Aww hell naw...(The Fresh Prince of Wisdom)

Girls Leg Circuit--Rise Above Fitness

You're Not Alone

Stick To Your Guns--Amber
"Her name is amber
She has eyes like her mother
She's beautiful and bright the whole worlds in front of her
She has a smile that could end a war
Yet no one wants her and she has nothing to care for
Shes only 14 and she thinks
Why is the weight of the world crashing down on me
Cause as of late the sun doesn't seem to shine so bright
And the place where my heart once was has lost its fight

She's on her own
And as she's braves her storm
All alone

She screams oh
I've had enough please make this go
This sea is rough and I'm drowning slow
Her mind numbing pain has her lost in the undertow
I just wish she knew she didn't have to be alone

You don't have to be alone
You're not alone
You're not alone

Her arms are locked in the devils chains
And her heart, broken and trapped in a steel cage.
She can't catch her breath as she chokes on the pain
So she brings her pain to the surface of her skin.

Your frozen agony burns you. Can't even begin to know
The nightmare that you've been through.
Only you can break the cycle that plagues you
There is a light you just have to see it through.

She's on her own
And as she's braves her storm
All alone

She screams oh
I've had enough please make this go
This sea is rough and I'm drowning slow
Her mind numbing pain has her lost in the undertow
I just wish she knew she didn't have to be alone

She screams oh
I've had enough please make this go
This sea is rough and I'm drowning slow
Her mind numbing pain has her lost in the undertow
But braves her storm
You are not alone"

Empty-Handed, Full-Hearted

Post written by Leo Babauta.

We often load ourselves up when we travel, because we want to be prepared for various situations. This burden of being prepared leaves us with our arms full, unable to receive whatever is there when we arrive.

It leaves us tired from carrying, so that we are not happy when we meet someone new on our travels.

What if we traveled with empty hands, ready to embrace new experiences, receive new foods, touch new people?

We might feel less prepared when we leave, but the preparedness is an illusion. Stuff doesn’t make us prepared. Having empty hands but a heart that is full of love leaves us prepared for anything.

This doesn’t just apply to taking a trip, but to living each day. Each day is a journey, and we load ourselves up with material possessions, with tasks and projects, with things to read and write, with meetings and calls and texts. Our hands are full, not ready for anything new.

Drop everything, be open to everything.

Enter each day empty-handed, and full-hearted.

“Time changes everything.” That’s what people say, but it’s not really true. Doing things changes things. Not doing things leaves things exactly as they were.

18 Truths to Start Telling Yourself

MARC AND ANGEL HACK LIFE

This is your journey, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.

Here are 18 truths to inspire, motivate and remind you that you aren’t confined by the boundaries others impose on you. You are in full control of your own life, starting today.

1. I can only be me. – Stop trying to be someone else’s idea of perfect. Be your imperfectly perfect self. Be YOU. When they laugh at you for being different, laugh back at them for being the same. 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.
2. This is my life, and my dreams are worth it. – Life is a courageous journey or nothing at all. We cannot become who we want to be by continuing to do exactly what we’ve been doing. If you are passionate about something, pursue it, no matter what anyone else thinks. That’s how dreams are achieved. Be deaf when people tell you that you can’t fulfill your dreams. The only place where your goals and dreams are impossible is inside your head. Once you’ve dreamed of it, you’re halfway there. So go ahead and follow through. Let your dreams be bigger than your fears and your actions louder than your words. Follow your heart regardless of what others tell you to do. At the end of the day it’s you who has to live with your decisions, not them. Read The Road Less Traveled.
3. Everything, good or bad, is a life lesson. – Everyone you meet, everything you encounter, etc. – they’re all part of the learning experience we call ‘life.’ Never forget to acknowledge the lesson, especially when things don’t go your way. If you don’t get a job that you wanted or a relationship doesn’t work, it only means something better is out there waiting. And the lesson you just learned is the first step towards it. Remember, there are no mistakes, only lessons. Love yourself, trust your choices, remember what you deserve, and keep pushing forward.
4. A few REAL friends are all I need. – When it comes to relationships, focus on quality over quantity. Spend your time with friends who love and appreciate you, and who encourage you to improve in healthy and exciting ways. They are the ones who make you feel more alive, and not only embrace who you are now, but also embrace and embody who you want to be, unconditionally. Spend more time with those who make you smile and less time with those who you feel pressured to impress. These people make your day a little bit brighter simply by being in it. It is better to have one true friend than all the acquaintances in the world.
5. My actions and words directly affect the lives around me. – Lead by example. Practice what you preach or don’t preach at all. Walk the talk! People watch what you do more than they listen to what you say. Inspire, challenge and encourage people to their best, by doing YOUR best. And when someone else is doing a great job, tell them that you’re proud of them. Encourage them. Take the time to recognize their effort. If they know you believe they can do great things, they will often go to great lengths to live up to your expectations. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know. Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive and confident, good things and good people will be drawn to you.
6. Broken promises destroy relationships. – You make commitments to others and yourself all the time. The question is: Do you keep them? If you said you’re going to do something, do it! When you fail to keep a promise, it tells others that you don’t value their time or relationship. Don’t over-promise; under-promise and over-deliver on everything you do. And a few words to the wise: Never make a big decision when you’re angry, and never make a big promise when you’re overjoyed.
7. The little things are often the big things. – Keep it simple. There is absolute joy and wonder to be had in the simplest of moments – like watching the sunset over the horizon or spending time with a family member. Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things.
8. People regret the things they did NOT do. – You miss 100% of the shots you never take. Choices, chances and changes – start making them. You must make a choice to take a chance, or your life will never change. In the end, more so than the mistakes we made, we regret the chances we didn’t take, relationships we were afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make.
9. Small people can make a BIG difference. – Stay positive when negativity surrounds you. Smile when others frown. It’s an easy way to make a difference. There are many small, simple actions you can make to profoundly impact your family, your community, and the world. You could pick up and throw away some trash you see on the street. Send thoughts of loving kindness, support and peace to a friend. Find something in your house you no longer need and give to someone who could use it. Everyone values the gift of unexpected assistance and those who supply it. Leave everything a little better than you found it. You’ll see why.
10. Adversity makes us strong and wise. – Pain makes you stronger. Tears make you braver. Heartbreak makes you wiser. Be grateful for your past because it helped shape who you are. And thank the past for a better future. Live for today, learn from yesterday, and hope for tomorrow. Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.
11. Everyone deserves kindness and respect. – Treat everyone with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you – not because they are nice, but because you are. There are no boundaries or classes that define a group of people that deserve to be respected. Treat everyone with the same level of respect you would give to your grandfather and the same level of patience you would have with your baby brother. People will notice your kindness.
12. Everyone has something amazing to offer. – Accept people just the way they are. In most cases it’s impossible to change them anyway, and it’s rude to try. If you give them a chance, everyone has something amazing to offer. Open your mind, arms and heart to all people; we are united in our differences, and stronger together because of them.
13. There’s no point in doing something if I’m not going to do it right. – I’m impressed by great guitarists, writers, bloggers, painters, motivational speakers, internet entrepreneurs, computer engineers, mothers, fathers, athletes, etc. And there’s only one thing they all have in common: They excel at what they do. There’s no point in doing something if you aren’t going to do it right. Excel at your work and excel at your hobbies. Develop a reputation for yourself, a reputation for consistent excellence. Read The Four Agreements.
14. Dishonesty should never be tolerated. – Nobody likes a liar. In the long-run, the truth always reveals itself anyway. Either you own up to your actions or your actions will ultimately own you. Living a life of honesty creates peace of mind, and peace of mind is priceless. Period. Don’t be dishonest and don’t put up with people who are.
15. Personal growth will feel uncomfortable at first. – Growth always begins at the end of your comfort zone. So break out of your comfort zone and try something new. Fight the unfamiliar and enjoy the experience. Try out that new restaurant. Stop by the new park. Routines stagnate us. New experiences help us grow and they make life interesting. Make an effort to try something new every day this week. It can be a whole new activity or just a small experience, such as talking to a stranger. Once you get the ball rolling, many of these new experiences will open doors to life changing opportunities. And with a strategy of continuous small steps into new experiences, we are able to sidestep the biggest barrier to positive change: Fear.
16. Happiness is a choice that comes from within. – Being happy doesn’t mean everything is perfect, it means you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections. There are choices you can make every day to feel the effects of happiness. Choose to be around the right people. Choose to focus on what you have, not on what you haven’t. Choose a good attitude. Choose to express gratitude. Choose to forgive. Choose to take care of your body. Begin today by taking responsibility for your own happiness. The choice is yours. Read Stumbling on Happiness.
17. The more I invest in myself, the more control I will have over my life. – Invest time and energy in yourself every day. When you invest in yourself, you can never lose, and over time you will change the trajectory of your life. You are simply the product of what you know. The more time and energy you spend acquiring pertinent knowledge, the more control you have over your life.
18. Knowledge without action accomplishes nothing. – The number one thing I persistently see holding smart people back is their own reluctance to take action with the knowledge they already have. In other words, they believe they require additional knowledge, skill, experience, etc. before they can aptly partake in an opportunity. Yes, more knowledge is great to have, but without action it doesn’t get you anywhere. You’ve got to take baby steps. You’ve got to act on what you know. Remember, the acquisition of knowledge doesn’t mean you’re growing; growing happens when what you know changes how you live.

holy fuck to cute, funny, and sweet.

Hell is control

Be a better you

No matter what the future brings, it will always bring you the opportunity to make a positive difference. No matter what may happen, you can always respond with integrity and positive purpose.

You can apply the very best of your wisdom and experience to the situations in which you have influence. And you can adjust and adapt to those situations over which you have little or no control.

There’s no point in worrying about the future, because your worry will not cause anything positive to happen. Instead, focus on making good and valuable use of the time you have right now, to grow stronger, more capable, more knowledgeable and experienced.

Position yourself so you can find and bring to life the positive value that exists in every situation. Prepare yourself to successfully move forward even in the face of challenge, frustration and uncertainty.

The way to assure a better future is to be a better you, right here and right now. The strength you build within your own life is a powerful tool you can use to create prosperity and fulfillment in any environment.

Every moment is an opportunity to add to that strength by living with love, gratitude, authenticity and positive purpose. Do what it takes to be a better you right now, and build a better world in the days, months and years to come.

— Ralph Marston

Read more: http://greatday.com/#ixzz1pxkgD1DN

How to turn Suffering into Growth--Sadhguru

Scream Until Your Heart Stops

Shine

Rollins Band-Shine
"if I'd listened everything that they said to me, I wouldn't be here! and if I took the time to bleed from all the tiny little arrows shot my way, I wouldn't be here! the ones who don't do anything are always the ones who try to put you down and you could spend your entire life walking around in the nowhere land of self doubt
'coz when you start to doubt yourself the real world will eat you alive! it's time, it's time to align your body with your mind, it's hero time it's time, it's time to align your body with your mind, it's hero time 'coz when you start to doubt yourself the real world will eat you alive! and you know it's true! I'm talking to you: hero time starts right now! Yeah, hero time, yeah, time to shine, hey, hero time!
if ya think you've got 100 years to mess around: you're wrong! this time it's real, y o u r t i m e i s n o w . . . it's hero time! Yeah, hero time,hey, time to shine, yeah, hero time, yeah!
hard times are gettin' harder, the liars are acting strong you better get a grip on yourself or you won't be around too long it's hero time, hey, time to shine, yeah, hero time, yeah, hero time, yeah! it's hero time, it's hero time, time to shine, shine, shine, shine, shine! oh yeah! (3x)
no such thing as spare time, no such thing as free time no such thing as down time all you got is life time... go! 'coz it's hero time, 'coz it's time to shine 'coz it's time to go, go, go! yeah, hou!
when you're gone, you're so gone (2x) you've got it now, it's time to go hero time starts right now! yeah, aha..! ...change it!
I got grace in times of friction, I got truth in times of fiction I've got no time"

A Survival Guide for Beating Information Addiction

Post written by Leo Babauta.

Are you suffering from information addiction? It’s a growing problem as people spend more and more of their time online — and while online tools are amazing, being addicted to checking them can steal most of your day.

You know you’re an information addict if you:

• Check email, Facebook, news, or some other social network first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
• Are constantly on your mobile device when you’re away from home/office.
• Can’t get away from the computer in order to get outside, exercise, or spend time with people while disconnected.
• Are constantly posting to Facebook or Twitter or Instagram, or texting/emailing, when meeting with other people.
• Can’t get important work done because you have to check your messages.
• Feel anxiety if you’re completely disconnected for more than a few minutes.
• Can’t imagine spending an entire day disconnected.

Now, if none of these seem like a problem for you, even if you do them, then they probably aren’t a problem. But if you see yourself in one or more of these and want to change, this guide is for you.

This survival guide isn’t the ultimate guide to beating an addiction, however — it’s a set of tips and techniques I’ve used to survive the constant pull of the online world.

First Steps

Don’t know where to start? These first steps can be done today.

1. Assess your habits. What are you addicted to most? When are you most likely to be sucked into your addiction? For the rest of today, and the next several days, keep a handy little piece of paper and a pen/pencil with you, and write down the things you check often, putting a tally mark next to those things each time you check them. A TV news channel? Facebook or Twitter or G+? Pinterest or Reddit? Keep a tally so you know what you’re dealing with.

2. Introduce the pause. Addictions are something we often do automatically, without thinking. Start to break this chain of trigger-habit auto-response by wedging a small pause in between them. When you get the urge to check something you’re addicted to, notice this urge, and pause for just one second. During this pause, simply ask yourself, “Do I really want to do this, and why?” You can then go on to do it, no matter what the answer, but the important thing is having at least the briefest pause.

3. Take a break every hour. Even if you’re stuck on the sites you’re addicted to all day long, take 1o minute breaks once an hour. Set up an hourly reminder on your computer, and when that reminder pops up, get away from the computer. Take a walk for 10 minutes. Stretch. Do some pushups and squats. Clean your messy house. Write in a notebook, or sketch. Talk to someone in person. Drink some water and have a fruit. Meditate. When you come back to the computer, try closing the browser for a few minutes and doing some non-Internet work before going back online.

Changing Habits

Over the long term, you can change your habits. This will take a month or two, so you’ll want to fully commit to a change. Any change done half-assed won’t last.

1. Start with your biggest trigger. Assuming you’ve done the assessment and introduced the pause as recommended above, you should know your most common triggers — the things that cause you to go check something. That might be things like: starting a work task (and wanting to avoid it), getting on a bus/train, waking up, eating, getting a notification on your phone or computer, being bored or stressed, thinking of something you want to look up. Whatever your triggers are, pick the one that happens most. If there are several, just pick one of those randomly.

2. Pick a replacement habit. What do you want to do instead of checking email, Facebook, Twitter or the like? Pick something positive and fun that you can do in 5 minutes every time your most common trigger happens. That might be: reading a few pages of a novel, journaling, doing pushups, taking a walk, drinking water, meditating, writing, painting, practicing a language, writing a letter with paper and pen, etc. You’re going to try to do this every time the habit happens, instead of the actual habit.

3. Do the new habit after the trigger, every time. Don’t allow any exceptions, or you won’t form the habit. A new habit is formed much faster, and more strongly, if you do it extremely consistently after the trigger. If you’re inconsistent, and still do the old habit, you are allowing the old habit to stay in place. Now, just because you miss once or twice doesn’t mean you should give up — just start again and try to be more consistent, figure out why you failed, and plan to beat that obstacle. But set a rule that you’ll allow no exceptions!

4. Use positive public pressure. Having accountability helps. Blogging about your new change, or posting it on Facebook or Twitter (I know, a bit ironic), can help you feel some public accountability. Tell everyone you know that you’re not going to check Facebook (for example) within 15 minutes of starting an important work task. My friend Michael Ellsberg uses negative consequences (something I’ve done in the past as well): if he eats sugar or refined carbs, he has to make a donation to Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign (not a good thing for Michael, who is not a Romney supporter). Leverage the power of social media to beat social media.

A Balanced Life

In the long run, it’s good to have an idea of what life would be like if you’re not controlled by an information addiction.

How will you work? What will you be like if you’re not checking things all day? Some things to consider:

• The goal isn’t to eliminate all information sources and be shut off from the online world. It’s not to throw out your iPhone or laptop. These tools are incredibly useful and powerful — obviously I make my living using them, and they have changed our lives in so many positive ways. The idea is simply not to be controlled by them, and to have a balanced life that includes other activities.
• Schedule time for non-Internet and non-media activities. That means actually block them off on your schedule. If you want to exercise, block off some time during the week for exercise (even just 30 minutes 3 times a week). Schedule time to spend with your friend and loved ones. Schedule time for a walk in solitude.
• Work without distractions. Each morning, figure out the 1-3 important things you’re going to get done that day. Do the first one first, before diving into email and online distractions. Shut down your browser if you can. If necessary, do the work somewhere without Internet, or unplug your router and give the router cord to someone to hold for an hour. Turn off all notifications on your computer and mobile device. Close everything but what you need to do your task. Learn to focus.
• Schedule a limited time for your information sources. How often do you want to check email and Facebook (or other sites)? Pick a time and schedule for using these tools in your life, and set a limit — twice a day for just 15 minutes a session, for example. This limit allows you to use these tools but also have time for other things, and it forces you to decide what’s important within that limit and to use the limited time efficiently.
• Choose your sources wisely. Cull your information sources and tools to the most important. Sometimes we use things just because everyone else is, but they might not be really adding much to our lives. For example, I deleted my Facebook account last year, and haven’t missed it. My life goes on! You might decide to delete your Instagram or Pinterest account, to save yourself from endless browsing of things that aren’t really important, for example. You might decide to only read 10 really good blogs instead of 50 ones that take up your attention. Your attention matters — you should only give it to the things that make your life better.
• Get some sleep. A lack of rest makes us less able to focus, and more likely to deviate from a plan of any kind of self-control. It also makes us more likely to be distracted by the Internet, according to a new study. Make rest a priority.

LINK

Successfully being you

Remind yourself how strong you have been. Consider how strong you can be.

The challenges that face you are real, and not to be taken lightly. Yet you have already worked your way through countless challenges, and you have what it takes to keep moving forward.

Let yourself feel sincere, all-encompassing gratitude for where you are and for what you have. Make the commitment to make positive, purposeful use of the goodness with which you are blessed.

There is much to be done and there is even more that you’re capable of doing. In every moment is the opportunity to create new, fulfilling value.

Look forward, and envision the best possibilities. Step confidently ahead, and feel how good and right it feels to make them come to life.

You are, right now, the most experienced and effective you’ve ever been at successfully being you. Use this day to raise your success to ever higher, more fulfilling levels.

— Ralph Marston

Read more: http://greatday.com/#ixzz1pO3JXo3H

this photo is awesome.

Two of our greatest civil rights leaders laughing their butts off. Theres a lot of warmth in this photo i feel like. We can forget that our heroes are human.

Party Responsibly, Oberlin. Lets have some fun.

What are your thoughts on Smoking Marijuana? Sadhguru

The art of self-forgiveness

Rick Hanson PhD

Jul 23, 2011

Everyone messes up. Me, you, the neighbors, Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, King David, the Buddha, everybody.

It’s important to acknowledge mistakes, feel appropriate remorse, and learn from them so they don’t happen again. But most people keep beating themselves up way past the point of usefulness: they’re unfairly self-critical.

Inside the mind are many sub-personalities. For example, one part of me might set the alarm clock for 6 am to get up and exercise . . . and then when it goes off, another part of me could grumble: “Who set the darn clock?” More broadly, there is a kind of inner critic and inner protector inside each of us. For most people, that inner critic is continually yammering away, looking for something, anything, to find fault with. It magnifies small failings into big ones, punishes you over and over for things long past, ignores the larger context, and doesn’t credit you for your efforts to make amends.

Therefore, you really need your inner protector to stick up for you: to put your weaknesses and misdeeds in perspective, to highlight your many good qualities surrounding your lapses, to encourage you to keep getting back on the high road even if you’ve gone down the low one, and – frankly – to tell that inner critic to Shut Up.

With the support of your inner protector, you can see your faults clearly with fearing that will drag you into a pit of feeling awful, clean up whatever mess you’ve made as best you can, and move on. The only wholesome purpose of guilt, shame, or remorse is learning – not punishment! – so that you don’t mess up in that way again. Anything past the point of learning is just needless suffering. Plus excessive guilt, etc., actually gets in the way of you contributing to others and helping make this world a better place, by undermining your energy, mood, confidence, and sense of worth.

Seeing faults clearly, taking responsibility for them with remorse and making amends, and then coming to peace about them: this is what I mean by forgiving yourself.

How?

Start by picking something relatively small that you’re still being hard on yourself about, and then try one or more of the methods below. I’ve spelled them out in detail since that’s often useful, but you could do the gist of these methods in a few minutes or less.

Then if you like, work up to more significant issues.

Here we go:

• Start by getting in touch, as best you can, with the feeling of being cared about by some being: a friend or mate, spiritual being, pet, or person from your childhood. Open to the sense that aspects of this being, including the caring for you, have been taken into your own mind as parts of your inner protector.
• Staying with feeling cared about, list some of your many good qualities. You could ask the protector what it knows about you. These are facts, not flattery, and you don’t need a halo to have good qualities like patience, determination, fairness, or kindness.
• If you yelled at a child, lied at work, partied too hard, let a friend down, cheated on a partner, or were secretly glad about someone’s downfall – whateverit was – acknowledge the facts: what happened, what was in your mind at the time, the relevant context and history, and the results for yourself and others. Notice any facts that are hard to face – like the look in a child’s eyes when you yelled at her – and be especially open to them; they’re the ones that are keeping you stuck. It is always the truth that sets us free.
• Sort what happened into three piles: moral faults, unskillfulness, and everything else. Moral faults deserve proportionateguilt, remorse, or shame, but unskillfulness calls for correction, no more. (This point is very important.) You could ask others what they think about this sorting (and about other points below) – include those you may have wronged – but you alone get to decide what’s right. For example, if you gossiped about someone and embellished a mistake he made, you might decide that the lie in your exaggeration is a moral fault deserving a wince of remorse, but that casual gossip (which most of us do, at one time or another) is simply unskillful and should be corrected (i.e., never done again) without self-flagellation.
• In an honest way, take responsibility for your moral fault(s) and unskillfulness. Say in your mind or out loud (or write): I am responsible for ______ , _______ , and _______ . Let yourself feel it. Then add to yourself: But I am NOT responsible for ______ , _______ , and _______ . For example, you are not responsible for the misinterpretations or over-reactions of others. Let the relief of what you are NOT responsible for sink in.
• Acknowledge what you have already done to learn from this experience, and to repair things and make amends. Let this sink in. Appreciate yourself. Next, decide what if anything remains to be done – inside your own heart or out there in the world – and then do it. Let it sink in that you’re doing it, and appreciate yourself for this, too.
• Now check in with your inner protector: is there anything else you should face or do? Listen to that “still quiet voice of conscience,” so different from the pounding scorn of the critic. If you truly know that something remains, then take care of it. But otherwise, know in your heart that what needed learning has been learned, and that what needed doing has been done.
• And now actively forgive yourself. Say in your mind, out loud, in writing, or perhaps to others statements like: I forgive myself for ______ , _______ , and _______ . I have taken responsibility and done what I could to make things better. You could also ask the inner protector to forgive you, or others out in the world, including maybe the person you wronged.
• You may need to go through one or more the steps above again and again to truly forgive yourself, and that’s alright. Allow the experience of being forgiven to take some time to sink in. Help it sink in by opening up to it in your body and heart, and by reflecting on how it will help others for you to stop beating yourself up.

May you be at peace.

“Humans! They lived in a world where the grass continued to be green and the sun rose every day and flowers regularly turned into fruit, and what impressed them? Weeping statues. And wine made out of water! A mere quantum-mechanistic tunnel effect, that’d happen anyway if you were prepared to wait zillions of years. As if the turning of sunlight into wine, by means of vines and grapes and time and enzymes, wasn’t a thousand times more impressive and happened all the time…”

—	Terry Pratchett, Small Gods

Train yourselves. Don’t wait to be fed knowledge out of a book. Get out and seek it. Make explorations. Do your own research work. Train your hands and your mind. Become curious. Invent your own problems and solve them. You can see things going on all about you. Inquire into them. Seek out answers to your own questions. There are many phenomena going on in nature the explanation of which cannot be found in books. Find out why these phenomena take place. Information a boy gets by himself is enormously more valuable than that which is taught to him in school.”

—	Irving Langmuir

“Do no be arrogant because of your knowledge, but confer with the ignorant man as with the learned, for the limit of skills has not been attained, and there is no craftsman who has (fully) acquired his mastery.”

—	Ptah-Hotep, Egyptian, late 2400—early 2300 BC

"Emo" and LGBTQ Youth Being Targeted and Eliminated in Iraq

Pink News is reporting that militia within Iraq have been targeting youths perceived as "emo", and/or LGBTQ. The militia have been attacking the targets, with attacks frequently leading to kidnap, torture, and murder. The attacks have been focused around the capital city of Baghdad, as well as in some of the Southern provinces.



While anti-LGBTQ violence and persecution is not uncommon in Iraq, this particular wave appears to have begun in early February. Pink News reports that "militias had warned emo youth and LGBT people that they would kill them a month ago. Posters containing the threats were put in cafés and on street corners in Baghdad." An image of such posters, listing the names of individuals marked for death if they do not conform to normative styles of dress and behaviour, has been circulated online, courtesy of Sumaria News TV.

Whilst the attackers appear to be acting independently of the Iraqi Government, official bodies have been contributing to the atmosphere of moral panic around the emo phenomenon within the country, as evidenced by the following excerpt from an Iraqi Interior Ministry statement, sourced from Al Arabiya News:

'The 'Emo phenomenon' or devil worshiping is being probed by the Moral Police who have the approval to eliminate it as soon as possible since it's detrimentally affecting the society and becoming a danger.'

'They wear strange, tight clothes that have pictures on them such as skulls and use stationery that are shaped as skulls. They also wear rings on their noses and tongues, and do other strange activities.'

In addition, Colonel Mushtaq Taleb Muhammadawi, director of the Interior Ministry's community police, made some extremely strong comments about emo youth to Iraq News Network:

''Research and reports on the emo phenomenon has been conducted and shared with the Ministry of Interior which officially approves the measures to eliminate them.'

'The Ministries of Education and Interior are taking this issue seriously and we have an action plan to eradicate them. I will be leading the project myself and we have the necessary permits to access all schools in the capital,'

A Pink News source within Baghdad, quoted under the moniker 'O', said, 'There are so many myths around them. They are being killed for being perceived as too feminine and gay.'

Al-Sharqiya TV, an Iraqi satellite TV network, reports that 90 men and women in the country have been murdered by these militias thus far.

5 Tips For When You Feel Like An Outsider or Like You Don't Belong

What to do when you feel like you just don't fit in

by Catherine Pratt
www.Life-With-Confidence.com

Do you feel like an outsider, like you don’t belong anywhere or that you just don’t fit in?

I spent a lot of my life feeling like an outsider. The good news is that we’re in very good company. In reading autobiographies of some of the most famous people, one of the statements you’ll commonly see is, “I felt like an outsider.” People like: Nicole Kidman, Anthony Hopkins, Walt Disney, and Maria Shriver are just a few. Even Tom Cruise was teased as a child because he had dyslexia and so felt he didn’t fit in.

I also just read a short autobiography on Ronnie Burkett. Ronnie has been declared “a genius” in some circles for his amazing theatre work using puppets. I saw one of his shows awhile back and they truly are heart wrenching as well as thought provoking. Turns out, the only reason he discovered this talent was because at the age of 7 he felt like an outsider and ended up reading the encyclopedia because he was so unhappy. One of the articles that captivated him was on puppets and thus started a whole new life for Ronnie.

While it’s good to know we’re in good company, it also helps to know how to deal with these feelings.

Here are 5 tips for when you feel like an outsider or that you just don’t belong anywhere.

1. Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself
Often, it’s really only your own mind and emotions that tell you that you don’t fit in. You may actually fit in fine, you just feel like an outsider. It definitely doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

It’s important to know that feeling like you don’t belong isn’t always a bad thing either. A lot of famous celebrities say that being an outsider actually helped them. It allowed them to concentrate on their own ambitions and goals without feeling like they had to conform to other people's standards. They already felt like they didn’t fit in so could do their own thing.

Remember, it’s the people that are unique in this world that make the biggest impact and usually have something truly special to provide.

You don’t want to change yourself just to fit in with a certain group of people. That's where a lot of people go wrong. They end up wanting to gain approval from others and end up losing themselves in the process. You have so much more to offer by being true to yourself.

When you feel like you're not fitting in, ask yourself if it's because of what you're thinking? Are you thinking thoughts like:
I'll never be good enough
I'll never fit in
No one likes me

These thoughts may not even be true. It may be just because you continue to tell yourself these thoughts over and over that they become true for you.

So, if you catch yourself thinking one of these thoughts, turn it around and ask yourself what do you really want? This will get you out of feeling negative about yourself and will give your mind a way to think of some positive action you could take.

2. Get Comfortable in Your Own Skin
There is only one you and it may be time to explore that person and figure out what you like and what makes you happy. Also, figure out if you’re being affected by any limiting beliefs or past anger. You are a truly special person with your own amazing gifts, thoughts, and ideas. Get to know you better. Accept who you are and then start to make yourself the absolute best you can be.

When I first started out to get comfortable with myself, I gave myself the goal of “to be happy, healthy, positive, and to develop and maintain an inner peace.” I had to search deep inside myself to figure out what was going on but it’s definitely been worth it.

The irony is that once you get comfortable in your own skin, you will “fit” in more. The more comfortable you are with yourself, the more comfortable people are with you. You may also end up asking yourself later why you even wanted to fit in with those people. You'll have moved so far beyond where you are now and see that you have improved so much more than that group of people you originally wanted to accepted by.

You’ll be more accepting of other people and open to new ideas and concepts. You’ll probably also start to find people that are very similar to you. You’ll be able to go through life enjoying every moment because you’re comfortable with yourself and understand yourself. You’ll be more focused on your experiences, your goals, and the beauty you see around you rather than the opinions of a simple few.

3. Let Go of Past Anger
Sometimes it’s because of past hurts that we repel other people. We’re so angry at people that we can’t relate to anyone or only expect the worse from others. Once, I figured out how to let go of my past, I became much more comfortable being me. I found it was easier to get along with other people. Maybe cause I didn't care as much what they thought of me but more likely just because I think people are more affected by the "aura" you give off. So, if you're angry all the time, most people will avoid you and you'll end up only attracting into your life other people who are always angry or who feel like an outsider too.

4. Focus on Your Wants and Desires
Instead of focusing on the problem that you don’t feel like you fit in, try turning it around and focus on what you do want. What do you want to explore, what goals do you have, what do you want to learn? Ask yourself these questions:

• What is your deepest dream?
• What would you love to do?
• Got any places you feel you just have to visit before you die?

Then, go and do it. There are so many incredible and inspiring things in this world to explore. Focus on the positive and the beauty of the world rather than getting caught up in a negative situation. Answering questions like the ones above will provide you with so much more fulfillment than trying to figure out how to fit in. If you just try to fit in, you’re probably not being true to your real self and you won’t be happy for long even if you do manage to “fit in”. But, if you follow your true passion, you will not only be happy, comfortable in your own skin, but will also probably gain the respect of people you never dreamed possible. For some ideas on figuring out what you want to do, "Try a Life Direction".

5. You’re Not the Only One

It’s very easy to feel like you’re the only one who ever feels this way but I’d be willing to bet that just about everyone on this planet has felt like an outcast at some point, or many points, in their life. The next time you’re somewhere where you feel like an outsider, take a look around, there is probably at least one other person who feels the same way you do. How about going over there and saying, “Hello”?

In Summary
The key to handling the situation of “I feel like an outsider” is really all in how you react to that feeling. You can beat yourself up over it or you can become stronger for it. As the biographies of those that have gone through the same feelings show, there can definitely be an advantage to being unique. You are truly special. You just need to let the world see that.

Read more: http://www.life-with-confidence.com/feel-like-an-outsider.html#ixzz1odMfKsdO

Becoming like the Tao

“The Tao is (like) the emptiness of a vessel; and in our employment of it we must be on our guard against all fulness. How deep and unfathomable it is, as if it were the Honoured Ancestor of all things!”

There is something inexpressibly thrilling about the Eastern expositions of the Absolute Reality. How far these words are from the fawning and flattering matter-and-power-oriented effusions of those who seek to placate a testy and haywire deity made in the image of their own flawed egos. Even though no words can really approach Its essence, yet Its glory flows in superabundance into even the worlds of relative existence. Actually those worlds are Its superabundance! And when the sages who are united with It speak of Its wonder, those who have evolved to the point of conscious seeking respond with joy and acclamation.


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