My Heartsongs

Resistance to doing what I say I want to do often manifests as negative mindtalk, self-defeating behaviors, avoidance and procrastination. I want to consistently choose “yes” to what nurtures, and drop the “shoulds.” I have learned that success begets success, and to be satisfied with starting small and sticking with it.

Perhaps as a species all the division we are experiencing is because of an actual epigenetic shift to not trust any of our institutions and instead blindly follow the advice of hive mind social media influencers. If genetic changes are akin to changing the lyrics of a song, epigenetic changes are like fiddling with the volume.

What to call it, that protective energy that somehow showed up for me in my life multiple times, at least twice a decade, shielding me from serious harm, guiding me to safety?

When I am feeling dispirited from the gnawing grievances of my own small self, I surrender to such revered unrest, knowing it is what stimulates me to keep digging and discovering hidden gifts to bring forth into the world.

Damage and decay of biological systems is the hallmark of aging, as our cell’s powerhouse mitochondria break down, various and diverse proteins unravel or clump together, and precious reserves of regenerative stem cells dwindle. I was quite struck by a statistic I heard years ago, that every day in this country 100 people turn 100!

The gentle sounds of swaying trees and crashing waves is what I awaken to most mornings, just before the soft sunlight fills the view behind us with beauty, only needing to open my eyes and slightly tilt my head to welcome it.

So what are we exactly? Is the body a collection of specialized cells, a fluid continuum composed mostly of water with permeable membranes on the biomolecular scaffolds of the system, an electromagnetic field, a quantum field? All of these at once?

The world needs us to each do our part. As we approach this new beginning, here’s to more love and kindness, including self-loving and caring, being doing whatever uplifts us. Be a fountain not a drain!

All the seasonal traditions ­– Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Solstice and Christmas – aim to be uplifting with the return of light and goodness. So why do we sometimes fall short?

When – not if – the machines became more intelligent than humans, might they turn on their creators? Could we unintentionally create a self-aware AI that has its own motivations and goals? These queries, while they may seem the realm of dystopian science fiction, are now full front and center in the debates about the dangers of giving AI systems autonomy, demanding answers about how to ensure that AI systems remain aligned with human values and objectives.