Dream of falling teeth

Carl Jung was psychiatrist focused on the content of dreams and looked to what they may reveal, rather than what they may be concealing. He also believed that dreams represented current situations in the dreamers walking life.  Drams can be used as a guide in walking life to attain a sense of completeness or wholeness and help us to self-actualize. The dreams role is to help find wholeness and the different aspects of personality will appear in the dream to help achieve that wholeness.

Curiously a couple of nights ago I dreamed that my teeth had fallen. I had my teeth crumbled in my hands. I was able to grab a tooth and pull it from my mouth. It was very shocking. At first I thought that this dream had to do with the fact that I’ve been around dentistry all my life, (my father being a dentist and I have also worked at a surgeon’s office pulling teeth). But by taking the time to analyze and think more in depth for different meanings or symbols that teeth might have, I thought it might be just a coincidence and not that the dream actually means something else.

Teeth could mean different things to different people. I’ve asked people around my house and they all gave me different interpretations that were good in getting me started at brainstorming about what is it that I’m so worry about lately. Teeth reflect a good appearance. Nice teeth = good appearance and how others perceive you. But when I think about it, I’m not really someone who worries about his appearance, so I don’t understand how I could relate my dream with my appearance. After brainstorming more about the potential meaning of this dream, another idea came to mind. Teeth are a strong symbol in (my opinion) of power. Teeth are used to bite, tear, chew, etc, which are key essentials to survival. We have to bite, tear, chew if we want to eat something, otherwise it could lead to malnutrition (as an example for weakness). This idea of power makes more sense to me than the other idea of how I look. It is true that lately I’ve been feeling frustrated, tired because of a big project I was trying to get before the year ended, but because of the delays in city permits the project will have to wait until next year. This issue have been driving me insane because of the security that it would mean to have that job secure instead of having to wait until I come back to get the approval.

work, work, work

Why do I accept a job duty that I don’t like? Well, to be honest with you I would work in anything, doing whatever because if I don’t then someone else would take my place. In a way I do it because of security, I feel save by having a job and money. I have to work in order to be able to put food on the table and also a roof over my head. I have worked all my life and now my priority is getting a higher education in order to succeed. My first real job was as a car detailer earning $6.00/hr. I worked there for three months earning enough money to buy my first car. Then I quitted that job because I hated it! But at the end, my work had paid off I have earned a car for all my hard work. I have also worked in construction, washing dishes, etc. In a way this is how I see things; I work knowing that I will gain something from that work, if I see no progress then it means that I need to change something because it’s not meeting my expectations. The jobs that I’ve worked on, had served as aids for me while going to college. After finishing high school I went to college and obtained a certificate as an RDAEF in the dental field, which is what I do now. It pays well, about five times more than my first job and I enjoy doing it. This job as an RDAEF helps me economically while I’m back in school.

I had to work in things that I did not enjoy so that I could take myself to another level, like taking myself back to school so that I could go forward. Now, I have other aspirations, I would like to go to dental school.  If you ask me why I work I will tell you that I do it for the money.  But if that's entirely true, how do you explain people like Bill Gates, who is worth more than we can imagine per year and yet who throws himself into his jobs as if his next meal depended on it? There is something else in human nature and work. I sometimes feel that if I’m not doing something I feel like I’m wasting my time.  

I think that in today’s hard work is less a guarantee for success than ever before. Because the rules of the game have changed, old promises about hard work are unrewarded by the big companies. It probably has to do with the high number of unemployment and high competition. Most people in big companies feel positive about the kind of work they do, my sister in law would say that she dislikes her company. She feels like she is what she does, not where she works. She feels used, without a recognition but she feels that if she doesn’t do her job, then the company can find someone else for even half her salary. Why does people worked? I would say that the most common reasons are; because they need to pay a mortgage, to make the world a better place, to help themselves and others on intellectually and maybe to perfect their technical skills. Some people work because they believe they can make the world a better place. While all these people have different reasons for working, they all, in the end, are searching for the same thing: self-esteem. Work really defines who you are. So is a person's self-esteem measured by success at work? Not a new idea, but still a very powerful one. One by doing a good job at work can increase their self-esteem, making them feel good intellectually, physically depending on their job description. Overall I feel that every person needs to be happy at what they do in order for them to produce, generate as much as they can at their work place. But again what is the limit at which we say that’s enough? I feel that enough is when our job gets to a point, which affects us personally and emotionally, when we take our jobs to our own house affecting others. Our home is supposed to be our refuge, the place where we rest from a hard day. Not a place where we take our problems, but I understand that sometimes it is uncontrollable.  

Kind

In “The Guest” I think that my favorite character is Daru, because in a way I can identify myself by the actions he takes. Like him I’m also a person who tries to solve problems the non-violent way. In addition I also have in my mind that everyone should act the same way, expecting nothing more than sincerity and kindness from others. In this story the Arab is a prisoner of Balducci, an old friend of Daru. Balducci wants Daru to take the prisoner to the police headquarters because of a murder. Throughout the story, Daru is a person who does not like violence; he likes everything to be peaceful. He is kind towards the Arab even though the Arab has killed somebody. When Balducci brought the Arab to the schoolhouse, Daru kindly welcomed them into the room, and heated up the classroom for them to be more comfortable. The Arab’s hands were still tied by a rope and Daru asked Balducci to untie his rope. I admire this action because Daru treats every human being the same in his “house”.  After Balducci left, Daru treated the Arab like a visitor, not like a prisoner. He would leave the Arab wonder by himself in the room, he would feed the Arab, and waited to see if the Arab would escape. But he never did. In my life by doing the right things, by treating people the way they deserve to be treated and just by being humble I have learned that everything usually flows smooth and turns out right.  

Take it the easy way

Everyone has their own set of values, socially shared conceptions of what is good, desirable, proper or bad. Those values influence our orientations, actions, reactions, and interpretations. But it is still important to keep an open mind. Trying to see why and how our world is. Being objectively neutral is desirable to many, but the truth is that nobody can be neutral. Values are present to initiate our individuality without conflict no one is there to decide which values is right or wrong. Fromm discussed two types of values; trust and honesty. These two values are claimed by a number of us, but are contradicted all of the time. We all want to be trusted but the truth is that there are those who cannot be. Honesty is a reward in it self, if you are honest to your self, and honest with the people around you the reward will come. Many people call this karma, having good karma is being spiritually healthy and changes will happen gradually in your every day life.

Many of my values are those passed down from my parents. Racist comments have always been rare in my immediate family. My parents have raised me to treat everyone, as I would like to be treated. Even though these values seem natural and correct to me, there are always those who disagree. Those who disagree have a right to feel the way they do, even though many open-minded people look upon it as narrow-minded. The most we can do is listen, try to understand where they are coming from, and realize that most racist thoughts are subconsciously instilled by surroundings.To understand something, you need to rely on your own experiences. To be objective, in my opinion is a truth that remains true everywhere, regardless of the situation, and is independent from human emotions. Always taking different views of things before judging others. I am the person who tries to be in harmony with everyone, but I am up to the point that sometimes I ask myself …WHY? Why do I care so much? Let it go. Let them figure it out. But I don’t function that way, instead I try to help and resolve the problem right on the spot. 

This brings me to a situation that happened about 1yr ago at my old job. I had just arrived at the office and a day before the local Internet company was changing the service lines and they had sent a technician to install this line. It was installed perfectly on the outside, but inside the office the cable run from a hole next to the door, across the middle of the wall, clamped with a couple of staples all the way underneath the desk. It looked like a sloppy job, from someone who was rushing. My boss at the time did not like what he saw and of course he called the company and flipped off at them. For my boss’s luck the guy who answered the phone was the owner of the company and he was not going to take the nasty comments my boss was laying on him. They both argued and did not come to a civilized solution. The company shut off our Internet service, since we were a Dr’s office it hurt us for the day causing us to have to canceled appointment because our two offices were connected to a server and all the patients’ information was inputted into that server. No insurance information was available for us. Anyways since I’m always the mellow guy who takes everything calmly, I tried calling the company again and spoke to the owner and apologize in the name of our office. We came to a positive solution and I also had the doctor apologize for his actions. Till this day that cable is still in the middle of the wall. Something that I learned that day was to treat everyone the same, without boundaries, no matter what color they have, what gender they have or what their status is. You never know whom you might be dealing with. They might have the power to take everything from you. Treat everyone the same way you would like to be treated.

Time to relax

Every body has at least one CD of Bob Marley if not “Legend” a 10 times platinum winner. I think Bob is one of the best artists of all times. I have listened to his music since I was 10 years old. His music always talks about peace and love, two things that I always seek and I think that others should seek as well. His songs are mellow and they help me relax. When I was little I had a friend whom I use to hang out with, we used to be best friends. We always wanted to be like Bob in a way, like having dreadlocks and look relax like he did. Soon we realized that it was not possible, not because of differences in hair types, but because our parents wouldn’t let us. The relax part I think I still have. Bob has a song in particular that I have always tried to perform, by singing and by playing the guitar. This song is called “Redemption Song”. The acoustic guitar version; it is just perfect because every time I listen to it, it takes me back to that place, in my bedroom where I play it every time I feel sad and stress. I have never tried to analyze this song. In fact I liked it because of how it sounds. As English being my second language it was hard for me to really understand what he was saying, especially when I was young. Now I listen to this song and it makes me think about everything that is happening in the world around us, this song makes me think that he was really ahead of us. In a way he was a prophet who was trying to send us a message, to stop and think about what was going on in the world. While writing this blog I am listening to the song, paying attention more to the message he was trying to tell us, and in a way he is telling us that he has spent so many years trying to spread freedom and love all over the world. Now in this modern age and through industrialization we are not learning our mistakes we are still enslaved by that, and I think it also states basically that if we hold our heads high and fight for what’s right then we will find redemption.

This song also takes me inside that blue Dodge Dynasty filled with young boys looking for adventure. With our surfboards on top of the car we were always seeking for good waves. We would wake up early on Saturday and drive all along the coast of Peru heading south. I sat always in the front between my two brothers, Gabriel and Christian. We always brought friends so the car was full. We were always joking the whole way and always listening to Bob. Today when I listen to redemption song it brings me that sentiment of peace and happiness expecting some action.

“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, because none but ourselves can free our minds”.  Only ourselves can open our narrow minds and look forward to new horizons.

“Have no fear for atomic energy cause none of them can stop the time” are very powerful words that tells us that not even atomic power which is the most powerful energy can wait for us in time.

I will post the lyrics fro your enjoinment.

Old pirates, yes, they rob I;

Sold I to the merchant ships,

Minutes after they took I

From the bottomless pit.

But my hand was made strong

By the 'and of the Almighty.

We forward in this generation

Triumphantly.

Won't you help to sing

This songs of freedom

'Cause all I ever have:

Redemption songs;

Redemption songs.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;

None but ourselves can free our minds.

Have no fear for atomic energy,

'Cause none of them can stop the time.

How long shall they kill our prophets,

While we stand aside and look? Ooh!

Some say it's just a part of it:

We've got to fullfil the book.

Won't you help to sing

This songs of freedom-

'Cause all I ever have:

Redemption songs;

Redemption songs;

Redemption songs.

---

/Guitar break/

---

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;

None but ourselves can free our mind.

Wo! Have no fear for atomic energy,

'Cause none of them-a can-a stop-a the time.

How long shall they kill our prophets,

While we stand aside and look?

Yes, some say it's just a part of it:

We've got to fullfil the book.

Won't you have to sing

This songs of freedom? -

'Cause all I ever had:

Redemption songs -

All I ever had:

Redemption songs:

These songs of freedom,

Songs of freedom.

 

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A song with a thousand images!

Building steam from a grain of salt by DJ Shadow was one of the songs that I liked the most and also got stuck in my head because of the beat it has. Amazing how this album was constructed from samples of other songs. While listening to it I thought of many events happening around the world. This song has the ability of making someone open the mind to creativity and imagination. Everything that I thought of, like a story or series of events would work great when placed in the song. I also analyzed the name and listened to the song for about ten times. I began to picture many different things like wars, guns, disharmony, protests, etc. Others did not made sense. The name gave me another taste of a message. I thought about people being part of a system, everyone contributing, helping, sharing, adding a grain of salt to that system to grow. Each one of us being like a grain of salt that contributes to the system. I interpreted like if that system cannot be sustained at the same level where it is stable, if we don’t take action then everything turns into steam, chaos, disaster. The analogy I have is the one of a pyramid. We are at the base of that pyramid trying to build it. In order to build that pyramid everyone has to participate in an orderly manner so that we can finish that pyramid. If something goes wrong, that pyramid falls into dust.

Day After Day...

I think that the film Groundhog day does a great job in showing how each day can be lived as a totally new one without taking into account that it is the same day (February 2). Phil is a TV weatherman with a bad attitude, and he wakes up on the same day over and over again.  At first he is frustrated by living the same day over again, and he tries new things. He pursues sex, but after a while it doesn’t work for him. He tries drinking, therapy, suicide, finding a love relationship, etc.

I think that after a while everything he tried was tiresome, and then he begins to try other options. When he tries to save a homeless man day after day, and no matter what he did, the man died. He really wants something and he is powerless. This was probably the turning point in which he begins to change. He helps the kid on the tree day after day, same with the guy who was choking at the restaurant, and the ladies with a broken tire. Each moment becomes a new opportunity, so the same situation is brand new, and eventually his response lead him to a unique result. In the end he wins the girl, instead of trying to posses her and though many days, he chooses a life of service, works through his demons and breaks the cycle of Groundhog Day.

I thi

...knowledge is the most worthwhile in life

We are all prisoners and our world is our cave. Things that we perceive as real are actually just shadows on a wall.

When people ask me about my brother I often tell them that he is going on the right path. As my oldest brother I always looked up to him, tying to be like him in every way possible. I always tried to walk like him, dress like him, and do various things he did. For me he was a role model.  

You have heard of the saying “You have to hit bottom before you can bounce back”, well literary this is what had to happen for my brother to change. He was someone who had to change in order to stay alive, for the simple reason that he was doing bad things in order to satisfy his need for alcohol consumption. He is someone who has consumed alcohol since he was 14 years of age, and finally this will be his second year alcohol free.

He discovered the fatal nature of his situation, and became open minded to conviction ready to change. It was hard for me to see my brother as an alcoholic and did not want to accept it. Even with all the trouble he would get into and I had to always help him economically, because I did not want to see him arrested or beaten. I had my own definition and concept of what an alcoholic was, and he fitted in every aspect. He drank everyday. He missed work and had job problems. He was arrested and had a DUI. Following this last event is when I opened my eyes and the vision I had of my role model dissipated. I was looking right into the sun and realizing that my brother was an alcoholic. Now that I put two and two together I realize that he was always acting weird, and sometimes would get irritated very easily and other times he would be very happy. Sometimes he would make sense and some other times he wouldn’t. Since we are eight years apart it was always easy for him to fool me.

He started having trouble managing his life, because one drinking episode about thirty months ago sent him into an erratic spree of behaviors that caused him to lose much. He admitted that he was powerless over his relationships and his relationships had become unmanageable. He believed in a Power greater than himself; however, he had not made a decision to turn his will and his entire life over to the care of God. Now, He knows, it is the only real choice, the only sane option, for having a chance to live a happy and purposeful life. I am extremely proud of him, because I have seen everything that he has gone through and in the past year of being alcohol free he is being correcting his life.

Truth Hurts

“What I tell you three times is true.”  Lewis Carrol

Why should I believe something is true? Now that I think about this quote it makes sense. Personally when I’m trying to learn something new I learn it through repetition and practice. Repetition is my way of sticking something to memory. I also believe that by getting my brain to accept the new material as true, then I am just reinforcing that new material to stay inside my brain.

“A truth that’s told with bad intent beats all the lies you can invent.” William Blake

It sounds so simple, but as I put more thought into it, my ideas get bigger and bigger. This is an example that I came with, a simple way I could think of it. If I was retarded and a friend comes up to me after an argument and reminds me of my condition then that would be a truth told with bad intent, just to hurt me. But if that person picks on my height, or the way I talk, or even the way I’m fit, then that would probably hurt a lot less than the truth. 

“Beware of the half truth. You may have gotten hold of the wrong half.” Unknown

I can relate this quote with “What I tell you three times is true” because it goes back to: Can a lie be accepted as truth if it is constantly repeated? I’m not sure. I find that it can be possible even if the facts are not there to support the false statement. Best if the facts are not there. It can be very easy to begin a false statement and by having people conduct that statement it might become to a point where people believe it is true. If someone tells a friend a statement that is false, because there is nothing to support it and this friend tells another friend, who tells another friend, and soon this statement is known by everyone to be true. Repetition of this statement will cause it to be thought as true. A simple statement that is completely false can be accepted to be true by the general public.