{"id":1007,"date":"2013-08-08T14:53:07","date_gmt":"2013-08-08T19:53:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/toppun.com\/blog\/?p=1007"},"modified":"2013-08-08T14:53:07","modified_gmt":"2013-08-08T19:53:07","slug":"poem-serendipity-dippity-doo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toppun.com\/blog\/2013\/08\/08\/poem-serendipity-dippity-doo\/","title":{"rendered":"POEM: Serendipity and Dippity Doo"},"content":{"rendered":"

On occasions<\/span>
\nI find it easy<\/span>
\nTo believe<\/span>
\nIn sarin gas<\/span>
\nAnd dippity doo<\/span>
\nRather than serendipity<\/span>
\nThese are not special occasions<\/span><\/p>\n

While many of my poems have an edge to them, my body of work is decidedly hopeful. \u00a0This poem reflects on the way too easy response in life to be inane or even cruel. \u00a0It seems that the “reptilian” deep part of our brain that responds to immediate threats with “fight of flight” is a default mechanism that is triggered, and acted upon, unless higher functions override it. \u00a0When confronted with violence or injustice, a first response is often to strike back (fight) or avoid conflict (flight). \u00a0In an unreflective reflex to large, institutional violence or injustice, the “sarin gas” option feels good, to strike back and hurt when hurt. \u00a0Fortunately, such actions are rarely converted to action! \u00a0More commonly, conflict avoidance is practiced by burying ourselves in simple denial or inane distraction — thus, the dippity doo (for those who may not get the reference, dippity doo is a hair gel). \u00a0Each of these fight or flight responses is contrasted with “serendipity,” a playful alliteration, and a lucky or pleasant surprise. \u00a0This is a call to live in a place that is more luminous, patient, and generous — to live in the presence of a higher power that is beneficent and life-giving. \u00a0This may seem namby-pamby or a cop-out to some, but it is actually a place of being from which right action emanates. \u00a0With gratitude rather than anger and hurt, we can de-link our actions from simple fight or flight responses and transcend to a higher level of action. \u00a0Of course, allowing time for reflective mental processing is essential for finding a third way, out of “reptilian” action-reaction. \u00a0When the instantaneously “easy” way is taken, and the “reptilian” brain runs our lives, “These are not special occasions.”<\/p>\n

To learn, adapt, and grow, we need to be open to that which is new. \u00a0Humans have a special gift of conscious awareness and will or intent to aim and frame our experiences with a chosen attitude. \u00a0More simply put: expect to be pleasantly surprised. \u00a0Certainly, we are animals. \u00a0But more importantly, we are so much more than animals!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On occasions I find it easy To believe In sarin gas And dippity doo Rather than serendipity These are not special occasions While many of my poems have an edge to them, my body of work is decidedly hopeful. \u00a0This … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,15],"tags":[637,695,353,483,720,363,608,255,388,313,721,359,658,94,110,593,53,529,163,380],"class_list":["post-1007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-poems","category-political-and-philosophical-musings","tag-alliteration","tag-anger","tag-attitude","tag-awareness","tag-conflict","tag-denial","tag-gift","tag-gratitude","tag-hope","tag-inane","tag-injustice","tag-life","tag-poems","tag-poetry","tag-power","tag-serendipity","tag-short-poems","tag-time","tag-violence","tag-work"],"yoast_head":"\nPOEM: Serendipity and Dippity Doo | Poems, Political and Philosophical Musings | Top Pun's Poetry, Funny Puns, Free Posters, Public Health Radio Show! 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