Seeking the bad

Our brain is wired to notice the bad or potentially bad, as this is critical to our survival, both individually and collectively. The more shades of negativity or uncertainty we perceive, the more ability we have to protect ourselves and resolve situations before they evolve into disasters.

Compared to the bad, perceiving the good has less survival value, and so we make fewer distinctions regarding the good, assigning fewer words to it.

Humanity is obsessed with the bad.

A poor fit

Some roles fit us perfectly, like a tailor-made glove, but others are like a poor fitting pair of jeans, either too tight or loose. We never get comfortable wearing them, and embarrass ourselves trying.

Know your place in this world. Wear what fits, and leave the masquerade behind you.

The playing field

There is no such thing as a level playing field. Relativity is your station in life. In every aspect of living, you are relatively better off or worse off than your fellow human being, and this continuously cycles from one to the other, keeping you stuck in a competitive game of offense and defense, your self-preservation dependent upon your continued gamesmanship. You play to win or draw even; or give up and become somebody’s roadkill.

Continue reading “The playing field” →

Camouflaged impressions

I’ve noticed that nothing is what it seems, and that I’m never too old to be fooled by something or someone. Never fully trust a first impression, nor any subsequent impressions for that matter. There is always something you’re not aware of, maybe the unpleasant surprise waiting for you, camouflaged with impressions.

The F-word

With increasing frequency, I’m noticing that the “F-word” is replacing “making love” in our personal conversations, social media, books, and films. What does this say about our changing attitudes toward intimacy?