I suppose I should be grateful to be interrupted, ignored, ordered about, or, (in one recent incident), picked up and bodily moved to a more convenient spot in order to appease another's sense of propriety. I should be grateful because these are expressions of soulspeak, reminding me that truthfulness presents a more vibrant sense of reality than does insincerity. Yet though I extol the advantages of discourtesy, I believe that this choice between deception and truthfulness is more often made, based on one's perceived power over another as opposed to one's sincere regard for another. So in the same breath that I recommend truthfulness, I also encourage sincere regard.

Additionally and unavoidably, despite the value of these reminders, because my perspective begins and ends within my sense of me, it is still difficult for me to step back in deference to another me that's not me; especially when, (from my perspective), their me is not more consequential than my me---which, (let's be truthful), is very likely more often than not. Once again, my Humanity trips me up.

The difficulties created by searching for the exact appropriate mix of truthfulness and deception, within the volatility of circumstantial Humanity, are insurmountable; but by purposing sincere regard I believe these difficulties become somewhat more manageable, whereas by employing opportunistic manipulation I believe these difficulties become (at their best) divisive and (at their worst) toxic.

So what is my point? Where am I going? Answering these questions is important because in this moment there are 7,513,366,291 other individuals, all with their own personal sense of me, who do not give a fibber's phew-art that my me has been offended.

I must ponder...

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To begin, I believe one objective is, (as it is most every week), to encourage personal progress by moving past my Humanity without losing touch with my Humanity. But is there additional big-picture learning to be had, beyond my pettiness?

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Yes.

In this moment there are 7,513,617,826 individuals who are being impacted, daily, by opportunistic manipulation. And if I were to conjecture, I believe there are fewer than 7,513,618 individuals who sincerely regard the other 7,513,619,601. I would not be surprised to find there are fewer than 7,514 individuals with consistent sincere regard encompassing all of Humanity; this is the nature of being 1 within the entire scope of past, present, and future Humanity.

First and foremost, "the nature of being 1" requires all input to be interpreted by me and all personal output to emanate from me. Next, if there is sincere regard remaining to extend toward others, I (as me) am most likely to spend this regard on family, friends, (perhaps) community, and (on occasion) nation, leaving very little currency, (partially dependent upon the rate of exchange), for the entirety of Humanity. And finally, sincere regard on a large scale will likely be interpreted as discourtesy because (if it is truly sincere) it will likely deviate, (sometimes wildly so), from the consensus norm; and I believe a consensus will always reflect outdated thought.

Progress demands deviation from the norm.

This is the lesson I must learn to live, when I am in touch with the vibrant reality of opportunistic manipulation.

And if I am able to live this learning, I believe others are also able to find value within the deception of false courtesy, and within the truthfulness of discourtesy whether it originates from perceived power or sincere regard.

And if I am able to live this learning, I may also begin to recognize my me as bully and learn to curb my disproportionate appetite for power.

And if I am able to live this learning, perhaps I am able to temper the abruptness of norm deviations stemming from sincere regard. To do this I must begin from common ground instead of, (as is too often the case), screaming opinionated thought across a great divide, thus only widening the chasm.

We are in a time/circumstance in which we are caught up in back-and-forth volleys of name-calling, accusations, bickering, and recriminations.

It is not only okay, it is necessary to disagree.

I believe it to be far more productive to disagree from common ground.

I must consistently communicate common ground.

We must meet on common ground.

Please...