TODAY'S QUOTE:
"If you are never scared, embarrassed or hurt, it means you never take chances."... Julia Soul
Taking chances always requires a letting go of the controls in one manner or another, while traveling into unknown territory. Freewheeling on faith... stepping out of a comfort zone... or simply growing to meet whatever will surely come next are all valid examples of the demands of risking change. Alterations of any set pattern just naturally broadens the boundaries of our own personal orbit and it can do so in the most unpredictable fashion. And at times it can do it at lightning speed.
Let's take point of view, which I believe begins as a conditioned response that is mostly comprised of how we were trained to see things from birth to maturity. Any change to how we CHOOSE to view our surroundings is a life altering endeavor. And it begins with the knowledge that what we believe is often just borrowed from others in some fashion. Awakening to that foretells much study; meeting one's true and only self is empowering, liberating, and at times terrifying. Taking a chance on yourself can be the most intensely frightening experience... as well as the most rewarding.
True wisdom comes through trial and error, so if we never trust ourselves enough to chance a mistake we automatically limit our orbit and rob our minds of knowledge we can never absorb in any other fashion. Being safe often means being stunted and life has so much more to offer than the few miles we routinely inhabit. Fear is NOT our friend, but it is toooooo often our master. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!!
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Great Practice
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"More men have become great through practice than by nature."... Democritus
This quote validates the ole' maxim "practice makes perfect"... and the perfecting is (or should be) an ongoing lifetime venture... or maybe even "adventure" if we are truly blessed. Most of the people who truly fascinate me, used to be very different from the who they are nowadays. Change empowers and there is nothing quite as interesting as a newly empowered human being with a sacred mission.
To be wrong is easy enough; any fool can do it without much effort and deny it all later without much guilt. But to truly alter an ego bent on self-destruction takes forethought and a steely determination. Reinventing until our soul finds peace can take years, but perfecting that creation brings a gentle grace to any wisdom that has such a painful birth. The walking wounded who struggle until they learn to survive and grasp tightly to their right to thrive are always worthy of careful attention.
One life is all we possess; for pride or shame that is all we can truly own... one lifetime to utilize or waste. Most of us squander more than we ought, but seeing our mistakes and correcting them the best we are able makes us more interesting than most of the "reality" shows so many of us watch.
Do your best to never be satisfied to mostly watch when even kinda living is so much richer. Fix the broken things, discard what cannot be repaired and polish whatever is written in stone. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!
Follow this link to a flash movie worth contemplating. Enjoy... I did!!!
http://www.inspiringthots.net/movie/do-not-quit.php
"More men have become great through practice than by nature."... Democritus
This quote validates the ole' maxim "practice makes perfect"... and the perfecting is (or should be) an ongoing lifetime venture... or maybe even "adventure" if we are truly blessed. Most of the people who truly fascinate me, used to be very different from the who they are nowadays. Change empowers and there is nothing quite as interesting as a newly empowered human being with a sacred mission.
To be wrong is easy enough; any fool can do it without much effort and deny it all later without much guilt. But to truly alter an ego bent on self-destruction takes forethought and a steely determination. Reinventing until our soul finds peace can take years, but perfecting that creation brings a gentle grace to any wisdom that has such a painful birth. The walking wounded who struggle until they learn to survive and grasp tightly to their right to thrive are always worthy of careful attention.
One life is all we possess; for pride or shame that is all we can truly own... one lifetime to utilize or waste. Most of us squander more than we ought, but seeing our mistakes and correcting them the best we are able makes us more interesting than most of the "reality" shows so many of us watch.
Do your best to never be satisfied to mostly watch when even kinda living is so much richer. Fix the broken things, discard what cannot be repaired and polish whatever is written in stone. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!
Follow this link to a flash movie worth contemplating. Enjoy... I did!!!
http://www.inspiringthots.net/movie/do-not-quit.php
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Moment By Moment
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Life is a succession of moments. To live each one is to succeed."... Corita Kent, 1918-1986, American Artist and Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
These seem such wonderful words to emulate. They are so flawlessly correct and deserving of the most valiant attempt we can possibly muster. And really, what better way to invest our time? The payout of dividends will always be multiplied in equal parts by how much "interest" we personally apply. If you have any doubt about that equation just take notice of how even the smallest pinch of enthusiasm enriches any space we truly occupy. Enthusiasm is healthy and contagious, feeding upon itself then infecting close contacts.
Any and all high emotions are contagious. Negatives that are "caught" feel like a real illness and spread quickly in true epidemic fashion. They quickly overshadow all that is sunny as completely as an eclipse. Positives felt and shared are the only true cure. Others can manufacture some and give you a healthy dose, but waiting for that kind of assistance isn't necessary. And it could be a wait long enough to cause real lasting damage. Don't linger overlong hoping for rescue. There really is no need to pause for more time than it takes to blink before you produce at least one positive notion that will truly act as an antidote to the poison that threatens your peace of mind. Saving yourself is a healthy habit to get into... saving others follows closely behind. Self-vaccinate then do a mate then watch the shadows dissipate!
Owning every moment equals a priceless success no matter the circumstances. But... it is not by any means an easy task; some moments are brutally intense by nature, add ego (yours or anyone else's) and get ready to rumble. It's impossible to please everyone... sometimes all that can be hoped for is to displease the fewest. And even that is a victory of sorts. Owning means protecting it when under attack, reclaiming it when squatters move in, and peopling it with more fountains than drains. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!
"Life is a succession of moments. To live each one is to succeed."... Corita Kent, 1918-1986, American Artist and Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
These seem such wonderful words to emulate. They are so flawlessly correct and deserving of the most valiant attempt we can possibly muster. And really, what better way to invest our time? The payout of dividends will always be multiplied in equal parts by how much "interest" we personally apply. If you have any doubt about that equation just take notice of how even the smallest pinch of enthusiasm enriches any space we truly occupy. Enthusiasm is healthy and contagious, feeding upon itself then infecting close contacts.
Any and all high emotions are contagious. Negatives that are "caught" feel like a real illness and spread quickly in true epidemic fashion. They quickly overshadow all that is sunny as completely as an eclipse. Positives felt and shared are the only true cure. Others can manufacture some and give you a healthy dose, but waiting for that kind of assistance isn't necessary. And it could be a wait long enough to cause real lasting damage. Don't linger overlong hoping for rescue. There really is no need to pause for more time than it takes to blink before you produce at least one positive notion that will truly act as an antidote to the poison that threatens your peace of mind. Saving yourself is a healthy habit to get into... saving others follows closely behind. Self-vaccinate then do a mate then watch the shadows dissipate!
Owning every moment equals a priceless success no matter the circumstances. But... it is not by any means an easy task; some moments are brutally intense by nature, add ego (yours or anyone else's) and get ready to rumble. It's impossible to please everyone... sometimes all that can be hoped for is to displease the fewest. And even that is a victory of sorts. Owning means protecting it when under attack, reclaiming it when squatters move in, and peopling it with more fountains than drains. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
The Best of Benedictions
Today's Quote:
"Accept the pain, cherish the joys, resolve the regrets, then can come the best of benedictions: If I had my life to live over, I'd do it all the same."... Joan McIntosh
This quote assigns actions that will guarantee closure upon even the saddest segments or the most stressful situations of a lifetime. The joyful is cherished in an almost automatic fashion by the vast majority, but the other actions are not accomplished quite so effortlessly. Sadly other people will not always simply honor our need to move on without willingly lugging any heavy baggage they packed especially for our journey. The fact that it is our journey is often lost on our fellow travelers.
At times it will be necessary to do our part and leave them to do theirs. It is not a crime that we do not travel at the same speed, but demanding that anyone else adopt our rate of acceleration is unrealistic and doomed to certain failure. Some people soar while others squat over what once was, as if their dangling there will resurrect what for you is dead and ready to be buried. We each have to pace ourselves at a rate that gets us through the rough spots in good enough shape to keep moving forward. There are roads where slowing down is fatal, so causing anyone else to do so seems a crime.
We each have demons, but holding them in a tight hug only invites them to lay eggs and multiply both in number and in strength. Doing our best is really all anyone can expect, and holding onto guilt and sorrow is not the best we can do; humans have an almost limitless capacity to heal and prosper in spite of the most horrid situations. But it cannot be accomplished while wallowing in old sorrows. Soaring instead of sinking to the level of any uncontrollable situation is the wisest mode of transportation to get past the past. Come on.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
"Accept the pain, cherish the joys, resolve the regrets, then can come the best of benedictions: If I had my life to live over, I'd do it all the same."... Joan McIntosh
This quote assigns actions that will guarantee closure upon even the saddest segments or the most stressful situations of a lifetime. The joyful is cherished in an almost automatic fashion by the vast majority, but the other actions are not accomplished quite so effortlessly. Sadly other people will not always simply honor our need to move on without willingly lugging any heavy baggage they packed especially for our journey. The fact that it is our journey is often lost on our fellow travelers.
At times it will be necessary to do our part and leave them to do theirs. It is not a crime that we do not travel at the same speed, but demanding that anyone else adopt our rate of acceleration is unrealistic and doomed to certain failure. Some people soar while others squat over what once was, as if their dangling there will resurrect what for you is dead and ready to be buried. We each have to pace ourselves at a rate that gets us through the rough spots in good enough shape to keep moving forward. There are roads where slowing down is fatal, so causing anyone else to do so seems a crime.
We each have demons, but holding them in a tight hug only invites them to lay eggs and multiply both in number and in strength. Doing our best is really all anyone can expect, and holding onto guilt and sorrow is not the best we can do; humans have an almost limitless capacity to heal and prosper in spite of the most horrid situations. But it cannot be accomplished while wallowing in old sorrows. Soaring instead of sinking to the level of any uncontrollable situation is the wisest mode of transportation to get past the past. Come on.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Firey People
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes."... Abigail Van Buren
Building a backfire ought to be left entirely up to firefighters. The possibility of saving a forest from flames is worth the risk of manipulating a serious problem to create a likely solution. They have the training, skill, and passion necessary for total success. They work as a team toward a common goal that makes the world a safer place. In the right hands fighting fire with fire is a tool of salvation. They are firefighters creating positive from a negative... not fiery people who take a negative to its very limit and set fire to any positive along their self determined path toward self destruction.
All of us will encounter fiery people, and our goal ought to be to dampen their flames enough to save ourselves as much of a scorching as humanly possible. They will start a fire at our feet for the sole purpose of making us their arson accomplice. What we do next determines the height of the flames or the extinguishing of the same. Fighting fire with fire should be left to the pro's. But using the same tactic inside the boundaries of any human relationship never works in the intended fashion. In fact it truly can and most often does "backfire" in the most destructive ways.
Two wrongs will never equal a right, no matter how carefully you write the equation. Spiteful actions can quickly spiral into dangerous over-reactions, causing eruptions that spoil any landscape it flows across . And later is often much toooo late to fix anything broken on even the shortest trip down Retaliation Lane. Take the high road, away from the flames... for safety sake.
Refuse to toss more debris on the blaze and come daybreak there just may be some treasure worth salvaging amid the rubble. A lone moment spent acting out creates a fire that demands huge slices of time wasted, and energy better used in some other fashion besides arson management. Dealing with hot spots continues long after the main blaze is extinguished and careful attention must be directed to that tiresome endeavor. Our best use of an uncomfortable moment is to watch it pass without adding any insanity to something you can dismiss as unimportant once it disappears from view. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!!
"People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes."... Abigail Van Buren
Building a backfire ought to be left entirely up to firefighters. The possibility of saving a forest from flames is worth the risk of manipulating a serious problem to create a likely solution. They have the training, skill, and passion necessary for total success. They work as a team toward a common goal that makes the world a safer place. In the right hands fighting fire with fire is a tool of salvation. They are firefighters creating positive from a negative... not fiery people who take a negative to its very limit and set fire to any positive along their self determined path toward self destruction.
All of us will encounter fiery people, and our goal ought to be to dampen their flames enough to save ourselves as much of a scorching as humanly possible. They will start a fire at our feet for the sole purpose of making us their arson accomplice. What we do next determines the height of the flames or the extinguishing of the same. Fighting fire with fire should be left to the pro's. But using the same tactic inside the boundaries of any human relationship never works in the intended fashion. In fact it truly can and most often does "backfire" in the most destructive ways.
Two wrongs will never equal a right, no matter how carefully you write the equation. Spiteful actions can quickly spiral into dangerous over-reactions, causing eruptions that spoil any landscape it flows across . And later is often much toooo late to fix anything broken on even the shortest trip down Retaliation Lane. Take the high road, away from the flames... for safety sake.
Refuse to toss more debris on the blaze and come daybreak there just may be some treasure worth salvaging amid the rubble. A lone moment spent acting out creates a fire that demands huge slices of time wasted, and energy better used in some other fashion besides arson management. Dealing with hot spots continues long after the main blaze is extinguished and careful attention must be directed to that tiresome endeavor. Our best use of an uncomfortable moment is to watch it pass without adding any insanity to something you can dismiss as unimportant once it disappears from view. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
The Powers That Be
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"There are powers inside of you, which, if you could discover and use, would make of you everything you ever dreamed or imagined you could become."... Orison Swett Marden
There are powers inside of each of us, which enable us to achieve personal excellence. An almost magical energy really does exists, but it won't automatically rescue or enlighten. Utilization of it is only an option unless we deem otherwise. Finding it only takes the looking, tapping into it uses less effort than most personal growth exercises, and controlling its direction just takes practice. And the rewards are swift, certain, and priceless.
A bit of digging will locate the mother-load then it's only practice that separates a nervous novice from a pro in total control. We cannot dictate every event in our lifetime, but we can certainly direct our own actions and reactions to any given situation. We don't always... but until we give it our best every time we cannot know real peace. With every attempt we grow stronger and an almost sacred quiet begins to settle deep inside.
Sometimes altering a drama just isn't possible, yet changing our attitude toward it is a natural way of readjusting the dynamics of the dramatics. It's our own perceptions which cast us into the role of victim or hero. We each choose to either survive or thrive, falling short of the latter just means we willingly settled for the former. Possessing the power isn't enough, mastering its use, then using it wisely is only reached by way of a path that travels straight through our core.
Fact... hard fact... yet bitter-sweet because so very few of us truly tap into it and almost none take it to the furthest point we can reach. The heights we could scale on a path so crowded with positives is well above our capacity to imagine. But owning a joy so rich is well worth any agony it takes to earn it.
Awareness liberates us in ways nothing else ever could; admitting our weaknesses is only part of the formula, acknowledging our strengths is every bit as important. We create our reality by word... then deed, if it's not a comfortable fit then re-creation is well within our power. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!
"There are powers inside of you, which, if you could discover and use, would make of you everything you ever dreamed or imagined you could become."... Orison Swett Marden
There are powers inside of each of us, which enable us to achieve personal excellence. An almost magical energy really does exists, but it won't automatically rescue or enlighten. Utilization of it is only an option unless we deem otherwise. Finding it only takes the looking, tapping into it uses less effort than most personal growth exercises, and controlling its direction just takes practice. And the rewards are swift, certain, and priceless.
A bit of digging will locate the mother-load then it's only practice that separates a nervous novice from a pro in total control. We cannot dictate every event in our lifetime, but we can certainly direct our own actions and reactions to any given situation. We don't always... but until we give it our best every time we cannot know real peace. With every attempt we grow stronger and an almost sacred quiet begins to settle deep inside.
Sometimes altering a drama just isn't possible, yet changing our attitude toward it is a natural way of readjusting the dynamics of the dramatics. It's our own perceptions which cast us into the role of victim or hero. We each choose to either survive or thrive, falling short of the latter just means we willingly settled for the former. Possessing the power isn't enough, mastering its use, then using it wisely is only reached by way of a path that travels straight through our core.
Fact... hard fact... yet bitter-sweet because so very few of us truly tap into it and almost none take it to the furthest point we can reach. The heights we could scale on a path so crowded with positives is well above our capacity to imagine. But owning a joy so rich is well worth any agony it takes to earn it.
Awareness liberates us in ways nothing else ever could; admitting our weaknesses is only part of the formula, acknowledging our strengths is every bit as important. We create our reality by word... then deed, if it's not a comfortable fit then re-creation is well within our power. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!
Monday, May 14, 2007
All Men Should
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why."... James Thurber
This quote gives very sound advice; truly knowing yourself demands answers to all those questions and so many more. But all the puzzle pieces are there, scattered amongst the debris, it's the finding them that pinches. Growing pains in this case foretell wisdom, fairly earned and paid for in a fashion that transforms a brutal lesson into a priceless reward. But knowledge brings with it a responsibility of action that honors our new found wisdom.
Knowing why we do the things we do is only one small step to really being the master of our own space. Controlling our actions, no matter the provocation takes a lot of practice. Overcoming those ohhh sooo predictable knee-jerk reactionary urges isn't easy, but therein is the smoothest path to total freedom.
It just makes perfect sense that if we don't have control of our emotions they must have control of us. And putting a negative into such a position of strength is as senseless as begging for the hangman's noose. Feel free to place whomever you choose into the drivers seat, but don't be shocked by the wreckage if the child inside is granted the right to drive. Stop performing the same exact actions and expecting a different kind of outcome... DUH... NOT!!! When we put our pain to work, we harvest wisdom then what we do with it is the true test of how well we've learned.
All it takes to begin alterations of our reactions is awareness of exactly what flips our circuits and why. I guarantee someone important already possesses a ton of information about all our buttons and switches. Makes good sense that we should know as much as anyone else and more than most about what makes us tick, tick, tick. Whatever actions we take and choices we make should never be opted by habits decree. Informed decisions made by a peaceful mind won't ever steer in the wrong direction, so getting lost is never a concern. Careful attention to detail is always the safest path.
Check for hidden agendas, and listen for warning bells. Nothing is quite as painful as being manipulated into a position that pesters our soul. The more we know, the safer it goes. Knowing who's baggage is mixed in with ours allows us the luxury of unloading theirs, redistributing ours, and moving forward with only the weight we truly own. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!
"All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why."... James Thurber
This quote gives very sound advice; truly knowing yourself demands answers to all those questions and so many more. But all the puzzle pieces are there, scattered amongst the debris, it's the finding them that pinches. Growing pains in this case foretell wisdom, fairly earned and paid for in a fashion that transforms a brutal lesson into a priceless reward. But knowledge brings with it a responsibility of action that honors our new found wisdom.
Knowing why we do the things we do is only one small step to really being the master of our own space. Controlling our actions, no matter the provocation takes a lot of practice. Overcoming those ohhh sooo predictable knee-jerk reactionary urges isn't easy, but therein is the smoothest path to total freedom.
It just makes perfect sense that if we don't have control of our emotions they must have control of us. And putting a negative into such a position of strength is as senseless as begging for the hangman's noose. Feel free to place whomever you choose into the drivers seat, but don't be shocked by the wreckage if the child inside is granted the right to drive. Stop performing the same exact actions and expecting a different kind of outcome... DUH... NOT!!! When we put our pain to work, we harvest wisdom then what we do with it is the true test of how well we've learned.
All it takes to begin alterations of our reactions is awareness of exactly what flips our circuits and why. I guarantee someone important already possesses a ton of information about all our buttons and switches. Makes good sense that we should know as much as anyone else and more than most about what makes us tick, tick, tick. Whatever actions we take and choices we make should never be opted by habits decree. Informed decisions made by a peaceful mind won't ever steer in the wrong direction, so getting lost is never a concern. Careful attention to detail is always the safest path.
Check for hidden agendas, and listen for warning bells. Nothing is quite as painful as being manipulated into a position that pesters our soul. The more we know, the safer it goes. Knowing who's baggage is mixed in with ours allows us the luxury of unloading theirs, redistributing ours, and moving forward with only the weight we truly own. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!
Saturday, April 07, 2007
How it's Measured Matters Most
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Mile by mile it's a trial; yard by yard it's hard; but inch by inch it's a cinch."... Anonymous
What a clever arrangement of words; Anonymous is wise, as well as shy... and their sentiments are certainly worthy enough for recording to memory. It's a delightful way to caution others to focus upon where their feet are being placed if they wish to secure a stable foothold. Staring trance-like toward a final destination makes tripping on incidentals an almost effortless undertaking. But obstacles in our path aren't all that we miss noticing if we just stumble along.
Attention to detail certainly generates its own just reward, yet we cannot hope to receive any dividend if nothing has been invested for our sake. How can we even begin to truly absorb the here and now if all our attention is focused on the there and then? Later will have its moment in time, no need to endlessly watch the coming attractions and miss out on the feature presentation.
All of us have a story to tell and we're each the star there. But too many seem satisfied with playing the part of a robot or a puppet. I myself acted out the latter role for the first 40 years of my life. I didn't realize how much of the stage I'd set up with my own hands, until I began rearranging the scenery and my position therein. Once I truly realized that I was the one passing out the scripts, I became much more careful in casting the parts. And that didn't happen overnight... but it certainly happened.
When true awareness occurs nothing is ever the same; knowing something that profound just isn't ever undone. And acting dumb won't fly past a certain point, no matter how cute you are. Once you have a real clue then the trip has a whole new wrinkle. Suddenly we realize the speed we travel at isn't nearly as important as the direction of our journey. So what, if we aren't the the fastest train on the track? If we're headed forward it just doesn't really matter how quickly we reach our destination. And why rush to the end of the line???? Think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!
"Mile by mile it's a trial; yard by yard it's hard; but inch by inch it's a cinch."... Anonymous
What a clever arrangement of words; Anonymous is wise, as well as shy... and their sentiments are certainly worthy enough for recording to memory. It's a delightful way to caution others to focus upon where their feet are being placed if they wish to secure a stable foothold. Staring trance-like toward a final destination makes tripping on incidentals an almost effortless undertaking. But obstacles in our path aren't all that we miss noticing if we just stumble along.
Attention to detail certainly generates its own just reward, yet we cannot hope to receive any dividend if nothing has been invested for our sake. How can we even begin to truly absorb the here and now if all our attention is focused on the there and then? Later will have its moment in time, no need to endlessly watch the coming attractions and miss out on the feature presentation.
All of us have a story to tell and we're each the star there. But too many seem satisfied with playing the part of a robot or a puppet. I myself acted out the latter role for the first 40 years of my life. I didn't realize how much of the stage I'd set up with my own hands, until I began rearranging the scenery and my position therein. Once I truly realized that I was the one passing out the scripts, I became much more careful in casting the parts. And that didn't happen overnight... but it certainly happened.
When true awareness occurs nothing is ever the same; knowing something that profound just isn't ever undone. And acting dumb won't fly past a certain point, no matter how cute you are. Once you have a real clue then the trip has a whole new wrinkle. Suddenly we realize the speed we travel at isn't nearly as important as the direction of our journey. So what, if we aren't the the fastest train on the track? If we're headed forward it just doesn't really matter how quickly we reach our destination. And why rush to the end of the line???? Think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!
Monday, April 02, 2007
The Creating of a Masterpiece
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"All of us invent ourselves. Some of us just have more imagination than others.".... Cher
Well, this is a great quote to go with this day. I wrote a very good piece to fit right here, but it demanded a chance at a different kind of life than the one it can have here. If it finds a resting place, I promise to give everyone a map to its location. Cross fingers, say a prayer, knock on wood, and all that other nonsense that will make me feel a bit of comfort.
Truly this submitting to outside interests is a bit like standing naked in a crowd. But what good is marching to your own drummer if you just go around in endless tight little circles. Evolution demands growth. The day I'm totally satisfied with whatever crumbs fall at my feet is the day I lay down my pen and end this insanity.
Well its now the 3rd and the piece I spoke of has now been published and I have a place to send everyone. http://www.socyberty.com/Philosophy/Creating-a-Masterpiece.20090 The name Hannah Oliver is a beloved name to me, although it isn't mine by birth. She is the heroine of a novel I'm working on, and until I can breathe real life into her, she'll keep me company this way. Check it out... leave a comment... dream with me for just a moment. Then dream one for yourself. Think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!
"All of us invent ourselves. Some of us just have more imagination than others.".... Cher
Well, this is a great quote to go with this day. I wrote a very good piece to fit right here, but it demanded a chance at a different kind of life than the one it can have here. If it finds a resting place, I promise to give everyone a map to its location. Cross fingers, say a prayer, knock on wood, and all that other nonsense that will make me feel a bit of comfort.
Truly this submitting to outside interests is a bit like standing naked in a crowd. But what good is marching to your own drummer if you just go around in endless tight little circles. Evolution demands growth. The day I'm totally satisfied with whatever crumbs fall at my feet is the day I lay down my pen and end this insanity.
Well its now the 3rd and the piece I spoke of has now been published and I have a place to send everyone. http://www.socyberty.com/Philosophy/Creating-a-Masterpiece.20090 The name Hannah Oliver is a beloved name to me, although it isn't mine by birth. She is the heroine of a novel I'm working on, and until I can breathe real life into her, she'll keep me company this way. Check it out... leave a comment... dream with me for just a moment. Then dream one for yourself. Think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!
Friday, March 30, 2007
Costly Dreams
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"There is always a risk to follow your bliss, a price to pursue your passion."... James A. Ray
I know painfully well the cost involved of trusting the wrong person with the precious things that are conceived inside the mind, nurtured in the soul, and born from the heart. But on the other side of the same coin, I know that past agony can make us mistrust too easily. Denying life to something the world would benefit from because we "might" be wounded again is a common reason to abandon the whole thing and walk away.
But regret is one of the heaviest emotions known to man, lugging it around for life is a stiff penalty to pay for avoiding a "might" happen. Making a balanced risk is almost impossible with every wall ever built against pain, popping up in the way and tipping the scale. And losing out completely is certain if you lack the nerve to answer opportunity's knock. Ennie, meanie, minie, moe.... feels like danger any way I go... Yet, to not try admits defeat.
A quitter never won a race, dead last is his only point of fame. Chances taken are what gives life its magic.
Dreams brought to life sometimes have the power to make the world a much gentler place. And even if it's only your own personal orbit that gets altered, any life enriched, enriches many. Our touch is never ever confined only to those within arms reach; the one's we touch, touch other's, who touch other's, etc, etc, etc. I've learned that one dream come true is worth whatever pain came before. Without chances taken my life would be so very different.
If I hadn't of had enough nerve to get on a plane... Well, all who know me know what that chance earned and what joy it inspires. If I live to be a hundred and can still conceive a notion worth dream status, I suppose I'll always be unwilling to suffer through the "what if's" that come from not at least peeking out the door. And if I refuse to alter the things important to my soul then any chance, even the wrong one, can never cost more than I can afford to pay. I like who i am. If the chance I take doesn't alter that then I can survive with ease. And so can you. Think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!
"There is always a risk to follow your bliss, a price to pursue your passion."... James A. Ray
I know painfully well the cost involved of trusting the wrong person with the precious things that are conceived inside the mind, nurtured in the soul, and born from the heart. But on the other side of the same coin, I know that past agony can make us mistrust too easily. Denying life to something the world would benefit from because we "might" be wounded again is a common reason to abandon the whole thing and walk away.
But regret is one of the heaviest emotions known to man, lugging it around for life is a stiff penalty to pay for avoiding a "might" happen. Making a balanced risk is almost impossible with every wall ever built against pain, popping up in the way and tipping the scale. And losing out completely is certain if you lack the nerve to answer opportunity's knock. Ennie, meanie, minie, moe.... feels like danger any way I go... Yet, to not try admits defeat.
A quitter never won a race, dead last is his only point of fame. Chances taken are what gives life its magic.
Dreams brought to life sometimes have the power to make the world a much gentler place. And even if it's only your own personal orbit that gets altered, any life enriched, enriches many. Our touch is never ever confined only to those within arms reach; the one's we touch, touch other's, who touch other's, etc, etc, etc. I've learned that one dream come true is worth whatever pain came before. Without chances taken my life would be so very different.
If I hadn't of had enough nerve to get on a plane... Well, all who know me know what that chance earned and what joy it inspires. If I live to be a hundred and can still conceive a notion worth dream status, I suppose I'll always be unwilling to suffer through the "what if's" that come from not at least peeking out the door. And if I refuse to alter the things important to my soul then any chance, even the wrong one, can never cost more than I can afford to pay. I like who i am. If the chance I take doesn't alter that then I can survive with ease. And so can you. Think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Universal Peace
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"For peace of mind, we need to resign as general manager of the universe."... Larry Eisenberg
Imagining that we can control the universe is flawed thinking in the extreme. Fantasizing that we have command of much of anything not inside our personal orbit is a delusion, pure and simple. The fact that someone tells you how to tend your biscuits doesn't give them any real power. But when you begin blindly following instructions it elects them biscuit king and bread lords can be ever so regal.
But land sakes, don't some folks just think they're in charge of every damn thing? They have an opinion of how every thing is done... and it just isn't ever how you're doing it! And, God Bless them they don't hold anything back, though I'm certain nobody bothers to ask them much of anything after even a small dose of their criticism.
Truly I believe most people don't mean to offend, they really imagine they're preforming an important service. But we censure each other too damn often, and with too little right to say anything in the first place. I've made it my business to keep MOST of my point making issues confined to things of some real import. I mean honestly, I just cannot make myself give a shit about how others dress... or do their hair... or who did what to whom.
And he said, she said is totally wasted on me. I hate gossip, don't hear it, speak it, or tolerate it. I've got better things to do. I'm much too busy making my own mistakes and calling myself an idiot to spread the dread anywhere else. Why would I want to? And you shouldn't want to either. Think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!!
"For peace of mind, we need to resign as general manager of the universe."... Larry Eisenberg
Imagining that we can control the universe is flawed thinking in the extreme. Fantasizing that we have command of much of anything not inside our personal orbit is a delusion, pure and simple. The fact that someone tells you how to tend your biscuits doesn't give them any real power. But when you begin blindly following instructions it elects them biscuit king and bread lords can be ever so regal.
But land sakes, don't some folks just think they're in charge of every damn thing? They have an opinion of how every thing is done... and it just isn't ever how you're doing it! And, God Bless them they don't hold anything back, though I'm certain nobody bothers to ask them much of anything after even a small dose of their criticism.
Truly I believe most people don't mean to offend, they really imagine they're preforming an important service. But we censure each other too damn often, and with too little right to say anything in the first place. I've made it my business to keep MOST of my point making issues confined to things of some real import. I mean honestly, I just cannot make myself give a shit about how others dress... or do their hair... or who did what to whom.
And he said, she said is totally wasted on me. I hate gossip, don't hear it, speak it, or tolerate it. I've got better things to do. I'm much too busy making my own mistakes and calling myself an idiot to spread the dread anywhere else. Why would I want to? And you shouldn't want to either. Think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Strength Scale
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Adversity is another way to measure the greatness of individuals. I never had a crisis that didn't make me stronger."... Lou Holtz
Individual greatness is a common birthright, although there's no guarantee any of us will ever live up to our true possibilities. I suspect even the brightest among us still have some fancy unused lighting stored away somewhere. And I know even when true potential does exist if it's left untended it simply never matures. And face it, sometimes it's much easier to be invisible and generic than front row and spot-lighted. That kind of glamour and glitter just isn't for every man, woman, and child.
After all... some of us need to be available to populate the audience. It's certainly a wonderful thing that there are so many different measures of greatness. That offers a much better chance of everyone getting their fair share with just a bit of effort when fame and fortune aren't involved in the equation. And some measurements only require common sense... uncommonly acted upon... meaning that with a bit of forethought we can all be extraordinary in some fashion or form that's unique to our place and time!!!
Most things in life test our patience, some days it feels as if we're single-handily bench pressing the entire weight of the world. Learning perfect balance is mandatory to holding onto whatever we must, but true balance also means discovering what we can and should stop lugging around. Adversity makes us choose. Bull-shit forces change and if it doesn't that's bull-shit too!!!
We're often like pioneers with big dreams, who pack a wagon full of bright and shinny bobbles and head for better pastures. Long before the trip is over the trail is littered with all things useless to our survival. Adapting to our surrounding is mandatory. All lessons learned this way are priceless... often they're brutal... yet the better learned the higher our capacity for greatness.
What makes humans truly great is our capacity to weather most anything and come out smiling. We're not only a product of what happens to us, we're also the total of HOW we react to the situations in our lifetime. Situations change and to be truly great we must change with them. And when alterations occur it just makes sense to subtract what is negative in favor of adding positives. If you're remodeling in any other fashion then rethink your choices. When someone wants to brighten their surroundings they don't paint the walls black, yet dwelling on bull-shit is the darkest pigment on the pallet.
Two days ago I had the most wonderful post written for this quote. When I pushed publish my computer ate my homework. My heart instantly dropped into my socks. My temperature began to rise, but three heartbeats later I took a deep breath and rose from this chair and went straight to bed... and straight to sleep. The following day I attempted to redo what was lost, but it felt too much like a chore. For two days I mostly used my time online to meet new friends and revisit older ones who seem to get true comfort from hearing my step echo beside their own. My reward is 3 new relationships, several older ones refreshed and renewed, and this post, which is better, longer, and wiser than the eaten one.
I've been on this journey for a very long time, yet I'm still rearranging my wagon. If I have true wisdom, I'll never simply settle for whatever is already packed as being all that is needed for a full life. Hopefully, I'll always have room for the treasures I stumble upon and not leave them behind in favor of some bright and shinny bobble. Think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!
"Adversity is another way to measure the greatness of individuals. I never had a crisis that didn't make me stronger."... Lou Holtz
Individual greatness is a common birthright, although there's no guarantee any of us will ever live up to our true possibilities. I suspect even the brightest among us still have some fancy unused lighting stored away somewhere. And I know even when true potential does exist if it's left untended it simply never matures. And face it, sometimes it's much easier to be invisible and generic than front row and spot-lighted. That kind of glamour and glitter just isn't for every man, woman, and child.
After all... some of us need to be available to populate the audience. It's certainly a wonderful thing that there are so many different measures of greatness. That offers a much better chance of everyone getting their fair share with just a bit of effort when fame and fortune aren't involved in the equation. And some measurements only require common sense... uncommonly acted upon... meaning that with a bit of forethought we can all be extraordinary in some fashion or form that's unique to our place and time!!!
Most things in life test our patience, some days it feels as if we're single-handily bench pressing the entire weight of the world. Learning perfect balance is mandatory to holding onto whatever we must, but true balance also means discovering what we can and should stop lugging around. Adversity makes us choose. Bull-shit forces change and if it doesn't that's bull-shit too!!!
We're often like pioneers with big dreams, who pack a wagon full of bright and shinny bobbles and head for better pastures. Long before the trip is over the trail is littered with all things useless to our survival. Adapting to our surrounding is mandatory. All lessons learned this way are priceless... often they're brutal... yet the better learned the higher our capacity for greatness.
What makes humans truly great is our capacity to weather most anything and come out smiling. We're not only a product of what happens to us, we're also the total of HOW we react to the situations in our lifetime. Situations change and to be truly great we must change with them. And when alterations occur it just makes sense to subtract what is negative in favor of adding positives. If you're remodeling in any other fashion then rethink your choices. When someone wants to brighten their surroundings they don't paint the walls black, yet dwelling on bull-shit is the darkest pigment on the pallet.
Two days ago I had the most wonderful post written for this quote. When I pushed publish my computer ate my homework. My heart instantly dropped into my socks. My temperature began to rise, but three heartbeats later I took a deep breath and rose from this chair and went straight to bed... and straight to sleep. The following day I attempted to redo what was lost, but it felt too much like a chore. For two days I mostly used my time online to meet new friends and revisit older ones who seem to get true comfort from hearing my step echo beside their own. My reward is 3 new relationships, several older ones refreshed and renewed, and this post, which is better, longer, and wiser than the eaten one.
I've been on this journey for a very long time, yet I'm still rearranging my wagon. If I have true wisdom, I'll never simply settle for whatever is already packed as being all that is needed for a full life. Hopefully, I'll always have room for the treasures I stumble upon and not leave them behind in favor of some bright and shinny bobble. Think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Making Stones From Blocks
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"One of the secrets of life is to make stepping-stones out of stumbling blocks."... Jack Penn
The only thing that ever keeps a stumbling block from being a stepping-stone is the simple tilt of our head. How we opt to look at it is often the deciding factor. In life it isn't so much what treacherous landscape we travel through as it is how we view our role there. Are we victim or hero? Are we a good example or a terrible warning?
Other's may have a different view, but unless we adopt that role it isn't truly our reality. We create by word then deed whatever image we choose. If we act without free choice we are little more than blind reactions to random situations. There are people with issues who use others to measure their own success in life. Often someone will secretly celebrate our failure because then they feel more comfortable with their own. Agendas can be fascinating to explore, but dangerous to stumble upon when facing trauma of any sort.
I'm not stupid, but if someone views me as such it gives me pause, and if I act upon it that gives them proof. Wisdom comes in many forms. When someone's opinion is the stumbling block we face, the easiest way to tilt the playing field is to decrease how much value we place in their estimation and increase how much value we place in our own. Choose to be a hero, because victims are a dime a dozen. Opt to twist your head so that negative situations become positive opportunities. Think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
"One of the secrets of life is to make stepping-stones out of stumbling blocks."... Jack Penn
The only thing that ever keeps a stumbling block from being a stepping-stone is the simple tilt of our head. How we opt to look at it is often the deciding factor. In life it isn't so much what treacherous landscape we travel through as it is how we view our role there. Are we victim or hero? Are we a good example or a terrible warning?
Other's may have a different view, but unless we adopt that role it isn't truly our reality. We create by word then deed whatever image we choose. If we act without free choice we are little more than blind reactions to random situations. There are people with issues who use others to measure their own success in life. Often someone will secretly celebrate our failure because then they feel more comfortable with their own. Agendas can be fascinating to explore, but dangerous to stumble upon when facing trauma of any sort.
I'm not stupid, but if someone views me as such it gives me pause, and if I act upon it that gives them proof. Wisdom comes in many forms. When someone's opinion is the stumbling block we face, the easiest way to tilt the playing field is to decrease how much value we place in their estimation and increase how much value we place in our own. Choose to be a hero, because victims are a dime a dozen. Opt to twist your head so that negative situations become positive opportunities. Think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide!!!!
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Dodging Boomerangs
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later, with astounding accuracy."... Florence Shinn
Karma... is defined as the effects of a person's actions that determine their fate. It's considered the sum of all that an individual has done, is currently doing and will do. People go through certain processes and accompanying experiences throughout their lives which they have chosen, and those would be based on the results of their own creations: "karma". Karma is not about retribution, vengeance, punishment or reward. Karma simply deals with what is. The effects of all deeds actively create past, present and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the pain and joy it brings to others.
What goes around comes around is another way of putting it that most people recognize. The pendulum does swing in both directions, which seems as natural and sane as any true example of cause and effect. I believe it without even a shadow of a doubt. We should all try to temper our actions to adjust to its rhythm. We ought to leave any and all retribution to the discretion of the judge... who knows both sides without being told. I view revenge as a weak mans weapon. A higher power has my back and that's enough protection for me, no matter what happens.
The more people who consider this to be a truism, the gentler the world can become. If we all used forethought to decide how our actions will touch the ones we love most, we'd just naturally be a bit more careful. When a person becomes less reactionary they have much better control of the direction of their journey. Kindness to others creates positive power. Gentleness with ourselves promotes healthy growth. And combining the two gives karma an honored space to ferment.
What is tossed out, comes back. Better to reap what is sowed from a healthy field than to just take a chance with whatever grows up among the weeds. Better to willingly reach for what is heading home than to forever be dodging barbed wire boomerangs. We create our own reality, so draft a masterpiece. Why don't you.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide????
"The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later, with astounding accuracy."... Florence Shinn
Karma... is defined as the effects of a person's actions that determine their fate. It's considered the sum of all that an individual has done, is currently doing and will do. People go through certain processes and accompanying experiences throughout their lives which they have chosen, and those would be based on the results of their own creations: "karma". Karma is not about retribution, vengeance, punishment or reward. Karma simply deals with what is. The effects of all deeds actively create past, present and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the pain and joy it brings to others.
What goes around comes around is another way of putting it that most people recognize. The pendulum does swing in both directions, which seems as natural and sane as any true example of cause and effect. I believe it without even a shadow of a doubt. We should all try to temper our actions to adjust to its rhythm. We ought to leave any and all retribution to the discretion of the judge... who knows both sides without being told. I view revenge as a weak mans weapon. A higher power has my back and that's enough protection for me, no matter what happens.
The more people who consider this to be a truism, the gentler the world can become. If we all used forethought to decide how our actions will touch the ones we love most, we'd just naturally be a bit more careful. When a person becomes less reactionary they have much better control of the direction of their journey. Kindness to others creates positive power. Gentleness with ourselves promotes healthy growth. And combining the two gives karma an honored space to ferment.
What is tossed out, comes back. Better to reap what is sowed from a healthy field than to just take a chance with whatever grows up among the weeds. Better to willingly reach for what is heading home than to forever be dodging barbed wire boomerangs. We create our own reality, so draft a masterpiece. Why don't you.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide????
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Sensible Schooling
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"When the student is ready, the teacher appears."... Tao saying
Real wisdom comes from out-smarting, out-wrestling, or out-living whatever brings us to our knees and makes us doubt our almost magical ability to survive. How can we learn to thrive if any ole' stiff wind can knock us down? Life contains all kinds of weather, knowing how to endure any climate takes practice. Lessons are hard won... yet impossible to forget.
And there is an almost perfect balance between what we need to know and what life suddenly tosses our direction. Most times that may be of little comfort, yet it eventually earns a sweet sense of being just where we should be at any given time of our journey. Whenever we need to learn it most... the lesson really is there; once we know this to be true the learning becomes so much easier.
Why fight the knowing? Once you admit how senseless it is to waste time and energy struggling against the inevitable it's much quicker as well as less painful to learn even the hardest of lessons. It just makes good sense to suppose that a willing student would naturally gain understanding at an accelerated pace. It makes even better sense to figure that the faster the knowing, the shallower the wound... the shorter the ache, the fainter the scar. Why don't you... think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!
"When the student is ready, the teacher appears."... Tao saying
Real wisdom comes from out-smarting, out-wrestling, or out-living whatever brings us to our knees and makes us doubt our almost magical ability to survive. How can we learn to thrive if any ole' stiff wind can knock us down? Life contains all kinds of weather, knowing how to endure any climate takes practice. Lessons are hard won... yet impossible to forget.
And there is an almost perfect balance between what we need to know and what life suddenly tosses our direction. Most times that may be of little comfort, yet it eventually earns a sweet sense of being just where we should be at any given time of our journey. Whenever we need to learn it most... the lesson really is there; once we know this to be true the learning becomes so much easier.
Why fight the knowing? Once you admit how senseless it is to waste time and energy struggling against the inevitable it's much quicker as well as less painful to learn even the hardest of lessons. It just makes good sense to suppose that a willing student would naturally gain understanding at an accelerated pace. It makes even better sense to figure that the faster the knowing, the shallower the wound... the shorter the ache, the fainter the scar. Why don't you... think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!
Thursday, March 08, 2007
A Dragons True Depth
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are but princesses that are waiting to see us act just once with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything terrible is in its deepest essence, something helpless that needs our love."... Rainer Maria Rilke
Wow, I'm still blinking fast, while re-reading slowly... damn ain't words grand when they're strung together magical like that? This quote is a treasure that takes the breath away and expands the mind all in the blink of an eye. Perhaps all dragons do need love to become domesticated... that thought isn't as far out as it would seem at first glance. Running from the terribles only adds to their size and to our misfortune. But facing them can be as beautiful and flawless as ballet if we measure our movements and stay within range of the rhythm set by our soul.
Kindness toward our own weaknesses doesn't mean that we let them lead us into temptation and failure. Knowledge of where our switches are located and what stimuli flips them is vital to keeping things running smoothly. Mastering our dragons doesn't always mean death to the beast, sometimes taming is more than enough to satisfy our needs.
A dragons true depth should always be fully examined. And it's birthplace can give clues to the amount of agony fueling its actions. Soothing a beast is much easier if you know where the wound is located. Wisdom gained during battle is one of the spoils of any well fought conflict.
Anything discovered after a war with yourself is the most precious treasure known to man. One learns quickly to choose weapons wisely, destroying your own internal landscape is a most foolish undertaking. There are things worthy of a good fight, but everything shouldn't be a struggle.
A dragon tamer is a much gentler warrior than one who slays the beast, but it isn't a matter of lack of strength. The former simply knows that taking by force what could be gained by reason is a bullies tactic. Knowing when to stroke and when to strike is the mark of a very wise warrior. Why don't you.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide???? I did!!!!
"Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are but princesses that are waiting to see us act just once with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything terrible is in its deepest essence, something helpless that needs our love."... Rainer Maria Rilke
Wow, I'm still blinking fast, while re-reading slowly... damn ain't words grand when they're strung together magical like that? This quote is a treasure that takes the breath away and expands the mind all in the blink of an eye. Perhaps all dragons do need love to become domesticated... that thought isn't as far out as it would seem at first glance. Running from the terribles only adds to their size and to our misfortune. But facing them can be as beautiful and flawless as ballet if we measure our movements and stay within range of the rhythm set by our soul.
Kindness toward our own weaknesses doesn't mean that we let them lead us into temptation and failure. Knowledge of where our switches are located and what stimuli flips them is vital to keeping things running smoothly. Mastering our dragons doesn't always mean death to the beast, sometimes taming is more than enough to satisfy our needs.
A dragons true depth should always be fully examined. And it's birthplace can give clues to the amount of agony fueling its actions. Soothing a beast is much easier if you know where the wound is located. Wisdom gained during battle is one of the spoils of any well fought conflict.
Anything discovered after a war with yourself is the most precious treasure known to man. One learns quickly to choose weapons wisely, destroying your own internal landscape is a most foolish undertaking. There are things worthy of a good fight, but everything shouldn't be a struggle.
A dragon tamer is a much gentler warrior than one who slays the beast, but it isn't a matter of lack of strength. The former simply knows that taking by force what could be gained by reason is a bullies tactic. Knowing when to stroke and when to strike is the mark of a very wise warrior. Why don't you.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide???? I did!!!!
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Refresh
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"If you have made mistakes, even serious mistakes, you may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down."... Mary Pickford
Each day is a new beginning; the simple act of awakening is in itself a gentle rebirth, but a deliberate refresh doesn't need dawn to begin its illumination. We can choose place and time, or something may inspire a hard look at reality without the aid of our rose colored glasses. Auto refresh begins while we're still blinking from the shock of suddenly getting a clue. At our initial awakening and at every other dawning of understanding it's important to tell God that we see the issue and truly, "get" its real value in our own personal growth.
Mistakes are only permanent if we keep on making them. At some point the punishment should convince us that repeating the same actions and expecting a different outcome is a fools idea of reality. The lesson gets learned eventually by most of us, and once we admit that there are lessons in all things we look for them much sooner. Each issue has its own plain as day solution and every problem will periodically reappear until we're able to do the math... admit our role in its cause and effect... then add it to our own personal no fly list. The next time we see it it's no big issue to avoid getting all hung up and beat down by the crime and punishment it offers. And when it gets tired of being dismissed it'll try to peddle its damage elsewhere. Learn... test... graduate... move on!!!!
Falling down is certain, getting up is optional. When you hit hard it helps to remember that staying down means they win... whoever they are... they have the last laugh. The notion that I'm expected to remain prone is enough fuel to get me upright. There is no ease to be found while laying helpless upon the ground. Life may seem like a burden sometimes, but we too often continue carrying heavy baggage that was only meant for instructional purposes. We're meant to learn from it then set it down... lighter in spirit... wiser in mind. Why don't you... think about it... let it ride... then decide???
"If you have made mistakes, even serious mistakes, you may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down."... Mary Pickford
Each day is a new beginning; the simple act of awakening is in itself a gentle rebirth, but a deliberate refresh doesn't need dawn to begin its illumination. We can choose place and time, or something may inspire a hard look at reality without the aid of our rose colored glasses. Auto refresh begins while we're still blinking from the shock of suddenly getting a clue. At our initial awakening and at every other dawning of understanding it's important to tell God that we see the issue and truly, "get" its real value in our own personal growth.
Mistakes are only permanent if we keep on making them. At some point the punishment should convince us that repeating the same actions and expecting a different outcome is a fools idea of reality. The lesson gets learned eventually by most of us, and once we admit that there are lessons in all things we look for them much sooner. Each issue has its own plain as day solution and every problem will periodically reappear until we're able to do the math... admit our role in its cause and effect... then add it to our own personal no fly list. The next time we see it it's no big issue to avoid getting all hung up and beat down by the crime and punishment it offers. And when it gets tired of being dismissed it'll try to peddle its damage elsewhere. Learn... test... graduate... move on!!!!
Falling down is certain, getting up is optional. When you hit hard it helps to remember that staying down means they win... whoever they are... they have the last laugh. The notion that I'm expected to remain prone is enough fuel to get me upright. There is no ease to be found while laying helpless upon the ground. Life may seem like a burden sometimes, but we too often continue carrying heavy baggage that was only meant for instructional purposes. We're meant to learn from it then set it down... lighter in spirit... wiser in mind. Why don't you... think about it... let it ride... then decide???
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Pardon Me
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future."... Paul Boese
Grudges of any sort take up so much space inside the baggage we carry, frankly I resent renting any room at all to negatives. I'm more apt to tuck in a few extra positives and as many spare smiles as I can hold. The things that add joy to the space they inhabit weigh next to nothing and can actually lighten the load by lifting dark moods and reducing disturbing thoughts. The less blame you deal out the less guilt you earn. Pardon me anytime, it's good for you too.
Forgiveness isn't easy, but it's always better than willingly assigning such a heavy load to your own shoulders. Life has a habit of placing enough obstacles in our path, so why build burdens? Funny thing is, it's not always someone else that needs forgiveness most... sometimes the hardest person to pardon is yourself.
Getting past the past demands coming to terms with things that are often very unpleasant to terminate. Taking responsibility for our own offenses is necessary, but we also have to own up to the things we allowed in others. That can be a most bitter pill to swallow. There may even be times when someone denies you forgiveness, making your own pardon all the more vital to getting on with life.
Once a lesson is learned and a pardon granted there is no sane reason to continue carrying the negatives any situation inspires. Face the way your heading and keep an eye on the prize, don't try walking backwards and expect to get anywhere. Why don't you.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide????
"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future."... Paul Boese
Grudges of any sort take up so much space inside the baggage we carry, frankly I resent renting any room at all to negatives. I'm more apt to tuck in a few extra positives and as many spare smiles as I can hold. The things that add joy to the space they inhabit weigh next to nothing and can actually lighten the load by lifting dark moods and reducing disturbing thoughts. The less blame you deal out the less guilt you earn. Pardon me anytime, it's good for you too.
Forgiveness isn't easy, but it's always better than willingly assigning such a heavy load to your own shoulders. Life has a habit of placing enough obstacles in our path, so why build burdens? Funny thing is, it's not always someone else that needs forgiveness most... sometimes the hardest person to pardon is yourself.
Getting past the past demands coming to terms with things that are often very unpleasant to terminate. Taking responsibility for our own offenses is necessary, but we also have to own up to the things we allowed in others. That can be a most bitter pill to swallow. There may even be times when someone denies you forgiveness, making your own pardon all the more vital to getting on with life.
Once a lesson is learned and a pardon granted there is no sane reason to continue carrying the negatives any situation inspires. Face the way your heading and keep an eye on the prize, don't try walking backwards and expect to get anywhere. Why don't you.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide????
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Awakenings
No quote today... but the following email more than makes up for its absence. I had my own personal awakening on 10-30-93. Nothing...and I mean absolutely N O T H I N G has been the same since. Life is a constant evolution and I'm very much involved with the changes in my life, both internally and externally.
Awareness is such a wondrous thing. Awakening is meant to sharpen our sight and fine tune our awareness. The ability to embrace each moment is developed with use and adjustments to our point of view naturally enhance our field of vision. Life is sooooo much more than simply what meets the eye.
I know many who read here are in different stages of awakening and I celebrate each emancipation as if it were my own. There is a special bond that forms between the ones that travel this path, and gender isn't important. Men are just as apt to be imprisoned as women, their reasons are often different, but the end result is identical.
If the journey is new, don't struggle to stay asleep. If mid way or more, look around for someone that looks a bit worse for wear and adopt the buddy system. If you have some input on the subject add it to the comment space here. Share knowledge and insight. Each one, teach one is a good rule of thumb. The more often you speak of it, the stronger its reality. And if you think you're done.... think again!!!!
The Awakening
A time comes in your life when you finally get it…when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out…ENOUGH!
Enough fighting and crying and blaming and struggling to hold on. Then, like a child quieting down after a tantrum, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is your awakening.
You realize it’s time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change, or for happiness, safety and security to magically appear over the next horizon.
You realize that in the real world there aren’t always fairy tale endings, and that any guarantee of “happily ever after” must begin with you…and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.
You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are… and that’s OK. They are entitled to their own views and opinions.
You learn the importance of loving and championing yourself… and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.
You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you - or didn’t do for you - and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.
You learn that people don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that everything isn’t always about you.
So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself… and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance. You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties… and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.
You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you’ve outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with.
You learn that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a “consumer” looking for your next fix.
You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.
You learn that you don’t know everything, it’s not your job to save the world and that you can’t teach a pig to sing. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.
Then you learn about love. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You learn that alone does not mean lonely.
You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.
You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs.
You learn that your body really is your temple. You begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water, and take more time to exercise.
You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.
You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe you deserve, and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen.
More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone, and that it’s OK to risk asking for help.
You learn the only thing you must truly fear is fear itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms.
You learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.
You learn that life isn’t always fair, you don’t always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people… and you learn not to always take it personally.
You learn that nobody’s punishing you and everything isn’t always somebody’s fault. It’s just life happening. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.
You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you.
You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.
Then, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart’s desire.
You make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.
You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind.
Finally, with courage in your heart, you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best you can.
Awareness is such a wondrous thing. Awakening is meant to sharpen our sight and fine tune our awareness. The ability to embrace each moment is developed with use and adjustments to our point of view naturally enhance our field of vision. Life is sooooo much more than simply what meets the eye.
I know many who read here are in different stages of awakening and I celebrate each emancipation as if it were my own. There is a special bond that forms between the ones that travel this path, and gender isn't important. Men are just as apt to be imprisoned as women, their reasons are often different, but the end result is identical.
If the journey is new, don't struggle to stay asleep. If mid way or more, look around for someone that looks a bit worse for wear and adopt the buddy system. If you have some input on the subject add it to the comment space here. Share knowledge and insight. Each one, teach one is a good rule of thumb. The more often you speak of it, the stronger its reality. And if you think you're done.... think again!!!!
The Awakening
A time comes in your life when you finally get it…when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out…ENOUGH!
Enough fighting and crying and blaming and struggling to hold on. Then, like a child quieting down after a tantrum, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is your awakening.
You realize it’s time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change, or for happiness, safety and security to magically appear over the next horizon.
You realize that in the real world there aren’t always fairy tale endings, and that any guarantee of “happily ever after” must begin with you…and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.
You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are… and that’s OK. They are entitled to their own views and opinions.
You learn the importance of loving and championing yourself… and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.
You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you - or didn’t do for you - and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.
You learn that people don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that everything isn’t always about you.
So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself… and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance. You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties… and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.
You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you’ve outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with.
You learn that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a “consumer” looking for your next fix.
You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.
You learn that you don’t know everything, it’s not your job to save the world and that you can’t teach a pig to sing. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.
Then you learn about love. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You learn that alone does not mean lonely.
You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.
You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs.
You learn that your body really is your temple. You begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water, and take more time to exercise.
You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.
You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe you deserve, and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen.
More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone, and that it’s OK to risk asking for help.
You learn the only thing you must truly fear is fear itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms.
You learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.
You learn that life isn’t always fair, you don’t always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people… and you learn not to always take it personally.
You learn that nobody’s punishing you and everything isn’t always somebody’s fault. It’s just life happening. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.
You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you.
You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.
Then, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart’s desire.
You make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.
You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind.
Finally, with courage in your heart, you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best you can.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Choose Sunbeams
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.".... Maori proverb
This quote is right on target. Such a simple truth said in such a pretty fashion should be easy enough to remember. During my lifetime, I've stumbled through some pitch-black places when these words would surly have helped prevent melancholy. Reciting them as a verbal talisman would've chased away all evil thoughts and bothersome notions. Well, luckily I'm armed with them now... and they should work effectively for both wound prevention and damage control.
Gathering tools and weapons is each warriors responsibility, just as the use of them falls to their owners. But free-choice in all things is our best defense against attack. Being in control of self often is the only command possible and the only way to have any real influence upon the outcome. And to me it seems such a small thing to keep the shadows at bay with sunbeams.
The direction you, "choose" to point your attention is vital. Positives just naturally avoid the shadows, while negatives are like vampires who turn to ashes in sunlight. Pick the path with heart. Keep your eye on the prize, populate your space with people who add more than they could ever take away. Repopulate if necessary. Make choices with some forethought and create a reality worthy of your presence there. Why don't you... think about it... let it ride... then YOU decide???
"Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.".... Maori proverb
This quote is right on target. Such a simple truth said in such a pretty fashion should be easy enough to remember. During my lifetime, I've stumbled through some pitch-black places when these words would surly have helped prevent melancholy. Reciting them as a verbal talisman would've chased away all evil thoughts and bothersome notions. Well, luckily I'm armed with them now... and they should work effectively for both wound prevention and damage control.
Gathering tools and weapons is each warriors responsibility, just as the use of them falls to their owners. But free-choice in all things is our best defense against attack. Being in control of self often is the only command possible and the only way to have any real influence upon the outcome. And to me it seems such a small thing to keep the shadows at bay with sunbeams.
The direction you, "choose" to point your attention is vital. Positives just naturally avoid the shadows, while negatives are like vampires who turn to ashes in sunlight. Pick the path with heart. Keep your eye on the prize, populate your space with people who add more than they could ever take away. Repopulate if necessary. Make choices with some forethought and create a reality worthy of your presence there. Why don't you... think about it... let it ride... then YOU decide???
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Soul Talk
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life...Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.".... Steve Jobs, founder, Apple Computers
I wish I'd read this long ago, when I was spending so much time struggling to please everyone and failing so miserably. Voices pulled me first this way then that in an endless tug of war for my attention and compliance. For forty years, I was kept constantly off-balance by one sort of tyrant or another. Honestly... if my soul ever spoke to me back then, I never heard it over the critical people who orbited my atmosphere. Emotional vertigo left me mostly helpless, until I began to value my personal space enough to defend its boarders. There came a time when I had to admit that the only damage they did was whatever I allowed.
Once that mighty notion took root, nothing was ever the same again. The voice I'd never heard before instantly roared to life. In that moment I realized the only agenda it would ever possess was goodwill toward me and my hearts desire. But what did my heart desire? Who was I really? Take away all the labels... and just what remained? The journey to knowledge traveled inward, and the keeper of all the keys was that voice. I began listening in earnest and have never regretted altering my focus toward that internal location.
I wasted so much of my life, yet I cannot wholeheartedly regret the things I've lived through. Obstacles made me into who I am and the lessons learned while overcoming them will help shape who I'll someday become. Being a work in progress gives each day a meaning unique unto itself; any forward motion instantly validates the moment it inhabits. Awareness slows time to savor speed, making up a bit for all the time wasted or blundered through. Soul talk reveals a pattern for personal peace and healing, custom made to fit only you. Why don't you.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide????
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life...Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.".... Steve Jobs, founder, Apple Computers
I wish I'd read this long ago, when I was spending so much time struggling to please everyone and failing so miserably. Voices pulled me first this way then that in an endless tug of war for my attention and compliance. For forty years, I was kept constantly off-balance by one sort of tyrant or another. Honestly... if my soul ever spoke to me back then, I never heard it over the critical people who orbited my atmosphere. Emotional vertigo left me mostly helpless, until I began to value my personal space enough to defend its boarders. There came a time when I had to admit that the only damage they did was whatever I allowed.
Once that mighty notion took root, nothing was ever the same again. The voice I'd never heard before instantly roared to life. In that moment I realized the only agenda it would ever possess was goodwill toward me and my hearts desire. But what did my heart desire? Who was I really? Take away all the labels... and just what remained? The journey to knowledge traveled inward, and the keeper of all the keys was that voice. I began listening in earnest and have never regretted altering my focus toward that internal location.
I wasted so much of my life, yet I cannot wholeheartedly regret the things I've lived through. Obstacles made me into who I am and the lessons learned while overcoming them will help shape who I'll someday become. Being a work in progress gives each day a meaning unique unto itself; any forward motion instantly validates the moment it inhabits. Awareness slows time to savor speed, making up a bit for all the time wasted or blundered through. Soul talk reveals a pattern for personal peace and healing, custom made to fit only you. Why don't you.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide????
Friday, February 23, 2007
Risking Change
TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Change. It has the power to uplift, to heal, to stimulate, surprise, open new doors, bring fresh experience and create excitement in life. Certainly it is worth the risk.".... Leo Buscaglia
Change does all of those things; it can also inspire terror of the most unreasonable sort in even the most valiant among us. Some people instantly freeze at the mere notion of any kind of alteration to the "habits they inhabit". Ruts are windowless by design, which explains the tunnel vision and lack of drive of the average plodder. But why feel trapped by situations that could be repaired, remodeled, or rotated away from by simply believing in your own power to succeed and then acting accordingly?
Investing in yourself truly is a worthwhile cause, yet so many act as if it's a criminal act worthy of severe punishment. Women have always been more subject to that mindset than men. A lifetime of voluntary incarceration is a fools bargain. No matter what material is used for building it... guilt... pain... grief... spite, the key to freedom always rests firmly in the hand of the prisoner. It's the convincing them of that fact that is the highest hurdle in the race to their freedom. Is it truly preferable to simply continue suffering familiar agony than it is to risk the changes that may heal your wounds, but will most certainly demand personal growth?
"Change. It has the power to uplift, to heal, to stimulate, surprise, open new doors, bring fresh experience and create excitement in life. Certainly it is worth the risk.".... Leo Buscaglia
Change does all of those things; it can also inspire terror of the most unreasonable sort in even the most valiant among us. Some people instantly freeze at the mere notion of any kind of alteration to the "habits they inhabit". Ruts are windowless by design, which explains the tunnel vision and lack of drive of the average plodder. But why feel trapped by situations that could be repaired, remodeled, or rotated away from by simply believing in your own power to succeed and then acting accordingly?
Investing in yourself truly is a worthwhile cause, yet so many act as if it's a criminal act worthy of severe punishment. Women have always been more subject to that mindset than men. A lifetime of voluntary incarceration is a fools bargain. No matter what material is used for building it... guilt... pain... grief... spite, the key to freedom always rests firmly in the hand of the prisoner. It's the convincing them of that fact that is the highest hurdle in the race to their freedom. Is it truly preferable to simply continue suffering familiar agony than it is to risk the changes that may heal your wounds, but will most certainly demand personal growth?
Internal alterations can be painful, but any chance for positive change is always a risk well worth the undertaking. If it causes you some pain to alter things for the better then at least your pain will have meant something and gained you a fuller life. Why don't you.... think about it.... let it ride.... then YOU decide????
Thursday, February 22, 2007
A Great Email
I received this as an email and agree wholeheartedly with its sentiment. Aging definitely has its benefits, even if we are too busy looking backward to recognize them. The positives are often misplaced when we waste time and energy wallowing in whichever negatives just naturally apply. Age is both a reward and a burden. How we view it... then how we do it dictates how shinny our trophy or how heavy our millstone. Think about it.... let it grow.... then decide!!!!
A Gift.....
The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, he was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let him know.
Growing Older, I decided, is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body ... the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the cellulite. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror, but I don't agonize over those things for long.
I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avaunt garde on my patio. I am entitled to be messy, to be extravagant, to smell the flowers. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 a.m and then sleep until -- ?
I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50's & 60's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love . I will. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the bikini set. They, too, will get old. (if they're lucky)
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But then again, some of life is just as well forgotten and I eventually remember the important things. Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when a beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turn gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. I can say "no," and mean it. I can say "yes." and mean it. As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.
So, to answer your question, I like being older. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day... (if I want).
Today, I wish you a day of ordinary miracles.
Love simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.
A Gift.....
The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, he was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let him know.
Growing Older, I decided, is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body ... the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the cellulite. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror, but I don't agonize over those things for long.
I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avaunt garde on my patio. I am entitled to be messy, to be extravagant, to smell the flowers. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 a.m and then sleep until -- ?
I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50's & 60's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love . I will. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the bikini set. They, too, will get old. (if they're lucky)
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But then again, some of life is just as well forgotten and I eventually remember the important things. Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when a beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turn gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. I can say "no," and mean it. I can say "yes." and mean it. As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.
So, to answer your question, I like being older. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day... (if I want).
Today, I wish you a day of ordinary miracles.
Love simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.
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