Quote of the Week

"Compassion is not religious business, it is human business, it is not luxury, it is essential for our own peace and mental stability, it is essential for human survival."

- Dalai Lama

Manifesto for the New Me

It is perfectly fine to not want to be social and prefer being alone.

It's okay to only have three real friends.

I will figure out the evil Starbucks coffee pot (woot! one done!)

I will learn to cook meat.

I will spend my time on things that make me happy and not things I feel like I should be doing.

I will find my spiritual path again.

I will learn as much as I can about everything that interests me.

I will learn to sew clothes from a pattern.

I will not be late on my bills.

I will come up with a fitness routine that makes me healthier ... and I will stick to it.

I will make the time to read at least one new book a month.

I will not fall victim to the ravages of gadget lust every time a new shiny comes out.

 

Saturday
27Jun

I need this tattooed on my forehead

DateSaturday, June 27, 2009 at 2:51PM

I love inspiring words and I love watching greatness.  I find both of those things at the TED website.  TED, which stands for technology, entertainment, and design is a nonprofit dedicated to "ideas worth spreading".  They hold conferences every year where some of the best minds gather and present talks that I like to call "18 Minutes of Awesomeness".  You can find these talks on their site. 

This morning I watched a talk given by Elizabeth Gilbert, who is the author of one of my favorite books Eat Pray Love.  This book is a balm in an open wound and gives me peace beyond measure.  Her TED talk is equally as stirring as she shares her ideas on the creative process and it's effect on those it inhabits.  If you think yourself creative or would like to be creative please watch the embedded video.  Ole!

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Saturday
20Jun

I need a hobby ... or a life

DateSaturday, June 20, 2009 at 9:40AM

I go through these phases where I'll have tons of stuff going on and I'm crazy busy for months and then I get so tired of being so busy I quit everything and do nothing for months and then I get bored so I start thinking of things to do again ... and the cycle begins anew.

I'm on the bored part of my cycle right now.  I haven't had too many extra curricular activities this past year.  I haven't been a regular member at a church, I don't really have any friends up here to hang out with yet, I'm not taking any classes or doing anything of any interest.  So, I just work and come home ....

And I think my brain is turning to mush!!

I need to do something ... go somewhere.  But do what and go where?  I have limited funds and don't know the area too well.  I have been brainstorming some ideas though.  Here's what I came up with:

  • take a college course
  • go see some local theater
  • join a local choir
  • take voice lessons
  • take piano lessons
  • take guitar lessons
  • take a pilates or yoga class
  • get a part time job
  • buy some books and teach myself something cool

So there's my starting list.  I'm going to do some research an see if I can make some of those things a bit more specific, see how much it would cost, feasability, etc ...

I'll make an attempt to keep you posted and just post on a more regular basis also.

AuthorJessie 2.0 | Comment3 Comments |
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Saturday
13Jun

Coolest Book EVER

DateSaturday, June 13, 2009 at 10:42AM

I bought the coolest book ever yesterday.  Really.  I mean it.  The ... coolest ... book ... EVER.

Personal Effects: Dark Art by J.C. Hutchins and Jordan Weisman is a supernatural thriller about, Zach Taylor, an art therapist for Brinkvale Psychiatric Hospital and his investigation into the life of Martin Grace, a patient at Brinkvale.

This books would be good on it's own, but what makes it amazing is what it comes with:

These are all the personal effects of Martin Grace in real life on my dinning room table.  There are pictures, a credit card, state id, business cards, birth certificates, letters ... all sorts of little tid bits to pull you into the story.  And that's not all!!  The story extends far beyond what is contained in the book.  You can vist the Brinkvale website and see pieces of art that Zach's other patients have created.  Zach's girlfriend, Rachel Webster, is a video game blogger and has been actually blogging and participating in the internet world since early 2008.

J.C. Hutchins is also a podcaster I've been listening to for quite some time (and whom I've written about before) and there's something rather intimate about having someone in your head for years telling you stories and sharing their life with you.  Couple that with some limited contact via email and twitter and there's a bizarre sort of friendship formed - so I felt like a proud mama when I was walked into my local Borders to buy this book and just I couldn't wait to show it off to everyone I know.

I highly recommend this book and I'm going to post some videos of other people talking about how awesome it is, in case you need some convincing!

AuthorJessie 2.0 | Comment2 Comments |
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Sunday
31May

Advice From a Tree

DateSunday, May 31, 2009 at 7:02PM

I bought this postcard in an eco-general store a few years ago and recently unearthed it in a box.

Advice From a Tree
by Ilan Shamir

Dear Friend
Stand Tall and Proud
Sink your roots deeply into the Earth
Reflect the light of your true nature
Think long term
Go out on a limb
Remember your place among all living begings
Embrace with joy the changing seasons
For each yeilds its own abundance
The Energy and Birth of Spring
The Growth and Contentment of Summer
The Wisdom to let go like leaves in the Fall
The Rest and Quiet renewal of Winter

Feel the wind and the sun
And delight in their presence
Look up at the moon that shines down upon you
And the mystery of the stars at night
Seek nourishment from the good things in life
Simple pleasures
Earth, fresh air, light
Be content with your natural beauty
Drink plenty of water
Let your limbs sway and dance in the breeze
Be flexible
Remember your roots
Enjoy the view!

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Saturday
30May

DateSaturday, May 30, 2009 at 11:36AM

I've created a habit of getting up early on the weekends when my house is quiet and writing in my blog.  I enjoy the quiet time where my mind can wander and my thoughts flow freely.  But today I have nothing to say.  This whole week I have been tired and cranky and lacking any sort of motivation or inspiration what-so-ever.

I feel uncomfortable in my own skin.  Remember the bad sitcoms where the lamaze class makes the husband of the pregnant leading lady wear a giant heavy belly so he will know his wife's pain?  That's what I feel like (minus the pregnancy) ... like I have put on a suit that doesn't belong to me and forced to function as if everything were normal ...

It will pass ... it always does ... until then I'll just pull the covers up over my head and ride out the storm ... oh how I love a good mixed metaphor.

AuthorJessie 2.0 | Comment2 Comments |
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