Despite the intellectual roadblocks.

Give me a nice balance. Between intellect and emotion. There’s a time to be brainy. And a time to be guided by one’s gut. One’s instincts. One’s emotions. I reach a point where my intellect will take me only so far. And that’s when I ascend to the emotional and spiritual level. And give free rein to my imagination. Believing what I most fervently want to believe.  Despite the intellectual roadblocks. --Jim Broede

Getting over displeasure.

Doing as I please. That’s my practice. Most of the time.  That makes me feel free. And pleased. Of course, I do things. To please other people, too. But not always. That’s the peril. When one speaks his mind. So difficult. Always having pleasing things to say. Several friends are addicted people pleasers. Never giving up their pleasing ways. They even try to please me. When it’s totally unnecessary. That momentarily displeases me. But still, I get over it. And that pleases me. --Jim Broede

The complexities of hate and love.

I don’t get it. Some Muslim extremists claim to hate and love. All at the same time. They profess love for their god.  But they hate/despise people of other faiths.  So much so. That they murder them. For not sharing Muslim religious beliefs.  And they do this. Without qualms of conscience. Indeed, that’s baffling. Meanwhile, Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump looks at Muslims with distrust, bordering on hateful disdain.  He proposes banning Muslims from entering America. All in the name of love and protection – for his country.  Trump claiming that Muslims pose a potential security risk. --Jim Broede

The most wonderful invention ever.

Yes. Yes. I can. Differentiate insanity from sanity. For instance. When I listen to political debates. The Republican aspirants for president.  They’ve convinced me. That we live in a political realm that has gone crazy. Or perhaps it never was sane. Still, I have moments. When I know. Beyond a doubt. That life is  the most wonderful invention ever. Because I am fully able. Of differentiating. Hate from love. Insanity from sanity. --Jim Broede

My clever way.

When checking out at a local grocery, I’m invariably asked, ‘Do you have a rewards card?’ Apparently, that would qualify me for discounts, also known as rewards. ‘No,’ I tell the clerk. ‘I don’t deserve rewards. That’s the story of my life. Absolutely no rewards.’ Maybe the clerk feels sorry for me. Anyway, it starts a conversation. Often, clerks don’t know what to make of me. The inquisitive ones seek an explanation. For being denied money-saving rewards. ‘Because I’m a bad guy,’ I lament. As I yank out a calling card. Identifying me. As a rogue. With a direct address to my blog. Yes, my clever way. To promote readership. --Jim Broede

Like so many other liars.

I have a solution. To the problem. Of coping with old age.  Go to a psychotherapist. And have him hypnotize me. Into thinking. That I’m merely 39, and not 80. To believe it all. With my heart and soul. Then I would be young enough. To be the son of my Italian amore. Of course, people would accuse me. Of living a bold-faced lie.  But that wouldn’t bother me. If I truly believed the lie. I’d be just like so many other liars (and scoundrels). Now thriving. Deceptively. In the world of politics. -- Jim Broede

A pity, indeed.

I’ve seen too many people. Friends and acquaintances. Forfeit their lives. To unhappy and destructive pursuits. When they really didn’t have to. Life is so full. Of so many, many choices. Take the wrong one. And it still can be fixed. But some remain stubborn. Blind. Unwilling. To find happiness. And true love. Even when the solution. Stares them in the face. I don’t know why. It hurts me. To a degree. To watch tragedies unfold. But I’m told. That the creator. Gave us free choice. And some of us. Would just as soon not be free.  A pity, indeed. --Jim Broede