I miss the days when old friends and I laughed until our stomachs hurt. I miss the times when everything we did was an adventure. Spontaneous was our middle name. We would laugh and talk about a deeper more meaningful life. Every topic led to a conversation about the reason we live and breathe. I miss that.
Life has taken me for a spin over the past year. Nothing is how it was. No one has remained the same. Not even me. Hardly anyone in my life was here a year ago. There are new friends, new hobbies. Hardly anything has remained the same. Part of this is good ... but there are definitely draw backs. A lot of people have walked out of my life ... which means not many people have known me longer than a year so they don't know where I've come from or who I was. Plus it's affected me on a psychological level as well. My faith in people is slowly diminishing. It's becoming harder and harder for me to love people on a genuine level because so many people that I loved have walked out of my life as if I never meant a thing to them. All through my life I've heard that love from humans can never be unconditional but I had hope that some ... even a few people ... would love me despite my flaws ... this hope I have found is fruitless, pointless even. People love who they want you to be and as soon as you fail to live up to their unrealistic expectations you might as well rest your head on the chopping block.
Alrighty I'm done bitching ... I'm tired ... I'm old ... and I'm starting school tomorrow ... oh how I miss the old days.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
happiness
"Don't seek happiness. If you seek it, you won't find it, because seeking is the antithesis of happiness. Happiness is ever elusive, but freedom from unhappiness is attainable now, by facing what is rather than making up stories about it. Unhappiness covers up your natural state of well-being and inner peace, the source of true happiness." - Eckhart Tolle
We, as Americans, spend a enormous amount of time and even more money seeking happiness. How often do we actually find it when the pursuit of it consumes us? Hardly ever. If at all. Don't we more often than not find a glimmer of happiness in a smile from a complete stranger, bumping into an old friend, a sunset, a cool breeze drenched with the scent of freshly cut grass? Well I sure think so.
A church I once attended had an overused slogan that they threw into scads of sermons and motivational talks. "Let go and let God." The first time I heard it I'm sure it hit home. Maybe I was in the middle of some painful experience and at the time it made perfect sense. I don't like it so much anymore. But there's a part of it that hits on a much deeper issue than I think the creators of that phrase even realized. Those in religious and spiritual circles need to let go of so much. Too often I think we're seeking perfection, a sense of higher moral integrity than others. But if we spend too much time trying to attain it we stop loving. Stop loving God, stop loving people and even ourselves. How can we ever become ourselves?
Just let go.
We, as Americans, spend a enormous amount of time and even more money seeking happiness. How often do we actually find it when the pursuit of it consumes us? Hardly ever. If at all. Don't we more often than not find a glimmer of happiness in a smile from a complete stranger, bumping into an old friend, a sunset, a cool breeze drenched with the scent of freshly cut grass? Well I sure think so.
A church I once attended had an overused slogan that they threw into scads of sermons and motivational talks. "Let go and let God." The first time I heard it I'm sure it hit home. Maybe I was in the middle of some painful experience and at the time it made perfect sense. I don't like it so much anymore. But there's a part of it that hits on a much deeper issue than I think the creators of that phrase even realized. Those in religious and spiritual circles need to let go of so much. Too often I think we're seeking perfection, a sense of higher moral integrity than others. But if we spend too much time trying to attain it we stop loving. Stop loving God, stop loving people and even ourselves. How can we ever become ourselves?
Just let go.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
formless
"When there is nothing to identify with anymore, who are you? When forms around you die or death approaches, your sense of Beingness, of I Am, is freed from its entanglement with form: Spirit is released from its imprisonment in matter. You realize your essential identity as formless, as an all-pervasive Presence, of Bring prior to all forms, all identifications. You realize your true identity as consciousness itself, rather than what consciousness had identified with. That's the peace of God. The ultimate truth of who you are is not I am this or I am that, but I Am." - Eckhart Tolle A New Earth
Unconsciously we identify ourselves with so many different labels. They give us our identity. I'm a woman for example. It's a fact that my physical appearance is that of a female. But that's not who I am. Not on a soul level anyways. These labels can often hinder our ability to live truly full lives. If on a deep level I let my relationships define me then I end up altering, ever so slightly, my personality around different people. Then I am held captive to the person that I have created. Interesting. I'm not sure if I'm even making that much sense. Just check out this book. It touches on the ego, uncomfortable at times, but if you're ready I think it has the ability to change things.
Unconsciously we identify ourselves with so many different labels. They give us our identity. I'm a woman for example. It's a fact that my physical appearance is that of a female. But that's not who I am. Not on a soul level anyways. These labels can often hinder our ability to live truly full lives. If on a deep level I let my relationships define me then I end up altering, ever so slightly, my personality around different people. Then I am held captive to the person that I have created. Interesting. I'm not sure if I'm even making that much sense. Just check out this book. It touches on the ego, uncomfortable at times, but if you're ready I think it has the ability to change things.
Friday, August 08, 2008
it's been awhile ...
I've been getting into the writing mood again. maybe it's the change in the weather ... I can taste fall in the air. Autumn has a way of making me a philosopher ... even if just for a short time. although I will admit I hardly ever have anything of real significance to say, my thoughts are deeper. things seem clearer. individuals come alive as books to be read ... novels to be explored.
the other day I had an encounter that broke my heart and made me realize how little I know about the pain that people feel. it was a simple question, though thinking back I may have put a little too much emotion into it. I simply asked a woman how she was doing. she seemed down and out which was a dramatic change from the usual pep in her step. the response I got knocked me over. she looked at me with tears welling in her eyes and told me that the funeral was over. not in a million years had I expected that sort of a response. she then began to tell me that it had been so much harder than she thought to bury her father. as tears began rolling down her cheeks I found that I could not contain the ones that had been on the brim of my eyelids. her heart was broken. mine broke for her. I had asked a simple question expecting a simple response and what I was met with connected me into her world of fear and loneliness. I found that I had nothing to say ... a few words stumbled out of my mouth ... I think I told her she was a strong woman. more tears came. I wish there was something more I could have done ... but I'm not quick enough or perhaps I'm not brave enough.
the other day I had an encounter that broke my heart and made me realize how little I know about the pain that people feel. it was a simple question, though thinking back I may have put a little too much emotion into it. I simply asked a woman how she was doing. she seemed down and out which was a dramatic change from the usual pep in her step. the response I got knocked me over. she looked at me with tears welling in her eyes and told me that the funeral was over. not in a million years had I expected that sort of a response. she then began to tell me that it had been so much harder than she thought to bury her father. as tears began rolling down her cheeks I found that I could not contain the ones that had been on the brim of my eyelids. her heart was broken. mine broke for her. I had asked a simple question expecting a simple response and what I was met with connected me into her world of fear and loneliness. I found that I had nothing to say ... a few words stumbled out of my mouth ... I think I told her she was a strong woman. more tears came. I wish there was something more I could have done ... but I'm not quick enough or perhaps I'm not brave enough.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
cup o' mojo
"Life at its very best is a passionate experience, not a doctoral dissertation. The problem is not that Christianity can't be believed, but that it can't be practiced because of its lack of lived experience. And it can't be observed by others because there are too few Christians who are radical enough to manifest what the gospel really looks like." - Leonard Sweet from The Gospel According to Starbucks
I have a sneaky feeling that I am going to like this book a lot. My coworker suggested it to me the other day. She said it isn't so much about religion as it is about spirituality. Right up my alley. Religion turns me off. In fact I kinda get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach when I think about it. But spirituality is something that still has the ability to excite me. And yes I do believe there's a difference.
So far what Leonard Sweet is saying is that there are few who are really inhabiting the intended role of 'Christians'. I echo that sentiment my friend.
Oh Starbucks, who woulda thought that you would show me more of what it means to live like Christ than the American church?
I have a sneaky feeling that I am going to like this book a lot. My coworker suggested it to me the other day. She said it isn't so much about religion as it is about spirituality. Right up my alley. Religion turns me off. In fact I kinda get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach when I think about it. But spirituality is something that still has the ability to excite me. And yes I do believe there's a difference.
So far what Leonard Sweet is saying is that there are few who are really inhabiting the intended role of 'Christians'. I echo that sentiment my friend.
Oh Starbucks, who woulda thought that you would show me more of what it means to live like Christ than the American church?
Thursday, May 15, 2008
is it 'go time'?
today at work I overheard my coworker in a conversation with a customer about picking up and relocating for a year. this is a subject I know about so I joined in. this woman felt like she had no tie to anything in her life, nothing keeping her here. dome mentioned my move to chicago after she told about her move to tucson. then I joined in with all the positive things about leaving where you are and going somewhere new. in a way I was speaking to this random lady ... in another way I felt like I was talking to myself...
the only question is ... where?
and when I get there ... can I dance?
the only question is ... where?
and when I get there ... can I dance?
Sunday, April 27, 2008
sundays
When Jesus said that Sunday's were to be a day of rest did that imply groups of well dressed do-gooders being gathered together under one roof and wowing each other with their holiness? I don't think so. But what do I know?
Well here's what I know... most days my priorities are way screwed up. I get frustrated at things that in a day won't matter. My patience can be relatively non existent. Cynicism is usually my reality because I've found it to be accurate more often than not. Stress seems to overtake most of my thoughts making sleep hard to come by and caffeine a necessity. I'm selfish and rude and can hardly stand myself most days. This paragraph ended up very different than I had originally intended but I guess the things I know aren't very glorious. The me that has taken the place of the person I used to be isn't too great to be around. Why am I surprised that friends are few and far between ... I shouldn't be. I'm quite the pill.
What I had begun to say was that I know certain things about faith and God. The more I question the less I seem to know. But that's where faith comes in I guess. Remember Sunday school teachers and parents telling you that "faith is believing in what you can't see". (Though now I realize that they gave us a foundation to build our boogie monster theories upon.) More accurately faith is choosing to make decisions based on what you believe, whether or not there is evidence to support those beliefs. And believing in God is so much more than acknowledging that there's a higher power out there. When you believe in something your actions show that. Say for example you believe that having a healthy lifestyle is the right thing to do and yet you eat junk food and sit on your couch all day. That means you don't really believe. Same with God. If you really truly believe He exists and believe that Jesus was his son who died after introducing us to a new way of life ... well then your life will be different.
Whoever said "it's what's inside that counts" is full of it. That's a cop-out. True it matters ... but if what's supposedly inside isn't evident on the outside then isn't it pointless. Like if I truly want to love my co-workers and then treat them poorly, my good intentions are like the local news, good to know about but who really cares?
I'm a hypocrite and I know it.
Well here's what I know... most days my priorities are way screwed up. I get frustrated at things that in a day won't matter. My patience can be relatively non existent. Cynicism is usually my reality because I've found it to be accurate more often than not. Stress seems to overtake most of my thoughts making sleep hard to come by and caffeine a necessity. I'm selfish and rude and can hardly stand myself most days. This paragraph ended up very different than I had originally intended but I guess the things I know aren't very glorious. The me that has taken the place of the person I used to be isn't too great to be around. Why am I surprised that friends are few and far between ... I shouldn't be. I'm quite the pill.
What I had begun to say was that I know certain things about faith and God. The more I question the less I seem to know. But that's where faith comes in I guess. Remember Sunday school teachers and parents telling you that "faith is believing in what you can't see". (Though now I realize that they gave us a foundation to build our boogie monster theories upon.) More accurately faith is choosing to make decisions based on what you believe, whether or not there is evidence to support those beliefs. And believing in God is so much more than acknowledging that there's a higher power out there. When you believe in something your actions show that. Say for example you believe that having a healthy lifestyle is the right thing to do and yet you eat junk food and sit on your couch all day. That means you don't really believe. Same with God. If you really truly believe He exists and believe that Jesus was his son who died after introducing us to a new way of life ... well then your life will be different.
Whoever said "it's what's inside that counts" is full of it. That's a cop-out. True it matters ... but if what's supposedly inside isn't evident on the outside then isn't it pointless. Like if I truly want to love my co-workers and then treat them poorly, my good intentions are like the local news, good to know about but who really cares?
I'm a hypocrite and I know it.
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