Diversity Spread

Break it Down, Don't Have a Breakdown!

Sometimes...

simple is best.

Less with the demanding,

more with the understanding.

Peace!

***

"What The Bleep Do We Know?"

This is a tremendous movie, and this scene (as the poster suggests) is
a great one, dealing with body image and what we allow to comprise
our outlook on self. Great stuff.

Ignore the subtitles; they aren't relevant to the story.

This movie is worth checking out; it's all about expanding consciousness
and questioning the world around and within us. Lots of great scientists
and free-thinkers took part in it. Check for it at your library or cheaply
on ebay, amazon, etc.

*******************************************************

One Republic - "Good Life"

Sometimes when the darkness beckons, the pull is strong and the
encouragement to defend against it is weak. Now is such a time.

I feel deflated and demoralized.
People are a disappointment.
Love is an illusion.
Life is drudgery.

But just for a minute, I'd like to believe in something 'more.'
Possibility. Better days.

So I turn to music, and at least for a moment, can imagine.
Believe. Hope. Release.
Let's call it a last ditch effort. Hike!

********************************************

My Will Be Done

I SEE

THE BEAUTY

WHEN IT EXISTS,

AND
RECALL IT
WHEN IT IS GONE.

NOTHING
LASTS
FOREVER.

LET THE HAPPINESS

IN HEART AND MIND
BE REAL,

AMIDST THE

DARKNESS
AND DOUBT.

*************************

Right Here, Right Now

In this moment, I can decide to be happy.

In this moment, I know that nothing is
important and has power over me, unless
I decide that it is, and it can.

If this is all that there is, I allow it to be enough.

I have the ability to make things nicer
where I am at right now, no matter how
temporary or difficult present circumstances are.

I pledge to Live my Life, active and present.

I cease giving energy and time to drains of
conflict and anger. I am still able to fight
when necessary, but I do not seek additional!

I will protect what is mine, and what is important
to me. I will not be a victim.

I can make the best of all that is, and still
work towards further goals. I can make
peace without accommodating.

Life is determined by my decisions and spirit.
No one can take that from me.

**********************************

Onward, Upward

All of us, at one point in our existences (if not more often!)
encounter a heartbreak--or betrayal of trust and faith--that
seems destined to ruin us...to drain us of all possibility of
ever being upright again.

That's the nature of harm and hurt. So visceral, so all-encompassing,
it's difficult to see around or through the obscuring projection that
snarls us. We have vision and comprehension that is a victim of
temporary insanity; everything is tainted by the cruelties suffered,
and we can imagine little else.

This is an instance where time does indeed assist us, although
complete healing is a myth. We are forever transformed and altered
by every experience we endure. For good or for bad, we evolve.

We've all broken down and cried in the shower.
We've all sobbed and railed against the prospect of never knowing love.
We've all questioned our worth because rejection so mightily leveled us.
We've all sworn off love to protect our wounded heart.
We've all been obsessed with lashing out, lest we suffer alone.
We've all felt like the single solitary person so completely broken.

But all of this is infection of the heart and mind.

Allow it to be, keep perspective, and heal yourself.
We are never as unique as we imagine.
There's so much more to come on the journey.
You deserve to go the distance.

*****************************************************

Me and My Shadows

Life is built upon a system of flawed humans
(and their precepts and orders)
who engage in dualities, dysfunction, danger,
dichotomies, darkness, disengenuousness,
and diseased thinking.

Just acknowledging this reality is insufficient.
The shadows aren't burned off by exposing
them to light or truth. They have a stranglehold
on the people of this planet. The existing system
must feed itself to continue itself and the fear of
losing place upon the ride is critical to many.

If you relax your guard to attempt a new way,
you may be obliterated by the status quo.
Since this life is all we have, that creates a
conflict of gargantuan proportion for those
who struggle with the chains of perceived
'good and evil.'

Break free from the fairy tale; there is only
survival and death. Your actions determine
which fate you will incur. Your lack of action
determines it, too. The powers that be would
convince you otherwise; demure you and
domesticate you so that they can continue
unabated in their conquests.

Shine light on the reality.

*************************************

Who's Pulling Your Strings?

Get the whole world in your hands



Instead of feeding my old assumptions about the 'holiday season' 
this year, I relinquished all my old expectations.
I said farewell to other people's notions of what 'is'
or 'should be' and even my own childhood sense 
of loss for the reality that exists.
I just let go and let it be another day in the neighborhood.

And it was good.

I didn't go anywhere I didn't want to go, didn't surround
myself with anyone I didn't want to see, didn't get
involved in any activities/traditions/habits that
were not to my liking, and I felt not one single iota
of disconnect or detachment because I was not
"part of" this massive movement.
Because I'm not; I'm me..and only me.


I can do my thing and be the only person on the planet doing so, and that's cool.
I owe no explanations, and need no one's approval.
I can craft whatever kind of day or week I need
based on my needs, and not feel threatened
or left out or lonely. It's all an attitude.


One day has no more 'magic' than another.
I am not obligated to perform trendy rituals.
I need make no apology for my beliefs.
I needn't get upset about other people's foolishness.
The predictability of human drama is entertaining if you let it be.


Be the designer of the world you want.
Give yourself permission!








***************************************

Change

Albert Einstein In Context

“It seems to me that the idea of a personal God is an anthropological

concept which I cannot take seriously. I feel also not able to imagine

some will or goal outside the human sphere. My views are near those

of Spinoza: admiration for the beauty of and belief in the logical simplicity

of the order which we can grasp humbly and only imperfectly. I believe

that we have to content ourselves with our imperfect knowledge and

understanding and treat values and moral obligations as a purely human

problem—the most important of all human problems.”

“I am a deeply religious nonbeliever.…
This is a somewhat new kind of religion.”





“The fairest thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the funda-
mental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science.
He who knows it not and can no longer wonder, no longer feel amaze-
ment, is as good as dead, a snuffed-out candle. It was the experience
of mystery — even if mixed with fear — that engendered religion. A
knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the
manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty,
which are only accessible to our reason in their most elementary forms-
it is this knowledge and this emotion that constitute the truly religious
attitude; in this sense, and in this alone, I am a deeply religious man. I
cannot conceive of a God who rewards and punishes his creatures, or
has a will of the type of which we are conscious in ourselves. An
individual who should survive his physical death is also beyond my
comprehension, nor do I wish it otherwise; such notions are for the
fears or absurd egoism of feeble souls. Enough for me the mystery of
the eternity of life, and the inkling of the marvellous structure of reality,
together with the single-hearted endeavour to comprehend a portion,
be it never so tiny, of the reason that manifests itself in nature.”





*****************************************************

Asking a Better Solution of Your Worries

If I am lonely, I will hold my own hand.....

If I am sad, I will know that it passes in time.

If I am disturbed, I will assess the source accurately.

If I am maligned, I will pay no heed.

If others dismiss me, I will know they are missing out.

If my dreams are not met, I will remember

that unmet dreams are a part of the journey,

and not a final outcome.

If I am scared, I will endeavor to understand why

and know that fear and worry is human,

but meaningless.

If I feel less than, I will know

that it is a lie, and change focus to embrace

all that is right with me. No one else's goals

are my goals.

If I feel left out or unattended, I will remember

that I am responsible for my own entertainment

and empowerment and education.

There are always books, music, movies

and other sources of connection

from like-minded comrades past and present.

If I begin to worry, I will remember...

that worry is weakness taught.

I will relearn a better solution to my

mind's turmoil.

*******************

I AM My Own God

Why would I seek a source outside of me

for strength, for love, for sight?

Why would I imbue another with the ability or

the responsibility to care for me?

Why would I seek to counter reason with

fantasy and fiction?

Why would I give up on the reality that persists

to indulge in groundless wishful thinking?

There is no God in place to run and rule,

so I step in and fill the void.

I AM not a child....

I AM not helpless....

I AM not prone to hysterical fairy tales calming me.....

I AM not unhappy or without value...

I AM not required to mirror the masses...

I AM complete, and the best head of this life I am living.

No more divisions between self

and higher understanding.

**********************

Changing the Dynamic

I AM PEACE...

I AM PROSPERITY...

I AM PROTECTED...

I AM PERSEVERING...

Step through the fear

Stop settling for less than

Shine your light

Let no man stand against you

BREATHE DEEP,

RELEASE,
REALIZE NEED,

ASK,

BE OPEN,
RECEIVE

It is within.

(******)

"He who trims himself to suit everyone
will soon whittle himself away."
    ~Raymond Hull


"God has given you one face,
and you make yourself another."
    ~William Shakespeare


"It takes courage to grow up
and become who you really are."
    ~e.e. cummings


"Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself
to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of
your life; define yourself."
    ~Harvey Fierstein


"There is just one life for each of us: our own."
    ~Euripides


"Wherever you go, go with all your heart."
    ~Confucius


"When one is pretending the entire body revolts."
    ~Anais Nin


"It is better to be hated for what you are
than to be loved for something you are not."
   ~Andre Gide





*******************************

My Manifest Life; Act Three

I Am dedicated to Providing, instead of Seeking, these days.

I wanted something to do the other night, and receved a last
minute reminder of a local Open Mic and Poetry Reading.
When I got the message my first thoughts were "Oh, I am so
tired, and I don't have anything prepared-- STOP! Just go!"
I caught myself doing the opt-out thang that has kept me from
going or growing so often in life.

So I went home and got ready, and started putting myself
in another New Mindset for me; Spontaneity! Because one
of my biggest issues is in not feeling okay if I have not planned
something to Death. So I took the challenge of not having
something prepared as a challenge to be met! And I determined
to be a part of, rather than mere observer.

I embraced the scariness, I welcomed the burst of excitement,
I allowed my true self to conjure up some ideas, and I
walked into the Lion's Den!

"I AM Courage....I AM Ready....I AM Capable.
I AM Confident; I make it so.
I acknowledge the fear, and I act anyway!
I AM in charge of my interaction with life.
Right now....embrace...enjoy....step into it!"

I came up with a comedy bit that was impromptu, and I
was bold and outspoken and worked on all the things
that I want to improve, rather than giving in to them and
skulking away!

It was a big smash, everyone really loved the bit I did,
I met a lot of fun and interesting new people, and it was
actually one of the best nights in my life!

Afterwards, I went walking with a friend, and we met
a guy playing guitar at the park. I pushed into the
opportunity, asked to join him, and was subsequently
dazzled with hours of music and philisophical discourse!
I met someone who shares a lot of similar outlooks,
who also had an incredible demeanor that humbled me.

From one new bold outcome emits another, and
another, and......

(Evening wear available at Suckit Intl!)

************************************

My Manifest Life: Act Two

So I had a bad habit of focusing on what was
'wrong' or what I lacked; I spent time and energy
talking about and thinking about weakness and
inability, perceived or real.

So I decided to become at peace with what 'is'
already to the extent that is possible, and trust
that what is needed will be provided by The Universe
(or I will find a way to bring it about.)

I had some serious need of clothing both for
work and personal, since funds had been so
tight, so I got proactive. I swallowed my pride
and asked a local woman who does work with
a clothes closet if she had anything in my size
(which is typically hard to fit) and she produced
a bag of clothes that fit me to a T!

No one else will know the clothes were donated
unless I choose to tell them. I am as grateful and
proud of those clothes as if I had sewn them myself!

The next week an acquaintance heard me talking
about how long I had made a pair of shoes last,
and we got to talking. She asked if I could use
some clothes, since she imagined her husband's
wardrobe would fit me. He had passed in the last
year. I graciously accepted to see if they would
fit.

That lovely woman brought down about four
huge garbage bags and laundry bags filled with
clothes; every possible piece and type of clothing
imaginable, and every one of them a perfect fit.

All that I had been doing without due to lack of
funds, I now had flush again; belts, robes, jeans,
dress shirts, and more, all beautifully kept! And the
style is a bit retro, which fits my sensibilities
perfectly, and they even have a scent that reminds
me of my Nana and Papa's house!

It was a great blessing that I am incredibly grateful
for, and it happened when I stopped being consumed
about what was 'not' and opened myself to what
could 'be.' I had a need, and I saw it being met,
and it was.

************************************

My Manifest Life: Act One

So I had decided that, rather than sit here like a bump
on a log and complain about the lack of options catering
to me, I would change my outlook and begin choosing
a more empowering mindset.

I would start envisioning the kind of things I would be
interested in. I would see them as being possible Here,
Now, Where I Am, and no longer as 'unattainable.'

So I started empowering myself, believing it possible,
and drawing forth (prayer, if you like) from the Universe
artistic outlets and endeavors for my edification.

Every morning, I set forth what kind of day it would
be; Prosperous, Grateful, Genuine to Self, Empowering,
Courageous. Throughout the day, I renewed my
commitment.

I agreed to stop saying "No" to everything, to stop
doubting and giving power to nothingness, and instead
create opportunity, draw opportunity, be ready for
opportunity, and to say "YES" to opportunity.

In the next week, an acquaintance approached me
at the library and asked if I would be available to
do a movie with him. I didn't hesitate. Unequivocally,
I said "Yes," and now have been involved in a great
creative outlet, as well as have new contacts, new
experiences, new opportunities that continue to come
through as a result!

We can have whatever we conceive,
if only we will believe.

 

****************************************

Pushing On

"With a little perseverance

you can get things done...

in spite of blind adherence

that has conquered

some."

-Corey Hart

****************************

What are we waiting for?

We don't know how much time we have,

and it slips away so easily.

Why wouldn't we fill every moment with

something of importance, of substance?

Let others be content to sit back

and passively allow the world to drone on,

we will stand tall and speak loud

and be seen and be known.

We were not made such unique and

wondrous creatures, so full of life

and insight, just so we could sit still

and accept this imperfect world.

There is work to be done.

Passionately.

Interactively.

Engagingly.

Aggressively.

Fight like your life depends on it.

It does.

We get exactly the world we are willing

to accept, to fight for.

There are things that need doing in this world;

We all know this.

How much are we willing to do?

****************