The Social Dilemma

This documentary on Netflix was both informative and uncomfortable to watch. Per Wikipedia, it “explores the rise of social media and the damage it has caused to society, focusing on its exploitation of its users for financial gain through surveillance capitalism and data mining, how its design is meant to nurture an addiction, its use in politics, its effect on mental health, and its role in spreading conspiracy theories”.

Key former employees of Google and Facebook were interviewed, all vying for changing the tech business model of manipulation, “attention extraction”, and pervasive data grabbing in order to grow profits each quarter. Again, as with so many realms of our society, new paradigms and systems are needed for the well-being of people and the planet.

Ironically, as a counterpart, I paused and then started watching Emily in Paris, a Netflix series of 10 episodes, with a theme being the power of social media. I was hooked immediately with the frivolity, romance, exciting fashion, characters, and beautiful Parisian backdrop. After watching a number of them consecutively, I suddenly realized I fell for the “user” trap and “attention extraction”. It can happen so quickly!

Vale

A noun - “The world, or mortal or earthly life: this vale of tears”. (Dictionary.com word of the day 9/10/20.)

“How is vale used? All he really wanted to do in company was to make jokes, to turn the world upside down and laugh at it, to enrich and enliven this vale of tears with a little fantasy.”

Further, “As Keats witnessed more and more suffering—his brother Tom’s death; the infectious illnesses sweeping London—he connected his aesthetic vision to lived experience, and wrote in a letter that life is “a vale of soul-making: Do you not see how necessary a world of pains and troubles is to school an intelligence and make it a soul?” (Meghan O’Rourke, “Americans Have To Accept Uncertainty,” The Atlantic, May 6, 2020.)

Vitamin H Again

Another favorite! Each time I listen to him laughter is guaranteed. I especially like what he said about the ant hill: “When you were young, remember kicking over the ant hill? That just happened to us. They just kicked over the whole ant hill. And, what do the ants do? All right, hand me the next crumb. Let’s get back to work.”

NBA Finals - 2020

I’ve sorely missed watching the Warriors play and have been slow to develop interest in the remaining teams. However, now that the field is narrowed down to 2 fighting for the championship, I feel compelled to watch the competition. Last night’s game was one of the most thrilling I’ve ever seen. Jimmy Butler was and is a superstar, leading the Heat to a roaring comeback. And Andre Iguodala, an All Star former Warrior, had a spectacular moment with a magic pass to a teammate who then scored a 3 pointer. We’ll see what happens Tuesday night. No doubt LeBron will be in feisty shape.

Humor

Along with meditation and other practices, I find this Vitamin H to be essential for immune boosting. To that end, I sometimes listen to comedians, and Chris Rock is at the top of the list. Along with an appealing delivery, what he says resonates with my sense of truth. I would say he embodies what RBG has advised, “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you”. His latest on 10/3/20:

RBG Quote

“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you”. It is my fervent hope that my art and words ultimately achieve this. Justice, Justis:

Justice

Evidently on a wall just outside her chambers, Ruth Bader Ginsberg prominently displayed a framed poster with this command from the Hebrew Bible: “Justice, justice shall you pursue”. She said the repetition of the word “Justice” was always so powerful to her.

I understand her passion for justice. I share it too. Although an artist preferring to roll with love and beauty, I will not shy away from conflict and taking a stand if necessary. I will fight and, throughout decades of my life, I have fought for what I believed was true and just in many battles. The culmination being the ending of a marriage. Even though I did not prevail as I had hoped or as was just, the process for me was so much about this passion for justice, for standing up for my rights. In doing so, I feel sure that I’ve stood up for all those, especially women, who, for whatever reasons, have not been able to stand up for themselves.

I understand the power of repetition also as I have painted many pieces with this technique and subject matter in mind. Add that it’s essentially my last name, and the word has been repeated a lot!

Full Circle

Further to my post on 9/29/19, in a recent workshop on the “Mystery of Being”, Adyashanti was speaking about “Living on the edge of discovery - or the love of truth and the love of deeper truth and deeper revelation.” Immediately my art piece involving spontaneous writing came to mind - magnificent, fascinating, perilous moments facing the edge, standing in full embodiment on the edge of life of course in fear and doubt and unknowingness, scared to death, hoping and sometimes praying that death would knock at the door for a reprieve, for restoration, for relief, for peace and calm. Big time relief, relief of enormity for rest, for breath, for a chance to recover and recoup love, understanding, full forgiveness and compassion for oneself and all that has bound and for all those whose intent is to control, bind, have dominion and great power over, etc., etc.,etc.

When I created this in 2012, the process I was fundamentally in was what Adya spoke about; it just didn’t feel like it amidst the onslaught, fight for justice, and ensuing emotional hurdles from leaving a marriage and radically changing my life. How synchronistic and wonderful years later to grasp the alignment with my words and understand at a deeper level what my soul craved and so embarked upon. Now my truth is richer.

Interestingly enough, the superimposed small graphite, chalk, and colored pencil piece is a repetition of Highly Evolved in cursive. I believe gumption was pre-programmed.

Albert Einstein

He is credited with saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” A ubiquitous application and brilliant!

RBG - "I Dissent"

I live in a loft condo, way different than a house. One glaring difference is the HOA governing board, hence, limited autonomy. With election after election in the last 5 years, my expectations for improvements in communications, decisions, and overall management have been high, albeit reasonable. I have trusted the last 3 board presidents to comply with their agreements to circulate surveys among homeowners as to areas of concern and importance. To date, nada! This signals to me that opinions are not welcome. Given my aptitude for quality control, naturally I have opinions about enhancing the functioning of the overall building and promoting well-being. So, I find this frustrating. Issue after issue, I live with constant opportunities to let go of that which I cannot change. Good practice for me yet difficult especially when it involves where I live because I really care. I want to feel safe and secure in the building. (I would be compelled to put my name on the ballot if only I could make a 2 year commitment, pick my mates and affect positive changes.)

We have an elevator that keeps breaking down. Unquestionably, it’s old and needs to be replaced. A couple of weeks ago, I got trapped in it. A terrifying experience! Rightly so, after escaping, I sent a flurry of emails to the management company and the board. Par for the course, there was no response. Whatever is going on, whether it be an overall culture of poor standards and/or steadfast adherence to status quo, this is not a match for me. I intend to remove myself from this system in the near future. Until then, in the spirit of formidable Ruth Bader Ginsberg, I dissent!