From 6/12/2007
I spent some quality time with my new Live Your Best Life book from Oprah Magazine last night. This time I picked an article titled "Spiritual Energy". The opening eye-catching phrase, which by the way worked, stated: "Have you ever been in the presence of something so lively, engaged, selfless, and utterly radiant, it's left you speechless?" The reason this one phrase caught my attention is that I love meeting someone who has such an effect on me. I love when I feel their soul speak to me, not just their voice and body.
This was pretty deep and heavy stuff for me at bedtime. I actually had to re-read certain paragraphs to ensure I was truly obtaining the meaning intended. But I do love the deep stuff... so once I started to really grasp the meaning of this entire article I was engrossed.
The author outlined four characteristics that are common to people with this spiritual energy:
#1-they have a palpable goodness that goes far beyond a "warm and fuzzy aura" and seems to arise from genuine integrity.
#2- they give an impression of selflessness-- a lack of concern with status, fame, and ego.
#3- their expansive, compassionate energy nurtures others.
#4- they have an amazing power of attentiveness. When in their presence you experience a feeling of being wholly acknowledged and embraced with open eyes.
What wonderful qualities to have! I'd like to say that I want to strive to be this kind of person. But I'm so far from it... it would take a lot of time and work. Yet that's not any reason to not try!
The article goes on further to explain that to obtain these qualities one must seek to be a better person by not focusing on yourself, but on others. And not dwell on the things in life that you don't have, but be grateful for the things that you are blessed with. And in return, you develop an energy within and about you that is capable of such a better connection with those in your presence.
If I could get anywhere near those traits, I would be amazed and grateful. It would be such a positive, life changing thing! Another goal too, would be to meet someone who has embraced all of these qualities and make them my next new hero!
Showing posts with label BOOKS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BOOKS. Show all posts
Friday, July 31, 2009
Journal/Scrapbooking Group (6) - A Favorite Book
From June 2007
I'm still catching up in posting my journal/scrapbooking pages from the journal group I'm in. Sigh... I should just sit down on a Saturday and post all of the ones I have to date. I am actually quite fond of the pages I've created, just because I love being creative. So I really don't mean to make it sound like it's a chore to "show them off".
In January, we were assigned to scrapbook a page about our favorite book. It was really hard for me to choose. I don't know that I have a favorite book. I'm not an avid reader, yet I do read from time to time. And my selections vary from novels, to magazines, to self-help. Then it came to me! I absolutely love to read Calvin & Hobbes comics!! So that's what I chose. The picture above is what my page looks like, including some little booklets of favorite comic strips-lying around the page-that I put inside the sheet protector when I'm not actually reading or viewing the page.
I'm still catching up in posting my journal/scrapbooking pages from the journal group I'm in. Sigh... I should just sit down on a Saturday and post all of the ones I have to date. I am actually quite fond of the pages I've created, just because I love being creative. So I really don't mean to make it sound like it's a chore to "show them off".
In January, we were assigned to scrapbook a page about our favorite book. It was really hard for me to choose. I don't know that I have a favorite book. I'm not an avid reader, yet I do read from time to time. And my selections vary from novels, to magazines, to self-help. Then it came to me! I absolutely love to read Calvin & Hobbes comics!! So that's what I chose. The picture above is what my page looks like, including some little booklets of favorite comic strips-lying around the page-that I put inside the sheet protector when I'm not actually reading or viewing the page.
My journaling for the page is also in one of these little booklets. And it states:
I WAS INTRODUCED TO CALVIN & HOBBES COMICS BY A FRIEND WHO FOUND THEM HUMOROUS AND REMINDED HIM OF TWO OF HIS YOUNGER BROTHERS. AS I BEGAN TO READ THEM, I FOUND THAT CALVIN, AND HIS DEAR PAL, HOBBES, PROVIDED ME WITH A WONDERFUL SOURCE OF COMIC RELIEF. I WOULD LAUGH SO HARD SOMETIMES, THAT MY BELLY ACHED, TEARS RAN DOWN MY CHEEKS, AND ONLOOKERS THOUGHT I'D GONE MAD! I NOW OWN MUCH OF THE BOOK COLLECTION OF BILL WATTERSON'S POPULAR COMIC STRIP. I'M SAD HE'S RETIRED, YET I'M GRATEFUL HE DID SO BEFORE LOSING HIS FLAIR.
CALVIN REMINDS ME OF ALL THAT CHILDHOOD SHOULD BE ABOUT; IMAGINARY FRIENDS AND EXAGGERATED ADVENTURES, DISOBEDIENCE TO RULES AND BOUNDARIES, CHILDHOOD MOCKING OF ALL THAT IS ADULT-LIKE, AND THE ENJOYMENT OF SIMPLE PLEASURES. WHAT FUN IT IS TO REMEMBER AND RELIVE MY OWN CHILDHOOD BY PICKING UP AND READING A BOOK OF CALVIN & HOBBES COMICS! AND AS I DO, I'M ALSO REMINDED OF HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO NOT HAVE GIVEN BIRTH TO A "CALVIN" OF MY OWN! (YET, ANYWAY. )Live Your Best Life
From 6/2007
Not too long ago, I received an offer in the mail to purchase a book put together by the Oprah Magazine. This book contained the "best of" all the Live Your Best Life articles that have been published in her monthly magazine. I've always loved the Oprah Magazine and so I was highly tempted.... and after waiting a week or so, I gave in and ordered it. Well... IT CAME IN THE MAIL TODAY!! I was quite excited and became even more so when I opened it up and saw that the pages were so bright and colorful. They look just like the magazine articles except they are printed on nice thick paper and put together in a hardbound book. I can't wait to really get into it. I don't plan on reading it cover to cover, but instead just picking out articles here and there based on my interest at the moment. I actually read one right off the bat about finding a way to be active when you really hate exercising (that's definitely me). As I read ones that really hit me, I'll try to write about them here.
One other great thing about this purchase is that all the proceeds go to Oprah's Angel Network. If I ever win the lottery, I really do want to give some to her charity. I think she does great things with it! I also got a free canvas book bag, which is a fun bonus -- like I don't have a ton of those canvas bags from the various conferences and trainings I've been to. But I don't have an Oprah, Live Your Best Life one!
Not too long ago, I received an offer in the mail to purchase a book put together by the Oprah Magazine. This book contained the "best of" all the Live Your Best Life articles that have been published in her monthly magazine. I've always loved the Oprah Magazine and so I was highly tempted.... and after waiting a week or so, I gave in and ordered it. Well... IT CAME IN THE MAIL TODAY!! I was quite excited and became even more so when I opened it up and saw that the pages were so bright and colorful. They look just like the magazine articles except they are printed on nice thick paper and put together in a hardbound book. I can't wait to really get into it. I don't plan on reading it cover to cover, but instead just picking out articles here and there based on my interest at the moment. I actually read one right off the bat about finding a way to be active when you really hate exercising (that's definitely me). As I read ones that really hit me, I'll try to write about them here.
One other great thing about this purchase is that all the proceeds go to Oprah's Angel Network. If I ever win the lottery, I really do want to give some to her charity. I think she does great things with it! I also got a free canvas book bag, which is a fun bonus -- like I don't have a ton of those canvas bags from the various conferences and trainings I've been to. But I don't have an Oprah, Live Your Best Life one!
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