A lie has speed but truth has endurance.

Words of wisdom by Havelock Ellis.

A present of wisdom.

An unwrapped present.

Opening up.

Closing up.

The anticipation.

It IS a process.

Nature versus Nuture.

Sometimes.

Oftentimes, this end of the year stuff is for the birds.

Other times. It may be just what the doctor ordered.

For you.

The tonic of all tonics.☺️

Whether it take eight minutes, eight days, or eighty days, or eighty years to unpack. The gift for us all, God willing will end in some kinda box.

Will it be with tears of joy.

Or tears of unanswered, unanswerable grief.

Pardon me for cracking myself up. Guarantee am not the only crack pot around. In my selfish and selfless neck of the woods. Eccentric, unique and “out there”, fanatical, impractical.

ok with the label.?

Generally speaking.

It takes one to know one.

Like experiences have a way of bringing together like-minded individuals. And that is good. A-ok. Alright. Alright. Alright.

Sometimes it can be like looking in a mirror. Those superstitious of us, may remember what cracking a mirror can bring.

Seven years of bad “luck”. Cracked, cracker, or crackly, or kraken it.

Where does this “bad” luck come from? Some spiritual stories equate it to the Seven Deadly Sins. Take your pick? The baggage that keeps on giving. In a certain way.

Yes.

Packaged, I like to think as “The Vice Squad”. Of like-minded individuals who have gone from there to hear, here to there, one way or another. Am aok to be classified amongst these individuals. As imperfect as our edges may be.

The Capital Vices. The Cardinal Sins. They are a grouping and classification of “vices”.

Call ‘em the Vice Squad. The Vice Squad of Christian Teachings. It is a collaborative effort, mind you. Although these vices are not directly mentioned in the Bible. Explicitly. There are, however seven things God is said to “hate” in the Book of Proverbs. Behaviors or habits are classified under this category if they directly give rise to other immortalities.

The Standard list:

Pride.

Greed.

Wrath.

Envy.

Lust.

Gluttony.

Sloth.

These are contrary to the Seven Capital Virtues:

The Standard List:

Prudence.

Justice.

Temperance.

Fortitude.

Theological virtues included:

Faith.

Hope.

Charity.

Still there are Seven Capital Virtues: aka as contrary or remedial virtues, and are those OPPOSITE the seven deadly sins:

This Standard list are often enumerated as:

Chastity.

Temperance.

Charity.

Diligence.

Kindness.

Patience.

Humility.

What difference does it make? A crackling Cracker Jack, a crackling bag can make the hardest of hearing of us, the deafest of us stand up to attention. The forced to eat bugs kinda attention. Except bugs are for the birds. Not humans. No matter what kinda crackling kracker tells you so. They do not have the protein needed and necessary for existence. We often hear that life can be a marathon, not a sprint and a diet of bugs ain’t gonna do it.

Challenge me. 😀

Am happy to demonstrate what I have learned.

Implicitly. Explicitly. Loudly. Softly. Don’t care. What you may think of me.

Really. Sometimes two, three, maybe four other people’s lifetimes are wrapped up into one tiny package. A beautiful package sans the bows. Void of ribbon. Messily wrapped in un matching paper. Some times ya just jump in with both feet and allow the waves to do their thing and the chips fall where they may.

Growing old is a gift given to us. A gift we give ourselves. A gift we extend to others. They can choose to return to sender.

Don’t care.

Sometimes ya just gotta make a point.

Sharp as the tackiness may be.

In making the point

Unafraid to look

Stoopid.

Those who get it will get it.

Those who do not, do not.

Don’t care.

What you may think. Of me.

When you reflect off of another. It is noticeable. Deep. And long lasting. The crackly bag kinda notice. And it is one of the best things to discover. The searching may be over. But the seeking is allowed to continue.

No more hiding.

But the seeking for self improvement for the better gets to continue. And we should all slow down and attempt it. Implicitly or explicitly. Loudly softly. Avoid making one another look bad in order to make someone else look good.

Thank goodness for finding a family who supports this mindset. Gold. In and of you. They kept digging and you delivered the gunk. Rather unselfish of them for you. They delivered the good to and on behalf of you.

Don’t understand the why. But will accept it as the gift as they gave it. Chipping and mining away at the “mine” mentality at the same time repeatedly whispering:

”Let it Go” We are here.

The only requirement: Staying the course is the requirement. And even if and when the anger returns. They are there. They are here to hear. Come hell or high water.

As this end of the year time rolls around and the anticipation gains traction, it is important to remember why we are here. When in doubt, enlist your personal “Vice Squad”. Will keep you in line. Will keep you in check. So you can extend the gift to those around you.

Come hell or high water. It is a gift that keeps on giving. Christianity, Christmasesly, Kwanzally, Hanukkahlly, Boxingly, you get the point..However, to lump it all into one selfishly takes from another.

Tis the season of giving. Yes, but not for giving ‘em hell. Because some truly cannot tolerate. The hell. Either factually, physically, historically, spiritually, on and on and on. This is not the game show game of

“Pick a Sin”.. This is real life. We only get one. What ya have and what ya do with it makes all the difference in the world. Dancin’ with the stars takes on a whole new judgey panel of judges.

Unassumingly opine, there is only one judge. One judgment day. There are many judges. Judgment days. Be the first to cast it, and you are the one wearing the cast, the mask.

Cast the first stone. Only those who are faultless have the right to pass judgment upon others. Sooooo.

Guess that means us all. Guess that means none of us.

Let the family you bring into your life be the barometer. The compass.. Then take it from there.