The Voice of Gloom and Doom
If you are going to let the fear of poverty govern your life ... your reward will be that you will eat, but you will not live -- George Bernard Shaw
Your Body
Seeing these images makes me feel better about my body. When I see fashion models, I imagine their bodies are perfect, the human ideal. But they aren't. These Olympians ARE physical human ideal, and their bodies seem, well, more attainable. These people come in every shape and size and they've made their bodies the best in the world in some way.
More than one type of body is perfect. Yours is perfect too, for whatever you use it for. Check out more olympians at the peak of thier career here.
Today, expand your opinion about bodily perfection.
Humanity at its finest
This video is entitled "Humanity at its finest". It is an inspiring video of an autistic singer singing the national anthem at fenway park on disabilities awareness day. When he faltered, the crowd helped him out. It is an excellent illustration of the collective mankind's compassion and support for the individual. I find it quite moving.
Maya Angelou
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
— Maya Angelou
How do you interpret this quote? I think it gives an interesting perspective about respect.
— Maya Angelou
How do you interpret this quote? I think it gives an interesting perspective about respect.
GOOP Review: June 23rd 2011
This week Gwyneth introduces us to the writer of Classy by Derek Blasburg
. He gives us a few tips on how to be a polite dinner guest this summer. I learned a few things that I do extremely wrong. For instance, I am no lady unless I have personalized thank you cards, and I am a brute because I tend to ask about what people do for a living when I meet them (which is odd to me because what people do for a living is what they... well.. do).
But overall a good email Gwyneth. I agree that having etiquette is important to having style. If you are interested in reading this newsletter, go here.
. He gives us a few tips on how to be a polite dinner guest this summer. I learned a few things that I do extremely wrong. For instance, I am no lady unless I have personalized thank you cards, and I am a brute because I tend to ask about what people do for a living when I meet them (which is odd to me because what people do for a living is what they... well.. do).But overall a good email Gwyneth. I agree that having etiquette is important to having style. If you are interested in reading this newsletter, go here.
accept change
"You must give up the life you planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you.”
— Joseph Campbell
— Joseph Campbell
calm down
This too will pass
Use the affirmations you see on this site by repeating them to yourself whenever you get a chance. Repeat it to yourself all day long if you can. Stare into your beautiful eyes in the mirror and say them aloud. Say it until you believe it.
Use the affirmations you see on this site by repeating them to yourself whenever you get a chance. Repeat it to yourself all day long if you can. Stare into your beautiful eyes in the mirror and say them aloud. Say it until you believe it.
The Power of Visualization
Imagine yourself doing it. Those who plan do the best in this world because they can imagine every step of a process and then go through the motions.
I noticed one of the most powerful arguments in the 4 hour Work Week was that we should start a business now because we are going to end up doing it when we are retired and bored anyway. When he said that, starting a business was the most realistic in the world because I was going to do it anyway.
What can't you imagine yourself doing? Why don't you go ahead and try.
Today, day dream.
I noticed one of the most powerful arguments in the 4 hour Work Week was that we should start a business now because we are going to end up doing it when we are retired and bored anyway. When he said that, starting a business was the most realistic in the world because I was going to do it anyway.
What can't you imagine yourself doing? Why don't you go ahead and try.
Today, day dream.
Dr. Albert Yu-Lin and the search for adventure.
Its hard to believe that this man was in my outer circle. Apparently there are some amazing people who work in the same building, who walk the same paths as normal people do everyday.
This Doctoral scholar studied the forbidden land surrounding Genghis Khans alleged grave site in the midst of Mongolia. National Geographic calls him a modern day Indiana Jones
His most inspirational moment was when he decided not to get a 'real job' when he decided to take on a risky post graduate project that required him to start an 8 year trek around the world using the latest technologies in remote sensing. Although this must have taken some guts, I contest that few Ph.D graduates get traditional jobs. He encourages us to follow our dreams and to be damned with worries like supporting ourselves. Read more about him on the Nat Geo website.
GOOP Review: June 16th 2011
Although I am not positive that GOOP is a worthwhile style guide, I can say that I am eerily drawn to the idea of reading the page on emails from Academy Award Winner Gwyneth Paltrow. I can not tell whether or not she is out of touch with reality and trying to connect with us, or if she is trying to make us commonwealths more glamorous. Either way, lets see how well she does.
This Week's address was a tribute to Father's day. If you do not get her emails, you can access this newsletter on her website here. Because she connects with her father over food, this tribute came in the form of an interview with the Editor of Chief of Bon Appetite Adam Rapoport. Its fun. Its like free associating.
Luckily Adam Rapoport was very articulate and introspective. I would not normally care what the editor in chief of a food magazine thought, but he seemed to have some insight that transcended borders. That was about the extent of the value of this newsletter. I didn't feel particularly informed nor stylish afterwards, and the fathers day theme didn't slap me in the face. However, it was a good oppurtunity to plug her book My Father's Daughter
, which frankly would have been a much better topic of this newsletter.
What did you think?
This Week's address was a tribute to Father's day. If you do not get her emails, you can access this newsletter on her website here. Because she connects with her father over food, this tribute came in the form of an interview with the Editor of Chief of Bon Appetite Adam Rapoport. Its fun. Its like free associating.
Luckily Adam Rapoport was very articulate and introspective. I would not normally care what the editor in chief of a food magazine thought, but he seemed to have some insight that transcended borders. That was about the extent of the value of this newsletter. I didn't feel particularly informed nor stylish afterwards, and the fathers day theme didn't slap me in the face. However, it was a good oppurtunity to plug her book My Father's Daughter
, which frankly would have been a much better topic of this newsletter.What did you think?
Relationships and You
We teach people how to treat us - Dr. Phil Mcgraw
This quote moves me because it tells me that, to some extent, I have control of my own destiny when it comes to my interpersonal relationships.
This quote moves me because it tells me that, to some extent, I have control of my own destiny when it comes to my interpersonal relationships.
Your Mama Loves You
Allow me to tell you a story
I didn't know where I was going to live when I graduated college. I had the school send my diploma to my parents so I wouldn't lose track of it in case I had to move. A few months later, my mom called me to inform me that she got it. It almost broke my heart listening to her describe it. She was so proud of me. She read every word carefully, relishing the word choice. When she tried to describe the gold seal, she started to cry. To me it was just a piece of paper to undermine how difficult college was. It was a magnificent document after this phone call.
Sometimes I get frustrated with her, but its times like these when I realize just how much love existed without me being a good friend, a good conversationalist, or a polite show item
Mothers.
I am sure they aren't all the same, but no one has been able to really quantify the feelings mothers have for their children until they experience it first hand.
And most likely, no matter what you do, you mom is in the background supporting every decision you make.
Today's affirmation might seem dorky, but it will help you step out of yourself a little to see your own self worth.
My mama loves me.
Use the affirmations you see on this site by repeating them to yourself whenever you get a chance. Repeat it to yourself all day long if you can. Stare into your beautiful eyes in the mirror and say them aloud. Say it until you believe it.
I didn't know where I was going to live when I graduated college. I had the school send my diploma to my parents so I wouldn't lose track of it in case I had to move. A few months later, my mom called me to inform me that she got it. It almost broke my heart listening to her describe it. She was so proud of me. She read every word carefully, relishing the word choice. When she tried to describe the gold seal, she started to cry. To me it was just a piece of paper to undermine how difficult college was. It was a magnificent document after this phone call.
Sometimes I get frustrated with her, but its times like these when I realize just how much love existed without me being a good friend, a good conversationalist, or a polite show item
Mothers.
I am sure they aren't all the same, but no one has been able to really quantify the feelings mothers have for their children until they experience it first hand.
And most likely, no matter what you do, you mom is in the background supporting every decision you make.
Today's affirmation might seem dorky, but it will help you step out of yourself a little to see your own self worth.
My mama loves me.
Use the affirmations you see on this site by repeating them to yourself whenever you get a chance. Repeat it to yourself all day long if you can. Stare into your beautiful eyes in the mirror and say them aloud. Say it until you believe it.
Its not you, its the economy.
I am thinking about all of you right now that can't find a job. I read this weekend that 80% of new graduates from college move back in with thier parents.
That's rough. College used to be considered the half way house of adulthood. Now its just the apex of a boomerang trajectory. If you are one of the majority of students in this era, you will have to face some ugly feelings. You will feel belittled, regretful, and at the worst you will feel worthless. In times like those, try to remember that sometimes its not you, its the economy.
Use the affirmations you see on this site by repeating them to yourself whenever you get a chance. Repeat it to yourself all day long if you can. Stare into your beautiful eyes in the mirror and say them aloud. Say it until you believe it.
That's rough. College used to be considered the half way house of adulthood. Now its just the apex of a boomerang trajectory. If you are one of the majority of students in this era, you will have to face some ugly feelings. You will feel belittled, regretful, and at the worst you will feel worthless. In times like those, try to remember that sometimes its not you, its the economy.
Use the affirmations you see on this site by repeating them to yourself whenever you get a chance. Repeat it to yourself all day long if you can. Stare into your beautiful eyes in the mirror and say them aloud. Say it until you believe it.
Team Success by Michael Jordan
I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.
GOOP by Gwyneth Paltrow
What it's about
GOOP is Gwyneth Paltrow's style guide weekly newsletter. You can also look at her newsletters on her webpage. She writes about... whatever I suppose. I guess the term style guide is quite loosely defined. She talks about everything from clothes to values. Usually she just writes the intro and gets one of her expert friends to write the bulk of the article. Often it is fascinating to look at how the other side lives, but sometimes it strikes the wrong note. Her recent newsletter about religion didn't sit right with me, for instance.
Why it Inspires
The weekly emails are a nice peek at what it takes to have a glamorous lifestyle. It is sometimes fun to see what clothes, food, and entertainment that tall beautiful women want to buy. I already knew that it was loose shapeless clothing, exotic fish, and fabulous too-cool-for-you restaurants. I absolutely never take her advice, but it helps me envision a world where I can buy the fanciest soaps and fly transcontinental for a brunch.
Who should read it
Women who have a lot of money and like to travel
Tall thin blonde women -- Gwyneth's style might suit you well
People who absolutely can't get enough Gwyneth.
It isn't the most shockingly amazing style guide weekly newsletter in existence, but I still subscribe to it.
GOOP is Gwyneth Paltrow's style guide weekly newsletter. You can also look at her newsletters on her webpage. She writes about... whatever I suppose. I guess the term style guide is quite loosely defined. She talks about everything from clothes to values. Usually she just writes the intro and gets one of her expert friends to write the bulk of the article. Often it is fascinating to look at how the other side lives, but sometimes it strikes the wrong note. Her recent newsletter about religion didn't sit right with me, for instance.
Why it Inspires
The weekly emails are a nice peek at what it takes to have a glamorous lifestyle. It is sometimes fun to see what clothes, food, and entertainment that tall beautiful women want to buy. I already knew that it was loose shapeless clothing, exotic fish, and fabulous too-cool-for-you restaurants. I absolutely never take her advice, but it helps me envision a world where I can buy the fanciest soaps and fly transcontinental for a brunch.
Who should read it
Women who have a lot of money and like to travel
Tall thin blonde women -- Gwyneth's style might suit you well
People who absolutely can't get enough Gwyneth.
It isn't the most shockingly amazing style guide weekly newsletter in existence, but I still subscribe to it.
Success
I define my own success.
This is inspired by yesterday's post. Don't compare yourself to others. Shoot for your own goals, not for the goals of others.
Use the affirmations you see on this site by repeating them to yourself whenever you get a chance. Repeat it to yourself all day long if you can. Stare into your beautiful eyes in the mirror and say them aloud. Say it until you believe it.
This is inspired by yesterday's post. Don't compare yourself to others. Shoot for your own goals, not for the goals of others.
Use the affirmations you see on this site by repeating them to yourself whenever you get a chance. Repeat it to yourself all day long if you can. Stare into your beautiful eyes in the mirror and say them aloud. Say it until you believe it.
Success and Jealousy
What is your definition of success?
I asked a middle aged man this question the other day. He told me that it was to earn enough to take care of the basic needs of his family and to make memories with them. My parents defined success as simply being able to stay afloat. My definition of success is being independent.
Everyone's definition of success is different. Everyone's definition of success changes. I have no doubt that I will define success as financial stability when I am middle aged.
Hopefully all that was obvious. Now here is the big question.
Does the success of others affect you in any way?
Do you feel that tinge of jealousy when scrolling through facebook, seeing how well your collegues have done for themselves. Are they more agressive? Do they compete with you? Does your family and significant other put pressure on you to get a real job, to earn more money, or to go back to school?
That would make me cringe. Don't let success be a bad word. Don't compare yourself to others, because you are successful, in your own way.
Today, create your own definition of success.
I asked a middle aged man this question the other day. He told me that it was to earn enough to take care of the basic needs of his family and to make memories with them. My parents defined success as simply being able to stay afloat. My definition of success is being independent.
Everyone's definition of success is different. Everyone's definition of success changes. I have no doubt that I will define success as financial stability when I am middle aged.
Hopefully all that was obvious. Now here is the big question.
Does the success of others affect you in any way?
Do you feel that tinge of jealousy when scrolling through facebook, seeing how well your collegues have done for themselves. Are they more agressive? Do they compete with you? Does your family and significant other put pressure on you to get a real job, to earn more money, or to go back to school?
That would make me cringe. Don't let success be a bad word. Don't compare yourself to others, because you are successful, in your own way.
Today, create your own definition of success.
Book Review: Blink by Malcom Gladwell
What its aboutThis nonfiction is structured as a series of anecdotes. Each anecdote is about how some snap decisions are magically and inexplicably right and how we rely on them to make the right decisions. For instance, he tells the story of a psychologist that can tell if a married couple will still be together in 15 years from a first impression. He also highlights an anecdote about how a few police officers incorrectly profiled a black man and shot him dead within 5 seconds of meeting him. His point is oblique. The book is entertaining because it frames multiple entertaining stories for us, but it is weak for the same reason. If he really knew what he was saying, he would have told us what he meant opposed to circling his idea with 200 pages of examples. He probably would have only needed one conclusion rather than the three disguised as concluding chapters and an afterward.
Why it inspires
The author has a heart of gold, and his optimism shines through. He is telling us that our instincts are powerful and we should find out how to harness them. The anecdotes are simple examples of amazing people that have been able to use their instinct and powers of first impression like magic tricks, and also amazing people who are overconfident in their abilities to mind read. I didn't like how he told the story, but I liked what he meant. He is telling us to trust ourselves.
Who should read it.
- People who are fans of Malcom Gladwell. He is really creating a genre.
- People who are fans of the New Yorker
- People who are fascinated with amazing people. There is a bit of hero worship with the people in the anecdotes in this book.
- People who think that there is something more than hard core facts and rational when it comes to decision making -- this book will re-enforce your beliefs
- Those left-brain people who discount thier feelings when making decisions -- this book will challenge your beliefs
What are you waiting for?
Remember our old affirmation, the one that goes "you are the one you are waiting for"? I had a few more thoughts on it and I felt like we should discuss it more.
What are you waiting for? No, really. Everyone is waiting for something. In college I knew a whole grip of people that were waiting until college ended for their lives to start, for them to start enjoying life. Do you think that you'll finally be happy once you pay off your loans, once you get married, once you have a baby, once you own your own house, once you move out of your parents home, once you get that promotion, once you write that novel. Well good for you, you have hopes and dreams.
But, just for a moment, lets consider those things not happening. Or even worse, what if those things happen, and you still aren't happy. Is it possible? Yes. For me at least, when I saying I am waiting for those things, I am lying a bit. I am lying to myself. I am not waiting for riches, or security, I am waiting for happiness.
happiness.
I am going to forget that entire cycle and address the underlying problem. I am going to look for happiness now, opposed to all those distractions. For me, I was waiting on happiness.
Today, ask yourself: what are you really waiting for?
What are you waiting for? No, really. Everyone is waiting for something. In college I knew a whole grip of people that were waiting until college ended for their lives to start, for them to start enjoying life. Do you think that you'll finally be happy once you pay off your loans, once you get married, once you have a baby, once you own your own house, once you move out of your parents home, once you get that promotion, once you write that novel. Well good for you, you have hopes and dreams.
But, just for a moment, lets consider those things not happening. Or even worse, what if those things happen, and you still aren't happy. Is it possible? Yes. For me at least, when I saying I am waiting for those things, I am lying a bit. I am lying to myself. I am not waiting for riches, or security, I am waiting for happiness.
happiness.
I am going to forget that entire cycle and address the underlying problem. I am going to look for happiness now, opposed to all those distractions. For me, I was waiting on happiness.
Today, ask yourself: what are you really waiting for?
Defeat Dread
Today is a new day.
I was not looking forward into stepping into work today. It wasn't that I don't enjoy my work, I was just dreading facing all the loose knots I tied yesterday. I couldn't stand it, I regretted my actions, my words, and my feelings. Well, forget yesterday. Today is a new day. I closed the door, and I am moving on.
Use the affirmations you see on this site by repeating them to yourself whenever you get a chance. Repeat it to yourself all day long if you can. Stare into your beautiful eyes in the mirror and say them aloud. Say it until you believe it.
I was not looking forward into stepping into work today. It wasn't that I don't enjoy my work, I was just dreading facing all the loose knots I tied yesterday. I couldn't stand it, I regretted my actions, my words, and my feelings. Well, forget yesterday. Today is a new day. I closed the door, and I am moving on.
Use the affirmations you see on this site by repeating them to yourself whenever you get a chance. Repeat it to yourself all day long if you can. Stare into your beautiful eyes in the mirror and say them aloud. Say it until you believe it.
Evil Knievel
Success is 99 percent failure. Remember that lesson from the other day? Well, Evil Knievel lived it.Everyone has heard of this man. People alive in the 70's probably were exposed to the fanfare. People now would know of him through his son Robbie Knievel or by all the media that was inspired by his performances (ghost rider, a few episodes of The Simpsons, to name a few). I am not going to tell you his whole life story here. You can read about him on Wikipedia if you are interested in that. The thing I am interested in was how on earth he managed to still get back on that motorcycle after his brutal failures.
His first big break was probably also one of his most crushing defeats. He attempted to jump over the fountain at Ceaser's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. No one asked him to do this, he went to great lengths to trick the owners of Ceaser's Palace into letting him do it. When he crashed, he fell into a coma for 30 days. I would have learned my lesson. Evil didn't. He made plans for his next big jump while still in the hospital. He had many more successes and many more failures after that, including the jump and crash involving the Harley Davidson where he immediately vowed to the audience that he would never jump again. His visceral reaction from shell shock of crash told him not to do this anymore. That tells me that this guy isn't stupid. But he went back on his word and did many more jumps after that.
What did he get from this lifetime of resiliency? Well, he got a Guinness World Record for the most broken bones. He also got fame, earning a place for his motorcycle in the Smithsonian. He is an american icon. He achieved his own definition of success.
So there you go. Evil Knievel should be an inspiration to us all.
ItGetsBetter.org
ItGetsBetter.org
What its about
The Tagline:
Why it Inspires
You get a chance to see the people who were in the same place as you. There is a wide variety of people on the site, people of every industry, people of every orientation, people of every socio-economic status. You get to see for yourself that you aren't alone.
Who might be interested
All High School Students. I'm sure even you confident well adjusted kids need a push now and then.
LGBT High School Students.
Students that are having a rough time.
What its about
The Tagline:
"Many LGBT youth can't picture what their lives might be like as openly gay adults. They can't imagine a future for themselves. So let's show them what our lives are like, let's show them what the future may hold in store for them."
This website was erected with the purpose of encouraging LGBT youth that its worth getting through high school. It is a massive collection of first person narrative videos. I am totally behind this project. I just wish that they would widen the net a little bit. High School was hard on EVERYONE.Why it Inspires
You get a chance to see the people who were in the same place as you. There is a wide variety of people on the site, people of every industry, people of every orientation, people of every socio-economic status. You get to see for yourself that you aren't alone.
Who might be interested
All High School Students. I'm sure even you confident well adjusted kids need a push now and then.
LGBT High School Students.
Students that are having a rough time.
Death
Everyone is going to die. Its obvious. People deal with it in different ways. There is a philosophy that says that our entire lives, the creation of government, the existence of technology, and even our hobbies are just preoccupations made to overt our attention from our own death. Someone out there created this philosphey in order to better grasp thier own death.
You are going to have to deal with death at some point. Either someone you love is going to die, someone you barely knew is going to die, or you are going to go through the frightening grasp with mortality that is dealing with your own eventual doom.
You deal with grief your own way. You can't do it wrong.
The thing that scares me most when someone I know dies is that I could have said one more thing, made one more memory for this person before they stopped making memories.
The way I am dealing with it is knowing that there is always time to change. Regret is only positive if it leads to change...
I am going to keep death in my mind, but not in a deleterious sort of way. I am going to remember that someday, all of this will end for someone. Maybe it will be someone I love, maybe it will be me. I am going to stop taking advantage of the time I have by making sure I tell the people I love that I love them now, instead of later.
Today, if you are like me, you will stop taking advantage of time.
Rest in Peace Uncle Troy
You are going to have to deal with death at some point. Either someone you love is going to die, someone you barely knew is going to die, or you are going to go through the frightening grasp with mortality that is dealing with your own eventual doom.
You deal with grief your own way. You can't do it wrong.
The thing that scares me most when someone I know dies is that I could have said one more thing, made one more memory for this person before they stopped making memories.
The way I am dealing with it is knowing that there is always time to change. Regret is only positive if it leads to change...
I am going to keep death in my mind, but not in a deleterious sort of way. I am going to remember that someday, all of this will end for someone. Maybe it will be someone I love, maybe it will be me. I am going to stop taking advantage of the time I have by making sure I tell the people I love that I love them now, instead of later.
Today, if you are like me, you will stop taking advantage of time.
Rest in Peace Uncle Troy
Be Brave
What is the bravest thing you can think of? Is it moving away from your friends and family for a job? Is it jumping out of a plane? For some people, these things aren't that scary. For me, public speaking and riding motorcycles isn't scary at all. However, the prospect of sticking up for myself is enough to make me want to hide under my covers. Does that make you laugh? Sure, for some its not big deal, but I find those confident self-assured people brave.
Today's exercise is pinpointing exactly what frightens you. Do a thought experiment. What is the worst that can happen? Remember that for other people, this is no big deal. Remember that there are things that you do that others would consider brave. These are the baby steps that will make you fearless. It may start with booking scuba diving lessons, but it may end with you learning how to fly.
Today's exercise is pinpointing exactly what frightens you. Do a thought experiment. What is the worst that can happen? Remember that for other people, this is no big deal. Remember that there are things that you do that others would consider brave. These are the baby steps that will make you fearless. It may start with booking scuba diving lessons, but it may end with you learning how to fly.
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