Here's the Thing

Segregation via personal opinions never did anybody any good. Typically, I find, agreeing to disagree gets the job done.

Here's the Thing:

When it comes to politics, you cannot merely agree to disagree because the ultimate result will certainly impact your personal future (which will then certainly impact the futures of those closest to you in one way or another). So I feel like this is where you kind of have to care. That is, unless you sincerely do not give "any shits" about your life/future/those around you. Which is, ironically, the outlook it feels like a lot of people who vote subscribe to.

(ba-dum-tshh)

I feel as though I am not well versed enough in current events / politics to really weigh in on anything. Then again I certainly do not know much at all on the topics of taxes, weather or time travel, all of which I have covered in previous blogs. So, like I was saying...

MY OPINIONS on health care and education tend to fall under more of a conservative view: I think that they should be a provided option; I don't think that they should be free. And not that they just shouldn't be free in a miserable, mothball-ridden-geezer, "tain't nuthin fer free" kind of way. More of a "let's be realistic" kind of way. I mean, there really tain't anything for free, but not specifically to interrupt peoples' joy and happiness, not just so they "don't get it too good". Some things are the way they are simply because they are. I am completely open to alternative thinking, although I will admit, I will always apply logic and reality to it. Would it be nice to not have to worry about money? Of course. Would it work to just throw the idea of paying for the things that we - as a society - deem important (even necessary)? I truly do not believe so. So might I suggest: if you do not want to worry about money, save more, spend less.

It would also be nice to let everyone have whatever groceries they want for free (so we know that everyone is nourished). But the reality of that is that it would turn sour. (And fast!) For starters, giving some people what they want only makes them want more; the novelty would run out quickly. Also, what is "nourished"? What is healthy food? Also, are we only giving people certain foods for free? Well that's not fair to people who have an allergy/sensitivity. We'll just save those safe foods for the people with said allergy/sensitivity? Well that's not fair for the people who really like that safe food, but just get whatever because their stomachs just happen to be able to handle a larger majority of foods.

Then we've got the sly bartering to take into consideration; much like what I have heard / am to understand happens with food stamps. In other words: without food being money-dependent, people are likely to turn to food to replace money. Kind of like a regression into the colonial times. "I will give you this [animal] in exchange for this [service]." So call it what you want: currency doesn't have to be in the form of money, we will (as a society) evolve it into whatever we deem necessary at the time. There will always be something to blame, something to hold over another's head, something to express status. If need be, we will resort to being envious of whoever is wearing the biggest hat with the most twigs.

I think that does have a lot to do with it: I think that people concern themselves with certain topics when they concern themselves with how much money another is making, in comparison to what they are making for themselves. Perhaps not so much this specific topic, but more like the thing where people want millionaires / billionaires / whoever the f&#$ to be "super-taxed" simply BECAUSE the aforementioned aire's have MADE MORE MONEY for themselves. That is the craziest thing to me. It's none of my business what someone else is making. Also, that person made that money because they have a skill / set of skills that I do not have OR they were given an opportunity that I was not given. I can think of plenty that I have been given that others have not (and so on). Does that mean that I should be punished? Some things are not my fault, some things cannot be helped, some things should not be made a reason to punish someone. Not to mention I can think of plenty of opportunity that I have not been presented with; opportunity I have watched fall at others' feet. To be clear: this is not others' fault. I think we should all be taxed the same percentage (of what we make/however I word this). Sometimes it feels like everyone is so greedy and everyone wants so much and everyone wants more. And more money.

And how about those people who weren't given the opportunity to go to college when they were younger - and could have used it? It's not fair to forgive school loans now that they are much too old to appreciate it / take advantage of it. There will always be something unfair. Always someone who suffers. I don't love it. But I bring this up because many of the opposing thoughts and arguments (whenever I try to have a conversation like this with certain individuals who appear to be further on the side of Liberalism) try to emphasize their point by fighting for what's "fair". Which is, first of all, subjective when you get down to it, and it could always be argued that a point / philosophy is not fair to someone.

For example: this subject of free healthcare. It seems as though those who have been ever-vigilant about keeping in "ship-shape", trying their best and working their hardest every single day, with every single decision, would be made to be a punchline of sorts. Oh, that's very nice how you've been living well, exercising and staying within the realm of a balanced diet all these years, Ralph, but healthcare is free now, so... turns out you could have had whatever you wanted to eat. Joke's on you! Not only that, but once it is free, what motivation would one have for taking care of one's self, then? It appears we are in need of better motivation as is. And what of the doctors now? The ones who have what I would consider one of the worst jobs ever? Having to deal with so many people with much higher, more intense needs than I have ever had to be responsible for in my professional life. Having to be in such close quarters with those who they are well aware are sick, sometimes deathly ill. Being blamed for everything when it goes wrong. Hardly being thanked in the alternate. Shitty hours, no personal life, taking your work home with you (in a gravity most of us will never know)... Would you want that job? I don't want it as is, and if we were to accomplish this movement of making healthcare free to everyone, these doctors would have to inevitably be paid significantly less! Jesus! And if not, where will all of this (UNIMAGINABLY LARGE AMOUNT OF) money come from? I don't know what to tell you, folks, sometimes things cost money.

And what about these people who vote for themselves? That is, for literally only their own, personal gain? "I don't wanna pay this medical bill... maybe a politician will. Who cares if it's not what's best for LITERALLY anyone." "Well I want my school loan to be forgiven, so instead of paying it off and making it a priority, I guess I'll just wait for this bill to pass or some such so I can just forget it ever happened." Remember when only men could vote and women were all "Gee it'd be nice to vote. That way my voice can be heard." Well now it can. And now that it can, now that everyone can vote, wouldn't it be nice if we just tried to think of what was best for all of us? The all? The whole? The Nation?

In my opinion, education and healthcare are no more a basic human right than a cab ride.

Minimalism vs. Preparation

After a brief, accidental hiatus, I'm back at the keys! (And it feels so nice.)
Sometimes writing is like showering: I never feel as though I have the time to do it. And then I finally commit, pop in and as soon as the hot water hits, I never wanna get back out.

For the longest time I have wanted to get rid of "stuff". I would have talks with myself.

"Okay," ten-year-old me would say, "today's the day. We are gonna clean our room. Like really clean. Like... invent-a-new-term-for-it clean. We are just going to march right in there, put on some Dave Matthews Band and gut the whole damn room." (I had a bit of a potty mouth, but I allowed for it since it was only ever in my head and also typically just when striving for self-motivation.)

I would march in there. I would put on Dave Matthews Band. And then... I would spend the next four to six hours going through everything that I own, typically spending a shocking majority of time in a drawer somewhere. I would get so hesitant on getting rid of things - things that I certainly did not need - because I felt as though I might need it at some point in my future. (And I was ten, so naturally, no job yet to replace said items.) Couldn't get rid of Summer clothes in the Winter because how can you really tell what you're likely to wear in the heat when it's below freezing outside - it's basic psychology. Couldn't get rid of video games I never really played - they were unfamiliar and would be nearly as good as playing a brand new game, once I got around to it. And not the ones that I played all the time, either - I played them all the time. All of these lotions and perfumes have a little bit left in them. Sure I'm ten and have no use for either of them, and these lotions have expired... but do lotions ever really expire? It's not like I'm going to eat it. Might need this wrapping paper for a last-minute gift. I should buy emergency bows.

Emergency bows, people. These are actual thoughts I had. I was always very talented at creating scenarios in which I would need this or that. And so, my minimalist ways were postponed for another year.

Finally, as I got older and the minimalist movement became more active on social media, I revisited my deep need to purge. I found that the one instance where I might have been able to use that bit of an old shoelace was a bit inconvenient, sure. But all of those days where I didn't need it outweighed it severely. I have been tucking away at my belongings now for over two years and still have not regretted my decision to "cleanse" enough to renege.

Welcome to 30

When did hydration become such a focus?

What's this accelerated interest in skincare?

Why is the music too loud and yet I cannot hear anything?

Must be 30.

I have hit the next milestone, folks. It's the one I've been waiting for ever since I got into management at my job at "Jamie's" when I was twenty years old. The age where some geezer disrespectfully prompts you to share it, expecting you to say "nineteen" or "twenty-something", and you leave them in gasping disbelief when you say... "thirty". It's the age where people hesitate a bit before continuing to disrespect you. Finally; what I'm saying has some weight to it! For a few years, anyway, until I become irrelevant and nobody gets a chance to disrespect me because nobody's ever listening. Nothing lasts forever.

Some will say "your twenties are a blur" and "enjoy it while you can" when you're in your teens. I recall this one: "you'll be thirty before you know it!" 

No, I wasn't!

That took forever! I'm exhausted. And relieved - now that I am thirty, I feel like I am finally home. THIS is my age, at long last. And I can mark nearly every year of my twenties by my incredibly signature birthday (among other things) that came along with it (I have been very fortunate). As for my teens? Well, they were shit, for the most part. Aside from all of the dark and fascinating family bother and emotional turmoil, The homework was terrible and by the time the quiz came around, I drew an absolute blank. And being even younger than that wasn't any better. I had no idea what was going on, which class to go to when - how school even worked - I just wanted to stay home where there weren't so many moving parts. 

I don't miss it one bit. 

What is it that people usually complain about when they romanticize being young? Ah, yes, the whole at-least-you-didn't-have-to-pay-bills argument. Well I have been young and I have made it to thirty and I will tell you something: I will gladly pay bills until the day I die if it means that I will live a life of my own choosing. Working where I would like to, for as many hours as / when I choose. Waking up and sleeping when I decide to, eating the foods I like to eat, fixing my own problems along the way. Here's a fun fact: being able to count on yourself is just the coolest thing in the world.

Forget being young! The best days are those that you can - and do - take control of. Make your own decisions. The days where you are safe and content / wild and free. Where you can be confident in your choices and just be happy that you can be yourself. 

Immortality

Yes, here at "Just Thinking", we cover only the most realistic, hard-hitting topics around.

I don't know that anyone actually cares about this anymore - seemed like more of a hot topic when I was younger / in grade school. On the off-chance that it is still on anyone's mind; living forever would suck, and here's why:

Think of how tired you are now. *shuts book, leaves*

If we were to extend the boundaries of realism for a moment and say that yes, we could live forever (or at least a very long time, indeed) if we so chose, there are many things to consider.

1. Once we choose to live forever, is there no takesies backsies? Is there a contract involved?
2. Do you get to know if your friends are on board / get to be eternal alongside you?
3. Will you be frozen at your current age forever, or just keep slowly decaying?
4. Is your mind to decay along with your body at its typically expected rate?

Imagine how demented you would be at even two-hundred. All of your friends and family are gone. You are perpetually drowning in an ocean of loneliness. No one to talk to. Nothing to really keep your mind socially sharp. The monotony of the daily agenda tucking away at you, one marble at a time; eroding the last bits of humanity in you. Your mind is fading and your eyesight's getting worse - now you can't even read or learn to pass the time. Eternal boredom. In one way or another: you're a goner!

I wonder if we were only meant to live for so long, but now that we have medicine / healthcare / doctors / diagnosis, we can prolong the inevitable when really we shouldn't. Is this why our bodies have such problems in our old age? Because they weren't designed for more than a few decades? Remember in Medieval times (sure do!) when everyone started working at nine years old, got married at twelve and had a parade in their name if they made it past twenty-two? Who is to say that they "died young"? Perhaps Science and Evolution are watching us all, mouths agape, in great disbelief and childlike wonder.

"Omg, Science... He's ninety-eight and still going!"
"By all accounts, it doesn't add up!"

And what is the use? Of it all? That is to say, I am uncertain of our collective "purpose", if we even have one. So what bloody good does it do having all of us whinging on? I am not sure that even we know. Perhaps it all comes down to the instinct of survival: we don't know why or how, all we know is that we must keep living!

In my opinion, the minute my mind goes, the rest of me can exit along with it. I do not wish to live if it is to be a life of such desperate confusion. I never know where I am and need an extra hour in the morning to have someone convince me of my name? I'm out.

Of course all this immortality supposition is nonsense and is of absolutely no use to anyone. Unless I was aiming to portray just how painful it would be to have a "fun", theoretical conversation with me in real life.

Holier / Allowances

This blog has been sparked from the topic of:

"being holier than thou versus making allowances for oneself or others".

The concept is a bit of a bridge off of the Diet Loopholes entry I made a bit ago. 

I feel as though I am constantly striving for a kind of balance in things. My entry on Greed, for example, portrays my disgust for those who cannot achieve some sort of balance within the things they enjoy (from spending money to drinking coffee/booze, which naturally spills into the conversation of cigarettes). When I strive for this balance, however, I have a tendency to get a bit lost in the duality. Similarly when I consider Veganism. 

Is it better to aim for perfection and label any misstep a complete fail?

Or should I just be content with any amount of effort and be satisfied with the lesser of two evils?

My natural intention is to aim for perfection, because within some guidelines, if you do not accomplish perfection, you have not executed any of it. If you completely follow Veganism with the exception of MeatMouth Mondays (I just made myself gag a bit, not to worry - keep calm, carry on), you really have not achieved Veganism. It is more of an absolute. There are gray areas, yes (honey, secondhand leather), but in my opinion, purposefully consuming animal product at any time would not be one of them.

I said it before and I will say it again: Even if there was a loophole securely in place for you to eat that animal product - why would you want to, little vegan?

To me, there is quite clearly a difference between a vegan and a person who has more of a "zero waste" attitude toward all things (including creatures). In my opinion, if you are going to be truly vegan, you are not also going to be bothered with what we're going to do with "all these animal remains" and conversely, if you are going to complete the duty of a zero waste lifestyle that includes animal bits, I would not consider you a vegan. I feel as though you can, however, be a vegan who adopts a zero waste lifestyle for yourself. Which would not include animal bits as product to be considered. Otherwise you would be cooking up Fido and Aunt Shereece once they'd passed. Waste not, want not!

The problem with this outlook - if you would like to consider it that - would be that it would throw out the "Lesser of Two Evils" argument. (It may toss out the whole outlook of balance thing as well, but I suppose it could be argued that one could be even more balanced by only concerning oneself with balance some of the time.) (...That wasn't meant to get a laugh, but it really is quite humorous.) And so, with the disposal of the Lesser of Two Evils argument, it could be argued that we would actually be going further against veganism. Naturally this would depend on the actual topic of discussion. Because as far as I am concerned, the whole "only eating animal products when they're already dead" is an absolute that displays, without question, that you would not be vegan, by definition. (You would be some other thing like... Nearly Vegan. A Negan.) HowEVER! If the argument was "If you partake in MeatMouth Mondays (it doesn't get any easier with time), you may just as well not partake in any vegan activity, or even try to", then it could be argued that that attitude / outlook / opinion actually makes you less of a vegan (because at least those people are eating less animal product, and as such is better for the Great Fight as a whole/take what you can get/any amount of animal not eaten is a victory of sorts). 

It will certainly lower your popularity at most cocktail parties and social gatherings. 

Which reminds me: the line of being polite and being supportive is a tough one to learn. I still have troubles teetering on it. What I mean to say is that when a friend does not adopt the same attitude / morals / views as yours (on something that involve ethics and victims, such as Veganism), how far should you go (in efforts to keep them comfortable around you)? I do not want to shame these people for doing something that is different from what I do. Especially when it comes to food habits. Food is very personal. It goes in to your body, for crying out loud. But I also would like to not lie and pretend that Veganism is shit and "man-oh-man, do I miss cheese". *Vomits quietly so as to not upset said friend*

And I am so sorry to share with you, at this time, that an omnivore being supportive of a vegan diet is not the same as a vegan being supportive of an omnivore diet. Yes, I am aware that I am not a scientist / nutritionist / dietitian, and Yes, I am aware that I did not go vegan for ethical purposes. All of that is 100% true. I still stand by what I said about support not going both ways, because at the end of the day, YES! Veganism could be completely horrible for me and I would have no idea of knowing it until I die from spinach intake, BUT! The things that perpetuate me on this diet are the things that are for certain AND I am choosing not to eat a chunk of what omnivore's eat. They are still perfectly welcome to eat all they want of what I eat, and they could still consider themselves omnivores.

Provided they partake in MeatMouth Mondays.

Not that this is even similar enough, but at the least comparable, picture a health nut / gym rat watching someone eat processed, pre-made, artery-clogging, people-who-make-it-getting-paid-unlivable-wage shit-food and take a bash at how you think they might feel about it. 

ONE LAST PARTING SHOT:

Why are we coming up with such extraneous circumstances for others? Surely you've heard the stories:

"You're a vegan? Oh, ok, well..." *immediately is triggered and mentally shoots off to find holes in the opposing theory* "what if you were on a deserted island and there was only a pig on the island and no vegetable and you were starving?"

(Well, it's funny you should ask, because what you're describing actually happened to me, just last week. And I'll tell you just what I did. But you're not going to like it.)

First of all: there's no telling. You can think you would / wouldn't eat that pig all you want, but more likely than not, you have not yet been faced with that level of survival mode, and so there is no telling. 

Second of all: why does this scenario and answer matter to this person? Are they planning on getting stranded soon after opting for veganism? Is anyone? And just what are the odds that there is a pig on the island with no veg to even keep it alive? I will tell you that at this point in my Veganism, the last thing I need on a deserted island is horribly-cooked fresh pig meat. It would only prolong my misery (having to live with the fact that I killed on purpose just so I could survive instead of the pig - why am I so special?) and shortly thereafter give me diarrhea, which would quickly dehydrate me and surely be the reason for my ultimate demise.

I only remember so much about water distillation from Voyage of the Mimi.

Most importantly: this would never happen, so it doesn't matter. And it isn't fun for everyone involved, so I really just don't see the point at all. 

Who are these people creating these stories? Is it fun for them? Do their brains work differently than ours / at least have some kind of thought process that takes them under a troll bridge, through riddles and prose? This is ridiculous. What are these people doing with their lives when they save their energy for useless proposition?

Greed

(My blogs have become somewhat sassier, and less objective. Maybe it's a mood, maybe it's a change... we'll see.)

It's official: Greed is disgusting.

When I heard the word in my youth, I would often just picture Scrooge McDuck, swimming through his fortune, never giving a penny up. But it really covers so much more than the obvious. I also feel as though selfishness is greed's annoying little sister; when you're greedy, you're probably being selfish and when you're a selfish human being, you are likely to be dipped in greed.

I finally get why consumerism makes so many people want to throw up! I may not agree with all of the reasons, but I will certainly say that I find it absolutely repulsive when a person / people viciously pursue Black Friday deals with the unmistakable look of hunger and desperation in their bloodshot eyes (at 2:20 in the morning). Half off and free gift with purchase? They may as well be salivating. We have all seen what the insanity of sales can do to a human-greed-monster hybrid, as well as any who dare stand in its way (trampling someone in the name of a flat-screen television? Yeah, that checks out). And just adjacent to this behavior is that of an addict.

I don't mean to delve into anything too serious or dark, here, I literally mean to reference substances such as coffee. Alcohol. Legal, boring shit.

I have seen the whole alcohol culture grow in just a few years. I am hearing more people joking about how they're alcoholics (yolo), seeing memes; they could have fun without booze, but why would they?? Yeah, alright, I will admit that I drink, and sometimes it's a fun way to mark a celebration of sorts (a birthday, for example). But drinking to excess, to me, is just not a cute look. It's gross. As if you could not bear the thought of a weekend without your martini in hand. As if that is the only way you know how to socialize/enjoy yourself. Read a book. Get creative - use a brain cell, for God's sake.

Coffee people are equally as annoying. I love coffee. I love the whole ritual of it. I could light a candle and play smooth jazz hits every morning for that slow, easy, first few sips of joe. However, the minute it becomes a necessity is the minute it gets a little gross. "Oh, you wouldn't wanna see me before my coffee!" Why? Can you not be a decent human being to your fellow man without the injection of this substance into your bloodstream? Just clawing at the espresso maker like a wild animal every morning. Perhaps it is time to consider an alternative route.

I will be honest; I think it is positively stinking when I don't get to have food when I want it, but I am not about to act violently and be a haggard mess about it. And that's food - ya know, that stuff we ingest to keep living? And certainly I try not to overindulge. I guess it's the obsession of the addiction, making us act like ill-behaved toddlers that irks me most. Gross. Completely unattractive.

why, as soon as we find something we enjoy, must we spam the fuck out of it until it becomes an emotional / mental / physical health issue? Why must we throw adult-sized temper tantrums when we do not get our way?

Going Without

I am almost certain we have all done it at one point or another. My experience may not have been as intense as the next guy's, but regardless of the details, we have all likely "gone without".

I try not to bring up mine up all the time; not everyone cares, I don't mean to sound like I am complaining and regardless of the topic, there are only so many times one can hear the same stories with only a few details I forgot to throw in during the first round. Be considerate. Golden Rule.

I also try not to one-up anyone (about anything, really) / invalidate their feelings/hardships/emotions. Just because you don't have a hard time driving to the next town over doesn't mean I don't. And Just because I have a hard time with that doesn't mean I also have a hard time with everything else you do. More often than not, if I have a hard time with something that the population at large does not, I will have an easy time with something they find impossible to accomplish. This or that. Yin and Yang.

That is why I found it downright laughable when, during a social gathering, I heard some man shove this topic into a conversation:

"I don't own a bed."

First of all, this must have been for my benefit and mine alone, as everyone else in the circle knew the aforementioned bragger very well, and - judging by his accelerated need to scream this from the tallest mountain top - probably already knew this incredibly amazing fact about him.

"Oh, cool."

I said, in an attempt to regain the story I was in the middle of (rude). I began to retry the sentence I had gotten cut off from when I was once more denied. This is where I decide to give up and shift gears; clearly this man needed attention. And not just attention, but specifically the kind that would acknowledge his heroism in a life less complicated. This guy doesn't need a bed. Man. So brave. So tough. He's like a New Age Siddhartha. 

What is it with these people? This population of beings who insist on inserting themselves (and all of their CRAZY QUIRKS *fanfare*) into literally anyone else's day/life/conversation? These people who need so badly to be unusual - nay - remarkable. Really something. The crowd who will search for any reaction of caliber - and aggressively, at that. I just imagine these people storming into buildings of assorted profession, kicking down doors and elbowing past strangers only to say, in elevated voices:

"I HAVEN'T WATCHED GAME OF THRONES."

They are the same people who come into my second job and speak to "themselves" in loud enough voices for all those around them to enjoy. Have they watched too many movies? Do they think that the only way to start a conversation and make friends (or more) is to have someone overhear them and laugh hysterically at how clever they are? Or to have someone understand their obscure Doctor Who reference? These are the people who quote witty people to feign being witty people. I wish I could just tell these individuals to "relax". And maybe that "being authentic is so much better, cooler and surely the way to an increased quality of interaction". How stressful it must be to so in-character all of the time.

What is this phenomenon? How did it begin, and how can I make it stop?

I'm not knocking not owning a bed. I've been there - my choice - went well enough. But don't hijack the conversation just to talk about it. I understand that what you're doing is out-of-the-ordinary. And I am not judging you for it. I am however judging you for your desperate need for attention for it. I almost want to give into these people and react with a

"WOWWWWW you don't own a WHAT?? STOP everything. I have NEVER heard of anyone EVER going without  bed. HOLY COW. I am SO privileged with my bed. Queen Lexx over here. Get a load of me. SHEESH. How DO you do it?"

But for the greater part of my adulthood, I would like to be able to look back and say that I was able to handle it with patience.

The best punchline to this story? He still owned a cellphone.

Moral of the story: do what you want because you want to do it and not because you want to get some kind of reaction/praise out of those around you.