I have not done an inspirational picture post in a while, and since it is Wednesday, hump day, why not? These, I took around my home. I gave them titles to inspire you.
LIGHT AS A FEATHER
Photo by MAD
AMONG THORNS, I STAND PROUD
Photo by MAD
AS ABOVE, SO BELOW
Photo by MAD
I hope you enjoy these and wish that they inspire you to write/create.
The Whirlpool Galaxy (Spiral Galaxy M51, NGC 5194) is a classic spiral galaxy located in the Canes Venatici constellation. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I will be away from this blog for this week. I will leave you with this inspirational piece.
I AM
I am the one who learns,
who loves, who plays,
who works, who ponders,
who enjoys, who cares, who ignores,
who makes her (his) point, and stands strong.
I am the one who seeks spiritual nourishment.
I am all that, and more.
English: Lemons Español: Linomes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
If life gives you lemons, you either go with the rest and make lemonade, or you play with them, juggle a few minutes, make tea, make a pomander/potpourri with them, or whatever it is that fits your lemon best.
I thought that we were all a part of everything, but I realized that this only made us a piece of the puzzle. Today, I understood that it is all a process, and we are all it. We are the process, not just part of it. Somehow lemonade seems boring now.
The Antennae Galaxies are undergoing a collision that will result in their eventual merger. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Have you ever gotten the right words of comfort when you needed them? Has the right book suddenly came into your hands when you were looking for answers or pondering an issue, deeply looking for some comfort? Somehow, it seems that we experience these occurrences when we seem to have lost our hope, or when our mind/heart is experiencing turmoil, and need to find a little ray of hope or “something” that will point us in the right direction, as our life compass has undergone a little interference. When we happen to find that ray of light, we feel comforted, as well as grateful. Grateful for the ones who have written the words that seem to make so much sense today, as sometime ago. It is like a symphony of human comfort that is as old as we are, that transcends time, space, culture, race … the right words at the right time. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” – John 1:1
We are part of everything, and everything in us, a concept that for some is difficult to grasp, and that is understandable. Many times, I see a connection in everything that surrounds me. It is in those little moments of serendipity that I feel that connection stronger. It is when the works of someone who lived many years or centuries ago, happen to touch my soul today, and offer insight – whether spiritual insight, or one of those “aha” moments, when my questions seem to have been answered. It is then that I understand that we are one in many. As if our collective knowledge comforts our collective souls. We are part of a greater process, each one contributing in perfect time and harmony, each one influencing one another.
I leave you with a poem that I wrote sometime ago – “One in Many”
One in Many
On this day I shall wish
many blessings, harmony
When the night gives in to day
and the day nestles the night,
we will be as one in many.
Shine your light for it will be
as the beacon one will see
Always seek your love to give
without measure, plenty and free.
As you give you will receive,
one in many it has been.
Me, You, It, one and the same,
Love, One Source, is One in many.
As you wish it will be done,
may you wish, joy, peace, and love
For it returns the wish to wisher,
two ten fold, as one in many.
I love sci-fi and monster movies, not so much people killing people, but more the fantastic kind – werewolves, mummies, aliens, vampires …. One thing these movies have in common is the cup of coffee that the desperate people who have run for their lives decide to have once they have found shelter, a safe place for a brief time, until the ordeal starts again. It never fails, whether in an abandoned building, a hut, the middle of the forest, or a cave, they manage to make that cup of coffee that seems to bring comfort, somehow. This is one of my favorite moments in a movie, so much, that sometimes, I run to the kitchen and make a cup of coffee for myself, as if I too, am being comforted, and inside the movie. Besides, I happen to love coffee so much, that any excuse is good enough to have that extra cup. Why am I writing about coffee? Well, because we all need that moment, or what I call “the comfort cup of coffee.”
We need to have that moment of peace, of feeling safe, of stopping all the running we do and coming to a halt – to meditate, ponder, and reassess our direction. We need that cup of coffee (whatever that may be for you) to help us reenergize and keep going. One thing I have understood is to take that moment when I seem to need it – it makes a difference in what follows next. Whether your cup of coffee is time alone for yourself, a much-needed vacation, a weekend or day off, a sabbatical, a walk in the woods or the beach, or time well spent with people you love and have not seen for a while … it doesn’t matter what it is, because it is personal, and the result is always “feeling better,” “re-energized,” and “strong.” Timing is also different for everyone; you will know when it is time for that comfort cup of coffee.
Food for thought – What represents that cup of coffee in your life? Have you ignored the need for it? Why? What happened as the result of not having it?
Well, it happened. Just about when I was ready to get the .com domain for Inkspeare, which has been available for some time, someone in France just scooped it up; what a bummer! When I tried to search for the “Inkspeare” website with the .com domain, it does not let me in to view it. The Bing description appears as “We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us.” When clicked, it appears as the domain has been registered to a hosting site, and is now parked by the owner. Boohoo, it took so late for me to decide to get it, and now, it doesn’t make sense for me to get the .ME, because really, wordpress.com sounds so much better, than .ME. Anyone knows why would someone park a domain? It puzzles me and makes me wonder. Uh, but enough of lost domains; it is Watercolors Friday, and today, I want to celebrate the mundane. Yes, the mundane and how we can make it sparkle.
Recently, my husband gave me a Nook, which I have to say I totally love, but I did not have a case for it. Then, I realized that I loved the box that came with it – a sturdy box that would make the perfect case if it wasn’t so mundane. Well, I decided to try to change that, since I really liked the box, mostly because it had the perfect space for the charging cord. I took on the mission to make it look like something I would love to look at, and delight myself in opening when going to use the Nook. I thought about it, and this is what I did.
I covered part of the inside with decorative tape (leopard), and part of the outside as well. Then I took ribbon and beads and fastened them using the same tape so I could open the box by pulling it for the two sections – the nook and the charge cord. After that, I took a vintage copy of The Grimm’s Fairy Tales, and removed the covers. I attached them, front and back, and glued/glazed the thing with Mod Podge to make it strong and durable (It hardens and protects). This is the result, and I am happy with it. If you have visited this blog, you know that I try the green solution first.
In picture order – inside, front, and back.
I hope you like this project, and celebrate with me on making the mundane sparkle. Besides, if any of you know the answer to the question, why would someone park a domain? please, share it with me on a comment. I am curious. In addition, I would like to add that I am going to unplug for a few days, so this will be my last post for about a week. Thank you for reading, and I will see you in a few days 🙂
HAPPY WATERCOLORS FRIDAY!
Update – I found this site that has great information about domains, and therefore, I am sharing it http://www.thesitewizard.com/
UPDATE 2 – I have to say, that after thinking about it these couple of days (even after unplugging myself), I made the decision to get the .ME domain, so Inkspeare will now be Inkspeare.me. Although my first choice was the .com for obvious reasons – everyone looks for a .com first, when searching; it is almost a reflex – I think that a .ME would be easier to remember than a .net or .org, or any other variations. A comment by Roxana suggested that it is more personal, and I happen to agree. Besides, the original .wordpress.com will still work if someone searches for Inkspeare that way, or click in any of the live links I have all over, so there is no harm done. I still like the .com better, but that domain is parked by someone so it is not available right now. However, I am happy with my decision of purchasing the .me domain.
wood meter (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Today’s post was “The Vintage Office,” however, after reading a post this morning, I decided to write a different post, and reschedule that one. The post inspired me to ponder/write about the issue of success, and what it means or how it measures. The more I thought about it, it continued to be clear to me that success is not something that can be defined in one way, neither measured.
Our society conditions us to measure success by the expectations of the majority, and we may end up measuring our own success with the same narrow stick – money, material possessions, fans, popularity … . However, success goes beyond labels and expectations, and it should matter more to us at a personal and deeper level. You should measure your own success by the ruler that you create at a particular moment in your life, and that is why what others think of success, might not necessarily apply to you.
What is success to you? Think about it, and think deep. What makes you happy? What rings your bell? What is your ideal state of success? It may be wealth, it may be glory, it may be writing a novel, maybe, being able to stay alive one more day. Those represent examples of success for somebody. Someone is measuring success by what makes them happy or fulfilled, and that differs between people.
This is why it is important to never apply someone else’s definition of success to your own; otherwise, you will be miserable and may waste your time following someone else’s dream and path, or someone else’s misdirection.
The timing of success varies as well. Today, you might find success in making tons of money; tomorrow, you may find success in giving part of it away – and making other’s dreams possible. In both circumstances, you have been successful, but according to your own measure of success. It may be that you want to write a novel and publish it. You work hard at it, and finally, you publish it – you have been successful in accomplishing that part of your success story. The rest, you keep measuring one inch, one step, one dream at a time, making yourself accountable, by your own efforts and determination.
The frustration and sadness, as well as the insecurity or doubt comes to us when we use someone else’s yard stick to measure our own success, being that, someone’s opinion of what “success or greatness means,” or when we compare our lives or our own success to that of another, not realizing that although we are all related and intertwined in this universe, it is only by achieving the measure of our own success that we make our contribution to the universe, and find happiness/fulfillment.
I have been guilty myself of measuring my success by the rulers of others, at times, as well as by the dreams of others (whether for themselves or their dreams for me); however, it wasn’t until I understood this concept that I was able to let go of all the rulers collected over time (and a long time that was), and start adding inches to my own.
Think of what makes you happy, of what you love, of what makes your bell ring, and your days brighter … measure your success by attaining those.
Much success to you all!
I came across this audio put into a video on YouTube and shared by youtuber PSNy2kUK, and what caught my attention was that the narrator is from 1956, Earl Nightingale. The same principles apply today. Think and enjoy.
A trashcan at a food court in Salt Lake City, Utah (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The more I think about our kind, I see the complexity of our being. This morning for example, I went for my early walk, and saw this complexity unfolding. I am a hello, good morning person, so when I am walking and happen to see another of my species, I usually say the words. Many times, I get some kind of response – a smile, a gesture of a head tilted sideways with a subtle up movement, a hello or a good morning. Other times, I get nothing, a stern look, or a head down, avoiding eye contact. This has puzzled me for so long – why do people do this? Even animals, acknowledge other species, and theirs. This morning, I said Good Morning to a woman who was cutting some flowers, and who politely answered with a short and quick good morning, the kind with the absence of a smile. Later on, I said good morning to a man who had come out of his home and was ready to collect his garbage cans. He looked at me, as if I had just insulted him, and said nothing. As I walked further, I spotted a crossing guard who was walking to reach her morning post. I smiled, but instead met with the quick head down to avoid eye contact. Later on, I encountered two neighbors driving to their destination flashing smiles and waving. Thank God I’d just reached home and that was the last image I had on my mind – my happy neighbors – because I was beginning to feel a bit uninspired and yes, puzzled, about why people behave that way so early in the morning. I understand when people have had a rotten day, but so early?
It is true that we are living in a fast technologically “challenged?” society, and that we seem to “need more hours” to keep up the pace. However, we seem to have forgotten good manners while we spend the 24 hours we have. It seems to me that two very important words/phrases are almost nonexistent these days – GOOD MORNING (or Hello) and THANK YOU.
It may be my perception, but I seem to hear them less these days. It was very important to say Thank You or Good Morning, not too long ago, although it may seem another century, or as if these words have been relegated to retail pleasantries status. It puzzles me when a door is held or opened for someone, something is given, or someone takes the time or effort to do something for someone, even for a stranger, and these words are never said. As if the person at the other end was a ghost.
What has happened to us? Why are these words less important today than a few decades ago? I am not sure if the speed we live our lives has to do anything with it, or is it that our values have changed, and good manners are not important any more? Sometimes I get more thank you’s from automated systems/services or machinery than from human beings. It is not that I want to be thanked all the time, but more of a concern about “where is our kind headed.” A world where everything is taken for granted? One without gratitude? One where machines seem to have better manners than humans? Or are we there?
We all have our slip-offs and moments of “zombie awareness,” but when our hurried steps/lives become more significant than the generous acts of others (who happen to have the same 24 hours that we have), maybe it is time to stop the purposeless frenzy and think about how long has it been since we said the Ghost Words. By the way, Thank You for reading this.
I want to dedicate this Watercolors Friday to YOU. To all that is YOU. I hope that you think about that. You are more than the sum of your parts – you are a special creation. You are more than all your roles; you are more than all your labels, and you are more than all your thoughts and dreams together. Together … to be. All the possibilities that your being – your creation – gives you. I hope that you celebrate yourself today; I know that it is not easy to do this sometimes. Many times, we forget to celebrate ourselves because we are too busy celebrating others – or what others want in our lives. Sometimes, we do not want the same things, but we are afraid of saying NO.
It is easier to say YES than to say NO. It take guts to say NO because we are afraid of what others will think of us – and that is pretty much it, we care too much about what others “will think” or “feel” and we end up forgetting about our feelings, wants, and needs. We stop celebrating ourselves. At extreme, we end up living unhappy lives, lives that belong to others.
Saying NO doesn’t come easy; it takes time and training/practice. I remember the first time I learned to say NO and being conscious of it – as a decision. I was two and a half (my memories start at that age). My Mom wanted me to play with two little girls that lived across from us (by the way, we lived in a haunted house – no kidding here). I hated to play with them because they would not let me play with their toys – they wanted me to sit and watch only. One day, I had it. I waited until their Mom came to ask my Mom to let me go and play. I waited until they started playing with their beautiful plastic horses – tons of them. I wanted to play with a light caramel horse. I reached to grab it, and they took it away from me. That instant it clicked (I remember the moment like it was now) – I swiped my hand across all their horses and scattered them all over the living room – then, I could not stop doing it, and horses of all colors and sizes flew up on the air. I was free. I said NO. The girls started crying, and their mom took me home. That was the last time I had to go there; I was happy.
Over the years, I stopped saying NO and learned to say YES more often, until another dramatic day … It was like that for me for most of the time until I grew up and later in life, much, much later, I understood that I did not have to say Yes, when all I wanted was to say NO. That is when I started celebrating myself. Today, I am confident saying NO when I mean to say it, and that is when saying YES will make me unhappy. It is better to say NO than say Yes and do what it is that you said yes to with an unhappy and unloving feeling, or doing it half-way, with no passion, or to do a crappy job at it – just because NO was what you were supposed to say. That only disrespects the other person, who is counting on you.
There are many times that we will have to say Yes when we rather say NO; however, this happens because we truly want to help someone – and that is honorable. However, it is when we prolong the Yes, and it starts affecting our happiness that it matters to say NO.
Happy Watercolors Friday! Celebrate YOU!
Reminder:
I will be giving away three copies of Ramblings of the Spirit, the first book of the trilogy The Dinorah Chronicles. To enter for a chance to win one of the three copies, just like my Facebook page (link at the right of the screen on this blog) and that is all you have to do. I will announce the three winners on May 20, which is the birth date of the person to whom I have dedicated this book – my maternal grandmother.
Inkspeare 