By grasping onto any pleasant feeling tones, 

and trying to make them stick around, 

our disappointments, and resentments will surely follow.

Like when a formerly positive vibe was once experienced as an old friend or relationship 

that has sadly turned into a dark edge that was misled down a black hole. 

Sometimes, we forget that we are all rivers of passing emotions 

instead of  icebergs of unchanging feelings.

That is where monolithic rocks of rigidity remain. 

We may climb those rugged mountains, but if we cling to them, 

then they will become the dirge of our identities. 

Perhaps the gentleness of a deer will guide us into 

an intrinsic adventure in mindfulness that is worth self exploration.

Beware that following the yellow brick road is not a 

destined cure for unwanted feelings, emotions or everyday pain!

The journey in healing is a process of alchemy

rather than a coveted destination.

When we are watching the unfolding situational screenplay of life, 

we can see that our different strokes are not all good times 

because the facts of life and family ties 

are really just everyday moments at the office

that aren’t always easy to make friends with. 

It can be especially hard to say cheers to the unpleasant or neutral feeling tones. 

With all the distractions of the world of 10 thousand things,

 it is hard not to cling to the wanting of

attention seeking, an escape or being entertained. 

Sometimes, boredom is viewed as an enemy,

as is the fear of missing out (FOMO).

Has this pandemic revealed your fomophobia?

Rather, being awake is merely a process for dreaming a new dream,

and sitting with what is.

In this realm, we are allowing for fluidity, mutability, 

and an open passivity with the changing seasons of life.

Remember that without the cold, dark days of winter, 

there would be no sunshine and rainbows. 

Or without the disappearance of a warm summer breeze, 

there would be no colorful foliage to peep at. 

You can’t have death without rebirth 

or get to the light without venturing through the dark.

Having an appreciation for the widespread panic of

sarcasm, sardonic humor, or grumpy complaining 

is different from justifying their sharper edges, 

or condoning mood driven attachments to their energies, 

and becoming identified with them.

Like any attachments, our judgments can become security blankets, 

that manifest into memes of our own projections, 

as well as other forms of suffering. 

In the spirit of that . . .  

When we reflect on the solidaridy and soul power of MLK Day, 

may we be inspired to raise our fists, acknowledge the reality of our own fears, 

and step into them with a compassionate activism of empathic courage.

Till we tweet again peeps,

Ari