And you can’t live without it!

I saw the movie Ray this week, and that was the thought I came away with. It is about Ray Charles, who suffered a childhood from hell. But of course the movie showed that while it contributed to his long term addiction to heroin, it also informed much of who he was.

He would not have been Ray Charles (Robinson) without it.

In The Transition, there is an opportunity for consciousness about our childhoods. Part of it is this notion that soul comes in precisely knowing and choosing the experiences that will color and drive one’s life. And life is like a movie. Some of us like to watch horror movies, some of us prefer comedies. In the movies, we know that “none of this matters” because in the end, the credits will roll and we will walk safely out of the theatre.

The same is true of life. In the end, we will walk safely back into the unlimited space of the divine, safe and secure as ever.

The trouble with childhood is that it is so disorienting, thinking that it is happening to us at random, or because we deserved it or were bad. If we can realize we chose it on some level that may not be apparent now, well, it’s easier to detach , to learn from, to even appreciate. (Not all that easy mind you, but doable.)

If you can survive it, it will make great stories later!

Because otherwise I think it makes parenting even more difficult than it already is. I mean, it’s like you’ve been a passenger for years, (as the child) then suddenly you are thrust in the driver’s seat! No real driving lessons, just years of knowing what it feels like to ride in the back seat. As any parent will tell you, it’s a whole different perspective being behind the wheel.

After much pulling and prodding from friends and within myself, I went paddling this morning with my aged 50+ girlfriends. This is the 6-person outrigger canoe, in this case fiberglass, but modeled after the traditional Polynesian Koa canoe.

It was one of those rare days, when we could see Lanai, Molokai, and Maui from shore. The kai (ocean) was glassy, and there were 3-4’ waves at Flat Island. So we paddled the mile or so over there and rode the waves. I just love taking off on a wave, in a 400+ pound canoe, with the spray coming off the front paddlers. Pauline said it looked like “like angel wings” with the water spray and glistening sunshine splashing off the paddlers in front of her.

In the distance, was a full anuenue (rainbow), both ends anchored in the sunlit peaks of the northeast shore or Oahu. There was another crew of paddlers behind us, and later on they beach they said, “There you all were, paddling right under the center of the rainbow.”

So the paddling was the main reason I went – and somewhat reluctantly at that (it’s a long story … ). The sidebar though – rainbows and rarely seen islands in the distance – these are the makana (gifts) that come from getting out there in life. I can’t have those experiences sitting at home in front of the computer.

The sidebar effect happens a lot to me when travelling too – it was the little errand I wanted to run when I met a certain someone or had a special treat that was unexpected and authentic in ways I could not have planned.

Some say that “somewhere over the rainbow way up high there’s a land that I dreamed of once in a lullaby” yet today I am happy to be right here under the rainbow floating on the sea, my friends and me.

I.T.T. – In the transition – a different set of rules apply. As I listen to Shane’s podcast, he is recommending regular exercise to a distraught friend. He is himself realizing that exercise can be a great mood regulator. And it reminds me of something I learned a long time ago: we teach what we want to learn.

In the last century, this left one vulnerable – as it is easy to spot people who don’t walk their talk. But in the 3rd milllennium, there is this equalizing effect of mass distribution of information.

We are unplugging from hierarchical power structures which really tend to feed certain groups of people at the expense of other. That very imbalance of power, makes some people thrive of course. The doctors and lawyers and experts that used to have exclusive access to information, could command high fees and better tables at fine restaurants, and a nice feeling of smugness at night knowing they are “needed.”

ITT, it’s more like we are all teachers and we are all students. There is too much information for any one or any few to “know it all” anymore. This is a good thing i think.

It’s another way to understand and appreciate the power of blogging, as everyday regular folks are just deciding to share the pieces they know. It stimulates dialog, interaction, and connections based on genuine shared interests, as compared to the “blood” of family or the geographical coincidence of being in the same job together or living on the same street.

And no one came?

There’s new proof that bumper stickers actually work after all.

More and more of the volunteer soldiers – those select few in our communities and society who chose a life in the military, who were/are willing to fight wars – are now deciding to be “stay at home” citizens instead.

From today’s New York Times

“In the last few months, the Army has sent notices to more than 4,000 former soldiers informing them that they must return to active duty, but more than 1,800 of them have already requested exemptions or delays, many of which are still being considered.

And, of about 2,500 who were due to arrive on military bases for refresher training by Nov. 7, 733 had not shown up.”

(Note about NYTimes: u need to be registered to read the articles and they are archived to the fee area after about a week typically.)

Army recruiters insist the rates are similar to World War II. I have no way of knowing. My point remains: those who have done war, don’t want more war. My experience sees that politicians and centuries-old anger-filled people are the only ones interested in war. Oh, I guess we should include all the military contractors too. And there are probably more. Arguments are never as simplistic as sometimes even I want to make them.

Young people intoxicated with age-appropriate invincibility hormones may be willing to give it a shot for fun, but most are quickly sobered up when they see a buddy die or when they lose a limb. Forget getting over there with missing or faulty equipment, inadequate training, not even enough water and food.