mcjart

[mcjart]

The Fake Freedom of Monkey Business

Observing Animal Behavior

When on a trip to Bali a few years ago, I visited a sanctuary park for sacred monkeys, where eager tourists could find joyful animals at play, or if one so chose, depending on their favored experience, demonstrations of flagrant divisive clan behavior.

Increasingly awestruck during our stroll, we suddenly came upon a wounded alpha male, seemingly awaiting his death.  He sat alone almost motionless, beaming a defeated look of shame and resignation in his eye, completely unsupported by any of the other members of his animal kingdom.  All the while, most of the rare long-tailed monkeys bathed lightly, between cooling shade and delicate sunlight, gently offered by their native forest.

To we, human animals, this may appear to be an obvious reality of uncivilized animal behavior.  After all, we are more advanced, evolved beings feeling empathy, goal oriented in striving for growth -- individually, as a society, and for all of humanity, rather than simply products of survival of the fittest.

Or are we?

My F for Comprehension

As a new American from Canada, I struggle to understand the apparent prevailing belief that in the US, health care is ones individual responsibility, and thus, one to be personally financed by each self-reliant, hardworking individual, striving to earn his or her keep in the world.

Let me break down my lack of faith in this belief, in a way in which I hope you can relate.  At the heart of every action, I trust that a set of human values are a driving force.  In this consciousness, I have come to realize that the most important value to every American is Freedom -- with a capital F.  It is the underlying theme of the United States’ reason-for-being, applicable to every aspect of its existence, thus every act posed by its citizens on a daily basis, either within the context of life goals or even simple mundane daily activities.

This leads me to my ongoing quest to identify what freedom really means to Americans, as well as what it truly costs. And since freedom is at the core of American life, how and why the actions of its people actually reveals that it is not perceived as a right of every living, that is, each citizen of the country.

Let me further explain.

Peace of Mind, Body, and Spirit

I strongly feel that for true freedom to occur, health, in terms of how to manage it should it fail, cannot be an ongoing concern of daily life.  As a result, only a centralized healthcare system as a right to everyone, also know as universal healthcare, can enable real freedom in America -- the country that lives, breathes, and values Freedom first.

Simply said, I believe that for the short and long-term prosperity of a society to grow, basic health management must be available to all living Americans.  I do not understand how it is not flagrantly obvious to everyone that the current US healthcare system goes against the very heart of the value system, rooted in freedom.

Perhaps this following US criterion of success will help you better see my point of view.

Dollars that Make Sense

I have lived the reality of a government-managed universal healthcare system in Canada.  I experienced the fact that it offers the starting point for freedom -- for all life goals to have the potential for realization, for all the individuals that are part of such a centralize program.

Another important point involves the economic advantages of this kind of system.  I hear very few people discuss the financial advantages benefited by all involved. Indeed, the economies of scale that it offers are far superior, thanks to its unified nature.  Most significantly, this added value directly supports the American belief that ones hard-earned dollar is ones theirs and theirs only, to solely choose what to do with for their own life.  In fact, it constitutes a less expensive healthcare management system for its subscribers, than the one currently governed (I use this term consciously, given the irony of the supposed current free-market American health industry) by two mutually-exclusive, yet controlling money-making business.  In the USA, theses are the pharmaceutical (where I have worked as an marketing executive) and insurance industries, which are the dominant participants that can celebrate the financial benefits of US healthcare.

During casual exploratory conversations, what I do frequently hear is: “why should I pay for the healthcare of someone who has work as hard as I or who has not taken care of their health like me?”.  Well, if this is indeed part of the US value system, rather than healthcare as a right to all human beings, Americans are fooling themselves in believing that their hard-earned dollars are spent more cost effectively in the context of an free-enterprise business model governed by a few, rather than in one that could be ‘centrally governed’ by our one self-reliant government with the one goal in mind of health.  In truth, the US way of providing healthcare to its citizens, thought to support the independence of a free people, is actually a very expensive way of life and living, that limits prosperity and as a result, real individual freedom.

The Social Dance of Healthy Enterprise

Ones health is not one of those crucial aspects of our life that should function within the economic system of capitalism.  Our American way of life and what we choose to do with our life should -- but our health should not.  And socialism, if understood for what it truly is, thanks to our Western value system which is rooted in freedom, indeed is not a way of life that should be considered or let lone favored by anyone who has gone beyond soundbites to comprehend the true meaning of such a political ideology.  Historically, we know it has proved to kill the human spirit.

A centralized healthcare system created with the objective of managing a people’s health, for the benefit of all individuals within a given society is not socialism.  Healthcare for all, one that is universal, simply represents social consciousness of a civilized society, enabling its independent, productive individuals to freely focus on self, in the area of their choice, as part of a responsible capitalistic society.

Contrarily, socialism is an all-encompassing way of life, where one does indeed lose their freedom.  It is a government system where individuals do not have the ability to make their own choices for existence -- thus even touch, taste, smell freedom.  The result is a life where one has no aspirations of competitive success, since everything is controlled and normalized to a minimum level of satisfied earthly needs -- equal for everyone.  Here, individual opportunities for growth are none.  However, when equality pertains strictly to healthcare, as available to all, the potential for personal growth, freely chosen by each, becomes available to everyone, via satisfied basic, urgent, or life-threatening health needs.

Equality for health care does not mean equality of a chain gang.  It does not represent a socialism government -- which is directly related to communism, exploiting control, that is, limiting the human potential which we are offered when given life on earth.  It is simply and most powerfully, the conscious, compassionate governing of ones people -- for the success of a nation.

Brand Power

Misuse of highly-recognized, strongly negatively associated brands is a practice that is misleading, manipulative, and dare I say, dangerous.  It represents a mighty forceful destructive strategy for depletion of character, and as a result, independence and self identity.  Hence, incorrectly branding a a centralized healthcare system as socialism, completely destroys the potential for synergistic healthy competitive performance -- for the success and strength of the whole country within the global market economy that we now live.  I cannot stress enough that its objective is one of confusion for control by a few, for the weakening of each within a society.  This is clearly paradoxical in a country that deems itself free.

Healthcare that is not for all, makes fragile the sum of its part, thus creating a weaker America.  It seems obvious that those who do not want universal healthcare must feel this way for the wrong and/or misinformed reasons.  Of course, people shun a centrally-governed healthcare system when it is labeled the evil ‘socialism’.  Socialism, throughout history, has demonstrated its impossible nature, when put into practice.  Its inevitable failure is obvious.  Indeed, within our free-enterprise Western society, we accurately perceive it for what it is -- the political ideology that takes away freedom.

Interestingly, socialism and society are part of the same family of words, related to the adjective social.  Yet, each reside at opposite sides of the spectrum, in terms of their respective level of the first American value that is freedom.  In other words, terms from the same family of words can often have opposing meanings.  To make matters more complicated, organizations with the supposed same objectives sometimes have names that appear to support different causes.  Look at the names of two similar and crucial government institutions of neighboring countries.  In Canada, the organization that manages prescription and OTC drugs is called Health Canada.  In the US, the equivalent body is called the Federal Drug Administration.  Different values? Different strategies?  Trusting the branding of each, that is, that their choices of names reflect accurate meanings of their reason-for-being, which government would you say is first concerned with the health if its people?  Said differently, which government has better management of the health of its nation?

One Plus One Plus One -- Equals the Unites States

We are social and societal.  We are civilized human animals -- not monkeys.  I suggest that we choose our walks in the park, how we spend our money, and the words that we use and understand, with thought, care, and vision for our future.  Remember, a little clarity offers wisdom.  And wisdom is healthy empowerment.

Please, let us be wise.  Social consciousness for the health of our nation is not socialism.  It actually makes good economic sense, within a successful capitalistic system.  After all, performance in the competitive world market requires the satisfaction of our basic needs as a society, as well as the good health of all of us -- one by one, in chain and link, for the prosperous united 50 states of the country -- as one living force.

[mcjart]

Six years, since I wrote this.

Now, All I can say:

I struggle to Believe.

Someone in Power, serving the people ...

Please, give and take dignity, respect, leadership,

For the growth of our Humanity.

American Values ~ Moses ~ David ~ Pietà

I wrote the first draft of this blog in November of 2012

I felt uneasy about posting it then

I feel my unease is no longer right

Obama & White Dove in Venice, 11/12 

In the midst of these presidential primaries, I feel it is important to share my point of view.

It’s hard to imagine, but I also feel sharing these thoughts is even more important now, than it was in 2012.

Also know that a double mastectomy in 2014 further contributed to the evolution this blog.

Please read the blog in its entirety ~

Then should you see fit ~

Please Share it! Thank you!!

I AM -

‘Man & His World’ by MCJ ~ detail

. A hopeful citizen . A white individual . A woman & a girl . A balancer of Head & Heart . A dog lover & cat admirer . A healthy ~ yet epicurean ~ foodie . A two-time university graduate ~ in business administration & fine arts . A former marketing strategist ~ in the automotive, advertising & pharmaceutical industries . A current visual artist of the soul of the landscape . A socially-conscious capitalist . A trilingual (almost!) traveller of the World . A French~Canadian American ~ by choice . A first-time voter in the 2012 presidential election . A fortunate, exploring human being . The daughter of a man, who was struck by breast cancer, prostate cancer, a heart attack, and in the end, bone cancer . The grand-daughter of his mother, who died at 48 of breast cancer, as did her daughter ~ my aunt ~ at the same age . A woman, once with a high-risk of breast cancer, yet, no more, following a double mastectomy

I WAS -

'Man & His World’ by MCJ ~ detail

. Born Canadian, 1/16th Abenaki . Graced with a birthday shared with Abraham Lincoln ~  Each with the dual sign of Aquarius ~ Dragon-Snake! . The child of a hopeful French Canadian couple ~ She was a girl whose smile could make your heart dream impossible dreams ~ He was a brave Air Force pilot, a young hockey player,  an 'old-school’ businessman ~ Together, they were married for 55.5 years . Given a long, complicated, French name at birth, yet a short, easy-to-remember, universal nickname in life . Raised in the only French household of an English neighborhood . Bilingual at the age of three, known as the French kid in the neighborhood, then the English kid in French school . Demonstrated by my father to be independent and fearless   . Proudly sitting by his side during baseball games behind Larry Parrish’s third base, thanks to our Montreal Expos season tickets . Educated by my mother in the art and responsibility of being a lady . Shown by her ~ and as a matter of course, growing up ~ the necessary skills in the creation of Boeuf Bourguignon, Vichyssoise, Crêpes Suzette… . Taught by my parents that people of all backgrounds were welcomed in our home ~ and into our lives . All my childhood, a 'Rotary Club brat’, where my father, a District Governor, was proactive in the movement to allow women into the club . Encouraged ~ always ~ by my mother and father both, to be all that I could ~ and wished to be . Instilled that voting was a right and a duty ~ un devoir (literally: a must) ~ NEVER to be ignored . A tomboy, supposedly cuter than she would have liked, yet never very popular with boys . A lifeguard at 15, a Hilton part-time employee at 18, a 'college grad recruit’ by Ford Motor Company at 22, an advertising executive at 26, an entrepreneur at 32, a soul-driven artist all my life . A slightly obsessive (AKA focused!) high achiever . The granddaughter of my mother’s mother, who gave birth to 10 kids at home, who never stayed a single night in the hospital, and who died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 100 . Naturalized in 2011 at the historic Faneuil Hall in Boston, where the female judge emphasized that our choosing to become American – with the long, somewhat difficult and costly process that it requires ~ can be said to be somewhat 'more notable’ than being born American, thus in my eyes, entails respect, commitment and responsibility

I FEEL -

'Man & His World’ by MCJ ~ detail

. People are innately good . Human beings aspire to be productive members of society . No one wishes to exploit medical services unnecessarily . Costs rather than actual health are top-of-mind for Americans, when managing their health, or worse, in need of immediate medical attention . Medical practitioners in the US are unable to practice healthcare optimally, because they work in an insurance-controlled, financially-driven industry system ~ rather than a health-care industry system . US medical practitioners cannot think ONLY of your health ~ when you walk into their office . American medical enterprise see you as: 1) insured or not; THEN 2) evaluate your potential appeal as a patient/client based on type & breadth of coverage, and potential ease of payment; THEN 3) a patient . Paying for insurance, all the while knowing that the 'actual service of insurance’ may or may not be supplied, has become an accepted reality of functioning in American society .  Capitalism does not mean making money for over-consumption ~ often at the cost of human evolution . Regardless of the high level of US medical expertise, if profit is the underlying premise of the healthcare system, then optimal health CARE cannot be the result, thus diminishing the health of ALL Americans . Many people in the US sadly do not believe that healthcare is a right of all human beings . US Medical practitioners are surprised to see me in their office for preventative reasons, that is, when I am not ill

I BELIEVE -

'Man & His World’ by MCJ ~ detail

. In compassion, spirituality, peace of mind, society and a consciously-lived life . Money, as the goal, hurts the process . Money follows when actions reflect one’s conscious true path of life ~ véritable raison d'être! . 'Stuff’ clouds our vision, that is, our ability to see what is truly needed for happiness   . Social programs offer Americans support and hence, more choices in order to achieve a happy, prosperous, healthy life . Government support does not take away freedom, but rather, offers more freedom to live a more worry-free life that is conscious & that has purpose ~ on our true path of life . Government involvement in healthcare provides a system where economies of scale are created . A laissez-faire approach to enterprise, accompanied with involvement in people’s personal lives consists of a paradox that actually leads to control and a society with fewer choices . Society benefits from entrepreneurship framed within a respected set of rules, by offering more sustainable competitiveness, dynamic performance and long-term success . Free enterprise ~ AKA capitalism ~ can be socially aware & societally healthy, rather than free-for-all, cut-throat or me-myself-and-I . Change is necessary for growth, evolution, fruition and hence ~ HEALTH . Our elders should live the last part of their life’s journey with dignity ~ free to nurture their health, rather than worry about how to take care of it . Healthcare, as a right of all human beings, reflects social consciousness ~ love of thy neighbor ~ AND ~ Love of Thy Self ~

I KNOW -

'Man & His World’ by MCJ ~ detail

.  People are healthier in Canada than they are in the US . Contrary to many beliefs, you can see a doctor in Canada . Canadian patients need not sign counter-intuitive medical waivers when seeing a doctor . People do not, for the most part, sue their doctors in Canada . A Canadian is seen by their doctor ~ first and foremost ~ as a human being with medical/health needs . No one worries about ~ or even has the thought of ~ going bankrupt when they are ill in Canada . A Canadian insurance policy is not cancelled, as a result of being used for its protective claim, that is, the reason for which it was purchased and actually created in the first place . A government-guided healthcare system has the underlying premise of proactive HEALTH .  Government involvement in healthcare offers peace of mind and therefore better HEALTH .  Without money, you cannot take proactive care of your health in the US, as you can in Canada .  Social programs, such as universal healthcare, do not mean Socialism, which is a socio-political ideology with specific economic qualifiers, but rather reflect values of social consciousness, beyond individual self ~ from which every Self benefits .  Branding and its labels, words and the people offering those words, are powerful and become our truths, influence our own behavior and change our way of life ~ thus should be used with cautious & conscious care .  Capitalism ~ an economic system, also with specific qualities ~ means healthy competition between relevant, high-performing products and services, which answer the needs of its society .  Our US Nation is made up of people who are among the most socially-conscious, caring individuals in the world . Society-minded structures, systems and organizations will not result in the creation of Socialism or a change to the already existing social values of Americans . We, the people, need not be afraid of National support, which reflects our social consciousness ~ as individuals & as a Nation living a conscious life

What are American Values ~ How are they reflected?

'Man & His World’ ~ by MCJ

(AKA ‘Le Petit Prince’) 

Acrylic on canvas ~ 48" X 36"

Michelangelo’s ~ Moses, David, Pietà

Man’s ~ Head, Heart, Soul

Earth’s ~ Wisdom, Love, Compassion

Our Nation’s ~ Respect, Hope, Dignity

It is time to STOP ~ SEE, FEEL, KNOW ~

What quality of life means to us ~

What well-lived life it is, to which we aspire ~

As Conscious Caring American Human Citizens of the World

This restless plea ~ written to all of us ~ germinated at the end of a journey through Italy ~ after struggling for many years ~ to crystalize soul-driven words  ~ resonating in my heart ~ growing stronger in my mind ~ during my lengthy and challenging journey of becoming a Conscious American Human Citizen

The journey continues ~ ~  ~

Obama & White Dove in Venice, 11/12 ~ detail

This photo ~ Symbolic of ~ Respect ~ Hope ~ Dignity ~ 

This photo of Peace ~

I share with great pride and a joyful heart

It was taken in Venice, Italy ~

A few hours after Barack Obama won the 2012 US Presidential election

I am ~

A hopeful citizen of the World

I am ~

An American Girl

___________

© MCJ Original Artwork  ~ MCJArt.net

[mcjart]

What’s at the Heart of an Apple a Day

Young and Invincible

When I was young, I used to say: ‘it’s only life”.  Please do not perceive this negatively, as it was a kind of strength-building motto.  Saying this made me feel that there was nothing impossible, nothing I could not conquer.  It enabled me to swim unchartered territory without feeling of intimidation.

In my studies leading to my corporate career, I truly felt no difference between what I could attempt to achieve, as compared to my male counterparts.  It never crossed my mind that men would see me as inferior.  What I wanted to reach, I could, by my own personal vision, discipline, and efforts.

As the other side of my brain was also alive and well, I added to my studies fine arts, art history, and art theory.  I loved the idea that time and place — historical context — could change the meaning, appeal, and relevance of a work of art. 

I believe that the same relevance of context applies to words, life, and what we value.  When I say today: “it’s only life”, I believe it takes on a whole new meaning.

Worth the Value

What do we really value now?  What do we honor?  Most importantly, how have our life goals and aspirations changed and does this represent progression or regression for the human race?

I ask myself, is humanity an important part of what we cherish and if it is, to what relative level of importance, versus other facets of life?  In fact, with so much outside stimuli, involving no actual human contact, I wonder what humanity really means to us today. 

We are more aware, but how do we use this awareness?  Are we more humanly involved?  I believe that we actually interact less with the people in our physical space, than we do with cyber acquaintances or strangers. 

It is indeed only life, but it is also all that we have and the only real, living world that each of us are a part of — for now.  So why not more human involvement with those actually around us, if we possess more awareness of the world, in which we now live? 

A Dangerous Paradox

Unfortunately it appears that it has become more interesting, to watch, wish, and judge, rather than to partake, participate, and support.  As conversation has become less face to face, has it not also become less respectful?  Does truth become more difficult to discern in a world that we cannot touch?  And how does this ease of exchange with strangers impact our sense of worth?

The unattainable expectations to which we have come to aspire in cyberspace is almost all that we revere.  Can this not lead to anything but depletion and depression — ongoing dissatisfaction with our life? 

It is deeply destructive, though effortless, to falsely judge ourselves and others, without real contact with others, all the while ‘wanting’ the other’s life — a life that does not truly exist.  This negative paradox must change for our survival.

Eye to Eye

What makes life and should make life difficult and valuable, is real physical interaction with other human beings.  This one-on-one contact is what contributes to the growth of all of us, one by one.  This is the good hard.  It is beautiful and constructive — especially when it is rooted in the honest self confidence of an emotionally and physically healthy beating heart, feeling another beating heart, in its actual presence.

I am a new American.  I come from Canada.  I come from a context where the human rights of two cultures have battled each other for centuries — stemming from the natural desire for identity, recognition and respect.  However, not all actions to feed self respect are right.

I know, from experience that the quest for separation, borders, and walls is destructive to the human spirit.  Placing oneself in a “bubble” — a divided context — does not work.  It takes away from productivity... and truth.  An isolated people kills mutual respect.  Again, judgment of the one not standing in front of us, becomes too easy and frighteningly normal.  Humanity suffers as a whole, regardless which side of desired recognition one stands on.

Since sovereignty in Quebec has never won, two cultures of French and English have gained common ground, creating a new rare bi-culture of intersected ways of being, via like-hearted values.  It is not perfect, as struggles for identity are always present.  But they work together, finding beauty in each other’s differences.  There can be harmony and respect in a life of being physically present with others of different cultures.

I believe that living in a society that is socially-conscious within a free-enterprise economic system, contributes to these two cultures having merged in mutual respect.  The Canadian universal healthcare system is a big part of the value system, which is at the heart of this consciousness.

Liberty in Safety

When the heart of an individual is calm via a feeling of security, as offered by healthcare when needed, it can focus, be hopeful, and strong in the face of daily challenges.

Simply stated, this leads to a healthier life — for all of humanity.  

What do you think of them apples?  And by the by, why is it no longer normal to eat an apple a day, yet normal to talk about suicide?

Yes, life is hard, but “it’s our only life”.

I feel that there is a positive paradox in using the word “only”.  This actually makes it full of possibilities, as “it’s our one and only really beautiful life”.

Remember, all that we have is in the present.  Should life not be that much more revered and respected, through the hard times — in this one and only big opportunity that we have now — in which we can play a part for our growth?

A Right cannot Be Wrong

Respect of humanity means a basic respect for all living beings, including their basic human needs. These needs are the same for everyone.  Therefore, it represents an equal right to fulfillment by every individual — if and only if, our value system includes respect for humanity.  In this context, how can we not grant the right to HealthCare to all?

I believe that a society’s strength can be amplified, by a healthcare platform based on equality, where it exists solely to protect, nurture, and grow our health.  It is so clear to me that it is best for everyone to be cared for by a centralized healthcare program, without conflicting goals of competing forces.   I cannot fathom why individuals struggling to make ends meet, or worse, struggling for their life, can believe otherwise.

From a business perspective, I cannot believe that leaders of a free world, perceive strong competitive power in a society where its parts are not conditioned for longevity, not fixed when they break down, and finally end up ignored or discarded when weak.

It is a privilege to have been granted life.  For the realization of its full potential, it is a right to live our life in cared-for health.  Thus, it is our responsibility as human beings, to support each other in becoming the strongest possible contributing force to humanity’s strength and evolution.

Equal HealthCare for all is key to this.

The Power of Words

An equal playing field for healthcare is not socialism.  Saying that this is socialism is dishonest, destructive and manipulative.  Words have power.  And this one has big power, because it carries a hugely negative message to every civilized Western society.  Even those who believe in social programs within a competitive free-enterprise economy, ie: capitalism without border tariffs, do not associate socialism with any sort of positive growth.

In the context of health, an equal playing field can be properly translated to universal.  Universal healthcare is social consciousness.  Social consciousness means respect for humanity and therefore of self — not some evil political plot to control and degrade human beings and their personal lives.

It represents freedom for all human beings.  It supports all individuals to be “better equipped” to lead a productive, relevant, conscious life —  supportive of the American value system.  So why not a healthcare system that is supportive of the enterprising human spirit at the heart of the American way of life?

Thus, the feeling of being more secure, more respected, and more valuable as a human being, can more easily emerge.  Indeed, knowing you are worthy of HealthCare, makes any individual feel more empowered with their life.

A Stronger United Nation

Believe me —

Universal HealthCare grows the strength of a society via mutual respect.  Life becomes more vital, one by one, face to face, eye to eye — day in and day out.

And within this context of a feeling of safety, each human being equally has the opportunity to say, with hope, liberty, and dignity:

“It’s only life... I can live mine to its full potential”

Then, we can bite into it.  Life, in the now, like a big, red, juicy, healthy physical apple in front of us.

It’s not scary, life, that is.  Yes, we can, get on with living in health, the one physical earthly experience that we are equally privileged to have been granted.

Let us stop worrying about the right to a cared-for health and actually...

Be Healthier —

Let us be socially conscious, present in the now, productive, proud, civilized as a world leader.

Let us work as a united society, in order to obtain true Universal HealthCare — with equity, with dignity, with respect for all.

This and perhaps only this, will help keep the doctor away!

[mcjart]

A Summit for Our Humanity

I posted this light-hearted, joyful blog, two years ago.

Had I known THEN what I know NOW, I would have suggested the future dinner be shared in Charlevoix.  This beautiful place on Earth is part of my roots, my life, my path. I feel it represents Mother Earth harmoniously feeding Humanity.

Much has changed since I created my convivial meal.  Today, as I read my younger thoughts, my wiser heart feels deep sadness.  Still, my hopeful soul remains on The Path of discoveries, a journey of new learnings for growth.  

We do not always understand, in the Now, why The Path of life takes us in certain directions.  Still I must believe, the reasons have their reasons for Being.

Love to all ~

We ~ As One ~ In Consciousness

Barack Obama & Anthony Bourdain ~ Food for Thought

Two of my favorite living influential figures in the world 

(shhhh…. Obama being #1 on my list!)

Obama & White Dove - Venice, Italy, 2012

Obama & Bourdain - Hanoi, Vietnam, 2016

There is power ~ 

There is meaning ~ 

In symbolism

My symbolism of the White Dove ~ 

Peace, Love, Trueness of the Soul

Obama & Bourdain

I don’t know if Barack Obama sees himself this way

I don’t know if Anthony Bourdain sees himself this way

But I feel that this photo has even more meaning now

Than it did almost four years ago when it was taken

Obama & Bourdain

Leaders without Ego

Hearts with Intelligence ~ Intelligent Souls ~ Soulful Consciousness

Of the Bigger Picture ~ The Long-Term Goal ~ Aspirations of Life

Each on their Path

Looking ~ Searching ~ Seeing ~ Feeling ~ Seeking

Each on their way ~ on The Way

Each great

But together ~ 

Ouf (that’s French for OMG… sort of!) ~

Synergy ~ 

For Possibilities

Exploration ~ Creativity ~ Evolution ~ Growth ~

For Good

We ~ Our World ~ needs these exchanges 

We ~ The People ~ need more exchanges

Obama & Bourdain

Together for dinner

Together for better

Next time, please let me prepare the meal!

Here is my suggested  Convivial Menu Gastronomique ~ 

Oh so very spontaneously ~ just now created!

From a Petite Gourmande (as my dad was the true Grand Gourmand!)

It is a lingering, multi-course menu to support positively-driven exchanges

(note: the mix of cultures reflects my origins, my heart and my taste for ‘complementary colors’)

Primo ~

Uni sur biscotte et beurre doux, abalone pané en omelette, avec terrine de sanglier et pistaches (uni is my favorite of all raw sea offerings)

Secondo ~

Vichyssoise sur glace (my mother’s recipes, as I have never tasted a more delectable one since hers!)

Terzo ~

Endive en chemise de jambon blanc avec comté gratiné au four (an old stand-by, when growing up)

Quarto ~

Salade fattoush traditionelle, avec petites boulettes d’agneau kefta (I became a fan of mediterranean cuisine in Montreal!)

Intermezzo ~

Granité ~ key lime & meyer lemon avec grains de pomme grenade (made with the freshest citrus, as only California can offer)

Quinto -

Risotto ai funghi ~ con chanterelles, morilles, shiitake, sautés in garlic & échalottes françaises & italian extra virgin olive oil, simmered with home-made bouillon of ‘poule’ (much deeper taste than chicken), enveloped in the most aged of parmigiano reggiano cheeses one can find (may I say that I am famous for my perfected French~Italian version of this!)

Sesto -

Bone marrow with glacé de veau au porto et petits fruits des bois, crispy cuisses de grenouilles & bouchées de riz de veau, dover scallops pan fried in garlic butter, on chopped fennel, kale, baby artichoke, fiddleheads and échalottes françaises (a staple in my cooking, here: thinly sliced) salad, with a light red wine vinaigrette 

Settimo -

Canard à l’orange with ragoût d’oignons, asperges tricolore et pomme de terre rôties (classic simplicity, but the secret is in 1) the canard du Lac Brome, slowly roasting in its juices; 2) in a Le Creuset cast iron pot)

Ottavo -

Fromages français ~ morbier, reblochon, roquefort, camembert, oka (the aged, really stinky one - my favorite Quebec cheese), avec noix de grenoble et amandes crues fraîches, tranches de pommes, et baguette ficelle au levain; 

and/or

Profiteroles alla nocciola et chocolat; 

and/or

Panna cotta au Grand Marnier avec bleuets du Lac St-Jean

Infine ~

I would invite my guests to select harmonizing wines ~ for each course!

Should they lack the time for this abstract expressionist menu, I propose guacamole with beautiful fresh avocados, lots of cilantro, mucho micro-diced serrano peppers, coarsely-chopped onion, fresh lime juice and salt ~ all squished, scrunched, crushed, swooshed, swirled about ~ irregularly with a fork (demonstrating how ripe avocado should be!) ~ simple, facile, mais tellement succulent! ~ with flowing margaritas of course!

Avec amour ~ Bon appétit ~ 

Bon chemin ~ Bonne vie ~ Bonne conscience ~ Bonne croissance

MCJ

___________________________ © MCJ Original Artwork  ~ MCJArt.net

[mcjart]

Saturday Night || Live & Well || Right & Wrong

Are we right in raising so many cases of sexual misconduct?  

Which ones are abusive and/or deranged?

Who is culpable?  Who should be punished?

One Saturday night, alive and well, long ago, I was having a great time with my girlfriends, dancing in a nightclub. We were twenty something and carefree — a tad too much so. I was naïve. Then, in came a very well-know NHL player. He was so long legged, as amplified by his tucked-in hockey shirt, that his rear end seemed to reach the height of the bar. This was all we could talk about, as he stood with his back facing us. We wondered, giggling, analyzing, how muscular, such a fit specimen could be. Again, we had had too much to drink, and right no longer were we. We decided that my quest would be to try answering the question. Nonchalantly, I proceeded to walk to the bar, lightly touching with the back of my hand, the famous athlete’s derrière.

In the light of day, I knew this was wrong. Cut to, in today’s new wave of taking responsibility for sexist behavior, I can now say #wetoo, been there done that. In this case: guilty of stupidity. That Saturday night, I thought (or not) that the ‘impressive nature’ of this public figure’s backside, gave me the right to invade his personal space. Should my whole career, identity, life path, etc., be judged and never to be the same again, because of my immature, disrespectful behavior?

I spent the first part of my life, trying to prove my self worth, despite the fact that I was a woman. I played down every aspect of my female nature, while attempting to present what I thought to be the ‘neutral’ part of my being, that is, my brain.

This in itself, though part of my path, was a mistake. I have since learned that all of my being is female, especially my spirit, which actually feeds my brain.  You see, I finally believe today that men are men and woman are women. And that this is a beautiful thing. I also believe that men can be cute or sometimes gauche when trying to attract a woman, though at other times, appear to be unconscious and therefore unattractive.

Worse and exceptionally, some men can be crass, gross, disgusting, abusive and therefore demonstrating the behavior of sexual harassment. This in no way is about attraction, but rather represents an attempt to gain power by taking it away from someone else. Then rare, dangerous and alarming is the other end of the spectrum of abuse and rape. I am not a psychologist, but in my opinion, this is not only about taking away power, but also about a deranged desire for violent domination.

Now that the subject of ‘male sexual misconduct’ — for a lack of a better group term — is finally being vocalized, again and again, what do we do about it, as a society of civilized human beings?  First and foremost, I believe that we certainly should not lump it all together, as one big behavioral problem of exploitative abuse. Would this not take away from the need to identify the significant danger, severity and gravity of rape, predatory behavior and true sexual harassment?

I, like evidently every woman, have lived many #metoo experiences, at different levels of attempt for intimidation. Some were simply distasteful, while others were indeed harassment, which I chose to ignore. None of the occurrences reached the level of rape. Perhaps I should have spoken up about the harassment — at least to support our societal growth. Yet, I do not feel that I lost my inner power by these incidences, as they were not important enough for me to let them ‘penetrate’ my being. I walked away when I felt it was time, not  needing to stick around in a pond that compromised my self worth.

If all women have a #metoo story, does this mean that we should fire and/or convict, potentially every man in society? And what about many women? Clearly, #wetoo have demonstrated questionable behavior when acting ‘unconsciously’ or even over the line, attracted to someone who may not have reciprocal feelings. How was my own bad behavior different from a man’s, that one Saturday night. Live was I, with a little too much to drink in me, when unarguably I did something more than gauche. It was clearly stupid and insensitive to another human being’s dignity. Yet, I ask again, what should now be my consequential fate? And what would be my fate, if I were a man?

Earthly experiences can hurt our life path, if we let the pain touch us, rather than teach us, in a way that gives others the power to take away our own.

I believe everyone is born with power from within. I believe that the challenge of life, lies in our potential for growth, stemming from the learnings that we experience every day, interacting with other human beings. Retaining our power during this ongoing exchange of dynamic energy, ie: power, depends upon not wanting something so much, that we cannot walk away from it. In other words, our earthly goals should not deplete our inner light — or power. They should make it shine brighter. I believe that the moment that we want something to a level that requires our giving away any of our power, then someone else has power over us, thus amplifying the potential of becoming a dependent or even a victim.

Rape is rape.  It must be acknowledged and pointed out as a never explicable or excusable violent event.  The only way for its victim to regain some level of power, is to take the guilty party’s power away via legal punishment.  Clearly, in my heart and mind, ‘settling’ for less, such as with financial compensation, does exactly the opposite, offering the ‘sick’/guilty party, even more power.  It in no way offers the victim any ability to retain or regain any level of their own power, let alone self respect or love, especially if both parties remain in the same ‘pond’.  On the contrary, the victim becomes even more vulnerable and dependent, while the other gains a greater false right to repeat the behavior, ie: power over others.

I beg we all please, let us punish those that need to be punished, but let us not dilute the importance of this new wave of potential growth for our humanity. Today is a time of clarity for more empowerment for all. Alarmingly, our opportunity could be lost if we throw everyone into the same guilty salad bowl.

We need to create a formal scale of all the different levels of occurrences, from very bad judgment, to distasteful courtship, to workplace harassment, to sexual abuse — thus permitting us to clearly place each case into the right light.  As a result, all responsible or irresponsible individuals versus criminals could better be held accountable for the right wrong. This may be the only way that we will learn and grow, as a human race, and not completely hurt or tarnish the already challenging nature and beauty of complex human interaction, attraction, and potential for balanced love.

Though it represents a very broad generalization, I share with you a final perception.  I do not express judgement.  I would like to further feed the hows and whys of this crucial phase of our potential human growth.

One of the most surprising aspects that I have lived as a new American woman, coming from Canada, is how in the United States, a man’s role as ’the provider’, is much more strongly supported than it is in Canada.  Given this value system, I pose the following hypothesis.  American women feel more dependent and less self empowered of their own destiny?  Perhaps, the behavior of sexual abuse on the part of men, and by association, the multiple perceptions of sexual harassment on the part of women, would not be as widespread and possibly more pertinently pointed out, if financial responsibility was less associated to the man.  Ladies and gentlemen, let us gain our power from our Selves within, rather than from what we believe to be the powerful, or vehicle for power on the outside world.

As a woman who values her self respect and inner power, as we all do, I ask that we choose wisely — with wisdom of the heart — all the questionable sexual and/or harassment behavior incidences to be shared with the world. Let us be the power of our spirit and the dignity of our human soul, that is, let us act on this crucial openness to become our own change for the better, for all the right reasons. Moreover, empowered female spirit, let us dream of attending university, not to meet a man, but rather to feed and stimulate the power of each of our reasons-for-being on earth. Because, you know as I know, deep within, that we all have a responsibility towards our human destiny, that is, to cherish, feed, and grow it. Empowering our right light, without want to the extent of self compromise, is the only way that we can ‘brush off’ the next sexist comment that comes out of an unconscious mouth, tomorrow morning or the next day.

Let us perceive and experience our empowerment challenges with conscious compassionate wisdom. Some are but another example of gaucheness.  Others are exploitation that needs to be legally judged, tried and punished. But remember and have faith, none of these events need to or will automatically deplete our female inner power.  Indeed, they all offer simply and complexly, painfully and powerfully another learning on our path to light — for the growth of our one humanity.

[mcjart]

Bluer than Blue

Earth Earth Mother Forgive Us For love You We do

For without You Who We lose Our way We find The Way Guide us in your simple power Show us of your patient determination Teach us for your unceasing nurturing Grant us The Will of the water On The Way Back to You Back to We To the water _________________ MCJ original art photography poetry _____ Grow • Support • The Paris Agreement The Affordable Care Act

[mcjart]

Water Blues

Raise our palms to your sky Feel your sun in our eye Smell the hue of your blue Swell our heart back to You See of sea See of soul

We will See Be Buoyancy Vibrantly Still Let us Be

On our way To The Way Envelop We to The Will of Thee Still _________________ MCJ original art photography poetry _____ Grow • Support • The Paris Agreement The Affordable Care Act

[mcjart]

Water Will

Water Wave our mind into consciousness Wet our heart back to resiliency Clean water wash our soul longing for clarity vivacity Cleansing water bathe our will delightfully Water will whisper your wealth of wisdom In health Water Will Flow Swim Grow Wisdom We will _________________ MCJ original art photography poetry _____ Grow • Support • The Paris Agreement The Affordable Care Act

[mcjart]

your work is really great, i hope you only grow from here!

Your kind, generous offer of encouragement means much to me. It makes me believe ~ just a little bit more!! Mille fois merci! Joyeux Noël 💫

[mcjart]

Man and His World

‘Terre des hommes’

Acrylic on canvas, 48″ X 36″

__________________________

I painted this piece during the first half of the year.  It meant much to me.

I am originally from Montréal, Québec, Canada.  I am now an American citizen. If you have read my earlier blogs, you know that I have considered myself bi-cultural for many years, in many ways. Now, after 10 years in the US, I would say, I feel multi-cultural. This point of view, a vision really, offers me many gifts, making my life fuller, more open to new awakenings, and more enlightening on my path.

‘Terre des hommes’, the name of my painting, was also the name of Expo 67, the world fair held in Montréal, 50 years ago next year.  The year 2017 will also be the 375th anniversary of this beautiful city.  I just returned from it, that is, my hometown.  It was a very frigid, yet warming time visiting with my family. There is buzz in the air in Montréal, in preparation for next year. There is joy, pride, hope, excitement with the upcoming celebration of the city.  I experienced a true feeling of community and sharing, where things are a little simpler, where less is still more, and where ‘joie de vivre’ continues to exist.  Is this not ~ somewhere, somehow ~ still in all of Us?

A few other Tumblrs have shared their feeling that 2016 was difficult for many of us ~ especially the big Us ~ the We of which we are all a part.  I feel it too.

I was hopeful at the beginning of 2016.  I painted ‘Terre des hommes’ then. 

Fifty years ago, when translated to english, the world fair was named: ‘Man and His World’.  I questioned this back in May, in the process of creating my painting, and in a brief blog, as 'Terre des hommes’ literally translates to ‘Earth of Men’.  While the former chosen name is a tad more gracious, I feel both have the underlying theme of Earth belonging to man. Is this not an assumption that today, has been taken a tad too far?

Indeed, it appears that much has happened in fifty years.  And perhaps this last one of them, 2016, has moved at a fast-forward pace in these happenings ~ in its change. But what kind and for what? Earth-shattering change? 

The true essence of my being believes that everything happens for a reason. I feel that despite the pain that can be felt in the present, in the now of the happening, it exists for the good of the path to light.  I believe in the good of people.  And most importantly, the soul that carries my earthly existence is rooted and flown ~ in hope.  Yet, this year. This year! Faith. How? Why? When?

The soul of Us is being challenged in a change that will transform us ~ US ~ forever.  To what?  To where?  Let us breathe.  Let us work.  Let us love.

My painting offers a few small vignettes of what ‘Terre des hommes’, after fifty years, signifies to me.  If you closely look, you will see Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s ‘Le Petit Prince’ looking startled by what Man, a tall, cloaked, self-satisfied being, has done to Earth while pondering, gazing upon it. In the background, Mother Earth is still large, broad and great.  However, today, she is somewhat frightening looking, alarmed in her quest to continue living, to remain strong, to breathe and believe, hovering for survival behind the two opposites of us, in all of Us ~ good and evil ~ facing each other, in the now, in a new search for truth.

The name of the fair ‘Terre des Hommes’ was a theme based on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s memoirs by the same name (’Wind, Sand and Stars’ in English), written in 1939.  He was a ‘winged poet’, a journalist, an artist, a nomad. I feel, a kindred spirit.  Like my father, he was also an Air Force pilot.  Moreover, he was a pioneer aviator, an explorer, a lover of parts unknown of the world.  He was a nomad, ‘listening to the stars’, as did ‘Le Petit Prince’, feeling the fullness, completeness of solitude on Earth. He was One with Us, flying high above the beauty of Us. 

Like a few other loves floating, guiding my heart, Picasso, Kandinsky, Michelangelo, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry has always been a magnificent and significant inspiration to me. He, I believe, through ‘Le Petit Prince’ and my father, is a part of me. He is one of the reasons I will not lose hope, 50 years later ~ this 50 years after ‘Terre des hommes’ ~ a hopeful fair for the world, ‘Man and His World’. 

Let us too be hopeful for 2017, as we were a year ago, for 2016.

Let us paint our vision of Earth in the balance ~ harmony ~ vitality of Love.

Let us fly and believe ~ in the good of Man, of Us ~ We, One and Inseparable.

‘Le Petit Prince’ detail of ‘Terre des hommes’

De tout coeur

Out of Many One ~ One and Inseparable _________________________ © MCJ Original Artwork ~MCJArt.net

[mcjart]

L’Avenir

Magic

Acrylic on canvas, 28″ X 22″

one of two ~ diptych

___________________

Hour

Acrylic on canvas, 28″ X 22″

two of two ~ diptych

___________________________

© MCJ Original Artwork  ~ MCJArt.net

[mcjart]

The Girl with the Wannabe Dragon Tattoo

___________________________

© MCJ Original Artwork  ~ MCJArt.net

[mcjart]

My Boots are Made for Walking

I love love love ~

My boots

My favorite variety

The most lovely

Of course the cowboy

But the warm fuzzy

By Woody

My favorite play toy

So so so ~

Ready

To put them on

To walk with them

To feel them ~

Dancing me

Holding me

Warming me

Grounding me

Loving me

So so so ~

Happy

To finally

Believe

To reverently

Jump for joy

To simply

Incessantly

Be

It’s been too long

When I know

I know

Physically

Spiritually

Absolutely

When I love

I love

Entirely

Unquestionably

Profoundly

When I feel

I feel

Completely

Wholly

Intensely

My head ~

My heart ~

My soul ~

With all of me

As patiently

I have awaited

To wear my boots

For the seasons to be

Seasons

For the dream to become reality

For reality to become the dream

Today ~

For now

My soul will fly

In faith

To the moon

To the stars

To the heart

Of the matter

Of me

Since lovingly

I have held

The vision

With reason-for-being

With conviction

With truth

Now ~

For this moment

My heart will swim

In harmony

Glow and glide

Never sink

Or dive

Simply soar

What a ride

With love

With gratitude

With well wishes

I bid you peace

Finally

Apparently

Je suis

À la grâce de lui

Dieu

Merci  💫

___________________________

© MCJ Original Artwork  ~ MCJArt.net

[mcjart]

One more re-blog

Just because ~

Merci 💫

___________________________

© MCJ Original Artwork  ~ MCJArt.net

Lying on the Beach ~

Tasting Smell ~ Touching Sound

See it ~ Feel it

Hearing ~ Movement ~ Light ~ Warmth ~ Chill ~ Dance    

Earthly Existence ~ Earthly Ecstasy ~ Earthy Beauty

Beauty ~ of youth ~ of color ~ of texture ~ of evolution ~  of stillness

___________________________ © MCJ Original Artwork  ~ MCJArt.net

[mcjart]

Perhaps ~

today

tomorrow 

and the next day ~

more than ever

worth reading

again ~

for the first time

Out of Many One ~ One and Inseparable _________________________ © MCJ Original Artwork ~ MCJArt.net

So Many ~ So So Many ;)

Points of View

Seen from this one below ~ 

I see

Beauty ~ Light ~ Joy ~ Truth ~ Faith

Seen from behind

The opposite Point of View ~

I see

A completely different bouquet

But still

I see ~

Beauty

True beauty

The essence of soulfulness

Life is a series of choices

As perceived ~

From where you have been

Where you are currently

And where~what you wish to reach

Yet ~

Regardless of the point of view

I believe ~

We recognize

We feel

We know

When something ~ someone

Is beautiful

When it is right

When it is true

And perhaps more importantly ~

When it is wrong

When you need to beware

We have all been there 

We have all 

At some time 

Rationalized

Tried to make something fit

Tried desperately to believe

In the beauty of something ~

Someone

In its rightness ~ virtues ~ consciousness

Yet

All the while

Deep down

Truly knowing

We always really feel ~

Our heart knows

What our head wants to sometimes refuse

The truth

Or the lack of

Truth

Of something ~ someone

Despite their shrewd words

Branding strategies

Gimmicks ~ ruses ~ ploys

For tearing down others

For building up barriers

Leaving us

The hopeful ~

Those of good faith

In a fog of bewilderment

In smoky disillusionment

Still

Wanting to believe

We try to see

We try to feel otherwise ~

Because we cannot believe

What is so obvious

It simply is too obvious

Despite the haziness

Surrounding the cunning offerer

When we trust our Selves

We know

When something ~ someone

Has their back turned to us

All the while ~

Trying to woo us

Please

I ask that you let me

Say it ~

One more time

C’mon

Come on

You ~

We

Must be the ones

To turn our backs

Walk away

Ride away

Quickly

In confidence

Never looking back

Enough ~  ~   ~

Financial gain is not the sole measure of success

So many

So so many ;)

Other criteria are as important

If not ~

More significant measures of success

Yes ~

Success

Achievement

Growth

Evolution

Beauty

True beauty

Of the Soul

When you need to analyze something ~ someone

Over

And over

And over again

When you need to look for it

Search

From one point of view to another

From one ever-so-changing

Perspective ~ Angle ~ Slant ~ Position ~ Context

You know

Deep in your heart

No matter how obscure

You know

When ~

It simply is not beautiful

It simply is not truth

It never was

It never will be ~

Beautiful

Right

True

Yes ~

Truth comes in so ~ so many ~  ~   ~

Different forms

And yes ~

Its beauty

Comes in so many ~ so many ~  ~   ~

Different forms

But it quickly becomes obvious

When something represents ~

Selfishness ~ Greed ~ Egoism

When something poses ~

A Danger

A Menace ~ Peril ~ Hazard

To the masses

To our society

To our Selves

And this

Even

When its wickedness

Somehow

Strangely

Draws us in

When its vibrancy

Becomes

Eerily

Appealing

When its colorfulness

Represents

Entertainment

In the reality of the sometimes mundane

No more rationalization ~

Please

Enough

Enough of this trance-like virtual reality

C’mon

Come on

This is ~

A dizzying dance of shallowness

A swimming pool of stifling lies

A deluge of overwhelming unconsciousness

Let us take a breath

In all of this confusion

Let us breathe 

Again

Back to Self

To our true Self

To a clear vision

Finding our center again

Breathing ~

A sigh of relief

Let us be relieved

Indeed

It is not too late

The sun still can shine again

Optimism is alive and well

Remember ~

You know

We all know

When you analyze something long enough

You can always find something good to say

You can always believe

Most of us come from a good place

Most of us want to believe

Most of us do believe ~

In the good

Because good ~

Is ~ was ~ will be

Good always prevails

Despite hidden agendas

Despite head games

When you trust you inner voice

When you are ready to stand tall

When you have faith in your Self and Others

When you shine your inner light

You can be ready to walk away

Strong

Faithful

With hope

Walk away ~

From the disguised courter

From the magical divider

From the self worshiper

Because you know

In your heart

And in your head

The inevitable detrimental outcome

To our society

If ~

Because

Let us remember

Even if it all depends on point of view

The true essence of something ~

Someone

In the end

Always transpires

Please

Let us not find out

If ~

Let us stand tall

In the good

That is ~

That simply is

Us ~

We the people

Please ~

Out of Many One ~ One and Inseparable _______________________ © MCJ Original Artwork ~ MCJArt.net

[mcjart]

I voted!

May I share with you

again

my June blog 

now

in November

5 days before the election?

I hope ~

You vote

He votes

She votes

We vote

Y’all vote

They all vote

___________________________

© MCJ Original Artwork  ~ MCJArt.net

Hillary, Hillary, Oh Dear Hillary

A woman’s journey with Hillary Rodham Clinton

When I moved to the US from Canada

Barack Obama was running for President

I knew immediately 

The first time I heard him speak

He was ‘The One’

In so many ways

He is the best ~ most important

President 

We have ever had

Or ever will have

For a long time

I had trouble with Hillary

Mainly because I could not understand

As a woman

How ~ Why 

She stayed with Bill

After ‘what happened’

Now

After all these years

I have come to realize

This was my issue

My Judgment

WIthout right

I did not need to understand

Why

It is none of my business

My business

Is My Journey

For My Growth

I need to thank Hillary for helping me on my path towards growth

I also need to apologize

To all women

For judging her

My troubles with Hillary

Has nothing to do with her qualifications ~ her ability

To be ~

President of the United States of America

After all this time

I can state with conviction:

‘Hillary Clinton ~ You are great!’

I believe ~ I feel

As a woman

Hillary has issues ~ challenges

Like most of us

In her approach as a public speaker

In her quest to be heard and understood

For the brilliant human being that she is

Her challenges make her 

Sometimes inconsistent ~ seemingly not heartfelt

Dare I say ~

Unsure

But only ~

As a charismatic ~ persuasive messenger

Dare I say ~

As a woman messenger

But not as ~

A sober information gatherer ~ absorber ~ retainer

A rapid yet thoughtful decision maker 

A doer of significantly-difficult things

A human values-oriented chief

An important Leader of the World

Indeed

In her current daily work

As a campaigner

Striving to convey 

A stand-out ~ relevant ~ appealing ~ comprehensive message 

To the people

She also has to deal with Bill’s issues

And directly related to this

She has to deal with

The challenge of being a woman

In a man’s world

This is not a complaint

It is actually an endearing perception of the world

A true reality of our human existence

Men are different from Women

Women are different from Men

And this will always ~ all-ways

Be

Let’s not try to change it

On a much smaller scale than Hillary

I lived this in my twenties

As a corporate executive for Ford Motor Company

The only way you climbed the corporate ladder

Based on your merits

And with integrity

In the boys’ sandbox

Was to ~

Work five times as hard as your male colleagues

You Never Ever Ever ~

Spoke of your personal life or personal aspirations

(even simply of your weekend on Monday morning with the boys

because you could not have a personal life as they did

even though they were dying to know what you did that weekend!)

Most important - 

You turned the other cheek 

Always ~ all-ways

Smiled

When hearing questionable ~ even sexist comments

Received on a daily basis

As you were doing your ‘man’s work’

There are cases when such comments merit replies ~ 

A wise woman’s reply

When they become attacks for instance

But in today’s reality

That requires a whole other blog!

Hillary

Let it go

Let yourself go

Be you

Speak from your heart ~ your conscious heart

Which now can be placed on the table

It’s OK to wear it on your sleeve

It is what will make people 

See you ~ feel you ~ want you

As we need you and you need we

You are ‘The Next One’!

You are more intelligent ~ hard working ~ devoted

Than most of them

It’s not their fault

Men are men

Women are women

We love them

And they love us

They just often don’t know what to do

And how to do it

When we play in their pond

There are a few exceptions

Like Barack Obama

But you know ~

I’m probably being a tad naive

Which I don’t mind at all

Let’s smile

Turn the other cheek

And show them that we can still be women

When we are in a man’s world

A man’s world

For now

Out of Many One ~ One and Inseparable

___________________________ © MCJ Original Artwork  ~ MCJArt.net

[mcjart]

One Word

As many know

My struggle

My long-life battle

Resides

In balance

Or lack thereof ~

In the balance

Between

My head and my heart

Maybe I over ‘use’ ~ exploit

This painting of mine

For explanations ~ sentiment

But this ~

My once-in-a-lifetime 

Will-never-happen-again

Birth ~

Head~Heart~Soul

This is what it 

Is all about

This is really ~ truly ~ completely

Me

A self portrait

Abstract expressionism ~ Expressionist abstraction

But nevertheless

A self portrait ~

My self portrait

‘Tête ~ Coeur ~ Âme’

Acrylic on canvas, 60″ X 48″

Dual triptych

When I found out years ago

The Chinese have ONE word

For Head (Mind) and heart

A huge sense of relief ~

Washed over me

It was a day 

The day ~

Of belief

Of energy

Of trust

Of glory

I felt ~

Comforted

Supported

Exhilarated

I felt

Lit ~ light ~ enlightened

As if ~

Perhaps

I did not have to work so hard anymore 

To figure it out

Figure it all out

Ouffffffff ~

Here’s the letdown ~

Are you ready?

Today

Years later

What am I doing?

What am I still doing?

Over and over and over ~

Again

I am still 

Trying 

To figure it out

I am hopeful

I remain hope ~ full

Always

But still

I am hopefully ~

Trying to figure it out

What saves me from this

Head-oriented confusion

Heart-driven tangoes

Simply put ~

Art 

Creation

A raison-d’être ~

On a life’s journey

Art

It brings me back to Self

The process of art

The exploration of art

The learning of art

The sharing of art

The soul of art

All that is art

Straightens me out ~

And in

Art makes me a better person

Perhaps 

It does so

As does my reverence for a daily yoga practice

As does my relish of liquid gold ~ swimming in cocooning water

As does communing with nature ~ mother nature ~ mother earth

As does traveling the earth ~ outside of comfort ~ into home

But truly ~ especially

It is about ~

Art

Art makes me feel 

This ONE 

Head~Heart

Connection ~

To Soul

It is the fluid

Of my yin and yang

It makes me feel breath

It makes me feel right ~ true ~ balanced

It makes me feel ~

Home

Still ~ I remain a student ~

Of life

As ~

The things ~ the stuff

The stimuli of life

Can make me lose ~

Self

That stuff ~ the clutter ~

The wanting ~  ~   ~

It is ~

The thinking

The rationalizing

The reasoning

The reasons

All the reasons

The multi-faceted shining ~ dull gorgeous edges

The awe-inspiring rough ~ delicate silent voice

The quest for truth in a swamp of crocodiles

The bitter-sweet taste of meat in a snow-covered log cabin

The skunk-like flowery smell of rain in the thick southern air

The cutting softness of a raging fire in a heart of breaks and aches

The reasons ~

They are all from the heart!

Are they not?

Yes ~ all the heart

Yet ~ if

The reasons

All from the heart

Are they not ~

Of head and heart?

Are they not ~

One?

Thus on the path to Light ~

To Breath

To Soul

What am I missing?

Missing?

I am missing

Of which there is too much ~

The wanting

Not the simple beauty of ~

Experiencing

Feeling

Growing

Loving

Learning

Being

Believing in the belief

Let it go

Let it go

Flow ~

Let us flow

Ebb and flow

Tired ~

Of losing Self

Tired of the brain ~

This tool for the heart

Tired of the heart ~

This food for the brain

I wish for One

I strive for One ~

Head~Heart

As One

One and Inseparable

C’est tout et TOUT

I pledge to honor Self

To connect to Soul

Always ~ All ~ Ways

Simply

Freely

Truly

I wish to fly

I wish to swim in the sky

I wish to give 

To offer the good of Self

The good of My Self

Help me in ~

Being

Simply being 

One ~

And Inseparable

Help me

Let it be

To be ~

Source 

To be ~

Me

Completely

As crazy

As true

As me is

And can ~

Be

Happy Halloween!

Out of Many One ~ One and Inseparable _________________________ © MCJ Original Artwork ~ MCJArt.net