New Year, New Name

Good Evening All.  Hope you enjoyed New Year's 2020!

Now that we've begun a year that implies unimpaired and tainted vision, this little writing space of mine will be doing likewise.

(1)  We still have the original Four Pillars, but we've expanded them to Eight.

I EXIST.  I MATTER.  I BELONG.  I DESERVE.

This means that we have a duty to love and respect ourselves, that we have a place in this world that's all our own, and that by staying virtuous and avoiding vices (as much as possible with imperfections acknowledged), we earn the same respect as anyone else.  As set forth in the other Pillars,

RESPECT ALL.  BEFRIEND FEW.  LOVE ONE.  HATE NONE.

This means that we pay forward the respect we'd like others to grant us.  That being said, we also grant friendship to a select few, because not everyone can be our friends.  We also get even more selective with whom we love, ideally a spouse or partner.  But regardless of how low or how high our opinions of other people might be, and even if they actually do deserve our scorn, judgment, and righteous anger, we simply do not hate them.

(2)  We acknowledge that there are aggressive, obnoxious, narcissistic, bullying, violent, and unfriendly people in this world.  However, we know that pointing fingers at them and reminding them of their failings will never convince them to change their ways.  Instead, as unfair as it may seem, it is actually our obligation to prevent ourselves from becoming triggered, offended, incensed, or driven to violence.  Instead, we advocate healthy boundaries against those who engage in such shoddy behavior, while being mindful and self-aware enough to not adopt that same shoddy behavior.

WE CAN ACCEPT PEOPLE FOR WHO THEY ARE BECAUSE WE CANNOT CONTROL THEM.  WE CAN ALSO REJECT PEOPLE FOR WHO THEY ARE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT CONTROL US.

(3)  More than anything, we promote the practices of mindfulness, Stoicism, and self-healing in response to bullying and harassment.

We do not condone violence of any sort.  For those who will see opportunities for debate when these posts are read, please be advised that we have already heard, and addressed, every counter-argument that could possibly raised on this issue.  We recommend measuring twice and posting once, with that admonition in mind.

Instead, we promote the regulation, control, and discipline of our emotions, regardless of how shoddily "they" behave.  We also promote the evaporation of our feelings that arise from prior harms and slights, real and perceived.  That means we do not believe in holding grudges.

Feel free to like, follow, and comment.  More to follow!

MOTHER PROTECT US, FATHER EMBOLDEN US.