Here is an article that my sister passed along. As she put it "it is so magical it moved me to tears by the end." I feel the same way....
September, 2008
A Newsletter from Oriah
As many of you know, my sabbatical ends this month. Some of you have been checking in to see what's next. It's been a challenging and rewarding three years. Like most things in life it didn't go as I'd expected. I wasn't surprised to find that inner stillness and silence were intermittent and inconsistent, at times profound and at other times elusive. It was never, as I'd thought it might be, boring. I was disappointed that my health didn't flourish as I'd hoped it would with lots of rest. A relapse of Chronic Fatigue (CFIDS/ME) in the past year has been discouraging although for the first time guilt free since I knew it had not been triggered by my usual over-doing. As my energy levels stabilize a little more each day I am cautiously optimistic about recovery.
The good news is that despite my ever-eager personality and past patterns of drivenness I managed to slow down. I settled into a daily rhythm of slow mornings journaling and reading, and afternoons of cooking large pots of vegetable soup and watching the cardinals at the bird feeder. I loved the daily solitude (Jeff being gone most days from 8 am to 6:30 pm) and often just sat and watched my breath and the world around me for long periods of time. I don't want to paint too idyllic a picture. There have been the usual ups and downs of life, some of them- like my father being diagnosed with Alzheimer's- heartbreaking. But being with whatever comes our way is easier when we aren't hitting the ground running every morning, and the sabbatical's slowness has been a great teacher in being present.
About half way through the sabbatical I spoke with my agent about two new book ideas: a novel about a group of lucid dreamers (the adventures of Isabel mentioned in a previous newsletter) and a non-fiction book about faith based on some of my experiences over the last three years. He was enthused (as you'd want your agent to be) and started to talk about publishing possibilities. But I was still in sabbatical mode, so I said, "Joe, I have to wait for God to say 'Go!'" Joe, being Catholic is not offended by the first "G" word, and being an agent, loves the second. I did do some writing, mostly on the novel, but last January I put it aside. I felt that some kind of internal shift needed to happen before I wrote more. I waited for God- the Beloved, the Mystery, the Great Mother- to say "Go!"
In my defense, I have felt Spirit say "Go!" in the past- as in, "Go, leave your job and teach workshops on spirituality!" or "Go back to university and write this book!" It didn't seem to be too much to expect that I would once again feel guided with some kind of hopefully detailed game plan for the next phase of my life.
But that's not what happened. What happened has been and continues to be a slow and gentle unfolding of self knowledge, awareness and acceptance. It's been like a light on a dimmer switch being turned on very slowly, revealing things in the room that have always been there. I discovered that I am an introvert, an extreme introvert, with a highly developed extrovert function. I can do public speaking and teaching, and I certainly value and even enjoy some aspects of these activities, but they cost me, they take energy.
I discovered that when all else falls away what remains is my writing. I am a lover of stories, of words and the imaginative worlds they evoke. My heart races a little when I begin to read a new book or when I start to write on the first page of a fresh journal. When fear or confusion arise, moving my pen across the page reveals the meaning and the mystery in the life I am living. Writing is my way of praying, of paying attention, of making love to the world, of opening myself to wisdom that is larger than myself. And, being a solitary task, writing suits my introversion well. It does not cost me. It gives me energy. I need to shape my life around my writing. So, as the date for the end of the sabbatical approached, I got ready to launch myself back into writing. I contacted my agent and told him my plans. I set my alarm clock and got geared up to fling myself into eight hours a day of writing as I had done for my earlier books. I had not heard God say "Go!" but the insights about myself seemed sound, the sabbatical was finished, and I felt I could go with what I had- a clear commitment to continue to write.
And twenty-four hours into my new work schedule, I collapsed. It was like those old cartoons where Wylie Coyote goes barreling straight into the side of the mountain where the Roadrunner has painted a picture of a tunnel on solid rock. Whap! Just like Wylie I hit what felt like a stone wall and slid down in a daze with those little stars and birds flying around my head, although in my case it was a four day migraine and fibromyalgia pain. Lying in bed I prayed, and I listened.
And I did not hear the Presence that is always with me say "Go!" I heard, "Move slowly and soften."
And that's what I keep hearing, whenever I pay attention. I have started to read through the work I'd done on the novel. I am also reading the forty journals I filled over the last three years, finding the ends of threads for the nonfiction book. And each time I pause, I hear it again. "Move slowly and soften." So there will be no eight hour days at the keyboard. I am living- moving, reading, writing, cooking, eating- slowly. And I am softening: to the part of me that wants to run and cannot; to the body that is slowly regaining strength and energy; to impatience, frustration and fear when each arises. I will write these books, and it will take whatever time it takes. I will not be traveling while I write, but I cannot say I will never teach a workshop or do a speaking engagement again. I will move slowly and soften to all the possibilities as they arise, following the ones that fit who I am and serve the writing, and letting go of the rest.
I have to smile at my resistance to writing this newsletter I wanted to arrive at the end of the sabbatical with some Big News, some kind of Grand Announcement of the vision I had had that would guide the rest of my life. Well the vision I have had is of continuing to be here writing, remembering (and no doubt forgetting and then hopefully remembering again) to move slowly and soften to myself and the world.
But now that my fingers are moving on the keyboard I find myself asking, what else did I learn in the last three years? And, in this moment, this is what comes:
* That life does not travel in straight lines, does not produce what we think of as clarity according to our preferred time schedule. Life is meandering and messy, full of surprises, confusion and unexpected moments of struggle and beauty.
* That life is short and sweet and hard- too short to wait one more moment to move toward the beauty you love even if it is not what you were taught had "real value" in the world; too sweet to miss the moment that is here by striving to get elsewhere materially or spiritually; too hard too sit in judgment on ourselves or anyone else.
* That absolute certainty about life, ourselves, the world or others may temporarily alleviate some of our immediate anxieties but leaves little room for the mystery and makes it difficult if not impossible to cultivate faith. I think of faith as that indescribable experience of the sacred that buoys us up and lets us greet what comes each day- the uncertainty of life- with open hearts.
* That often we have to be willing to act even without certainty, to let our hearts guide us, to be willing to make mistakes, to do the best we can, and let the rest go.
* That anxiety is a part of every human life, no matter the circumstances or the perspective. That our hopes and ideals of creating an anxiety-free life cause us to judge ourselves and others and to pull away from life as it is, diminishing the small daily pleasures and putting us on an endless and exhausting treadmill of inner and outer self-improvement. That consciously choosing to be with some anxieties as they arise can sometimes prevent the cultivation of others I know to be life-destroying. So, I willingly embrace the twinge of guilt that arises when I disappoint another rather than cultivate the resentment that can grow from trying to live a life according to someone else's ideas of what is good or right for me. I willingly sit with the small anxiety that arises about future finances instead of moving too quickly to agree to work that I know in my body will most likely create illness at this time.
* That my father was wise, when he told me as I was growing up, "Everyone does the best they can with what they have to work with." How I have struggled with this notion, seeing within and around me actions and attitudes I felt could and should be better. And let's fact it: some days our best is not so good, some days we cause a great deal suffering for ourselves and others. But, when I choose the perspective my father advocated it is easier for me to keep my heart open to all of our human frailties. We are all, in this moment, doing the best we can. What is available to any one of us in the next moment- the quantity and quality of information, energy, courage, awareness, trust, and faith we can access- will change, and so too will our best. But in this moment you and I- everyone, is doing the best they can. There is nothing to be gained by thinking otherwise and everything to be gained by approaching the world and our lives from this perspective.
May you be well and happy, Oriah
P.S. My apologies if you receive this more than once. Blame it on my computer incompetence and not on any desire to annoy you. O
Monday, September 29, 2008
Monday Monday
Theodore Roosevelt:
It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.
WAY to deep for a Monday morning!!! Came across it and thought it was a great quote.
Music these days mystifies me.....I use to be a strictly Top 40 lover but my music tastes have matured and to be quite honest I like pretty much everything. I can thank my dad for that - as he often says, "this is my favorite song" to pretty much every song.
What am I listening to on my i-pod????
-Whatever you Like - T.I.
-American Boy - Estelle (Feat. Kayne West)
-When I grow up - PCD
-Let it Rock - Kevin Rudolf f. Lil' Wayne
-Disturbia - Rihanna
-All Fall down - One Republic
-Shattered - O.A.R.
-Just Dance - Lady Gaga
-Stupid - Girlicous
-Rainy Monday - Shiny Toy Guns
-Best I ever Had - State of Shock
-Shut up and Let me Go - The TingTings
-A.N.G.E.L - Natasha Bedingfield
It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.
WAY to deep for a Monday morning!!! Came across it and thought it was a great quote.
Music these days mystifies me.....I use to be a strictly Top 40 lover but my music tastes have matured and to be quite honest I like pretty much everything. I can thank my dad for that - as he often says, "this is my favorite song" to pretty much every song.
What am I listening to on my i-pod????
-Whatever you Like - T.I.
-American Boy - Estelle (Feat. Kayne West)
-When I grow up - PCD
-Let it Rock - Kevin Rudolf f. Lil' Wayne
-Disturbia - Rihanna
-All Fall down - One Republic
-Shattered - O.A.R.
-Just Dance - Lady Gaga
-Stupid - Girlicous
-Rainy Monday - Shiny Toy Guns
-Best I ever Had - State of Shock
-Shut up and Let me Go - The TingTings
-A.N.G.E.L - Natasha Bedingfield
Friday, September 26, 2008
Quit Complaining!!!
A Complaint Free World
(Article from Oprah.com)
Your health, career and relationships may cause you stress, but complaining about them won't improve your situation, says the Rev. Will Bowen, an expert on complaining. Dr. Oz talks with the Rev. Bowen, author of A Complaint Free World: How to Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying the Life You Always Wanted, about how he got his Kansas City, Missouri, congregation to stop complaining—a mission that is now part of an international movement.
In July 2006, the Rev. Bowen asked his congregation to take part in a 21-day complaint-free challenge. He passed out purple bracelets and asked that every time they complained or pointed out someone else complaining, to switch the bracelet to their other wrist and start the 21-day challenge all over again. The Rev. Bowen says it was a difficult change for almost everyone. "I thought I was the most positive, upbeat person in world, and I broke three bracelets before I made it the 21 consecutive days," the Rev. Bowen says.
Now, more than two years later, the Rev. Bowen says he can't remember the last time he complained—and many of the 5.7 million other people who heard about the challenge and have gotten a bracelet are also living complaint-free. "The feedback people give is, by doing this, they literally become happier people," he says.
The Rev. Bowen shares his advice to help you become complaint-free:
* State facts instead of complaining. "It is all the difference between stating a fact and having this emotional energy tied up in it," he says. "This is all about moving beyond being a victim and being in control of your own life."
* Find the positive in all situations. "Yesterday, when [the airline] discovered a maintenance issue on the plane [I was on], people were complaining, and I said, 'I'm glad they found it on the ground as a opposed [to] in the air!'" the Rev. Bowen says.
* Change the words you use. Instead of using the word "problem," call something an "opportunity" or "challenge," he says. When you find yourself saying, "I have to," say "I get to" instead.
* Go ahead and gossip. "I say that it is okay to gossip," the Rev. Bowen says. "I really believe it is perfectly fine to gossip—if what you would say you would say if the person were present with the same inflection and same words."
(Article from Oprah.com)
Your health, career and relationships may cause you stress, but complaining about them won't improve your situation, says the Rev. Will Bowen, an expert on complaining. Dr. Oz talks with the Rev. Bowen, author of A Complaint Free World: How to Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying the Life You Always Wanted, about how he got his Kansas City, Missouri, congregation to stop complaining—a mission that is now part of an international movement.
In July 2006, the Rev. Bowen asked his congregation to take part in a 21-day complaint-free challenge. He passed out purple bracelets and asked that every time they complained or pointed out someone else complaining, to switch the bracelet to their other wrist and start the 21-day challenge all over again. The Rev. Bowen says it was a difficult change for almost everyone. "I thought I was the most positive, upbeat person in world, and I broke three bracelets before I made it the 21 consecutive days," the Rev. Bowen says.
Now, more than two years later, the Rev. Bowen says he can't remember the last time he complained—and many of the 5.7 million other people who heard about the challenge and have gotten a bracelet are also living complaint-free. "The feedback people give is, by doing this, they literally become happier people," he says.
The Rev. Bowen shares his advice to help you become complaint-free:
* State facts instead of complaining. "It is all the difference between stating a fact and having this emotional energy tied up in it," he says. "This is all about moving beyond being a victim and being in control of your own life."
* Find the positive in all situations. "Yesterday, when [the airline] discovered a maintenance issue on the plane [I was on], people were complaining, and I said, 'I'm glad they found it on the ground as a opposed [to] in the air!'" the Rev. Bowen says.
* Change the words you use. Instead of using the word "problem," call something an "opportunity" or "challenge," he says. When you find yourself saying, "I have to," say "I get to" instead.
* Go ahead and gossip. "I say that it is okay to gossip," the Rev. Bowen says. "I really believe it is perfectly fine to gossip—if what you would say you would say if the person were present with the same inflection and same words."
Move closer and closer apart....
I understand this quote better than most people should. During the busy times Kevin and I are lucky to see each other for 5 minutes a day - yes we normally talk on the phone and know what's going on with each other but we don't get to spend much or any time together.
In the words of A.D. Hope the Australian poet, 'move closer and closer apart.' I think in a general sense that is what marriage is about. The apartness is a part of the closeness, perhaps a recognition of it: certainly a pledge of complete understanding.
I don't want to live this way forever....but for now the $ is good and we accept the way things are and make due. Instead of hanging out all night and spending lot's of time together we take comfort in the 5 minutes of cuddling at 6am in the morning when Kevin is just getting home from work and I'm just getting up. Is it hard - yes. Will it be worth it - yes.
Here's my thought for the day...
Blame no one. Expect nothing. Do something.
I think too many people play the blame game. That is my biggest pet peeve - people who don't take accountability. Life is as simple as taking accountablity and accepting what is in front of you and doing something about it. It doesn't matter "whose fault it is". The people I admire the most are the ones who dive right in to any situation regardless of whether they are the ones that created it.
YAY for Friday! I love Fridays cause it's the start of the weekend. I have no plans except for trying out my new vacuum cleaner (I know I'm lame!), which is specially designed for pet hair - thank god for that cause my dog Dutchess loves to shed :) I have tons of cleaning to do, and some yard work and fixing up around the house as we are gearing to put our house up for sale.
In the words of A.D. Hope the Australian poet, 'move closer and closer apart.' I think in a general sense that is what marriage is about. The apartness is a part of the closeness, perhaps a recognition of it: certainly a pledge of complete understanding.
I don't want to live this way forever....but for now the $ is good and we accept the way things are and make due. Instead of hanging out all night and spending lot's of time together we take comfort in the 5 minutes of cuddling at 6am in the morning when Kevin is just getting home from work and I'm just getting up. Is it hard - yes. Will it be worth it - yes.
Here's my thought for the day...
Blame no one. Expect nothing. Do something.
I think too many people play the blame game. That is my biggest pet peeve - people who don't take accountability. Life is as simple as taking accountablity and accepting what is in front of you and doing something about it. It doesn't matter "whose fault it is". The people I admire the most are the ones who dive right in to any situation regardless of whether they are the ones that created it.
YAY for Friday! I love Fridays cause it's the start of the weekend. I have no plans except for trying out my new vacuum cleaner (I know I'm lame!), which is specially designed for pet hair - thank god for that cause my dog Dutchess loves to shed :) I have tons of cleaning to do, and some yard work and fixing up around the house as we are gearing to put our house up for sale.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Return from the negative....
Wow - just read my post from last night - I was in a BAD MOOD last night. Today I'm trying to transform that negative energy into postive energy.
We want life to be easy - no battles, no demons, no doubts.
We're in the wrong life if that's what we want. Hope I didn't burst your bubble. But as you probably figured out by now, the work never stops.
Life is about constant change and growth—ups and downs, pushing and pulling. And ultimately, transformations! Remember this thought: CHAOS CAN ALWAYS BE TURNED INTO BLESSINGS.
Besides, life is boring without the challenges. You've seen those emergency room scenes in the movies, or perhaps first hand. The doctors furiously working to save a guy's life and then, that dreaded sound: beeeeeeeeeeeeeep. Flat line. Game over. Death, the final frontier.
With that in mind, appreciate your obstacles today. Learn to see them for what they are: opportunities to elevate your mind, body and soul.
We want life to be easy - no battles, no demons, no doubts.
We're in the wrong life if that's what we want. Hope I didn't burst your bubble. But as you probably figured out by now, the work never stops.
Life is about constant change and growth—ups and downs, pushing and pulling. And ultimately, transformations! Remember this thought: CHAOS CAN ALWAYS BE TURNED INTO BLESSINGS.
Besides, life is boring without the challenges. You've seen those emergency room scenes in the movies, or perhaps first hand. The doctors furiously working to save a guy's life and then, that dreaded sound: beeeeeeeeeeeeeep. Flat line. Game over. Death, the final frontier.
With that in mind, appreciate your obstacles today. Learn to see them for what they are: opportunities to elevate your mind, body and soul.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Who can You trust????
I had a bad day today - a really bad day....and for some reason I feel the need to talk about trust. Who can you truly trust?????? My answer - no one. I am at fault for trusting too much and trusting too deeply. I'm done.
Expecting too much of others will only limit and disappoint you. Instead expect more of yourself. I know that sounds pretty pessimistic but it's the truth...
Expecting too much of others will only limit and disappoint you. Instead expect more of yourself. I know that sounds pretty pessimistic but it's the truth...
Christmas in Mexico????
I spent a night at home with my husband last night - for the first in what feels like months. He suggested that we take a trip at Christmas to somewhere warm instead of doing the "traditional" thing. My first thought was NO WAY...this year we are supposed to be going to my parents place for Christmas (we go back and forth between our families each year) and I was really looking forward to it....but then I started thinking...what if???
-Christmas in a bikini soaking up the beautiful warm sun sipping a girlie drink on the beach instead of trudging through the cold snow. That thought in itself has me yearning for Christmas in Mexico. Not sure if it will end up happening, but the thought is nice nonetheless. Our honeymoon was in Winnipeg so I'm pretty sure we deserve to go somewhere nice and around Christmas is about the only time that it would really work for Kevin and his job. I guess we will just have to wait and see.
Deep thought for the day: “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” Confucius
I relate to this quote.....because I think life truely is simple but I make it damn complicated. I analyze and fret way to much about stuff that I have no control over.......so I am just going to try to "go with the flow" from now on...
-Christmas in a bikini soaking up the beautiful warm sun sipping a girlie drink on the beach instead of trudging through the cold snow. That thought in itself has me yearning for Christmas in Mexico. Not sure if it will end up happening, but the thought is nice nonetheless. Our honeymoon was in Winnipeg so I'm pretty sure we deserve to go somewhere nice and around Christmas is about the only time that it would really work for Kevin and his job. I guess we will just have to wait and see.
Deep thought for the day: “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” Confucius
I relate to this quote.....because I think life truely is simple but I make it damn complicated. I analyze and fret way to much about stuff that I have no control over.......so I am just going to try to "go with the flow" from now on...
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Just Do it....
~He Who Jumps Into The Void, Owes No Explanation To Those Who Stand And Watch ~Jean Luc Godard
I'm feeling extremely inspired today. Not 100% sure why, but life lessons as of late have been just that....inspiring and motivating. I went for a run last night and I'm proud to say I can run about 5-7kms which may not seem that great.....but I have little to no pain in my knees during and after the run. Which to me is a MIRACLE. After my surgeries I literally thought I would never NOT know pain. This is very promising as I am gearing up for a triathlon in Clear Lake in August. I'm going to do the Sprint distance (750m Swim / 20k Bike / 5k Run) with my main goal to do an Ironman Triathlon in my lifetime! They haven't set the official date in August but I have 11 months to prepare and will likely start heavy training 6 months out....for me I don't want my fitness to be about losing weight or looking good (although it often is :) I want it to also be about being in great physical shape. Doing the triathlon and training for it will definitely help me to get there!
Another thought of the day.....why do we always hurt the ones we love the most. Is it because we know that it won't have the repercussions it would with someone you don't know as well ?? As much as this bugs me - it's life and will never change. I try to be conscious of this fact but I am still very guilty for doing it. I guess when you know the right buttons to push you do so willingly for whatever the motivation. I often think that many people are hurting and they want someone else to hurt like they are....I could write forever on this topic but should move along for fear of realizing how much I probably do this myself.
I'm feeling extremely inspired today. Not 100% sure why, but life lessons as of late have been just that....inspiring and motivating. I went for a run last night and I'm proud to say I can run about 5-7kms which may not seem that great.....but I have little to no pain in my knees during and after the run. Which to me is a MIRACLE. After my surgeries I literally thought I would never NOT know pain. This is very promising as I am gearing up for a triathlon in Clear Lake in August. I'm going to do the Sprint distance (750m Swim / 20k Bike / 5k Run) with my main goal to do an Ironman Triathlon in my lifetime! They haven't set the official date in August but I have 11 months to prepare and will likely start heavy training 6 months out....for me I don't want my fitness to be about losing weight or looking good (although it often is :) I want it to also be about being in great physical shape. Doing the triathlon and training for it will definitely help me to get there!
Another thought of the day.....why do we always hurt the ones we love the most. Is it because we know that it won't have the repercussions it would with someone you don't know as well ?? As much as this bugs me - it's life and will never change. I try to be conscious of this fact but I am still very guilty for doing it. I guess when you know the right buttons to push you do so willingly for whatever the motivation. I often think that many people are hurting and they want someone else to hurt like they are....I could write forever on this topic but should move along for fear of realizing how much I probably do this myself.
Where do the years go?? It seems that each year goes by faster then the previous...I am reminded of this as it is my baby sister's 23rd Birthday. Happy Birthday Tammy. It makes me both happy and sad that it's her birthday. Sad that we can't go back to the days gone past. I've spent many many hours with my sis - having moved so much she was one of the only constants in my life. I sure do miss the days of living in the same house as her.
Happy because she has grown into such a beautiful caring soul. Her strength and heart amaze me daily and I have learned so much from her (although I probably won't admit it outright :) It's her champagne birthday (turning 23 on the 23rd) and she will be celebrating in the states....oh how I wish I didn't have to work!
That's it for now....off to the gym to make myself sore....oh how I love the day after the day after ;)
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Start of a New Season
I love fall.
I also LOVE Mondays. WHAT ARE YOU CRAZY ?? It's true. Monday is back to work and back to a routine....for me that means making sure that I get to the gym and eating healthy. It also means not being so freakin lonely cause I'm at work for most of the day. Kevin has been working like crazy and although I love that he is raking in the $ it's extremely tough sometimes....we are like ships passing in the wind right now. I often wonder - how long is it going to be like this?????
I love the colour of the changing leaves and I love the weather as it turns a bit cooler...for me that means wrapping myself in comfy sweaters!
Fall symbolizes a new season and change ahead. It happens every year around this time. People are getting ready for the long winter ahead. Everyone's internal clocks begin to reset to more darkness and more time indoors. This is the part I dislike about fall/winter. Thankfully I have tons of workout equipment at home and a membership to a great gym.
This weekend was a quiet peaceful one. I spent most of it alone (as per usual lately) or I should say alone but with my faithful sidekick Dutchess. We took a trip out to Cypress Hills West block and had a great time hiking the High-Vista & TCT trail. We only went probably 7kms but 2.5 of that was straight up....the going up was ok but the going down....well let's just say my quads were killing me.
Here are some photos from our adventure... 
I also LOVE Mondays. WHAT ARE YOU CRAZY ?? It's true. Monday is back to work and back to a routine....for me that means making sure that I get to the gym and eating healthy. It also means not being so freakin lonely cause I'm at work for most of the day. Kevin has been working like crazy and although I love that he is raking in the $ it's extremely tough sometimes....we are like ships passing in the wind right now. I often wonder - how long is it going to be like this?????
Saturday, September 20, 2008
World's Smartest Dog...
This post is for anyone whose life has been touched by the bond of a dog......I never understood this bond until I met my dog Dutchess. She is no where near as smart as the dog in this video but she amazes me daily by how smart she is and by her beautiful spirit. The first picture is from when I adopted her from the SPCA and the second picture is 6 or 7 months later... BIG difference!
One of my favorite quotes:
"If you take a dog which is starving and feed him and make him prosperous, that dog will not bite you. This is the primary difference between a dog and a man."- Mark Twain
Check out the amazing Skidboot:
http://videos.komando.com/2008/08/02/world%e2%80%99s-smartest-dog/
One of my favorite quotes:
"If you take a dog which is starving and feed him and make him prosperous, that dog will not bite you. This is the primary difference between a dog and a man."- Mark Twain
Check out the amazing Skidboot:
http://videos.komando.com/2008/08/02/world%e2%80%99s-smartest-dog/
Everything Happens for a reason...
I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. I know the saying is such a cliche but I believe it with 100% of my being. Living it is another story. I often find myself caught up on the little things and analzying everything that happens to me over and over.
I've come to the point though that I believe that sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there... to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be but when you lock eyes with them, you know that every moment that you are with them, they will affect your life in some profound way. And sometimes things happen to you at the time that may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength,will power or heart.
Everything happens for a reason! Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere, safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless.The people you meet affect your life. The successes and downfalls that you experience can create who you are, and the bad experiences can be learned from.... In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them because they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally not only because they love you, but also because they are teaching you to love and open your heart and eyes to the little things. MAKE EVERYDAY COUNT! Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again.
Talk to people who you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, even if it doesn't seem right because you are too young or too far, just follow your heart. Surround yourself with those who make you smile, laugh, and make you happy. Break free and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you. Create your own life then LET GO and LIVE IT!
I've come to the point though that I believe that sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there... to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be but when you lock eyes with them, you know that every moment that you are with them, they will affect your life in some profound way. And sometimes things happen to you at the time that may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength,will power or heart.
Everything happens for a reason! Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere, safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless.The people you meet affect your life. The successes and downfalls that you experience can create who you are, and the bad experiences can be learned from.... In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them because they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally not only because they love you, but also because they are teaching you to love and open your heart and eyes to the little things. MAKE EVERYDAY COUNT! Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again.
Talk to people who you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, even if it doesn't seem right because you are too young or too far, just follow your heart. Surround yourself with those who make you smile, laugh, and make you happy. Break free and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you. Create your own life then LET GO and LIVE IT!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Favorite quotes
Here is some of my fav quotes......
~You can kid the world, but not your sister~
~Wherever you go, go there with all your heart.~Confucius
Every calling is great, when greatly pursued. ~Oliver Wendall Holmes, Jr.
Understanding each other is vital to our lives. Having compassion for others. Kindness. Non-judgment. Leave the materials behind suckas, and enjoy a really meaningful life!"
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."~Henry David Thoreau
~If there is no struggle, there is no progress...Frederick Douglass~
~Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles.... it empties today of its strength~~To be nobody but yourself in a world that is doing its best to make you just like everybody else means to fight the greatest battle there is to fight and to never stop fighting~
~LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE~
~What destroys our happiness? Envy. Being busy with desiring what other people have. This takes our focus away from appreciating all the wonderful things we have, leading to a sense of lack and unhappiness. Learn appreciation by imagining what life would be like if the things, people, qualities, abilities you do have were taken away. Every time you find yourself fixated on the glittering lives in the pages of People, or the shiny new toys your neighbor has, bring your focus back to your life. Come back home to yourself, to your life, and look around. What if these things weren’t here tomorrow? How much would you miss them? ~
Let it be. -- The Beatles
"Fairness does not govern life and death. If it did, no good person would ever die young." -- Mitch Albom
"It's ok to be fucked up." -- James Frey
"The greatness comes not when things always go good for you. But the greatness comes when you're really tested, when you take some knocks, some disappointments, when sadness comes. Because only if you've been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain." -- Richard Nixon
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Eleanor Roosevelt
“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” Edith Wharton
“I strive to be as good a person as my dog things I am.” Unknown
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” Ziz Ziglar
“Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right.’ Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.” Napoleon Hill
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Abraham Lincoln
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” Confucius
“It doesn’t take much to start feeling better. Simply start doing more of what you love and less of what you don’t love.” Alan Cohen
“Obstacles cannot crush me. Every obstacle yields to stern resolve. He who is fixed to a star does not change his mind.” Leonardo da Vinci
“He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.” George Herbert
“Either do or do not; there is no try.” Yoda (George Lucas)
~You can kid the world, but not your sister~
~Wherever you go, go there with all your heart.~Confucius
Every calling is great, when greatly pursued. ~Oliver Wendall Holmes, Jr.
Understanding each other is vital to our lives. Having compassion for others. Kindness. Non-judgment. Leave the materials behind suckas, and enjoy a really meaningful life!"
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."~Henry David Thoreau
~If there is no struggle, there is no progress...Frederick Douglass~
~Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles.... it empties today of its strength~~To be nobody but yourself in a world that is doing its best to make you just like everybody else means to fight the greatest battle there is to fight and to never stop fighting~
~LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE~
~What destroys our happiness? Envy. Being busy with desiring what other people have. This takes our focus away from appreciating all the wonderful things we have, leading to a sense of lack and unhappiness. Learn appreciation by imagining what life would be like if the things, people, qualities, abilities you do have were taken away. Every time you find yourself fixated on the glittering lives in the pages of People, or the shiny new toys your neighbor has, bring your focus back to your life. Come back home to yourself, to your life, and look around. What if these things weren’t here tomorrow? How much would you miss them? ~
Let it be. -- The Beatles
"Fairness does not govern life and death. If it did, no good person would ever die young." -- Mitch Albom
"It's ok to be fucked up." -- James Frey
"The greatness comes not when things always go good for you. But the greatness comes when you're really tested, when you take some knocks, some disappointments, when sadness comes. Because only if you've been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain." -- Richard Nixon
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Eleanor Roosevelt
“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” Edith Wharton
“I strive to be as good a person as my dog things I am.” Unknown
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” Ziz Ziglar
“Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right.’ Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.” Napoleon Hill
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Abraham Lincoln
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” Confucius
“It doesn’t take much to start feeling better. Simply start doing more of what you love and less of what you don’t love.” Alan Cohen
“Obstacles cannot crush me. Every obstacle yields to stern resolve. He who is fixed to a star does not change his mind.” Leonardo da Vinci
“He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.” George Herbert
“Either do or do not; there is no try.” Yoda (George Lucas)
There is a Reason for Everything! The Teachings of LaoTzu
There is a Reason for Everything! The Teachings of LaoTzu, a Legendary Chinese Sage and Father of Taoism
This story happened in the days of LaoTzu in China...
There was an old man in a village, very poor, but even kings were jealous of him because he had a beautiful white horse. Kings offered fabulous prices for the horse, but the man would say, "This horse is not a horse to me, he is a person. And how can you sell a person, a friend?" The man was poor but he never sold the horse.
One morning, he found that the horse was not in the stable. The whole village gathered and they said, "You foolish old man! We knew that someday the horse would be stolen. It would have been better to sell it. What a misfortune."
The old man said, "Don't go so far as to say that. Simply say that the horse is not in the stable. This is the fact; everything else is a judgment. Whether it is a misfortune or a blessing I don't know, because this is just a fragment. Who knows what is going to follow it?"
People laughed at the old man. They had always known he was a little crazy. But after fifteen days, suddenly one night the horse returned. He had not been stolen, he had escaped into the wild. And not only that, he brought a dozen wild horses with him.
Again the people gathered and they said, "Old man, you were right. This was not a misfortune, it has indeed proved to be a blessing." The old man said, "Again you are going too far. Just say that the horse is back. Who knows whether it is a blessing or a curse? It is only a fragment. You read a single word in a sentence- how can you judge the whole book?". This time the people could not say much, but inside they knew that he was wrong. Twelve beautiful horses had come.
The old man had a son who started to train the wild horses. Just a week later he fell from a horse and his legs were broken. The people gathered again, and again they judged. They said, "Again you proved right! It was a misfortune. Your only son has lost the use of his legs, and in your old age he was you only support. Now you are poorer than ever."
The old man said. "You are obsessed with judgment. Don't go that far. Say only that my son has broken his legs. Nobody knows whether this is a misfortune or a blessing. Life comes in fragments and more is never given to you.
It happened that after a few weeks the country went to war, and all the young men of the town were forcibly taken for the military. Only the old man's son was left, because he was crippled. The whole town was crying and weeping, because it was a losing fight and they knew that most of the young men would never come back.
They came to the old man and said, "You were right, old man- this has proved a blessing. Maybe your son is crippled, but he is still with you. Our sons are gone forever.
The old man said again, " You go on and on judging. Nobody knows! Only say this: that your sons have been drafted and my son has not been drafted. But only God, the total, knows whether it is a blessing or not."
Lao Tsu taught that all straining, all striving are not only vain but counterproductive. One should endeavor to do nothing (wu-wei). But what does this mean? It means not to literally do nothing, but to discern and follow the natural forces -- to follow and shape the flow of events and not to pit oneself against the natural order of things. First and foremost to be spontaneous in ones actions. In this sense the Taoist doctrine of wu-wei can be understood as a way of mastering circumstances by understanding their nature or principal, and then shaping ones actions in accordance with these. This understanding has also infused the approach to movement as it is developed in Tai Chi Chuan.
This story happened in the days of LaoTzu in China...
There was an old man in a village, very poor, but even kings were jealous of him because he had a beautiful white horse. Kings offered fabulous prices for the horse, but the man would say, "This horse is not a horse to me, he is a person. And how can you sell a person, a friend?" The man was poor but he never sold the horse.
One morning, he found that the horse was not in the stable. The whole village gathered and they said, "You foolish old man! We knew that someday the horse would be stolen. It would have been better to sell it. What a misfortune."
The old man said, "Don't go so far as to say that. Simply say that the horse is not in the stable. This is the fact; everything else is a judgment. Whether it is a misfortune or a blessing I don't know, because this is just a fragment. Who knows what is going to follow it?"
People laughed at the old man. They had always known he was a little crazy. But after fifteen days, suddenly one night the horse returned. He had not been stolen, he had escaped into the wild. And not only that, he brought a dozen wild horses with him.
Again the people gathered and they said, "Old man, you were right. This was not a misfortune, it has indeed proved to be a blessing." The old man said, "Again you are going too far. Just say that the horse is back. Who knows whether it is a blessing or a curse? It is only a fragment. You read a single word in a sentence- how can you judge the whole book?". This time the people could not say much, but inside they knew that he was wrong. Twelve beautiful horses had come.
The old man had a son who started to train the wild horses. Just a week later he fell from a horse and his legs were broken. The people gathered again, and again they judged. They said, "Again you proved right! It was a misfortune. Your only son has lost the use of his legs, and in your old age he was you only support. Now you are poorer than ever."
The old man said. "You are obsessed with judgment. Don't go that far. Say only that my son has broken his legs. Nobody knows whether this is a misfortune or a blessing. Life comes in fragments and more is never given to you.
It happened that after a few weeks the country went to war, and all the young men of the town were forcibly taken for the military. Only the old man's son was left, because he was crippled. The whole town was crying and weeping, because it was a losing fight and they knew that most of the young men would never come back.
They came to the old man and said, "You were right, old man- this has proved a blessing. Maybe your son is crippled, but he is still with you. Our sons are gone forever.
The old man said again, " You go on and on judging. Nobody knows! Only say this: that your sons have been drafted and my son has not been drafted. But only God, the total, knows whether it is a blessing or not."
Lao Tsu taught that all straining, all striving are not only vain but counterproductive. One should endeavor to do nothing (wu-wei). But what does this mean? It means not to literally do nothing, but to discern and follow the natural forces -- to follow and shape the flow of events and not to pit oneself against the natural order of things. First and foremost to be spontaneous in ones actions. In this sense the Taoist doctrine of wu-wei can be understood as a way of mastering circumstances by understanding their nature or principal, and then shaping ones actions in accordance with these. This understanding has also infused the approach to movement as it is developed in Tai Chi Chuan.
A Deep Thought.....
I came across this today......touched me deeply...
My Soul Counseled Me
by Kahlil Gibran
My soul spoke to me and counseled me to love all that others hate, And to befriend those whom others defame. My soul counseled me and revealed unto me that love dignifies not alone the one who loves, but also the beloved. Unto that day love was for me a thread of cobweb between two flowers, close to one another; But now it has become a halo with neither beginning nor end,Encircling all that has been, and waxing eternally to embrace all that shall be.
My soul counseled me and taught me to see beauty veiled by form and color. My soul charged me to gaze steadfastly upon all that is deemed ugly until it appears lovely
Before my soul had thus charged and counseled me, I had seemed to see beauty like unto wavering torches between pillars of smoke; But now the smoke has dispersed and vanished and I see naught but the burning.
My soul counseled me and charged me to listen for voices that rise neither from the tongue nor the throat. Before that day I heard but dully, and naught save clamor and loud cries came to my ears;But now I have learned to listen to silence, To hear its choirs singing the songs of ages, Chanting the hymns of space, and disclosing the secrets of eternity.
My soul spoke to me and counseled me to quench my thirst with that wine which may not be poured into cups,Nor lifted by hands, nor touched by lips.Unto that day my thirst was like a dim spark laid in ashesTo be put out by a drought from any spring; But now my strong yearning has become my cup, Love has become my wine, and loneliness my joy.
My soul counseled me and charged me to seek that which is unseen; And my soul revealed unto me that the thing we grasp is the thing we desire.In other days I was content with warmth in winter, and with a cooling zephyr in the summer season; But now my fingers are become as mist, Letting fall all that they have held, to mingle with the unseen that I now desire.
My soul spoke to me and invited me to breathe the fragrance from a plant That has neither root nor stalk nor blossom, and that no eye has seen. Before my soul counseled me thus, I sought perfumes in the gardens, In jars of sweet-smelling herbs and vessels of incense;But now I am aware only of an incense that may not be burned, I breathe an air more fragrant than all earth's gardens and all the winds of space.
My soul counseled me and charged me to answer and say: "I follow," when the unknown and the adventurous call unto me.Hitherto I had answered naught but the voice of the crier in the market place, Nor did I pursue aught save roads charted and well trodden; But now the known has become a steed that I mount to seek the unknown,And the road has become a ladder by which I may climb to the perilous summit.
My soul counseled me and admonished me to measure time with this saying:"There was a yesterday and there shall be a tomorrow."Unto that hour I deemed the past an epoch that is lost and shall be forgotten,And the future I deemed an era that I may not attain;But now I have learned this:That in the brief present all time, with all that is in time,Is achieved and come true.
My soul spoke and revealed unto me that I am not bound in space by the words:"Here, there, and over there."Hitherto I stood upon my hill, and every other hill seemed distant and far away;But now I know that the hill whereon I dwell is indeed all hills,And the valley whereunto I descend comprehends all valleys.
My soul counseled me and besought me to watch while others sleepAnd to seek my pillow while they are wakeful,For in all my years I had not perceived their dreams, nor they mine.But now I am winged by day in my dreaming,And when they sleep I behold them free upon the night,And I rejoice in their freedom.
My soul counseled me and charged me lest I be exalted because of over praiseAnd lest I distressed for fear of blame.Until that day I doubted the work of my own handiwork;But now I have learned this:That the trees blossom in spring, and bear fruit in summer,And drop their leaves in autumn to become utterly naked in winter Without exaltation and without fear or shame.
My soul counseled me and assured meThat I am neither higher than the pygmy nor lower than the giant.Before that day I beheld mankind as two men,The one a weakling whom I derided or pitied,And the other a mighty man whom I would either follow, or oppose in rebellion.But now I know that I was formed even from the same dust of which all men are created,That my elements are their elements, and my inner self is their inner self. My struggle is their struggle, and their pilgrimage is mine own.If they transgress, I am also the transgressor,And if they do well, then I have a share in their well-doing.If they arise, I too arise with them; if they stay behind, I also, to company them.
My soul counseled me and instructed me to see that the light which I carry is not my light,That my song was not created within me;For though I travel with the light, I am not the light,And though I am a lute fastened with strings,I am not the lute-player.
My soul counseled me, my brother, and enlightened me. And oftentimes has your soul counseled and enlightened you. For you are like me, and there is no difference between us
Save that I speak of what is within me in words that I have heard in my silence, And you guard what is within you, and your guardianship is as goodly as my much speaking.
This poem points to the truth of who we really are, and how who we are differs from what the world teaches us about who we are.
My thoughts:
Everything happens for a reason,
Never Give up,
Fight for what you believe in,
Follow your heart, even when it doesn't seem right
and Stay True to yourself
Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option...
What a true quote.....I struggle with this as I'm a very caring and giving person. I often give people and their thoughts, lives, and friendship more thought and priority then I give myself.
I'm not really into this "blogging" thing but I love to write and I have always kept a journal all my life. In todays world of technology I find it hard to sit down and write so I figure I might as well do it online......
I'm not really into this "blogging" thing but I love to write and I have always kept a journal all my life. In todays world of technology I find it hard to sit down and write so I figure I might as well do it online......
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