Robert K Stephen (CSW)

Beyond Me Mindfulness: Principles

While politics are often driven by ideologies human life is guided by principles or a personal ideology if you like. Your principles can be misguided and fallacious or they can be evil and entirely selfish somewhat like former President Donald Trump where his principles were staying in power and threatening and bullying those who haveContinue reading “Beyond Me Mindfulness: Principles”

Mindfulness: Compassion as a key foundation and compassion vs. empathy

Practitioners of mindfulness soon realize compassion is a key component of mindfulness. There is self-compassion and compassion for others. If you can’t be compassionate with yourself how can you be compassionate to others? In fact there are even specialized meditations that focus on compassion. I would argue if you can’t exercise compassion for yourself youContinue reading “Mindfulness: Compassion as a key foundation and compassion vs. empathy”

Beyond Me Mindfulness; “Service”

Service means a giving of yourself to others for the purpose of helping their purpose and goals. The mere fact you are giving yourself immediately enables you to traverse the “me” barrier. One hopes humans have the ability to determine if the service is for a worthy cause. In this regard there are bad purposesContinue reading “Beyond Me Mindfulness; “Service””

Beyond Me Mindfulness: Delight

Do you notice when you are delighted much of your anger, frustration, jealously and all sorts of bad emotions get shunted aside. Delight is a powerful tool. It is rather up to you how you want to feel. Of course, you can’t be like a zombie with glazed eyes walking about in a state ofContinue reading “Beyond Me Mindfulness: Delight”

Poetry Corner: “Donald J. Trump: The Far Right Joan of Arc”

Donald J. Trump: The Far-Right Joan of Arc It could be very well true that Trump is responsible for the attempted overthrowof the United States Government or at least inciting a riotwhatever the case history will label him a bumbling foolperhaps even a Russian toolto the far-right in anticipation of his command they started toContinue reading “Poetry Corner: “Donald J. Trump: The Far Right Joan of Arc””

Poetry Corner: “DDR (East Germany) Circus Memories

DDR (East German Democratic Republic) Circus Memories My feelings debased on the circus ringsubordinated to DDR beer breath mouthssoon the master with the whip and the back ripping brushbut I’ll look so prettyshiny fur and gleaming coat They came to see the untamed beastruffian and uncouth champion of the jungleI attempt a roarthe tears chokeiContinue reading “Poetry Corner: “DDR (East Germany) Circus Memories”

“Anna”: Greek Short Film Has You Wondering Who Anna is?

Poor Papou ( translated in English as grandfather), Michalis Maratheftis, (Spiros Stavrinides) is an aged Greek famer apparently in an advanced stage of Alzheimer’s. Being unable to care for himself his family has hired Maria (Imee Lysandrou), a Filipina domestic, as live-in caregiver. Papou is often in an agitated state as Alzheimer’s patients can be.Continue reading ““Anna”: Greek Short Film Has You Wondering Who Anna is?”

Ontario Extends Lockdown….yet again

NEWS RELEASE Ontario Extending Stay-at-Home Order across Most of the Province to Save Lives Public Health Units to Gradually Return to the COVID-19 Response Framework February 8, 2021 Office of the Premier Table of Contents Content Quick Facts Additional Resources Related Topics TORONTO — In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the governmentContinue reading “Ontario Extends Lockdown….yet again”

Diversity urged in American COVID vaccination trials

Boosting Diversity in COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Trials Faith leaders and community organizations play critical roles in enrolling Black and Latinx trial participants.By Brennen Jensen • Photo by Chris Hartlove More cases, more hospitalizations, more deaths. From the pandemic’s earliest days, the coronavirus hit hardest in Black, Latinx, and Native American communities. The mortality rate amongContinue reading “Diversity urged in American COVID vaccination trials”

A La Calle” (“To the Streets”): Fair to say lucky to be Canadian!

“A La Calle” is the opening night film for this year’s Annual Human Rights Watch Film Festival Canada running from February 18th-22. Violation of human rights is never a pretty story but combine it with the economic collapse of a nation that includes food and medicine shortages the picture is uglier. In this case itContinue reading “A La Calle” (“To the Streets”): Fair to say lucky to be Canadian!”