Becoming the "Man in the Arena"

Becoming “The Man in the Arena”.

Greetings friends!!!  

A couple of weeks ago, another friend suggested Brene Brown’s book Daring Greatly.  I am amazed with that book. It is going to take me a few more days to understand and write about it.

She uses the concept of the “Man in the Arena”  by Teddy Roosevelt in 1910:

“"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."  (this version from: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/63389/roosevelts-man-arena)

She pointed out that there are the critics, there are those on the sidelines who point at the man doing the work - the man in the arena.  

That spoke to me.  I need to relearn this.  It is way-too-easy to point fingers at those that are doing the work and laugh at his or her mistakes.  Unfortunately, it humbled me - as I have pointed out mistakes by the current administration (aka “The Trump Administration”).  There are areas where I can disagree with the president on philosophy and direction - and that seems to be where American democracy is now.  But, like it or not, that person is “the man who is actually in the arena.”. Did he do well with this coronavirus (COVID-19) situation? Maybe, maybe not - could I have done better?  Probably not!!!  

I write about ‘going the extra mile”, “walking a mile in a person’s shoes”.  And, yet, I want, I desire, I “have to” point out his shortcomings - and then GLOAT.  I have been wrong. Being the President of the United States is NOT an easy task.  I have commented on why I would not want to be the President.

The President is in the spotlight - or in Roosevelt’s words, the “Man in the Arena”..  As you know I tend to quote scripture from my Judeo-Christian philosophy. Jesus commented about John the Baptist who fasted, ate wild honey and locusts (not the diet I want), and then how the pharisees complained that Jesus “came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'”

Maybe I have been taking myself too seriously - I can comment all I want, but I’m not the one that is ‘in the arena’.  The person in the arena is vulnerable, has to be authentic and alive.  

Every step that person takes can be scrutinized and criticized.

I have been the “Man in the Arena” (and who knows, maybe now I’, the “Woman in the Arena”.  I have had my life inspected and criticized (and also praised). As Kermit the Frog opined “It's not easy being green”. 

But, I can’t skulk out of the arena.  I can’t go hide in the locker room. And, likewise, the President can be criticized and praised for whatever he does.  While I disagree with his actions, his words and can consider him to be a bully, he is still the Person in the Arena - in the spotlight.  All of our Presidents get lambasted. In this day-and-age, we have sound bytes of everything that person has ever done.  

From my days (long time ago), teaching PHIL 208 Reasoning and Logic, we have this: “Ad Hominem Description: Attacking the person making the argument, rather than the argument itself, when the attack on the person is completely irrelevant to the argument the person is making.”  

Who am I to criticize?   And, the ultimate analysis - who am I to judge!!!  I say I don’t want to judge and then my words are false.

Brene Brown talks about being vulnerable and authentic.  And, about being the Person in the Arena. I can’t speak for him, but I can look at myself and reflect that I’ve been pretty shallow and judgmental. 

I can justify it as “everybody does it” (that is, judges somebody else).  But, that “everybody does it” is not a valid argument for doing it. “Everybody cheats on their taxes” - doesn’t mean that I can or should cheat on my taxes.

So, in the next few days I will be looking at Brene Brown’s book and try to suggest ideas to make us stronger people.  And, I will be licking my wounds from condemning people I really don’t know - and that I haven’t made an effort to know.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 says “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

If you will (and I’m not sure you can stop me), let me pray “God bless our President and our leaders - give him and them wisdom, discernment, and understanding on how to lead in these times.”  

Hugs!!

Karen

St Patrick's Day - Man's inhumanity to Man

St. Patrick’s Day - Man’s Inhumanity to Man - another historical lesson.

https://www.ighm.org/exhibitions.html

I think this is an unending theme.  It jumped into my brain as I thought of St. Patrick’s Day.  My thoughts today also relate to religion - the religion I profess of a Judeo-Christian background.

I have visited Ireland twice, both times with students and both times getting history lessons.

So, good old Henry VIII set out to make England a world-power (and a lot more), was irate with the Catholic Church before the refusal of the Pope to annul his marriages, became the Head of the Church of England.  Henry was also King of Ireland.  England became Protestant but Ireland remained Catholic.  Henry closed convents and monasteries, took the church money for his activities.  He killed St. Thomas More a statesman who would not support Henry.  

So, back to Ireland and England.  The relationship between England and Ireland continued to be strained as the England Kings tried to stop Catholicism in Ireland.  (Aside, the shared spiritual concepts of love one another, showing mercy, forgiving all others  got thrown under the bus as more political issues than religious issues were discussed.)

Eventually, Ireland became an uneasy colony of England.  The Church of Ireland (as a subsidiary of the Church of England) became the spiritual basis of the island.  (And, the Catholics of Ireland became second-class citizens).

When the potato famine occurred in the 1840’s, the population of Ireland was cut in half.  Small farmers lost their potato crops and therefore their income and became paupers and sent to poor houses.  Seemingly, sending a person or family to the poor house was still a financial burden and it was cheaper to buy the poor Irish tickets to America or Australia.  (Australia was more of a penal colony).  And, yet in America, they weren’t really welcomed with open arms by all.  The “Know-Nothing” Party was an anti-Catholic group. 

Famine, poverty gripped Ireland.  Quinnipiac University’s Great Hunger Museum (see the attached link) highlights some of the many of the inhumanities that England places upon Irish people, and especially Irish Catholics.  The northeast part of Ireland was more industrial and also was more Protestant in view, and was split off from the southern part of Ireland.

Somewhat similar to white America's problem with black slaves, Ireland was divided by two Christian groups - the Protestants with the upper hand and the Catholics as the oppressed. Irish poor stopped being humans in some eyes; like black slaves were less than human in the United States.

Over history, wars and conflicts over religion have occurred.  India and Pakistan were divided on the basis of religion.  Even in parts of the world - including the United States - there are conflicts between Evangelical Christians and Catholic Christians - almost to a conservative versus non-conservative (I don’t want to apply the term “liberal” here).  Likewise, for my many Jewish friends - there are liberal, orthodox and conservative Jewish groups.

The question of “Why can’t we get along?” is a non-ending question - and even more so when the sides profess a common religious basis..  We love labels, we love to point the fingers at the other groups and laugh at them.

Even in scriptures, the Samaritans - who were generally hated by the Jewish leaders - get recognition from the “Good Samaritan” parable and the Samaritan ‘woman at the well”.  

As one who has been exposed to Christian doctrine, I again question where is the “love one another” concept, where is the “turn the other cheek” idea; where is the “acceptance of other philosophies” and attempts at understanding.  

This year we have very few celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus).  There are some people who say that the virus is a punishment from God.  I find that an interesting (if not outrageous concept).  Instead of that analysis, I suggest that if it is a punishment from God, it is because we are NOT very loving, and forgiving, but that we as a people and nation are pushing division rather than understanding and social healing.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day - but let's work on it as a healing day, not just a day of green beer and parades, but a day of understanding!!

Hugs!!

Karen O’White

(after all, on St. Patrick’s Day, all of us are Irish)

Being a Unicorn - part II

They said I could be anything so I chose to be a unicorn - p

https://www.the-numinous.com/2016/06/07/be-a-unicorn/

So, why do I want to be a unicorn? Why would anyone want to be identified as a unicorn? A mystical being, unique, shining, brilliant, and very special!!! I want to be unique and shining and special!! Don’t all of us want that? Deep inside does anyone want to be bland and average? NO - we all view ourselves as having some special aspects!!!

I don’t want to imply that I am that special. (Remember Micah 6:8 - God wants us to love justice, show mercy and be humble). Unique - yes, but, no, I need to keep my ego in check!!

So, let’s look at the last six from the article.

-6 Take uneasy action!!

Huh?

From the article: “If you’re imbalanced towards your feminine side and tend to procrastinate a lot, schedule time to take uneasy action towards your life purpose. This is an action that is attainable but feels uncomfortable, meaning you must push yourself to grow.”

If you want to be unique there are times you HAVE to move outside your comfort zone. That can be tough. You do have to push yourself - don’t be complacent - it might be uncomfortable - but if you want to be unique you have to move!!!

If I don’t push myself, I can easily slide back into my comfort zone, and then I can shrink myself even farther. I like the adage “The turtle only makes progress by sticking its head out”

-7 Dance

Hey, Unicorns dance - they shimmer, they show off their special horns and properties. The article says “Your body is a physical extension of your Unicorn soul, and by shifting your attention out of your mind and into your body through dance, you encourage the flow of your soul’s energy, letting it move you into a balanced state.”

Mentally you can be a Unicorn - you can imagine yourself shining - but you have to get out of the floor and really dance.

-8 Drink Alicorn water

Okay, this is a little strange. The concept is that to be unique - you need to make all aspects of your life unique!! The suggestion is to aim your horn at an ordinary glass of water and mentally imagine you are drinking a magical potion.

But, we do need to mentally imagine ourselves as unique beings. We need to associate ourselves as catalysts. The dictionary says “a catalyst is an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action” Can I assist myself and others in making positive changes?

-9 Be authentic.

Hey - if you (or I) want to be unique (that is, to be a Unicorn) you need to change if you are truly unique (and authentic) or if you are faking it!!! I have a (new) sign in my living room “Be Yourself. You’re so damn good at it”!! (Thanks RW//SW/NB)

-10 Create a unicorn altar.

Okay, this point spooks me a little. I view this as basically having something to remind you of being unique (and therefore - a Unicorn) is good.

But, on the other hand, motivation is good!! I have Post-It notes around my apartment - like “Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”

Okay, so, I’ve looked at the concept of being a “Unicorn” for two days. I do want to be unique and this is an approach to mentally imaging myself as different and special.

I can view myself as a Unicorn, or an ugly lizard. I can be a princess or an ogre. Keeping a positive line to myself as a shining, unique, mystical person can cause me to keep my head up!!!

Okay, I started this as an interesting topic. Not sure if I am successful in moving myself ahead in this topic!!

Hugs!!

Karen

Unicorns I

They said I could be anything so I chose to be a unicorn -   

https://www.the-numinous.com/2016/06/07/be-a-unicorn/ 

From the article:

“The Unicorn represents happiness, fulfillment, and abundance—and paradoxically, the Unicorn’s strength, purity, and poise are also qualities we possess already, and through which our talents, abilities, and personality are expressed.”

“Elsewhere in our world, the Unicorn is said to refer to something that’s different and unique. Yet, different and unique are not the same as authentic. And it is authenticity that leads to happiness, abundance, and fulfillment, not uniqueness. Uniqueness needs to be manufactured. Authenticity comes naturally.”

Really?  Karen, you are really off-your-rocker this time!!  Too Much Mexican Tequila?  

Why not be a unicorn?  Why settle for less in life?  I (and you) are unique!!  Can we blend that uniqueness to be “authentic”?

So -let’s look at the article on HOW to be a unicorn!!!

-1 Use your unicorn HORN!! 

The article suggests: “The alicorn, or Unicorn’s horn, symbolizes awakened intuition.”

Can I wake up?  Do I have intuition?  Can we energetic and authentic?  

Obi-wan speaks to Luke “Use the force”.  In the Judeo-Christian version, there is the Holy Spirit within us to guide us.  Other philosophies talk about being enlightened.  Can you sense things around you?  [My personal side note, there may be both good and evil forces around you - do you feel ‘peace’ about your sensing things - or uneasy about what you are sensing.]

-2 Breathe into your heart

Human authors talk about the ‘heart’.  I’m sure my cardiologist could tell me that while I have a good heart (now), that there are no brain and logic cells in my heart.  They are in my brain - but, hey, it seems good to open your Spiritual Eyes and sense things around us.  

Put “life” into your heart (or really your brain).  Be open to new things, again, sense the Spirit moving in you!!!

From Hebrews 13:2 “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

-3 Allow yourself to become vulnerable

The article says “Allow yourself to be vulnerable: Vulnerability breaks down walls of pretense, and allows your authentic self to surface. Have weekly vulnerability dates where you consciously encourage yourself to get real with what’s going on in your life, express suppressed emotions, and allow yourself to feel them fully.”

The whole concept of being vulnerable is both scary and positive!!!  (I have been watching Brene Brown TED talk videos and am reading her book about being vulnerable - and will be heading there in a few days.

WYSIWYG - is a computer term that also applies to people - What you see is what you get!!!  Hopefully when you see me, you don’t see a phony, but a real person, struggling with who she (or he) really is, trying to move forward - and sometimes failing - and sometimes succeeding!!!

-4 Shower yourself in rainbow light:

This gets a little into Eastern mysticism - which I am a little uncomfortable with (with my Judeo-Christian background and beliefs).  The rainbow also talks of the visual spectrum of light.  We are not just in vanilla or chocolate world - but there is also mint-chocolate-chip - with green AND vanilla AND chocolate!!!  In the Judeo-Christian view, the rainbow came after Noah and the flood.  My LGBTQ friends use the rainbow to say we all come in different colors and arrangements.  

-5 Schedule blank space

The article says “Schedule blank space: Most people are imbalanced towards their masculine side. We’re all about going for it, working it, making it happen, and have forgotten how to chill out, take it easy, and trust the Universe to take care of things. To rebuild your feminine energies, consciously schedule time in your day, week, month, and year, to mindfully plan yin activities (i.e. “do” less and “be” more) to cultivate more balance.”

I need to take time to meditate, to be one with God (as I view Him/Her) - the ultimate force in my life.  Less doing and more loving!!!

But, of course, we need to sing the Unicorn song: 

From the Irish Rovers Unicorn song:

“And take some of them green alligators and long-necked geese

Some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees

Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born

Don't you forget my unicorn"

Well, I have covered five items from the article.  I need to think more about this - and to be more of a “unicorn”.  How does this fit into me, my philosophies, my life, and my love for all people?.

See you tomorrow for Unicorn II

Hugs!!!

Karen

Apocalypse III

Apocalypse III

Like many of us, the thought of this COVID-19/Coronavirus has taken up a lot of time.  

I have thought about Franklin Roosevelt’s comment “All we have to fear is fear itself”.  (Aside - my brain says “FDR” instead of “Franklin Roosevelt”).

I have seen the charts of trying to spread this out over a longer period of time that will make this virus less dangerous.  I see more comments online about washing your hands more and being careful in public.  

Panic is rarely a good decision.  Jumping out of windows (like Black Thursday at the Stock Market Crash

“On what became known as “Black Thursday,” false reports crackled around Wall Street that distraught bankers and investors were leaping out of high-rise windows and plummeting as quickly as the stock market itself.” (source: https://www.history.com/news/stock-market-crash-suicides-wall-street-1929-great-depression)

Fear - depression - negativity - all are similar.

The opposite of fear is confidence (or being ‘fearless’)

The opposite of depression is cheerfulness

The opposite of negativity is optimism

I am going with confidence, cheerfulness, and optimism into the future - and especially into this coronavirus pandemic.  With good sense (avoiding sick people), washing our hands, being careful and being positive, this too will pass!!!

Panic has already hit schools, colleges, universities, airlines, vacation spots, and almost everything else that goes on around us.  I’m going to carry a “torch of hope” to a troubled world.  

This too shall pass my friends!!!  

Hugs, love, positive thoughts, joy, and peace to all of you!!!

Karen

Signs of the Apocalypse  

Panic is starting to set in in the Coronavirus Situation.  Media hype is adding to the confusion. 

This reminds me of the “Snow Apocalypse” experiences that I have lived through.  So, today, a trip through those experiences, a look at mass hysteria, and maybe a little crystal ball scanning.

For eighteen great years, I lived and taught at Dakota State University in Madison South Dakota.  For thirteen great years (after Dakota State) I lived and taught at Quinnipiac University in Hamden Connecticut.  Both cities are in areas that can get snow (although Connecticut seems to get more snow because of its proximity to the ocean.  

I was not familiar with the concept of hoarding for the weather (or for anything, really).  There was really only one major storm that I remember in South Dakota.  Madison is about 45 miles as the crow flies from Sioux Falls South Dakota.  For this particular storm, all the roads in and out of town were closed.  Madison became an island in a sea of white.  (And, while the community of Madison was isolated, I think of farm friends who were an island unto themselves).  

There were two grocery stores in Madison.  My family at that time had our teenage son and our almost teenage daughter, plus my wife and myself.  In terms of food and supplies, we went to the grocery store once a week for most shopping and maybe every few days for the little things we needed or wanted.  Lines were rarely long as we checked out our groceries and made it home.  I knew how to drive on snow, didn’t take chances, and lived pretty simply - plus I could walk to either of the grocery stores if needed.  I had winter clothes for shoveling and walking to school.  I had an Army Surplus face mask that was probably good to 50 degrees below zero.  

The day that I particularly remember was when we needed milk.  So I went to the store for milk - and all the milk was GONE - there was also no bread - no bottled water - and a lot of shelves were depleted.  I remember noticing that even the powdered milk shelf was empty!!!

On that particular storm, I remember stories from a student how he was stuck at the Prairie Junction gas station and cafe with many others.  This student lived in Sioux Falls and could neither get back to Sioux Falls (as Interstate 29 was closed) and couldn’t get back to Madison as highway 34 was closed.  He hunkered down with the others at this gas station/cafe just off the Interstate 29 and Highway 34 intersection.  The people slept on the floor or in the booths at the cafe.  

In Connecticut, it was a standard “joke” (although maybe not so funny), that as soon as the weather forecasters talked of the “big Nor’ easter” that Stop and Shop (the major grocery store) would have no milk, bread, frozen pizzas, bottled water, and depleted shelves.  We didn’t eat much bread, but even then, I thought “I need to get to the store and get bread because of this storm”.  

There were two storms that knocked us out.  Hurricane Sandy took down power lines and closed schools (and the University) down for a week.  A snowstorm in 2013 dropped over 30 inches of snow on Hamden/New Haven.  That storm also took out power lines.  We were fortunate in that we had an electrical generator (that was so noisy it kept the neighbors awake) and still had so power.  

So, to the current situation.  

“COVID-19, the disease that has sickened more than 100,000 people worldwide and killed more than 3,400 people, has created legions of nervous hoarders who are loading up on canned goods, frozen dinners, toilet paper, and cleaning products. Many want to be prepared as they hear warnings about quarantines and watch a growing number of companies like Twitter, Microsoft, and Amazon ask their employees to work from home.” (from Fortune Magazine: https://fortune.com/2020/03/06/fear-of-coronavirus-sends-consumers-into-a-grocery-hoarding-frenzy/)

One can only imagine where this might lead.  Mothers might not be able to have diapers for their babies, milk, and bread, and other products will be in short supply.  

Aside - as I walked into my local HEB Grocery store yesterday, a lady coming out stopped me to say “They don’t have toilet paper!!”.  We talked a few minutes about hoarding.  

As a senior living alone, I’m in good shape.  I have about five rolls of toilet paper (from a package of twelve rolls bought some time ago).  I don’t drink much milk (and really only use milk on my oatmeal in the morning).  I don’t like bottled water (not from the water itself, but from the overuse of plastics).  I have good tap-water - and if push comes to shove, there are very few times that I MUST leave my apartment (going to church and social bridge come to mind!!!).  

But, things are getting scary - the annual, big conference, convention, party - South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin has been canceled, schools across the country have been closed.  I’ll look more at that tomorrow!!

So, what are you doing to prepare for the COVID-19/Coronavirus apocalypse?

Hugs!!

Karen

(Some humor.  There was a post on Twitter showing toilet paper in a frying pan - with the comment “It seems like this is a hot item.  How should I cook it?”.  Some answers including barbecue, others it is full of fiber and good for you, one mentioned a book “Twenty ways to cook toilet paper”.  Hopefully, we can still laugh at ourselves!!)

It is PI Day!!!

Happy PI Day -  2020!!!

https://www.piday.org/pi-facts/ 

https://www.livescience.com/34132-what-makes-pi-special.html

Yes, it is March 14 2020!!!  Or, that might be 3/14/2020 - or just with the month and day - 3/14 - or 3.14

And, yes, it tends to be more of an American ‘thing’ as much of the world puts the day first, then the month, then the year, so in Europe today it is:  14/3/2020 or 14.3.2020.  But it is ‘cooler’ to have 3.14 as the day.

So, what is PI?  (π)

Well, “Defined as the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, pi, or in symbol form, π, seems a simple enough concept.”

So, as the ancients made circles, they compared the diameter to the circumference - and found the circumference was a little more than three times the diameter.  Okay, how much more?  Well, about 1/7th more - approximately. 

The mathematicians tried to work it out.  They drew a circle and put a box (square) inside the circle and one on the outside of the circle.  If the area of the box was (say) 3 of the inside circle and the area of the box of the outside figure was (say) 3.2, they got a good idea that the circumference was about 3.1.  By putting other figures inside and outside the circle (like putting a hexagon or octagon or a decagon) inside and outside the circle, they got closer to the real measurement - but not perfectly.  They also found the area of the circle was something like this value (say) 3.14 times the radius of the circle squared.  

With better measurements and techniques, the universal value of 3.14 was acceptable.  

But, those ancient mathematicians were baffled.  All they knew were ‘real’ numbers that could be whole numbers and fractions (like 355 divided by 113 - which is 3.14159).  I learned (memorized) this rhyme:  “Sir, I send a rhyme excelling In sacred truth and rigid spelling” which is 3.14169265358.  

Pi was finally understood to be an ‘irrational’ number - one that really knew no bounds.  It didn’t repeat like ⅓ (as 0.33333 - repeating) or 1/7 (as 0.142857 - repeating).  How could God have created a world with a number that was irrational?  It didn’t really make sense (at least to the ancient mathematicians). And, if you are into math, then you get imaginary numbers!!!  Let along logarithms and calculus!!!

Needing a name for this eventually ‘p’ for the perimeter of a circle became pi!!

Taking the concept a little farther, Pi Day (3.14) has become a day of math and science.  I have friends that shoot off rockets for Pi Day.  It is a big day for young and old alike.  There is a potluck dinner - everybody brings something (and it is always good).  My granddaughters (with help from mom and dad) do make a rocket and shoot it off!!  [Aside, that isn’t tough as Hobby Lobby and others have easy rocket kits!!  I’ve made rockets too.  You can put parachutes in the nose cone to watch the rocket come floating down.  (Or, like three years ago when my son-in-law’s rocket came down in a neighboring field with cattle - he just left it there instead of climbing over the barbed-wire fence.

Of course, there are the takeoffs on this.  Pie as compared to Pi.  The area of circles is “pi r square” (or pie are square) - but every person knows that pies are round!!   Except for pizza pies where I have seen both round and rectangular ones!!! 

So, this March 14th - think of Pi in your life!!!  Wheels are circles, plates are (generally) circles, cups are (generally) circles on the tops (or cylinders).  

What do you think?

Bruce

(I was working with one of my tutees a few weeks ago with angles.  She had learned angles in degrees, but the problem had the angles in radian measure - so where 90 degrees was pi/2 in radian measure.  Then we were finding the sine, cosine using radian measures.  It took some time to get the concept!!!)