I'm still talking...

2012-01-13T08:05:00.000-06:00

How To Save Your Life

The thing about life is that we usually troll along our merry way thinking that everyone lives or thinks the same way. It's just that some people have all the good luck, right? They win the lottery or their rich great-uncle-three-times-removed dies and leaves them a fortune. But you on the other hand are just out of luck. You got the rotten job, the car that breaks down, the felony boyfriend and every time you get a little money someone needs it more than you, so you get stuck with nothing.

Well that's the way it seems because all we know is who we are, what we've experienced, and what we think. Have you ever met someone that thinks totally different than you? The same situation that you were in, but they handled it like it was nothing. That's what I want you to see. Just a few different actions, just a few different responses will change your life.

Decide what you want
I'm not talking about "I want to be a millionaire" or "I want to win the lottery". I'm thinking along the lines of handling your money wiser, making good choices, not blowing your top the first time someone makes you mad, or making more friends.

Change what you remember
If your childhood seems like one misfortune after another, that's what you are thinking of and that will define who you are today. Think of one memory that is along the same thinking as your wants. If you want to make wiser choices, remember a time when you did. Even just one memory. If you want to make friends and have fun with them remember a time that you did, even if it was just one time and it only lasted a week, remember it. The surprising thing is how you will get more memories to back up the first. It works that way.

Act like it is true
If I want to be successful in something, I start by first, deciding I want to be successful at it. Second, I remember a time or times when I was successful. Third, I begin acting or pretending that I will again be successful. If I don't act like it, I'm falling back on the old beliefs. And beliefs are like muscles, the more you use them the stronger they become in your life. The less you use them and ignore them then the weaker they become while the new beliefs are growing stronger.

So change your life by deciding what you want, remembering the memories and feelings that reinforce you wants, then act like it is so. It may take some practice and it will probably feel a bit fake at first, but keep at it. You'll come out on top.

2011-11-23T21:25:00.001-06:00

Debt

Meadow DeVor

I would like to share a post from a gutsy, kick-butt author.

The not so pretty story of paying off my debt.

Rumi - Safety

2011-09-13T21:13:00.001-05:00

“Forget safety.
Live where you fear to live.
Destroy your reputation.
Be notorious.”
― Rumi

For more words from Rumi, go to http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/875661.Rumi

Safety First?

2011-09-04T09:58:00.001-05:00

My wants. Safety.

I thought it was prosperity?

No, I want to feel safe. I've tried many things in order to feel safe. Some have worked, like buying my house, my car and having steady job. My savings and paying off my debts haven't been as effective.

But even then would I feel safe? No.

Is SAFETY what I need? Maybe I need to get past the need for safety.

Success comes from having a clear goal. The things I have accomplished readily are the things I knew without a doubt that I wanted, clearly and for their own sake. I wanted my own home. I absolutely knew what I wanted. I had the criteria written down.

So, to clearly define my wants is my aim right now.

This need for safety is tripping me up. It may be even in the wrong direction.

So what do I want? To earn a living without giving up myself. To prosper and be in health.

Chip Conley: Measuring what makes life worthwhile | Video on TED.com

2011-05-16T21:36:00.001-05:00

A DRESS, A DREAM

2011-03-29T21:41:00.005-05:00

About 10 years ago I had a very epic dream.
It started with an accident on the freeway with anger and confusion. It was overwhelming. I wanted to hide.
The next part was a horrible blood-filled and sad scene. The third scene was of picking up debris after a tornado and storm. Tree limbs and broken things were lying all around, then someone called for me.
My dress was ready, a wedding dress. When I came out, a procession was waiting and I was walking down the outdoor aisle. At that moment I saw myself. Rare in my dreams. I almost didn't recognize my own face. I was beautiful and innocent looking. All of the horror and fear and grief passed in a moment. There was joy.
It was a moving dream and at the time I didn't know if it was for me personally or the world. I've thought often that it was mine alone because my life went through those things, but now I realize it was for our world also. I hope that we as a people are progressing along these lines and will be beautiful brides.

TO JUDGE OR NOT TO JUDGE

2011-01-16T11:00:00.005-06:00

What are your Core Judgments? In your mind, what makes a person good or bad? Have you ever thought about it? You know the saying that your initial impression is usually right? Well, yes and no. Yes, it is true to your Core Judgement, but no, it may not be accurate for everyone.

Does it matter what type of car they drive? If a person drives an expensive car, are they rich or snooty? Is a person driving a beat up junker poor or frugal? One of my Core Judgments is cleanliness. I'm not a germ-phobic person but I like people who wash and who care about their physical appearance. My initial reaction to someone with body odor is repulsion. I admit that I'm a bit of a clothing snob also, and I tend to be impressed too quickly by someone who seems put together clothing and style-wise.

Now you know my dirty little secret, I'm curious, what is one thing you consistently notice about a person? You know you have one.

"How many false starts have you both had?"

2010-12-13T22:03:00.000-06:00

Janet West's Page

2010-11-14T15:46:00.001-06:00

Fighters for Tiny Humans...we are walking this weekend at Woodland Hills Mall..Join us.Janet West's Page

BIG

2010-10-19T18:13:00.002-05:00

I am bigger than religion.
No creed or code can bind me.
I am more than opinions or thoughts of others.
I become.
I change.
I grow.
I breathe.
I live.
You may say I'm a liar. I say look closer. You may say I am honest. Look again. For every nuance that you think you see, there is a counter facet.
I am intelligent.
I am foolish.
I am kind.
I am cruel.
I am all things, but none at all.
I live in a limited world but my soul knows none.
It is boundless because I am.

What I'm Reading Now

2010-09-20T20:32:00.004-05:00

I'm excited about two books right now. I am in love with SHIVER and I just finished it. That's my fiction fun read. The other tidbit I'm reading is THE TRANCE OF SCARCITY. It's quite an interesting nonfiction read.
One of my habits is to keep a running stream of current and interesting books. At least one nonfiction and obviously I always have a few tempting fictions to devour. SHIVER is one of those tempting and unusual books from the YA paranormal genre, wolves in the backyard and all of that creepy stuff. It kept me reading and that's not an easy task. Through Sam's eyes...

I let her take the stack from my hand and watched her face light up as she flipped through the pictures, looking for one in particular. "There. That one's my favorite of you."

For a quote from THE TRANCE OF SCARCITY,

Once we've assigned a meaning...We then pass on our conclusions to our neighbors and children and students....then they too, treat the Story as though it's the Truth. Now the Story may persist for centuries, generation after generation, as though chiseled into the side of a mountain.

SHIVER
THE TRANCE OF SCARCITY
The world is made up of stories, not atoms. Muriel Rukeyser

WHAT'S YOUR STORY?

2010-07-11T19:57:00.004-05:00

In a small town, not far away, lived a boy who could only paint. He could not chop wood, the ax was too heavy and it fell out of his hands. When he gardened, the plants always died. The cows ran from him and afterwards would only give spoiled milk. He could not weave or spin. The yarn would always tangle around his fingers.

So his family and the people of the town decided to leave him alone to do what he really liked to do.
The boy who could only paint loved to paint. He would often paint pictures of children playing and pictures of parents smiling while watching their children. He would paint with blues and greens, browns and pinks too. There would be kites in his paintings with blazing colors as they soared high in the bright blue sky. There were balloons and parades and fairs with dancing and fun everywhere.

In the middle of the town there was a wall that had a picture on it. A picture of destruction, war and gloom. A prophet had come through the town one day and predicted war, destruction and a sad end for the town and its people. The town's people believed the prophet - he was a very wise man. They trusted this man who spoke great wonders and painted them on their wall. Believing the prophet's tale, they busied themselves working hard to secure their town from unknown horrors. Walls were built, towers for storage and other strong fortresses for safety were made. The town stored food and clothing for such a dire day ahead. Not knowing when or how that sad day would come they worked harder so all their hard work wouldn't be lost.

Now on a very normal day, as the people ran and busied themselves with their work, the young boy took his paint and brushes, looking for something to paint. His family had finally quit trying to make him useful, so he was alone. He walked into the town, looked around and spotted his next place to paint. First he took out blue, a nice soft blue. He covered that sad picture on the old wall. Green was next. His trees were green and they were strong. Brown was for the trunks and the roots that grew into the ground. He painted a sun and some birds and a boy with a wide smile.

One by one the town's people stopped what they were doing. The man with a wagon load of corn, the lady with her milk cows, even the girl with a basket, full of eggs, stopped to see what the boy had done. As the crowd gathered around, they didn't know what to think. Should they be angry with the boy who could only paint? He’d destroyed the prophet's work. But no one could quite remember, what had been on the wall before. One gentleman thought it had been a building. A young girl remembered a crow. Out of all the people no one remembered the prophet’s message.

One lone man walked towards the boy, took the paintbrush from the boy's hand and grabbed the small can of paint. With tears in his eyes, he walked towards the wall of doom and destruction, dipped the brush into the blue paint, then added his paint to the newly painted wall. One by one the people came forward and painted a spot onto the wall while the boy who could only paint now could only watch.

The universe is made up of stories, not atoms...Muriel Rukeyser. What is your story?

Members Project: Getting Involved to Help the Community - Geoff Canada

2010-06-23T20:55:00.000-05:00

THE PATH OF LIGHT

2010-06-15T20:07:00.003-05:00

This is something I was given a few years back. Hopefully it will help you as it has me. These are stages that our world has gone through. We are now on the path of light. Tell me what you think.

The Path of Love [praise God]
Love the LORD your God- Him only shall you serve (worship, applaud).

The Path of Righteousness [lay down distractions, simplify]
Keep your feet and steps on the truth, the truth of God’s love and kindness. Keep your way free of snares of evil, seeking your own way and your own pleasures. Know your God. He is Holy.

The Path of Freedom [surrender will & desires]
This path comes only from complete and utter surrender. No other way to freedom. Take up your cross (accept your death and pain). Forget your pleasures and rights, then you’ll know freedom. All. From fear, worry, strife, disorder.

The Path of Light
Light travels faster than sound. Always conquers darkness. Never can darkness be turned on. Only light. Light causes shadows to flee. Light routs the enemy. Leave on the light. Keep your lamps burning. Always. Never turn them off. Never give me only half of your soul and leave another part for yourself reserved.
Let me be your restraint. Let me be your fasting. Let me be your God. 100%. No less. It’s all or nothing. There can be no other way. Wholly. Fully. Passion. Fire. Raging currents of waters. When you plunge in, then the rapids take you where you need to go. You do no work, no effort. Follow my paths. Find your life only in me. Lay down your measly life. Pick up your abundance in me. Keep back a reserve and I will spit you out. Then we’ll have to start again.

I'm not sticking my belly out

2010-06-13T10:54:00.002-05:00

This is from the writer of "Formerly Hot"

No, I'm not sticking my belly out

This is the lighter side of being not so young. I really wish I had her good humor about it. And I do have to check out this book. Looks to be funny!!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

DNA Awakening - Arcturian Key Codes for Evolution - YAWWWN

2010-04-04T21:28:00.001-05:00

This should wake you up!

In 30 Days

2010-04-02T06:16:00.001-05:00

Say it Wrong

2010-03-25T19:37:00.001-05:00

I love this!

I Love Making Ridiculous Amounts of Money

2010-03-24T14:54:00.001-05:00

I LOVE this video. Such great energy. Creation at it's best.

MY NEW JOB

2010-02-06T10:34:00.005-06:00

Starting February 15th, at the beginning of the Chinese Year of the TIGER, I am the new Lead at my office. And I am super excited about it.

Anytime you get a new job, you inherit someone else's space. Their paper clips, pens, forms, rubber bands and miscellaneous items that are shoved to the back of the drawer become yours. After you leave a job, you too, leave behind those items in your old desk. Who ever gets to the back of the drawer to sort and clean out the useless items.

When we are born, all of our surroundings and our family, with all of its miscellaneous people, are inherited. The fixtures, like Uncle Jerry's pipe smoking and Grampa's overalls, are all there. There is so much to learn when you are young that you cope as best you can. You try to understand. Why is Mom frowning at you and will she stop and give you another cookie if you smile at her? There isn't time in life to sort through all of the behaviors of your family. You don't know enough about God or Love or Traditions to analyze and sort through them.

I have decided that when I move into my new desk this Chinese New Year, that I will keep the items I need. I will thoughtfully toss the useless ones. I will try to place in my life the things or people I really want to be there. And I will ask for what I need, because I am here for a purpose.

KATE'S REVENGE/DUST TO DUST

2010-01-24T13:06:00.002-06:00

This is my latest project. Short story or Novel...hmmm. I'm not sure yet. Tell me what you think.

The saloon was dark. The shadow Kate cast on the floor as she stood in the open doorway was swallowed when she entered the room and walked to the bar. Her hand reached to touch the mahogany wood. Dust accumulated around her fingertips as she caressed the bar’s smooth surface. Once pleasure was drunk here. Now it seemed as if time stood still. Like a time before there was time. The moment before creation began. Before the spark of life, before the first breath. But she was just being melancholy.
She whispered his name. The name of the one that brought her here. Jake. He wasn’t here, nor would he ever be again. He had lay dead here. In a pool of his own blood, from a fight of his own making. This was his place and she meant to have it.
Kate blew, scattering the dust from her fingers. Life would come. His life would flow back into this building even if she had to bring him back from the dead.
She clenched her fist, her knuckles raked against the bar’s dusty surface.
This place would stand. Not in memory of his name. No. His name held no honor. But in memory of his promise and the faith she had held in a man who once was to be her husband. With one sweep of her hand she removed the dust of a lifetime to begin another. Her own.

Writer's High

2009-12-27T11:19:00.006-06:00

They say that nothing worth doing comes easily. And if something doesn't scare the heck out of you, it probably didn't mean much to you anyway.

Blogging and airing your thoughts when you know that people are reading is an incredible high. The reason most writer's bare all is because of that high. To put your imaginations on paper and have someone critique them gives a feeling of vulnerableness to some, but for some of us, that's exactly what makes it fun.

The greatest high is to expose the nerve of the masses. When you write aloud what others are afraid to say, it validates your life. The worst times leave you face down in the pigpen. Standing up, you spit and wipe the mud from your eyes. Ah! The pure joy of stench. Not all days are acclamation and pats on the back.

One of my favorite quotes is "Writer's write." What would you write? What would you expose? So, join me. Feel the high.

I Walk

2009-10-04T11:09:00.008-05:00

Last night, some friends and I walked in Light The Night supporting Leukemia and Lymphoma research. When I was talking about the walk on Friday, a coworker asked why I walk. Almost apologetically I said, mostly it is something to do with my friends.

We took a couple of evenings and bought T-shirts and while watching Grey's Anatomy, we ironed on appliqués MAY-NIACS FOR THE CURE, named after May Novak, Nicole's grandmother. So, do I walk for the T-shirts? Sometimes. For the KOMAN Race for the Cure we had "I LOVE BooOOooBIES" T-shirts. That made everyone smile.

Walking is a reason to get together. It's like holidays. They remind us that we have family and friends. They build memories that mark our lives. Without these markers, whether they are scary or happy, our lives seem drab. So, if you're feeling lonely or without a purpose, go walk for a cure. Any cure will do. Grab some coworkers and some walking shoes and walk.

We don't earn thousands of dollars to cure cancer. Our names aren't in any papers. No one but us will remember that we were there. But we know. Looking back on our lives, we will have markers that will let us know that we lived. We did something. We walked.

P.S. This walk was in memory of May Novak.

In All Humility and Arrogance, I Say....

2009-09-06T09:48:00.005-05:00

Maya Angelou once said, "When someone shows you who they are, believe them."
I used to be foolish and believe what people told me. I do hope I have grown past that by now. Other's have said that they could look people in the eye and tell what type of person it is. I don't have that gifting I guess. All I see are blue or green and if they have cataracts. For me that is like looking under the hood of my car. I can stare all day at the oil dipstick and the battery cable but I can't tell a darn thing about the vehicle and why it won't start.

My way goes back to SHOW me who you are. Yes, people can fake it, but not for long. Something of who the real person is will leak out. I had an incident happen this week that reminded me of this. I was having a conversation with someone and they had said something but meant another, like "I went to Paris" when they meant to say "I went to France". I was no big deal, but she was shocked, believing she SAID what she had THOUGHT, because obviously her brain doesn't get her words mixed up. At that moment I received a very clear picture of that person. Here is a person who never faults herself. It's not so much that she doesn't think she is capable of error, more that she couldn't see it. Do you know the time when you got that car, maybe the blue one because not too many people had a blue car and especially not the brand that you had. Then suddenly you see blue cars everywhere. You COULDN'T see them before, but now they are everywhere. In that way SHE couldn't SEE that she could make an error and didn't take it into consideration. In her thinking we heard her wrong. Hmmm, all 5 of us.

This is the difference, in my eyes, of arrogance and humility. The arrogant cannot SEE the flaws in their judgement. Their opinion is correct because THAT is all they see. To contrast, there are the humble. And to that extreme there are the self abasing humble people who need to see themselves as well as others. These are the ones who have been long considered low on self esteem and self conscious. Psychologist have been telling them they have a flaw and god know that they are aware of this and they cringe. They want to hide. They see their flaws and are very aware that of the errors of their ways.

It's time for some moderation. It is good to see others and to give to them and be kind to them, but remember that there are the arrogant ones, who will never see you except to use you as an example or an icon to prove their "rightness." You had best move out of their way and shut your doors. The arrogant won't read this so I'm not talking to them because they know more than me anyway. So to the humble I say, Be good to yourself today. Show yourself some love and lock your doors.

NEW STUFF OLD STUFF

2009-08-30T08:55:00.000-05:00

I'm excited about my short story, If I Make I Through Winter, which is available through Amazon. It's in the anthology ROMANCE OF MY DREAMS.
This has reminded me that I do enjoy sharing my writing with others. CROSSING NEBRASKA is still available. Now I have writing to do...

WHERE ARE YOU AIMING?

2009-08-23T10:24:00.000-05:00

There is a problem with just being religious.

You could interpret the religious as being pious and dedicated and good. Pure of heart and intention. The nonreligious would then be considered unholy with a bent towards hatred, murder, disease and the like. But what happens when religious persons murder even in the name of God or the church? In this skewed version of God's will and fervor for God you can see how easy it is to loose sight of your target.

Proverbs 16:2 (New International Version)
2 All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.

You would think that if I loved the Lord my God with all of my heart soul and mind then I would be fulfilling the whole of God's will, since it is one of the teachings of Jesus. But it is possible to think you are doing this commandment with pure intention and miss the mark (sin) completely. What is missing?
Let's take another look at the will of God.

Romans 13:10 (New International Version)
10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Could it be that the true religion has only one true intention? Love and servanthood in the name of giving to your fellow humans (without the impurity of getting something in return) leads to true piety. Power seeking and domination (needing to be right) in the name of self or in the name of religion and God leads to murder, hatred, making you miss the mark. You can perform the rituals of your church and still have hatred in your heart therefore committing murder.

Micah 6:8 (New International Version)
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

To aim truly you must aim with love. Intend and feel the love, kindness, goodness that is from the love of God.

Galatians 5 (New International Version)
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Shalom

Indeterminancy

2009-08-09T15:57:00.000-05:00

If I am asked what I believe about God or Heaven or Hell, I can now honestly answer that I believe in indeterminancy. That is my random thought for the day.
The following is a story by John Cage who wrote Indeterminancy. To read a random story go to John Cage.Indeterminacy, click on the * to go to another.
Years ago
when I was studying
with
Arnold Schoenberg
someone
asked him

to explain

his technique

of twelve-tone

composition.
His
reply
was
immediate:
“That
is none of your business."

The salt parable

2009-07-19T18:21:00.000-05:00

A young man called Sretaketu had studied the Vedas for twelve years and was rather full of himself. His father, Uddalaka, asked him a question which he was unable to answer, and then proceeded to teach him a lesson about the fundamental truth of which he was entirely ignorant. He told his son to put a piece of salt into water and report back to him the following morning When his father asked him to produce the salt, Sretaketu could not find it because it had completely dissolved. Uddalaka began to question him:
"Would you please sip it at this end? What is it like?" he said.
"Salt."
"Sip it in the middle. What is it like?"
"Salt."
"Sip it at the far end. What is it like?"
"Salt."
"Throw it away and then come to me."
He did as he was told but [that did not stop the salt from] remaining the same.
[His father] said to him: "My dear child, it is true that you cannot perceive Being here, but it is equally true that it is here. This first essence--the whole universe has as its Self: That is the Real: That is the Self: that you are, Sretaketu!"

That story is included in a book called A HISTORY OF GOD.

Also as a side note check this out: http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/salt-pictures.htm

in theory

2009-06-20T11:00:00.000-05:00

I have a theory. It's just a thought that I'm currently pondering..that there may be only one impossibility. Complete stillness. Look around you. Everything changes, but not only on the earth or in the sky, but in spirit also. If "In the beginning...the earth was without form and void...," would that mean it was not focused? Maybe it was constantly changing. If quantum physics is the new science, it would mean everything is a possibility and that nothing is focused, until we choose to focus its potential in a fixed way. At that point, all other possibilities have been eliminated. But even at that point, it still is changing and deconstructing.

What I know is so limited, which is why I call it a theory. We are aware of a range of vibrations in energy, ranging from matter such as diamonds and rocks all the way to the ethereal range of thoughts and possibilities, even spirits and angels. In the writing of this, I have formed something. I have focused my theory and it is no longer floating and jangling around in my head, torturing me and keeping my mind busy. It has now located and has lit itself upon this screen as words that can be read by you and me. I find that quite fascinating.

Now to ponder upon God and his/her infinite possibilities and limitless reach; and also his/her complete wholeness as the Unmoved Mover. I would love to hear your thoughts and arguments. Namaste.

Sharing

2009-04-12T21:56:00.000-05:00

I remember a movie called "Conagher." Katharine Ross plays a lonely widow on the prairie whose only form of expression is tying notes onto tumble weeds and watching the wind take them.
We as people have to express ourselves. Sometimes it's in the way we dress or the color of our car, but in some way you have to tell your story. Whether anyone listens is irrelevant. Yes I know, it is nice when people agree, but we can't be too affected by others agreements. Whether people listen or not, we must tell our story.

A word is dead
when it is said
some say.
I say it just
begins to live that day.
-Emily Dickinson
VI. A Word

Give The Dog Her Bone

2009-04-11T16:03:00.000-05:00

"Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked any way,The good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference" - Author Unknown

If my brother Steve ruled the world, dogs would be allowed on the couch and people would be treated more humanely.

I had a dog for a little while. She was one of those crazy impulse finds. Cute kid with a box of squirming puppies, who can resist? Usually I can. For lack a better name, I called her Poochie...I know it's a stupid name. I'm not good with naming. It's a good thing for my kids that there are books with thousands of baby names. Anyway, I digress.

Dogs are no different than people. They know a good find when they find one. When you are in a store, if there is a good deal, you’ll snatch it up, regardless of who is in the way. Poochie, my 3 month old puppy did that very same thing.

Her usual walk is a stop to sniff at this bush and a stop to sniff at that tree, then finished off with a roll in the clover. She was a puppy and acted every bit of it too. I took her in the back of the apartment complex and you never know what you’ll find; cans, bottles, toys even old bones. She found it. A bone- no, HER bone. Poochie grabbed that bone, put her ears back and with head down she ran-leash attached to my arm-yanking me along behind. I did not realize the greed that was in my sweet puppy’s nature, nor did I realize how well she knew her way home. Until now. She made a quick headstrong way, weaving around this sidewalk, across the little bridge, around the tree and to the front of the apartments and straight to the stairs all the while carrying her find and dragging me quickly behind her.

Oh the wisdom of dogs.