Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Nope

I am normally a very sociable person. I love meeting new people and hearing their stories. That being said, there is one place where I cannot have a conversation, and that place is the bathroom. Whether it is me, or even you doing the "deed" at that particular moment, conversation is absolutely not allowed. I had to say to a coworker in the stall next to me the other day: "Listen, dude... I need this conversation to stop right now. We can pick it up again while we wash our hands, but right now I just can't handle it."

Capote

"The brain may take advice, but not the heart, and love, having no geography, knows no boundaries: weight and sink it deep, no matter, it will rise and find the surface: and why not? Any love is natural and beautiful that lies within a person's nature; only hypocrites would hold a man responsible for what he loves, emotional illiterates and those of righteous envy, who, in their agitated concern, mistake so frequently the arrow pointing to heaven for the one that leads to hell. "

— Truman Capote (Other Voices, Other Rooms)

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Overlapping Realities

I believe that we all create our own individual realities. Everyone has their own set of perceptions, values, and absolute truths which become the lens through which we see the world, and the glove on the hand that interacts with it. These realities do interlap, and as individuals we can collectively agree on truths- such as "murder is bad thing." When we talk about murder, the evil of it is that one person's reality is infringing upon that of another's- and ultimately ending it.

The same model can be used to support the argument for the rights of those with alternative sexualities and gender identities. The individual creates their reality. They establish their sexual and gender identities (whether it is choice or is genetic is irrelevant). That identity then becomes woven in with all the other facets of that individual reality. Just as the murderer has no right to infringe upon the victims life, the individual does not- nor does society as a collective- have the right to infringe upon the realities of those with alternative lifestyles/realities.

The societal collective has the right to enforce norms that prevent and punish murder and theft because those events necessarily have a victim and a perpetrator. Someone is being negatively affected by those acts. This is not true of of alternative lifestyles/realities because NO ONE is being affected except those who consent to be affected. Homosexuality is not contagious. A straight child can no more be told to be gay than a gay child can be told to be straight.

Furthermore, a society that takes that step attempting to smother those alternative realities is just as much a perpetrator as a thief, a rapist, or a murderer. While that society may not be maiming or killing the biological life of the individual, it is killing that individual's identity/reality.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Thumping in Time With Heart and Soul

There is always that one song. The one that somehow has become a part of my identity. It's like slipping under water. I am completely immersed in waves of sound. The beats and rhythms inside my soul resonating with those around me. Harmonizing, blending, being. I am the song. The song is me.

The song varies day to day, season by season, and on my mood- but the shuffle on my iPod always seems to know exactly what I need.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Today

Today I realized that I live a good life. I am proud of myself and where I am. I am content with myself as a human being and the existence that I have created for myself.

I have a nice house, a big comfy bed, wireless internet, and a beautiful view.

I have a job that pays me well, and one that gives me many career opportunities.

I cook and eat well.

I have a small garden to care for and watch grow.

I have a body that is young and healthy.

I have rich and rewarding relationships with lifelong friends and family.

I am a good person, and I am happy.

I think that I spend a lot of time consumed with things and relationships that I don't have. So much so, that I forget to remember exactly how far I have come, how much I really have, and how incredibly lucky I am.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Haiku 5 (for an ex)

why won't you move on?
let our dead dreams have their sleep
stop messaging me

Friday, March 4, 2011

Hitchhiker

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be." - Douglas Adams

It is interesting to look back at events, stories, and people in my life that have shaped me. They weren't ever things that I expected. Control is overrated- just let go and live.