounds as painful as
Biting my tongue, but at least
I can keep my mouth shut
In order to swallow my words
“The only way to
Change the game
Is to stop playing”
– Angelo Devlin
The infinite, most inevitably
Unanswerable question
Is my favorite question
Of the five W’s and an H
Who
What
When
Where
Why
And
How
Though “Why ?”, is my favorite question
I am learning not to ask it
For any one else’s explanation
Regarding their behavior or acts
Ultimately, they do not know, nor have
The inclination to try or want to understand
Likewise, I may not grasp why I do what I do
However, it is worth asking myself why, why, why
Methinks, that if one inquired of me
My behavior or acts, I could give a fairly finite answer
Because most times, I’ve already thought it through
In other words, I have a why (*) to my why (act)
A thought out, * rational, reason, purpose, or intent
Even if it is a mildly unconscious OCD as an OCB
Obsessive Compulsive Behavior, not Disorder
Besides, who gets to decide what is, the disorder
Ironically, if someone doesn’t like or believe my why
They will make up their own “why” anyway
Conversely, sadly, I am inclined to do the same
It’s kind of like hearing
“Everything happens for a reason,”
Every individual gets to make up
Their own perception of what
They think is the reason
And, just like people’s
Interpretation of God
Not even two will be similar
Enough to be categorized together
Why?
Because we can and it satiates
Our own individual narcissistic ego
That thinks it “knows” the reason why
Or their understanding of God
Is the most accurate and defining
“I have special glasses
To see the contradiction
In everything.”
– Angelo Devlin
Hyperbolic ridiculousness
Of the exaggerated lengths
Content creators will go to
Generate crappy click bait
In order to get multiple likes
Or unconscious comments
Of either malignant or benign
Dopey distractions with
Impossible savage scenarios
Visually stimulating stupidity
To make most go….that’s fake
Why the fuck did I fall for that
While the rest get quickly
Hooked, hook, line, and sinker
The line is getting blurrier
Deciphering reality from fiction
Save not engaging at all to then
Read a book, or learn an instrument
Wash the house, the car, or dog
Reorganize a “junk” drawer
Throw stuff out, make some art
Have deep philosophical dialog
Learn about the person closest
To your heart in the brief time
That is available to both right now
Bordering on consice concerns
Looking at the world through a windshield. 