Category: Personal Reflections

Why does our culture saddle girls with so much insecurity? Easier to manipulate and control, perhaps. I’m not buying the differential biology explanation for this. Looking at marketing directed at boys vs girls tells quite a bit of the story.

Yet I don’t see a nefarious plot. Generations upon generations of behaviors feeding back upon each choice. These dream fed mindsets, layering upon each, acting from the depths, our mind’s unaware. And here we are.

Slowly, as we bring each behavior into our awareness, we see the fallacies before us; leaving them in the dust of history. Wretched dreams of forgotten kings, dominations waving in the dusty, dry wind.

6/10 Update:

Came across this article that’s correlated: “Tips: Raising Children to have Healthy Relationships with Food & Their Body.” (~ Dr. Stacey Rosenfeld)

I shall work to keep from feeding this, destructive cycle for I adore the girls/women in my life.

I’ve been following Ms. Millman for sometime and highly recommend her podcast: Design Matters. I’m quite deliberate about making time as soon as I see the update come through on my iPhone. This week she interviews Noah Brier. I remember messing around with his project Brand Tags some time back, though after the interview I see an deeper power to the site that I really hadn’t considered before.

The most important takeaway: that we need to abandon the idea of controlling a brand’s image and identity. We, as professionals, can clearly influence and effect perception, but “control”; no. He points out that, really, it’s the fans, the public that really control, really own a brand. The interactions with customers, fans and critics all play a part in the identity. Reminds me of several discussions over the years where I say “we can’t please everyone. We need to identify who our audience is, focus on them, accept that there will be some un-detractable critics, and move forward.” Not everyone can become a superfan. The more popular a brand, or anything, becomes, the more critics rise. It’s the way of things.

On the ferry yesterday, my son and I were behind a young woman. While she walked up stairs, she was clearly uncomfortable in her very short-shorts. They were short enough that we could clearly see her lack of undergarments. Her discomfort manifested mainly by her continued pulling the edges of her shorts down. Ironically, that’s what gathered my attention, this continuous motion.

I felt bad for her discomfort. And I wonder, as I’m want to do, how we found ourselves here. Why was she compelled to wear clothes that pushed her comfort levels? Was she trying to be more attractive? Was it an unconscious choice, or conscious only to see the challenges of this fashion (and resultant discomfort) too late?  

Of course, we live in as culture where women and girls are supposed to be sexy, but not too sexy. It’s a strange and painful duality.

Life is simply too short to sit back, to let the status quo grind along. I know justice can be broadened, that poverty can be challenged, that predation amongst my fellow humans can be resisted. Small, tiny acts build, flow together, creating a river of growth, of progress. We just must act! Each action, no matter how small, grows, collects, cumulating in the amazing. Do something, stand together, do something else; it’s the path of progress.

One of my current frustrations: people groaning about youth. About them taking selfies, too self-centered, too intertwined with their families…I can make this list mammoth, if you so wish. I’ve had the privilege, though, of getting to know a number of teens and early twenty-somethings. And these are great people. I delight in spending time with them. Their energy and enthusiasm are just so damn wonderful. They have ambitions, dreams. They’re deeply talented and CARE about their work.

The universe is in good hands with them. I’m happy.

[Updated to deal with autocorrect brutalities. For a professional writer, this was abysmal.]

I’ll see Mr. Hardy speak this Tuesday. Should be interesting. I’ve heard a bit about him, but haven’t explored his ideas in depth. I’m curious how practical his ideas are, and what I will take away. Stay tuned…

Shows today about priest rapists, about brutality in Egypt, North Korea, about myriad acts of horror all over the globe. I’m left to wonder if humanity can be redeemed? Can we stop this cycle of evil? I’m laden with doubt.

Yet, within me, a kernel of hope. I see the words of journalists attempting to bring attention, to garner global pressure. There are the activists, often risking their lives, both in responding to the human need as well as to work against the monstrosity. Then there’s the rising voice of public outrage, if for only a brief time. So much evil, so limited our ability to look. So easy to return our gaze to the pretty.

I, too, become worn by continual viewing of the worst humanity has to offer. Yet I hope, somehow, by continuing to care, the world might change, if ever so slightly. And perhaps, someday, humanity’s tendency to brutalize each other will finally be put to rest.

Years ago, I was quite facile with styli. I took meeting bits several times in my Palm, even with the cryptic survival script. As I evolved to Blackberry, then to iPhone, my utilization of styli vanished. Now, though, I see a renewed interest in these devices. There’s become quite the secondary market growing. I’ve found, especially with tools like Swype, styli really enable a significantly greater efficiency. And this is fun for me.

I have one by Zagg, which is good, but small. Then I just got a NEBO one, with more heft. That seems to really help my accuracy. There are so many more, though. We’ll see which, if any, rise to the top.