Wake Me When It’s Over

(Jerema, 2008)

“Sleepwalking is a disorder that occurs when a person walks or does another activity while they are still asleep.

Symptoms of sleepwalking include:

• Eyes open during sleep
• May have blank look on face
• May sit up and appear awake during sleep
• Walking during sleep
• Performing other detailed activity of any type during sleep
• Not remembering the sleep walking episode when they wake up
• Acting confused or disoriented when they wake up
• Rarely, aggressive behavior when they are awakened by someone else
• Sleep talking that does not make sense

  Treatment

  Some people mistakenly believe that a sleepwalker should not be awakened. It is not dangerous to awaken a sleepwalker, although it is common for the person to be confused or disoriented for a short time when they wake up (Dugdale III, MD, Professor of Medicine, 2009)”

The above is also applicable to, what I like to refer to as, Spiritual Sleepwalkers. These are the people you meet from day-to-day that appear actively engaged in life or the act of living. In actuality it is a ruse to circumvent being awakened by any conscious member of the human race. Their main goal is to avoid any sense of genuine purpose or contribution. Another sign you are in their presence is the “glazed over” look in their eyes upon interaction.

If you are still in doubt whether you have met, or are in a relationship with, a Spiritual Sleepwalker ask yourself if the following applies:

• When you are in the presence of the person in question are they excited about life; full of goals, dreams, and ambition but give them little thought or none at all when you are not present?
• Do they lack the motivation to work towards or accomplish any goals, dreams or ambitions (a lot of talk and no action) despite giving themselves months to years to work on them?
• Are they only galvanized into action when they are in the proximity of someone actively pursuing their objectives?
• Do they use others as a spiritual battery and are otherwise torpid?

If you answered yes to any or all of the above you are most likely in association with a Spiritual Sleepwalker.

The level of resistance you will encounter trying to wake such a person is in direct proportion to how deep a “sleep” this person has worked themselves into. Trying to wake those who are nearly comatose is more likely socially dangerous not physically dangerous. Do not confuse Sleepwalkers with Spiritual Zombies.

(Selfish Giving, 2010)

There is one major distinction between a “Sleepwalker” and a “Zombie”. “Sleepwalkers” are generally passive not caring what anyone else chooses to do with their life so long as they leave the said “Sleepwalker” to blissfully “sleep”. Conversely, “Zombies” take a proactive role in trying to consume one’s soul and convert thriving people to perpetuate their population. It’s instinctual rather than rational.

Happy hunting! Hope this Helps.

Dugdale III, MD, Professor of Medicine, D.C. (2009, June 20). Sleepwalking: walking during sleep; somnambulism. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001811/

Jerema, C. (Photographer). (2008). Dolt. [Web]. Retrieved from http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2008/05/21/who-knew-student-government-could-be-legitimate/3/

Selfish Giving, . (Photographer). (2010). zombie2. [Web]. Retrieved from http://selfishgiving.com/cause-marketing-101/cause-marketing-survival-rules-for-zombie-world

I Want The Truth, The Whole Truth, And Nothing But The Truth…So Help My Perspective!

” I don’t want people to talk to me like I am smart. I want them to talk to me like I am pretty.” ~ Josh

Why, for the love of all creation, would this obviously astute person, who has the capability of rapidly taking any innocuous comment and transforming it into a dynamic ball of witty sarcasm, actually want to lower his standard of conversation? Of course the joke within the joke is that if anyone were dense enough to fundamentally speak to this person as if he were “pretty”, he would be so reviled that his only option would be to look at the offender as if they were “pretty”, and incredulously walk away. I found it to be a hilarious oxymoron.

Aside from the obvious humor in the statement there was a philosophical contempt that was not lost on me. Maybe it wasn’t so much an oxymoron that had my thinker nervously a twitter. Perhaps it was the acrid truth about an aspect of human nature I find so morally repugnant, it instantly had my brain on the floor laughing its ass off but, my throat could only muster a dubious chortle.

Grudgingly, I have come to accept that a vast majority of people are not as attracted to living by the dictates of truth as they would have themselves believe. In fact people will go to great lengths to avoid the truth, including, but not limited to, deluding themselves. Being the egomaniac that I am, I used to think the deception was directed at me. I have come to understand my only role in the absurdity is to validate the imposed illusion.

Q: If truth is what we say we want, why avoid it with such stubborn vehemence (masculine energy driven traits I might add)?

A: The truth hurts.

It is honestly that simple an answer.

Consider this from a practical standpoint. If physical pain is our organic machine’s warning system that there is something  threatening our physical health, wouldn’t it stand to reason that emotional pain would be our soul’s warning system that our mental and emotional health needs our immediate attention? Consequently, if the perception is, truth is going to cause pain, instinctually and logically lying or accepting a lie should cause comfort. The crux of it is, more often than not, lying can also cause pain.

Crap! A conundrum.

I believe this is where our soul’s instinct wrestles with our soul’s evolution. At this point society agrees that lies begat lies and the repercussion of a lifetime of avoiding the truth results in misery (and possible Karmic Debt if you believe in it). Society also agrees that living by and accepting truth is liberating for the soul and leads to happiness. So why are the truth seekers immensely out numbered by those who choose to avoid the truth?

It’s the trap of the “quick fix”. It’s the seduction of instant gratification over long-term fulfillment.

When I was 16 my mother took me to the pediatrician to get booster shots. I was practically a woman sitting with a lacy pink sweater that had a plunging v-shaped neckline that insinuated I might have boobs someday (twenty years later I am still waiting for them). My skirt lightly draped my legs in a flowing bohemian fashion. So prim and proper I waited for the nurse.

Despite my reputation for hating needles I was determined to maintain my demure composure as the nurse skillfully applied the inoculations. My mother patiently waited next to me, proud that I had finally outgrown the fears of a 5-year-old. I watched as the nurse tap tapped the air out of the syringe. I was fearless…for about five seconds.

As soon as the nurse got close enough to me for the hair on my arm to feel the presence of the needle all outward appearances of serenity were gone. Mom was not quick enough to snatch me before I bolted off of the table almost scratching myself on the needle. There I was repetitively stammering my objections in two letters while Mom caught hold of my sleeve.

In spite of my best efforts to wriggle free of the sweater, which was now half way over my head, my mother was quickly gaining leverage over my body. I was tripping over my romantically delicate skirt creating such stress on the fabric that my legs had lost their freedom. That was all the advantage that mom needed to pin me like a greased pig reducing me to sounds of squealing and grunting. The nurse, with amiable dexterity, administered the shot and…it was over.

Really, at the age of 16!!! All of that hoopla over an event that could have taken less than five seconds. Instead of accepting that there would be pain, albeit brief, I chose to treat the situation as if it were a bone marrow transfusion. Instead of deferring to fleeting discomfort so that I would not have to endure days of affliction by sickness; I chose alternatively to make a complete ass of myself, endure self-imposed embarrassment, and reduce my favorite outfit to nothing more suitable than rags. A perfectly pointless exercise in avoidance because I still got the shot.

If we could understand in our hearts, not just our heads, that a moment of pain to gain a lifetime of enlightenment will far out weigh the consequences of a moment of respite from lessons unlearned, then the lengths of time we get to enjoy inner peace and tranquillity will be longer than we imagined.

I understand that the quest for personal and cultural illumination is a treacherous one indeed. A children’s movie, ‘The Never Ending Story’, does superlative justice illustrating that the most difficult trial of our human experience is to face the reality of one’s self. To look in the mirror and accept the reflection is the easiest test of valor to fail and the most burdensome illusion to maintain if one is lacking it.

To accept the reality of our sum total can conjure such pain and sorrow because of perceived failure, that it could decimate the very fabric of the “truths” we have spun for ourselves. To sit at life’s loom and weave again a set of values can appear to be insurmountable work. It would take courage that many feel they do not have, and a willingness for introspection.  Who wants to deal with the frustrations of all of those complications?

I do. The long-term rewards of choosing to evolve past our instincts surpass the results and anguish of a life knowingly unrealized. I find tremendous inspiration in the knowledge that there are many of us that are both delighted and passionate about supporting those who want more than the uncomplicated efforts of “pretty”…

Hello world!

Isn't that the way some gifts come?

Good Morning!

This greeting couldn’t be more appropriate today. Not only is it 4:45 am but, I have just spanked my blog into existence so that it may take its first breath.

I am excited for what today will bring. I am equally as excited about every subsequent day. From my perspective it is like unwrapping a uniquely packaged gift from life. Though I may not understand its purpose or application, whatever the gift may be, surely it will only enhance my life experience. Appreciation will only come if I have the patience and courage to let go of control, allow life’s benefaction to unfold as it was intended, and have the wisdom to utilize the contribution to its fullest potential.

I believe ALL gifts are to be shared either directly or indirectly. Directly sharing is obvious and bares no explanation. It is the subtleties of indirectly sharing a gift that I will comment on.

Sometimes, when we receive a token (material or not), it is initially only for the recipient to view, hear, or utilize. These gifts, that are personal and kept private, are those that become muses. It is from their inspiration that we learn about ourselves, share new ideas and products, or are propelled into beneficial action.

My challenge to each person is to enthusiastically unwrap each day and be inspired by what it brings…