tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43433764936744711642024-03-14T08:18:35.800-07:00Personal FreedomEd Helveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995821240780553373noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343376493674471164.post-53672469930672834042015-02-18T14:45:00.003-08:002015-02-19T21:20:28.613-08:00Living Free From The Inner Man - Guest Post from Richard Rosen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Living
free from the burdens and entrapments of things material is the outward
expression of the inner man living free. What does it mean to live free
inwardly? Daily walking in alignment with your Spirit. (Religion terms it
guardian angel or divine spirit.) Each of us has a connection to a personal
guiding spirit that enables us to perceive what’s right. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">For
a practical way to do determine what choice to make, try this: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ask
yourself, does the decision bring about the greatest good, contain the utmost
beauty, and reflect the highest truth? It is not required to find each of these
three elements. If genuine truth is present, then will beauty and goodness be
there. And so it is with each.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What
to do when what you perceive contradicts what others say, convention dictates,
or government mandates?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rules
are not sacred. Rules are made for men; men are not made for rules. Do not live
by man-made conventions and laws simply because they are in place. There are
times when they need to be altered. Have the courage and wisdom to ignore,
circumvent, and even violate rules, regulations and laws. Be sure to apply
wisdom in making the decision. Count the cost; there may be risk involved.
Calculate and quantify and be prepared for what may result.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
at times straightjacket ourselves in rigid regulation. Here’s an example:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
agreed to cover the early hour of the work day for my colleague. On Tuesdays,
our house is cleaned and Eve and I would often take early breakfast together
before work. Eve confirmed breakfast one Tuesday, but I said that I couldn't
make it because we were running late and I would be late to the office to cover
the timeslot of my associate. She felt bad and I felt bad. On the way to work I
reflected, "What if I were not there for a half-hour? What is the
downside? Other than a call or two that would go to voicemail, not much."
I had not thought it through. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
determination to be at work at the appointed time trumped a signal to my spirit
that I should at least examine my standard practice of being reliable.
Reliability, an obvious virtue, when rigid and unyielding, becomes an idol. And
so it is with all things. Allow your Spirit to tap you on the shoulder and say,
“Not today. Let’s depart from that which is expected and habit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">In all things, motive and intent is the guide.
Would God––or your innermost conviction––be proud of your reasons? Every rule
of man, every convention, every tradition––including religious ones––are
man-made, not sacred. They can be altered. Be sure the reason for so doing
aligns with what is good, true, and beautiful. When you live in alignment with
your spirit, there is liberty. You are indeed living free.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">************************</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">About
Richard Rosen:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhwYDb51XnloLwLAvz1A4gJdKUXFB2tJ6i9KU5aKuTEH_Sgwj-t-0qXiiwwZsrhb9tIx7Nlc3YssEE33J8Ya7Fq7-R8Lj_siQbkJrPuh1Pre9R5TN-KhEu9LDNYpgswAPSd5tiubboxA/s1600/PICT0006+Cropped+&+Enhanced+for+Rosen+Guest+Post+2-18-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhwYDb51XnloLwLAvz1A4gJdKUXFB2tJ6i9KU5aKuTEH_Sgwj-t-0qXiiwwZsrhb9tIx7Nlc3YssEE33J8Ya7Fq7-R8Lj_siQbkJrPuh1Pre9R5TN-KhEu9LDNYpgswAPSd5tiubboxA/s1600/PICT0006+Cropped+&+Enhanced+for+Rosen+Guest+Post+2-18-15.jpg" height="200" width="168" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Richard
Rosen and his wife, Eve, reside on the east coast of Florida. I met Richard
through his brother, Art Gliner, a friend and colleague for about 30 years.
Richard has been a loyal follower of my blog for several years. For most of his
life, Richard has had a spiritual focus. What are the issues of life? Why are
we here? He discovered that God exists in 1971, thus began a focused and
determined effort to know Him as his spiritual Father. The bottom line for him
has been the practical application of spiritual realities. What good is truth
if it remains unlived?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
For many years, Richard focused exclusively on things spiritual - to the
neglect of the political, economic and social aspect of society. He realized </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">a
well balanced and poised personality understands and knows how to effectively
live in the natural world. With that insight, things changed and he became
conversant and skilled in finance, political & social systems, and world
events.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
Richard and Eve have enjoyed a happy, successful marriage for many years. They
counsel others in the areas of spirituality, relationships, finances and
health. He believes that sharing one's life and doing good flows from a mature
soul. You also might be interested in Richard's latest book, Paperback - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1499687699/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1499687699&linkCode=as2&tag=oakhillpress-20&linkId=LW7FQ7JHOJ3K27RY">Living Spiritually in a Practical World: How to attune yourself to divine guidance</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=oakhillpress-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1499687699" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
or the Kindle Version - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KTCDRKO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00KTCDRKO&linkCode=as2&tag=oakhillpress-20&linkId=MA6KB3IDCCB6BCCE">Living Spiritually in a Practical World: How to attune yourself to divine guidance</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=oakhillpress-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00KTCDRKO" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Richard can be contacted through me either by commenting on this post or emailing me at ed at edhelvey dot com.</span></i></div>
</div>
Ed Helveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995821240780553373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343376493674471164.post-23823358054469506552015-01-27T17:26:00.000-08:002015-01-27T17:26:04.411-08:00Tolerating Unforeseen Events and Circumstances<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">How
do you tolerate those unforeseen events and circumstances that invade
everyone's life at some point or other? Does the frustration turn you into a
raving maniac? Do you take it out on someone else? Do you pull your hair out,
pace the floor like a caged animal or complain incessantly? How much can you
tolerate before you reach your breaking point and your pressure valve goes off?
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Those
are all questions I'm dealing with right now. Well, except for the one about
pulling my hair out. That's not a possibility for me these days. It's 21 days
and counting since My McVansion and I limped to the engine hospital and I
admitted the patient (and 23 days since My McVansion had a heart
"engine" attack). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Okay,
so I'm personifying a pile of metal, rubber, plastic and fabric. But, it's both
my home and my transportation (read that as freedom). While I don't fall in
love with "things," I think it's fair to say that we all develop a
degree of attachment to those things that provide us with freedom and comfort.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What's
Up, Doc?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">To
use Bugs Bunny's famous line when addressing Elmer Fudd, what the heck is up?
Yes! I've asked myself the questions, "Why me?" and "Why, out of
all the thousands of engines that have gone through this "engine
hospital" does mine have to be the one with "complications?" Of
course, these are rhetorical questions. I'm sure everyone has had at least one
occasion to pose similar questions. We know there are no answers for them. Call
it the luck of the draw, the roll of the dice, bad karma, or anything else you
choose to. It doesn't change anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sure,
I call the engine doctor and ask the question, "What's up, Doc?" I, I
visit the patient regularly, too, after all, the patient is both my home and my
freedom (transportation). Much of the "stuff" of my life is in My
McVansion even though I pulled out the stuff I needed to have to function when
I'm not in my home on wheels. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
response is that the patient's heart (engine) is restored and in everyway except
for one, the patient is operating at its prime. The problem is . . . the one
thing that is not. And, worse yet, the doctor has done everything he seems to
know how to do. Additionally, I've had all kinds of valid, logical and rational
suggestions by others who are familiar with the workings of an automotive heart
and have passed them on to the doctor. But, there is still no solution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Toleration<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
don't know about you. If this were maybe seven or eight years ago or more, I
probably would be reacting very differently. By now I would have totally lost
my cool. I'd be acting out some of the questions I posed at the opening of this
article (except for the hair pulling one). I'd be running up and down the
people working on the engine. But . . . I'm not<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
let me weigh the Pros and Cons of toleration or the lack there of.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Pros
Of Being Tolerant<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">First,
let me pre-qualify my reasons for being tolerant. The biggest one is that I
happen to be staying at my son's small abode in the suburbs of Los Angeles. I
have no motel expenses. I'd probably have to stay in one of those "Rooms
by the Week" grungy motels somewhere near the engine rebuilder. That alone
would be a major stressor. Second, I'm not in any particular hurry to get
anywhere in particular, although there are places I'd like to be traveling to.
Third, I'm just shy of 70 years old and I've been through all kinds of
challenging events and circumstances. Shit Happens. Now, to move on . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1.
I have a comfortable, clean, friendly, quiet place to stay<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2.
I'm enjoying spending some quality time with my son, something we haven't had
an opportunity to do in over a decade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3.
It's sunny, blue skies and warm here as opposed to nasty winter weather. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">4.
The owner of the engine rebuilding business is pleasant, knowledgeable,
collaborative and communicative.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">5.
I have the use of my son's wheels when he's at work only a mile and a half from
his place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">6.
I have lots of time to myself and I enjoy extended times of solitude.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">7.
I have all kinds of projects to work on including writing articles for the
blog, doing some upgrading and facelifting on the blog, editing thousands of
digital photos in my photo files, working on any of several ebooks I'm working
on and reading numerous books in my Kindle files. I'm also catching up on
emails and if I'm really bored, I can catch up on TV shows by viewing them on
line. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">That's
a lot of Pros right there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Cons
Of Being Intolerant<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">All
the same conditions as noted above remain constant, so . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1.
I could stress myself out and impact my health negatively.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2.
I could make myself a pain in my son's posterior and cause a riff between us
(ugh).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3.
I could break down the collaboration and communication with the engine shop
owner that could negatively impact our working relationship and ultimately
impact my wallet negatively.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">4.
I could get nothing productive done because I'm not only a pain in everyone
else's ass, but I'm a pain in may own ass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">5.
I could negatively impact my friendships by being a constant whiner, complainer
and bellyacher, especially those people who care enough and have the knowledge
about vehicles and engines to share with me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Well,
I think that's enough. I can see no clear advantage to being intolerant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It
Is What It Is!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
here's the bottom line. Yes! I definitely would rather be rolling down the road
and meeting up with various people I'm looking forward to seeing. That in no
way implies that I'm not enjoying time with my son. However, my son is a mid
30's adult with a responsible position and his own very active life. We are
also friends, which not every parent can say about their offspring. But, we
each have separate lives and interests at our respective ages. So, too much of
a good thing is, well . . . too much. I will have other opportunities to visit
with him while I'll be here on the west coast. We may reach a point at some
time where enough is enough for now. We're not there, yet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
situation is one of those best described as, "it is what it is."
Being intolerant isn't going to necessarily make it resolve any faster. Sure, I
have places to go, people to see and other things to do, but all in due time.
The world, especially mine, is not going to come to an end (nor will I let it)
because of some circumstances that are currently out of my immediate control. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I'm
actually enjoying getting some things done that I've kept putting on the back
burner for way too long. Being tolerant of the circumstances is actually
opening opportunities for me to get to things I've been putting off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
could go on and on. But, there is a point. Ultimately, everything will resolve
and I'll be "on the road again," as old Willie Nelson sings so well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Are
you tolerant or intolerant during situations like mine? How do you handle these
real life situations? Do you just see the lemons or do you see the opportunity
to make some tasty, tangy lemonade? Is you life so tightly wound that the least
thing out of the ordinary or your plan causes your spring to become unsprung?
Think about it and let me know<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Ed Helveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995821240780553373noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343376493674471164.post-46482277304692948162015-01-01T19:33:00.000-08:002015-01-01T19:54:47.405-08:00January 1, 2015 - The First Day of the Rest of Your Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">My
very best wishes for a</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Happy, Healthy, Abundant</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">and</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Free Living</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2015!</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 36.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It
is New Years Day 2015 as I compose this article. It's a great time to
reevaluate your life and plans for the future. I don't make New Years
resolutions. I find that they are useless for me. But, if you go back to my
December 29, 2012 article title, <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://livingandworkingfree.blogspot.com/2012/12/how-do-you-eat-elephant.html"><span style="color: red;">"How Do You Eat An Elephant?"</span></a> </span> you can read or reread about the "elephants" in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There
is a lot going on in our world. While I'm very optimistic about my personal
life and lifestyle, I don't hold that same optimistic outlook toward most of
our society (mainly the U.S., but even that of other countries around the
world). If you have questions about your own future then, perhaps, now is a
good time to consider adopting, modifying or expanding a living free philosophy
for yourself and your partner/spouse and family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
"12 Steps for Living Free" that I introduced a little over three
years ago and revised in the spring of 2012 is a great place to start. This is
a simple, yet comprehensive plan to make important and lasting changes to your
life and philosophy of living that will provide a leg up on most of the
negativity in our society and world. It offers a path to gaining personal
freedom or expanding your personal freedom while most others are experiencing
loss of personal liberties and freedoms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
12 Steps for Living Free <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">All
of the 12 Step Plan is available on the main "Living Free in an Unfree
World blog site home page. You can look for the list of pages beginning with
"Home," followed by "About Ed" with the "12 Step
Program" next in line. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But,
I'll make it easier for you. Below, I've provided links to the
"Introduction to the 12 Step Program" along with links to each of the
12 Steps.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://12stepstolivingfree.blogspot.com/2014/11/12-steps-for-living-free-introduction.html"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">12 Steps for Living Free - Introduction</span></a><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://12stepstolivingfree.blogspot.com/2014/11/step-1-dreams-and-realization.html"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Step #1 - Dreams and Realizations</span></a><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://12stepstolivingfree.blogspot.com/2014/11/step-2-self-discovery.html"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Step
#2 Self-discovery</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://12stepstolivingfree.blogspot.com/2014/11/step-3-personal-inventory-assessment_3.html">Step
#3 – A Personal Inventory Assessment – Part 1 - Tangible Assets</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://12stepstolivingfree.blogspot.com/2014/11/step-3-personal-inventory-assessment.html">Step
#3 –A Personal Inventory Assessment – Part 2</a> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://12stepstolivingfree.blogspot.com/2014/11/step-4-simplifying-your-life-part-1.html">Step
#4 Simplifying Your Life – Part 1</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://12stepstolivingfree.blogspot.com/2014/11/step-4-simplifying-your-life-part-2.html">Step
#4 Simplifying Your Life – Part 2</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://12stepstolivingfree.blogspot.com/2014/11/step-5-downsizing.html">Step
#5 Downsizing</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://12stepstolivingfree.blogspot.com/2014/11/step-6-economizing.html">Step
#6 Economizing</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://12stepstolivingfree.blogspot.com/2014/11/step-7-avocations-vocations.html">Step
#7 Avocations & Vocations</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://12stepstolivingfree.blogspot.com/2014/11/step-8-relationships.html">Step
#8 Relationships</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://12stepstolivingfree.blogspot.com/2014/11/step-9-making-amends.html">Step
#9 Making Amends</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://12stepstolivingfree.blogspot.com/2014/11/step-10-giving.html">Step
#10 Giving</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://12stepstolivingfree.blogspot.com/2014/11/step-11-spirituality.html">Step
#11 Spirituality</a></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="MsoHyperlink" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://12stepstolivingfree.blogspot.com/2014/11/step-12-creating-your-life-list.html">Step #12 Creating Your Life List</a></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I
hope you'll take the time to go to each of the steps and read through them. The
beginning of a new year is a perfect time to create a new plan and path for
your life. While I'm an optimist about my own life, I also am very pragmatic. I
have less days in my future than the days in my past. I have no idea how much
time I have left on this miraculous gift we call life. I dare say, you are in
the same place since all our life journeys have the same ultimate destination.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But,
let me suggest you go one step further than simply reading the steps. Once
you've read them, go back and step by step follow the instructions and then
apply and implement each step. By 2016 you'll be living a new life and
experience freedom and happiness you never thought you were capable
experiencing. This is not a religious or positive thinking approach to life.
It's simply a pragmatic way of achieving a lifestyle of personal freedom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Once
again, I wish you a happy, healthy and abundant 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Ed Helveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995821240780553373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343376493674471164.post-8406687805981251182014-12-21T23:05:00.001-08:002014-12-21T23:05:52.316-08:00Is the Beginning of the End in Sight?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I'm
composing this post while sitting in My McVansion parked in the Deming, New
Mexico Walmart Supercenter parking lot. I'll be spending the night here and
heading into Arizona tomorrow morning heading for the Quartzite area by the end
of the day. My ultimate destination for this leg of the trek is Clovis,
California to spend the holidays with my son, his mother (my former wife - the
original family unit will be together for this holiday for the first time in
about 25 years) and some of my outlaws (my former in-laws). I'm expecting to
arrive in Clovis by early evening on Tuesday, December 23rd or mid day on
Wednesday, December 24th.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As
I've been traveling across the United States and the North American continent,
as always, I have been meeting all kinds of interesting people, seeing all
kinds of interesting places and terrains and observing Americana. For those who
are familiar with me and this blog, you know that My McVansion is my personally
customized tiny house on wheels and I prefer to travel on the Blue Highways to
observe and experience what is left of the U.S. that existed before the
interstate highway system was established and built out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You
also know that I'm sort of a digital, techy nomad. That means I have lots of
electronics onboard. I usually have at least two GPS systems operating. I have
my smart phone which is Bluetooth enabled with a speaker phone. I also
installed a Sirius satellite radio receiver to eliminate the problem of
listening to local or regional radio stations and running out of their signal
coverage area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Getting
Serious With Sirius<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
nice thing about Sirius satellite radio is that most of the programming has no
or limited commercials. Also, I can select specific channels I elected to have
on my receiver to match my specific tastes. So, I have all the cable news
channels, old time radio, classical music, classic to contemporary country
music, music from the 40's, 50's 60's and 70's (others, too, if I want to
listen to them), public radio, political talk, well you get the idea. The
service I chose only costs me $8.00/month and worth every cent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
as I cross the country I have constant entertainment. I also have constant news
and information in numerous forms. This is the serious side of Sirius. In
today's connected world (I'm also connected to the Internet almost constantly
wherever I go, wirelessly) we get information and breaking news virtually as it
happens. I am an information nut. I like keeping up on what's happening in our
country and our world. So, though I may be in some remote location, with that
little satellite antenna, I'm always connected to the outside world. This has
its pros and cons. The pros are obvious, knowing what's happening constantly.
The cons are actually, the same thing. There is so much going on that it can
stress a person out, in this case, that person is me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">That's
why I have the other channels to provide diversions. For example, as I'm
composing this post I'm listening to classic country music. Many of the artists
have passed away. This is the music I recall listening to in my pre-adolescent
days, my teenage years and my 20's and 30's. There is something soothing and
anchoring about this kind of music. The same is true for music from the 40's
through 70's and old time radio shows. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Is
The Beginning Of The End In Sight?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">How
many times have people asked this question over the centuries and millennia?
I'm sure the ancient Greeks, Romans, Persians and other societies have asked
the same question. Am I talking about the end of the world? Possibly! With our
exponentially advancing technology, we are able to track asteroids and comets
better than ever and we're now realizing that some of them are coming fairly
close to our little rock floating around in space. We know this planet, the
moon and the other planets in our solar system have been struck by these
objects numerous times each. One such strike is the reason dinosaurs and other
forms of life no longer exist on this planet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes!
This is a real possibility. But, I believe there is something far more
dangerous and menacing to the survival of life on this planet than being struck
by some wayward heavenly body. That menace is human beings. The human has
certain traits that have caused the rise and fall of societies and
civilizations throughout history. Most humans are benign. They seek only to
enjoy, at some reasonable level, the limited time each will inhabit this
planet. Like many people, during my earlier years, I sought to make some giant
impact on society and leave behind a legacy that would be my immortality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">For
most of my life I believed this required me to be financially successful
(wealthy), powerful and famous. After all, look at Charlemagne, Leonardo Da
Vinci, Beethoven, Alexander Graham Bell, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Bill Gates,
Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg to mention a few. And let's not forget the
drafters of the Magna Carta and the Declaration of Independence and U.S.
Constitution. All of these people and those who collaborated in creating documents
that changed the lives of hundreds of millions of people have impacted the
world and, generally, have created their own legacy and immortality. Virtually
all of them became financially successful, powerful and famous. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But,
in the grand scheme of things, there are many others who will make significant
impacts on all facets of life as we know it, yet, will come and go from this
Earth and eventually just disappear. But, most of us will simply live, do what
we have to in order to provide food, shelter, clothing and some minimal
luxuries. When we pass, we'll be gone from mind not long after our bodies have
returned to the dust they came from. I know, that's a rather cynical way of
looking at life, but if you are honest with yourself, you know this to be true.
The reality is that we only exist to be and perpetuate the species.
Contributing to whatever society you belong to is expected only because we are
social animals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
simply call it "being." The purpose of life is simply being in the
moment and enjoying the time we have on Earth. Once one can accept that and
simplify life, shedding all the complexities societies and governments have
impressed (and oppressed) upon us, happiness is easy to find and enjoy. In many
ways, especially due to advances in all forms of technology like
communications, transportation, medicine, environment, etc. our lives can be
better than ever before. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">However,
this all comes with a cost. The cost is complicated lives, increased
materialism that can enslave, addictions of various kinds, bigger and bigger
government resulting in more and more laws, ordinances, codes, regulations,
rules, etc. with the larger impact of loss of freedom and liberty. And this is
where I see the beginning of the end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://serenitygame.com/2014/12/21/something-wicked-this-way-comes/">The Serenity Game</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
follow a blog titled "<a href="http://serenitygame.com/2014/12/21/something-wicked-this-way-comes/">The Serenity Game</a>" written by a woman in her
mid 50's from Texas. She is, what I term, a rational thinker, something I have
been accused of being, by other rational thinkers, of course. She goes by the
name of Trinity Rivers. Real name or nom de plume, I know not. I just enjoy her
diversity of thoughts and ideas. She sees the world through a woman's lens that
is often interestingly different than mine, but she often broadens my
perspective. Too many of us view the world with tunnel vision. A little jog
from a different point of view is good for everyone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In
her post today, titled "<a href="http://serenitygame.com/2014/12/21/something-wicked-this-way-comes/">Something Wicked This Way Comes</a>," Trinity
made some interesting points that resonated with me. One thing that resonated
was, <i>"Every day the news casters gleefully share the latest disaster,
murder, insanely unwise new legislation, etc. Then the talking heads analyze it
8 ways from Sunday. But, in the end I’m expected to believe that everything is
not only just peachy keen finer than fine, but getting better every day."</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Okay,
I have to admit, being an information and news junkie, I can really relate to
her thought. Today, I have heard too much information about the two New York
City police officers assassinated in cold blood by a man I can only consider a
crazed maniac. He used a gun he obtained by questionable means. He first shot
his girlfriend in Baltimore then drove to New York and murdered the two police
officers. Then when almost apprehended by the police, he turned the gun on
himself and (thankfully) saved the taxpayers a fortune in the cost of an
ongoing investigation, incarceration, trial, etc. The story is going in all
directions. The NY Mayor, a controversial figure already, was snubbed by the
entire police force. There have been several press conferences. And, of course,
the Rev. Al Sharpton's name was brought into the issue. The anti-gun activists
will be on this like flies on . . . you know what I mean. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Trinity's
thought came home for me when I read it as related to this latest news issue
that will be drawn out for who knows how long. Oh, I know, until the next
sensationalism breaking news occurs. Don't worry, that will be pretty soon. It
always is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">She
goes on to say, <i>"If I beg to disagree I am labeled as paranoid, a
nervous Nelly, glum, a wannabe prepper nut, depressed, or a glass half empty
kind of person. And this labeling even comes from other people who are feeling
the same feelings, and talking about it all the damned time. Talk is cheap and
so they just want to whine about latest news sound bite. However, they do not
want to really get down and dirty and talk about what might be coming. Forget
doing anything about it."</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
definitely relate to these thoughts. There are only a limited number of people
who want to <i>"get down and dirty"</i> and want to really talk about
the REAL issues and where these things are leading. Most people just accept
losing our freedoms and liberties in exchange for a false sense of security.
Only people who value and love true freedom and have the ability to be free,
rational thinkers. If you're reading this blog, I have a feeling you are one of
those free, (hopefully) rational thinkers. But, you need to engage in open and
honest discussions about these issues since they all relate to the beginning of
the end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"All
civilizations rise and fall. It usually doesn’t happen overnight. Most start a
slow slide to oblivion rather than the fall of Pompeii where the mountain
belched and destroyed every living thing in less than a day. Here in the U.S.
our rights as private citizens are taking that slow slide to oblivion. The
scary part is that much of this legislation chips away at our right and more
important our DUTY to be self-reliant."</span></i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You
nailed it, Trinity. It's not that I'm anti-American or would ever want to see
our society fall. But, this is the history of the world. There is not one
country in the world that hasn't risen and fallen, typically numerous times.
The U.S. is a very young society. However, our own history is checkered. We may
be (or believe we are) the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world.
But, we really didn't become a super power, as such, until about 73 years ago. Our
economy exists on a huge defense/war machine and a material consumerism
economy. The problem is, as we improve technology in the workplace and find cheaper
ways to manufacture offshore, we can't keep sustaining either jobs or salaries.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ultimately,
at some point, consumerism will begin to falter and so will our economy. With a
national debt approaching $18 trillion, there is the possibility that the
country will eventually default and we'll find ourselves in situations like
several countries in Europe and even tiny Iceland. Is it the beginning of the
end?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One
final thought from Trinity, <i>"Did you know that in some states it is
illegal to collect rain water? How disturbing is that? The rationale behind
this is that rain falling out of the sky is public property. Therefore if we
collect it we are “hoarding” the rain water. Well the earth can be considered
public property also. Does this mean that I can’t own my home and the ground it
stands on? Am I hoarding my little piece of the earth?"<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Indeed,
Trinity, this is all disturbing. And, as you pointed out, our
"supposed" elected representatives have created their own form of
aristocracy at our (the taxpayers') expense. I have often half-heartedly joked
that one of these days we'll all be wearing meters that will measure the
consumption of oxygen we consume and carbon dioxide we expel and we'll be
charged or taxed for it. The reality is that the "little piece of earth"
you spoke of doesn't belong to you now. It belongs to the government and they
have the right to take it from you, by law, under a number of circumstances. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There
are places in Maryland where land owners are taxed for any rainwater or snow
melt that comes off their land and flows into the Potomac River or any other
creeks or rivers (even 100 or more miles away) that ultimately flow into the
Chesapeake Bay. The water running off their land is bringing sediment,
fertilizer, etc. into the bay and that is taxable. But, you can't stop that
water from flowing either since that's against the law without a specific
permit. Damned if you do. Damned if you don't. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">When
will the "end" be? I don't know the answer to that. But, I do know
that the beginning of the end began upon the signing of the U.S. Constitution
and is progressing exponentially faster today than ever before in our history.
Our grandchildren and great grandchildren may only read of the freedom and
liberty we once had, limited as it was, in history books, IF the government
allows that history to be in those books in the future. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Any
thoughts on any of this? I'd love to hear from you free thinkers. By the way, you
can check out <a href="http://serenitygame.com/2014/12/21/something-wicked-this-way-comes/">Trinity Rivers' blog </a>by clicking on the title of the blog in the
context above. Thanks for the inspiration Trinity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Ed Helveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995821240780553373noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343376493674471164.post-34614781343356199142014-11-26T17:47:00.000-08:002014-11-26T18:00:01.191-08:00Benefits or Entitlements<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Benefits
and entitlements, are they one and the same or are they different breeds of
animals? There seems to be a trend for those in the bureaucracy of federal (and
even state) government toward calling anything they pay out to citizens as
entitlements. Now, I'm not sure. Is it because I'm becoming a crotchety old man
(NOT)? Or, is it because those in the elected offices, their high ranking
appointees and the massive legion of high level bureaucrats are using
governmentspeak or doublespeak to get us to believe something that isn't true.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Would
this be the first time the government has attempted (and often succeeded) in
duping the "flock?" I think not. That is a huge topic for another
time. However, as humans, we are basically pack animals. Although, it's
probably more accurate to say we're like flock or herd animals. Watch cattle in
the pasture sometime. When it's milking time they all line up one behind the
other and follow the leader right into the milk barn. A new word becomes the
"in" word to use in the pop culture - cool, dude, awesome, right on,
righteous, bro, etc. All of a sudden, it slips into our vocabulary and pretty
soon we're all using it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
if the government keeps using the word "entitlements" when referring
to any payouts to citizens that have qualified to receive earned benefite
payments, will we all eventually begin to accept that word for everything? I
guess we could call it the "Word Game," only this game is controlled
by government doublespeak. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Now,
I, for one, have a pretty good idea of the difference between a benefit and an
entitlement and I don't much like the definitions being crossed over and made
fuzzy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Benefits<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">When
it comes to certain payments made to individual citizens by the government, I
go with this dictionary definition: " a payment or service provided
for under an annuity, pension plan, or insurance policy" from the
Merriam-Webster Dictionary. In other words, the individual invested or paid
into some kind of fund by contractual arrangement with the long term benefit
being some kind of payment after meeting the investment requirements of the
contract. In the case of the government, I'm referring, more specifically, to
such programs as Social Security and Medicare. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Most
U.S. citizens have had to invest (involuntarily, I might add) into the Social
Security Trust Fund and Medicare year after year at a combined rate of 15.3% of
the total income. I know many will say that the employee only pays half that
amount and the employer pays the other half. But, let's be realistic. The
employer could pay you the other half and you'd pay the full 15.3% just as
self-employed individuals do or to put it another way, if the employer was not
required to pay the 7.65% the government would dock your paycheck for it. This
is yet, another way of distracting you from reality and the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
bottom line is that just about everyone working on the books for any business
or as a self-employed individual will pay a combined 15.3% of which 12.4% goes
to the Social Security Trust Fund until (at the current ceiling) your annual
salary reaches $113,700.00. Next year that increases to $117,000.00. The
balance of 2.9% goes to the Medicare fund and there is no salary ceiling for
the Medicare deducted from your salary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
point? You and I have invested (paid) into these accounts, involuntarily (we
had no choice under the law). There is the implied contract that when you reach
a certain age (typically defined as the "age of retirement) you will begin
drawing a "benefit" from your Social Security account based on how
much you contributed to your account over your lifetime. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You'll
also be eligible to take advantage of the Medicare health benefit Part A that
covers hospitals, nursing homes, hospice and such. Optionally, you may pay a
nominal monthly premium to the government to receive Part B benefits that cover
doctors, tests and a myriad of other medical necessities. In other words,
Medicare is a form of health insurance policy that you've partially prepaid and
continue to pay into.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This
is no different than you investing your funds in a 401K, IRA or other qualified
pension fund. You receive a lifetime benefit based on how much you invested.
And the Medicare insurance is similar to an employer or a private healthcare
insurance policy from a private insurer. You have invested in and are due to
receive the benefits you "contracted" for based on the terms of the
contracts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Entitlements<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
now, let's look at entitlements. The Merriam-Webster definition that comes
closest to government entitlement programs is: "a type of financial help
provided by the government for members of a particular group." In other
words the recipients of this government help <u>have not</u> invested in the
programs that provide these various forms of help. This is different than those
receiving Social Security and Medicare benefits, for which they involuntarily
contributed throughout their working lifetime. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
these funds come from funding provided by other citizens who have part of their
tax money given to people who haven't been able to or just didn't contribute to
the programs. I'm sorry! But, I see a significant difference between a plan
someone has invested in, earned and is now receiving the "benefit" of
that lifelong investment and an "entitlement," where someone is
benefiting from the system and from everyone else's productivity, but hasn't
contributed into the system themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Objection<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
I vehemently object to my Social Security check and my Medicare insurance being
lumped in with social entitlement programs in order to make me and others
receiving our "benefits" feel guilty. After a lifetime of
contributions, we're NOT "takers" living off the public. And that, in
my opinion is what our elected officials, their high ranking appointees and so
on are attempting to do with their government doublespeak. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
reality is that the government has plundered the trust funds for these two
benefits (and others). They were not just bad stewards of "OUR"
money; they essentially have turned it into a new form of Ponzi Scheme. It
makes Madoff's scheme look like he was a novice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Our
Social Security checks aren't coming from the compounded earnings of our
"invested" contributions of 40 or more years. Our Social Security is
coming from the pockets of our children's and grandchildren's generation. But,
we're supposed to feel guilty because the government has bumfuzzled the public.
They are trying to blame us for their incompetence and disregard for the law. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Point? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
point is simple. We deserve the benefits we invested in and earned, period! Our
children and grandchildren shouldn't have to pay for our benefits, they should
be investing in their own benefits. But, like all Ponzi Schemes, someday this
is going to come crashing down and lots of people are going to be hurt by it.
Governments are, by nature, fiscally irresponsible because they aren't spending
their own money. They don't have any money. They're spending our money. If they
need more, they blame the public, take things away and raise taxes or create new
taxes so it doesn't look like they're raising taxes. It's simply a shell game
and we . . . are the marks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Don't
get me wrong. I don't mind helping other people out. I believe we live in a
great country where we do care about those who are less fortunate. But, I don't
believe, other than in a few specific instances, that we should be taking care
of people for all or most of their lives. Everyone can do something to
contribute to society. I truly care about those who are in unfortunate
situations. Unfortunately, some people in our society have not only allowed
themselves to fall into these situations, but planned to take advantage of the
system. Call it gaming the system if you will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
are a very generous country. And, interestingly, those who seem to have less
than others are often the most generous and charitable. I know some very
wealthy philanthropists, many who give away sizeable amounts of money
anonymously every year. But, too many of those we know are extremely wealthy
work closely with their tax accountants to gain the maximum, personal,
financial advantage for their charitable contributions. In other words, they
want to be "rewarded" for being charitable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Private
Help Organizations<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There
are also numerous organizations, faith-based and secular, that provide all
kinds of programs to help those who have fallen on hard times. The Mormon
Church, for example, has their own form of welfare program within the church. I
don't believe they call it welfare, though. They help their people regain their
footing and climb back up again and be productive members of both the church
and society as a whole. The Salvation Army is another such organization. There
are also "pay it forward" programs. Someone is helped with the
expectation they will reach out, once back on their own feet, to help one or
more others in a time of need. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Certainly,
we have people who have become disabled in one manner or another. This is a
very unfortunate circumstance, especially if the person is relatively young.
It's even harder if they have a young family. Unfortunately, there are some
people who get into the disability roles by gaming the system and live off the
public dole for the rest of their lives. Meanwhile, others get assistance from
the disability programs and learn new skills or find other ways to help
themselves regain some degree of productivity, self-esteem and dignity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There,
But For The Grace Of God, Go I!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hey!
For all I know, I may be "entitled" to some of these entitlement
programs. I guess I could even play the system, if I were of a mind to. To be honest,
I don't consider it playing the system, but I do take advantage of senior
discounts when they are offered and I certainly paid my one time fee for my
lifetime national park pass. I see these as small "rewards" for
having contributed to society for most of a lifetime. I don't consider them
entitlements. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
haven't looked, therefore I've not taken advantage of any
"entitlement" programs I may be eligible for. Some people may say I'm
foolish. If I'm eligible, I should go for it. Frankly, I don't need it right
now. I hope I never will. But, if I do, I'll do it grudgingly. I'd rather see
others who truly need help, more than I do, have the advantage of getting it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What
does and will continue to irk me to no end, is government employees getting
ridiculously large bonuses for just doing their jobs. There are some who say
that governments are the largest and most costly forms of welfare and public
dole there are. If these people want bonuses they should join the private
sector where they have to earn their bonuses. Those hundreds of millions of
dollars of bonus money could go a long way to bolstering the money taken from
the Social Security and Medicare accounts. They could also go toward helping
more people (not for a lifetime, however) who are in greater need of a little
helping hand getting back on their feet than the government employees in their
nice secure jobs with comfortable pensions awaiting them at retirement.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Remember!
It's important! Do NOT listen and buy into all the politicians, their lackeys,
the talking head media types and others who continue to call our BENEFITS
entitlements. Yes! We are entitled to them, but that's because we EARNED them.
The only place there should be guilt is in Congress, the White House and the
media who keep buying into the semantics game and acting like the government's
mouthpiece. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Ed Helveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995821240780553373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343376493674471164.post-24381916618600629062014-11-12T11:34:00.000-08:002014-11-12T11:52:21.392-08:00Business as Usual - Elections 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w9JDpRWa0EuEUW1MAESGhbXpKxAFr6qU-iHYUQmICzFTXPj2AYNu6RuPqHP2zudN4SsckQjjoR7v_FUIe4aMGE5TRuWhRwA5s309dj1py9hRYtIquA2iz5TNsmC24k6i7XzCDQMIWvI/s1600/Post%23+354+Happy+Nightmares+-+Business+as+Usual+-+Flickr++-+Kevan+-+11-12-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w9JDpRWa0EuEUW1MAESGhbXpKxAFr6qU-iHYUQmICzFTXPj2AYNu6RuPqHP2zudN4SsckQjjoR7v_FUIe4aMGE5TRuWhRwA5s309dj1py9hRYtIquA2iz5TNsmC24k6i7XzCDQMIWvI/s640/Post%23+354+Happy+Nightmares+-+Business+as+Usual+-+Flickr++-+Kevan+-+11-12-14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;">Flickr Photo - Creative Commons License 2011 - <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/kevandotorg/">Kevan</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Well,
thank goodness (actually, there is no goodness) the 2014 mid-term elections are
over. It reached a point where I'd find myself retching every time another
political ad came on or I'd see it in print. I hung up on robo calls -
(thankfully, I got few). For everyone reading this who still believes
government is or can be good, well just keep your Shirley Temple, Good Ship
Lollipop mentality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Government
is not good - in any form! It never has been and never will be. It is,
unfortunately, necessary. It's necessary because most humans (notice I didn't
make that all inclusive) have the basic drives and abilities to survive
individually. But, put a group of them together and they act like a pack, herd,
gaggle, flock (choose your word) and ultimately an alpha human will emerge and
control the rights of the rest of the group. Oh, and by the way, I'm already
sick of the 2016 election campaign and it hasn't even <i>officially</i> begun,
yet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It's
been one week as of today, Wednesday, November 12, 2014, since most of the
results of the 2014 mid-term elections were officially announced. The party of
the largest land mammal in the world scored, what has been termed as and with
much gloating, a "sweeping victory" over the party of the stubborn
beasts of burden. In Brett Butler's immortal words, "Frankly, my dear, I
don't give a damn." Or to quote a more contemporary individual of
questionable celebrity status (and not a fictional character), "What
difference – at this point, what difference does it make?" Thanks for
that, Hillary Clinton. You're right, it doesn't.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Where
I Stand<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
let me get this straight for everyone. I am not a Democrat. I am not a
Republican. I am not a liberal or conservative. I'm not a Libertarian (though I
often sound like I am). I am a member of a party with only one member. It has a
long name. It's the Radical Rational Living Free Commonsense Freedom Loving
Independent Party. As I said, it only has one member, ME! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
seek no political office. I accept, mostly grudgingly, the often insane and
even obscene laws of the land - federal, state, county, city, community and
neighborhood. They are too voluminous for anyone to deal with. Of course, the
vast majority of which are never enforced unless it is for the political
expediency of some sociopathic politician's personal interests (or those
supporting him or her). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Actually,
I did my best, spending over 60 years of my life, attempting to live up to the
letter of the law as I was conditioned to do by my parents, church, school,
college, the military and over 57 years as an entrepreneur (beginning at age
12). I attempted to be a model citizen. This included serving my country
voluntarily and not dodging the draft during an unpopular war. Hmm! Is there
such a thing as a popular war? And what I learned, after all this time and
voting for people I thought (unwittingly) would represent my interests, is that
little ever changes other than a few faces and names. Otherwise, it's <i>Business
as Usual</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Everyday,
since last Wednesday, my email box is filled with the gleeful conservative
Republicans spitting their victorious vitriol at the liberal Democrats. And, of
course, the liberal Democrats are sputtering back, "You'll be sorry! These
Republicans will screw you (just as we've been doing, but didn't want you to
know it). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Heck!
I have no psychic powers, but I can predict the future. In one to three
election cycles, the conservative Republicans will screw up enough - AGAIN -
(just as the liberal Democrats have been doing) for the pendulum to swing back
to the Democratic side. Wow! How can I know that? Simple, I looked back into
the history of the U.S. government. <i>Business as Usual</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Is
Anarchy Evil?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
guess, if anything, I'm an apolitical, benevolent anarchist. Oh, my God! Did he
say <i>anarchist</i>? Yep! I did. I said it. But, while anarchists are
typically viewed as evil and malevolent, they don't have to be. The traditional
dictionaries usually retain older, traditional and sometimes archaic
definitions for words. But, as with everything in our world, words evolve and
can have modified or new meanings such as this one I cite from the "Urban Dictionary:"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"Anarchists are people who want to live under their own
authority. Political authority is what they are against, and <b><i><u>some</u></i></b>
will go to extreme measures. Anarchists are extremely <b><i><u>peaceful</u></i></b>,
but when time comes to take action they go right ahead. They are
anti-consumeristic and often times grow their own food. Anarchism these days is
often found in youth, particularly people around the punk rock scene.
Anarchists are <b><i><u>not</u> </i></b>people who make bombs etc. This is
where the title for the "anarchist" cookbook went wrong."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
italicized, underlined and bolded words are my emphasis to make sure the
context is not compromised. Also, I find with age comes wisdom and with wisdom
comes changes in thinking and philosophies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It's
not just youth who are rebellious. Actually, we were all rebellious when we
were young. We all seemed to have times when we thought we knew it all and the
"establishment" was a bunch of fuddy-duddies and didn't understand
us. During my youthful years there was a name for the young people who really
pushed the envelope, they were called "Hippies." Most hippies grew up
and eventually bought into the prevailing, mainstream, societal model. A small
number never did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">While
I had my own rebellious attitudes during my youthful years, I was never a
hippie. I had my secret desires to live free and unencumbered by the ever
increasing burdens of dealing with an uptight society full of laws, codes, regulations,
rules, ordinances, etc. However, I was probably a bit more like the fictional
character, Alex Keaton from the popular 80's sitcom, "Family Ties."
Alex was portrayed by Michael J. Fox. The show was the launching pad for his
acting career. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
said I always attempted to be a "model citizen," but to be honest,
the very nature of the entrepreneurial spirit is one of a certain
non-conformity and rebelliousness. I did my best to stay within the law, but I
was ever bending, testing and pushing the envelope. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Eventually,
I realized that the box was getting smaller. The government was getting larger
and I, like the vast majority of the population, probably 95% to 97%, was just
a pawn in the <b>real</b> U.S. version of the "Game of Thrones."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Business
As Usual<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
here we are. The 2014 mid-term election cycle is over. The sword of power
passes from the one dynasty <i>back</i> to the other dynasty. Will there be
changes? Of course! That's the purpose of the entire game. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
still have a sociopathic, arrogant, deceitful, ineffective, classless
individual in the executive office with his own self-serving agendas. We have a
Congress that is now controlled by the other dynasty. They will attempt to
undermine the executive. Meanwhile the executive will do everything he can to stalemate
the Congress and continue to portray them as "the problem." The
executive will continue to play games with our enemies and throw anyone under
the bus from his administration to assure that he is always beguiling. After
all, it's his legacy as the greatest Pretender in Chief that is most important
to him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
wouldn't hold your breath for the economy to dramatically improve. I'd be
concerned that the terrorism threat in the U.S. will likely escalate. More
scandals will be added to the already existing scandals that have yet to be
resolved to the satisfaction of the minions according to virtually every poll.
And we may all reach the point of dry heaves long before the November 2016
election. The mainstream media will keep plying us with propaganda. Yep! I'd
call that <i>Business as Usual</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As
for me? Well, I guess, I'm reverting in many ways to just being an old
"hippie." I've figured out that I'm tired of playing "THE
Game." I just want to live out however many years I have left staying as under
the radar and off the grid as I choose to and enjoying the freedoms, I have
left. Hopefully, those aren't ripped from me by more new laws designed to
control and keep a finger on my location, life and thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As
for you? Refer back to Rhett Butler's quote. I don't care where you stand or
what you believe politically, religiously, ethnically, racially, nationally,
financially, environmentally or in any other way. You have the right to
whatever it is. Just DO NOT even attempt to tell me what or how I should
believe or you're treading on quicksand. I am a Free Thinker and plan to remain
that way until I die (and thereafter if there is a thereafter).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My
only political aspirations are as the current sole member of my Radical
Rational Living Free Commonsense Freedom Loving Independent Party. By the way,
it is open enrollment for anyone wanting to join my Party (and party is the
operative word, because that's what we'll do - we'll party). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Ed Helveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995821240780553373noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343376493674471164.post-54567122508647025032014-10-30T13:53:00.002-07:002014-10-30T13:53:20.438-07:00BEWARE - SCAM ALERT! Mystery Shopper Scam Using Social Media<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmOBhDB9g4mon3nqpLgNq9EDhbJDeiQv_o0DRgv-aN9CpLTU-bmEGXbtO6sIHT3yTcfZ9y0dU-1-7CqhDj-0cwwcSAcTbA1g6Xg_FyY1o_gYKFJOJhpYtyzp6F1rfiQ2BAMzutbO8BWk/s1600/Mystery+Shopper+Scam+Check+10-30-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmOBhDB9g4mon3nqpLgNq9EDhbJDeiQv_o0DRgv-aN9CpLTU-bmEGXbtO6sIHT3yTcfZ9y0dU-1-7CqhDj-0cwwcSAcTbA1g6Xg_FyY1o_gYKFJOJhpYtyzp6F1rfiQ2BAMzutbO8BWk/s1600/Mystery+Shopper+Scam+Check+10-30-14.jpg" height="172" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Many
people seek opportunities to generate extra revenue. There are, of course, more
ways to approach this then there is room in this post to mention them all. A
lot of the readers of this blog are "location independent"
(full-time) or at least part-time "travelers. So, you are usually looking
for portable, mobile or, in someway, location independent opportunities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
here's the deal. There are at least as many scams and possibly more as there
are legitimate opportunities. The challenge is often that the scam or con is so
well crafted that even the smartest of us can be duped. I fell into the trap
just one time, probably 20 or 25 years ago when I had a very active audio
recording business in full swing. I needed to upgrade to some new technology
and decided instead of actually biting the bullet and buying the equipment
outright, as I normally had, I would try equipment leasing. I applied to a
legitimate leasing company I found in one of the industry journals and was
turned down. But, they referred me to a company in Dallas, Texas they said
would be more likely to handle a deal like mine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Well,
the second company was a one man operation who designed his con so well that he
had the legitimate companies referring to him. I bit. Everything seemed pretty
much on the up and up until a certain point. then I became a bit uneasy. I
should have stopped and backed out. My intuition was saying Run Away from this
deal. But, I didn't. I sent the requested $800 for the first and last payments
on the lease along with the signed paperwork. That was the last time I saw my
$800.00 and I never saw the equipment. I had been in business about 25 or so
years at that point. I'd seen many "so-called" once in a lifetime opportunities
come and go without getting caught. But, this time, I didn't trust my intuition
and I learned the hard way. When it looks too good to be true, it usually
almost always is." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mystery
Shopping <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mystery
Shopping is a legitimate business and income opportunity. It is used by just
about every retail industry and category there is. Even the largest retailers
like Walmart, Target, Lowes; restaurants like McDonalds, Applebees, Pizza Hut;
motel/hotels like Holiday Inn, Best Western, Hilton: supermarkets, pharmacies,
clothing stores, you name it and they are probably using or have used mystery
shoppers at some time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
won't go into the details of mystery shopping. That's not the focus of this
article. What I will tell you is that there is at least one and more than
likely many cons and scams going on currently using the mystery shopping field
as their vehicle. In the case of the leasing scam I was caught by, it was done
domestically from Texas and the guy was caught. He used the UPS or Fedex to
deliver his paperwork. However, he would occasionally use the U.S. Postal
Service and that was how he was caught, convicted of fraud and other charges
and sent to prison. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">These
new schemers are located around the world. They use email and a variety of
social media to find their targets. They communicate via text messaging and
email. They create a subterfuge by using different text numbers to send from
and receive messages back from the mark. The same with email. They have often
stolen the identity of legitimate people and businesses to add credibility to
the con. The bottom line, if you were to do a cursory due diligence you might
very well deduce that this is a real person, a real business and a real
opportunity. That's when you may get hooked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
LinkedIn Connection<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
have a very large LinkedIn Network, the business social media network with 300
million plus members. I am one of the first one million members, so I've been
around LinkedIn a long time. A friend forwarded me a solicitation for mystery
shoppers through LinkedIn. Now, I'll be honest, it's kind of a warped hobby for
me to discover these scams. From the beginning I was skeptical (and rightfully
so, I must say). I forwarded the requested information and almost before I
could blink my eyes I received a reply saying I had been accepted and my first
assignment would be coming soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Now,
here's where it gets interesting. The man's name is John M. Hendrick. His
company is Retail Active. Yes! There is a John M. Hedrick (probably a number of
them in the world). Yes! There is a company in the mystery shopping business
that goes by the name of Retail Active. But, the plot thickens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">First,
Mr. Hendrick didn't seem to have a real command of the British English or
American English written language. It wasn't bad, but there were some very
obvious things that anyone with a good solid basis in these two versions of
English would notice. That's why knowing your native language reasonably well
is important. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Second,
Mr. Hendrick sent me a text and an email saying my first assignment was going
to be with the Western Union services offered at most Walmart stores and
Walmart of my choice. So, he selected two, very well established and credible
businesses to mystery shop. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Third,
he notified me I'd be receiving a check (didn't indicate how I'd receive it)
made out to me for $2,950.76, which I did, through my mail forwarder in South
Dakota. It took about a week and a half to receive it during which time I
received numerous texts and at least one email from Hendrick asking if I
received the check and had I deposited it, yet. The first $400.00 dollars of
that money was my payment for the mystery shop I was going to perform. The
balance of the funds I was supposed to wire me via Western Union to three
different people a three addresses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Anatomy
Of A Scam<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Now,
think about this. I have received no formal terms or conditions. I've received
no agreement or contract of any kind. But, Mr. Hendricks trusts me enough
knowing virtually nothing about me to send me almost $3,000.00 and expects I'll
follow his orders and send this money to people I don't know. I'll be honest,
no legitimate mystery shopping company operates this way and I knew it because
I've done some mystery shopping in the past. I can also tell you that $400 as
payment for an assignment like this is pretty bogus, too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
I knew from the get-go that I was dealing with some slick con operator in the
Ukraine, Russian, China, perhaps somewhere in Africa and even South America.
So, I have no terms and conditions. I have no contract or agreement. I have a
check made out to me in my hands for $2,950.76. The check is drawn on PNC Bank,
a branch in Princeton, New Jersey. The check is a business check issued by
Berlitz International, Inc. (Notice, every organization in this scam is a legit
business, credible and high profile.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
called the PNC branch which actually existed and spoke to someone there who
confirmed the check had their correct routing number on it, but it was a
fraudulent check. I called the Princeton office of Berlitz International and
although the check had the correct street name on it, it was the wrong street
number, probably close to a mile or so from where the actual office was. They
also indicated they were aware of these checks and their were not worth the paper
they were written on. Additionally, that office didn't issue checks. Berlitz
checks were issued out of an operations center at a different location.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
then emailed Active Retail, which I had discerned were located in the England
and, as I was aware from their Web site, only operated in England doing mystery
shopping assignments. And, of course, they had never heard of anyone going by
the name John M. Hendrick. I have only received one additional text from John
M. Hendrick wanting me to respond and tell him if had deposited the check as I
was instructed and made the wire transfers. Of course, I'm sitting here looking
at this useless piece of wall paper. By now, I suspect that Mr. Hendrick, or
whoever he really is, has figured out that I'm onto his scam and don't plan to
follow through. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I've
also filed a claim with LinkedIn with all the details, so they can watch for
him. I've heard that he's also appeared on Facebook, though I don't have first
hand knowledge of that allegation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There's
A Sucker Born Every Minute<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">These
people are becoming very sophisticated. People have been falling for the
Nigerian Letter scam for years. I believe I read somewhere that someone in the
U.S. Treasury almost fell for it and cost the taxpayers a pile of money (as if
they don't squander enough already). For whatever the reason, people's greed
and gullibility, I guess, they still believe there is a "free lunch"
out there for them somewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
don't go down this road playing games with a scam artist very often, only when
it tickles my fantasy or I think I may learn something that will help others
avoid it. And, don't believe that you're too smart to be scammed and defrauded.
AT&T Mobility, my cell and wireless Internet provider, is being sued by the
Federal Trade Commission for selling unlimited full-speed Internet connections
to some 3.5 million customers, then throttling back the speed to slow speed
Internet approximately 2/3 the way through a month of service. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Think
about it. If they just throttle back an average of 20% of a month's service
every month on 3.5 million customers paying and let's just use $60.00/month,
how much would that be? It would amount to $12.00/month of service not
delivered as contracted or $42 million/month AT&T has received. In my book
that is fraud and theft. How many of us may be part of that 3.5 million
customers? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mystery
Shopping is a legitimate enterprise. It's a valuable service for the retailers,
the managers, the shareholders, the employees and the consumers. It's also a
great way for those of us to add a little extra revenue to our bank accounts.
And, it is an especially interesting opportunity for those of us who are
location independent travelers. Just be careful. Do your due diligence and
protect yourself. And, believe that any legitimate mystery shopping service is
going to do their due diligence checking you out before allowing you to
represent them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If
IT looks too good to be true, IT almost always is. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Ed Helveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995821240780553373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343376493674471164.post-59230996566540814762014-09-30T10:15:00.000-07:002014-09-30T10:15:44.423-07:00Leaders, Leaners, Loners & Losers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I
enjoy a little alliteration occasionally. This title popped into my mind while
doing some fitness walking earlier today. Walking is a great time to develop
ideas and lay the foundation for ideas. I realized everyone, during parts of
their lives, wears each of these labels. Two are positive, while two are
negative.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Fortunately,
the two positive types, while experiencing periods of the negative traits,
usually don't remain in the negative realm long. Unfortunately, the two
negative types often spend most or all their lives wearing negative labels. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Have
you figured it out, yet? Leaders and Loners are the positive people and Leaners
and Losers are the negative people. Remember, everyone will experience periods
wearing each of the four labels. So, allow me to give you my descriptions of
these four kinds or people and experiences. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Leaders<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Leaders,
in my opinion, aren't necessarily those people who might come to your mind
first. There are certainly many people who manipulate their way to high-level,
leadership roles. That, in itself, doesn't denote they are actually leaders. I
could name names in the U.S., state and local governments, private sector
industrial, commercial, medical and institutional complex, athletic teams, educational
institutions and religious denominations of every variety. But, I won't. I'll
leave that to your opinion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">First,
leaders are individuals others look up to and respect for their integrity,
competence, capabilities and actual achievements. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Second,
leaders lead by example. They establish objectives, goals, rules, policies and
provide an environment to fulfill the objectives and goals. Leaders also keeps
their minds open for the ideas, suggestions and creativity of others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Third,
leaders always take full responsibility for the results of the undertaking. If
the venture is successful, those under the leader receive credit for achieving the positive outcome.
If the undertaking is not successful, leaders assumes full responsibility and
never embarrass or humiliate those under their leadership. Leaders never
publicly pass the buck. Leaders will meet individually and privately with those
who may be partially or entirely responsible for the outcome and discuss what
happened. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Fourth,
leaders always knows that it's lonely at the top. They will not complain, vent
or offload their professional or personal challenges, issues or problems on
those under their leadership. This is demoralizing. So, the leader is usually a
loner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There
are a lot more leaders than many people believe there may be, because a true
leader often goes unrecognized. Some leaders may actually be part of the
"rank and file" and silently lead their colleagues to successful
achievements without need or concern for rewards or recognition. See what I
mean when I said leaders may not be the people who first come to mind?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Leaners<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Leaners
are those who may have minor personality disorders, difficult or troubling
childhoods, low self-esteem or many other possible reasons for their behavior.
They can only function when leaning on others for support. I wouldn't
necessarily suggest that a leaner is impaired. But, they shy away from
leadership roles and usually display little initiative personally or
professionally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Leaners
always need some kind of help or assistance. Leaners may whine and make excuses
why they can't do something until someone finally offers to assist them. Then
they carefully manipulate things so they do as little as possible. Leaners are
often joiners, because they fear or dislike being alone. Leaners are seldom
doers. They lean on group or organization to support their fragile ego and low
self-esteem. Their identity comes from belonging, not from being. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Loners<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Loners
are a very unique group. Most true leaders are loners and that's because, as
stated earlier, "It's lonely at the top." The especially unique thing
about many, if not most, loners is while they may be alone, they seldom
experience loneliness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Contrary
to what may be a popular belief, loners are very often social individuals. They
may be extroverted or introverted, but they enjoy the company of other people.
But, they don't necessarily need a spouse or partner to feel complete. Loners
can usually blend into whatever social or cultural group they may encounter,
make friends that often result in long lasting friendships and comfortably
participate in the group's activities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Loners
are seldom lonely because they know there are more interesting people around
the next corner or over the next hill. They may not be the "life of the
party," but they seek out individuals they most identify with and build
relationships that may last for terms ranging from the particular event to a
lifetime. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Loners
are often misunderstood and even castigated for choosing to separate themselves
from what the "majority" of a population consider a mainstream
lifestyle. Loners may be nomadic or not. Loners may choose to live in
traditional housing or housing that is outside the mainstream's frame of
reference. Loners will often gravitate to more simple, natural settings,
however, one can be a loner and find a place of solitude within a city or
suburban setting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In
my opinion, loners can be just about anyone. However, I believe the common
thread is that loners seek as much personal freedom to express their own way of
living their life. Unfortunately, too many loners don't discover this until
their lives are nearly over. Some may never discover it. Loners take full and
complete responsibility for their own lives. While they may lead others in all kinds
of endeavors, they are always accountable and seek their personal freedom and
the ability to express it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Losers<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This
is the end of the line. Losers, in my opinion, are those who simply do not fit
into the other three descriptions. They have low self-esteem, choose to lean or
live off others for their entire lives, have no ambition, fear failing so they
try little or nothing, are never responsible for their past, present or future
circumstances or actions and will do nothing to be responsible or accountable
for themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Their
definition of freedom is finding ways to get everything, or as much as they
can, free. Other names for losers are freeloaders, goldbricks, moochers and
leeches. They live off the system (welfare), others like family and friends or
on the streets looking for handouts. They have no initiative, no goals, no
known exploitable gifts or talents or special knowledge or skills. Amazingly,
any number of the people I just described are educated. They may have
experienced a set back, chose to self-medicate with alcohol, drugs or some
other addictive behavior and simply gave up. They expect someone else to assume
responsibility for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Leaders,
Leaners, Loners & Losers<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
to wrap this up, as stated earlier, during your life and my life, we have worn
each of these labels. I'm not ashamed to admit it. It's just how life works.
Leaders and Loners will figure it out and within a short period of time move
out of the Leaner label or even recover from being a Loser. There are many
stories of the Phoenix arising from the ashes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
can only suggest if, through your own introspection, you find yourself wearing
a Leaner or Loser label you take some time, look deep inside yourself and find
out who is really in there. If you can't find anything but darkness, then you
may be a lifetime Leaner or Loser. But, if there are sparks of light somewhere
in there, seek them out, rip off the Leaner or Loser labels and join the
legions of Leaders and Loners who await your metamorphosis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Ed Helveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995821240780553373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343376493674471164.post-44992699512853301512014-09-20T21:46:00.000-07:002014-09-20T21:46:02.430-07:00How To Avoid Being Lonely And Embrace Being Alone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">One
of my father's favorite songs was "Have You Ever Been Lonely." It was
written and first recorded in 1933. I don't know which of the many artists who
recorded the song inspired my father. I always thought it was Hank Williams,
but he never recorded it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
remember, as a kid, when my father would play his guitar and sing that song.
Some of the words were, "Have you ever been lonely? Have you ever been
blue? Have you ever loved someone, just as I love you?" Another line in
the song was very prophetic. "How can I go on living now that we're
apart?" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As
I've looked back over the years at my father's short life (died at 42 by his
own hand) and my life, the words have some deeper meaning to me. My parents, like
many married couples, had their problems. As a young man, just coming of age
when my father died, I didn't know how lonely his existence was. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Also,
I didn't know my mother was asking for a divorce and the prophetic line,
"How can I go on living, now that we're apart?" would ring true. I
cannot imagine how lonely he must have felt during those final days and
moments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Have
You Ever Been Lonely?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
don't have any polls or scientific data to back up my thoughts. I feel
reasonably safe in saying everyone must experience some periods of loneliness.
We are social animals. We live in tribes, hamlets, villages, neighborhoods,
towns and cities. We socialize through religious beliefs, schools, work,
families, friends and neighbors. Probably the most powerful social bond is the
monogamous mating pair. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Being
lonely can be realized in a variety of ways from not having any friends, being
ostracized at school or work and in some cultural structures by exile from the
tribe, community or family. Whatever
the circumstance, it is a feeling of emptiness. Being lonely allows too much
time to focus inward on feelings that one is not acceptable, loveable or worthy
of being part of a group. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Whatever
the cause may be, it can be overcome and, I'd go as far as saying it must be
overcome. Every single person is a "designer original." There is not
another person who has ever lived or among the seven plus billion on the Earth
today who is like any other person. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Joy Of Being Alone<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There
is another side of the picture. Again, I have no polls or scientific data, but
it is my firm belief that every human NEEDS some alone time. Being lonely and
being alone are very different. Lonely is a time of low self-esteem, low
self-worth festering in one's mind because he or she may have been rejected or
excluded from some relationship or grouping. Being alone is a positive time
when one can focus on their own positive self-worth, dreams, goals, objectives
and it raises self-esteem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
have experienced a lot of very lonely times. It has even been when in the
company of my former mate, family and various groupings. I experienced another
kind of loneliness when my marriage crumbled and I was living on my own again
after about 20 years. It was an emotionally painful time. I began to understand
more about the action my father took at age 42 and the prophetic words of the
song. I made mistake after mistake attempting to prove to myself that I was a
desirable person. Typically, I chose the wrong people. This only caused more
pain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Finally,
and there was no great flash of light or burning bush or revelation, I realized
that the person I was missing in my life was . . . <b>ME!</b> That's right! I
had, for so many years, bought into the idea that I needed someone to
"complete me." But, each of us is a complete person. We can enhance
someone else or someone else can enhance us, but we can neither complete or be
completed externally. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Alone
And Free At Last<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">That
was the day my life changed. For those with deep Christian faiths, you might
say you were "saved" or "born again." And that's exactly
how I felt. There were no angelic choirs, flashes of lightning or any other
paranormal manifestations. And, it wasn't instantaneous. It was a growing
feeling of contentment and fulfillment and joy of just being ME. I became my
own best friend. I accepted myself with all my flaws and inadequacies as well
as my gifts and talents. I'm not perfect, I'm just the perfect me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
also decided to adopt an - what you see is what you get, attitude. You don't
have to like me or live with me. I like me just fine and I'm the only one who
has to live with me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I became
aware of all the gifts I'd received over my lifetime. I found being free allowed me open ended options of
becoming very close to certain people and not as close to others. I gave up
being judgmental. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">While
no person is an island unto himself or herself, each of us has to be
self-reliant and not co-dependent. Enjoying a relationship with another human
being is one of the great gifts and joys of life. Becoming co-dependent on
anyone else is giving away one's personal freedom. The three most valuable
gifts we receive at birth are life, time and personal freedom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">If you're lonely, and I know some of you are, then
begin seeking your best friend inside yourself. Accept yourself and your unique
gifts and talents. Explore your gifts and talents. Little by little you'll find
you'll begin attracting other people to you, who, like you, are on a similar
journey. Let the joy of being alone begin. </span></div>
Ed Helveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995821240780553373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343376493674471164.post-86209549094806204972014-09-12T12:09:00.001-07:002014-09-12T12:09:31.297-07:00Grades Just Don't Matter All That Much!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">An
old high school friend forwarded a YouTube video to me a little while ago. The
title of the YouTube video was "<a href="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/6OiRlGAONIM?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0">Ten Minutes of Wisdom</a>." Well, I'm
right in the middle of a bunch of little detail stuff, plus composing another
article to post, so I didn't think I'd take the time to watch the video right
then. But . . .</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I was curious and so I
clicked on the link.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It
was a presentation by a speaker at a college in Abilene, Texas. Frankly, I'm
very glad I stopped and took the time to watch it. And, I'm giving you the link
to watch it, too. <a href="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/6OiRlGAONIM?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0">The Link</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This was an opening address to students at
Abilene Christian University. Now, if you're not a religiously oriented person,
don't let that stop you from listening to what this guy has to say, because he
really hits a home run in my book. I think this should be required viewing at
the beginning and end of every school year from the beginning of high school
through college, graduate school and any other formal education or training. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One
of his points about the formal learning process is that "grades" just
don't matter all that much. The speaker had earned two degrees from this
university and as he put it, he never got a B and graduated in the top of his
classes. But, the only person in his entire life that cared about his GPA was his mother. No one else cared. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I've
often said the same thing about my two degrees, a bachelor degree and a master
degree. In both cases, no one - and I mean NO ONE - has ever asked about my
degrees, cared what fields they were in or what my GPA was. No one cared that I was inducted into the
honor fraternity for my undergraduate major. Did the education matter? Yes! It
mattered to me because it <i>helped</i> prepare me for the future life I would
lead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But,
did you notice I said that it "<i>helped</i> prepare me for the
future" life I would lead. It didn't fully prepare me (or even close to
prepare me) for what I would face in my life. The speaker made that point, too.
Another point he made was when we graduate the best of our life is ahead of us.
But, the worst of our life is also ahead of us. Believe me, this guy really
imparted some vitally important life lessons during the ten minutes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
relate to everything he said. I don't honestly remember one lecture from my 5+
years of higher education (let alone any from high school). I don't recall any
of the papers I wrote - save one that I turned in to complete my masters degree
- because it was actually a business plan that I prepared for a group of
venture capitalists I was hoping to have back my business idea at age 24. What
I do remember are specific teachers, professors and classmates who impacted and
inspired me and I carry that with me to this day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
also remember two important points that an English prof. imparted in about 1
minute in the very first class of my first semester of my freshman year in
college. I've never forgotten those two points and they became the cornerstone
of what I wanted my son to learn to carry him through his life. Here are those
two points --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1.
Learn to Think Critically<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2.
Learn to Burn the Candle at Both Ends (I interpreted that to mean learn to be a
Survivor - do whatever it takes to survive)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">That's
what I wanted my son to enter his adult world with. I wanted him to be able to
think critically and to be able to survive. He did and I feel I accomplished my
objective in making him a productive, capable, competent member of society. He
is, without question in my mind, my single greatest accomplishment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Grades,
smades - deal with them whether in school or career, but don't allow them to
control your life. Learn to think critically, be a survivor and live and enjoy
life to the fullest. When you reach the end of your journey, like everyone
will, all your grades, all your awards, all your money, houses, cars, etc.
won't really count for much of anything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">People
will remember you for how you lived your life as a parent, sibling, friend and,
possibly, as a colleague. What you'll remember are your memories. Listen to
what this guy says as he sat at the bedside of numerous dying people. I hope it
inspires you to live your life joyfully, not work your life toilfully. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Ed Helveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995821240780553373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343376493674471164.post-80561223809940948352014-08-27T10:57:00.000-07:002014-08-27T10:57:53.219-07:00If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I
love the simplicity of that ten word statement comprised totally of two letter
words. There is a lot of power in those words. I haven't been able to find the
true origin, but the first time I heard it was in the early 80's from Alexandra
Armstrong, an accomplished and highly acclaimed Certified Financial Planner and
investment professional from Washington, DC.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
ten words are often applied in a motivational context relating to career,
professional and business success. However, the words can be applied to any
facet of anyone's life. They certainly apply to making changes in your life to
realize whatever dreams, goals and missions you have established for yourself
including making whatever life changes you need to make to achieve your
definition of living free. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A
Case In Point<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
meet a broad spectrum of people on-line and in person. Meeting people is one of
my primary motivations for my particular version of a living free lifestyle.
For example, this past weekend I attended the Veteran Speakers Retreat (VSR) in
Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. VSR is an event I have attended for more than 20
years. It was my privilege to be the coordinator and run the event for the past
12 years. This year was the first year I attended as a "civilian," a
plain, old participant, again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
event was held at the Allenberry Resort, the location of the Bass Fly Fishing
Hall of Fame. To make a long story short, I was cutting through the museum to
join other members of the VSR group that had gathered in an informal
hospitality area. As I passed through the museum, I noticed an attractive,
middle-aged woman looking at the exhibits. I passed a pleasantry with her that
developed into a conversation and I learned why she was there and about her. I
invited her to join the rest of the group and she did. When I returned to base
camp from the VSR I received a nice note from Cindy inviting me to visit her
when I might make it to State College, Pennsylvania sometime. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Cindy
was there to meet a member of the VSR group and ended up meeting a lot of the
group. She is looking for something that the statement, "If it is to be,
it is up to me," applies. She drove about two hours just to meet up with
one of our group and gained more than she anticipated by meeting many more
people who inspired her and made her trip more worthwhile. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Fear Factor and Living Free<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
have been communicating via email with another person I'll call Sam to protect
his privacy. He has been going through some serious emotional and psychological
pain in his life due, primarily, from his description, to an extremely toxic
marriage. An experienced RVer, he wanted to downsize his personal life, leave
the toxic home environment, get on the road and "live free." We've
had numerous interactions over the past month or so. He'd write to me and ask
questions about the kind of lifestyle I've been leading, my motivations, the
logistics, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
now he's ready to make the leap. The downsizing is done. The behemoth RV,
downsized to a smaller, more efficient unit more conducive to a single nomad.
He's packed up, BUT . . . he wrote me:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.5pt;">". . . I feel like a
little boy not wanting to leave home. Going out in the big bad world feeling
homeless for some reason and scared I won't like the little Chinook as it is so
much smaller and wondering where the heck I am going to park. You see with the
big motorhome I just dry camped in parking lots on the way to Yuma and
then we were always in the RV Parks. I am actually afraid and feel helpless
although I have a roof over my head and have a small pension and should be
financially OK like you and me talked about. What a S***ty feeling,
buddy."</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There
it is, again - "The Fear Factor." Been there, many times. And, I'll
bet you have, too. He's giving up a home. He's leaving the "comfort
zone" of a relationship, that while extremely toxic is actually, in his
mind, more comfortable than facing the "unknown." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>The Reply</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here
was my reply to him . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"Hi Sam,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Believe it or not, I just spent time with
another Sam. He is an American born in the US to Dutch parents who took
him back to the Netherlands when he was two years old and where he lived
through the Nazi occupation and some brutal times. After the war the Dutch
tried to conscript him into the Dutch Army and send him to Indonesia. But, his
parents took him to the American consulate, since he was actually an American
citizen, and enlisted him in the US Army. He got to the US, learned English and
built several very successful businesses. He's 84 now and lives with his 84
year old wife (a humor writer and humorist/speaker) in Laguna Beach, CA. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So, think about this other Sam and what he
went through in his life - almost taken by the Nazis because they thought he
was a Jew, left the country he grew up in without knowing a word of English
even though he was a US citizen, came to a foreign country - his actual
homeland, and learned the language and made a success of himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So, Sam - seems to me your situation is a
piece of cake compared to this other Sam. Whaddaya think? It was FDR who
said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." And the only
way to overcome whatever the fear is, Sam, is to face it head on. None,
but a minute percentage, of the things we fear or worry about ever come to
pass. When they do, they are usually far less onerous than the scenario we
painted in our minds. You can say we are our own worst enemy - or as was stated
by Walt Kelly in his Pogo comic strip, "We have met the enemy and he is
us."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So, Sam - whatcha gonna do about it. The
biggest challenge to making the jump to living free is breaking out of your
comfort zone - and those comfort zones are often your own Hell on Earth.
However, so many seem to perfer burning in their Hell because of this
"fear of the unknown." So, pose yourself this question: Life is about
as bad as I could ever imagine it could be, so what could be worse? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If you can actually make a list of things that could
be worse than how you're living now - write them down on a piece of paper.
Then, take a picture of your wife, current home and the area you live in.
Crumple up the photos and the list you just wrote, light a match and burn
them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Then, take a look at your birth certificate and just
think - <b>you were born to be free,</b> not to live in a prison of
your own making or a Hell that someone else created for you. Realize you are
being given a free pass to live life on your own terms. Your sentence of
bondage and unhappiness has been commuted. You can pick and choose to live any
way, any where and any how you choose. And, if you don't like one way you've
chosen, you are free to make another choice and you can do that over and over
until you find whatever works for you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Talk about the greatest gift anyone could ever
receive - <b>Your FREEDOM!</b> I know (and so do you) hundreds or
even thousands of people who live their lives in self-imposed prisons and a
bondage in Hell (toxic relationships) because they fear the greatest gift, the
most natural way of living - FREEDOM.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You have a Chinook. They're in demand. They hold
their value. If you find the Chinook is not right for you - CHANGE IT! But,
give it a chance, first. You may find that living small with a small footprint,
small carbon footprint, a certain degree of stealth and the ability to freely
go where the 40' behemoths can't go is exactly what you want for your freedom.
And, think about all the money you're saving that you can use for all kinds of
other things on the "Life List" you need to start creating. A Life
List is similar to a "Bucket List" except it's a positive version.
It's not about doing stuff before you die, it's about doing stuff to live
for. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Remember the Nike slogan - "(Don't Think) Just
Do It!" And there is a short sentence made up completely of two letter
words - that should be your mantra - "<b>If it is to be, it is up to me</b>." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So, aim the nose of that Chinook in any direction
and drive - no matter where you end up, you're going to find interesting people,
places, things, etc. And . . . you'll be amazed at how many people are going to
tell you they envy you and wish they could do what you're doing. Unfortunately,
they can't! The reason is because they'd rather stay in their self-imposed
prison and the Hell of a relationship and/or job they are in. They fear the
unknown and would rather stay in Hell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">See ya down the road, Sam."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">Remember, if YOU want to live free - "<b>If
it is to be, it's up to me.</b>" Make that one of your mantras and
affirmations.</span></div>
Ed Helveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995821240780553373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343376493674471164.post-40977010543065664362014-08-14T12:39:00.000-07:002014-08-14T12:42:16.258-07:00Do You Have A Round TUIT?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Do
you have a "Round TUIT?"</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavLhPDVQpMzZug0xnqhkh9E4raf5rST9FburNlz_zwq7EHr3KDTooV5A1npPbJmikw_VphZlGkAHUJh5uO6N9pmqsOFZKwc9v0RbkIp4V_FHPu0DrhHXZrkCayMa_aEfzmnDGaNPoACA/s1600/SAM_2284+enhanced-cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; font-size: 16pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavLhPDVQpMzZug0xnqhkh9E4raf5rST9FburNlz_zwq7EHr3KDTooV5A1npPbJmikw_VphZlGkAHUJh5uO6N9pmqsOFZKwc9v0RbkIp4V_FHPu0DrhHXZrkCayMa_aEfzmnDGaNPoACA/s1600/SAM_2284+enhanced-cropped.jpg" height="310" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
do! I was sorting through another box of "Stuff" the other day, in my
ongoing quest to downsize and</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">minimize </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">(yep
- I'm still at the process that seems never ending). In the box, I found a
brass, stamped, flat, coin shaped object with the capital letters
"TUIT" debossed in one side. The other side of the coin shaped object
is irrelevant.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
it's shape is round and it says "TUIT" on the object - why, that
makes it a "Round TUIT." So, what the heck is a "Round
TUIT," anyway? I can't spend it. It's not heavy enough to be a paperweight
(and I don't have much paper anyway). I haven't seen a lot of these, so my
guess is that most people never <b>get a round tuit</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Aha!
Do you get it? I finally <b>got a round tuit</b> - or maybe you'll get it if
say I finally <b>got around to it</b>. Cute, huh? So, what's the purpose behind
a "Round TUIT?" It's simply a tactile and visual aid to remind the
bearer of such an object that it's time <b>to get around to it</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">At
first I was going to toss it in a plastic Ziploc bag that I had already placed
currency and coins from New Zealand, the Bahamas, China and a few other
countries. I was going to store this bag (now taking up much less space) with
other items in my "Chest of Life." However, on second thought, I
reached in and removed the Round TUIT and decided I needed to have it in my
pocket as a constant reminder to myself and an object lesson for others I meet
along my travels. So, it's now in my pocket.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Getting
A Round TUIT or Getting Around To It!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Getting
around to it, whatever "it" is, seems to be a big challenge for most
people. This is directly related to procrastination. I'm actually creating a
group for chronic procrastinators called <i>Procrastinators Unanimous</i>. Yes!
I said unanimous, because it seems that just about everyone I know is a
procrastinator, including yours truly. I'll <b>get around to it</b>, starting
the group that is, tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Seriously,
I'm sure you are planning to <b>get around to it</b> on many things in your own
life. Take a few moments (and it shouldn't take longer than that) to make a
quick mental list of all the things you plan to get around to. I'll bet if you
took a half hour, your list would be longer than you ever imagined it might be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Didn't
Have Time OR Didn't Make Time?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You
may have never pondered this concept. I never had until I was about 33 years
old. A young man, 32 years old, a business associate, who was becoming very
successful taught me this lesson. We were meeting at a hotel in Pennsylvania
with a group of other business associates and Tom, my friend, had asked me to
do something before I came to the meeting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
all met up at the hotel and Tom came over and asked me if I had taken care of
what he had asked me to do. I responded by saying, "No, I didn't have time
to take care of the matter." Tom was disappointed because I said I would
take care of his request and I failed to comply. He responded by saying,
"You didn't have time OR you didn't make time to comply with the
request?" Obviously, I didn't make time. That was an important lesson to
me and I've not forgotten it in the 36 years that have passed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
was fortunate. Tom taught me that simple, yet, profound concept before he died
only a few months later in a plane crash. I learned other extremely useful things
from Tom before he left this planet far to prematurely. Another very profound
thing I learned was from his tragic death. Never count on or put off the things
you REALLY want to do until the future because your future may end later today
or tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">When
Will You Get A Round To It (a Round TUIT)?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
when do you plan to get around to your "its?" What are your
"its?" Are they downsizing, economizing, minimizing, cleaning up toxic
relationships, finding your true "occupational" calling and changing
from the drudge job, moving to a location more in tune with your inner
physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual and financial needs, hitting the
road and traveling the world or the country or any number of other things that
will define your choice of "living free? Are you going to join my new <i>Procrastinators
Unanimous</i> group when I finally get around to forming it or are you going to
make the time and <b>get around to it</b>, now?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I'm
going to search out a source of "Round TUIT" coins and have a bunch
made up for me so I can make them available to people like you and others who
would like to have this tactile, visible reminder that it is time to get a
Round TUIT. Stay tuned and I'll let you know when I have them available. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Ed Helveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995821240780553373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343376493674471164.post-63628865928585277022014-08-04T17:23:00.000-07:002014-08-04T17:38:59.355-07:00Your Freedom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">What
would </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">your</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> life be like if you were able to enjoy completely living
free?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
catalyst for this post was a comment I received from one of the many
professionals I know and continue to interact with from my varied professional
career. Here is the comment and I quote it, "Quite the life you're
leading, Ed. I'm envious of your freedom."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
appreciate the comment, but I wonder why so many people are "envious"
of my freedom. I honestly haven't done anything all that unique, courageous or heroic.
I simply reached a point in my life when I made a conscious choice, a decision
to change my lifestyle. Life is all about choices. We've been making them ever
since we were infants. You probably don't remember, but you probably made the
choice not to eat those gosh awful looking and tasting strained peas they called "baby
food." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
why would anyone be envious of a choice I made, unless . . . he or she is not
happy, content, fulfilled or feel free with the choices he or she has made for
his or her life? I do not pass judgment on anyone else's choices. Believe me
when I say, even though I've essentially been self-employed all my life (except
for a period of conscription when I served in the U.S. Air Force - a choice -
for four years), I made choices that limited, restricted and curtailed my
freedom, happiness, contentment and feelings of fulfillment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Even
today, I'm not completely free and while I'm usually happy, by choice, I'm not
always happy or feel completely fulfilled. It's a process and there are lots of
obstacles to overcome on this journey for me and everyone similar to me. Being
envied doesn't may me feel freer, happier, more content or fulfilled. It simply
leaves me wondering what I can do to assist other people to find their own
freedom, happiness, contentment and fulfillment. As the old saying goes,
"it's different strokes for different folks." I don't have your
answers. So, let's play a game of . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What
If?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I'll
pose a series of questions. You simply answer them honestly for yourself, you
don't have to send the answer to me, unless you want to. Be completely honest
with yourself. Don't consider how your spouse, children, parents, siblings or
friends would want you to think. These are your true answers only for yourself.
And, please notice, I didn't provide you with any examples. This is a "Big
Boy/Big Girl" game. You know the answers, just be honest with
yourself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Freedom<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1.
What would your life - freedom - look like if you could live any way you
personally choose?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2.
What laws, regulations, restrictions, limitations, rules, regulations, etc.
would you choose to limit any impact on your life?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3.
Who, if anyone, would you choose to share this freedom with?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Work<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1.
What would you choose to do to sustain yourself if you were free to choose any
path or endeavor you want to?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2.
How hard would work or, better yet, enjoy this endeavor of your choosing?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3.
How much time per day, days per week, weeks per year would you commit to this
endeavor you enjoy?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Where<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1.
Where would you choose to live geographically - consider region or country in
the world, region of that country, specific state or province and city - or
would you choose suburban, rural or outback?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2.
Would you consider being nomadic and traveling throughout a state, province,
region, country, continent or the world?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3.
Would you consider simply being in a fixed location or migratory moving between
two or three predetermined locations with the seasons?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Relationships<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1.
Who would you include in your living free world - a spouse or partner, married
or not, children, other relatives, friends, etc.?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2.
What kinds of relationships would you choose to have?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3.
Who would provide the revenue for your sustenance by paying you for your chosen
work endeavor?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Transportation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1.
How would you travel if moving through migratory cycles or you chose to be
nomadic traveling often and across large areas?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2.
What would it be if you chose some kind of motorized conveyance - a car (what
kind), a truck or van, an RV of some kind that could double as your home, a
motor scooter or motorcycle?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3.
Would you use public transportation, rental vehicles, bicycles, hitchhike or
any other ideas?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Housing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1.
What kind of shelter would you choose - traditional house (how large and what
kind of construction), a tiny house, an apartment or condo, a yurt, a tent of
some kind, an RV, a structure of your own design and construction, a shelter of
some other kind?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2.
How much room would you require for yourself or yourself and anyone living with
you? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3.
What kind of community would your house be in - a traditional neighborhood, on
a farm or ranch, on a large amount of very isolated, primitive land, in a
commune, cooperative or apartment complex, would there be any considerations as
to age, gender, religious beliefs, nationality, race, interests, etc. of others
around you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Lifestyle<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1.
Would you live simply?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2.
Would you live frugally? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3.
What would your hobbies, interests and passions be?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Stuff of Life<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1.
What stuff would you eliminate from your life?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2.
What stuff will you need to maintain a balance between freedom, happiness,
contentment and feeling you are living a fulfilling life?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3.
What stuff will you want that isn't a real need, but will provide that little
extra zest to your life?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What
If?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
there you are. I have given you 24 questions to answer. These are not all the
questions that one could apply to this game. You may have others that are more
relevant to yourself. Feel free to add them or replace some of mine with yours.
These are not difficult questions to respond to if you know what you really
want from your life. However, they can be very difficult to answer if you're
answering what you believe your spouse, children, parents, siblings, friends
and other people, society in general and the government expect from you. Maybe
it's been a long, long time since you've dared ask yourself any questions like
these.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This
"What If" game is only for your personal edification. What if you
really could make all these choices (and, by the way, you can) the way you and
only you would want to live? Knowing what you know now after experiencing
however much life you've lived, would you be in the same occupation/job, have
chosen a different educational path, married the same person, live where you
live, etc.? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes!
IF you actually play this "What If" game, you may end with some
feelings of discontent, realize you're not nearly as free as you thought you
were, are not truly happy, but just going through the motions and do not feel
like you are fulfilling your life as it should be lived. But, if you have read
through this article before answering the questions, you may not want to
actually play the game. However, if you do, and you find that you haven't been
true to yourself, remember, you don't know how long you actually have on this
planet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If
you're single and have no children to be responsible for, you may want to
modify some of your life by making some new choices. If you are attached to
someone else in some manner, marriage or otherwise, perhaps you should allow that
person to also play the same "What If" game. Maybe you'll find areas
of common ground and areas you can easily compromise on. Maybe you'll find that
you're both discontent, feeling trapped, not happy and missing the fulfillment
boat. And maybe you'll find you've been cheating each other and your children,
etc. by not being true to yourselves and each other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Everything
is about choices. Everyone has to make them. They are not necessarily good or
bad, depending on your own perspective. And, of course, not making a hard
choice is itself a choice. Don't envy people who have made choices that you
view as making them freer, happier, more content and seemingly living a
fulfilling life. You can't evaluate your life by anyone else's. But, you can
make choices for your own life to bring you to the same place based on your
definitions of freedom, happiness, contentment and fulfillment. The choices are
all <b>yours</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Ed Helveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995821240780553373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343376493674471164.post-41264610791265654102014-07-28T12:08:00.000-07:002014-07-28T12:41:03.425-07:00Great Myths: Myth #1 - We Are Created Equal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WXjjNBajeOjR0J4zQfyVkjYN_1lKxI2Ys71Us2q7V-oYUtJw6byRXeXyAvpM8qJ6QaUxK18yVfXjhUBNVaxnpKdiBw5Jyts0cD3P6DJGWfoU6lb9tsFfcKnfqrsqocqfHUlZW9BuyUc/s1600/SAM_1871+Enhanced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WXjjNBajeOjR0J4zQfyVkjYN_1lKxI2Ys71Us2q7V-oYUtJw6byRXeXyAvpM8qJ6QaUxK18yVfXjhUBNVaxnpKdiBw5Jyts0cD3P6DJGWfoU6lb9tsFfcKnfqrsqocqfHUlZW9BuyUc/s1600/SAM_1871+Enhanced.jpg" height="243" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Freedom in Sight - End of the Underground </span><span style="font-size: large;">Railroad </span><span style="font-size: large;">in</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Lewiston, New York and Freedom </span><span style="font-size: large;">on the other </span><span style="font-size: large;">side of</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">the Niagara River</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Allow me to begin this article by stating that I am not a practitioner or believer in what has come to be known as “political correctness,” hereafter referred to as “PC.” Do not mistake that for meaning I'm insensitive to other people of any other race, color, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, religion, pet preference, political party (or not) affiliation, etc. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I simply see people as they present themselves and their values to me. I make my discriminatory judgments based on that presentation. Yes! I said that I make discriminatory judgments and <b>so do you</b>. To say you don't is simply lying to yourself.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I wanted to establish this ground rule in the beginning. If this bothers you, press the back button on your computer and move on to someone else's blog who will probably lie to you about being PC. I'll delve deeper into my thoughts and beliefs on this in a future article.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>We Are NOT Created Equal!</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I don't care what the Declaration of Independence says about being created equal and our inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I am a realist and a pragmatist. I don't believe you can make a silk purse from a sow's ear. That is not unless you have a fairy godmother with a magic wand.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Here are some basic facts proving our inequality . . .</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPb9f4cX0uG1kXXJPrkgmhLI7otPqbTj7oYaU55V30enu1kUf3GJWBna8pCLOpRSUzQIW9LlZLra9842MBfeZ_mzC6VF8YUYPbIC8IM0ilFT_dD9aY6l07IltCRmoEq682m8VMGYJyPk/s1600/C+Day+14-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPb9f4cX0uG1kXXJPrkgmhLI7otPqbTj7oYaU55V30enu1kUf3GJWBna8pCLOpRSUzQIW9LlZLra9842MBfeZ_mzC6VF8YUYPbIC8IM0ilFT_dD9aY6l07IltCRmoEq682m8VMGYJyPk/s1600/C+Day+14-19.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I am smarter than many of you and I am not as smart as many of you – and vice-versa – therefore, we are not equal.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I am physically stronger than many of you and I am not as strong as many of you – and vice-versa – therefore, we are not equal.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I have some gifts and talents that some of you don't have and some of you have gifts and talents I don't have – therefore, we are not equal.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Because of my gender I cannot bear a child, but those of you of the opposite gender can bear a child – therefore, we are not equal.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Some of us were born poor, some extremely wealthy and most in the middle or working class – therefore, we are not equal.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Some of us were born into one culture or another and/or of one race or another and/or of any number of nationalities, each with differing degrees of freedom, opportunity and/or oppression – therefore, we are not equal.</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">You can add other traits making us unequal. This is reality. This is fact. The clause in the Declaration of Independence about being created equal was written with good intention, but is actually a sweeping generalization. It didn't take the individuality of each person into account.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>The U.S. Declaration of Independence </b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Use this link to the <a href="http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html">U.S.Declaration of Independence</a> to the King of England.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<img height="233" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTyb7UWkES4dvdZDET8IJggGY-5kfaUYbhKbxsyxJROfa3Lnr6z" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">I recommend that you read it carefully whether or not you have ever read it before. You'll find the declaration was a broad-based political treatise and did not (nor could it) take into account the many differences making us unequal and uniquely human.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Real Life</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Here's the deal. <b>You</b> have to make <b>your</b> life whatever you want it to be. You have to recognize your own inequalities and capitalize on your uniquely positive traits while downplaying and/or overcoming those areas you are weaker in. The positive thinking approach says you can be or achieve anything you want to in life. It may sound good, but it's not realistic.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">For example, I will never be a great composer, musician, artist or sculptor. Yes, I may be able to do some of these things, but I will never excel at them. I don't have the talents or gifts. Also, I will never be a mother. I can try as hard as I want to, but it won't happen.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">What I can do is identify my traits, strengths, gifts and talents and do my best to excel in those things. It's my choice. It's my reality and life. I don't want anyone or a government agency/law messing with my Real Life.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Real Liberty (Personal Freedom)</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Don't expect our government or any government on any level to promote and guarantee your liberty and personal freedom. That is the antithesis of the actual purpose and function of all governments at all levels (including the private sector like corporations and institutions). </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">You must claim your own liberty and personal freedom. You must define it for yourself (and no one else). You must determine how you can live in our society or any other society without breaking the ever increasing, overbearing and oppressive freedom squelching laws, rules, ordinances, regulations, covenants, etc. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Governments and the laws they continually add have become onerous for freedom loving people.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Pursuit of Happiness</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=ccff88b353&view=att&th=144ebde9fc288557&attid=0.1.1&disp=emb&zw&atsh=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">A friend, Leonard's Pursuit of Happiness<br />His Bluebird school bus conversion turning <br />into his personal condo on wheels</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">This is important. You and only you are responsible for your happiness. Happiness is an attitude and state of mind. Don't expect the government to take any action to make you happy. It's not their job or mission.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Here's an example. A close friend lives in a very congested area of a larger city. When he moved there most people only had one car. Currently, with more housing and families with at least two vehicles, parking is a huge problem. When someone parked a school bus on part of the street, he complained to the government to ban parking of such vehicles. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">The government'</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">s response was to eliminate ALL legal parking where the school bus parked. They lost four parking spaces. The government's solution made parking a worse problem. Then they eliminated at least two more parking spaces on the opposite side of the street. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">Problem solved? The school bus just parks further down the street. Are the residents happier now? Not just no, but hell no!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Freest, Happiest People</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">Most of the happiest people I know and continue to meet are those who accept their unique inequalities and focus on their positive traits to their benefit. They have the least amount of “stuff,” the least amount of need for shopping and conveniences and the least amount of interaction with government at any level. </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Just remember, if someone says, “Hi, I'm from the government and I'm here to help you.” Slam the door and run away as far and fast as you can. You can be and are as equal, happy and free as you choose to be. <b>That choice </b>is your inalienable right. </span></div>
</div>
Ed Helveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995821240780553373noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343376493674471164.post-26882849190407544622014-05-17T13:16:00.000-07:002014-05-18T10:50:36.063-07:00Free Man/Woman of the Land<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Recently, I was following a thread on an Internet forum
started by a fellow who identified himself as Van UK. His email address
was that of Yahoo UK and what he wrote gave me no reason to doubt that he was
from the UK.<br />
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In one of Van's posts, he expounded on his philosophy of
personal and natural freedom as he spoke of being a "Free Man of the
Land." I must say that I related to Van in his thoughts and ideas. While I
may have never thought of it in exactly that term, I completely understood
where he was coming from. Long ago growing up in New Jersey something influenced me to start believing this way. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I know my father, who was never a "free man of the
land," but wanted to be and who died by his own hand very prematurely at
age 42, was a significant inspiration for me, whether he realized it or not. My
public school education, while typical of the 50's and early 60's stirred up a
certain rebellious nature in me. My religious training in an American Baptist
church and what I came to realize was a doctrine of oppressive
beliefs to me, had some impact, too.</div>
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I'm going to quote what Van said in one of his posts as the
thread passed from one person to the next.</div>
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<i>I understand
common law, the straw man, free man, etc. very well. Magnacarta, U.S
Constitution. Let me assure you, there have been many times when I have been a
true free man of the land. I have been described as a Ghost by my, now, bank
manager which some times goes against me.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Due to
this there are jobs I do not get because of the breaks in my job history or
career breaks as I like to call them. I dip under the radar whenever I feel
like it. I live my life on my terms. No one has leverage on me and that is the
way it will remain till I die. I am not better than anybody nor is any one
better than me. I don't care who they are. We are all born equal and I will not
change or be controlled by anybody period.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b>Freedom
Comes in Boxes<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbB4pemZ-OjAUA8itNNOH2Qvd_MJ3mJSZJL8jKQJSPoMg-iaHaMPJsrQJSOz25tbH28_6-TrY53Ab-1mzsg9C40BJxKzsFM_ynJnHOV8Au1j5WrW9TaPdunF80efTI9LF96qkAioad7W4/s1600/Flying+Vulture+at+Ocala+Nat'l+Forest+A+-+2-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbB4pemZ-OjAUA8itNNOH2Qvd_MJ3mJSZJL8jKQJSPoMg-iaHaMPJsrQJSOz25tbH28_6-TrY53Ab-1mzsg9C40BJxKzsFM_ynJnHOV8Au1j5WrW9TaPdunF80efTI9LF96qkAioad7W4/s1600/Flying+Vulture+at+Ocala+Nat'l+Forest+A+-+2-14.jpg" height="242" width="320" /></a>Van's
words rang with a certain passion to me. I related to what he said. Of
course, I believe all people want to be free or believe they are free. In one
sense, everyone is free. But, it's how we each define what freedom means for
our individual lives that differs. We will often hear the expression "free as a
bird." Certainly, there is something about watching a great eagle, hawk,
condor, turkey vulture or other soaring bird that seems to epitomize freedom
for many people. The seal of the United States employs the bald eagle as the symbol
of freedom. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Like most
things in a human's life experience, freedom or being free comes in degrees.
The life of a slave (a despicable practice still carried on in many parts of
the world) and the life of a prisoner represent two of the least degrees of
freedom. Many depict society and the laws of a society as a "Box"
allowing everyone within the confines of the "Box" certain defined
freedoms. Depending on the nation/society/form of governance, the amount of
freedom within that box can vary considerably.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Some
people believe that the accumulation of vast amounts of money, assets
("stuff") and property provide freedom. Unfortunately, for many,
accumulating money and acquiring stuff and property to achieve what they define
as freedom actually becomes an obsession. This obsession often results in an
individual becoming a "wage slave" or a slave to his or her wealth and stuff. This simply means an individual
has created and built his or her own form of prison and the cell is the job and
home. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Every
society has to have some kind of laws, regulations, rules, ordinances and
covenants to protect the rights and property of each member of the society. In
many societies the government or ruler is actually protecting its or his/her
own interests with little or no concern about the individuals. These laws, etc.
are created by some form of governing body or ruler ranging from monarchies,
empires, dictators warlords, tribal chiefs, parliaments, congresses, unions,
homeowner or apartment associations to several others forms. Not only do these
bodies (or individuals) create and implement these laws, etc., they also
enforce them. All of these laws, regulations, rules, ordinances and covenants
create boundaries or the "Box" that defines the freedoms of that jurisdiction. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The vast
majority of the people living within a "Box" are indoctrinated and
taught where the boundaries of freedom (the "Box") are beginning from early
childhood by parents, religious leaders, community leaders and some form of
educational/training system. As adults they are subject to and required to obey
and abide by the laws defining the "Box."<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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However,
in most developed societies or what we label as First World (and even Second
and Third World) nations, the citizens usually live within the boundaries of numerous "Boxes" and
have to conform and abide by the laws, regulations, rules, ordinances and
covenants of all the "Boxes." What makes it more challenging is
that often the laws of the various "Boxes" are contradictory. That is, while you are obeying the laws of one "Box"; you may be breaking laws of one or more other "Boxes." Without question, all of this becomes confusing, complicated and
limits the individual's freedom even more. A typical example in the United States might be where an individual is subject to federal laws, state laws, county
laws, city laws, homeowners' association covenants, job rules, union rules and
even religious doctrines. That is eight "Boxes" controlling some
facet of one person's life. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It's probably fair to say that many people consider the United States the greatest
nation in the world and the greatest nation there has ever been. Yet, while considered
a free nation, it probably has the most laws, regulations, rules, ordinances
and covenants of any other nation in the world, free or otherwise. Thus,
while not realizing it, citizens of the U.S. may actually be more restricted or
limited in exercising their natural freedom and rights than individuals in
countries considered to be less free or oppressive. Is this good or bad? That has to be
determined by each individual regarding his or her own life and collectively
for the greater freedom of everyone in the society. One must also remember that as an
electoral democracy, supposedly, the collective of the individuals in the U.S. have given
an elected entity and ruling class the authority to create all these
"Boxes" that control, limit and restrict everyone's life. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The
Free Man/Woman or the "Outlaw"<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Reverting back to what Van from the UK had to
say, <i>I live my life on my terms. No one has leverage on me and that is the
way it will remain till I die.</i> I believe that is the essence of Van's
definition of Free Man. I have, of late, begun thinking of this kind of person
as an "Outlaw." <o:p></o:p></div>
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The Free
Man that Van speaks of or the "Outlaw" that I speak of is not someone
who breaks any laws or, to put it in a milder way, fails to obey any laws with
criminal intentions. As I define it, these are the people who
"stretch" the boundaries of the "Box" or, sometimes, simply
find a way to escape the boundaries of the "Box" in a manner that
does not infringe on anyone else's rights or perpetrate any bodily harm or
property damage on anyone else. They have chosen to live outside the confines of the
"Box," independently, in a quiet, peaceful, unassuming manner. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Their
lifestyles will vary one from another. They are, obviously, non-conformists.
They typically will live simple, frugal and minimalist lifestyles in locations that don't
attract a large population density. While many become self-sustaining and live
off the grid, others may choose a hybrid lifestyle living off the grid and
self-sustaining as as much as they are comfortable with while using the mainstream
infrastructure as they need it. Thus, when they use local, county, state or
federal roads they obey the laws of those roads and jurisdictions. When they
purchase gas or diesel for their vehicle, they are paying gas taxes for the use
of the roads. When they shop for groceries, staples and sundries and other
merchandise, they pay sales taxes. They do their best to obey the laws of the
"Boxes" as those laws (regulations, rules, ordinances and covenants)
apply to them, seeking ways for those laws to have he least direct impact on
their lives and lifestyles as possible. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Some of those I
consider "Outlaws" are people who live full-time in vans, utility
trailers, converted school buses, RV's of all descriptions, tiny houses and
other forms of alternative dwellings and lifestyles. I also believe
"Outlaws" are those who actively seek ways to earn what they need to
sustain their lifestyles by alternative means. Such individuals might be
traveling musicians, artists, photographers, writers, Internet marketers,
crafters, flea market vendors and include a slew of other professions or
occupations that the mainstream inside the "Box" members of society
won't consider or don't consider as something they could make a living from. The
list could be quite long. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Living
Outside the "Box" <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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So, are
you a Free Man or a Free Woman of the Land? Are you an "Outlaw?" Or,
are you playing it safe by staying inside your "Boxes?" Maybe you
just bump into the walls of the "Boxes" occasionally to see if they
have expanded or contracted or become more pliable. How do you define your own
freedom? Are you content staying inside the boundaries of your
"Boxes?" If so, then, perhaps, you're living a Walter Mitty kind of
existence. In other words, you read my blog and the blogs of others who are
similar to me and daydream or "zone out" about what it would be like
to take the leap of faith and escape the boundaries of the "Boxes." You might enjoy
watching (if you haven't already) the recent movie, "The Secret Life of
Walter Mitty" starring Ben Stiller, adapted from the James Thurber short story. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Actually,
I honestly don't propose that most people stretch the boundaries or escape
their "Boxes." I don't believe the vast majority of people in today's
world and societies can handle as much freedom as many of us "Outlaws"
have. Over the millennia, since humans became civilized and began creating more
and more complicated, restrictive, limiting and (often) oppressive societies,
people have become much less self-reliant and much more co-dependent. They look to some kind
of "authority" or governmental entity to, supposedly, make their lives better, less complicated, safer
and freer, while, unfortunately, I believe exactly the opposite has resulted. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Already more
than half the world's population lives in cities and towns and by 2030 that number
will exceed 5 billion. Unfortunately, urbanization seems to spawn larger degrees
of poverty (due to the higher cost of living) and higher violent crime rates (again
as a result of the cost of living, potential lack of jobs and increasing poverty).
The illegal drug problems will likely increase, possibly, exponentially. All of
this will require even more laws, regulations, rules, ordinances and covenants.
Those will result in even more limitations and contraction of freedoms.</div>
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So, where
do you find yourself? Are you a Walter Mitty daydreaming about freedom or an "Outlaw,"
Free Man or Free Woman of the Land? </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Ed Helveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995821240780553373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4343376493674471164.post-68367465123861466732014-04-29T12:47:00.000-07:002014-04-29T13:14:46.232-07:00Welcome To My World - Six Years Later!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Once a year, around this time, I usually take a look back to
see where I am in my world as compared to where I was when I began this
adventure of Living Free. It's now about six years from the time I started this
blog and five and a half years from when I dove head first into the new world
of living free without a fixed home or business location. I have since come to
call it being happily houseless and location independent. So, here's my
six-year report. The original post (excerpted) from February 2008 is copied
below. My updates are <b><i>in italic bold</i></b>. The original post begins
now . . .</div>
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This blog is about exactly what the title states - “living
and working free.” Now, to make sure this concept is perfectly clear, I DO NOT
mean living FOR free or working FOR free. I mean living and working freely
under our own rules, terms and conditions for our lifestyles and work styles.
And, it is important to note that there are no rules, terms or conditions carved
in stone that tell us how we should live or how we should work. The only rules
are those that we each establish for ourselves in our own hearts and minds . .
. unless we adopt the rules, conditions and terms that others may want to
impose on us<i>. <b>This still holds except it is more apparent then ever that
we are a society of laws, rules, regulations and they are imposed on us by a
government that is becoming more oppressive . . . in my opinion.</b></i> </div>
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My postings here are going to be based on MY feelings,
opinions, concepts, wants and needs. What I say may or may not apply to you –
or perhaps only parts of what I say may apply to you. So, do not, under any
circumstances, consider anything I say here to be gospel. What I say only
pertains to me and my life. The operative word in all of this is “FREE!” I hope
by posting my thoughts and feelings here that I might be able to instill a
feeling of freedom in each person who lands on this blog and chooses to read
it. Will it change your life? I sure hope so, but not to my benefit and credit
– rather to your own benefit and credit.<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><b><i>I stand by these
statements.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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This is beginning as a blog. A podcast will follow very
shortly. <b><i>Six years and counting. No podcast, yet, although I have been
gathering material that may one day find it's way into podcast form.</i></b></div>
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Money is not the only measure of success. You can't buy
happiness with money, but it can make life more comfortable. Everyone needs
some money to sustain whatever lifestyle they choose for themselves. The real
issue, too often, is that we don't determine what REALLY makes us happy and
fulfilled. So, we tend to center ourselves around a JOB and the largest amount
of MONEY we can get and we spend 30, 40, 50 years of our lives slaving at some
job that, statistically, is unfulfilling to more then 70% of the workforce. Our
most valuable – actually priceless – commodity is slipping by virtually
unnoticed UNTIL we reach or pass middle age and wonder where all the TIME of
our lives went. <b><i>This continues to be true with the exception that over
the past six years the "middle-class" has diminished in size as a
percentage of our population. The poverty level has increased as a percentage
of the population. Income, generally for those not in the top ten percent
income bracket (and especially the top one percent) has declined significantly
and with it, debt seems to have increased and lifestyle has been negatively
impacted. Finally, the top one percent income bracket has become obscenely
wealthier at this same time. <o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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So, living and working free means determining in your own
mind and heart what is REALLY IMPORTANT to you, creating a lifestyle that
reflects what really fulfills you and sets you free to enjoy the TIME of your
life. It means finding work that you find fulfilling and you can enjoy and even
be passionate about. . . . I am really no longer willing to sacrifice my
priceless time to do anything that I don't want to do, don't like doing or
just, in general, I find a waste of my time. I will only “trade” my time for
“money” when what I'm doing with that time is fulfilling, satisfying and
enjoyable – in my personal opinion (and no one else's opinion really counts
since it's my life and my time). <b><i>Again, I stand by this paragraph.
Nothing has changed in my mind.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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So, that's what this blog is all about. I'll expose you to
ideas, concepts, opportunities, lifestyles, work styles, people, places and so
on. I very much invite your comments and if you have something you'd like me to
post as part of this blog – submit it to me at <a href="mailto:ed.helvey@gmail.com">ed@edhelvey.com</a> . . . I'll also go on a
rant once in a while, so be prepared. There are a lot of injustices,
incompetence, inconsiderateness, etc. in this world – well, whoever said this
world or life was fair, anyway – but it's still my prerogative to rant on my
own blog. <b><i>I believe I have delivered on everything I said I would in this
paragraph. I have changed my email address (and inserted it above). I also have
eliminated the rules for leaving comments because I've found that the readers
of this blog are, like me, very civil. However, I still watch the comments and
I've had to begin using a "captcha" security plug-in to eliminate the
multitude of computer/automated spam comments I began receiving. I guess that's
a sign of success of sorts. The blog has been found.</i></b> </div>
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In closing this first, introductory post, I want to give
credit to a book and its author as my inspiration for this blog. The book is <i>Working
Free: Practical Alternatives to the 9 to 5 Job</i> by John Applegath. The book
was published in 1982. I read it in 1986 or 1987 and it took me 20 years to,
finally, locate the author. I spent three terrific days with John in Durham, NH
and found him to be delightful. <b><i>I have yet to visit with John Applegath
again, but I'm planning a trek to New York State and New England in about a
month (June and July '14). I plan to be up in that region revisiting places and
people from my youth and earlier adult life. And, as always, I'll be exploring
many areas in that part of the U.S. that I have not been to before. I'm also
hoping to meet, as I usually do, lots of interesting new people along the way.
One part of the plan is to visit with John Applegath again. He has, since my
last visit, been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. If any of you blog readers
are in the New York State and New England region and would like to meet up,
please drop me a note so I can see how and when such a visit might fit into my
itinerary (which I'm currently planning).</i></b></div>
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Another person you'll hear from and whose book also was an
inspiration is Barbara Winter, whose book, <i>Making a Living Without a Job:
Winning Ways for Creating Work that You Love</i>, is still in print, I believe.
She was easier to track down and I have been in contact with her by e-mail and
phone. Barbara and I have not yet met in person, but I intend to meet her this
summer in Las Vegas. <b><i>I reported in an earlier update of this post that I
didn't attend that podcasting conference and still haven't made it to Las
Vegas. However, I also mentioned that I did meet up with Barbara in Sedona,
Arizona at a workshop in April of 2010. Delightful. And, I am actually planning
to finally get to Las Vegas late this year, probably November or December when
I'll be trekking throughout Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California.
I'll be leaving the east coast the very end of September or by the first of
October. Once again, any blog readers between WV and Texas (I'll announce my
route when I have it planned) and in Texas and the other states mentioned who
want to meet up with me, drop me an email so I can see how it will work into my
itinerary. I look forward to meeting up with you. I'm also looking forward to
meeting up with some bloggers who I follow while I'm in that part of the U.S.<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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So, that covers the update on the original "Welcome to
My World" post that kicked this blog off on February 6, 2008. As you can
tell from the inline commentary above, this blog and I have remained pretty
true to what the objective was when I started it.</div>
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<b>I've Grown and Changed<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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What has changed is yours truly, ME, the happily houseless,
location independent, nomadic, living free idealist. I've grown in many ways.
The changes and the growth are reflected in this blog. Of course, that was
really one of my objectives in creating and maintaining the blog. It is a
chronicle, if you will, of who I was and who I'm becoming. Notice I didn't say
who I have become. Life, as we all seem to allude to, is a continuous journey
all ending at the same ultimate destination. Thus, I find I am always becoming
and never become. It's a process of change and growth. </div>
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When I began this adventure and lifestyle change I felt that
I needed a 40-foot, diesel powered, motor coach for my mobile lifestyle.
Something held me back from making that move. As I did my research and learned
more and more about the mobile lifestyle and myself, I realized that more
(bigger) wasn't necessarily better for me. I began thinking smaller. I have
continued to expand on the concept that not only can less be more, but it is
more. I have become involved in a few RV forums on the Internet and learned
massive amounts of information and knowledge from those living the lifestyle I
thought I wanted. </div>
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Then, due to a series of circumstances, I ended up
purchasing another high-top conversion van (replacing one I had sold not long
before) and went to the opposite extreme. That is, I went from believing I
needed that 40 foot motor coach to live the lifestyle I thought I wanted to
realizing that what I really wanted was simplicity, frugality and as small a
"footprint" as could reasonably accommodate my basic living needs. I
joined some Internet forums about "vandwelling" and found that I was
much more in tune with this kind of lifestyle. </div>
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<b>Personal Imprisonment<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I have also released most feelings of personal imprisonment. Some of
this has been in the form of self-imposed stress. Some has been in the form of
emotional and psychological traps. I've have become very comfortable as a loner
and solo traveler. I've accepted that while I never say never, I am no longer
looking for a "soul mate" or compatible partner. Maybe that might
still happen, but not because I'm seeking anyone. I guess I'm willing to just
allow nature to take its course. I've accepted that I'll never accomplish or realize
all of the dreams I've carried with me since my youth and added over a
lifetime. I will die one day with "unfinished business," as does
everyone. </div>
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I've also accepted that, while I've had a fantastic
professional career as an entrepreneur, primarily in the audio/sound/recording
and video production industries, I've become a dinosaur. While some of my
contemporaries are still working their hearts out at staying current and
relevant in business and the electronic media I've so enjoyed, I no longer have
the desire or drive to play in that "sandbox" anymore. I'm not
exactly throwing in the towel, per se. I'm simply accepting my own inadequacies
and the aging process. Years ago, while I was still in the earlier phases of my
professional career, I met a man in my profession of "advanced age,"
probably about my current age. I gained insight from him, but viewed him as a
dinosaur. I wondered how he felt at his age about his profession and position in the industry at that time. Now, I know the answer to that.</div>
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<b>Keeping Up?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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During this five and a half years of my living free,
alternative lifestyle I've done my best to keep as current as possible with
world, national and local happenings, technology, my industry, the financial
world, politics, etc. What I've realized is that it's way too complex to keep up
with it all. Even my 35-year-old son (he's two years older now than I was when
he was born) says, in some ways, even he's beginning to feel like a dinosaur
already. So, how can I hope to keep up? Thus, I've begun to "let it go."
By that I mean that I don't get into debates/arguments over politics with
anyone anymore. There's no percentage in it. Despite all those who believe we
still (if ever) actually have some voice in our government and society, I see
it all as a game of pawns. There is a ruling class and they run everything,
despite what the populace wants. So, why waste precious time on something that
I can't do anything about. The same holds for the other issues I mentioned.</div>
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It's taken the six years since I launched this blog and the
five and a half years since I made my major lifestyle change to realize and
accept that the ONLY thing I have, perhaps, a reasonable amount of control over
is my own life. When I started out in this alternative lifestyle adventure, I
believed that I knew something that no one else had figured out and, I guess, I
had a bit of a 'superiority' attitude. Those who didn't see my way, as the
truth and light, the "gospel of freedom," if you will, were the
losers. Today, I've accepted that I was one of them for most of my life. It's
all about choices. I'm very happy with mine. I believe a lot, perhaps, many or
most others, choosing a more traditional, mainstream lifestyle, are not very free
or happy. I'm quite willing to share anything anyone wants to know about me and
my current, living free, lifestyle. But, I make no judgment. They choose to
live how they desire and that is fine by me. I guess it's sort of a "live
and let live" attitude that I've grown into. </div>
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<b>Everyday is an Opportunity for Personal Growth<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Everyday is an opportunity for each of us. Some days I
experience great "aha's," meet or communicate with others of like
mindsets and different mindsets and discover new places and things of interest.
I'm seldom ever bored and, as a single, loner, I'm never lonely. There are
other days when, frankly, I squander the time on mindless pursuits, yet don't
feel guilty since it's my choice how I spend my precious time.</div>
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As I've looked back at many of the older posts in this blog,
I can see these changes in attitude and mindset. I can see where, at certain
times, I've pontificated on some topics. Yet, I also find pearls of wisdom that
only can be acquired and shared by trial and error, maintaining an open mind
and continuing to allow all of my senses experience life as much as I choose
to. I share these pearls of wisdom, with you, my reader. I still don't expect
you to take everything I offer here as gospel according to Ed Helvey, but if
you do gain some insight that assists or helps you in anyway to evolve, grow and
improve your life and perception, whether I know about it or not, I'm
gratified. In about a year I'll revisit this first post again and determine
what new growth I've experienced. </div>
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Ed Helveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995821240780553373noreply@blogger.com0