Wednesday, June 20, 2012

There is no "other world." I only know what I have experienced.

...Think how it is to have a conversation with an embryo.
You might say, "The world outside is vast and intricate.
There are wheatfields and mountain passes,
and orchards in bloom.

At night there are millions of galaxies, and in sunlight
the beauty of friends dancing at a wedding."

You ask the embryo why he, or she, stays cooped up
in the dark with eyes closed.

                              Listen to the answer.

There is no "other world."
I only know what I've experienced.
You must be hallucinating.

Rumi (1207-1273)
From the poem "Wean Yourself," in The Essential Rumi, as translated by Coleman Barks

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Kindness, part 2

"Of the sweets of adversity, and let me say that these are not numerous, I have found the sweetest, the most precious of all, is the lesson I learnt on the value of kindness. Every kindness I received, small or big, convinced me that there could never be enough of it in our world. To be kind is to respond with sensitivity and human warmth to the hopes and needs of others. Even the briefest touch of kindness can lighten a heavy heart. Kindness can change the lives of people." --Aung San Suu Kyi

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Argh! / (and 燕)

Aaaaarrrrggggh! Just wanted to say that. For so many reasons.

One of the main ones being my great sadness at running into this again, when I least expected it, and not being able to really do anything about it, though I so much wish that I could. People can change, and you can help them change, but this time it is so much and so entrenched it just seems hopeless. If I thought I could do it for her, I would. She has so much else going for her, and I know deep down this only masks her unhappiness, and even emptiness, and I wouldn't wish either of those things on anybody. But for her life to be truly happy for a change, she would have to understand what was keeping her from happiness, be brave enough to admit it to herself, and open up her heart and her mind to receive help and to consider new possibilities. The "Bonds That Make Us Free" book would be a good start, but I think it would take more than that. Just so sad, for me and especially for her.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder

My best wishes for your future happiness. Truly.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

The One: The Perfect Man

Yes, you are right. The only reason you are still single is that there aren't any men out there who are good enough for you. Every single one of them, no pun, has something wrong with him, some flaw (or two), something that doesn't match up with your checklist for "The One." When is a perfect girl like you ever going to find the perfect man? Yes, when is an imperfect girl like you going to find a perfect man? Prince Charming may look perfect, but he is kind of two dimensional, don't you think? And if you saw him in his off-screen moments, I'm not sure you would still like him, either.