Peace means....

Womanifesto by Jill Scott

 

Womanifesto by Jill Scott 

 

Clearly I am not a fat ass
I am active brain
and lip smacking peach deep
sometimes too aggressive in its honesty
and heart sweet
that loves whole-ly and completely
whom it may choose
whom ever it may choose

I am not gonna lie and pacify
I am arms to hold
I am lips to speak
I am a muthafucking “G”

Strong legs that stroll off the 33 bus
or out of a money green Phantom conformably
Knees that bend to pray
clean from Ajax washings
hair that is thick and soft
Thighs that be-twixt
an amazing all expense grand prize

I am eyes that sing
smile that brightens
touch that rings
and supplies euphoric release
I am a Grand Dame Queen Beast

I am warm 
I am peace
From the roads of Botswana to 23rd Street
From the inside third eye
ever watching this wicked wicked system of things
I do see

I am friend to pen 
and a lover of strong women
A Diamond to men
I am curious and interested like children 
I welcome the wise to teach 
appreciator of my culture
Thick not just from bone dense and eat

I have a rhythm in my ways 
and a practice in my seek
and yes I do crave the rhythm of my space
with a man that rejoices in God’s Grace

with faith I do hear to listen
two hands that fist 
when forced pushes to shove
and your ego won’t submit

I am gifted 
I am all of this 
and indeed the Shit

Clearly I am not just an ass

'Do It Anyway' a poem written by Mother Teresa

 

                                           

   "Do It Anyway"

            People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

            If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

            If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.

           If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

            What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

            If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

            The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

         Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

         In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

-this version is credited to Mother Teresa

This poem will be hanging on my office wall soon as I can get it! Love it and had to share.- Voni Blue 

Chanakya's Quotes - Worth Learning

Also known as Kautilya and Vishnugupta, Chanakya was the author of the ancient Indian work on polity, Arthashastra. Though most of the details of his life are lost to time, it's commonly held that Chanakya was born in the Taxila region. When Alexander's armies retreated from Punjab in 325 B.C., it is believed that Chanakya served as the mastermind of the revolution that put Chandragupta in power. Arthashastra was once thought lost but was rediscovered in the 1920s. It serves as an instruction manual on how to run a country and meet its many challenges.

 1) “Learn from the mistakes of others… you can’t live long enough to make them all yourselves!!”
2)”A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and Honest people are screwed first.”
3)”Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous.”
4)”Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends.
5)” Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions – Why am I doing it, What the results might be and Will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead.”
6)”As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it.”
7)”The world’s biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman.”
8)”Once you start a working on something, don’t be afraid of failure and don’t abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest.”
9)”The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction.”
10)”God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your god. The soul is your temple.”
11) “A man is great by deeds, not by birth.”
12) “Never make friends with people who are above or below you in status. Such friendships will never give you any happiness.”
13) “The biggest guru-mantra is: Never share your secrets with anybody. If you cannot keep secret with you , do not expect that other will keep it. It will destroy you.”
14) Do not reveal what you have thought upon doing, but by wise council keep it secret being determined to carry it into execution.
15) “Education is the Best Friend. An Educated Person is Respected Everywhere. Education beats the Beauty and the Youth
16)Do not put your trust in a bad companion nor even trust an ordinary friend, for if he should get angry with you, he may bring all your secrets to light.
 

Words that we manifest

Posted by Donald Latumahina 8 Comments

Note: This is a guest post from Michael Martel of Achieve the Green Beret Way
A manifesto, by definition is a public declaration of a person’s principles and intentions. Throughout history a lot of manifestos have been political in nature. Marx and Engel’s Communist Manifesto sticks in many people’s mind as an example of a manifesto. Other famous ones have been on the subjects of art or technology. However, it doesn’t have to be on a certain topic. A manifesto lays out what is important to someone and publically draws a line in the sand as to what they believe in and what they will do and not do.
Manifestos have gotten bad press lately. Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber had his own manifesto. Manifesto can be for good or evil. The Declaration of Independence is essentially a manifesto. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright had one. So does present day marketer Seth Godin. Organizations have manifestos; Apple has one.

Personal Manifestos

It is a great thing for people to have their own manifestos. Much of the modern world is lived in shades of gray. There isn’t a right or a wrong in modern society. Family norms have been established by reality TV. Ethical standards are eroded by the activities of political leaders. People can have standards for themselves. These standards create the foundation stones of our lives. A manifesto establishes this foundation and declares it to everyone, “This is who I am and what I stand for.”

You Don’t Have to Get It Perfect, Just Get Started

You might feel a little daunted at the task of writing a manifesto. You needn’t worry. All you need is something you feel strongly about. It doesn’t really matter what the topic is. It can be whatever you want to make a statement on – politics, your work, the environment, or a social issue or cause. It could even be about sports. The important thing is to be bold. Manifestos throw your intentions into the arena for others either to agree to or not. You don’t want to just make a list of things you like or don’t like. Make a declaration as to why this is something you would go to battle for.
The mechanics of writing a manifesto are simple. First, decide what you want your manifesto to be about. Your first manifesto doesn’t have to be War and Peace. Keep it short and sweet by focusing on one topic. Is it healthy living? Is it football officiating? Is it what kind of job you will take or not take? Make a list of a couple topics. Let them sit for a couple days while you let it brew around in your mind and then settle on one.
Next step for writing your first manifesto is to lay it out on paper. Pull up your favorite word processing software and get it going. Remember you don’t have to get it perfect. You just need to get it started. For your manifesto, I suggest a format of introduction, background, discussion, declaration. The before mentioned Declaration of Independence has the same format.
Your manifesto’s introduction should establish what your target is and why you are taking aim at it. You might talk in generalities why this is important to you and why it needs to be addressed. Don’t spend too much time on the introduction, the real meat comes next.
The background of your manifesto is the hook for your reader. People want to know why this is important to you. Personal stories are what draw the reader. They want to know what motivates you, thereby bringing them into the rationale. Also this is for yourself to explore why this gets your blood boiling and why you feel the attraction to it. The background isn’t just for the future readers. Even if you don’t intend to ever show this to another living soul, be honest in the background of your manifesto. If there was some element of abuse, emotionally or physically, try to write about it. This is a good place to talk about perceived slights, snubs. Every time you reread it, the background will bring you back to why this is a passion for you.

Manifestos Are Gritty

The discussion is where you make your case. Manifestos are gritty. This is not the place to dance around and try not to antagonize anyone. Simply say why you believe what you believe. Some will agree and some won’t. You will upset some people if your manifesto is bold. Don’t use a pro and con approach. Take that attitude that what you believe is the only approach and work from there. Go ahead and attack counter opinions and say why they don’t make sense. Most of all, state why this is important to you and it is important enough to make it a manifesto.
Finally, make a declaration in your manifesto. What will you do as a result of the manifesto? What will you not do as a result of it? Are you going to stop watching television? Are you going to seek out another line of work? Make a declaration that reflects what you stand for.

You Finished It, Now What?

Once you have your first manifesto finished, take a deep breath of satisfaction. You have placed yourself above the mob. You are one of the few who actually know what they stand for in life. You are not letting the winds of public opinion blow you around like a rudderless sailboat on the waves. Men are meant to be the captains of their own ships.
Take this further if you dare. Share your manifesto with family and friends. Encourage your friends to write one of their own. Write a couple more on other single topics. After a while when you have a few manifestos under your belt, write your life manifesto. Establish your values and how you will live according to them. This is the stuff legacies are made from. You deserve this.
For 20 years, Michael Martel was a Green Beret in the US Army. He now works with people to put Special Forces like effectiveness into their lives and businesses. Go to Achieve The Green Beret Way and learn about his book Get ER Done: The Green Beret Guide to Productivity.

Want to read more from this site click here.

Michael Jordan "Failure" Nike Commercial

Bucket List

I have often considered creating a bucket list but wasn't sure where to start. The great minds over at Personal Excellence put together this list. Visit them their site is full of positivity and motivation. If you'd like to share some of the things you have come up with please do I would love to hear them.

What’s on Your Bucket List? 101 Things To Do Before You Die

by Celes | ShareThis  Email This Post

“Every man dies – Not every man really lives.” ~ William Ross
“The only people who fear death are those with regrets.” ~ Author Unknown

A few days ago, I was surfing online when I came across someone’s bucket list. It quickly inspired me to create my own bucket list as well and write an article at the same time.

What’s a Bucket List?

If you haven’t heard about the bucket list, it is a list of all the goals you want to achieve, dreams you want to fulfill and life-experiences you desire to experience before you die.

Why Create a Bucket List?

Why have a bucket list? If you don’t live your days by personal goals and plans, chances are you spend most of your time caught up in a flurry of day-to-day activities. Ever feel your days are passing by without any tangible output to speak of? What were your accomplishments in the past 3 months? What are your upcoming goals for the next 3 months? Look at the things you did and the things you’re planning to do next – Do they mean anything to you if you are to die today? Having a bucket list reminds you of what’s really important so you can act on them.
Even if you frequently live by goals or to-do lists, they are probably framed within a certain social context e.g., performance, career, health. A bucket list opens up the context. It’s a forum to set anything and everything you’ve ever wanted to do, whether it’s big, small or random.
It’s just like planning ahead all the highlights you want for YOUR whole life. Even though goal setting is already my staple activity, I still found many new things to do while I was writing on my bucket list. It was an incredibly insightful exercise. What’s more, coming up with the list it gave me a whole new layer of enthusiasm knowing what’s in store ahead!
The objective of creating a bucket list isn’t to instill some kind of a race against time or to create aversion towards death. I don’t see our existence to be limited to just our physical years on earth – I don’t see our existence to be limited to just our physical years on earth – our physical lifespan is but a short speck of our existence in the universe. The whole point of a bucket list is to maximize every moment of our existence and live our life to the fullest. It’s a reminder of all the things we want to achieve in our time here, so that instead of pandering our time in pointless activities, we are directing it fully toward what matters to us.

Create Your Bucket List

If you don’t have a bucket list, I highly recommend you to create one. How much does it cost? Probably 30 minutes to an hour, or more if you get really caught up in the writing :). What do you gain? Significant clarity and focus on what you want from your life. It’s an invaluable exchange.
If you have already written your bucket list before, take this opportunity to review it. See if there are new items you want to add-on. If so, add them in. Check if all the items listed are still relevant. If not, remove them.
If you are curious, you can check out my bucket list before you start off

Now, take out your pen and paper or open up a text editing document. You can check out the following sites where people publicly share their bucket lists: 43 Things and Barefoot List.
Start writing down what comes to mind as you read these questions:

• What if you were to die tomorrow? What would you wish you could do before you die?
• What have you always wanted to do but have not done yet?
• What will you do if you have unlimited time, money and resources?
• Any countries, places or locations you want to visit?
• What are your biggest goals and dreams?
• What do you want to see in person?
• What achievements do you want to have?
• What experiences do you want to have / feel?
• Are there any special moments you want to witness?
• What activities or skills do you want to learn or try out?
• What are the most important things you can ever do?
• What would you like to say/do together with other people? People you love? Family? Friends?
• Are there any specific people you want to meet in person?
• What do you want to achieve in the different areas: Social, Love, Family, Career, Finance, Health (Your weight, Fitness level), Spiritual?
• What do you need to do to lead a life of the greatest meaning?

Come up with as many items as you can. The items should be things you have not done yet. Don’t stop until you finish listing at least 101 things! If you find yourself stuck, chances are you are mentally limiting/constraining yourself. Release those shackles – This is a list of everything you want to achieve, do, see, feel and experience in your life. Check out the next section for added inspiration.

101 Things to Consider for Your Bucket List

Here are 101 bucket list items to consider for your bucket list . Some of the items might spark off your inspiration for other things too!

1. Travel all around the world
   • All the countries in the world
   • Visit all the Wonders of the World
   • 1001 places to see before you die
2. Learn a new language
3. Try out a new profession in a different field
4. Achieve your ideal weight
5. Run a marathon
   
6. Take part in a triathlon
7. Take up a new sport. Some examples:
   • Technique sports: Archery, Golf, Bowling, Billiard, Skateboarding, Skating, Roller-blading, Ice skating
   • Water sports: Water rafting, Kayaking, Wakeboarding, Sailing, Scuba diving, Snorkeling, Swimming
   
   • Group sports: Soccer, Rugby, Baseball, Basketball, Ultimate frisbee
   • Racket sports: Squash, Badminton, Tennis, Table tennis
8. Go skiing
9. Learn horseback riding
10. Resign from a job you don’t like
11. Pursue your passion
12. Start your own business doing something you love
13. Achieve financial abundance with your passion
14. Connect with the teachers from your past – college, high school, junior high, all of it. Let them know how they have shaped your life.
15. Identify someone who has inspired you the most in your life. Let him/her know how much he/she has inspired you
16. Be a mentor to someone
17. Learn a strategy game
18. Do an extreme sport – Bungee jumping, Skydiving, Parachuting, Paragliding, Ice climbing
19. Climb a mountain
20. Give a heartfelt surprise to someone
21. Make a difference in someone’s life
22. Perform a kind deed to at least 5 strangers without expecting anything in return
23. Write a book on something that means a lot to you
24. Fly in a hot-air balloon across a country
25. Sing your favorite song to an audience
26. Offer your service to a humanitarian cause
27. Make friends with at least 5 strangers on the street
28. Experience a sunset
29. Experience a sunrise
    
30. See the Northern Lights
31. Witness a solar eclipse
32. Go stargazing
33. Plant your own tree and watch it grow
34. Own a pet (or more if you desire!): dog, cat, rabbit, hamster, tortoise, fish, snake, frog, etc
35. Do public speaking in front of 10,000 people
36. Write a letter to at least 3 of your closest friends to let them know how much they mean to you
37. Throw a mega party
38. Get a complete makeover (change everything, from your hair style, hair color, image, clothes) and get a different look:  one which you would never have thought of trying!
39. Learn wine appreciation
40. Join a social etiquette class and further refine your mannerisms
41. Be a matchmaker: Introduce your single friends to each other (the rest is up to them!)
42. Go on a blind date! (for the singles!)
43. Go for future education in a different specialization
44. Play a (new) musical instrument: Piano, Violin, Harmonica, Flute, Guitar, Drum, Trumpet
45. Win a lucky draw
46. Take up dancing: Salsa, Line dance, Tap dance, Tango, Ballroom dancing, etc
    
47. Learn a martial art (Check out: List of different martial arts on Wiki)
48. Go on a road trip
49. Go backpacking across at least 10 locations
50. Pack your bags and set off for a random location with no itinerary planned at all
51. Go swimming with dolphins
52. Live in a different country for at least 6 months
53. Act in a film (self production or otherwise)
54. Get featured on TV/radio/print/newspapers for an achievement you are proud of
55. Knit a scarf
56. Create your dream home (Read: Does Your Room Inspire You?)
57. Whip up the best meal ever for your loved ones
58. Bake a cake for someone special
59. Go deep into the heart of Mother Nature. Go trekking in a rainforest; Camp out in the wilds; Walk in a valley; Visit a waterfall; Swim in an ocean; Walk in a valley
    
60. See snow (if you haven’t before)
61. Live through 4 seasons of the year – Spring, summer, autumn, winter
62. Read a book on a subject you’d never have thought of reading
63. Volunteer at a hospice
64. Fly a kite
    
65. Fall asleep on grassy plains
66. Call the customer service (of a service provider you like) just to thank them for the great service
67. If you are a non-vegetarian, try out vegetarianism for 21 days and experience it for yourself
68. After that, try veganism
69. Followed by raw veganism. Then conclude which is the best diet for you.
70. Fold a 1,000 origami cranes and give them to someone special
71. Conquer your biggest fear
72. Go snorkeling and experience marine life up close
73. Tell at least 10 people about your bucket list and encourage them to do the same
74. Go on a meditation retreat
75. Experience an OBE (out of body experience)
76. Start a social movement on a cause you believe in
77. Watch cherry blossoms in Japan
78. Get closure on all your hurt, grievances and unhappiness of the past
79. Bury the hatchet with all the enemies / people you had conflict with in the past or now
80. Organize a picnic outing
81. Do something completely crazy and out of character
82. Fly first class
83. Hit bullseye on a dartboard
84. Visit a volcano
85. Fly in a helicopter
86. Have dinner with someone you had only dreamed of meeting
87. Tell your parents (and siblings too if you have them) that you love them.
88. Ride a roller coaster
89. Go on a cruise in the sea
90. Try out front-line customer service jobs such being a waiter/waitress for a month just for the experience
91. Fall in love
    
92. Be in love!
93. Get on a romantic getaway
94. Do a somersault
95. Visit a castle in England
    
96. Change the world
97. Help someone in need
98. Learn sign language
99. See the Mona Lisa in Louvre (Paris)
100. Go to a costume party and dress up as your fantasy character
101. Gain enlightenment

Here are some sites you might want to check out for inspiration as you create your bucket list:

• 43 Things
• My Bucket List
• Barefoot List
• BBC 50 Things To Do Before You Die
• Creating a Bucket List
• My Someday

Get Into Action!

After you finish your bucket list, here’s what to do next:

• Start acting on them! Plan out the successful path towards these goals – For this, read my 7-part Successful Goal Achievement series.
• Be reminded of the list all the time. Use environmental reinforcement – put them up in a prominent spot where you will see them every day / very regularly. Put it in your life handbook, set it as your wallpaper, pin it on your noticeboard, print it out, stick it on your wardrobe/locker.
• Share them with your family and friends. Inspire them to create their own bucket list too! This way, you also create accountability to your own bucket list.
• Don’t limit your bucket list items to a certain definition. Sometimes opportunity present itself in a totally different manner. Keep your eyes peeled! The universe will start throwing things your way.
• Review regularly. Cross out the list of things after you do them. See if some of the items have become irrelevant and if there are new things you want to add. Just as you finish the items, you’ll add new ones as they come along. There is absolutely no reason why our bucket list should ever be empty. There is such an incredible wealth of things, events, activities, experiences to witness/go through in life that it’s impossible that we will ever be done with living. Likewise for me, I’m continuously completing and adding on new items that will help me live my life to the fullest, so my bucket list always has new items to accomplish.

Words for the day

Make it happen TODAY...don't wait

If you judge people, you have no time to love them. ~ Mother Teresa ~

I find everyday I hear judgement from another human being. Its a wonder why we as humans don't understand that focusing on others problems never helps us solve our own.  I know it is human nature to think things but when did we let our thoughts control who we are. Thoughts can manifest into the person we are now if we speak them into our existence. People don't understand the power of the tongue "The tongue like a sharp knife... Kills without drawing blood." Buddha 

We become better people when we uplift instead of degrade. It helps us all when someone succeeds and creates a better World. We are all connected.

Inner Peace Philosophy

Inner Peace Philosophy
How Deliberate Creators Propogate Peace
Elyse Hope Killoran

1. You'll know that you are Deliberately Creating Peace when...
you feel guided to take your focus off the external world. Deliberate Creators know that we are, at all moments, creating our future. Some of us are doing this creating 'deliberately' while others, by getting caught up in the swirl of events that surround us, are doing this creation 'by default'.

Which do you choose: to create deliberately or by default?

2.  You'll know that you are Deliberately Creating Peace when...
in relationship with others, you strive to bring the focus to areas of harmony and agreement instead of conflict and discord. Deliberate Creators appreciate that what we resist, persists, and therefore make thoughtful determinations of where attention should be placed.

Which relationships in your life could benefit from a short time spent focusing on areas of agreement?

3. You'll know that you are Deliberately Creating Peace when...
you let go of the idea that you can only feel peaceful when everything around you is going a certain way and instead, recognize that you have the power within you to choose to experience peace.

Who (or what) have you allowed to destroy your sense of peace - and how can you reclaim it?

4. You'll know that you are Deliberately Creating Peace when...
you notice that, when someone 'pushes your buttons', instead of expending your energy trying to get the other person to change, you search inside yourself and ask, 'what happened inside me that led me to react that way to you?'  Whenever we feel a painful emotion (anger, resentment, jealousy, fear, depression, desire for vengeance, grief) this simply means that someone has activated one of our wounds and a powerful opportunity for healing lies right in front of us.

The next time you find that your 'buttons' have been pushed, where will you focus your attention -- inward or outward?

5. You'll know that you are Deliberately Creating Peace when...
you find yourself put off by anti-war demonstrations and the notion of judging and condemning the players in a dispute. Deliberate Creators understand that we cannot be engaged in a battle and be a source for peace at the same time.

Where are you investing your energy -- in a battle against war or in a commitment to peace?

6. You'll know that you are Deliberately Creating Peace when...
you find yourself focusing on what you are wanting instead of what you are not wanting. Deliberate Creators recognize that what we focus on expands and they give careful thought as to what they want to have expand in their lives.

What in the world would you like to see expand?

7. You'll know that you are Deliberately Creating Peace when...
instead of praying for an outside force to bring peace to others, you commit to being one who radiates peace from within.

Are you ready to become a source of Peace?