A-Bout

I drove down to Victoria yesterday to watch a roller derby bout and see my Grandma. The highway was a gong show and I'm not sure who lets these psychos out of the hospital. We had fish and chips at Fish on 5th in Sidney...

...which by the way has a teeny tiny parking lot. I overestimated my ability to squeeze into the end stall and try as I might just couldn't get in there! The food was awesome and it's a pretty happening place. When we left there was a line all the way to the street. We did some shopping along main street where I collided with a glass candle holder. Remarkably, it did not break and I apologized profusely for my clumsiness to the stern-faced cashier. Grams and I had a lovely time and she insisted on making dinner for us before I left for the bout, rather late and not knowing where in hell I was going. Having a map book is always a plus though and thankfully it wasn't too hard to find.

When I arrived, one minute to start time the line was miles long & the centre was jam packed. I didn't get in until 40 minutes later and it was standing room only by that time. Luckily, this hot chick (with a new haircut) on her way out for a smoke break spotted me and we zig zagged back to the seat she was supposed to save me which we stole from this guy's invisible friend. The bout was wicked, the Eves of Destruction kicked the Riot Girls asses and all I can say is I cannot wait to get my skates back on.

Hive Goth My Mind Made Up, You Goat Maya Art Uno

This is quirky fun.

Law of Attraction: Small Book, Big Ideas

The science of attracting more of what you want, and less of what you don't want... I've heard a lot about this book, "The Law of Attraction," so I decided to steal it from the library and read it. It's a quick read and actually I ended up flipping through the last half because it's a bit corny overall. Yes, there I said it.

I did like the overall concept, and I mean this is what we've got to do isn't it... look at the actual message, the bigger picture and how it can be applied to real life. You take the good with the bad. On with the good.

The biggest question to ask is "What do I want?" It all comes down to this question. Once you figure this out, everything falls into place (with a little work here and there I might add). Once you figure it out, you can focus your attention on it.... you can "allow" it to happen in your life. Basically, you attract into your life whatever you think about. It works along the lines of energy. Positive vs negative energy or vibes. Like one big magnet of attraction.

It doesn't go into much detail on the "science behind it all" - and that I think would be interesting to investigate. But there is truth in the idea of energy and the power of the brain.

The idea of constrast comes into play - the things you don't like, don't want, doesn't 'feel good' or causes you to be in a negative mood. If you are focusing on these things, giving it attention you will end up getting more of the same. So by looking at this kind of thing, the "contrast" in your life, you can turn it into clarity. The "clarity through contrast" process. List the things you don't like and turn them into things you do like, or would like in the future. For example, looking back on past relationships, I would be tempted to say "I don't want someone who is angry." The focus being on the don't want, rather than the do want. "I do want someone who is positive and strives to control his/her emotions." And this, is what I would focus on attracting.

It book also talks about doubt, and limiting beliefs. We all have them. The reasons we "can't" do something. I'd like to do this, but I can't because of that. Well throw that junk out of your head and ALLOW it. Think of reasons why you could. (I'm sure there's a quote about that kicking around out there somewhere, focusing on why you can instead of can't do something...)

None of the ideas in the book are really anything "new" but it's all about where you focus your thoughts and energy... manifesting what you actually want, instead of the patterns and cycles of what you don't want...but keep getting. The mind is a powerful thing, so yes, I believe this could and actually does work, to the extent that we allow it, and contribute to its success.

"Positive and negative emotions cannot occupy the mind at the same time. One or the other must dominate. It is your responsibility to make sure that positive emotions constitute the dominating influence of your mind." ~ Napolean Hill

So, what do you want?

What and How

"It's not what you say, but how you say it."

That's what I was told today, after having inquired about the most important thing you have learned so far. She, the learned... being a colleague of mine. Interesting timing, I must say.

I love these kinds of questions. But most of all I love the answers. They are the answers which inspire you to act, rather than react. Though you never can replace the ACTUAL experience of it all no matter how tough it may be sometimes, in this thing called life and living there is solace in words, in wisdom.

We can gain so much from the experience of others...the value of lives lived and currently being lived.



What we gain, is owned by each of us. In whatever way fits. And sometimes, the wisdom doesn't make sense until later. I find it comforting to have these tidbits along the way to reflect upon, to use somehow. Life is only what you make it.

What is important, matters. Words, matter. What you do with words, matters more. It's not what you say, but how you say it.

What we say is more than just words. Everything comes into play. Our underlying emotions, gestures, body language, expressions, what we stress, our tone, the sheer volume or lack thereof, the cues we give to what's really going on. We take into account the listener. I know I've struggle with this aspect of it... finding "the right words" - trying to word things so they don't come off the wrong way...... sometimes this is bloody impossible and I say things I regret later, though they are often things that need to be said - it's just the way I say them that is damaging.

On the other hand, and this is more often the case, I refrain from saying things I wish I would say because I don't want to hurt the person on the other end, put a dent in or risk a friendship, or I start to doubt the validity of my own thoughts and needs. In the end I only end up hurting myself. It's insecurity. Fear. Lack of confidence. Easy to name, hard to overcome. I really feel that this is one of my biggest barriers sometimes.

I just wish I had the answer. I wish I knew how to put the answers into action.

Love Made Visible

Deconstruction Period

Red Carnation

The Amber Woods

Rose

Fire Tower

Scintillating Venuses

Rose Zephyr

Hot Artist With Paint Brush

"Artwork is love made visible" - Kris Lewis

Visit his site for more of his work

OH YEA!

Because we just need to see this one again:



Inspired by Martin @ This Rugged Life

Hope Is The Thing With Feathers

"Girls are taught a lot of stuff growing up. If a guy punches you he likes you. Never try to trim your own bangs and someday you will meet a wonderful guy and get your very own happy ending. Every movie we see, every story we're told implores us to wait for it, the third act twist, the unexpected declaration of love, the exception to the rule. But sometimes we're so focused on finding our happy ending we don't learn how to read the signs. How to tell from the ones who want us and the ones who don't, the ones who will stay and the ones who will leave. And maybe a happy ending doesn't include a guy, maybe... it's you, on your own, picking up the pieces and starting over, freeing yourself up for something better in the future. Maybe the happy ending is... just... moving on. Or maybe the happy ending is this, knowing after all the unreturned phone calls, broken-hearts, through the blunders and misread signals, through all the pain and embarrassment you never gave up hope." Gigi

Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul,

And sings the tune without the words,

And never stops at all,



And sweetest in the gale is heard;

And sore must be the storm

That could abash the little bird

That kept so many warm.



I've heard it in the chillest land,

And on the strangest sea;

Yet, never, in extremity,

It asked a crumb of me.

Emily Dickinson

Deadman

Oh Ron. You are the king. What would I do without your music?

You've been talking about love
But you ain't been talking about me
No you ain't been talking about me

That Which We Are, We Are

I've been working on a "personal mission statement" (at the same time trying to conjure up a less hokey name for it) having found the idea in the book "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People".

Realizing, of course, that it is not quite so easy as I first thought it may be. This is not the surface...this goes deep into the very essence of who you are.

What do I value? What are my principles? What is the basis of all my decisions? What guides my life? What is my purpose? What do I want out of life? What do I want to achieve? What can I give back to this world?

I've got somewhat of a plan for the future. It's far from complete though I ask myself: will it ever be complete? Should it ever be complete? It bends, it stretches, it transforms, it evolves as I evolve. We are constantly evolving. And if not, we must ask why is that?

The thing is, there are no rules but my own. I can change it, add to it. I can scrap it altogether if I so decide, though how that would be a benefit I am not certain. It can take a week, a month, however long to coalesce all these bits and pieces of who I am into something I can use as an inspiration, a reminder, a guide in building a life of purpose. I want to live a life of purpose.

At this point, I have no idea what my purpose is.

"To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."