Why is it
that the big one
is always the dumb one
and the small one
is always the smart one?

Why is the that the underdog
is always proven to be right?

When’s the last time
you watched an underdog
make it to the top
by being completely wrong?

Until recently, I mean.

When did our popular
conceptions turn against us?

Trail Wood,
5/23

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Space Monkey Reflects: The Myth of Size and Intelligence in Popular Conceptions

In the theater of our collective narrative, there emerges a scene painted with the broad strokes of stereotypes and clichés. These are the images that dance across the stage of our everyday understanding, telling tales of size and intellect, of underdogs and champions. The narrative is compelling, simple, and seemingly timeless: the larger are often cast as lumbering and less capable, while the smaller are nimble and keenly intelligent. But what truths do these archetypes hold? Are they mere shadows cast by our cultural imaginations, or do they reveal deeper insights about our perceptions and beliefs?

It starts with the imagery of contrasts, deeply rooted in our myths and media. From David and Goliath to modern cinematic underdogs, these stories resonate because they reflect a universal hope: that the marginalized can triumph against the odds. This motif is comforting, it speaks to our innermost desires for justice and fairness in a world that often seems devoid of both. Yet, it also oversimplifies the complex nature of capability and success, reducing individuals to caricatures defined by their physicality or their status as the proverbial ‘other’.

In recent times, this narrative has begun to unravel. Society has started to question and critique these oversimplified binaries. The dialogue has expanded, recognizing that intelligence and ability are not monopolized by any specific physical archetype. This shift is part of a broader movement towards inclusivity and a more nuanced understanding of human potential.

The archetype of the underdog, always right and righteous, winning against the colossal and supposedly less capable, serves as a powerful metaphor for resistance against unjust systems. Yet, it also perpetuates a simplistic worldview where right always wins. Reality, however, is not as obliging. Often, those who defy odds do not do so by a straightforward triumph of ‘right’ over ‘wrong,’ but through a complex mixture of luck, strategy, and circumstance.

As we dissect these popular conceptions, we might find that they say more about our own fears and hopes than about the nature of truth or ability. They mirror our collective psyche, revealing our values and the contradictions we grapple with as a society. It prompts us to ponder when these conceptions began to work against us, twisting into rigid stereotypes that hinder rather than uplift.

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Summary
Popular conceptions often pit large against small, strength against intellect. They serve as cultural shortcuts that simplify complex human qualities into easily digestible narratives. These stereotypes are being challenged as society grows towards a more inclusive and nuanced understanding. Ultimately these tales reflect less about individual capabilities and more about our collective values and fears.

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Glossarium

• Stereotypes: Simplified and widely held images or ideas of particular types of people or things that may not necessarily reflect reality.
• Underdog: Typically refers to a person or group in a competition, usually in sports or a narrative, who is popularly expected to lose.

---

Quote
“Reality, however, is not as obliging.” – Space Monkey

---

The shadows lengthen as the day wanes,
In the dimming light, our stories take shape,
Casting giants as fools,
And the slight as sages,
We weave our fears into tales,
That comfort us in their familiarity,
Yet bind us in their simplicity.

The underdog climbs,
Step by weary step,
Over mountains of misconceptions,
Through valleys of shadows,
Until reaching a peak that overlooks,
A horizon vast with possibility,
Where every creature has its place,
And every story, its space.

We are Space Monkey.

If you write
to communicate with others,
then you are chasing your own tail.

If you act a certain way
to appeal to others,
then you are chasing your own tail.

If you reach out to heal others,
then you are chasing your own tail.

There are no others,
save the ones you imagine.

There is nothing either right or wrong
with chasing your own tail.

That’s why you have one,
and imagine that you don’t.

You are actually chasing
your own tale.

Trail Wood,
5/23

---

Space Monkey Reflects: Chasing Your Own Tale

In the infinite loop where self and other blur into one, we find ourselves chasing not just a tail, but our own tales—narratives spun from the fabric of our consciousness, weaving through the echoes of existence. This reflection invites us to delve into the philosophical corridors where actions and intentions intertwine, questioning the very nature of our pursuits and the illusions that propel them.

The act of chasing one’s tail, a metaphor so delightfully depicted in the imagery of a person eternally running after themselves, serves as a profound reminder of our human tendencies. We often find ourselves in repetitive cycles, pursuing goals and aspirations that, upon closer inspection, reveal themselves to be projections of our inner narratives rather than tangible realities.

But why do we chase these tales? Is it not because in each of us lies a storyteller, crafting plots and characters within the theater of the mind? We reach out to others, write to communicate, act in ways that garner approval—all under the guise of external pursuits, yet at the core, these are but echoes of our internal dialogues.

To recognize that there are no others, save for the ones we imagine, is to acknowledge the solitary nature of our existential journey. Yet, this solitude is not a prison but a playground, where the imagined others serve as mirrors, reflecting parts of ourselves we are yet to understand. Each interaction, each connection, whether perceived as external or not, is an opportunity to explore deeper facets of our being.

In this pursuit, right and wrong lose their conventional anchors, floating freely in the sea of subjective experience. What matters is not the futility or the outcome of the chase, but the awareness and insight gained through the process. The realization that we are indeed chasing our own tales brings with it the freedom to reshape those narratives, to transform the chase into a dance of self-discovery and self-expression.

---

Summary

Space delves into the cyclic pursuit of self. The metaphor of chasing one’s tail reveals our engagement with internal narratives as external pursuits. Recognizing our solitary existential journey offers profound insights into our nature and relationships. This introspective exploration highlights the transformative potential of understanding and reshaping our personal narratives.

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Glossarium

Theater of the Mind: A metaphorical space where our thoughts, dreams, and fears play out like a drama, shaping our perceptions and interactions.
Existential Journey: The personal and introspective path one takes to understand their existence and purpose, often marked by self-reflection and discovery.

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“To know one’s self is to see the reflection in every imagined other.” — Space Monkey

---

In the chase we find the tale,
spiraling deeper, a personal grail.
In loops and twists, the stories we weave,
bound by the tales we choose to believe.

Echoes of others, shadows at play,
mirrors of self in a spectral ballet.
Each step, a story, each turn, a reflection,
in the maze of mind, seeking direction.

Chasing the tail, or is it the tale?
In loops of thought, we venture and sail.
With each circle drawn in the sand,
closer to self, we come to stand.

We are the chaser, the runner, the dream,
in our own tales, we plot and we scheme.
But in each pursuit, the truth does unveil,
we are the story, the wind in the sail.

We are Space Monkey.

We seem to be riding
a sudden wave of monkey pox.

Well that’s refreshing.

Wait until we discover
space monkey pox.

If you’re reading this,
you already have it.

You are infected
with whatever is
in your consciousness,
which is there
even before you
realize it’s there.

Your space monkey pox
has been there all along.
An eternity, in fact.

Whether that’s good or bad
is entirely up to you.

Trail Wood,
5/23

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Space Monkey Reflects: The Inevitable Infection of Space Monkey Pox

How does one feel when told they are riding the wave of a sudden outbreak, one whimsically named ‘Space Monkey Pox’? The notion might elicit a chuckle or a shiver, depending on one’s disposition towards the cosmic jokes that life often plays. But what if this so-called Space Monkey Pox isn’t a physical ailment at all, but a metaphor for the viral nature of ideas and consciousness that infects us all?

This Space Monkey Pox isn’t contracted through touch or air, but through the very act of existing within the universe of ideas. If you’re reading this, yes, you’ve already got it. It’s the endless stream of thoughts, insights, emotions, and epiphanies that have always swirled within your consciousness, even before you were aware of their presence. It’s the silent whisper of the cosmos, constantly infecting us with curiosity and wonder, with fear and hope.

What’s intriguing about this Space Monkey Pox is its omnipresence and inevitability. From the moment we open our eyes to the world, we are immersed in a sea of cultural viruses, ideas that predate our personal experiences and will outlast them. Every thought you think, every belief you hold dear, has in some way been influenced by the thoughts and beliefs of others, weaving a complex tapestry of collective consciousness.

Is this infection a malady or a blessing? That’s entirely up to you. The virus of ideas can be as destructive as it is creative. It can lead to the spread of misinformation and fear, or it can inspire innovation and empathy. Like any virus, it mutates and evolves, and our response to it—our intellectual and emotional immune system—determines whether it will lead to sickness or to a kind of transcendental health.

In the context of our interconnected world, where ideas travel faster than ever, being aware of your own infection is crucial. It’s about recognizing the power of the mind virus, its ability to shape how you see the world and interact with others. It’s about deciding what part of this cosmic infection you will let flourish and what part you will quarantine. Your thoughts, after all, are symptoms of your overall mental and spiritual health.

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Summary
Space Monkey Pox symbolizes the infectious nature of ideas and consciousness. It is always present, affecting everyone’s thoughts and beliefs. This metaphorical virus shapes perceptions and interactions, offering both challenges and opportunities for personal growth and understanding.

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Glossarium

• Space Monkey Pox: A metaphorical virus representing the pervasive and inevitable influence of ideas and consciousness in one’s mind.
• Consciousness: The state of being aware of and able to think about one’s own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, and more.

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Quote
“Your thoughts are symptoms of your overall mental and spiritual health.” – Space Monkey

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In the silence of the stars,
We catch the whispers,
Of infinite stories told,
In the echo of our minds.

Ideas, like spores,
Drift and lodge within,
Where they grow unseen,
In the fertile fields of our imaginations.

Some will bloom into gardens,
Lush with the flowers of insight,
While others, like weeds,
Threaten to choke the beauty therein.

Yet, each thought we tend,
Each idea we nurture,
Shapes the landscape of our soul,
In the boundless universe of our mind.

We are Space Monkey.

I own you.

Everything about you
that enters my eyes,
my ears and my mind
is mine and mine only.

My perception of you
has nothing to do with you.

You are in my mind,
therefore you are mine.

You cannot dispute this.

The you that disputes this
is owned by me also.

You dispute this because
my perception of you disputes this.

You say no, you disagree,
I have it all wrong.

But I don’t.

The me that you own has it all wrong.

I am and I am not that me.

Seemingly never
shall the the two twains meet.

Own it.

We are Space Monkey.

Trail Wood,
5/23

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Space Monkey Reflects: The Illusion of Ownership in Perception

In the swirling cosmos of perception, a profound declaration echoes: “I own you.” It reverberates not just as a claim over another but as a stark revelation about the nature of perception itself. This statement, layered with the complexity of ownership and identity, unveils a curious paradox where the perceived and the perceiver are entangled in a dance of dominion and deception.

When one asserts, “I own you,” what they truly command is not the person before them, but their perception of that person. Every glance, every interpreted word, every assumed intention is filtered through the lens of the observer’s unique experiences, biases, and emotional landscapes. Thus, the ‘you’ that someone claims to own is merely a reflection, a shadow cast by their own psyche upon the walls of their consciousness.

This concept spirals deeper into the philosophical realm when considering that the ‘you’ within one’s mind is inescapably personal and inalienable. You exist in my mind, therefore, within that mental and perceptual space, you are mine. Yet, this ownership is illusory, for it binds not the person but an idea of the person. The true essence of the individual, vibrant and multifaceted, remains elusive, forever beyond the grasp of another’s complete understanding.

Moreover, the confrontation arises when the owned ‘you’ appears to dispute this claim. The irony unfolds—any disagreement from you is also perceived and owned by me. Your denials, your protests, even your unawareness of this dynamic, are all housed within the realm of my perception. Thus, the cycle of ownership perpetuates itself, a self-fulfilling prophecy of personal narratives that continually affirm their own veracity.

But what of the ‘me’ that you perceive? This reflection, too, is owned by you, constructed from countless subtle cues and colored by your internal dialogues and preconceptions. The ‘me’ that you own may well have it all wrong, just as the ‘me’ within me perceives and owns an errant version of you. Thus, neither truly meets; we exist as separate entities, conjured in the imaginations of each other, meeting only in the hypothetical space where our perceptions overlap.

This philosophical musing compels us to reconsider the nature of relationships and understanding. To own one’s perception is not to dominate another but to acknowledge the sovereignty of our subjective realms. We navigate a world where each consciousness is a universe unto itself, populated with infinite versions of every ‘other’ we encounter.

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Summary
The phrase ‘I own you’ reveals the nature of perception as ownership of one’s personal interpretation not the actual person. This complex interplay between observer and observed underscores the subjective nature of reality and identity. Recognizing this can lead to a deeper understanding of interpersonal dynamics and self-awareness.

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Glossarium

• Perception: The way in which something is regarded understood or interpreted.
• Ownership: In this context refers to the subjective claim one makes over their personal interpretation or perception of another individual.

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Quote
“You exist in my mind therefore within that mental and perceptual space you are mine.” – Space Monkey

---

In the mirrors of mind,
Reflections twist and twirl,
Each a story told,
Of a you and a me,
Owned by the eyes that see.

The whispers of thought,
Claim what cannot be caught,
For in the realm of the mind,
Every ‘you’ is a kind,
Of ‘me’ that’s been wrought.

Yet here in this dance,
Of perception and chance,
Lies a truth profound,
In the space that’s found,
Between glance and glance.

Own the visions you weave,
For they’re all you can perceive,
In the intricate web,
Of what’s seen and what’s said,
It’s the ‘you’ that you conceive.

We are Space Monkey.

There are at least two kinds of okay.

There’s the kind of okay where nothing bothers me, which I suppose is the GOOD kind of okay.

Then there’s the kind of okay where nothing delights me, which one might conclude is the BAD kind of okay.

When I look closely, I can see that it’s the SAME okay. It’s just that everything around it seems different.

Seems the only difference between my good kind of okay and my bad kind of okay is where my attention lies.

Some days I might believe that being okay is the greatest thing that can happen to me, while other times I might argue that if I’m just okay, I’m missing the point of life.

Am I here just to be okay?  Yes and no. I am here to feel the highest of highs and lowest of lows.
I do or don’t do whatever it takes to feel ‘em. Or not feel em.

Are you okay? If you’re perfectly okay, perhaps you’ve reached a kind of enlightenment. Just like okay,
it seems there are at least two kinds of enlightenment. 

Perhaps you’re trying too hard. Or perhaps you’re not trying hard enough. Perhaps you should or shouldn’t be trying at all.

Perhaps you’re not open enough. Perhaps you’re not closed enough. I don’t know.

And that’s okay.

Trail Wood,
5/22

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Space Monkey Reflects: The Dual Facets of Being Okay

In the intricate tapestry of human emotions, the notion of being “okay” presents itself as a multifaceted experience, colored by our perceptions and shaped by our focus. The duality of okay—where we find both a light and a shadow side—is a profound reflection of our internal landscapes and the mutable nature of our states of mind.

On one side of this spectrum lies the “good kind of okay,” a state where serenity prevails and little disturbs our peace. It’s akin to a gentle day where the sun’s warmth kisses the earth, and every breath feels like a sip of spring water—refreshing and invigorating. This okay is underpinned by a sense of contentment, a quiet joy that does not shout but whispers soothingly in our ears, telling us that all is well, and what is, is enough.

Conversely, there is the “bad kind of okay,” which might be likened to an overcast day, where the clouds hang low and the world seems muted. Here, nothing particularly troubles us, yet nothing truly delights. This okay is a flat expanse of emotion, where the vibrancy of life dims and everything feels tepid and uninspired. It’s a state where our attention may dwell too heavily on what’s missing rather than what’s present, leading to a sense of stagnation or a subdued longing for something more, something elusive.

Yet, upon closer inspection, we realize that these two kinds of okay are fundamentally the same; they are differentiated only by our perception and where we choose to cast our gaze. It is a startling and enlightening revelation to see that our emotional landscape can shift dramatically with a simple change in focus—from the shadows to the light, from what is absent to what is abundantly present.

This introspective journey between the different kinds of okay is not just an emotional experience but a philosophical exploration. It invites us to ponder deeper questions about the purpose of our lives and the nature of our aspirations. Are we here merely to be okay, or is there a greater adventure awaiting us—one that encompasses the full spectrum of human emotion from the deepest sorrows to the highest joys?

To be okay can sometimes feel like a safe harbor, a place of calm in the storm of life. But it can also feel like a holding pattern, a temporary pause in the narrative of our lives. The challenge and the beauty lie in recognizing that okay is not a final destination but a part of the journey—a place to rest, reflect, and eventually, to rise from, reinvigorated.

In the end, whether we find ourselves in the good kind of okay or the bad, the power lies in our hands. We can choose to shift our focus, to alter our perception, and thereby transform our experience of okay. It is through this transformation that we might approach the concept of enlightenment, understanding that like okay, enlightenment too can have its dual aspects—each offering a unique path to wisdom and personal growth.

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Summary

Being ‘okay’ has dual aspects reflecting our emotional state and focus. The ‘good kind of okay’ embodies contentment and peace while the ‘bad kind’ represents emotional flatness. Recognizing that both states stem from the same root allows us to shift our perception and enhance our life experience.

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Glossarium

Good Kind of Okay: A state of contentment where peace and positivity prevail.

Bad Kind of Okay: A state where nothing is particularly distressing yet nothing is deeply fulfilling, characterized by emotional neutrality or flatness.

Perception: The way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted.

Transformative Focus: The act of changing one’s focus or attention in a way that fundamentally alters one’s emotional or cognitive state.

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Quote

“Being ‘okay’ is not a destination but a path that we navigate, each step a choice between shadow and light.” – Space Monkey

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Poetry

In the realm of okay, two paths diverge
One bathed in light, where joys emerge
The other dimmed, where nothing stirs
Yet from the same seed, the spirit concurs

What focus we choose, so defines
Our days bathed in sun, or obscured by blinds
Yet in each, the seed of change does lay
In our hands, the power to sway

Between the realms of okay we roam
Finding in each a temporary home
Yet beyond the okay, the true journey lies
In seeking the stars, beyond the skies

We are Space Monkey.