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Nancy Hoffman's avatar

Well said. Pay attention. I have always thought the thing that scares the bad guys most is to just stand there, quiet, and smile. They have no idea what to do because you are not creating a threat and they think you know something they don’t. And you do.

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Jack Hopkins's avatar

Exactly right, Nancy. Nothing unbalances aggression faster than calm confidence. Stillness is read as strength because it is. When you stay centered and unshaken...they can’t script your next move...you’ve already taken control of the room.

-Jack

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Nancy Hoffman's avatar

Lesson learned in the 1970’s, now dragging it out of the closet in my 70’s.

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Angie's avatar

I love the guy here in Portland in the inflatable frog costume. Last I saw, he was dancing with a couple of other inflatable-costumed characters. The dirty bastards sprayed pepper spray right into the costume's fan the other day but he keeps coming back. That's the way to protest. Pretty crappy optics of the ICE agent in that case. He literally snuck up on our dear froggy friend. When they go low...

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Teri Gelini's avatar

I needed this tonight after all the chaos . Thank you Jack.

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Jack Hopkins's avatar

Teri...my pleasure. Sleep well!

-Jack

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Teri Gelini's avatar

Thanks. I did buy the glycine and it does work. Really has helped with my sleep without any side effects.

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Cherae Stone's avatar

Me, too, Teri. I’ve noticed that even when I lose track of what going on, where and why, I don’t get all rattled. Centering again is easier. We’ve gotta hang in there.

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Mary E's avatar

“War is cruelty. You can't refine it.”

William Tecumseh Sherman, Commanding General of the U.S. Army, 1869-1883

I am very concerned.

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Jack Hopkins's avatar

War...is even worse than that, Mary. He wasn't kidding Concern is good. It indicates a solution oriented mind, minus the frenzied fear driven emotional states that effectively shut down the prefrontal cortex, and the ability to do much more than counting up to 10...and maybe 11...crayons.

We all have reason to be concerned. To the degree that we don't let it surge beyond that...we'll be operated in our most useful and effective zone.

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Mary E's avatar

Oct 18 will be interesting.

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Cheryl's avatar

I’m concerned too.

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Robert Reed's avatar

Thank you, Jack. This post answers my questions.

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Jack Hopkins's avatar

You're most welcome, Robert.

-Jack

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James Aldridge's avatar

Excellent breakdown Jack… If you can keep your head while all about are losing theirs and blaming it on you”

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Jack Hopkins's avatar

One of my all-time favorites, James...and the perfect compass for these times. Keeping your head isn’t passive; it’s the highest form of resistance. The louder the chaos gets, the more power there is in quiet clarity.

Interestingly enough, because I read Rikki-Tikki-Tavi as a 14 year old...by Kipling, and because of my interest in him after that...I discovered his other stuff, and this piece you shared...and it's been in my head for decades now.

-Jack

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Angie's avatar

You're the best, Jack. Unassailable plan of action, concrete and informative.

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Cherae Stone's avatar

I lived Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. It was my first Kipling, as well. Maybe I’ll read it again soon.

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