absolutwillie

Tag: life truths

  • "It Gets Better" — Love, Pixar

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a4MR8oI_B8?fs=1]

  • True Colors: it gets better

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnYa9R4N-8c?version=3]
    turn up the volume
    and view this in full screen
    thank you to the Gay Men’s Chorus of LA!

  • headspace

    redrawing,
    revisiting,
    rethinking,
    reviewing,
    re-evaluating and
    redesigning…

    I love my life right now!

    (digging the doodle? pen on paper, snapped with iPhone, modified in PS Mobile and Polarize App)

    Posted by ShoZu

  • slowly

    i’ve recently come to realize that my mini bio on twitter: “living it up slowly”, resonates happily with some other ideas and movements raising their heads around the globe:

    the first, and most obvious, is the slow movement.
    i’m completely enamored with this approach to living, working, eating – and especially learning! where do i sign up to be part of a “slow school”? (giggle if you must.)

    being part of the fast-food-style education system, yet striving to remain human and sane (and to teach my students how to be human and sane), has opened my eyes to a number of changes that are necessary. much can be gleamed from this excerpt taken from the “slow education” page of the slow movement website:

    The process [of education] is about things like how are ideas conceptualised, how can we support learning and the knowing of how to learn, as well as the love of learning and investigating. 
    Slow education is also about connection to knowledge and to learning – real learning. It is about leading a skilful life – doing no harm – and having respect for all living and non-living things.

     this connects nicely to the next idea that keeps popping up:
    our current systems, curricula and approaches to education (life) are outdated and failing our children.

    A new favorite of mine, Sir Ken Robinson, has quite a few things to say about this. I stumbled onto his genius on TED.com – check him out if you get a chance. for those in a rush, here’s a cool glimpse of what he suggests:

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U?fs=1&hl=en_US&w=320&h=265]

    makes you think ;0)

  • Joel Burns reaches out

    … and I hope many more will stand up for the cause of love and acceptance.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax96cghOnY4?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&w=320&h=265]
    If your child, or a child you know of, is self-identiefied or even perceived to be lgbti – PLEASE reach out to him/her in love and acceptance. Even if you do not understand it yourself – does that matter when you’re saving a life?
    And if your child, or a child you know of, is bullying others – PLEASE take action, and save another life – as well as his/her soul. Being – or believing to be the cause of another’s death, is also life-threatening and soul destroying.
    Lastly, let us all take a moment to remember where children get their ideas from: We are culpable. We are responsible. We form their opinions, their attitudes and beliefs – and however indirectly, we guide their actions.
    Did my silence/rashness contribute to someone’s feeling of hopelessness?
    Did my invisibility contribute to a suicide?
    Did yours?

  • why i am

    Love is the law.
    and no, I’m not talking about romance and cozy cuddles, special winks and sweet nothings… i’m talking about the nitty-gritty, push up your sleeves and sweat ’til you bleed kind of love. Loving your neighbor – in it’s broadest extent.

    i have been through a terrible patch – and I’m not out of the woods yet – but I have again realized the all-importance of Love. in these last few months, i have received compassion, acceptance, support and kindness from all sorts of unexpected places. here in blogland, here in Taiwan and from across the planet. people i never knew had it in them – including people i never knew at all.

    through this, i have found that returning love to those around me – not only makes a significant difference in their lives – but it also heals me.

    starting from a place of Love, i have made an effort to be there for my students. to reach out to my colleagues. to walk in kindness and compassion with those who cross my path in all sorts of ways. to put the past to rest and find new perspectives all ’round.

    it is not always easy – for i am not a perfect being. but i am committed to stay true to Love, and by Grace alone, i am making a difference.

    i have often asked myself: “What is my purpose? What is my goal? Why am I here?”
    i am glad to say that i’ve accepted the answer.
    Paulo Coelho tweeted it – and my heart resonated:
    “Your dream is your mission.”

    mine has always been: “Love”
    that is why i am.

  • reviewing '09

    in the spirit of remembering and reviewing the past year, i’m revisiting my post “reviewing 08” to see what’s up:

    1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
    I proposed marriage.

    2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? 
    yup – celebrated 2 years of sobriety and reached my goal weight.
    for 2010 i’ve resolved to wait for Peter.

    3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
    Nadia and Etienne were blessed with a bundle of joy!

    4. Did anyone close to you die?
    yes.

    5. What countries did you visit? 
    Hong Kong (Taiwan and SA)

    6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? 
    certainty, where certainty is possible.

    7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
    Christmas Eve… Peter and i separated.

    8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? 
    making it to the 2 years of sobriety mark none the less.

    9. What was your biggest failure?
    loosing my cool when faced with infidelity.

    10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
    some epileptic fits, but nothing significant.

    11. What was the best thing you bought? 
    our air tickets to SA.

    12. Whose behavior merited celebration? 
    still my Mom!

    13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? 
    unfortunately this answer is already way too clear.

    14. Where did most of your money go? 
    debt

    15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? 
    Peter

    16. What song will always remind you of 2009? 
    Lady GaGa’s “Bad Romance”

    17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer? 
    a) sadder
    b) thinner
    c) richer

    18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
    holding his hand.

    19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
    worrying

    20. How did you spend Christmas? 
    took the high speed rail to Taipei to visit Simon and Mathilda.

    21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
    with Peter – over and over again – even after the disaster.

    22. What was your favorite TV program? 
    Project Runway, while we had TV.

    23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? 
    no.

    24. What was the best book you read? 
    Lamb: the Gospel according to Biff, Christ’s childhood pal.

    25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
    that singing like Barbara Streisand is a great way to work through my emotions.

    26. What did you want and get? 
    a job that kept me in Taiwan.

    27. What did you want and not get?
    commitment

    28. What was your favorite film of this year?
    i really loved “Were the world mine”

    29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 
    Peter took me to a western-style pasta restaurant for dinner on my 31st birthday.

    30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? 
    hearing a certain someone say “I do”

    31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
    plaid

    32. What kept you sane? 
    my relationship with God

    33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? 
    missed that bus completely

    34. What political issue stirred you the most? 
    state-sponsored homophobia in Africa

    35. Who did you miss? 
    my sister… still…

    36. Who was the best new person you met?
    Laura Moroni, my replacement at TFC.

    37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
    when you’re about to loose your cool – pray!

    38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
    “I want your everything…”

  • good advice

  • prayer request

    i know this isn’t really what anyone wants to read so close to the festive season, but if you have the inclination, please spare a thought or two:
    for my old friend Leon, who has lost the battle against cancer and can now only wait…
    for Love to grow and heal where me and Peter so desperately need it, and
    for our friends and families that have their own journeying and healing to go through.

    and remember – live life fully and live life now.
    tomorrow… well, tomorrow is not a promise we can keep.

  • intermission: on religion

    i just wish the Bible-thumping, fear-mongering, hate-and-damnation types would stop shouting: “Do you know Jesus!” and start asking: “Can you see Jesus in me?”