Good night my friends;

In a brief conversation, a man asked a woman he was pursuing the question:

"What kind of man are you looking for?"
She sat quietly for a moment before looking him in the eye and asking,
"Do you really want to know?" Reluctantly, he said, "Yes."
She began to expound...

"As a woman in this day and age, I am in a position to ask a man what he can do for me that I can't do for myself. I pay my own bills. I take care of my household without the help of anyman... or woman for that matter. I am in the position to ask, "What can you bring to the table?" The man looked at her. Clearly he thought that she was referring to money.

She quickly corrected his thought and stated, "I am not referring to money." I need something more. I need a man who is striving for perfection in every aspect of life."

He sat back in his chair, folded his arms, and asked her to explain.
She said, "I am looking for someone who is striving for perfection mentally because I need conversation and mental stimulation. I don't need a simple-minded man.

I am looking for someone who is striving for perfection spiritually
because I don't need to be unequally yoked... "believers mixed with unbelievers is a recipe for disaster. "I need a man who is striving for perfection financially because I don't need a financial burden. I am looking for someone who is sensitive enough to understand what I go through as a woman, but strong enough to keep me grounded.

I am looking for someone who I can respect.
In order to be submissive, I must respect him.
I cannot be submissive to a man who isn't taking care of his business.
I have no problem being submissive... he just has to be worthy.

God made woman to be a helpmate for man. I can't help a man if he can't help himself.
When she finished her spill, she looked at him.

He sat there with a puzzled look on his face.
He said, "You are asking a lot.

"She replied, "I'm worth a lot."

Send this to every woman who's worth a lot.... and every man who has the wisdom to understand!!! Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry,
the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children.

Kahlil Gibran

The awakening;

A time comes in your life when you finally get it..

When, in the midst of all your fears and insanity,
you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on.

And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum,
your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice,
you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes.

This is your awakening.
You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change...
or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon.

You come to terms with the fact that neither of you is Prince Charming
or Cinderella and that in the real world there aren't always
fairy tale endings (or beginnings for that matter)
and that any guarantee of happily ever after must begin with you...
and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are ... and that's OK.
They are entitled to their own views and opinions.
And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself...
and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.
You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.

You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always about you.
So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself...
and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.

You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailtiesand in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness. You realize that much of the way you view yourself,
and the world around you, is as a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche.

And you begin to sift through all the junk you've been fed about how you should behave,
how you should look, how much you should weigh, what you should wear,
what you should do for a living, how much money you should make, what you should drive,
how and where you should live, who you should marry, the importance of having and raising children, and what you owe your parents, family, and friends.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view.
And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.
You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into begin with ...
and in the process you learn to go with your instincts.

You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive.
And that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a consumer looking for your next fix. You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don't know everything,
it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing.
You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love. How to love, how much to give in love,
when to stop giving and when to walk away.
You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be.
You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes.
And you learn that alone does not mean lonely.

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside,
smoothing things over and ignoring your needs.
You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK....
and that it is your right to want things and to ask for the things you want ...
and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands.
You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love,
kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won't settle for less.

And you learn that your body really is your temple.
And you begin to care for it and treat it with respect.
You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water,
and take more time to exercise. You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear,
and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest.
And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul.

So you take more time to laugh and to play.
You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe you deserve...
and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for
and that wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen.

More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, d
iscipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone...
and that it's OK to risk asking for help. You learn the only thing you must truly fear is the greatest robber of all: FEAR itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms.

And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom. You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions you learn not to personalize things. You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. It's just life happening. And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state -
the ego. You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart's desire.

And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind.
And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility. Finally, with courage in your heart and God by your side you take a stand,
you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best you can.

Anon;

Sometimes,

I allow myself to think about the possibilities of you,
not just the you that you're becoming,
but more so the you that I've always imagined you can be.

Sometimes,
even when I'm struggling
with all the things that being in a relationship with you entails,
still, I am often able to just look pass your past,
and see into the future that you're creating and smile.

For in this new future,
this new you,
all there is you,
and in that,
even I find peace.

Of course,
as I was going into my day,
I never expected to have these thoughts.

Nor did I even
consider the possibility that having you
soon before me would affect me
any differently than it always has,
but sometimes,
even I can be moved by the unseen,
inspired by the unknown(to you),
encouraged even in my own thoughts,
by the fear(s)
that is within you right now!

Sometimes.

Days

Days in and of themselves
have no regal purpose, and yet,
on this day,
I am reminded of you.

Of your smile.
And even a one such as myself
finds today to be special in that instant.

Thanks!

Friendship

In the beginning
of all the great friendships,
the expectation(s)
alwaysexceeds the warnings.

The trepidation though,
is often lessened
by the longing
each person carries
within,
and that,
is the true
question after all!

Words about the Season;

Our memories of summer are often intense because it is a season blessed with a vividness unsurpassed by any other time of year. Our senses are delighted by the bright colors, fresh scents, vibrant flavors, brilliant sunlight, and heat's caress.

There is a sumptuousness about summertime, as both flora and fauna come into their own, regaling us with natural beauty. Our day-to-day circumstances may not change as spring turns into summer, yet we nonetheless feel refreshed. Our burdens seem lighter, and we feel compelled to play, to travel, to relax, and to experience all of life's joys to their full extent during those extended sunlit hours.

Rituals specific to the summer season empower us to attune ourselves to the changes that take place in nature, and within ourselves as the weather grows warmer. Some summertime rituals are highly personal—remnants of past traditions that we have unconsciously preserved through practice. Others can and will be incorporated into our lives whenever we feel the need to experiencesummer's significance on a deeper level.

Summer then, at its core, is a season of light, and by opening ourselves and our spaces to this light, we honor all the joyassociated with the coming months. Unbolting windows and doors, arranging bright-golden blooms in a vase, and turning our faces toward the sun become a celebration when done with intent.

Summer is also a wonderful time to practice focused listening, as the air is filled with beautiful sounds particular to the season. To begin then, find a quiet, solitary spot. For a few precious minutes, pay attention to the workings of your mind and allow it to wander at will. Then turn your attention to the sounds resonating around you and note what you hear, whether the buzzing of bees, our children's laughter, or the song of distant birds.

Thoughts of summers passed, will likely evoke numerous pleasant and joy-filled images in your mind. However, if what you envision seems little more than a piece of your distant past, you can reacquaint yourself with the joys of summertime by immersing yourself in its real and immediate pleasures. Wake up with the sunrise, take a day trip tothe beach, indulge in an ice cream cone, or simply sit quietly in nature's embrace. For as always, the season will pass quickly, but while it remains in front of you, become enveloped in the richness of this life and renew yourself in the wonder of that it will be, no matter what the season may bring!

Loving you richly.
Missing you fully.
Enjoying our connection nevertheless,

Who's Holiday is it anyway?

To realize The value of a sister,
Ask someone Who doesn't have one.

To realize The value of ten years,
Ask a newly Divorced couple.

To realize The value of four years,
Ask a graduate.

To realize The value of one year,
Ask a student who Has failed a final exam.

To realize The value of nine months,
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize The value of one week,
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize The value of one minute,
Ask a person Who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize The value of one-second,
Ask a person Who has survived an accident.


Time waits for no one
Treasure every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more when
you can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or lover,
companion, and/or family member:
lose one before you're ready!

Love,
Breath,
See & Seek.

The rest,
leave to someone who hasn't come as far as you have.

You,

You, who were lost before the beginning, who never came when the call was sent out, me, I do not know which sounds might be precious to you now.

No longer then do I try to recognize you, when, as a surging wave, something is about to manifest within you, before me.

And yet, all the huge images in me, the deeply-sensed far-away landscapes, cities and towers and bridges and un-suspected turns of the path, the powerful life of lands once filled with the presence of gods: all rise with you, to find clear meaning in me, your, forever, elusive one.

You, who are all the gardens I've ever looked upon, and yet, so still full of promise. An open window in a country house,
a warm breeze on a fall day.You, who are, and can always be, within me.

Sometimes,
even though you can't feel a smile from me,
it touches you nevertheless.

Explanations;

Relationships challenge us to accept the unknown of both ourselves and the other,
and this is never easy. Meeting this challenge must be founded on trust.
You need to trust that the other will get whatever they need from you.
You also need to trust that you will get whatever you need from them.

The key word is NEED, not desire.
We are not in relationships to have our desires fulfilled.
It is up to us to fulfill our own desires and stop demanding that they be fulfilled by others.
For example, if you have the desire to be loved,
you must not demand it from someone else.

You fulfill your need for love by expressing it,
and no one can prevent you from doing that.

We usually create difficulties in our relationships
when we let our desires get in the way of the needs.
When we dont get our desires met and that includes things like getting our way,
getting what we want, getting love and attention,
being made to feel important, being shown respect and honor,
and so on we usually get angry, sad, resentful or revengeful.

When that happens we need to stop and ask ourselves what we really need,
and then give it to ourselves rather than demanding it from others.
Its not always easy to know what we need.

While we are conscious of our desires,
our needs are usually related to what we are unconscious of.
Thats why intimacy is an important aspect of all relationships.

Intimacy exposes the unconscious and teaches us trust.
Intimacy helps us to recognize needs and awakens the love to respond to those needs.
It especially empowers us to meet our own needs.

Intimacy says: you are acceptable and lovable just as you are.
It helps to remember that soul is the underlying guide of all relationships.

We always get what we need in our relationships
because the soul always responds to need.
If we dont recognize this,
the problem lies only in our lack of awareness and understanding.

All of our relationships have the potential of showing us who we are as souls,
and asking us to relate as souls to the other.

Thats why our relationship challenges are such powerful forces for personal growth!

In this Life(pmr):

In this life,
there is love that goes unused.

Love that goes unclaimed.
Sometimes,
there is even Love that goes away!

In this way,
many people are made sad, or bitchy,
or angry, or depressed, or sometimes,
just plain confused about life.

In that void,
because of that emptiness
We, those that are not afraid of love
we connect.

Even without touching
we make love
with words
we share love,
even with our thoughts
mostly unspoken.

Which oddly enough,
is the reason there
is real love anyway.

Me, I just like that about life.
No matter the season
I will always be drawn to those
unafraid to feel.

Like you!

Enjoy this day my friend,
and as always,
be blessed as you love again!

Directions to our Father's House;

I really like this one. Someone spent a lot of time on this..

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Make a Right onto Believeth Blvd.
Keep straight and go through the Green Light, which is Jesus Christ.
There, you must turn onto the Bridge of Faith,
which is over troubled water.

When you get off the bridge,
make a Right turn and Keep Straight.
You are on the King's Highway - Heaven-bound.

Keep going for three miles:
One for the Father,
One for the Son, and One for the Holy Ghost.

Then exit off onto Grace Blvd.
From there, make a Right turn on Gospel Lane.

Keep Straight and then make another Right on Prayer Road.

As you go on your way,
Yield Not to the traffic on Temptation Ave.

Also, avoid SIN STREET because it is a DEAD END.

Pass up Envy Drive, and Hate Avenue.

Also, pass Hypocrisy Street, Gossiping Lane, and Backbiting Blvd.

However, you have to go down Long-suffering Lane,
Persecution Blvd. And Trials and Tribulations Ave.
But that's all right, because VICTORY Street is straight ahead!

AMEN!!!!! SEND THESE DIRECTIONS TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY SO THEY WILL NOT GET LOST TOO. "Life is God's gift to you. The way you live it............is your gift to God."

Viewpoint(s) shared:

There is a risk involved in everything
Everytime you share a smile
Everytime you shed a tear
You are opening yourself up to hurt.

Some people tread slowly through life,
Avoiding the closeness risk brings,
Side-stepping the things
they can't understand
Turning away from those
who care too much-Those who care too long,
Those who hold too tightly.

There is never an easy way to love
You can not approach it cautiously
It will not wait for you to arm yourself.

It does not care if you turn away
It is everywhere, it is everything.

Love is the greatest of all risks.
It is not reliable,
it is not cautious,
It is not sympathetic
It is unprejudiced
and unmerciliess.

It strikes the strongest of mind,
And brings them to their knees
in one blow.

Even in the best of times,
love hurts.
It hurts to need,
it hurts to belong,
It hurts to be
the other part of someone else,
Without either of your consent.

But, from the moment
it over takes you,
It hurts worse to be all alone.

The risk of love never depletes;
It grows stronger
and more dangerous with time.

But, it's in the total surrender of all defense,
That we,
no matter weak or strong,
No matter willing or captive,
No matter what,
we truly experience love.

Despite the many things love is not,
Outweighing its allure the things that love is:
Love is surrender without a loss.

It is a gift without cost.
For it consumes your every thought & desire,
It is the fire that fuels you
To do more than pass through life;

It urges you,
instead,
to live.

No matter the outcome,
having felt love,
You will never be the same.

It may scar your heart & soul
And leave you only memories of forever.

Or, it may cause every day of your life
To feel like there is no need for tomorrow.

But,
love is worth it.
It is worth the risk...
For in all of life,
Love is truly
the only risk worth taking.

Feeling Our Words(I liked this):

Words Have Weight Words carry energy and this gives language its power and its potential to heal or hurt. Most of us can remember a time that someone sent a word our way, and it stuck with us. It may have been the first time we received a truly accurate compliment, or the time a friend or sibling called us a name, but either way it stuck.

This experience reminds us that what we say has weight and power and that being conscious means being aware of how we use words. The more conscious we become, the more we deepen our relationship to the words we use so that we speak from a place of actually feeling what we are saying. We begin to recognize that words are not abstract, disconnected entities used only to convey meaning; they are powerful transmitters of feeling.

For the next few days, you might want to practice noticing how the words you say and hear affect your body and your emotional state. Notice how the different communication styles of the people in your life make you feel. Also, watch closely to see how your own words come out and what affect they have on the people around you.

You may notice that when we speak quickly, without thinking, or rush to get our ideas across, our words don't carry the same power as when we speak slowly and confidently, allowing those receiving our words time and space to take them in.

When we carefully listen to others before we speak, our words have more integrity, and when we take time to center ourselves before speaking, we truly begin to harness the power of speech. Then our words can be intelligent messengers of healing and light, transmitting deep and positive feelings to those who receive them. Speak truthfully, and live with integrity.

I believe many things;

And yet today;
I believe that directly across from me on this earth
is a being so much like myself.

In their need for love...
their craving for peace...
their desire for unity...
and that person is connecting with me,
even though we can't speak each other's language,
and we eat different foods,
and we wear different clothes,
and play different games.

Even though we differ in every other way,
we are the same in one way.
We are Love.

We are Love...
underneath the fear.

And I believe we can abolish that FEAR!

I believe we can pull it all away
and get to what the core is...
who we really are.

Which is Love!
What do you believe?

"Fear, in whatever form, prevents the understanding of ourselves
and of our relationship to all things."

Good sex...............

…………… like a great relationship,
requires mutual participation.

Without the efforts of two people,
nothing wonderful can develop
when just one person is
willing to share themselves with another.

Whether it is in love,
in bed or even at lunch,
when one provides
and the other is incapable
of meaningful participation,
what fulfillment can come
from such an encounter?

Which of course,
is my way of saying(?)
I’m not just deleting you,
I’m also releasing
you more fully
back into yourself!

Please, enjoy the moon
as it beckons again
tonight.

Lessons learned

After awhile you learn
the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul
and you learn that love doesn't mean possession
and company doesn't mean security.

And you begin to learn that kisses
aren't contracts
and presents aren't promises
and you begin to accept
your defeats with your head up
and your eyes ahead
with the grace of an adult
not the grief of a child.

And you learn
to build your roads today
because tomorrow's ground
is too uncertain for plans
and futures have ways
of falling down in mid-flight.

After awhile
you learn that
even sunshine
burns if you get too much
so you plant your
own garden
and decorate
your own soul
instead of waiting
for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that
you really can endure
that you really are strong
and you really do have worth
and you learn.......


……………..to love freely,
without unfettered strings attached!

In the beginning(s),

God created man,
who subsequently found himself,
alone.

Seeing this,
God was kind enough to craft from the man,
Woman.

Another who from within,
could stand with the man
and complete his life from the opposite,
and/or at least external point of view.

Marriage thus was consummated!

Oddly enough though,
marriage is often no longer a union of the souls,
as it is a contractual agreement.

Question then,
do not geese have a life long partner?

Why then should a Woman not have the same?
Is she not as capable,
as steadfast, as a bird?

Are not men able to put aside
their worldly ambitions
and seek to hold dear
the ambitions spoken
and honorably contained in their vows
and commitments
towards their wives?

If then,
"to have and to hold"
is not a slogan,
then it must be an attainable goal.

For to come full circle in my thought(s),
the goal is to be with another,
not to be with myself.

The goal of marriage
is the relinquishing
of your will to another,
and so to achieve this goal,
consideration must be given
to the one with whom you seek to wed;

Is he a believer in the premise of marriage,
or just a one wanting to hold you
within the framework of a relational contract.

As for the woman,
does she posses
the desire to see you
through the ages,
or only a one seeking
that which is good and safe
in the now?

Marriage,
oddly enough
is about forever.

Forever my man.
Forever your woman.
Forever no matter!

Anything less than that
is not a marriage at all.

Anything less than that
is actually just another
relational construct
for the here and now,
not tomorrow and always.

Which could be good too,
but not the reason
you were crafted from
within though!

Explanations

Life is not external!

For:
Love,
like laughter
comes from within.

For:
Love,
like a smile,
is born from something we think,
more so than what we feel.

And yet;
Love,
like a river though,
can also cause harm and become dangerous,
when not upon its path,
or contained within its course.

I started to think about this
when I received yet another image
of a cross legged woman.

Not that it matters,
but:
there really is more to what a man seeks
from within you
than what can be readily seen
from the photo of a cross legged female!

Even if
that's all you think,
you have to offer him.

Dreaming

Last night as I lost my way into the night, I dreamed of a future that included you in way that I was unfamiliar with.

Seems that in my recollection, I was folding laundry when the phone rang. Hello I said into the handset, only to be startled by your “hello my love”. Odd actually, I seemed to sense more than know that it was you.

Hi, I said in return, is your day going well? “What with the phones ringing and people popping their heads in, I may never get home on time”, you state rather quickly.

Hmn…………… anything you’d like for dinner I ask?

“Seared scallops, roasted vegetables, and an over chilled chardonnay would be nice!” “I’ll call you from the freeway and let you know when I’m within an hour to home.” “By the way, can you draw me a bath too?”

Surely, I answer. For what else could your man say?

Yet laying there after (for I seem to be able to 3rd person my dreams quite well), I was left wondering about the strength within you.
This part of you that needs me all to deeply, and yet, is prepared to control as much of yourself as I’m willing to allow.


Still, I found it unusual to think of you in this way.

Hmn...

In all honesty:

The beauty of meeting another
is not so much the new reality,
Nor the clarity of purpose,
though to finally know who
and what you like in another
can be and is devastating each time it happens.

Yet the true and pure essence
of meeting your muse is that right then,
there are no excuses.

Now there is only the soft note
of a love that will neither leave you,
Nor forsake you,
Even when you know,
That to give in to it,
Is to die to all that you've believed about yourself,
And the world around you.

Therefore:

Is it cruel to say,
May your tears flow like the majestic river
That has poured off the mountains
That surround you now,
Pure,Clear,
Swift,
Icy cold,
And very much,
Alive!

Well then,
For right now,
May your tears be
All that you know and love,
Forever.

In the between, may what you share here, radiate into your personal orbits as well!