Jack Swipeout

Our core identity reflects first our driving purpose: to leave a legacy, to connect to others, to provide structure, or to explore the spiritual. Second, our dominant approach to life...heart, mind, or body...influences how we seek our purpose. Do we seek to leave a legacy? Grounded in the heart, the rebel/outlaw seeks to leave a legacy of liberation by breaking the rules and over throwing the system. Centered in mind, the magician creates a legacy through transformation and growth for themselves and others. Based in the body, the hero seeks a legacy of victory and winning or at least keeping fighting. Do we seek to make a connection with others? Grounded in the heart , the lover's connection is intimate, seeking to love and be loved. Centered in mind, the jester connects through play and fun and laughter. Based in the body, the everyperson belongs to the community and fitting in and belonging. Do we seek to provide structure? Grounded in the heart, the caregiver provides str...

 The history of the universe is the story of ideas. In the beginning, the Big Bang spewed the ides of physics that became the universe.  The idea of physics...light and matter and energy and how two atoms interact to form a molecule is the original origin story. In time, those physical reactions led to the formation of solar systems and planets.  On at least one of those planets the right combination of physical reactions led to biological life.  The idea of biology...information can be communicated through genetic codes.  Biological organisms were not simply reacting to external stimuli the way that atoms did.  They interacted.  Evolution describes how a biological entity adapted to its environment.  A butterfly adopts  a certain type of color to appear to be a butterfly that is poisonous.  This allows the butterfly to be fruitful and multiply.  Seeds from plants discover ways to spread their influence... Sticking to animal fur... ...

 Father, forgive the Stoics for they do not know what they do. “We forget: In life, it doesn’t matter what happens to you or where you came from. It matters what you do with what happens and what you’ve been given.” (Ryan Holiday) When you are in a place of privilege and comfort, it is easy to preach the philosophy of "suck it up, buttercup." Take the story of Jackie Robinson.  The first Black man to break the color barrier in major league baseball, Robinson is a true hero.   Robinson was the target of aggressive racism.  He was forced to play with people who were vocally racists and questioned his right to he there.  Robinson proved his right by not fighting back.  He never took a swing at those who deserved it or publicly gotten into arguments.  He even allowed himself to have his picture taken with out and loud racists.  By playing through the hostility, Robison opened the door for others.  If he had responded to violence and bigotry ...

 You do you. There is no value in trying to be someone else. You do not need to compare yourself with those you admire. You do not need to contrast yourself with those you despise. In his semi-autobiographical book David Copperfield , Dickens writes: “Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.” Dickens was being rhetorical in the sense that only you can be the hero of your life. There are other heroes that help advance your story. Friends. Family. Lovers. Enemies. But you and only you are with you from start to finish, womb to tomb. Do not fear about missing out.  Instead fear not being true to who you are. Be cautious of those who tell you this is the best way to live your life. There are many paths to success, and many ideas of success. The challenge of life is to find your path and your idea of success. Borrow from others what to do and what not to do and how to do it or not, But alway...

Originally an Apple slogan in 1997. Think different annoyed the grammar police. They wanted to think differently. But that misses the point. It is not about the process of thinking that should be different. The important thing is to think different thoughts. It is hard to rewire the way that the brain thinks. The manageable challenge is to change the content of the thinking. When we think different, we act different. When we think different, we become a different person. No not let the grammer police hold you back. Rules were meant to be broken. Think different.

Change is never required and always optional. The consequences of not changing though are determined. Change is driven by fear and/or hope. When the fear to stay who and what we are is to great,  We find the strength and path to move on. When the hope of something better moves us,  We find the strength and path to move on. Always, though, we confront three obstacles. Fear that we lose what we have and be worse off. Uncertainty that the change will provide us the promised value. Doubt that that we will have the ability to achieve the change. If our fear of not changing plus our hope for change does not create a large enough wave to overcome the barriers of resistance, change will not happen.

Michelangelo said 'I saw the angel in the marble, and carved until I set him free'. Really this is a guide to living. See the angel in ourselves and carve away everything else until we are free.

 You cannot teach those who will not listen. The only gift we have is ourselves. Those who are hungry and thirsty are hungry in their own minds.  Only they have the power to fill their bellies and quench their thirst.