Risk

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud

was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

- Anais Nin                                     



This is a quote that found its way to me, again, just when I needed. I love how the universe works that way.

I first came out when I was 21 and came out in stages as I became more comfortable with the process. By the time I was 23, I was out to everyone except for my parents. Fear doesn't begin to describe what I was feeling. I knew that it was going to change their world and, most likely, devastate them to a large degree. The environment in which I was raised and information I possessed were mutually exclusive. I knew that it was going to change our relationship forever and may very well destroy it all together. So I wore a mask and pretended.

I have no idea how I pulled it off successfully for almost 2 years. All I know is that by the time July 2003 came around, I had had about all that I could handle. It was killing me. I kept the mask for so long because I was afraid of losing my parents and the relationship that we had. But I came to realize that the relationship wasn't "real" because of that very mask. It killed me to lie to them for so long. I think that is what hurt me the most. I was raised to be an honest person, but also raised to believe that homosexuality is wrong. I finally decided that our beliefs may be different, but that in telling them I would be both truthful to them AND myself. I would be honest and put my integrity first. It was too hard to pretend anymore. It was, at the same time, the hardest thing that I have ever had to do and the most liberating.

That quote spoke to me and told me exactly what I needed to do....and I've not regretted it a single moment since.

Be Yourself

"It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are."

- e.e. cummings                                        



Not really too much to say about this one.....it is just a particularly good quote, in my opinion. Not to mention, that its an incredibly true one.

Sail

Twenty years from now,

you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do

than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bow lines.

Sail away from the harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore.

Dream.

Discover.

- Mark Twain                                              

You, no doubt, can tell by now that I am a big fan of things that inspire one to live the greatest life possible. I love the thought of taking as many chances as possible and seeing where the cards fall, because you never know what may happen as a result. I am very good at playing it safe, so I keep things like this around to give me a little push now and then.

Horoscope



Just because you've walked quite a long way down a certain path doesn't mean that you can't switch routes and destinations now. Surely, you should be naturally reluctant to leave all that behind, but you shouldn't let your reluctance keep you from ultimately doing it. As far as we know, this is your one life, your one chance to be happy. One of your strengths is your loyalty, but it can also be your weakness if you're sticking to something (or someone) that makes you unhappy. Go ahead and think long and hard about your options before you give up on something you've invested so much time and energy in. But, there may come a time when it is time to jump ship or to go down with it (or just sail on, miserably). Hopefully you will have the guts to do what you've got to do.

I don't take horoscopes very seriously at all. They are fun to read every once in a while and nine times out of ten, they are WAY off base. But this one, this horoscope, caught me off guard. It fit my life so perfectly at that time, almost that very moment, even. It may as well have been addressed directly to me. It was exactly what I needed to hear. I clipped it and kept it. It may have been perfect for the day it was intended years ago...but it is also a message that I reread every once in a while just because its timeless in a way and something worth being reminded of to keep things in perspective...and maybe not for just this Capricorn.

Genius



"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition

from mediocre minds."

-Einstein                                

This is, hands down, my favorite quote. Ever. I had intended to save this for a later post, but was inspired to use it today based on a religious debate/exchange that took place in a facebook thread. I find it frustrating, beyond words, to discuss something with someone/people who refuse to even consider another side to a subject. As cliche' as it may be, it is like arguing with a brick wall...except said brick walls usually have mouths and no ears. Sigh. I won't get on that soapbox. Just know that I love this quote....especially on days like today.

Under the Influence

"...to influence a person is to give him one's own soul. He does not think his natural thoughts, or burn with his natural passions. His virtues are not real to him. His sins, if there are such things as sins, are borrowed. He becomes an echo of someone else's music, as actor of a part that has not been written for him."

I was never much of a reader growing up and, even in my high school years, I don't know how I survived English classes with glossing over required reading...if reading them at all. All I can remember about reading, until I was 25 or so, is that I would rather have put out a campfire with my face than pick up a book. Eventually I acquired the taste and, for that, I am thankful. 

While looking at movie previews online some time ago, I saw a clip for a movie called "Dorian Gray." I found the it very interesting and searched to find out whatever else I could. Of course, I found that it was based on a famous literary work (I was clueless, I know). Months before seeing the movie, I read the book - and I fell in love with it. I found it intriguing and, personally, very provocative. 

Taken from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, this is an excerpt of a conversation between the title character and Lord Henry Wotton. I especially enjoy the irony of the comment, given that the context of the entire conversation is intended to influence Dorian. Taking place in chapter two, the pages surrounding this specific exchange between the two characters is, by far, my favorite part of the book.

Do-Over

If I had my life to live over, I would like to make more mistakes next time.

I would relax more.

I would limber up.

I would be sillier than I have been this trip.

I would take fewer things so seriously.

I would take more chances.

I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.

I would eat more ice cream and less vegetables.

I would, perhaps, have more troubles...but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You see,

I am one of those people that lives sensibly and sanely,

hour after hour,

day after day.

Oh, Ive had my moments and, if I had it to do all over again,

I would have more of them.

In fact, I would try to have nothing else;

just moments, one after another,

instead of living so many years ahead of each day.

I would travel lighter than I have this time.

I would start barefoot earlier in the spring

and stay that way later into the fall.

I would go to more dances.

I would ride more merry-go-rounds.

I would pick more daisies.

 

-Unknown                                               

With all of the recent attention given to proclamations of "end times" and "the rapture" happening on May 21, 2011, I found myself thinking about how I would feel if the world was really coming to an end. I don't like to say that I have any regrets in life...but I would be lying if I didn't think about how I would do things a little differently if given the chance for a "do-over." I think we all consider that sometimes. Then, I remembered this quote that I had scribbled down a few years ago. I don't remember where I found it...but its a pretty good representation of my thoughts in the last couple days.

Life Is Wonderful

Life Is Wonderful

by: Jason Mraz

The lyrics to this song are amazing! But rather than post all of them, I figured I would just post the video instead.

If you don't feel good after listening to this song, then there's something wrong.....that's all there is to it. :)

Whistling In the Dark

There's only one thing that I know how to do well.

And I've often been told that you only can do what you know how to do well.

And that's be you...be what you're like...be like yourself...

Whistling In the Dark                       

by: They Might Be Giants               

They Might Be Giants is a great band and, in my opinion, FLOOD is their best album. The lyrics above are the chorus to the amusing song, whose message is clearly to just be yourself. Those lines have always sort of stuck in my head. 

Truth

Be your own light, your own refuge.

Believe only that which you test for yourself.

Do not accept authority merely because it comes from a great man

or is written in a sacred book,

for truth is different for each man and woman.

-Buddha                                                  

When I was a senior in high school, another student did a large painting for a gallery opening of senior students' art. It was a self-portrait and over the image he wrote this quote. I was completely blown away by the quote. It was one of those moments when I felt like I was seeing for the first time. It had a profound effect on me. I took a photo of the piece and I still have it to this day.

The Beginning

I have always loved how words have the ability to make you feel just about anything. A quote, a piece of literature, the lyrics to a song can all inspire hope, anger, laughter, sadness - the whole range of human emotions. Over the past several years, I have collected many things that have "spoken" to me on some level or another.

A friend of mine recently began a blog of his own (www.iowords.blogspot.com) and it inspired me to do the same so that I can share the things I have and that I continue to collect. Who knows.....maybe you will like some of them as much as I do.

Thanks for stopping by.

-k