TIME OUT - 12 November 2019

verb

1.feel concern or interest; attach importance to something.

2.look after and provide for the needs of.

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Do you care? 

I seriously doubt anyone would answer that with a "No."

So...what do you care about?

This is a worthwhile exercise: get a piece of paper and make two columns. Don't worry - you can't fail this.

The first column is personal. The second is about things outside of you - things that matter because you're a member of society.

Do you have things you care about, things that are important to you alone? Or do you care about, for example, your healthcare and access for others?

Do you care about public safety just so you can feel less scared  - how about that 10 year old kid across the street? Is it okay for him to be scared?

Here are some of the things I care about:

FAMILY / FRIENDS

MY HEALTH

THE FUTURE

DACA 

VETS

OBAMACARE with a Public Option

THE CONSTITUTION

CLIMATE CRISIS

NM'S 3RD WORLD STATS 

COMMUNITY 

For the record, I decided cheeseburgers  didn't really belong in this particular list. I thought I should dig a little deeper. And with the exception of the first, FRIENDS/FAMILY, I realized while most of what I cared about wasn't just about me. Quite honestly, that was a relief - it wasn't all about me. And that was the Good News. 

The Bad News: I looked at that List for awhile and it began to make me uncomfortable. My guess is you'll have a similar problem, It begs the question:

What are you doing about it?

 My answer was: Not enough. Not by a long shot. Why not? Let me tell you, I came up with a gazillion reasons that were also a gazillion excuses. And when I really thought about it for awhile, these were the answers:

1.Not enough time 

2.Priorities.

Not acceptable. Does any of this sound familiar? In the past month I have heard more an more people talking about taking a digital or social media break - I'm not sure I could go cold turkey, so I started last week with SLACK-Off TUES, "Slack" being the app I use to connect with a like-minded group of individuals involved in grassroots organizing. Today, my second official Slack-Off TUES, I have been SLACK-On 3 times. Ugh.

Don't talk to me about email! Is it eating you alive? I find that I get very little reaction, much less sympathy, with this statement: "I get over 200 emails a day and cannot stay on top of them." Why is that? Is everybody getting over 200? Is it reproach - like, "How didja let it get so bad? Ever hear of "unsubscribe"?"

GAMEPLAN (and possible solution): ID Problem - ID Cause - Fix Problem.  Stay tuned.

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iMEDITATE

Stop the world, I want to get off. At least for a little while...

As an observer of a burgeoning self-help bookshelf once commented, "At some point, you've got to stop reading the directions and take the medicine."  And for me, meditation is good medicine. It slows me down, clears my mind, and opens up that quiet space I neglect. 

And with this practice, I will eventually "fix the problem."  So it all fits - these aren't just random thoughts.

I read a book last year, I even featured it on this blog, called INTO THE MAGIC SHOP. I suggested that anymore interested in learning to meditate might find it helpful. I have meditated for years - I wish I had read "Ruth's Tricks" when I began. They are a gift - and available online: CLICK HERE.  You're a click away from a treasure trove.

It's called Mindfulness:  a key ingredient in finding time and prioritizing  

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Parting Shot / Thoughts

• Kindred Hospice is Albuquerque has built a program that connects every veteran in hospice with an active duty service member - what an excellent plan. (Albuquerque Journal, Service is in Her Soul -11/10/2019)
• Veterans like my Dad (pictured above) defended our democracy - can we count on Congress to do the same?

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And, as always, we hope you have a good week -