I'll take the painful truth over a pleasant lie any day!!
(More on this to come. Sleep on that fah now!)
Peace & Ble$$ing$ (Ng)
June 29, 2010
I found the keys to Happiness & Succe$$
If we strive to do even half the things mentioned in these two pieces of writing, we'd live such an ideal life and obviously be better people. I know the happiness we would yield within would not only be perpetual but unbreakable as well. The men who wrote these pieces were most definitely enlightened. These are two of my favorite poems. Both stumbled upon at dear friends of mines houses, titles typed into my "memo pad" in my blackberry to google later, and read every few days to keep myself in check. Other poems rarely made me think as deep as these two have. They've made me feel like I've gained some special insight or the secrets to life have been revealed to me. The first is Desiderata by Max Ehrman and the second is titled "IF" by Rudyard Kipling.
Peace & Ble$$ing$ (Ng)
Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
IF
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream–and not make dreams your master,
If you can think–and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings–nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
YOURS IS THE EARTH AND EVERYTHING THATS IN IT,
And–which is more–you’ll be a Man, my son!
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream–and not make dreams your master,
If you can think–and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings–nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
YOURS IS THE EARTH AND EVERYTHING THATS IN IT,
And–which is more–you’ll be a Man, my son!
June 22, 2010
Matthieu Ricard on the habits of happiness
Via one of my favorite websites. Ted.Com where intellects from various fields speak on whats important to them in 18 mins or less. Well, that's what is requested but some do go a couple mins over. Nevertheless one of the most inspiring and informative sites EVER. I'll post at least 1 good video a week. Some are funny, some may leave you a little more perplexed then you were before and some are enlightening, but all will make you think and at least broaden your perspective.
Peace & Ble$$ing$ (Ng)
(Matthieu and the Dalai Lama)
Ted.Com - "Sometimes called the "happiest man in the world," Matthieu Ricard is a Buddhist monk, author and photographer.
After training in biochemistry at the Institute Pasteur, Matthieu Ricard left science behind to move to the Himalayas and become a Buddhist monk -- and to pursue happiness, both at a basic human level and as a subject of inquiry. Achieving happiness, he has come to believe, requires the same kind of effort and mind training that any other serious pursuit involves.
His deep and scientifically tinged reflections on happiness and Buddhism have turned into several books, including The Quantum and the Lotus: A Journey to the Frontiers Where Science and Buddhism Meet. At the same time, he also makes sensitive and jaw-droppingly gorgeous photographs of his beloved Tibet and the spiritual hermitage where he lives and works on humanitarian projects.
His latest book on happiness is Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill; his latest book of photographs is Tibet: An Inner Journey. "
"Matthieu Ricard, French translator and right-hand man for the Dalai Lama, has been the subject of intensive clinical tests at the University of Wisconsin, as a result of which he is frequently described as the happiest man in the world."
Robert Chalmers, The Independent
J.Cole- Who Dat
The video for his first single off his debut album. Two of my favorite songs of his are Losing My Balance and Lights Please. Click the titles and check 'em.
Peace & Ble$$ing$ (Ng)
$ubway Chronicle$: From Dope Rides to Random $miley Face$.....
The $ubway never seems to dissapoint me when it comes to witnessing randomness. Sometimes its great things, and other times its just blasphemy! Here's some of the things I've recently spotted:
1. Homo Thug II by Asante Kahari
There was a lady reading this book on the train. Sorry for the bad shot, but it's hard to snap a photo with your berry & still remain inconspicuous lol. But back to it, I saw this lady reading this book and I couldnt help but giggle a bit. I know I shouldn't judge, but it's just so hard when someone chooses to read books like that to expand their horizon. Really, how far are you really expanding it? SMH. While I finished reading "Little Bee" by Chris Cleave, she continued to read her book. Yall tell me, am I wrong to shake my head at her reading selection?
2. Dope Rides
So this Bike had to be the cleanest thing on the F Train! Lol. I had to snap a pic. The guy treated it as if it was his real child! Either way, yall can't tell me this bike aint fresh!?
3. LOL Smiley Face
This spectacle simply made me laugh! Someone really took the time to turn their bagel into to $ubway artwork. Hahahahahaha, gotta love NY.
-Peace & Ble$$ing$ (KA)
June 21, 2010
June 15, 2010
Child Sex Trafficking in Atlanta
Child sex trafficking is an issue all around the world, including the U.S. The most disturbing of our many global atrocities to me. I remember Oprah did an episode on it and my heart ached while tears shed the whole time. Her focus on the issue was in 3rd world countries such as Thailand, China and India. Human trafficking is the fastest growing international crime. I was reading a recent article on child sex trafficking and was surprised to learn that Atlanta, GA is considered of the biggest hubs for under age sex trafficking in the U.S. Teen Identity, a girls' empowerment grouped based in Atlanta, GA, released a PSA video this week that chillingly connects the victims of sex trafficking with their stats. Pray for them, us and the rest of the world.
Peace & Ble$$ing$ (Ng)
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