man prayer...may it be so

peace and justice. isn't it the american way? oh, yeah...and equality?

Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. ... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals. 

Martin Luther King, Jr. 

I'm a little late for his birthday, but any day is a good day for a MLK quote.

May we find peace, justice, and equality. They do, after all, go together.

"familiarity is the gateway drug to empathy"

happy fox

cat on sheep

pep talk

love thursday 01.24.13 ~ enjoying life one day at a time: a grandma and her cat

We are already one. We just think we are separate.

Thomas Merton 

View this gallery. Then tell them they are not one.

"this is a story that should be shouted from the rooftops"

guitar instrumental by john butler

As much fun to watch him play (and look at him!) as it is to listen to....

we are not alone at the "top"

good samaritan

The dolphin didn't ask if the diver was Republican or Democrat.

The diver didn't ask if the dolphin was gay or straight...or from a particular social status or religion.

All that is required is kindness and willingness to help...and ask for help.

Shouldn't that be enough?

what any mother would do for her baby

what's not to love about cats and dolphins?

love thursday 01.17.13 ~ talking about love...real love

During the years of the early Christian church women served as deacons, priests, bishops, apostles, teachers and prophets. It wasn't until the fourth century that dominant Christian leaders, all men, twisted and distorted Holy Scriptures to perpetuate their ascendant positions within the religious hierarchy. 

The truth is that male religious leaders have had - and still have - an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter.

Jimmy Carter

To read the whole article, click here.

the man who quit money

This lifestyle is not for everyone, but it can be done. Makes one stop and think....

dance like nobody's watching 2

dance like nobody's watching

brothers

what would you be willing to sacrifice?

here comes the sun!

love thursday 01.10.13 ~ you otter love this....

i guess if he is okay with it, i am, too....

one billion rising

The first part is hard to watch, but it is worth watching the whole thing. Looks good to me.

just watching this video can gain you 7.5 +/- minutes of life

bamboo

Another full screen experience...



I love black bamboo. This is magnificent.

aloha ke akua

Must. Watch. Full. Screen.

lily @ one month

love thursday 01.03.13 ~ heart plays stairway to heaven

apologies

(banana after the freeze)

Begin the new year square with every man.

Robert B. Thomas

founder of The Old Farmer's Almanac

It's never too late to apologize.

Lately, I've been doing a lot of life review in my head. Sometimes I recall events...moments...things I have done or said that make me cringe. I wish I had behaved differently. I didn't.

Saying that I did the best I could at the time might be true. That's not enough. My "best" isn't always good enough. Of course, I can't go back and change anything. I can move forward. I can acknowledge my crankiness or faux pas or...whatever I did and said that didn't meet my standards in review.

I look at the situation. Did I cause someone else pain or distress? Did I act like an ass?

I apologize. Simply, "I'm sorry." I tell the person that I can talk with them about it in more depth if they want. If they want to know why I behaved the way I did, I will tell them. The apology, however, is not intended as an opportunity for me to defend myself. My desire is to acknowledge my bad behavior and say I am sorry. In some cases, giving the reason for bad behavior comes across as an effort to justify. The truth is, most often "why" doesn't matter.

Twelve step programs know this. Step 9: "Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others."

What constitutes injury? I am sure that is up for debate. My general rule is that if my apology will make the other person uncomfortable that, too, can be considered injury. If it makes me uncomfortable...that's tough. I still move forward and say what needs to be said. Some people want to move forward and an apology simply brings up awkwardness. I try to respect that.

Lately, I've apologized for bad behaviors that are 40 years old and only a few months old. Was that necessary? Yes. Because those things were rattling around in my head and I needed to acknowledge that I screwed up...and that I am continuing my process of self-improvement.

Humble pie is really good when it is served to the right people.

2013

Dear 2013,

Sun is my favorite time of year...any season. Thanks for starting out that way. I can take a little bit of the other stuff. Just don't make it last too long at any one stretch. Just saying....

Last year you gave me the word "ease." I'm not saying you were wrong. It just didn't stick. Oh, I didn't expect everything to be easy. Lord knows it wasn't. Apparently, I wasn't ready for it (or something). I forgot. I can't even tell you when I forgot. I had to look it up to see what my word was. That's how completely I forgot it. Maybe this year--if you are going to give me a word at all--it could be something that is relevant enough that I can at least remember and work with it? Thanks.

And one more thing...

Could we come to some kind of peaceful understanding this year? I'd rather not end this year feeling like I can't wait for you to be gone. I'd really like to like you--if you know what I mean. I'm willing to do my part, but it takes two of us.

Just saying....

Love,

Me