Balance Baby

I'm watching The Matrix.  There are a number of great, important, applicable lines and phrases from that movie.  One in particular is key to many, many things: Don't think you are....Know you are.

Another key element...the sign in the Oracle's apartment.  The Latin for "Know Thyself".

And....There is no spoon.

I've seen this movie dozens of times, and each time I see it the whole nature of "The Matrix" reminds me how relevant it is to everyday life.   I was thinking earlier who I'd rather be....Trinity, or the Woman in the Red Dress.  Actually, I know the answer.  I'm far more like Trinity.  Know thyself.

It is particularly appropriate to watch this movie tonight, on my 13th Rebirthday.

One of the things I'm particularly aware of these days are all the challenges in life so many of us face - in our jobs, in our relationships, in many aspects of our lives.  There was an article a couple of months ago that was particularly relevant (read it here).

Societal stigma and the resulting prejudice and discrimination trans people face from society at large and, possibly, from family members, peers, co-workers and classmates often exacts a high price. 

So true.  It does.  It takes a whole other set of life skills to deal with that.  The cost for inner peace for many of us is a high one, and it remains an ongoing quest throughout life.  I recognize how fortunate I've been in that regard.  I still have issues - Lord knows.  But the key for me changed a long time ago, from finding a path that may or may not exist to happiness to finding my own balance.

Yin/Yang changed from being a gender thing, or a body thing, to being an overall life Balance thing.  That's the key to my own life these days.  Balance.  Finding it...keeping it for a while, and appreciating it when I find it....dealing with it when it's gone...determining what it takes to find it again...and repeat.  That's how I approach my life - cycles, tides, flows.

I've found that Transition was very much like taking the Red Pill.  It's about seeking "The Truth".  Once you take it, you can't go back.  When I see people who de-transition and try to re-insert themselves into the Matrix I get more concerned for their well being than anything.  As they so effectively describe in the movie, I suppose that some people just aren't ready to be unplugged yet.

Anyway, that's a lot of mumbo-jumbo but it's real to me.  If I had to find a word to describe today - and life in general - that would be it.  Balance.  If I had to find two words...well...they'd be "Balance Baby".  That approach has served me well over the years, and the longer I live the more I'll live that truth.

A friend invited me over for a BBQ this afternoon - it was very nice.  I worked on a little "project".  I did a shopping.  I went to the gym.  It was lower body day so today's menu included 3 miles on the treadmill, squats, sit-ups, and a number of other small tortures.  As I've said - now that I'm comfortable in this body I'm not about to let it all go to he**.  That work is ongoing.

I had planned to watch my team play football but wasn't around for it.  They did well.  Unfortunately, these games don't count.  There was a time when we were good, and we'd lose every pre-season game. Now that we've fallen on hard times, they're important confidence builders.  And not only for the players....for the fans too.

Back to my project for a second.  I bought a dress at Christmas only to find at some later point that they didn't take didn't take of the big, clunky security thing.  I took it to a number of stores in Charleston looking for where I bought it so they could fix it.  But I couldn't find it.

This security thingy had a warning on it saying it was full of ink.  I can't wear it with that plastic thing on it, so this morning I took it out to my patio with a hammer and started whacking away at it.  I got the thing off, and as advertised it was full of blue ink.  The good news is that (a) the dress is dark so it really didn't make much of a difference and (b) I sprayed it with some laundry stain remover and blotted most of it out.

I wrote a couple of things yesterday.  I've attached them, as well.

9:15am

I'm working through my weekend list already.  As I write this I'm killin' time at the Laundromat.  I don't have a washer or a dryer out here and although I could get one (or rent one) the fact is that doing laundry once every 2 weeks or so puts it on the "not a priority" list.  So, I go to the laundromat.

I'm generally not a Wal-Mart person, whatever that is.  There are very few things I actually go there for.  In fact, only two things come to mind.  One is prescriptions.  I needed a couple refilled this morning, and they're convenient and cheap.  The other is ammunition.  If/when they have it on the shelves they've typically got the best prices.

At this particular laundromat there's an interesting blend of university students, military, and "other".  This particular establishment is right next to "Babe's Fine Drinking Establishment"...it's 9:30 in the morning and the doors are already open.  Maybe it's me, but I can't imagine starting to drink this early in the day other than the occasional Mimosa, Bloody Mary at brunch, or wine cooler to tailgate.  Still...

I have no problem admitting that I'm addicted to the Sudoku game on my iPad.  Specifically, it tracks the number of games in a row that you've solved without an error - my record is 26 of them.  I play it on planes.  I play it for hours on end while I'm just chilling.  And once I get past the frustration of breaking whatever streak I've got going I'm on the trail of setting a new record.  I don't read books.  I don't play other types of games.  I just play Sudoku, and like to believe (or justify the waster of time involved) that it keeps my mind sharp.

Today is centered around the mid-afternoon showing of Elysium at the IMAX.  I'll head over that way in a bit and get my ticket...don't want it to end up getting sold out....

9:15pm

I went to Elysium at the IMAX, as planned.  It was good.  Not great.  Frankly, anything at the IMAX is impressive simply because of the IMAX experience.  The entire place shook - it was way cool as always.  But as for the story.  Well...silly.  I liked Oblivion better.  I even liked Pacific Rim better.  But it wasn't a waste of time.