Friday Falafel* Five

Here is this week’s offering of great posts that I’ve read. I hope you’ll click through and give them a read or a look.

ADD and Autism

 

http://momnos.blogspot.com/2013/04/our-kind-of-autism-awareness.html (autism awareness)

http://www.diycouturier.com/post/47249603128/21-tips-to-keep-your-shit-together-when-youre (depression)

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/04/its-different-girls-adhd/63746/ (ADHD in girls)

 

Kindness and Love

 

http://www.kindovermatter.com/2013/04/through-lens-of-kindness.html (kind photography)

http://mad.ly/68e5a3 (you deserve love)

http://www.kindovermatter.com/2013/04/only-connect.html (making connections is what it’s all about)

 

Creativity

http://99u.com/articles/14599/the-5-most-dangerous-creativity-killers (make a change, if necessary)

 

Equality, Freedom and Poverty

 

http://www.upworthy.com/history-may-not-remember-this-speech-but-i-guarantee-that-you-will?c=ufb1 (equal rights in marriage (video))

http://www.upworthy.com/its-hard-enough-convincing-some-women-they-need-feminism-so-when-a-dude-gets-it?c=ufb1 (equal rights in gender)

http://billmoyers.com/content/slideshow-poverty-in-todays-america/ (photos of poverty in america)

 

*The falafel is in there because it makes about as much sense as me continuing to say FIVE every week.

Secret of life?

Last week I read this post by The Bloggess which is mostly about trying to sum up life. I really like her version. I also love the offerings in the comments. I added my own “motto” which I have used for quite some time. I heard it in high school in the lyrics of a Faith Hill song.

THE SECRET OF LIFE IS:

THERE AIN’T NO SECRET AND YOU DON’T GET YOUR MONEY BACK

Which I take to mean that you (we) should try to be present instead of worrying about the other shit too much and that you’ve already purchased your ticket so you may as well enjoy the ride. and it’s an E TICKET RIDE for sure, if you let it.

But, in truth, I usually would offer the advice, “Don’t forget to breathe.”

and wear sunblock.

or carry a scarf

if you haven’t made it to sunblock weather as of yet.

I also tend to agree with The Bloggess in that post when she says to bring some bactine.

So after a tad more thought my theory of life advice is:

 

RESPERATE

and

PREPARATE

and also:

BE PREPARED TO BE PRESENT

(insert punctuation as needed)

be prepared, to be present.

Do you have one?

“Five” for your Friday

So here are some things I gathered this week.

On loving ourselves and each other:

http://www.brenebrown.com/my-blog/2013/3/20/meuitdwaubpgr9qt1xanm3fwwa0sjo (shame is not a tool that allows for change)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3KyvlMJefR4 (Imagine a world without hate)
http://www.scarymommy.com/hate-my-body/ (I don’t hate my body)

http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-moments-that-prove-mr.-rogers-was-greatest-american (a rare ceasefire in snark was called on Cracked because of Mr. Rogers)

On politics and Dying:

http://www.truthdig.com/dig/item/the_last_letter_20130318/

On Rape and Rape Culture:

(I assume these will be triggering for some. [too many])

http://www.guante.info/2012/12/new-video-action-and-mens.html (a spoken word poem about staying silent)

http://www.lateenough.com/2013/03/friends-dont-let-friends-rape/ (when a friend won’t let you drive drunk, but will let you rape)

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/03/19/stubenville-and-cnn-and-the-rest/ (we need to hear more men like this)

http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/this-is-too-much-for-me.html

 

Fire breathing sans filter

I remember back in the days before it wasn’t cool to smoke when the Marlboro Man was hot and real men wanted to be like him and cowboy up and smoke nonfiltered because filters are for pussies. when having to put a filter on when you were trying to motherfucking breathe fire meant you were weak and couldn’t take the heat.
so remember, when you are burning your fire stick and breathing fire, that filters are for those of us who can’t stand the burn. non-filtered is stronger and, no doubt, burns faster and brighter while it sears and cauterizes and heals. non-filtered, unrestricted, wild fire is a cleansing by nature to make room for new life by clearing out the flammable junk that is cluttering up the path and posing a fire hazard threat. it may be scary and some people try to tame it, but we know that a little fire now will prevent a catastrophic burnout later. people might be scared by the flames that might burn us and turn away from the glare, but we also can also find comfort and safety in the circle of light and warmth that is cast. so, unfiltered may be uncomfortable and sometimes unwelcome, but it is not unbecoming. it is, in fact, unfettered and unleashed. and sometimes you might choke on the smoke but the clear, fresh air is so much sweeter after that it is worth it. because you can breathe fire and light up the night, and chase away the demons who hide in the dark.

*this post is dedicated to my friends who struggle with filtering and trying to reign themselves in. I, myself, struggle with the opposite problem. I tend to filter entirely too much and I am trying to be more like you.

Just Keep Paddling!

 

sometimes I sit next to the ocean and listen to the waves crashing,

just one after the other endlessly and eternally.

without regard for my problems or issues.

enormous and everlasting.

bigger than me.

 

bigger than nearly everything.

more powerful than me and anything that is thrown at it.

rocks and problems and anything are are tumbled and polished until they are but a grain of sand.

a tiny grain of sand among billions.

as am I.

and then I know that I am small and insignificant in the grand order of things.

and that is as it should be.

and my pain or sorrow is tossed into the ocean to be tumbled and ground down to but a grain of sand and wounds rinsed and cleansed with water and salt.

whatever the source of your comfort,

know that you are on the right path,

everything is as it should be for now,

and you will get where you need to be if you can keep paddling.

 

In Memorium

 

Love it or Leave it

Art is supposed to be fun. At the same time, it can be challenging, hard, frustrating, and seemingly impossible  So you’d better love it. Otherwise it’s not worth it. Go find something else to do that you love and enjoy more.

Just my two cents.

Love yourself

Here are some quotes and writings on loving yourself that I have read today. I think they are just divine.

‎”This is not about judgment or me telling anyone anything about what they should do – this is about each and every one of us learning what it means to truly take care of ourselves like the special, beautiful, and intricately glorious person that we are.” -Mara Glatzel.

This came from this post on  Mara Glatzel’s blog.

And another one from that same blog, but a different post:

“Anything else you’d like readers to know?

That they are sacred and miraculous and genius and remarkable, by virtue of being human. That the idea that your body is not gorgeous as it is is a big lie. I wrote this in a recently note to my subscribers and I’d love for these women to know it too:

Your mind’s complaints about your body will distract you till the day of your death if you let them. Don’t. Call them out, boot them out, and then party with the gorgeous suit you got for this round. Be the woman who didn’t listen to the dominant lie of her time.”

~Tara Sophia Mohr

I came to that blog from this post that I love from kind over matter which includes a bunch of great links about loving yourself and the body you are in now.

Quotastical

‎”If you express what is inside you, what is inside you will save you.

If you don’t express what is inside you, what is inside you can kill you.” ~Gospel of Saint Thomas

Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise.

Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible. – Claude T. Bissell

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. – Hans Hofmann

Quality begins on the inside… then works its way out. – Bob Moawad

That’s what alchemists do. They show that, when we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too. – Paulo Coelho

‎”Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it. Be outrageous.

Go the whole hog. Make sure everything you do is so completely crazy it’s unbelievable…” ― Matilda by Roald Dahl

A person can succeed at almost anything for which they have unlimited enthusiasm. – Charles M. Schwab

Self Portrait Saturday. ON A SATURDAY!

 

 

 

Joined a gym.

Found out I shouldn’t eat dairy.

Goal: Get fit.