Way too often over the last few years people have passed it off as “alternative facts,” fake news, lack of conscience, lies, fear, stupidity,but it’s none of those. What it is, is Voluntary Ignorance!  Whether it’s Covid-19, election results, mask wearing, diversity, racial inequity, the latest head shaker…who actually attacked the Capitol on January 6th or vaccinations,  it is nothing but voluntary ignorance! I guess to put it in plain terms, people we might work with, let teach our kids, walk by us on the street or those we live with are choosing to lie to themselves, their families and friends, their towns, states and country and most sadly, they are lying straight to our faces while lying to themselves.  The thing is, voluntary ignorance begins much earlier and happens much more than we admit. (Yes, even more voluntary ignorance!) How often have you turned your head or looked the other way so you don’t have to admit something? Maybe it was for one of your children, spouse, friend, coworker, etc? Even worse, maybe it was when you did or said something or didn’t do or say something and then found a handy excuse to hide behind. Voluntary ignorance. Well these things have a way of multiplying (like all lies do) into much bigger and much more complex problems. And here we are… The only way to stop voluntary ignorance is from the inside out! Recognize it and the stop it first within each of us. Then recognize it in others. Then call it out. Then urge others to do the same. Then appreciate and compliment and help all of those you see who are fighting the same fight you are.  Voluntary ignorance can be overcome! Voluntary ignorance only dies in the shadows of facts, conscience, wisdom and gratitude.  I believe in you.  I just hope you believe in you as much as I do! Peace      …..Gregg

We used to have one or two anniversaries of tragic events to keep track of. Pearl Harbor, the day President Kennedy was killed, shooting in San Bernardino, Charleston, Newtown, Aurora, Virginia tech, Downtown Dallas, airport at Fort Lauderdale, concert in Las Vegas, church in Sutherland Springs Texas, High school in Santa Fe Texas, high school in Parkland Florida, News room in Annapolis Maryland, synagogue in Pittsburgh,Bar in Thousand Oaks California, Office in Virginia Beach, festival in Gilroy California, Walmart El Paso Texas, entertainment district Dayton Ohio,Midland and Odessa Texas, gas station in Springfield Missouri, Spas in Atlanta, grocery store in Boulder Colorado, FedEx in Indianapolis. Those are only the examples I can remember! Sadly, I’m sure there are more.  The pace is too much. The cost is too much. The politics preventing any meaningful action is too much. The numbers of families scared is too much. My point is that we used to have only a few of the dates of tragedies on our calendars. Now, the calendar is jampacked with gun violence mass shootings from coast to coast. Now, mass gun violence and random gun violence in our communities all across this country has jampacked our calendars. It is so bad that at this point some people are turning away from them because it is overload! People can’t handle the problem because they frankly can’t see any way to fix it. THAT is a real problem.  What skills will it take to begin to solve this gun violence problem. Well, in plain language (and excuse me if you’re offended but…) we need to give a shit! It’s not someone else’s problem, it’s not something that can only happen somewhere else. This gun violence epidemic can happen anywhere and to anyone!  Our leaders need to stop playing games with our lives and start protecting, serving. Start caring more about the people of this country than they do about getting re-elected.    Finally, everyday folks like you and me need to realize that what we say and do, what we don’t say and don’t do affects this situation in a big way. Every measure brought up isn’t a frontal assault on your second amendment rights. Likewise, every concern a gun owner has isn’t wrong. If we’re going to begin to fix this, we’re going to have to compromise. That means change. That means keeping some things you want to keep but also losing some things you once had. Until you’re willing to do that, the random gun violence won’t change, the mass shootings won’t change, the animus and division in this country won’t change.  Nobody wants to be the first to make a step in this journey. It’s going to take a big person, then another and another and another and so on until people aren’t afraid and over whelmed. Only then will they join. So, are you willing to be one of the big people to begin this healing? Maybe it’s a conversation in your family or among friends. Maybe it’s […]

With all due respect, we talk too much! Depending on the situation we either need to shut up and listen or shut up and understand the situation or shut and and say only what we really mean or shut up and look for the facts instead of the fallacies or shut up and have some respect or shut up and act instead of speak or shut up and consider the consequences of what you’re about to say or shut up and stop whining and/or complaining or shut up and find a better way or shut up and attempt to understand the meaning of empathy, gratitude and selflessness or shut up and ask yourself if all of those grudges and anger you’ve been carrying 24/7 are worth it or as I said earlier, shut up and listen. Listen to others around you, to the world around you and to the messages within you that have been trying to get your attention for years.  If you’ve been paying attention you’ve noticed that there is a recurring theme here. If you missed it then I’ll add another one to the list…  We need to shut up and pay attention!  Peace     …..Gregg