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I’ve been doing a lot of traveling and searching lately. With it, I figured it was time to make some additions to my list of 25 Random Things. Here goes nothing…
I’ve been doing a lot of traveling and searching lately. On my latest trip, I decided to cave and read, Eat, Pray Love. I feel like a lemming following the masses. I also feel the book is a bit cheesy. That’s the pessimist in me talking. On the other hand, the book is helping me to realize and get through some tough times. It’s helping me to realize that I am not alone in my feelings.
During the Pray part of the book, Ms. Gilbert talks about soulmates:
People think a soulmate is your perfect fit, and that’s what everyone wants. But a true soulmate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life.
A true soulmate is probably the most important person you’ll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soulmate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soulmates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave.
A soulmates purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life, then introduce you to your spiritual master…
The passage made me rethink my thoughts on Friends Indeed. I’ve always taken the defense – that most of the time, I’ve been the friend indeed, especially this last time. But, maybe I have it all wrong. Maybe I was the one more in need. Maybe this person was supposed to help me tear down my walls and break my rules so that once again I could transform my life and start anew.
Elizabeth Gilbert > quotes
“People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that’s what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life.
A true soul mate is probably the most important person you’ll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave.
A soul mates purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life, then introduce you to your spiritual master…”
Forgiveness is a funny thing. Wikipedia says it is typically defined as the process of concluding resentment, indignation or anger as a result of a perceived offense, difference or mistake, and/or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution. My whole life, I’ve waited and waited for others to forgive me for the wrongs that I did to them. Yet, most of the time, people don’t easily or on their own say, “I forgive you”, even when asked.
Today I realized that if you think that someone needs to say, “I forgive you” for you to move on, you’re wrong. The real person who you need forgiveness from is yourself. It’s not the other person holding you back or torturing you, it’s you.
In thinking about it, the Jews have been slyly doing this for centuries. It’s called Yom Kippur. On this day, you’re supposed to publicly and privately ask forgiveness of everyone you wronged throughout the year. At one point in the service, you even hit your chest ten times as you ask for forgiveness. On this day, everyone you ask forgiveness from is supposed to accept it and provide forgiveness. Then, by the end of the day, you are absolved not only by your fellow human beings, but also by God. It’s genius. These people have set aside a whole day once a year where they “must” forgive themselves. Yet, it is designed so they feel like others are forgiving them. With that belief they are thus able to forgive themselves.
This year, Yom Kippur starts at sundown on September 17. But, I’m starting early. Today, I’m forgiving myself instead of waiting. Because, in life, the only person who can make you feel bad or guilty or worthless is yourself. The only person who can keep you in “jail” is yourself.
Dear Me,
I forgive you.
Love,
Me
I’ve read a lot of posts lately about the word “no”. People always seem to blog about the same things. It intrigues and annoys me to no end. But, that is a topic for another day. Today’s post is about the word “no” and some of my favorite thoughts from the posts I’ve been reading:
No means you stand for something.
No means that you’re not there to appease.
No means you’re not a pushover.
No means you’re brave.
No means you don’t accept the situation as is.
No means you have options.
No means you have the power.
People like to be liked and hate to be hated. And the easiest way to achieve that is to say “Yes.” But there are times when “No” is much more powerful. It means you won’t compromise. It means you’re striving for the best. It means you don’t accept the easy out. So don’t be afraid to say “No.”
My fifth grade teacher taught me the meaning of the phrase, “a friend in need, is a friend indeed.” I can’t quite remember what she said, but I do remember how I felt after – disbelief and hurt. I didn’t want to believe the lesson she had imparted. I didn’t want to believe that my friendship was built on a “need” that both us had and, that as soon as one of us didn’t have that need anymore, we would no longer be friends. In essence, the ride would be over.
Strangely, many of my “best friends” have been this type of friend. While they never stay for more than a few years, each taught an invaluable lesson. I think that these types of friendships come into our lives not because we want them to, but rather to help us, to hurt us, to leave us, to love us and to make us into the person we were meant to be.
While each and every one of these friendships have left a scar, they have also mended some sort of “need”. Cheers to those who come along for a ride in our lives and help (or hurt) us when we need it most!
I love my blog. Maybe that’s a little narcissistic to say, but I do. I won’t share the story of why or how I started it, but I love it nonetheless. Throughout the years, it has been a constant that has grown with me. It’s been my “twitter” of short posts before I knew what twitter was. It’s been my place to rant and bare my soul. My blog has been the keeper of favorite links, adventures and mistakes left best forgotten. It’s also been a place to talk about social media, advertising, mobile and more. To me, the mixture is what makes the ups and downs and sides to sides of life. To me, the mixture is me.
I’ve been thinking about what form this blog will take on next. I have a few ideas up my sleeve. These days, I don’t rant much. And, I also don’t talk about social media often. There’s just too much noise and others talking about the same old things. Nor do I talk about work much. Maybe because I’m not doing much of it lately. Either way, I think this blog will transform again. I’d say buckle up, but I’m not quite ready to play it safe, so why should you 🙂
I won’t deny it, I’m a sucker for most alcohol campaigns. I don’t know why, but to me, they are so well done, so sharp and put together.
The latest, is True Originals. It’s an interesting campaign. One with a url, trueoriginals.com, that redirects to Facebook, not a website. To me, the strangest thing is not a single video nor the Facebook page is branded Bacardi. I looked hard, the bottles in the back of the bar aren’t all Bacardi. The bottle that the bartender pours from has its label hidden. Strange, no? The other odd piece is that the main Bacardi Facebook page and site make little mention of the campaign, as if it’s just one of many, which I suppose it is 🙂 Nevertheless, it’s one I fell in love with.
Here’s one of the four. Enjoy!
I’ve read a lot of “easy” five step plans lately. They make life seem oh, so easy. But, then again, maybe life is easy, especially when you don’t let you get in the way of you 🙂
For some reason, I love this song by Rob Thomas. Maybe because it references mockingbirds and that song holds a special place in my heart. Maybe because it has the ability to embody personal and professional trials.
Here we stand
Somewhere in between this moment and the end
Will we bend?
Or will we open up and take this whole thing in?
Everybody else is smiling and their smiles don’t fade
And you don’t even wonder why you just don’t think that way
Maybe you and me got lost somewhere, we can’t move on we can’t stay here
Well maybe we’ve just had enough, well maybe we ain’t meant for this love
You and me tried everything
But still that mocking bird wont sing
Well man this life seems hard enough
Well maybe we ain’t meant for this loveI don’t wanna love you now, if you’ll just leave someday
I don’t wanna turn around, if you’ll just walk away
Maybe you and me got lost somewhere, we can’t move on we can’t stay here