You Are Alive; Why Would You Not Take Advantage Of It?

 

WOW, life... I am going to take advantage of this!

Image generated by Ideogram AI.

Imagine for a moment, that you are a sentient life form on another planet and just like human beings you live and die a certain amount of time. But you know for certain there is no afterlife. Would this affect how you approach your existence?

 I asked this question because I find an ever-growing number of people don't take advantage of what their life offers. Put simply, that is that they are aware they exist; they can affect change in their environment and yet they do not alter their situation in a positive manner but instead reinforce negative behavior, and all the while completing bitterly about the situation. This is analogous to putting one's hand in very hot water and yet insisting that they do not want to take their arm out of the scalding liquid, because that would be a change. For years, this same group of individuals keeps stating that they are unhappy but they keep doing the very things that entrench their discomfort. Any change in the status quo is met immediately with negativity. Offer to give them empowering tools and they resist that too.

 The only way I can rationalize this in my head, is that they must be waiting for some marvellous afterlife. But I'm willing to bet they would resist that change as well. This boggles my mind. Yet I know people just like this today, in the 21st-century. A time in human history when there are so many opportunities, regardless of your physical or mental situation. It does take a fair bit of work in some cases to utilize these opportunities. One may have to negotiate with funding sources for equipment, or take a field of study. In the situation where the person cannot do any of the things necessary to utilize opportunities, they can form a group which could assist them in reaching a goal.

 To illustrate, the other day it occurred to me that anyone can create artwork. You can literally give one the many AI services like the online service IDEOGRAM a description of what you want and it will produce an image for you, this service has a free option so to create this image would cost the person nothing. Then they could dictate the text to go along with the image to their phone or computer. Again this is free to do. So basically you could write a book complete with images. You could then use this new book to mobilize others to assist you further. Perhaps form an organization which would then in turn qualify for funding. You could then pay your self a salary.... This is an oversimplification but you get the idea. The old axiom comes to mind "Where There's a Will There's a Way."

 The older I get the more enthusiastic I get about what life has to offer. Because I now know that the opportunities are short and should not be taken for granted. I have also seen what "The other side of the coin" described above, looks like and to me that is mediocrity at best and indeed a waste of life at worst. I shall scream: "That Ain't Me, Baby!" Until the end of time.

 Maybe things are too easy and the beginning of the 21st-century. When you think about it, it's the challenges in ones young life that build the skills of self-reliance and deeper understanding. Do any of my readers remember learning how to use a physical card catalogue at a library? If so leave me a comment. That one skill brought together many aspects of awareness and understanding. 

 

The card catalog in Manchester Central Library
March 2010. Photo: Ricardo Creative Commons License: CC BY 2.0

 

Now you just go to your favourite search engine or AI resource. There is no need to work out a solution, now one just tells the machine what you want and poof the answer is there. There is no need for the individual to change or evolve. Maybe that explains some of the behaviour I described above. These people are waiting for something else to do the hard work of finding a solution. Then again it is unlikely that the solution would work if the person was not willing to adopt alteration in their behaviour.

 I was told of a similar situation earlier this year and involved a person on welfare. To be clear they were very poor and just getting by. This year the provincial government made available at extra $200 per month for people who also havw a disability. The person I am talking about would indeed qualify for the extra money in this case. But there was a catch, there was a separate application process. To this day they still have not filled out the one form in order to get the money.

Ministry of  Social Development and Poverty Reduction June 20, 2025 
News release: "B.C. helps people keep full federal Canada Disability Benefit" 

 I am so grateful that my life experiences have shaped me in a way that allows me to see the possibilities. Difficulty is not a problem, it is an asset,  an opportunity to get creative, and thereby in solving the problem one gains a slightly deeper understanding of the world Add up these difficulties and their respective solutions and what you are left with is quite in the encyclopedia of understanding. The ultimate toolkit for life if you will 😀

 This Christmas was particularly shocking in the supported living building I am a member of. Most tenants actively argued against Christmas celebrations or decorations. In the six or seven years that I've been here I have never seen it so bad. Yet as mentioned above by maintaining the negative status quo one only entrenches and makes worse the situation. Dr. Seuss's the Grinch could take lessons from this crew. However the staff were able to break out the ornaments and festivities that go along with them at the last minute. It did result in a mild elevation of the buildings' mood. So there is a way to improve the situation.

This pleasant turnaround in the atmosphere actually really surprised me. I was convinced that absolutely nothing would break them out of their "Ebenezer Scrooge mindset". As I have said before in this blog, I think mindset plays a major role in one's life. (Click this link to see all the articles dealing with mindset and motivation on the blog.) Much larger than it is given credit for. I would go as far as to say: "your mindset, not only affects how you see things currently, it can affect your long term health". And I don't suggest this idea likely. Since a person's mindset has an impact on their entire perception of the world, I don't think it is too much of a reach to suggest that it may have a health impact if the same mindset is held on over a longer period of time.

 What I'm suggesting is that a profoundly negative mindset and open you up to a whole variety of health concerns. Maybe not biologically but definitely because you are not going to see the warning signs. I have noticed that many people in my facility have verily shallow inner awareness. Most of their stimulus comes from external sources like the Internet, various substances, all of which are just a form of distraction.

 This reminds me of the old story I was told as a young child about the ostrich which would stick it's head in the sand so that it did not see the approaching threat. Or to put it another way, "Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind". Of course this behaviour doesn't do the ostrich any good at all except it is a virtual guarantee that the poor birds life will be shorter. The same holds true for anyone who holds on to a negative mindset or seeks constant distraction from a real-life.

 It can be very difficult to break this pattern, but as the short Christmas experience positively by the tenant in my building has shown it is not impossible. So, since you are alive and reading this or watching the companion video, please take the time to do something large, or small, with your life right now. That step may be all it takes to change your perception and have a great new year in 2026.

 Take care Patrick

 

** NOTE: The picture "Image generated by Ideogram AI" displayed at the top of this article is from the service Ideogram AI.  As a layperson, I have read their relevant "terms of service" and determined, to the best of my ability, that the image may be viewed by the public.  However before any reuse, please review fully their terms and if necessary contact the company for more information.

The use of said image does not imply any affiliation or endorsement.

 

 

 

 

The Spirit of Joy

Many people know I am an agnostic, and yet I very much enjoy the season of Christmas and New Year's. This is due to a simple fact, it is one of the few times in the North American calendar during the year where people are encouraged to feel "Joy" in their religious beliefs. It occurred to me, that it is equally valid to give oneself permission to feel joy for the sake of being happy in itself.Here's a spontaneous idea… Click the search button below to do a search on the word "joy" right now and see what comes up. We both could be surprised 😃. There is no trickery here, it's just a simple search on a single word. Indeed the results will probably change over time.

There are so many things going on in the world that are negative or complex. So regardless of how you want to frame it take the season of joy at face value. Put down the negativity for a while and allow yourself to smile and maybe even feel wonderful. Approach everything from a slightly younger perspective, being curious and playful. North American society has given you permission to do so during this time of year so take society up on that offer.

My apartment has twinkling lights and Christmas music playing. The day after Labor Day, I went out and did a impulse buy, an illuminated two thirds of a meter tall Christmas elf because it was something that I knew the child in me would go crazy for and indeed it did. I also purchased, a Santa's Workshop figurine pictured below (unfortunately the illuminated elf is very difficult to get a clear photograph of. If I ever manage to get one I will of course update this little article.) 

Santa's Christmas Village by Spode.
With battery-powered LED illumination.

Remember the magic and joy you felt anticipating a new toy at Christmas?… Looking at the present under the tree, and wondering which one of them might be the one. There is nothing stopping you from rekindling that glorious feeling today or at any time of the year but during the festive season one can really get into the spirit of things. I have spent the last two weeks drawing pictures and making Christmas screensavers for the computers and rooms in my facility, which happens to be an assisted living building. The funny thing I noticed right away was that when I did something in the spirit of the season, somebody else added their own declaration or ornament. It's contagious, and it's a positive contagion something that helps bring out the best in people. Have you ever made a paper snowflake out of a sheet of plain old stationary? It can be glorious fun! It does not matter if it looks great. The only thing that matters is if you enjoy it in such a way that it brightens your day.

If for whatever reason you can't be joyous right now then put it off until the opportunity presents itself. When I was about 14 years old I had to go into the hospital over the Christmas season and for much of that year. When I finally got out in July my parents held Christmas all over again. Yes we had Christmas in July! And it was spectacular. My young mind discovered that it's not "the when" that matters, it's giving yourself permission to indulge in play and a smile.

As I write this this short article, I keep getting inspired. What if you gave your self permission to at some point in the day to play? This could be very liberating… For it to work one would not worry about rules or a schedule. You would just play when ever the opportunity or idea occurred to you. What defines "play" would be entirely up the individual. Just thinking about it inspires me.

I must begin again to pay attention to how young people play. Not just learn what they are doing, but to discover what atmosphere and mental state they put themselves into. I am willing to bet that for most people as they grow up, they lose touch with some of the lessons learned in childhood. I vividly remember mom and dad telling us on weekends to go out and play, the exact wording was "Time for you to get out of the house." This wasn't said in a negative way. It was just the way our weekends went. Kids were self-sufficient to a larger extent back in the 70s and 60s… At least that is how I remember it. We would go out for a few hours and perhaps wonder back in for lunch, and that was conditional on the fact that we might be too involved in our playing to worry about something as mundane as eating 😀. I definitely remember feeling like the comic strip character Dennis the Menace.

Yes, by all means dear reader, set up some time play. For just a little while put down all other concerns. This will definitely encourage joy once again.

That's it for this very short post. Here's wishing you all the joy and happiness in the world, which you can dream up any time!

Take care Patrick

Your Mental Margin

 "Use It or Lose It" holds true for your mental well-being as well.

Ever since joining a cognitive therapy group I have become very aware of the way people process their environment and indeed their own sense of reality. I joined this group because I am 66 years old and even though I am in good health I have noticed a slight decline in my memory and cognitive skills. So when the opportunity arose I jumped at joining the group.

The adage "Use It or Lose It" really has come into focus for me as I look around and I see young and old people mentally drifting through life or taking things for granted. Assuming that the facilities for have now, they will always have. Mind you I think everyone does this at different stages of life to some degree, I recently saw a video clip of Arnold Schwarzenegger who is now 78 years old, as of the writing of this blog post, commenting that when he was 30 years old he never thought about losing muscle mass. Especially with the incredible amount of exercise he committed to every day. The idea even if it occurred to him what it seemed inconceivable. What makes "Use It or Lose It" even more important is, we live in a world that is much more interconnected and technical on all levels. Society and individuals simply cannot afford being ignorant of society and technology. The late astronomer, Carl Sagan said, and I'm paraphrasing this: 

"We have also arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. This is a prescription for disaster. We might get away with it for a while, but sooner or later this combustible mixture of ignorance and power is going to blow up in our faces."

It is my point of view that in order to get the best out of life, one must be fully involved in all aspects. One must avoid taking things for granted or as I've mentioned many other times in this blog going on a kind of mental autopilot. The more you exercise your mind and body the more margin you build up. To put it another way, the more reserves you have to deal with the challenges of life the better. A little bit of difficulty throughout one's life is necessary. Try not to become overly comfortable in your lifestyle or routines. Make a commitment to do something uncomfortable and potentially productive every few days or weeks. It is these uncomfortable activities which tend to break down the walls of isolation and help to keep you connected to the society and realities around you.

When was the last time you read a physical book? The act of reading something written or printed on paper is very different than reading the same material off a screen. Come to think of it when was the last time any of us read a book or other physical medium like a magazine or newspaper from beginning to end.

It is these kind of things that help you stay connected and alive in the world. It helps build up your mental and your physical margins, so that when your help does decline you have a much better chance of enjoying your later years with friends and family.

I probably will add more to this article in the next few days. But for tonight I wanted to get this out there just as a starting point.

Second instalment: October 18, 2025

Speaking about "mental margins"and really using the facilities of one's brain to think and consider a person's environment. I keep meaning people who really don't understand at all how different things in their life relate to each other. This leads into a real difficulty for them when they try to use technology. For example a friend of mine recently bought a Smart TV. They asked me to assist them in the set up and I realized partway through that they did not have any comprehension of what was meant by a "smart TV". As a result they are having great difficulty using it. When their PVR (Personal Video Recorder) had a momentary glitch in a recorded program and froze for a few seconds they immediately thought it was a problem with the new TV. They don't see the separate components which make up modern media experiences. To them the television set is all encompassing and so when I explained initially that they had to use two remote controls one for the PVR  and one to control the volume on their TV they really got confused. It was not until I realized how they were looking at the devices that I understood what the problem was.

There are extenuating circumstances here which I won't go into but it still remains that a great number of society's people are now using hardware and services with no understanding of how it all works together. This is a point of greatest concern for me because it guarantees that not only will the devices not be used to their best advantage, it is for certain there will be confusion and problems down the road. Yet I am also reminded that there are many very creative people out there still. But when I run into people that don't want to learn or expand their boundaries I get a little frightened. It reminds me of the movie "Idiocracy" (movie trailer) which takes place in the future in a city where everybody has been dumbed down. It is a comedy but the underlying message cannot be ignored. "Use it or lose it"

There has been a shift in attitude toward knowledge and learning

In my family, understanding a concept or discovering how something worked was a real sign of achievement, as a matter of fact I remember the expression on my father's face when he would describe some little aspect of an idea, there was sheer joy in his face. The message and the behaviour were transferred directly to his children. At the time we might not have understood what he was describing fully, but we got the message that it was something worth striving for. Now, knowledge and learning seemed to be, if not devalued, taken for granted… After all there's always "Google" or ChatGPT to fall back on.

What's missing is the sheer excitement which I still experience when I discover and understand something new. I still have quite a number of eureka moments in my life 😀. This means that many people also don't really appreciate discovery and achievement anymore. Especially if the undertaking involved some commitment over weeks or months. In part, this is likely due to everything being viewed as transitory, as well as what now qualifies as a lengthy commitment.
 

Take care Patrick

Side note: The Rose photograph (More about the creation of this image in the article "Find Some Time to Disconnect from All the Chatter") depicted at the top of this article is based on images generated by an AI initially and then slightly adjusted by me. The moment I saw the Rose I thought:" It be great to have this backlit in a light box. Wouldn't you know it, I did some searching and there is a small company on Etsy which does just that. Here's a link to their storefront: Q AND L GIFTS. You do have to provide the artwork as a very good scan but I have been most impressed I must say. This is not an official endorsement of this product and I am not being reimbursed I just thought others might find this beneficial.

The Feelings You're Not Aware of

Angel and boy figurines found outside a cabin in
Nakusp British Columbia Canada, 2017.  

"With the tremendous variety of outlooks, beliefs, attitudes and different ways of dealing with one's reality I find it incomprehensible that one reality fits all."

It is my position that people go through their daily lives using various levels of awareness, and that there is a tendency to intuitively believe that your particular brand of reality for the most part matches others. I think this is an incomplete picture. Allow me to explain:

With the tremendous variety of outlooks, beliefs, attitudes and different ways of dealing with one's reality I find it incomprehensible that one "reality" fits all. Indeed one's own personal perception of their reality does not have to match at all any other persons. There may be some very general parameters but I think they are quite flexible. To be clear I'm not talking about any sort of health condition, these are just you physically fit and healthy individuals you meet as you go throughout your day. The "average Joe" if you will.

Now, adding to the mix, unconscious feelings and other motivators you are not aware of. These may be struggling motivators in the back of your mind. Not strong feelings, but those fleeting supple reactions. Social they may be, but their cumulative effect should not be discounted or ignored. The message I have for you today in the short little article is to be aware that these emotional transients exist and you may discover a fair bit about yourself by paying attention to them.

For each person, these brief background feelings may be incredibly mild or momentarily very intense. But because they are so short in duration we move on with our daily activities without even noticing them consciously. They can colour our conversation, bring up an old feeling, make you feel good or bad about a particular situation… Ever wondered why your mood abruptly shifted while you were going about your day? This may be where the answer lies. If you can open up a dialogue with yourself, you never know what you will find.

Well, look at that., another incredibly short but concise article. I know the Internet prefers thousand word essays, but I think for today this will do. It is the weekend here in Surrey British Columbia and we are getting ready for the Canadian Thanksgiving. Wherever you are, and whenever you read this, I hope you are having a great day and feel free to post a comment.

Take care Patrick

Can Moods Become Habit?

 

 "It Is Never Good To Go Through Life On Autopilot." 

Can a mood become an ingrained habit? That is to say, can a particular mood or state of mind become a default reaction to a given situation. More importantly, can one afford such a knee-jerk an automatic reaction in a healthy life.

To my mind it is kind of like handing over the driver's keys will mild form of enslavement particularly if the mood is a negative one. This is going to be a very short article or note I just thought just occurred to me. People frequently say "They woke up in a bad mood." I think if that happens regularly and without reflection on what's going on to perpetuate this state is a dangerous situation. Because the person is handing over responsibility for how well they will function in life to a belief. It can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. They wake up in a bad mood and convince themselves there is nothing they can do about it and then the sages been set for the cycle to continue. Essentially because they literally expect to wake up in this negative mood.

I would like to put forward that this is a situation which the person cannot afford. One must not give in to habit or routine. It is much better to constantly be critical of a feeling and if they find that the state they are in is part of a pattern take the responsibility and action to change it. In this way one gets to know their inner workings and ultimately who they are. As I've said many times on this blog it is never good to go through life on autopilot or to follow a routine without considering the benefits and consequences of that routine.

Often people will tell me they don't have the time to reflect on their life or situation and use this as a rationale for not taking action. But you see, no one else can change your life other than you. This journey of understanding one's moods and motivations is an ongoing event throughout life. As you think and feel events, take each one as an opportunity to make a decision. In that way you are not governed by a mood but instead learn something about yourself and indeed those around you.

So if you woke up this morning in a bad mood, take the opportunity to see what can be changed about how you are feeling. My suggestion is as you analyse, right your thoughts and feelings down. This makes it a much more personal experience and you will be surprised about the avenues to a solution you find.

Have a great day!
Patrick

Cocooning And The Tendency To Resist New Experiences.

It is a common belief that as a person ages, there is a tendency to pull back from society and resist new experiences; this is often called "Cocooning".

Part of me wonders if that belief is true and another part of me screams loudly that it is not. I just turned 66 years old and I seem to be doing more than I ever did earlier in my life. Now, I do find that there is a resistance to being involved in "everything". And "everything" in this context represents the things that others feel I should be involved in. Maybe there's a tendency to misinterpret one's desire to focus on what matters to them personally rather then to be involved with all the other activities society normally expects a person to be involved in.

I truly have a better understanding now of some of the great researchers throughout history that were knowen to lock themselves in their study to deeply focus on their chosen field of interest. Nothing is more disconcerting than being interrupted randomly. (That was this morning's adventure. I had planned to write this article at about 8 AM and here it is 1:15 PM.)  Albert Einstein was famous for going into his study for prolonged periods, essentially shutting out the world, to focus on his research. 

Now let me be clear, there is a distinction between healthy Cocooning and someone who was isolating themselves for other reasons. People must develop the social emotional awareness skills to tell the difference. If I'm truly honest with myself my personality destined to be a bit of a loner but that is because I like to focus deeply. My moods are always fine when I'm in the state and I can easily converse with whoever comes by. Sometimes I get a little too caught up in the conversing as a matter of fact. I must've been a storyteller in a previous life 😁.

Contrast that with someone who is normally social but starts to slowly withdraw from friends or just become less involved with their growth. One of the telltale signs that this is not healthy is that there mood goes down and they become fatigued. If you see this happening it is most definitely our warning sign. Frequently persons in such states tend to really resist help. Usually it is also true that the more aware they are emotionally the more they can manipulate and hide.

You may wonder why I am choosing to talk about this particular topic now. It is the end of summer and the beginning of full it's not too far away. For myself this means I must be extra vigilant because the winter months sometimes bring that negative cocooning  behaviour. So this is my way of reminding myself to pay attention. As luck would have it, my local health department just started up a pilot program focused on the elderly and mental health. Specifically a cognitive therapy group, so I hustled to my butt and got down there to sign up. The more tools I can have at my disposal, the better. Also others may be feeling the same urges. To you I say make appropriate early preparations, what ever that may be, and a do not fool yourself into thinking: "I can do this all by myself." If you need help ask for it.

But also looking at this behaviour from a larger perspective, I find it fascinating. It is indeed a message to society understand the differences and benefits involved in allowing someone to focus deeply on their field of choice, be it a hobby or something more formal, and recognizing the difference when the behaviours are not healthy.

Of course one of the things it gets in the way of detecting the differences is that we are also busy and distracted. People multitask like they are the main programmer in the movie The Matrix. Even if you don't know what the matrix movie, is you get the idea. There's a message here for those super multitasking people, "they to need to take stock of where their emotional and physical well-being is." You cannot and should not even try assuming that your body is indestructible. As everyone ages, they inevitably find this out and it is usually a surprise. Because our society does not test to be that aware to focus on checking in with yourself from time to time. However it is something you really should do. Put down the cell phone, or your favourite device of distraction and just ask yourself how you're doing.

Well, that's my little article for today. I really have no idea what the next article will be. But rest assured there will be something that pops into my mind 😃. I'm debating at the moment whether I want to dedicate a video for this particular posting. We are getting close to the weekend, so I think I will have some time.

Take care Patrick

Creativity And the Unexpected

 

The unexpected is the catalyst for creativity.

I find it very strange, that I keep running into people who emphatically tell me they don't like change-they like routine. These aren't elderly people either, their ages run the gamut. If this article has one point, it is that I believe the unexpected is it very necessary component of a full life. 

The best creativity comes about when something unanticipated is thrown into the mix. Which can result in an "Aha!" moment. Indeed, I think the whole concept of the unexpected is underappreciated. Some people will avoid the uncertain situations at all cost. This is the wrong way to approach life. One needs to embrace the opportunity that potentially comes from the unexpected. From the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Röntgen to the creation of WD-40   Which actually stands for "Water Displacement formula 40" lubricant, the "unanticipated"has always played a role in the creative process. (For an in-depth article in the creation of WD-40, see this wonderful article "Who Invented WD-40?" on the "Today I Found Out" website.)

Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen looking into a fluoroscope (X-ray
screen) placed in front of a man's body and seeing
the ribs and the bones of the arm. 
Chromolithograph Date:1896/1900

Licence: NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Source: Wellcome Collection.

Wilhelm Roentgen's Realization of the practical application of x-rays wasn't the focus of his 1895 experiments. However, when he saw that they could permeate solid matter and cause a chemically treated paper to fluoresce, it was definitely an "Aha!" moment. His mind was open to unexpected ideas.

 Have you ever had an idea not work out, but that very failure inspires you in a new way to solve the problem?

An unexpected situation can have the benefit of shaking you off of a limited train of thought, that is by injecting something new into your experience . In computer science especially when generating random numbers, there is the concept of a "seed value" it is a random number you pick to start the program going and it can dramatically alter the results you get. This is not the part of the day I where you ask a question this is on a more fundamental level that affects how the program initially approaches the problem. This would be equivalent to giving it something unexpected. Therefore the results are completely different.

So whether it be random numbers or an unexpected situation the influence of the unpredictable cannot be understated. I would go farther and argue that it is necessary to keep an unpredictable component in your life just so that one does not suck. I once had a friend who was great for doing this,"being random", he would burst through my door at all times of the day or night with some of the craziest ideas or adventures. Everything normal would occasionally go right out the door and I had more adventures and meant more unique people than I would've ever imagined if this person had not been part of my life. Sadly, they passed away a long time ago, but I still remember the lessons learned. Which can be summarized as follows:

"Be thankful for the unexpected. This is where life grows."

Having said this however underscores just how important the "unexpected and surprising" is. Without them it can be difficult to go beyond your boundaries. One tends to stay with what they know and you can't just say "Okay The Unknown, surprised me was something new."Probably because you can't anticipate what is outside of your own experience. The random conditions have to combine in order to create the unanticipated. One might be able to engineer part of but there always must be a random component.

I have spent the last few days wandering the Internet and books in order to add some unique items to this article. Things that would really underscore the usefulness of the unexpected.

At the beginning of this article I mentioned WD-40. It is without a doubt one of the most well-known products for, lubricating, cleaning, and rust removal. With an endless list of uses. (See the WD-40 Blog.) The thing is though that is not why it was created. It was supposed to be a water repellent used on the Atlas rockets to reduce rust while they sat in their silos. It was a accidental discovery about the lubricating aspect and fortunately the developers realize this. Again the unexpected played a role. While I was reading up on the history I decided to ask my local AI software to draw me a picture. I told it to "Draw a can of WD-40 in the style of Atlas rocket." What it came up with was totally unexpected.

Output from an AI when asked to combine an
Atlas rocket with a can of WD-40.

Image created using Vector FX 1.0  software 
by Distinct AI.

 
A few weeks ago I bought myself a 360° camera. The device captures everything around you and converted into an MP4 video file.See the companion YouTube video for several examples of the 360 camera in use. There's also 15 second long example video on this post.

If you are unfamiliar with this type of camera here is a very short, 15 second video clip. It should be noted that the camera uses two lenses mounted on either side of the device and I am not moving the camera at all. The panning affect is done with software. It's a little crude I am still learning, but you will get the idea.

The 360 camera used in the clip and longer video.
Insta 360 X4

  

Here is the companion video to this article. There are a few much longer clips from the new 360 camera. What became immediately clear to me in reviewing the footage was how much is missed as one proceeds through their day. I was surprised by how much was going on that I was completely unaware of. This is the "unexpected" again and it gives my creativity a real boost.

The lesson to be learned here it is then, when you noticed your creativity beginning to dry up start in on something new. Whether that be learning a new skill or exploring some terrain. Also be prepared to go back and reevaluate your daily life, there are most likely many things that you just haven't noticed. Being in the moment can be great for focusing and and calming oneself down, but don't get in the habit of defaulting to a particular mode of living life. Experience in the world are very diverse. Indulge in the mysterious and unexpected opportunities they afford.

Take care and as always feel free to leave comments.

Patrick

Find Some Time to Disconnect from All the Chatter.

 

Click to download larger image.
Created with Vector FX 1. 0 and CorelDRAW 2025

"You have to give yourself a break from all the Connected Chatter". Take some time to do only what you want to do.

On the weekends I disconnect. All the technological goodies and all the notifications on the various devices get turned off. I have only a few things on an emergency list that can get through. Aside from that, the world can wait until Monday.

This does not mean that I put down all the technology, rather I focus on what I want to do, and I mentally let go of the rest of the world. Funny thing is, I did this mostly by accident. One day I discovered that I didn't have my phone with me as I was wandering around, and it was really no big deal. I also noticed that once I knew it wasn't there the psychological relief of knowing it wouldn't ring was profound. 

I am now quite comfortable with leaving it in my bag even when it's on and I'm out and about on the weekdays. That's how things started with a single device, namely "The Phone". With that change I also noticed that I didn't need other things as well. My computer pretty much goes on hiatus for large chunks of the weekend or if I am using it is to create something because I want to create it. For example the image of the rows at the top of this page. (There is also an animated version here, but be forewarned it is very large and may not display on older devices. This is why it's on its own separate page so someone doesn't accidentally load it 💣

Click here to see the animation

 

"You have to give yourself a break from all the Connected Chatter". Take some time to do only what you want to do.

This is a very short post for the simple reason that there is not much when needs to do to achieve this little piece of mind. Just put down all the distractions. It is okay to do that you know :-)

A little bit about the Rose. It was created on a Saturday by using a little bit of off-line, not connected to the Internet, AI. I was so impressed and I just had to find a use for it and who knows it may end up as a " Displate" someday. I'm not sure the colours would reproduce properly but will see. I am convinced that I by hand disconnected from all my responsibilities for that weekend I may not have come up with the idea for the rows. But it sure was fun making it.

Take care Patrick

PS: If you love graphics and photos, over the years I have added many articles to this blog featuring the images here is one such article. Many of the photos can be downloaded in their original hi resolution for printing or whatever you like.

Summer Photos 2012 to 2023 

To do a general search, just use the keyword "photos" in the search box at the top of every article if you're viewing the site on a laptop or tablet.

When Nothing Matters… Find Something That Does.

Imagine, that you are in the life situation where all your basic needs are met. All of the following items are optional, work, buying groceries, medical care, a place to live and money to spend. From my point of view, 99% of the people on earth would be overjoyed to have such a situation. When you think about it it would be the solution to most of life's problems. You would be absolutely free to do what ever you wanted, and let your creativity fly!… 

But what if a person was born into this situation? I have met people recently who are in this exact situation, and to be clear these are bright people, but they seem lost. These are adults in the ranges of 27 to their early 30s, who at the slightest problem will blow it out of proportion and are unable to conceive of the way to begin to address the issue. They just don't know where to start. They have no faith in themselves and there is a tendency to panic immediately. With all the free time available to them instead of taking advantage of the multitude of opportunities out in the real world they have become reclusive and overthink everything. I find myself saying to people in this situation:. "Just start. Don't try to be perfect in your analysis of the issue. Just begin with what you think might work. If it doesn't, try a different approach."

Human beings I fervently believe, need legitimate challenges and problems. To be clear, this is not a negative. By overcoming and going through the process of understanding what works for oneself the person inevitably grows. For this to work however, one must have some procedure for dissecting and understanding parts of the issue. This comes usually early in life dealing with small problems and slowly over time tackling bigger ones. If it all occurs at the correct time the individual is not even aware they are learning the skills to coping with life's "curveballs". People who learn these lessons later in life tend to be very resistant because it does take effort and getting used to coming out of one's comfort zone. To some degree everyone has to learn to be somewhat comfortable with being uncomfortable. That is not adverse to challenge. While I was thinking about this the simple statement in the poster below occurred to me "To Benefit From Challenge, Is The Meaning of Life."...

 

Click the picture to download a printable
version on your computer.

 

Please feel free to download and print out the image if it inspires you. If you would like a unique hard copy version of this printed on steel as a poster it can now be purchased at "Displate" in several sizes. Full disclosure, I do receive a percentage of every sale.

Click here to view the versions available on my Displate page 

... You may have discovered though that depending on the person, as they get older their resistance to breaking routines becomes entrenched. This is the situation I find these people in. To be honest it has driven me to my own distraction, as the same issues come up over, and over again. It really makes me appreciate what my parents and others in my early life did. They made sure I faced challenges. Most of them want planned, I think my parents just really resisted the urge to over protect me. I am not perfect and of course have many foibles but being fearful of challenge is not one of them. To be honest I actually like a good bit of difficulty now and then thrown at me. Nothing reminds you you are still alive and engage with the world and an unexpected issue you must resolve! 😀.

I am reminded of one of the early "Matrix" movies, in which everyone is living in a simulated life, here the protagonist Nero, asks (paraphrasing) "Wy did you make the simulation, so dystopian, why not make it pleasant?" The answer he receives is that without challenge people just give up. -If you haven't seen the movies by the way they are well worth the watch. I believe they are available on YouTube as a rental.

If you have difficulties in your life, try to reframe them, they may not all be problems, you may get some benefit from dealing with issues. People are always learning, but not always aware of what they are learning. Just understanding that can change your outlook. Reality is not perfect and that's probably a good thing because it always means there's an opportunity and a chance to grow.

For all the negativity that the words Problems, and Challenges receive we must all remember that without a problem, in the first place people would not be inspired to create a solution. It is frequently that very process which results in positive discoveries. Human race initially needed to find a way to generate heat to avoid freezing to death and that resulted in the understanding of fire and which way down the road led to the steam engine and the industrial revolution. So make sure something in your life matters and don't take anything for granted. Life goes in one direction and it cannot be rewound. 

If you find yourself in a situation where "Nothing Matters" and it is time to extend your boundaries and explore a little of your unknown. But to get out there and continue to sample whatever you find. Below is the companion video for this article.

This article was written in pieces over a lengthy amount of time so I apologize for it being a bit of a patchwork but I think the general idea still comes through. If there are any typos in the text I will address them shortly but I am bound and determined to get this post out today! 😄

I am so in several thankful to have the life I have had and continue to have.

Feel free to leave a comment and have a great day.

Patrick

Overthinking and Hidden Habits

 

Many years ago I read a book called "Using Your Brain for a Change" (I've mentioned that book previously on this blog because it is so good. See the article: "Do we all live in our own abridged reality?") One of the things it pointed out was you don't normally react to a situation it self, what you react to initially is your perception of the situation. That is, if you think a particular food is going to taste bad then it very likely will.

Using Your Brain--For a Change:
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
By Richard Bandler

Publisher: Real People Press
Year : 1985
ISBN numbers: 9780911226263, 9780911226270, 0911226265, 0911226273

• Listing on WorldCat Library index
•  Listing on Google Books

People tend to bring their reality into alignment with their belief system. And one's belief system can be very, very powerful. But many of us don't realize it, because our belief system is not often scrutinized. For the most part it's on autopilot and doing what ever it likes. It's also very fast, especially when taking the form of an emotion. In such a case, your conscious mind has been conditioned to just follow along. Whether you like it or not.

So the first thing to do is pay attention to how aware you are of your surroundings. This is the beginning step of taking your self off autopilot. Just stop right now for example, and take stock of what there is to notice. Do this a few times throughout the day. Then consider if you have any opinions about what you've noticed:

•  Is there anything you would like to change?
• Are there any unexpected reactions to your environment when you actually pay conscious attention to it?

Just this simple act of taking yourself off autopilot can yield so much information. I recommend you don't go overboard but just pick one or two things to modify or perhaps make notes on.  

Now, for Those Hidden Habits:

Have you ever found yourself in a position where you have a straightforward task to perform and yet even before starting you fear that you will fail to complete it?

Taking an initial great idea and becoming overly worried about it because of perceived fear some aspect is going to have a greater impact in reality than it usually does. This habit has an effect that I bet you never thought about.

It keeps you from taking a risk, and risk is built into all new endeavours. Even though you may become this frustrated as hell. It is possible that subconsciously part of you is relieved. The trouble is unless you address what you are feeling and begin to deconstruct it, this automatic "kill switch" will just keep firing whenever a new endeavour or idea wonders by.

I talked with many people were very frustrated because in their own words "I can never get anything off the ground. The more I try the more frustrated I become a mineralogist give up." After a little more investigation most of the time it is revealed that they start with the initial idea and then they keep building requirements on to it. Before they know it may become overwhelmed.

The thing to do in this situation is take the first simple and thereby doable version of the idea and implement that. Instead of trying to get the concept perfect. This is one of the best ways to start things. Frequently, my article start with the simplest of ideas and rather than waiting until I got some sort of Mangum openness, I type the first sentence into the online editor of my blog. That gets me going, and because it actually creates a draft entry of the article on the site it makes it just a little bit more real. Now, not all ideas come to fruition. Sometimes I find other sites covering the same topic and doing much better job. In which case I may simply reference them in an later article. Sometimes what seemed as a great idea doesn't hold water the next day. It's is all part of my creative process. The big point here is that you start with whatever you've got.

This also conditions you to not overthinking everything and actually getting something off the ground. Over 12 years ago when I started this blog it sat dormant for many years and then one day boat four years ago I just decided to start adding content and now we are at 165 articles. They are not all by any means literary masterpieces, but slowly and surely I am getting better at this and the monthly views are following suit. At this point in time I can't even remember why I started the site and that doesn't matter. What matters is I enjoy what I'm doing and I know in a small way I am adding content and value to the good old Internet😀

So don't think too much about a new idea but take steps toward a small goal as fast as you can. That helps keep it real and gets you going on whatever the adventure is.

The other thing I hear a great deal when talking with people is ingrained automatic habits that they are barely aware of . These habits can have great effects both positive and negative. Here's an example:

A coffee lover who has an important event in next day. Normally they enjoy their Java throughout the day. But in this case the night before and have to be alert at their event they drink double the amount of coffee. Because that is what to do when they're nervous. Of course but they don't always realize is that they are guaranteeing themselves to have a bad night's rest. Breaking this little habit for them is very challenging. They have relied on this mechanism for a long time. Even though it is totally counterproductive and works against them ultimately.

This same scenario can take different forms but you get the idea. Small little habits that don't seem to be harmful at all and yet if you're not totally aware of what you're doing these little routines can spell a guaranteed scuttling of your ship. So start tracking what you're doing will you go throughout your day especially when you're in stressful moments. I have a feeling you are going to find a few of these little habits kicking around and actually ingrained behaviour can become someone conscious that the only way you know it's there is because of your emotional reaction.

Take care,and as usual feel free to leave comments.

Patrick

The Active Versus Passive Mind.

AI generated re-creation of
The Thinker sculpture by Auguste Rodin sculpture.
Software used: Vision FX 2.0 by Distinct AI

 Active vs. the passive mindset-- Would you rather ride the train or just watch it pass you by?

Once again my daily life has provided me with the idea for this article. I simply cannot believe how often I'm inspired to write by just the simplest in small events.

Today is a holiday Monday here in British Columbia Canada and when I went downstairs for lunch someone asked me what I did today. I rattled off the following: "Helped an elderly person with their computer issue. Did another section of my online course in computer science. Researched a few technical problems on my blog...." They looked at me for a moment and said "Yes, but what do you like to do for fun?" To which I replied "It's the same thing as what I just said." Then they said "Okay, what don't you like to do?" My reply was (and is) "Waste time." They looked mildly astonished and that was the end of the conversation.

Now please don't get me wrong, I do occasionally like to have a day off where I just relax, but it is not my regular state of being. My curiosity and desire to add something to my life each day are driving forces. I simply cannot abide just sitting there watching the train go by. At the very least I'm going to ride that train. For me life is far too short and far too precious. I do not believe in an afterlife, but even if I did, I would not want to waste each day. The very fact that I can interact with the world and be aware of that interaction is something that I find amazing. It is obvious as well that to be alive and sentiment might be quite a rare combination. I course as I get older I become aware even more it each day is short. So bottom line, I am not going to waste it by being passive and just watch life go by.

However, it seems that there are a lot of people, at least in my surroundings, that to want to just let the train of life go by rather then ride it. Now don't get me wrong, I do occasionally like to have a day off and just relax. But it is not my default state. Hearing from people that they would rather just chill out and continually not really participate in the life just price me a little crazy. Because I want to do the exact opposite.

Right now, I want to  understand this passive point of view. As you can probably tell admit quite a number of people like this. Many of them very bright and young in their 30s if not late 20s. As I write this article I am pondering ways to understand their behaviour. They must be getting something out of it. Could it be their life is so empty that they just are used to going through the routine? I don't think so. Several years ago, when I was waiting to move in to my current assisted living building I spent some time on a respite ward while I was waiting. The room was small but I did have my laptop with me and the staff were very enthusiastic that I was there. I didn't spend my time watching TV, rather when I heard from the staff that the floor's Wi-Fi was intermittent, I got on the phone to the local provider and because of my background in IT was able to work with them to clearly articulate the problem. Ultimately they sent out a technician and the issue was found and fixed. This is what I like to do, --fix things-- it just makes sense to me. I had previously assumed that this was the way life worked. That even if people more outwardly motivated, there was indeed something driving them inside. I still think this is true. Human race simply wouldn't have evolved if we were content to sit on a rock.

So is this mental passivity, of just letting the train go by, a symptom of something I touched on in an earlier article (To benefit from Challenge, Is the Meaning of Life) , aversion to challenge, and could it be that people are losing their ability to undertake challenging tasks or projects. Could then the default reaction be "Since I'm uncomfortable with challenge and the time it takes, I will just sit on the sidelines and watch things go by."  Boy, oh boy, I hope that's not the ultimate answer to this question. Still, the answer just doesn't seem right. Life itself is not passive. It does not just sit there. It finds ways to multiply and at the very least exist. Given a long time life usually ends up thriving in the most unlikely of places and environments. The hot acidic underwater vents come to mind.

I have no one people who outwardly appear to be mentally passive and content to watch the train go by but many of them are just deep deep thinkers. They consider an issue and relish solitude in order to devote themselves entirely to the matter at hand. They can be quirky and eccentric but I'm telling you their minds are active. The very antithesis of this situation I'm describing.

Over the past few months I have tried to motivate some people here and the seemed to gravitate back to their original state which is in my book wasting life. I remember my parents saying "What do you want to do when you grow up?" I always had an answer and it might be electronics or playing a musical instrument. At one point I nearly next my father to death about building a steam engine out of coffee cans and plastic tubing. (I was probably around six years old then. At the time it seemed completely logical to me.)

Okay, we have definitely defined that I'm different among my group in this building... But I sure would like to motivate some of the other people here. It seems like it's such a waste to be alive and not take advantage of it. Yes we are all disabled, and some of us have some pretty severe conditions. For the severest of which I understand where they want to keep your life simple. It is not those people I am pondering about, it is the people that are sufficiently adapted to their situation that they do have a choice on how they proceed through life.

The benefits of an active mindset are many. For one thing you enjoy life the very state of being. You see potential and change all about. It is impossible to have an active mind and not be curious. The active mindset also has the ability to carry you through rough times. If you are stuck and can't do anything about your situation you automatically look for other avenues that you can effect. Someone came up to me yesterday and asked where they would purchase a "wheelchair wraparound desk" the Canadian paraplegic popped into my head. They would probably know where to get one. There are enough people in the workforce that I'm sure even the local Staples office furniture store might have some in stock. Again what blew me away about the request was that the person had absolutely no idea where to start and they have been in their wheelchair for life.

… I think I just figured this out. I think, and please do tell me if you think I'm wrong, it's the one the difference between myself and people with passive mindsets is that "challenge" as being part of my lifestyle as far back as I can remember. My father had polio and was one of the first, if not the first practising disabled anaesthesiologists in Canada. Since I was born in 1959 this is quite some time ago. Can you imagine the challenges he faced. There were no accessibility laws or standards and if you've ever been down a old sidewalk you will note that not only are there no cutaways the sidewalk is very high. My father could walk with braces but that would mean he would really have to swing himself to get up and down on sidewalks. Talk about challenge. I think that is it. So how do we bring useful challenge into the modern lifestyle. How do we make things a wee bit difficult but keep them meaningful.? Definitely let me know what you think.

Take care for now. Patrick

Promoting optimism: The Glass Is Half Full!😀

This article is about optimism of the individual, but the ideas can be applied to groups.

Have you ever considered that the way you feel at any given moment is the way you think you should feel in that situation?

Think about this situation: Unexpectedly a dear friend who you haven't seen in many years calls you up. Instantly there is a feeling of joy and excitement. Now when you think about it, that feeling of happiness is not occurring due, to the fact that your dear friend is calling you up. It has to do with the decision you made when you realized who it was on the phone. You decided it was a good time to feel joy. On the other hand, if a bill collector calls, you may feel the exact opposite and again it is not the bill collector's call, it's your decision on how to feel in that context. 

It is amazing when one begins to realize how much control you really have over emotions. But we are not taught to think of it that way. Most people behave as though the reaction it's outside of their control. But the reaction and indeed the interpretation of any given situation is fully within your control. So why not promote optimism as you go through your daily life. It not only will improve your well-being, it will also deepen your understanding of other people and indeed society.

 

"The reaction and indeed the interpretation of any given situation is fully within your control."

You are the decision-maker of interpretations.

Consider "political correctness" movement and its variants, it is not the words that are the issue, it is the value and interpretation you give to the situation. So you might as well put a positive spin on it or simply ignore whatever words are used and look for the intent of the message. Society can either choose to promote positiveness or it can go down the other road. The choice is really up to the individual and the group they are involved with.

Promoting a state of being positive it's really about taking the time to get involved with your self on an intimate level. Turn off the autopilots and consider what attracts you or repels you in any given situation. Once you figure that out you might as well start selling an optimistic outlook to your self and others. I live in an assisted living building and many people here lament that they were once able-bodied and are no longer. I remind them that rather than focusing on what they lost they should when possible look at your new situation and embrace it. They may have lost mobility but they have gained support (Our building actually has a doctor who makes house calls) The staff here would do almost anything in support of the people they work with. I know this because they have moved heaven and earth when it comes to enabling me to do various projects like repair a computer. Physically I'm slow and my coordination is in great. One day I had a computer here the needed a new Bluetooth card. I was able to direct the staff on how to put the cart in the machine and everything turned out wonderfully.

The point is, you can choose your outlook and interpretation of almost everything. Promoting optimism seems like a very useful thing to do. In the next few moments it will probably be an opportunity for you to choose how to interpret a situation. Analyse the reaction or the decision made and decide with you can put a positive spin on it. These opportunities occur many times each day and often we are barely aware of them. Treat these events as opportunities to see the glass half full rather than half empty. It is an amazing and ongoing journey.

Don't you agree?… Let me know in the comments.

Patrick

N.B. Due to technical issues, this post was written literally live online between December 29 to the 31st 2024 inclusive. The text was subject to change between those dates.