California Diversity

Gosh, in driving to Sacramento today, my main thought was: there are a lot of us. Between the Bay and the capital, you pass through several cities spaced out over 120 miles. Thousands of people live in these places.

And the way of life changes as you pass through. It’s different in Livermore and Tracy than Stockton, which differs still from Sacramento or San Jose. We envision a united strategy against climate change or war or poverty, and I do believe that’s possible, but when you drive 100 miles away, you see how daunting that challenge is.

We can achieve unity around the most important issues that affect us all, because we all want the same things in the end; health, wealth and happiness for ourselves and our tribe. We just need to recognize that although we might be one very large tribe, our diversity is astounding, and beautiful. 

International Consideration

I’m not sure if it’s the rise of the internet and speed of communication, but we seem to rush through conclusions now. That’s on display with the cancellation of everything remotely Russian-connected.

What’s happening in Ukraine is a multi-faceted, fluid situation. It’s probably prudent to process all the information and deliberate, instead of rushing to action when emotions are high and facts are limited. Conclusions are only reached through consideration. 

Excitement Today

Exciting things happen every day. And there’s always something to look forward to; it sometimes just requires some reflection. 

Despite the tragic events happening around the world, there are still things to celebrate: increased literacy, decreased hunger, and a higher standard of living overall across the world. 

The negatives will always be there. Our success as a species relies on our ability to see around them, to solve them, and to strive toward the positive, amazing occurrences that are always possible.

Through Our Tribe

Always make time for family. That’s something I’ve learned and am still learning. As I said to my kin earlier tonight, we have this one moment, this one short lifetime, and it’s best to spend it with our tribe, those that make us feel good and provide meaning. It’s incredibly simple. Our lives are lived through our tribe. 

Getting to It

Things are starting to return to normal in my part of the world, and although it brings tension with the local population, it’s refreshing to see people living. Our way of life is already so different from our ancestors, and the pandemic accelerated the digital wave even further. We must remember that we are animals, meant to play in the dirt and grass, working together to solve challenging problems. Let’s get to it. 

Extended Tribe

I can’t talk about the importance of family time any more, except apparently I can. Your relationships are determined by you—I’ve learned that several times over at this point. You can be close with your extended family if you choose. Im not sure how common it is now. But the more we connect with our families, the more connected we’ll all be together. There’s bound to be some overlap right?

Enigmatic March

March has always been kind of enigmatic to me. While attending a seven year old’s birthday party at a park today, it was bitterly cold wind gusts interspersed with warm moments of sunshine. 

Weird things happen in March. It’s a transition time from deep winter, even here in California, into the beginnings of spring. 

I was treated to a wonderful restaurant not far from my upbringing for the first time tonight, and was appalled by the grandeur. What’s a nice dinner out again?

Weird things happen in March. 

Silent Feast

I walked my dog after dark tonight, without music or a podcast. It was a nice silence. When we entered the park I had this surreal appreciation of the world's wonder. I could see the sky moving as the wind blew the clouds toward the horizon. Towering trees hundreds of feet tall encircled us.  I thought to myself: we're on this huge floating sphere and there's things growing on it and there's stuff walking around. How incredible? Even in a 'mundane' suburban public park you can appreciate Earth's majesty. It just requires some silence. Don't break it. Hold it and feast.

Surreal with Presence

I told someone today that life is surreal. I feel that more and more as I get older. Simple things like visiting a sick relative become incredibly important, the single most important thing about your day. Cherishing supposedly banal moments with your significant other can be easy. It only requires a perspective on how amazing all this is, a longitudinal lens on space and time. Every passing minute of existence becomes utterly fantastical. Our experience transforms when we evoke this level of presence. And we can do it at any single time. 

One in Breath

I’ve been refocusing on my daily mediation and it’s made me consider the breath more in general. Breathing is something every single human being on the planet does, every minute of their life, awake or asleep. Every human who has ever lived has breathed. Surely there must be some connection to this universally shared characteristic? It is what keeps us alive, and in a way it is life itself for us, and most other animals. What a peculiar planet we live on, with such a unique atmospheric composition, that results in us animals needing to breathe. Our breath is part of the Earth. And we are all one in breath. 

On Tonight’s State of the Union

It’s a different scene tonight during the State of the Union. Few masks are visible. Both people behind the speaking President are women. And the speech starts with commentary of an ongoing war. 

Yes many things are different tonight. But I always begin watching this annual speech with hope in my heart—that we can come together as a nation. 

That has seemed far fetched in recent times, any American could tell you that. But it is not impossible. It can start tonight, if we choose. 

What do we want to be as a country, as a society? Can we withstand hearing differing opinions, while continuing to find solutions together?

We can start tonight, if we choose. The words spoken tonight matter, but not as much as how we process them, and whether we choose to use our own voices in building a better world. 

Worldly Tribe

Sometimes even a morose Monday can feel good when you end it with your tribe. I’ve realized how important that is as I’ve gotten older. The people in your life are what matters most. It’s time we recognize that not just for ourselves, but for the whole world. 

Seeing Meaning

It’s an amazing world, and we’re just living in it. We can so easily forget how magical our existence is in this universe. But here we are. When we connect with that reality, we obtain meaning, and things get a lot more interesting. 

Changes to go on

There are magnificent things to celebrate, every single day and night. I was fortunate enough to experience that today.. how much of what I can write to you is valid then? It changes every single day.. 

No Obligation

Life goes on, despite what’s happened in the past. I need to tell myself that sometimes, and it also seems we need to learn it as a species. We can always course correct. As they say, we have no obligation to be the people we were five minutes ago. What will we do?

On Ukraine

And then an invasion happens and puts things in perspective for us. There are many takes to what’s happening in Ukraine right now, much historical context to remember. But at a basic level, we are still tribes of monkeys that try to impose our will on each other through violence. War does not have to happen. The only way out that I see is a recognition that we are not many tribes of conquest but one tribe, on one rock in the ether. May we learn from previous mistakes and make moves towards peace in the future. 

Adaptable Routine

The world has become so different so quickly through the pandemic. I worked at my company’s office today for just the third time ever, despite being with them for more than a year. 

It’s such a paradox how we are adaptable creatures that also crave routine. We have the power to design the systems of our society to contain both. What kind of world do we want to live in?

Regional to Global

It’s kind of amazing how different two places can be, even not so far apart. Just 45 minutes away might be a different world. I realized this again, not for the first time, when leaving the city and heading back to the South Bay.

We are regional in our culture. This has been the case for hundreds of thousands of years. The fact we are trying to span larger than that, collectively, is amazing. It’s never been done before. Let’s remember that, as we work towards a better world. 

The Presidents Game

I have this deck of Presidential cards that make it out of the game box every now and then. On one side of each card is the official Presidential portrait, while the other contains brief paragraphs on that person’s life and term.

My family makes fun of me, because I like to play “the Presidents game”—basically badgering others into guessing who each President is, based on facts or portrait. It’s a pretty dorky game. 

I enjoy looking at those cards because it reminds me how much a person can change the course of a country. The United States has had some good presidents, and many bad ones, but each left an indelible mark on this country. And each of those people were chosen by the people.

Our political system needs heavy repair, no doubt. But it has also forged a potential path towards a working democracy, provided an opportunity to make the world better for the people, by the people. 

We still have the chance to improve. I think about all these things as we observe Presidents’ Day today. Our choices will change the world, of that there is no argument. What’s undecided is how… how will we change the world?

Visiting the City

I grew up visiting San Francisco, and it’s still enthralling to me as an adult. There’s simply so much character here. It looks different during the pandemic, with a visible increase in homelessness and business closings. 

But the charm is still here. The wind and the fog and the hills and the history are still here. The City continues to shrug off prestige and beckon possibility. To me, it will always be special.