The Pain

Rip my heart out. 

Force me to breathe without you. 

The Pain. The Pain! 

I move on 'cause I have to, not 'cause I want to.

You miss me?? 

(I still miss you too!)

Have you finally realised my worth? 

Too late now - that bridge is burned.

It'll never be we again...

(27-03-2013)

These words came out of me when I finally realised it was over. No going back. I don't usually do that kind of writing - nonsens babbling is more "my thing" ;) ...so, I feel both hesitant and proud to put this "out there". But here it is and I feel so utterly blessed that it is, truly, behind me.

Book Review - Strength in Weakness

The 'blurb':

Quaker women in the eighteenth century were carrying on the faith and activity of their seventeenth-century forebears, but as a group their lives and writings have been neglected in modern times by both Quaker and other historians. Gil Skidmore brings together a rich array of letters, spiritual autobiographies, journals, and memoirs to put the lives and concerns of these women into context.

I really liked it. Despite the heavyness of the 'old' English and the 'uneducated' way of writing it was a good read. The bible references are quite frequent so one needs not to be 'disturbed' by that fact if you are to be able to enjoy the book.

I found that the parts where education and raising children were brought up to be especially 'enlightened'. I have now unfortunately forgotten which one of the women made the most poignant points about these topics (towards the end of the book) but if it had been my own book (I borrowed it from the library) I would have underlined her words for sure, those and many of the other inspirational things that were brought to light by these courageous women.

It's not in on the 'top list' of my all time favourite books perhaps but it definitely gave me food for thought. I like that in any book! :) What the Quaker women (and men!) went through back then was, is, some truly amazing stuff...

Book quotes

I love reading. Reading takes me through time and space and allows me to 'experience' how life and love is to others. I laugh and cry, I hurt and heal and by reading I learn and grow, sometimes with the characters in the books but just as often when they don't. After my Family, reading means the world to me.
I like writing too and perhaps I'll write a book one day, share with other's some of what I've learnt...pass it forward if you will... :)


Here's what a some other folks have to say on Books:

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers.
- Charles W. Eliot (21st President of Harvard University)

A single book at the right time can change our views dramatically, give a quantum boost to our knowledge, help us construct a whole new outlook on the world and our life. Isn't it odd that we don't seek those experiences more systematically?
- Steve Leveen

When I read a book I seem to read it with my eyes only, but now and then I come across a passage, perhaps only a phrase, which has a meaning for me, and it becomes part of me.
- W. Somerset Maugham (English playwright, novelist, and short story writer)

Give me a man or woman who has read a thousand books and you give me an interesting companion. Give me a man or woman who has read perhaps three and you give me a dangerous enemy indeed.
- Anne Rice (American novelist)

Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.
- Maya Angelou (American poet, memoirist, actress, director, and civil rights activist)

You cannot open a book without learning something.
- Confucius (Chinese thinker and social philosopher)

To Make This Life Worth While

I LOVE words, I dream of being an artist of words but... *blushing* I'm not a big fan of poetry, I most often find it too hard and too difficult. :/ Most other type of writing is "better", easier...to the point even if it's long...! :) Poetry is, a lot of the time, a bunch of fancy words, hidden meanings and too weird to have the heart that I find in other writing...

But! :D There are of course exceptions to this preconception of mine! ;) Sometimes poetry is bursting with heart, truth and beauty that no in no other way could be shared but in the poetic form...

To Make This Life Worth While
~ George Eliot

May every soul that touches mine-
Be it the slightest contact-
Get therefrom some good;

Some little grace; one kindly thought;
One aspiration yet unfelt;

One bit of courage
For the darkening sky;

One gleam of faith
To brave the thickening ills of life;

One glimpse of brighter skies
Beyond the gathering mists-

To make this life worthwhile

More Coelho...! Declaration of principles

1] All human beings are different. And should do everything possible to continue to be so.
2] Each human being has been granted two courses of action: that of deed and that of contemplation. Both lead to the same place.
3] Each human being has been granted two qualities: power and gift. Power drives man to meet his destiny, his gift obliges him to share with others that which is good in him. A man must know when to use his power, and when to use his gift.
4] Each human being has been granted a virtue: the capacity to choose. For he/she who does not use this virtue, it becomes a curse – and others will always choose for him/her.
5] Each human being has the right to two blessings, which are: the blessing to do right, and the blessing to err. In the latter case, there is always a path of learning leading to the right way.
6] Each human being has his own sexual profile, and should exercise it without guilt – provided he does not oblige others to exercise it with him/her.
7] Each human being has his own Personal Legend to be fulfilled, and this is the reason he is in the world. The Personal Legend is manifest in his enthusiasm for what she/he does.
Single paragraph – the Personal Legend may be abandoned for a certain time, provided one does not forget it and returns as soon as possible.
8] Each man has a feminine side, and each woman has a masculine side. It is necessary to use discipline with intuition, and to use intuition objectively.
9] Each human being must know two languages: the language of society and the language of the omens. The first serves for communication with others. The second serves to interpret messages from God.
10] Each human being has the right to seek out joy, joy being understood as something which makes one content – not necessarily that which makes others content.
11] Each human being must keep alight within him the sacred flame of madness. And must behave like a normal person.
12] The only faults considered grave are the following: not respecting the rights of one’s neighbor, letting oneself be paralyzed by fear, feeling guilty, thinking one does not deserve the good and bad which occurs in life, and being a coward.
Paragraph 1 – we shall love our adversaries, but not make alliances with them. They are placed in our way to test our sword, and deserve the respect of our fight.
Paragraph 2 – we shall choose our adversaries, not the other way around.
12A] We hereby declare the end to the wall dividing the sacred from the profane: from now on, all is sacred.
14] Everything which is done in the present, affects the future by consequence, and the past by redemption.
15] The impossible is possible

/Paulo Coelho


I just read this on Coelho's blog and went...wooow...! WOW! This man is just a awesome... It's a bit mind boggling that there's this person out there, right here and now, writing/speaking such obvious truths, the truths of my own heart and soul... Even if some things might not be completely "in tune" with my spirit I have yet to find (and believe you I'm looking!) something that's off...!

My favourite principle is Everything which is done in the present, affects the future by consequence, and the past by redemption. ...that and Each human being has the right to seek out joy, joy being understood as something which makes one content – not necessarily that which makes others content. And! ...from now on, all is sacred. it's just...aaah! Wow!

Elizabeth Gilbert

I really have to have a closer look at ted.com...!

I found this inspiring speech by Elizabeth Gilbert (author of amazing "Eat, Pray, Love") on another blog and wow, it is so worth the 19 min and 32 sec it takes to hear it!
Especially if you are a creative spirit or dream of releasing the creativity within you...



Olé!