"Success breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure. Only the paranoid survive" - Andy Grove Fighting Complacency Today marks my 69th anniversary of my initial polio diagnosis. I had thought of putting my meanderings to bed and hadn't really planned on writing these anymore but here I am. I have spend the last five weeks trying to … Continue reading A Confluence of Events
Tag: Disability
And the Contrary Continues
Like any good beginning I still like to open with a little quote. Today is an example of how I am viewing the contrary nature of these so called "Freedom Rallies" I quote Albert Camus with "Truth, like light, blinds. Falsehood, on the contrary, is a beautiful twilight that enhances every object." Going out on … Continue reading And the Contrary Continues
A Day in the Erosion of Life
"Freedom's just another way for nothing left to lose" - immortalized in song by Janis Joplin however written by Chris Kristofferson Rethinking life I am so pissed off right now I probably shouldn't be writing. However when you wake up at 5AM, and my first thought is how threatening this convoy is to my freedom, … Continue reading A Day in the Erosion of Life
Entitlement is Not Freedom
I like to open each session with, what I think, is an appropriate quote from the wisdom of other. Today I am reflecting on an insightful comment by actor and outspoken speaker on rights, Liev Schreiber. That is, and I quote, "I react very badly when mediocrity throughs a tantrum of entitlement". I share that … Continue reading Entitlement is Not Freedom
Stop Giving Us Grief
"Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart." - José N. Harris Rethinking life Grief is a strong, sometimes overwhelming emotion for people, regardless of whether their sadness stems from the loss of a loved one or from a terminal diagnosis they or someone … Continue reading Stop Giving Us Grief
Pandemic Fugue
"The problem with the idea that history repeats itself is that when it isn't making us wiser it's making us complacent" Lisa Halliday, Asymmetry Rethinking life Fugue is defined as "a state or period of loss of awareness of one's identity", often coupled with flight from one's usual environment. After almost two years of this pandemic … Continue reading Pandemic Fugue
Decade by Decade – True Change is Slow
Approaching my first New Eve's middle of the century Yes that little lump of flesh was me on my first New Years. That year was also the decade that marked the halfway point of the 20th century. I now measure societal advances by the decade rather than the year. A year doesn't really provide a … Continue reading Decade by Decade – True Change is Slow
Change is Constant, Accept That
Deep thoughts on activism Good Monday morning. There comes a time when we have to focus on the betterment of those around us and back off from saving the world. When you have been involved in activism as long as I have, it can be hard to hand over the reins of "change". It is … Continue reading Change is Constant, Accept That
Christmases Past and Present (2021)
Before the commercialized Christmas Tree, candles were the lights and only burnt Christmas Eve Merry Christmas and allow me to start by quoting the epiphany Scrooge experienced in that classic "A Christmas Carol". A tale that has been a mainstay of the Christmas spirit since its first publication in 1843. What many people fail to … Continue reading Christmases Past and Present (2021)
Blast to the Past
"The tragedy of life is often not in our failure, but rather in our complacency; not in our doing too much, but rather in doing too little; not in living above our abilities, but rather in our living below our capacity" - Benjamin Mayes 1958 receiving Christmas gift from Calgary Transit annual staff Christmas Party … Continue reading Blast to the Past