The Or's of Death

Clock by Polish artist Pawel Kuczynski

 

To Be or Not to Be (Of Death, Dying, and Being Dead)
©by Michelle Culp (ndpthepoetress Jean Michelle Culp)
There is a lot or so little we may know or not know
Yet of all certainties, we can be certain death is immedicable and inevitable
We may not know if there be any suffering, whether long or short 

Or whence the pendulum of when will swing its' final tick-tock, or where, nor how
Perhaps for some merely a minute, for others an hour, or a day or somewhere in-between aging and aged
But most assuredly, death does cometh for us all
So be knowledgeable of your ways and per chance or be it fate, you'll live to seize another day; be that a blessing or a curse. 

People Enter A Conscious Existence

People Enter A Conscious Existence 

by Michelle Culp

This is how Peace will come our way, for humanity will save the day:

Excuse me Sir, there's a plunge in the market on common sense, not nearly a cent

Uh-oh there goes the material, the criterial.

Down falls the castles made of golden fools and all their jewels.

Oops there goes the material 

Uh-oh the Imperial, are back to eating cereal.

Breaker breaker 1/9, we can't get past this food line.

Oops there goes the material, everything's immaterial.

Commander, Commander no one can get guns, should we run?

Commander: without ordnance, all is of unimportance.

Uh-oh there goes the materials, the false profits of ministerials

We're without a wing and prayer, no one seems to care.

Oops it's back to common sense, wherefore we were there before the materialism, criterial-ism, Imperial-ism, ministerial-ism...

Hip hip hooray; back to the basics of humanity, before all this insanity.

© ndpthepoetress Michelle Culp, creator/Admin of Humanities IDEAS

©#34TR22OcVx  

Facebook Humanities IDEAS Be A Part of Humanity, not apart.

What the Hell is Self-talk?

 What the Hell is Self-talk? 

A short, comprehensive essay by Jeane Michelle Culp (ndpthepoetress)

And so I did, until I had to no more. ~ndpthepoetress

Self-talk, what the heck does that even mean. I can't just say, things will be okay; things will get better. Heck, my inner child knows better than that kind of talk; passive dismissive. Myself and I are joined at the hip, together toward a downward spiral, of rapidly losing all hope. 'Til one day; I heard my usual negative thoughts about myself, over and over; again and again. Then suddenly, like a long unanswered prayer; an unfamiliar self voice, from deep within the crevices of my mind, shouted; STOP, that is not me. I am not that way. I know how, who I am. I am a kind, caring, considerate,... person. It was at that moment, I truly understood what self-talk is. I had to stand up for me, myself, and I. Because; I had unwittingly, become my own worst critic. My thoughts were bullying me like my abusers had, and only I could save us from the bullies. And so my journey began; until the day I do not have to any more.

Like a scene out of ¹Shuffle, (though admittedly, I've only started watching 30 minutes of that movie.) I could see the various ages in my life, passing before my eyes. And with each tear, I could feel every time I was abused.

So today; I burn the echoes of quotes about 'what you see in others is a reflection of yourself'; and 'you are what you attract'. Rather the reflection and attraction are from a vicious cycle, that unbeknownst; I had been attracting and tolerating. The same behavior from my past abusers, was now being extended by other people, who knew exactly how to demean me, by using my vulnerability against me.

Perhaps attraction really does exist, however; I wouldn't go as far as the seemingly cultish, "The Law Of Attraction". But if you can attract; I was no longer going to hold up a mirror for vindictive, abusive people to continue the cycle of abuse. As if giving myself ammunition to confirm my abusers browbeating words of I am no good, I am worthless, I'll never amount to anything, I don't deserve any better... NO more. I want to attract people who see the good in me, the small part in me that I know truly still does exist, despite the understandably, to somewhat of a degree; bitter person I'd become over the years. 

Today the real self-talk begins for the betterment. Today I no longer will 'let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet' and trample my soul.

And so; let your self-talk begin. Start with NO. No I am not this, no I am not that way, No I am not ____, No I am not ____,... NO more negativity.

Instead; say to yourself: I am ____, I am ____, I am ____... (accentuate the positive).

In the process; may you start attracting that which clears your cloudy eyes. May instead, you start seeing through stained glassed windows of positive possibilities, that reflect healing light upon your inner child. And may you continue upon this new journey of encouraging self-talk in your life, until you need not any more.

Don't wait for your life to flash before your eyes, go on and love yourself today. Break the cycle! 

Break The Cycle

 Written by ~ndpthepoetress (-Jeane Michelle Culp) of BindingInk.org 

You Are Watt Matters

"This above all- to thine own self be true"
-Hamlet, Act I, Scene 3

Wizardry

Steven Michael

Misery loves company well not me though

Ya I'm good all alone I'd rather not manage your ego

All you do is complain and gossip about other people

Man I ain't judging but you ain't gone be doing that shit around me no no

That's not the vibe on this side we stay elevated

We smile through the pain overcome thank God and then we celebrate it

Our meditation our medication

Our peace of mind is something sacred

We empathize but don't have the patience

For negativity and hating

Ya it's all love and I'm saying

I'll send you my love while I'm praying

But right now I'm focused on me and my team and our goals

And these dues that we're paying

So dude stop playing and don't be confused

Your issues ain't what really makes you miserable

You can miss me with that misery

Words are magic and I'm dodging all the wizardry

All the pettiness I won't let it get to me

Ain't nobody walking through my mind with their dirty feet

You can miss me with that misery

It's all love but I'm protective of my energy

All the pettiness I won't let it get to me

Ain't nobody walking through my mind with their dirty feet

Don't get me wrong we all suffer

And while we're here we need to love one another

If you're in pain or in need I've got you covered

What I'm talking bout is all the toxic clutter

Used to be a head case

Had to get my head straight

I did the work it took some time but finally cleared my head space

Now my mind clean that's feng shui

Done paying mind to what some say

I'm dodging vibes I'm unfazed

I'm going up that's one way

No I do not have the time if your energy ain't matching mine

Me and the team a mastermind with blinders on we're on our grind

Ya we show love and improvement

We'd rather make moves than excuses

Misfortune isn't exclusive

We just decided to do it

So sorry not sorry I've got to be selfish

Won't let my thoughts be effected

By limiting views or another's perception

Your limitations are your misconceptions

I'm focused on light and selecting

To believe in my life not projections

That are rooted in fear I gotta stay clear til all of my truth manifested

You can miss me with that misery

Words are magic and I'm dodging all the wizardry

All the pettiness I won't let it get to me

Ain't nobody walking through my mind with their dirty feet

You can miss me with that misery

It's all love but I'm protective of my energy

All the pettiness I won't let it get to me

Ain't nobody walking through my mind with their dirty feet

¹Movie: Shuffle ("Desperate to solve the mystery behind his wife's death, Lovell Milo (TJ Thyne, from the T.V. Series "Bones") is trapped living his life out of order. He is forced to piece together clues while waking up every day at a different age, on a different day of his life." (Release date : ‎ August 21, 2012  Actors ‏ : ‎T.J. Thyne, Paula Rhodes, Tamara Taylor...)

Art from Tulsa Stained Glass 

 

Butterflies Upon the Will of Power

I watched the movie, Shattered starring Pierce Brosnan, Maria Bello, and Gerard Butler. The movie is based around the quote, “Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel” found in the literary work of 1735, An Epistle to Dr Arbuthnot written by Alexander Pope. The excerpt has been drawn on by many People throughout the years. And different meanings of the expression have been included in music such as that by The Mission whom recorded a track titled Butterfly on a Wheel. Basically the phrase means, “putting massive effort into achieving something minor or unimportant”.

I think the quote “Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel” has a lot of significance to offer our World today and is a great thought for ..2020... To often criminals break a butterfly upon a wheel leaving innocent victims to suffer the consequences of another’s irreparable actions. To many Soldiers are sent to fight a War that has largely lost its’ main purpose. Leaving our Men and Women to flap their wings in a territory that seemingly lacks the ability to act – let alone react – as civilized human beings who have been given the opportunity to rise above their once dictated brainwashed sadistic antics. Meanwhile; our own Country continues to lack massive and important measures to securely prevent any future potential terrorism violence nationally. Global Warming is given verbal band aides of decorated hope while sufficient funds are disbursed into other wheels of less importance.

Environmentally speaking, the butterfly effect is a phrase that “refers to the idea that a butterfly's wings might create tiny changes in the atmosphere that ultimately cause a tornado to appear (or for that matter, prevent a tornado from appearing). The flapping wing represents a small change in the initial condition of the system, which causes a chain of events leading to large-scale phenomena.” Let us no longer wonder, “had the butterfly not flapped its wings, the trajectory of the system might have been vastly different." Perhaps instead; it is time that we take back the wheel and steer our own wings, promoting positive change throughout the World toward Peace. For even the smallest of efforts can make a difference collectively. Be this by beginning such in our own home, community, political stance, etc. Hence, let they “Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel”, know not their abuse of power but the willpower of Humankind.

Psyche of a Murderer

ndpthepoetress: "The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe is about an evil eye, dismemberment, and the repercussions of guilt. What more could a reader ask for! A seemingly short tale with enthralling details, but with an abrupt ending. Still in-between the lines one can perhaps visualize how some people fixate on a person’s flaws instead of their overall significance as a human being. And so the story begins, such imperfection gradually converts into an obsession. The male perpetrator could have only taken that which disturbed him the most. His method of choice however contemplated primarily on the breath of life, possibly giving the readers a clue to the frame of this killer’s own psyche at the time. Hence; the subsequent anatomization, may have been more of a means to prove his own self bloody-right than the ascribed reason. However; he was about to learn that all human life does have value. For guilt has a way of eating into the brain. There truth echoes, beckoning to be heard. Such resonance then can impel a sane man mad while plummeting a supposedly mad man even further into the depths of insanity. And so it is with The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe":

Treads of A Murder

In the cloak of darkness the heart pounded detrimentally inside her chest, as if insistent on immediate release; while perspiration dripped from numerous sweat glands she never knew her flesh had. Suddenly, the body she was hauling tumbled to the ground and descended along a steep hill. Panicky, she ran toward the already rotting carcass. In the hurried course her high heels broke as she toppled onto the mossy wet leafed ground, tasting dirt from her moist glossy lips. Her nose was within a few inches of the cadaver, the stench reeked with a combination of dumpster garbage and human sewage waste. Sickeningly nauseated she some how managed to rise, brushing the earths remnants from herself with her now bloodily scratched hands. Then, as if without any forethought whatsoever; she grasped the stiff body and lugged it toward a nearby river bank. Briefly, as if to catch a breath; she sat on the moist ground surrounded by the night. Her fleeting thoughts interrupted abruptly to realize she had not brought a shovel. Frantically she looked around in the moonlight. Broken twigs were scattered amidst the thickening, as she hurriedly threw them aside to at last find a short broken, rigid tree limb. She began to dig furiously right there beneath her feet, until the depth was sufficient. By now the crack of dawn was awakening, worn out she clasped the foul body, dragging it inside the hole. Her bare, scuffed raw hands clumping dirt rapidly over the grave. Content with her undertaking, she staggered toward the river. Achingly she knelt down to fling the icy water onto herself, simultaneously seeming to cleanse some of the filth from her skin and mind. Exhausted, she began the journey toward the hill top where her car was parked. Finally she arrived; fumbling with keys until the door unlocked, she climbed inside. Idle, hands on the wheel; she reflected on the nights’ escapade. If only someone had driven a little slower, perhaps none of this would have happened. Or if someone merely attended to the matter themselves when the incident occurred, than maybe she would not had to taken care of the dreadful situation herself. Still trembling; she shifts her car into drive and pulls onto the blackened road. The muddy rear frame of her car had only one bumper sticker visible: God Bless the animals that cross to and fro, for they know not which way to go.

Written By ©ndpthepoetress (- Jeane Michelle Culp) {copyright #98s7750940}

My Pet

I often believe that life has a way of presenting circumstances in our lives as a method of reminding us about lessons yet to be learnt or merely fragmentary reflections of current events. And so such began for me, my pet Gnat. Admittedly; there were several matters bugging me recently, ordeals seemingly beyond my control. And there, every time I came home – to greet me was The Gnat. Persistently pesky little bugger, reluctant to die. Never once did it try to flight upon my food, as if to contentedly fulfill its’ own needs. Instead, this Gnat would seemingly sneak from its’ hidden abode, explicitly when my eyes were fixated else where in deep thought; than zoom! Zoom, whoosh, whiz repeatedly; as I tried in accordance, only to unsuccessfully squish it with my hand or paper. Until at last this became liken a game between us of - dash, clasp, miss. Okay maybe I am taking this a wee far by my next train of thought, however; I swear this ruthless pest would accompany me at work in the good olde days. In the building at my place of employment, we seldom get pestered by the ‘real insects'. It’s not like we have flyswatter decors hanging about in all confined cubicles. No! Yet there ‘it’ was, The Gnat! And so Whoosh, slap, miss! Like a fool whom never learns from mistakes; I continued to take the hurtle bait, only to constantly get the same results - missed! Blasted rascal! Ok, if this pest was not the same from my home, than please explain how one day the annoyer was in my car, when I got off work! The Gnat – there to greet me in my auto, as if waiting for a free ride home from ‘its’ weary day of play. Ok I hear you. Gnats are massively every where! I have finally lost it. I am bugging out! This Gnat has ultimately succeeded - if only to drive me batty! Well today, or maybe it has been a few days now, anyhow; I am sadden to say, I lost my Pesky pet. No, I did not kill The Gnat. I recon ‘it’ has gone to pester someone else or has died of starvation – somewhere between my home and the open road. Or at worse, has become someones’ windshield muck. Just, I’m certain The Gnat did not leave of its own accord; as there are still plenty of recent tribulations tugging at my heart strings and playing intensely on my mind. Yet, sadly gone is The Gnat. Now I can’t help but wonder if I had ever succeeded in squishing ‘it’, would I have felt relieved or remorse. Perhaps we all need such a Pest, I mean Pet in our lives at times. Something tiny, requiring minimal upkeep; just something small enough to keep the mind occupied on other things, if but for a minute - so that the raw obvious doesn’t continuously eat us alive from the inside out, like an introverted vulture. Therefore; here’s wishing Gnats in your life! May you go batty as bed bugs, if but for a fleeting moment! Zoom, whoosh, whiz!



Dragonball Z - Eating Me Away


SKILLET

"Eating Me Away"

It's eating me away
I said to God
It's rotting in my mind
It's like a cancer
Is there anything, anything at all to numb the nothingness
I need a reason to breathe
It's eating me away

Yeah, yeah....

It's eating me away
It nibbles at my brain
The question of my existence
And the matter of pain
I shake my fist, I shake my fist
At the cosmos and my insignificance
I need a reason to breathe
It's eating me away

[CHORUS:]
Save me from my rage
And my humanity
I'm more nothing than being
Is this my legacy
Feel it eating me away
Yeah, yeah.....

All that I am, all that I want, all that I lack
Come on and save me
All that I am, all that I want, all that I lack
Come on and save me

[CHORUS]

All that I am, all that I want, all that I lack
Come on and save me
All that I am, all that I want, all that I lack
Come on and save me

It's eating me away

[CHORUS]

143°

143°

Love is like a cloudy day

The rain will come or the rain may stay

The wind could blow, shift, or brew a tornado or two

Maybe change course, stir anew; as if a hurricane is coming by or bye

But just as sure as the rain will come, surely the sun will too

And those whose hearts are built to last, together they'll repair any damage

Going on to love forevermore, with a forecast of less cloudy days ahead

So if you're going to up and fall in love

Be sure to carry an umbrella and lots of humble pie too.

Poem by author, poet ndpthepoetress Michelle Culp

facebook.com/seetheotherpeople/

© #22290AR99

I P.E.N. Thee: Wake Up Atom (Adam)

Cosmic Artist By Alex Grey

♪ Row, row, row your atoms
Gently down the stream of consciousness
Merrily merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream ♪

Out of the skull of illusions comes the brain; and once that is gone, there is nothing; a mere void, a trifling pretense of something that was once there, something that occupied space and time and preoccupied time and space; but now neither exist except for then. Then when there was once a skull filled with a brain utilized in this thing called life that now no longer exist; but was once existent then; then whence attached to a body. And oh of the body, 'what was that'; a thing clothed in skin, wrapping the bones that encased the skull and trapped the heart in a cage. And what is this of the heart, given literary significance of painful sorrow and joy, when but the heart is just a organ, it beats neither for you nor me. Simply an instrument beating to the rhythm of the lungs. And what is it of lungs but repetitive cycles of filtered pollutants; perhaps even recycled atoms of once upon a 'what was that'. Oh but air, without such there'd be nothing; no gamma waves, no beats, nor sighs; just layers of lifeless flesh, once upon a body. Now a corpse slowly decomposing, awaiting for the dust to settle or burnt remnants of shattered ashes to clear the air. Merely, practical particles; atoms degeneratively converging toward another and yet another form, in a endless loop of looking back wondering,'what was that'; of the skull, of the thing the skull encased, of the flesh, of the caged heart, of the polluted lungs, of the circulating air. Until at long last; thought itself becomes but a thing once thought; unaware that any of this, 'what was that'; convoluted conversation perhaps once existed. Oblivious, forevermore; evaporated into the abyss of never ending nothingness. Having ever so

Creation of Atom by Natalie Doud

briefly emerged from a once upon a time; whence a pendulum jiggled beyond the realms of possibility, creating the greatest optical illusion ever.

Author: Jeane Michelle Culp (ndpthepoetress)
© #922-3-z6-118710-4

Rest In Peace

There is a Graveyard on my way to and from work. It is plotted along a winding and twisting road, much like life. Across the road there is a ditch. Given any windy day, you will see the ditch filled with flowers,💐 wreathes... from the graveyard⛼. I understand that's how the gushing gusty winds blow. However; I can't help wonder if it could be ghosts,👻 spirits throwing the flowers....as if to say,🖐️Hey you didn't bring me flowers🌹 when I was alive, so don't bring me flowers now🥀 😢. So please, 'Don't wait until your loved ones are dead to give them flowers', shower people now with flowers.🌹 , kindness, affection, hugs🤗.....❤️ And if you can't afford flowers; there are plenty of free discarded flowers, in a ditch across from the graveyard near me.

*I would have liked to have shown the sad picture of this elongated flowery filled ditch, however; I didn't want to risk life and limb on this winding dangerous road and become another permanent resident⚰️ in that graveyard!😛   ~ndpthepoetress of BindingInk.org

Art by Gypsie Raleigh

Down The Rabbit Hole

The concept of combining quantum theory and spirituality was originally introduced in a 2004 movie entitled What the Bleep Do We Know!? has now been expanded upon in an extended version of the same film released August 1, 2006, What the Bleep - DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE QUANTUM EDITION.

¹The BLEEP – Quantum Edition explores the latest scientific discoveries that explain the mind-body connection – making them understandable for the everyday, ordinary person. In addition it puts forward revolutionary experimental evidence that we, and our world are not separate, but connected.

²Part story, part documentary, and part elaborate and inspiring visual effects and animations, this extended version features a new opening ³following the journey of divorced professional photographer Amanda (played by Academy Award winning actress, Marlee Matlin) as she comes to understand the sources of her depression and slowly changes her life. During the process Amanda ^2afinds herself in a fantastic Alice in Wonderland experience when her daily, uninspired life literally begins to unravel, revealing the uncertain world of the quantum field hidden behind what we consider to be our normal, waking reality.

The movie's documentary inserts include the world’s top 14 scientist in the field of physicists, neurologists, anesthesiologists & physicians, molecular biology, and spiritual teachers, mystics and scholars who ^3aexplore the links between quantum mechanics, neurobiology, human consciousness and day-to-day reality and talk about the consciousness, psi research, physics, biology, emotion and addictions.

There are 400 visual effects shots and animations in this Quantum Edition. One of my favorite animations is when ⁴Amanda peers through her camera at the wedding reception. She sees into the guests’ bodies and watches Cells running rampant with their molecules of emotion. But this rabbit hole soon turns inside out as the Cells find their way out onto the dance floor to cajole, coerce, and excite the partiers into their favorite brand of emotion. Animations similar to this help us ⁵examine how the brain captures and processes information, and how that influences thoughts and actions. Making the case that humans can become addicted to certain emotions - love, rage, humiliation - just like a drug, and it takes willpower to break the cycle.

The fourth new character in this version is the animated Dr. Quantum by the pioneering physicist Fred Alan Wolf. Dr. Quantum leads viewers through an exploration of quantum physics including the Double-Slit Experiment and Entanglement. My favorite is Dr. Quantum - The Flatland.

I found the most intriguing part of this movie to be the Water Crystals by Dr. Masaru Emotos. He proves that ⁶thoughts and feelings affect physical reality. By producing different focused intentions through written and spoken words and music and literally presenting it to the same water samples, the water appears to "change its expression". ⁷From Mr. Emoto's work we are provided with factual evidence, that human vibrational energy, thoughts, words, ideas and music, affect the molecular structure of water, the very same water that comprises over seventy percent of a mature human body and covers the same amount of our planet.

Also beautifully detailed in his book “The Hidden Messages in Water”:

“Imagine if water could absorb feelings and emotions or be transformed by thoughts. Imagine if we could photograph the structure of water at the moment of freezing and from the image "read" a message about the water that is relevant to our own health and well-being on the planet. Imagine if we could show the direct consequences of destructive thoughts or, alternately, the thoughts of love and appreciation. The Hidden Messages in Water introduces readers to the revolutionary work of Japanese scientist Masaru Emoto, who discovered that molecules of water are affected by thoughts, words, and feelings. Dr. Emoto shares his realizations from his years of research and explains the profound implications on the healing of water, mankind, and earth.” Beyond Words

Thank You Love

As C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D stated, “^6aHalf of the earth is water; our body is three-quarters water. Water represents the interface between the 4th dimension in which we live and the 5th dimensional sphere of our soul.”

In conclusion; ‘What the Bleep - DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE’ is more than entertaining, it is education. All that remains is the one enduring question "How Far Down The Rabbit Hole” are you willing to go?" Cause the deeper you go down the ‘Rabbit Hole’ the more you learn, the more you discover, the more you understand, the more you see that ‘we are not separate, but connected’.

“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?” Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland)


1. Synopsis
2. Water Crystals

^Wikipedia:Double-Slit Experiment and Entanglement


Related Posts: To Curse, To Ponder, To Wonder or Not

Permission to use photo #'27. Animation characters' from the Press Room, High Resolution Stills from What The Bleep Do We Know!? granted to Binding Ink.org by Webmaster.

July 4th To Our Military

Amidst the fireworks, hamburgers, hotdogs, Family, Friends, picnics, outings, the greatest is our Military.

For those in the Military are the ones whom continue to keep America the "land of the free" and they are proof that America truly is "the home of the brave"

Thank You Troops!:

(The Sign of Thanks)   Happy Fourth of July! 

July 4th is our 1st and oldest military holiday.

The Meaning of July Fourth for the African Americans by Frederick Douglass (A speech given at Rochester, New York, July 5, 1852)


Independence Day on the Net - Did You Know: 4th of July

Dear Sometimes Heads Have Got to Roll

Mesoamerican Mythology By Kay Almere Read, Jason J. Gonzalez

Charcoal Crunchers
"A present-day Tzotzil tale tells why weird creatures called Charcoal Crunchers no longer exist. A long time ago, a man was married to a charcoal crunching wife. Every night her head would leave her body and bounce over to the fireplace to eat hot charcoals. Occasionally the head would leave the house and thud around the neighborhood.
One night, the husband had enough and rubbed salt on her empty neck so that when she returned she could not stick her head to her body again. Annoyed, she bounced up on his shoulder and stuck there, causing him great discomfort. Some days later he convinced his wife to temporarily leave his shoulder so that he could climb a tree to fetch some pine nuts for her. Once up in the tree he refused to come down and she could not bounce high enough to reach him. Banging around the tree she accidentally crashed onto the shoulder of a passing deer and stuck there. The startled deer ran off and carried with it the last Charcoal Cruncher."

Makes you think twice doesn’t it? :)

*Cited From: "Charcoal Crunchers." Encyclopedia Mythica from Encyclopedia Mythica Online. http://www.pantheon.org/articles/c/charcoal_crunchers.html

Phillyosophicalizing Easter

Main-stream Society has done far more irrectifiable damage to individualism than any distraught bullies have ever hoped to inflict upon society labeled Plain Janes or Computer Geeks. One need not be of Christian faith to enjoy the spirit of Easter nor does one need to be so of Christian faith as not to be able to participate in the frills of Easter. For there is such a thing called a medium – a middle ground; a point of view midway between extremes. Truly here is where individualism thrives. But how many dare to walk such a thin line? Come, stray for a moment if you will and walk with me away from the main-stream. For surely if it is true that life imitates art and art imitates life than what of this book called the Bible so many protest, perhaps merely literature, symbolism at its best. Gethsemane? Surely Surprisedbyjoy writes "all of us will experience Gethsemane in our lifetime. They are moments of great distress, fear and anguish. We may experience hatred and betrayal. We may be called to pick up our 'wounds' and we don’t want to do it. Even Christ needed companions in Gethsemane. Sleeping friends were better than being alone. We would be wise to ask for friends to be with us in our Gethsemane. Don’t be upset when ‘some’ let us down. Judas betrayed, the others slumbered, Peter denied their relationship and they all ran away in fear. We see a picture of life drama and human frailties." This is Gethsemane, merely truth; facing the truth – moments of truth. As for the cross, we all have ours to bear, some more than others. I think the hardest cross to lay down and upon is forgiveness. Surprisedbyjoy states "All of us have forgiveness issues. Human nature clings to grudge holding which leads to destructive bitterness and venom. For 'any hope of any kind of' growth, healing and maturity, 'though' we must forgive ". Often the hardest person to forgive is ourselves. Truly we are our own worse enemies at times. And so begins the crucifixion; we crucify those who have done us wrong and worse we crucify ourselves. It is a vicious circle, one perhaps of a dog trying to chew his own legs off only to succeed in immobilizing himself to never walk again. Oh but if we could forgive, especially ourselves; we would truly rise again anew. A testament to all the Doubting Toms! Here in lays the problem, here in indeed. Inside this fleshy shell of ours, our very own tomb. Maybe the secret is buried in first healing the wounds; rather inflicted by others, and/or circumstances, or self. After all it is Spring and 'Hope Springs Eternal'. And so this is Easter, the passing over and into the realizations of Gethsemane. We have ventured far enough now from the Main-stream Society for most to have seen the middle ground of art imitating life. I much rather join the allusion and dance with the Easter Bunny and color eggs than spend any more time dissecting life’s many illusions, delusions. Cause for now; liken love, spring is in the air - spring is every where!

Related Posts: Epiphany Easter, 1916 by W. B. Yeats

Death and Dying

Yes there is a difference between Death and Dying. Death comes without warning and dying creeps in to take over your life with a terminally ill death sentence, stamped with an approximate life expectancy date. My heart goes out to embrace all the children who are terminally ill, they remain their innocent self while becoming stronger than they should need to be at their young age. In the adult world; sadly knowing death is knocking at the door, many people begin to get their affairs in order, make amends if needed, all the while searching and hoping for a cure that won’t kill them quicker while they are dying to live. During these times, there are those people when given a death sentence who will remain their own sweet self. Other people will react like a sports participant, running around trying to better their lives and relationships with the people they know and love; but once the endorphins wear off, they return to their normality and begin the routine of home, doctor, home, doctor, home… until death do they part. Regrettably; other people will steadily remain their seemingly natural cruel self and depart this world as seemingly angry as they entered it.

The only similarities in Death and Dying is that no matter what, when it is your time to depart this earth, it is your time. Reminds me of a true story that occurred in one of our local nearby towns. An elderly lady was involved in a car accident, fortunately a minor fender bender; so she continued her drive home. Shortly afterwards; approximately two blocks away, another truck struck her car and instantly killed the elderly lady.

Face it people, none of us are going to get out of this world alive. I can not emphasis enough to get your affairs in order. Have two Wills, a Living Will and a Last Will. Get and keep your belongings sorted, make a notarized list of who gets what or what can be thrown away; do not leave this behind for those living. Going through your belongings after you’ve passed away is not an easy task; not only does it take an emotional toll on the heart, there are also somethings that are best left unknown about your life and should be deposed of before hand or at least in a box labeled, “Throw Out Upon my Death”.

Understand the difference between a Living Will and a Last Will. ^LegalZoom: “A will, also known as a last will, distributes a person's property after his death. A living will, on the other hand, explains what kind of medical care that person wants when he is still alive but unable to explain his wishes”

Also, I highly recommend a Living Trust instead of a Last Will. There are Lawyers who know the gray area in the laws that can allow a person to obtain Power of Attorney after a persons’ death in order to supersede the Personal Representative listed on a Will to also replace and exclude any appointed second Personal Representative.

^Nolo: "Property left through a living trust does not pass through probate. Property left through a will does go through probate. Probate is the court system designed to wrap up a person's affairs after their debts. Probate takes a long time, can be very expensive, and for most estates, isn't necessary."

As for when a loved one dies, with or without warning; forget the 5 or 7 Stages of Grief. There are no stages. Every emotion you could ever feel will rush through each and every fiber of your being; in one swift gut wrenching, heart shattering, mentally bewildered… longest moment in your entire life thus far. You will become angry with yourself wondering if you could have done more, you will question if in those final hours, did you do and say enough. You’ll doubt rather you had even said, I love you my dear Friend. It was then I truly understood just how deep friendship enters the heart, sometimes deeper than family members. I’ve probably only had 6 deaths of loved ones in my 50ish years. 4 family members, 2 friends, and have only been able to attend two of those funerals. But nothing can prepare anyone for being there when a loved one takes their last breath. Somehow though you will find the strength to be strong for them, offering comfort. And when the time comes; and it will and you will know when, in some way you will also find the strength needed to tell your loved one who has suffered enough, that ‘it is okay to go now’; all the while you are going to pieces inside.

And the closer you are to a loved one who has sadly passed away, the harder it is in that very moment, let alone daily to pick up the shattered pieces of what remains of your life and try to continue on. Two months later, I still cry without any warning and not always because a memory crept in my mind. Sometimes I just get this huge lump in my throat, then unexpectedly tears spontaneously burst from my eyes as if the very depth of my heart is weeping. Recently I was in the middle of an important job interview and my tears instantly streamed down my face, onto my resume. Did I get the job? No. Life goes on and a death is no excuse. The hospital bills start rolling in faster than the funeral. You call to make payment arrangements and the creditors knowing no payments were ever late in life, fear my friend may finally be late paying because of death. So they are quick to want to lay stake on the estate, no matter how small the estate is such as merely an automobile. And when I called the Vet to reorder the flea medicine prescription for my friend’s cat, I was denied. Angry, I merely said: after all the money my friend spent at your establishment, you are going to deny the cat flea meds because he is 1 pound over weight for the current dosage! (*Thinking to myself: Unless I agree to increase his flea meds and risk increasing his life expectancy because of 1 freaking pound.) I was quick to apologize for my outburst, however; immediately after the phone conversation, the Veterinarian Office Supervisor called; reprimanding me as if I were a child, stating a death is no excuse for my behavior. Yes people, there is no time or excuse for mourning; life goes on. So people, be as prepared as you can be in life for death while you continue to enjoy living. And mostly; when someone you cherish passes away, be ready to put on your pretend happy face while you are falling apart inside, because the majority of the living don’t give a damn about Death and Dying.

Related Posts:
How Did You Die? by Edmund Vance Cooke
Is God To Blame?
Cubical Human Rat Race

Lost and Found. On this emotional roller coaster called life; during crises, especially in regards to health and/or the death of a loved one, a persons' faith can be shaken. Yet for others in times of crises that tug on the heart strings, their faith is strengthened; while for other people, they find faith. -ndpthepoetress

Rebirth Yourself-Emerge From Your Mental Cocoon

Image from Wikipedia

ndpthepoetress: "Many of us have read our fair share of self-help articles proclaiming the Secret in Life is to get plenty of rest, eat right, exercise, etc. However; in the daily mishmash of this, that, and the other; combined with the seemingly never ending to-do list - who actually has the time or energy to abide by the so called “Secret”!

In my opinion, the “Secret” in Life is FIRST: ‘Change Your Thoughts’. Out with the negative, in with the positive. Because when you become enthused, new energy materializes for you. Once your mental energy is increased then you CAN achieve anything YOU set your mind to - no matter how little time you seem to have.

Let’s start with an article about how to Changing Your Thoughts. This excerpt is by Colleen Kettenhofen, “a Phoenix, Arizona motivational speaker, trainer, & co-author of "The Masters of Success ," featured on NBC's Today Show”:"


8 Essentials for Creating Balance Out of Chaos
By Colleen Kettenhofen

Leadership and life balance has been a hot topic for some time now. Employers are waking up to the notion that for people to perform well they have to feel well.

In these trying times it's imperative to stay motivated. Change your mind and you change your circumstances. Change your thinking and you can change your life.

How do you do that? Here are 8 essentials for creating balance:

1. Focus on what you have, not on what you don't have. There will always be someone worse off than you. Whether they're facing a financial crisis, health problems, grief and loss, or something else. If you know someone like this, think of one thing you could do to help them.

For example, there's someone at my church who recently lost his father. A group of us decided to take food to the family. Helping someone gets your mind off your problems. And it makes you grateful for what you do have. You start focusing on the positive. As Denis Waitley says, "You are either the captive or the captain of your thoughts."

2. Feed your strengths, starve your weaknesses. Researchers note the average person has 50,000 thoughts a day. Most of those thoughts are negative. Your mind is like a computer or the crew on a ship. And what orders you give it will determine what you get.

What you dwell on becomes your destiny. What you focus on the longest becomes the strongest. Spend as much time as possible in a job, or in your life in general, in areas that utilize your strengths. Work doesn't have to be a four-letter word!

3. Practice self-control, self-discipline and a strong work ethic. This is a paradox, but doing the things you like least first helps in creating balance. Practicing good work habits, especially early in the day frees up time later on for doing things you enjoy. And you feel more deserving.

The most successful people are those willing to do what others don't want to do. They've mastered the challenge of overcoming procrastination. Live by the motto, "Just do it. Not by the tongue-in-cheek saying I saw on a t-shirt in Hawaii recently which said, "Just do it-tomorrow"."

4. Decide what really matters. Make a list of those activities and individuals that put a spring in your step. What gives you energy and makes you laugh?

For example, spending time with my boyfriend's family is terrific because they're hilarious. I always have belly-aching laughs when I'm with them. Laughter really is the best medicine. Conversely, what detracts from your life and drags you down?Start phasing those things out of your life.

5. Focus on having fun. No matter busy and stressful your days, schedule some time for fun. In creating balance, what makes you happy? For instance, this weekend my man and I are taking our dogs on a day trip to Flagstaff, Arizona. Being at 7,000 feet in the pines helps me "fill the well." There's nothing like crisp mountain air and the smell of the pines to make me forget the cares of the world.

6. Spend time in silence. Make an effort to get more sleep. Studies have shown getting enough sleep helps reduce cravings for carbs and sweets. Temporarily turn off your cell phone, Blackberry, TV or car stereo. Before bed spend quiet time in prayer or meditation.

7. People-pleasers: Learn to say no. Or, if there's something you must do, ask for support. Don't try and do it all yourself.

8. Concentrate single-mindedly on one task until it's complete. Stop multitasking. Sometimes when you try to do 10 things at once, you end the day not having completed anything.

Lastly, it's been said that survivors of emotional, physical, or circumstantial difficulties practice eight things: strong spiritual belief, sense of humor, strong support system, a connection to nature, goals, proper nutrition, openness to new ideas, and get sufficient rest and exercise. In creating balance, which of these can you create today?

Colleen Kettenhofen
Website: http://www.ColleenSpeaks.com

You are free to reprint or repost this article for use in your newsletters, association publications, or intranet provided Colleen Kettenhofen's contact information (name, website, and email) is included with the article.

Related Articles:
Human Stages of Metamorphosis

Change Your Thoughts; Change Your Life by Lisa M. Brazelton

This is for the World

I hope you enjoy my cover of We are the World. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie. It's been a crazy time in the world, and sometimes it's hard to feel like we can make a difference, but we can.

Johnny Cash - Thanksgiving

To see a full transcription of the video, please visit HubPages Inc. and scroll down to the video on their page.

Binding Ink Serving Humanities Banquet: Thanksgiving

Thanks for Giving Troops!

A Soldier's Thanksgiving Day Poem
By Marcy Mobley, published Nov 12, 2008

I know we are at war,
But I hear change is in sight
Instead of family and friends for Thanksgiving you will
Chow with your comrades tonight
One to your left, the other to your right.
Your regiment, your battalion,
Have now become family and friends
Living day to day in a personal sacrifice
On a mission to defend.
You are the hero's who's faces we may never get to see
But the pride and glory that's lives in a soldier heart
Biers one word
"Integrity"
On this day
We give thanks and honor to those brave and true
Our banners, we will proudly wave
The Red, White, and Blue
We will give our thanks not only to our god
but also to every soldier for our bounties, that be.
For they give meaning to words
Home of the brave Land of the Free.
To the soldiers in the mess hall
Eating their thanksgiving feast,
to the troops in the desert eating another
Meal ready to eat.
May peace, hope and strength
Travel with you along the way
And may these wishes find you
On A Soldiers Thanksgiving day.

For our brethren Vets and Family whom on Thanksgiving have a Vacant Chair:

“The Vacant Chair was written to commemorate the death of John William Grout (1843–1861), a Union soldier from Worcester, Massachusetts, and an 1859 graduate of Phillips Academy in Andover."

9/11 Commemoration

As our hearts are tearfully filled with memories of those who lost their lives September 11, 2001, let us also never forget the bravery and compassion shown that day; and may we continue to forever embrace and extend kind words and actions to those left behind and still mourning, those injured and still suffering. Let us Thank all Military Personnel as we also remember and honor those who have lots their lives or have been injured in the process of defending our Country. And may we as a Nation United rise above this tragedy to not judge nor hate the majority, because of the actions of a few.

Ad Council

"Will hate bring it all back? Will it bring back the innocence? The sense of security? Will it bring back the husbands and wives and sons and daughters? Will hate make us better than those who hate us? Or merely bring us closer to them. Will hate help us destroy our enemies? Or will it laugh as we destroy ourselves. There are those who say we don’t know who our enemy is. But we do. Our enemy is a neighborhood Mosque defaced by vandals. An Arab-American storekeeper in fear of reprisal. A scared Muslim child bullied because she is different. Hate is our enemy, and when we start to hate other Americans, we have lost everything. Hate has taken enough from us already. Don’t let it take you."