10 posts tagged “life”

A catharsis is a form of emotional cleansing. According to psychodynamic theory, this emotional release is linked to a need to release unconscious conflicts. For example, experiencing stress over a work-related or social situations may cause feelings of frustration and tension. Rather than vent these feelings appropriately, I had chose instead to release these feelings in other ways such as cessation from the people who love me most, introversion and assumed anonymity culminating in a periods of self-doubt.

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"Catharsis" was first used by Aristotle the Greek philosopher in his work 'Poetic'...

"Tragedy, then, is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; ... being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper catharsis of these emotions." 335 BCE

It was most recently the new buzz word during Hillary Clinton's Presidential Primary campaign defeat. Used as a term to express what her supporters felt they needed a "catharsis" (caused by the tragedy of a Black Democratic Presidential Nominee, the fear associated with her future, also how to cultivate humility without losing power and the magnitude of these emotions). Only then could come the former First Lady's full-throated support of  Senator Obama (now President-elect Barak Obama).

It is now my MLC (mid-life crisis) dichotomy. The battle within myself to which has been won through a surrender to myself (the better of myself, the victor of the battle; but not the war).

" We have met the enemy..." said Pogo "...he is us!" I have to learn to love him even though he can be hard to love. He is me and I am.

There have been casualties along the way (and for that I have deep regret) I have hurt only the ones that love me and no one that could care less; but a catharsis is emotional and purifying and only those who seek it get clarity... I shall press on.

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to be continued...

"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms;
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lin'd,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well sav'd, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion;
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything." — Jaques (Act II, Scene VII, lines 139-166)

William Shakespeare- "As You Like It"

As I get older my mortality becomes ever increasingly part of life’s inevitability. I don’t spend endless hours contemplating what life will be like when I’m gone or what the ones I love will be doing in my remembrance. No, I’m much more self-centered than that. I don’t want to leave because I love living and all the fallibilities that come with my imperfect life. So my life has become preoccupied with “living”. I could go over the usual list of health conscious anecdotes to “living” longer; but I’ll leave that to “my Pharmacist”, Dr. Dean Edell and Oprah Winfrey’s friend’s network. My cause celeb is “adding living to a productive life”.

A simplified definition of “productive life” is the exhaustive part of living that is spent producing, i.e. working, seeking/maintaining/dissolving relationships, raising/wanting children, chasing dreams and pursuit of that fleeting “state of being” called happiness. These are the energy draining, emotionally charged and all consuming “wants” and “don’t wants” important to the “I” in living a life.

How do you “increase” a measure of time that’s finite? My suggestion is to slow it down. How do you slow “life” down? You can’t…you have to slow down. I'm a Man who’s been accused of being “too busy” at times, a “type A” personality (take the test) at best and I traveled in the HOV lane of “life” with no one else onboard (that’s a violation with big fines…some I have yet to pay). If you suffer from this terminal dis-ease and find there just isn’t enough time in the day to get it all done might I suggest some remedies that work for me:

• Turn off the Television. Allow your mind to rest when you’re at home; learn to be at peace within your own thoughts. Sometimes enjoy soothing music or a good book in the same chair or couch you watch TV in, you’ll notice things in that very spot you’ve never paid attention to before. 

• Eat a prepared meal at the (dining) table. Take the time to set your plate, fold your napkin and enjoy your meal without interruption (turn off the TV, cell phone, blackberry and ipod). Savor the food and be thankful.

• Take a bath. Not a shower, a bath. Substitute a bath for a shower regularly it doesn’t take much more time and you’ll feel so much better (that’s a promise). Try putting baby oil, epsom salt or bubbles; even all three (that’s what I do) in the water.   

• Wake up 30 minutes earlier. The morning hours are a time of organization (mentally) plan your day, meditate and pray. You will be surprised how much better your day will go if you get some headspace; time to reset your mind in the A.M. hours. If you don’t want to lose any of your precious sleep go to bed 30 minutes early.

• Watch the sunrise and/or the sunset. Making the dawn of a new morrow or the dusk of a day coming to a close an event puts into perspective how precious time is. You will never get the time you’ve spent back. There are no refunds, guarantees or warranties. It is an “as is” affair a WYSIWYG so take your time, slow down and live a little less so you can live a little longer.
  

Slowing down and living a little more,

Bycha Buxton

buxtonbycha@aol.com

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You seek attention, don’t you? The consensus is a validating force that feeds your narcissistic personality, isn’t it?

Writing your musings is a liberating feeling, freedom from what sets your emotions and passions in overdrive, doesn’t it? Don't you feel the topic should be the lesson you’ve learned, a laugh you want to share or the brain fart of the day? You’re so clever; you express yourself so well. I understand exactly what you mean. It’s so smart and relevant. They’ll laugh their way into a side-cramping stupor. You will really put something on their minds. Finally something worth a thousand comments from the blogoshpere community, you did it! The major rags will pick it up. That caption of you looking so silly will become a new art form. You’re the newest sensation; the next internet zillionaire because you brought that idea; that argument to the people with style, force, and clarity.

You are so humble. You just told them “the way it is” if you didn’t they’d never know. Why don’t they all just stop blogging and let you handle the internet. As long as you can delete unflattering comments, filter out the unwanted replies, censor the unbiased and thought provoked opinions your greatness will never be tarnished. Your castrato eunuch court will continue to feed the insatiable appetite of your ego. This is why you blog, the stage is set for your act. You put on your veil of anonymity, your eyes shaded by the flash of your own greatness, you speak the beautiful language of Java, and your identity is hidden by that clever pseudonym. Yes…yes…yes, that's why you blog ‘cause if you didn’t there would be nothing worthy of the most precious time…the time we spend sharing our lives with each other.

Yours truly,

The screen you gaze into everyday.

Young brotha being young is a requirement; getting old is a privilege. Young brotha I've tried to be an example of a "Strong Black Man" for you; but life can get in the way at times. Young brotha no matter your circumstance never give up, if it (life) knocks you down, get up, dust off and get going. I'm here; I will help you young brotha. I've tried to clear a path for you; so follow me, but not too close cause I've stepped in some traps along the way. It truly is a jungle and you are the prey. Yes my young lion the [lion]keeper is closing in; but I'm here to help you.

Young brotha you can't do it alone, don't even try it. I'm here; I will help you. Even when you can't see me young brotha, cause the brush is too thick, believe me when I tell you I'm making a way through this madness. I love you, I'm here; I will help you young brotha. Don't tell me I don't understand; I just cut the path your going through. They say "when your going through hell don't stop...keep going". I'm clearing the way. I'm here; I will help you, just keep going.

Someone is helping me young brotha; he's just up ahead, clearing the path. And when he tires you'll pass by where he rests; give him respect he loves you too. And young brotha when it's time, you'll know...stand tall and make us all proud. We've been cut and beat and bruised trying to make a way through this jungle. Don't let us down were counting on you...and the young brotha behind you is too.

a Brotha, a Father, a Son;

Bycha Buxton
buxtonbycha@aol.com

 
I'm from that look between two people.

He saw Her; I was Them.

I'm am passion.

Passion is a boy of love.

I'm from grits and eggs.

Scrambled hard and over easy; the morning after and the night before.

I'm from the empty plate of a full morning that led to passion; the boy of love.

'Cause from Them came I who is He that saw Her.

You know...from between that look I'm from.

Yep, that's from where I come.

It was a moonlit morning in December 'till the 23rd of August

'round midnight of the next day, I was love and on my way.

Where I'm from is not hard to easily understand.

Just new old-fashion humpin'  between a woman and a man.

Where are you from?

A boy named loved,

a.k.a.

Bycha Buxton
buxtonbycha@aol.com

With the New Year fast approaching I am reminded of Hebrews 9:27 (look it up, you might be inspired). I always get

Your Brother-in-Christ,

Bycha Buxton
buxtonbycha@aol.com

I recently needed change for $20.00 (USD), I was trying to get my usual fix from the snack machine located at the job. I am addicted to sugar among other things. I've gotta have it. Especially after a meal, just before I get sleepy, so I can really feel useless. Off I went in search of smaller bills to feed the monster craving glucose, sucrose, fructose or just plain cane sugar. I asked a few nearby fellow addicts; but to no avail they all had succumb to their own self-indulgent needs. So in the distance was a pharmacy, "they've got change..." I thought. As I entered this drug emporium all abound were pills and whatnot's, I just wanted change. "oh yeah..." I thought again, "I should ask about some vitamins." I asked for change and then continued to talk with the friendly pharmacist named Alex about vitamins.

Alex asked what I had been taking, he rattled off the usual suspects of over-the-counter multi-vitamins. I nodded to some and shook my head to others. Then he told me there is really no way to get all the nutrients from just any vitamins without proper diet (I'm still gonna get my sugar fix). He recommend "The World's  First Superior Tonic Multiple" (that's what the brochure says) it's a mega-vitamin in layman's terms, 'Life Essence' is its' shelf name. He said "I'll give you a sample, try it. People who have used it can feel the difference in about three days or so." Just that fast he went from a guy giving me change, to Alex the druggist and now "my Pharmacist."

Back to the snack machine for contemplation, reasoning, anguish and then gluttony. My mind now firmly planted on these horse-sized pills and brochure in my possession. I did as I was told, one a day (I could take two but, chose not) and I felt a rise in just two days. These vitamins are pack with good stuff, spirulina, ginko biloba, ginseng, rehmannia root, zizyphus seed and of course the alphabet of vitamins. Which provide antioxidants, boosts the immune system, helps circulation, prevents premature aging, strengthens the spleen; is tonic to kidney, liver, and heart systems, and it claims to be helpful when experiencing insomnia. I truly am feeling spry and a little less guilty about my sweet tooth.

Your test subject,

Bycha Buxton
buxtonbycha@aol.com