Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Are We Facing an Election Apocalypse 2016?

 “…normalizing the abnormal causes the spirit,
which would normally leap to correct the situation,
to instead sink into ennui, complacency, and eventually…blindness.”
-- Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés in Women Who Run With the Wolves

I'm really not a very politically focused person.  Politics tend to sadden and upset me because I see so much corruption and abuse in that system; therefore, I try to avoid the topic as much as possible.  However, the impending election less than a month away and the responses of our general populace have me doing a whole lot of soul searching and hard thinking.  


Last Friday morning, I woke up with more election thoughts running rampant through my head.  The thoughts were of the insane phenomenon I am witnessing and the wish that others would also take notice and rise up against it.  At the same time, I was reminded we are all so very unique with different ways of viewing things and understood my perception of the current state of affairs can greatly differ from someone else's.  Yet, I have this blog and will continue to write about important topics and offer different ideas and viewpoints that may bring people to rethink before blindly following the masses in any area of life.  While I share this point of view reluctantly, I also feel an extremely urgent leading to do so.  


Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Eeny Meeny Miny Moe...Who is Going to Get Our Vote?

As this presidential election looms before the people of the United States of America, we find ourselves eyes wide open, staring like a deer in the headlights.  The choice set before us is certainly a difficult one to make.  Our nation has strayed from the long ago established ideal that the presidential office should be held by a person of integrity, honesty, and respect and who is by the people and for the people. 

Where is the candidate who has sincere regard for the well-being of our nation as a whole and for the people as a whole? 

Where is the presidential candidate with the character worthy of leading our Democratic Republic into the future? 

Friday, March 11, 2016

Book Review - When Breath Becomes Air

When Breath Becomes AirWhen Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a treasure of a book! I'm so glad I read it and let it touch my heart.
The author, a neurosurgeon resident, wrote this book as he battled terminal illness with lung cancer. Paul Kalanithi shares some of his personal life experiences and his questions relating to the meaning of life and the human struggle with death. His wife's epilogue brought me the most tears.

My favorite excerpts:

pg. 98 - "...in taking up another's cross, one must sometimes get crushed by the weight."

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

What is Truth


What is truth?  

Is truth simply the opposite of a lie?  I don’t think so.  

I am not writing on the topic of truth to expound on how telling a truth versus telling a lie.  I think that would only cause us to go round and round with reaching the heart of the matter.  My goal is to delve deeper and address the differences between subjective and objective truth.  I have reached the conclusion that truth tends to be more subjective rather than objective, especially regarding the topics of God or religious belief, humanity, and the origin of all that exists.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Belief and Faith Propel Us Toward Success


I am currently reading the book The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce.  Harold is a retired man whose life and marriage are lifeless.  On the day he receives a letter from an old friend who is dying of cancer, Harold finds himself unintentionally deciding to walk over 500 miles to visit her and give his regards in person.  He embarks on this journey unprepared in every way and without any necessary supplies.  As Harold walks miles and miles, he encounters all sorts of different people, and these encounters bring about a change in Harold’s character, beliefs, and ideas.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

This is You. Be Yourself!



Each one of us is as unique as the snowflakes that fall from the sky.

Each one of us is as distinctive as the fingerprints at the end of each finger on our hands.

As each snowflake unites with millions of others to become the beautiful sight we call snow, each one of us is a complement to all of humanity. 

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Celebrating Daily Steps to Success

https://heartofthearts.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/light-steps.jpg

“Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day.” 
–Jim Rohn

Since writing my last post, I’ve taken a few disciplined steps every day.  These steps have not been taken by random luck or chance.  They have required a deliberate effort on my part.

Sunday night before going to sleep I told myself that in the coming week I would be more intentional with my daily activities and with taking steps toward my desired goals.  I had had enough of letting the hours in my days slip through my fingers like sand, going to bed saying to myself: “I know I was really “busy” today doing stuff.  But, what steps did I take toward reaching my current life goals and dreams?”

I woke up Monday morning, sleepily sat up in my bed, and then flopped myself back down on the pillow feeling the all too familiar surges of doubt, fear, and hesitancy.  The same, old self-sabotaging questions and thoughts swirled through my head: 

Friday, January 22, 2016

Daily Steps to Success


It’s true that I often tell people my children have taught me a great deal.  As their mom, I nurtured and taught them as they grew from babies to young adults.  As we have experienced life together over the years, they have also taught me. Though all three of them are now adults and living on their own, they are still teaching me.   On any given day, as I offer wisdom and encouragement to my children in whatever joy or sorrow they face, I also share the same wisdom and encouragement with myself.  Usually, I end up telling myself, “Yea MaryAnn, live by what you are saying to them!” 

Monday, January 11, 2016

Changed


Along life’s journey, every single experience we have has an effect on who we are today and who we become tomorrow.  Whether it’s an experience or encounter that we consider insignificant or one that feels earth shattering, each one is a part of our continual growth and development.  Over the past two years, strong winds have created ripples that have led me away from religion and religious doctrine.  This new year brings me to making a number of changes to this blog and to what I write about and share from my heart. 

One of my favorite quotes was spoken by Corrie Ten Boom, a woman who survived one of Hitler’s concentration camps.
  
I agree with Corrie that every single thing we experience and every person that touches our life creates a ripple effect and leads us into our future.  Sometimes the ripples are soft and gentle as if a breeze were slightly blowing the surface of water.  At other times, the ripples turn into huge, frothy waves as if hurricane winds were wildly tossing the water to and fro.