Philosophical wonder woman

It's been a while since I read for pleasure.  I generally read mostly work-related articles until my eyes give out. But as a former English major, I need a fix... Poetry for me is not hearts and flowers. It's angst, frustration, love, passion; every raw emotion expressed in a unique perspective. I'll admit I was never a good writer of poetry, (at least by my professors' standards), but it fuels the soul. In the words of Robin Williams in "Dead Poets Society".... " We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for." "Humanity I Love You" by E E Cummings Humanity i love you because you would rather black the boots of success than enquire whose soul ...

It's so easy to get caught up in our every day lives... things that seem important but when compared to the people we love and dramatic world tragedies - just seem ridiculously unnecessary. With Memorial Day just passed - I am also reminded of recent tragedies. There was a very dear friend my age who I never expected to die so young who passed May 4th.  Even though he had health problems and quite often was in and out of the hospital... it's still hard to believe.  I'm grateful he's at peace and will no longer suffer... But I am trying to let go of the regret I have from not spending time with him the last couple times I had a chance. Another family friend very suddenly died leaving a devastated family.  A truly tragic accident that no one ever could expect... it's a reminder of just how fragile our bodies can be and how we never really know how long we have on this earth. Of course we are always reminded when there is a massive tragedy such as in Oklahoma, ...

This is a good time for the release and letting go of unwanted emotions; worry, angst, self-consciousness and anything else that holds one back.  I don't know about you, but I want to be my genuine self, working daily to transcend darkness and find the path that's rewarding and purposeful. Here is my list of the numerous worries I want released and to be free from.  They are all immensely difficult and thus why I am writing this, so I will reference and remember the things I feel hold me back in life.  I am not lecturing you... I am basically talking to myself.  :-)  1.  Stop worrying about money.  Despite unemployment and all the hard times, you have always gotten by and been completely blessed by supportive family and unexpected financial blessings from others as well.  You will never starve or be out on the streets.  (Grateful) 2.  Let go of the bitterness, anger, frustration and shame of losing jobs.  You know that yo...

I want you to know that wherever you are today, a bigger life awaits you. Here are the things I learned that may support you in "defying gravity": 1. Always dream bigger than you think you can achieve at this moment 2. See the vision of your bigger life in your mind and embrace the possibility of it happening 3. Research and study so that you gain skills in the area of your dreams 4. Ask the universe to support you beyond your wildest imaginings 5. Say "yes" when opportunities arise. You may not be great at something but the universe will give you chances to learn and grow 6. Model people who do what you want to do 7. Expect Miracles and when they come celebrate Please affirm with me: Today, I boldly step into the amazing adventure of my life. I defy the odds of limitation and create a life of endless and enduring possibilities.

Isn't it amazing how much of our lives we spend  seeking and demanding to be right? We can be  right or we can be happy. - Dr. Roger W. Teel ------------------------- Consider this: Whatever we say about anybody else contains at its core an affirmation about ourselves. - Dr. Roger W. Teel ------------------------- "This most basic question, who am I, is the one that is most overlooked. We spend most of our days telling ourselves or the other we're someone important, someone unimportant, someone big, someone little, someone young, someone old. Never truly questioning its most basic assumption. Who are you, really? How do you know that is who you truly are? Is that true, really? When you turn your attention to your question, who am I, perhaps you'll see an entity that has your face and your body. But, who is aware of that entity? Are you the object, or the awareness of the object? The object comes and goes. The parent, the child, the lover, the ab...

It costs so much to be a full human being that there are very few who have the enlightenment or the courage to pay the price. One has to abandon altogether the search for security and reach out to the risk of living with both arms. One has to embrace the world like a lover. One has to accept pain as a condition of existence. One has to court doubt and darkness as the cost of knowing. One needs a stubborn will in conflict, but apt always to total acceptance of every consequence of living and dying. Morris West Australian novelist 1916 - 1999

I finally saw the original Time Machine from the 60s and liked it very much (what true geek COULDN'T appreciate such a significant sci-fi movie from our history?). Kind of ashamed to say I hadn't seen it yet... I loved that even though it was made in 1960, it still kept true to the timeline of being set in the year 1900. Needless to say after major references from The Big Bang Theory I figured it was time to give it a viewing. Considering the time period it was made, the time-lapse photographic effects and costuming, props, etc were all so terrific that it didn't have that campy-old-movie feel. But what I loved most were all the thought provoking questions... too many Sci-Fi movies made currently just go straight for the effects and really miss the mark on screenplay, dialogue and message (*cough* star wars eps I-III *cough*). This is why I love Joss Whedon so much because in addition to great effects and action, you get humor, you get characters wrestling with complex...

I came across an interesting theory and I want to put it into practice to see if it can work... any frame of mind you're in, generally it's imagined. whatever it is that you're thinking about that has you in a bad mood is already in the past, you're not actually experiencing it right that minute - you're imagining it and re-living it. so why not re-live the times that you felt most inspired, most dynamic, excited, happy and energetic? tap into those memories and feel that way any time you want to... that's the theory anyway. the suggestion is to write down three instances in which you recall feeling that state and for each, do something distinctive with your body while recalling each. for example, recall the event that made you feel powerful and excited and then breathe out with your lips puckered (or whatever you choose). then your mind-body creates that muscle memory to access that connection. then when you get good at that, trying doing it in the middle ...

I find in my life I've said "I don't know" a lot. I thought surrendering to the fact that the mysteries of life are beyond my understanding was the ultimate wisdom. But in reading this blog post from Louise Hay, perhaps by taking this approach I have been limiting myself... Magnify Your Vision of Life by Louise L. Hay Within each of us is a center of wisdom far deeper and greater than we’re aware of. Meditation is designed to help us connect with this center and magnify our understanding of life. When we’re willing to open our consciousness to new ideas and new ways of thinking about difficult issues, then our lives change for the better. The only goal I have is to continually grow to understand more about life and how it works. What do I need to know, believe, say, and do to make my life flow as smoothly as possible? Within each of us is the capability to connect with our source, and therein lies the peace we’re all seeking—the inner knowledge that gives us strengt...

This is a phrase I keep seeing on dating profiles... to me, "no drama" has begun to be code for, "no feelings"... or "please God NO FALLING IN LOVE." I realize we all view this phrase differently. So I posed the question to the twitter-verse and here are some answers I got: 1. No drama = no unwanted display of emotions and no undesired unpredictability. It's a major red flag if you want a giving partner. 2. I'd say it has more to do with no craziness, undue jealousy, possessiveness... And women say it too. 3. answer: No, it's code for: when we fall in love and you get issues, please solve them yourself and don't burden me with them :P. 4. I have found that "no drama" usually means they bring plenty of their own drama and resent the competition. 5. "no drama" = red flag. Either he wants a girl with no opinions or he has crazy exes (& is probably a bit crazy too) 6. I think it means no dating at all. Like, "Le...

today's source comes from: http://www.viewonbuddhism.org/attachment.html I am continually struggling with this and sometimes I wonder if I'll ever really learn or get it right. Once you start dating someone, the fires of desire are sparked and it's wonderful. It's so easy to get wrapped up in that and want more. It feels so good and we are so happy, we just want to exist in that state for as long as possible. "Grasping at things can only yield one of two results: Either the thing you are grasping at disappears, or you yourself disappear. It is only a matter of which occurs first." Goenka I've come to realize that becoming attached to someone happens so quietly and subtly that sometimes we don't really even realize it's happened, until the object of our attachment is suddenly gone. It happens in my mind ever so slowly... at first it feels under control and at some point, the idea of that someone you're attached to takes on a life of its own. ...

This was a concept started by a great Colorado lady I follow on Twitter: http://hipmountainmamablog.com/one-small-change/ The idea is to make one small change each month leading up to earth day in the hope that with each of us doing one more thing to help the earth we will make a positive impact, follow through and encourage others to do the same. I already recycle and considerably cut down on how many paper towels I use. My next change is to buy more LED / CFL bulbs, turn the thermostat down a little more and purchase a few more canvas bags to keep in the car to ensure I always have some on hand when I run into the store unplanned. But I'd like to take this small change movement a little bit further. Not only do we need to change our habits in how we treat our earth but I think we also should strive to make an effort in how we treat each other. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who's noticed that common courtesy really isn't as common as it used to be. I real...

It's the time of year when people start making resolutions, looking back at the year and noting accomplishments and also things they wish they had done or maybe done differently. Perhaps you also look forward and make plans about things you want to accomplish in the coming year... I'm a big believer in setting goals, however, anyone that knows me also knows I don't always finish what I start. Therefore I'm also a big believer in forgiving yourself what you don't accomplish and when you forgive yourself, start over and begin again in each new day. I never really make resolutions per say because I think we set ourselves up for failure that way (read my friend Tali's blog: Is Resolution a Dirty Word? ). Here is the best advice I can give to myself and anyone else: "Be gentle, kind and patient with yourself and relax ~ The best peacemakers are those who are at peace with themselves." It's important to set intentions for our lives, to set goals and to...

Apparently you write dating profiles really well. I've been told by a couple fellas that they wished they could write about themselves as well as I write about myself --- of course that doesn't necessarily mean they want to date me. I offer up suggestions to them that it's all about just being honest and expressing what really inspires them and throwing in a little of their personality. I think someday I might write a book on this stuff, however I don't think anyone would read it unless I'm actually in a successful relationship. It's important to me to converse for a while first before meeting so it's not so awkward upon first meeting and I feel like if it's too much effort for them to do that, then why waste the time? Some men see it the opposite way, they want to meet in person right away and see each other and they think that is the best, instant way to know if "it's there." I disagree - but if we see that differently, then that probab...

I just love him... From the article "Tom Robbins Incognito - Tracking the Pacific Northwest's Elusive Literary Outlaw" By Christian Martin "What matters is that we enlarge our souls, light up our brains, and liberate our spirits. What matters is that we hop on a strange torpedo and ride it to wherever it's going, ride it with affection and humor and grace, because beyond affection, humor and grace, all that remains is noise and sociology! What matters is that we never forget that the little paper match of one individual's spirit can outshine all the treasures of commerce, out-glint all the armaments of government, and out-sparkle the entire disco ball of history." "A book reviewer once opined that 'Robbins needs to make up his mind whether he wants to be funny or serious.' Robbins replied, 'I'll make up my mind when God makes up his. If I have learned anything in my life, it is that there is no wisdom without playfulness'. ...

Practice for the New Millennium by the Dalai Lama The Practice: 1. Spend 5 minutes at the beginning of each day remembering we all want the same things (to be happy and be loved) and we are all connected to one another. 2. Spend 5 minutes breathing in, cherishing yourself; and, breathing out cherishing others. If you think about people you have difficulty cherishing, extend your cherishing to them anyway. 3. During the day extend that attitude to everyone you meet. Practice cherishing the "simplest" person (clerks, attendants, etc) or people you dislike. 4. Continue this practice no matter what happens or what anyone does to you. These thoughts are very simple, inspiring and helpful. The practice of cherishing can be taken very deeply if done wordlessly, allowing yourself to feel the love and appreciation that already exists in your heart.

i thank You god for most this amazing day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes (i who have died am alive again today, and this is the sun's birthday; this is the birth day of life and love and wings: and of the gay great happening illimitably earth) how should tasting touching hearing seeing breathing any-lifted from the no of all nothing-human merely being doubt unimaginable You? (now the ears of my ears awake and now the eyes of my eyes are opened) ~e.e. cummings~

"Your own words are the bricks and mortar of the dreams you want to realize. Your words are the greatest power you have. The words you choose and their use establish the life you experience." ~ Sonia Croquette ~ "Our deepest wishes are whispers of our authentic selves. We must learn to respect them. We must learn to listen" ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach ~ and in order to accomplish these things, we need to love ourselves and believe in our capabilities. from this inspirational website , here are some Recipes for Self Love: Take full responsibility for your life. Stop blaming others. See yourself as the cause of what happens to you. Do things you like to do. Don't stay in a job you don't like. Participate in life at the highest level you can. Stop terrorising yourself with your thoughts. Be gentle and kind and patient with yourself. Give yourself the simple pleasures of life abundantly. Wear clothes you feel good in, get a massage etc. Watch what you say. Avoid self...

from Taro Gold: Apparent distinctions exist only in our minds. For example, in the sky there is no distinction of east and west. People create such distinctions and then believe them to be true. We do the same in everyday life—making distinctions, such as "us" and "them," where none exist and then believe them to be real.

Which I'm blogging so I don't forget and can keep coming back to my new mantra from the amazing @cupcakemafia : Firstly there's this pearl: "Never ever be with a man who says "I don't want to hurt you" It means that a. they have a track record of hurting women & b. they probably already have forseen how they will hurt you" NEVER thought of this before but it's sooooooo true! and I have the history to prove it. then some more observations she had on my patterns in relationships: "I think we may have discovered why you get so wrecked during break ups. It's not just losing a loved one; you have a history of these broken wing birds that you want to nurture. So the end of the relationship is not just a romantic dissolution but almost feels like you failed at saving them. I know because I have been there. I used to stick it out in relationship until it got super ugly or I was just a mess because I hate failing." Just give yourself a ...