“A writer can do nothing for men more necessary, satisfying, than just simply to reveal to them the infinite possibility of their own souls.”
American poet, essayist, and journalist, Walt Whitman, was born on this day in 1819 (died 1892).
Maybe that’s my job here.
Maybe, just maybe, by revealing the things I deal with on a day-to-day basis, you’ll take the time to stop and think about your own life, your own goals, your own dreams.
Your own too-damned-long to-do list.
Maybe.
That just might make me feel the time I spend here is worthwhile.
Then again, as I was conversing with a friend the other night, finding a way to monetize this blog and make me a bazillionaire might also make the time worthwhile.
But, as much as I talk about it on many occasions, I’m not here for the money.
And, unlike in years past, I’m not here to fix everyone’s politics, or correct all that’s wrong on the Interwebz.
I’m here to go through life, giving my perspective on the way I see things. And, in so doing, I might help you to broaden, or narrow if need be, your own perspective.
I’m here for the conversation. If I was just here for the yelling, I’d stay on Facebook and share all the memes.
Don’t get me wrong, I do some of that. Mostly just for grins.
But for all our time spent on social media, no one is changing anyone else’s politics, or religion, and probably not even their diet.
Life is more complicated than a probably-copyrighted picture with a clever saying, or a list of incomplete facts.
Both (all?) sides do it.
I’m in that interesting place of having spent some forty years in government and politics and choosing to spend the last five years actively involved in the Richmond theatre community.
If you’ve followed long enough, you know that I’ve stepped way back from any Republican/conservative postings and activism. In part because I’ve become much more Libertarian. But more so because some things just can’t be defended any more.
On a side note, they could be if the GOP actually went back to, and governed, on their principles.
That’s another story. And another post.
For someone else to write on another blog.
But because I maintain many of my old contacts, because I went to a fairly conservative Christian school, and because I’m actively involved in theater, my Facebook feed is a bit bi-polar.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I just wish we could talk to one another instead of posting the “see, I told you so” posts. I don’t think we’d be as divided as we appear to be.
And, you should know that’s a pretty bold admission for an introvert like me.
We all want to provide for our families, to live in peace, to be health, to keep our children safe, and just to enjoy life.
And even though we may see different paths to those goals and think that we need different leaders to help us get there, we’re not that far apart.
Seriously. I am not making this up.
So maybe, just maybe, what I’m writing here helps you think more about the possibilities of what can be done, rather than the negatives we see blasted across Facebook.
We got problems, right here in River City, and around the world.
Rather than screaming about them across the Interwebz, let’s meet for coffee, or an ale (or two), and talk them over.
Think of the infinite possibilities.
Let’s just be careful where we choose to go for coffee.
American actor, director, and producer, Clint Eastwood, was born on this day in 1930.
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