Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. - Nelson Mandela

I quietly reside inside your head grading your decisions. Most times I will send a message to your limbic system in the form of advice leaving you to decide what to do. If you decide to respond in anger and derision, the noise of revenge in your head drowns my advice. The grading isn't about success or failure but placement in the hierarchy of the superconscious. It is your actions that place you there, I'm just a monitor and advisor.

If you decide to fill your mind with the noise of anger, you will drown out all that determines your higher placement. This is fine in the grand scheme of things but not fine if your deepest desire is to affect positive change. I understand anger because it is the tool you use to set your boundaries based what you find acceptable to yourself. It is the most combustible of all our emotions and has to be treated with respect and used wisely. It is my job to assist you with that. It is when you allow anger to fuel the desire for revenge, a conscious act of retribution, you have stepped well outside the bounds of what the superconscious deems acceptable.

The longer you harbour anger, the less effective my job becomes. It is a self perpetuating emotion that can poison the physiology of your brain. Think of anger to the brain like alcohol is to the liver. Anger is born of pain, fear, frustration, hurt or sadness and often forgets its lineage as it ages in your mind. While anger is firmly anchored to unpleasant experiences, forgiveness is the only tool to break those chains. Forgiveness is the most prized tool in my toolbox. It never tarnishes, wears out or breaks despite the fact it is rarely used. It is also a complex tool to use because of its lengthy list of requirements that requires you to write the manual. I'd be ever so happy to help you write that manual but first you need some quiet time.

Who am I?

Your Conscience.

Is this thing working?

Yeah, yeah, I can see the letters crossing the screen.

I don't know what to say.

Start by apologizing to these nice people for ducking out.

I'm sorry.

Not good enough.

I'm really sorry.

Wow that was deep. Why'd you bother coming back if that is all you're going to say?

Because I miss them. I miss the exchange of ideas, sharing stories and the intimacy that these people share about their day to day lives.

Go on...

I had to stop because I wasn't in a good place and it was eating me up. I was in a relationship that wasn't healthy for me. Too negative. The troops were spread too thin and I needed to regroup.

You're alone again

Naturally and by choice.

What do you plan on doing now?

I plan on living my life on my own terms.

How do you plan on doing that?

Watch and learn.

While I am not given to stage fright, the butterflies do come to visit. That being said, I really enjoy playing guitar and thought I'd share this with you.