Sometimes instead of knocking on wood like an ancient Druid attempting to wake up a tree, I tap my frontal skull to get my brain in gear, hopefully aligning attention with intention in the here and now.

I feel quite blessed to mostly take a pause from all the political shenanigans and goings on in the USA. I find myself apologizing to any foreigners we meet for our loco President, who certainly does not represent US. This Italian expression fits the mood perfectly: Avere un’ora d’aria, which translates roughly as to have a breath of fresh air / A moment of libertá or a pause in a stressful situation.

The world seems to be changing so fast, some days it feels like I have to pinch myself, a la Dorothy in the Wizard of OZ having a moment when she realizes she’s always had the power to go home, even without clicking her ruby slippers.

This time of year, I am inclined to redouble my efforts to get rid of stuff, even as the inevitable “cheer” of the season will increase – at least temporarily – the number of objects and the amount of clutter in my abode. I often take a walk through my mystery drawers, of which I have two prominent ones.

Forget protect, provide and procreate: a generation of young men, cultural victims of both cognitive and emotional brain debt, might be more characterized by denial, despair and dependence.

Walking the beach in Florida each morning, one understands why the state is such a popular destination. To be able to have the wild seas so accessible for such long stretches, with gulf or ocean and shorebird antics to entertain, and December temps in the 70s, what is not to like?

Eventually novel concepts and ideas get incorporated into our day to day, so that they become commonplace, and often not fully appreciated for the wonders they are. Today I want to share and explore four on-the-horizon developments that when they come to fruition will no doubt significantly alter our quotidian realities.

From a Buddhist perspective, embracing impermanence is a tool for navigating the changing elements and treacherous shoals of old age, sickness and death. Lately I have been thinking about impermanence in relation to other aspects of being beyond my declining body and diminishing abilities.