Personal Essays

It’s a new year and like each new year, it holds the promise of possibilities. It also means, I am re-examining my blog.

In 2015, I decided to focus a lot of my attention and effort on American politics. I don’t regret the decision, it opened my eyes to the predictability of people and taught me how little I truly know about the American political process.

What’s In Store For 2016

• This year, I intend to continue to follow politics (it’s a presidential election year after all), but I also intend to focus a lot of my effort on personal essay and memoir-style writing. Some of that writing will be featured on this blog.
• During the first quarter of 2016, I am increasing the frequency of my posts and broadening the scope of what I write about. The goal is still the same — understanding and examining the American experience.
• Instead of trying to write a book review about all the books I read, I will review a handful and then create a list of the best books I read in 2016. The list will include a short (3-4 sentences) description of the book and a link where it can be purchased. If I have reviewed the book, a link to the review will also be in the list.
• The site will undergo some minor cosmetic changes and the menu at the top will change.
• I will begin distancing myself from ‘facts-only’ style of writing and begin including more introspection into my writing. As I strive to perfect my craft, learning to write ‘close to the bone’ is an important part of the process. This year I am embracing it.
• Lastly, in 2016, just like in 2015, instead of declaring a handful of New Year resolutions, I am selecting a single word as the theme for the year. Although I’m not revealing the word, it will guide my actions including what I choose to write about.

2015 Word: Generate

The one-word approach actually worked quite well in 2015 which is why I am repeating the process. If you have never tried this approach to living, a significant part of the challenge is coming up with a word that has meaning to you. The goal is to select a word that will alter the course of your life and move you in the direction you want to go. In 2015, I choose the word generate to push my writing schedule to a new standard.

If you haven’t heard of the concept, here’s how it works:

1. Pick a word that has meaning to you or as OneWord365 says,
   

   One word you can focus on every day, all year long… One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live.

2. Find ways to incorporate the word into your daily life.
3. You can share your word or keep it private. For the most part I kept mine quiet — only letting my wife know. I decided to keep it private in part because of Todd Frazier — the former Cincinnati Reds third basemen. At the beginning of each season he writes his goals on a paper, seals them in an envelope and then reveals the paper to family members when the season ends. For him, it becomes a motivation to see if he can achieve his goals. For me, it is a matter of seeing if I can direct the course of my life based on a word.

If you are tired of new year resolutions or want a fresh approach to living your best life, the One-Word concept can work. Several books on Amazon explain the concept in greater detail.

Speak what you think now in hard words, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day — Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is the first year I spent significant time on Facebook and the experiment opened my eyes. I now know Facebook is best suited for keeping up with family and friends (and occasionally the source of a funny joke). Social media is proof that some ideas never die and that everyone is predictable. Each of us latch onto our beliefs and then push out posts to support whatever belief we have chosen to embrace.

Challenging The Truth

I decided years ago I would challenge my beliefs — because when something is true — it holds up. Truth does not bend or break under pressure and scrutiny. To chase the Truth forces growth and I know if I am the same person today as 40 years ago, four decades were wasted.

What I Know For Sure

This, of course, means, my opinions change. This is especially true with politics. Because of my decision to follow politics in 2015, the year was eye-opening. It changed some of my beliefs.

As the year comes to a close, this is what I know for sure:

1. Politics Is Confusing By Design. One of President Richard Nixon’s advisors said it best — voters are lazy. Social media proves it. From ‘Impeach Obama’ to ‘spoons make people fat’ (gun violence), the inept arguments and oversimplification of complex issues keep politicians in power and problems unresolved — and it’s the 99% who pays. Since one-liners are the bedrock of conversation-blocking tactics, social media is the perfect medium to keep political dialogue divisive. If voters ever truly understand that the political leaders they elected (Democrat or Republican) have limited (no) interest in ethics and a significantly larger interest in power, voters will begin a dialogue to solve the very real problems in the United States by circumventing the two-party misinformation machine.
2. You Can’t Change Anyone’s Opinion. This belief miserably fails the popularity contest — especially, I presume, with Americans. We love to believe we have free will (but science says maybe) and that we are open to all beliefs. We like to think we can rise above — or stay with — the truth taught in our youth. We love to believe that we listen to all the evidence, discern what is the most accurate, and then adhere to the most logical truth. In reality, we are born with certain inclinations and then build out the elements of our lives to support that inborn inclination. Often what is perceived as changing another person’s opinion is simply building a structure of support and then corralling a person inside the structure.
3. Fear And Hate Go Hand-In-Hand. I’ve been lucky enough to meet people of different faiths, races, nationalities and sexual orientation. Although none of the individuals speak for everyone in their demographic, these individuals opened my eyes to the diversity that exists in life. Because of the people I met, my fear, hatred and ignorance diminished. It’s hard to hate a group when you know the demographic as the individuals who comprise the group.
4. Growth Is Daily Work. Each day is a new beginning. To truly grow, yesterday must be put to bed and tomorrow must wait. Since change occurs in the moment, learning to live in the moment is key. It’s hard, because yesterday and tomorrow are always competing for center stage.
5. Happiness Is The Way — Not Just A Goal. It’s a no-brainer, but seeing the negative in all things is so, so much easier. My mind zeroes in on an argument’s weakness, a person’s flaw or a moment’s discomfort, but happiness is truly a choice. It’s the decision to live life in the arena — and not from the sideline of what should, could — or might — have been.

Although personally 2015 has been enlightening for me, it has been unsettling politically — with GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump serving as a vocal reminder of democracy’s inherent danger — demagogues.