Yesterday was Truth. There is an insanely misguided idea in postmodern ideology that there is no such thing as objective reality. It is true that everything we know is filtered through such a cognitive maze that it’s impossible to know with perfect certainty exactly what the truth is, but there is an objective reality and … More Truth

Yesterday was Gratitude. It’s pretty clear that gratitude is not just some polite nod of thanks, but a powerful psychological perspective that can be very beneficial to one’s health. However  that polite recognition is a powerful and important social device as well. I’m embarrassed to say that I did not really understand “good manners” until well … More Gratitude

Day before yesterday was Generosity, better known as Christmas Day. I have to confess I have gotten almost no gifts for anyone this year. I did make a cool Holly Days Advent calendar for Rey, which she has been really into, but all the stuff put into my Amazon cart I eventually removed. I need … More Generosity

Today is Christmas Eve, on which we contemplate Hope. On the first day, Unity, I commented about how common enemies draw us together. Sadly, the political and social organizing corollary to that is that scaring the crap out of folks is a good way to establish solidarity. Shared Hope is vague and wishy washy; as … More HOPE

Today is Kindness. I saw these two pictures hung in a little mall gallery among the images and paintings of the Manhattan skyline, the Brooklyn Bridge and Yankee Stadium. I hate it that these characters are heroes. I hate feeling that hatred in these days when hatred of the other is so casually expressed and … More Kindness

The second of this community trinity is Compassion. The best line from The Last Jedi was something like, we’re gonna win not by fighting what we hate, but by saving what we love. I think in some ways we only really win by lifting up, never by tearing down. We might end up on top … More Compassion

Today is the first day of Holly Days 2017: Unity. To read my facebook feed, especially the comment threads on political issues, is to feel a deep fracture among my brothers and sisters. Unity feels impossible as the rift only seems to grow wider and deeper with each flaming comeback. The wildfires this season back … More Unity

Advent means to come into being. I really really love Holly Days. My Santa of a dad gave me this deep personal connection to Christmas, but I also really really dislike so much of the other horribly obsolete abrahamic philosophy being dragged into the future by the religious institutions that are so often claimed to be … More Advent

The year, and Holly Days are over. The last two principles, closing out the Days of Awesomeness trinity, are Forgiveness and Redemption. This year, the trump phenomenon has ended up as the subject of most of my Holly Days musings on values and healing the world. I view my duty and purpose, as a thinking being, to be … More Forgiveness and Redemption

These last three are the Days of Awesomeness. Atonement means a bit more than just a sorry, though that is certainly a start. Really taking responsibility for our errors, owning them and trying to make it right, however we can, is the essence of it, and once again, one of the keys to healing. Too often, … More Atonement