What Did I Mean?
December 20, 2011
“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.” ~Lewis Carroll
Recently, I posted these words on Facebook: You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one. I didn’t consider this to be a profound or controversial statement… not until the responses started rolling in. The first response, “So very true Michael. We must continue to move forward!” was followed by, “Hmmm. Memory whether we like it or not, exists and is triggered by many causes. To not read your past and put it into perspective, could be very damaging to the individual. A form of suppression. You can start the next chapter but need to keep the narrative going, otherwise you will become a deluded person.” And so it began…
As I read down the line of comments, this thought came to mind: Contrary to what many writers may believe, readers bring their own meaning to our words. While writing The Power of Teamwork I stated, “The dictionary defines words… we give them meaning.” Words mean different things to different people at different times and places. Eventually I weighed in on my post with this response: “Growing from our past is productive… attempting to live there isn’t. Yes, it’s fine (and sometimes healthy and productive) to occasionally revisit our past. Like re-reading a ‘good’ book… the content remains unchanged, yet we find new meaning… and sometimes profoundly so. That’s because we’ve changed—our perspective is different. The opposite can also be true… sometimes we re-read a ‘good’ book and discover the magic it once held for us is gone. When I wrote my original post, I was thinking about getting unstuck… moving on. Many people struggle with this ‘stuck’ condition. They can’t get past the past. When we continually attempt to re-live moments, we inadvertently let the past control our present. Change is constant… and life isn’t a stagnant event. Each moment is an original page… an opportunity to create something new… something unique and meaningful. Regardless of where we derive our inspiration—whether it’s reflecting on our past, projecting our future, living in the moment… all or none of the above… life continues on, with or without us.”
As readers and writers, we each bring our own meaning to words. My original post, “You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one,” now carries a different meaning for me than when I first wrote it. While words remain the same, the context of life is ever changing… and over time, the more layers, the more perspectives… the more significant these changes become. Imagine what happens to words over thousands of years. What did or didn’t the authors(s) really mean? You tell me!
Eternal Rewards + Punishments
August 2, 2011
Growing up I was warned to stick to the business at hand… and NEVER discuss religion, politics or personal beliefs with colleagues. Perhaps that’s good advice. For the record, I have little respect (actually none) for beliefs or subjects deemed too taboo to question. In fact, I encourage everyone to question most, those deemed most unquestionable. That said, in the spirit of harmony… and to not alienate readers, I’ve bowdlerized this post. Yes, showing restraint and hitting the delete key can sometimes be painful : )
Recently, I posted this question on Facebook, “To live a moral life, do people require the promise/threat of eternal rewards or punishments?”
It received many interesting responses… several were sent to me personally. For pantheists, atheists and others, my question posed little challenge. While some religious practitioners suggested eternal rewards and punishments were extra incentives, the majority claimed they would continue living a moral life, regardless of afterlife consequences. While concepts of heaven and hell appear in many religions, I’m limiting my discussion to monotheistic religions of the Abrahamic tradition, since many FB responders identified themselves as such.
I must confess, this subject intrigues me. My grandfathers were evangelical preachers… need I say more? I’ve spent many years discussing theology, studying religion, philosophy… and pondering life. But like Odysseus, I’ve ordered myself tied to the mast as to stay on topic during this post.
If the promise/threat of eternal rewards or punishments have little (if any) influence on people’s moral behavior, why do they exist? In the early Bible, the concept of heaven, hell or Satan didn’t exist. Should someone have referenced these subjects with a Hebrew from the time of Moses, they wouldn’t understand. What changed? Why propose such an idea? No doubt, such questions will generate countless responses. Let me propose one—it explains why those who follow God’s law are sometimes punished on earth while those who don’t, are sometimes rewarded. It offers the promise of retribution. With this belief in place, the just find earthly injustice more tolerable. While a perceived problem is sometimes an unseen solution, the opposite can also be true. The intended and unintended consequences of believing in eternal rewards or punishments is readily evident. Just pick up a history book or turn on the TV. Read more
Canaries and Patriots
July 12, 2011
I love music. During my cardio workouts, I put my iPod on random shuffle… and before long, with heart pounding and endorphins firing, the elliptical machine transports me into another dimension. In this dimension, aided by a vast music collection, my brain is free to explore uncharted territories and occasionally make new connections. That’s what happened today when the song Monster by Steppenwolf started playing. I had forgotten the many memories connected to this song. By the time it ended, the past had merged with the present and left me focusing on the future… America’s future.
At one point, Monster returned me to my sophomore year of college. To a time when my nerves were shot… I was confused, sleep deprived and directionless. When you’re attending college full-time while simultaneously working to pay for it, there’s little time for sleep or contemplation. Picking the right path (major) under such conditions can seem impossible. I had always been drawn to the arts… but needing to make a living, practicality was important, too. Uncertain, I decided to enroll in Preston Jackson‘s basic design class. (A few years later, I earned a degree in design/visual communications.) In addition to being a renowned artist, Preston is also a great instructor… and a kind, sensitive and insightful person to boot. One day, as Preston was musing, he said something I’ve never forgotten. “Regardless of what you do in life, be a student of history. But don’t limit yourself to history books. Study the music, art, and literature of particular time periods. Learn everything you can, from every perspective. The past provides meaning to the present… and sheds light on the future.”
When Monster was released, the U.S. was engaged in the Vietnam conflict, Richard Nixon was president, and civil unrest was rampant. To many citizens, especially those from the “older” generation, bands like Steppenwolf were unwelcome messengers—radical groups of unpatriotic, hippie misfits. Students of history know that demonizing the perceived enemy is nothing new. Wait! The enemy? Did you read the lyrics? (see below) They’re lucid, insightful… even prophetic. Unpatriotic? Steppenwolf sounds like a band of patriots! That’s from today’s perspective. When Monster was released, these lyrics challenged America’s ideology with reality. They violated many citizens’ perceptions of themselves by contrasting symbolic representations with facts. The map is not the territory. For many, this concept is difficult to grasp. Read more
Planting Seeds of Change
March 14, 2011
Recently, while driving to a meeting, I started thinking about healthy food. How can the average American (if such a person exists) avoid eating GM (genetically modified) fruits and vegetables inundated with pesticides and fertilizers? My first thought was to buy organic. I often do, even though it’s more expensive, but many households can’t afford it. During the summer, I frequent outdoor markets and buy from local organic farmers. This is fine during the warm months and I enjoy meeting with the farmers and supporting them… but it’s also expensive. Besides, what do you do about the rest of the year?
Back in the day we used to have a garden. While it takes time, gardening is a viable solution to the current alternatives. And what isn’t eaten during the growing season can be shared, canned and frozen. As I drove, I envisioned my family working with me… everyone pitching in and reaping a bounty of fresh produce. I imagined sharing with my neighbors and… then reality struck! I live in downtown Chicago, and there’s not a lot of arable land on the 28th floor!
Soon I found myself in the suburbs, driving down a residential street. An elderly couple stood in their yard talking to a couple guys in uniforms… and then I spotted the lawn chemical truck in the driveway.
I remembered spending money on lawn chemicals when we lived in the suburbs. Why do people spend time and money growing, cutting and maintaining grass? Who came up with this idea? Is it social conditioning, tradition… perceptual blindness? My questions triggered a rush of ideas and visions… I had a flashback to my time spent in Germany. The cemeteries I had visited there were so beautiful and the locals took such pride in creating and maintaining them. 
I began to envision suburban neighborhoods filled with beautiful gardens… like a Monet painting composed of fruit trees, herbs and vegetables. Visions of crop circles, corn mazes and rows of fruit trees, and beautifully designed vegetable patterns of all shapes, colors and kinds raced through my head. My brain was crystallizing with interconnected concepts and possibilities. The benefits of replacing worthless grass lawns with beautiful functioning gardens seemed endless… Read more
2011 Snowstorm
February 2, 2011
Based on the current snowstorm I decided to resurrect the Sleep-Deprived Samaritan post. The colloquial phrase “Good Samaritan,” means someone who helps a stranger… even those you don’t know but are willing to risk your life to save. Enjoy… and reach out to those in need.
“Pink Bat” Cure
October 17, 2010
Last October I wrote the following:
It’s late. The final Pink Bat manuscript is due tomorrow. From my office I can see several Chicago landmark buildings lit with pink lights. It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Amidst this pink glow—the posters, the ribbons, and special events—we are all reminded of the search for solutions to save lives. The color connection to this cause… and my book title… is obvious. Less obvious, but more relevant, is the thinking found inside.
For every problem, there exists a solution… and at the very least, an opportunity. Breast cancer is no different. But it takes an open mind… imagination, purpose and passion… to find it. In time, this “problem” will be viewed differently… and an unseen solution will appear. Perhaps an outsider will see what experienced insiders have missed. Someone less influenced by perceptual blindness… an unlikely suspect.
Read more
Harmony Requires Honesty
June 3, 2010
Back in high school I played drums and sang in a few different bands. One of the bands played mostly Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, Cream… you get the idea.
One day we were jamming when Jim, our lead guitarist, started playing Happy Together by the Turtles. It was funny at first… but then we all joined in and something clicked. While it was outside our genre, something about this song resonated with us. In fact, our version of Happy Together not only sounded great… it was fun to play. So now what? How do you transition from Black Dog and Iron Man to Happy Together? We weren’t certain, but we had an upcoming gig and decided to find out.
It was the night before our gig and we had been practicing hard all week. Since we hadn’t performed Happy Together publicly, we decided to go over it a few more times. Jim was/is a talented musician and he had figured out all the harmonies, including a great three-part harmony for the “Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba” part. (If you’ve never heard this song, I apologize… but you should do so.)
Oh yes, there’s something I neglected to mention… it was for good reason that our bass guitar player rarely sang. He was notoriously off-key and pitchy (I’m being polite). Perhaps that’s what amazed Jim and me the most about us playing Happy Together… he actually sang one of the harmony parts.
Back to practice… I was singing lead and Jim was singing background harmony when we reached this part of the song…
Me and you and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it has to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together
Then we all jumped in…
Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba
Before we could hit the second, Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba, Jim stopped playing, turned and looked directly at me. Accept for the ring in our ears, the room was silent. Read more