Get to Know a Mineral: Realgar!

And now for another installment of "Get to know a Mineral!"  It's been a while, but I thought I'd write about a mineral I found not too long ago on my job site: Realgar!

Realgar, or "ruby sulphur" as it is sometimes called, is an arsenic sulfide mineral (As₄S₄).  As its moniker suggests, it is red in colour but is also known to be orange.   It is a soft mineral (1.5 to 2 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness) that occurs in monoclinic crystals or as powder.  It is often associated with orpiment (As₂S₃), as well as calcite and barite.

Its etymological beginnings originate from Arabic: رهج الغار, meaning 'powder of the mine'.  Realgar was called "sandaracha" by the ancient Greeks who knew of its poisonous nature.  This nature was exemplified when realgar was used to poison rats in medieval Spain and in sixteenth-century England.  It was a prominent item of trade in the ancient Roman Empire, where it was used for red paint and as a medicine.  China also utilized it as a medicine, incorporating it into household items such as wine cups, images and charms in the hope that it would ward off disease.

Commonly occurring as a low-temperature hydrothermal vein mineral associated with other arsenic and antimony minerals, realgar also comes about from volcanic sublimations and in hot spring deposits.  Well known localities include China, Switzerland, Turkey and Peru.  Realgar occurs with lead, silver and gold ores in Hungary, Bohemia and Saxony.  The United States also boasts mines with realgar occurences, as well as in the geyser deposits of Yellowstone National Park.

In years past, realgar was used to perform corrosive work in industries such as leather manufacturing, where it would be used to remove the hair from animal pelts. The use of its corrosive nature has been abandoned in modern times due to its listing as a known carcinogen, and because cheaper competing products exist.  It is however, still sometimes used in the killing of weeds, insects, and rodents.

For a geologist, realgar is an exciting indicator mineral and a favorite of mineral collectors.  It has been known to change to a yellow powdery form after being subjected to long periods of light.  This yellow powder was once thought to be orpiment, however it has recently been shown to possess a distinct chemical compound and is known as pararealgar.

Also Get to Know:

Molybdenite
Garnet
Cummingtonite

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The Middle Man

"But how did it all begin?"  This is the question that seems to dominate a great many conversations about the cosmos, religion, and mankind's role in it all.  The religious will insist that a creator had a [his] hand in setting the universe in motion.  They point to the body of evidence that scientists have compiled over generations and unwaveringly claim that this validates their reasoning.

However, this is just not true at all.  Using observations about our material world to draw up conclusions of a non-material world and a non-material creator makes absolutely no sense.  When pieced together, these facts and observations about our world imply a material origin, of which we have dubbed the Big Bang.  What these [mostly] moderate religious followers are implying in their "theory" is a middle man.

A middle man is a concept most often utilized in business, where there are several individuals who all want a cut of the action/payload.  For example, there is the car salesman who after selling a car, will receive a portion (commission) of the proceeds.  Retail stores also act as middle-men as they are an extra step between those producing the goods and those purchasing the goods.  In the age of the internet, concert-ticket sites act as middle men by providing a medium through which participants can buy/sell tickets, and by taking a small cut of the transaction. 

So, in the context of the universe, God (or god) is the middle man.  According to the religious, God is the necessary condition that must exist in order for our universe to exist.  With regards to the Christian God, He has existed since the very beginning (whatever and whenever that was) and it is by his benevolence that life on Earth has flourished.

The middle man in action.

But this middle man is just not necessary.  He, or rather we, inserted him into the grand scheme of things at a time in our history when we had no clue about the physical nature of our world.  We moulded him into a form that resembles our human state both emotionally (Old Testament) and physically (New Testament).  This is not hard to see.  Anyone who reads the jealous and despicable acts of God in the Old Testament will attest to the fact that He seems more human than divine.

It then follows that the scientific (and atheistic) world view incorporates no middle man.  No space-man to roll the planets in their celestial orbits.  No God-man to offer forgiveness for illogical sins.  And no blatant fable for the beginning of the world.  The same facts and observations mentioned at the beginning are used to build a physical view of the world, one that makes sense as we reside in a physical plane and not an imaginary, non-nonsensical one.

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The Inflection Point

This next entry touches upon a phenomenon I began to notice a few years back: the Inflection Point.  Also known as the Point of Inflection, this event is a common occurrence in our everyday lives and has significant consequences for our social and business endeavors.  Simply put, the Point of Inflection encompasses the moment when contact between two or more people occurs, and the emotions felt in the immediate aftermath. A pretty general definition, but let us explore the concept further.

First, an understanding of the etymology of the Inflection Point.  The inspiration for this concept of mine came from high school calculus.  In the mathematical sense of the word, the inflection point is a point on a curve at which the curvature changes from being concave upwards to concave downwards, or vice versa.  It is this change in concavity that strikes me as an excellent analogy for what happens when contact is initiated.  It should be noted that I do not necessarily mean physical contact.  In fact, it is the simple occurrence of eye contact that is best suited for the context of the Point of Inflection.

Let us explore the concept of the Inflection Point in this context.  To redefine this phenomenon, the Point of Inflection includes the moment after you exchange eye contact with someone or realize that you are being watched, and the reaction of both parties immediately after.  In this moment, your actions/attitude/demeanor changes rapidly in what can be described as an awkward shift in momentum.  I first began to observe and experience this effect in the halls of my university, the exercise rooms of the gym, and then finally (and most dramatically) on the dance floor.  Let me explain this through an example.

Good sir and madam.

Example: A young man is walking down a hallway, when a woman enters the hallway from the other end and begins to travel in his direction.  Their paths are sure to cross, and when they do the young man glances at the woman.  Their eyes meet quickly before returning to their desired paths (or the floor), but not without leaving an impression on both of them.  Most noticeably is the pace of the young man.  It has changed from a stride of sure determination to a shuffle.  The woman, quite unnoticeably, experiences a shiver before returning to her regular stride. 

In this example, we have eye contact between two people (more specifically a male and a female) passing each other in a hallway.  However, the example also works if they are both male or both female.  The Point of Inflection begins when each person notices the other, eye contact triggering the change in behavior which is then followed by two different reactions from each party involved.  The most noticeable reactions such as the change in walking pace comes from a loss of concentration or increased uncertainty from the presence of the other person.  Other noticeable reactions include a rapid aversion of the eyes, a slight slurring of words or stopping of conversation altogether (if talking to an accompanying person), a touch of your hair (mostly done by women), and the finding of something to occupy oneself (such as a cell phone).  The slight shudder is a reaction that would normally be unnoticeable, and it should be noted that is does not necessarily mean disgust or fear.  Sometimes the human body will just react.  Other examples of unnoticeable reactions include an increase in sweat/prickles, feelings of pride or embarrassment and an inability to concentrate.  The Point of Inflection can be associated with nervousness, however, it is not an experience restricted specifically to this feeling. 

The Inflection Point is mostly felt when encountering others while alone.  It is not as prevalent when part of a group.  One reason for this is the confidence of being in a group (safety in numbers).  Another reason is that a lone encounter with another person allows for a personal experience where the parties involved are "forced" to come to terms with the interaction and the following reaction. 

Dudes got swagger!

As I mentioned earlier, the Point of Inflection can be most dramatically observed on the dance floor. For my purposes, I will write about this example in the context of a club's dance floor, where the lights and sounds are cause for intoxication in the dimly-lit confines of the bar.  This social setting is often used as a sort of sexual foreplay, where ones movements on the floor can send a message of how one may perform in the bedroom.  Besides the sexual connotations, it is also an arena where confidence, creativity and charisma will win you a crown (and perhaps a companion).  The Point of Inflection is quite intimately linked with actions on the dance floor, as searching for and acquiring a partner includes an incredible amount of body language and eye contact.  A night out can be considered successful through the proper usage and maintenance of the Inflection Point.  A simple gaze can convey volumes, and a brave foot forward can cement your dominance. 

The POI is not alone in its existence as it can be broken down into various parts/reactions that may follow.  Below are a few other sub-POI's that I have come up with. 

Point of Reflection - You catch another's gaze and immediately ponder what their glance could mean.

Point of Intention - Eye contact that conveys a sense of intention.

Point of Retention -  An awkward/negative reaction to the above points, or to avoid follow up to them.

Point of Defection - To defect from a plan (ie: Begin a reaction to POI but abandon intentions halfway through). 

Point of Infection - Negative thoughts consume you.  In the context of the dance floor, this translates into "you're fucked for the night!".

Point of Convention - You start reasoning with yourself about your actions (ie: conventional logic).

These sub-POI's all come with their own consequences and possibilities, and I'm sure there are countless others to experience.  It would be beneficial to embrace and master these.  This can be accomplished by understanding your Point of Inflection.  Keep track of how you react to these situations and brace for future ones.  This is the first step to mastering one's Point of Inflection and those of others.

Don't do it!

In order to do this, you must know that POI is inevitable, and that the secret to mastering it is to exude confidence.  I find that when passing others, the Inflection Point is diminished if I return their gaze, smile, or nod/acknowledge them.  I have experienced the Point of Inflection several times when passing another person while talking to an accompanying friend.  To alleviate the Point of Inflection, I simply asked my friend a question which would pivot the momentum of the conversation to them.  Therefore, I was in a position to take a break from speaking and avert the Inflection Point.  There is one maxim when avoiding an Inflection Point, and that is to never reach for something to occupy yourself.  This screams avoidance, especially if the object you grab is your cell phone.  

There you have it!  The Point of Inflection laid out bare for you all to see and to experience (and experience it you will).  If you haven't already observed this phenomenon, you will now see it everywhere.  It will become so apparent and obvious that you will wonder how you never noticed it before.  And now it is up to you to master the Inflection Point.  Whether it be in the hallway, at the drinking fountain, or on the dance floor.  Have fun, and good luck!


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Geologizing in the Yukon!

I'm back (again)! It seems that my last semester of geology left me pressed for time, which took away from leisurely activities I enjoy such as updating my blog.  But no more!  I graduated recently and I am currently working in the Yukon for the summer.  So, what better to share with you than my experiences thus far up in Canada's far North.

I must first begin by thanking a friend and classmate through whose recomendation I got the job here in the Yukon.  That would be you, Ben.  My greatest thanks goes out to you good sir for your help in securing this job.  I hope your time up by Dawson City is going great!

I left on my travel to the Yukon on June 4th, a few days after my graduation convocation.  The convocation itself was a long three hours, but the diploma and the smiles of my fellow classmates, friends and family were worth it.  Congrats Lakehead U Class of 2012!  Good luck in all your future endeavors.

View from the flight to Whitehorse

So, flying from the Tbay airport, I connected through the airports of Toronto, Calgary and finally Whitehorse (a total of almost 12 hours traveling).  Immediately exiting the airport, it became evident that I was in a mountainous area, with small peaks decorating the background.  For a city of 24,000 people, its streets were surprisingly busy with the bustling of pedestrians.  The next morning, a park on the main street was full of activity as musicians entertained the crowd.
 
After a bit of training at the Yukon Chamber of Mines (where I met up with my boss and a few fellow employees), we were off to the town of Mayo - a 5 hour drive away.  Upon arriving there, we quickly made our way to the Chinese restaurant (coincidentally the only restaurant in town).  I spent two nights in Mayo as we prepared supplies to send to the camp.  The camp itself is located about an hour helicopter ride from Mayo and was built just two weeks before I arrived.  Those who built the camp arrived on site in two feet of snow!

Before making my way to camp, I was fortunate enough to take a ride in a Cessna 208 Caravan to deliver fuel to an airstrip.  This experience differed from being in a commercial plane as 1) I sat in the front seat beside the pilot, and 2) my view of the clouds were phenomenal.  Having a front row view of the plane soaring through and above the sea of clouds was breathtaking.

So, after all that I finally embarked upon the hour-long helicopter ride to the camp.  It was during this flight (on an AStar 350) that I got my first view of the terrain that I would be traversing.  Mountains ranging up to 6000 ft above sea level passed us by.  Snow capped and craggy, they stood out as dangerous wonders.  The valleys that flowed out of them were vast, spanning in all directions until another mountain materialized out of them.  Looking around in all directions, all I could see were mountain chains;  all snow capped and all menacing.  I would go as far as to say that I felt a feeling of entrapment by these mountains.  They appeared as insurmountable barriers between me and the modern world that I had just left behind.

The Camp!

Arriving in camp, I met the crew that I would be spending my summer with.  Fourteen people in all.  Luckily for me they have all turned out to be great and I have enjoyed getting to know them thus far.  My home for the summer would be a prospector tent to be shared with two of my camp mates.

Not the first-day mountain, but still covered in snow!

Then came my first day in the field.  It was raining when the chopper landed us on a mountain ridge way up high above the valley.  Mist hung in the air and our breath was easily visible as puffs of smoke.  Snow covered a great deal of the mountain side, however it had been exposed to some sun so there were several safe paths.  Almost all of you reading this will have slid down a hill side in the winter, letting the snow take you.  Traversing through snow fields on the mountain is somewhat similar, except that it's a much longer way down to the bottom than a hill, and gravity tends to do its job quite well.  We tended to avoid snow fields if we could, but there would be times when we would have to cross them and we were sure to ready ourselves for a slip.  We first traveled up the mountain side for a time.  I quickly came to terms with ascending up a mountain.  My calves swelled and pained as I fought my way up, my boots of choice being steel-towed and heavy (though necessary for rock-related dangers).  I sometimes bounded up an incline, just to get to the top quicker to rest.  It was by doing so that I realized how, that even on a mountain, the ground can disappear beneath you.  As I said, I bounded up at times only to face the view of the other side of the mountain, and the cliff that preceded it.  It only took one quick look down to decide that this was a place that needed to be approached with caution and with second glances.  The walk up was tiring and I quickly assumed that the descent would be much easier.  

Traversing down the mountain was alright for the most part as there were patches of moss or talus that we could descend on.  But there were some tricky patches.  I slipped while on a side covered by rubble-crop (gravel/sand-like material) and slid a good five meters down, cutting my fingers slightly and becoming quite muddy.  Good lessons for the first day.  The rest of the travel down was arduous and long but we finally reached the bottom of the mountain where the chopper came to pick us up.  I should mention here that my job as a Field Geologist includes duties such as mapping and sampling.  So, the entire traverse we were acquainting ourselves with the rock units and mineralization, mapping structures and lithologies, and collecting samples which we carried in our backpacks.  The model for the area we are exploring is a Carlin gold deposit, where arsenic-minerals are important, such as arsenious pyrite, realgar, scoridite and orpiment.

One of the many beauties of the Yukon!

That first day was challenging.  I had been proven to be out of shape and unprepared mentally for the job at hand.  I was nervous and unsure.  However, I had been in this place many times before.  Each of my previous summer jobs had me recalibrating myself for my environment, so I pressed on.  Four weeks in and I am loving it here!  I have gotten used to traversing down the sides of mountains and have seen some amazing places here in the Yukon.  This territory has a very specific kind of beauty.  While the lakes and hills of Ontario convey a peaceful beauty, I'd like to say that the mountains of the Yukon convey a dangerous beauty.  A beauty that can turn on you if you are not careful where you tread and what you kick up.

Like many places in Canada, there is a danger of bears.  Here, we have both grizzly and black bears to contend with.  There have been several sightings by my camp mates, however there have not been any altercations.  We are all equipped with bear bangers, and bear spray.  I also carry my Gerber knife on my belt whenever I'm in the field.  It is a valued birthday gift from my friend, Jordan.  Though, I quickly came to acknowledge that the most immediate danger wasn't a bear attack, but the mountains themselves.  Rock falls and slides are quite common and can cause a whole range of injuries to look out for.

I should also mention that so far, I have not experienced the darkness of night in the Yukon.  I am here at a time of the year where there is 20-22 hours of daylight a day.  I have often woken up at 2am to see a brightly-lit sky above me.  I am thankful for the purchase of a sleeping eye mask, a must have if you are to retain any normalcy for sleep.  The weather here varies quite a bit, with a week of warm weather leading to a week of cold, rainy weather.  We even had snow one morning!  We entertain ourselves at night by watching shows together on a computer in the kitchen.  We just finished up the Sherlock Holmes mini series made by the BBC, which was fantastic!  If you want to watch a witty show with a captivating plot and cliffhangers, I would definitely recommend Sherlock.

I have another two weeks here until I return to Thunder Bay for a break.  The snow has mostly melted, however there are patches that still remain, and may remain till winter descends upon the mountains in September.  So, that's all for now.  A quick update on my life in the Yukon.  I hope to continue posting articles now that I have time.  However, it's surprising how fast the day goes by here.  Especially when returning from the field to the camp.  The night just disappears! 

Ciao!

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Malaysian scam

Nigerian Princes often get flack for trying to get internet users to depart with their money in the hopes of receiving millions, but never before have I seen the good name of Malaysia dragged into this scandalous foray. 

Well imagine my surprise when I received an email from a would-be scammer saying a relative of mine had died in Malaysia and left a grand sum of $18,000,000 just lying around.

So, in good fun, I decided to write back.

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The Will of Giants

"Standing on the shoulders of giants" is a saying that usually pertains to accomplishing feats by using the past accomplishments of others as a launch pad for your own attempts at greatness.  Modern physicists would identify Newton and Einstein as their giants while human rights advocates would look to Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohandas Gandhi for their inspiration.  But when does standing on a "giant's shoulders" turn into becoming a giant?  I'd like to leave behind the connotation of accomplishment that comes with this saying and instead offer a new definition of what it is to be a giant.  A giant is someone who exerts their influence on the world around them; their presence is felt wherever they are, towering above the multitude, acting as an anchor of certainty and imposing their will on the world.  Sounds like a force to be reckoned with, right?  This idea of the proverbial giant is what has been on my mind the last little while.  What would it take to become such a being?  And after becoming a "giant", would you be happy with the results? 

As I said before, I'd like to leave accomplishment out of this definition for now.  Of course, accomplishment is a major measure of greatness and as such will produce giants of its own but that will come with time and the right setting.  However, the social environment we reside in is ripe for producing giants and it is in this conceptual setting that I would like to explore.

So, first let me tell you how I happened upon this idea.  It's been a long time coming, especially since the foundations were laid down by my transition to atheism.  The idea of a God who is constantly minding your business and judging you is very limiting.  It creates a feeling of being fenced in and of having limited options for how to live your life, though at the time you don't realize this (I know I didn't).  Upon shedding the idea of God, I realized that there are no permanent social boundaries.  None whatsoever.  The only boundaries and limitations that exist are those that we build for ourselves and those that are built by others.  Sounds dangerous doesn't it?  And it is, if not tended by a steady mind.  For this is the world we live in (whether you choose to believe it or not) where physical interactions determine everything that occurs.  Divine intervention has no role here.  At this point in my transition I was aware of this reality but lacked the motivation or understanding to do much about it.  I carried on with my life, trapped by boundaries that continued to define and mould the path I took.  Only recently have events occurred that have allowed me to see this truth and to begin reshaping the boundaries in my life. 

I was pretty much starting from scratch.  Questioning the fabric of my existence was only the beginning, as I was now in a position to create my own moral/social code for me to abide by.  As I mentioned above, this is where it gets dangerous.  Someone with little regard for the lives of others may come up with a code that is incompatible with a harmonious society, where a person's individual wants override everything else.  Such attitudes have existed throughout history and still do today.  But in my personal search, I could see the value of placing the wants and needs of others on the same level as my own and so that is how I decided to sculpt my moral code.  So how was I to start?  After thinking about it, I resolved to rely on what I have always used to determine how I treat others, empathy.  Truly, empathy is the vehicle for us all in determining how we interact with others.  So with an atheistic mindset and empathy in hand, I began the construction of my own social and moral code.   

As I was building my code, I kept revisiting a certain theme.  I was free to do anything I wanted to do or be whoever I wanted to be.  There was no solid carving of myself set in stone.  Only a fluid one, which I am responsible for forming.  Nobody knows who I am.  Nobody knows what I'm thinking.  And nobody knows what I'm capable of.  So why sell myself short.  I then decided to ask myself an important question: what did I want out of my life?  It is essential to understand this question before answering it.  Your answer should not be to "get married and to have a nice car or house".  It should delve deeper than that.  It should touch on what you want to drive your life (your motivations), the kind of person you want to be and how other people fit into your existence.  Once I honestly answered this question, I had a path to follow. 

And so you must now ask yourself this question.  And be sure to answer it honestly.  Only once you have your answer can you truly begin to "be who you want to be".  Everything that held you back; fear, embarrassment, timidity, apathy or lack of confidence can be overcome and replaced with a certainty of character and purpose.  That is how giants are created.  Their thoughts are translated into actions and made visible for the world to see.  And that is the next step.  Actually going out and exerting your influence.  Bending this world to your will through your actions and making something out of your existence.  That was one of the initial thoughts I had concerning this subject: the idea of control.  The feeling of being in control is an intoxicating one.  You feel like you are no longer subject to the weathering of the outside world.  That you are no longer a pawn, but a player in this game we call life.

"monster"

I must mention here that by no means am I claiming to be a giant.  Only that I have stumbled upon the path one may take to become one.  I can only imagine that, as a giant, it would be easy to lose perspective.  Towering above the multitude can lead to the establishment of a "God Complex" within a person.  History is certainly rich with examples of this, ranging from Xerxes of Persia to Adolf Hitler of Nazi Germany to recently deceased Moammar Gadhafi of Libya.  In becoming a giant, a personality of humility and modesty must be fostered.  To do otherwise is to risk becoming a monster.   

A certain quote comes to mind as I wrap up my thoughts.  It comes from one of my favorite novels, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, and touches on the path we take to define ourselves.

"It's like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head.  Always.  All the time.  That story makes you what you are.  We build ourselves out of that story."

So what stories will you tell?

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Reflections

As I move on in life, I constantly sense myself changing.  I don't mean this in the physical sense so much, but more mentally and emotionally.  Call it maturation if you wish.  I prefer to call it discovery.  It's as if every so often I look back at myself and my actions and realize who I am now is not the person I was in the recent past.  The most startling realization is that recent past does not mean 3 years ago or even 1 year.  I can trace a significant change in composure or thought down to months ago.  It's as if I'm standing in a room with mirrors on both sides of the wall, creating a never-ending cascade of pseudo-me's that carry my physical appearance yet have different individual assessments of this world and my place in it.

I think one of the first times I felt this way was during my transition from Christianity to atheism.  I had encountered a new way of thinking about the world and was excited to share it with my friends and anyone who would listen.  Boundaries had fallen that were kept in place by my acceptance that a god was necessary for this world to exist, such an idea I had never thought of questioning until then.  I could now view the world through glasses that were not smeared by a layer of fog that had been my religion.  However, I was still wearing glasses.

Not these kind of filters....

And I didn't know it then.  I didn't know that my perception of the world was still being obstructed by my thoughts and other beliefs that I held.  Well, hold on a second.  Of course I understood that these "filters" probably existed, but I didn't know what they were or how to tackle them.  Cue life.  It didn't take long for these filters to become apparent.  One by one they appeared, each having a unique impact on me.  The way I handled each of them was unique too, ranging from indifference to fear to acceptance.  Although, that's not to say that I've succeed in defeating all of my known filters and apprehensions.  In fact, I readily admit that I am still plagued by them.  They pop up everywhere in my life and some are harder to get rid of than others.  And I'm still discovering more of them!

So where does that leave me?  Am I to accept that I am forever doomed to drown in a sea of my apprehensions.  Nope. So, I've decided to swim.  What would life be like without any struggles?  Certainly nothing that could elicit the emotions that we've come to let define our human existence.  But enough of that.  The weights that try to pull me down into the abyss are not what I wanted to write this post about.  I want to write about the gasps of air, the uplifting moments of realization, that I have experienced.

Most of you will have experienced them too.  The intense feelings associated with friendship and with loss.  The embrace of a lover and the consumption that is lust.  The rush of accomplishment and the drag of laziness.  Wondering if you'll make it to the end of the year with crushing finances and ominous deadlines.

Indeed, over the past year I have gone through many moments of realization and I've let them consume my life.  In fact, many of them became my life for various amounts of time.  Perhaps that is what it means to live; to let people and ideas become a part of you.  A process so fluid and seamless that I didn't even realize it till now.  And yes, it seems obvious as I write this.  Many of you will think it is obvious and you are justified in saying so.  But I think that we often forget this as we go through our lives, performing the daily activities that constitute our existence.  Those daily actions often become our existence and we forget what it means to actually live.  That is what this previous year has shown me.

While I could write about my individual episodes of realization, I am currently consumed by another idea and would much rather share that with you instead.  It's a simple idea really.  Though it takes the right frame of mind to truly understand it and implement it in your life.  What is it you say?  Well, you'll have to read my next post to find out.

It feels good to be back at the blog.  I know I've let it sit idle for a long time, but hopefully this will mark the beginning of more to come.