Friday, January 27, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Henry Rollins on weight lifting
down these days, it’s some kind of miracle if you’re not insane. People
have become separated from their bodies. They are no longer whole. I
see them move from their offices to their cars and on to their suburban
homes. They stress out constantly, they lose sleep, they eat badly.
And they behave badly. Their egos run wild; they become motivated by
that which will eventually give them a massive stroke. They need the
Iron mind.
Through the years, I have combined meditation, action, and the Iron into
a single strength. I believe that when the body is strong, the mind
thinks strong thoughts. Time spent away from the Iron makes my mind
degenerate. I wallow in a thick depression. My body shuts down my
mind. The Iron is the best antidepressant I have ever found. There is
no better way to fight weakness than with strength. Once the mind and
body have been awakened to their true potential, it’s impossible to turn
back.
The Iron never lies to you. You can walk outside and listen to all
kinds of talk, get told that you’re a god or a total bastard. The Iron
will always kick you the real deal. The Iron is the great reference
point, the all-knowing perspective giver. Always there like a beacon in
the pitch black. I have found the Iron to be my greatest friend. It
never freaks out on me, never runs. Friends may come and go. But two
hundred pounds is always two hundred pounds.
I know people who don’t work out hate hearing people who do preach about it. I just wanted to add that working out is the greatest gift I’ve ever received. I would be lost without it.
I do not know anything about Art with a capital A. What I do know about is my art. Because it concerns me. I do not speak for others. So I do not speak for things which profess to speak for others. My art, however, speaks for me. It lights my way.
Zampanó (presumably) in “Appendix B: Bits” of House of Leaves
My Heart Burns Like Fire
Soyen Shaku, the first Zen teacher to come to America, said: "My heart burns like fire but my eyes are as cold as dead ashes." He made the following rules which he practiced every day of his life.
In the morning before dressing, light incense and meditate.
Retire at a regular hour. Partake of food at regular intervals. Eat with moderation and never to the point of satisfaction.
Receive a guest with the same attitude you have when alone. When alone, maintain the same attitude you have in receiving guests.
Watch what you say, and whatever you say, practice it.
When an opportunity comes do not let it pass by, yet always think twice before acting.
Do not regret the past. Look to the future.
Have the fearless attitude of a hero and the loving heart of a child.
Upon retiring, sleep as if you had entered your last sleep. Upon awakening, leave your bed behind you instantly as if you had cast away a pair of old shoes.
Hot Water Music--At the End of a Gun
"we can waste we can come and go we can act like we don't know about suffering and pain we can live our lives in shame for never helping anyone we know or don't but we need to recognize that we are dying if we live alone let's send our energy out with what we know and unify today because our freedom sits at the end of a gun we're all here getting beat up and held back we're all here digging knives from our backs we've all been betrayed because it's business not people it's always take and it is never give and that's not the way i want to live cause that's nothing but dying and we're nothing if we sell ourselves close your eyes never hear never cry for living an empty life"
Subduing Hatred
"There are these five ways of subduing hatred by which, when hatred arises in a monk, he should wipe it out completely. Which five?
"When one gives birth to hatred for an individual, one should develop good will for that individual. Thus the hatred for that individual should be subdued.
"When one gives birth to hatred for an individual, one should develop compassion for that individual. Thus the hatred for that individual should be subdued.
"When one gives birth to hatred for an individual, one should develop equanimity toward that individual. Thus the hatred for that individual should be subdued.
"When one gives birth to hatred for an individual, one should pay him no mind & pay him no attention. Thus the hatred for that individual should be subdued.
"When one gives birth to hatred for an individual, one should direct one's thoughts to the fact of his being the product of his actions: 'This venerable one is the doer of his actions, heir to his actions, born of his actions, related by his actions, and has his actions as his arbitrator. Whatever action he does, for good or for evil, to that will he fall heir.' Thus the hatred for that individual should be subdued.
"These are five ways of subduing hatred by which, when hatred arises in a monk, he should wipe it out completely."Sunday, January 22, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Some people understand life better.
And they call some of these people “retarded”…
At the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash.
At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win.
All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry.
They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back every one of them. One girl with Down’s Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said,”This will make it better.”
Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line.
Everyone in the stadium stood, the cheering went on for several minutes.
People who were there are still telling the story… Why? Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves.
What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.
”| — | Unknown |
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Learning to Sit Alone, in a Quiet Empty Room
‘All men’s miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.’ ~Blaise Pascal
Post written by Leo Babauta.
Think about some of the problems of our daily lives, and how many of them would be eased if we could learn to sit alone, in a quiet empty room, with contentment.
If you’re content to sit alone quietly, you don’t need to eat junk food, to shop on impulse, to buy the latest gadget, to be on social media to see what everyone else is talking about or doing, to compare yourself to others, to make more money to keep up with the Joneses, to achieve glory or power, to conquer other lands or wage war, to be rude or violent to others, to be selfish or greedy, to be constantly busy or productive.
You are content, and need nothing else. It solves a lot of problems.
Can you sit alone in an empty room? Can you enjoy the joy of quiet?
Most of us have trouble sitting alone, quietly, doing nothing. We have the need to do something, to check our inboxes and social media, to be productive. Sitting still can be difficult if you haven’t cultivated the habit.
I’ve been learning. In the morning, as my coffee is brewing, I sit. Even for a few minutes, at first, it is instructive. You learn to listen to your thoughts, to be aware of your urges to do something else, to plan and set goals. You learn to watch yourself, but to just sit still and not act on those urges. You learn to be content with stillness.
You learn to savor the quiet. It’s something most of us don’t have, quiet, and it takes some getting used to. When we’re driving our cars or out exercising or eating or working, we have music playing or we talk with people or we have the television on. Quiet can be amazing, though, because it helps us calm down, contemplate, slow down to savor the emptiness.
An empty room, too, is a luxury. I try to empty my room of clutter, so that it’s fairly bare. That leaves only me, and the room is a blank slate ready to be filled with me, my creativity, my silence. I love a spartan room.
Being alone is another pleasure we too often neglect. When we are alone, we go on the Internet or TV to see what else is going on, what others are doing or saying, instead of just being alone. This isolation is a necessary thing, that allows us to find ourselves, to learn to be content with little instead of always wanting more.
Can you practice being alone, being still, being quiet? Just a little at first, then perhaps a bit more. Listen, watch, learn about yourself. Find contentment. Need nothing more.
― Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky
This is one of the things that makes me the angriest
Please support your local shelters and the Humane Society. Please help put a stop to animal cruelty.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
The Parable of the Donkey
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, that the well needed to be covered anyway and that it just wasn't worth retrieving the donkey. So he invited all his neighbours to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quietened down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off! Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.
Here i Am
Strike Anywhere--Infrared
"Are we running so far from facing
The numbers who crash in an empty room.
False visions we search
And the reflections consume.
But the mirror is everyone's tomb.
What we'll find in the waste of time,
Self hating days in the image maze.
Losing sight of our roots in the empty shells
Where everyone fights themselves!...selves!
Where everyone fights themselves!...selves!
I'M TIRED OF LOOKING OUT FROM BLANK EYES!
I get so tired of waiting...tired of waiting...
OUTSIDE!
And watching gridlock in the window.
BLANK EYES,
I get so tired of waiting...tired of waiting...
OUTSIDE!
Another answer for OUR CRIMES!
And I get so tired of waiting for it,
To find the truth in everything rejected,
I get so tired of waiting...tired of waiting,
Another day between the lines.
Rooftop to rooftop screaming out into the sky,
Fight the war inside us,
Turning answers into questions.
Through all this vanity will fight 'til soul rebuild.
Fools gold what we've had, the symptoms of a WORLD GONE MAD!
The world's lies, the masses cry,
Children's lives spent sewing up our cheap disguise.
Losing sight of our roots in the cathode rays,
Amnesia for the end of our DAYS!...DAYS!
Amnesia for the end of our DAYS!...DAYS!
WE'RE TIRED OF LOOKING OUT FROM...BLANK EYES!
I get so tired of waiting...tired of waiting...
OUTSIDE!
Until it's nothing special...
BLANK EYES!
I get so tired of waiting...tired of waiting...
OUTSIDE!
Another answer for our crimes
I get so tired of waiting for it,
To find the truth in everything rejected,
And I get so tired of waiting...tired of waiting,
Another day between the lines...
WE'RE ALL GONE dead (what we reject)!!
WE'RE ALL GONE dead (what we reject)!!
WE'RE ALL GONE dead (what we reject)!!
Wake up everyone.
Blank eyes...
Tired of waiting.
Outside...
Here I am.
Blank eyes.
Tired of waiting, tired of wasting it all away.
Outside,
Here i am..."
The Gay Rights Movement
The importance of universal compassion, acceptance, and love cannot be stressed enough in this universe. Love is love. People are people.
Asexuality profiled on the BBC
Thursday, January 12, 2012
10 Commandments for a Good Life
A good life is when you assume nothing, do more, need less, smile often and realize how fortunate you are right now. It’s about the simple pleasures that make you happy, the compassionate deeds you perform, the personal goals you strive to achieve, the relationships you nurture and the legacy you leave behind.
So starting today, choose to take control. Here are ten commandments to help you live a good life.
And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count.
It’s the life in your years.
- Abraham Lincoln
I. I am not perfect and I will not try to be.
Think of how many things don’t get done in this world simply because people are waiting for the perfect time, place and circumstance.
The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists. It rewards people who get things done. And the only way to get things done is to be imperfect 99% of the time. (Read Too Perfect
ll. I cannot, and will not try, to please everyone.
No matter what you do or how you do it, there will always be people that disagree with what you’re doing. That’s life. So don’t try please everyone. Simply do what I know is right.
And remember, it doesn’t matter how many people don’t get it, it matters how many people do.
III. I will take part in something I believe in.
This could be anything. Some people take an active role in their city council, some find refuge in religious faith, some join social clubs supporting causes they believe in and others find passion in their careers. In each case the psychological outcome is the same. They engage themselves in something they strongly believe in. This engagement brings happiness and meaning into their lives.
IV. I will prioritize my obligations and do important things first.
Set priorities for yourself and act accordingly. It’s the only way to get things done.
It’s the only way to turn a dream into a reality. (Read Getting Things Done
V. I will choose my friends wisely.
Your friends are family you choose. So make sure you choose friends who are worthy of your time and attention.
Surround yourself with people who reflect the person you want to be. Choose friends who you are proud to know, people you admire, who love and respect you – people who make your day a little brighter simply by being in it.
VI. I will help others when I am able.
In life, you get what you put in.
When you make a positive impact in someone else’s life, you also make a positive impact in your own life. The more you help others, the more they will want to help you.
VII. I will focus on the positive.
Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. The mind must believe it can do something before it is capable of actually doing it.
The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful. Listen to your self-talk and replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Regardless of how a situation seems, focus on the next positive step forward.
VIII. I can only be me.
Judy Garland once said, “Always be a first rate version of yourself instead of a second rate version of somebody else.” Live by this statement.
There is no such thing as living in someone else’s shoes. The only shoes you can occupy are your own. If you aren’t being yourself, you aren’t truly living – you’re merely existing. And ask yourself this: If you don’t like who you really are, why should I like you?
Trying to be somebody you’re not is not sexy. Be you. That’s when you’re beautiful.
IX. I will be here now.
Life is happening right now. Instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, practice being and living in the present moment.
Remember, right now is the only moment guaranteed to you. Right now is life. Don’t miss it. (Read Zen and the Art of Happiness
X. Life never gets any better, only my perception of it does.
The world around you changes when you change.
If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right. The opposite is also true. The choice is yours to make.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
Dare You To Move
Switchfoot--Dare You to Move
"Welcome to the planet
Welcome to existence
Everyone's here
Everyone's here
Everybody's watching you now
Everybody waits for you now
What happens next
What happens next
[Chorus]
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened before
Welcome to the fallout
Welcome to resistance
The tension is here
Tension is here
Between who you are and who you could be
Between how it is and how it should be
[Chorus]
Maybe redemption has stories to tell
Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell
Where can you run to escape from yourself?
Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna go?
Salvation is here
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened
Today never happened
Today never happened before "
Raise those Expectations
After life has dealt you a setback, it may seem reasonable to lower your expectations. And yet, it is in fact just as reasonable, and much more advisable, to raise those expectations.
What has already happened has indeed set the stage for what is to come. However, your past does not have to control your future, because you can control and direct what you do right now.
If you visualize and expect more disappointment, you’re sure to get it. But you don’t want to do that.
Instead, use this moment to break the pattern. Stop looking down on what has been, and choose to look upward to the best that can be.
You are more experienced, more knowledgeable, and more determined than ever before. So raise your expectations accordingly.
Form your expectations based on the best you know you can be. Feel the power of your most treasured dreams as you enthusiastically bring those dreams to life.
— Ralph Marston
Notice, observe, and witness the thoughts. Don’t become lost in them and soon you’ll become aware of a pattern.
Practice meditation each day for a week and you’ll soon identify the patterns that your mind repeats. It may be the idea of opening a cheese shop or finding the perfect partner or … getting enlightened.
— Eric & Devis, Wisdom Heart
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Dear Customer Who Stuck Up For His Little Brother by Kristin Wolfe
You thought I didn't really notice. But I did. I wanted to high-five you.
Yesterday I had a pair of brothers in my store. One was maybe between 15 and 17. He was a wrestler at the local high school. Kind of tall, stocky and handsome. He had a younger brother, who was maybe about 10 to 12 years old. The only way to describe him was scrawny, neat, and very clean for a boy his age. They were talking about finding a game for the younger one, and he was absolutely insisting it be one with a female character. I don't know how many of y'all play games, but that isn't exactly easy. Eventually, I helped the brothers pick a game called "Mirror's Edge." The youngest was pretty excited about the game, and then he specifically asked me, "Do you have any girl color controllers?" I directed him to the only colored controllers we have, which include pink and purple ones. He grabbed the purple one, and informed me purple was his FAVORITE.
The boys had been taking awhile, so their father eventually came in. He saw the game, and the controller, and started in on the youngest about how he needs to pick something different. Something more manly. Something with guns and fighting, and certainly not a purple controller. He tried to convince him to get the new Zombie game "Dead Island" and the little boy just stood there repeating, "Dad, this is what I want, OK?" Eventually it turned into a full-blown argument complete with Dad threatening to whoop his son if he didn't choose different items.
That's when big brother stepped in. He said to his dad, "It's my money, it's my gift to him. If it's what he wants, I'm getting it for him, and if you're going to hit anyone for it, it's going to be me." Dad just gave his oldest son a strong stern stare-down, and then left the store. Little brother was crying quietly. I walked over and ruffled his hair (yes, this happened all in front of me). I said, "I'm a girl, and I like the color blue, and I like shooting games. There's nothing wrong with what you like. Even if it's different than what people think you should." I smiled, he smiled back (my heart melted!). Big brother then leaned down, kissed little brother on the head, and said, "Don't worry, dude."
They checked out and left, and all I can think is how awesome big brother is, how sweet little brother is, and how Dad ought to be ashamed for trying to make his son any other way.
This piece was originally published on Kristen's blog, www.sweetupndown.tumblr.com.
— Vincent Van Gogh in a letter to his brother Theo (July 1880)
How to Have the Best Year of Your Life (Without Setting a Goal)
This new year, do something different: stop setting goals.
If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results, then making resolutions for another year is a sure-fire way to drive yourself crazy. I did it for years, and it got me nothing.
Resolutions are pipe dreams, and goals are a waste of time. They are designed to trick you into believing all you need to change your life is a plan.
But plans don’t work. Life is too chaotic and busy. For most of us, it’s impossible to stick to a list of goals for more than a few weeks, not to mention an entire year.
So how do you change your life? By controlling what you can: your daily habits.
The Pointlessness of Plans
Most good things happen without a plan: friendships, falling in love, finding a job, and so on. If you want to make your new year count, you’ll need to be intentional — not by setting goals, but by making space in your life for what really matters.
This was how I was able to get into shape, launch a blog, train for a half-marathon, get a book deal, and keep my day job this year — while loving every minute of it.
Most productivity systems focus on beginning with the “end in mind” and setting goals to get there. Many are based on the assumption that in order to get what you want later, you have to give up what you want now. You work the plan, endure pain, and win.
But this is not the only path you can take.
I just finished one of the best years of my life, and most of it was completely unplanned. How did I do it? By creating new disciplines I actually liked doing. I wasn’t only fixated on the end results; I also enjoyed the process.
This is the secret to a healthy, productive life and to making an impact on the world. Create good, sustainable habits that you enjoy, and you’ll end up with a life you can be proud of.
Instead of Goals
There is an alternative to setting goals that will bring you closer to the life you want. Focus on a few practices you can enjoy doing on a regular basis. The trick here is consistency. These four helped me:
- Get up early. When the world wakes up, distractions abound. If you are going to focus on creating a new life for yourself, you’ll need to find the time. The best way to do this is to work while others are sleeping. At first, I didn’t like waking up before the sun, but eventually my body adjusted and I began looking forward to the solitude.
- Over-commit. The adage “under-promise and over-deliver” is a farce. It only propagates the status quo. Real difference-makers push boundaries. They test, prod, and poke until something gives. You can do this, too, by saying “yes” to more things than you’re comfortable with. Learn to stretch yourself. You might be surprised by what you’re actually capable of. Your confidence will grow, too.
- Talk to strangers. Relationships are what make the world go round. This is true for your career, personal well-being, and inner life. When you meet new people, you make connections that can lead to all kinds of future breakthroughs. Even when it’s uncomfortable, reach out and introduce yourself to new people. The worst they can say is “no.” Fortunately, many won’t.
- Practice generosity. Give away your time, money, services, and ideas. When you do this, you will get a lot more than you give. People will learn to trust you, and if you really help them, they will tell others about you. This will build your reputation, and you will have more friends than you know what to do with. And as the saying goes, what goes around really does come around.
After a year of doing these things, I ended up with a life I couldn’t have imagined or planned for. And I had a blast doing it. So I’m going to do it all over again, without setting a single goal.
The best year of your life is within reach — if you are willing to give up on the craziness of plans and instead focus on creating new habits. The first step is to begin.
Friday, January 6, 2012
30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself
December 11th, 2011 @ 4:30 pm by: Marc
30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself
When you stop chasing the wrong things you give
the right things a chance to catch you.
As Maria Robinson once said, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Nothing could be closer to the truth. But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you. You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot. Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth. And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.
- Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on. No, it won’t be easy. There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them. We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems. That’s not how we’re made. In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall. Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time. This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.
- Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself. Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves. Read The Road Less Traveled
.
- Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too. Yes, help others; but help yourself too. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.
- Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else. Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.
- Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.
- Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success. You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.
- Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us. We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.
- Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive. But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.
- Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either. You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else. Read Stumbling on Happiness
.
- Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place. Evaluate situations and take decisive action. You cannot change what you refuse to confront. Making progress involves risk. Period! You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.
- Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.
- Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company. There’s no need to rush. If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.
- Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you. But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.
- Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others doing better than you. Concentrate on beating your own records every day. Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.
- Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. Ask yourself this: “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”
- Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you. You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough. But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past. You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation. So smile! Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.
- Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate. Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself! And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too. If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.
- Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.
- Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway. Just do what you know in your heart is right.
- Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.
- Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things. The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.
- Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done. Read Getting Things Done
- Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile. Don’t take the easy way out. Do something extraordinary.
- Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while. You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well. You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.
- Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.
- Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out. But making one person smile CAN change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. So narrow your focus.
- Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy. One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time? Three years? Five years?” If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.
- Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen. Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.
- Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing
Hey World, You'll Never Break Me.
Cancer Bats--Deathsmarch
"Day after day, another minute sold
Day after day, feel the bite from the wind and the cold
Seems fair enough, an even trade
Your time stolen for a minimum wage
Night after night, with an end in sight
Night after night, just in time for the death of the light
The greatest times you've ever known
Never scared, never go it alone
Night after night, this feeling never grows older
Know you could do this over and over and...
Hey World, you'll break me
Bring it on, give me your best shot
Hey World, you'll never break me
Try your hardest, try your hardest
Day after day, keeping you awake
Day after day, pushing on just as much as it takes
Feeling worn beyond your age
Is it worth it for the minimum wage?
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/c/cancer_bats/deathsmarch.html ]
Night after night, just about to break
Night after night, had as much as a person can take
The best release you've ever known
Never tired, never going home
Night after night, this feeling never grows older
Know you could do this over and over and...
Hey World, you'll break me
Bring it on, give me your best shot
Hey World, you'll never break me
Try your hardest, try your hardest
Hey World, you'll break me
Step it up, give me your best shot
Hey World, you'll never break me
Try your hardest, try your hardest
Tonight's our night, we'll never go it alone
Tonight's our night, we're never going home
With the greatest friends I swear I've known
Yeah
Hey World, you'll break me
Bring it on, give me your best shot
Hey World, you'll never break me
Try your hardest, try your hardest
Hey World, you'll break me
Step it up, give me your best shot
Hey World, you'll never break me
Try your hardest, try your hardest"
Thursday, January 5, 2012
The first question they ask is: 'Why was he eternally surprised?'
And they are told: 'Wen considered the nature of time and understood that the universe is, instant by instant, recreated anew. Therefore, he understood, there is in truth no past, only a memory of the past. Blink your eyes, and the world you see next did not exist when you closed them. Therefore, he said, the only appropriate state of the mind is surprise. The only appropriate state of the heart is joy. The sky you see now, you have never seen before. The perfect moment is now. Be glad of it.'
--Terry Pratchett, Thief of Time
Observations
1. If you already know the answer
2.If you dont think youre going to get the answer
3. if you dont need to know the answer
and in some cases,
4. If you know you are not going to like the answer
| — | Sylvia Plath |
Best Place to Start
Where is the best place to start, when you’re determined to make real improvements in your life? Where is the best place to start, when you’re totally committed to following your dream?
The best place to start is precisely where you are. The best time to start is the moment you are in.
As difficult and challenging as your situation may be, in that situation is a way to move forward. From where you are right now, there is a path that leads to precisely where you would like to be.
Don’t waste your time wishing for a more favorable starting point. Instead, make use of the starting point you have, and get going.
Rather than complaining about not having enough, use your creativity and imagination to become more and more effective with what you do have. Devote your energy to creating new value in the present, not to resentment of the past.
This is the best place to start, because this is the place from which you can start right now. From here you can literally go anywhere, so go ahead, take that first step and don’t look back.
— Ralph Marston
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
The Last to Say
Atmosphere--The Last to Say
"As far back as he cares to remember,
He used to see his old man lose the temper.
And Mama's pretty face'd catch it all.
On a regular basis the nest would fall.
But he was always safe from dad's rage
'Cause mama's sacrifice in his place.
Two dozen years, Of the blood sweet and tears.
Avoid the mirror, losin' her hair from the fear.
She never left him, stayed inside.
He beat her ass up until the day that he died.
In fact the biggest beating was the day that he died.
Cause now it's too late for her to make a new life.
She gets to mourn for the touch of a punch.
Won't ever admit that she ain't clutching it much.
Some day she'll die and still won't be done.
The anger lives on through their son.
Cause he saw, he caught it all,
A childhood of watchin' ma and pa get raw.
It's too bad for him; Naw' that's half the truth.
Cause you back with him now and he's smackin' you.
What happened to you? You don't have a clue.
Did your mamma use to suffer accidents too?
I never knew that you would stand for abuse.
I guess I just assumed that you would pack up and move.
Think about when you left him, Last time,
You said out loud, You'd never forgive past crime.
Sunglasses so dark, scarf around the neck to cover the choke marks.
And since you got it justify returnin',
You convinced yourself that he's just a hurt person.
You wanna blame that cross he bares,
But his pop's not there when he tosses you down stairs.
Let me be the last to say, please don't stay.
Let me be the last to say, you won't be okay.
Please put your shoes on and step into that warm weather.
Go get yourself a more better forever.
Gotta put it down, you gotta leave it,
And don't ever come back again; You gotta mean it.
Just tear it all apart and build new,
Cause' if you don't kill him he's gonna kill you.
You can't hold hands when they make fists,
And I ain't the first to say this but,
Let me be the last to say, please don't stay.
Let me be the last to say, you won't be okay.
Let me be the last to say, please don't stay."
Why Should I Forgive? The Origin of a New Year's Resolution
In my late twenties I read the Bible, the Old and New Testament, for the first time. Although I was impressed with the transformation of God’s consciousness from the Old Testament God of anger, judgment, vengeance and war to the New Testament God of peace, love, acceptance, charity and forgiveness, I was more impressed with the implications of several thought-provoking Biblical comments:
(1) From the Book of Matthew: He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
If the above-passage is an accurate quote from Jesus of the Christ, that’s pretty awesome and powerful. “Nothing will be impossible for you.” That’s not a vague and ambiguous assertion. That’s a description of how Reality Manifestation works. That’s the Secret right there. That’s the Law of Attraction, the Law of Abundance. The power of the Mind to transcend time and transform space, and thereby create the reality of one’s choosing! “Nothing will be impossible for you.” Wow. I like the sound of that. And I find it hard to believe that Jesus of the Christ was exaggerating. His word was his bond.
(2) From the Book of Mark: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” I don’t take the word “rich” literally here. I believe what was meant instead of rich is the word greedy. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a greedy man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Greed is of the ego. Greed is about competition and separation rather than cooperation and unity. Greed is about judgment, aggression and unforgiveness, not acceptance, tolerance and harmony. Greed is not of God and if you really want to get to God and Heaven and the Garden of Eden, or whatever else you understand to be a place of eternal, unconditional peace, compassion and joy, then be of Service to Others. Help others. If you’ve got two coats, give one away to a needy brother.
3) From the Book of Matthew: “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”
Meek doesn’t mean weak. Meek doesn’t mean wimpy. Meek doesn’t mean sucker or chump. Meek means those who are gentle, those who are non-violent, those who are compassionate, those who are accepting of others, those who are unconditionally forgiving. “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.” The implication of this being that those who seek peace through violence and murder are not blessed and will inherit the wind.
4) From the book of Matthew: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” This is very clear. The message is basically that if you walk a righteous, honest and forgiving path, you will get the life that you want. You’ll get the goodies. First be a person of integrity. First be of service to others. First let go of anger, fear, judgment and attack. First forgive. And then “all these things will be added to you.” In other words: You win. You Forgive To Win!
5) From the Book of John: “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” In other words, All these things that I have done, you can do and more if you have faith in me, if you follow my principles of forgiveness, acceptance, and love. That’s the ticket. There’s the message again: Want to do 22 impossible things before breakfast? First seek the kingdom of heaven. First be a person of honor. And then with your faith you’ll move mountains, and all things will come to you.
Why? Because when we get our mind focused on Forgiveness, Acceptance and Love, this removes the obstacles to the natural flow of abundance and prosperity which is available in infinite amounts to everyone.
So that’s my New Year’s resolution: To first seek the kingdom of heaven. To first be a person of honor. To forgive. To accept. To love. As best I can. As unconditionally as I can. Wherever I am. Without exceptions. Without expectations. Without the need for appreciation or acknowledgment.
To have forgiveness, teach forgiveness to learn it.
- Dr. Walter Jacobsen
Made to Make a Difference
Doing only what is easy and convenient, comfortable and free of challenge, doesn’t get you very far. Chasing after something for nothing ends up getting you nothing of real value.
In order to experience true fulfillment in any undertaking, you must invest yourself in it. It is your active participation and contribution to life that makes it so good to live.
If you continually take the easy way out, avoiding effort, challenge and commitment, you’ll end up being very disappointed. You are made to make a difference, so embrace every opportunity to do so.
You are here to participate, not just to observe. The true joy you feel will come not from meaningless possessions or empty pleasures, but from creating and expressing and experiencing the goodness of life in your own unique way.
Don’t waste your precious time in a fruitless attempt to get something for nothing. In every moment there are plenty of opportunities to create real value that flows from the authentic beauty of who you are.
Your deepest desires and your most difficult problems are challenging you to make a positive difference. Do yourself a big favor, accept the challenge, make the effort, and create the true fulfillment that is your destiny.
— Ralph Marston
Live Fast, Die Old
Frank Turner--Live Fast Die Old
"I brought myself back from the devil,
And now I'm keeping it all for myself.
I'm checking myself out of the programe,
Because no one is blessing my health.
So why not dream like you're running out of sleep,
I'm not playing a punch line, I'm playing for keeps.
We only just started and you're going to fight.
You ride up and (???) and fade away
well why not (???) and you're unfair to say
Let's do this once now and let's do it right
I used to act like none of this mattered,
And I used to say that I didn't care.
That we wouldn't be doing this forever,
But the truth is that I was just scared.
So you put up a front to protect yourself,
If you're down on the floor why get back on the shelf,
You can't change your outfit once the night has begun.
We still got the fuel and we still got the fire,
So (???), yeah let's never reture.
Let's keep on making mistakes 'till we die
http://www.6lyrics.com/live_fast_die_old1-lyrics-frank_turner.aspx
It won't last,
So people...
I'm gonna live fast and I'm gonna die old,
Gonna end my days in a house with high windows,
On the quiet shores in the south west.
So you set the tunes, man and I'll bring the beers.
So I'll (???) birthday and I'll see you right here,
And together we will watch the sun set.
There's no one in my coffin, there's nothing in my grave
Yeah, I'm tired of being dammned I'd rather be saved.
We can never sell out because we never brought in,
And if they build it back up then we'll swing back in town and bring the whole thing down again.
I'm gonna live fast and I'm gonna die old,
Gonna end my days in a house with high windows,
On the quiet shores in the south west.
So you set the tunes, man and I'll bring the beers.
So I'll (???) a birthday and I'll see you right here,
And together we will watch the sun set.
So people, it won't last,
Live fast, die old
Choose a path, so so
Live fast, die old."
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
No One Will Ever Be Like Me
POS--De La Souls
"I am P.O.S.
I be the new generation of slaves
Here to make papes off this land corporation's rape
From that life I'm tryin' to separate
But I guess I'm livin' dreams cuz my rent's always a month late
Product of an East German Black
Who kissed the neck, of a pretty woman named Grace
But he left my life just a little too soon
Didn't see me catch the Doomtree fame
As we go a little somethin' like this
Look mom, no protection, now I got a baby boy by the name of Jake
And I been tryin' to play the cowboy to rustle in the dough
When I think I'm getting' better every passin' day
I'm not an early bird, plus the feathers' all black
So by the time I catch an apple, usually it's rind
But it's a must to decipher one's girl
From the round, sweet apples that are rotten on the inside
I cherish my free time
But I maximize so my soul needs to unwind
I wanna see the stars be the moon to my son
(But I'm always on the run, run, run)
I fake to all these hard-case kids
I raise a black fist
But won't say [nigga] in the things I write
De La Souls Lyrics on
And I don't say [faggot]
Cuz I don't think it's right
I know my boy struggle with that for over half his life
I guess we got our own lives to live
But I'm stretched too thin, tryin' to build a kingdom to rule
And I think to the past sometimes
And dag man, it's bad, see I kinda acted like a fool
But I've apologized to the lives that I've touched
Wrong pride, to the back, move ahead strong
But I can safely say
I've never played a woman without karma catchin' up later on
I try to walk the right side of the tracks
But I've hopped a couple trains
Mom would cry if she knew the haps
But I can stand who I am
And face the day straight
Knowin' not a thing can change what our beat singin'
[Hook]
No one will ever be, like me
No one will ever be, like me
I know I'm not a bad guy, but when I try to do what's right
Everyone who comes to me don't understand or see my plight
Everything I've ever done, and all the plans I've had inside
I was Mr. Gone Wrong in way, so I gave up and said
(Alright)
So now I do what I can, I'm
(Alright)
Stand up like Mama raised me
(Alright)
I was dealt from the bottom
And pulled a flush
I've been livin with my chips all in
And I'm still in see
[Hook]
I am P.O.S.
I be the new generation of slaves
Here to make papes off this land corporation's rape
From that life I'm tryin' to separate
But I guess I'm livin' dreams cuz my rent's always a month late
And lookin' back it seems I've always been a step behind
Little off-track and feelin' no one shared a frame but mine
Listenin' to records in my room to escape
Found some things I could relate with, I wore out the tape
We said
When I lose, every time I win, cuz
No one will ever be,
Messin' up stuff or doin' things wrong
Quite like me"
