It all starts with one.

There's something to be said for working in a psychiatric hospital, and I've learned a few things in the short three years Ive been there, and learn more every day. When I first started, I actually pretty much hated it but I realize now it had more to do with not being over, or able to get over, my own personal bullshit; I carried it with me everywhere I went, and as such, was not a very good person (by my stringent standards).

So, now three years later, the teachings of life are becoming apparent to me, and I'm actually starting to enjoy my job there; it's certainly unlike anything anyone else does in a day, and abnormal is the norm. It's exciting, entertaining, seldom boring, and there really are a lot of great people there, both staff and patient. There's always going to be those certain few who push our buttons but those are the ones we stand to learn the most from. 

Whether you work in an office building or a psych ward, life is tough and people can really get on your fucking nerves but everyone has their baggage they carry around with them; it's just more apparent with some, and less appealing to us than others' whom we relate to more. Try your best not to judge, don't poke around in other peoples' business and tend to your own, because it doesn't tend to itself. 

Despite my cynicism, I really do love people, and I love helping them; it's not always accepted or appreciated, and sometimes people just aren't at the point where they're ready to hear what I have to say but it still feels better to say something real and genuine and uplifting to someone, even if they shut you out, then to say nothing at all and let the cycle of bad or harmful behavior knowingly continue on unchecked.

You can't save everyone but you can at least try to save one.

8.15.13 / The Road Ahead

  Vacation starts now, officially. Three days of sunshine and music with lovely company in Scranton, PA. Never been. I will be in a few short hours, though.

  Sleeping in a tent with the creatures of the night serenading you brings a person back to center almost immediately; it's been proven. Camping, nature in general gives our biological clocks a bit of a "reset", for all those late nights and early mornings and months and years of chronic sleep deprivation. Worse, lack of quality sleep. No fluorescents, no air conditioning, no alarms. Just cool mountain air and you. Who wouldn't love that?
   If you've never been camping, it's seriously something to experience and regardless of whether you love or hate it, depending on your level of prissiness, you cannot deny that it is a powerful (and empowering) experience. But, I realize not all of us are as comfortable with not having a guaranteed hot shower and sleeping on the ground, so just get your ass out on a hike, at least, and go take a shower at home later :P
 
    It really makes me a lot of sad and angry to see all our precious farm land and otherwise be swallowed up for the sake of developing cheap, shitty and certainly not eco-friendly or conscious houses that all look the fucking same anyway. It makes me sad for our future generations and it makes me angry at our ignorance, or greed. Money talks, bullshit walks. i guess our natural resources get to steppin', even though they are what keep us fed, sheltered and alive.
 
  What happens when there's no more land left to build on? Will we ever see that day? I hope not in my lifetime, anyhow but it's not looking good. Not to sound completely cynical but there are a lot of good ideas out there and people doing the right things, not just what is profitable but even they are largely in the minority. Even with all the little things we can do in a day's time to do our part we're all still standing in the shadow of some thing or some one omnipotent, and I don't mean in a religious sense.

  What can we do? Just enjoy what we can, while we can and keep doing our part. Continue to think freely and with the big picture in mind, make wise choices. Use dish towels and wash and re-wash instead of going through truckloads of paper towels, you know the deal: REDUCE, RE-USE, RECYCLE. I know how granola that sounds but I really don't care, because regardless of your spiritual views: WE ALL SHARE THIS EARTH. It feeds us, clothes us and keeps us alive.
 
  Just be a little nicer to it, ok?

Thanks,
Shane