Northington Notes--Distractions

In my childhood days we had a fair come to town every year and sometimes two times a year. Thetime for celebration was at hand as we children went for the rides, the various sights and sounds, and cotton candy and other sweets until we were ill.

We were told stories of gambling games behind the scenes but were not allowed to participate of course. Adults often played a  "shell" game in which a pea was hidden under one of three shells. The player then bet on his/her ability to guess the shell under which the pea lay after the hawker moved the shells about on a table. Talk, hand motions, and other distractions were employed to keep the player at a constant disadvantage in the wagering process.

 

Today we all suffer the same sort of trouble in our lives.  If we approach any issue of life we may be distracted from our focus by the distractions of life.  Passing the TV for instance may lead to a period of time watching to see what is coming next.  With luck the distraction is a flower garden or a child at play in the neighborhood. 
 

Politicians often use distractions to take our attention away from issues which may get unfavorable attention.  Politicians always play to the positive to insure reelection and continuation of the power base that comes with holding office. Talking one way and voting another when in session is a common feature of political distractions.

Major corporations often use distractions to take away attention from their dark side.  If we are to believe advertising major corporations are always working for our best interests. One only need follow the recent campaigns promising less salt and sugar in foods marketed in some stores.  The idea is a fine one which is necessary in improving the health of our nation as we become increasingly overweight and diabetes continues to rise in effect.   

The ad campaign by at least one major corporate chain is a distraction in the sense we are led to believe the corporation is a 'good guy' and not the 'bad guy' so often posited in the media.  In fact the dark side continues to live.  Said corporation continues to discriminate against women or so the case would seem with women earning less than men and holding far fewer management positions in relation to their numbers than men.

The use of distractions is a common affair in advertising.  No one knows better than the energy industry how to distract consumers from the effects of carbon-based fuels on the environment.

  

Avoiding the distractions on a day to day basis is a difficult proposition.   In order to do so we must continue to seek information and keep abreast of changing issues.  We must remain vigilant and never allow the issues to be covered up.  The times are changing at a very rapid rate these days but the distractions must not be allowed to rule in the end.  Look behind the story to find the truth. Follow your instincts when the sound or the look is too good to be true. Try never to fall prey to the distractions.

Peace.

***************************************
Quote of the Week:

One of the points about distractions is that everything that they

do is destabilizing. --Bruce Sterling

***************************************

Make Your Mark--Northington Notes

Each of us gets only one trek through this life.  The past  two years have seen the loss of three people in my life.   Each one died unexpectedly and two were very young.   The recent events in Arizona brought back thoughts of  death and how very fragile life is for us humans.  We cannot  know in most instances when we are going to meet our end.   That fact makes every moment an important one as we travel along life's pathway.

We should each consider the situation and give some personal thought to several questions.  What will people think of and about me when I am no longer alive?  Will anyone care?   Of course they will, but will the positives outweigh the negatives?

Every day we all have many opportunities to make a variety of choices in our actions.  We can choose positive actions or not.  We can choose to improve another person's life or not.   All of us no matter our individual circumstance have choices these days.

As a child we sometimes ate fruit from a nearby persimmon tree.   When ripe the fruit had a purple skin with orange flesh.  Before the fruit reached its final stage of ripeness we sometimes took a bite to see what might be the taste.  The puckered mouth showed just how unpleasant the taste could be.

There was an expression that arose at some forgotten time and place in my life.  "There are some people born with green  persimmons in the periodontal spaces."  Those people are continually at odds with the world, never satisfied with their lot,  and a constant source of irritation to those with whom they come in contact.  They make a pretty poor mark on their trek through life.

Spend every day trying to treat others the way you'd wish to be treated and you will manage to make the best mark possible for yourself.  At the same time you can manage to improve the lives of those you meet as well as making your own life a better one.

Into each life a bit of rain must fall, but if we carry around a bit of sunshine to make the garden grow the rain will be a supplement and not a detriment.  Do your best to make your life mark one of sunshine and not one of rain.

Peace.

***************************************

Quote of the Week:

Every man dies.  Not every man really lives.

--William Wallace