Playing Fair and Being Kind

I’ve been back in Boothbay for over a month. Summer has arrived, the trees are getting it on, and the gardens in the yard around The Castle are fruiting and flowering. My body is finally rested and I have established a daily routine of sorts. This post is about daily routine. The one I have slipped into is not of my liking. I spend way too much time on the internet on sites that are fun but so, so, so unproductive. Besides I have seen enough posts about diabetes, heart attacks, and early death to become paranoid. My life style supports all of these conditions. I need to get of my butt and move more. Ergo I have abandoned Facebook and started walking in the woods of the terrific land preserves around my neighborhood. Next I have to start using this blog more to maintain the wonderful connections I made on Facebook. We can do this, Folks. Stay with me on this.

Coincidentally I have finally been in contact with Maine State Prison officials about reestablishing the men’s group I began a few years ago and have not been conducting since we were told to leave so they could evaluate the results in the population who took part. Since the men’s group ended and today there have been major personnel changes in the administration. The warden, and a few assistant wardens including the prison program manager have all been fired and finally replaced. In addition the State of Maine Commissioner of Corrections has resigned to become commissioner in NYC. His replacement is on board now so with all the changes and replacements maybe things will settle down and paranoia will fade. Prisons are the most difficult places to work. I have seen wonderful people go into the prisons with the best intentions and then become something quite different once the culture swallows them up. If you want to discuss this further I will but not on here. Use my contact info and we can talk further.

So, thrashing about is all about flailing and punching the air in enough directions when things get gnarly. With enough thrashing a way opens up that looks viable and that is the way to move. The road, path, way begins to reveal itself and a sense of right shows up. I came to the conclusion that I need to retreat to a level of social behavior that is less frantic and mindless. I was not using my best self while on Facebook. My motives became unclear to me and my psyche was suffering. I found it easier to complain and criticize and we all know that is just a terrible place to be. I have stopped reading and my writing has dwindled to a trickle. Perhaps this is a normal progression; it seems to be. I can’t fault what I have been doing; just recognizing the direction and distance is what I’m noticing. So I have a direction, no plan but to move along mindfully, paying attention to the inner voices. I feel confident that I have chosen right. I will find the cool spot and carry it along for a while. More reading, writing, and walking in the woods. Sounds idyllic no? 

Waiting for Godot means only I am building on what I know and how to be of service. A new acquaintance has proposed I make a video with him for public access t.v. The video will be him interviewing me about my recent circumnavigation of the U.S. and what I discovered in view of social issues. Primarily we will be discussing my latest interest, “Structural Violence”. The harm done to people because of the disparate levels of income and wealth in conjunction with the invisible violence built into our culture. When I finish the interview I will see if I can get a copy or see if it will be put on youtube. 

Waiting for Godot also signifies my eventual return to prison volunteer work. My experiences have given me a level of comfort in the prison setting. I have made peace with my fears of conflict and violence to the point that the inmates sense I can be a listener and facilitator of men’s groups. I try to apply a little of what I know about Paulo Freire “Pedagogy of the Oppressed”, Gregory Bateson “Steps to an Ecology of Mind”, and of course Dr. James Gilligan’s series “Violence”. I have a vision for my future. I want to finish my life in the service of justice and kindness. 

Peace out.