Whether a blessing or a curse, I have the habit of looking at my thoughts under a magnifying glass. One particular thought that seems to play out in my mind is how do those around me, perceive me? I strive to live my life in a way of non-violence, ahimsa. And if I cause those around me to feel the flames of anger, judgment, etc, is that not a form of violence? Negative thoughts hurt a soul. And if I cause someone else pain, I inflict pain upon myself. I feel the key to life can be summarized in one word, perception. And on this particular evening, my perception led me to this trail of thoughts. Blowing up your news feed with an absurd amount of political (or what most would consider conspiracy theory) related posts is considered annoying among many people. Perhaps even ignorant to some. I know that most of the contents of what I post is "alternative" media. I know that a lot of people don't want to take the time out of their (understandably) busy day to read such things. But these are situations in which we need to be made aware of. Whether or not you deem it to be the truth, perceive the notion that anything is possible. And if there is just the slightest possibility that America, the land of the free, is rapidly losing it's freedom, should we not be the littlest bit concerned? When the government no longer serves its purpose, should we not, at the very least, question its authority? The primary purpose of any government is to uphold and protect the fundamental human rights of freedom, equality, peace, and justice for its people. I dunno about you, but I don't consider a land, nor it's citizens to be free when one cannot openly voice their opinions without being considered a threat to the general public. But then the question arises, if the government does not have our best interests in mind, what shall we do about it? I'm still searching for that answer. The world can seem an overwhelmingly bad place at times, even more so when the very walls of truth crumble around you. The task of change seems slightly less daunting when I remember these words, "You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of." Never underestimate the waves you can make, your very being is of the utmost importance. From dead plant matter to snails to undiscovered creatures of the deep, everything in the natural world is connected. You are part of that connection too! Without you, there can be no change. And on that note, I'll end my rambling.