Honoring a Special Veteran

I want to share about one of my heroes today. Fitting, as he is a Veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and National Guard.

Chris Jaramillo is one of those people who lives what all religions preach – loving kindness toward others, giving before the ask is even made.

There was the time where I decided I would try to paint my car. I didn’t know what I was doing, but Chris offered to help. What ensued was Chris doing all of the work in his garage, me watching and shouting encouragement like an un-needed coach on the sidelines. He did his best to make me feel like I was helping out.

Chris also brings healing to the world through his ability to remain playful and child-like. He experiences awe – of nature, of others, of each day - in a way that most of us lose with the passing years.

And the playful side. A few weeks ago he showed up to support our son at a cross country meet. It was Halloween that day and Chris, a man in his 60s, arrived in a homemade Frankenstein costume, with green face and body paint. (I wish I had a picture to show you!)

And now, I will share Chris in his own words. On many holidays, I will receive a piece from Chris. This is what he sent yesterday for Veterans Day:

The greatest dream of a veteran is the day there are no more veterans, for in the face of war, peace is the goal of every soldier.

The greatest strength of a country is in its ability, its commitment, its dedication to deterrence and negotiation.

Once a country shows its hand and starts a war it cannot win, its vulnerability is exposed, its credibility is diminished and its honor is questioned.

War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing.

Let’s change the mentality of war. Happy Veterans Day!

Chris, thank you for your service to our country. Thank you for being who you are.

Minion Magic

The deal was simple: If the kids ran their hearts out, a special guest would arrive.

The guessing began, kids and coaches alike calling out their guesses of who it might be.

Well, the Running Medicine kids did indeed run their fastest and bestest over the next hour.

I made a few hand signals to summon the guest.

He struggled even to make it into the park, as there were some gates that were a bit narrow for his contours.

But, at last, he squeezed through.

What ensued was magical.

My son, dressed as a minion, was hugged and tugged by screaming little ones over the next 30 minutes.

It was as close to pure joy as I have experienced it in my life.

Close your eyes and picture the scene, letting some of those shrieks and shouts of the little ones to permeate. Allow this energy to wash over you like a gentle waterfall.

As we left the park, with me serving as the minion’s escort, a new group of children came up and asked if they could hug the minion. One by one, they took their turn.

“Okay, the minion has to go now,” I said.

My son, not wanting to disappoint them, pointed out that he couldn’t just take the costume off in the parking lot. So, we helped him into the back hatch of our SUV (again, made difficult by his girth) and closed the door. He could finally deflate the costume.

Glancing at the spot where we had left that last group of kids, I saw that they had not taken their eyes off us in the five minutes since we had said goodbye.

Again, take a moment here to picture this scene. Beautiful little ones waiting in anticipation that the minion might make one more appearance. And as you take in that scene, focus more on how it makes you feel to see those children lined up along the curb.

As we drove home, I asked my son to reflect on what an incredible feeling it is to be in a moment where you able to give joy to others. I wanted to hear about his experience from within the minion suit. Being a teenager, he focused a bit more on being punched and manhandled. Understandable.

Here, I invite you think about that feeling in a moment where you are giving joy to others. No minion outfit needed, but if you want to pretend you were the one in the inflatable costume, go for it. You might also think back to the most recent time you have had this experience. Soak it in, bringing back all of the emotion and sensation from that moment.

We can’t all be minions today.

But we do have this beautiful superpower – the ability to elicit joy in others.

Go forth and find ways to unleash that power.

Migrating

I was almost done with this morning’s run.

Thinking that I should blog sometime soon.

Slightly stressed about not having a topic that was coming to mind.

The sunrise was beautiful this morning, but I didn’t think it was going to be the subject for a blog.

And then, in the silence of the trail, I heard something.

I knew I had heard it, but wanted to be sure.

I was silent.

There it was again.

(Any guesses??)

It was a guttural sort of cry. As if someone was shouting while gargling water. A bit jarring for an early morning.

(Still guessing??)

Above me, in perfect “V” formation, a beautiful group of sandhill cranes. They continued southward, making their unique crane noises as they floated across the sky.

For me, the first sound of the cranes is a sacred moment each fall. 

And today was that moment for this year. Honored to share it with you.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What is a sound or sight that signals a transition to the fall and winter months for you?

Have you heard or seen it yet this year?

If so, carve out some time today to think/pray/write/move as you reflect on what this means to you.

But even more important, reflect on how you want to use this time of transition. Like the cranes, who migrate from north to south, from old to new, we have a wonderful opportunity to migrate in our lives. What is the “new” you want to migrate toward?

I doubt that cranes spend any of their energy in fall/winter worrying about what they left behind. They simply move forward, knowing this is the place they are meant to be at this moment. We can learn from their example.

 

Sending you good energy for your migration.

Fly into your “new” with confidence and joy.

And hoping that that distinctive crane cry reaches your ears sometime in the near future.

92 Days

October is here.

Last 3 months of the year.

92 days until 2027 begins.

And just past the fall equinox, so night will 

be longer than day for the next months.

 

One place where our minds go in hearing this is to feel pressure, a time crunch of sorts. So much to do, no time to fit it all in.

That’s natural and that’s okay.

But let our gaze shift a bit to think about what is possible in this last quarter of the year, and our thoughts become more constructive. Maybe, even visionary.

 

Questions like these start to bubble to the surface:

If I could gift myself with something that I am needing/seeking in the next 92 days, what would it be?

How would I like to shift my energy (from what, to what) in the next 92 days?

What version of myself would I like to work on creating in the next 92 days?

Who do I want to be and how do I want to be 92 days from now?

Come up with your own questions.

Wrestle with the answers.

Enjoy the journey, even if you aren’t sure what questions you want to ask or if you don’t have answers for the questions.

 

May we spend these next 92 days in ways that bring healing to ourselves, those around us, and to our world.

Dance in the Rain!

The rain has arrived.

in its droplets,

rejuvenation

release

relief

from the parched land and souls below

 

Dance

in the rain today,

soak in the goodness and life that the water brings

Dance

in gratitude

for all that life has given us

Dance  

as you bring full presence into the present

Dance

            allowing joy to wash over you

Dance!

Art Inspiring Connection Through Play

A lot of us are looking for ways to reach out a hand to others in the human family, across lines of religion, race, ethnicity, Tribe, class, language, nationality, etc.

Especially in this moment, where politics and tech/AI seem to be moving us further away from connection, conversation, and a sense of shared inhabitance of this planet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Imagine with me for a moment.

What if a wall, meant to divide, was re-envisioned, as a place for people to connect?

What if a wall that screams of power became a place for play?

Enter an artist duo, Virginia San Fratello and Ronald Rael.

And the creative idea to bring pink teeter-totters to the U.S.-Mexico border, allowing children on both sides of the wall to play with one another.

A chance for connection. Each body a compliment to the one on the other side of the border.

It took mere seconds from the installation before kids had begun to do what they do best – break down barriers and show that play together is possible.

In the words of Virginia and Ronald, “There was a time where there was no wall. [We wanted to] conceptually dismantle the wall…imagining a post-wall world.”

May we take the pink teeter-totters as inspiration

May this art invigorate your work as a connecter across all of the lines, barriers, and walls that exist.

May the image of kids being kids, turning the border wall into a playground, rejuvenate parts of us that are withering at the moment, akin to the plants in our midst desperately and patiently waiting for water to come.

In our case, the water are projects and moments like this that hydrate parched, cracking soil in our soul.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Enjoy this 5-minute video chronicling the project, along with the artists' website. https://www.rael-sanfratello.com/made/teetertotter-wall 

If you want to see one of the real-life teeter-totters from the project, it is on display in the lobby of the Albuquerque Museum in Old Town. (Admission is free every Sunday from 9 am to 1 pm and the first Wednesday of every month.)

Health (and humor)

I walked into the exam room, greeted by a spry elder in her 80s.

“How is your health?” I asked.

“It is getting old”, she replied with a smile.

Notice, she wasn’t admitting to being old or to getting old herself.

It was her health that was aging.

A sneaky semantic twist. And off we went into conversating and laughing together. Officially, it was her doctor’s visit.

So, I ask you to consider this morning the same question.

How is your health?

Sit with that question before coming up with any words or answers.

How is your health?

Mental and emotionally, where are you? Physically? Spiritually?

How is your health?

Now, if you feel moved to write about it, draw it out, or share with someone close to you, go for it.

And feel free to channel your inner comedian and take the lead of our elder – sometimes, laughing a bit at life is the best antidote for helping us move forward.

"I can't complain"

I approached a woman sitting on the curb, wanting to offer a bit of food.

She sat next to all of her belongings, one of our many unsheltered relatives in Albuquerque.

As I got closer, I could see that she was meticulously washing a pair of running shoes. They were cleaner than any shoes than I own.

“How are things going,” I asked.

She smiled.

“I really can’t complain,” she answered.

It wasn’t just words. I could tell that she meant what she was saying.

As I walked away, I thought about all of the things I complain about. I got even more specific and thought of the things that very day I had complained about. And even more specific – the things I had complained about in the last hour.

Here, this woman in a life situation where she has every right to complain and yet she choses a very different way to see her day.

All of us can choose our path today, regardless of how good or rough our situation. The path of complaining…or, the path of gratitude.

I am thankful for the reminder.

Excited to hear your reflections as well.

Awe

 

“It’s as big as the whole world!”

-          Carolyn, age 5

 

Watching fireworks with our niece, Carolyn, we heard her shout this as a very large firework exploded in the sky above Laguna Pueblo.

The awe of a young child is a wonderful thing.

A teaching moment, really.

I saw the same firework as it took over the sky. But I didn’t feel the sense of awe that she did. I suspect that my children, who are older than Carolyn, might not have felt awe either.

Awe (noun) : a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder

: the rapt attention and deep emotion caused by the sight of something extraordinary

Awe (verb) : to inspire or fill with awe

Synonyms for awe : wonderment, astonishment, amazement, wonder

 

So, how do we channel a young child’s ability to feel awe in ways that we don’t?

First, we might do well to practice a bit. It might come naturally to the Carolyns of the world, while for the rest of us it will take some work and effort toward being awed, toward feeling awe.

In thinking about this for myself, being fully present might be one of the ways to improve my “awe muscle”. Being less distracted, less rushed. Being present so that the firework and its glow and bigness are not missed.

Second, we might practice gratitude as I think it is a necessary component of awe. It is the glucose that feeds the awe muscle to be able to contract. Gratitude, of course, has little to do with what is happening around us, or in the sky above in the case of fireworks. It has everything to do with what is happening inside us, with the heart and mind that is receiving and interpreting those things happening around us.

Finally, maybe what Carolyn does in the moment that the firework booms and blooms overhead is to simply suspend reality and rational thinking in order to flex the awe muscle. Allowing ourselves to go to a playful, youthful place where we are allowed to live in fantasy for a few moments. In the case of the fireworks, things like,

“How did they fit all of those colors into such a small firework?

“What if that firework was actually light-up gummy bears and I could open my mouth to catch a few?”

“It’s as big as the whole world!”

 

Have fun flexing the awe muscle, good people.

Channel the inner-child as you work on it.

Work on being present, increasing your gratitude dose and inviting play and fantasy into your world.

Our teacher, Carolyn, will be proud of our efforts.

Juneteenth

In the car on Friday, my children asked me what Juneteenth meant.

I started by explaining the historical facts as I know them. 900 days after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation January 1, 1863, Union troops arrived in Galveston, TX at the end of the Civil War June 19^th. 1865. Major General Gordon Granger read General Orders No. 3, which finally informed the 250,000 enslaved people in Texas that they were free.

This moment did not immediately change the conditions for the formerly enslaved, and many became sharecroppers for the former slave owners. History Professor Erin Stewart Mauldin reminds, “Individuals had to fight for every piece of freedom they experienced and the struggle for justice that started long before the war did not end with emancipation.”

The moment, I remind myself, was my great-great grandfather’s generation. Four generations before me. Not long ago.

I paused and checked in with my children.

Juneteenth is a moment to be honest about our country’s history. Not to sugarcoat it, not to erase it, but to embrace the ugly, the horrific parts of our country.

Juneteenth is a moment to re-commit ourselves to standing with and for those being erased in this moment – peoples of color, LGBTQ+, women, the poor. It is a reminder that shackles remain on too many in 2026.

Juneteenth is a moment to stand for science and the planet at a moment when powerful voices tell us neither are worth standing up for.

Juneteenth is a moment where we can love our country and at the same time be deeply disturbed over what our country has become and is becoming.

Juneteenth begs for a patriotism that sees that while slavery ended, our nation has never been emancipated from the racism that led to slavery and the genocide of Indigenous peoples.

Juneteenth pleads for us not to celebrate our 250^th in blind, flag-waving, amnesia, singing “America the Beautiful” but rather to see our country for the traumatized, flawed entity that it is. It asks us to continue working for political and economic freedom for all peoples, driven by a hope and belief that America can be beautiful yet.

Creating Community

There are days when I am saddened by the impersonal, self-centered, disconnected world we have created. With AI, and our inability to tell whether the person answering the phone or email is a human or a bot, it will only get more challenging.

On my walks and runs, I am now often greeted by “Hello” and turn my head in excitement, only to realize it is someone’s security system saying to all passer-by’s “Hello, you are being recorded.”

Not exactly the best way to build community, huh?

But, I also see the other side.

My neighbor Cathi whose chickens lay nice eggs that I then buy from her.

My neighbor Roger who sprinkled us with water from the hose on a recent run by his house.

My neighbors Tim and Jessica who let me pick fruit from their trees.

The Sanchez family who actually thank me for picking their cherries. “It should be me thanking you,” I always respond.

The folks with amazing grapes along the ditch who came out to see what I was doing, and instead of yelling at me, offered me bags to collect the grapes in.

[Yes, I really love picking fruit. “I am a forager, not a grower,” I tell folks.]

And then there was the recent visit to Gyros Mediterranean where they insisted on some baklava on the house just because I coached the owner’s daughter.

[Yes, the larger theme here is that Anthony loves free food]

And in my recent health challenges, the multitude of people who have showered my family and me with kindness on a daily basis.

So, as I take it all in, here are my thoughts:

If we value community, we have to do the work to create it.  Contributing to and serving our relatives, our neighbors, and even the strangers in our midst. Receiving from them in return.

Increasingly, this requires us to go against the grain of tech-infatuated society. It requires us to resist tantalizing things offered to us, always with a promise of making our life easier. Yes, but at what cost? And is the easy life a fulfilled one?

And for those who read these words and feel the same frustration I feel when tricked by the electronic security systems offering me a threatening “hello”, maybe the key to creating community is closer and simpler than you think.

Maybe it is going to say hello to the new person who just moved in down the street.

Maybe it is offering some fruit to a passer-by.

Maybe it is the random act of kindness for a loved one that you are going to do today.

Love to each of you this Monday!

And momma, a very happy birthday to you today. You are an amazing guiding light in my life. Everything I write and do is a reflection of you.

Graduation Day!

Nizhoni,

This is daddy here, writing to tell you how proud mom and me and all of these people reading this blog are of you.

You are crossing the stage this evening and will become a graduate of Albuquerque High School. You will soon enter into the next chapter in your education at Colorado University-Boulder. Ayani' (buffalo) is a sacred animal and as the mascot of CU-Boulder, you are in good hands. Thanks for not choosing a school too far away.

I am really proud of who you are as a young Dine' woman, a person with high morals and faith. You are a go-getter, and have excelled in many arenas during these last years. I expect even more flowers to blossom in these years ahead.

But really? You are already graduating? Why so soon?

You arrived 2 months into Shannon and me moving across the country to start life in New Mexico. I was a resident and would make sure to have you and momma up for dinner each evening on my 30 hour shifts, knowing that it would brighten all of our days.

I love you Nizhoni. Ayo'nishnii. 

Continue to walk that beautiful path toward Allah/Creator in humility, with gratitude, and full of joy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For everyone who has helped raise our daughter, as it takes a village and you are that village, a huge hug to each of you. And if you are also celebrating a graduate this season, I hope Shannon and I have been that same support for your child's journey.

p.s. I think back to another blog I once curated of my 1st experiences with you. Sorry in advance for any embarrassment these pics might cause. Not really - they are worth sharing.

https://nizhonirose.blogspot.com/2008/

Joy

 

Joy walked into the exam room today.

More of a run, actually.

Gave me a big hug.

And let me listen to her big girl heart.

Forgotten were my worries, fears and anxieties.

No longer was the mental “to-do” list playing over and over.

Regrets from yesterday and worries about tomorrow evaporated.

Joy took over and I succumbed.

I played and did silly 3-year-old things.

I don’t regret a moment of it.

 

Has joy knocked on your door yet today?

And when she does, will you answer it?

Push aside yesterday and let go of tomorrow.

Let joy be your today.

Lucca and Ben, thank you for bringing joy to me in the form of your daughter Noemi. 

And to Noemi, keeping radiating that joy for the world to see and feel.

Weaving

at the footsteps of her journey 

into rug’s world and life’s magic

offering prayer

shouting “Stoodis”

she

pulls

tugs

straightens

pushes

pulls

combs

tightens

weaving 

              beauty

  healing

  love

 into existence

and so it is.

and so it was.

and so it shall be.

A piece inspired by Connor Chee's "Weaving" video starring weaver Ramona Keoni. Mr. Chee is a classical pianist who has Indigenized this form of music. He will take traditional Dine' songs and make them into classical pieces. 

I invite you to watch the video today and write your own piece, with words/song/prayer/etc. By the way "Stoodis" is Native slang for "Let's do this."

Random Acts of Kindness Day

I proclaim today as the Random Acts of Kindness Day.

May you be on the receiving end of at least one.

But, alas, we are less in control of that, right? Beyond being vigilant not to miss those gifts, we can’t really control what others will do for us.

May you be on the giving end of a multitude of random acts of kindness this fine, beautiful day.

This one, my friends, is absolutely in our control.

Open that door for the stranger.

Go out of your way to gift something to a cashier, a bank teller, someone panhandling, etc.

Put good energy toward a friend who is struggling. And add all of those struggling to your wish before your blow it into the wind.

Warning: Side effects to giving random acts of kindness may include joy, connection, high levels of oxytocin, big smiles.

Talk to your doctor if you feel that such gifting may pose a serious threat to your health. (Ahh, Dr. Fleg has reviewed your files and finds you to be in perfect shape for giving today.)

And my friends, I would be remiss if I did not include a reminder that on today, random acts of kindness toward yourself are required as well.

Take a few moments to rejuvinate amidst the chaos.

Take time to center in the present, to bask in “what is” and let “what was” and “what might come to be” quietly recede.

Enjoy receiving and giving today!

Spring!

 

Spring has sprung!

Here we are, greeting a new season. For nature. For ourselves and our lives.

Take a moment, and travel with me. Close eyes if it helps.

Let’s go back to our earliest spring season memories.

Recall what you loved doing on those first warm days.

Imagine as a child how surprised we were to see bushes, grasses, and trees that looked dead suddenly come alive with green and all sorts of flowers.

Take in the smells, sounds, and sights of your spring memories.

Look around to see the people – siblings, neighbors, parents, etc. – who fill out the scene for you.

Stay there for as long as you want.

Spring is truly a magical time in that way – nature shows us that being dormant is far from being dead. The winter is a time to rest and rejuvenate so that spring can bring new life.

Where is it that you want to see new buds grow this spring?

What do you want to see blossom in your life?

Is any pruning back of dead branches needed to spur some of this new growth?

What is going to be your fertilizer and water supply?

May the growth be beautiful and bountiful for each of you, in this spring season!

The YES/NO Exercise

A wonderful Friday to each of you.

Some good friends and I had a conversation this week about the YES/NO Exercise, and I wanted to share this with you all.

For those who feel their plate is too full, or for those whose loved ones tell them so, this is a particularly important exercise.

The premise is simple – when we say YES to things in life, we are also saying NO to other things as a result. In that moment of saying YES to a new commitment, we would do well to think of the question: If I say YES to this, what am I saying NO to at the same time?

The simple truth underlying this: we have a finite amount of time and energy to give to the world, and by saying YES to one thing, we are indeed saying NO to other things.

In our conversation this week, we admitted that we tend to ignore the NO part of the equation entirely, for a variety of reasons. In terms of saying YES to giving more (e.g. signing up for a volunteer cause, agreeing to serve on a board, etc) we feel guilty thinking about the things we would be saying NO to. Things like time with family, self-care, time to pursue a hobby, etc. Those things don’t feed our ego and our need to be relevant in the world in the same way that some of the things we say YES to might, but without these things, we begin to crumble at our core. And the plate gets more and more crowded.

Putting it into practice:

1. Take something that you have said YES to in the last month. List the positives that this YES has had for you.

2. Now, think about what things you gave up by taking this thing on, the things you said NO to.

3. Given what this YES has brought you AND what it has forced you to say NO to, how do you feel about this decision?

This might not come naturally at first – most folks struggle with the NO part of the exercise. I liken the YES/NO Exercise to a muscle; it is going to need to be worked on for it to get stronger.

And its okay if you find yourself resisting. “I can say YES and just become more efficient and therefore don’t have to say NO to anything.” That’s the voice that goes off in my head when I try to rationalize putting more on an already over-filled plate.

I hope this is helpful, and is something you can begin to do more regularly. If you, like me, find yourself looking for more hours in the day to get everything done, I think the issue isn’t the clock – the issue is that we have to get better at saying NO, really weighing out the YES/NO consequences for each thing we commit to.

I think this exercise helps us YES people get better at saying NO.

I have one corollary before I go. Do you have another moment?

When we say NO to things, what are we saying YES to? When I, despite my propensity to say YES to everything, actually say “NO, I can’t take that Saturday commitment on.” I should do the same exercise as above, this time validating what I am saying YES to in that decision. “By saying no to this added commitment, I am giving myself a chance to get my hands in the dirt and plant a garden with my family this spring.”

Now, friends, get to the gym and start building the YES/NO muscle!

A Sacred Moment

In our house, this is a special moment. We are fasting for Ramadan this month.

The way that fasting itself makes us rise for 5am morning meals and prayer and the way it brings us together again for iftars (meals to break the fast) are beautiful. Seeing the children making efforts to observe the fast inspires Shannon and me as parents.

Ramadan is a chance to step back from the normal, taking away food and drink, to help de-clutter the rest of our lives. It is beautiful in its simplicity. It is strong medicine that works as a spiritual laxative, cleaning us out.

As a family, we also reflect on how our observance ties in with others.

Today in the Jewish calendar is Purim, a joyous Jewish holiday celebrating the rescue of the Persian Jewish community from a genocide plot, as told in the Book of Esther. Like Ramadan, charity is a focus of the holiday.

Meanwhile, we are in the 13^th day of Lent, a time for increased prayer, fasting and charity in the Catholic tradition that runs for 40 days, ending in Easter.

The Baha’i community has entered their Holy Month of Ala as of March 1^st with a 19-day fast that leads them to Naw-Ruz, the Baha’i New Year. Giving to others is again emphasized, particularly in the days before the fast begins.

Many of our Indigenous communities also observe periods of fasting and ceremony at this time of the year.

Add to that the lunar eclipse of this morning and you can’t help but feel that this is a blessed moment.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I invite you to step back today, taking a few moments/minutes/hours to breathe in the collective focus, wisdom and intention from these traditions:

Prayer and seeking guidance from Creator

Giving to others, caring for those around us

Suffering in small ways to help us see our blessings more clearly

Decluttering our lives, so that we can focus on things most important

Blessings to each and every one of you!

¡Medicina Sin Fronteras!

A poem today, first in Spanish and then translated to English...excited to hear your reflections on the piece! 

This piece was inspired by a recent trip to Universidad Intercultural del Estado de Mexico in San Felipe del Progresso, about 3 hours north of Mexico City.

Medicina Sin Fronteras

 

La medicina           no sabe fronteras

                               no tiene comprensión

                               ni conceptualización

                                                                        de las fronteras

La medicina           no honra fronteras

                               no dar poder

                               ni atención

                                                                        de las fronteras

La medicina,           como el agua

                                como las animales abajo y las pajaritos arriba

                                no entiende estas líneas de violencia y separación

 

¿Pues, somos la medicina, no?

¿Tenemos en nuestras corazones y oraciones la medicina, no?

(¿Farmacias? Ellas tienen pastillas)

 

Entonces,

Porque somos            la medicina

           ¡no respectamos!

           ¡no honramos!

           ¡no damos poder!             

           ni atención

a las fronteras

 

¡Medicina Sin Fronteras!

¡Medicina Sin Fronteras!

 

 

Medicine Without Borders

 

The medicine            doesn’t know borders

                                  doesn’t have a comprehension of

           nor a conceptualization of

                                                          the borders

The medicine             doesn’t honor borders

           doesn’t give power

           nor attention

                                                                                   to the borders

The medicine,            like the wáter

           like the animals below and the birds above

           doesn’t understand these lines of violence and separation.

 

But, we are the medicine, right?

We have, in our hearts and prayers, the medicine, right?

(Pharmacies? They have pills.)

 

Then,

Because we are the medicine

                                   we cannot respect

                                   we cannot honor

                                   we cannot give power to

                                   nor attention

                                                                                    to the borders

 

Medicine Without Borders!

Medicine Without Borders!

Trying to Turn My Phone Off

I walked into the phone store, trying to exude confidence.

[I think for many of us who are over the age of 40, the phone store inherently feels like a place where young, tech-savvy staff are ready to make us feel like fools from the dinosaur age. When they start making references to mid-20^th century technology, you know you are in trouble. “Well, do you remember how you would dial on a rotary phone that was powered by the hand crank?”]

 

“Can I help you?”

“Yes, I have a problem. I can’t figure out how to turn my phone off.”

First thought of the staff member: “For realz? Another geezer from the stone age!”

Second thought of the staff member: “Why would any human being, at any time, want to turn their phone off?”

Trying to hold back what I sensed was a mixture of laughter and scorn, they asked me to tell them a bit more.

 

Here was the issue. I like having my phone completely off a few times a week. And in a strange twist, the two-button method that used to turn off my phone now turns ON an AI feature.

Take that in for a moment. What a symbol of our world. The buttons that used to help me escape tech had been updated to now draw me into AI.

As you hit those buttons, if you listen close, you hear an evil laugh and the voice from MJ’s Thriller saying, “So you thought you could turn the phone off, huh? You are in the hands of AI now, o little one!”

Well, it turns out that the tech person was not as concerned as I was that AI is taking over the world, one phone and device at a time. In fact, their solution was to hit the two buttons, summoning AI, and then asking AI for permission to turn the phone off. Not quite the answer I was looking for.

 

I am skeptical of AI in a big way. I sense that our world, akin to my phone, is going to push AI on us without our permission. Scratch that. I sense that our world is already pushing AI on us without our permission.

It is up to us – the rotary phone powered by a crank – folks to think critically about the value of being able to…well, being able to turn our phone off.