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Plautus - "Nothing but heaven itself is better than a friend who is really a friend."

Little Superhero Girl - Corrinne May

I feel like a little girl
Trying to conquer the whole wide world
Everybody wants a piece of me
And I just don't know where to turn
I've got work piled up to my head
All I want to do is jump into bed
And wash away my troubles with lemonade
Play hide and seek with the boy next door
Take a trip to Singapore and
Imagine how I'll make the world a better place

All I need is a good disguise
One where nobody can recognise
That I'm feeling so small
All I need is a secret weapon
I've gotta have faith
Zapping monsters into outer space
I'm gonna be a Superhero

Na-na-na-na-na-na, Na-na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na- Yeah

If I were a little girl
Trying to clean up the whole wide world
I'd kick the bad boys back to school
Teach them fighting's just not cool
I'd give every kid a teddy bear
Turn starving people into millionaires
Break glass ceilings with dynamite
sprinkle a little sugar and spice
Turn the bullies that terrorize
Into pink poodles that bark, but don't bite

All I need is a good disguise
One where nobody can recognise
That I'm feeling so small
All I need is a secret weapon
I've gotta have faith
Zapping monsters into outer space
I'm gonna be a Superhero

Na-na-na-na-na-na, Na-na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na- Yeah

Little Superhero Girl, Little Superhero Girl
Save me
Little Superhero Girl, Little Superhero Girl
Save me from myself

I FEEL LIKE A LITTLE GIRL
TRYING TO CONQUER THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD

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Paul Tournier - "Sooner or later, those who win are those who think they can."

I AM CURRENTLY WAGING A WAR AT WORK...AND AGAINST SOME ODDS, I THINK I CAN WIN!!!

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Tom Brokaw - "It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference."

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Timothy Leary - "Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition."

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Confucius say ... "Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change."

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"Life is a succession of moments, to live each one is to succeed." - Corita Kent

PRESERVERANCE

Conrad Hilton said..."Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit."

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"You must look into people as well as at them." - Lord Chesterfield

Potential

There are moments in our lives when we should smartly walk away. For some reason, I always seem to miss that moment. I've been standing in the doorway for so long that I think I've become numb to the swooshing swing of the bat wing doors in my face. Yeah, even though they've hit me over and over. Numb I tell ya. I have...ahem, had...this illusion about something that I'm just now beginning to realize probably never had a real chance.

People are supposed to live up to their potential. People are supposed to want more than what is easy and within reach. People are supposed to be setting goals and moving forward. People are supposed to strive to be better. I WANT to believe in the good in people. Its there in all of us, some simply overlook it in themselves.

I've always believed that with the right support anyone can do or become anything that they want to be so long as they are willing to put forth a bit of effort. However, I think I've always overestimated people's ability to put in that effort and I'm coming to realize that even though someone has the potential doesn't guarantee that they will step up and reach it. What a disheartening realization.

I realize that we are all a work in progress and hopefully all of us are at least attempting to progress in our paths in life. I am not suggesting that I'm an authority on progress and potential. I know that I have a long way to go, but I've not given up. And I try to listen to those who care about me and who are attempting to push me into my potential. Recently I was chastised by a well meaning friend and I got my back up against the wall. However I humbled myself and finally heard what he was saying to me. And as I did as he suggested I believe I came one step closer to the person I want to become. Its not easy to listen to well meaning advice.

We all hate to hear about our personal shortcomings. But lets face it, we all have them. Each and everyone of us. So why cant we turn to the people who care most about us, our friends, to learn about them? We of course want the friends in our lives to support us 100% however we have to realize that these friends see more of the big picture of our lives than we are sometimes able to see. Why do we ostracise ourselves from those who care enough to give us their perspective. Wouldn't it be worse if no one cared enough about us to try and reach out to help us? Why do we hurt the ones we love? Because our loved ones are the only ones in our lives we CAN affect.

I've been attempting to encourage a friend to grab hold of something that I know he believes in but is too scared, or too stubborn to admit. The most obnoxious reality in this is that I know that certain choices have driven him to the place that he currently is in and its not a happy person because of those choices. He knows better, he is better, he wants better. However he is now determined to shut out the things that could make his life better, and me in the process.

I've been standing at the door waiting for him to realize the magnitude of his potential. I've been here a long time, and I've seen him come close enough to swing open the door. I've watched as he's backed off so fast that the backlash of the door has hit me straight in the face. I'm moving away from the doorway, and those damn swinging doors. But I think I'll pull up a chair at the window; where if he looks he'll see that I still believe. I have taken enough punishment but I'll never stop believing in the potential that lies inside of him. I'll always watch the door, waiting for his arrival. When he's ready to step up to his potential I'll be the friend waiting on the other side of the door, watching from the window.

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Carl Sagan - "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known."

Remembering 9/11

A Nation Stands United, Still.

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"A belief is not merely an idea the mind possesses, it is an idea that possesses the mind."

Marvin Auxtin Bolton

The Impossible: Helplessly Believing

"The time is always right to do what is right." -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

It is never easy to admit weakness. It is never easy to acknowledge a better path than the one you are on. It is never easy to navigate the darkness that lies between where you are and where you know you should be. The realization that changes need to be made is often a frustrating and confusing milestone. How easy it is to say, its too hard, without even trying. How easy it is to say, I'll change later. How easy it is to want to change, but to do nothing about it.

Dr. King has a point in suggesting that the time is always RIGHT, but he's left out an important aspect...the know how is usually lacking. If only change were as simple as making a U turn on an empty four lane highway we would all be cruising along the correct path most of the time. However change, especially change of the heart, is typically more like attempting to drive headlong into oncoming traffic, of a three lane highway, in rush hour, in California.

Worse than attempting to make change in your own life is watching someone else attempt to right wrongs and change paths. There is a helplessness that is overwhelming and the desire to reach out and show them the way is so consuming. Being helpless in ones own life is frustrating, but being helpless in the life of a loved one is incredibly overwhelming. How easy it is to see the path when you are removed from the situation.

Thankfully I have the knowledge that does not allow me to give up on believing that all things CAN happen if the desire is strong enough. I believe that believing is half the battle. And I believe. It may be an impossible desire of mine, but it is firmly planted and its been nourished for many many years, and to that end I feel that one day there will be more than roots growing.

~Sometimes the things you think would never happen

Happens just like that~

The Impossible: Part I

We've all been faced with "the impossible."

I started working at a new office and one of the employees is frankly; impossible. I find it impossible to stop eating chocolate. I have been forced to deal with impossible clients and a demanding non-communicating boss. It is impossible for me to be pleasant before the stroke of 10 am. It is impossible to travel through time and space. It is impossible to wish for gas prices to go back to $1. It is impossible to revert back to a prior time in one's life and begin again. It is impossible to one day wake up and be able to do something that you weren't capable of doing yesterday. Excetra Excetra Excetra.

There are many things in life that have been categorized as impossible and sometimes we use the term to loosely. However when all the odds are stacked against you somethings really seem impossible that may just be possible at a different given time.

I live in a black and white world. There are very few grey areas in my life. Blame the realist, the accountant, the middle child syndrome...blame what you may I don't like the grey. To believe in "the impossible" is a very grey area. It is an area of wonder and amazement, of hope and dreams. The feeling that I could possibly breakdown the barriers of "the impossible" and make such a thing tangible is daunting, fascinating, empowering, and thrilling.

However, there have been numerous occasions lately that have opened my eyes, my mind, and my heart to the possibility of "the impossible" happening.

I am begining to believe in "The Impossible." It's a beautiful ride. ;)

"The Impossible" Lyrics by Joe Nichols

Unsinkable ships, sink

Unbreakable walls, break

Sometimes the things you think would never happen

Happens just like that

Unbendable steel, bends

If the fury of the wind is unstoppable

I've learned to never underestimate

The impossible

So don't tell me that it's over

Don't give up on you and me

'Cos there's no such thing as hopeless

If you believe:

Unsinkable ships, sink

Unbreakable walls, break

Sometimes the things you think would never happen

Happens just like that

Unbendable steel, bends

If the fury of the wind is unstoppable

I've learned to never underestimate

The impossible

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HG Wells - "If you fell down yesterday, stand up today."

In The Eyes...

I read a most fascinating article today that has justified what I've always thought and I figured I'd share. The article is entitled:
The Look of Love is All in the Eyes.

It references the song by Dusty Springfield in the new James Bond "Casino Royale" (best Bond by the way). The lyrics read:

The look of love
Is in your eyes
The look your smile cant disguise
The look of love
Is saying so much more
Than just words could ever say
And what my heart has heard
Well it takes my breath away

You've got the look of love
Its on your face
A look that time cant erase
Be mine tonight
Let this be just the start
Of so many nights like this
Lets take a lovers vow
And then seal it with a kiss

Ok...so a bit cheezy but what of smoochy love is not a bit cheezy? Let's let this one slide as this post is not really so much about love but about the eyes. According to said article, researchers have concluded that looking directly into the eyes of someone makes you more attracted to them. In the eyes you see "the look your smile can't disguise."

There is nothing more appealing to me than the eyes of another person, you can even go so far as to discuss the quality of non-human eyes. My horse, for example, speaks volumes through her eyes; and dogs have eyes few can resist. However, cats eyes tend to creep me out, so I suppose not all eyes are appealing. When you take the time to look straight into the eyes of an individual you can see into what I would like to think is the window to their soul. I think of the people who I come in contact with who are the most happy well rounded people and you can see that in their eyes. There are countless many who I am drawn to because of the light in their eyes.

There are other people who I see with darkness in their eyes, and I'm not talking evil glowing eyes, but just sad hopeless eyes. You will find that most these people tend to look away when they don't want to answer and some will never look you straight in the eye. I feel sadness and longing for the dark eyes, as I am sure the secrets that they harbor are far worse than the sad eyes.

As a self confessed observer of people I love to search out the meaning behind the mask of those around me, and the eye is the passageway. I've traveled the dark eye path, to try and unveil the sadness and bring light into another's life and in some instances I have seen a change transpire right before my eyes and this is an amazing experience. However, when you meet someone with glowing happy eyes you cannot help but love that person.

I recently encountered a pair of eyes that sparked my attention and I've not been able to get them out of my head. I think the eyes say so much more than many words ever could about a person.

Ahhhh....Twilight

Twilight, and I'm not referring to the book (however, I have read it and certainly recommend it) I'm talking real life twilight. Really, is there a better time of day? There is something about twilight that I find very calming and peaceful.

Obviously twilight outside the city is preferable to the haze that the city adds but not all of us can live in Star Valley and enjoy the open air.

Daylight savings certainly messes with ones sleep patterns but it is also is very conducive to enjoying the moments of twilight. I'll admit I love the "fall back" timezone. I am guilty of never changing my clock in the bathroom in my apartment as I prefer to live in "this" time frame. I am suddenly more awake and alert at 9 am where as during the summer it takes me till 10 am to wake up. I think I am ready to embrace the morning hours again, and since my workload is growing more and more substantial each day as the year comes to a close it is probably a really good thing that I am getting a jump start on my days again.

I don't know what exactly it is I like most about the twilight moments, there are so many but I think I'll focus on one thing in particular. At twilight everything is more enhanced, the light plays off certain surfaces and seems to dance and glitter in front of you. The illumination of light and dark is very fascinating to me. I think that God gave us twilight to remember to pick a time to shine. We cannot always be fascinating and glittery nor can we always be positive and outgoing. There is a time and a season for all things and if we embrace the things that are illuminated for us, and in us, and not dwell on the dark moments or the hazy images in our lives we will be able to find more happiness in what we are and in who we can become.

So if you rise early enough to see the morning twilight or if you are more like me and you never miss an evening twilight remember to let the light illuminate off you the way that the light scatters over the Earth before and after sunset.

The Diamond

It's true, not only did I sign up, I've actually been going. And learning. Institute, I finally go to institute! I was always enrolled as a student, but there was always something more pressing to do. Kasidy and I kept the same non-institute schedule, that included reading the newspaper and cracking jokes, going to breakfast, or cramming for an accounting test. Institute was never a priority. I did go that one year with Lance-a-lot though, can't remember anything from that semester except teasing Lance, that's what I get for enrolling in a 7:30 am class. Ahh the torture years, I'm so glad they are behind me. To attend a student ward your supposed to be either a student, or enrolled in institute, so I always enroll, but this year I've decided to actually attend. Of course the bribery of seeing the Carlson's there every week often is my driving factor in getting me there on time but each time I walk away so glad I went. Last night was no exception. It was excellent, and I thought I'd share a few highlights.

The Diamond starts out as carbon; dirty ole carbon, nothing special about it. In order for a diamond to come from this carbon it needs a few things: heat, pressure, and time for starters. The heat makes it malleable and eliminates impurities. Pressure changes the ionic bonds to covalent bonds and by so doing the carbon becomes an extremely hard substance. Pressure and heat are used together in this process, without both at the same time the results would be very different indeed. Time brings clarity to the stone; it is possible to create a diamond from carbon in a small amount of time, but these diamonds would lack luster and become dark stones. The passage of time is what brings the stone it's brilliance. After an appropriate amount of time the stone then needs to be shaped or cut. The cutting of a diamond is a delicate process; only the appropriate jeweler knows the natural cracks and the inner nature of the stone. A diamond then needs polishing; this can only be done by a similar stone. Therefore the diamond is polished and buffed by it's equals. Each diamond will likely still have flaws even after such a process a long heated process. The perfect setting will portray the diamond to be better than it actually is, therefore it needs to be set in a way that is capable of showing off the beauty and hiding the flaws.

Because our Heavenly Father knows and loves us he allows us a pressured environment, but he will not test us, or heat us, beyond our capabilities. He does not want us to turn to graphite so our personal trials or pressures are stretched out over time to gradually shape us and bring our brilliance to the forefront. Our Father, the jeweler, knows each flaw we have personally and he is constantly shaping and molding us. We are subject to our peers and they tend to chip away at us until we are polished and buffed. The setting is up to us, we are given a body and we are free to choose to use it to show off the better qualities we have been given and tuck away the flaws.

The symbol of the Diamond continues, but this is where I stop. I hope I've painted a picture for you that gets you thinking as Brother Frogley painted a picture for me last night.