Discovery

If you want to find something you first need to look for it.  That's not to say you won't stumble across something interesting totally by accident, but too often we walk by remarkable things daily and never notice them because our head is down and our thoughts are locked onto the daily tasks.

Pay attention to the things around you.  It might be as simple as an insect crawling on the porch rail or an Indigo Bunting peering from a nearby tree branch.  It could be as complex as the way nature recycles nutrients that inspires an earth-changing invention.  It could be in observing the interactions between two people that lets you know that your understanding is flawed.

Observations should trigger questions.  Too often we look but don't truly see.  We hear but don't really listen.  We notice but don't observe critically.  By critically I don't refer to being critical but to thinking about what we see, hear, etc.  We tend to be so wrapped up in ourselves that we miss much of what is around us.

Discovery is not only the realm of Explorers and Scientists.  Discovery is available to everyone who opens their eyes and asks questions -- especially the question, "Why?"  It is key to growth.

In previous posts I have used photos of Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus).  It is growing wild behind a short retaining wall at the entrance to our place.  It almost went undiscovered by me due to its location which not only is hidden by the brick wall, but is surrounded by trees, weeds, and a gate that is left open.  I obviously wondered how it got there.  I suspect it is there because some bird ingested a seed elsewhere and later deposited it along with some nitrogen-dense fertilizer while sitting on the retaining wall.  Now I have to keep the invasive weeds from covering it back up.  Sometimes discovery requires work.

 Conformity

This morning I have been watching a beautiful red Cardinal flitting around outside my window.  He has been on the porch, perched on a nearby tree limb, sat on the edge of the bird bath and now is simply hopping around in the grass looking for a meal.  He stands out from the various shades of green and brown that are the primary colors of this summer morning.

Most birds blend in with their surroundings.  They are various shades of gray, black, brown and yellow with sometimes muted reds and blues mixed in.  Their coloration helps them to blend into the canopy of the trees they inhabit.  They want to hide rather than to stand out.  Over the years of their evolution into unique species, they have conformed to their environment.  They blend in.

Most people are that way.  They try to blend in.  They choose behavior that doesn't make them stand out as a target yet one of the strongest human needs is for recognition.  Fear drives us to blend in while the need for recognition pushes us to do things which bring us to the attention of others.  Sometimes that need for recognition can be self-destructive.  The attention is gained through destructive behavior.

If we could all just learn to be who and what we were designed to be I think we would all be better off.  Conformity suppresses creativity and hides talents and gifts that could make valuable contributions.  Being true to self will allow our strengths to shine and garner the recognition that each and every person craves without resorting to destructive behaviors.

I'm certainly no psychologist -- just an observer of human nature.  I also love to observe closely the natural world around me.  Yesterday while doing some cleanup around the entrance to our property, I found a wild Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus) growing in a shaded area.  It certainly doesn't conform to what we generally view as summer flowers.  Its bloom is unique, it likes shade and the color is vibrant.

 Playing Favorites

Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides) is probably my favorite wildflower -- at least in the top 2 because I really like the Indian Blanket Flower as well.  I didn't know Lantana existed until a couple of years ago when we were in South Texas where it grows wild.

Hummingbirds and butterflies regularly visit it.  It blooms throughout the summer, and the colorful blossoms quickly draw the eye.  It definitely stands out among the various greens and browns.

We all have favorites -- favorite foods, places, people and things.  Something inside of us sorts through the bombardment and chooses that which we prefer.  Certain things just seem to resonate with who we are.  Those favorites can change over time, but there are always favorites.

It's okay to embrace our favorites, but we should also keep in mind that circumstances and time changes them and changes us.  We must be aware that what we reject today may be important tomorrow.  People and things that may not be our first choice today should still be treated well.  As for places?  If you say "I'll never" it is likely that's where you will end up.  It's kind of funny how that works.

 Commonalities

The true key to solving major challenges is commonality of purpose.  A diverse team, focused on a solution, under inspired leadership can solve anything.

I am a firm believer in diversity.  But I don't define diversity by how we look, our belief systems or our lifestyles; I define it by styles of thinking.  If we all think alike, we have mass redundancy.  To solve problems, we need diversity of thought.

Too often that diversity of thinking styles gets in the way.  That is why inspired leadership is a necessary ingredient.  Leadership should encourage, challenge and inspire each of the diverse individuals in a group to exercise their gifts to the fullest.  Then magic happens.

We have a plant which grows on our place called Common Hedge Parsley (Tonilis arvensis).  Don't eat it, it looks like many other plants in the wild carrot family such as Poison Hemlock.  The Common Hedge Parsley is sometimes called "sock-destroyer" because its hairy seeds stick to the socks like Velcro.  The plant is usually considered an invasive weed and is commonly found in Europe and North America.  It is part of the natural diversity within our local ecosystem.

 Scratching the Itches

We live in an area where there are many plants, insects and arachnids that attack on a regular basis.  Poison ivy, poison oak, chiggers, ticks, spiders -- they seem to be everywhere.  Since the first warming rays of the Spring sun caused the tender shoots of poison ivy to grow, I have itched.  Working in the woods to clean up the brush exposes me to all of the above.  Scratching those itches happens because the irritation overcomes the will to ignore.

Chiggers may be the worst.  Sometimes all it takes is to walk through the grass for the tiny creatures to find purchase and work their way to a point where they can bite.  One of their favorite places to hide is in or near berry bushes.  Picking dewberries or blackberries is a sure way to gather a few.

They latch on to the skin and feed, but you don't know they are there until they drop off.  That's when the itching begins.  They leave behind enzymes as well as the mechanical damage of their feeding probe that are attacked by the immune system.  That's when the itching begins.  Scratching can cause bacterial infections that then make it even worse.  The skin becomes more inflamed, and it often takes weeks for the red spots to fade.

Deep Woods Off with Deet is a good way to prevent or at least to reduce the number of chiggers that make it to your skin.  That or completely avoiding grass and woodland areas are really the only way to evade them.

There are many things that remind me of chiggers.  Small annoyances often become serious problems if allowed to continue.  It is best to prevent such things, but if they occur, they should be dealt with promptly rather than allowed to fester.  Such things happen in families, with friends, at work and any other place we encounter "irritations" that are unresolved.  Sometimes they remain because we fail to deal with them -- such as a loose shingle, or a broken screen, or a rattle in the car.  Learn to deal with them promptly.  Don't put them off.  Scratch the itch, but better yet, treat it or prevent it.

The Black-eyed Susans pictured below are growing wild in one of those parts of our place where the chiggers like to live.  I thought the photo was worth the risk of the itch anyway.

 Shine Your Light

A simple garden petunia, growing in an uncultivated state, shines because it can't help being what it is.  Despite being mowed down, ignored, crowded by grasses and weeds, it shines.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all be like that.  No matter where we find ourselves, be true to ourselves, don't pretend, don't try to blend in, simply shine.

Little children understand this.  Then the world does everything it can to take it away.  God made each of us according to the unique pattern wired into our DNA and then conditioning, circumstances, our environment, peers, parents, siblings, the school system, television, the Internet, and on and on works on us the rest of our life to take that away.  Fight to be true to self.  Be a feral, uncultivated Petunia and shine.

 Navigating Complexity

It is sometimes easy to get "bogged down" when dealing with complex problems.  There is a tendency to become overwhelmed when resolution is not quickly attainable.  Our minds have a tendency to fasten onto the myriads of difficulties rather focusing on individual component parts that are solvable.

I have found that is usually effective to begin by breaking down the problems into discrete, manageable pieces and then taking them one at a time.  It is desirable that they be evaluated according to either importance, or ease of solution and then prioritized accordingly.

When we look first at importance, solution of one problem often goes far in solving other related issues.  However, those large problems often bring a level of difficulty that leads to discouragement and half-hearted effort because our minds continually tell us we can't do it.  Extended periods with seeming lack of progress create a psychological barrier that adds to the burden of what must be overcome for success.

If we begin with smaller problems that are easily handled, we often create a pattern of success that bolsters our mental attitude.  We see the wins -- even the small wins -- as progress.  As each problem is handled and set aside, the list gets smaller and the tendency to be overwhelmed is reduced.

How we approach complexity boils down to a mental game we play with ourselves.  The trick is to convince ourselves that we can solve the problems and then retain that positive attitude throughout the process.  It isn't as simple as it sounds because some problems require Herculean effort to solve.  They may be beyond our ability.  Once you recognize that, you call for help.

The Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus) is a type of mallow.  It is native to East, South and Central Texas where it is sometimes found growing along streams.  It is adaptable to both shaded and sunny locations.  The variety you see below is a domesticated one we have planted at our home.  The wild varieties are usually red.  I like the complexity of the blossom.

 Fostering Uncertainty

"Although our intellect always longs for clarity and certainty, our nature often finds uncertainty fascinating." -- Carl von Clausewitz

Arriving at a point of certainty is a sure indicator that we have stopped learning and have dismissed any new information that might inform our opinion of outcome as otherwise.  -- me

I want to always be learning.  I desire that those around me be learning.  I want to be around people who are curious, who are looking at things in new ways and constantly aware that there might be better ways to do things.  I want questions that probe current understanding.  I want uncertainty.

That seems a strange thing to desire -- uncertainty.  Most of us want a blanket of security in knowing with certainty what the day holds.  It is an unrealistic expectation.  Safety and security are illusory.

I believe businesses need to foster a level of uncertainty and I believe our educational systems need to do the same.  The fires of curiosity must constantly be fanned -- not always to a blazing heat, but at least to a constant glowing ember that can be brought to flame with addition of new fuel.  Growth is found in curiosity.  Without curiosity we slowly fade.

I am uncertain what the flower pictured below is.  My best guess is that it is a Soft Golden-aster (Chrysopsis pilosa).  It was growing near our entry, and I thought it was very photogenic.  If you have a more accurate identity, please add it in the comments.

 Staying Optimistic

It is far too easy to allow negativity to drag you down.  The constant bombardment of challenges and barriers can cause even the most positive of personalities to struggle with anxiety and depression.  At least part of the solution is to focus on the positive things you find along the way.

I have been looking forward to picking lots of dewberries from the plants growing wild on our place, but they have only been ripening a few at a time.  I have a bag in the freezer in which I place the ripe ones that I have picked.  Eventually there might be enough for a pie.  If not, they might garnish a piece of cake or some ice cream.  They are so close to being ready that I daily expect them all to have turned ripe overnight.  Instead, it is one here and one there.

Life is a bit like that.  We look ahead with hopeful expectations, but it seems their realization remains firmly in the future.  Every once in a while, something positive occurs, but the thing we aim for seems to remain elusively later in time.  It is important that we continue to do what is necessary and to remain hopeful.  With my berries it is a short walk each day to check their progress and to harvest the few that are ready.  I expect any day to make the trek and find the bushes loaded with ripe berries and I will have to go find a bucket to gather them in rather than carry the few ripe ones in my hand.

There are several species of dewberry.  I believe ours are the Southern Dewberry (Rubus trivialis).  They create a bright spot in the woods, but don't stumble into them unaware because the thorns will quickly entangle you.

 Designed Fit

Have you ever noticed that pollinator species tend to choose specific flowers?  I am certainly no expert on the subject, yet it seems to me that species such as Hummingbirds, Bees and Butterflies are very discriminatory in the flowers they choose to land on.

We have different types of flowers, most of which are either native species, or closely related to native species, in our flower beds.  The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds like the Texas Lantana right now, but we know from past observations that they will go to the Texas Sage equally when they are in bloom.  However, they seem to ignore the Gaillardia and the Coneflowers.  Likewise, we see certain species of butterflies that prefer the opposite and still others that only visit other species of flowers which are in the meadow.

Design is important.  I'm referring to the specific shape, size and function of various body parts of these creatures.  The long beak of the Hummingbird is well-suited to reaching into trumpet-shaped flowers whereas the butterflies appear to be more suited to flowers that don't require reaching into a deep well to access the food supply.

Everything we see or build is designed with a specific use in mind.  Whether it be a rocking chair on the front porch or a military aircraft, design is based on use and functionality.

Why do humans sometimes think they should ignore their own design and attempt to be what they are not?  It puzzles me.  It's their choice, but still, it puzzles me.  We don't see that in nature.

Below is a Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) perched on a domesticated Gaillardia.  Their caterpillar stage is especially fond of oak trees of which we have many.

 Climbing

I spent a few years believing that I wanted to climb the company ladder.  I made it a fair way up before I learned that it wasn't much fun.  The politics become fierce and the dirty tricks come out.  Too often those rewarded were the least deserving based on merit but were masterful at manipulation and foul play.

Peter Drucker once said something like, "a person will climb to the level of their incompetence."  I think that is very true.  We are each designed with certain gifts and abilities that make us uniquely suited for specific roles.  Those who find themselves outside those roles due to blind ambition or poor choices will reach a point beyond which they can't go.  Others simply reach a point beyond their personal talents and abilities.

One of the most glaring examples that I have seen through the years is to take an outstanding salesman and put him into management.  Some do well in the role, but most are average at best.  Both sales and management suffer due to the promotion.

Pride and greed often get in the way of good decisions.  Pride in the form of "look at me and how far I've come!"  Greed in the form of seeking a higher level of income in a role that makes you miserable.  The key is to find what you are made for and do it to the best of your ability.  Bloom where you are.

The Climbing Prairie Rose (Rosa setigera) is found from Texas to Wisconsin and all the way east to the coast.  The beauty pictured below was in a hidden area of our small acreage.

 Invasion With Benefits

There are many invasive plant, insect and animal species that have found their way to our country.  Most of them exploit a niche that may be occupied by other species which may be unable to resist the invader.  Some of them are harmful and some less so.  Some may be beneficial.

It is wise to be cautious of uninvited guests.  That's why the government has inspection services that seek to limit or prevent the entry of plants, animals and other species that might be harmful.

We are very careful what plants we bring onto our small piece of Texas.  We prefer those which are native and try to avoid those that may proliferate beyond our ability to control them.  Over time we hope to identify all of the different species currently on our land and eliminate those which are invasive and destructive.  It is only common sense that we protect our home.

One of the invasive species that we have found is the Asiatic Dayflower (Commelina communis).  It blooms for only one day each year.  It originated in Asia but has spread to many areas throughout the world.  In China it is used as a medicinal herb and for making certain dyes.  It is sometimes found as an ornamental.  Recent research indicates it may have beneficial properties for soil remediation where it is found to remove copper, lead, zinc and cadmium from the soil and does well on reclaimed mining sites.

 Mid-Air Refueling

Hummingbirds are amazing creatures.  We planted Texas Lantana and Texas Sage specifically to attract them and the butterflies.  A couple of the Lantanas are in beds which front our porch where we have a couple of rocking chairs that allow us to enjoy the beautiful weather we have been experiencing.  We sometimes sit there watching birds and using the Merlin app on our phones to help us identify them by their calls.  We also hope for the tiniest of winged visitors to helicopter in for a quick sip of nectar from the flowers.

The Ruby Throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is the most common out of the 363 species found across the Americas. (For a great list of 10 Interesting facts, click here.)  I was fortunate a couple of days ago to have phone camera in hand when one made a brief re-fueling stop.  The buzz of wings sounded like a giant bumblebee as the tiny, winged blur dropped in for his snack.

How can such a high-energy consumer drink enough nectar in tiny sips to keep its body fueled?  It is no wonder they always seem to be in a hurry, dashing from flower to flower for quick a caloric boost before moving on.  Unlike bees and other pollinators, they don't lite upon the flowers but delicately partake of their meal without touching other than with their beak and tongue.

I wonder if engineers got the idea for mid-air refueling from watching hummingbirds.

 Confusions From Conclusions

Sometimes the "Ah ha" moments shouldn't be.  Jumping to conclusions with incomplete information can lead us down paths that only add to the confusion already sloshing away in the chemical solutions of our minds.  A small piece of information can ignite those synaptic connections in a way that could best be described as a short-circuit.

Using the iNaturalist app on my phone I identified the flower pictured below as Carolina desert-chicory (Pyrrhopappus carolinianus) and given the name, jumped to the conclusion that I had finally discovered what Chicory looked like.  Chicory has been a common substitute or, addition to, coffee for many years.  In my mind I associated it with the Deep South -- especially during the Civil War when Naval Blockades limited the supply of coffee to southern ports.  So, seeing the "Carolina" in the name as well as the word "chicory" I had an "ah ha" moment that led me to believe we had the coffee substitute growing on our place.  I was wrong.

When I dug deeper and did a little research on the plant, I found that, although in the same Family, Asteracea, it was not the same plant as is used as a coffee substitute.  I did learn that it is also called the Texas Dandelion and is common on roadsides throughout the state.  Hmmm...maybe the leaves are edible like those of the true Dandelion.  Nope, wrong again.

Our brains are amazing and work in ways beyond our understanding.  Unlike the massive AI data centers currently under construction, they utilize only a small amount of energy to gather, organize, store and comprehend vast amounts of information.  But, just like a computer program, the saying, "garbage in, garbage out" is also true.  That amazing organ in our skull can make mistakes but it also holds the power to limit those mistakes and to correct them.

We believe many things that are simply not correct.  Those beliefs stem from the information that we feed into that amazing organ which resides between our ears.  If the information is incorrect, or incomplete, we draw wrong conclusions and what we think we know is really the confusion caused by incomplete or incorrect information.

In today's world of social media, the propagandists understand and exploit that weakness.  We all need to learn to dig a little deeper.

 Gone Wild

I think sometimes that we have become too domesticated.  People don't know where food comes from, they live more in fear than in freedom and they have lost the ability to survive and thrive in this world gone mad.  Skills for survival, many of which are genetically programmed into us, have been suppressed and are slowly being bred out of many genetic lines through the natural selection process which draws individuals of similar temperament to each other.

A couple of days ago we stumbled across some roses growing wild in an off-the-path part of our place.  We were astounded at their beauty.  They spread over a significant area and were in full bloom.

There are many beautiful varieties of roses that are grown domestically and there are many people who deeply enjoy cultivating various special varieties of roses.  To me they seem a little unnatural -- too domesticated.  Finding the wild variety in an unexpected place reminded me that it is often the untamed that exhibits true beauty.

 Is It a Weed?

Green Antelope Horn Milkweed (Asclepias viridis) is an important plant for the Monarch Butterfly.  The Monarchs reproduce in the southern U.S. in late summer when the plant is tough.  The problem is that they prefer tender leaves which provide food for the caterpillar stage.

Many ranchers see the Milkweed as just that -- a weed.  It is often targeted along with other weeds that compete with the grasses for grazing.  In many areas, although the Antelope Horn is a perennial, their presence is declining due to the use of herbicides for the control of all non-grass species growing in pastures.

For those ranchers who utilize mechanical means, such as mowing to control pasture weeds, the Antelope Horn and Monarchs can benefit.  Mow in July so that there will be new, fresh growth of the Antelope Horn in August when the Monarchs arrive and are looking for places to reproduce.

Any plant can be considered a weed.  The definition of a weed is any plant growing where it is not wanted.  Competition between plants for limited resources is a critical issue for ranches -- especially during drought conditions.

The way ranchers choose to control weeds is generally an economic decision.  Often, chemical means are the most effective and the most cost effective.  Many weeds are a sign of overgrazing.  They colonize where the grasses have died due to drought and inadequate leaf cover -- not enough left standing.  Without the standing forage, the heat and drought conditions can kill the roots, creating bare areas.  When the rains come, forbs -- weeds mostly -- are the first plants to return.  Reducing weeds allows more grass to be produced.  It is something of a balancing act that requires careful attention to maintain soil health and a healthy balance of the plants growing.  Those factors then determine the level of grazing that can be healthily maintained.

When you add the desire to retain habitat for species such as the Monarch Butterflies, the equation becomes more complex.  Despite the bad reputation they often receive, most ranchers wish to see nature thrive and work to maintain healthy land and pastures.  For those who have areas where the Antelope Horn is established, they can use mechanical means only for weed control while utilizing the more effective chemical means in places that don't contain critical species.  Summer mowing would open the canopy for late season growth while stimulating re-growth of the milkweed prior to the needs of the butterflies.

 Spur of the Moment

Not everything has to be planned out, but it is usually easier when it is.

There are times that I want to know exactly where I am going or what is expected of me, and there are times when I want it to all be spontaneous.  I like the adventure of spontaneity.

When we travel, we sometimes combine the two approaches.  We generally have a definite destination in mind with an expected time of arrival, but we often leave the details to spur-of-the-moment decision-making.  "Oh, look, there's a rabbit!" -- or maybe it was a squirrel.  Making a U-turn to capture a photo is not an uncommon occurrence for us.

The other day we decided to explore our neighborhood a bit.  Since recently moving to the area we wanted to get better acquainted with our surroundings.  There is a large lake to the west of us, and we wanted to check out the amenities and look for where we might be able to launch a canoe once we deemed the weather was conducive to that activity.

As we traveled along the backcountry roads, we saw a large patch of wildflowers and decided to make a record of their ephemeral appearance.  We found ourselves wandering for longer than expected as our vehicle sat parked on the side of the road while we went from bright-colored blossom to bright-colored blossom using the iNaturalist application on our phones to photograph and identify the various species.  Several of them have been used in posts on this blog.  Today will be another.  It is a species of Larkspur in the genus Delphinium.

There are about 300 different species within the genus which was named for Chios (Delphinium) which was an ancient Greek city.  There was also a Roal Navy ship, the HMS Delphinium.  The plants are often cultivated for their beauty, but they are very toxic to humans although butterflies love them.

 Not What We Think We See

Sometimes what we think we know is not what it really is.  It is easy to be deceived by appearances and the whole industry of "fake news" -- especially on social media -- is built around that ease of deception.

What is known as Artificial Intelligence makes the process of deception much easier.  What is actually Machine Learning is utilized to generate much of the propaganda that we see.  It is often created by foreign enemies, but also by political movements that are seeking to sway people to a specific agenda.  It happens on both sides of the political spectrum in an effort to promote political positions and garner power, but is often magnified by forces seeking to destroy our country by pitting opposing sides of an issue against each other in such a way that what might have been a civil discussion regarding different approaches to an issue becomes a chasm between different groups.  The old saying of "divide and conquer" is extremely relevant to the current situation.

Everyone is guilty of participating.  If you post or share a post that is generated in this war of propaganda, you are guilty of being part of it.  Social media makes it feel safer than a face-to-face conversation with someone of opposing views, but it is probably more conducive to divisiveness than a personal discussion where understanding is potentially achievable.  After all, most problems are seen by all sides of an issue as in need of resolution, but the approach is often very different.  In the anonymity of social media we look only at those things which coincide with our personal beliefs and make no effort at understanding the position or belief that may be held by others.  It is destroying families, neighborhoods and society in general.

We should all keep in mind that what we see and hear sometimes needs a little interpretation and effort to understand.  Just like the plant in the photo below -- Narrow-leaved-blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium).  It looks like a flower such as is typically found on a forb, but it is actually a grass.  It is commonly cultivated as an ornamental.

 Sensitivity

There are a number of different species in the Mimosa genus that are called "sensitive briar" due to the fact that their leaves will curl up when touched.  They are sometimes called Catclaw Briar and they are a legume which sometimes colonizes where the land has been overgrazed.

I find them interesting because their flowers are showy and attract one to the plant and yet the leaves are sensitive to your presence.  It sounds like a few people I know who do things to attract attention yet are sensitive when that attention occurs.  Sometimes that attention drawing mechanism is in the form of clothing, or possibly piercings, tattoos or bright colors of hair.  They want to be seen yet when given the apparently craved attention are defensive or even belligerent.

All of us are sensitive about some things and all of us crave attention.  Sometimes that craving is misplaced and certainly is frequently misunderstood.  Society conditions us to "blend into the herd" and yet we are designed to be predators, not prey.  It is in our eyes -- literally -- they are set into the front of our face rather than on the side.  Prey animals have eyes on the sides of their head which allows them better vision behind them as well as to the front.  Predator eyes are set on the front of their face which gives them better ability to focus on a target.

Maybe that conflicted nature of drawing attention while being sensitive to it is a product of a society which attempts to make us something we are not built to be.  It makes you question whether many of our social structures are the product of a higher level of predator which preys upon lesser predators -- namely those who are subject to the conditioning of that society.

In my opinion, much of our education system is designed to push people into that sub-predator category so they will be subservient to a more aggressive class of predators.  It creates a "working class" designed to serve an elite which uses them to advance their own power.  The system we see evolved as a result of the need for factory workers and it continues to evolve today in ways that push the boundaries of tolerance due to the conflicted nature between design and conditioning.  It isn't only the educational systems -- much of which is a positive so please don't attack me for the comment -- it is in the media (currently the worst in my opinion is fake news on social media generated through AI by foreign and domestic adversaries), in literature, and in many other societal structures.

In some ways my words may sound like the beginnings of a manifesto of some kind.  They are not meant to be, but they are meant to, perhaps, serve a cautionary note on the trends we see in society that are pushing many to revolt against what they believe to be an oppressed role.  The balance between the needs of the economy and the nature of people is a sensitive one.

Just like the Sensitive Briar (Mimosa microphylla) which colonizes overgrazed land, perhaps the signs of strain in society such as rebellious behavior, are signals that people have been pushed too far.  Those who see themselves as "normal" often see that behavior in a negative light when it might actually be a warning sign of deep systemic problems that must be corrected.

 Seeking Value

What is value?  We all have a basic understanding of the concept, but I want to clarify the basic meanings of the word.

According to the Meriam Webster Dictionary, value has several meanings: 1) the amount of money that something is worth, 2) the equivalent in goods, services, or money for something exchanged, 3) relative worth, utility, or importance, 4) something that can be bought for a low or fair price, 5) something (such as a principle or quality) intrinsically valuable or desirable, 6) a numerical quantity that is assigned or is determined by calculation, 7) a relative lightness or darkness of a color.

That's a lot of different meanings for a word that we all think we understand.

I think a basic need of people is to feel that they are of value -- that they are needed by others, or that they are considered to be desirable company.  It seems a little strange to me that we sometimes look at others in such a term as value.  The simple reality is that such a view is the basis for many so-called friendships and when the value has been diminished the friendship disappears.

The whole concept of value is a self-centered one.  It comes back to what someone or something can do for me.  It is based on the concept of exchanging something we have for that which we don't.  It might be time, money or some other exchangeable medium.  It is a matter of giving up what we have for something we desire more highly.

One of the keys to sales is to establish the concept of value in what one is offering to be sold or exchanged.  Potential customers must be convinced that the object being offered has greater value that what is being given up.  Sometimes that perception of value is false but momentarily seems real because of an appeal to emotion or some sense of gratification.  This is often the case with much of what we see on television.  Advertising is often targeted at our base natures of envy, greed or again, that self-centered desire to have others "look at me" that creates momentary pleasure which is sometimes at the expense of lasting gain which might be of higher value -- such as relationships.

As I age, I am learning that many of the things I once valued were only temporarily so.  The cost was often higher than that which was immediately realized.  It often wasn't just the monetary exchange; it was in the things that were no longer accessible -- what I gave up in order to have what I momentarily desired.  We often see only the immediate cost and miss the longer-term impact of our decisions.

As the Apostle Paul wrote (very loosely interpreted), I am learning there is much value in being content in whatever circumstances I find myself.  Always striving for more is a common way of life but ultimately a sad one.

The Ohio Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis) is a beautiful flower that graces the roadside in many places.  There is value in the grace of its beauty.