...to live deliberately...

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to it's lowest terms, and, if proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish it's meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion."

 - Walden, Henry David Thoreau.

also God

my friend Megs started a blog. she's such a good writer. this poem in particular stood out for me. check it out. then click on the title below to go to her blog and read her other stuff. so good.

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also God

You are also God
of the darkness and shame
that remains close
as the blood in my veins.
You are also God
of the vast loneliness
that threatens to collapse my heart.
You are also God
of the anger and bitterness
that pours out like venom
when I am terrified and insecure.
You are also God
of empty hours in the dead of night
when breathing seems too much to ask
of somebody who only wants it
to stop.
You are also God
of those who don’t know
where You are
anymore.

megan donald, june 2008

...with you...

All I want to say is "I am sad with you."

But it's not enough.
It is inadequate.
It is my heart...

So instead I scribble a whole paragraph of words...like "condolences" and "comfort" and "see him again someday."

And then I realize that the paragraph isn't adequate either.

So I say nothing. I just sit with you, and share in your sadness.

"The Church is a hospital for the sick, not a museum for the saints" - Abigail van Buren

Birthday wish...

My birthday was last week, so it's a new year for me. I ran into this today on twitter, felt like divine what-what, so I decided to share it with y'all.

"I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you're making mistakes, then you are making new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever."

- Neil Gaiman.

Feeling the blues...

A low mood is not the time to analyse your life. To do so is emotional suicide. If you have a legitimate problem, it will still be there when your state of mind improves. The trick is to be grateful for our good moods and graceful in our low moods. The next time you feel low remind yourself, 'this too shall pass.' It will.

- Richard Carlson, Ph.D.

lessons from life and work

"How many of us have unstated, uncaring attitudes towards our careers? How many of us view work as drudgery, as no more than a way to earn that next paycheck? How many of us have wondered about the spiritually uplifting aspect of work? Can a workforce that views work as merely a chore, be ethical? Can it produce truly life enhancing technology? Can it make positive contributions to the quality of life of a society? I think not."

lessons from life and work - srini chandra