Author Archives: jimwdollar

01 We can’t live fifteen minutes without taking sides. Generally, that would mean taking our side against all others. This is the baby screaming to be fed. It’s always something. Wanting this, not wanting that. My Way Now! There must be cultures where this is not the case, perhaps where the baby’s needs are anticipated,Continue reading “July 31, 2021”

01 When the lion lies down with the lamb only one of them gets up. That’s nature for you. Nature doesn’t play favorites, or take sides. “The big fish eat the little fish, and the little fish swim through the netting that hauls the big fish to the cannery.” That’s the way nature works. NoContinue reading “July 29, 2021”

01 It takes such silence– such being quiet and noticing what is in the quiet with us. What is right now. Right here. It takes such narrowing down. Leaving the drama at the door. The constantly looping tape of what happened when to whom, and whose fault it is, and noise, noise, noise… Remove theContinue reading “July 28, 2021”

01 Something happens and we decide what it means and respond in some way that we think is appropriate. The fulcrum lies with our interpretation and response. We control, or strongly influence, how things play out by what we do next. We lever the future into being with our response to what just happened. WeContinue reading “July 27, 2021”

01 If you wonder what I believe, and what I believe you ought to believe, it’s simple: I believe, and believe we all ought to believe, that it matters how we live. That’s almost it as far as believing goes. It has a corollary: I believe we all ought to find what is ours toContinue reading “July 26, 2021”

01 My mule and my cow go with me wherever I go. I thought it would be cute to call my mule “Bessy,” and my cow, “Jake,” but they would have none of it. “I will be Bessy,” said the cow. “And make mine Jake,” said the mule. And that’s how I got Bessy andContinue reading “July 25, 2021”

01 Disturbance takes countless forms. The churning chaos of the clashing rocks, and the heaving waves of the wine dark sea are the providential prerogatives of the gods of disturbance, disorder and instability. Theirs is the province of the 10,000 things, which they wield with relish and complete abandon to the dismay and appall ofContinue reading “July 23, 2021”

01 Reducing complexity, removing distractions, and cutting down the volume of the Noise Blaster are the best ways I know of to assist the recognition of what is happening and what needs to be done about it, in order to respond to it in ways appropriate to the occasion. When my wife was diagnosed withContinue reading “July 22, 2021”

01 Be right about what needs to be done in each situation as it arises, and do it. Situation by situation. Moment by moment. Day by day. That is all there is to it. But, being right about what needs to be done is no snap. We all look at the same situation, and assessContinue reading “July 21, 2021”