Thursday 14: The power of now is a spiritual nonsense in my view, when what is important is mindfulness. After all, there are going to be times when now is a pretty miserable place to be, but, in mindfulness, we can acknowledge that particle of infinity within and it definitely helps. It gives me, at any rate, what I need in that particular moment.
Also good: to adopt regular One Minute Meditations - the sort that can release pressure or provide a jumpstart to a moment in time. Or help to handle moments like now (am typing Wed pm) while the Channel 4 News is on).
An `influential´ think tank - Policy Exchange - suggests that northerners should move south, because regeneration has failed. At least the Fairy Godmother called it insane - and it is.
I often make jokes about `oop North, but, apart from being colder as a general rule, it is much more beautiful than the South (and I live in a beautiful county - well it was beautiful before it was concreted over). With the internet, workers do not have to be tied to offices from 9-5, Monday to Friday. If regeneration has not (yet) worked, it is because of other issues, like media obsessions.
In the same way that the media is obsessed with weight and age and celebrity, it also thinks nothing ever happens outside London. Well nothing they deem important. Yet the so-called trendies they follow to London nightclubs tend to spend the weekends outside of London. So regeneration could be made to work with some appropriate activity by the movers and shakers of this world.
If there were creative tax breaks in some of these areas, perhaps musicians, artists, research scientists, and so on, would move there - get the underlying (positive) vibe in the right direction. Get influential creatives like the Saatchis on to it. It can be done.
We all have less than charitable thoughts. Show me someone who disagrees and I will show you someone whose self-awareness particle has been removed. The more involved we become with life around us, the more we receive other signals. Although we can pick up signals irrespective of distance, close proximity increases their strength, as does thinking of specific people. And some of those signals could be the uncharitable thoughts of others.
In (my) metaphysical belief, we become one with all so we `share´ those signals. They become an aspect of ourselves. Also in my view, there are ways to avoid making those other signals (thoughts) become part of ourselves. But it only really works if we do acknowledge our oneness with all of life to start with.
I have a theory that schizophrenics cannot do that, hence these aspects, and other signals, become voices which are either friendly or torment them through their constant presence.
This is a rather complex theory and I am supposed to be going to Brighton Must also pick up some art stuff and check out exhibition space.
Later: am back. Peculiar day of showers, heatwave and then freezing on the beach. But good to see some people again and meet new ones. More another time (cf `you see that´s where we are different´ - was one sweeping statement. The other was starting a discussion with `that´s crazy´. Great intellectual starting point…)
Earlier, I had stopped off to stock up on Janet Iredale and the assistant asked me my name. What for? I asked. "W-A-T", she started to spell out loud as she wrote it down. Sigh.
Still cannot smell the overflowing sewer, but made mistake of saying so to neighbour, who is rather loud and officious at the best of times. Closed door mid-lecture. Oh and after I reiterated that I want proof first. Still haven´t had reply from Arun District Council, so will have to chase tomorrow. I will pay when I get the written proof. Not some standard letter and an overloud woman´s say so. Now must try and warm up. Not good to have got so cold after being unwell for the last few days.
PS Yes, forgive etc. Of course I do. But that doesn´t mean I am going to be walked over.
