Meditations: 061419

Josh and Luke by Vittorio Carvelli

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Quotes from Lebo Grand

“A beautiful life 

is not a place at which you arrive, 

but the experience 

you create moment by moment.” 

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“Real self love is sensual living.” 

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“The deepest longing of the human soul 

is to be sensual.” 

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“Learn to love yourself sensual deep.” 

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“Sensual living 

is bringing passion in whatever you do. 

It's being committed to excellence.” 

All quotes from Lebo Grand

Meditations: RISE

Phoenix Rising by Gem S Visionary

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“Bird of the sky

still bound to the earth,

soaring to unimaginable heights

yet returning to perch in the willow.

Death is near, always near

and so...is life

even in the ashes.

Rise Up Phoenix.

Live. Fly. Create!” 

~Michele Jennae

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“Strength is about pulling yourself together, even after you’ve been shattered into a thousand pieces. Falling is merely the first movement we take before rising” 

~Rehan Khan

(A Tudor Turk)

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“Life doesn't always get better.

But you do. 

You get stronger.

You get wiser. You get softer.

With tattered wings you rise.

And the world watches in wonder

at the breathless beauty of

a human who survived life.” 

~L.R. Knost

Meditations: Open-Mindedness

Just sharing some thoughts I had

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A Conversation I Witnessed Inside My Head

by me : )

You think you are so smart.

No need to listen to the view points of others.

No need to change your thinking.

Stating your vantage point is superior without blinking.

Now of course you don't think this out loud.

Not even in your own private rooms.

But deep down below it all 

Deep in your subconscious programming

That was downloaded into you

Before you can even remember

Buried deep

You know you know what needs to be known

The absolute truth you proudly own

Open-minded?

Oh, you think you are.

But you're not.

Why don't you stop for just a moment.

Open your mind

And without judgement

Consider what someone else thinks.

See things from their perspective.
And choose to honestly respect it.

Can you do that?

I'm not sure you can.

Cuz you're trapped

Trapped unaware sleeping, 
dreaming your personal programming

You must wake up or you'll never get out

Fool!

Wake up!

Open your mind!
Be Aware!

Quit thinkin' you got all the answers

Cuz you know what?

You don't!

Nobody does.

Ain't nobody got the whole truth

You only gotta glimmer of it

Viewed from that small speck from where you stand

Consider what others think

And why they think the way they do
From the speck from where they stand

Stop judging and try understanding

Listen, Consider, Grow

And then as the Buddha said,

"After careful observation and analysis, 

when you find that anything agrees with reason 

and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, 

then accept it and live up to it."

~*~

Meditations: Flow

“Flow is a state of being when we are completely focused, and fully immersed in what we are doing. In flow our work seems effortless, creativity goes into overdrive, we feel inspired, and motivation springs forth from within.” 

~Dragos Bratasanu, 

(The Pursuit of Dreams)

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“You’ve heard poets talk about, poems flowing out of their bodies; painters, they get on a roll. You all have seen the musician, when they are in that state, the guitar, the piano, whatever instrument just becomes part of their body, their ego is completely gone and it is just their connection to the art, their connection to the emotions they are trying to share with the audience- that is pure flow.” 

~Chase Jarvis

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“Sometime look at a novice workman or a bad workman and compare his expression with that of a craftsman whose work you know is excellent and you’ll see the difference. The craftsman isn’t ever following a single line of instruction. He’s making decisions as he goes along. For that reason he’ll be absorbed and attentive to what he’s doing even though he doesn’t deliberately contrive this. His motions and the machine are in a kind of harmony. He isn’t following any set of written instructions because the nature of the material at hand determines his thoughts and motions, which simultaneously change the nature of the material at hand. The material and his thoughts are changing together in a progression of changes until his mind’s at rest at the same time the material’s right.” 

~Robert M. Pirsig

(Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance)

May the Flow be with You!

Meditations: Quotes from Love Thy Nature

Quotes from the video, Love Thy Nature

The hour long program is on UPLIFT TV (website)

The links are on the sidebar under Good Vibes Media

I Highly Recommend watching this program

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"All humans have an inherent need to find meaning and purpose in their lives. We've often historically referred to that as spirituality, to have a sense that life has greater value than just being in an isolated speck of matter - a moment of time in a vastness of the universe." 

~Stephen R. Kellert, 

(Social Ecology Scholar)

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"Each day, take one moment to take one breath and understand that that breath brings life into our bodies. And that same breath connects us to every other human being on this planet, to all the rest of creation on this planet.

Sometimes the most challenging thing to do is to sit in silence with ourselves and to have a place and an opportunity for us to reflect and reconnect our relationship with creation and reconnect our relationship with our own emotions and our own spirit and own mind and our own bodies so that we can actually begin to be experiencing a fulfilled human experience."

~Evon Peter, Gwich'in Nation, Alaska

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"The more we take time to be in touch with ourselves, to be reflective about our lives, the more we exercise the muscle of what's called mindfulness, which is learning to be able to pay attention to the stream of thoughts and feelings and reactions and desires. The more we do that, the more we're able to bring our best selves into the world - the more we're able to be a positive influence on others."

~Julian Walker, Mind-Body Healer

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"The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe, the less taste we shall have for destruction." 

~Rachel Carson

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Here's the trailer for 
Love Thy Nature

"Narrated by Liam Neeson and winner of 27 awards, LOVE THY NATURE points to how deeply we’ve lost touch with nature, and takes viewers on a breathtaking journey through the beauty and intimacy of our relationship with the natural world. The film shows that a renewed connection with nature is key both to our personal health and the health of our planet." (YouTube)

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/e7yljPRMZJA

Meditations: Happy Man on Subway

I don't think many of us realize the affect we have on the people around us. In this video, one man gave a group of strangers a good moment and perhaps changed their day for the better.

Happy Man on Subway

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/PFCeK41qq_E

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“In the end, 

it all comes down 

to music, laughter 

and a little bit of madness.” 

~Praharsh Prasoon

Meditations: Quotes from Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson - A Friend of Walt Whitman

QUOTES from Emerson

“If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown! But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile.” 

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“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” 

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“Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. 

All life is an experiment. 

The more experiments you make 

the better.” 

~*~

“Be silly. Be honest. Be kind.” 

All quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson

Meditations: Dare Greatly!

Yosemite National Park

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Dare Greatly!

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” 

~President Theodore Roosevelt

Meditations: 052819

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"Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams

For when dreams go

Life is a barren field

Frozen with snow."

~Langston Hughes

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“A bird is safe in its nest - 

but that is not what its wings are made for.” 

~Amit Ray

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"Without love 

we all like birds with broken wings."

~Mitch Albom

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"Broken wings 

fit more easily in standard-size boxes."

~Mikhail Turovsky

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caged birds 

die

having never known the sky,

the infinity of heaven's space,

nor felt the sun upon their face;

having never lived a dream,

they fade gently down the stream.

caged birds

die.

will you 

and i?

~Me : )AOM (2001)

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Meditations: Friendship

artwork by James R. Eads

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“Let us be grateful 

to the people who make us happy; 

they are the charming gardeners 

who make our souls blossom.” 

~Marcel Proust

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“Friendship is unnecessary, 

like philosophy, like art.... 

It has no survival value; 

rather it is one of those things 

which give value to survival.” 

~C.S. Lewis

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“The glory of friendship 

is not the outstretched hand, 

not the kindly smile, 

nor the joy of companionship; 

it is the spiritual inspiration 

that comes to one when you discover 

that someone else believes in you 

and is willing to trust you with a friendship.” 

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

~*~

“When I say it's you I like, I'm talking about that part of you that knows that life is far more than anything you can ever see or hear or touch. That deep part of you that allows you to stand for those things without which humankind cannot survive. Love that conquers hate, peace that rises triumphant over war, and justice that proves more powerful than greed.” 

~Fred Rogers

Meditations: 052119

Three Tahitian Women, 1896, Paul Gauguin

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“You have brains in your head. 

You have feet in your shoes. 

You can steer yourself 

any direction you choose. 

You're on your own. 

And you know what you know. 

And YOU are the one 

who'll decide where to go...” 

~Dr. Seuss

(Oh, The Places You'll Go!)

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“Life isn't about 

finding yourself. 

Life is about 

creating yourself.” 

~George Bernard Shaw

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“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” 

~Marianne Williamson

Meditations: "The Learn’d Astronomer" by Walt Whitman

When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer

BY Walt Whitman

"When I heard the learn’d astronomer, 

When the proofs, the figures, 

were ranged in columns before me, 

When I was shown the charts and diagrams, 

to add, divide, and measure them, 

When I sitting heard the astronomer 

where he lectured with 

much applause in the lecture-room, 

How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick, 

Till rising and gliding out 

I wander’d off by myself, 

In the mystical moist night-air, 

and from time to time, 

Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars."

~*~

I love this poem by Uncle Walt. 

It reminds me of the story of a father

teaching his son how to ride a bicycle.

The father first had his son 

memorize all the parts of a bike,

then made him draw pictures of the bike,

and  then made him write articles about the bike.
Strangely enough, the kid still couldn't ride a bike.

Or 
that time on the TV show, Friends

The way Phoebe taught Joey the guitar

By NOT touching it

:  )

We can memorize, quantify, and diagram Nature all we want

Scientifically study it up and down to the smallest detail

But to truly understand the nature of Nature

We must "wander off" and experience it for ourselves

What Uncle Walt calls a mystical, intuitive experience

His poem is a great statement
Illustrating the different between Knowledge and Wisdom

A good lesson for living, as well.

Thanks, Uncle Walt!

Meditations: 051919

The Sluggard or aka Athlete-Awakening from Sleep

by Lord Frederick Leighton

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Planting Seeds of Compassion

"The mind is like a fertile field. If we contaminate it with the poisons of ignorance, desire, anger, jealousy, and pride, we will inevitably produce poisonous crops. Acting carelessly or harmfully toward others, or working for our own benefit at the expense of others, will only create limitation and suffering. Medicinal seeds—wholesome, virtuous acts of kindness, love, and compassion—will produce the fruits of peace and benefit. Actions that are both positive and negative will produce a mixture of happiness and sadness. This is the principle of karma. Karma originates in the mind. Our thoughts give rise to words and actions, and these have consequences. We cannot plant poisonous seeds and expect edible or medicinal fruit. When we begin to see the negative results of our self-centeredness, we understand why we must carefully choose which seeds to plant. Our future is in our own hands."

~Lama Shenpen Drolma, 

Change of Heart: The Bodhisattva Peace Training of Chagdud Tulku)

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"22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23: gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

~Galatians 5:22-23

Meditations: 051819

by Lilla Cabot Perry

Thanks to our Friend, David, for sending us this beautiful art

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"There is a kindness that dwells deep down in things; it presides everywhere, often in the places we least expect. The world can be harsh and negative, but if we remain generous and patient, kindness inevitably reveals itself. Something deep in the human soul seems to depend on the presence of kindness; something instinctive in us expects it, and once we sense it we are able to trust and open ourselves."

~John O'Donohue

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"There are scores of people waiting for someone just like us to come along; people who will appreciate our compassion, our encouragement, who will need our unique talents. Someone who will live a happier life merely because we took the time to share what we had to give."

~Leo Buscaglia

Closing Spirit Ad

this ad brought to you by Peace

Peace and Love be with You, my Friend.

((((HUGS))))

Meditations: Metta Sutra

Our Friend, David, sent me a set of quotes

That he found most beneficial in his life.

Here's one of from his collection

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from the 

Metta Sutra

“This is what should be done

By one who is skilled in goodness,

And who knows the path of peace:

Let them be able and upright,

Straightforward and gentle in speech.

Humble and not conceited,

Contented and easily satisfied.

Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.

Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful,

Not proud and demanding in nature.

Let them not do the slightest thing

That the wise would later reprove.

Wishing: In gladness and in safety,

May all beings be at ease.

Whatever living beings there may be;

Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,

The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,

The seen and the unseen,

Those living near and far away,

Those born and to-be-born,

May all beings be at ease!

Let none deceive another,

Or despise any being in any state.

Let none through anger or ill-will

Wish harm upon another.

Even as a mother protects with her life

Her child, her only child,

So with a boundless heart

Should one cherish all living beings:

Radiating kindness over the entire world

Spreading upwards to the skies,

And downwards to the depths;

Outwards and unbounded,

Freed from hatred and ill-will.

Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down

Free from drowsiness,

One should sustain this recollection.

This is said to be the sublime abiding.

By not holding to fixed views,

The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,

Being freed from all sense desires,

Is not born again into this world.”

MUSIC: "Baba Nam Kevalam" performed by Soja

Baba Nam Kevalam

“Everything is an expression of love”

The best known and most widespread meaning of Baba nam kevalam is “everything is an expression of love.”

Baba Nam Kevalam is a Sanskrit mantra. Baba means "beloved," nam means "name" and kevalam means "only." Therefore, the mantra may be translated as "only the name of the beloved." The Baba Nam Kevalam mantra can also take on a meaning that love is everywhere and is the essence of everything.

“The beauty and simplicity of Baba nam kevalam is that “Baba” isn’t the name of an entity — it’s the name of a relationship. Baba is a Sanskrit word meaning “nearest” and “dearest” to us. It is a term of endearment, akin to “darling” or “sweetheart.” This term is not the formal name of your dearest, it is a term that is used to express the relationship you have with your dearest. The same goes for “Baba.” Baba, being the name of the relationship we have with the divine - a relationship that constantly changes with time — minute to minute and moment to moment.” (Source)

My Thoughts:

As I continued to listen to this music, I began to pray. Instead of thinking and singing the words "Baba Nam Kevalam", I began to think and sing the words, "Father God I praise you".  I believe in making things our own so you may want to make it special in your own way. 

NOTE: This video is of the full album. I especially wanted to share the first track with you. I think it runs about eight minutes. It is very beautiful. The rest of the album is very good, too. 

NOTE: This type of song is a Kiirtan. "A Kiirtan is a very different kind of music.  Based on ancient chants, it has the ability to quiet the mind if listened to with intention.  Everyone experiences kirtan differently, and it doesn’t have to be a religious experience.  You can think of it as a sing-along." (Source)

"Baba Nam Kevalam"

by 

Soja

from the Colours of the Mind album

YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/5rgAj_82SCg

Meditations on Mindfulness: 042619

Yosemite Valley - Yosemite National Park

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"When we carefully observe our thoughts, we discover that they are not in our control—we swim in an uninvited constant stream of memories, plans, expectations, judgments, regrets. Often the root of these movements of mind is dissatisfaction. We seem to want both endless excitement and perfect peace. But instead of being served by our thinking, we are driven by it in unconscious and unexamined ways. While thoughts can be enormously useful and creative, often they dominate our experience with attachments to our likes and dislikes, with views that divide the world into higher and lower, self and other. Our thoughts repeatedly tell stories about our successes and failures, plan our security, habitually remind us of who and what we think we are. Through mindfulness, we can come to know and let go of the patterns of unhelpful worry and obsession; we can clarify our confusion and release destructive views and opinions. We can reflect on what we most value."

~Jack Kornfield

What is a Bodhisattva?

Compassion by John Pitre

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What is a Bodhisattva?

"A Bodhisattva is an ordinary person who takes up a course in his or her life that moves in the direction of Buddha. You and I, actually, anyone who directs their attention, their life, to practicing the way of life of a Buddha is a Bodhisattva....

The life that flows through each of us and through everything around us is actually all connected. To say that, of course, means that who I really am cannot be separated from all the things that surround me. Or, to put it another way, all sentient beings have their existence and live within my life. So needless to say, that includes even the fate of all mankind—that, too, lies within me. Therefore, just how mankind might truly live out its life becomes what I aim at as my direction. This aiming or living while moving in a certain direction is what is meant by vow.

In other words, it is the motivation for living that is different for a Bodhisattva. Ordinary people live thinking only about their own personal, narrow circumstances connected with their desires. In contrast to that, a Bodhisattva, though undeniably still an ordinary human being like everyone else, lives by vow. Because of that, the significance of his or her life is not the same. For us as Bodhisattvas, all aspects of life, including the fate of humanity itself, live within us. It is with this in mind that we work to discover and manifest the most vital and alive posture that we can take in living out our life."

~Kosho Uchiyama

(from the article What is a Bodhisattvas)

My thoughts:

I think the ideas in the article above can apply to all of us who want and work for decent living conditions for all living beings. Whether you call us Bodhisattvas, Spiritualists, Religious or just a Band of Do Gooders, we must realize that the world NEEDS us. We all must awaken to the awareness that we are all connected and that our actions in this world have an effect on all of us as a whole. 

The more people who take up the mission to add more good in the world by helping others, the more power the good will have in overcoming the bad. There will always be suffering as it is part of the human condition, but there is suffering that is caused by the systems invented by humankind and that suffering can and must be eliminated so that all living beings can Live happier, healthier, fuller Lives. 

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As I read the quote below, I replace the word Bodhisattvas with Do Gooders  - people who make it their their mission to improve the lives of all living beings by helping others, thus adding more good in the world.

-----

"What the world needs more than anything is Bodhisattvas, active servants of peace, “clothed,” as Longchenpa said, “in the armor of perseverance,” dedicated to their Bodhisattva vision and to the spreading of wisdom into all reaches of our experience. We need Bodhisattva lawyers, Bodhisattva artists and politicians, Bodhisattva doctors and economists, Bodhisattva teachers and scientists, Bodhisattva technicians and engineers, Bodhisattvas everywhere, working consciously as channels of compassion and wisdom at every level and in every situation of society; working to transform their minds and actions and those of others, working tirelessly in the certain knowledge of the support of the Buddhas and enlightened beings for the preservation of our world and for a more merciful future."

-----

My Thoughts:

Whoever you are. Whatever you do. Wherever you live. Just whatever! Let's add more good to the world by helping those around us. Do something good for others today and tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow! 

Meditations on Joy

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“I want a life that sizzles and pops and makes me laugh out loud. And I don't want to get to the end, or to tomorrow, even, and realize that my life is a collection of meetings and pop cans and errands and receipts and dirty dishes. I want to eat cold tangerines and sing out loud in the car with the windows open and wear pink shoes and stay up all night laughing and paint my walls the exact color of the sky right now. I want to sleep hard on clean white sheets and throw parties and eat ripe tomatoes and read books so good they make me jump up and down, and I want my everyday to make God belly laugh, glad that he gave life to someone who loves the gift.”

~Shauna Niequist 

(Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life)

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“It’s important that what thoughts you are feeding into your mind because your thoughts create your belief and experiences. You have positive thoughts and you have negative ones too. Nurture your mind with positive thoughts: kindness, empathy, compassion, peace, love, joy, humility, generosity, etc. The more you feed your mind with positive thoughts, the more you can attract great things into your life.”

~Roy T. Bennett

(The Light in the Heart)

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“Our lives are mere flashes of light in an infinitely empty universe. In 12 years of education the most important lesson I have learned is that what we see as “normal” living is truly a travesty of our potential. In a society so governed by superficiality, appearances, and petty economics, dreams are more real than anything - anything in the “real world”. Refuse normalcy. Beauty is everywhere, love is endless, and joy bleeds from our everyday existence. Embrace it. I love all of you, all my friends, family, and community. I am ceaselessly grateful from the bottom of my heart for everyone. The only thing I can ask of you is to stay free of materialism. Remember that every day contains a universe of potential; exhaust it. Live and love so immensely that when death comes there is nothing left for him to take. Wealth is love, music, sports, learning, family and freedom. Above all, stay gold.”

~Dominic Owen Mallary

~*~

“I don't think of all the misery, 

but of the beauty that still remains.”

~Anne Frank

(The Diary of a Young Girl)

~*~