Author: Anthony

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Minimalism is not a destination, but an ongoing process. Time for me to minimize my body.

New years resolution for self: Slim down fatty!

I am currently 180 pounds and that is simply unacceptable. I am only 5’4″. I want to at least drop 20 lbs before summer.

Here are some motivational phrases that I will have to constantly repeat to myself to keep me on track (maybe they can help you too):

  • Food is not entertainment. We eat to live, not the other way around.
  • If you feel the need to snack it’s because you are bored. Can’t you be doing something more productive with your time?
  • Is this piece of food you want really worth it, or will you just forget about it in an hour or so when you have moved on to the next activity?
  • Junk food is poison. Slow acting poison; plain and simple.
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Get down on the floor and play with your child; Meet them eye-to-eye. That is how you bond with them.

TimewithfamilyThe majority of my memories as a child with my father were that of me looking up at him while he lectured me. Don’t get me wrong, most of that he said was insightful, and I learned a great deal; but that doesn’t exactly make for a strong bond. Why, because a person who looks down at you while giving you direction asserts them-self as your superior (whether that is their intention or not). Unfortunately human nature dictates that the person down below looking up will feel intimidated (especially for a child) and close them self off from the aggressor.  Even if the one below is enlightened by what the aggressor is offering. People only let down their guard to let others in when their approached as an equal. When they are approached at eye level.

Unfortunately that was the way of American generations past. The role of the father was to be the income, the livelihood of the family. It was his job, and his job alone to make sure there was food on the table and a roof over their heads. This responsibility took a great deal of time for many men. So much time in fact that by the time he came home from work, he was exhausted; a quick meal then bed. Beyond that his job was to be the disciplinarian. …….and that was it. It’s all there was time for. And it’s all he knew how to do.

It was the mothers job to raise the children. Feed them, bathe them, teach them, and yes play with them. As a result, it was the mom that formed the strong bond with them.

In modern times this is very different though. Both women and men are in the workforce and as a result they have to split the family duties. And truthfully that is not the only reason for the change. We are more educated now in child development, and as a result fathers can be more involved in their children’s lives. A father can now have the added role of being a daddy. This is a role I take very seriously, and is probably my favorite role to play. But even in these modern times, I still see many fathers not really filling the daddy role.

So to those fathers I say this: Be a daddy, not just a father. Get down on the floor and play with your child; Meet them eye-to-eye. That is how you bond with them. If you don’t, you will lose them. You will never establish a warm bond with them. Do it while they’re young as it is much easier then. The longer you wait, the more difficult it is, and eventually it will be too late.

Too often have I heard older men say “I wish I had spent more time with my kids when they were young, and less time on my career. Now my kids are old and lost to me.” Interesting that I have never heard “I wish I had spent more time on my career, and less on my kids.” To be fair I have heard “I wish I had spent more time on my career.” but those people don’t realize that if they had, then they would had to have spent less time with their families. Then they would have had to deal with the long term repercussions of that.

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Hunting vs murdering is the difference between necessity and sport

CecilI recall earlier in 2015 watching the news over the controversy of a man who hunted and killed a lion in Zimbabwe. You may recall it, Cecil the lion. The man lured the lion out of its sanctuary (protected land) with the scent of another animal to legal hunting grounds to make the kill legal.

My first thought when hearing this news was “Excellent, the guy found a clever method to get his prey. he deserves the kill.” But then I heard that the remains of Cecil were found beheaded and left rotting in the sun. At that news I was confused for a few seconds. You see, I assumed that the man was hunting lion that day. I had no idea that he was out looking to murder lion that day.

Hunting is what a person does for survival. For food, shelter, and/or security. Obviously this person had no need for any of these things as he only took the head. What good is the head (rhetorical)? Then why did he do it? Hmmmm. The answer is that he did it for sport, you see. He did it because he gets a charge, a rush out of taking the life of an animal. The thrill of the hunt. The adrenaline rush of exerting ones power over another. And the more ferocious the prey, the greater the rush and reward. So basically this person has a desire to kill. So what is to stop this person from killing a human being? Ahhhh the fear of consequence. In our world there is consequence to taking another human life. There is law. It is this fear and this fear alone that separates this person from people like: Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Son of Sam, etc. From a morale standpoint there is no difference between this person and a serial killer.

Or perhaps we are supposed to believe that this person places smaller value on animal life as compared to human life. Then I would be curious as to what grounds, what basis is this value system created. Where does he draw the line on what kind of life is expendable, and what life is valuable? On strength, or intelligence level perhaps. When you are the top of the power chain it is easy to draw that line without any solid basis. But what if we were no longer at the top of that power chain? What if an alien species came to earth to live among us that was stronger and more intelligent than us. According to this persons logic this new species would be perfectly within their rights to hunt and slaughter all humans just for amusement. After all our level of intelligence and strength is no different than that of a deer from their vantage point.

Just because other animals of this planet are not a sophisticated as we are, doesn’t mean that their lives are any less valuable.

I think my point is clear by now. The man is a murderer, plain and simple. The only difference between him and a serial killer is that he is smart enough to work within the confines of the laws laid down. If the fear of consequence is the only thing that keeps us from doing immoral acts, then we will never evolve as a species.

Thoughts, ideas, comments?