The Lie of Motivation

What is motivation? This elusive, sneaky and inexplicable sensation that we simply do not want to do something, even though only benefit awaits us from doing it.

Hell ain't a place for a picnic :D

I would like to offer today a rare perspective on action. Positive action does not deny nor negate negative action. When we feel tensed about our lives, and seek something to do that would better us, it is often mistakenly viewed as an adding of a betterment. Instead, the removal of interference is often the necessary action for improvement.

We must first empty ourselves from the overload of daily life and the weight of responsibilities, in order to gain the ability to improve. Otherwise, we will turn overburdened and collapse under the load of activities and responsibilities we claim.

The next time you find yourself feeling perturbed about your inability to motivate yourself into doing something that you honestly think is a positive action - try to vacate some time and be unoccupied for a while. Enjoy some rest. In a trick of the mind, suddenly, you will feel energetic and uplifted enough to go about doing anything you wish. Unless, of course, you simply don't want to do it after all. :-P

Design Update #2

Today, celebrating our reaching beyond a thousand (1,000) viewers to my blog, I have decided to update - change really - its' design. Hooray! :)

The result is in front of you. I hope no bugs occur. I used a simple Blogger template, and spent the day editing and tweaking; aiming for something clean, clear, simple & pretty. I did my best on the title. Photoshoppin' is hard! Even if I use GIMP2.0. :P

Cheers!~

THIS IS THE SHORTEST BLOG POST IN THE WORLD!!!

Be The Guru Within Yourself!

Appreciating the teachings of others.

Takin' IT Seriously

Answers at the bottom!

Why did the dead baby cross the road?

What's black and blue, crying in the corner?

What genre of films is the hardest to title?

Look Below!

Because it was stapled to the chicken.

My wife.

New ones.

Death

Life & Death

I feel that at least a few posts in every season should regard death. Life encompasses many experiences and states. Spring, the end of Winter, for those lands that experience this sort of climate, reveals both an accelerated burst of life, and with it an obvious mirroring of the death around us.

While flowers bloom and grasses climb, many seeds that caught only a shallow piece of soil, will quickly die, when they discover that for them Spring is but a short season. Such seeds, that germinate in springtime with expectation of bloom, find that the soil can not hold enough root-mass and moisture, in order to capacitate a full lifetime. They quickly wilt, and unlike the surrounding green background, they are dull and a contrast to life.

Our lives are of a similar nature. Some people may find their springtime a short season. Conditions are not always kind. Never the less, death is only a part of life. Eventually, another Spring will come, and another seed will grow.

Plants Can Talk

People can listen.

Syrian Rue

 

+

Harding Grass

=

Party

End of Winter, Come Spring

Call Me Call Me by Yoko Kanno & Steve Conte

A lovely day of cool breeze and dark clouds. The birds! Oh the birds! Enjoy the photographs. Taken with my low-quality laptop webcam. :-D

A Moment...

...and another moment longer.

The Lone Tree Chapter

A lone tree received the rain
Of winter's wash and shower mane.
Through seeds of life emerged a new,
From soil bare and misty dew;
New forests grew and reached far through,
Those lands of yonder, which the lone tree knew.
But cut or burned or trodden true,
The lone tree held long after due.
For forests came and went for you,
While the lone tree stood and grew, and grew.

How To Relieve Fatigue

Go to bed. Doesn't matter if you don't sleep. Doesn't matter if you sleep through other things. Just go to bed.

Makes You Want To Cuddle In There!

If you were...

One person. Many trees.

If you were stranded on a remote tropical island, and no one was to come and get you back; would you care, if all of humanity was annihilated, while you were spending your days under the trees?

If you were stuck in prison for life, for a crime that you did not commit, and no one would attempt to get you out; would you feel responsible for the destruction and pollution of the environment?

He's enjoying life.

If you were to lose both arms and legs in an accident, but live to tell about it; do you think you would care about your life any different?

Life

Wake up.
Wash up.
Eat.
Sleep.

Let's Make Sense

The first step in making sense is to never finish at "I don't know." This is, because you, more often than not, do know. We all have highly developed logical abilities, once we put some time and effort into thinking. So the next time you find yourself thinking, "well, I don't know," just stop yourself and replace that with, "actually, I do know."

The Study of Anthropology

My anthropology lecturer, when I gave University a try for a couple of semesters, used to have us read and talk about the most interesting tribes.

A merry dance!~

I remember a lecture that talked about how some such tropical tribes would have big celebrations as a means to create bonds between tribe members. Instead of taking chances with rivalry and disputes, the leaders would organize for merriment and gift-exchange between the tribes, and thus reducing if not eliminating the chances for hostilities.

It amazes me how often I hear people speak harsh generalizations and common untruths about the nature of humans and tribal peoples. Somehow, assuming the negative seems the default, and any really positive lesson to take from the tribes is ridiculous. I dare any person go out and visit tribes that are not suffering from the mistreatment of industrialism. Authentic, prosperous and happy tribes. It is mind boggling how content and joyful humans can be, without being specifically stupid or clever.

Observe

"Observe the cloud as it reveals the moon.
Follow the moon as it reveals the stars.
Watch the stars as they reveal your life.

Behold your life as it reveals your mind.
View your mind as it reveals your self.
See your self as you observe the cloud."

Seeking Depth Within Life

I've always been a big fan of the philosophic and Buddhist practice of wondering about the origin of things. For example, before eating one will wonder about the origins and source of their food and drink. Where does it come from? Who collected it? Who prepared it?

Old Habits Die Hard?

I feel that this practice is extremely relevant to the understanding of the true meaning of all things in life. Many might question if their choices and practices are good or bad. The best way to get an answer for that, even if a personal one, is by learning and discovering the origins and processes things go through to reach us. Should I act in a certain way? Should I consume a certain thing? What is the meaning of life?

Yes. I feel that it is an easy way of attaining the meaning of life for each of us. Simply check about your life. If there is any dissatisfaction left after the research, then go ahead and check into the origins of your dissatisfaction! It's as simple as that. Eventually, clarity and purpose are always revealed. :-)

Rock On Demotivational Posters

Yuji Kaido from Blue Gender (anime)

Somehow, it's just so much fun making these. :P

My Cat...

...only likes it when I pat her on the head. Dogs are more fun for patting, but cats seem more interactive while on the laptop.

Mitzi chillin' in one of her fav' spots.

Towns Without Animals

I never enjoy coming to a place crowded by farm animals. A dense mass of cows, or any other animal for that matter, makes the smell fowl and the noise distracting.

On the other hand, it is no secret that people and different animals get along quite well, and benefit from each others' company and cooperation. While we have the ability to protect and guide the animals, whether it be from natural disasters or predators, they share their produce and great strength with us. Also, all animals enjoy another's company. This is evident to pet owners.

Why should people and animals not live together? Without forcing them into small spaces, but rather sharing our lands with them. Like a flock of wild deer, so should our other animal companions be allowed to roam free and under our aid. Are birds between branches not superior to birds in small cages?

I am pained to see the treatment animals receive from people. Equally, it is a distorted view of life, when a community or town, and even a city is depicted without any life but people; to the inclusion of a random local bird.

I'm Just Trying To Be Funny

I don't know what's going on. My funny bone isn't working. I find myself without my regular intuitive and spontaneous humor. I write stories, but I can't really find the funny humor in them. I write posts, but I can't really think up anything funny to add.

I only get some rhetorical humor going on when commenting on Facebook.

I guess I'm nothing but a troll, after all.

The Most of Winter

Cold feet will lead the way,
Say the blowing clouds.

They nose their way in pain,
Through veils of mist and shroud.

With many hands and seeking eyes,
They slow the burning ones;

For winter comes and heat will starve; now the gods prepare to rouse.