Category: Journal

Reflection on 2024 and plans to write about meditation and the Canadian election

Happy New Year to you. It’s a fresh start.

This past year presented a personal challenge with my Parkinson’s diagnosis. I prioritized my health and feel strong and happy. I continue to read and learn about Parkinson’s, and I plan to explore clinical trials. My goal is to become involved in advocacy and contribute toward finding a cure.

Professionally, my career seems to have plateaued. While I enjoy stable employment and good work relationships, I haven’t encountered any new, stimulating challenges. If I were a decade younger, I might take a leap into a new opportunity—I have no shortage of startup ideas. For now, I’ll remain open to possibilities within my current role. You never know what might come along.

I remain an active hobbyist. This year, I decided to conclude my comic art journey. Despite exploring many drawing projects, nothing seemed to click. The Parkinson’s diagnosis reinforced my decision to move on, and the cognitive boost from dopamine medication inspired me to return to writing. I’ve been writing book reviews and essays, and in this new year, I plan to focus more on essays as drafts for a book on meditation. It’s a professional endeavor, and I’ve integrated this purpose into my LinkedIn profile.

Globally, this past year was difficult. The ongoing genocide in Gaza and Trump’s re-election weigh heavily on me. I feel helpless in the face of these tragedies. In Canada, an election is approaching and voting feels disheartening when considering the current party leaders. I plan to write a series of essays proposing an alternative approach: focusing on scrutinizing local candidates rather than party leaders. This shift in perspective could lead to surprising outcomes in the election.

If you’re interested, I invite you to subscribe to my essays on Substack. They’re free and delivered straight to your email. Seeing new subscribers is always encouraging. You can also follow me on Bluesky.

A Shift in Thinking can make Peace Possible

I attended a peace vigil in my community of Wakefield, Quebec, last Friday. People gather each week on the village boardwalk, and there were five others there. One woman asked how we manage the grief. One person suggested focusing on what we can control. She circulated a letter to our Member of Parliament advocating for a ceasefire and arms embargo, and we all signed it. Another person suggested a good book on self-care. I didn’t know what to suggest.

We shared a moment of silence, naturally turning to watch the river for solace. In this moment, two silly jokes came to me, which I shared with the group. They relieved tension and made a helpful point.

The first joke is an oldie. I hold up my thumb and index finger to make a circle and tell someone I can poke my head through the hole. I point my head, trying to poke through it. Of course, it’s impossible; my head is too big. Then I show them: I put the hole to my head and use my other index finger to poke through the circle and touch my head. I poked my head through the hole!

Christopher Walken performs a similar joke on The Outlaws, a television show. He bets that he can do between three and four hundred push-ups. For this old guy, it seems impossible, and the crowd lays down their money. He does four push-ups and starts gathering his winnings. “Whoa,” they object. He states, “I did four. It’s between three and four hundred, right?” He’s right.

Both jokes make the same point: something may seem impossible, but with a small lateral shift in thinking, it can become possible. How can it apply in the Israel and Palestine conflict?

 In 1961, there was a tense standoff between U.S. and Soviet tanks at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin. Facing each other with weapons ready, the conflict was on the brink of escalation. U.S. General Lucius Clay came up with an unconventional solution: withdrawing tanks on the U.S. side one by one. The Soviets, not wanting to appear more aggressive, matched each withdrawal. This reduction continued until all tanks were gone from both sides, defusing the crisis without either side losing face.

In standoff situations, the side with the bigger stick should take the high road. In the case of the Palestinian conflict, Israel has the bigger stick of U.S. military might. The onus is on Israel to take the next step on the road to peace.

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