| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| plum |
Posted - 02/02/2013 : 04:10:07
Ladies and Gentleman,
With thanks to Tom for this nudge,
would you please suggest books (feel-good novels especially welcome), poems, letters, what-have-you, that you have found uplifting and joyful.
Tom mentioned Dan Millman in a thread yesterday and it reminded me that I have an unread copy of The Way of the Peaceful Warrior sitting on one of my many bookshelves.
Suggestions need not be worthy or particularly edifying. Cheesy is fine. Given my penchant for intense, brooding literature, which does me few favours in the healing stakes, I welcome the cheery with open arms.
|
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| shawnsmith |
Posted - 02/06/2013 : 17:27:21
Lessons From An Inchworm
by Shawn Smith- written on June 20, 2006
"Have you heard that it was good to gain the day? I also say it is good to fall, battles are lost in the same spirit in which they are won." - Walt Whitman, Songs of Myself.
"Soon will We show them Our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth) and in their own souls until it becomes manifest to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that thy Lord doth witness all things?-" Holy Quran Surah Ha-Mim Surah 41
On a recent cool and breezy spring morning I sat under a pine tree in a park near my home. I was ruminating about my current troubles, the aches and pains in my body and the state of the world in general. To say the least I was depressed and did not arrive at any easy solutions to my and the world's plight. It seemed, lately, that all my prayers went unanswered and that the heavens were like brass. As I sat there, I sought direction in a book I held in my hand which was written by some academic egghead.
After a brief pause from my reading I looked up and there before me was a single, solitary inchworm. It was ever so slowly moving upward on an invisible thread. The wind was blowing and the worm swayed back and forth. I expected that it would not successfully arrive at its intended destination due to the difficulties it had to encounter.
I watched the worm for a minute or two and then, becoming impatient with its progress, I continued on with my reading. The worm paid no heed to what I thought nor was it discouraged over my impatience. It continued on with its upward ascent despite the difficulties it was facing.
After some moments I looked up again and the worm had moved up a few more inches, but again I did not have the patience to concentrate on what it was doing. I had my own problems and had no time for worms, so I returned to my book.
Some minutes later I looked up yet again and there I witnessed the worm climb unto the tree branch on which the thin thread was attached. The worm had made it despite my doubts and impatience.
Every single moment of my existence I am being taught lessons which seek to equip me with the ability to live a full life and provide the direction I need. Sadly, I am not always attuned to these lessons and miss out on some precious opportunities. I cry out to God to give me a sign or some kind of direction, and yet that which I seek is sitting right in front of me. And such was the incident of the inchworm. Regardless of what others may think, regardless of the seemingly insurmountable obstacles and apparent impossibility of achieving that which I set out to do in life, I must, like the inchworm, keep trying. Success is not measured by whether I reach my destination or not, but lies in the effort that I make to get there.
There are those who only applaud the "victors," or those who come out on top. They are given awards, public recognition and many accolades are made in their favour. But I applaud all those little inchworms who plug along with no thought of what others say, think or do. Their spirit of perseverance and determination, whether they reach their destination or not, makes them the real victors.
I will read many more books in my lifetime and some of them will provide me with valuable information, but the lesson I learned from the inchworm on that cool and breezy spring day is the most precious one of all. |
| shawnsmith |
Posted - 02/06/2013 : 16:49:47
It may be somewhat of a stretch to refer to it as inspirational reading, but I am currently reading Voltaire's "Candide."
In addition, today I received in the mail John Kehoe's "Mind Power Into the 21st Century." ACE1 highly recommends this book. The other two books ACE1 recommends is Dr Sarno's "The MindBody Prescription" or "Healing Back Pain," and Ekhart Tolle's "The Power of Now." |
| shawnsmith |
Posted - 02/05/2013 : 05:34:36
BOTTOM GUN
by Victoria Register Freeman
Billy Bob Bumblebee was zooming from purple clover to purple clover stuffing his pollen sac. The midsummer hillside was ablaze with yellow-throated lilacs & rambling rose & wild clover, & Billy filled his sacs quickly. He began to wing his way home, hoping to arrive in time for Oprah's program on "Bumblebees Who Love Women Who Whine."
High flyer though he was, Billy Bob noticed a familiar figure wobbling clumsily down the meadow path below. Swooping down to investigate, Billy arrived antenna-to-antenna with Hotshot Harry, a bee buddy from a hive in the hot tub & fern bar section of the city.
"Yo, Harry," exclaimed Billy Bob. "Why are you grounded on a day as splendid as this? You're likely to end up a sparrow-hawk snack."
"That would be a blessing," moaned Harry. "Woe is me."
"Woe?" queried Billy Bob. "Woe does not compute on a top-ten day when the pollen is so thick you can see it in the air."
"Well, that's fine for airborne creatures," said Harry, sniffling with head down, "but not for bumblebees."
"Huh?" snorted Billy Bob, totally confused.
"This morning," whimpered Harry, "I was in the day-lily patch outside the engineering building over at the university. I heard a learned professor lecturing on Aerodynamic Design & Altitudinal Excellence, & guess what?"
"What?" asked Billy Bob.
"We bumblebees are an aerodynamic disaster. Our fuselage ration to wingspan is unacceptable. Our chunky bodies must surely overtax our gossamer wings. Our shapes are more lima bean than laser. We've been deluding ourselves. There's no way we can fly. Research has positively proved that we're the wrong shape."
"Gosh," murmured a chastened Billy Bob, alighting beside Harry & rearranging his cumbersome pollen sacs for walking. "Thanks for sharing, Big Guy!"
And the two buddies wobbled off down the meadow path. |
| plum |
Posted - 02/04/2013 : 03:59:27
"Are these my virgins..."
|
| shawnsmith |
Posted - 02/03/2013 : 17:03:13
Achmed the Dead Terrorist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uwOL4rB-go |
| plum |
Posted - 02/03/2013 : 12:26:43
Shawn, classic.
Monty Python still rule.
Maybe we should start a 'comedy legends' thread. Laugh our way out of this ****. There is a precedent after all. |
| plum |
Posted - 02/03/2013 : 12:16:47
windy, I'll be interested in how it goes, if you ever feel like sharing as time passes. I started it a couple of times but didn't last more than a few days, how lame is that. I did read quite a lot of the commentary though. Classic tms! |
| shawnsmith |
Posted - 02/03/2013 : 11:03:29
Always Look On The Bright Side of Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlBiLNN1NhQ |
| windy |
Posted - 02/03/2013 : 08:21:02
Plum,
I started it recently, for reasons having nothing to do with TMS. However, it really reinforces the ideas as it refers to the ego as a fear mind that miscreates and misperceives everything around it. In Sarno's view, the pressures of the ego can cause TMS. I'm finding a lot of parallels between Sarno and The Course. |
| plum |
Posted - 02/03/2013 : 08:09:32
windy, have you done the Course in Miracles?
|
| pan |
Posted - 02/03/2013 : 08:05:10
Just a heads up for UK members that Life of Pi is actually only 20p on the Amazon store for Kindle at the moment. The movie is awesome as well and is a must in 3D.
Wake me up with your amphetamine blast
Take me by the collar and throw me out into the world
Rock me gently & send me dreaming of something tender
I was brought here to pay homage to the beat surrender
|
| plum |
Posted - 02/02/2013 : 16:10:35
Oh pan, how lovely you are.
Perhaps a sojourn into favourite books from one's past is in order. I've not read Wind in the Willows. It's a book I would love someone to read to me. We could laze on the riverbook, the happy debris of a picnic scattered around us as the story weaves its magic...bliss. |
| windy |
Posted - 02/02/2013 : 16:06:33
"If the mind can heal the body but the body cannot heal the mind, then the mind must bestronger. Every miracle demonstrates this." A Course in Miracles
While not light or humorous, A Course in Miracles is invaluable and very reinforcing of tms theory. |
| pan |
Posted - 02/02/2013 : 15:54:26
One of my favourite books is Wind in the Willows...beautifully written and it contains many life truths presented in a delightful and intriguing manner. One of my favourite passages:
"I see you don't understand, and I must explain it to you. Well, very long ago, on the spot where the Wild Wood waves now, before ever it had planted itself and grown up to what it now is, there was a city - a city of people, you know. Here, where we are standing, they lived, and walked, and talked, and slept, and carried on their business. Here they stabled their horses and feasted, from here they rode out to fight or drove out to trade. They were a powerful people, and rich, and great builders. They built to last, for they thought their city would last for ever."
"But what has become of them all?" asked the Mole.
"Who can tell?" said the Badger. "People come - they stay for a while, they flourish, they build - and they go. It is their way. But we remain. There were badgers here, I've been told, long before that same city ever came to be. And now there are badgers here again. We are an enduring lot, and we may move out for a time, but we wait, and are patient, and back we come. And so it will ever be."
Wake me up with your amphetamine blast
Take me by the collar and throw me out into the world
Rock me gently & send me dreaming of something tender
I was brought here to pay homage to the beat surrender
|
| plum |
Posted - 02/02/2013 : 06:27:33
Ah, the Tudors. Crazy and fascinating.
I've read a couple of Phillippa Gregory books and thorougly enjoyed them. Huge love of historical fiction here too.
As for Johnny Depp and chocolate...this could very easily become a monumental drool-fest. Talk about fantasy... |
| Cath |
Posted - 02/02/2013 : 06:00:40
Hi Plum
Think I may have read a few of Sarah Dunants' in my time too. I also love historical novels, and have read all of Phillippa Gregory's books, which give a real flavour of the era she is writing about at the time. Haven't read any books by Joanne Harris, but enjoyed the film "Chocolat", although that could have been my unadulterated "slobbering" over the charismatic Johnny Depp. Mmmm! Johnny Depp and chocolate, what a lovely thought! |
| shawnsmith |
Posted - 02/02/2013 : 05:50:58
Is winning all that counts? Are you absolutely sure about that?
Very little has been said about this…..On December 2, Basque athlete Iván Fernández Anaya was competing in a cross-country race in Burlada, Navarre. He was running second, some distance behind race leader Abel Mutai - bronze medalist in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the London Olympics. As they entered the finishing straight, he saw the Kenyan runner - the certain winner of the race - mistakenly pull up about 10 meters before the finish, thinking he had already crossed the line.
Fernández Anaya quickly caught up with him, but instead of exploiting Mutai's mistake to speed past and claim an unlikely victory, he stayed behind and, using gestures, guided the Kenyan to the line and let him cross first.
Ivan Fernandez Anaya, a Basque runner of 24 years who is considered an athlete with a big future (champion of Spain of 5,000 meters in promise category two years ago) said after the test:
"But even if they had told me that winning would have earned me a place in the Spanish team for the European championships, I wouldn't have done it either. I also think that I have earned more of a name having done what I did than if I had won. And that is very important, because today, with the way things are in all circles, in soccer, in society, in politics, where it seems anything goes, a gesture of honesty goes down well."
He said at the beginning: unfortunately, very little has been said of the gesture. And it's a shame. In my opinion, it would be nice to explain to children, so they do not think that sport is only what they see on TV: violent kicks in abundance, posh statements, fingers in the eyes of the enemy ...
Submitted by Compassionate Action Network supporter Margaret Stine--Auckland, New Zealand |
| plum |
Posted - 02/02/2013 : 05:39:40
Shawn, thanks angel.
A second-hand copy of Life of Pi is sitting on my bedroom shelf. God, how I adore mooching around second-hand bookshops. Then finding a nice cafe for tea and cake while relishing my finds.
I don't know Life Without Limits so shall explore. |
| plum |
Posted - 02/02/2013 : 05:36:08
Hi Cath,
I can't remember the last time I indulged in a fantasy-fest which is madness because I LOVED it as a child. My local Waterstones has a fairly large sci-fi/fantasy section so I shall seek your recommendations out. Thanks so much.
The last trilogy I devoured was Sarah Dunants Renaissance novels. Juice and skullduggery aplenty! In the pure feel-good stakes I love Joanne Harris and have a handful of hers yet to read.
You're so right about the pleasures of a good book. It's sheer escapism. |
| shawnsmith |
Posted - 02/02/2013 : 05:30:16
I suggest Yan Martel's "The Life of Pi." Pay close attention to how adversity - represented by the presence of the tiger - brings about a transformation in Pi's life. The tiger was in fact instrumental in saving Pi's life. Read why and how in this incredible book.
Also, "Life Without Limits" by Nick Vujicic. |
|
|
