You Knit Me Together

"13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

Psalms 139: 13-16

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Whether you're White, POC, gay, straight, whatever, God knit you together in the womb.

Because God never says "Oops." I believe that you're exactly how you're supposed to be. What you choose to do with it, well, that's up to you. 

You were given Free Will for a reason -- so what will you choose to do with the life you were blessed with? Will you willingly choose to follow the Path set before you? Or not?

Stop Hesitating!

“If you are a woman, if you're a person of color, if you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, if you are a person of size, if you are a person of intelligence, if you are a person of integrity, then you are considered a minority in this world.

"...And it's going to be really hard to find messages of self-love and support anywhere. Especially women's and gay men's culture. It's all about how you have to look a certain way or else you're worthless. You know when you look in the mirror and you think 'oh, I'm so fat, I'm so old, I'm so ugly', don't you know, that's not your authentic self? But that is billions upon billions of dollars of advertising, magazines, movies, billboards, all geared to make you feel shitty about yourself so that you will take your hard earned money and spend it at the mall on some turn-around creme that doesn't turn around shit.

"When you don't have self-esteem you will hesitate before you do anything in your life. You will hesitate to go for the job you really wanna go for, you will hesitate to ask for a raise, you will hesitate to call yourself an American, you will hesitate to report a rape, you will hesitate to defend yourself when you are discriminated against because of your race, your sexuality, your size, your gender. You will hesitate to vote, you will hesitate to dream. For us to have self-esteem is truly an act of revolution and our revolution is long overdue.”
   

Margaret Cho

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While Margaret is pretty darn blunt, she has a valid point. 

Society's values are not our values and we need to stop allowing them to define our lives. We are all beautiful, we are all valuable, we are all children of God. 

Stop hesitating for fear of what others may think or do. 

 Do what YOU need to do. 

 

Thank You to All Our Veterans

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." John F. Kennedy

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Thank you all for your service. 

May God bless you in your travels, you who have gone on ahead, and those who are still here on this Earth. 

God bless you all. 

A Simple Motivation -- Friday

"If you must have motivation, think of your paycheck on Friday." 

Noel Coward

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 While not everyone agrees with that philosophy, honestly, some days that's all that can get you through. So put a smile on your face and keep thinking, "I'm getting paid to do it -- and payday is Friday" (or whatever day payday arrives at your job). 

It may be a simple motivation, but it can keep you going through the day-to-day annoyances of dealing with bosses, customers, technical difficulties, co-workers, family and friends. 

There's a good reason for that common saying, "Thank God It's Friday!"

It's not just that the weekend is here, it's also the day that many get paid. Or you submit your unemployment forms so you can get paid next week -- not good to be unemployed, but thank goodness we have an unemployment program so you still have money coming in to help with the bills. 

So take a deep breath and be happy, Friday is here!

Courage and Will

“As for courage and will - we cannot measure how much of each lies within us, we can only trust there will be sufficient to carry through trials which may lie ahead.” 

Andre Norton

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There are always trials in life. 

Either you face them, or you pretend they aren't there and let them mess with you. 

I prefer to face them head on. They only have true power over you when you refuse to acknowledge that you're in a trial and you have things to do so you can pass through the storm and see the rainbow on the other side. 

Pass through the storm my friends.

Where Are You Going?

"Having an exciting destination is like setting a needle in your compass. From then on, the compass knows only one point -- its ideal. And it will faithfully guide you there through the darkest nights and fiercest storms." 

Daniel Boone

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 Whether you have a physical destination, or have set a goal, like Daniel Boone, you need to set your sights on it and just keep moving toward it. You'll never get there if you don't start. 

Take that step in faith and get going! 

He Who Fights With Monsters

"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you."

Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, “Beyond Good and Evil", Aphorism 146 (1886) 

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All too often, as you fight with monsters, whether in war, or inside yourself, you sacrifice the good with the bad, trying to rid that space of the darkness that threatens to overwhelm. You risk destroying the very things that you're trying to protect. 

My apologies, I don't know who created this wonderful picture. 

If you know, please let me know ASAP so I can properly credit it

or remove it if the artist objects.

All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter

“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.”

  J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

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One of my favorite books, the epic story of good and evil -- and redemption. 

Even Sauruman had a chance at redemption, and he made the choice to continue in his evil ways. And  thus, although he thought he had it all under control, he was still removed from his high position and in the end, paid the price.

Set a Goal -- Then Take Action!

"There are several paths to success; We are given multiple opportunities to achieve our potential throughout our lives. Some get there a little faster than others. But one thing is for sure; NO ONE gets there without first having a goal then taking action and LOTS of it!”

 Rachael Bermingham

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Without setting goals, you're drifting through life. 

Set some small goals for today, even if it's just washing the dishes or walking the dog. 

Set some larger goals for the future. 

In 1 year - Save some money

In 5 years - A new car

In 10 years - Buy a house

Whatever it is you're dreaming about, stop dreaming and set a goal!!

(OK, not the Lotto. You're more likely to be struck by lightning...)

Freed from Slavery

On October 18, 1775 - African-American poet Phillis Wheatley was freed from slavery

On Being Brought from Africa to America

'Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,
Taught my benighted soul to understand
That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too:
Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.
Some view our sable race with scornful eye,
"Their colour is a diabolic die."
Remember, Christians, Negro's, black as Cain,
May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.

Phillis Wheatley

 

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Phillis Wheatley was stolen from her homeland in West Africa when she was a small child, perhaps seven or eight, and sold directly from the ship to John and Susanna Wheatley. While a slave, they found her writing on a wall with chalk, and taught her to read and write. 

Despite her poetry, she died a poor woman -- but she died free.

Step Back

“While you'll feel compelled to charge forward it's often a gentle step back that will reveal to you where you and what you truly seek.”

Rasheed Ogunlaru

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Oh, that's a tough one.

I do tend to charge forward, don't I? If I'd take a step back and look at the whole picture before racing ahead, I'd be far better off...

Positive Energy

“Positive energy is your priceless life force. Protect it. Don't allow people to draw from your reserves; select friends who recharge your energies . . . I'm not asking you to cut people out of your life, but I am asking you to invest your time with people who will push you to be your best. Winners love to see other people win.” 

Chalene Johnson

PUSH: 30 Days to Turbocharged Habits, a Bangin' Body, and the Life You Deserve! 

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And isn't that the truth? 

You should hang out with positive people who can bring you up, not drag you down. 

Yes, we all have friends who, well, they're downers and WE are their positive people who bring them up. Don't leave them by the side of the road, but don't let their negativity drag you down into the ditch. Hold onto your Path and drag them along with you if you must. 

And for you, find more positive people who can help you to recharge your own batteries.

Lincoln on Slavery

"Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery,

I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally."

Abraham Lincoln