Of course, in order to be a good blogger, one has to be consistent, one has to post regularly. Obviously Ms. Sanity has been falling down in that regard. Ms. Sanity’s Mother has noticed this behavior for many a year now–she calls it the “Refusing to write a letter unless all the pencils in the house are sharpened, and you have the most beautiful stationery to use phenomenon,” when of course, the recipient would just be happy to get a durn letter from Ms. Sanity.

Mum’s right on the money there. One should just write the letter. And I know for a fact that I am not the only one with this phenomenon.

I was horrified and pretty annoyed with myself on this Thanksgiving Day when I realized that it has been 29 days since my last post. That’s simply not acceptable. See, when I make a post, I want it to be thoughtful. Original, well-written, preferably well (or at least marginally well) illustrated.

Here are some of my excuses. See if they mesh with any of YOUR excuses. (My father would say: There are always REASONS, but rarely excuses.)

• I’ve been busy.
  Well, we are ALL busy, in one way or another. If Ms. Sanity wants to be a blogger, she needs to blog, yes?
  
• I wanted my posts to be good. Exceptional, even.
  Well, my readers are looking for helpful, hopefully thought provoking information from me, and perhaps a little entertainment here and there, not proof of my substantial brilliance. (heh)
• I wanted to do research and provide LOTS of useful information in my next post.
  Well, even one piece or useful information or one link can make a difference to someone’s life. It doesn’t have to be fifty links! Helping out even a little is better than my silence, yes?

So, now: the flip side is this. I will do my best stop the habit of trying too hard, and perhaps you need to do the same. (Some of us, perhaps including yours truly, may need to watch out for “trying too hard not to try too hard,” but that’s a whole other post….)

Nike’s relatively inspired slogan “Just Do It,” is actually more than a good way to sell shoes. It’s a mantra many of us would do well to hold in mind, and act upon. So here’s my “Just did it” post… and I wish everyone, everywhere, a day or at least a moment of thanksgiving, as we celebrate here in the USA. Have a lovely day.. and don’t try too hard. Good enough is really, good enough, and something is almost always better than nothing…Nobody is perfect, anyway, no matter how hard one tries.

1.) You are really and truly the only – yes, only -darn person you can control.  There’s no question that you can affect others, you can, and you should. But change them? Nope, not in this lifetime, not on this spiritual plane. That doesn’t mean that we all can sit by and say “ho hum, well, then, there’s nothing I can or should do except do my own thing.” That’s a cop out. What it DOES mean is that trying to control others is futile and crazy-making at best, and a recipe for unmitigated disaster in many, many circumstances.  Once you really come to terms with this, every day gets easier. Make peace with this one quickly.

2.) Nobody gets a free ride.  Yes, I know that’s an old chestnut, but it may take some doing to really absorb the fact. I still remember the moment when someone (a man who taught me a number of extremely painful yet important lessons) said to me in surprise when we were on the topic: “EVERYONE suffers. EVERYONE ‘gets screwed.’ Nobody escapes it. Nobody has a charmed life.” It took until then (and I was well over 20) for me to realize that my suffering was not “special,” or anything of the sort, and that everyone else (or even a few select lucky bastards) was/is not living a constantly easy, happy, stress-free existence. Problems are part of life. Learn to see that this is okay.

3.) We are never, ever given just one chance at happiness or fulfillment.  It is easy, (and I think it’s perhaps human nature) to believe that our entire future happiness and good outcomes in life can hinge on a particular thing, such as “this particular relationship working out,” or “getting into this school,” or “getting this job” or “making x number of dollars.”  Again, that’s not a cop-out inducer to believe that you don’t have to do the best you can in life, you will find yourself far more fulfilled if you DO. However, it is certainly a relaxing-inducing knowledge, once you can find it, that there are ALWAYS going to be other deep, soul-level, meaningful opportunities for us, if the one in front of us, for whatever reason, does not come to fruition. To believe otherwise is to limit yourself, the universe, and your higher power, (if you believe in one) to a level that is really, when you think about it, not only painful but also pretty arrogant. Work this one out, and things become a lot easier. Really.

4.) Listen to others (who have shown they’re worth respect) but go your own way. Both bits of this one are challenging. For instance, your mother, just by virtue of being your mother, if you are an adult, does not, in and of itself, make her opinion very useful or helpful to you – particularly about things that she herself has never experienced. There’s a fairly obscure saying, though, that goes something like this: “If one person tells you you have a tail, you can laugh. If two people tell you you have a tail, then best turn around and LOOK.” In other words, of course, it’s not smart to just ignore every bit of advice/opinion you are given, particularly if you start to hear things over and over. However, ultimately you have to live your own life and it’s the only one you have at this moment anyway. If you decide that what your soul is telling you to do is to move to Italy and learn Italian (with the last $1,000 in your checking account…) and you are sure that this is what you most want and need to do, then GO, regardless of what anyone says. Hey, it worked out well for Elizabeth Gilbert (author of “Eat,Pray, Love”.)  If you wait till what you want is going to please everyone you might as well forget it. Life is short, and people who are completely invested in completely pleasing everyone are usually pretty darn unhappy.

5.) It’s your job to take care of yourself. Yes, the (very very small number) of conservative types who meander into this blog might be surprised to hear a liberal type like myself spout this last one, but it is my firm belief that in today’s world (and perhaps always, I don’t know) in order to be happy and sucessful we have all got to take personal responsibility for our own lives, advocate for ourselves, and not simply sit by and expect someone to come along and fix (any) problem. This also means that after a certain point, you can no longer blame your parents or the Government or whatever for your problems, you will have to make some choices and take some actions, and so on.  If you struggle with this one, it might be helfpful to start by thinking, say, of going to a doctor’s office (ick!) If your leg hurts, and you go to the doctor but don’t tell her that your leg hurts, how can you possibly be surprised if she doesn’t do anything about your pain? Learn to advocate for yourself. You are the one who is closest to knowing what you need. You can have a hand in making sure your needs get met. If you wait by the side of life for someone to notice that you are in pain/need help/etc., you can be waiting a very long time indeed.

Well, readers, if you’ve read this far… which one resonated the most with you (if any?) What are the other biggies I’ve left off? This list of course could have been fifty or five hundred things to consider, but your Ms. Sanity has to start somewhere… 

Photo credit: Chi from morguefile.com

Ok, so it’s only one step, but it’s a biggie. That step is… to get inspired. And stay that way. You may think, gentle reader, that this is easier said than done, but the truth is, it depends a great deal on what you are putting into your mental computer, and in order to be inspired, you want to put in – you guessed it – inspirational stuff. One of the easiest and most effective ways I’ve ever found to do this is through reading uplifting and inspiring books.

There are so many good writers out there, but I’m offering you some of my favorites, who have made the most lasting and marked positive impressions on me. Pema Chodron became a Buddhist nun in 1974. She currently teaches and works in a Buddhist monastery in Nova Scotia. She has a thought provoking, accessible writing style, and will not only make you think but will also make you feel JOY. And joy is often in short supply these days. I’ve linked to one of her books here, but she has several other titles, also worth reading. I believe any of her books will have useful and thought provoking (and uplifting) content for anyone, regardless of their spiritual bent or lack thereof. Chodron’s other books which I can personally vouch for include: When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times (1996), and Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living (1994.) Having struggled with a variety of health problems in my life (not to mention with the USA’s crazy-making so called health care system,) I know first hand how difficult it can be to get through each day when one is ill and/or when not feeling well, wondering how you’re going to pay for needed doctors’ visits, tests, and medications, and so forth. Reading about others who have successfully dealt with such challenges, and who have overcome them, has also been enormously beneficial to me.

Norman Cousins was one such person.  He was diagnosed in the early 1960′s with an incurable disease…. and he quite literally used comedy to heal himself. Seriously. His example that we are what we think and the results he gained from his careful getting and staying inspired–and making a point to laugh–speak for themselves. He, too has written several books, but the one here was the first one I read and meant a lot to me…I found it enormously helpful and inspiring.

What we take in to our lives, minds and hearts, makes a big difference to the quality of our lives. Take in something inspirational… and improve  your life in one easy step!

No, it’s not funny.

According to Ananova, this girl in China has been laughing since she was two and also lost the power of speech.

Here’s hoping that they get the kid some help. It sounds like the parents have been trying desperately to do so for a long time.

Let’s also hope that once she’s all better, that she might look back on the years of laughter, and find some humor in it.

But for now, it’s not funny.

Moderation in all things….

With the economic situation world-wide and the other political things happening, however, (not to mention the current weird alignment of the planets – just ask Michael Lutin!) the potential triggers for feeling lousy may indeed be more abundant than usual. Follow me on the flip for some handy tips that might help you (and for that matter, your dear Ms. Sanity) stay in a happier frame of mind.  These tips may not be groundbreaking, but I hope they may serve as a helpful reminder to anyone who stumbles upon them.

1.) Surround yourself with (or pay attention to) happy, upbeat people.

Remember that what (and whom) you pay attention to in your life literally grows and becomes a bigger part of your life.

There are some people who are naturally inclined to optimism. Many who are even inclined to thoughtful, searching, considered optimism. Good attitudes, hope, and joy are catching. If you don’t have these people in your life, you can find them online or ask around. Even a little exposure to these upbeat folks can help your feelings of happiness. EVEN if they get on your nerves while you’re talking to them or reading what they have to say!

2.) Limit your news intake, whether on television, online, or newspapers.

There will always be bad news, and guess what, bad news sells…(and puts eyeballs on websites, etc.) That’s why traditional news outlets in particular seem to focus on “bad news…” because they actually DO focus on the bad news! Regardless of your political or other orientations and priorities, there will always be something in the news that’s upsetting. Particularly when you are struggling, limit your intake. This does not have to be permanent.

3.) Help other people.

There is always someone nearby or online who could use an encouraging word, a donation, or simply someone to listen to them. Whatever your circumstances, you have this to offer, even if you can only manage 30 seconds. The benefits of doing so are enormous and farther reaching than you’d believe toward helping your happiness level.

4.) Wallow in bad feelings if you must, but set time limits for wallowing.

Sometimes bad feelings and sadness and unhappiness are natural or unavoidable. (Death of someone you care about, Major changes in relationships, Major life or health changes, and so forth.) All of these things are adjustments which take time, and simply plastering on a happy face in the midst of true emotional challenges is a recipe for disaster. So allowing yourself to “feel the pain” (or to wallow, if you will…) is reasonable. What you don’t want to do is to allow yourself to get stuck there.  Give yourself a time limit that seems reasonable, (sometimes this means weeks to months!)  and if you cannot find your way to feeling normal once the time limit expires, it may be time to talk to your doctor or seek other outside help.

5.) Talk about it.

Not  everyone needs formal therapy or a doctor’s care of course when they’re struggling with emotional issues and/or unhappiness, but everyone needs to express their feelings. Find a way to do so. The advent of the internet has made this easier.

6.) Bootstraps don’t exist.

There is a much misguided idea in these United States anyway that we should all “pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps.” Personally, I’ve never seen anyone in my lifetime who actually had bootstraps, much less someone who could “pull themselves up by them. “  It can be critical to know when the jig is up and when you should ask for help and stop thinking about your damn non-existent bootstraps. Asking for help is a sign of wisdom and strength, and NOT weakness. We are all in this life together.

One of the many guidelines which indicate that you should run, not walk, to a health care provider: is when you start thinking (especially when you continue to think) that the world or your loved ones would be better off without you, and/or you start making plans to bring that about. Suicide really is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. If you are feeling that way, get help. Today. Here are some 24/7 hotlines in the USA that are standing by to help you: 1-800-784-2433 or 1-800-273-TALK  (1-800-273-8255)

7.) Talk to a child/spend time with children.

There’s a reason why we say “kids say the darnedest things,” and “Out of the mouths of babes…”  This is because children have a fresh way of looking at the world which can sometimes bring light streaming into the life of an adult in unexpected ways.  Take a moment and talk to a child, and if you don’t have one handy, (with their parent’s permission) a neighbor’s child will do. Have them tell you a joke. You’ll be glad you did.

Above all, know that you are not alone. Because that’s the truth.

(Image Courtesy of Jochen Gros.)

Learn to deal with change.

Follow me on the flip for the quotation and some more help on the subject. It’s not as hard as you might think. You see, the unhappiest people I know fight change with all their might. They get anxious about it, they deny it exists, they do all kinds of mental machinations to put blinders on about it. This is, of course, sadly misguided behavior.

It’s true that change can be threatening or frightening to all of us at times, however, it’s a natural part of life. And learning to handle it, to face it without flinching or running away, is an essential part of maturity and sanity.

Here’s the quotation:

Change is always happening. Even our thoughts are changing. Whenever something is good, it won’t last forever. Whenever something is bad, it won’t last forever. So, this financial crisis: It won’t last forever. It could be a turning point to change our views. What already has happened has happened. Every moment is a unique moment. We should treasure every moment.

–Master Jian-Sheng, abbess of the Buddha Gate Monastery, Lafayette.

Of course for many people it’s very difficult  to put into practice the art of accepting change.  This kind of thing is a lifelong journey, and NOBODY gets it perfectly right all the time, not even Ms. Sanity herself.

However, here are a few steps that can be helpful to manage anxiety and to help stay centered in the face of change or worry about change:

1. Breathe deeply. Anxiety often causes shallow breathing. Deep breaths can help you calm down and “open up.”
2. As the quotation says, try to stay “in the present moment” with your thoughts. Much of the time, there is little to nothing really horribly wrong at THIS particular moment.
3. Vent. It does not help you manage things to just stuff all your feelings down inside and ignore them. It’s actually the opposite.
4. Consider the worst case scenario. Take whatever you are worrying about or the change you are fearing to the absolute farthest worst-case you can imagine. Then consider how likely the worst case scenario is to actually come about. Generally the answer is that it almost certainly will not come about, at least not in the worst configuration you can imagine.
5. Consider the hidden gifts that this particular change might hold for you. Richard Bach wrote “There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its’ hands.” What gift might this change hold? Think outside the box.

And finally, if you need help to deal with stuff, reach out and get it. There is always help available, always someone who will care about you and help if they can, even if they are a stranger to you now. We are all in this life together, and there are a lot of people who are well aware of this.

Everything is always changing. One only has to look outside the window to confirm this. Why should our lives (not to mention our society) be any different?

How Is This Sane?

Tipsy Dazy has a comment here that challenged me to think long and hard about, well, everything, and particularly about communication.

Most of the people I have ever known do all tend to make assumptions regarding what is meant by a particular turn of phrase or word usage, (not to mention tone of voice, and so forth…) rather than listening carefully and attempting to think logically or critically or to ask the communicator for more information. I’d be lying if I pretended for one nanosecond that I don’t exhibit that kind of behavior on a regular basis, but hey, I’m working on it.  Read on if you want to know more about my (sane, though I say it myself… heh) ….assumptions.

In thinking about this sort of thing, and as I am today attempting to think about the issues of equality or inequality in American society, Tipsy made me remember that I should at least attempt to consider what some of the assumptions are behind my statements and my “world view.” It may be clumsy but here’s my attempt at some definition.

One of the assumptions that I believe underlie some of my thinking about the world is the idea that it almost certainly is not possible in human society to “legislate equality.” I can remember in my youth as part of my education in literature, reading the story “Harrison Bergeron” originally published by Kurt Vonnegut in 1961.  (available in full here.) I remember marveling as a child at Vonnegut’s brilliantly made point that it simply is not possible–and it is silly to try– to pass laws that will supposedly somehow make everyone “equal” in any real, meaningful way. We are all born with different skills, talents, interests, and capacities, and no amount of law-making is going to change that.

Having said that, I also in my youth digested the famous line from “Animal Farm,” which states: ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL. BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS.

Whether I and my liberal brethren like it or not, (even though Orwell, of course, was speaking out against “some being more equal than others,”) the truth of the matter is that we are not in any way truly equal in the world except in the metaphorical sense of the worth of a human life which is immeasurable, of course….. and that this inequality does now and always will  include our incomes and cash assets. To oversimplify, our conservative brethren seem to me to also oversimplify, and that they worry that libruls (misspelling intentional, sorry) miss that point–e.g. that income, too, is not equal and never will be.

Actually we liberals/progressives, we understand that last point. Really. Anybody that’s tried to make an actual LIVING in America in the last twenty years or so, can hardly have missed it.

I also assume that conservatives (and too, libertarian types…) tend to think that liberals, and/or “progressives” furthermore have some deluded idea that somehow it is possible to wave our non-existent magical wands and make us all equal, in income or by any other measure. We aren’t equal, not in abilities, not in opportunities etc. etc. etc.

Another assumption that I hold, though I don’t think as a general rule that the majority of my countrymen would agree with me…(my friends, yes, and family… but most of the country? doubt it…. )….is that we ARE all equal, however, in terms of WORTH. (Inner, metaphysical, human-dignity type worth.)

Personally, I hold it to be self-evident too that (although, of course, it’s a slippery slope that requires much caution)  just because someone is in possession of assets – cash or other ones – does not mean that they acquired them legally or in any sort of morally acceptable fashion. This seems to be one assumption tenderly nurtured by the Republicans and Libertarians – e.g. that the assumption is that if someone has something today, that they are entitled to keep it in perpetuity.  (Witness the implosion of the entire financial world partly as a result of leveraging and re-leveraging “assets” that were backed by nothing or not very much or .0001 % of not very much… and the continuing clamor of investors to “be made whole.”)

On the other hand just because I might not think, for example, that Alan Greenspan has come by whatever assets he has in his bank account in any sort of moral, acceptable, or legal way,  does NOT give me the right to just ride in and seize his assets. That’s why we have due process, that’s why we have courts, and that’s why the framers tried to limit (not eliminate) the openings for “mob rule.”

Mobs are notoriously not great at critical thinking.

Back to what I think that conservatives and such assume; I think they assume that liberals think that assets can be/should be just taken away willy nilly from the have-mores and given to the have nothings. I don’t think I’ve ever met a person who really believed that.

However what I do assume – and think is self-evident- though again I do not think the majority would agree with me in the United States - is that the inequalities of income CAN and should be leveled at least to a degree.  Take a close look at the graph on this post. How the hell does that make sense in a civilized society?

Oh yeah, that’s another thing. I do not assume that this really is a civilized society. Maybe never has been, when you take even a moment’s glance at our history.

And I certainly do not assume that this country is a representation of “the good guys” in the world, or that we have any right whatsoever to tell other countries how to run their affairs. Clearly our own “house” is not now and perhaps never been in order.

Two last ones before I stop… I DO also assume that taxes are part and parcel of the dues I and anyone else have to pay for living in a society. I do not assume that taxes are bad. Even if I do not think that the people I pay taxes to are stewarding them the way that I would steward them.

Last, and perhaps most important  assumption: I assume, with few and narrow exceptions, that there is not such a thing as “US” and  “THEM,” at least not on this planet. We live in a literal fishbowl – I assume that it is ALL  US. We are all in this damn life together. That seems pretty damn self evident to me.

And I assume that some day we will all assume that – but I don’t think it will happen in my lifetime.

What do YOU assume? What is self evident to you? I really would want to know.

A Sane Project?

I’ve been interested in this relatively new website called “White House Two,” which is meant to give the man or woman on the street the opportunity to voice their priorities for the country to the White House and to their “fellow Americans.” Nearly 8,000 people have joined the site, including yours truly.

Not surprisingly, it’s questionable how much attention will be paid to all this by the real white house/actual powers that be, but even so, I have found it to be an educational and interesting read. It’s located here. For a little more about it, read on. Another interesting aspect is that it has a system of “political capital” which you “earn” by being involved on the site, setting your priorities, interacting with others, and so on. One of the uses of that “capital” is that you can create advertising to actually sway people to endorse the priorities that YOU think are important for this country.

I have been fascinated, learning about the priorities of others, (even those I disagree violently with) and seeing the points at which we agree. It’s also the clearest picture I’ve seen anywhere of what the Obama administration is currently (publicly anyway) holding as their set of priorities.  And not surprisingly, you can compare and contrast the “real” white house’s stated priorities with your own.

I think anything that gets people to think about what’s going on in their country and to interact with each other about their priorities is a good thing, and I think this website is a very useful tool for that.

And I have certainly learned more about some issues that others espouse, such as the “Fair Tax” (wildly “endorsed” on this site, by the way) and a few others. Check it out. The more people that participate, the better.

For you social media buffs, it also will integrate, apparently with Facebook, and you can also find some of the Twitter people on there. I’d be interested to know what people think about it!

His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama

I don’t know exactly when I first became aware of the (current) Dalai Lama, but I can vividly remember reading his autobiography and being utterly impressed and astonished at the depth of his thinking and his compassion–even for people in my (young and not very compassionate) view who “didn’t deserve it.” (e.g. those that had tortured and killed his countrymen, invaded and overtaken his country, forced him into exile, and so forth.)

I am not a Buddhist, but there is much about Buddhist teaching that calls to me, and much that I think we all can learn from.

I know it’s a lifelong journey, etc. but personally I am struggling with attempting to feel compassion for people I find reprehensible: e.g. those who identify as being “American Conservative Republicans.” Yet, my lack of compassion toward them, mainly only hurts me, and it certainly does not contribute to something I believe in: which is the propagation of personal, local, national, and world peace and happiness.

In an essay, the Dalai Lama wrote:

Under present conditions, there is definitely a growing need for human understanding and a sense of universal responsibility. In order to achieve such ideas, we must generate a good and kind heart, for without this, we can achieve neither universal happiness nor lasting world peace. We cannot create peace on paper. While advocating universal responsibility and universal brotherhood and sisterhood, the facts are that humanity is organized in separate entities in the form of national societies.

And furthermore, in my country, we seem to be organized in the form of separate entities in the form of political persuasion and/or parties: We have the Rush Limbaughs and Ann Colters of the world who think “liberals” have no morals and should be wiped off the face of the planet.

Yet I further this schism and add to the divisiveness when I rage against the republicans and the conservatives and think of them (and speak of them) as though they have no souls, no hearts, and no concern for their fellow man.

I’ll work on it.  H.H. The Dalai Lama speaks the truth when he says:

Living in society, we should share the sufferings of our fellow citizens and practise compassion and tolerance not only towards our loved ones but also towards our enemies. This is the test of our moral strength. We must set an example by our own practice…

So I’ll start where I am, and for the rest of today, I will try to have compassion for the republicans/conservatives, try not to speak or think ill of them, and try to embody the principles set forth by H.H.T.D.L. (and many other people whom I admire, including my mother.)

I mean, if the Dalai Lama could forgive the Chinese, I should be able to forgive anybody anything… right?

If you’re interested, you can read the rest of this very sane essay written by The Dalai Lama here: A Human Approach to World Peace .

I would encourage you to do so, and to join me in these efforts. This kind of stuff is sane, and may even help make a better world!

Use that brain, it's there for a reason

Having grown up in the USA, and been educated here, obviously nearly all of my experience is with American culture. Simply because of pure dumb luck, I was exposed through my work to some well-educated Americans who understood the importance of critical thinking, at the ripe old age of about 32, and who made a point to stimulate “critical thinking” in all their employees.

I had been exposed to the idea of critical thinking briefly early in my education and again in college, but most of my work experience from early adulthood on was entirely based on hierarchy and critical thinking was NOT encouraged.  I still remember my shock when I was asked for my opinion at this critical thinking job.  It seems to me this lack of critical thinking is endemic in the US and it’s one of the many things that MUST change if we are going to improve our standing and our culture; economically, spiritually, and in every other way. I spoke to my mother recently and she mentioned that at her church they had an “organ fund” (for a new musical instrument) which was invested in the stock market and which, like every other stock market holding, had lost 50% of its value in the past few weeks. Fifty percent! She was shocked that nobody other than herself and her husband even questioned why this money was still in the stock market… and that nobody seemed to be able to think through why this was not a good idea… not to mention the fact that fundraising for an organ in this time when people are losing jobs left and right and struggling with how they might feed their children…. might be seen as less than desirable by the community.

We struggled trying to understand why these (she assured me very intelligent and well educated people…) were seemingly unable to think critically about the situation.  She said she would not donate even $5.00 to something that wasn’t being managed in a sensible fashion. I don’t blame her. But others in the church had donated $10,000 toward the fund. Our best guess is that people didn’t want to think about the church’s money because it might make them have to think about how they were stewarding their own resources.

Folks it is way past time for America to put her critical thinking cap on. We have got to stop and think about things, be they pleasant or unpleasant, and form considered (and critical) opinions.

It’s long past time to keep taking cues from what the culture throws out (e.g. Greed is Good! Fame Is Desirable! and so on….) and to see if those values and cues are in line with what we really, down deep, otherwise think. The future of the country and society depends on it.

For more on that last bit see this most excellent article on “Things You Think Will Make You Happy But Really Won’t.” (NSFW, and not safe for people who are offended by profanity, but on the other hand, if you are “offended by profanity,” perhaps you should start right there, and critically examine why you are offended by it and what that really means!)

Critical thinking really is the key to a better tomorrow.  It’s the path to sanity.