Dr Dim's (Belated) Alternative Christmas Message

Ego. You have it, we have it, they have it - yes, we all have it! It's often said that money is the root of all evil but seriously (setting debates about good versus evil aside) is it really ego? Without ego perhaps we wouldn't have conflict. Whilst this particular scourge upon the planet seems a mostly undesirable part of the human condition is it possible, through practice of 'none ego' to prevent wars? Is it simply (usually) men with little other chance of projecting their ego upon the world who invoke the terrible consequences of suffering and death? If we could all put our egos aside for a minute would the world be a far better - more sustainable - place to inhabit? It certainly has to be worth trying as the potential advantages (as proffered herein) far outweigh the disadvantages. However, we only have to look at the way out globalised societies are currently constructed to realise that the encouragement of tempering our ego would be difficult given the ongoing processes in the opposite direction. That is, we're often cajoled into expressing our ego through peer interactions, advertising, (social) media and the like especially as dominant socioeconomic forces in the world centre their philosophies around this expression. So, do we need alternative systems of exchange in order to effectively encourage alternatives to ego based expressions? Probably. It is obviously a tall order given the central role of ego in current forms of human interaction. But, if the stakes are high enough - a possible end to suffering (which is increasing in the world it seems) -  then isn't it worth a go? Peace, Dr Dim.

Dr Dim's New New Year's Message

A long time ago in galaxy far, far away a budding Director penned a saga with the subtitle A New Hope. Whilst we may be unsure what hope means to most folks to Dr Dim it's almost tantamount to a reboot; starting over. That is, we jettison all the accrued rubbish in our lives and try to reinvent ourselves free of past shackles.

Of course, lots of people try to make New Year's Resolutions but - much like it says on the tin - they just go round and round and round not really getting too far at all. We need, as a race of conscious entities upon this precariously perched planet, a little faith (for want of a better word) in our spirit, or ability, for salvation.

All a little too religious (in an organised way at least) for Dr Dim but the idea of a rebirth certainly rings a bell. We do not need to drag our collective bad karma with us into this New Hope.

Whilst we can't simply flip a switch to undo the harm we've been causing all around the world there are no universal laws stating that we should be retaining bad ways of being in perpetuity.

Humans can learn! We can learn to co-create a life for us all that ensures harm lingers in the history books, for instance, that the present is comfortable - for everybody - and, finally, that the future gives us all A New Hope.

Dr Dim's 'Alternative' Christmas Message

CANCELLED.

There is no Alternative Christmas Message this year due to UNforeseen circumstances. Dr Dim would like to apologise for all too human failings at this time. He wishes everybody a peaceful festive period and better insight into current predicaments in the New Year. Cheers.

Dr Dims 'Alternative' Christmas Message

It is a little early to be renouncing the year as having already passed perhaps but as the frantic Christmas clamour commences, evidently, round about then let's try to put time into a little perspective? A fascinating subject in itself time really is quite illusory. It is measured as if a quantity yet often we experience something quite different. That just about sums up human interpretations of the world around us. We often seem to say one thing yet see, feel and do another entirely different thing! Why is that - I hear that exceedingly attentive Dr Dim Student inquire at the back there? Well, you see it's all to do with that gap between our whole and the mysterious 'other' that we often call "reality". Whilst I do not necessarily agree that we inhabit an artificial creation of someone else's making it is really rather apparent that we often like to feel, au contraire, that we are the one's doing the creating ourselves. Its a very egocentric viewpoint that always puts us at the centre of our our own 'universe'. It worked (after a fashion) for some time now but much like Bagpuss that particular conception is seemingly now falling apart at the seams. That is, we are not Supreme Beings - as we are beginning to experience - and instead are simply visiting reality as if passing through a seaside holiday destination. Our time here, as a species, came and is more than likely going to one day pass. We have to ideally grab that particular bull by its horns and, frankly, deal with it. We can build bunkers, prep for every conceivable eventuality and construct advanced arguments that serve to propagate our own sense of worth and claim to immortality but, alas, it seems quite obvious that we will leave as we came. So, how do we deal with the very Achilles Heal of our existential dilemma? How, as a cogent whole populace can we begin to accept our own fate? Perhaps that is again where beliefs step up to the mark and crucially what Christmas SHOULD be all about. For some on this perilous planet Christmas is a time of remembrance, hope and joy. We would do well to try to adopt such a frame of mind as Hard Times encroach upon our well fortified senses of self belief. Frailty does not have to be a negative experience if we can learn to be more accepting. Whilst resilience is often at this time in our development touted as a primary quality to be upholding we could learn to be more forgiving to ourselves. Letting go is not easy when we invest so much time (and effort, etc) in our existence yet if we could release our delicate hold upon reality life could actually be so much more comfortable, rewarding and enjoyable. Merry Christmas.

Dr Dim's 'Alternative' Christmas Message

 

Much like the Sorcerer's Apprentice I cannot help but feel that we've allowed our egos to take over directions within this realm that may ultimately prove to be our downfall. However, the 'doom and gloom' scenarios prevalent from numerous vantage points of cultural associations do nothing to help our predicament. So, how can we instigate actions (as opposed to simply talking about the problems) that seek to address the impending downfall? Of course, there are many solutions on the table that might help avert the Disaster Scenario. However, the table is in danger of becoming overcrowded with key ideas falling off its edges in to an abyss beyond!

It seems like everybody wants a slice of a dwindling pie. That is, numerous agendas are vying for attention each believing they are our salvation. So, we must ask ourselves how do we choose among so many alternatives to try to prevent the existential crises? Is it even possible to make such a choice or should we instead be throwing all available resources at preventative measure before the faeces really does hit the proverbial spinning contraption?

Well, when all is said and done we have to realise that human beings are fallible. We will, more than likely, never be one hundred percent efficient at life. For example, we can pretend to be interested in sustaining this world for generations to come yet still wage war and entertain conflict despite these best intentions.

We're really not robots to be shoehorned into little boxes of others' decrees either. We do possess 'free will' (to a lesser or greater extent). But our self-belief should not grow out of all proportion. For, this is when the brushes and buckets of The Sorcerer's Apprentice run amok along with our egos.

There may not be an old wizened wizard to come to our rescue in the Real World. Instead we should realise that we may well be the masters of our own destines and begin to act accordingly. Precisely what that actually means is yet to be decided. Decisions made today will affect all our futures. So let's ensure we make good, well informed choices that truly represent all Earthly inhabitants and not simply those most empowered or who shout the loudest. This is key: representative decision making. We have the tools now to stop the runaway magic of our past overindulgence. Let's use them sensibly for once...peace.