June 27, 2025

Malignant Narcissism - it's in epidemic form

We have to come to grips with the fact that the United States hasn't just elected one Malignant Narcissist in Chief but that large swathes of the population, indeed the national character in general, has come down with a bad case of this theoretical ailment.

I say theoretical because it isn't an official diagnosis in the DSM, yet. But that doesn't make it any less real or any less prevalent. And Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is certainly an existing diagnosis. I know that I am personally involved with several people like this in my own sphere of influence right now. Partially because I "have to be". And partly because they can have their own particular power and charm. And learning how to deal with them is not easy. It's not exactly intuitive. Because they feed on our goodness and make it rotten. That is part of what makes it so hard to defeat.

Here is a decent explanation of what it Malignant Narcissism is, among many other good explanations.
https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-recognize-a-malignant-narcissist-4164528

And this person does a great job of explaining what to do about it, among others.
]https://www.youtube.com/c/DrMelissaKaltMD

Notice how these traits describe Donald Trump and others who follow him.
It is sad but true that the cruelty and the suffering is actually part of the thrill/delight for them.

Distinguishing Features of Malignant Narcissism:
Antisocial Traits:
may show a disregard for rules, deceitfulness, and impulsivity.
Sadism:
may exhibit sadistic tendencies, enjoying the suffering of others.
Paranoid Orientation:
may have a paranoid outlook, feeling threatened and persecuted.
Lack of Remorse:
may not feel guilt or remorse for their actions, even when they cause harm to others.

And this is what must be done to remedy them. Notice that it is hard. And that removing yourself from them and ignoring them is actually pretty much required. Because they feed on you. They even feed on your upset and on your pain.

Coping with Malignant Narcissists:
Setting Boundaries:
Establishing clear and firm boundaries is crucial, but they will likely be tested.
Avoiding Personalization:
Try not to take their behavior personally, as it stems from their own issues, not necessarily a reflection of your worth.
Seeking Support:
Surround yourself with supportive friends and family who can help you navigate the situation.
Limiting Contact:
In some cases, no contact or very limited contact may be necessary to protect your well-being.

It's a challenging situation.

As we recognize this and adopt some of these behaviors, challenging as they may be, we have a chance to get our national character back out of the narcissistic zone and into something that is much, much, much more reciprocal, caring, principled, humane, competent, and reasonable.

This is the work for all of us, however. To restore the balanced feeling of proper relationships, that are determined by mutual respect and even love and given freely, not transactionally.

This will be the result of all of us acting individually and together in these principled ways.

November 9, 2024

One Good Thing

One good thing
One good thing at a time
In opposition
To the bad things that have happened or may occur
One good thing
One good thing at a time
This is how we build a successful life
Even the smallest positive good thing can change a situation
Or a person
Or even a nation
Or even a world
If properly understood
Properly appreciated
Properly experienced
Properly absorbed and followed

November 9, 2024

How do we get along?

How do we get along?

Just one more step
One more step at a time
One more love
One more good thing
One more task being finished
Enjoyment, wherever possible.
That is how we get along.

November 8, 2024

I just wrote...

one of the happiest gospel songs I have ever written,

And it's not because I always write gospel (do like to sing it) and it's not because I'm happy all the time these days (far from it) but it's because I live and breathe and have wonderful communities like this to share things with.

And just reached out to some of the hippest most spiritual people I know on Facebook and on the planet and I felt a vibe and I feel a vibe where I'm knowing we have go to reach out and love and communicate with each other more than ever before. And drown out this despair we can e feeling with a joyful and righteous noise.

And I remember Kamala preaching in the churches she visited just in the last few weeks.

And this is time, as good as ever, for us to community ourselves and to invite others in as well - those who pay adherence to reality and good things. And we need to keep up the clamor until it's just about impossible to misalign and misrecognize.

And one of my students tonight spoke about how a teacher can reach out and influence a student out there with the smallest little gesture. And so too, can we all, reach out and not only comfort each other but lend a helping hand and a little bit of consciousness.

And if you know how to sing, then sing, and if you know how to preach then preach.

And then I also thought tonight, and I know those who don't believe such things may or even will scoff, but I thought, "I am a divine vessel of God and no Donald Trump is going to do anything about that!!!

Here's what I am saying - we've just got to keep putting out the most joyful and righteous noise we can to drown out all the dysfunctional nasty messages from the other side - in whatever form they come in and to turn our own firehoses of creativity on in in whatever medium and practice and dimension we can muster. And we can sustain ourselves and find community and work with purpose and change the world and enjoy the heck out of ourselves while we do it. And the other side, well, they have long since forgotten how to experience true pleasure or to party and that shows in all their affairs. They are the sad ones, in the lack of wisdom, experience, and joy - not us.

And on that I say Amen.

November 3, 2024

To my Republican friends, I would just say the world looks a lot brighter...

if you just pull your head out of Donald Trump's ass!!!!

October 25, 2024

I understand all the lousy feelings about polls and data on early voting. However,

Aren't we convinced by the news and data that a sizable percentage of Republicans will vote for Kamal Harris?
Witness Liz Cheney, to the point of even campaigning with our fantastically adept candidate Kamala Harris.

The Republicans and Independents who are voting early - isn't it just as likely they are voting for Harris/Walz as Donald Trump and that other scum?

August 7, 2024

Malingering Malaise

When you think about it, all Trump and the Trumpers do is complain, complain, complain. Same thing was true with the Tea Party Movement. Just a bunch of whiners and complainers who never do anything but spread hate and fear and division.

I hope that Vice-President Harris and Coach Walz keep showing what a cowardly bunch of losers these types are. Their negativity is no way to run a country, no way to win.



With humor and joy and straight-talking common sense, we are taking it to the mat, like i've been wishing Democrats would do for a long time. We have the policies and programs and positions that they claim 70% of the country favors. VP Harris and Coach Walz are putting this in plain common-sense terms that MAKE SENSE out of a world that has veered into the insanity of Trumpism too long!

Malingerers. Spreading Malaise. Enough!!!!!! (I'm talking about Republicans here, folks, just to be clear. Negativity is pretty much all they've got. But yes, we can do our own est job of pivoting to positivity when we can. The only way that positive things can happen out of the negatives.)

It's as if the sad, lonley, bitter life and delusions of one egomaniac can threaten the well-being of a nation, which it has. I'm loving the contrast that our teams makes. And the thoughts and the feelings that we can end this kind of nightmare this time, right now.

Time for a can-do America again.

August 2, 2024

KamALPHA Harris

I am so impressed with the campaign that Kamala Harris is running so far. It is fresh, it is invigorating, while at the same time championing so many ideals that so many have held dear for so long. It is smart. It iis well-spoken.

And while she is brilliant at speaking "Truth to Power" in a way that few do, she is also really taking it to the man. I mean directly at him. Slam dunk. In your face.

That is what is mentioned here in this video at about 8 minutes in:

And yes, in addition to the other magnificent things she is doing, she is exhibiting the ALPHA qualities that can help win this election.

Many qualities shine brightly in a true leader. A true leader appeals and need to appeal to many people. In order to be followed an trusted, it is so important to know that you care. And can we admit, however, how thrilling it is to really take it to the basket, to really drive through the routine like a Simone Biles, to really belt it out like Whitney Houston or Aretha Franklin or Beyoncé or Mariah Carey or Adele or Céline Dion (name your favorite).

Kamala Harris has been really driving the message home in a way that is truly inspirational. And she can do all this and laugh at the same time. Plus the gestures she uses and the looks she gives when telling Donald Trump "I will show Donald Trump what real leadership looks like" and tells us "Believe me when I say - I know Donald Trump's type" are golden.

I can't be the only one that is thrilled to see the "in your face" intensity coupled with the grace of her other proclamations.
Donald Trump is well over-due for some "in your face" action.
And she can spike the ball in his face and on his foot and all over the place for me while she is at it.

July 24, 2024

the hidden smackdown in "Believe me, I know Donald Trump's type!"

I don't know who is writing speeches for Kamala Harris or whether she is doing this largely herself, but the smackdown punchline of "Believe me, I know Donald Trump's type." is very strong. Coupled with a look that is priceless and the roar of the crowd.

Behind the straight ahead Perpetrator - Prosecutor metaphor that is played so well, doesn't this do one other thing?

In the world of sexual predation that Donald Trump is so familiar with, "she's not my type" is a line he often uses to try to disassociate from women he had been involved with. Or just to categorize them in general.

With this line, Kamala Harris basically alters the roles of predation. She is predator and he is prey.
She "knows his type".
That is the twist that is really extra delicious.

This is one savvy candidate and long may she show this to the world.
And kick ass.
And win with us this election and our freedom from Trump and our liberties and our rights and a much better life and world for all of us.

July 23, 2024

PERPETRATOR

I don't think there is another word quite as apt to describe Donald Trump as PERPETRATOR.



Long may he be remembered this way.
To his detriment.
To his LOSS.
To his fading into the sands of time.

Love it when Kamala describes perpetrators she has known and when she says, "Hear me when I say, I know Donald Trump's type."

Bring it on!

It's about time he was fully prosecuted!!!