Ray’s Random Thoughts

December 12, 2024

Echoes of the Soul: The Interplay of Demons and Angels Within

In the vast and intricate tapestry of human experience, certain individuals possess the uncanny ability to summon forth the shadows that dwell within us. These people, knowingly or unknowingly, seem to masterfully press the delicate buttons of our psyche, igniting our ire and dragging us into the depths of emotional turmoil. Their perpetual dissatisfaction acts as a beacon of misery, attempting to pull others into the abyss of their own discontent.

Within each of us reside demons, sometimes lurking in the recesses of our consciousness. These demons, manifestations of our fears, insecurities, and past traumas, can be exorcised and transformed through introspection and healing. Some of these inner demons are reflections of our lived experiences, mirroring the scars and wounds we carry. Others are born of external influences, not of our own making, yet they nestle within us, shaping our thoughts and behaviors.

Our thoughts, the silent architects of our reality, wield immense power. They can elevate us to the pinnacles of success or plunge us into the chasms of despair. Some thoughts possess the transformative potential to change the course of our lives, inspiring growth and enlightenment. Conversely, others can corrode our spirit from within, becoming the very chains that bind us. The dichotomy of thought reveals that while some musings remain mere fantasies, others materialize into the tangible fabric of our existence.

Amidst this complex interplay, there are those remarkable individuals who have the gift of drawing out the best within us. These people, with their innate ability to uplift and inspire, turn ordinary days into celebrations of life. Their boundless hope and joy radiate outward, spreading positivity and light to all who are fortunate enough to encounter them.

The paths we tread in life are varied and numerous. Some lead us into the inferno of despair, engulfing us in suffering. Others circle endlessly, trapping us in a cycle of stagnation. Yet, there are those rare and precious paths that guide us towards the celestial realms of fulfillment and contentment.

In this intricate dance of existence, we hold the power to choose the company we keep. We possess the strength to confront and overcome the demons within us. The thoughts we entertain and cultivate are within our control, shaping our destiny. Ultimately, we choose the path we follow, for it is within our agency to determine the trajectory of our lives.

The question thus arises: Which paths will we choose to walk? Which thoughts will we allow to take root in our minds? Which people will we invite into our lives? The answers lie in our choices, and through these choices, we craft the narrative of our existence.

Thought of the day: To learn from one’s past is wise, but to dwell in the past is folly. Embrace the present with a heart full of hope and a mind open to the boundless possibilities of the future. Live well, for it is your life, and you alone hold the pen that writes your story.

Ray Barbier

February 4, 2023February 4, 2023

The battle between the self-centered and benevolent sides of our ego

Oh, how easy it is to get lost in your own mind, caught in worries, and in your own insecurities. To be locked in a never-ending cycle of what if, why me, and life isn’t fair. We tend to be stuck in a tunnel view of life at times. It is so easy to fall into the trap of seeing things as always about ourselves or that the world is against us. I think everyone deals with such thoughts and feelings from time to time, and that is okay I think. But being constantly stuck in that train of thought is unhealthy and it keeps us from moving forward and from enjoying life.

Life is about everyone and everything around us, we are not the center of the universe though it is easy to feel like the center of things. I believe it is human nature to be somewhat self-centered, It is part of the self-preservation mechanism within us all. I do not think it is even possible to be totally selfless, though I do think we can reach a pretty high percentage of being such. But then again there are known mental illnesses such as the martyr syndrome and so on that may make one appear more so selfless and other mental illnesses that can cause the opposite effect.

I think people should regularly check themselves, see how they treat others, and how they react to being treated by others as well. Since how one person acts and treats others influences all those around them in one fashion or another, then we should try to be a force for good in society. We should try to lead by example, and treat others, and ourselves in a kind and compassionate manner. If more people focused on how they treated others around them, the less toxic people and environments we all would have to encounter. Being toxic and/or self-entitled is damaging to society and in the long run, will only eat away at the person being toxic and/or self-entitled.

A percentage of toxic and self-entitled people may be suffering some sort of emotional or mental illness, and we should remember that. It is best to avoid those people if you can not get through to them and set boundaries for them when it comes to your relationship. Do not allow the toxic behavior of others to bait you into being toxic yourself, you have to hold the high ground and lead by example. It is so easy to fall prey to being baited into a word battle with toxic people. They seem to enjoy causing turmoil and thrive in the toxic atmosphere.

It is not easy to try and be a good-hearted individual, to think of others as much if not more than yourself. But then anything worthwhile takes a lot of effort, and it does not only help you emotionally and mentally, but it also helps those around you. To love, have compassion for others, and be charitable are very important and are quite therapeutic in the end. When we help others we are also helping ourselves, it causes our body to produce chemicals that make us feel happy or content. The human body and brain are geared towards pleasure as a reward, reason why humans are so prone to addiction, But that’s a topic for another post.

In the end, it boils down to the battle between the self-centered and benevolent sides of our ego. When they are in balance all is good, when it tips one way or another there are complications. Either we will put ourselves before and above all others causing harm to others eventually or we will put others above ourselves to such an extent that we will neglect our own well-being. It is all about balance, and what balance is right for you as an individual.

Just some thoughts for you, not bad for me before my first cup of coffee lol.

Blessings and happiness to all

Ray Barbier

November 2, 2022

Dove’s Thoughts on 11/2/2022

We all play a part in society, we all have an influence on the world around us and that influence is important regardless of how big or small it may be. How we act in public, how we treat others, and the words we say are observed by others and it influences how they think and acts as well. Humans are instinctually tribal and tend to reflect those in their tribes/groups. Birds of the same feather flock together come to mind, and how true that is. Starts as early as elementary school and is very noticeable by high school. We form into cliques and social classes in those years and until we venture out in life for some time we tend to stick to the basic mindset of the groups we formed during those years.

Even those like me that were more of the outsider, lone wolf, and unpopular kid in their school years had formed behaviors and beliefs through the experiences they had during those years. The good thing is as you age you have plenty of opportunities to adapt your way of seeing life and how you act in it, even though those core beliefs from school years tend to play some part in how we develop, they are not immovable objects or unstoppable force in our lives. So we all can change the course we are in life, and become greater than the sum of our parts and experiences. We also can become great influencers on those around us and can either lead others to a more compassionate and peaceful way of life or bring them along the path of ruin.

The ability to think for one’s self and outside the box/norm is a great asset for an individual. Do not fall into the sheep mentality and follow blindly all that is spoon-fed to you by media and peers. Question and verify all, make your own path in life, and try to remain compassionate towards all life. Take time out from all the news outlets and social media and give yourself time to think about it all for yourself. Dont accept a package you dislike just to gain one item within it, especially if the rest of the package is against your core beliefs and values. It is not worth selling out who you are deep within just to get one win.

Be true to yourself and keep your eyes wide open friends.

Ray Barbier

October 26, 2022

Love, hate, and fear

Living in a world that is full of fear, politics, and hate, Living and wishing that we all would choose a better fate, Wanting to see a change towards compassion before it is too late. They hate someone who is of another color and race, and they despise those who don’t belong to their political base. They create reasons to hate each other at an exponential pace. Love tries to break through all the hate and light the way, respect is what we need in all we do and say, Hope keeps us moving forward toward a better day.

Question why you hate and ask why you fear, Question all that you see and verify all that you hear, Question everything and think for yourself if you hold life and this world dear. Be true to yourself and be fair to all, don’t let fear or anger lead you to fall, and be ready to share compassion and answer love’s call. No one is above and no one is below, we are the same in the cosmic flow, and we all have a part to play in this cosmic show.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

Our color or race matters not, our sex or preference matters not, we are all human and this is the only life we got. Right or Left matters none, we as a species are one, how we live and treat each other is what matters when it’s all said and done. Fear just divides and keeps one distracted and lost, hate destroys those who embrace it and has a heavy cost.

Acceptence, tolerance, and compassion are the keys to being forward-moving, Love is the fuel for our hearts to keep on grooving. Respect is the foundation we must build on, Life is what we must cherish before it is gone. We all are human and need to see that is true, working as one and doing for others is what we all need to do. If you choose to love or you choose to hate and fear it is all up to you.

Ray Barbier

October 21, 2022October 21, 2022

Random thoughts-Toxic people, self-worth, and forgiveness

person sitting outdoors — Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels.com

Basing your self-worth on other people’s opinions of you and building your self-image on such only leads to a rollercoaster of emotions usually ending you up in depression or in a state of low self esteem. It is human nature to follow such patterns since we enter this world seeking the approval and acceptance of our parents and siblings. Which is fine in the earliest years of our life, but we are supposed to let go of such patterns as we age into young adults.

Unfortunately, many of us either let go of such behavior much later or continue on with it throughout our lives. Sure we can not avoid the opinions of others nor can we let go of that desire to belong and be accepted, but we can learn to navigate with the knowledge that what we think about ourselves is more important. Knowing that our psyche tends to seek approval from others and responds to the opinions of others, we should avoid toxic friends and try to navigate around toxic relatives as much as possible.

There will always be those in your life that do not like you and those that try the hardest to bring you down. Those are people we should try and avoid and ignore their negative comments and actions as much as we can. We should seek out those people that support us, enrich our lives, allong with those who may criticise us in a constructive way. We need some people in our lives that care enough to point out when were going astray just as much as we need those that emphasize with us and/or act as cheerleaders for us.

Toxic friends tend to break you down emotionally and mentally, some of them may not even know they are doing such because they never had positive reinforcement in their lives or a caring family possibly. Do not hate toxic people, just feel sorry for them. They are missing out on the love and happiness they could have in life and embrace the negativity in their lives for the short-lived rush they may feel or the temporary relief from the emptiness they feel.

Being a person that has both been toxic on occasion and the victim of toxic friends I can relate to both sides. On many occasions, I have tried to help some fo those toxic people in my life and rarely did I succeed in helping them because they didn’t want to change their way of thinking or being. This probably was due to my lack of abilities more than anything, so if you want to attempt to help someone who is toxic, I would suggest getting help for them if not seek out help for you to achieve such.

Life is hard enough at times, subjecting yourself to the negativity of toxic people makes it an even harder life to live. I guess there may be some strong enough to deal with toxic friends without suffering the ill effects of being around them all the time.Those people are probably rare and possibly the saving grace for the toxic people in their lives.

Just remember no matter what others may say or think, or even what you may beleive about yourself at times, you are unique and just as important as any other living creature on this planet. There is only one you in this universe and you were born for a reason. Just becuase you can not figure out what that reason is does not mean you do not have purpose in life nor does it mean you are less than anyone else.

If you stop worrying what others might think about you and focus more on how you could impact those around you in a positive and contructive way, you may find that you are quite a good person if you give yourself the chance. Forgive yourself of your past mistakes, and go forward with compassion and understanding. Forgive others as well, since holding onto grudges only does more harm to you than the one you hold the grudge againts. If too much energy is spent on regret and vengence the less energy is left to love others and for you to enjoy the gifts in life that you have.

Ray Barbier

June 29, 2022

Ray’s Random Thoughts 6-29-2022

group of people in standing on brown grass field

Be kind to everyone and don’t fall prey to the instinct of self-preservation, go beyond the tribal instinct we all seem to still have. Humans tend to group up into tribes / social circles, be it physically or just through our personal world views. It is self-preservation that brings us to want to be part of a group/tribe. There is safety in numbers and that has worked to keep humans alive up to this point.

The downside to the tribal way of life is we tend to find ourselves stuck in us versus them mentality. We thrive on having an enemy to focus on, something to rally against for some reason. This usually leads to wars of one sort or another. Maybe if we look at our tribe being the whole human race, maybe then we can focus on the real enemy/problems that we face as a species.

It really saddens me that we still have people in the world that look at human life or life in general as something cheap and disposable. So many deaths in the world due to the lack of respect for life and human beings in general. Really sad that any group of humans, be they grouped by race, nationality, political belief or even religion could think of themselves as superior and all others as inferior. All life is sacred, all human beings are equally important and there is no superior race.

person holding world globe facing mountain — Photo by Porapak Apichodilok on Pexels.com

I don’t think it is so much the form of governments we have but the fact that the governments become corrupt when the same people stay in office for too long. For instance, the Democratic Republic of the U.S.A. is a wonderful governing style but it is being weighed down by senators and representatives that have been in office/power for way too many terms. The longer a person has power the less they seem to put responsibility and the welfare of those they serve to the forefront of their priorities, they get caught up in partisan politics and self-serving agendas. Corruption happens when people have too much power for way too long. Term limits would be a good solution to the problem and maybe a pay cut, making it less profitable for them to keep in office. I find it unfair if they serve one term they get a full benefits package for retirement and the salaries they make only make them more distant from those they are supposed to be serving.

I also do believe there should be more oversight of the lobbyist and regulations to keep the rich corporate lobbyists from having the upper hand over the just as important but less funded lobbyists. Too much money is passed through to campaign funds and other ways to politicians from the lobbyist groups as well. Which in its own way gives the lobbyists that are funding the politician sway over policies and takes away from the real needs and wants of the taxpayers.

Enough of my political rantings for now, but there is so much going on in this world that needs change, and a whole bunch of things I am pretty sure we do not even know about that is going on as well. Either way, I wish everyone a blessed life and hope we all can stand up for positive change and be good to one another.

Blessings and Peace to all

Ray Barbier

June 27, 2022

Where are we going, where is the world heading?

close up photo of assorted color of push pins on map

Where are we going, where is the world heading? Watching the world knocking on the door of world war and my country going through political division and social upsets has got me a bit concerned. It is almost like someone has rolled back time to the 1950s in many ways. Cold wars, war, civil rights issues, abortion rights, and fearmongering.

Between the horror of mass shootings, inflation, and politicization of almost everything one can debate over, it is a very troublesome world to try and navigate and live in at this moment in time. We all need to take a step back or a time out to recollect ourselves and come back together to find a better path for us as a nation and as a species, so we can change the uncertain course the world is on at this moment in time.

I believe the majority of us are kinda feeling helpless and that we have no control over the world around us. Our Governments act like they hear our pleas but then do nothing to help those in need because they claim it’s too expensive as they spend our tax dollars on wars, pay raises for themselves, and to support the super-wealthy companies with bailouts when times are hard.

brown and silver round coins — Photo by Dmitry Demidov on Pexels.com

With a Congress here in the U.S. that seems to be set on bickering and arguing and blocking each party’s agendas more so than trying to find a compromise to pass legislation that could help the American taxpayers and those in need. They need to get over themselves and put aside party politics long enough to do what is needed to be done instead of doing what may get them re-elected or get them the most sound bytes on the news.

I have a feeling all of the nations out there that are not so friendly to the U.S. are all having a good laugh at how dysfunctional our congress is at this moment in time. The world is watching all of you Senators and Representatives and how you are showing the world how you all can not be adult enough to work together to get things done when the pressure is on.

Where are we going, where is the world heading and what will be the destination if we do not change course. Unless we start working together to change its course towards a more benificial one, it doe not look promising.

God Bless and Happiness to all

Ray Barbier

June 4, 2022

Ray’s Random Thoughts 6/4/2022

In times like these, we either succumb to fear or rise up to the challenges ahead of us. Fear is something we all deal with, it is something we are supposed to have in dire and life-threatening situations. Sometimes we manufacture fear out of lack of control or lack of the knowledge to deal with a situation. Feeling fear is normal but one must learn to control it and move beyond it.

Right now I see a lot of fear in the world, I watch fear cause division within the world. Fear can transform into anger and hate as well. That is the reason why we all need to learn how to manage our fear. The problem is what may work for one person may not work for another, since fear can arise from different sources and situations. So I suggest seeking out help dealing with your fears if you are unable to cope with them yourself, try meditation to calm your mind and remind yourself it is okay to not always be in control of everything.

anonymous ethnic man strolling on ocean beach — Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV on Pexels.com

There is so much more to life than fear, we as a species need to focus more on solving the issues before us than the possible outcomes if nothing is done. The future is not set in stone and if we all work together towards a better tomorrow it will become a reality. If Life becomes overwhelming, you can meditate or go find a calm and peaceful place and relax there till you can clear your mind.

Focus your mind on what you can change and do to help bring positive change in your life and the world around you. I know the pandemic and lockdowns have put a big mental, emotional and financial stress on people and It has both brought out the best of people and the worst. It is time to heal ourselves mentally and emotionally so that we can move forward.

Find solace in the way that works for you and be kind to yourself and others

Ray Barbier

June 1, 2022

Ray’s Random Thoughts 6/1/2022

world map on wall and laptop near cup and container

We are living in trying times, the world is on the brink of being at war, soaring energy and food prices along with politicization of almost every topic and the polarization of political views. With the war going on in Ukraine we watch the killing of civilians in the crossfire and the death of soldiers on both sides. Too many children suffered in this war and a sad percentage of the children died as a result of the conflict.

Both the East and West are playing a part in this tragic situation in Ukraine, They need to pause and look at the pain, suffering, and instability that’s being caused by the conflict, not only in Ukraine but across the globe. I ask the leaders of all the world nations, be it they are an active part or just a spectator of this conflict to think of the long-term damage that will come from this war. It will affect all of the countries of the world in the end economically and if we do not find a peaceful resolution to the situation it could cause a third world war. Being that there are too many nations in this world that poses nuclear weapons it could be the end of life as we know it.

different flowers shaped in word peace — Photo by Disha Sheta on Pexels.com

So, I plead with all the leaders of the nations involved to seek out a diplomatic solution to this conflict, the cost of this conflict is too high for what may be gained. After all, we are brothers and sisters in this world, even if we sometimes think differently or allow political, religious, and national policies and agendas to separate us. Deep inside we all want the same thing I believe, a safe and happy world for the future generations to live in and the economic success of the nations we live in.

Being just a Citizen, I see all people from around the world as part of my extended family. I firmly believe the people of the world are in general good and caring in nature. I just hope and pray that goodness is in the leaders involved in this conflict and we can go from military conflict to diplomatic discussions before it is escalated to a full-blown world war.

I Also pray that China can get its outbreak of Covid-19 under control so no more people will suffer. China could take the lead in trying to get the diplomatic discussion going, being one of the superpowers in the modern world, it would be great to see them step up and play a peaceful part in this conflict. I also hope China can slow down the aggressiveness towards Taiwan and find some sort of diplomatic solution there as well. War may benefit some financially, but for the majority of the people involved it only brings suffering, death, and destruction.

world map made of nuts and dried fruits — Photo by Monstera on Pexels.com

The East and West need to stop Saber Rattling, Finger Pointing, and posturing. As my mom always told me, be a part of the solution not a part of the problem. I know it all isn’t as black and white as it seems, but we are capable as a species to find peaceful solutions to these issues. The world needs a change in direction away from this aggressive and divisive path towards a diplomatic and cooperative path if we as a species are to survive and thrive in the century to come.

I Pray for peace and prosperity for all of humanity, I hope there will be diplomatic solutions to all the problems we face geopolitically. I hope as well we come together as species to deal with all the problems we face as a whole. God bless and best wishes for all.

Ray Barbier

May 31, 2022

My Experience with Youtube and Copyright strikes

Recently I uploaded a Video that was Creative Commons Licenced and Done by the Blender Foundation, it was a short animation called Caminandes 3 LLamigos, It was removed and got a strike, Someone claimed it had music in it that was copyrighted, the music was from India from I could find and nothing in the video resembled what I found. The Animation short has been on youtube by many other YouTubers, even the Creator and Blender have it there.

Caminandes 3: Llamigos – YouTube is the link to the one by Blender if you wish to check it out.

The purpose of this post is to Complain about how Youtube does not Verify a Claim before putting a Strike against a user and then if you wish to Contest it, it all falls on you legally if there is a problem. Making it less likely for most YouTubers to contest due to the lack of desire to be sued over something be it legit or not.

My Suggestion is to Do not upload any content to youtube that you, yourself have not made yourself, and make sure to have permission from any music you use even if it’s creative commons. Since it seems anyone can claim a copyright infringement without verification that your video contains it. Been watching and using Youtube since it first came around decades ago, bad enough they advertise you to death on most videos, they don’t seem to support the content creators and suppliers as they should. Though I do understand the Legal issues they must face, they need to also take into consideration that some copyright claims are bogus and done in a trolling fashion as well.

From now on I will no longer upload videos to Youtube that I didn’t create if I upload any at all. Won’t stop me from viewing Youtube though. Just not happy with the situation, even though I can understand the legal issues running a Video sharing site.

Blessing to all and be Good to one another.

Raymond Barbier