Enlightenment and Nachos

_{RULE 1.} DON’T PANIC!

Things will not always go as planned. This is not only to be expected but should be planned for as well. For many lifeforms born in plural zones it is better to have a general idea of what you would like to have happen and no actual idea how it could possibly come to pass -it won’t improve your odds, but at least you can be surprised by whatever actually happens. Humans, for example, will have a biological response to a stressful situation and react to how they feel about what is going on rather than what is genuinely taking place; this on the surface would be fine if their bodies were capable of differentiating the difference between an actual life or death situation -like being attacked by a lion and waking up five minutes late to catch the bus- one of which is a minor inconvenience and the other can kill you.

_{rule 2.} points are awarded for style. always.

You should never be afraid to look stupid enough to ask the question that could save your life. Spend the day at any theme park like you will never be back again, ride every ride you feel safe enough to try. There are few imperatives in this life:

• STAY SAFE
• HAVE FUN
• TAKE CARE OR YOURSELF
• LOOK OUT FOR OTHERS IF YOU CAN
• EVERYTHING ELSE IS BONUS POINTS

_{RULE 3.} BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER!

The last time someone suggested we ought to try being nice to each other for a change they nailed him to a tree. The idea that there is any difference between yourself and anyone else you meet that was not already down to the randomness of birth is laughable, try being curious rather than angry or scared of things and people you know little to nothing about. Strangers only remain dangerous if you refuse to introduce yourself, but trust your gut, if you don’t like the vibe you are not required to engage either. If you want people to smile or say hello to you try doing it first instead of telling other people what to do with their face. Respect does not have to be earned upfront. Kindness is a free action, and there is a difference between Nice and Good. If you start friendly you can adjust as needed, but at least you can say you tried. Not everyone will vibe with everyone else, that is why there are so many across the galaxy, but there is no reason to start from a place of fear if you don’t have to. For many who do, again, stay safe, firstly.

_{rule 4.} always know where your towel is.

A towel is the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have. But its not the only thing you need to make it out there. While it is not be easy to keep up with your entire kit, regular inspection and inventory as you travel across the multiverse will prove useful to understand where you are at a given point and help you keep a running tab of the tools you have at your disposal. When you find yourself stuck in a maintenance hatch for fifteen hours you will be grateful to have something to keep your mind occupied, not to mention there is always towel maintenance to upkeep. Never lay down to sleep without having yourself packed, you might have to move on at any moment -if you are traveling- and be unpacked if you are stopped somewhere safe for long enough. You will be surprised what a night unpacked out of your bags can do for you psychologically; not not mention a chance to inspect your gear and repack is always worth the mild inconvenience of only staying a single night. Pack the same bag over and over long enough and you will be surprised of how much space you can save with just the practice.

For the many in unsafe places, I personally feel it best to remain as packed as necessary until I feel safe again.

_{rule 5.} Never let them take you alive.

There are so many moments in life that make it all worth living. Yes it is hard, sometimes it will suck, but if you are really paying attention you will see the good stuff too. Trust your heart. Don’t stop playing. They will try and convince you there won’t be time, but no one has died wishing for more time behind a desk. Fun is so important they find new ways to make you pay for it, but keep playing! If you are what you do; have fun. If you won’t do it for free you won’t do it for long. You won’t know why today, but you also won’t if you stop playing the game early. Keep going. You only have to make it through today. You only fail what you quit. You can do this if you keep trying. Don’t worry about the destination and enjoy the journey.

_{rule 6.} The opposite of what you believe is also true.

If my travels through the galaxy have taught me anything, is that the odds of finding someone that actually thinks just like you are so remotely ridiculous as to hang the sense of it and have fun meeting new people. This is a frightening prospect to man people all over the multiverse; this is because some people want the worst things imaginable and have no concept of accountability. Algedian IV hosts a festival where the public would round up offenders that violated others rights in the last year and the public decided what to do about it. In the earliest days they would usually just beat them to death with sticks or hurl stones at them in their best attempt. In such cases they would each get a stone no bigger than their palm for each person and have one chance to hit the accused based on the level of belief that they were guilty. In recent centuries it has become a televised event broadcast across the system every spring. These days they are put trough therapy and allowed to work on behalf of the community keeping the place presentable with everyone on the same planet having a say in their level of offense and punishment with a simple ranked-choice vote. Their judges are only their to ensure the available choices are constitutional rather than what anyone deserves. What passes for Lawyers their serve only to clarify and answer questions posed by the planet before the vote is started. If the rest of the planet have to live with this person they should have a say in whether or not they are okay with that. Thankfully no one dies over petty theft these days. The term “common sense” usually implies “you ought to know these things I do” which is ridiculous. I’m not trying to understand what you said, I am trying to understand what you mean.

_{rule 7.} Personal is not the same as important people just think it is.

Sometimes things aren’t going the way we hoped they would. This is no excuse to throw a fit and start complaining. In the Whole Sort Of General Mish-Mash (WSOGMM) there is a reason far beyond our ability to calculate nor do we need to. Right now is happening already, best not to focus on anything outside of now and pay attention incase we miss anything important. Its nots your fault. It isn’t cosmic punishment. You aren’t being judged by anyone of importance but yourself. Feel free to share your truth, but remember no one is required to respond to you with sympathy. Anything you can’t accept about this is your own concern. Don’t make it other peoples problem. Ask for help if you need it, but remember sometimes you receive answers sometimes you learn new ways to think; in both you learn lessons you will find useful in life. Your experience is valid, it’s just not everyone is gonna care, never let that stop you from living life and making art. You don’t make art to be correct or gain acceptance, you make art to prove you are alive. The proof you existed at all even as a blip over trillions of millennium. Perfection is a myth, if the pursuit brings you pleasure, keep going! Having bills to pay should not be the reason to suffer a shitty job that doesn’t pay well, but starving for pride doesn’t make a lot of sense either. It’s your expectation that things would be different that upsets you most of the time.

_{rule 8.}There is always time to do the right thing.

There is a saying one of the the many planets named after what it is made out of that basically suggest the best time to of planted a tree would of been twenty years ago, the second best time is now. The adventure you embark on might not be going the way you expected, but in all instances you have a choice. The right thing is rarely the wrong decision. Once you realize you are doing the wrong thing it becomes a choice. That’s what the whole apple metaphor is about, you have not right to play stupid once you claim to know right from wrong. Freedom requires responsibility and accountability. It is, among other thing, this realization that separates higher evolved lifeforms from lower ones. The cosmic truth is you can do anything you are willing to suffer the consequences for. Kindness is always a free action. Try to do at least one good thing a day, even if only being kind to yourself. The Platinum rule says to treat others the way they want to be treated. Relinquish the expectation that other people should do the work for you, try being nice first. How your pet responds to your arrival or departure tells me a lot about a person. Kindness is contagious, spread it around.

_{rule 9.} remember the message.

WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENINCE.

_{rule 10.} Love is a doing word.

Anyone that is psychic will let you know very quickly. Normally by asking you to focus and try not to think to loudly. Assume that anyone that has yet to comment on any thought you may or may not be having is not a mind reader. You have to at the very least tell someone how you are feeling to even begin to be understood. It is often better to show rather than tell. No one is responsible for making you feel better. Friends can certainly make the job of cheering yourself up easier. Keep the ones that make it easier to be yourself. Family is whomever you chose to define it as. Found family is the best because you get to chose them.

 life’s too short to worry, life’s too long to wait
Too short not to love everybody, life’s too long to hate

Miss Virgy