“When someone looks at you, they mean to take your power. Whatever figure you cut out of the background casts a shadow into the mind of anyone who looks at you. That shadow may dance or climb mountains for them; Drink heavily, or laugh without shame. It could cower, shrivel, feign death, or whimper. Whatever it does or seems liable to do, it is not you who gets to make the final edits.
You may pull strings to get it going in the desired direction, but as it veers astray, the strings become bullhorns in the hands of a toddler. Such a shadow may be clothed in words, deeds, and reputation. It may be appropriate to clothe it in clothes. The moment your reflection intersects with itself in the cosmos of your opposite’s imagination, your fate is lost to the firing of neurons in that opposite’s head.
Unless you are absolutely insane.
Peter Pan had a shadow. He couldn’t reattach it on his own. I can find no greater comfort in sharing this than doing so behind the empowering veil of anonymity.”
Don’t read this if you have a spear to throw.
What’s the glue stuff inside my brain that makes thoughts stop happening good? Is it some kind of residue built up through hours of cognitive misuse? Things have to go just right to loosen up the ol’ smarty pipes for an evening of effective problem solving:
- Two eggs and three slices of ham or bacon
- Bathroom break
- 30-90 minutes of exercise
- Another thing
- Lunch
If I don’t complete my checklist, I get moody like a teenage superhero who is tired of being the sidekick, except instead of superpowers I have mediocre intelligence and depression.
Don’t be sad though, because you have it gooooood. I know it. Happenstance has birthed me into the only time in human history that a small, sad man can live so comfortably. The thing is, living comfortably doesn’t fulfill a primal man-need that pulses through my man-skeleton. I need to live in peril and practice my brain in the ever-present problem of survival. As humans, our frontal lobe is ludicrously overgrown and capable. It developed such size and capacity in a harsh, perilous reality.
The problem of survival is largely dissipated for many of us in this day and age. Some folks fill the void left by peril by venturing out to help those in dire need. Others seek to reach great heights and accomplish brilliant things. A less respectable response to the pointless despair of comfort is the human tendency toward escapism. For me, this may manifest in overindulging in books, movies, video games, or alcohol. None of these things are inherently evil or even bad for you in small doses. Literature and cinema can be a powerful conveyance of deep themes and life lessons. Video games can do that too, with the added bonus of developing the way we think and process visual information. Alcohol can be a temporary reliever of stress and worry, and a social lubricant that facilitates fellowship with our fellow people. But the desire for respite from mundanity is so hardwired that the temptation to jump down any available rabbit-hole is natural.
Forgo the rabbit-hole and put yourself in peril. Find joy in dodging bullets and foraging for life among lifeless sands. I have to find ways to do these things or else I’ll sink into myself and turn to goop. Just writing this was an attempt to do something risky. If you ever have any questions, please ask them in person so I can ring my own neck on the edge of your ear. Throw your spear.
I promised no reblogs, but this is the hottest/funniest thing.
There are various levels of homophobia. The top level is when you punch someone just because they’re not homophobic.
real quick
I’m looking forward to the day that churches and couples who choose to affirm same-sex unions have the freedom to do so. That freedom should have no bearing on my own beliefs, nor should my beliefs put any restrictions on the voluntary associations of others.
President Obama states that his views have “evolved” on the issue of Gay Marriage. Seeing as he never had a well-articulated defense of his prior position, I doubt this. He has noticed trends in popular opinion and adjusted his stated views accordingly. That’s not impressive, but hopefully it brings positive change.
More like Scarlett JoHANDSOME.
(later) More like HARLOT Johansson.
I found those checks I lost.
zcopeland:
nickhibbeler:
So I played Augie’s Great Municipal Band and danced around at 1:45 AM. The wife was not pleased. Happy belated Star Wars Day (aka Cinco de Mayo).
AKA Return of the Fifth. Duh.
See, I didn’t know that. Looks like I’m going to add Max Rebo to my playlist tonight.
I found those checks I lost.
So I played Augie’s Great Municipal Band and danced around at 1:45 AM. The wife was not pleased. Happy belated Star Wars Day (aka Cinco de Mayo).
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Journal 5-2-12 Travis Don’t Like Myself
I’m doing P90X. This photo tracks my results at day 9.
Anything that’s existed for as long as you have is normal; anything invented while you’re between the ages of 15 and 35 is something you can profit from; anything invented after you’ve turned 35 is “against the natural order of things.
“
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Douglas Adams, on the human reaction to technology
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