“Do not wait for leaders, do it alone, person to person”

First, I am making my way to all of the blogs that requested a visit. This is taking some time as I want to fully investigate your blog. Hopefully soon I will have visited you all!

 

I like to collect thought provoking quotes, sayings, poems, and thoughts. This has always been my favorite. It was said by mother Teresa.

 

image from http://www.arts-wallpapers.com

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. 

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends, and some genuine enemies. Succeed Anyways. 

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyways.

What you spend years creating others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. 

The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

~Mother Teresa

 

 

May peace find you this holiday season.

 

 

Come and knock on my door, I’ve been waiting for you.

Hello 2 am. Why no, this is not three’s company, I am not glad you knocked on my door.

As I lay awake in bed, and my mind wanders endlessly through all the things in life that piss me off, I find myself wondering, what do people think about when they are unable to sleep? Do you too lay awake thinking about your personal life struggles?

For me, I know I lay awake thinking through all of the 1100 plus legal rights I am denied every single day. It rolls over and over in my mind until I want to scream. But, truly it is not the denial of rights that keep me up, but the people who call themselves my friends that do not care that I am denied such basic rights.

When I have had enough of that I begin to scrutinize my lesson plans for school. Sending myself into a tizzy over getting all of students to actually learn calculus instead of sit in the back of the class with a unicorn mask on. True story.

I wonder if it would be possible to turn my thoughts to happy fluffy thoughts on restless nights. Maybe everyone else lays awake thinking of thanksgiving dinner, or magical vacations. Because naturally the best happy thoughts involve pumpkin pie and vacation. Oh my god y’all we should all go on a thanksgiving vacation where pumpkin pie is served everyday.

As I struggle on my journey towards inner peace, knowing full well, you cannot find inner peace. It is already within you. I know I must let my frustration go. Frustration is a simple emotion. It changes nothing but your perspective of the world around you. It does not actually change the world around you.

Whether I sleep at all tonight will not make the sun rise any later, or my boss suddenly decide we can do without that lunch meeting. It will make me super sleepy and probably nauseous all day, but hey inner peace wasn’t achieved in a day. Many spend their entire lives trying to calm their inner mind, but few are able to do so.

Namaste

 

p.s. you are totally singing the theme song to three’s company right now aren’t you?

p.p.s I totally miss 70’s tv.

Is the glass half empty or half full?

Violence vs. Peace

The polls have closed. The numbers have been crunched. There is a winner and it is not me. I live in the least peaceful state in the Country.

image from wikipedia

Not only did we lose, but we have been last place for 11 years in a row. How did they calculate peace? Well, the absence of violence. Seeing as New Orleans is the 21st most violent city in the world, this ranking does not surprise.

Top Ten Peaceful Places:

1. Maine- It is too cold to be violent.

2. Vermont- Ben and Jerry’s Factory within driving distance. Who wouldn’t be happy?

3. New Hampshire- I love this state:)

4. Minnesota- The biggest mall in the states. Hello, fabulous!

5. Utah- The mormon’s live here. They don’t believe in violence only procreation. Wish we all could be too busy having sex to be violent.

6. North Dakota- Everyone here is frozen solid.

7. Washington- Hippies that made it rich are always peaceful.

8. Hawaii- Beaches and oceans and love.

9. Rhode Island- I know nothing about Rhode Island. Sorry.

10. Iowa- Wide open spaces lots of room to miss hitting someone with your bullet.

 

P.S.

Eight of the lowest ten states are all in the south.

 

 

How to bring peace to the world with a mason jar

What did you do this weekend NeverContrary?

Well, prepare yourselves,  I ran out of butter. The moment came as quite a shock. I began running through the streets screaming in horror, causing quite the frenzy. Neighbors running inside to make sure they had not run out either. How would I survive? What would we eat? I think the earth stop spinning.

Then it came to me. I could make my own butter. I could make the best butter the world has ever seen. Life changing butter. Peace throughout the world.

Of course I had to share, my life changing butter recipe with my faithful followers.

Best Butter Ever:

Heavy whipping Cream

Mason Jar

1. Let the whipping cream reach room temperature and put it into your mason jar.

so creamy and delicious

2. Shake. Shake. Shake. Should take about ten minutes. I promise.

You know it's done when it goes "clump"

3. Wrap in cheese cloth to strain out the butter milk. Run under cold water and rinse out excess butter milk. It will cause the butter to go bad. Which would be Traumatizing I can assure you.

Begin to change the world with your butter

4. Mix in whatever flavor you like: salt, cinnamon, lavender, rosemary.

Enjoy!

*This blog makes no claims your butter will actually change the world*

Dream Vacation Part 1

Those of you that have been following me for a long time know I post almost everyday and for me to go almost a week without posting is insane.

So why?

I went on vacation. Doesn’t everyone go on vacation for their week of mardi gras break. Oh wait you don’t get a week off for mardi gras. Sucks to be you.

I knew you would all be beyond jealous because not only did I go on vacation, but I went to everyone’s dream location. Alabama. Most dream their entire lives of a vacation on the coast of Alabama. Lucky for you I have been planning a series of blogs to show you through photo and story, so it will be as if you were there.

Part One: The Beach

The beach in Alabama is white sand, crystal blue water, and beautiful tranquility.

Even on a cloudy cold day it is truly breathtaking. Just the wind coming in off the ocean calms the soul. I have often wondered if the ocean breeze was whispering sweet nothings to my soul when I wasn’t looking.

 

You could see the simple tracks of birds covering the sand. A quiet gesture to the untouched place.

Do you notice anything amiss? Look closer. From our condo I could easily see 8 oil rigs. EIGHT! It breaks my heart. I am truly saddened that there is little left in this world untouched by greed and money.

I hope someone will stand up for our world and the natural beauty that is left.

 

How to find peace in 325 easy steps

In amazing mind blowing news I have been freshly pressed !! They pressed a post I wrote a week ago Let’s be friends… wait never mind. I am completely humbled that my silly little sarcastic thoughts could be freshly pressed.

To all of my new followers – Hello ! Welcome aboard the crazy train.

To all of my original followers- Thank you for your support every post!

 

Peace.

Every where you turn people are looking for it. Is it under this rock. Maybe it is in this book. Nope. Wait it is in a new diet program. Wrong again. Let’s just blame everyone else for keeping us from our peace.

Oh dear.

The problem with searching for peace is that it cannot be found. Peace is already here. It is within you just waiting patiently. Why can’t you feel it? Well because you are holding onto everything else so tightly you have buried it. You must let go. Let go of everything. That anger you feel after any politician opens their mouth. Let it go. That ex that did you wrong ten times to sunday. Let it go. The shiny new toys you can’t afford. Let it go.

Inhale Recognize what you cannot control

Exhale Release it out into the world.

You will find all that is left is peace.

Damn it – I tried all of that and I am still wound up so tight I fear I may explode into one of those tragic facebook posts where I end up looking like a giant tool.

Ok Ok maybe you just need to get laid then.

 

 

*Photo from http://traceygjones.files.wordpress.com*

One Love

What I have to say tonight will change you life

Are you Ready?

If you want your true inner peace. Life lasting calm and understanding. You need to raise a little cane. More specifically eat a little raising cane’s chicken fingers.

It is a local chain, by a local resident. Who doesn’t like local? The chicken is fresh never frozen. The lemonade is nectar from the gods. Oh and their is a magical special sauce. How special? They sell it as a side or you can fill a drink cup with it so you can take a shower in it if need be.

But why believe me? When a picture says it all?

How is it that they are the best chicken fingers ever made? Simple One Love. The only thing this restaurant serves is chicken fingers. It is simple, it is beautiful, and it is how life should be.

If only we could focus on one love. Truly focus on each thing in life as it is happening. Not worry about what everyone else is doing or saying, not worrying about the future. Simply appreciating each moment as one perfect moment that cannot be relived.

 

*photo from http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/*

 

Namaste

I follow the Dali Lama on twitter. Yep. He tweets everyday an hour before I wake up. It is positive words of wisdom and compassion that I love starting my day with. A nice reminder that no matter what someone does or says you should show them compassion and love. Something I must admit I often find challenging. Especially as long as Rick Perry is making commercials reminding me about how I have to celebrate Christmas in fear every year. Damn war on religion.

So I thought I would pass along some of my favorite Dali Lama quotes to pass along the kindness this holiday season

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”

“I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.”

“If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.”

“In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher.”

“There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness.”

~Namaste ~