And be specific and be quantifiable and be actionable and be realistic and be something you actually want to do!
Drawing and commentary © 2017 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
Quote by Charles M. Sheldon, 1857-1946, American Congregationalist Preacher and leader of the Social Gospel movement.
“Good resolutions are like babies crying in church. They should be carried out immediately.”
Buying
I like Commercialism because I like presents. I like buying presents for my family and loved ones. I like sending them, bringing, them, opening them, sharing them. I like thinking about what to get and I like discovering cool things to get while I am going to get what I planned to get.
Making
I like making presents too. But if I don’t make them that is ok. I like buying presents other people made and giving them. I like buying manufactured presents as well, since they are made by people too.
Wrapping
I like wrapping presents so they look nice under the tree and in the lap of the person who is about to open it. I like the look on their face when they see something they weren’t expecting but are happy to get. I think it is funny to look at that same face when they get something they weren’t expecting and aren’t happy to get but are faking it.
Getting
I like getting presents. I like seeing what people thought I would like. I like trying on new clothes and sweaters and stuff to see if they fit and then showing them to the rest of the family. I like when my family does that as well. I like the funny items I get that are completely useless and would never be bought but for Christmas. I like how completely ridiculous they are, and how funny.
Revolving
I think gift giving is love and if we focus most of that in one season, it’s fine by me. If that means much of the economic world revolves around that season, that is fine by me too. It’s going to revolve around something and gift giving is as good a thing as anything else in my book.
Loving
It’s easy to say ‘I hate the commercialism of Christmas’. But do you hate the gift giving of Christmas? If you don’t hate the gift giving than maybe it’s time to see the commercialism in a new light. The light of your love for those you give gifts to. I like to think of it like that.
Drawing and commentary © 2016 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
Quote by Hamilton Wright Mabie, 1846-1916, American Essayist and Lecturer
Science Fiction
Funny how Science Fiction always shows aliens coming here who are way more advanced than we are. But if they were so advanced so as to be able to get here, wouldn’t they be advanced enough to know they would be wading into a big mess and avoid us? I am being funny but for a purpose.
Our point of view is always that we are the most intelligent thing around. But in science fiction we often assume more intelligent beings out there somewhere. But doesn’t that assume they are learning the same things we are in roughly the same order? But how do we know that? And, more importantly, how do we know what it is we don’t know yet?
Intelligent Predictions
The answer is, we don’t. There are predictors that sometimes can be somewhat accurate in the short term (meaning 10-100 years) but beyond that time frame the organic evolution of our science, technology, society, etc. is simply not predictable with any level of certainty. I mean, think about it, who could have predicted 500 years ago that we would have communication devices in our pocket that could send pictures through the air? Or that we would discover that other animals on earth have very complex and sophisticated social and communication structures coming close to our own in many ways? Or that there are microscopic life forms in and on our bodies that we can’t live without?
So, yes, there might be ‘intelligent’ life forms out there, but how and why they are intelligent is probably not something we have even guessed at yet. And that allows us to keep thinking creatively about it, but it should also keep us humble about what we think might be out there as well.
Drawing and commentary © 2016 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
Quote by Arthur C. Clarke, 1917-2008, British Author
The original drawing or a print are available for purchase. Matte and frame are also available.
Purchase the original drawing | purchase a print | available framed!
The Immature Purpose
The immature among us like to divide things into extreme categories.
A simplistic religious person wants to see anyone who doesn’t believe in a personal God as having no purpose. They want to feel sorry for them because it meets their need to feel enlightened and special. They have a purpose from God and these other people don’t.
A simplistic non-religious on the other hand wants to see a religious person as living under an illusion of purpose. They want to feel sorry for them because it meets their need to feel intellectually superior. Their existence and happiness is enough of a purpose and those other people are woefully deluded.
The Mature Purpose
The mature among us are willing to admit that the complexity of life doesn’t lend itself to dividing things up so neatly.
A complex religious person will admit that while they believe they have a purpose directed from God there are many times they don’t know that purpose. They also will admit that that purpose is constantly evolving as they grow. It might be growth in terms of age and experience or perhaps growth in their spiritual relationship with God. They will also admit that not knowing their purpose in life at every single moment is not critical to their success in life. There are great mysteries they admit to and are willing to live with that. They also will learn that to judge others’ journey of finding purpose (or not) is not one of their purposes in life.
A complex non-religious person will admit that while they are often satisfied with their purpose simply being to exist and be happy, there are other times they doubt and wonder about that, and are sometimes drawn to see if their might be more than that. They will also admit that they sometimes admire the surety with which a religious person feels their purpose so strongly. They will realize that just as they are on their journey of finding purpose (or not) so others are as well and it’s not their purpose in life to judge other people’s journeys.
Where are you in your search for purpose (or not)?
Drawing, quote and commentary © 2016 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
Purchase the original | purchase a print | matte and frame available
The Napkin Kin
I do a lot of live streaming video. I have a regular group that views and contributes. They are called the Napkin Kin. New people come in every day as well. Many of them become part of the group. But there is a particular brand of person who comes in to the broadcasts who never become part of the group. Who are they? They are the ones who demand I connect with them immediately. They tell me to follow them on Instagram and on Snapchat and on Facebook and on whatever other social media site they can think of. The insistently demand I go take a look at their portfolio or pictures or stories and get back to them. They also might be the type who wants to know my opinion on something like the recent election.
Self, Self, Self
I am immediately put off by these people. I will be nice to them but if they continue I call them out.
I speak directly to them and say, “You haven’t taken one second to get to know me or the others in this broadcast. You haven’t contributed to the conversation. You haven’t asked questions or listened to what is being said. You have no idea who we are or what we are about and yet you want me, and the rest of the group, to immediately drop what we are doing and go look at your sites. You want us to be your friend and yet you haven’t done anything to warrant us wanting to be that for you. Let’s start over. You come in again and pay attention. Find out what is going on in this broadcast, introduce yourself, and in general get to know us. Then, as that is happening, we will naturally get to know you as well. It won’t take long since we are a friendly and curious bunch.”
And that little speech actually works sometimes.
Mutual, I’m Sure
And isn’t that true in our in-person lives as well? I certainly am wary of someone who befriends me just for the purpose of getting something from me or wanting some attention from me. But, as just happened this morning while I was writing this, if someone I already know comes to me requesting a favor or asking a question, I am enthusiastic about helping them out. I am not talking about helping a stranger. I am talking about investing in someone who is obviously only pursuing the friendship for their own gain.
Building mutual care and concern is how friendships grow, not by sucking a virtual stranger’s attention for selfish ends.
Drawing and commentary © 2016 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
Quote by Ethel Barrymore, 1879-1959, American Actress
