Brain-Slaps for Your Christmas Weekend
quick hits to spark some weekend creativity and gratitude...
A Christmas Carol
Marley's ghost appearing to Scrooge. Illustration for Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," 19th century. Universal Images Group / Getty Images
The story has been read and performed and adapted millions of times. The main character has been played by Fred Flintstone, Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, Kermit, Sir Laurence Olivier, and Cicely Tyson…
My favorite version is Scrooged but the closest adaption to Dickens story may be A Christmas Carol 1951.
And it was written to start a revolution.
Dickens, born in 1812, had seen the population of England explode 61% by the time he wrote A Christmas Carol in 1843. People were piling into the cities, especially London, and searching for jobs in the new manufacturing centers. Adults and children, as young as 6, were working 12 to 14 hour days.
They were parts. Machinery. Their worth determined by how long they worked and how many nails they pounded out.
Workers were commodities.
The government issued a report detailing the conditions and practices of the booming manufacturing section and child labor practices.
Dickens got pissed.
He planned on writing a scathing pamphlet called, “An Appeal to the People of England on behalf of the Poor Man’s Child.” But after some thought he decided that a story would have more impact. He banged out A Christmas Carol in two months.
The meaning - Dickens wanted to convey that employers are responsible for the care and well-being of their employees. But in a larger sense we are all responsible for treating each other with respect, care, and kindness.
It was a novel thought then.
Think about it…
Agnotology - is the study of deliberate culturally-induced ignorance or doubt typically to sell a product, influence an opinion, or win favor through the publication of inaccurate and misleading information often dressed up as scientific data.
Examples:
Climate Change
Vaccines...
There is a constant battle for your thoughts and opinions. Protect yourself. Educate yourself. Decisions and opinions should not be made lightly but only after careful consideration of the source material.
Do It…
I’m spending Christmas with family. And I’m very grateful for the opportunity.
In 2023 I want to focus on my writing and the big three.
Eat better. Sleep better. Exercise better.
So…
I’m fasting now until our Christmas Eve dinner. About 36 hours.
I’m walking outside as soon as I wake up and looking towards the sky. Barefoot if weather allows. And it likely will for me. Setting my bio-clock.
I’m doing body weight exercises - 20 reps each day of push ups, squats, sit ups.
Merry Christmas. Happy Holiday. Love ya!
Ciao.