WHY ARE WE HERE?

We are taught: Who, What, Where, When and How are the questions we should ask to report on an event. Why is the question we almost never have an adequate answer for – it's unanswerable: if we did not shoot the gun we don't really know why the shooter did. When asked, the shooter may not even give an answer that we can decipher into our own personal experience. We humans are still, after many thousands of years on this planet, adrift in an inexplicable why as to most of what is happening around us happens.

I would like to believe that fields of study like archeology or botany would lead us to some universal truths. But do they? Most people in academia that I have met have far less of the wisdom that comes from having to work physically hard at something simply to put food and drink into your body on a daily basis - without any option other than staying alive - and rejoicing that the sun has come up after another night of sleep - and you know what options are before you: work, rest, eat, sleep. It is the same for everyone. But those who think they are in charge of the "why" knowledge, don't seem to rise and rest in the same way as we simple laborers.

Many people seem to look in a lot of directions outside themselves to explain their unfortunate choices whereas people who have achieved success seem inclined to want to impress all of the rest of us with the fact that this was based on 1) talent 2) good choices and 3) the right people who supported them (Mom, God, their agent).

No one ever praises randomness.

Most of us actually have a significant amount of agency within the range of our available choices in terms of our geography, class, economic situation and gender. We do choose, every single day, at every moment. We choose to say yes or no, We choose to get up now or sleep a few more minutes. We choose jobs, foods, friends, places to love. We do. If we all took 100% responsibility for what happens to us knowing full well we made these choices and can either live with them - and maybe improve them - or move on to something else - we would all be better off.

Don't burden me with your choices. You made them.

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Hey, I love you all. And I am sorry I have not been posting regularly. I especially want to shout out to my two economic supporters: Carmen (monthly) and Anne (annual). You have no idea how much your $ support helps me. The GHOST platform has been charging me $11.00 a month and Carmen's support gets billed monthly - so both of these routine reminders show me the passage of the time. And the cost of it!

I'm busy on the land and I'll ben sending a more picture-full post soon!

Mahalo nui loa. E mālama pono.

Pat