Reality

The morning air is cool at 54 degrees fahrenheit. But the day is predicted to get to a sunny, pleasant 74 degrees and we are blessed to be in a place of quiet. Today is Friday.

Looking back, one realizes that "reality" is never real, except in the now. Our imaginations take us to times that once were now, but now are memories. And when we try planning for the next move - it's always in the imagination. So memories and imagination are what take the place of reality when we slip out of the now.

The reality for some is joyful, wild, and even 'tingly'. The reality for others is painful, wild, and seemingly never-ending. The common thread: wild now.

Between these, one might imagine it is not worth it to stay in the now if life is miserable. Certainly, there are times when one must take themselves out of the now and into the imagination to escape the pain and misery of the moment. Victims of sexual assault commonly report they have an ability to take themselves out of their bodies and into a different realm of consciousness to escape what is happening in the moment. Perpetrators of violent acts that end up with another person dying sometimes can raise a defense that their minds were in a dissociative state during the violence, making it arguable that they didn't really have the state of mind to take another's life and call it "murder".

Mind plays a big role in what we call "reality".

These days, people mostly are into the body – somatics is a big thing. It's a good thing too, because many folks stay in the realm of the delusional mind and then get confused about what is happening in the world. Then because of over-thinking, there are confused notions that lead to avoidable conflicts and harm. This is just one person's observation.

But what might happen if everyone were able to stay in the now? Could there be a difference in the state of our world. The reality we are living is actually UN-real. At this point in human history, how can there be no sign of recognizing that we are deeply connected across all cultures, borders, and spoken languages? It is the delusion that one must maintain personal security at the cost of taking away the same from unfamiliar "others". What can be done to build familiarity and avoid contempt? Reject the idea that familiarity breeds contempt.

Peace, for the individual and the world, can only be achieved by in staying in the now - your breath, your body, your mind aligned in the moment. The moment will change yet again with every turn of the sun, moon, and stars. And the same sun, moon, and stars will be there for all living beings - urging us to recognize that there is one reality. That is that we are indeed, one.

It might be hard to give up the idea that your own existence is unique, special, entitled to be secure and safe in a world that is spinning into oblivion. But reality says otherwise. We are at once unique and common. That's it! We in fact, have life in common. Reality.