Stain-glass Eyes

I get so frustrated with stereotypes, prejudices and biases, whatever you want to call them.   They get in the way of our progress as a human race. Why is it so crucial to keep things as they are?   I think change is stimulating.   We strive to improve our physical bodies so we can better perform, why not our mindsets?   Thinking the same old way, with the same old theories, the same old stunted beliefs won’t expand the mind.   In fact, (well in my opinion) the mind gets stagnated and useless.   We can only get out of the computer what is programmed into its system.   It seems logical to me the same applies with our minds.   We can only get out of our heads what we are willing to put in there. And sometimes we have to extract some useless, antiquated beliefs and misinformation. My mind and my heart usually intertwine.   I get into trouble when I try to separate them.   Yes, I can stop and think objectively, but it’s difficult for me to do with people.  

Time marches past me, like a regiment of soldiers. Each guard, lifts high their knees of control. They don’t look back. They have a curtain of ease in their attention. In their file and rank - one by one.                     It’s not lost on me. This drill of right step, left step. It’s familiar, in an uncomfortable way. My guilty heart feels my attempts to stall time. It knows.   It beats, too, to the march. “Make it stop,” it coaxes me, “so we can rest.” I can only stare at the steadfast power of time. My will isn’t enough. The rhythm of my body coincides naturally to the flow of time. I follow or fall. Only death halts time.   It’s our last contract with life. It reminds me of the treasure of time. Each precious grain of sand, as it gently passes through the small opening in the hourglass.

I  think there are challenges in life and not all of them are thrown in our laps. Yes, many of the challenges I’ve experienced have been thrown at me.   I either had to succumb to my own depression or apathy or meet the challenges and ascend through the tough stuff. (with help of course) I made it through with some hard won lessons.   I learned I’m a survivor.   I started to put challenges there for myself. No one else expected me to have those expectations except me. Most of the time they’re secret challenges.   Goals I only tell myself are important and I work on reaching them.   Sometimes they’re physical goals, sometimes psychological goals and the hardest ones are the intellectual ones. I’m gaining more confidence but it’s been a lot of positive self-talk to get here.   Part of the reason I’ve challenged myself is because I believe I shortchanged myself earlier in life.   I haven’t given myself enough credit.   I gave up too easily.   I believed lies instead

Holden and Emma's Balcony  My adventures have been many during my travels.   But, so have my relaxing and resting times.   Love This Little Door (and I need a rest) My purpose for this journey was to spend Christmas with my son, Holden and his girlfriend, Emma.   When they invited me to come I couldn’t quit smiling.   They wanted ME to be there with them for Christmas!       Going to the Weihnachtsmarkt (German Christmas Market) was my first evening spent with Holden.   Emma was performing  at the theatre in Görlitz, and wasn't able to join us.   It was snowing and felt like being inside a snow globe. Some Christmas Markets Extended  Into Other Areas of the City We walked through all the festive pathways made of cobblestones (each smooth stone about the size of tea cup saucer), checking out the small wooden booths with elaborate lighting and decorations.   An Enormous Pyramid in Görlitz   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christm