Duane Hewitt's Blog

Worry – our ongoing quest to find something new to worry about

By Duane Hewitt

Our current era has brought with it an almost encyclopedic plethora of new things to worry about. Thank goodness it has, too, because, if anything, we can now scan the worrisome menu of things to fret about and choose something that might only be outdone by the next thing on the list. Worry, it would seem, has moved ahead with everything else in our troubled world.

Take Ebola, for instance. In case you’ve been asleep through the crisis of this cataclysmic disease, it leaves more than distaste in the back of your mouth. Having first made itself known in the ’70s, Ebola is back to wipe us all out: It doesn’t make your death quick or painless either, which makes it particularly suitable to fear. Your innards liquefy, sores and boils cover your body and you’re dead, just not too quickly; roughly 20-odd days from contact. It’s a worrisome little bug. But then, there’s always a new scourge, anyway.

For those who came through the 2012-thing unscathed, the Mayan long-count calendar apparently reset itself. And it’s worth reminding ourselves that we got off the hook because, even though nothing happened, it’s only for the time being. The planet’s magnetic poles have been shifting, it’s a fact. What’s yet to occur, however, is the physical swing of the earth’s axis, which will spin us like a top as the north pole sets in to where the south pole is, and vice-versa. During this melee, you can expect decimating storms and tsunamis of biblical proportions. Though not necessarily an extinction-level-event, many of us are not likely to survive.

Tied in with this somehow, in a category all its own, is a devastating event that’s expected to wipe most of us out. To some, it’s foretold that this will be a great chastisement by God, and that chastisement is likely to come by fire (water has already been done). Should this event occur, billions are likely to die. If you survive, you, along with the rest of the survivors, will be busy burning and burying the dead as you scrounge for something, anything, to eat. By the way, if any of this comes to pass, a heads-up: If it is a chastisement by God, His anger is holy and you best not lay eyes on the firestorm.

Next – Geoengineering: Who among us hasn’t heard about the aluminum and barium being dumped into our atmosphere in response to our warming world? But there’s so much more to this, such as the efforts by the Illuminati to kill the majority of the world’s population (it’s all about world domination, don’t you know). And, as with all conspiracies grounded in fact, this is all part-and-parcel of a Tesla-like program involving beam technology behind the Star Wars initiative that’s set to annihilate much of the general populace. Whatever happens, most of us lose. But then, you really have to wonder, does any of this matter anyway? Apparently, it’s now too late to alter the cataclysmic chain of events that is certain to destroy our world on account of global warming. (Oh, and what you should know is, we’re all responsible.)

There’s more. As a society, we fail miserably when it comes to caring for our sick and elderly. Homelessness is on the upswing – suicide, too. As you continue to age and are busy trying to keep the wolf from the door, you’ve now got something else to worry about – the fact that, after a lifetime of trying so hard, you could end up homeless and starving.

But none of this even touches on war, terrorism, genetically modified foods, a financial system that only functions with everyone being in debt, the fact that a massive volcano under Yellowstone National Park is getting ready to blow, the inevitability of population control, or the prospect of alien invasions. The list is long… there’s just no end to the problems that assail us.

For those of us fortunate enough to be living in the developed world, the very fight-or-flight syndrome of our genetic heritage encourages us to continually adapt to these new threats, all of which are as terrible as can be imagined. That’s the whole point – these evils are real. And this should substantiate the legitimacy of our worry once and for all.

What, me worry? You bet.

Copyright 2015/2016 Duane Hewitt.

Beauty – allowing ourselves to appreciate true beauty

By Duane Hewitt

Do we know beauty when we see it? When we look into the face of another, what is it that we see? People often judge who is beautiful and who is not – and yet, how can this be if we are unable to define beauty? What is beauty?

Beauty is more than what is in the eye of the beholder because the beholder is biased. Beauty is often defined in the observer’s mind by factors of gender, age, culture, personal taste and prejudices – but all this has little to do with true beauty. We might see a woman who is beautiful within: kind, caring, non-judgmental, graceful and humble. And yet, with a flawed perspective, we see an exterior that falls short of an artificial standard that we hold to be true. As a result, when we see this woman, we miss the opportunity to appreciate a legitimately sublime beauty because we are trapped by the superficiality of perception. The shortcoming is our own. The truth of the matter is that this woman doesn’t even need us as a measurement for her true beauty: We, the observer, are inconsequential to the reality of her beauty – and hers is a beauty that perseveres; it need not decline with age.

There are reasons why we’re attracted to people with certain features; a good figure, nice skin, a full head of hair, broad shoulders and big muscles – but so much of this is our biological programming. Our inner mind asks: Who has the better genes? Who would make the best mate? Who will produce the finer offspring? But again, what of beauty?

We can challenge ourselves about our perceptions concerning beauty. Perceptions are jaded, they are manipulated by external forces that direct us to think a certain way; into believing what is true and what is not. And so, we miss opportunities to appreciate beauty. However, we can allow ourselves to say, this moment in time is beautiful, this opportunity is beautiful, and this person is beautiful. Beauty is a part of our world and observing it can make life so worthwhile. It befits us to understand beauty. Beauty is wonderful to behold. And we will discover more beauty if we don’t let ourselves be swayed by what others tell us is the standard for beauty.

Why is it that we think someone is beautiful but not another? There are circumstances and traits that will interfere with a person’s beauty. Sickness, disease, uncleanliness, and even vulgarity and bad manners can sabotage beauty. We may meet someone who does not seem beautiful to us at first. But over time, we begin to appreciate that person’s beauty. We might even become mesmerized by that person’s beauty. As a result, we never see the same way again.

What about enhancing beauty – improving on that which has been given? Perhaps cosmetic manufacturers and beauty magazines should spend less energy identifying for us what is beautiful and let us decide. Money can still be made. We can improve on what we have. Perhaps the goal should be to find ways to reveal natural beauty and beautiful inner qualities, thereby enhancing what is genuinely attractive.

To discover more beauty in the world around you, try to see with timeless eyes. Look to discover the beauty that emanates from within. Learn to appreciate new definitions and new perspectives. Kindness is beautiful. Thoughtful, caring eyes are beautiful. Someone who endures hardship is beautiful. A person who strives to make the world a better place is beautiful. Allow new thinking to redefine the meaning of beauty.

As for improving one’s own beauty, allow your beauty to resonate through the attributes that are uniquely you. Appreciate your best features, internal and external. Complement what you have, but understand that the biases that surround you are just that: preconceptions, partialities and prejudices.

Who and what is beautiful? The ability to appreciate beauty ultimately belongs to each of us. We have only to open our hearts to it.

Copyright 2016 Duane Hewitt. All rights reserved.

Why we all need to laugh more

By Duane Hewitt

Most of us may not give much thought to laughter, but there are very important reasons for laughter and why we all need to laugh more.

Laughter is good for us in a number of ways, beginning with this: Laughter actually alters our brain chemistry for the better. That’s right; put another way, the more we laugh the better we feel. Laughter gives us an emotional high.

Laughter stimulates the release of dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and one of a number of chemicals that are responsible for transmitting signals between the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain. Dopamine helps the brain process emotional responses while also augmenting pleasure. Serotonin (in simplified terms) is also a neurotransmitter. It influences your entire body, including motor skills as well as emotions. Serotonin is considered to be a natural mood stabilizer and can elevate moods. (It actually does so much more, like impact appetite and digestion, improve sleep and memory, and even boost sexual function and desire.) Endorphins are also neurotransmitters and have a number of important functions; a few of which include the regulation of stress and pain as well as inducing feelings of elation and pleasure. Throw it all together and laughter bolsters our emotional health in a big way.

When we laugh, these neurotransmitters improve our moods and give us happy feelings. We feel lighter, more at ease, and suddenly we have a brighter outlook. Those pleasurable feelings also make us more inclined to be more open, sociable, outgoing, and talkative. This is one of the reasons why laughter brings people together. It tends to be one of the social mechanisms of groups. Laughter and humor connects people. It bonds us together.

If ever you’re feeling sad, angry, or anxious, try to find something to laugh about. If this seems hard for you to do at first, it’s worth making the effort. Since humor is very subjective, look for things that appeal especially to you as being funny and allow yourself to laugh. Try it. Find something that works for you individually. It might be old clips of the Three Stooges, stand-up comedy, cartoons, or movies you find funny – especially the kind you can come back to time and again. In a short while, you may find that you need that daily laughter; like a fix. And what’s wrong with that? That laughter is doing you a lot of good.

When you laugh there’s an increased intake of oxygen. Blood vessels expand and in so doing increases blood flow. Your body likes this. You may just find too, that laughter gives you a better complexion. It can also make you more appealing and likeable to others.

Our brains basically do what we program them to do. If all you do is cry all the time then all you’ll be doing is programming your brain to cry, and it’ll become increasingly difficult to pull yourself out of that downcast mindset. The same goes for being angry or anxious. But people who laugh a lot find it easy to laugh and sustain good feelings.

Laughter can actually make you feel happy and hopeful again. It’s a lot like love – except laughter won’t let you down. In this world, we all need to laugh more. And that’s no joke.

Copyright 2017 Duane Hewitt. All rights reserved.

Terrorism and hate crimes – How do we stop the evil?

By Duane Hewitt

How do we stop the rise of terrorism and deadly hate crimes that have become increasingly prevalent in our western world? Such heinous acts didn’t exist to such a degree previously, at least not like this. Is mental illness on the rise or is it not more likely that there’s an undercurrent of allegiance to an evil, radical way of thinking that inspires such offenses?

It must be remembered that the extremist thinking of terrorism and hate – much like mental illness – formulates in the innermost mind. The catalysts to carrying out crimes associated with such thoughts can include racial, cultural, religious, societal, and psychosomatic factors – all of which are often reinforced by deranged thinking. Then add to this the means to acquire weapons. Since it’s doubtful that radical forms of thinking and mental illness will be eradicated any time soon, the duty must fall to the rest of us to seek solutions to such crimes and do so without delay. If we don’t, we face more slaughter of innocents at the hands of those who may in fact be subjects to the true devil, whatever we hold that to be.

We must be prepared to identify and acknowledge the sources of hate that makes people want to kill so readily. But then a question emerges: Will we continue to pursue a trend of political correctness by not openly acknowledging the threats associated with hateful religious idealism? And why shouldn’t we include radical Islam in this statement? Give one person a gun and it isn’t a threat, but in the hands of another that weapon becomes murder waiting to happen.

One approach to addressing the problem of terrorist-related crimes in western civilization is that of a soft approach: Create a culture that richly educates, informs, and nurtures with aims to teach acceptance, understanding, and tolerance. Such an approach would have to be deeply integrated into our society so that all people everywhere would at all times be encouraged to have empathy for others, and without judgment or discrimination. But is such a thing even possible?

It’s also more than likely that such a soft approach would not temper the hateful ideologies that have now become the scourge of our western world. Furthermore, such a method will also not cure paranoid delusional schizophrenia or other forms of mental illness that lead to murder.

We must be prepared to acknowledge what we see before us. Time and again we suffer death at the hands of those who pledge allegiance to an evil that masquerades under the guise of religion. But all this is the ideology of psychopaths and murderers. Such beliefs are nothing more than excuses to carry out reprehensible crimes against life, love, and even God Himself.

We’re already at war with hateful ideologies. The more such odious ways of thinking integrate into our society, the more death and destruction will follow – and so we must be prepared to defeat such enemies at all costs.

Copyright 2016 Duane Hewitt. All rights reserved.

The Nature of Evil

By Duane Hewitt

Those of us who see how our world is changing decade upon decade may be questioning what appears to be the proliferation of evil, both worldwide as well as in our communities. What’s going on? And what exactly is evil?

In their book Fear No Evil (pub. 1993, Pathwork Press), author Eva Pierrakos with editor Donovan Thesenga identify evil as numbness of the soul, portraying it in the way that children who suffer abuse, abandonment, rejection and pain protect themselves with a numbing of feeling. Thus, because it becomes too painful to acknowledge one’s own inner pains, the numbing process begins as a protective mechanism for the self. The authors break out three stages of numbness: the first being the numbing of self as the protective mechanism. The second is the numbing toward others: Once the self has numbed itself to its own pains, an indifference to the pains of others is then likely to follow. The third stage is actively inflicted cruelty. Here, the inability to cope with inner hostility, along with the strengthening of the protective device of numbing, leads to lashing out. This then takes the route of inflicting harm.

It’s generally a universal truism of human nature to classify people into categories of “us” and “them,” members and non-members, friend and foe. This tendency exists to make our view of an enemy unworthy in some way, and helps create the necessary rift that allows one to cause pain or death to another. This point is made by Lyall Watson in his book Dark Nature: A Natural History of Evil (pub. 1995, Hodder and Stoughton). Watson also makes a point regarding our perceptions of evil. Is our take on evil a misdiagnosis? By example, when we experience the flight-or-fight scenario, one might feel the requirement to fight to protect oneself or a loved one. Violence at such a point then becomes a protective attribute.

In The Road Less Traveled (pub. 1980, Touchstone, by Simon & Schuster Inc.), M. Scott Peck, M.D. acknowledges that evil is real and not, “the figment of imagination of the primitive religious mind feebly attempting to explain the unknown.” Dr. Peck goes on to say that evil is “laziness carried to its ultimate, extraordinary extreme.” If evil is the epitome of laziness, it is because the soul avoids the responsibility of self-acknowledgment. Looking at the true nature of oneself can be both painful and frightening. (Fortunately, it can also be very satisfying and joyful.) But that peering inward takes both strength and courage. For this reason, the soul may have a tendency to look away because it cannot cope with acknowledging the truth about itself. Facing our fears and our pains is difficult. Taking responsibility for our feelings, emotions, actions, and who we truly are can be genuinely difficult. One who will not, or cannot, face and take responsibility for themselves begins the act of denial and numbness.

The Bible portrays a number of themes that might be considered precursors to evil, if not evil directly: Abuse, adultery, ambition, anger, anxiety, bitterness, deceit, depression, drug abuse, lack of faith, lack of hope, fear, gossip, hypocrisy, lust, money, pornography, revenge and temptation. But in reading through the list, one still arrives at the conclusion that there are choices to be had. We can make decisions about how we live our lives and how we impact those around us.

Trying to understand the nature of evil is a challenging and complex task. Clearly, there is much to it, ranging from issues of mental illness, substance abuse, societal problems, extremist ways of thinking, our growing and changing populations, and even the effects of media and social media. Is there a devil – something or someone affecting our decisions and luring us into hurtful choices? Perhaps, but are we then simply assigning blame elsewhere as we avoid taking responsibility for our actions?

It’s important that we find ways to protect ourselves and our loved ones from those who carry out evil acts, and we must be vigilant about it. We must also keep in mind that we have choices. We need to continue to educate ourselves about evil and evil trends. Perhaps we’ll never do away with evil, but through time, education, responsibility, and awareness, we may be able to alleviate those things that are responsible for evil.

Copyright 2013/2016 Duane Hewitt. All rights reserved.

Writing Well I – pointers for blogs and articles

By Duane Hewitt

Articles about good writing skills can appear to be repetitive in content. After all, topics like content, style, form, and grammar can only go so far – or so it may seem. The fact is there can be much to review without tiring out the reader with repetition. This article addresses some points that make for good writing in current forums like the Internet.

The “warm up” – how writers waste time on weak opening sentences: The Internet has provided opportunities for writers both good and bad. Content is also generally either good or bad. One pitfall that is now overly common involves pointless intros to articles and blogs. Too many writers give us opening sentences that are valueless, telling us things that are obvious and needn’t be said. What’s actually happening in such scenarios is that the writer is warming up to the topic of their writing. This can happen with any writer, but such empty content needs to be edited out for the final draft and replaced with clarity, direction, and purpose.

By example, instead of, “There are many types of carbohydrates and we all tend to have our favorite carbs, any of which can do much to impact our health and the way we feel, particularly for those with diabetes…”

This statement begins by telling us nothing we don’t already know. It’s empty. All it does is waste the reader’s time. Instead, when starting your article about Diabetes and Carbohydrates, go with, “For those with type II diabetes, the following information about carbohydrates and the way carbs are processed in the body will help you manage your diabetes.”

Watch out for senseless openings to your articles. Get to the point. Doing so will hold the reader’s attention while identifying the topic of your writing.

Know what you’re talking about: There’s an inclination for many writers on the Internet to write about topics that they know little about and say even less. Empty content is like the blah-blah-blah of a drunk on a barstool who thinks they have something to say when they don’t. Don’t talk through your hat. As a writer, it’s your responsibility to research, verify, and report. Give us facts, figures, and insight. Tell us something we don’t already know; something new and refreshing. Don’t wing it. Every piece of information in your writing should be accurate and there for a purpose.

Paragraphs: A paragraph is a unit of thought. It should contain views and info that are presented in orderly fashion within the context of your article. Make certain your writing doesn’t have paragraphs that are so loaded with different topics that no one topic is defined. Edit and rewrite as necessary. Rearrange wording and content for clarity.

Clarity: Write clear, concise sentences. The reader shouldn’t be taxed with trying to figure out what you mean. Different styles of writing (such as in literature, by example) may allow for what comes across as nebulous in style, but that’s no excuse for unclear writing when clarity is what is required.

The passive voice vs. the active voice: Go with the active voice. The active voice is direct and generally uncompromising. It gets to the point with writing that is clear and tight. “He ran to the water fountain and died,” is better than, “Upon arriving at the water fountain and after running to get there, he passed away.”

Breaking the rules: It has been said before and will be said again: Understanding the rules of good writing can empower you to break those rules because you understand what you are doing and why, thereby enhancing your writing, even if only in style. No two writers are alike, and writing styles will differ and even change over time. But none of this is an excuse for not understanding the craft of writing. Breaking the rules works best when you know how because it puts you, the writer, in control.

Much of what there is to be said about writing well comes from our experiences as a reader. For blogs and articles on the Internet, as well as for other types of writing in other forums, be clear, concise, informative, interesting, and entertaining. Your readers will be grateful.

Copyright 2016 Duane Hewitt. All rights reserved.

Writing Well II – In regards to style

By Duane Hewitt

Writers sometimes have the view that, when developing their style of writing, it gives them license to break all the rules of writing. This is not necessarily true – at least not for good writing. Such a carte blanche approach can lead to lack of clarity, poor form, and prose that becomes so muddled with an ineffectual style that the reader becomes exasperated and lost. The better approach is to remain in control of your writing regarding the rules while understanding what style is and how it is achieved. This article assumes the writer is sufficiently well-versed in the structure and components of writing.

What is style?

A very simple definition of style as it applies to writing might be, “a unique way of combining words.” Or, perhaps more accurately, “the unique way words are combined that is specific to a particular writer.”

Style is largely an abstract thing. For this reason there will not always be a defining yardstick that can be applied to either approve or disapprove of a writing style. One version of a sentence will hold a different magic than another. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” nails it better than, “The times were the best but these same times were also the worst…” Any number of considered versions might be correct, but that does not mean any other version will carry the weight of Charles Dickens’ powerful opening in A Tale of Two Cities.

Style is something that impacts the ear, much like the spoken word or music. Different styles convey different tones, which in turn influences the mood and reaction of the reader. Humor, anger, sarcasm, indifference, and more are conveyed through the choice and arrangement of words. Words can be manipulated to achieve style but the intended meaning must remain intact.

Style is often adapted to suit an audience or a purpose. A writer’s style is likely to change for different works. By example, a darkly told detective story in the manner of Edgar Allan Poe is sure to be dissimilar in style by the same writer who pens a comedy that pays homage to P.G. Wodehouse.

Style reflects the personality of the writer. This is where a writer might shine or disappoint. We all gravitate to certain personalities more so than others. Who, after all, is behind the pen that displays such wit and panache, or such a sour bite?

Points to consider:

Fluency: A reader should not find themselves stopped midstream because of style. In other words, don’t let style stand out so much that content and purpose are lost. The reader should not be so amazed or perplexed by style that they are unable to read fluently.

Wordiness: Excessive use of words happens all the time in different kinds of writing. This can be forgivable if content and meaning are communicated effectively. Just make sure that your long-winded prose is better than the more succinct versions that you surely considered.

Word use: Style should not contain wrong words or those that are used inappropriately, unless the writer is purposely doing so to evoke a reaction (such as humor or anger) or has some other particular motive in the writing.

Grammar: If you choose to break the rules of grammar, you should know what you’re doing and why. Take split infinitives, for example. Who among us has not heard that infamous split infinitive, “To boldly go…”? A split infinitive that places emphasis on the adverb can present us with a stylized version of wording that can be quite appealing. As with the opening to the original Star Trek series, it comes across effortlessly. It isn’t formal, but it works.

Mind your tone: You might be heavy-handed, light-hearted, or saucy – but just keep in mind that your readers are people. Your goal in achieving a unique style should take into account respect for the reader, which includes respect for their time and requirements. A writer does not want to lose readers on account of style. Ask yourself, did you help or hinder the reader with your writing style?

Accomplishing what you set out to achieve: This applies to all writing (presumably), so why should your ultra-stylish writing interfere with things like content and purpose? Stay on the straight and narrow of clarity and form before venturing into the no-man’s land of pretentious style.

Awareness – with attention to the “critiquing” eye: Good writers learn to be their own best editors. Learn to critique your own writing. If you make excuses for something that you want to attribute to style, then understand what you are doing and why you have chosen to do so. Style evolves with a discerning eye. A less critiquing approach is dubious at best. Is it style or is it a fluke?

In conclusion, development of a great writing style will undoubtedly make use of many techniques of good writing… varied sentence length, economy of words, figures of speech, and so on. In developing style, it might help to ask, “What is good writing?” The answer to this will differ between writers and readers as much as it will depend on the purposes of that writing… conveying information, entertainment, creating a call to action, and so on.

To develop your own style of writing, be true to your own voice – but make your aim quality. You may just discover that good style is uniquely interwoven with the fundamental purposes of good writing anyway.

Copyright 2016 Duane Hewitt. All rights reserved.