“Conquering Cat-sized Squirrels and the EGO!” #131

Winning the battle in the backyard is not so dissimilar from winning the one within!

The creature initiates its taunt with a leap off the ground that could out-rival the height of a third grader’s smile.

It latches its tiny arms around the 6-foot iron-rod with the ferocity of a concerned mother, then begins to scale.

Its approach to humanity and gravity is one of defiance, as it navigates upward with the agility of nature’s first Ninja Warrior.

Finally, while upside down, the squirrel finishes its feast out of the “squirrel-proof” bird-feeder. Then struts toward the coy pond with its tail in the air and, without breaking eye contact, begins quenching its thirst while gnawing away at my ego.

Winning the battle in your own backyard is not so dissimilar from conquering the battle within!

Time to tackle the Ego!

…a REAL human nature story.

#131 “Conquering Cat-sized Squirrels and the Ego!”

Loopholes on Life

#131 "Conquering Cat-sized Squirrels and the Ego!"

00:00 / 01:00:00

The creature initiates its taunt with a leap off the ground that could out-rival the height of a third grader’s smile.

It latches its tiny arms around the 6-foot iron-rod with the ferocity of a concerned mother, then begins to scale.

Its approach to humanity and gravity is one of defiance, as it navigates upward with the agility of nature’s first Ninja Warrior.

Winning the battle in your own backyard is not so dissimilar from conquering the battle within!

Time to tackle the Ego!

…a REAL human nature story.

“In a World Without Time” #116

Most of us are bound to something we think we understand but can barely even conceive. We are chained by memories of the past, constrained by worries of the future. We rarely allow our presence of mind to dwell in the present.

Even within that present, most remain imprisoned – and time is the warden.

Our cell walls consist cell phones, which we utilize to etch the tally marks of mortality into our minds. We willingly cuff our hands to its watches. We’re born into a life sentence that’s followed by a death penalty.

But times are changing, friends, and there is hope!

For there are some who refuse to be bound by this fear mongering tyrant. There are some who refuse to serve time!

Take the time to join Stan and Stitch as they embark on the altruistic journey to free us from time and its treacherous shackles!

‘GOTTA HEAR ITS’!
“Time is the great imaginary enemy of our dreams in reality.”
“The mysteries of time are revealed when you are
bored, stuck, and need to take a piss.”
You, or, Someone You Know!

#116 “In a World Without Time”

Loopholes on Life

#116 "In a World Without Time"

00:00 / 00:58:17

Stan and Stitch tackle the cruel master of time with the altruistic goal of freeing us all from its subtle tyranny.

Even within that present, most remain imprisoned – and time is the warden.

But times are changing, friends, and there is hope!

For there are some who refuse to be bound by this fear mongering tyrant. There are some who refuse to serve time!

Take the time to join Stan and Stitch as they embark on the altruistic journey to free us from time and its treacherous shackles!

‘GOTTA HEAR ITS’!
“Time is the great imaginary enemy of our dreams in reality.”
“The mysteries of time are revealed when you are
bored, stuck, and need to take a piss.”
You, or, Someone You Know!

The Wisdom of Master Splinter

“We choose what holds us back…
…and what moves us forward.”

~Master Splinter

What once was Black and White is now Fifty Shades of Gray

WARNING: As the herd of Valentines weekend movie-goers eagerly prepare to contribute to what is sure to be jaw-dropping box-office numbers — the following point of view may be as controversial as the film itself…

The inevitable success of Fifty Shades of Grey is essentially a raised glass to the moral decline of values in the Western world.

BUT WAIT! Make no mistake… or better yet make mistakes: humanity is not perfect! And in a world where our experience is based on polarity and relativity, we never will be….AND THAT IS OKAY! Being perfect is not our purpose… nor is that point the purpose of this article.

The purpose is to use the latest of many points on our social trend line to reflect on the real threat our humanity faces: desensitization…. Evil needs to exist in order for “Good” to prevail… We will make mistakes, we will do evil… but will we recognize it?

The biggest obstacle which stands in our way of becoming a more loving and unified world is the blurred lines. Good and Bad used to be two opposing but clear perspectives, now its controversial. Right and wrong used to be Black and White, now it’s many shades of grey.

I admittedly have not read this book, so am not passing judgement on it — and CERTAINLY not on it’s readers or movie watchers. I wrestle with my own demons — and they would gain ground on me if I focused too much on the wrestling matches of others.

I am however using the controversial buzz as a springboard to remember that the single most important thing to do on the road to becoming a good person IS NOT to be flawless, but rather, to recognize your flaws. As long as we, as individuals and as a society, can be true to ourselves and discern what is making us weaker or stronger — then by simply recognizing our negatives becomes a positives…

There is NO greater strength than the recognition of one’s own weaknesses.

I HOPE ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND! It’s okay to indulge in a drink, some not-so-healthy eats, or the guilty pleasure of your choice, but as you do, I challenge you to challenge yourself with some self-evaluation and ask yourself the question “why”? Our weakness is demonstrated in how we ‘chase those highs’ — we enjoy the junk food so eat more and more of it, we enjoy the drink so go from 1 to 5… We lose ourselves in the chase of those highs, and become prisoners of our own device. Our strength, however, is demonstrated in our ability to enjoy those guilty pleasures with the discipline to do so in moderation.

And if you’ve already chosen to see it, then…

I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE SHOW! And as you do, I challenge you to challenge yourself to recognize how the message of it, or other creations, can change you and/or others around you. Then discern whether or not the change reflects the type of person you want to be and/or the type of world you want to live in.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR LIFE! It’s okay to make mistakes — we are not perfect, on purpose! Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. As you enjoy your life, I challenge you to challenge yourself to simply acknowledge them!

After all, WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES... the best of us will work on them, the worst of us won’t recognize them.

“The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.”
~Kevin Spacey, “The Usual Suspects”

There’s only two sides; from Day to Night, Dark to Light, and Death to Life…
But between the extremes we lose site of what once was Black and White.
So why would you and I use the grey-scale for weighing Wrong and Right?

ENJOY!

Are you Self Aware?

“Are you Self Aware?”
a. Yes.
b. No.
c. Maybe… Let me reflect on it.

Why does Death come in Threes?

Someone who I had not spoken too in months instant messaged with a compelling question the other day, and an equally compelling dialogue followed!

Continue reading “Why does Death come in Threes?”

“TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:” – a message from our distant relatives.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,
This letter came to you from the place you’ll soon find timelessness;
We hope you get the message… before there’s a need for writing it.

Hope… a redeeming quality which you had deemed too childish;
We were born to bring revival, but grown to be survivalists.
Saw you playing “Simon Says”; so we did as Simon did…
Only shown how to rock a boat, never how to right the ship.

Since innocence seemed ignorant, we sought our bliss from sciences;
Our character’s best measured by the depth of our one-sidedness.
Taught to win at any cost…. But when we lost, our fight would end.
So this time when you teach us, can you please try “try again”?

We have the drive of motorized rides equipped with nitrogen;
While working just as tireless as the hovercrafts we’re flying in.
And we were taught to dream, but not to sleep until retirement…
There’s no peace in counting sheep, while lyin in a lion’s den!

A pill for that, a pill for this; a pill so both will strike more quick;
A pill to help us swallow all the truth of our reliances…
Now we’re living even longer – thanks to stronger vitamins;
Our ignorance was thinking it’d bring incremental life with it!

A device for that, a device for this; a device to make devices quick;
So desensitized by devices, we don’t even see the vice in it…
Now we’re obnoxiously robotic, a product of our environment…
Great at catching breaks we’ll never make the time to fix.

A fight for that, a fight for this; a fight so that the fight exists;
Standing by our right for peace, we’ll never cease the fight for it!
What goes around comes around; we found the reason spite exists.
So you can pay the piper, and in time we’ll pay the piper’s kid….

Pride for that, pride for this; pride for pride we might omit;
Pride which is tightly clinched in a fist too mighty to be pried of it.
With a sense of entitlement stemming from senseless mindfulness;
You could find us in the darkest age, describing it as enlightenment.

Until one day: a device ended the fight, a pill killed off the viruses.
Loved winning; but having won – we didn’t take much pride in it.
Then suddenly, we were blinded by a liquid leaking out our irises!
Perplexed, we entered the question in our engine: “Why is this?”

Across every generation, the gap is bridged by righteousness.
It was the first message off the presses when Gutenberg provided his.
The trend reflects the plight of men, who rise then fall to rise again;
But the cycle can recycle; there’s no wound that time won’t mend.

SO TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Too few were too concerned…
But there’s still time to change your lesson plan, before our lesson’s learned.

Yours Truly,
GENERATION ALPHA, EST 2010
Your future is our present, help us change it today.

The Perception of Influence

Life is full of peaks and valley’s, each equate to growth
Perception is reality, and we influence both.

“An Enlightening Game of 20 Questions”

What if you had the chance to play a game of 20 questions… with someone you knew, for certain, had all the answers?

“First question first: what’s the meaning of life?”
For you to keep on asking until you get it right.
“Gee, great insight… what on earth does it mean??”
What it means on earth is the same as in your dreams.
“Um, elaborate please! Where do I find what I seek?
You’ll find it in the hiding place which only you perceive.
“That’s three questions for you – still no answers for me?”
Or maybe just not the ones that you think you need?

“Why answer with more questions?” To show you what they mean.
“How am I to interpret that??” That’ll be the key.
“Clearly understanding’s key, yet I’m trapped in ambiguity!”
The key’s to find yourself; the truth’s to set you free.
“Can you spell it out by chance?” In no language that you read.
“Please extend an olive branch!” Please accept the olive seed.
“I know less than when I started.” You’ll know more once you cease.
“How long can I ask the same question?” Until you answer it for me.

“HERE WE GO AGAIN!!” Here you go again.
“Why would ‘I’ go here again?” To hear it all again.
“Well this time, can you say it clear?” That depends on how you hear.
“You’re confusing with your words!” You confuse them with your ears.
“This is all one big cycle.” I’m glad you’re seeing it show.
“I think we’re digressing.” I think you’re beginning to grow.
“I think ya don’t know what I think.” You think you think all that you know.
“Your answers breed more questions” Your questions breed both.

“AND HERE WE GO AGAIN‼” And here you go again.
“I don’t see where this is going,” you don’t see where this has been.
“I’ve become a better person, and I never looked back…
But I looked forward for the answers”…And you never looked back.
“How many questions do I have?” Since you ask, you’re down to nine.
“Not surprised you counted that!” Those with less, use more wise.

“Where will this end??” That would be a start.
“I’m getting lost again…” Try following your heart.
“Just enlighten me; please, all I need’s a little spark!”
If you want to see the light, you need to start out in the dark.
“Can’t you just point me to the grail or philosophers stone?”
I can, and I have, and I will, by pointing you back home.
“I don’t see how you’re helping!” That doesn’t mean you won’t.
“I just REALLY wanna know!” Are you really sure you don’t?

“Well if you’re the source of truth, why do you keep me guessin?”
Because it isn’t learned until discerned by the source of the question.
“I turn to you once more, and get turned away again!”
You turned to me, and as before, I’m turning you within.
“So why does he who helps himself even need you in the end?”
The conclusion can’t be reached until he sees where to begin.
Before you’d only seek externally when conquering your doubt.
The outward helped you inward, now going in will help you out.
With no thoughts but their own, one can hear what’s hardly heard.
You will find the key alone… and then see you never were.

“So discernment is the truth?” No, that’ll be the key.
“and with the key, I’ll see the truth?” You’ll perceive the tree.
“and what’s the tree lead to?” Truth. Living in all you see & do.
As the creative root branches through all you’ve created too.

“Why didn’t you just say so?” It’s the cost of being free.
Those who don’t find it for themselves, find it harder to believe.
“Well, that’s 19! I got more than I could ask in a 20 question game,
so for my final one: how can I help others do the same?”

JUST GIVE THEM 20 QUESTIONS! Then listen to them speak!
How you learned how to learn is how I’d teach you how to teach.
For every soul speaks differently, each language is unique.
But each one has a key; tailor-made for them by me.
And forcing the key will more often lead to broken locks and pride.
But fortunately, the doors made to be opened from inside.

So note this, as you notice folks roaming off the road:
Sharing where ya been does more than showing where to go!
They won’t believe what you know ’til they perceive it on their own;
They’ll care little how big you are, but they’ll respond to how you’ve grown.
For while there are many different paths, there’s only one summit.
And the key to life is love…
…but that’s not what it’d be if I took the choice from it.

Faith takes Practice, not Perfection

“If you believe in God:
pray for your faith once per night.

If you don’t:
then do it twice.“

Do you have “The Opposite Problem”?

…do you have the “opposite problem”?

an optimist?! NEGATIVE! just positively positive
the secret of the universe relies upon the opposites
for context in our populous, how competent are colleges?
took a lot of ignorance to comprehend what knowledge is
it’s a problem which is relative, its apparent we adopted it
it’s extremely unique, so commonly it’s moderate.
see the glass as half full with a modest bit of cockiness;
but if ya never topped it off, the cup would still be bottomless.

without a winter would a summer even be a thing?
if I never had a fall, would ya ever see me spring?
it’s sink or swim; but what’s a swim without a sink?
I think that I know – therefore I am, I think.
we peak then plateau, and we gradually shrink
no matter how far ya go, ya always on the brink.

Do you have the opposite problem? it’s likely it’s so:
answer with yes, or no – it’s residing in both.
a friend, or foe, above, below – in binary code
the ebbs and flows, they come and go, a high and a low

we want yes without no, wanna know without lessons
never had the answer, but want it without question
seek some direction: east ‘n a south; north ‘n a west
from chaos there is order, we’re an organized mess
it’s simply complex, we want a grade without a test
wanna win, no contest; wanna host? be my guest!
every notion we protect, all the motions we object;
are all perpetual at worst, and immoveable at best.

beauty is skin deep… but how shallow is sight?
when beauty’s best seen by the beholder who’s blind
can ya find an absent mind present in a moment of time?
in some cases ya capitalize; others, lower than swine.
but it takes both to take off – a case where all the pigs fly
and its the lowest swine who go most high, hoggin the sky‼

Do you have the opposite problem? answer it wise:
the answers black and white but may range from day to night
no wrong or right, narrow or wide, just a demand to supply
the secret’s too revealed to hide, so expect a surprise.

find depth in our shallowness, fulfillment in our hollowness
our future leaders will rise from those who can follow this.

Problem Solved.

Universe You: Your Reality Check Bounced!

What is your Awareness of Reality?

Do you fancy yourself to be more of a rational thinker or unbridled spirit – a man or woman of reason, or a child of God? Depending on one’s level of awareness, perhaps you do not make a distinction between the two.

Independent of your worldview, one thing holds true – at some level of granularity, your journey through life is 100% unique. This also means that, at some level, all journeys are 100% the same, paradoxical as it may seem.

This series is designed to explore, challenge, and ultimately/ ideally expand your level of awareness. Depending on your current vantage point and your receptiveness to expanding it you could be in for a wild ride, so buckle-up.

Chapter 1: Your Reality Check Bounced!

In this installment, let’s start with the beginning and end points – two points make a line, let’s see where you draw yours!

The “Starting Point”:

A single cell on the fingertip of an outstretched arm

Stretch your right arm outward and extend your right index finger as if you are pointing to something in the distance. Close your eyes and picture a single cell on the utmost tip of your finger.

Envision THIS single point as your current point of awareness.

THIS single cell and everything within it is your universe.

Is this single cell too small to utilize as an analogy for your entire universe? Yes, no, maybe – all of the above. After all, what is ‘small’? An objective assessment of the term would lead an individual to conclude the word is ‘relative’ at best! So let’s start here – because it is THAT relativity which will help tear down your ‘relative’ walls of perception.

While your universe is encapsulated in a single cell – there is no shortage of activity, potential, and quite literally, LIFE, within it. It has been said that a single cell in the human body contains 100 times as many atoms as there are stars in the Milky Way (which has hundreds of billions of stars).

Now envision the world as you know it (a microcosm of the universe), as one of the trillions of atoms existing within the single cell on the utmost tip of your right index finger.

On that morning, you became aware of the other universes around you

Imagine that one idle morning, while oscillating with nearby friends and family somewhere in the universe of your fingertip, something changed. YOU BECAME AWARE.

You functioned as a critical component in a critical atom which made up a critical cell – and the combination of awareness, perception, individualism, and ego were the ingredients which caused you to once believe the universe stopped there….

But that critical component you played in that critical atom which was part of a critical cell was part of something bigger. By being part of something bigger – one can feel smaller at first, or recognize that their contribution has not changed, but rather, they are contributing to something greater as well.

You became aware of the other cells which make up that fingertip around you.

And your universe expands to include those adjacent universes …

As one acknowledges the other universes contributing to the same cause your ‘original’ universe is – one can stop differentiating between them. Their separation was caused by your perception that they are separate – but at some level, they are not separate at all. Thus, your awareness of ‘your universe’ expands to include those adjacent universes.

And it continues. Your awareness expands exponentially.

You see your part in the finger, and the finger’s part in the hand. You see the hand as an extension of the universal arm, you see the universal arm as a limb in the universal body.

Even within that single cell, which you still perceive yourself as residing in, you become conscious of a ‘greater whole’, and your consciousness shifts from ‘that of the cell’ to ‘that of the body’.

The “Final Point”:

From a sub-particle to a cell at the tip of your finger, your universe expanded beyond to recognize the part you played, not just in the cell – but in the hand, the arm, the limb, and body as a whole.

You have the consciousness of “the body”. This is now “you”, and YOUR UNIVERSE. But what was the real lesson learned?

The lesson learned was not in a “finite point” my friend – it was in the PATTERN ITSELF…. You broke down (cellular) walls to see life beyond your original perspective, freed yourself from the concept of time (a whole other series), freed yourself from the need to ‘stop’ just because ‘you started’ — you embraced the pattern.

An infinite loop – the circular reference of perception:

For there you sit today – with the consciousness of the body. You have a name – and you recognize that there are others around you, similar but unique, you are together but separate.

Have you ever felt you were ‘a part’ of something bigger? As your consciousness resides in the body – THAT IS JUST THE TIP! That body is part of an atom in the fingertip (perhaps the country you live in) – which is a component of the hand (perhaps planet earth) – which is a part of a limb (perhaps the solar system), that is part of a body (perhaps the milky way)…

You recognize this as the body of “all that is”… and with that recognition, you’re reminded of the pattern…. and you wake up, all over again.

And in conclusion, there isn’t one.

You recognize the pattern, it is infinite. This ‘expanded awareness’ lead you back to the same place all over again – the body of the milky way, seen from an expanded vantage point, is merely the cell of a body in the tip of your (our) right index finger. One is bred to perceive one body.

This cycle continues through all time – time is a characteristic making up other aspects of the similar but different universes. There are cells as they are today and bodies made of cells as they were yesterday and others as they will be tomorrow.

What hasn’t changed is your role. No matter your level of awareness and current perception of reality – you are always a critical part of a critical atom in a critical cell which makes up something greater.

You are a critical part of an infinite cycle in a finite world, a critical milestone in a timeless trend in a world bound by time.

Expand your awareness and, in the next installment, this awareness will help you perceive the patterns of creation!

Shout out to Bert!

This series was inspired by a conversation between Bert and myself in the comments of the “What are you gaining” one-liner (“all that is gained in life is lost in death”).

There is some great dialogue in those comments regarding the concept of the ego, afterlife, the state of ‘being’, and perception of the ‘whole’ for those interested.

Please take some time to review the great perspective he has to offer on his “Who is Bert” blog – “a dialogue on mind, consciousness and existence”. Relevant to the topic at hand, I recommend his recent post on “identity, separation and love”. Enjoy!

– – +- -+- -+-+- = IT’S ALL RELATED = -+-+- -+- -+ – –
(Part 1) Universe You: Intro to Connecting the Dots
(Part 2a) Universe You: Positive Relationships
(Part 2b) Universe You: 3 Pillars of a Positive Relationship
(Part 3) Universe You: Why YOU Matter
(Part 4) Universe You: Giving Yourself Space

What are you gaining?

“All that is gained in life;
is lost in death.
Share.”

Surviving the Loss:

We gain many things in our time, which are used in our test;
….for all we accrue in a life — we will lose in our death.
Yet much perspective can be gained, as one becomes aware;
That the things we have which survive are the ones we share.

Are you Complaining, Waiting, or Changing?

“While you’re busy complaining…
…that others don’t change;
They’re busy waiting…
…for you to do the same.”

~LoopholesOnLife.com

A REAL Butterfly Effect

“The Extended Hand has a tremendous Butterfly Effect.”

~LoopholesOnLife.com

A Reflection of Us:

Every single gesture can change a life;
and a single moment is not made of time.
If one person needs help, then others do too;
World Peace is a decision beginning with you.

Intuitive Writing….

Want to tap into a super power you may not even have realized you had within you? Check out Ido’s article above on a tool for intuitive writing! It’s an amazingly powerful, yet amazingly simple, tactic for you to grow any direction you’d like — up, down, inward and outward!

It took me nearly 3 decades to understand how to effectively leverage “intuition”…. 3 decades….

….And considering I was a creative writer/poet from the moment I could write AS WELL AS the fact that I’ve been able to lucid dream since I was a young child — it is that much more amazing that it took me THREE DECADES to first appreciate, learn, and then leverage the creative power of intuition…..

We ALL have it within us, but some of us are further removed from this source than others…. and again, I went nearly THREE DECADES while being about as close as you can get to this source (in the good ‘ol dream-scape of creativity). But like many things, it is hard to appreciate somethings value until it is experienced for ourselves…. (and hey, I didn’t even realize that “lucid dreaming” was somewhat rare for people, or that the concept even had a name, until high-school— and I certainly didn’t realize how certain aspects of life can serve as a tool to hone a gift which exists within us for, amazingly.. AGAIN, THREE DECADES!!)

So if you don’t have the patience to wait for three decades like I did on the hope that eventually “it all clicks” for you one day, but would still like to learn how to tap into the super-person in you —- start with Ido’s article on “tool for developing intuitive writing”!

By taking some time IN THE MORNING and doing “stream of consciousness writing”, you are allowing the intuitive in you to speak, and allowing your conscious mind to listen. Start somewhere and eventually you can go anywhere!!! 😀

PROJECT E.G.O.- 3 Phase Plan to Win the Conflict Within

Make no mistake, we are at war friends.

Our enemy is deceitful, conniving, and…. surprisingly logical.

Our adversary will strive to convince us that it is not a foe, but a friend.

Our opponent will remind us of all the great things we are, and attribute it to our successes. Then subsequently remind us of all we are not, and attribute it to the failures of others.

Our rival goes by the name of “Ego”, and it has been called the source of ALL conflict! Welcome to Project: E.G.O., the 3-step battle plan for shared victory in our individual battles.

Continue reading “PROJECT E.G.O.- 3 Phase Plan to Win the Conflict Within”

The Tallest Tree had a Striking Ego

“The Tallest Tree
once looked down upon
the ones smaller than he.”
~LoopholesOnLife.com

Reflection:

Appreciate all that you have;
Be humble for all that you are.
Learn for yourself, not for the class;
And only strive to raise your own bar.

For all that you were & are just now;
Will inevitably, like all things, be struck down.

Ego is the useless residue left behind with all else removed.

Reflecting on your Life

“All the good & bad you see or do;
is a perfect reflection of you!”

~LoopholesOnLife.com

Care to share?

Like this:

Care to share?

Like this:

Care to share?

Like this:

Care to share?

Like this:

Care to share?

Like this:

Care to share?

Like this:

Care to share?

Like this:

Care to share?

Like this:

Care to share?

Like this:

Care to share?

Like this:

Care to share?

Like this:

Care to share?

Like this:

…do you have the “opposite problem”?

Care to share?

Like this:

What is your Awareness of Reality?

Chapter 1: Your Reality Check Bounced!

The “Starting Point”:

A single cell on the fingertip of an outstretched arm

THIS single cell and everything within it is your universe.

On that morning, you became aware of the other universes around you

And your universe expands to include those adjacent universes …

And it continues. Your awareness expands exponentially.

The “Final Point”:

An infinite loop – the circular reference of perception:

And in conclusion, there isn’t one.

Care to share?

Like this:

Surviving the Loss:

Care to share?

Like this:

Care to share?

Like this:

A Reflection of Us:

Care to share?

Like this:

Care to share?

Like this:

Care to share?

Like this:

Reflection:

Care to share?

Like this:

Care to share?

Like this: