Bah, it's not like many people read this blog anyways...(but those that do matter)

I have been going through an old book, the familiar "The 7 habits of highly effective people". There was one saying in there that stuck: "You have the freedom to choose how you will respond".

The author has a point. He told the story of a Jewish psychiatrist in a Nazi death camp. In the worst of all possible scenarios and environments, he was able to focus on how although he did not have the liberty, being constrained in his physical surroundings, he did have the freedom to choose how he could respond to the external stimuli: the horrible conditions of a death camp.

We are routinely exposed to stimuli, some good and some bad. In many situations we have been programed to respond in a particular way. That can be helpful since some scenarios work out well enough. But it is important to remember that in the space between stimuli and response, we have the freedom to choose. Easy enough to say, but difficult to pull off, and I've begun to try it out. It helped me with my morning jog today and I hope it can help me for the rest of the week (and of course, hopefully beyond). After all, though I don't feel great right now, I does not compare to a Nazi death camp.

Rather than give in to the Pavlovian response, I will see how I can exercise that freedom, or how long I last.

Peace.

A: "Hi, don't I know you?"

B: "Yeah, it's me, Jose"

A: "Oh wow, you look different!"

"You wash your hair too often"

"Have you considered dreads?"

From the Chronicles of Quarkland:


Let it be known oh prince, that there was a time when graduate students roamed the earth, with adventures to be had and success and failure as common as the specie that bears your regal profile.

Of the many graduate students, none was as above average, yet not quite outstanding, as the Purple Quark. He faced many a tribulation and drank as often from the spring of joy as the mudpits of despair. These chronicles tell his story.

Chapter 9

He had just bested the beast that had plagued him for many a semester. It had drawn first blood but with the help of brave comrades he had plunged the dagger through the creature's heart and banished the remains to the confines of the archival dungeon Deep Blue. The whole affair took an effort he had not wanted to expend, but which was necessary to complete this step in his journey, a path he thought was one he was supposed to take but that began to take its toll.

Purple Quark knew he was to go home soon, triumphant and with an air of accomplishment. He wanted nothing more than to take to the skies to reach his fair lady in the lands at the edge of the sea. Yet he had blinded himself to the cost he had paid in having taken the journey that brought him to this place where he clothed in the robes of success but found the drink of accomplishment more bitter as his stay neared to an end. He was not happy. The price may have been too steep. He was beaten physically and mentally, on the edge of breakdown. Yet he thought he was done, the tasks had been completed, the gods would be content, and the path was clear as to what lay before him. Yet the fates would not be so kind.

Purple Quark would not be given rest. The winds blew him off course. Had he the strength and will of before, this would have been no great difficulty. He had been in similar situations before and had navigated though the sea of adversity well enough. But matters were different now. What he needed most was the farthest away and he had neither the courage nor focus to face this new threat: doubt and fear. Yet he knew that to surrender would be more painful than enduring. He was in pain know, but he could not give up or doubt and fear would further tear at his soul. He had to call upon hope to provide a light, to assure him that this would be but a mere diversion from the rays of joy that lay at the land at the edge of the sea. It would take him another week to be back on course. He called upon the sages from the lineages of Durham and Haven. They offered him their words of wisdom, meant to elucidate the tasks needed to face this new adversary. It would not be easy, but he had to do this. He had to battle at a time when he felt he was the lest prepared, where many a blow would fail in the face of fear and doubt. He could not let them best him. Fear and doubt had him when he was down, but they could not win or all would be lost.

He began with the plan of attack and set about the first task...

It's been a while. Times are not great.

But I will now try to clean up for a week. I'll see how that goes!

Buttonwillow OR Guernica in the Barrio

Buttonwillow OR Guernica in the Barrio, originally uploaded by purplejoes.

Buttonwillow is a small town off the I-5 in California. Very close to a waste disposal facility that was also handling toxic substances. The community challenged the expansion of the site after birth defects started appearing int he community and more and more came out about improper handling at the site.

Culturaleza 2

Culturaleza 2, originally uploaded by purplejoes.

A new two color print I've worked out. I like the way it is, but the instructor really likes when I push it to multiple colors. I think he's right for certain ones and that is something I need to work on. Well, I'm new at this, so hopefully I can experiment more after my "art show".

Wow, where have I been? Well, it's not like anyone really reads this blog...

At the moment I have to finish up some prints, complete a Master's Project, decide how to continue looking for a job considering I'm being encouraged to apply for a Phd...Dang!

Plus I've been on three trips since the last post!

Oh, and I've been thoroughly enjoying reading El Chavo's blog. I need to post like that.