Today, I felt inspired to change the name of my blog from Ephemeral Utterances to Widdershins.

You see, the new name reflects the fact that things are usually not what they seem - in nature and in life.

Widdershins, the Scottish term for 'anti-clockwise', adequately expresses this. Most Westernized people think the earth turns in a clockwise direction, from right to left. In truth, however, the opposite is really the way of the world. The earth turns in counter-clockwise direction.

This conjures up lots of common Western ideas about the prejudice for 'right' and against 'left' - as though one were correct and the other incorrect. In truth, they are just both 'directions' like North, South, East and West. And still even using these words - in certain parts of the United States and the World these simple words hold connotations of good and bad.

Things in life are generally not what they seem at the time. It requires a great deal of patience and open-mindedness to give time to a 'thing' to see its true nature. We are all too quick to judge.

It is my desire to correct this in myself, now that I've reached my 50th year on earth. This year has been one of great upheaval, change and fear. Slowly, however, it is moving from these negative emotions to ones of hope, deliberation and rehabilitation. When you get to a point in your life where you are forced to rethink life and to re-invent yourself, you go through the fires of hell, but if you persevere, eventually we emerge on the other side stronger and hopefully, wiser.

So, yes, I intend to approach my life from here on, widdershins - as the Wise Ones say. And, you know who you are...

Been thinking a lot about blogging lately, in between work, that is... Mostly, its dawned on me that I blog less and less over the years and I finally got around to wondering why.

Not surprisingly, I don't journal like I used to when I was younger either. It isn't that I don't think about it often enough, especially when something fairly significant happens - but I just don't seem to do it. The inevitable next question is, are the two things somehow, related?

At first blush, it would seem so. Blogging and journaling basically being the equivalent of 'bearing one's soul. Yet, one is a public forum, the other is more private. What does it mean when bearing the soul in either way is abandoned?

There have been literally millions of words devoted to the topic of blogging - most especially now when Twitter has become so popular. Ironically, those millions of words probably came in the form of blogs because 140 characters at a time would not provide the depth required to complete a thought! Most of the posts don't really touch on the journaling aspect of the issue.

Personally, I found over the years that the journaling I was doing was mostly 'complaining' and ceased to be useful. I'd journal when I was upset or angry and use the medium to vent. The blogging I've done started out about political matters, mostly. Usually when George W. Bush was in office. Come to think about it, that also was a matter of 'complaining' too. I wasn't very happy with President Bush - from the beginning - it was a damned long 8 years...

Now, my life is necessarily consumed with work. Aside from being too busy to do anything else, for the most part, the complaining aspect of writing really does no good. It may feel good to vent in the moment, but after a while, it just gets tedious, especially for the person doing the complaining - not to mention the poor souls reading the vent. 'Oh, for God's Sake, just get over it!!!' Sound familiar?

So, now I have to ask, what do I need to do to write more and write more constructively? I considered the 'daily diary' format for blogging - but to me my life isn't that interesting - and frankly, after working 12 hour days I have trouble stringing two logical words together, much less a riveting account of my day.

That leaves the occasional post when it suits me. That requires that I pay careful attention to things that make me happy. The website that makes me laugh, the funny photo, anything that uplifts. Because, after all, hopefully others will read the posts too. And, don't I have a moral duty to bring a smile to people who bother to read my work, rather than bring them down? It is a simple concept, but an important one.

Checking out the moon tonight. Feeling a real longing that can't be adequately described...

The pen is mightier than the... keyboard?!

Pen and Paper

For private thoughts, writing on paper adds the tactile connection required to express myself.



For more publicly shown writing with the keyboard is faster.

The Cruise...

Oh, for three more hours

All the fun things - web surfing, game playing, plinky updating, etc... that I would have done had I not been wasting the day working for a living.

Yes, a whole new year is upon us.

My friends, its been a LONG 8 years, hasn't it? Seems like it would never end - the era of Bush. We are almost there. So many folks I know are breathing a collective sigh of relief that Barack Obama will be sworn in this month. Unfortunately, we all have too much on our plates right now - as a nation and individually. The economic situation in this country is such that all we can say is: 'It can only get better, 'cause we've turned a corner.' It may be cliche to say this but it usually IS always darkest before the dawn. We've got a long way to go of course but one thing about this nation, we are fighters and in the end, we'll do whatever we need to do to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and get on with the business of life.

With a new President to guide us, and a new state of mind - think in terms of savings, what matters most (remember 'Love'?) and being optimistic in the face of cynicsm - we can and will improve our condition. I believe the time for intelligence has come - air-headed stupidity is out and the adults will take over the world again. Clear headed rationalism will win the day.

You know - I still miss Tim Russert, but I'm damn glad that if he had to go that David Gregory is taking the helm at 'Meet the Press' in his place. That's what I mean, the experience of a real journalist who is willing and able to step up to the plate and carry on in the hard-working tradition of Tim Russert will help to carry the show to a new generation of enlightened public. People who are interested in the truth and not 'sound-bites' and a host who is more interested in probing the opinions of his guests than providing his own.

So, here is to 2009! Let's enjoy the few days off we have until getting back to work. Let's love each other, listen to great music that makes us happy and seriously focus on how we can change ourselves this year to make our lives better.

To everyone out there who is out of a job, know that so many people are thinking of you and feel for you at this time. Look at your life and see how you can re-educate yourself to fit into the new market economy. A lot of changes are coming and there will be a place for all of us at the table. We just CANNOT think negatively now - none of us have that luxury. Yes, I said, luxury. It is damned hard to think positively, but it works, whether we will acknowledge it or not - and it will lower your blood pressure and make you happier and everyone who comes in contact with you too.

Believe in synchronicity. It really works!