We look with (and “as”) the parameters of time and space that we were taught to look at. This might sound strange, but is that all that we must be limited to? Can we look with a depth that goes beyond what was spoon-fed to us? Can we perceive more than what they taught us to perceive? This movement says, “Yes.” But don’t just take my word for it. Explore and find out (with passion). Go beyond their measurements, rules, separations, so-called religions, opinions, organizations, limited teachings, acceptances, beliefs, and stale parameters. But most of you won’t do that. Most will shake their head affirmatively and agree; however, they will not fundamentally change. Unfortunately, most are stuck in orthodoxy, stagnation, and sameness. Most are psychologically afraid to leave the limited and the “known.”
A poem by Stephen Crane:
“Think as I think,” said a man, “Or you are abominably wicked, You are a toad.”
And after I had thought of it, I said: “I will, then, be a toad.”
The Perceiver is the Perceived … Photo by Thomas Peace c.2024
My Blog primarily consists of close-up nature photos (that I've taken locally) combined with original holistic-truth oriented prose and/or poetry involving mindfulness/awareness. I love nature and I love understanding the whole (not merely the parts and the details). I'm a retired teacher of the multiply handicapped.
I have a number of interesting hobbies, such as fossil collecting, sport-kite flying, 3D and 2D close-up photography, holography, and pets. Most of all, I am into holistic self-awareness, spontaneous insight, unconventional observation/direct perception, mindfulness, meditation, world peace, non-fragmentation, population control, vegetarianism, and green energy.
To follow my unique Blog of "Nature Photos and Mindfulness Sayings" and for RSS feeds to my new posts, please access at: tom8pie.com (On my regular Blog posting pages, for additional information and to follow, simply click on the "tack icon" at the upper right corner... or, on my profile page, you can click on the "Thomas Peace" icon.)
Stay mindful, understanding, and caring!...
I think I remember this Crane poem from school Tom, although I am clueless what year of school I was in at the time. That toad looks like it is pondering life … so quiet and still. I always liked your toad on your homepage.
I’m glad that you have been appreciative of the toad on the homepage, Linda. I still enjoy it too! 😊
That’s great that they had you read that Stephen Crane poem back in your school days! I too went through schooling with poems but was not nearly as appreciative of them until later in life (when their deep wisdom was seen).
Yes, I’m more inclined to think I read it in school while I still lived in Canada. The school system in my current city was nothing special and quite honestly, I follow the happenings of the City (two forums: general and crime) and when I see the grammar of our residents, I have no hope for future generations in this City or elsewhere. Our mayor, who ran unopposed, spells “welcome” as “well come” every time a new police officer is sworn in. His grammar is cringeworthy, just like his spelling. He was the swimming coach at the high school, now retired and likely only got in because he was on City Council for about a decade and ran unopposed as stated above. I also appreciate all what I did not at the time. (Including life as we knew it back in the day.)
Again, I’m sorry I did not see your Wood Duck comment in my SPAM folder.
Sorry, Linda, about the stupidity of those in your city. When I worked as a teacher for the mentally retarded and multiply handicapped, I often had to present training courses for the new in-coming staff. I could not believe the incompetency of those taking the course tests. Thy should have been clients… not helpers for the clients. Ludicrous! 😊
Every day I shake my head Tom … it sure does not say much for the school system, but my guess is people don’t read because if they read, even stories on social media, surely they would learn how to spell and grammar. I was floored to see “surch” instead of “search” in conjunction with police canvassing the city where I live as a police officer in a neighboring city was killed earlier today and as of now, is still at large.
OH TOM THAT TOAD… AS FOR THE REST FEWER AND FEWER ARE WILLING TO LOOK…. YES? AND YET YOU ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO SO – BLESS YOU – BY THE WAY I DON;T EVEN KNOW HOW TO NEGOTIATE THIS WORD PRESS SITE ANYMORE – I AM TOTALLY AT A LOSS
Many (of us) think we’re looking and experiencing outside the parameters when all we’re actually doing is moving from one box to a different box. The ‘different box’ being that aspirational one in the higher realm! Or so ‘we’ think.
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
I think I remember this Crane poem from school Tom, although I am clueless what year of school I was in at the time. That toad looks like it is pondering life … so quiet and still. I always liked your toad on your homepage.
I’m glad that you have been appreciative of the toad on the homepage, Linda. I still enjoy it too! 😊
That’s great that they had you read that Stephen Crane poem back in your school days! I too went through schooling with poems but was not nearly as appreciative of them until later in life (when their deep wisdom was seen).
I also like “I toad you so!”
Yes, I’m more inclined to think I read it in school while I still lived in Canada. The school system in my current city was nothing special and quite honestly, I follow the happenings of the City (two forums: general and crime) and when I see the grammar of our residents, I have no hope for future generations in this City or elsewhere. Our mayor, who ran unopposed, spells “welcome” as “well come” every time a new police officer is sworn in. His grammar is cringeworthy, just like his spelling. He was the swimming coach at the high school, now retired and likely only got in because he was on City Council for about a decade and ran unopposed as stated above. I also appreciate all what I did not at the time. (Including life as we knew it back in the day.)
Again, I’m sorry I did not see your Wood Duck comment in my SPAM folder.
Sorry, Linda, about the stupidity of those in your city. When I worked as a teacher for the mentally retarded and multiply handicapped, I often had to present training courses for the new in-coming staff. I could not believe the incompetency of those taking the course tests. Thy should have been clients… not helpers for the clients. Ludicrous! 😊
Every day I shake my head Tom … it sure does not say much for the school system, but my guess is people don’t read because if they read, even stories on social media, surely they would learn how to spell and grammar. I was floored to see “surch” instead of “search” in conjunction with police canvassing the city where I live as a police officer in a neighboring city was killed earlier today and as of now, is still at large.
The picture, the poem and your words come together perfectly to illustrate the point. I too will be a toad 😃
I’m glad that you too, Harini, will be a toad. Most people, unfortunately, do not have the intelligence and the moxie to say that. 😉
OH TOM THAT TOAD… AS FOR THE REST FEWER AND FEWER ARE WILLING TO LOOK…. YES? AND YET YOU ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO SO – BLESS YOU – BY THE WAY I DON;T EVEN KNOW HOW TO NEGOTIATE THIS WORD PRESS SITE ANYMORE – I AM TOTALLY AT A LOSS
Thank you! 😊 I try, Sara. As T.S. Eliot wrote: “There is only the trying; the rest is not our business.”
I know that WordPress can be very difficult for some people… with all kinds of glitches happening. So sorry if that’s the case with you.
Love that quote – that’s all we can do is try – but let’s face it Tom, you do more than try!!!!!
Many (of us) think we’re looking and experiencing outside the parameters when all we’re actually doing is moving from one box to a different box. The ‘different box’ being that aspirational one in the higher realm! Or so ‘we’ think.
Wow 👌