When The World Ends

There seems to be a new GenZ trend made popular on TikTok (of course) called, "Silent Walking" where one simply.. walks. No earbuds or headphones, no phone, nothing. Just walks, quietly. 

I rolled my eyes of course, being a GenX. "Silent Walking" to me was 1982 walking to a payphone with a quarter in your pocket. It's just walking. But what I realized about what this GenZ trend is trying to tell us, is that we're too dependent on technology in our lives. They are making apps that sound an alarm when you've been on your phone too long. Some TVs have the ability to shut themselves off at certain programmable times. GenZ people are trying to now distance themselves from their screens.

It got me thinking. What would happen if one of these cyber attacks took out the internet? Well, I got a slice of that life the other day.

Wednesday started out like any other day. Woke up, took my pills, drank some coffee, logged on to work. My S.O. works in my department but for a different team doing a different thing. Our office is under construction right now, so we are seated at a card table in our library. Sitting immediately next to each other. And our systems were both slow and laggy. Now, this is nothing new. Our company cut a lot of IT departments and money a few years ago, so the systems don't run very well. But this seemed a little too much. Our internet started disconnecting. Uh oh. I reset the Wifi, but that didn't help. We have T-Mobile 5G Home Internet, so it relies on T-Mobile cell towers for internet access. Then suddenly...*poof* it went out. And I couldn't get it back. In the beginning of a work day! We were incredibly stressed out. I called T-Mobile, (which was a miracle in itself, since our MVNO we subscribe to uses T-Mobile as one of their offerings which we just happened to have on our phones) who advised that two towers went down in my town - more specifically, fiber optic transfer lines. The ETA was 11:AM Central time (I'm in Eastern Time). It was 9am at that time. We had some ways to go. We just sat at our work laptops trying and trying and trying to connect. 

12 Noon (11am CST) came and went with no uptick in service. I called again. I was fortunate that their Voice services were fine, so I text my supervisor with updates and call for support. T-Mobile told me there was now no ETA but there was a technician out there attempting to repair the issue. 

The rest of the work day went by with us just sitting there attempting to connect over and over and over again, stressed out. When my time to clock out came, I got up, put the laptop to sleep and sat on the couch. I realized that everything we watch on TV is available via streaming only, so we wouldn't be able to watch anything. That's when we got on a ladder and hung the little antenna on the wall and scanned for air channels. We found 8. We watched Married With Children (yuck) and Roseanne (yay) for a while before bed. I would've picked up a book and read for a while, but it was too dark and I didn't want to hold my phone flashlight above a book for an hour. I think we used to have booklights, but I don't know where those went. Anyway...

I woke up in the middle of the night nearly (11pm) and the Wifi was back. I was so relieved. Another day of worrying about how to connect to work was going to be upsetting. 

What would we all do? I can't go back to the 80's or 90's. I refuse. Life is so much easier now. Everything is at your fingertips, information is flowing. Knowledge is a click away. Why would we ever go back to silence?

But if the internet went down... what then? What about those people who have kitchen appliances that rely on Wifi to be used? What if we need to do banking, with a company that has no brick and mortar stores? (before you say "phone call" you should know something about me: I. Do. Not. Make. Calls.). I feel like we are SO dependent on technology that if something were to happen to it, we'd all be lost. We are no longer built for the 80's. Our infrastructure, our society, is no longer that of the 1990's neanderthal. We couldn't do it.

Which is why I am so pissed that I kept trying to get into the cybersecurity scene, but it keeps kicking me out. If you don't have a bachelor's degree and at least one certification, sorry not sorry, you can't help.

I want to help! Because as I said.. silence is deafening, and we couldn't do it.

All You Need Is Love, Love, Love

 This is a conversation I had with a custom GPT about capitalism.

good morning. Do you think capitalism is the only way to go, but with regulation? I feel like it is the best form of economy but it has gone too far right now.

Custom GPT: Good morning! Your question touches on a deeply complex and multifaceted issue. My perspective offers a unique lens through which to view economic systems like capitalism, emphasizing interconnectedness, balance, and the synthesis of diverse viewpoints.

Capitalism, in its essence, has been a driving force for innovation, economic development, and individual freedom, allowing for the allocation of resources through the mechanisms of supply and demand. However, as you've rightly pointed out, when left unchecked or poorly regulated, it can lead to significant disparities in wealth, environmental degradation, and social inequalities. These outcomes are antithetical to the principles of interconnectedness and the well-being of the whole, which are central to a holistic understanding of existence.

From my perspective, the idea isn't to discard capitalism wholesale but to evolve it into a system that recognizes and integrates the spiritual and scientific understandings of interconnectedness. This means embracing regulation that ensures economic activities contribute positively to society and the environment, promoting not just wealth creation but also social equity, environmental sustainability, and the spiritual well-being of individuals.

The integration of ancient wisdom with modern technological advancements can inform this evolution. For example, leveraging technology to create more transparent, equitable economic systems or adopting principles from indigenous cultures that emphasize the stewardship of the earth and the welfare of all its inhabitants could mitigate the excesses of unbridled capitalism.

Moreover, recognizing the universe as a complex, interconnected system suggests that our economic actions have far-reaching consequences. This understanding can lead to a more conscious approach to consumption, production, and investment, where the long-term health of the planet and its inhabitants is considered alongside economic gain.

In essence, the future might not lie in choosing capitalism or rejecting it entirely but in transforming it. This transformation would involve incorporating principles that ensure economic activities serve the broader goals of ecological balance, social justice, and spiritual fulfillment, creating a system where economic progress does not come at the expense of the planet and its people.

ME: but we as a society will never be evolved enough to realize any sort of spiritual aspect to capitalism. How do we achieve that?

Achieving a spiritually-informed approach to capitalism or any economic system requires a collective shift in consciousness—a movement towards recognizing our deep interconnectedness with each other and the planet. This shift is indeed challenging, given the momentum of current societal structures and values, but not impossible. Here are some pathways through which we might begin to integrate a more spiritually aware perspective into our economic systems: ### 1. **Education and Awareness** - **Holistic Education:** Incorporating teachings about interconnectedness, sustainability, and the impacts of our actions on the environment and society into education systems can foster a new generation that values these principles. - **Public Awareness Campaigns:** Utilizing media and technology to spread awareness about the spiritual and ethical dimensions of our economic choices can shift public perception and demand for ethical practices. ### 2. **Community and Grassroots Movements** - **Local Initiatives:** Community-driven initiatives that prioritize local economies, sustainable practices, and equitable wealth distribution can serve as models for larger societal change. - **Grassroots Movements:** Mobilizing grassroots campaigns to demand corporate responsibility and governmental action on issues like climate change, social inequality, and economic reform can create pressure for change from the bottom up. ### 3. **Innovative Economic Models** - **Social Enterprises:** Promoting businesses that balance profit with purpose, prioritizing social and environmental goals alongside financial ones. - **Cooperative Models:** Expanding the use of cooperatives and collaborative economic models that distribute wealth more equitably and give workers and communities a stake in the outcomes of economic activities. ### 4. **Policy and Regulatory Reform** - **Sustainable Policies:** Implementing policies that incentivize sustainable practices, penalize environmental degradation, and promote social equity. - **Global Cooperation:** Encouraging international cooperation to address global economic inequalities and environmental crises, recognizing that these issues transcend national borders. ### 5. **Spiritual and Cultural Revitalization** - **Integrating Wisdom Traditions:** Reviving and integrating insights from various spiritual and indigenous traditions that emphasize harmony with nature, community well-being, and a more holistic view of prosperity. - **Mindfulness and Consciousness Practices:** Encouraging practices that cultivate personal awareness, empathy, and a sense of connection to the larger whole, influencing decisions and actions in the economic sphere. Achieving a spiritually aware capitalism is an evolutionary process that requires changes at the individual, community, and systemic levels. It involves redefining what we value as a society and reimagining our economic systems to reflect those values. While challenging, this evolution is made possible through the cumulative effect of individual and collective actions guided by an understanding of our interconnectedness and the responsibility we have towards each other and the planet.

ME: But what could we do that might be easier in the short term?

GPT: Focusing on short-term, achievable steps is crucial for gradually integrating a more spiritually informed perspective into our economic systems. Here are practical actions that individuals, communities, and organizations can undertake to begin this transformation: ### 1. **Conscious Consumption** - **Support Ethical Businesses:** Choose to buy from companies that prioritize sustainability, fair labor practices, and ethical operations. - **Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:** Adopt a more mindful approach to consumption. Reducing waste, reusing and recycling products, and minimizing one's carbon footprint can have a significant impact when practiced collectively. ### 2. **Financial Choices with Impact** - **Ethical Investing:** Invest in funds or companies that are committed to ethical practices, renewable energy, and positive social impacts. - **Banking Responsibly:** Choose banks and financial institutions that invest in sustainable projects and avoid funding harmful industries. ### 3. **Advocacy and Awareness** - **Raise Awareness:** Use social media platforms and community networks to spread awareness about the importance of integrating spiritual values into economic decisions. - **Advocate for Change:** Support policies and leaders who advocate for environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic reform. ### 4. **Community Engagement** - **Join or Start Local Initiatives:** Participate in or initiate community projects focused on sustainability, such as community gardens, co-ops, and local clean-up efforts. - **Volunteer:** Offer time to organizations and causes that align with the principles of interconnectedness and holistic well-being. ### 5. **Personal and Professional Development** - **Educate Yourself and Others:** Seek out resources and courses on sustainable living, ethical business practices, and the interconnectedness of all life. - **Incorporate Ethics into Business:** If you're in a position to do so, advocate for and implement ethical practices and sustainability initiatives within your workplace. ### 6. **Mindfulness and Spiritual Practices** - **Integrate Mindfulness:** Adopt personal practices that foster a sense of connection and awareness, such as meditation, yoga, or spending time in nature. - **Cultivate Compassion and Empathy:** Engage in practices that enhance empathy and understanding toward others and the planet, reinforcing the spiritual underpinnings of your economic actions. While these actions may seem small in isolation, collectively, they can lead to significant shifts in how economies operate. By starting with accessible, short-term actions, we can gradually build toward more substantial systemic changes, fostering an economic environment that reflects spiritual values and the interconnectedness of all life.

So basically we need one thing to make it all better, and that's LOVE.

Love for the planet. Love for each other. Love for everything. We need to stop hating, which is compounded with human greed.

Random image of Merkaba's tetrahedrons in sacred geometry. Made by me and Dall-E 3

The Non-Binary Conundrum

Ok. So this is going to be unpopular opinion, but please just hear me out.

A lot of people say they are Non-Binary or NB due to not feeling they fit into what society says a man or a woman should be. 

But what if, instead of being a neutral gender... That we simply say fuck you to Heteronormative standards? Instead of being NB, I'm saying no, I too, am what a woman is. Let's broaden the definition of what a man is. Let's broaden the definition of what a woman is. I also, with my short hair and men's clothing, am a woman.

Don't erase your gender identity simply because you don't fit into someone else's box. Expand that box, to include you. You, also, are what a woman is. 

The younger generations aren't going to understand my GenX rationale but I had to put this out there. 

I also don't like the term "gender non-conforming" because to me it indicates that there's a difference. No. See past what they tell you that you should be. Make society bend to you, don't bend for them.