Success

Indigo Girls - "Closer To Fine"

I have a spiritual experience--and a renewed sense of connection
to what's right about humanity--every time I hear this incredibly moving
song. Love the Girls from way back, when they were outspoken before
it was as fashionable, and this is probably my fave song.

It has been inspiration and peace-maker for over 20 years.

It helps to not only know that there are others on the planet now who
understand....but there always have been.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

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Strength Training

If we feel weak, we do not become strong by

embracing weakness.

We must embrace and even seek

adversity. By allowing and attacking

situations that frighten and intimidate us,

strength is developed.

Stretching the bounds of comfort and

familiarity are the means by which to eliminate

weaker emotional muscles.

Weakness is not an innate, inborn trait;

it is a learned mindset, a bestowed-upon

ideation coming from lack of experience

or lack of faith in self.

Today, look deep in your heart

and know that you are capable of anything,

absolutely anything, that you have to be.

You can endure.

You can grow.

You can be strong.

You can overcome.

Knowing it leads to demonstrating it.

Start seeing yourself

and referring to yourself

as 'Strong' today.

***

You Get What You Give

The secret to reaching great heights

is not looking down...

and not staying still.

Sometimes the draw of

something familiar and safe can

be more enticing than the call

of a frightening, new prospect.

What has come before--

our status quo--

even when unhealthy,

can be soothing.

But only through stretching and

growing can we experience

all that there is to life.

The contentment and comfort

of staying frozen in place

is not a positive;

to achieve new heights

requires taking risks,

putting yourself out there,

and, sometimes,

being set free without a net!

***

Convergence

That delicate, ever-shifting balance between

'warding off wolves' (both inner and outer)

and

'making peace with this insanity-fest world of imperfection.'

Is embracing one manifestation of thought

to ignore or betray the other?

Are they compatible?

Or merely intrinsically overlapped

as they flow to and fro, endlessly?

Some days are deemed 'success,' some days...

let's be generous and say

'less than wonderful.'

Others, mostly--

no matter our station or contribution--

are stuck knee-deep in mediocrity.

A brackish mix of back and forth,

vacillating between storm clouds and sunshine.

Despair and contentment and happiness and numbness,

all rag-tag swirled in an unavoidable

intermingled

symbiotic

convergence.

It is what it is.

Ain't no rhyme or reason...

ain't no need to fight.

***

Stephen Fry on Manic Depression (Bi polar disorder)

Some really good assessments and insights;
sometimes just knowing someone else is out there coping
can be enough to instill a little hope!

It is important to note that he admits having a milder
version of bi-polar. But I think he does a splendid job painting
the dire picture of what it's like dealing with the disorder, and
yet keeping hopeful and upbeat.

I especially like his metaphor for weather and moods, and
the method for managing thinking during an episode.

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Teach the children--and adults--well