Quiet Perspective

Written by Chris Powell. Technologist. Minimalist. ISFJ.

The Aunch

I refer to it as the “aunch.” It isn’t a friend of mine. In fact, it’s my worst enemy. The aunch purposely sits in front of me, blocking my view of life. A wonderful life. A blessed life. Quite frankly, a better life than I deserve. It looks directly at me, smirking like an arrogant bully on a playground. It knows when I’m trying to look past it, and mirrors my movements to block my sight. I want to punch it right in the smirk, but it absorbs all impact. And it actually smiles more when I get ...
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The Right Lane

For over two decades, I was a silent vigilante. An anonymous protector and defender of the rules which govern society. I didn’t have a cape or superhuman powers. I didn’t have a sidekick. However, I had a special ability that most people didn’t have. I prevented drivers in the right-hand lane from getting in front of me in the left lane when it came time to merge. It didn’t matter if it was a beat up Dodge minivan full of kids or a convertible Mustang with three gorgeous, women in bikini tops ...
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They

They say you should buy this new thing, then they will think you’re cool. They will think you’re ugly if you don’t have six-pack abs, tanned skin, and toned muscles. They don’t want you to speak up, otherwise you’ll make things awkward for others. They don’t want you to be nice to that person because they look different than the rest of us. They will say that big person nearby is going to hurt you, so don’t trust them. They are all gonna laugh at you. They will think that personal, handmad...
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Creating Time and Space

Rare is the conversation where one boasts how much free time they have available. It seems to be commonplace, and in some cases a badge of honor, to lament how busy one’s life is. Most of our meetings with friends or co-workers involve the same chat flow. How you are doing, how is the week going, how busy you are, how cherished is that out-of-the-ordinary experience that was outside of work or the daily routine. I can’t think of the last time where someone shared with me a moment of insight they...
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Honoring Commitments

Back in high school, I attended Evergreen Boys State, a week-long conference for young men sponsored by the American Legion. A fabulous keynote speaker said this during this conference: I will do what I say I will do when I say I will do it.” C.G. “Coke” Roberts, Green River Community College This phrase has stuck with me ever since. It gives me purpose in my life. It inspires me be responsible to myself and others. I feel an increased sense of honor when I live by this maxim. While I sli...
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The 10-foot Fogbank

Sing along if you know the words. Someone says something to you that you weren’t expecting. It catches you off guard, and what they said hurt your feelings. You feel embarrassed or ashamed. Doesn’t matter if the person is family, a friend, or an acquaintance at work. Doesn’t matter if it’s done on purpose or on accident. You’re angry at them, and now your world is clouded with negativity. Perhaps you’re even in revenge mode, calculating how you can respond to hurt them back. InsideOutAnger I s...
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Permission

Somewhere along the way we allowed others to speak into our lives. Somewhere along the way we listened to “them” more than “us.” It’s time to take back what is rightfully ours. Permission to place ourselves at a higher priority than our work. Permission to believe in something even though others may disapprove. Permission to not be afraid of society, even though we suffer from the memories of the past. Permission to allow others to love us, even though we may not feel worthy of receiving love....
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Knowledge Bankruptcy

At one point in my life, I owned a huge bookcase stuffed full of books. I bought them online or at used bookstores. Lots of reference manuals, technical guides, and obscure compendia. Big coffee table books on science, mythology, mathematics, zen mindsets, and lots more. Lots of eyebrow-raising subject matter, and loads of knowledge available to be learned. Unfortunately, this bookcase contained a dirty little secret. I never read those books on my bookshelf. You see, I was trying to impress p...
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The Anchor

Originally published on February 25, 2016 I tried something abnormal this morning. I went for a walk without my anchor. It was low on fuel, so I left it in the dock. I felt a slight twinge of anxiety without having my anchor nearby, but I ventured out anyway. Today was a crisp, brisk, end-of-winter morning, but sunny enough where I could wear my sunglasses in public without looking pretentious. My walk was about a mile in distance round trip. Normally, my anchor provides sound to my ears, so ...
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Less

May we experience more of this. ...
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