Algorithm

The Algorithm is the ultimate content producer.

It’s an expert on what you like and when you like it.

An alter ego mirror reflection.

The true king of all Media.

It knows every audience, everywhere. It can sell anything to anybody in any language in any country in every timezone.

It knows what you dig before you even know you dig it. It is a tireless worker, recognizing and setting trends en masse 24/7.

It is the ruler of relevancy… to you. And you, and you and you and you.

The Algorithm is the digital law of attraction.

The more you think it, do it, and feel it, the more it appears in your life… and your feed.

Unique Footprint

Your golf swing is your unique footprint.

Your signature, your handwriting; it is the way you laugh, the way you cry; it is your voice.

When you swing the club, No one can swing the club exactly like you have.  Yes, technically, it follows the angles and rules of the proper swing, but the way you do it, no one does it quite the same way you do. Or will ever do. 

The golf swing is your signature in motion. Your tag. Your fingerprint. 

Your golf swing is unique to the world. It is saying something about you that you can’t say yourself.  A physical message. An athletic telegram, from you. 

Such a complex athletic motion requires concentration, muscle coordination, balance, and vision.  

Your golf swing is your handwriting. Is it hardly legible scribble or is it beautiful calligraphy?  

Are you loud or soft-spoken?  Are you aggressive or timid?  Chances are your swing and the way you play reflect exactly those traits you possess in life.

Your swing is a reflection of you.  It is you. 

It is the way you dance. The way you sing. Who you are and where you are from.  What you do and how you view the world.  

There should be more psychics reading golf swings rather than palms. The swing tells you a helluva lot more about a person. 

Unspoken and unforced. 

A portrait of pure movement you paint with every swing.

The Law of Assumption

Assumption

is true

co-creation.

The Future

becomes

the present

when you

already are

what you

will be.

Lessons I've Learned (And Continue to Learn)

1. When you have questions there are always answers, when you have answers there are always more questions.

2. You have to give to get and appreciate to keep it.

3. What you say after “I am…” is the most powerful statement you can make. Whatever you think you are or you aren’t, you’re always right.

4. Be clear about your intentions, tell people what you want.

5. Some things are exactly as they seem and some things are exactly the opposite as they seem.

6. Sometimes people can’t hear a thing you say, other times you say nothing and people hear everything.

7. If it makes you laugh it’ll most likely make others laugh. Tell the joke.

8. A great conversation is as nourishing as a great meal.

9. Invest your time into things that serve you.

10. When in doubt, be kind. When you look back you’ll never regret the decision to do so.

11. The deliberate, conscious control of your imagination is the key to your personal freedom - use it wisely.

12. What you are willing to put up with is exactly what you’ll have.

13. There’s always room for new amazing people to come into your life - open your door, rearrange your inner furniture, offer them a seat.

14. Sometimes it’s better to watch sports on mute - be your own commentator.

15. Everything is cyclical. Pay attention to the loops that are opening and closing in your own life.

16. There is a difference between your personality and your essence.

17. What you feel they feel - everything is polarity. You’re at opposite ends of the same pole.

18. Sometimes when you lose something you actually gain much more - there’s an equilibrium to the universe.

19. There is a lesson in every experience, in what you perceive to be good or bad. Clarity comes with time.

20. Pay attention to sequential numbers or songs on the radio, spirit guides are always talking.

21. It is a game-changer to look back at your life and have faith that every decision you made was correct - guilt and regret are a waste of time. They have no place in a successful life.

22. When your heart hurts that’s actually the healing - the pain is most definitely gain.

23. Deep breathes are like magic reset buttons to your nervous system.

24. Balance is inevitable - wait your turn, it will come.

25. Nothing wrong with making mistakes, that’s why there are erasers on pencils.

26. Just because you’ve known them for years doesn’t make them the best of friends, always seek new members to your high vibe tribe.

27. Life is like your golf grip, hold it lightly to generate more power.

28. Embrace the impermanence of life. The least resistance you have, the smoother the process will be.

29. When people show you who they are, believe them.

30. Happiness is a choice you make every minute of every day.

31. To change your thoughts you have to change your emotional state.

32. You don’t know what you don’t know. And what you do know can change at any moment. Be fluid with your thoughts.

33. Spend time alone. Get to know who you are. Acquaint yourself with your own energy. Discern which vibrations resonate with you, and which do not.

34. Love yourself first. All love stems from self-love.

35. What you seek is always seeking you.

36. Be weird, talk to a tree. Trees have infinite patience and always have time to listen and answer.

37. Drink more smoothies.

38. Falsities are loud, truth is soft-spoken.

39. Deconstruct who you’ve been up to this point. Your beliefs, your desires, your narrative. Jump down the deep rabbit hole.

40. Always know that no one really knows. Trust your own intuition.

41. What goes around always comes around. There’s no escape.

42. Sometimes the voice in your head is not even yours. Learn to decipher the difference.

43. Every once in a while, go crazy, leave your comfort zone, be unpredictable. The soul expands when it’s free.

44. Timing is everything.

Giving is True Having

“We should give as we would receive, cheerfully, quickly, and without hesitation; for there is no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers.”

— Seneca

Driving on a road in Red Hook, NY I saw a sign on a church billboard that said Giving is True Having.  The four words in black distinctly stood out on the white changeable letter sign. The quote is from Charles Spurgeon, an English pastor and author from the 19th century. 

The line caught my eye at 65mph and I’ve pondered the message for many miles since...

On the surface, the quote is a simple nod to generosity and charity - It’s better to give than to receive.  Those who give selflessly, signal their abundance to the universe.  They give without question knowing that there are others in need and that there is an endless supply.  

Looking underneath the surface however, the statement is a reminder of energy exchange; the essence of the Law of Attraction. It is not what is given, it is actually the attitude one offers that is most important.  The act of giving itself is more charged with emotion. We can only pull things into our experience that are vibrating at the same frequency as the thoughts and emotions we are sending out.

To attain something specific, you must be in the feeling place as if it is already granted, to embody and feel worthy of the request.  First, give the emotion of what you wish to manifest, then have your request fulfilled. 

This sentiment is encapsulated scientifically in Newton’s Third Law of Motion: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Everything is a mirror. 

Yes, what you give, you get; but more specifically, how you give, is how you get. It’s about intention, your energy comes back at the same frequency it is given. 

At a cellular and sub-atomic level, we interact vibrationally with everything in our perceived reality. Perpetually putting out and taking in with every aspect of our physical and non-physical existence. Meditate for clarity. Be grateful to receive. Talk to communicate. Read to learn. Push to propel. The natural cycle of an infinite vibrational frequency swap.  

Science and spirituality coexist. In the realm of physics, the energy put forth is an impetus for the echo energy that inevitably returns; like attracts like, every action has a reaction. In the spiritual sense, giving from the heart in charity spurs the universe’s resonant response. An abundant mindset begets abundance. It’s the law of energy in motion. 

Giving is true having. Distilling this concept down to its bare essence proves that the universe is constantly seeking balance. Living as physical beings in this 3D reality, the exchange of like energy rules our existence. We are all transmitters and receivers who radiate a specific vibrational frequency, and that which is a match, we attract. 

What goes around, comes around. And it is in the giving that we receive.  

That is my interpretation anyway….

Vibrational Scale of Consciousness

good things are coming.

From Def Leppard to Bhutan

I was at HBO Films in Santa Monica, we were working on a film entitled Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Dee Brown. The film was about to be released before the summer and we were hammering out the final details with the Media Relations department who were handling the PR push for the film. At my desk, I received a random call from James Kleinert, a documentary filmmaker. He made a short film on the Lakota tribe and pitched it to me to be used as a companion piece to the full-length feature.  

The short was powerful and included beautiful cinematography of the American West.  After a few calls and screenings, we put it up on the HBO website as a companion to the feature. Bury My Heart tied the record for most Emmy nominations in a single year and won 6, including Best Made for TV Movie.  

James was very grateful for my help and unbeknownst to him, returned the favor 100-fold. 

A few weeks later he called my cell and let me know that his good friend Rick Allen wanted to meet with me to talk about a film idea.  I said, “Rick Allen, Def Leppard Rick Allen?”  James laughed and said, “Yeah man, that Rick.”  Of course, I told him to set it up.  I was beyond stoked to be meeting with Rick. Not only did I grow up a huge fan of Def Leppard, but he is regarded as one of the best drummers in the world.

The next week I met Rick, his wife Lauren, his business manager, and James at Sushi Roku in Santa Monica. Walking through the restaurant, the entire crowd stared at us. Rick is rather recognizable not only because of his curly blonde locks, but he only has one arm.  For those of you unfamiliar, Rick lost his left arm in a horrific car accident. He was passing an Alfa Romeo at high speed on a road near Sheffield, England, lost control, and hit a stone wall, throwing him from his Corvette. His left arm was severed. This obviously caused some major complications about his future in the band. His story is inspirational and a true tale of triumph over adversity.  

At dinner, I went into my Behind the Music producer mode and couldn’t help but ask him about the experience. He was more than happy to tell his story. I never felt awkward going there, we shared a natural rapport and were comfortable getting personal. 

Rick was lying in his hospital bed after his arm was amputated, clearly understanding that his condition was not only going to affect his drum playing but also his livelihood. How was Def Leppard to continue with a one-armed drummer? He went on explaining that there was a styrofoam board at the foot of his hospital bed, it made a certain sound against the wood of the footboard. That gave him an interesting idea. He started to peddle the styrofoam board against the wood with his feet while pounding a pillow with his right hand. Rick was inventing a new way to drum using his feet instead of his left hand. This led to the invention of a specially-designed electronic drum kit where his left foot would play the pieces he’d usually play with his left arm.

Overcoming a career-threatening obstacle by inventing a new way to drum. If you want it bad enough and believe, you can accomplish anything.  Rick’s perseverance and innovative mindset are nothing short of mind-blowing. It’s funny because I recall him telling me the story in a nonchalant, this-is-what-I-did type way. I guess for him, it was just what he needed to do to continue to do what he loves.

We continued to talk openly about his arm being removed. When Rick was recovering, his dad was in the hospital room with him and he asked him to touch where his left arm would be. He told me he felt his father’s hand as if his arm was still attached to his body. I got goosebumps hearing that story of his phantom limb.  

Rick went into detail about the inhumane scrutiny he faced once he was back with the band. Many were trying to convince the guys to fire him. They were backstage ready to go on, and Rick overheard someone ask them, “Are you really going to let the freak show go on stage with you?”  The misty look in his eyes while he recalled this tale took him right back to that very moment it happened. He was so hurt that he was being looked at as a freak because he was missing a limb. I really appreciated Rick’s sincerity and openness. Understandably, it was a hard transition back to the public spotlight being an amputee. His drumming never suffered though, and the band didn’t even consider the possibility. Rick went on stage and played the set with his brothers. It’s nice to know that the guys from Def Leppard are people of character. Why would they listen to some fool trying to tell them how to run their band anyway?

Rick and Lauren were incredibly cool. We really hit it off and had such a wonderful conversation. I told him that I saw Def Leppard on the Hysteria World Tour as a young boy, and was blown away by the laser light show. Truth is, Def Leppard became even more famous after Rick’s accident. They were literally the biggest band in the world in the late 80s. The album Hysteria was nothing short of a phenomenon, selling 20 million copies to date. Songs like Pour Some Suger on Me and Animal are all-time classics.

I told him he’ll never realize how many people he’s touched. I remember distinctly how appreciative Rick was when I told him such a heartfelt truth. To be sitting at a table next to a rockstar that I admired for years and tell him how influential his band has been was a surreal experience. Rick was so chill, it was like hanging out with an old friend. His wife Lauren felt like family with her Italian warmth. They both were so connected.

After dinner, we walked to his van in the lot and Rick explained to me how Def Leppard started.  He said that the first time the original 5 members began to play together, it was pure magic. The look in his eyes, seeing his head-shake and smile when he recalled the memory hit me hard. The ground shakes when something that profound happens. It has a remarkable, mystical quality to it that takes on a life of its own.  It was uniquely special to hear Def Leppard’s story of origin from the 15-year-old who was in that room! They were just teenagers living in England in the late 70s. The initial synchronicity between those original 5 literally changed music history.  And the rest is history.

The van was filled to capacity with bongo drums.  Rick and Lauren run The Raven Drum Foundation, a healing drum circle they began in 2001 “to educate and empower individuals and communities in crisis through healing arts programs, drumming events and collaborative partnerships”.  They invited me to the next circle and by the following Saturday, I was at a Santa Monica High School gym pounding a bongo with 25 other people. What a release that was!

Whoever has been in a drum circle in a parking lot at a concert or on Venice Beach knows what I mean. It's such a religious experience to be in rhythm with 24 other strangers drumming in unison. You can feel the potency and energy drumming to the same beat, it’s exhilarating, healing, and most of all, fun as hell. There is a depth of soul in beating the drum, as it emulates the heartbeat, our center of power, strength, endurance, love, and passion. 

After the circle, we were outside and Rick introduced me to Darin, a friend of his, and another beautiful human or as he would say, a humanoid of magnitude. Rick told him I worked at HBO and Darin immediately started telling me about Bhutan, how he recently met with some of the ministers from the Kingdom as it is the Land of Medicinal Plants.  The Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked country in the Eastern Himalayas. It is bordered by China to the north and India to the south.

Darin owned a company that was always scouring the globe for superfoods. He was a formulator of supplements and raw foods for some of the largest companies in the industry. He was always traveling around the world and had amazing knowledge regarding indigenous health, raw superfoods, herbs, and sustainable practices. Not to mention he was a funny dude with a great personality.  To this day, he may have the best Arnold Schwarzenegger impression I’ve heard. He had a charisma about him that was easy to like, and as someone who can relate to his brand of personality, we clicked instantly. He told me that he asked the ministers if he can make a documentary about Bhutan, as it not only was the Land of Medicinal Plants but had a fascinating story to tell. 

For one, it was becoming a constitutional democracy the next year. The king literally abdicated his throne and wanted to give power to the people. Not only that, Bhutan has a policy called Gross National Happiness or GNH.  The people’s happiness is actually considered and measured by the Bhutanese government. Imagine if America looked at GNH like they look at the GDP? More still, the technological advancements in Bhutan were happening at lightning speed.  This is a country that only got the internet in 1999, now cellphones were common, and the people were evolving as rapidly as the technology. It was truly a transformative time in Bhutan.  

Darin asked me to come on as a producer. I was all in. We began a long and productive friendship after that day. We met at length over crepes in Santa Monica many a weekend.  We started a new production company, got partners, and raised a large sum of money to go to Bhutan and shoot.  Six months later, I was literally in the Himalayas filming a documentary in places that no human ever had before. I interviewed ministers, met with the highest abbot in the land, hiked up mountains to ancient monasteries, and learned all about their government and medicinal plants, which were intertwined. We were there for a few weeks and it was an intoxicating, uniquely creative experience that was quite life-altering. 

The takeaway in all of this is, when I follow my bliss, through synchronicity and the law of attraction, miracles unfold seamlessly.   

This chain of events brought me from Santa Monica to Bhutan because James was proactive and called me at the office. I loved his film and took the necessary steps to get it on HBO.com.  That led me to dinner with Rick and Lauren, which brought me to the Raven Drum circle, which guided me to meeting Darin, which led me to filming a documentary in the Kingdom of Bhutan.  

The other message here is to help others. If you can open up a door for someone, do it.  Don’t ask what is in this for me. People need people. There is not one person on earth that cannot use some help in one way or another. I truly enjoy helping filmmakers and was purely acting as a facilitator, happy to help a creative mind get his work out into the world. I never thought this would yield anything for me personally.

Existence has its rewards when you go with the flow of life. 

Constitution Evolution

In 1816, Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to Samual Kercheval, a prominent Virginia lawyer and author.  In his letter, Jefferson spoke rather eloquently about the U.S. Consitution becoming an antiquated, irrelevant document.  He says, “Some men look at Constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, & deem them, like the ark of the covenant, too sacred to be touched…” Which is to say, if we look at a document written by fallible men as the “word of God”, then we are doing ourselves a disservice as a society. The purpose of the Constitution itself cannot be neglected because of an overwhelming reverence for it.  This point of view by one of the document’s architects doesn’t really get enough attention.

“I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as a civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.”

— Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Kercheval, July 12, 1816

This quote can also be found at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington D.C.  It is quite an extraordinary statement given that so many revere the Constitution like it’s the Bible, as if written by the hands of gods.  

Even Thomas Jefferson knew that the Constitution of the United States needs to be a living charter, remaining fluid, relevant to the times. It makes the most sense for an ever-evolving society that sees incredible advancement and changes around them nearly every day.

Breaking down this immensely important constitutional point of view, we can agree that Jefferson believed the rule of law and governance in the United States should progress as the people and times do. 

I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind.

I appreciate what Jefferson is saying here, you don’t write constitutions to constantly amend and twist.  Of course, there must be immovable, foundational aspects of a document that outlines how the country should work.  But to his second point, there must be some fluidity as humankind progresses throughout generations.  

As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times.

Jefferson leans into the notion that it is common sense to expect that the people will develop new inventions, new ideas, new technology, new opinions, new ways of living; and as the populous continues to advance, the institutions, the government, the rule of law itself, must also keep up with the times and the people they serve.  

We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as a civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.

This is a nice insight into Jefferson's sarcasm, painting a simple verbal picture to make his point. People outgrow things, period. If we are not growing, we are not living.  Therefore, if the guide of governance that serves as a foundation of our country’s rule of law does not progress, grow, expand, and mature, then it is a dead document.  It becomes stale and does not serve its actual purpose because it does not represent the people of the times.  What’s the point of an irrelevant constitution?

The last Constitutional Amendment was passed in 1992; they are not a common occurrence. Most of the suggestions expressed below do not require such a heavy lift.  And by no means is this post meant to be argued by legal scholars. These are non-partisan opinions and ideas from a citizen that make common sense, as Thomas Paine would say.

Electoral College update

In a true democracy, the electoral vote must reflect the popular vote. There have been at least 700 amendments proposed to modify or abolish the Electoral College. A September 2020 Gallup poll found that 61% of Americans were in favor of abolishing the Electoral College, up 12% from 2016.

There are reasons it exists, very succinctly:

The founding fathers wanted to balance the will of the population against the risk of “tyranny of the majority,” in which the will of the masses can drown out the minority.  

Also, the original intention of using electors instead of the popular vote was to safeguard against uninformed or uneducated voters - taking the final decision out of their hands and into the hands of electors who were informed and more likely to make the best decision.

But today, modern technology like news apps, podcasts, as well as 24/7 cable news gives voters a myriad of information at their fingertips.  This allows them to make more informed voting decisions in a way that was not foreseen by the Founding Fathers.

Also, several significant voting laws that limited direct democracy have already been modified or discarded. For instance, the 15th and 19th Amendments, which gave the right to vote to former male slaves and women, respectively.

Another major issue is that the Electoral College gives too much power to swing states and allows the presidential election to be decided by what is essentially 11 states (Actually 12, thanks to Georgia).  Presidential candidates make 90% of their campaign stops in these battleground states. They can easily get away with ignoring the rest of the country. 

Further, the Electoral College ignores the will of the people. Almost 160 million voted in the 2020 election, yet just 538 people decide who will be president. In 2000 and in 2016, the winner of the popular vote ended up losing the presidency. What is the point of democracy if a person’s vote counts less in a highly populated coastal city than someone who lives in the midwest?  As the Electoral College has been in play for over 200 years, gaming the system is down to a precise science in 2021 and has been for decades. Many times, the will of the voter is a mere inconvenience to these candidates.  Not naming names, but some political parties benefit a bit more from the gerrymandering and voter suppression. 

There has to be a better way.

The system needs an upgrade. Whoever gets the most votes, wins. End of argument.

For U.S. Presidential candidates

Age limit

Look, I respect experience level, I also respect my elders.  But I am unsure that someone over the age of 70 should be running for President. Just as a person needs to be a minimum of 35 years old to be eligible to run, it makes sense to have a maximum age as well. I would suggest age 69 as the oldest. At such an advanced age, it is more than likely you have slowed a step or two compared to when you were 50. It is just a fact of life. I am not an ageist nor do I think that a 76-year-old cannot be effective in the job. But I do believe we need our representatives to reflect the people they serve. If the median age in America is 38 years old, then our President should be closer to that age as opposed to double it. Having an age cut-off at 69 will not change it so drastically, but it could lower the average age of candidates going forward.

Mandatory psychological test

This is self-explanatory.  If you are up for the most important role of running the country, with all of its demands and infinite challenges, we the people need to know that a candidate is up for the job.  Release the results publicly so we can assess more acutely how a candidate thinks. It would be infinitely helpful to psychologically evaluate their motivators, decision-making process, and overall cognitive health. What type of disposition do they have? Do they demonstrate an element of psychopathy? How would their behavior change under duress? All important factors when analyzing predictors of behavior, and deciding who ultimately deserves our vote.

Taxes are a prerequisite

Anyone running for president needs to release tax returns to the public. We cannot risk compromised candidates. The public has a right to know the financial history of a person running for the highest national office. This may not have to be a law but should be a prerequisite for anyone’s candidacy. 

Term limits for Congress

If congress more accurately represented the U.S. population, it may look more like AOC (31) than Chuck Grassley (87).  Is it representative of our country if most members of congress look like every Leisure Village in southern Florida?  It feels like a bunch of older white men freeloading off the government in their retirement years. A gravy train that is the breeding ground for corruption. Term limits allow a Senator or Congressman to serve in their prime. If they are fortunate enough to serve out the limit of their term, a younger candidate would then take their place who will more precisely represent the constituency.  The fact that a senator or congressman can win election after election (fairly or unfairly) until they are well into their 80s makes no sense!  Especially if we want our government to actually be effective.  We want young and hungry, not old and complacent. 

Term limits for Federal Judges and Supreme Court Justices

The primary goal of the life tenure of federal judges is to insulate the officeholder from external pressures.  After being appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, these officials are in their seats until they drop dead. I am not so sure that a life appointment insulates any of these judges from political or external pressure. If anything, it can be argued that it allows them to dig into their partisanship even deeper, further enabling their skewed interpretation of the law. In other cases around the world, life tenure lasts until the set retirement age. The Supreme Court Justices of the United Kingdom have life tenure, but must step down and retire by age 70.  In my humble opinion, this makes the most sense.  Why should any judge be able to sit in their seat for the rest of their life?  Set a retirement age for federal judges and SCOTUS and keep the wheels of government turning with younger, relevant stewards.  

I suppose the point of this post is to offer an opinion and some ideas that could help improve life in America. Obviously, there are so many other factors and issues that I did not even touch. In my experience, some people are super rigid in how they view history and the way they think things “should be”. There are many who are terrified of change and would rather go back in time. This tug of war between progress and holding on to the past is why we are witnessing such divisiveness between Americans today.

The reality is, all life progresses; it does not regress. Like Bruce Lee says, ”Be water, my friend.” There is greater strength and wisdom by being flexible and embracing change. I remain effective in leading people and projects in advertising by working agile. Meaning, projects require frequent reassessment and adaptation of plans. Things always change, problems inevitably arise, and we must adapt and overcome them. I look at our democracy like one enormous project — things will shift in unexpected directions and adaptation is required for success. Something that was written 230 years ago, although brilliant, is bound to have some out-of-date ideas. Take a moment to reflect on how many years that is and how fast time seems to elapse in this day and age. I look at my first iPhone from 2007 and think it was from the Stone Age.

Thomas Jefferson was well aware and knew that the Constitution should be a living, breathing document that matures with the ages. 

The status quo is not working for all Americans. We need new ideas. Innovation is paramount to our survival.

Country over party. Power to the people.

Sweeter the Taste

I act from grace 

In this interesting place

When I bravely face

What I need to embrace

I pick up the pace

When I run this race 

I do not retrace

The steps that I take

There are no mistakes

Nothing is waste

We move through the dates

They all get replaced

New thoughts to create 

New things to go make

All infinite shapes 

Like the spinning of plates

In ways I relate 

To flowers in vase

Delicately displaced

From a garden with gates

No beauty to chase 

No plans to go break

Take breathing space

Heal your heartache

And in each case

The path we take

Can’t make or break

The test that we ace 

Like the soft feel of lace 

And rhythm and bass

It is all interlaced 

When you find what’s misplaced 

In your flow state

It comes down to fate

The higher the stakes

The sweeter the taste

Just Leap!

We are all channels for the universe and have a wide array of expressions and emotions available to us.  If the higher-power tells us to leap, we must, without asking any questions. If it tells us to stay put, we have to enjoy a space of non-activity and relaxation until the next message arrives.  We are always being thrust into a place of exploring the unknown; forced to get to know ourselves in new ways.  When we ignore our instinct, life will literally force us to explore our inner-being anyway, through external circumstances.  Our higher self will always deliver us the message no matter if we are willing to hear it or not.  

We get so much clarity when we do listen to our intuition, but the twists and turns that it usually brings as a result, can be a real kick in the ass.

When we are in service to our higher self, it often leads us in a new direction, to an unexpected place.  And that is precisely the reason we try to ignore it. Our ego would rather keep us stuck. It tells us that being in the familiar is safe.

Change scares us shitless. It is the reason we resist it so much and are forced into it more times than not.  

The rule here is when you do listen to your intuition and you have a hunch, or really feel your inner-being speak to you -- then expect the unexpected.  Life is about to propel you into a new realm.  Yes, it is terrifying at first; but you trust because you feel it deeply. The higher self will meet you in your heart. That’s when you begin to move consciousness because you learn (overtime) to decipher your truth. 

I try to tell myself these things when at a crossroads.  It is an important reminder that the universe is always in service of the higher self. 

In those times of confusion, when you are unsure if you are listening to your fear or your inner-wisdom; when the ego does not want it and is speaking so loudly that you cannot decipher which is which — try asking your higher-self:

How is this in service to me?

And wait for the answer.

Goodwill Travels

“Participate jofyully in the sorrows of the world.

We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.”

— Joseph Campbell

I was on an all-day excursion to Saona Island off the coast of the Dominican Republic. A perfect 90-degree day, gliding on a speed boat across the clear, turquoise blue water, drinking rum and cokes, talking, laughing with a group of people from all over. On the boat, I met a wonderful couple traveling from Germany. One of the most pleasurable things about traveling is befriending people you would otherwise never meet in this lifetime.

The randomness of those encounters is fascinating; a true spice of life.

Steffi and Marco were on vacation for 2 weeks, they are from Magdeburg, about a 2-hour drive from Berlin. Super cool, engaging couple that travels constantly and has a fervent zest for life. We spent the entire day together. While we were chatting over a typical Dominican rice and beans lunch, they told me that they were raising money for a chauffeur they met the day before.

It was such a uniquely human gesture of generosity that I thought it was a story worth sharing.

They had hired a private chauffeur to drive them around the island. Punta Cana is full of resorts, so to get a real taste of authentic Dominican life, one must travel outside of the all-inclusive walls. The driver’s name was Giovanni and unsurprisingly, there was an immediate rapport between them.

In the usual resort driver routine, he took them to all the typical tourist spots: shops with the same junk products and shitty restaurants with expensive food.  

Steffi then asked Giovanni to take them where the locals live. Traveling from Germany, they want to experience real DR life; marinate in the culture, and get to know the people who live on the island.  You really can’t say you’ve been somewhere if you chill inside your 5-star hotel the entire trip. 

Giovanni drove them to his town in Verón, 30 minutes from the beach resorts. He invited them to his home for a family-style Dominican celebration that included a barbeque, drinking, and dancing. They took him up on the offer.

Giovanni and his family were from very modest means, and when I say very modest, they really had nothing at all. He told Steffi that their monthly income is around $300 USD, and his wife was recently unemployed due to Covid. It didn’t matter as they could not have been more generous. Giovanni and his family offered everything they had, barbequing all kinds of delicious local meats and vegetables while serving blended Caribbean cocktails and beer. Drunk on laughter, they danced merengue all day together.

Steffi and Marco experienced the rawest form of generosity. This family had practically nothing, living on the bare minimum, yet offered everything to these strangers who became friends. 

When they got back to the hotel that night they decided to start a fundraiser to help Giovanni’s family.  

They asked their friends in Germany to take part in the campaign via Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. They sent out a very simple message explaining the situation.  The response was amazing; their people in Germany came through big time.

Giovanni had already invited Steffi and Marco back for a barbeque celebration at a private beach; and over the three days before the party, they raised $1200 USD! How cool is that?

With money in hand, Steffi announced what they did and how much they raised. Giovanni’s family couldn’t believe this German couple would care enough to pull this off. They cried and danced together; the party that night was a celebration of joy and gratitude.

The family can live on that money for 4 months…

Steffi said, “[They] never expected us to do something like this for them and said that we would have a family in the Dominican Republic forever.”

Imagine being Giovanni.  Day after day, he drives tourists around from all over the world.  Week in and week out, he takes them to the same spots, collects his tips, and repeats.  Meeting Steffi and Marco was a moment of synchronicity that is a testament to the love that connects us all.

Later they found out that Giovanni had also lost his job.  He never mentioned it because he didn’t want to spoil a great time. 

Steffi and Giovanni.

This was such an impactful bit of kindness and compassion by a European couple visiting the Caribbean. With a little effort through the power of social media, they were able to mobilize their mates at home and carry out a life-changing act of charity for a family in true need.  A big nod to all of their friends who donated to the cause.

Germans helping Dominicans in a beautiful gesture of goodwill. Their story serves as an inspiration that we can always give back no matter where we are in the world. Generosity is universal.

The Winds of Change: Headwind vs Tailwind

When you are in the midst of a challenge, overcoming it feels like you are facing a headwind. There is resistance. You have to put your head down and persist.  It feels like an uphill battle, gale force winds in your face, fog so thick you can hardly see what is in front of you. You push onward. 

The headwind requires more energy.  You fight the forces that are seemingly head-on. It leaves so little time to think or do other things. You question why. But in the resistance, you build strength.  

In these moments, it helps to take that space between breaths, between the raindrops, between heartbeats, contemplate and give thanks. Nothing lasts forever.

When you have momentum, it is like a tailwind, propelling you farther faster with ease.  You have your head up and enjoy the view; you breathe easier and have the time to think of new ideas. You are a feather in the gentle breeze as it kindly keeps you aloft.  

The tailwind gust lifts and carries you across the great sky.  You use less energy, there is no need to fight the elements, you do not question where you are or why.  Life is lighter, simpler, and you feel a sense of ease and well-being. Things make total sense.

In these moments, it helps to take that space between breaths, between the raindrops, between heartbeats, contemplate and give thanks. Nothing lasts forever.  

There are lessons within these phases of life that serve a larger purpose: you are growing, evolving, transmuting; you have been given a gift.  

Embrace your metamorphosis. It is in these times you can be grateful to be alive. If your life has no problems, you're not really living. Even a flowing river has rocks and waterfalls. 

One day, things change. You get that call, you meet that person, your heart feels lighter and you see clearly.  The clouds separate and the rain in your face slows to a slight drizzle. You see the view, it is vast and spectacular. Although you persisted uphill in the dark, you realize that it all led to a breathtaking vista. You radiate the glow of transformation.  

Overcoming these demanding periods are the bedrock of self-esteem.

One day things change again, something triggers you, you receive bad news, you get furloughed, you find out someone is sick, nothing goes right, things seem to go off the rails. Your downhill coast becomes a sudden stop. You begin the dreaded walk uphill.

In each case, the key is to remember when you had it the other way. When it’s bad, remember when it was good, know it will turn around. When it’s good, remember when it wasn’t, and do your best to keep that momentum.

To create meaningful results in your life, you must be able to learn from adversity.

No human being is immune from experiencing these winds. Each is an impetus for change, and one would be wise to remain conscious of what phase to which they currently see themselves. It serves us to bounce out of our own movie and just observe.  

Go outside of the story of what is and decide firmly to allow what can be to be part of the script that you use to live your life. When the mind stops battling what is, you go beyond your own ego. That is where miracles happen.

Where do you feel challenged? Where do you feel the momentum? 

You are either riding the wind or cutting through it.  

The one certainty is that the wind will change.  

Timing is everything.

Mental Detectors

“Politics doesn’t have to be a raging fire destroying everything in its path.”

— Joe Biden

My friend King and I have a political commentary newswire on constant blast via WhatsApp. I met him at HBO in LA. He’s always been a political junkie; liberal-leaning, west coast earth and people loving dude. He was a child during the MLK, Malcolm X, and both Kennedy assassinations. Being so young during that tumultuous time has had an immense influence on his world-view and opinion of America as a nation. Our conversations are well-thought-out and usually spur a level of critical thinking beyond your average texts between friends.

We go back and forth almost daily with commentary on current events.

King:

During the past two weeks, our WhatsApp newswire has been going full-force. I suppose a blatant coup attempt would get the lines of communication running hot. Below are small excerpts from a recent conversation between the King and myself. I am sure they echo the discussions going on all over the country.

Hatred. Division. Confusion. Manipulation. American vs American. Unfolding in front of our eyes in real-time. This division is playing out via politics because mainstream and social media are accentuating and perpetuating the divisiveness in the name of profit. In the past, network news was a loss leader. Now, television news is BIG business. It’s for this reason they deserve a very large portion of the blame for our social unrest. It is way more lucrative to divide us into sides.

I also believe that our education system is failing us miserably.

The frustration of unequal justice is in the air and is palpable.  The hypocrisy is so blatant that it’s easy to understand why we are at a collective boiling point in America.

My response:

There is no greater crime than what just happened on January 6.  We’ve never seen such irresponsibility on the part of an elected leader (and their party).  The storming of the Capitol was variously described as treason, insurrection, sedition, domestic terrorism, and an attempt by Trump to carry out a self-coup.

It is a bit too little too late that the social media giants are only now choosing to ban the ‘president’ from the airwaves. What about the past four years, the thousands of lies and conspiracy theories we’ve had to endure then try to defend to our friends and family? What about all the violence these Tweets have incited even before January 6?  

The bigger question is, why are these lies so hard to discern for some people?

It is my opinion that there could be much more significant oversight to help mitigate hate speech and hostile behavior on social networks.  There has to be quick action when a largely followed Twitter profile tells obvious untruths and incites violence - especially if they are an elected leader.  Allowing those of influence to filtrate hatred conspiracies to millions of people has dire consequences. Freedom of speech is one thing, being responsible with your platform is another.

Social media platforms must take the steps to reduce hate-speech. Yes, it will continue to exist, but we can at least find solutions with more awareness. The future of our social discourse may in fact depend on this corrective action. 

All this toxicity that has infiltrated our national psyche has taken a collective psychological toll on us, whether we realize it not.

Some events and consequences that have transpired in the past 2 weeks:

The process of affirming the next president was halted by mob violence.  

Some historians are calling the attack the most severe assault on the Capitol since the British sacked the building in 1814.  The British, not fellow Americans.  

142 Republicans voted last week to overturn the results of a lawful election.  

In other words, they went on the record in favor of overruling the will of the majority and installing a dictator.  A guy who lost by 7 million votes.  Subsequently, these lawmakers have been cut off from 20 of their biggest corporate PAC donors.  

Trump has been impeached a second time by the House of Representatives. 

The first time in American history a President has been impeached twice (in his first term no less).  First time for extortion, and this time for ‘incitement of insurrection’. Will the Senate convict?

We know dozens of people on a terrorist watch list were in Washington for the pro-Trump events on January 6, and many of those rioters intended on capturing and assassinating Federal officials. 

Chanting “Hang Mike Pence.” What a surprise that day that ended in a chaotic crime rampage. 

Five people died, including a Capitol Police officer who was beaten to death. 

Blood is on the hands of more than a few elected officials, police officers, citizens. 

The FBI, DOD, DOJ, DHS, DOD, and Interior have opened more than 170 investigations with indications that many more are likely to come.  

Where was the FBI before this tragedy occurred?  There is zero doubt that they had intelligence tipping this riot off in the weeks leading up.

Over 25,000 members of the National Guard will attend the inauguration. Another 4,000 Guard members from 19 states have been activated to protect “key infrastructure and capitol buildings in their states”. 

Frightening that D.C. and our state capitals are under high surveillance during what is supposed to be a peaceful transfer of power. 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday (Jan 19) accused President Trump of provoking the violent crowd that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

“The mob was fed lies,” McConnell said.  Take a moment and realize that only now, following countless debacles and after the Presidential election has been certified, McConnell says something true.  He’s always known the truth.

Nearly 1 in 5 people charged in the Capitol riot have a military history.

The significant percentage of those in connection to the riot raises questions as to the extent of extremism in the ranks of the armed forces. The Pentagon announced an investigation into the Defense Department’s procedures to screen and prevent white supremacists from entering the military. Also, we need to take care of our veterans - the PTSD is real.

Two US Capitol Police officers were suspended and at least 10 more are under investigation. Federal agents are currently looking at whether current and former law enforcement officers played a role in the riot.

I don’t want to make presumptions here, but it looks like there were people on the inside helping these rioters breach the Capitol. Apparently, a Capitol police officer grabbed a rioter’s hand, shook it, and said, 'It's your house now.' It is believed that the policeman was acting out of fear.  But no one knows the truth yet. 

Deep breath.  That is a ton to take in, and 2021 just started!  

We just witnessed one of the largest national embarrassments in the history of the U.S. It was surreal, it was horrifying. And it is ok to feel angry or sad or confused.

The failed coup attempt was hardly spontaneous, all of it was spelled out on far-right social media.  Hardcore Trump supporters openly traded advice on how to steer clear of D.C. police officers, how to pry open the doors of the Capitol, and how to get illegal guns into the city.  

What good is our intelligence apparatus?  How can we restore trust in the Institutions that are sworn to protect the people?  Who exactly are they swearing to protect - only white people?

Common sense dictates that this riot should have been stopped way before it happened.  How can we feel safe again in a country that openly allows domestic terrorism on Capitol Hill? 

No matter what side you are on, the facts above are the facts.  Clearly, we cannot expect our elected officials to pick up the slack and do what is best for the people.  We have to be the change we want to see in the world. Whatever that means to you: staying informed, having healthy conversations, volunteering, running for office, studying law, seeking therapy, critical thinking...  We are fools if we do not get more proactive about our democracy, begin to look at ourselves in the mirror and ask, where do we live today and where do we want our children to live tomorrow?  How many more mass shootings, stolen elections, Covid deaths, or insurrections must we endure as a country?

Do you want to live in a country that’s leaders politicize wearing a mask during a f***ing pandemic? When it comes to public health, politics must take a backseat. It’s not only common sense, it’s common decency.

It is truly up to We the People to heal this pain and division in this time of crisis.  The reality is we have not seen the end of this destructive and dangerous behavior.  Surely we’ve evolved as a people since the 1860s.  Right? 

Politics has become like professional wrestling.  The ratings may be great, but the bloodshed is all too real.  If the media continues to stoke the flame and continually feed red meat to an already pissed-off populous, the America we know will be unrecognizable in the very near future.  

There is such a thing as nuance and gray area. Not everything is black and white, just like everyone cannot be defined by their religious beliefs or political party. These prevalent subtleties need to be highlighted by the right and left-wing echo chambers. People over profit, truth over disinformation. What a concept.

It will have to be a collective effort for national healing to occur.  I do not have the answer as to how we can meet our fellow citizens in the middle to help mend this polarization. But I do know that every one of us is responsible. 

It begins with love, awareness, and a willingness to listen to each other. Across the aisle and across state borders.

There is no going back, it is a new world.  We have to find a way to better it.

When you Get that Feeling

Go with it. If it persists, work with it. If it makes you feel good, move toward it. You have that feeling for a reason. Allow that guidance system to direct you. You are on the right path.

Trust your intuition.

Great Fuel

Being Grateful is Great Fuel.

Feeling greatfuel is the propellant to more and more abundance.

Illusions never fake their lies

Scarecrow by Beck, off his album Guero.

I just heard the song randomly today.

These lyrics:

Illusions never fake their lies
Trick cards fool the eyes
Carry zeros over till they add up
Bury tears in the chapters you shut

The beat isn’t bad either.

Universal Circle

We all live in circles.

A circle of friends, a circle of trust, a circle of confusion, the circle of life.

Our circles expand and contract.

They grow, they change, they evolve.

Our entire life lived in a circle.

We are born from the divine circle.

The sacred womb.

The universal circle.

A soul circle.

A human race of cyclical relationships.

They give us a reason, they help us move forward, they teach us lessons.

A complete circle, the chapter closes.

An incomplete circle, unfinished business.

Raise your frequency, upgrade your circle.

Your circles are your mirrors.

Draw a circle around yourself.

Let it run full-circle.

The ultimate destination is always you.

Round and round we go.

Artwork by Thích Nhất Hạnh.

All Good Things 2021 Mantra

All Good Things come to me with Ease and Joy and Glory.

Thankful for my Great New Beginnings.

Art Garfunkel in Seattle

Last May, I was flying home from Seattle on a late afternoon flight - my boy Lofa dropped me off with a heartfelt goodbye. Think he almost cried, he asked me if I really needed to leave. We hugged, I slapped his hand and closed the door to his truck. I was coming back in a month, but it's always nice to get love from a former NFL linebacker.

I had been in Seattle the past 2+ weeks helping launch ZoneIn CBD into the universe.  He and my good friend Amit, with some NFL and MLB athletes, started a new CBD brand.  It’s been fun to work with a new team and contribute my creative strategy and marketing knowledge.  It is always a distinct pleasure to share your talents to help a friend, especially in business.  Sure, I could pinch hit in the league softball game, but helping create and define a brand from scratch is so much more gratifying.

ZoneIn is crushing it and growing, very proud of the team. 

Back at the airport I just got off the phone with my friend Chris, who I am bringing on to help me with various design projects for ZoneIn. I remember giving him the 5 minute brief when I heard the flight attendant on the loudspeaker announce we are boarding.  

In no particular rush, I casually walk to the gate.  Looking at my ticket, it says Group 3, they are boarding handicap and I pick up stride and get in the Group 1 line.  The thing about me is, I am always Group 1 no matter what my ticket says.  I refuse to let a number get in between my comfort and convenience.  

The flight attendant had a pleasant and quirky exchange with the older gentleman with a floppy hat in front of me.  I threw some funny words of my own into the conversation mostly to distract that I was in Group 1 with a Group 3 ticket.  Picking up on the energy, the gentleman with the floppy hat engaged me in an entertaining conversation. It was one of those random occurrences when traveling - a profoundly interesting conversation with a complete stranger for a set time in a random place.  We were on the jet bridge while we spoke about music and politics.  

Even in May 2019, he mentioned that the country is craving normalcy, and Biden may be the guy to bring us out of what many have seen as tumultuous times.  It was an insightful point of view as many people I was speaking to had the same sentiment.  The word normalcy seemed so foreign to everyone.  

We spoke about current events and what is going on with our society and culture.  It was a slow walk to our seats, and the conversation flowed in an unusual, seamless way with someone I just met, who is likely 30+ older than I.  It was one of those moments I knew I’d remember, just because of the heightened intellectual vibe to which the conversation stayed. This man knew shit. There weren't just opinions, there were deep insights and poignant thoughts about our state of affairs.  We shared our thoughts and we laughed at the unspoken commonality of our opinions. 

Now boarding the vessel, conversation still flowing, we arrive at the last aisle seat in first class.  My new friend began sitting in seat 5A, while I waited patiently in the slow line to my seat, a few rows behind.  It was one of those conversations so riveting, and meetings so random, I thought it only appropriate to introduce myself and get this intelligent and kind gentlemen’s name:

“Great talking to you,” I said. Shook his hand. “My name is John Rota, and you?”

“Art Garfunkel,” he said.  

“Fantastic talking to you!” I replied.

I walked back to 8A and sat down; Googled Simon & Garfunkel album covers, because, you know, he’s a little older….

I just had an authentic, head-to-head exchange with Art Garfunkel.  A legend.  In a floppy hat. On a plane to Newark.  He was a total pleasure.  Aren’t smart conversations with smart people the best?  Conversations with legends, even better. 

After we landed, I asked him how his flight was, he smiled and said, “uneventful, how we like it.”  I laughed and kept walking to baggage claim.

The lesson in all of this:  

Life is full of fun surprises when you act authentically and break some rules.

JR

The Four Freedoms

While visiting the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts in October, I was beyond impressed by the prolific nature of his work and the way it collectively captures the essence of Americana. The beautiful sense of nostalgia and innocence Rockwell portrays in his illustrations and paintings create a window into the life of everyday Americans in a way few have been able to capture: A young Law Student falling asleep studying, 3 children running from an adult as they sneak out of a swimming hole, a yogi mesmerized by a young soldier performing cat’s cradle, and of course, the warm Christmas cheer of all his Saturday Evening Post-holiday editions.

All of these pieces tell a story beyond what is on the canvas, and that is where the true magic lies in Rockwell’s art. His work depicts the innocence and wonder of years past. It is as if you are seeing the world looking through the pure and virtuous eyes of a 7-year-old.

The body of work is astounding, but the one piece that stood out most to me was The Four Freedoms, based on Franklin D. Roosevelt’s de facto war standard he debuted at the State of the Union Address in 1941.  

To put that speech in context, FDR was just elected president for an unprecedented 3rd term.  World War II was raging on and the world was in a very dark period facing instability and immense danger.  Most of Europe had fallen to the Nazis and Great Britain was still standing strong.  At the time most Americans (similar to today) were supporting a more isolationist approach to stay out of the war altogether.  President Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms” speech was intended to help sway popular opinion in the United States, attempting to convince its citizens that we needed to join the war and support Britain, our closest ally.  

What touched me so deeply was not only the amazing imagery and scenes from life in the 1940s that Rockwell portrayed so exquisitely on canvas, but the sentiment FDR was parlaying to the American people with his Four Freedoms:

Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear.

The first 2 freedoms are enshrined in our Constitution and are as important as any other freedom we have as citizens of this country.  The importance of freedom of speech and freedom of religion is the bedrock of what makes America the progressive, liberal democracy it was originally intended to be.  But the final 2, really evoked my emotional response.  I recall being overwhelmed by emotions taking in the empathetic thoughtfulness of the concepts, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. I was blown away at the idea that political leadership can care that much about the people they govern. My eyes began watering above my mask, my girlfriend looked at me with a certain sweetness, knowing how much it meant to me.  

What touched me so deeply was the intangible of want and fear and the emotional warmth and sentiment it provoked.  The fact that an American President knew the importance of these 2 basic human emotions, how paramount they are to a free and happy society; and how he wanted to bring comfort to the people of the land, was a profound eye-opener.  In his speech, President Roosevelt was stressing these Four Freedoms were not only a National ideal but one that was needed ‘everywhere in the world’.

As I walked through the exhibit, it occurred to me that in today’s day and age, leaders do not seem to grasp this concept at all, nor seem to even care. Leadership is like their 3rd priority. The people themselves have also forgotten the importance of freedom from fear and want, a truly basic human right almost more important than any other. 

Why have we as a people forgotten the true ingredients that ensure happiness? What has happened since that has altered our collective psyche to be more capitalistic and competitive? When did our sense of unity disappear? Why do we neglect our sense of brotherhood, the importance of family, what it means to be Americans as well as citizens of the world?  If these ideals do not unite us in the western world, what does?

When did we lose our innocence?

Interestingly, The Four Freedoms did not really take off as FDR had hoped. It was too ahead of its time even then.  George Gallup himself concluded that the President’s rallying cry had ‘not registered a very deep imprint here at home.’ And by 1943 it was widely panned as an embarrassing flop.  

Understanding that this western world battle cry did not resonate with the American people in the early 1940s made me realize that even then, these high ideals and basic freedoms that FDR outlined to drum up support for the war effort, failed miserably.  The core belief was that of unity; the freedoms we take for granted were never free. I cannot help but speculate that this was a significant turning point in our country’s history. Perhaps it was the impetus for where we are now as a society. Innocence was lost, cynicism ruled the day, and no one paid much attention to the actual meaning of the Four Freedoms.  Their importance was lost on the people they were designed to embolden and hold safe.

Roosevelt was aware of our history, our ideals as a country. The Four Freedoms were ideas that our founding fathers themselves would have championed. As an embodiment of what we stand for in America, they laid out the reasons he believed joining World War II was the responsible thing to do. These freedoms were the ideals worth fighting and even dying for - as many did.  My guess is the media did not get on board, too uplifting of a story to sell papers; and the people themselves were too comfortable and distracted in their everyday lives to care enough to embody the ideas.  Sound familiar? 

It is an interesting commentary on the state of our nation.  Our priorities are not in the right place at times, and the more cynicism becomes the norm, the more lies hold power and become the replacement for truth.  That is a very dangerous place to be in this fragile experiment we call democracy.

What we should hold dear, we take for granted; and what we deem important, isn’t important at all.   

Maybe we can rethink what is important after this dense and challenging year of 2020.  I know I will.

Please click the photos below to view Norman Rockwell’s Four Freedoms paintings.