Tossed for a Loupe
choosing a lens to see the world
The Inspiration
Today the inspiration is my sons “J”, “B” & “N”. To see them interact in the same room is one of the greatest joys of my life. They are so different yet are attracted to each other like powerful magnets. The way they treat each other and just ooze genuine love and joy in each other’s presence is one of the best feelings I know. Those who know me well, know I cannot resist a great word or a small pun, hence our title.
The Setup
My sons range in age from 26 to 30. While someone might flag generations as boomers, or millennials, or generation X, I need not consult such labels. They are certainly of a shared generation and they are an inspiration to me in how I might remain young and be open to different points of view. The holidays were wonderful as they sat amongst each other and played off each other’s half-completed sentences with knowing glances and smirks. They treat each other well, treat their partners well and embrace and exhibit a big tent for all. I love them and learn from them each time they are around.
The old sop, to treat them “the same” is hogwash to me. They are first and foremost individuals and it is important to treat all per their needs. Each of my sons projects different qualities and the best part of it all is their wonderful individuality.
One common ground that each of them drives me toward in different ways is where and how they learn new things. One place, that is slowly rubbing off on me is the relevance of Joe Rogan. “The Joe Rogan Experience” is the world’s most popular Podcast by a large margin. I would imagine if my sons knew the Podcasts I listen to they might shrug their shoulders. I have listened to Joe Rogan before and it can be hit and miss for me. I believe that whether a movie, a TV series, or a book, it is important to make a genuine commitment to content before deciding yea or meh. I decided that I would do just that. I don’t think there are too many folks on earth who could motivate me to do that but as I described earlier, “J”, “B” & “N” have a lot they can teach me.
The Details
I decided to give Joe another try this morning on a jaunt on the treadmill. It is the day after Christmas and there are solid reasons to walk a few steps. A short walk with the dog this morning after feeding him and then putting him down for his mid-morning nap. The treadmill and Joe Rogan (JR) would be next. I decided, again on the inspiration of something that was said by my sons to listen to an interview with Neil deGrasse Tyson (NDT).
Life is a journey and narrow-mindedness is a waste of the precious time we get. Coupling JR and NDT together, at first glance of a sixty-year-old seems an unlikely combination. The truth reveals much more about my biases than the reality. I found the interview so engaging and just the right mix of host and guest. Most importantly, JR lets the guest speak.
I think that I “preach” in my posts about being open-minded. I think that I am, but mornings like today show me I have a long way to go. I thoroughly enjoyed the portion of the interview that I heard. The length far exceeded my endurance and I never quite got back to it for a couple of days. That is not the point. The handy robot assistant that I posted about in part 1 and part 2 recently will take care of when I wish to resume. I will just say, as time avails, “Hey Google resume “The Joe Rogan Experience” and the magic of my robot will read my mind and resume about thirty seconds before where I left off. Life is good and there is never been a better time to be alive. Today I am thankful for the inspiration of my wonderful sons, “J”, “B”, and “N”. I’m quite sure that all of the people who mean so much to me never quite hear it enough about how grateful I am to have them in my life.
Here’s a short ditty for the inspiration of my post. Here’s a great song of contemplation about our children.