Black Hills SD

Just a few photos of what one can see during a trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota.  To increase speed of slideshow, just hit the plus button.  Enjoy

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The Art of Second Guessing

I should of done this or I should have done that. Life would be different if I had only I hadmade a different decision. We have all been there and we have all done that. Secondguessing comes very easy when we are faced with difficult situations. There are instanceswhere we can turn the bad situation into a more positive one by learning fromthe first mistake we made, but in other matters, the damage is done and there is verylittle we can do except accept the fact we chose unwisely.

Many of us have thought “If I was only 18 again and know what I know now. Life would beso much better.” But would it really?

We make our decisions based on what we know personally of reality and my reality is different than yours.The definition of reality is as diverse as there re people.It’s bench mark is what we have actually experienced during our lifetime here. It’s amazing how muchknowledge human beings have  ssembled over the centuries, based on life experiences and wehave developed a multitude of technological advances that is mind boggling, yet we still think and dowithin a limited frame of mind.An example I use is that I can tell you all about fire. I can tell that fire is hot and it is beautiful to watch,and that fire can create with in you many different emotions. I can also tell you that fire will burn youif you place your hand in it, and that injury will be very painful.

You may believe me when I say it is hot and it is beautiful, and that it will burn you, but until youactually feel the pain yourself, you have no actual concept of my definition. So, we continually stick our hands in the fire, and we immediately see the light. We all have this human quirk of thinking that weknow more than we actually do, and we repeatedly test this limited knowledge with the same end results.Granted, with each mistake we succeed at, we gain additional wisdom if we are capable of realizing the outcome of themistake as a lesson learned, but change the environment, and we tend to do it over again.Our attempts to criticize, or evaluate with hindsight, combined with our uncanny ability tosee the world through a partially opened door is our one weakness that is very difficult to overcome. Until that door is wide open, and we take those steps into sapience by applying the knowledge,experience, understanding, common sense and insight into our thought process, we will continue to exist with the problems we all face today. And that’s all I have to say.

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A Twist on Corrective Thinking

A friend of mine, and yes, I do have a couple, and I recently discussed the pros and cons of working with today’s youth. It is her belief that there is very little that can be successfully accomplished. Being teenagers, coming from, and returning to negative influences and environments, and the fact that the reasoning portion of their brain does not mature until the mid twenties is tantamount to failure.My twist is that maybe what is said to them is not relevant at this point of time in their lives, but, that maybe in the future, they will remember something that was said to them, and it will make a difference in their choices. Yes, there are times that trying to make a difference in their lives seems fruitless, but there are also times that one can see the small changes they are making that are the first footsteps in their ability to learn and grow.  I tell them that, as all humans, we all will continue to make mistakes during our entire lifetime. These mistakes, if we learn from them are the lessons of life, and unless we accept these facts , we will never grow. Taking responsibility and learning from these mistakes is the supreme objective. It is a process, not an end goal. By taking accountability, we strengthen our character, our morality, and our self respect. No matter what is said or done, ultimately, it will be their choice to continue along the path that has obstructed their potential, or make the changes necessary to succeed.  Any takers?

Go far, Take chances, Live passionately

Think

One of the things I have learned to do as I traverse life is to actually see the world around me.
When I was younger, I would meet people and think very little of them. Not in the sense of apathy, or disrespect, as I was not raised this way, but in the sense of considering my problems more important. And also with the “grass is greener” train of thought. Looking at life from this angle of limited thinking within my immediate environment cost me stories of history, insight and perspective.

I now see people much differently.  I think, “What paths have they walked to bring
them to this stage in their lives?  Was it an easy path or a difficult one? What stories can they tell?” And “What can I learn from them?”
I have gained much understanding towards my own future by listening to the stories of those who have faced life before me. Lives that are filled with success, and failures, happiness and pain, insights and ideas.  It is said that even though mankind has gathered knowledge extensively over that past generations, we are destined to live with ignorance because we look at life from within our own limited experiences.  Though our technology grows, our ability to maintain status quo with our thought processing of what actually exists around us has never left the caves.

Ryeder

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New and (hopefully) improved

For those 2 or 3 people who actually read this blog,  my website, www.rv-visions.com has been overhauled.  With the dexterity of a 2 year old, I have manipulated and upgrade it’s content, while eliminating the mundane.  I will try to keep abreast of new and upcoming advances in alternative energies, green products, and maybe even this blog.  I will keep you posted.  Thanks.

What a year………and a half

As you a see from my “recent” posts, writing has not been on the top of my list of priorities.  Things have happened that have  created a vast modification in how I perceive the world, both in a positive way, and unfortunately, some that are disconcerting.  I do realize than many people are experiencing difficult times, and have for these past two years, what with the economy going flat, millions of job losses, and are now facing an uncertain future.  The problem is, no one has an answer.  It seems we face an uphill battle each day, and take the proverbial three steps ahead, and two back.  So I have come to the realization that no one but ourselves, each one of us as individuals, will have to find the answer that pertains to our own unique situation.

As for myself, I made a series of decisions, right or wrong, that lead me from  Maine to Florida, back to Maine, and on to South Dakota.  I am now doing what I feel is important to my spirit.  I work with troubled youth, hoping to make a slight difference in their lives, and my objective here is relatively simple.  If one youth remembers one thing that I gave them that helps them make a positive decision, then I have succeeded.

The other change that has manifested itself within my world, is that of simplicity.  In other words,  I have identified what is important to me, and am eliminating everything else.  I find that this is not a goal, but a journey.  A long one.  I ask myself before making a decision, “Will this simplify my life?”  If my answer is “No” or unknown, I reconsider.  That’s all I have to say about that……………………….for now.

P.S.    Here is an abbreviated tidbit for you to think about:

It is said that the earth owns two good days, one visible and one invisible. One the body senses, and one the spirit visualizes. One the reasoning identifies and integrates, and one the spirit desires and absorbs. And on the day one can recognize their power to overlap these two, they will own the earth.   Lakota proverb

Look beyond your senses, and dream.

And remember, “Never underestimate the power of your dreams.”

Paha Sapah

I can not believe how much time has passed since my last entry of 2008.  I make no excuse for my sabbatical.  As I never tend to stay in one place too long, I am now calling my home, the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Actually, I am returning for my second time.  I am always in awe of the beauty and majesty of these hills.  To the Native Americans, these hills are spiritual, and in my adventures through this landscape, I believe this also.  I never tire of the scenary, or the wildlife.  I have driven through herds of bison, watched mule deer, white tail, pronghorn, coyote, elk, mountain goats, big horn sheep, but have yet to encounter the occassional mountain lion.  I can explore back roads for hours without seeing civilization’s impact on the area.
Development is limited due to Custer State Park, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Park,  and the national forests that encompass most of the hills.  With a frontier persona, this land is one of inspiration.

http://www.sdgfp.info/Parks/Regions/Custer/index.htm

http://www.travelsd.com/placestogo/stateparks/custerstatepark.asp

http://www.custersd.com/

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A new direction

We, as Americans, will never again enjoy the oil prices of past generations. Why? Unfortunately there is no simple explanation. Many factors play into account for the high cost of crude. Several causes that contribute to this increase in fuel costs surrounds the one primary cause. An increasing world population creates a constant increase in fuel demands. Cause and effect in simple terms. Other factors are, but not limited to; Mexico is cutting US supplies to one of the company’s Gulf Coast refineries by up to 15 percent. Mexican fields, including the giant Cantarell field, are drying up, and sales of crude oil to the United States have dropped to their lowest level in more than a decade. Another little known factor is India’s Tata motors, who’s development of a low cost car ($2500) the company hopes that by making automobiles affordable for people in India and elsewhere, it could eventually sell 1 million of them a year. The need for crude increases.

Developing countries like China and India, want to join the ranks of economic powerhouses and question why their oil use should be more constrained than those countries who developed before them. It is a never ending cycle of consumption and economic growth.

In a recent Washington Post poll, 51 percent of those who responded said rising gas prices are causing a serious financial hardship for them or others in their household. It was the first time a majority had said that since the poll began posing that question eight years ago. The rising fuel prices are also adding to inflation, aggravating the U.S. trade deficit by 50 percent and is taking a toll on businesses already struggling with the economic slowdown caused by the housing and financial crises.

Cheap oil has been the primary building block of the American economy and it’s society, from big gas guzzling vehicles to millions of miles of degrading interstate highways, to heating and energy producing utility companies. Everything we do is based on fossil fuel.

For the better part of a century, U.S. policy contributed to problem. Gasoline taxes were set aside for highways, which opened up more prospects for new communities. This in turn advanced more driving, more gasoline consumption and more taxes for the interstate system. Today U.S. automobiles use more than 9 million barrels of gasoline a day, which is more than any other country.

Also a factor in the US are environmental interests. The need for gasoline and the concern for the environment has no middle ground today. We are sitting on natural oil and gas reserves (Anwar and Bakken) that could make us independent of foreign oil imports, but due to the strength of environmental groups and the weakness of government policy makers, these reserves will not be employed in the near future. The outcome of this impasse is that every day, consumers pay $6 billion to $7.5 billion more for crude oil than they paid six years ago, and at this current rate, they will pump more than $1.5 trillion a year into OPEC, Russia and other oil exporting countries.

So who is at fault? Is it the governments 45 cents per gallon fuel tax, the 4 cent per gallon oil companies earnings, the environmental concerns, or the inability of government lawmakers to alter our economic difficulties? None of the above.
It is us, the consumer, who needs to take the responsibility and who has the power to make a difference. It is us who needs to solve this dilemma by changing obstructed bi-partisan government policy and special interest’s dogmatic narrow mindedness. It is us who needs to conserve, change our way of thinking, and explore alternative actions to make the changes needed to survive a drastically changing world.

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Free alternative energy ebook

With alternative energies not only becoming “in vogue”, but reaching the level of essentials in saving money and helping the environment by being a clean renewable resource, I have a free ebook called “Free, Clean and Renewable” that I will send to anyone who is interested.  To order the ebook, log onto rv-visions.com and click on Free.  There is no catch and you will not be inundated with additional emails.

The art of dreams

Dreams are a wonderous thing. They lift you to the heavens, and bring you back down gently.  They infuse in one the perserverence, motivation, and determination to reach success, no matter how or what one defines personal success.  No, I’m not referring to the unconscience snippits of images one conjures up while sleeping, but of the conscience dreams we own of reaching a long sought after achievment, or the passion of beginning a new chapter on the road of life.

To stop dreaming is to stop experiencing life.  To live in a stagnant world without change.  To become complacent with our lives and to relinquish ourselves to the mundane.

Life lived properly consists of an ever changing chain of achievments, each a stepping stone from the previous to the impending.  Decisions are made, lessons are hopefully learned, and we hope we have a better awareness of life.

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