Question 5

          Get out of your box and strike up a conversation with a stranger. Most anyone I could think about approaching would work for this, the reason being first of all I do not easily just talk to people with whom I don’t know. Although I have been working on just that, I do try and talk to people occasionally whom I have never met before. For this I chose to speak to an older woman at “The Orange Peel,” She was what I perceived to be upper class, at least well off. She Drove a newer Acura and dressed well. I politely smiled in her direction, attempting to make myself appear as unthreatening as possible. I kindly asked the lady if I could ask her a question, she seemed a little shocked at first but said sure go ahead. I asked her if she enjoyed her Acura and explained that I owned an older one, and I liked having it. In conclusion, we spoke for no more than five min. our conversation was kind. I was of aware of the how the longer we talked was affecting her. As the  Lady began to realize, I was not asking more from her than the conversation and was not a threat she began to appear more and more comfortable.

      I was aware of our difference in social standing when I started speak with her, after a few minutes I became more comfortable as well. I was not as focused on our differences as before and more focused on just talking with a stranger in a smoothie shop.
      Now the sad part. I had the opportunity to go to the courthouse for reasons not connected with me or the law. On my way in I walked through the metal detector. I polity removed my hat- I often do this when inside a building-I had put the hat on to cover the hair I didn't comb that morning. I looked over at the bailiff and humourously said, "the worst part about wearing a hat so you don't have to comb your hair is when you need to remove it." The bailiff responded very gruffly "that and when you come to court wearing shorts and have to leave." I told him it is a good thing I'm not here for court then but thank you for helping to reaffirm my faith in non-judgmental public servants and walked away.

     It is sad that the people put the most sensitive of service positions are often the ones least qualified to do them. I know I'm judging, but often older officer in these more public places have just that, Older idea on how to treat people.

Perceptual Process

Perceptual Process.

Better late than never. Better never late. However, since I cannot travel back in time to post this (Thank you Isaac Asimov). I will just be late and share with all who care my latest experience and the Perceptual Process.

Initially, when I began to think about the perceptual process and what to write, the subjects of racism and stereotyping were the subjects with which I had intended to open. However, that changed.

I think here would be a good place for a little back story to put what comes next in context. It is no secret that I have a past littered with deeds that are less than admirable.

I have shared at one time in class that I was sent to prison for being addicted to drugs and possessing a gun as well. I however- as hypocritical as it sounds- looked down with judgment on other drug users. I was highly critical of heroin users and looked on them with a perceptual evaluation of hatred. I thought myself better than them and couldn't relate, sick right!

Now, I have an experience with which to measure.

Two weeks before the beginning of our course I had spinal decompression surgery and had been taking prescription opiates for two weeks prior to the surgery. Last Friday when I sat down to write the initial post, I stopped taking pain pills.

The hell that I encountered, although not on the level that a heroin user must suffer, my withdrawal was just that, hell. I will not go on about all symptoms that I experienced more than asking you to imagine the flu you cannot do anything to fix. Imagine an extreme disliking of The NHRA (drag racing) and being unable, unwilling to move the two inches to change the channel for seven hours!

This five-day experience, granted not the same, has offered me a more empathetic look at what other drug users must go through. It has given me a chance to sympathize with someone who, knowing they are going to go through more than just the worst hell imaginable, will still go through it again and again willingly. The knowledge has allowed me to feel sadness for them. And not a judgmental sorrow, but one of pain and love for the addict who still suffers today.

Having said all of this I still do stand by my opinion that the answer to quitting all substances is just simply Quit. However, simply that may not be.

-m

Put-Into-Practice,
Whenever I hear the word practice, former NBA MVP Allan Iverson, and his rant about practice always comes to mind, "Practice? We talkin' about practice." Being a lover of sci-fi and all things Star Wars (well almost), Yoda and "Try not" is what I think about as well. I tell you these things in order to not only share two of my most treasured memories, but also to help me learn about myself, and to put into "practice" a few theories and ideas I've gotten over the past week about my authentic self. see the original draft of this blog I used sentences like "I am a sports fan" and "I am a sci-fi lover." However, "I am" has  become a set of words with an immensely deeper meaning to me, with those two words comes a lot of conviction and I do believe that I know something about conviction. Looking back I have always put things in boxes and labeled them with "I am" and "you are". and then I would move myself around life's chess board according to those labels. However, like what was said on Wednesday we are not just the things we do, nor are we just the things we like.

Since meeting and subsequently marrying Holly, who herself is one senior project away obtaining a degree in Human Communication, I have in regards to our class been given a head start. I have the opportunity to be in a relationship that applies a lot of what our class is about. I will say however, I have been and will always be at a severe disadvantage, with her being a girl and extremely intelligent and all. I say this as a way to describe a thing about me that I might not be, but a thing I do enjoy. I love having meaningful and articulate conversation with my wife who has taught me above all to always speak with conviction. That does not mean that I am articulate, meaningful, or communicate well, but I'd like to.

So where am I going with this? Well, since this has been labeled "Put-Into-Practice", and this is about  the authentic self, I will no longer be labeling myself as easily with the great "I AM" or "YOU ARE". There are things that I am, such as I am named Michael, I am of the male gender, I am a Father, I am Dad, I am Holly's' Husband. these things have meaning, some more than others, but they are all true, they are authentic. And that is speaking with conviction, not convictions.

-m

Hello, I am Michael James Cowley. I am 35 years old. After many failed attempts at trying to live "exciting" lifestyles, I have found the one that I know  is exciting and meant for me. I have found the partner with whom I enjoy sharing every new and old experience with, one that whom I feel whatever higher deity you may, or may not believe created life; He, She or, It, created, not for me however, but to guide and experience me, as I guide and experience her. "Her" name is Holly K. Cowley, and she is my wife. Holly along with our son Zen are my daily pleasures, and together they give me such enjoyment that no words, written nor spoken can come close to describing.

I am an avid sports fan, with the Utah Jazz and New England Patriots being my favorites. My love of sports has made a major impact on my choice to attend a school of higher learning.
I am attending DSU to either join the medical field as a Physical Therapist, athletics trainer or perhaps join sports broadcasting in some way.

I am definitely more approachable than my outside appearance may show, so please, at any time feel free to engage me with any questions or just plain banter you may have.
thank you
-m