Comments for Passionate Meanderings

Comment on Can’t Write What I Really Want to Write by Jeff Bloom

Jeff Bloom — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 19:05:52 +0000

Ed — yeah, I’d vastly prefer not paying close attention to politics. I’ve always liked to keep up just enough to stay informed, but to put my focus and energy elsewhere. But, it seems now, that the potential effects of our present situation could result in losing our home, our major sources of income, and our healthcare, which is particularly problematic for us to care for our chronically ill and disabled son. And, we’re probably not as bad off as most other people.

Comment on Can’t Write What I Really Want to Write by Ed Marston

Ed Marston — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 13:43:31 +0000

my primary communities of the moment are Frenchtown NJ Presbyterian Church and Bucks Community College Printmaking Class – two rather divergent entities. The church is a place we became involved with because of a certain liberal & compassionate Pastor, and a music director who was brilliant – both were wonderful teachers, now gone elsewhere but the habit of that community continues. I don’t consider myself to be devout, by any stretch of the imagination but I appreciate how this branch of organized religion is continually aware and talking about the inevitability of death and the need for love and compassion among all people.
Printmaking class is simply a workshop atmosphere involved in the intricate processes of making 2-d art into multiple prints – again, I’m taking the class because of the teacher and this is probably my 5th semester over many years.
Politics is something I’d prefer to let run itself. Though I monitor the daily news and long-term trends assiduously and vote in every election no matter how local or unimportant it may seem, I rarely go to township meetings. Church is already tedious enough…but now we no longer have the luxury of letting politics take care of itself. So I’ll be at protests and other forms of citizen push-back, including sporadically writing and calling our Congressman. Even though he’s a Republican who claims to be moderate but always votes with the Trump majority. And I’ve made my point of view clear to anyone who’s interested, on facebook. Thanks for your essay, Jeff – and I appreciate your aspirational ideas for a legislative body that has integrity written in to the bylaws but we both know that integrity exists first from within oneself.

Comment on Identity, Community, and the Messes We Make – Part 1 by Jeff Bloom

Jeff Bloom — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 02:14:26 +0000

In reply to Kathy.

Kathy,
Thanks for your comment. I doubt if you’re “not smart enough.” These are some new perspectives on our world. But, I know what you’re feeling. I felt exactly the same way when I first started to read a book (Steps to an Ecology of Mind) by Gregory Bateson. I knew it was important, I just wished I could understand it. After 50 years, I “think” I understand more than half of what he talked about. And, I’m still learning! Please feel free to post more comments, question, insights, resonances….. Thanks again! Jeff

Comment on Identity, Community, and the Messes We Make – Part 1 by Kathy

Kathy — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:48:47 +0000

I am not smart enough to understand all this, but, I found some familiar and intriguing. I hope you get an equal to banter with. I plan on reading part 2 and if brave enough doing the exercises. Thank you for taking the time to post this.
Trying to post this states I said this before, that would be impossible.

Comment on Identity, Community, and the Messes We Make – Part 1 by Kathy

Kathy — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:47:23 +0000

Comment on Mind Watching: Field Notes from Wilderness Solitude – Day 32 by Bhavana

Bhavana — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 03:21:08 +0000

This series is very grounding and slows down the rush. I find myself travelling out with the author.

Thought clusters. Mine has been around Time this morning. An effort to unhook tasks from clock time and finding myself returning to it. Noticing how much my body needs the comfort of clock time. And then reading this blog deliberately, straying away from timed tasks.

About identity– a life long passion, my pondering is “what is possible to identify with to make I” and what feels impossible…

Comment on Mind Watching: Field Notes from Wilderness Solitude – Day 29 by Bhavana

Bhavana — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:33:12 +0000

I am reading this at dawn…the sky outside still night. My body strangely woken and this article draws me to some other world, that is here, and not of us. I feel surreal.

Comment on Mind Watching: Field Notes from Wilderness Solitude – Day 28 by Francisco Costa

Francisco Costa — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 09:30:29 +0000

Intitive resemblance to Hanoi towers.

Comment on Mind Watching: Field Notes from Wilderness Solitude – Day 19 by Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 22:59:35 +0000

Fellow traveler… delighted to discover your Mind Watching series. Our paths criss-crossed for over a decade, stating in Milwaukee of all places. I look forward to seeing more through your eyes.

Comment on Teetering on the Precipice by Jeff Bloom

Jeff Bloom — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 04:24:14 +0000

In reply to Ed Marston. Ed, we also know a lot of stuck and strained people. Although are only debt is a small mortgage, the downturn in 2019/2020 is going to create a very bumpy ride in a few years. It wouldn't be such a big deal, but our youngest son is chronically ill and disabled. He lives on his own, but we have to put in daily support, and a large amount of money (which is about as much as the money that will disappear in a few years). One might think that having a professional career would provide a nice cushion for retirement, but not so for far too many people with professional careers... in business and academia.