“Why?! Because it’s there..” – Muhammad Ali

Pretty motivational. 

From the book “Grit”, I just read: 

“talent x effort = skill. 

skill x effort = achievement.”

“Effort factors into the calculations twice, not once.”

There’s this guy playing Rhiana’s “Work”, who followed up with “Hotline Bling” which was less compelling only because I don’t like the song. I think his name is Ceasar Passée, according to a card on his bag. (14th st Union Square). 

Earlier in the day I saw/heard some guy sing “Hello” and it was one of the best covers imaginable. I think his name was D/Love. (47th st Rockerfeller Center). 

I gave em a couple bones, which I do only here and there. The talent in these NYC streets is incredible.. or under the streets, as the case may be..

I hadn’t been to The Museum of Modern Art in some time until yesterday. I strolled in remembering that a Jackson Pollock exhibition was on offer. 

I’ll post those images which I found interesting at another time, but I’d rather dedicate this post to a singular image of painted human bone (along with the descriptions) that was so full of layered meaning. 

These were created decades ago, but the pairing of these bones, these people, these countries in light of recent terrorist attacks and the associated human cost seemed incredibly relevant and current. Timeless. Ominously so.. 

I spent most of this evening with colleagues socially. On my way home, I walked past a well-known and frequented fresh/healthy fast food place in the city (with a French name). I saw an employee with huge black bags emptying the shelves of salads and sandwiches and preparing them for what appeared to be  (the salad equivalent of “dead man walking”) the trash. 

I tapped on the glass to ask if they were planning to donate “all that food”. Being in a suit probably didn’t hurt anything, though he might have opened the door anyway. He explained that normally they do, but for whatever reason tonight they were not going to be donating. I replied that there were plenty of people out there who could use that food. He told me he could give me a little bag of it. I watched as he put two salads and about six sandwiches in the bag. 

Not ten seconds into my walk I saw a guy. Clearly dirty, unkempt and smoking a cigarette. I said to him, “Hey man.. you hungry?”  He said something that I heard, but figured I hadn’t. I repeated myself. He repeated himself, “I’ll take some money..”  

“Wow.”, I said. Wow. 

Being an advocate for people tho, isn’t about the thanks. Even if they don’t understand or acknowledge or appreciate the effort, advocate for the principle, for those who care, and for yourself.

It was good to be challenged and not have the neatly trimmed and aligned tale.m with everyone playing their role. Standing outside McDonalds, the guy who turned down free food that I went out of my way to save from the trash heap, taught me a lesson and helped me strengthen something in me that be so easy to lose. 

Two videos I’ve enjoyed today. 

“You don’t create your life first, then live it. You create it by living it.” 

Get started. Get on with it. 

My favorite line from the video: Stop Searching For Your Passion

The below link speaks to an area on which I have been doing research this evening. In thinking about how humankind is interrelated and has engaged with crossing and parallel paths socially and geographically, such discussions seem not only reasonable, but warranted.   

Both symbolism and practical application should also not be ignored. Associations and presumptions about race and nationality could easily be turned on their heads making the issue of preferential treatment for self, a justification for equal and high treatment of others who may inherently hold attributes and traits that we claim to desire – since after all, they may possess them even more than we ourselves. Or more simply, honor one and all without prejudice or righteous possession. 

I do not have a television. I no longer have Netflix. Days on end go by without my turning on or actively listening to music. I love TV. I love Netflix. I love music. 

The walls in my apt are absolutely bare. I haven’t even hung up my own paintings. I do watch documentaries on YouTube. 

I read the news. 

I am being reminded that these decisions, not necessarily even conscious choices, have led to various freedoms. And continue to. I am also not driven by other people’s agendas nearly as much as when “pundits” try to tell me about what I should be outraged and when. They don’t care about the news. They care about ratings and advertising dollars. They don’t care about you. They care about “eyeballs” and “impressions” that they can sell. News is a business. Extract what you need. Think. Discern. Turn down the volume. In this way you can endure a prolonged resistance. 

Why should we watch people screaming at each other on every issue and consider that an education? How does that make us calm? How does that prepare us to speak with each other in peace? Why do we even care about each item? 

When should turn it off.
I love shows like Game of Thrones and The Wire. I have enjoyed House of Cards. I watch in moderation, but I steal back my time and my mind. That we have to is a shame, and means that we are also thieves. Be your own Robinhood. 

Just thinking. Reading. Writing. Gently down the stream..

Tonight I did a 5k on the elliptical machine. It’s been forever, but I stuck to it. I didn’t bring an extra shirt, so I rinsed it under the faucet at the gym,wrung it dry then put it back on. Having it soaked with water beat putting my hoodie on over one soaked with sweat. Doing that made me chuckle, and it felt better because now it was warm from the hot water. 

As I walked up 6th ave, I saw a gray van that had an antenna seemingly attached to the hubcap. They looked liked swollen ski racks and satellite like receptors/transmitters on the roof. Apple maps vehicle based on the fact that it said Apple maps on it. I figure that that’s the guy who periodically sends me to the wrong place as he drives around mapping the city. I thought about taking and posting a picture, but it didn’t seem interesting enough. 

As I followed the van up the street with my eyes, I came to 41st and started to cross. I then realized that I didn’t have the signal and a car was about to turn. I stepped back on the curb and waved to say sorry. A youngish white guy with a short hair cut was driving and he rolled down his window and started saying something. His face was expressionless so I asked him to repeat himself. It sounded like he was asking for directions. No. It sounded like he asked if I could spare some money. I saw a baby seat in the back. 

“What’d you say?” 

“Can you spare $20?”

“Can I spare TWENTY DOLLARS?!.. NO!”

He started laughing and signaled me across the street. I started laughing and slowly started moving wondering if I should really get in front of this guy’s car. I hurried across appreciatively and cautiously (the kind that made me move faster, not slower). I waved again and we were gone. Two strangers moving through the night with a degree of levity. I also had zero cash, only keys and cards. And a wet shirt. And a fading view of the Apple Maps-mobile. I never looked back in the direction of the young father who traded in his right away for a little mischief..