HATE ON THE NET

The age of technology has paved the way to fingertip access to information; e-buying and e-trading; e-reading; bridging distance via web-based communication; facilitating simulated and vicarious learning; among all the other attendant consequences of the Internet Universe. As I write this post, someone would have likely invented a gadget more powerful than what either of us are using now to read this.


It is however unfortunate that for every breakthrough humanity is given, we almost always naturally destroy its inspiration as we ascribe power to ourselves to use these advancements as an edge to further improve our skills on hating, bullying, segregation, bigotry and worst of all, increase our cowardice as we hide behind the comfort of an electronic tool to commit these acts of inhumanity by judging and ridiculing other people, trusting that we are protected by some distant, geographical servers.


Do you really matter at all? Or what you think? Or what you say? I mean, seriously. Do you believe all that is possible just because ...?


In real life terms, there are very few people in this world who really matter to any one other person. In the same way, for anyone to matter a great deal to someone, all the time, is rare and far between. 


The downside of the Internet community and the social networks has unfortunately increased man's capacity to delude himself by completely fracturing his mindset to think AND believe that the total number of Friends that like you on Facebook or Follow You on Twitter or play games with you, are in any way a good substitute or equivalent to warm-blooded, tactile, present and real-life friends and loved ones, living right outside of the dark closet of your laptop or PC.


It's sad, no, I correct myself, it is tragic. People have grown accustomed to the "home-ness" of the little black (or white or alien) box, and the relative ease in using one of the most abused 3-letter word on the keyboard ...DEL. Delete, my dear friends, is not considered homicide.

The sky is blue, the clouds are white, and the air we breathe (as the last time I checked) is still tax-free.  The world to date has 7 frickin' billion people. There are around 100 billion galaxies and approximately 30 sextillion stars in the observable universe. And here is something I hope everyone who would chance upon this post would appreciate and feel humbled - an entire galaxy is seen as a small bright dot, a speck.


If you happen to love and be loved by one other real-life person in this magnanimous galaxy, consider yourself lucky.  Otherwise, you don't matter. Nor do I. Or anybody else. 


I can't, for the life of me, explain all the hating and judging, whether in cyberspace or in real-life.
I can't simply rationalize why one person can feel so superior over another.
How can one race be more intelligent?
How can one creed be more righteous?
How can one gender be considered more fortunate?
If your preferences differ, how can you think your preferences are better than anyone else's?
Wealthy and affluent? Who the hell cares? You're still smaller than a dot.


Now, (getting off my soap box), I am fortunate enough to have found a handful (emphasis on the handful), of online gems and another handful of loved ones and significant others who make my little speck in the universe glow with spectacular brilliance.

"It is better to be hated for who you are, than to be loved for someone you are not."

Today, I Thought About Gandhi

There are few people in this world that need no introduction.  Mahatma Gandhi is one of them.  There are days when I feel like I have slept too long and yet there's this "giant mush" I feel in my heart and things just don't seem to be coloured in the right hues I want them to be.
I remembered one of his famous quotes: 

"If I had no sense of humor, I would long ago have committed suicide."

Nah ...I love myself too much to inflict self-harm, albeit I do hold an impressive level of tolerance for physical pain, I don't believe in short cuts. It is just that I am feeling rather "off" from my rhythm and and "roughly right" in terms of my inner harmony.  

Most times when I am feeling these disconnects, I take to painting.  After a few attempts and I couldn't get the right colours I wanted, I decided to surf the net.  I chanced upon a couple of good picks.

The first one about Rowan Atkinson, ("Mr. Bean"), having been in a very recent car crash.  The chap is more than famous worldwide, he is absolutely rich.  This is his second major auto accident.   He was driving a Mclaren Formula 1.  Yeah it is one of those cheap cars that you buy for a small amount like 2 million euro.  The news said, "he is shaken, not stirred" and has walked out of the hospital with a broken shoulder bone.  Other than that, it's the car that was totally wrecked. It's funny how funny people survive situations that any one would consider a major tragedy.

Along with this find, I found yet another treasure. Most of my older followers would know that I am a self-confessed Coehlo stalker. Coehlo had posted a link on his Blog that leads his readers to "Gandhi's Top 10 Fundamentals for Changing the World."

Well I don't know why the world fixates itself on Top 10's. To an average, attention-deficit person like I am, I saw the list and I realized that there is absolutely no way an individual can progress to Numbers 4, 5, 6 to 10, if the person fails to master the Top 3. I would much rather talk about the first 3.

The Top 3 Fundamentals of the the Top 10 Fundamentals of Gandhi.

First: Change yourself. 

You think this is easy, try it! 

"You must be the change you want to see in this world." How do you really re-invent yourself?  How do you really change the way you think about things?  People are stubborn. We all are. I know I am. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." How many people do you know would admit that we all need a few fixings and tweaking here and there in terms of mindset?  How many times have you honestly accepted that you are wrong to think, feel and act that way? 

I keep trying this but I keep reverting back to my "comfort zone." Its always so much easier to hide behind the excuse, "Well that's how I believe things should be and that's that." It is so easy to do this, I change everyday but then again I am completely wrong, I guess.

Second: You are in control.

"Nobody can hurt me without my permission."

I read and re-read this.  Have I been hurting for all the wrong reasons?

This tenet so closely reminds me of Covey's 7 Basic habits of Highly Effective People.  He said, "Be proactive."  Choose what matters to you and do not attribute anyone else the "power" to influence your thoughts, emotions and reactions.

So I start my day with a mantra, "You go girl, you are totally in control!" Whilst humming and singing to my favourite tune on the car radio, some jack-ass cuts me and I curse him to high heavens.  There goes my being "in control" and I get to the rest of my drive road-raging.

Third: Forgive and let it go.

Fine, so who do I forgive if I have killed 'em all? Right, I am just kidding.

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."

I always subscribed to the opposite of this principle.  To kick-ass and fight back takes courage, only to be told by a really wise man (albeit dead), that the ability to forgive is an indicator of strength. The inability to forgive keeps you in bondage, which arguably, is true.  I reckon the most pathetic part is being unable to forgive and the other party has completely forgotten what it was all about.  That just sucks.  

I do subscribe that negativity breeds more negativity, and wallowing in past hurts, failures and pain would never get me anywhere.

Great! My epiphany: I just need to master Number 2, so I can handle Number 3. And in order for me to be able to embrace the principle of Being in Control, I need to change Myself. 

I stopped at the Top 3. Perhaps someday, when I have the moral ascendancy to proceed to Number 4 of the Top 10 Fundamentals, I am worthy to Blog about it.

Repost: Choosing The Path Of Least Resistance

Choosing The Path of Least Resistance

I am reposting (click link please^) the third Post I made in February 2011, (back in the days when my Blog was called Coffee and Smokes Chat), mainly because I am deeply moved by a comment left by a person who chose to remain Anonymous. 

His comment was Dated 1 August 2011.

This is what he said: 

Anonymous said...

My wife is dying.

July 18, we celebrated 22 years together. She is 46 and, if the doctors are right, will never be 47. Cervical cancer that moved to her lungs. I say this because I want you to know how important your post here is. I see her in your words. Our life has not been the easy path, ever. It was her path. She chose each step, regardless of the things around her. Even when she might stumble. And now she still chooses her step. Even while looking death in the eye, she raises her skirt and lifts her foot, and takes the step she and she alone has chosen.

The grace and strength is humbling to watch.

I really wished you left an address so I could respond to you directly.  But nevertheless, I am awed by the story of your unconditional love and I am dedicating this re-post to your wife; she is an as inspiration to all of us with her unquestionable fortitude and grace even in the face of the most daunting of all life's challenges.  Thank you so much for sharing your touching story.  I am humbled by this gesture.

I wish you will see this re-post.

Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death.  ~Author Unknown

Sign Up Now: SPECIAL CLASSES FOR MEN and WOMEN

I recently received from a colleague friend a very interesting Training Curriculum, designed specifically to address Special Needs of Men and Women. When I browsed through the list, I can't help but recognize how insanely spot on are the Topics and Offerings.  The Battle of the Sexes rages on in the education milieu, 21st century version.  Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

Let me lay down a fair playing field,  the Classes for the "better man" first, then Classes for Men.
CLASSES FOR WOMEN:

  
Topic 1. Silence, the Final Frontier:  Where No Woman Has Gone Before (Seriously?)
  
Topic 2. The Undiscovered Side of Banking: Making Deposits (Withdrawals are easier)
  
Topic 3. Parties: Going Without New Outfits (Simply Rubbish!)
  
Topic 4. Bathroom Etiquette: Men Need Space in the Bathroom Cabinet Too (quite Interesting topic, very new concept)
  
Topic 5. Communication Skills I: Tears - The Last Resort, not the First (My core competence)
  
Topic 6. Communication Skills II: Getting What you Want Without Nagging (Really? New methodologies that work, I mean really work?))
  
Topic 7. Driving a Car Safely: A Skill You CAN Acquire (I hate this, I race cars!)
  
Topic 8. Telephone Skills: How to Hang Up (Nonsense!)
  
Topic 9. Classic Footwear: Wearing Shoes You Already Have (Won't enrol here)
  
Topic 10. Oil and Petrol: Your Car Needs Both (I just really play dumb...)

NEW EVENING CLASSES FOR MEN. ALL ARE WELCOME! OPEN TO MEN ONLY! (hahahaha ... sorry can't help seeing HOW totally redundant this sounds!)
  
Note: due to the complexity and level of difficulty of their contents, each course will accept a maximum of ONLY eight participants per Class.
  
Topic 1. How To Fill Ice-cube Trays. Step By Step With Slide Presentation. (Should be easy enough, huh?)
  
Topic 2. Toilet Paper Rolls: Do They Grow On The Holders?  Round-Table Discussion. (Sequence could have been based on increasing level of difficulty, hmmm...)
  
Topic 3. Differences Between The Laundry Basket And The Floor.  Pictures And Very Simple Explanatory Graphics. (Yeah, I can now see how difficult the topics are)
  
Topic 4. Learning How To Find Things, Starting With Looking in the Right Place Instead of Turning the House Upside Down While Screaming.  Open Forum. Question and Answer. (this should have a Module 1 and 2 like the Communication for women.  Just sayin'.)
  
Topic 5. Health Watch: Bringing Her Flowers Is NOT Harmful To Your Health.  Graphics,  Audio Tape with FREE Interactive DVD for your Home Theatre.  (Nice touch on the free DVD)
  
Topic 6. Real Men Ask For Directions When Lost.  Real-Life Testimonials. Prominent Sports Personalities have been Invited as Guest Speakers. (they found Speakers for Testimonials???)
  
Topic 7. Is it Genetically Impossible To Sit Quietly As She Parallel Parks? Driving Simulation.  (Must not miss Course!)
  
Topic 8. Learning To Live: Basic Differences Between Mother And Wife.  Online class and Role Playing. Self-Assessment Survey at End of Topic. (Love the Role Playing method...)
  
Topic 9. How To Be The Ideal Shopping Companion.  Relaxation exercises, Meditation and Breathing Techniques. (Again, this should be designed in 4 Modules instead of just one!)
  
Topic 10. How To Fight Cerebral Atrophy: Remembering Birthdays, Anniversaries, Other Important Dates, Tasks, And Calling When You're Going To Be Late.  Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions.  (My all-time favourite!) 

The Rare Kind - Marlene Dietrich, 4th of July Unsung Heroine

Do you remember this woman?  I bet you don't.  Growing up with an Army Dad, you would.

AKA Maria Magdalena Dietrich von Losch
Born: 27-Dec-1901
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: 6-May-1992
Location of death: Paris, France
Cause of death: Kidney failure
Remains: Buried, Friedhof III, Berlin-Friedenau, Germany
Gender: Female
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Bisexual
Occupation: Actor
Nationality: Germany

Her biological father was an Army Officer who passed when she was only 11 years old.
I know of Marlene Dietrich from stories handed down by the men in my life. Grandfathers to sons to fathers - and I was told she was a rare breed of woman.  I didn't know what that exactly meant then, but I do now.  Some people choose to remember or best know Dietrich for her fantastic legs; her low, raspy sensual voice, and her trademark cross-gender wardrobe. Albeit, I grew up thinking she is so much more.

I have also learned about her admirable acts of bravery to stay in the forefront with the Army during World War II. I believe to this day Hitler would have loved to put a slug in her head if he had the chance.  She was wooed by the Nazis and could play both fields at war if she wanted to.
Stories have it that she braved sleeping in dirt, scrubbing floors, making hot soup and even took a bath with water from a U.S.soldier's helmet, just like any regular soldier at war.  Then she would be up and about to perform for them, to keep their morale high.  She was, as most people who remember her fondly, "magical."  But not unlike any of our species, she is said to be more an image; larger than life, than real. And I quote her: "I dress for the image. Not for myself, not for the public, not for fashion, not for men. "
Such is stuff that legends are made of;  a continuing conflict between what is and what is not;  what was and what was not.
A most endearing quality of the Dietrich myth is that undefinable "love-friendship" affair she had with Ernest Hemingway*.  (*Yes my dear Virginia, the same Nobel Prize winner in Literature in 1954, the same Ernest, no less). It is believed, as substantiated in the JFK Presidential Library and Museum, where letters between the "Kraut" and her "Papa" reside; (Dietrich was fondly called Kraut by Hemingway and she fondly called him Papa.)

Here is an excerpt of something Hemingway wrote to Dietrich:

"I love you and I hold you tight and kiss you hard.

I can't say how every time I ever put my arms around you I felt that I was home.  I fall in love with you bad and you're always in love with some jerk."

However, they claim their love is mere deep friendship, nothing beyond it. When asked about what really was going on, Hemingway once quipped: 

"'The thing about the Kraut and me, is that we have been in love since 1934, when we first met on the Ile de France, but we've never been to bed. Amazing but true.   Victims of un-synchronized passion.'" 

I can only smile and look at the description, "victims of un-synchronized passion" as words only a great writer like Hemingway can aptly and perfectly say.
I admire the legendary Dietrich for a lot of reasons;  for what she stood for and acted upon, that women of my generation would be too nervous and too risk-averse to dare embrace. She had courage and spunk and talent and beauty. Indeed rare and so few have risen to the same level of mystery and magic that she did. One of Dietrich's quotes about being a woman is among my list of favourites: 

"To be completely woman you need a master, and in him a compass for your life. You need a man you can look up to and respect. If you dethrone him it's no wonder that you are discontented, and discontented women are not loved for long."

But nothing comes close to being described in your life and in death, by the man who can say the most beautiful things in words.

 "If she had nothing more than her voice," said her friend, Ernest Hemingway, "she could break your heart with it."

 And the legend that is Marlene Dietrich lives on.  Happy 4th of July!

Life and What Ifs

Do you believe in the dictum that we must all enjoy life, because there is plenty of time to be dead?
Well, I do.
I love to take chances, to take risks.  Yes, I trust my intelligence enough and I take comfort in my calculated analysis, then I go for it!  I am completely uncomfortable when someone comes up to me and tells me, "but, but, what if ... yada yada..".  Come on, live a little.  
I reckon good judgement does not grow overnight.  Good judgement is acquired from a lot of bad experiences.  A lot of the bad experiences are outcomes of bad judgement.  But you have to start somewhere.  However, I see and meet a lot of people are who too fearful of failures, rejection and mistakes.  Did it ever occur to you that you can live in a bubble, completely sanitized from germs and viruses, totally devoid of human interaction, all by yourself yet you still can make a mistake?  What are the odds? They carefully analyse things. evaluating whether they should cross the line.  Life passes them by whilst they are still staring at the line they haven't crossed.
Well, if you can delude yourself into believing you are in control of the universe, go right ahead.  I will still wish that you get the experience you need to learn from it; experience is the most honest teacher I have met.   We would learn more from this lifetime if we will stop denying all the mistakes we have done.
I have learned that when it comes to living and loving, I need to take chances and I choose not to regret anything that didn't kill me.  I would not want to go back in time and fix everything that I reckon needs fixing, otherwise, I will probably be only half of what I am today.  I just believe that if we become too afraid to take chances, aren't we missing out on the best things that are yet to be?  To begin with, there are no guarantees for tomorrow.  Everything is a risk.  And it is my birthright to make mistakes.  Imperfections are all part of me.  It's part of my package.  I have not been lucky enough to meet another living creature who is perfect.  I would hate myself to love with caution, that when I die I would feel so sorry that I have loved so little.
Let me tell you this, sometimes you just have to take chances.  Close your eyes and take that leap, it may be worth the fall.  And just because some wise-ass told you that you can't do something, that doesn't mean you'll have to listen.  I get my biggest kicks when people tell me I can't do it, then I do it and show them how. I know for a fact that the best decisions I have made so far in my life, that I never regretted, are decisions I made listening to my heart.  Yes, it is the spontaneity and the candour that makes the ride worthwhile.
I didn't say go rob a bank.  All I really want to say is take chances and stop dwelling on the "What Ifs".  Laugh.  Cry.  Sing.  Dance.  Don't just sit there and breathe.  LIVE!

WHAT IS LIFE?
Life is an Adventure ... Dare it
Life is a Beauty ... Praise it
Life is a Challenge ... Meet it
Life is a Duty ... Perform it
Life is a Love ... Enjoy it
Life is a Tragedy ... Face it
Life is a Struggle ... Fight it
Life is a Promise ... Fulfill it
Life is a Game ... Play it
Life is a Gift ... Accept it
Life is a Journey ... Complete it
Life is a Mystery ... Unfold it
Life is a Goal ... Achieve it
Life is an Opportunity ... Take it
Life is a Puzzle ... Solve it
Life is a Song ... Sing it
Life is a Sorrow ... Overcome it
Life is a Spirit ... Realize it 

The Philosophy of Change

I thought I should Blog about this considering I just turned in a New Blog and a new monicker for my Blog.  I believe that it is virtually impossible to discuss the phenomenon of Change without invoking the Philosophy behind it.  
The fact is, everything changes, so everything changes.

The Philosophy of change in I-Ching is that:  Change is eternal and universal both for the cosmic and the human plane; therefore it is necessary for us all, to know how to adapt to it. I-Ching is one of the more popular and timeless Chinese Books that dates back to the Fu Hsi and Yin dynasty that should be roughly 3000 B.C.(yeah, that wayyy back). Whilst it was then, predominantly used as a Book of Divination (meaning predicting future events) it has been referenced by several philosophers and psychiatrists as well. (Carl Jung for one), as the Book (Scripture) of Changes.  It's an oracle.

I have always believed that the central theme of the way of the world is "ONE YIN, ONE YANG".  The polarities, the dichotomies.  The bright (yang) and cloudy (yin); heaven and earth, sun and moon, light and dark, masculine and feminine, hard and soft.  
Change is the constant, it determines the predominance of either.  The "Yi", the character for Change, is depicted as the sun piercing through the clouds.
In my simple understanding, there is a lot of sense in the Chinese philosophies rooted in its pragmatism.  Getting a grip of the "What is" and "What Is Not", emphasizing that humans preoccupation with activities which conditions are temporary should be corrected and avoided.  It is said that, not only that you should not subdue things by force to your will, but you should know to use the circumstances in order to achieve your purpose.  
I was fully convinced that this is not going to be easy, but when I think about it, "when you go with the flow, and ride with the tide", there is least resistance, both inside myself and the whole landscape of my reality.
The Eastern philosophies (Confucianism and Taoism) subscribe to the idea that any movement should be made on the line of minimum resistance.  ( I laugh at this because I should have listened to my Dad and I have once made a Post on this). Choosing the Path of Least Resistance.
But listen up, the Taoists believe in 2 basic rules of Human conduct:

1. Whenever you want to achieve something, you should start with its opposite. "In order to take, one will surely give first."  It's called subtle wisdom.
2. Whenever you want to retain anything, you should admit in it something of its opposite. "Be bent and you will remain straight. Be vacant and you will remain full. Be worn and you will remain new."

And rightfully so, "Everything flows ... and this too, shall pass."

Welcome to my new Blog, formally, ALMOST BUT NOT QUITE, a journal of my journey, getting there and pursuing my path.

Learning to Dance In The Rain

"Life's not about waiting for the storms to pass...

It's about learning to dance in the rain."

~Vivian Greene

“Every person has the power to make others happy.

Some do it simply by entering a room --

others by leaving the room.

Some individuals leave trails of gloom;

others, trails of joy.

Some leave trails of hate and bitterness;

others, trails of love and harmony.

Some leave trails of cynicism and pessimism;

others trails of faith and optimism.

Some leave trails of criticism and resignation;

others trails of gratitude and hope.

What kind of trails do you leave?”

- William Arthur Ward 

So the Rapture was an un-event.  21 May 2011 happened and we're back to being the people that we are.  Some have become faithful, others prayer-ful, whilst the rest of mankind stayed "as they were."

When it happens and it will, I bet it will come like a thief in the night.  Probably worst than my Zombie Massacre nightmare.  How we will all cope with it? Hell do I know?

I just know that at the moment I am feeling grateful for all that I have and don't have, and all that I am and I am not.

For I truly believe in what Buddha said a pretty long time ago:

"Peace comes from within.  Do not seek it without."

The entire frenzy has brought me back to the fundamental teachings and by some unfortunate circumstances, I always tend to forget. (damn shame on me!)  For whatever it's worth, I have become a little more watchful.

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.

Watch your words, for they become actions.

Watch your actions, for they become habits.

Watch your habits, for they become character.

Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

And at the moment, I live, I breathe, I think, I feel and I am learning to dance in the rain!  

Enjoying every moment of it.

The 100/0 Principle

What is the most effective way to create and sustain great relationships with others?

It's The 100/0 Principle: You take full responsibility (the 100) for the relationship, expecting nothing (the 0) in return.

Okay don't give me that look that says, "are you for real?".  This Post is just an excerpt from a Book with the same title authored by AL RITTER. A Book On Improving Relationships: 100/0 Principle

And it is, by no means so much easier to read, than to do. Implementing The 100/0 Principle is not natural for most of us. It takes real commitment to the relationship and a good dose of self-discipline to think, act and give 100 percent.

The insight from this excerpt however helps us identify what relationships really matter to us in this lifetime.  The 100/0 Principle applies to those people in your life where the relationships are too important to react automatically or judgementally.  Keep an open mind.  That's not even easy for some, but I trust all of you can and I love to be proven right.

Now here are some simple Steps that you may follow but remember, since this requires a lot of selflessness and discipline, I don't think this should apply to everyone you meet.

STEP 1 - Determine what you can do to make the relationship work...then do it. (Okay, I can do that.) Demonstrate respect and kindness to the other person, whether he/she deserves it or not. (Are you serious?  Okay okay I'll try my best ... geesh, and that's just Step1)

STEP 2 - Do not expect anything in return. Zero, zip, nada. (Whut? Nothing?  zilch? good grief ...)

STEP 3 - Do not allow anything the other person says or does (no matter how annoying!) to affect you. In other words, don't take the bait. ( I will definitely stress eat ...)

STEP 4 - Be persistent with your graciousness and kindness. Often we give up too soon, especially when others don't respond in kind. Remember to expect nothing in return.  (I am a work in progress in terms of Patience.  I feel like I'm going to lose this one)

At times (usually few), the relationship can remain challenging, even toxic, despite your 100 percent commitment and self-discipline. When this occurs, you need to avoid being the "Knower" and shift to being the "Learner." 

Try to avoid Knower statements/ thoughts like "that won't work," "I'm right, you are wrong," "I know it and you don't," "I'll teach you," "that's just the way it is," "I need to tell you what I know," etc.

Instead practice the use of Learner statements/thoughts like "Let me find out what is going on and try to understand the situation," "I could be wrong," "I wonder if there is anything of value here," "I wonder if..." etc. In other words, as a Learner, be curious!

I always believed this whole thing about relationships is complicated.  There is just no simple way or steps to make things right, not when two people are concerned.  Even twins who have grown from the same cell can become and behave like North and South Korea, what are the chances we will screw up our relationships with strangers we choose to love and care for?  Or with children we have brought into this world?

We could go on trying to find the perfect formula and algorithm of how to keep a relationship strong.  We can fall flat on our faces cursing ourselves for things we should have said and things we should have not.  Or even the things we could have done, but didn't.  

Any which way you slice and dice it, I seriously think relationship is all about being 100% giving and Zero receiving.  At some point, through forces of nature, and the principles of paradox, the other party will reflect back the giving and the equation balances out to a perfect 100/100 ratio.  If I will be asked where I scale against the 100/0 ratio principle, I will be too embarrassed to admit that my ratio is skewed somewhere.  Taking full responsibility in a relationship is like a mother to her unborn child.  You give everything you can for nine full months and not take anything back.  At the point of childbirth, every mother will give up her own life to make sure her baby lives. For some, the whole process of childbearing, is either traumatic, ridiculous to go through again or never.  And if the 100/0 Principle closely approximates that experience, how many people are willing to give it a shot? Yet still, how many people do you know are wishing that they have a perfect relationship; or believe that they have one; or are looking everywhere to build one?

I never claimed to have answers.  I always have a lot of questions.