WHAT DO YOU KNOW? – a lot, actually

Woody Allen once stated that his brain was his second most important organ (notch notch). Way back in my younger days, I fully agreed with that – but then Woody and I got smarter, obviously. Considering the ultimate power our brains have, we should wear a sturdy helmet at all times – yes, even in the shower... That’s how important that organ is; a lot, actually.

What do I know? I’m not going to bore you silly with the hugely vast knowledge I have about the brain – actually ‘brains’, as we have two; that would be one to your left and one to your right – but let’s stick with ‘brain’ for simplicity.

The brain is the most complex organ we carry around. In the largest part of our brains, we have an estimated 15–33 billion neurons (count them - if you have time), with each connected by synapses to several thousand other neurons. These neurons communicate with one another by means of long protoplasmic fibers, called axons, which carry trains of signal pulses called action potentials to distant parts of the brain and/or the body, targeting specific recipient cells, to make us do things. Physiologically, the function of the brain is to exert centralized control over the other organs in our bodies - seriously. I mean, how simple is that?

But the silly thing is that we normal people really don’t know a lot about the brain-thing. We also lack knowledge about how any of the multitudes of our other organs and/or limbs really work – and don’t you think that is weird since we drag around with these bodies all our lives - and compared, that we know so much more about how our smart-phones work and what they can do? Kind of sad, if you ask me… Perhaps a ‘brain-app’ should be invented? There’s an idea.

But back to the brain and what we do know: The vast knowledge we have and the inventory of what we know is crammed together between our ears. My question is: how the heck is there room for all that stuff; it is so beyond my comprehension – and should be beyond yours as well. 

You hear a song and instantly scroll through the vast list of the ‘music/song’ knowledge you have; you recall the name of the song, the singer, perhaps other information related to this tune, where you were, who he was, a geographic place, smells and a whole lot of other (perhaps insignificant?) information – and all this obtained much faster than a Nano second (and that is very fast). How do it do it, huh?

There are so many other senses triggering our brain inventory, as sounds, smells, touch, talk, etc. I still remember that during my first trip to the USA, an early morning jet-lag stroll by the Pacific Ocean (Capitola, California) and my first smell of the Eucalyptus tree. That was a million years ago (really) and every time the aroma of Eucalyptus passes through my well-shaped nostrils and hits my brain, I am back in Capitola, – and very vividly. And don’t you wonder how that works?

We take way many things for granted in our lives. We are to a certain extent pathetically ignorant - and that is meant in a nice way; generalization in this case is faster. But we are ignorant and it’s a pity, because our bodies are utterly fascinating (of course certain bodies are more fascinating than others – if you know what I mean).  But now I’m being pathetically silly.

How is it we keep balance (for the most part) while we walk? We also run, talk, listen (a tough one), move, think, react and the list of all the stuff our brains are controlling to near perfection, at least in my case, huh? Is – well, endless. It would take us a life-time to write down all the stuff we know – and probably much longer than that. Because we really know so much and when we consider that all this information is kept in that small space between our ears – protected by nerdy looking helmet or not… you must admit it is mesmerizing.

Of course we could easily shrink down our inventory of knowledge, kind of start a folder called: Important Stuff. That would be all the stuff that is important for us to be able to function – and function well. But what if we got rid of all the stuff that would easily fit under the category FLUFF? The stupid stuff we really shouldn’t bother any of our brain-neurons with; unimportant information that leads nowhere. Like doing a recap of last night’s Dancing with the Stars, anything Justin Bieber, whatever Kardashian (feel ashamed just mentioning them), discard all math from when Y, Z & X was added; all the stupid stuff we ever did, etc. You get the idea – just to save room, and perhaps we’ll be able to recall the important stuff much faster. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way.

But then of course there are times when we are not able to pull the information up fast enough – or at all. Most kids and some of us mature adults at times claim ignorance by activating selective memory whenever convenient – a lot. But at times and in spite of the power of our brain, we cannot recall and/or pull up stuff at all, no matter how much we really want to.

My Mother has dementia (loss of short-term memory, in this case) – started some years back. We decided at the time she was diagnosed, that we would not tip-toe around the issue, but call it what it was (of course, I can’t recall what we called it…) My Mother’s first comment was that having lived so long (she is 93), she could and can afford not to be able to remember everything – a lot of things, actually. We chat on the phone 4-5 times weekly, just short 5-10 minutes monologs from me pretty much and no matter how fascinating my stories are, my Mother have forgotten everything about them the second the phones go “click”.

I have always believed in brain gymnastics, to keep our brains sharp and fresh. To do that, we must exercise, read, diet, less alcohol/no illegal drugs, and apply challenging stimulation by forcing ourselves to think beyond and outside the proverbial box – especially things that we do not approach just because of that; you neurons will love you no end. 

I also believe that we are using far less than half of what our brains are actually capable of. At times some of us have those extra neurons lined up perfectly and we can do extraordinary things. When we look around us in our everyday lives, we see the results from that in just about everything. And it all materialized by first activating our brains, remembering and using the vast knowledge we carry around between our ears, or in technology we created to remember things for us.

Of all the stuff between my ears that I remember – and that is a lot, there are still a few things I wish I could forget; highlight and then hit the delete button – POW and gone forever. But we can’t, as we are stuck with whatever it is. And of all the fantastic and wonderful stuff I can and do remember, stuff I know, the masses of it, it is still the few things I want to forget that pops up at times – but I guess they are reminders of what NOT to do again, so I really shouldn’t be complaining – helmet or no helmet… 

 EARLY BRAIN PROTECTION HELMET

 

EFFECTIVE PROTECTION BUT NOT FLATTERING - AT ALL

 

EXAMPLE OF PROTECTIVE HELMET THAT DID NOT WORK

(SORRY ABOUT THE HORNS - VIKING HELMETS DIDN'T HAVE ANY)

ME – who am I, really?

Yeah, and who are you – really? My point is that we will never find out, that thing about who we really are or more so, could have been. Would we have been nicer, more successful, would we have failed all over the place, been more charming, smarter, interesting or adorable, (that would be me)? You see, we will never know, and perhaps that is a good thing or perhaps it is really bad…

The moment that lucky one-in-a-million of sperms crashes through the wall of the egg (look it up), the magic starts and we are being influenced big time; ‘me’ has begun. We settle on so many levels, guided by some of the sperm-donor’s characteristics, dressed in ‘genes’. We are heavily influenced by all the stuff that goes on from the ‘break-through’ and during the next nine months, in that dark and cozy place – as far as I remember. This is the part where we do not control who we want to be – really; we just lie around and somewhat, absorb, ignore and wait.

Then we pop out; somebody with a mask slaps our butt if we don’t cry – so now we do. Being influenced by our surroundings has already started. In this case deciding if our future will include the pleasure (or not) of being spanked by somebody wearing a mask, huh?

Next thing, we have a nipple (the pointed part of a breast) in our mouth and suck away for food like crazy, finding ‘breasts’ to be nurturing and essential. For most males and some females, this becomes a lifelong influence – seriously… Okay, on several different levels…

So my philosophy is, that as we can’t do much about our personality development until we see the light of day (and after some spanking), that these very first moments are where we are really ‘me’, that innocent, uninfluenced and pure ‘me’. I hope you enjoyed that short moment of unadulterated bliss – I did.

But then our surroundings take over, shaping, molding and in some cases really screw up the pure foundation of ‘me’. Our personality and character, our values, ethics and a bunch of other stuff, are for the most part ‘guided’ by what kind of stimulation we receive and accept.

Don’t get me wrong, of course the core of who we are comes from inside, but I believe that the influences we are bombarded with all our lives are huge. But as long as we can be sensible and sort out the good stuff from the bad, we’ll be okay.

As kids we try to emulate the other kids and some emulate us. This ‘contest’ is normal, but what I’m concerned, is it healthy? Some ‘contests’ are character building, no doubt, but when we look back, how much of this ‘emulation’ business was sponsored by our parents (the so-called adults)? Were we just pawns for them to move around or were they 100% for that healthy character building stuff? It’s a mixed bag, and if you are a parent, you should know what I mean – I do.

Kids are so easily influenced. We have the same curiosity level as a dry sponge, inviting influences to be soaked up easily. You want your child to speak foreign languages, this is the best time in their lives to learn – really…And so forth. So whatever we see around us as kids, good as well as bad, we absorb big time. At this point we have already said ‘bye bye’ to the ‘real’ me (sniffle sniffle)…

But is there hope? I believe that to some extent we can be somewhat in control of whom we want to be, the ‘me’ I to a certain degree want to become and the person I would perhaps feel comfortable with. Yeah, that is a pretty vague commitment, but that is how it is – what I’m concerned. We don’t have a lot of control to do what we might more so fantasize about – except when we are getting a lot older, of course; by then, who really cares anymore?

Not to sound derogatory, but we are ‘group’ people (elegantly negating using the term ‘flock-animal’, because some might take that the wrong way, huh?) By ‘group’ people I mean that in our society we function more so in groups following leaders. I’m not saying this is good or bad, as it can be good as well as it can be bad – and in some cases really bad. And we are of course also influenced by the other people in the groups we join.

And talking about ‘groups’: I was lucky to grow up with The Beatles. In 1963 I was hooked and I know now that this group of ‘leaders’, John, Paul, George and Ringo, were influencing my personality on many levels. Among the things I absorbed was the friendship they projected between them, their humor and charm. Though I was one of the original nerds, I did let my hair grow a bit longer and started wearing pointed shoes – just like ‘they’ did; those shoes were the most uncomfortable things I ever wore on my feet – but I nearly looked like a Beatle and some girls were impressed (but that was as far as I made it with those girls – (sigh))

In school we are influenced by classmates and teachers. The cool ones we try to copy, the jerks we also learn from – by not becoming one. Our parents, our original role-models, influence us big-time; we are molded from who we were into who we become.

Life in general rubs off on us, the work we end up doing, the people we hang out with; TV & movies, advertising & commercials are strong entities by which some parts of our lives are lived, telling us if we are doing wrong or right, good or bad. Intimidation can be forceful, as well as envy and jealousy are strong emotional tools, ‘helping’ us to the lives we want to live and the person we want to be - perhaps.

I know you might be mad now, because you don’t think that you fit into this scenario, but the thing is that we all do – more or less. So when we really think about who we are – really, is that just who we have become, or is it really who we would like to be?

I wonder who I was to start with and I wonder who I would have been if I had followed other leads. When I look back to role-models and other influences, my Mother sticks out in front. She has always made ‘balance’ and ‘decency’ be my guiding influences; she still is. She has made it possible for me to be the person I am today. My wife continued that trend, not the ‘mother’ part, but the ‘balance’ and ‘decency’ bit. I can be who I am – and that is so important, no matter whoever and whatever I have been influenced by through my life.

We are ‘influenced’ by our surroundings all our lives, and with that being a fact, I do hope that we can still hold on to some of that innocence we arrived with – just before we got spanked. So when we look at it, we are who we are because so many and so much molded us into ‘me’ – and that’s just how it is.

I thank my Mother for being there for me all my life, by telling her that I love her. I tell my wife I love her too – of course. At times I look back on other positive influences of mine and I am thankful for them being part of building my life and who I became – because I’m not that bad off, at all… But more importantly: who are you?   

RELIGION / FAITH – in the name of…

As a kid, still struggling putting together a simple LEGO castle, my Mother underlined one of her rare social comments: “never discuss religion and/or faith with anybody”. Even back then it sounded logically understandable, as both issues are very personal – as in extremely sensitive. I have (religiously!) followed my Mother’s advice; but when it comes to religions using some follower’s faith and trust to do shaky things in the name of, I do wonder, as in: I don’t get it… (Sorry Mom).

We all live with a wide range of emotions. We can be happy, sad, annoyed, ticked off, euphoric, angry, satisfied, pissed, in love, disappointed and so forth. What I’m concerned, one of the strongest emotions we carry around is faith, where trust is the dominating factor. When faith is being manipulated by misusing the trust involved, in the name of, my eyes start to roll, because I don’t get it…

As a society we have always tip-toed around religion and faith. Governments and politicians are careful not to insult anybody associated with religion and faith, by negating being disrespectful, derogatory (I nearly wrote: God forbid) and anything that could even slightly be a talking down to. US currency even says:  In God We Trust; doesn’t matter if you believe in God or any gods at all. But WE put our trust in God? No disrespect, but that is a wide assumption, isn’t it? Or is it just political tip-toing and something nobody dare remove, because what if…?

 

Before you get all flustered or upset, let me make one thing very clear. I do not believe in God or any gods. I do not believe in Hell or Heaven. I think the Bible has a lot of grand stuff and a lot that are not so grand – I like most of the Ten Commandments (some good rules to live by!) and so forth. But you see, I am not against religions and/or faith as a rule, but I am against religions and/or faith when it is being blatantly misused as a tool with lots of threats of punishment to misguide some believers beyond what their religion’s origin was, what it was supposed to say and do for you; something grand to trust, something awesome to have true faith in.

Religion with faith involved is one thing; faith in any religion is quite another. I have the deepest respect for individuals who has a solid faith in God, any god, faith in a life after this, the guidance and comfort received from believing, having trust in something they consider bigger than what we are getting here on Earth. I have the greatest respect, and I have never mixed that respect with ignorance by announcing my “beliefs” relative to. Yes, my Mother was right, it is a huge personal thing and I have always and will always respect that.

One of my concerns is when religions start to control some believers, some of the members of the church as an institution. Or the members who let themselves be controlled; I can only conclude, with the: you never know being a dominant (fear?) factor. I was concerned when Tammy Baker’s make-up was running amok while asking for millions from the viewers, in the name of God. I’m concerned when so-called preachers are raking in the almighty dollars in the name of Jesus Christ, etc. You get the idea and “yes” I know that these are the bad apples, praying with while preying on, to me, some naïve and ignorant “believers”. I know this is the sleazy side of the issue, but I’m still amazed it happens every single day.

True believers will call them fanatics, no doubt, the ones who are encouraged to strap on explosives with promises of a serene life after, in the name of. Consider that most wars fought through the centuries, were/are initiated with in the name of – and so forth. That’s what I don’t understand… Do you? If you do, please let me know what I’m not getting.

When we believe and acknowledge that we find comfort, hope, faith and guidance in anything, being a god, a religion, ourselves, another person or whatever or whoever, we are seriously not bad off. But I also truly believe that we need to be in control of these feelings and not let these feelings control us. Follow guidance is all fine, but I think it is essential that we always know and see where we are going, where we want to go and never lose track of our goals. Faith is that personal…

Faith is such a personal emotion; that cannot be argued to any extent. So I accept and respect. Of course I expect the same acceptance and respect for my beliefs, my life-style and my thoughts; which cannot be argued either. Sure you are welcome to roll your eyes and shake your head – to some extent I would understand – I would not agree, but I would understand, huh?

I want to finish with a piece I wrote many years ago; now be nice and remember my respect for individual faith. When I look back in history, acknowledge that so many wars fought, so many millions of people killed, have to a high degree been fought and are still being fought, in the name of a god or a religion, etc. I am very perplexed. So I wanted to get my thoughts cleared up and wrote the following:

Religions, as in plural, still initiate wars, slugging it out and killing each other, supposedly with the blessings of their gods, imaginary or not, in their convictions to try to persuade the other side, in the matter of life, faith or death, that their (imaginary?) god is better or for other related  reasons – in the name of... 

Where do we find common sense or any form of logic in this? What is it that we cannot understand? Making any sense of killing and destroying our fellow human beings in the name of, no matter how much of a believer you are and no matter how seemingly communal the cause, doesn’t that fully go against what faith and religion is? And what about the commandment: Thou shalt not kill? As far as I know, that specific commandment did not come with amendments.

If religion (also) helps believers cope with the fear of death, which seems to be one of the cores of intention in many religions, I am fine with that. But when we look at the “unintended” consequences of embracing the irrational philosophy of killing each other in the process of making you a believer or prove a religious point, I do not understand. To me, it’s religion with confusion; damnation in Hell is secured by ignoring Thou shalt not kill – the scriptures, bibles and Koran’s and what have you, do not say anything contrary. So believers are judged – no matter what imaginary leader is followed, no matter how much he (or she) says: thou shall not follow any other gods – (or something to that effect...) as this obviously catches some believers between faith and an extremely hard immoral place. Do you know something different?

A good friend, who used to live next door, would be on her way to church Sunday mornings. I would kiddingly ask her to put in a few good words for me to the Big Guy in the Sky. Carole would always laugh and yet again tell me that she had tried several times, but He had told her that He gave up on Peter a long time ago – perhaps that explains a few things, huh?

PS. Next post will be a lot lighter – I believe…