How Is Insanity working out for you?: Our Guide to Deliberate Measure

How Is Insanity working out for you?

Our Guide to Deliberate Measure

GB

Copyright © 2023 GB

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2023

ISBN 979-8-89157-211-9 (pbk)

ISBN 979-8-89157-231-7 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Delusions

Chapter 2

Marriage & Divorce

Chapter 3

The New Divide Between Men and Women

Chapter 4

Perspectives

Chapter 5

The 4th Player and the Future

About the Author

Imagine if you faced a math problem where the numbers did not represent the factual count and symbols such as subtraction and multiplication no longer subtract or multiply. Consider if the variables are revalued daily so even if you know what the values are today those same variables will have different values tomorrow. Do you think there is any way to solve a problem at that point? Even if you manage to solve that problem one day, the identical operations will not solve the same problem the following day. Bogus values give way to bogus solutions. This is exactly what is happening in our society today. Failure is being praised and even exchanged as counterfeit success – and we're supposed to accept this without question.

Don't worry, it won't be all doom and gloom. Personal growth is hardly worth experiencing without some humor and self-deprecation involved. Luckily for us there is plenty to make fun of these days. For starters, many of the so-called, experts, no longer have the capacity to give a straight answer to simple questions. Seems like every congressional hearing is filled with these sorts which quickly turn potential problem solving opportunities into a standup comedy routine. Basic questions being answered with several qualifying statements followed by pleading the intellectual 5th instead of just saying a yes or no. Many of the sources we count on for accurate information no longer give a complete report of the truth, history, definitions, or unbiased accounts especially involving politics and science. Citing sources anymore is often overrated and counterproductive because many of the sources we have counted on in the past are no longer trustworthy. This is why I do not have Television that has any channels, remain dubious about anything online, and I rarely ever listen to the radio anymore. Whether any of you agree with me or not is not the point of this book. What I am asking of you is to consider each topic through a different point of view. For the past several decades as a society we have tried the gentle touch approach to dealing with serious problems and it has only made the problems worse and created deep paradoxes to try and overcome that shouldn't have existed in the first place.

Whether you like it or not ignoring reality is not going to be an option for much longer. My goal in writing this book is to make you think. I hope to make all of you uncomfortable. I will make a conscious effort to offend every single one of you at some point with facts, personal experiences, my truths, and humor. You may ask yourself why I would do that and the answer is very simple. People who have a reason to be upset can be far more motivated and productive than those who are drunk on bliss or embrace hopelessness as a lifestyle. Personal growth only occurs with honesty coupled with an accurate self-perception. If we do not recognize reality, we'll never be able to accurately access situations and problems, let alone make measured changes to find meaningful solutions.

The first time I recognized this was as a child hearing supposed adults on CNN blame guns for people getting shot and being murdered. My initial thought was something along the lines of, isn't it the person who pulls the trigger the one to blame? Without an operator of that firearm, it is just a piece of metal with no mind or ability to do anything on its own. That was the moment I realized some people revalue reality to fit their point of view rather than accept facts. To hold people accountable for their actions and face consequences is a real solution. Holding an object accountable for a person's choices is a bogus value, and thus provides a bogus solution. How's that worked out for the past 35 years?

A few years later I was sitting in a classroom as a freshman in college pursuing a business degree. The professor posed a scenario to the class where your life mission was to climb every mountain with a summit above 26000 feet. After years of struggle and countless thousands of dollars spent you've finally made it to your last mountain, Everest. You only have one chance to climb this mountain – it's now or never. And after weeks of prep and acclamation you're ready to start the climb and fulfill your life goal. Everything is going great and you've made it to camp 2 on the mountain. You start your next day's journey and on your way to camp 3 you find someone badly injured on the mountain. What do you do? You can stop climbing, help them down the mountain, but never reach your life goal. OR, you can leave them there and climb the mountain. They will die, but you will have reached your life goal. Those are your two choices. No radios, no sherpas, no other people to help – this is YOUR choice. After a few minutes of free discussion, he asked us to raise our hands if the choice was to stop and save him. I was the only one who raised my hand. 19 years old and shocked. An older lady in the class (who was a nurse no less) said that she'd find a, cubby hole, for him on the mountain and, let him die with dignity. Words I will never forget. In my mind I figured almost everyone would raise their hand and save him. Nope. After the class I had a lengthy talk with the professor. He said that was very typical for everyone to leave him there and finish the climb. We both agreed that in the moment, a lot of people would save him. That was the light bulb moment I realized if a couple layers are peeled back most people are truly out for themselves.

Since then, I have climbed a few mountains. Above tree line everything is different. It can rain without getting anything wet and then it can pour and soak you to the bone. If you've never climbed a mountain before it needs to be on your bucket list. Make sure you are physically prepared, go with a group, know where you are going, never chase your losses, and have the right gear. Keeping your feet dry is crucial too (learned that lesson the hard way). Is there some risk involved, yes. Did I almost see someone earn a Darwin Award by trying to slide off the side of La Plata a few years ago – yup – he just about did a superman off a thousand foot cliff. Would I save you if I found you injured on the side of the mountain knowing this is my last chance to climb – yes, I would and glad to do it. We are beyond blessed to have access to an amazing world meant to be seen with the naked eye.

A few real things you should know about me…

I have XY chromosomes. There is nothing I can do about it. No matter what I self-identify myself as or even if I mutilated myself to appear differently, the reality is I am male. That is my gender and this is a fact. There is no pronoun, medication, or procedure that can change this fact. To claim anything different is a bold faced lie. To expect anyone else to go along with that lie is to expect them to be an accomplice to a fantasy.

I really enjoy playing golf. There are a lot of lessons you can learn from the game of golf about yourself, others, and how the laws of physics work (most of the time). There have been points in time I was really good. But my peaks were never sustained and never at the very, very top. That is reality. If I self-Identified as someone who earned my pro card or has won a major title not only would that be an outrageous lie but it also diminishes the achievements of someone else who has accomplished those feats. Facts do not care about our feelings or fantasies.

You can't cancel me. I have zero social media. I don't have a, smart, phone. I have no interest in watching tik tok videos because my time is far too valuable to be wasted in self-induced hypnosis without seeking knowledge and perspective. I don't watch porn for several reasons, but the biggest reasons are I value my mind and sexuality. Even if you have dirt on me, I simply don't care. I'm not the hero in this message.

A few definitions we should get out of the way before going further as it pertains to this guide as I understand and define them… And since we don't want these words to self identify, we'll make sure it's filtered through a diaper rather than a dictionary that includes definitions for Gender Fluidity.

Words: Sounds that communicate meaning between beings.

Deliberate: Intentionally careful reasoning before reaching a conclusion.

Measure: A plan to achieve a purpose.

Truth: A belief that is commonly accepted. (But can have interpretations that vary from one person to the next)

Fact: Indisputable observations about reality that are NOT up for interpretation.

Delusion: A bogus belief about external or internal realities which are held despite incontrovertible evidence (those would be facts) to the contrary.

Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. (I always add in without changing any of the variables)

Woke: Being aware of issues related to racial & social justice. This is just a fancy way of saying useful idiot.

If any of this already makes you upset or uncomfortable embrace that feeling and recognize this is your mind fighting back against years of programming and brainwashing. The level of anger you are experiencing at this moment is an indicator of just how much brainwashing you've allowed into your life. The most productive frame of mind to be in (my opinion) is slightly uncomfortable.

The back story to this has been in the works for a couple years now. I've had two friends kill themselves. They left families, businesses, and decades of life left to be lived unrealized. Their reasoning for making that choice is complicated, and it was their choice to make. Their solution was to deal with temporary problems using a permanent action devoid of hope. It has been other people's consequences to bare. I reached a point a month ago for a couple reasons where I am done indirectly enabling. I'm done sitting back being a, good friend, just waiting for next phone call to find out someone hung or shot themselves. I am far from the moral police, but it is time to take a stand. I am inviting the spotlight onto my life and those around me. If that is the cost for saving even one person from making that choice then so be it.

My personal path began 11 years ago sitting on a bed 3 weeks after I got married listening to my now ex-wife tell me through her sobs she did not want me and did not want to be married any longer. But it was before that really, I just did not want to know it. She'd lost all respect for me long before this point – it was the moment I agreed to commit, to go all in, no matter how she treated me – for nothing tangible in return or meaningful reciprocation. A hard lesson for me had begun which is once someone losses all respect for another, there is no getting it back. I was so blinded by love that I never stopped to consider the warning signs. She didn't have to sell it too hard though because I wanted it so badly. Another hard lesson I would eventually learn was the person who wants it more and cares deeper often receives the scraps (human nature).

I made all the classic, nice guy, mistakes… Put her ahead of my own goals and purposes, put time with her over exercise and staying fit, put her career far ahead of my own, didn't check her bad behavior, and let that bad behavior worsen over time without any accountability until it devolved into the Springer show. My mistakes were from a place of good intentions. Good intentions without a backbone are just forms of enabling.

One day will be your last. For myself, I have been on borrowed time since 11-4-2011. A bit after 9pm that night I was driving when a truck driven by what I assume to be a drunk came flying around me directly into oncoming traffic. Without consciously knowing it I turned my vehicle into the ditch at 60 MPH while that truck ended up in my lane just ahead of me as the oncoming Cadillac went by so quickly they never even had time to hit their brakes or move out of their lane. I should have died that night. Don't waste this gift of time. You are the legacy of those who came before you and the origin of those to come. My time is coming either way. I have little expectation of dying an old man. I'll be a target whether I make my stand now or let fear and sloth stop me from making that stand later. The difference for me is (my truth) if I do not make my stand now, I will be enabling the destruction of people (many of which being children) that could have been saved. I will not be an accomplice any longer.

A special Thank You…

For those teachers and staff at schools who really put in the time and energy for the children in their care I want to thank you. For those of you who reject regressive ideologies and activism in the classroom, thank you. For those of you who teach children functional knowledge and help them prepare for an often unforgiving world, thank you. For those of you willing to sacrifice yourself because you love the children in your care, thank you. I was lucky enough to have several teachers in my life who went that extra mile for me and if you are doing that for your students, I applaud your efforts and sacrifices because I know it is not easy. Even if you don't see it now, your efforts will make a huge impact on their lives one day.

To the Police, Sheriff's offices, Fire departments, and Military – you are what keep this country together. We all owe you a debt of gratitude. Most of you are woefully underpaid and then expected to deal with situations that require self control in moments when a normal human reaction would be anything but that. Thank you for your services and sacrifices.

To those who keep our lights on, dispose of our trash, purify our water, provide our energy sources, keep our roadways & transportation systems running, and feed us – thank you for all that you do. Most of you rarely ever get the appreciation you deserve. Today, know that you are appreciated.

Without these people working out of the spotlight we would not have the luxuries we take for granted and the abundance most of us hardly recognize. Right now, it's