posted December 15, 2004 12:30 AM         

If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles.

If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it.

If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you time,

If you can overlook people taking things out on you when, through nofault of yours, something goes wrong,

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,

If you can face the world without lies and deceit,

If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax without liquor,

If you can always sleep without the aid of drugs,

-anonymous

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*Formally known as NeoStar
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O space and time! now I see it is true, what I guess'd at,
What I guess'd when I loaf'd on the grass,
What I guess'd while I lay alone in my bed,
And again as I walk'd the beach under the paling stars of the morning.*

posted December 15, 2004 06:04 PM         

I get busy on and off, sometimes I pretend I'm doing work, eheheh.

Lindaland keeps me grounded when certain things hit the fan in the office.

Hey Johnny, how's things?
Im a big complainer, and I whinge too much, when things aren't good.
But I'm pretty good at taking criticism- for a leo, that's a major achievment.

posted December 15, 2004 08:46 PM         

quote:

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If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,

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Very good.

posted December 17, 2004 09:04 PM         

I hope that makes sense. In my mind, I see self-improvement only lasts in the long term if you have a good reason for your self, instead of just doing it for the sake of it being right.

I had a conversation with a colleague, I'll try to recall as best as I can. He told me he had given up smoking and drinking forever, that day.
I congratulated him, and wished him well, but I also asked why so suddenly, and why so clean cut? He said it’s unhealthy, and I want to improve my spiritual life.
After a few days, he was getting very cranky, and ended up having champagne that night.
The next day, he told me he was very upset at himself, and the lack of discipline he had.
But discipline I told him is a slow, working progress that you will eventually achieve, not just by saying it.
That’s why he got so frustrated and gave in.
I said your spiritual life wont be hindered if you drink a glass or two when you have a nice meal, and smoking should be given up when you have a reason to.
In every moment, I said, you should observe your own thoughts, feelings, cravings, and addictions.
He really then realized that not everything life changing should be done all at once. It's too much to carry, and improving one thing at a time should be done with care and reason.
You got to know yourself first before you can discipline yourself.

We are so susceptible to addictions and habitual behavior, that if you take it a way, our emotions run wild because our body is angry in being neglected, because it has fun when you fill it with fun stuff.

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"Since everything is but an apparition, perfect in being what it is, having nothing to do with good or bad, acceptance or rejection, one may well burst out in laughter."

posted December 19, 2004 06:01 PM         

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"Since everything is but an apparition, perfect in being what it is, having nothing to do with good or bad, acceptance or rejection, one may well burst out in laughter."

posted December 24, 2004 05:25 PM         

Merry Christmas to YOU

posted December 31, 2004 08:51 PM         

I've been thinking alot about this, since being New Years and all...I have many resolutions, but one at a time I think, or I'll over load my brain.
Changing a lifestyle can be like swimming against the current.

BTW, I hope you have a great new year, and many blessings to you!