|
|
|
|
I'd like this Blog to
address what I believe are some really relevant issues and questions in our lives. Questions like
our purpose; Why are we here in the first place? Toward what end? What is happiness? What is it that we value?
Since I am first and foremost a storyteller, sometimes, I'll simply tell a story and encourage
readers to think about the meaning the story has for them.
Finally, I'd like everyone who visits LifeStylings
to leave with something positive and hopefully, some measure of added insight into some of the issues that
impact our lives. I
think it is important to acknowledge that at the end of the day, we're all in this thing called 'life' together. Perhaps,
we can work through some of these issues TOGETHER.
|
Please feel free to share thoughts, experiences, people you know, or beliefs relating to the
phenomenon known as the veil/birth caul, via the Guest Book.
BLOG POSTS BY
TITLE
The Answer to Fear 04/14/10;
Hatred Often Equals Just Plain Old Fear 03/29/10; Happy 2010! 01/07/10;
Testifying about The Lord's Blessings 08/13/09; Goodbye Michael 05/26/09; The Adam Lambert and Chris Allen Debaucle 05/28/09;
We're All In This Together 05/15/09; Crazy on Self-Esteem 03/29/09;
Oprah's Domestic Violence Show 03/19/09; Rihanna & Chris Brown: A Lesson
in Self-Esteem 03/15/09; Mickey Rourke is Still the Winner! 02/24/09;
Materialism Gone Wild! 02/21/09; It's All About Self Esteem 02/12/09;
It's a Done Deal: President Barack Obama 02/07/09; The Miracle of Flight 1549
01/18/09; Do We Live One or Multiple Lives? The Case for Reincarnation 05/31/08;
The Right to Write What I Wrote 03/17/08; Divine Guidance
02/02/08; Paul Potts' Inspirational
Story 01/08/08; Another Link in the Chain of Purpose 11/014/08;
What is Our Purpose in Life? 11/14/08.
Scroll down to find title of interest, or click on title according
to date below. |
|
|
2/24/2009
MICKEY ROURKE IS STILL THE WINNER!A few days ago, I discussed
materialism in this Blog. I talked about run-away greed that seems to be rampant in society today; and, how people all too
often are defined by superficial measures, such as ... what they do for a living; their material gains, etc.
Well,
I watched the Barbara Walters Special before the Acadamy Awards Sunday night, and one of her guests was Mickey Rourke, an
Oscar nominee for his performance in the movie, The Wrestler.
Unless you've been under
a cabbage patch the last couple of months, you've heard about his dramatic "comeback" story; how he hit
the self destruct button, and devastated his career, and these last few years has been on the long road back.
Well,
his performance in The Wrestler underscores his abilities as an actor; Mickey Rourke is undeniably one
of the greats. And yes, I was pulling for his win Sunday night, but alas, it wasn't meant to be. But, that's
all right, he's back on track and that's much more important than the award.
Now, what does all this
have to do with materialism? Well, at the end of what was a souful interview Walters asked Rourke just what the
Oscar would mean to him. His answer took me (and I'm sure a lot of other folks), by complete surprise
... okay, by complete shock. So much so, I wrote it down so I wouldn't forget.
Walters had asked him
exactly what the award would mean to him. He replied by explaining just how honored he would be if he won the Oscar,
and went on to explain its importance .... "In a material way," he said, putting the award in perspective.
He continued saying ... he knew they would probably cut out what he was about to say, but he was going to
say it anyway. Then said,
"You can't eat it, you cant f--- it, and it won't get you into
heaven."
Wow! Now, I can't say I'm in total agreement with how it was said,
but what he said was spot on. The award is a material thing, and although it has great merit, it doesn't
qualify as one of the really important aspects of life.
Rourke said in one sentence what
it took me about 200 words to say in my blog.
All in all, I'd say although he didn't
win the Oscar, Mickey Rourke is still a winner. BIG TIME!
2/21/2009
MATERIALISM GONE WILD!In our current economic climate,
money is on everybody's mind. Maybe I should say the lack of money is on most people's mind.
We're
living in the world of Barney Madoff, the 50 billion Ponzi Scheme king; Robert Allen Stanford, the banker who's said
to have misplaced(?) about 12 billion + of his depositors funds; financiers and bankers who sold homes to the unqualified
just to garner huge commissions; and corporate CEO's who took bonuses worth millions while laying off thousands.
It is a world where people bought those homes, many knowing that they were unqualified; carried gigantic credit
card debt; and generally lived far above their means.
It is a world of unbridled greed. Materialism
gone wild. That's what got us into this mess. What will get us out is:
- A man with a plan: President Barack Obama
- The return of common sense and the realization that
it is not our things that bring us real happiness and joy.
- Changing our lives to focus on what is really important in life.
In The Secret of the Veil, written in 2004, I addressed
the issue of materialism because I have long felt it had reached proportions that was dangerous for us as a society.
In the
story Alexis goes into Atlanta and visits a nightclub. She's flattered when a nice looking guy comes over and asking
if he can join her, sits down. All goes well ... for a while.
"What do you do for a living?" He asks.
Well, that took less than three
minutes I thought, a little disappointed. But, maybe I'm jumping the gun and he really is genuinely interested in knowing
about me.
"I'm a waitress," I answered. "I work in a restaurant in Marietta called The Depot. Ever
heard of it?"
The look of shock that registered on his face couldn't have been any worse if I'd said I was
a serial killer. That was followed by a look that was probably reserved for the hopelessly insane, who disgusing
themselves as normal people, show up at places like this just to annoy people like him.
"No, I haven't,"
he answered. "Hey, it's good you're working," he said, and patted my hand. Before the next song came
on, he was gone.
There is nothing wrong in enjoying the good things of life. The problem comes in when money and
things, and the desire for things takes precedence over people, relationships, and everything that is truly worthwhile in
life.
That is how the Madoffs and Stanfords got over on so many discerning people; more attention was being paid
to what they had than to who they were.
I believe the hardships we're currently experiencing had
to happen. Maybe it's the Father's way of giving us a much needed wake up call. I hope we listen.
2/12/2009
IT'S ALL ABOUT SELF ESTEEM
I am often asked
if the values found in my novel, The Secret of the Veil were accidental or intentional. Let me
say, they were absolutely intentional. As a matter of fact, it was difficult for me to not go futher than I did.
Sometimes in today's society, we shrug off those values that may seem old-fashioned, but in realtity are
some of the very things that keep us mentally healthy, productive, caring human beings.
One of
my readers told me that one section of the story had particular meaning for her as it related to something she was
presently experiencing in her life. She said she felt that she was led to read the book just to get that bit of information.
She has, by the way, been a stauch supporter of the book and my efforts to have as many people read it as possible.
The part that she referred to was in Book 1. Alexis Ashley was in Boston and was working as a temporary for The
Bank of Boston. She was working for the handsome, charming Michael Metcalf, the president of Real Estate.
At the end of her assignment with the bank and Metcalf, he asked her out and she accepted. They were both very
attracted to each other, but had not acted on their feelings because of their professional relationship.
At the end of the date ... while at his home for a nightcap, Alexis learns he is still intimately involved with his ex-wife,
and, apparently have no plans to change their long-standing relationship. It is also apparent that he probably
approaches new relationships by letting women know just how far any relationship with him will go ... or more to
the point, how far it won't go.
Alexis puts the skids on her feelings immediately. She knows her attraction
to Metcalf could become really serious ... but in view of his relationship with his ex, where would that leave her?
She knew she could get badly hurt in such a situation; after all, he obviously still cared for his ex and had a lot of
history with her.
Alexis bows out.
That was all about self esteem. Today, women in particular,
tell themselves that they can deal with the man they're involved with seeing other people. In reality, most women
can't .... at least the ones I know.
I feel that caring about yourself means not letting people
(including significant others), treat you in an off-hand manner. The only way to get respect is to believe you deserve it,
and act like you deserve it.
2/7/2009
IT'S A DONE DEAL: PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
It is difficult to believe that the
election is really over; the inauguration has passed; and, that President .... yes, President Barack Obama is heading
into his third week in office.
I am one of those people who felt it was "The Impossible Dream". But,
it actually happened. For someone who was born in the southern part of the United States ... I'll just say, quite
a few years back, it seems close to a miracle.
What is so inspiring is that it wasn't African Americans
that voted President Obama into office. We couldn't have done that alone. No, it was all of us: people from different
races, walks of life, beliefs and lifestyles. People who believed in the man and his abilities enough to vote for him,
regardless of the color of his skin. This is absolutely the dawn of a new day.
Canvassing
for Obama November 4
It is a time in history when you can feel the collective belief ... we're all in this together. That's always
been true, but today, more people understand the fact.
That we're all in this together is a premise of The Secret of the Veil: the main characters of the story
are not all of the same race, walk of life, or lifestyle, yet they are all involved in something far bigger than
themselves. They're all in the thing (which I don't want to say in case some of you haven't read the book), together.
Yes, it's a done deal. Now, the real work begins: dealing with those who don't understand. But, if
we've learned anything it''s ... never let hope die.
|
|
|
