Today was a day for Mothers. A day we moms get calls, cards, flowers. A day that's supposed to be celebratory, a celebration of life. But it's all a lie, isn't it? Today's recognition only exists because of capitalism--not consideration. It creates artificial expectations that more often than not, creates a deep sense of disappointment. And how could it not? It's not real.

Have you ever been at an impasse? You can't go any further because there's simply no where else to go? Your choices are simple and few. You can turn around; go back(wards). Or, you can try to push through, somehow move ahead--even though there's no where else to go. It's a fruitless pursuit, but in the face of devolution, one may choose to try, if for no other reason than as a distraction from the impasse itself. However, there is a third option: Curl up and wait to die. It's not something most of us choose to do. Though screaming before choosing any direction is typical. Because these choices, as it were, are incredibly frustrating.

After screaming in utter frustration, and before making your terrible choice, try looking at the impasse from a different perspective. A dog may bark at a squirrel two feet away, but because there is a high fence separating the two, the dog will continue barking, maybe digging, too, trying to move straight toward the squirrel. Humans do the same thing when it comes to an impasse. We growl. We bark, We even whine. We look for ways under the fence, But like the dog, we forget that there's a gate. Moving directly through the fence may not be possible, but if we check the perimeter, we'll eventually find easy access.

What does this have to do with Mother's Day? Mother's Day is just as deceptive as the chain link fence. You can see through it, see what you want, even be close enough to practically touch it, but unless you use logic, you'll only ever be frustrated, disappointed and ultimately, sad.

No impasse is insurmountable if one refuses to give up. To persevere sounds so courageous, so brave. But in reality, when one must push on despite continued obstacles, even amidst the bravery, there is a deep sadness at having to do it. Never take that for granted. Because though the impasse will be finished, the sadness derived from the effort sticks to the soul. And when you get lonely, which can happen on days like today, that sadness will appear to keep you company. Hold your hand. Sit next to you. And after a time, Doubt will appear as well.

Before you know it, you're no longer lonely. You've got lots of friends. Sadness. Doubt. Fear is not far behind. Hatred, close on Fear's heels.

Still, you are worth the effort.

Can't believe May is almost half-over! Where does the time go? Of course, time is a human construct. So time, in real terms, doesn't exist. But yet, there's still the feel of it...the passage of moments. We are outside, sitting in the sunshine and then, we are not. Humans call that change of scenery time, but really, it's about space.

We move through space, from one point, to the next, to the next. Even when sitting still. While we sit idle, what we ride though the Universe, Earth, isn't. Our planet is constantly rotating through space. And around Earth, our Moon. And Earth, the Sun. The symmetry of it, the graceful beauty, makes one want to weep. It seems miraculous to us in much the same way a baby finds the moving pictures that appear from seemingly nowhere on a television magical. And that proves our infancy. As do so many other human inventions...like hatred. 

I hate. You hate. We all hate. What's infantile isn't that we emote hate. Hatred goes hand-in-hand with fear, and fear is the one emotion we're born with. Can't do much about that. And wouldn't want to. Fear helps us to survive. It's how we react to those feelings of hate that makes our immaturity clear. Very. Clear.

We see difference and automatically, fear begins to rise. Again, it's survival. Being able to differentiate was an important part of our evolution. Still is. But we're not talking about differentiating between a bear with big teeth and claws versus a soft, fuzzy lamb--one wants to eat you while the other is easy to eat. Again, that was early human thought. Today, we make our own food, our own protein (though a majority of humans still insist on sustaining their lives on unnecessary death--not exactly evidence of our superiority). We have secure shelters. We don't need fire to create heat. We have indoor plumbing and running, mostly clean water. We still don't have fangs or claws, but we have tools like guns, swords and knives. Our large, complex brains and opposable thumbs have allowed us to "evolve." But those two physical attributes aren't soley responsible. Enter our relationship with dogs.

That's right. Dogs. Without them, we wouldn't have survived as long as we have. Didn't know that, did you? It's true. And look at what canine loyalty has earned dogs? Our cruelty. Abuse. An avalanche of misplaced human hatred. 

We're damned. Humans. Not because some man-made mythology says so. No. Because, frankly, we're not terribly bright. The time, energy and effort we put into advancing our technology has allowed us to stagnate in our psycho-social evolution. Again, short-sighted, meaning short on intelligence. That's a choice by the way. Dogs have proven that.

They don't have the same oral anatomy so can't form words as we do, yet dogs, with their "lesser" brains, have learned our language. And not just the words. 

Dogs can read our body language and facial expressions--even differentiate the tone and volume of our voices--with a terrific degree of accuracy. Their brains aren't structured like ours so don't organize language in the same way, yet dogs can understand single words...lots of them. Ironically, Time magazine used a gifted Australian shepard in their article that claimed dogs could understand upwards of 250 words. Sounds hard to believe. Unless you know a dog.

Dogs have facial recognition, long-term memory, complex emotions, and emotional responses; they are pragmatic, practical creatures whose unwavering loyalty makes them fierce protectors and the most caring, devoted friends. Dogs don't keep score or hold grudges. Dogs, who humans think of as "lesser" beings, have evolved--beyond us. They don't rely on technology or tools, and so, their intelligence has expanded. While we humans, well, we still act on hate. And myths like time...and religion.

What we think we know isn't as accurate as what we don't yet recognize or understand. Meaning, we don't get it, and don't want to. We choose ignorance--the excuse of the apathetic--over truth, and do this over and over again, ad infinitum. Our "advanced" brains are sick. We're too egotistical. Our evolution included being selfish as a mode of self-preservation. But because we haven't had a psycho-social evolution in over 10,000 years and certainly longer--that's just when the earliest evidence of philosophy emerges in human history--self-preservation became perverted. Our egos, over-developed. And today, we're consumed by our hatred, teetering on our fragile egos. 

Road rage. Child abuse. Rape. Racism. Ageism. Disability discrimination. Elitism. Animal abuse. Sex slavery. Bullying. Torture. Neglect. Domestic violence. There's no end to the horrors derived by humanity. 

They say time heals all wounds... but time doesn't exist. 

We do.