b126 (7.27-1.2025): get comfortable with the unknown

get comfortable with the unknown
by a. dre amer
 
the dreamer in the Dream
that crazy word: atone
get comfortable with chaos
a world of the unknown
____________________
 
·       dreams are believable in the moment of the Dream, but give-way to Reality.

·       a bad trip (e.g. LSD) would give-way to its Ending.

·       a good trip (this life) can give-way (in the moment) to ego-ic thoughts:
  o   will this journey end?
  o   will i lose all i have?
  o   will freedoms be taken away?
  o   will there be war, famine, chaos, change?
 
is it possible be become less attached to survival/thrival, and to accept the past, present and future?
____________________
martino, j. (7.27-1.2025). get comfortable with chaos. book 126: dreaming the dream. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us 

b126 (7.26-1.2025): thank you, jo & al

thank you, al & jo
by a. dre amer
 
thank you, al & jo for the invitation/Play
thank you, jo & al for the roller-coaster way
 
thank you for the contrast
thank you for the sun
thank you for the times i thought i was the only One
thank you for the fam
thank you for i/we
thank you for the chance to think and dance and taste and Sea
____________________
 
·       thank you.
____________________
martino, j. (7.26-1.2025). thank you, jo & al. book 126: dreaming the dream. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us 

b126 (7.25-1.1015): thank you, hummingbird

thank you, hummingbird
by a. dream
 
thank you, hummingbird
for sipping here, with me
you like the watered-sugar while my drug of choice: coffee
 
as spinners spin, tree-branches sway amid the gentle breeze
as workers go to work
i’m living in a dream 
____________________
 
·       thank you, hummingbird, for taking me away from my own thoughts about what others may or may not think of me… and for helping me blend back into Uni-Verse-all connection… if only for a moment.
____________________
martino, j. (7.25-1.2025). thank you, hummingbird. book 126: dreaming the dream. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us 

b126 (7.24-1.2025): take me away (tomorrow)

alternative titles: 

God, take me away 

thank you

take me away (tomorrow)

by a. way

 

take me away (tomorrow)

take take take me away

God, take me home tomorrow

for i have lived (today)

____________________
 
·       if i were to die tomorrow, i’d be grateful – for today.
____________________
martino, j. (7.24-1.2025). take me away (tomorrow). book 126: dreaming-dreams. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b126 (7.23-2.2025): lemmings quote their script-u-res

lemmings quote their gospel
by a. lemming 
 
lemmings quote their gospel and we never question why
the verses, contradictions, savage-diction make them high
 
the editing/translations
the power-driven text
the men who tell you what to think (don’t even blink):
 
what’s next?
____________________
 
·       because lemmings can’t question (how) the bibles were created, (who) actually wrote the words, (when) they were actually written, (what) was determined to be non-biblical or heretical, or (where) the original man-u-scripts are, now.

·       lemmings are afraid to ask (they are prohibited from asking) the tough questions.
____________________
martino, j. (7.23-1.2025). lemmings quote their gospel. book 126: dreaming-dreams. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us. 

b126 (7.22-1.2025): bridge pose

bridge pose
by a. b. ridge 
 
unite one side (with other)
invite (not over-dose)
not right or wrong (un-cover)
don’t fight (Unite!):
bridge pose
 
instead of distance: close
____________________
 
·       one of my missions is to bridge the gap between warring lefts & rights, religious’ & spiritual-but-not, gators & ‘noles, and (seemingly) oppositical poles.
____________________
martino, j. (7.22-1.2025). bridge pose. book 126: dreaming-dreams. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us.
 
* it’s not a pose, really, so-much as a flow. 

* "my needs weren't being met"

 imagine this role-reversal:

imagine if husbands were guaranteed a 'win' in divorce court (you know, the house, the car, the dog and his desired visitation for the kids).  imagine if he would receive alimony & child support (in other words, he'd be better-off financially due to the divorce).

imagine if his community of friends gathered around him in support, and imagine if (now single), he had many, many, many, many sexual opportunities.  imagine if women (of all ages) were now hitting on him. 

imagine if he could brush-off any indiscretions (and even justify the reason for the divorce) due to his needs, not being met.

imagine that...

then... think of a married man who you know, and ask yourself: 

"would he stay married?"  

b126 (7.21-1.2025): the birds & the bugs

the birds & the bugs
by a. bee ing 
 
if backyard birds & bugs could talk, well what might birds/bugs say?
 

“thank you for the nectar”

“come along and play”

“what might you be doing on this warm & lonely day?”

 

“who’s that giant human?”

“get away!  let’s fight!”

“what might you be doing on this cold and lonely night?”

😊

____________________
 
·       it’s a high probability that their conversation would re-evolve around survival: food, water, shelter, territory and (maybe... just may--bee) sex.
 

maybe bugs are h-you-man, and versa-vice.

____________________
martino, j. (7.21-1.2025). the birds & the bugs. book 126: dreaming-dreams. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us

* or versa vice https://joalmartino.blogspot.com/2023/02/b59-36-12008-versa-vice.html 

b126 (7.20-2.2025): cracker-jack-box diamond

cracker-jack-box diamond
by alltha t. matters & ishi s. pain  
 

alternative titles:

cracker-jack-box wedding ring, 

or

“how much did it cost?”

 

cracker-jack-box diamond
“it’s your lucky day!”
what then is its value?
“how much did he pay?”
____________________
 
·       imagine if a man got lucky, and the prize in the cracker-jack-box was a million-dollar engagement ring that fit his future bride’s finger perfectly!
 
·       the ring’s perceived value would be nil… since the ‘true’ value of her ring is the amount that he is willing to pay for it.
 
·       engagement rings are status symbols.  nothing more.
____________________
martino, j. (7.20-1.2025). cracker-jack-box diamond. book 126: dreaming-dreams. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us
 
* yes, this thoem will fly over the heads of most… but men understand (intuitively) that her joy/his status is determined by how much he was willing to pay… even if it (his willingness/her need) place them both in a ridiculous amount of debt at the beginning of one of the most challenging journeys on planet earth: marriage. 

* hypergamy is real

while the manosphere poo-poos female hypergamy, males also select mates based upon the "best option."  the difference is this:

• a man wants his best option right now, and (eventually, when he runs out of options) for the long-term,  
• a woman wants her best option for right now, and she wants her best option for the long term, now.
• in other words, she wants both (or all) options.

while most men would sleep with most women... because most men can't, 

most women would not sleep with most men, because most women can.

the high-testosterone male has a constant urge-to-merge, 
while the female of the human species has more of an urge when she is ovulating 

(or competing), or on vacation (away from her current best option).

hypergamy exists within both males and females, and there is nothing wrong with a person who test-drives a few different cars before settling-down with one.  

in 2025, women also have the option of sex with other women, so the whole smorgasbord is on her plate.  a heterosexual male needs to be in the top 10% if he intends to have optionality in the sexual marketplace.

most (the lower 90-percent) will:

• settle
• acquiesce 
• relinquish frame
• follow society's unwritten rules
• live lives of misery

gentlemen, the only way to play this (current version of the) game is to work on yourself.  become the upper-tier male.  

dudes: do what you can to become a better version of yourself, and do this for yourself.  repeat.    

b126 (7.19-1.2025): fly lands on fly-swatter

fly lands on fly-swatter
by i. usedto fly 
 
fly lands on fly-swatter (the nerve! the f—king gall!)
fly lands on fly-swatter
at least he had the balls… 
____________________
 
·       like a soldier who jumps-up on an enemy tank, it’s a ballsy move.

·       ill-advised, however, as a practice.  better to seek survival/thrival faaaaaaaaaaaaaar away from the Super-Intelligent/SuperPower-full.
____________________
martino, j. (7.19-1.2025). fly lands on fly-watter. book 126: dreaming the dream. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us 

* shaming is...

shaming is... when someone/anyone refers to a behavior of yours in a negative way.  

"for shame!"  

note: it might be subtle, and it might be delivered with a smile.

he/she might do it for a number of reasons that say waaaaaaay more about him/her than about you... but (let there be no doubt), he/she is shaming you -- into a different behavior that he/she would feel more comfortable with.  s/he attempts to make it about you, but it's (really) about he/r. 

otherwise, he/she would be complimenting and thanking.

do not lie to yourself.  s/he is shaming.

if anything, continue the behavior as if s/he hadn't uttered an important sound.  ignore.  move on.

:) 

 

b126 (7.18-2.2025): what if life was 80-seconds short?

what if life was 80-seconds short?
by m. oments 
 
what if life was 80-seconds short?
would we not want those seconds to be long?
what if every second: ‘micro-moments’?
would we not want those moments to be strong?
_______________________
 
·       if life was akin to a may-fly’s life, would we not want to experience every, little bit of it, a little-bit longer?
 
·       instead of boring salads, would we not want emotions to be stronger?
 
·       would we not want the seconds to be days?
 
·       would we attempt to just extend the play?
 
i submit to you, that, no matter what we are experiencing… there’s a symbiosis: a high that craves a low, a peak that seeks a valley, and a good that can only be known via ‘bad’.  we live – for the contrast.*
____________________
martino, j. (7.18-2.2025). what if life was 80-seconds short? book 126: dreaming the dream. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us
 
* book 127 needs to be titled ‘contrast’. 

b126 (7.18-1.2025): one, short day

one short day
by a. short & term moment

 

alternative title: if you only had one, short day

 
if you only have one, short day
if you only had such short time
if you only have (come what may)
if you only had one, short rhyme
 
if you only had one short instant (can i ask you if i may)
if you only have one short wish (for bliss)
if you only had one, short day 
____________________
 
·       what would you wish for?
 
not job nor cash nor spouse nor goat, not plane nor train nor meal nor boat, not mountain stream, coffee ice cream: if one short day, what would you dream?
 
my bet… is that you’d dream about a person.
____________________
martino, j. (7.18-1.2025). one, short day. book 126: dreaming the dream. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us
 
*inspired by “one, short day in the emerald city” in the musical (and move-ie), “wicked”. 

* a contemplative moment

sitting here, contemplating.

i've helped a lot of people (with laughter, contemplation, learning, growth...).  i've gotten awards for it.  there have also been times when my separate-sense-of-self-ego got in the way of love.  i bet that you can relate.

i've never intended to hurt anyone, with my words, writings, or behaviors.  well, maybe a couple of times (in self-defense: e.g. fist-fights).  thank god those were few-and-far-between.

my words and writings and jokes are meant as a release (for me) and, if you so desire (for you), contemplation.

my romantic behaviors have resulted in both love and hurt.  i am still friends with many of my past girlfriends and acquaintances, but have also learned that some energy needs to be avoided and even blocked, at times.

amid love & romance, however, i've grown.  i used to be inept (at communication).  i was the perfect storm of (1) needing love, (2) equivalating sex with love, and (3) fear of rejection -- which resulted in distancing from love the moment that it was received.  this happened in one-night situations and longer-term girlfriend-situations. 

the love-'em-&-leave-'em roller-coaster.

i imagine that it seemed like i was only out for one thing, and once i got it, i was gone.  instead (truth be told), once i got it, i was afraid of being rejected... or responsible... or involved... or trapped... or a myriad of things that had everything to do with my fears and nothing to do with my attraction/love for you. 

if our romance resulted in hurt, please know that that was never, ever my intention.  if it ever resulted in happiness or growth, feel free to let me know.

know this: we ever kissed... i was doing my best to love you.  

b126 (7.17-2.2025): two thoems in one!

paint a pretty picture
by a. pretty & pi c. ture

 

alternative title: pretty picture

alternative thoem: be nice now

paint a pretty picture
they know not what they do
they paint a pretty picture, now, a picture (how) of you
_______________________ 

• those with power have all-ways been able to rewrite his-story, while those of less power have had his-story written for them. 

• in 2025, the power shifts back & forth… as the powerless can write, create, and modify narratives.  in the same way, those in power can lash back, using artificial means to create 'truth.'  before long (now?), it will be impossible to determine who (really) did what, when and how.  nothing will be evidence-based, as evidence itself will be subject-i-fied. 

• so… what’s a man to do-be-do?  i think that the only course of action is to be nice now, while you can.  be grateful for the gifts bestowed upon you.  smile.  love.  now.

 
…and… in one-on-one encounters, let your partner know the truth: that (1) you’ve done the best that you could, and (2) you love him/her… now.
 

be nice now

by a. pretty & pi c. ture

 

pretty as a picture

who what when where how

what’s a man to do-be-do?

 

do/Be: be nice now

____________________
martino, j. (7.17-2.2025). paint a pretty picture. book 126: dreaming the dream. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us 

b126 (7.17-1.2026): is living-hell a turn-on?

is 'living-hell' a turn-on?
by turned on 

alternative title: contrast

is 'living-hell' a turn-on?
we turn on the news
we pay for the horror-movie, love to sing the blues
we propose the marriage (live the life we know so well)
 
is 'living-hell' a turn-on (we turn-on a living hell) 
____________________
 
·       what if the real addiction (and its sub-sequent turn-on) is contrast? 

·       contrast: the up/down, good/bad, left/right that allows the Godforce to experience this physical plane of existence.
 
we would not, could not watch the play that had no actors, no plot, no sound, no props, and no lighting.  even God can’t watch what doesn’t exist.
____________________
martino, j. (7.16-1.2025). when youtube is me-tube. book 126: dreaming the dream. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us
 
* the Play, of Course, doesn’t (yet) exist… until it is in process.  the yearning… is for the contrast. 

* coffee... really does taste like...

 sh--.

i (really) only drink it for the habit (and the sugar).  

this is another habit that needs to be evolved out of.

* framed (again)

1. man builds castle, and calls it 'home.'  man loves his home/castle.  he can do anything he wants, autonomously (think about that.  no.  really.).  his mother visits often.  they have a great relationship.

2. man moves girlfriend into his home.

3. girlfriend (initially) supports his lifestyle... his every way: grill, man-cave, deck furniture, etc.  

   3 a. uh, oh... she begins to infiltrate.  she 'suggests' small changes: flowers here, decorative towels there.  you know the drill.

4. 'they' get her a dog.

5. 'they' decide to marry.  her dog already controls the home, so it's just the next step in the process. 

6. after marriage, wife begins to find things 'wrong' with the home.

7.  man realizes that his 'best friend' (not the dog) has become his wife/sexless-house-mate/dog-mom/adversary who can more aggressively 'modify' the home and living-situation.  eventually, his own mother is less welcome in what was once his home, and mom wants to spend less time around that situation, anyway.

8. man wakes up one day to realize that (not only is his home not his), but his former best friend has plans to move him out.

that, my friends, is called losing frame.  
the funny thing is that men do this willingly -- because they 
convince themselves that they need a woman-partner...
and don't understand the real reason why mick jagger sang "satisfaction". 

silly men.

b126 (7.16-1.2025): when youtube is me-tube

when youtube is me-tube
by me too bue 
 
when youtube is me-tube
when my projection counts
when sub-commercial fame
when followers amount
 
when everything we know is in our hand (at hand, not boob)
when good & bad converge
when youtube is me-tube
____________________
 
·       while a lot of passive income can be made via youtube… what is the cost?  solitude of mind?  privacy?  autonomy?  restful, balanced mind-ful-ness?

·       in other words, once the $$$ starts coming-in, do we become a slave to the process?

the way to solve this challenge would be to love the process of writing, producing and being commented upon.  one would have to make peace with the idea that autonomous others could (literally) hate your production.
____________________
martino, j. (7.16-1.2025). when youtube is me-tube. book 126: dreaming the dream. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us

b126 (7.15-2.2025): life is a commercial

life is a commercial
by everyone e. a. genda 
 
life is a commercial
can we get you so high
to slip-on our agenda
so (maybe) you can buy
 
so (maybe) you might click
or “watch until the end”
life is advertisement
let us not pretend
 
(…that it isn’t)
____________________
 
·       in almost every article or mini-pod or “you’ve got the ingredients in your kitchen!” there’s a (not so) subtle agenda: the purcha$e.
 

the article or commercial that targets u.s.a.ians best… 

will use a basic carrot/stick-stick/carrot format, as follows:

 
·       the stick (the fear element): this part is designed to alert you toward how your life will be worse if you don’t take action (click, tune-in, stick-around, try the free trial, etc.).
  o   the product (of course) is "flying off of the shelves" and/or is "in short supply" and/or is "on sale for a limited time only" or (ad nauseum).

·       the carrot (the promise-me-the-moon element): this part introduces the pill, or the tech-nique, or the (often suppressed, hidden, or newly unearthed) immediate cure-all supplement that will make your life instantly more pleasurable, with (virtually) no effort… uh... (if you act now).

can we say "short attention span?" 

 
both of the above parts will mix a few truths (…or things that you all-ready believe) with a few things that you want to hear (“coffee is good for you”) and (if they are really clever) will use a trusted celebrity to endorse the product.
____________________
martino, j. (7.15-2.2025). life is a commercial. book 126: dreaming the dream. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us
 
* inspired by a (seemingly) innocuous article (“by a doctor!”) about the three (only three!) things you should do to live longer and feel better.  it was actually a subtle add for a ‘preventative’ treatment (colonoscopy) which, if you hang-sround hospitals enough… could kill you.  it also promoted coffee, and (as we all know) exercise.

what we don't know is who sponsored the piece.

b126 (7.15-1.2025): framed

i’ve been framed!
by asa picture 
 
pretty as a picture
what is in a name?
paint me into corners
seems as if i’m
 
framed
____________________
 
·       much more than just a game.  i’m glad that this is all just a dream.
____________________
martino, j. (7.15-1.2025). framed. book 126: dreaming the dream. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us

* coach joal says:

gentlemen: if you are cutting sugar (simple sugars)... bread and pasta must go.  liquid sugar (in coffee creamer and alcohol) is the simplest -- and probably most problematic.  alcohol, of course, has the added drawback of being a toxin, so (while the liver is busy with the detox), everything else suffers:

• strength gains
• fat metabolization
• heart health
• sleep patterns
• ...and the list goes on... including the growth of man-titties. ugh!

beer is liquid bread-sugar, and wine might even be worse.

step 1: go lighter (light wines, light beers) with the intention of totally removing it from your life.  as a single guy, the only reason to sip a tiny bit would be if you were with a gal who is more comfortable when she sips.  that's it.

alcohol does nothing for you!

 

b126 (7.14-1.2025): dreaming dreams

dreaming dreams
by a. dreamer 
 
i am dreaming the dream
a way to co-create
a process that doth manifest a world of love & hate
a game played with illusions of a world in space and time
 
i’m dreaming dreaming-dreams it seems:
at least i think they’re mine
____________________
 
·       book 126 begins with a theme thoem from book 124: dreaming dreaming-dreams.

·       joal (in the thoetic license blog) has long played with the idea that this (relative, duality-infused) world is a play within a Play, a dream within a Dream, and a game within a Game.
 
…which would make God a Dreamer, a Player and a Gamer. 😊
____________________
martino, j. (7.14-1.2025). dreaming the dream. book 126: dreaming the dream. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us

b126 (7.13-3.2025): the breakup tattoo

the breakup tattoo
by igotta breakup tattoo 
 
the breakup tatoo
let’s forever l[ink]
to something not forever
that’s just the way i think
 
to celebrate our falling-out of love (and constant fights)
that just the way i scar my body:
i’ll forever
spite
____________________
 
·       “oh, i feel sooooooooo mature (i do!) with my brandy-new breakup tattoo!”
 

…and that’s just one of the many reasons why i broke-up with her sorry ass.
 -jm

____________________
martino, j. (7.13-3.2025). the breakup tattoo. book 126: dreaming the dream. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us
 
* inspired (while waiting for a haircut), perusing one of the mullet-wrapper gossip mags – and a piece about how “celebrities are like us” since "they, too" -- get breakup tattoos. 

* true stories...

alternative title: 
"...we can just get in my car, and drive south." 

* once upon a time, just hours before a wedding, while playing the role of the "best man," i (face-to-face, mano-y-mano, out loud) said to the groom:

"billy*, you don't have to do this.  we can just get in my car, and drive south."

that might sound cold, but:

• the night before, he was hitting on (actively trying to pick-up) girls at his "stag-party," and he might have actually had sex with one of them.  i'm not sure.

• the morning of the wedding, we were drinking at the pool, and he was trying to pick-up my next-door neighbor (for sex on the day of his wedding!).

• we were soooooo trashed (after the pool-party) that a few of the apartment-community gals actually had to help us get into our tuxedos!

it was either his 3rd or 4th wedding, and it wasn't his last.

dude (probably) should have taken me up on the offer.  he should not have been getting married.

____________________________

* not his real name, of course.

** i wonder how many other stories there are, like this one, of men (and women) doing (uh) interesting things... prior to their nuptials.  ouch.

b126 (7.13-2.2025): doing the best we can

doing the best we can
by u. r. thebest 
 
we stand here (just worthy)
worthy as we stand
we might see (might disagree), we:
doing the best we can
____________________
 
·       ladies (and gentlemen), we may agree and/or disagree, at times.  we might not completely understand each other (in the moment).

·       but one thing is for sure: you and i and wIe (big sigh): we are doing the best we can.
 
we all-ways have, and we all-ways will, and i will love you during the process – even if your agenda runs contrary to mine.  you are being your best you… all of the time.
 
…and there is nothing that i’d rather you Be.

-joal
____________________
martino, j. (7.13-2.2025). doing the best we can. book 126: dreaming the dream. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us 

b126 (7.13-1.2025): stay above the weeds

stay above the weeds
by wicked weeds 
 
stay above the weeds
how do i do that?
 
do not give a f--- about atomic bomb (or cat)
do not give a f--- about the politician game
do not give a f---
stay within your frame
____________________
 
·       gentlemen... your best course of action (all-ways) is to give no f---s at all.  zero.  at all.  at all!  zero f---s.  at all.

·       except for furthering your own, personal wellness (your body, your mind, and your Spirit).  that is all.
 
enjoy the company and flirting and juiciness of others, yes… but invest in your own wellness.  you will help others most… by helping yourself, first and foremost.  
____________________
martino, j. (7.13-1.2025). stay above the weeds. book 126: dreaming the dream. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us
 
this philosophy, of course, will be attacked by beta males and alpha females alike.  shaming, blaming and throwing stones.  that’s okay.  it means that the thoem is hitting home.
 
but don’t blindly believe (me, or anyone else).  try it out, for yourself.  nothing else has worked, so give not giving a f--- a try.  you’ll never, ever again ask why.
 
* in-Spired by a casey zander youtube video.

* wave-running is fun!

while i was out on the river, today, i thought about all of the positives:

• a used PWC (just what i wanted).
• in great condition (just what i'd hoped for).
• no trailer issues (i can afford to moor her at the marina).
• the river is perfect, and its connection to lake wylie is awesomeness.
• no sharks (fresh water).
• no alligators.
• clearly marked obstructions.
• fast!
• i've learned the ingress procedure.
• i've almost perfected the loading process.
• i'm feeling different, as a boat owner.  

b126 (7.12-2.2025): personal assist

personal assist
by cylvia 
 
i’m the one to help you with the things you thought you missed
your personal assistant, with
a personal assist

____________________
 

·       smiles, cylvia.
____________________
martino, j. (7.12-2.2025). personal assist. book 126: dreaming the dream. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us

* note: the image was created by AI, so cylvia may have been her own mom!