say it, brother!

"the things i want to know are in books"

- abe lincoln

ties that bind

"Trust is believing that when an individual mutually agrees to carry out a responsibility it will be carried out as promised" (da Costa, 1995 and Riordan, 1995).

the phrase "if you want something done right, you got to do it yourself." so contrary to the above quote. when and where did the first betrayal happen? who let you down so badly that you super impose their attitude, their negative attributes on to every person you meet?

it's so easy to let the negative patterns and habits keep running life. i know i get muddled in my mind speak - didn't I already TELL them this? did they NOT read the directions? they won't do it this way (MY way) so I better do it! or didn't I SPELL THIS OUT FOR THEM?

i want to break from those old tired worn out phrases. i want to take each moment and new interaction with a person for what it is. start small. begin to build. and let each person prove they CAN be trusted before I write off the whole world.

And Once Upon A Time

"This behaviour might seem virtuous, but it's based on deeply ingrained habits of self-denial."

how much of what I do and who I am is to be good, to be nice, to do the right thing and how much is really self effacement? Self-denial? I'm not sure ...

There Was A Whisper and This is What it Said

Thanks for every single time you ever fell in love.

Whether or not it was obvious. Whether or not it lasted. And whether or not you were loved back.

It changed everything.

You changer,
The Universe

Give Away Your Heart Every Time

"maybe you've already heard that I really like life. like more than a friend. i say it all the time, and it seems simple enough, but like anything else, could probably use a little explanation. i remember years ago reading The Brothers Karamazov and getting to the point where alyosha says (i think to ivan, but i might be wrong, it's been a while) something like I believe everyone should love life more than anything else in the world. and it sounds almost funny but i think it makes so much sense.

every day i try to pay attention to the things that make me happy. on days when i need a little extra help, i write them down because otherwise i'm likely to dwell more on the things that aren't so good. but most days i don't need to write them down, i just notice and it kind of propels me through the things i have to do that maybe aren't my favorite. i don't mind getting up early every day for work, because i wake up early to cats asleep on my legs, and sometimes to my favorite kind of toast for breakfast and i don't mind not really having money to out to eat or to the bar or shopping when i know the library is full of audio books to listen to while i knit, knitting books teach me new tricks, and a fiction section with probably thousands of books i haven't read or even heard of.

when you really start noticing how many things in your day-to-day life you actually like, it gets almost funny that there can be so many, and that they can be so minute. i like the way my floor looks after i sweep it. i like when i wake up before my alarm. i like when i can feel the weather changing, and i like the first day that i need to wear tights and a sweater. i like walking to the bus station different ways in the morning sometimes. i like when both my cats sit in the window at the same time because i think it looks like they are on a date.

i think it's nice to look at life like this, in terms of like instead of dislike. and i think it empowers you to change the things that you maybe don't like as much, because it's sort of less overwhelming. so i guess that's what i mean, about loving life. it's not that everything is all that perfect, although i do realize i have it a little easier than a lot of people in the world. but i think it could be important for anyone to at their day like that, really. i dare you to make a list of everything you like on any given day. and i dare you to make a list of things you don't like and then see how you can make them better, or how you can work around them. and i double dare you to make a list of things that you're afraid to do and do one a week, or one a month, or one as often as you can stand it, because it's such a big deal to do what you're afraid to be doing."

- from the zine Nothing Rhymes Issue #4

I felt such a kinship to this girl's words and her outlook, I had to share them in full. if you're interested in seeing her whole zine, you can't Boo! She has gone out of the bizniz...

Deck the Halls

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind
of battle."

Good Tidings To You

Holiday Count Down Extravaganza ...

Each day in December I shall be posting an "inspirational" holiday quote.

Enjoy!


Today's quote -

Love can only be kept by being given away...and it can only be given perfectly
when it is also received. Thus, know YOU are loved.