What it is to be a thin crescent moon......

A moment of happiness,
you and I sitting on the verandah,
apparently two, but one in soul, you and I.
We feel the flowing water of life here,
you and I, with the garden's beauty
and the birds singing.
The stars will be watching us,
and we will show them
what it is to be a thin crescent moon.
You and I unselfed, will be together,..
indifferent to idle speculation, you and I.
The parrots of heaven will be cracking sugar
as we laugh together, you and I.
In one form upon this earth,
and in another form in a timeless sweet land.

- Rumi -


How beautiful is this!

Why should I grieve because of a thorn?

Why should I grieve because of a thorn? Once it had made laughter known to me. Whatever you lost through the stroke of destiny, know it was to save you from adversity. One small affliction keeps off greater afflictions; one small loss prevents greater losses.

-Rumi, “Mathnawi”

Vote for sweet Mano

http://fotowedstrijd.prenatal.nl

Please go the the above link and type in Mano in the 'zoek' function and then vote for my little buddy! :-)

Thanks guys and gals!

xoxo
Aliya

Love it & Thank you!

I love being 30 yrs young! :-)

Thank you so much to everyone for all the positive affirmations and making me feel so loved...


All my love to my friends and family.. you guys are special and lovely! xoxo. :-)

and now I think I will just have to sit back and welcome whatever the world brings, this year will be my year! for now... 30 feels wonderful... a new found feeling!

I have arrived.. World get ready!!! :-)

The "I" in me, my friend, dwells in the house of silence....

My friend, I am not what I seem. Seeming is but a garment I wear--a
care-woven garment that protects me from your questionings and you
from my negligence.

The "I" in me, my friend, dwells in the house of silence, and
therein it shall remain for ever more, unperceived, unapproachable.

I would not have you believe in what I say nor trust in what I
do--for my words are nothing but your own thoughts in sound and my
deeds your own hopes in action.

When you say, "The wind blows eastward," I say, "Yes it does
blow eastward"; for I would not have you know that my mind does
not dwell upon the wind but upon the sea.

You cannot understand my seafaring thoughts, nor would I have
you understand. I would be at sea alone.

When it is day with you, my friend, it is night with me; yet even
then I speak of the noontide that dances upon the hills and of
the purple shadow that steals its way across the valley; for you
cannot hear the songs of my darkness nor see my wings beating
against the stars--and I fain would not have you hear or see. I
would be with night alone.

When you ascend to your "Heaven" I descend to my "Hell"--even then
you call to me across the unbridgeable gulf, "My companion, my
comrade," and I call back to you, "My comrade, my companion"--for
I would not have you see my Hell. The flame would burn thy eyesight
and the smoke would crowd your nostrils. And I love my Hell too well
to have you visit it. I would be in Hell alone.

You love Truth and Beauty and Righteousness; and I for your sake
say it is well and seem to love these things. But in my heart
I laugh at your love. Yet I would not have you see my laughter.
I would laugh alone.

My friend, you art good and cautious and wise; nay, you are
perfect--and I, too, speak with you wisely and cautiously. And
yet I am mad. But I mask my madness. I would be mad alone.

My friend, you are not my friend, but how shall I make you
understand? My path is not your path, yet together we walk, hand
in hand.

by Khalil Gibran

I wish....

wishes people would stop pointing fingers
wishes people would appreciate love and care a little more
wishes I could live in a world where I dont have to constantly defend myself
hopes I can let go and focus on the the positive
hopes the negative will dissapear...
hopes my smile will come back...

Wants a holiday away from people who cry about the stench of burnt bread..
Wants to be closer to my mom, sisters and family!
Wishes for one day that his scowl would turn into a smile.
Wishes that people would follow their own common sense, instead of blindly following what’s in the books.
Hopes that I will feel happier tomorrow.
Feels a strong dislike against some Dutch people.
Is head over heels INFATUATED BY MY KIDS!!!!

thinks people who have Radical Racist thoughts against others and who are not capable of using their common sense, but choose to be brainwashed by their social circle, should be banned off the face of the earth and prevented from contaminating others thoughts!

spiritually right and perfect....love

When two people are loving each other, they don't necessarily look to each other for fulfillment. Rather, they find themselves looking in the same direction for their fulfillment. That's the key.

Look to the Spirit for your fulfillment. Look to your Self for your fulfillment.

When two people do this, they turn to look at each other and see the fullness they both express, and the loving of each other enhances and amplifies their fullness. Then they can't seem to do anything wrong. Everything they do becomes spiritually right and perfect.

What women do!

God doesn't give you the people you want, He gives you the people you NEED.
To help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you
into the person you were meant
to be.



Women have strengths that amaze men.

They bear hardships and they carry burdens,

but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy

and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in.

They stand up to injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer

when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel

and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about

a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member,

yet they are strong when they

think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss

can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you

to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what

makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love.

They have compassion and ideas.

They give moral support to their

family and friends.

Women have vital things to say

and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,

IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

The gift and the giver...

You can compete or cooperate,
stuff or flow,
withdraw or nurture,
withhold or share,
ignore or care.

On the other side of your emotional needs is the essence of love -- not as a piece of candy that someone out there can give and take away, but as you, which no individual can take away.

You become the gift and the giver.

I guess I’m their soldier. Well, who’s gonna be mine.....

">


I lay alone awake at night
Sorrow fills my eyes
But I’m not strong enough to cry
Despite of my disguise
I’m left with no shoulder
But everyone wants to lean on me.
I guess I’m their soldier.
Well, who’s gonna be mine

Who’s there to save the hero
When she’s left all alone
And she’s crying out for help.
Who’s there to save the hero
Who’s there to save the girl…
After she saves the world
After she saves the world.

I bottle all my hurt inside,
I guess I’m living a lie.
Inside my mind each day I die
What can bring me back to life?
A simple word, a gesture
Someone to say you’re beautiful
Come find this buried treasure
Rainbows lead to a pot of gold.

Who’s there to save the hero
When she’s left all alone
And she’s crying out for help
Who’s there to save the hero
Who’s there to save the girl
After she saves the world…
After she saves the world.

I’ve given too much of myself
And now it’s driving me crazy
(I’m crying out for help?
Sometimes I wish someone would
Just come here and save me…
Save me from myself

Who’s there to save the hero
When she’s left all alone
And she’s crying out for help
Who’s there to save the hero
Who’s there to save the girl
After she saves the world…
After she saves the world.

This is it... life!

A quiet conscience sleeps in thunder.

this is it, life..love it! You have no other choice, do we?

Become a hunter of blessings, actively seeking them out in every experience and person you encounter.

Peace........

We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace within ourselves.
~Dalai Lama~

My Heros- Viva Palestina- Lifeline from Britain to Gaza

For more reading: http://www.vivapalestina.org/

beautiful prayer

A person once asked the Prophet Muhammad to pray for him.

So the Prophet implored, "O God, kindle within his heart the light of faith, and afford him with the courage to avert earthly wiles and submit himself before Your will."

When a person turns away from the world, he adheres to God, and God lavishes incredible bounty on him.


Amen! :-)

What truth brings.....

Give up what appears to be doubtful for what is certain. Truth brings peace of mind, and deception doubt.

-The Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

Focusing on your breathing...

No matter what is going on in your life, you can always take a moment to focus on your breathing. When you find yourself in a tense situation, for example, you may notice that you are holding your breath. Putting your attention on your breathing can help you relax and immediately be in the here and now. This practice, found in many spiritual traditions, is often referred to as mindfulness, being present, or living in the now.

You may ask, since we're breathing all the time, why do we need to practice it? What we're practicing is conscious awareness of the breath. Then breathing becomes a concentration exercise that not only focuses the mind but brings many healing benefits as well.

:-)

Whatever happens is ok....

Your Inner Spirit will use you when you clear yourself to allow it to flow into your consciousness and out into the other levels. When you're not sure what to do in a certain situation, you can just ask for Light "for the highest good of all concerned," and your inner spirit can then flow through you in whatever way is clear. You then walk in a divine consciousness that says,
"Whatever happens is okay."

compassion for unkindness

When people hit against me with their unkind words, I think, "God bless you. There must be so much turmoil inside of you to have to do that. It must really be difficult living with all that hurt and agony inside. So I won't do anything to make it worse for you."

Am I to Blame? :-(

YOU
Take my water
Burn my Olive trees
Destroy my house
Take my Job
Steal my Land
Imprison my father
Kill my mother
Bomb my country
Starve ALL of us
Humiliate us ALL

BUT

I am to Blame???!!

I Shot a Rocket back!!!!!

Wouldn't you too?

The Benefit of Afflictions‏

Why should I grieve because of a thorn?

Once it had made laughter known to me.

Whatever you lost through the stroke of destiny, know it was to save you from adversity.

One small affliction keeps off greater afflictions; one small loss prevents greater losses.

-Rumi, "Mathnawi"

BE MINDFUL, FEEL BETTER: STRESS-FREE LIVING THROUGH MINDFUL THINKING by Lynne M. Kenney, PsyD

It may be time to change your relationship to your thoughts, feelings and sensations and guess what, no alcohol needed!

Becoming mindful is the newest and most productive way to feel better, live more passionately and feel more deeply.

Mindfulness is an activity in which a person becomes intentionally aware of his or her thoughts and actions in the present moment, non-judgmentally. Being mindful has been seen in research studies to help people cope better with stress. Research through The Center for Mindfulness at University of Massachusetts Medical Center by Jon Kabat-Zinn and his colleagues has shown the benefits of mindfulness (non-judgmental sustained attention) on reducing pain, distress, anxiety and the effects of rumination in depression.

Think Without Judgment

Think for a moment, when you feel distressed, angry or disappointed, what comes first the judgmental thought or the feeling? What might surprise you is that most often, each feeling you experience is preceded by a thought. That's right. Most people believe that you feel and then think but really you think and then you feel. Your thoughts guide your feelings. You think "I am fat," then you feel sad. You think, "He really loves me," then you feel happy. You think, "My children should behave," then you feel angry. You think, "That dog might bite," then you feel scared.

If your thoughts are causing you to criticize yourself, to feel angry toward your children or interfere with your relationships at work, it may be time to step-back and recognize that your thoughts are just that, only thoughts. They are reflections, observations, and opinions. They are not immutable all-powerful determiners of feelings or behavior.

Thoughts Can Be Altered

Thoughts can be altered, transformed and changed in order to help you feel better, more positive and more hopeful.
It's helpful to know that a thought is a biological process of communication between neurotransmitters in the brain. What we think is influenced by our individual life experiences, genetics and neurobiological predispositions.

Practice Positive Thinking

Keep a journal of your thoughts for 72 hours and reflect on whether your thoughts benefit your well-being or distract from your health. Carry the journal in your pocket, when you drop your children off at school, order lunch, or interact with a colleague, write down what you are thinking on the left side of the page and how you are feeling on the right.

In the following 72 hours do the same activity but make a third column for thought replacement, write down alternate positive thoughts to replace your negative thoughts.

Taking a look at your judgmental thoughts as well as your positive thoughts is the first step toward better health. Replace your negative thoughts with neutral, non-judgmental or positive thoughts; post your positive thoughts around your home, on your bathroom mirror, in the pantry and on your fridge. When you stop at a red light think one positive thought before the light turns green. Green is for "Go Positive."

amsterdam nights

out on the town with the big man!
loving every moment, life is sweet!

Online networking 'harms health'

People's health could be harmed by social networking sites because they reduce levels of face-to-face contact, an expert claims.

Dr Aric Sigman says websites such as Facebook set out to enrich social lives, but end up keeping people apart.

Dr Sigman makes his warning in Biologist, the journal of the Institute of Biology.

A lack of "real" social networking, involving personal interaction, may have biological effects, he suggests.

He also says that evidence suggests that a lack of face-to-face networking could alter the way genes work, upset immune responses, hormone levels, the function of arteries, and influence mental performance.

This, he claims, could increase the risk of health problems as serious as cancer, strokes, heart disease, and dementia.

'Evolutionary mechanism'

Dr Sigman maintains that social networking sites have played a significant role in making people become more isolated.

"Social networking is the internet's biggest growth area, particular among young children," he said.

"Social networking sites should allow us to embellish our social lives, but what we find is very different. The tail is wagging the dog. These are not tools that enhance, they are tools that displace."

Dr Sigman says that there is research that suggests the number of hours people spend interacting face-to-face has fallen dramatically since 1987, as the use of electronic media has increased.

And he claims that interacting "in person" has an effect on the body that is not seen when e-mails are written.

"When we are 'really' with people different things happen," he said.

"It's probably an evolutionary mechanism that recognises the benefits of us being together geographically.

"Much of it isn't understood, but there does seem to be a difference between 'real presence' and the virtual variety."

Dr Sigman also argues using electronic media undermines people's social skills and their ability to read body language.

"One of the most pronounced changes in the daily habits of British citizens is a reduction in the number of minutes per day that they interact with another human being," he said.

"In less than two decades, the number of people saying there is no-one with whom they discuss important matters nearly tripled."

Dr Sigman says he is "worried about where this is all leading".

He added: "It's not that I'm old fashioned in terms of new technology, but the purpose of any new technology should be to provide a tool that enhances our lives."

Step by step...

Changing a habit takes time and patience. So to build inner trust, relax, be gentle with yourself, and do keep your word with yourself -- one small agreement at a time.

Time to reclaim the night....for sleep!

We all know the health risks of smoking, drinking and eating too much. But sleep expert Neil Stanley says we don't pay attention to the risks of having too little sleep.

In this week's Scrubbing Up health column, he warns it is time to "reclaim the night".

Good sleep is vital for good physical mental and emotional health - but unfortunately we seem to live in a society that has forgotten this fact.

In terms of healthy living, sleep is as important as good diet and exercise.

Poor or inadequate sleep can have serious consequences on overall health and wellbeing and has been shown to lead to lower immunity, poor performance and mood changes.

In the longer term, inadequate sleep is associated with a greater risk of a number of diseases, such as heart disease, depression and diabetes.

There are also important consequences of poor or inadequate sleep which negatively affect the way we feel and perform during the day.

Round the clock

We are living in an increasingly "tired" society. Think about how you feel at the moment with one as very tired and 10 as feeling wide awake.

I reckon very few of you are a seven, let alone a 10. Why do we go through life feeling this tired?

One reason is the increasing extension of the daytime activities into the night.

Sleeping like a baby is something too few of us are doing

When I was growing up in the 1970s, Tomorrow's World each week promised us a future where, due to advances in technology, there would be so much leisure time that we would have to come up with new ways of amusing ourselves.

Unfortunately what was created by all this new technology was the 24/7 society.

Technology never sleeps, and thus people can work around the clock - whether they are in the office or at home.

The long hours, information overload and stresses associated with 21st Century living negatively affect our sleep which, in turn, is detrimental to our health, work performance and even our relationships.

Convenience brings risks

As a society we need to give much more serious consideration to our work/life balance particularly with regards to sleep.

For example it has been estimated that in future a third of the workforce will be working shifts, mainly in the service sector.

However there is a large body of evidence which shows that working shifts is bad for health and increases accidents at work.

So, whilst it is of course important for some workers to work around the clock, does the convenience of paying a bill at 2am really outweigh the health risks of having so many people doing shifts?

You would not want a drunken surgeon operating on you or a drunken train driver taking you to work, so why would you accept a tired one?

It has been reported that tired drivers now cause more deaths on European roads than drunk drivers, and yet whilst it has become socially unacceptable to be drunk behind the wheel or in the workplace it is almost a matter of pride that we believe we can function properly when tired.

Yet you would not want a drunken surgeon operating on you or a drunken train driver taking you to work, so why would you accept a tired one?

The problem of poor sleep is perhaps even more important in children as it has been linked with increased risk of - amongst other things - obesity, diabetes, poor academic performance and behavioural problems.

You only have to watch an episode of Supernanny to see how profound the positive effect of a good night's sleep can be on the behaviour of children.

Over the past decade there has been an increasing body of evidence that shows that sleep plays an important role in regulating weight and controlling appetite, and so I find it surprising that when earlier this year the government started its Change 4 Life healthy living campaign there is no mention of the importance of good sleep.

Isn't it about time we reclaimed the night for sleep?

source: bbc.co.uk/news

Life is!

Having enjoyed a sweet delicious taste,
And having sometimes tasted what is bitter,
Do not greedily enjoy the sweet taste,
Do not feel aversion toward the bitter.

When touched by pleasant contact, do not be enthralled,
Do not tremble when touched by pain.
Look evenly on both the pleasant and painful,
Not drawn or repelled by anything.

-Buddha, "The Connected Discourses of the Buddha"

Friendship :-)

Seek a true friend,
for a friend seeks the benefit of a friend,
Do good to the people for the sake of God
or for the peace of your own soul
that you may always see what is pure
and save your heart from the darkness of hate.

-Rumi, "Mathnawi"

Discipline in your thoughts

Eternal vigilance is knowing that as long as you are in a physical body, you need to do those things that maintain your balance and uplift your Spirit.

If you begin to let your discipline slide, the strength you have built can begin to go slack, and the subtle little thoughts against this person or that situation can begin to take their toll on your peace and happiness.

There really is no rest on the spiritual path.

O children of Israel........

83. section 10

84. And remember we took
    A covenent from the children
    of Israel
    worship none but god
    treat with kindness
    your parents and kindred
    and orphans and those in need
    speak fair to the people
    be steadfast in prayer
    and practise regular charity
    then did ye turn back
    except a few among you
    and ye backslide even now...
    
    
    84. and remember we took

your covenant

shed no blood amongst you

not turn out your own people

from your homes, and this

ye solemnly ratified

and to this ye can bear witness

85. After this it is ye, the same people

    who slay among yourselves

    and banish a party of you

    from their homes, assist

    their enemies against them

    in guilt and rancour

    and if they come to you

as captives, ye ransom them.

though it was not lawful

for you to banish them.

then it is only a part of the book that ye believe in

and do ye reject the rest?

but what is the reward for those

among you who behave like this

but disgrace in this life?

and on the day of judgement

they shall be consigned

to the most grevious penalty

for God is not unmindful

Of what ye do.

86. These are the people who buy

    the life of this world at the price

    of the hereafter; their penalty

    shall nog be lightened

    nor shall they be helped.

(S. 11. 82 – 85)

The people of Moses and the People of Jesus

were given revelations, but alas

they played false with their own lights

and in their selfishness, made narrow

Gods universal message.

To them it seemed incredible that his light

should illuminate Arabia and reform the world.

But his ways are wonderous and they are clear to those who have faith.

(C. 47. ii 87 – 121)

Section 8

62. Those who believe in the Quran

    and those who follow the Jewish scriptures

    and the christians and the Sabians

    and who believe in God

    and the last day

    and work righteousness

    Shall have their reward with their Lord , on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve....

63. (S. 11. 61 – 62)

The Quran.

Purity

The Soul doesn't have to "look good," to impress others, protect itself, or lie to get ahead.

It reflects a purity that is of God.
It reflects the simplicity of Spirit.

This simplicity is often found in the quality of being present.

They CAN Co-exist!

As long as no one understands this.. but preaches PEACE in their own lives.. then the world will stay the same, since unfortunately these days people use religion to justify killing human beings.
how sad the world is....

practice what you preach!

All things decay...

No matter how beautiful something looks in the world, no matter how it glitters or how glamorous it is, it's always going to corrupt and decay.

You're the one who is going to have to maintain it and maintain it and maintain it, and that takes your energy. So make sure that it is important enough for you to put your energy into in a purposeful way, or drop it so you can go on to complete other things.

When you are present in this moment, you break the continuity of your story, of past and future.
Then true intelligence arises, and also love.
The only way love can come into your life is not through form, but through that inner spaciousness that is Presence.
Love has no form.

Carrying the past, Break free of the mental prison..

Carrying the past

The inability or rather unwillingness of the human mind to let go of the past is beautifully illustrated in the story of two Zen-monks, Tanzan and Ekido, who were walking along a country road that had become extremely muddy after heavy rains. Near a village, they came upon a young woman who was trying to cross the road, but the mud was so deep it would have ruined the silk kimono she was wearing. Tanzan at once picked her up and carried her to the other side.

The monks walked on in silence. Five hours later, as they were approaching the lodging temple, Ekido couldn’t restrain himself any longer.

‘ Why did you carry that girl across the road?’ he asked. ‘ We monks are not supposed to do things like that’ .

‘ I put the girl down hours ago’ , said Tanzan. “Are you still carrying her?”

Now imagine what life would be like for someone who lived like Ekido all the time, unable or unwilling to let go internally of situations, accumulating more and more ‘stuff’ inside, and you get a sense of what life is like for the majority of people on our planet.

What a heavy burden of past they carry around with them in their minds.

The past lives in you as memories, but memories in themselves are not a problem. In fact, it is through memory that we learn from the past and from past mistakes. It is only when memories, that is to say, thoughts about the past, take you over completely that they turn into a burden, turn problematic, and become a part of your sense of self.

Your personality, which is conditioned by the past, then becomes your prison.

Your memories are invested with a sense of self, and your story becomes who you perceive yourself to be. This ‘ little me’ is an illusion that obscures your true identity as timeless and formless Presence.

Your story, however, consists not only of mental but also emotional memory- old emotion that is being revived continuosly. As in the case of the monk who carried the burden of his resentment for five hours by feeding it with his thoughts, most people carry a large amount of unnecessary baggage, both mental and emotional, throughout their lives.

They limit themselves through grievances, regret, hostility and guilt. Their emotional thinking has become their self, and so they hang on to the old emotion because it strengthens their identity.

Because of the human tendency to perpetuate old emotion, almost everyone carries in his or her energy field and accumulation of old emotional pain, which I call ‘ the pain body’ .

We can, however, stop adding to the pain-body that we already have. We can learn to break the habit of accumulating and perpetuating old emotion by accepting situations for what they are and letting go, we can refrain from mentally dwelling on the past, regardless of whether something happened yesterday or thirty years ago.

We can learn not to keep situations or events alive in our minds, but to return our attention continuously to the pristine, timeless present moment rather than to be caught up in mental movie-making.

Our very Presence then becomes our identity, rather than our thoughts and emotions.

Nothing ever happened in the past that can prevent you from being Present now; and if the past cannot prevent you from being present now, what POWER does it have?

NONE!

Curious for more?

We all have the choice to go on with our lives unconsiously stuck in a routine of negative thoughts and emotions, possesed by our EGO and PAIN-BODY, which we probably aren’t even aware of, or we can make the choice to become aware of all our thoughts and emotions and be present in every situation that life hands to us…

Read further in Eckhart Tolle's amazing book: A New Earth.

An Ancient, Simple Rule.....

We know that whatever our differences, there is one law that binds all
great religions together.

Jesus told us to:
"love thy neighbor as thyself."

The Torah commands:
"That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow."

In Islam, there is a hadith by the Prophet Muhammad that reads:

"None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself."

And the same is true for Buddhists and Hindus; for followers of Confucius and for humanists. It is, of course, the Golden Rule - the call to love one another; to understand one another; to treat with dignity and respect those with whom we share a brief moment on this Earth.

It is an ancient rule; a simple rule; but also one of the most challenging.
For it asks each of us to take some measure of responsibility for the
well-being of people we may not know or worship with or agree with on every
issue. Sometimes, it asks us to reconcile with bitter enemies or resolve
ancient hatreds. And that requires a living, breathing, active faith. It
requires us not only to believe, but to do - to give something of ourselves
for the benefit of others and the betterment of our world.

In this way, the particular faith that motivates each of us can promote a
greater good for all of us. Instead of driving us apart, our varied beliefs
can bring us together to feed the hungry and comfort the afflicted; to make
peace where there is strife and rebuild what has broken; to lift up those
who have fallen on hard times. This is not only our call as people of
faith, but our duty as human beings in general.

:-)

Peace of Mind

We are an anxious nation...in fact, we are an anxious world. There is no question that uncertainty seems to have increased dramatically in the last few years. We worry about war. We worry about losing our jobs. We worry about the dangers confronting our children. And on and on and on.

This worry is understandable, given the state of the world at the present time, but there is no question in my mind that, with the right tools...

All of us can rise above any situation that life hands us. All of us can live a fulfilling life in the middle of the turmoil.

All of us can find a sense of peace and purpose.

Un-setting your heart means letting go of your picture of how you want it all to be. It means letting go of trying to control things over which you have no control. One of the prime causes of our suffering is our wanting things to be different than they are. Yes, we all want a peaceful world instead of a world filled with war.

Yes, we all want health instead of illness. Yes, we all want healthy, happy children instead of children who break our hearts. But sometimes life doesn't hand us what we want. And when we un-set our hearts from our needing it all to be a certain way, we can breathe a sigh of relief and open the door to a more powerful way of living.

When you fully understand that you have little control of the external world, you then have two choices: you can choose to see yourself as a "poor-me" victim at the mercy of circumstances or you can choose to develop the trust that, no matter what happens in your life or in the world, you will have the inner strength to create something good from it all.

Hopefully you will choose the latter!

One way to help you develop trust in yourself is to cut off negativity in the mind by saying to yourself over and over again, "Whatever happens in my life, I'll handle it!" I suggest you emblazon this powerful affirmation on your mind. If you say it often enough, you will ultimately believe it. And if you really believe that you can handle anything that happens in your life and in the world, what could you possibly have to fear? Nothing!

So when the "what-if's" are driving you mad, simply cut them off by saying over and over again, "Whatever happens, I'll handle it!" You'll feel a sense of confidence wash over you. "What if I lose my job? I'll handle it." "What if my children have difficult times? I'll handle it. Whatever happens in my life, I'll handle it!"

Heroes to me are people who have created much good in this world as a result of horrible experiences in their lives. As you collect heroes, you understand this important thought: "If they can learn and grow from their experiences, I certainly can learn and grow from mine!" As you collect your heroes, your trust grows and your worry about the future gets smaller and smaller.

Yes, you can learn and find strength from anything that happens to you. I certainly learned from and found strength as a result of my own experiences. If you see ALL situations in life as a way of learning and growing, it helps you let go of your need for things to be a certain way.

* War = a way of learning
* Peace = a way of learning
* Illness = a way of learning
* Health = a way of learning
* Poverty = a way of learning
* Wealth = a way of learning
* Depression = a way of learning
* Joy = a way of learning


So despite what is happening in your life and in the world, constantly remind yourself "I can learn from this." When you can see the opportunities inherent in all situations, good or bad, it truly helps you embrace all the uncertainty in your life.

Embrace the Thought, "It's All Happening Perfectly"
This is another affirmation I use over and over. And it truly helps me let go of my needing things to be a certain way. "Aliya, how can things be happening perfectly when there is possibility of war,illness, poverty, and violence?" My answer to that is that we cannot know the "Grand Design," the great mystery of it all, and as we say "It's all happening perfectly," we begin looking for the good in any situation that life hands us. When we look for the good, we always find it. Yes, so much good can come from so much that is bad. In that, it truly is happening perfectly.

So when things seem very difficult in your life or in the world, just keep repeating this reassuring statement until it becomes an automatic part of your thinking. This always helps me to have trust, not only in myself, but also the Grand Design.

Focus on the Blessings

I have learned from my heroes that, no matter how horrible life may seem on the outside, it is so important to focus on the beauty. As we go about our daily lives, we take so many wonderful things for granted. It's now time to notice. Strangely, this is hard to do, especially when we have our eyes focused on the bad. It sounds ridiculous, but we actually have to train ourselves to notice all the beauty in our lives. And train ourselves, we must... because focusing on the blessings is an absolute necessity for diffusing our fears about the future.

A suggestion: As you go about your day, stop for a moment and notice when something wonderful happens. Then say to yourself while still in the glory of the moment, "I have had this." This is the acknowledgment that "No matter what happens tomorrow, I have had this today." It is in the noticing of the little things that you truly get the feeling of a life well-lived... that wonderful hot shower, that kiss from a loved one, the fact that your car started, that great dinner you are eating, the warm rays of the sun, a candy bar, a wonderful television show...

Positive action has an amazing effect on our psyche. As we take action, we begin to feel more powerful and our fear about the future decreases considerably. Keep repeating to yourself: "My life has meaning and I will do whatever I can to make this a better world."

Then ask yourself, "What am I called to do?" Make a list of what comes to mind, and begin taking action. When you remember that your life has meaning, it makes it so much easier to push through the fear and live a life that matters. And your self-esteem grows and grows. Just as importantly, you will have found the secret of creating a joyous and fulfilling life.

As you make these tools a part of your daily life, you experience a whole new sense of purpose and power emerging from within, and you look forward to the future with an attitude of great possibility -- for yourself and for your world.

Forgive them for they know not what they do....

Forgive them father for they know not what they do
Forgive them father for they know not what they do

Beware the false motives of others
Be careful of those who pretend to be brothers
And you never suppose it's those who are closest to you, to you
They say all the right things to gain their position
Then use your kindness as their ammunition
To shoot you down in the name of ambition, they do

Forgive them father for they know not what they do
Forgive them father for they know not what they do

Why every Indian wanna be the chief?
Feed a man 'til he's full and he still want beef
Give me grief, try to tief off my piece
Why for you to increase, I must decrease?
If I treat you kindly does it mean that I'm weak?
You hear me speak and think I won't take it to the streets
I know enough cats that don't turn the other cheek
But I try to keep it civilized like Menelik
And other African czars observing stars with war scars
Get yours in this capitalistic system
So many caught or got bought you can't list them
How you gonna idolize the missing?
To survive is to stay alive in the face of opposition
Even when they comin' gunnin'
I stand position
L's known the mission since conception
Let's free the people from deception
If you looking for the answers
Then you gotta ask the questions
And when I let go, my voice echoes through the ghetto
Sick of men trying to pull strings like Geppetto
Why black people always be the ones to settle
March through these streets like Soweto

Like Cain and Abel, Caesar and Brutus, Jesus and Judas,
Backstabbers do this

Forgive them father for they know not what they do
Forgive them father for they know not what they do

It took me a little while to discover
Wolves in sheep coats who pretend to be lovers
Men who lack conscience will even lie to themselves, to themselves
A friend once said, and I found to be true
That everyday people, they lie to God too
So what makes you think, that they won't lie to you

Forgive them father for they know not what they do
Forgive them, forgive them
Forgive them father for they know not what they do
Forgive them, forgive them

Tips for a happier life

Tips for Better Life

1. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
3. Sleep for 7 hours.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Play more games.
6. Read more books than you did the previous year.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink plenty of water.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
14. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
15. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
16. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
17. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
18. Smile and laugh more.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about. Don't compare your partner with others.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Forgive everyone for everything.
26. What other people think of you is none of your business.
27. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
28. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
29. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
30. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
31. The best is yet to come.
32. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
33. Do the right thing!
34. Call your family often.
35. Your inner most is always happy. So be happy.
36. Each day give something good to others.
37. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
38. Share this with someone you care about

Maturity

Maturity is the ability to do a job whether or not you are supervised

To carry money without spending it

And to bear an injustice without wanting to get even….

The power comes from within!

Do wishes really come true? I wish.....

I wish for human beings to treat each other with respect and love....
I wish for innocent children, men, women to stop being killed, murdered everyday due to wars for any reason, especially wealth and money....
I wish for homeless women in Niger to stop being raped by soldiers....
I wish for ALL Governments to stop robbing and lying to their people....
I wish the media would STOP lying to us and start telling the truth the real story....

I wish for once that the world would see Israel for the murderers they really are and boycott them to stop this nasty apartheid.

I wish women and children were not used as sex slaves or slaves of any kind for another human beings gain....
I wish Oprah, Ellen, Trump, Hiltons the Vanderbilts all the filthy rich of the world would give to real, credible causes to stop abuse and hunger in this world....I wish that the masses would get a clue about what hatred is brewing in this world and do something about it........

I wish humans were not judged by the color of their skin.........
I wish I didn't face the truth about this existence....I wish I didn't see things as they truly are.....
I wish I could candy coat disaster....and float in a bubble like the rest of this world............
I wish the world could be a better, kinder, more loving place to exist..............

The way to divinity & peace....

If anyone speaks ill of you,
Praise them always.
If anyone injures you,
Serve them nicely.
If anyone persecutes you,
Help them in all possible ways.
You will attain
immense strength.
You will control anger and pride.
You will enjoy
peace, poise, and serenity.
You will become divine.

They are the coolest family by far.. The Obama's

Absolutely love both of them! :-)
Click on link below to watch the cutest interview.. :-)
Thats love..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sA7rsvDvOM

I Cleanse My Soul

I Cleanse My Soul

I cleanse my soul in the dews of winter,
Light of mind's refreshing dew
Love of heart's renewing dew,
Life being's restoring dew,
Cleanse and recreate my soul this night.

May the souls of all beings be
Peacefully preserved
From fall of night
Till day's dear light......

Breathe... it will be okay!

Happiness is like a butterfly,
the more you chase it,
the more it will elude you,
but if you turn your attention to other things...
it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.....

Creation of a Special Tribunal to try Israeli War Criminals Petition

Creation of a Special Tribunal to try Israeli War Criminals Petition

Please sign the petition...
Justice must be done!

To: President and Member States of United Nations General Assembly

PETITION

To President and Member States of United Nations General Assembly
The Creation of a Special Tribunal to try Israeli War Criminals

Recalling that Israel was created by virtue of a General Assembly Resolution in 1947 against the wishes of the indigenous population of Palestine;

Recalling that the creation of Israel was achieved through the ethnic cleansing of the indigenous population, which resulted in the creation of the Palestinian refugee problem, and that more than half of the population of 1.5 millions of the Palestinian Occupied Territory called the Gaza Strip are Palestinian refugees who have become, with the other civilian population, victims of the recent Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip;

Noting that the UN Human Rights Council, in its ninth Special Session, has adopted on 12 January 2009, a resolution “on the grave violations of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory including the recent aggression of the occupied Gaza Strip” in which it “strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli military operation which had resulted in massive violations of human rights of the Palestinian people and systematic destruction of the Palestinian infrastructure”; and “decided to dispatch an urgent independent international fact-finding mission to investigate all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by the occupying power against the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory”(United Nations Press Release of 12 January 2009, Human Rights Council, ROUNDUP);

Recalling that Israel has in the past refused to cooperate with similar fact-finding commissions or even give them visas to enter;

Recalling Article 22 of the Charter of the United Nations

Recalling further the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice of 9th July 2004 on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall by Israel, the occupying power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in which the Court emphasized the special responsibility of the General Assembly for the Question of Palestine;


The undersigned NGOs and individuals

Call upon the General Assembly to create a special international tribunal to try Israel, its political and military leaders, for such crimes in violation of international law, human rights law and international humanitarian law in the Palestinian Occupied Territory of which they may be charged.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Laat los- Simplify your life

Je hoeft niet alles in de hand te houden.

Loslaten betekent dat je niet blíjft piekeren over wat er in je leven gebeurt, of over beslissingen die je moet nemen. Aanvaarden dat iets is, zoals het is. Maar ook letterlijk de spullen opruimen die je al zolang niet meer nodig hebt. Ook dat geeft rust.

* De kern van loslaten is: de onvolkomenheid van het leven accepteren en realistisch onder ogen zien hoe weinig macht je hebt over je levensgeluk. Een mens kan zijn leven niet volledig bestieren en heeft niet alles in de hand. En dat hoeft ook helemaal niet.

* Loslaten begint dus met je met je te realiseren dát je iets beter los kunt laten. Een situatie, een gebeurtenis of een herinnering die je vooral pijn oplevert, of spanning. Door er eindeloos in je hoofd mee bezig te blijven, houd je ook de negatieve gevoelens vast. Maar je kúnt de dingen vaak niet eigenhandig veranderen. Hooguit enigszins beïnvloeden, maar zelfs dat is vaak twijfelachtig. Het enige dat je wél kunt doen, is het loslaten.

* Geef je verzet op. Zolang je je met alle macht probeert te verzetten tegen de dingen zoals ze zijn, en heel hard blijft werken om de zaken tóch te proberen naar je hand te zetten, kun je niet loslaten. Dan kan het alleen al een klein beetje bevrijdend werken als je tegen jezelf zegt: zo is het nu. Dit is wat er is. Hier moet ik het nu even mee doen. Als je je verzet opgeeft (en dus in feite je vlucht voor de realiteit van de situatie), creëer je ruimte in je geest en ontspanning.

* Loslaten is niet wegstoppen. Van wat je wegstopt, houd je last, maar vaak onbewust. Als het er via de bewuste weg niet uit mag, gaat het ondergronds. Dan krijg je bijvoorbeeld lichamelijke klachten of slaap je slecht. Als je iets wegstopt, ben je eigenlijk nog in verzet. De onderliggende gedachte is: ik wil dit niet! Dus moet het weg en wel zo snel mogelijk. Aan werkelijk loslaten gaat acceptatie vooraf. Je kunt het wel niet willen, maar het ís er gewoon. Zie het onder ogen. Probeer er niks van te vinden, probeer er niks mee te hoeven.

* Perfectie hoeft niet. Zolang je in je hoofd bezig blijft met eindeloos tegen elkaar afwegen van mogelijkheden, van jezelf eist dat je de allerbeste beslissing moet nemen en daarin naar perfectie streeft, wordt het moeilijk een beslissing te nemen en op te houden met piekeren en twijfelen daarover. Maar als je kunt leren loslaten dat alles perfect moet, als je kunt besluiten dat goed genoeg ook goed is, dan kun je op een gegeven moment ophouden met de maalstroom in je hoofd. Je mag de keuze maken die op dit moment het meest reëel is of het beste bij je past. Het gaat alleen maar over nu. Je kunt niet alles overzien, niet in de toekomst kijken. Misschien moet je een gemaakte keuze weer een keer herzien. Het zij zo.

* Laat je verwachtingen los. We verwachten zoveel van onszelf, onze kinderen, onze partner, ‘het leven’. Het leven wordt eenvoudiger als we wat van die hooggespannen verwachtingen los kunnen laten. Dat neemt veel druk weg.

* Als je loslaat, houd je op met energie in iets steken. Je houdt op het te voeden (zie ook de SimplifyLife-principes > richt je aandacht). En daardoor kan het je op den duur niet meer in zijn greep houden.

* Vereenvoudigen betekent soms ook in letterlijke zin loslaten. Als je opruimt is het zaak om de spullen die je niet meer nodig hebt of die niet meer belangrijk zijn te kunnen loslaten. Ook dat geeft ruimte in je hoofd.[/b]

INTERESSANT?
CLICK LINK HIERONDER OM MEER TE LEZEN, HELE LEUKE WEBSITE:
http://www.simplifylife.nl/simp-principes05.asp