When we are face to face with death at a young age, we tend to look at life differently. We develop a perspective that can see beyond the surface and propaganda.

Sometimes that can come off as detached and cynical. We have to work at nurturing the softer side and balance out using our heart and mind, while staying empathic and open minded.

Our world is full of division and derision. We have to do our part to reverse this.

We also need to try to work together to reverse decades, if not centuries, of greed and the need to control others by dividing and pitting one against each other for the sake of greed, power and a money-hungry group of people.

Instead, we should help each other to coexist peacefully, regardless of background and beliefs.

“The purpose of propaganda is to make one set of people forget that other sets of people are humans.” – Aldous Huxley

Throughout history, there have been many articles, books, documentaries and films warning us of the path we humans have been on…

Some songs that provide insights on this:
“Us and Them” by Pink Floyd
“Crime of the Century” by Supertramp
“Driven to Tears” by The Police
“Right in two” by Tool

Don’t blindly follow the path without looking beyond the surface with an open mind. Never place blame on others for the road you are on. It’s your own asphalt.


#thoughtsoftheday #divide #derision #propaganda #belowthesurface #supporteachother #coexist

The CEO of Spotify, who does not know how to play any instruments or arrange a piece of music or write a song, just posted that for Q1 of 2024 Spotify posted $1 billion in profit. Then, announced that they are raising the monthly subscription fees and none of that is going to the artists. Also, introduce a minimum threshold of 1000 streams before the artist can qualify to get paid the very low (pennies) amount per stream.

one of many examples: Peter Frampton recently posted: “For 55 million streams of, ‘Baby I Love Your Way’, I got $1,700,”

I know it’s not just up to the CEO for a publicly traded company.

Still.

Talk about greed and out of touch.

I am posting this because music has been and is one of the most important aspects of my daily life. Music has helped me through some very hard times. Too many to count.

There are so many amazing new and old artists and music out there. All it takes is just a little effort with many modern tools to discover, listen and purchase. I buy directly from artists whenever it’s available or purchase CDs, Vinyl, or digital downloads to better support the artists.

I am aware that it’s not that simple and we have to be more actively involved, but it seems that there is a lot of money left on the table from the Spotify model. The system is broken. There are many other similar business models that are in the same state of “growth” that take advantage of talents. We tend to fall into the convenience of things for the short-term benefit, but we pay for it in the long run. We should do better as human beings. We can do better.

#spotify #music #artist #streamingmusic #fairpay #wecandobetter

I recently watched Sam Tompkins’ latest live performance of his song Hero, which he recently uploaded. It is such a beautiful, raw and emotional performance. Link is in the comments. It made me think about how some people struggle to get through the holiday season.

For some people, mental health issues such as depression and suicide are a daily battle. Just because they have survived before does not imply, they do not require assistance and support. So please keep that in mind during this holiday season.

Those of you who are going through this and somehow happen to come across this post, you are not alone, despite how it may seem. Reach out and, more importantly, let others in. You are not weak, or you are bothering people. There’s a reason you are still here. You may potentially be someone else’s hero just by existing. You’ve got this.

#EmbracingSelfWorth #depression #suicideawareness #MentalHealthAwareness #youareenough #selfworth #itsokaynottobeokay #breakthestigma #mentalhealth

Empathy is key to build and nurture strong connections.

hashtag#empathy hashtag#connections hashtag#relationships hashtag#tolerance hashtag#eksperts

This is one of my all-time favorite scenes from one of my all-time favorite movies. I have watched this so many times to keep track.  I was watching this movie again recently and this scene got me thinking about a couple of things that I want to share.

“If I asked you about art you’d probably give me the skinny on every art book ever written. Michelangelo? You know a lot about him. Life’s work, political aspirations, him and the pope, sexual orientation, the whole works, right? But I bet you can’t tell me what it smells like in the Sistine Chapel. You’ve never actually stood there and looked up at that beautiful ceiling. Seen that.”

Good Will Hunting – Park Scene monolog beginning.

I feel the same way about AI and how it’s being glorified and used, that it is taking away from the real human experience and connection. Many people are focused so much on how to use AI to cut corners and improve income and engagement that they are neglecting to connect with their audience/potential clients. Yes, AI is beneficial due to the massive quantity of knowledge available, but we all know that knowledge is not wisdom. 

“Personally, I don’t give a sh_t about all that because you know what? I can’t learn anything from you, I can’t read in some f_kin’ book. Unless you wanna talk about you, who you are. And I’m fascinated. I’m in. But you don’t wanna do that, do you, sport? You’re terrified of what you might say. Your move, chief.”

Good Will Hunting – Park Scene monolog ending.

We need to showcase firsthand experience, knowledge, and wisdom to infuse our individuality, character, and vulnerabilities in order for us to stand out and be seen as genuine. We all set boundaries in order to protect ourselves and keep harmful energy at bay. However, we must be cautious not to turn such limits into barriers that hinder good energy and people from getting together and sharing wonderful experiences.

So don’t be shy about talking about yourself. Share your ideas, feedback and criticism.  I appreciate the likes, shares, and interactions. I’m in and fascinated by what each of you have to offer, are thinking and sharing. I’m all in. “You’re move, chief.”

#eksperts #culture #community #racism #humanbeings #ethniccleansing #genocide #artsakh #armenian

Thank you for clicking to read this very personal article. There are many more very informative articles and sources on what is currently happening in Artsakh, where Azerbaijan with the support of Turkey and various indirectly supporting the war.  However, there does not seem to be enough being done to it to help stop all the killing of innocent people.

You see, my grandparents were survivors of the 1915 Armenian genocide that is still being ignored and suppressed. They witnessed their families and neighbors killed by the hand of the Ottoman Turks. My grandparents were brought to Armenian orphanages in Beirut Lebanon.  Growing up I would listen to my maternal grandfather Mihran tell me stories of all the atrocities and how he was still proud to be an Armenian genocide survivor. Even though all the horrible things he went through and witnessed, he was still a very strong and positive influence on me.  He always looked on the bright side of life and always wanted to help others regardless of how poor he was. He never turned down anyone that needed help. He would play pranks on us and make us laugh, even though I could see all the pain and harsh memories in his eyes. To say he was and still is the driving force in my daily life is an understatement.  Every time life threw me a curve and challenges piled up, I always thought of my grandfather and what he went through and dug deep and pushed through them.

Some might be wondering what is the deal with Armenians and this Genocide? Why does it matter to me? It’s a small little country between Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran. It’s not even close to where I live. The safety of being out of range and the false comfort that it does not really impact us in other countries. While that might sound true in the immediate environment. It does impact in many ways. From our taxes being used to indirectly fund the weaponry to economic impact and balance of power in the region and the world in the long run. One might also wonder what do Armenians provide to the world anyway. Yes, we’ve probably heard of the Kardashians and have an opinion on it. However, here’s a short snippet of what other Armenians have brought to this world to make our lives for the better. Some of which you probably use on a daily basis.

Why am I writing about all of this? Because what is happening now in Artsakh is very similar to what happened in Armenia in 1915.  Not only is the killing of innocent Armenians in Artsakh similar but the similarities of most other countries not taking action to stop the killings to what transpired back in 1915 as well.

I know this year has been a challenge all around the globe, from the pandemic to economic turmoil, to conflicts in many other countries as well. There is still a chance to raise awareness and make it so the silence does not drown the screams. Don’t let the bullies continue what they are doing, it will just make them do it again to others. Don’t let the silence drown the screams.

If you are interested in helping to raise our voice above the silence, please share this and talk to others about it.  If you are also inclined to help with a donation, you can do so here: https://www.armeniafund.org