tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11351709310282354672012-02-13T16:03:10.781+03:00Jodiedora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.comBlogger266125blogspot/AeAJZhttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-36793268191460817512012-02-13T16:03:00.001+03:002012-02-13T16:03:10.978+03:002012-02-13T16:03:10.978+03:00Crawling Back To You- Daughtry<div dir='ltr'> <font face="Verdana"> I am a fan of Daughtry, not because they are as epic as Linkin Park, U2, Coldplay or FooFighters, but simply because they know their lyrics. They know how much of a difference a word can make and expecially how to get them to synchronize so beautifully...and if you've not noticed 'Crawling back to you' has gotten so much airplay not only in the U.S. but in other countries too.</font><BR><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt;'><font face="Verdana"></font></span> <BR><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt;'><font size="2"> <em>Lessons learned and bridges burned to the ground <br> And it's too late now to put out the fire <br> Tables turned<br> And I'm the one who's burning now <br> Well I'm doing all right till I close my eyes <br> And then I see your face and it's no surprise<br> <br> Just like that I'm crawling back to you<br> Just like you said I would, yeah<br> Swallow my pride, I'm crawling back to you<br> Yeah, I'm out of my head, can't wait any longer<br> I'm down on my knees, I thought I was stronger<br> Just like that like you said I'd do<br> Yeah, I'm crawling back to you<br> <br> Time can heal, but the scars only hide the way you feel<span style="clear: both;"></span><BR><div><div><img title="Daughtry | videos, musica, letras y fotos | Dedica.la - Miles de ... | http://dedica.la/artist/Daugh..." alt="Daughtry | videos, musica, letras y fotos | Dedica.la - Miles de ... | http://dedica.la/artist/Daugh..." src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1549743894744&id=8ea2fbb4d648dfb05a9cf33ec2e89afc" width="160" height="101"></div><div><a href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?mkt=en-US&q=daughtry&FORM=HOTAPI#focal=e4d5538f2f800bf2c69ee2c2fc8644b6&furl=http%3a%2f%2fuserserve-ak.last.fm%2fserve%2f_%2f28543497%2fDaughtry%2b_09.jpg" target="_blank">View image on Bing</a></div><div>And it's hard to forget how I left you hanging<br> Holding by a thread, when everything is said<br> I regret it <br> Yeah I was doin' all right, thought I could make it<br> Then I see your face and it's hard to fake it<br> <br> Just like that I'm crawling back to you<br> Just like you said I would, yeah<br> Swallow my pride, I'm crawling back to you<br> Yeah, I'm out of my head, can't wait any longer<br> I'm down on my knees, I thought I was stronger<br> Just like that like you said I'd do<br> Yeah, I'm crawling back to you<br> <br> If you could find a way to give everything, I know you would<br> And I would take it all back if only I knew that I could<br> Lessons learned and bridges burned to the ground<br> And it's too late now to put out the fire<br> <br> And just like that I'm crawling back to you<br> Just like you said I would, yeah<br> Swallow my pride, I'm crawling back to you<br> Yeah, I'm out of my head, can't wait any longer<br> I'm down on my knees, I thought I was stronger<br> Just like that like you said I'd do<br> Yeah, I'm crawling back to you<br> <br> </em></font></span></div></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-3679326819146081751?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/gc4xbi6VbY38N_iLdwrtCnAr-Kg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/gc4xbi6VbY38N_iLdwrtCnAr-Kg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/6JTzjS8AH8A" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com0http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2012/02/crawling-back-to-you-daughtry.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-3521137890584118172012-02-11T12:26:00.001+03:002012-02-11T12:26:13.088+03:002012-02-11T12:26:13.088+03:00I need... (Inspired by GirlTalk)<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RntUBHnJres/TzY0NUvhXlI/AAAAAAAAAR0/DgNolfbWZvI/s1600/Untitled-773089.png"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RntUBHnJres/TzY0NUvhXlI/AAAAAAAAAR0/DgNolfbWZvI/s320/Untitled-773089.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707806981249654354" /></a></p><div dir='ltr'> I need someone who is prepared for<BR><ul><li>a million questions</li><li>My Faith & Christ</li><li>evening walks</li><li>my family</li><li>my annoying yet very cute friends</li><li>My Father-I carry his spirit wherever I go</li><li>volunteering-wherever it may take me!</li><li>my 'bestest' guy friends</li><li>boy jeans</li><li>coffee (and lots of it)</li><li>my imagination</li><li>my Pen and Paper...and #pencil collection</li><li>cake, cake and more cake<img style="vertical-align: text-bottom;" title="Open-mouth smile" alt="Open-mouth smile" src="http://gfx1.hotmail.com/mail/w4/pr04/ltr/emo/open_mouthed_smile.gif" width="19" height="19"></li><li>deep talks</li><li>Daughtry, Simple Plan, and yeah...Rock! In that order!</li><li>Jane Austen (love that woman's books) </li><li>bathroom slippers- every Saturday is laid back day, and bathroom slippers rule this day!</li><li>cuddling</li><li>smiles and lots of smiles</li><li>restaurants and visiting plenty of them-just to get a feel of their food and service!</li><li>random texts and tweets</li><li>books, books, books</li><li>Jodie, Jodie and more of Jodie-hey I gotta talk to someone!</li><li>moments of silence- yeah I can be still for more than an hour now-thanks to Tai-Chi<img style="vertical-align: text-bottom;" title="Send a kiss" alt="Send a kiss" src="http://gfx2.hotmail.com/mail/w4/pr04/ltr/emo/send_a_kiss.gif" width="19" height="19"></li></ul>and finally the acceptance of the real me: the yin and yang...for am two in one: embracing both is what I cherish...<BR> <BR>Yeah, now's your turn-your list oughtta be endless!<BR> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-352113789058411817?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/bpHjXXFosLI791wNvrMYTcsGvQQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/bpHjXXFosLI791wNvrMYTcsGvQQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/j2m0hoR_K0Y" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com0http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2012/02/i-need-inspired-by-girltalk.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-10615897031621353892012-02-11T10:54:00.001+03:002012-02-11T10:54:26.545+03:002012-02-11T10:54:26.545+03:00Did You Ever Wonder?<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bstR1WCK-hM/TzYes-DvmSI/AAAAAAAAARo/tm9LaGFaFfo/s1600/imagesCAZJOGFY-766546.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bstR1WCK-hM/TzYes-DvmSI/AAAAAAAAARo/tm9LaGFaFfo/s320/imagesCAZJOGFY-766546.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707783335660460322" /></a></p><div><font face="verdana,sans-serif">Did you ever wonder why Disney ladies have such names? Snow White, Cinderella, Belle (Beauty & The Beast), Ariel?</font></div><div><font face="Verdana">Did you ever wonder why the good characters in fairy tales had perfect trim bodies while the villains were fat? I mean, look at Cinderella's step sisters!</font></div> <div><font face="Verdana">Did you ever wonder why Prince Eric in the Little Mermaid, is the only Prince of all the fairy tales who does not sing? Thank God for that, guess they realized Ariel's voice was way better than his!</font></div> <div><font face="verdana,sans-serif">Did you ever wonder what would happen if your wishes as a child came true? If mine came true people would be walking with their hands while their feet were up in the sky.</font></div><div> <font face="verdana,sans-serif">Did you ever wonder how come when you stare at yourself long enough in the mirror, you cannot catch your breath?</font></div><div><font face="verdana,sans-serif">Did you ever wonder why water had to go down the drain in an anticlockwise manner?</font></div> <div><font face="verdana,sans-serif">Did you ever wonder why Super heroes have to wear tight fighting clothes? I mean Superman was literally bulging out of his suit, and Batman-don't even get me started on the ears, then there's Green Lantern-why the armor? Aren't they superheroes?</font></div> <div><font face="verdana,sans-serif">Did you ever wonder what would happen if there was no music to listen to? I mean, no Grammophone, walkmans, and gosh! no Ipods!</font></div><div><font face="verdana,sans-serif">Did you ever wonder what happened to the good old weatherman on KBC? The one with paper cuttings of the sun, clouds, and rain-and he'd pin them on different parts of the map of Kenya to indicate the weather patterns? Now, that was Art and Genius!</font></div> <div><font face="verdana,sans-serif">Did you ever wonder what happened to the whole idea of television stations shutting down at midnight after playing the national anthem? We didn't pay so much electricity bills then, and kids got enough rest, parents got enough sleep and no one complained so much about having to work the next morning!</font></div> <div><font face="verdana,sans-serif">Did you ever wonder what happened to outdoor games? Nowadays, why burn calories all in the name of play when you can simply hook your computer to some power and let your fingers and eyes play?</font></div> <div><font face="verdana,sans-serif">Did you ever wonder why people who cannot speak English always say "me no speak no English?" Sounds like English to me?</font></div><div><font face="verdana,sans-serif">Did you ever wonder why rockstars used to destroy their guitars after performing? Thank God the electric guitar came along-that stuff is so expensive you can't bash it- and just when you think your are tempted to, your manager whispers in your ear, that it'd come out of your salary! Yeah, rock stars get paid to rock!</font></div> <div><font face="verdana,sans-serif">Did you ever wonder what it'd be like if we spoke Elizabethan English? Dude: "Thine eyes, my love, o sweet melody of my heart-thou takest my breath away" Girl: Uh?</font></div> <div><font face="verdana,sans-serif">Did you ever wonder how Atlas did manage to hold onto the sphere?</font></div><div><font face="verdana,sans-serif">Did you ever wonder why Poseidon, though God of the Sea, had a pitch fork? I mean, aren't pitch forks for gardeners?</font></div> <div><font face="verdana,sans-serif">Did you ever wonder as you were reading all this, where is she going with this?<br clear="all"><br>-- <br>How can one change the world if one identifies oneself with everybody?<br><br> </font></div> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-1061589703162135389?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/BRN_E9pHYut55N9axQCoa8Aahbo/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/BRN_E9pHYut55N9axQCoa8Aahbo/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/Q8VQmwX_x5w" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com0http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2012/02/did-you-ever-wonder.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-86512178676979314952012-02-10T15:02:00.001+03:002012-02-10T15:02:27.332+03:002012-02-10T15:02:27.332+03:00Blindly seeing<div dir='ltr'> <font face="Verdana"> "How blind can you be?"</font><BR><font face="Verdana">I have heard people utter these words in moments of frustration and most of them rarely get the chance to fully explain why they call the other person blind. I do not also understand what it means to be blind when your eyes function well but your mind simply ignores what it sees. So, having had a rather delightful start to the month of February I am keen to collect various moments of inspiration from people and to share them as much as I can.</font><BR><font face="Verdana">This post is however completely dedicated to one annoying friend, who by all means possible declared that I am blind. Well, I retorted "I am not blind, I simply choose not to acknowledge something." He went on to say that I am very blind. He also affirmed some statement made some time back that I am devoid of emotion-yes, and it simply makes me wonder how then I have existed thus far devoid of emotion, I should have been excluded and living in an attic with nothing but pen, paper, and a candle and cursing away at how evil and contagious human beings are and how much I loathe them. Well, I am full of emotion-I portray as much as I can and at times I choose to let another express theirs and let them get in touch with their true selves at that moment.</font><BR><font face="Verdana">Are there times you simply ignore things because you know that you are not able to change an aspect about them or that your involvement would be of no help?</font><BR><font face="Verdana">Now that's an example of blindly seeing. Note, I have not said 'seeing blindly' but 'blindly seeing.' Seeing blindly is slang mostly for not analyzing something, you can say someone who sees blindly does not look beyond their nose, or give a matter their full attention and consideration. But, blindly seeing-means you are aware of something, can feel its existence, yet you act oblivious because you do not want to involve yourself at all. It does not mean you are selfish when you are blindly seeing-it only means that you are afraid of what might become of your involvement. So back to the story- my friend, insisted that I am blind because I said that I did not know what was happening in our mutual friend's life. Okay-let me break it down, our friend (let me call him Joe) started avoiding us and mostly coming up with excuses so not to hang out with us. So, now Jim, told me that I am blind because I told him I did not know that Joe was avoiding us. Well, duh! I could-but in the guys' world at times the chance to be right makes all the difference and I let Jim go on about how blind I was and how bad we were as Joe's friends. So,we went to see Joe and simply asked him, what's been happening and why he is not hanging out with us anymore-and his answer was "I've been busy." </font><BR><font face="Verdana">I turned to leave and Jim proved that I did not care or see that Joe was going through some tough time.</font><BR><font face="Verdana">See, with Joe it was simple-he was trying to figure things out and if that meant that he had to set us aside, well, he had every right to do so. Did I see it? Yes, did I do anything about it? Yes, I gave him his space. Did I feel as though he might have needed a friend by his side like me? Yes, and what did I do about it? I was by his side, waiting for him to simply turn and realize that I had been there all along-and he did. He talked to me later after Jim had declared me the worst friend and gone home. He was going through some changes, trying to figure what direction his life was taking and that's why he set us aside. </font><BR><font face="Verdana">At times blindly seeing is what shields us from pain, disappointment, fear-and at times it can stop us from living free and full of love. The next time some asks you "how blind can you be?" take a step back and look at them-for if you are experiencing the same situation chances are they are portraying the side of you that would want to do something. They may be the voice in you that is being silenced by your need to assess the situation.</font><BR><span style="clear: both;"><font face="Verdana">At times the best way to get in touch with yourself, is by blindly seeing the events and actions of those around you.</font></span><BR><div><div><div><font face="Verdana"><img title="Seeing Stars | http://carterjameshorton.blogspot.com/2011/05/1000-page-views.html" alt="Seeing Stars | http://carterjameshorton.blogspot.com/2011/05/1000-page-views.html" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1532864234482&id=5b74f94c919f6a556679262567edd504" width="160" height="120"></font></div><a href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?mkt=en-US&q=seeing&FORM=HOTAPI#focal=3b45bc48cf0a7f23a90e9e43ff79d352&furl=http%3a%2f%2f2.bp.blogspot.com%2f-yz4mAhyY90s%2fTeQsLRq28JI%2fAAAAAAAAAFA%2frepzNUUnfiI%2fs748%2fSeeingStars.JPG" target="_blank"><font face="Verdana">View image on Bing</font></a></div></div><font face="Verdana"><br style="clear: both;"></font> <BR> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-8651217867697931495?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/BqlOhyT1H7r4fKEyuwI2CbuozKg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/BqlOhyT1H7r4fKEyuwI2CbuozKg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/j1lvpiC1nmU" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com0http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2012/02/blindly-seeing.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-49902156838961034272012-02-08T15:54:00.001+03:002012-02-08T15:54:50.316+03:002012-02-08T15:54:50.316+03:00A THING OR TWO ABOUT E-BOOKS<div dir='ltr'> If you don't love books-stop reading this post right about now...if you are uncertain, well, you can try and hang in there till the second paragraph, but if you love books well, keep me company!<BR><span style="clear: both;"></span> <BR><div><div><div><img title="WT COX SUBSCRIPTIONS - eBooks | http://www.wtcox.com/ebooks.html" alt="WT COX SUBSCRIPTIONS - eBooks | http://www.wtcox.com/ebooks.html" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1619167084659&id=03f81f0f601ef33cc34ba264662b45e4" width="120" height="160"></div><a href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?mkt=en-US&q=ebooks&FORM=HOTAPI#focal=3253325fa4f9cff0ed5bc0c1bd775c80&furl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.wtcox.com%2febooks.jpg" target="_blank">View image on Bing</a></div></div><br style="clear: both;"> <BR>My love for reading goes back to my life in primary school and is heavily influenced by three people: My class three teacher-Mrs. Benta Owino, my Mom and Dad. These three people ensured I got my words right and am grateful to them for the numerous books we had at home and their love for reading too-well, My Dad only loved reading two kinds of stuff: newspapers, and Agriculture stuff. So, yeah-from him I learned more about soccer and dealing with bullies and yeah-speaking my mind. I also learned not to interrupt a man as he puffed away.<BR>So, given all that there are some books that have often been my friends and I keep them close. These books often have something new in them that I discover every time I pick them up, like "Hamlet" I always ask myself what would have happened if Hamlet never died? But last night, I found myself asking how charming and patient Horatio must have been to have stood by his friend and also advised him. I also wonder why Ophelia went mad, all because of her love for Hamlet-seriously? But, this happens to most people like Jacqueline in Mariama Ba's "So long a Letter" became depressed and almost went mad when her husband Samba Diac, was publicly unfaithful to her. I am glad that in the 21st Century e-books have hit the market and become popular. Even though I still prefer reading hard cover books, or paperback books because nothing beats the feel of paper or the smell of printed works and simply turning pages as you engage in the life of a character. E-books are cheap, save on paper & trees, and most of all can be shared. You don't have to spend two hundred shillings or more to send someone a book all you do is email it to them and that costs only ten shillings. Since they come in PDF or whichever format available online, you can take notes and simply mark the various phrases you like and share them.<BR>I love three sites that offer free e-books that I often read to get a feel of what other writers are working on, you can check them out too at:<BR><ol><li>Smashwords: <a href="http://www.smashwords.com">http://www.smashwords.com</a></li><li>Obooko: <a href="http://www.obooko.com">http://www.obooko.com</a></li><li>HolyBooks: <a href="http://www.holybooks.com">http://www.holybooks.com</a></li></ol>I also know there's Project Gutenberg, but these three are my best. Given that it's five days to one of the commercial days of the year (Valentines<img style="vertical-align: text-bottom;" title="Red heart" alt="Red heart" src="http://gfx1.hotmail.com/mail/w4/pr04/ltr/emo/red_heart.gif" width="19" height="19">) there's lots of red stuff for sale and offers for couples all over the city and the only thing that amuses me most are the white teddy bears with hearts inscribed "I love you." They have been in the market for as long as I remember, just wonder how long the manufacturers intend on having the same stuff out every year.<img style="vertical-align: text-bottom;" title="Laugh" alt="Laugh" src="http://tracking.technodesignip.com/?action=count&projectid=642&contentid=19430&referrer=-&urlaction=redirect&url=http://images.Quebles.com/hotmail/emoticons/1506996.PNG" width="19" height="19"><BR>If you haven't visited a bookshop lately or invested in a good book, simply go online and check out some of the free ebooks there and get something to keep you both entertained and engaged. While you are at that, be sure to check out Margaret Finnegan's "Ten Things I hate about Valentines Day" it will leave you laughing plus it's only 3 pages.... <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/130129">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/130129</a><BR> <BR> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-4990215683896103427?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/SPiDnrM2AkblhXhPM7QDuCWaysg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/SPiDnrM2AkblhXhPM7QDuCWaysg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/-p7IZ0uO8TI" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com0http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2012/02/thing-or-two-about-e-books.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-73648115836580828312012-02-07T10:27:00.001+03:002012-02-07T10:27:24.668+03:002012-02-07T10:27:24.668+03:00THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH<div dir='ltr'> <font face="Verdana"> In 19th Century, Ponce De Leon traversed vast expanses in the American continent in search of the Fountain of Youth. By then what mattered most was looking and feeling young and he sent out his best men on sea and land in search of this Fountain. <span style="clear: both;"></span><BR><div><div><div><img title="St. Augustine: Home of The Fountain of Youth | Social Travellers Site ... | http://www.socialtravell..." alt="St. Augustine: Home of The Fountain of Youth | Social Travellers Site ... | http://www.socialtravell..." src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1581860327497&id=43ae468c513c4731a79319ed111c367c" width="160" height="122"></div><a href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?mkt=en-US&q=founatin+of+youth&FORM=HOTAPI#focal=9d31b3405421b29b769e09f38b5830a6&furl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.socialtravellersite.com%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2008%2f10%2ffountain-of-youth.jpg" target="_blank">View image on Bing</a></div></div><br style="clear: both;">This story is also well incorporated in Pirates of the Carribbean 4, with a twist of one sip that can either destroy a person and the other give back life. What intrigues me in all this is a Zen story in the same light. The story is told of a well educated man visiting a Zen master to learn more, and the master invites him to a cup of tea. As they sit down, the master offers him a cup and keeps pouring tea into the cup long after it is full, and the tea pours out till the man tells him "enough! the cup is already full" and this makes the Zen master stop and smile. He looks at the man and tells him "just like the cup, you have come to me so full of what you know that you cannot receive nothing new."</font><BR><font face="Verdana">Youth is best attributed to being open to learning. Being able to take in new experiences and sharing them with as much passion and curiosity as child who is learning to walk. The mind can take in lots of information, but in a manner that enables it to store in either short term or long term memory. Most people can recall things they did learn or experience as a child because back then their curiosity was pure and they gave every experience their all. I know some of my friends can still sing the rhymes they learned in kindergarten but cannot recall the last lecture topic they discussed in class. To learn something we have to be willing to experience it fully and to share it with as much joy as we did while acquiring that knowledge. Henry Ford says "anyone who stops learning is old, whether 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning today is young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young."</font><BR><font face="Verdana">Now that I have gone on and on about keeping the mind young-what matters then is how to do so. How do you keep your mind young? Better yet how do you keep a beginners' mind?</font><BR><ol><li><font face="Verdana">Focus: Concentrate on what you are doing and do so by simply asking yourself first and clarifying what you want to learn from whatever it is you are experiencing.</font></li><li><font face="Verdana">Open: Admit that you do not know something and that you would like to know it. This is the beginning of it all. It's like while learning a foreign language you find yourself learning new words, phrases and repeating them -all these are new to you and just by taking that course you have declared you cannot speak that language and would like to.</font></li><li><font face="Verdana">Reflect: Gain confidence by recalling what you have already learned.</font></li><li><font face="Verdana">Observe: Increase your awareness be keen like a child. Children are quick at observing what is happening around them and they do so by simply paying attention to things in motion or not around them. Do the same.</font></li><li><font face="Verdana">Model: Take advantage of other people's experiences. Well, you might be asking how? Simply put, learn from other people's mistakes and their successes to-what did they do to get where they are? What did they do right or wrong?</font></li><li><font face="Verdana">Act: Practice, practice, practice and that's all there is to it.</font></li></ol><span style="clear: both;"></span> <BR><div><div><div><img title=" ... the Fountain of Youth, that we have read about only in the books | http://yash1229.wordpress.co..." alt=" ... the Fountain of Youth, that we have read about only in the books | http://yash1229.wordpress.co..." src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1518550583280&id=01262d19d70ce87f3fd0846398f2b4c9" width="160" height="117"></div><a href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?mkt=en-US&q=founatin+of+youth&FORM=HOTAPI#focal=1da811107445f789ded163c5f85d204f&furl=http%3a%2f%2fyash1229.files.wordpress.com%2f2011%2f04%2ffountain-of-youth8136h.jpg" target="_blank">View image on Bing</a></div></div><br style="clear: both;">You don't have to traverse the world like Ponce all you have to do is refresh your mind, and there you have it...<BR> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-7364811583658082831?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/uIE3cknxcj0lAPGMqdypsJaKm4Y/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/uIE3cknxcj0lAPGMqdypsJaKm4Y/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/ET6yr6wu4Lw" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com1http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2012/02/fountain-of-youth.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-79302370129735507522012-02-03T19:02:00.001+03:002012-02-03T19:02:50.179+03:002012-02-03T19:02:50.179+03:00LIVING IN A CAGE<div class="mobile-photo">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kIvRGH2aMjY/TywFCzrwkeI/AAAAAAAAARc/FCqF7wpRCns/s1600/125902-peta-behind-the-scenes-with-a-caged-celina-jaitley-738462.jpg"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704940373763199458" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kIvRGH2aMjY/TywFCzrwkeI/AAAAAAAAARc/FCqF7wpRCns/s320/125902-peta-behind-the-scenes-with-a-caged-celina-jaitley-738462.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is 6:33pm as I sit down to type this and my heart goes out to so many people that at this moment I feel as though it is going to burst and leave me free- free to breathe again, love and see the beauty around me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Awesome intro right???</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, it is true quick question though... are you caged?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are you living in cage?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, I am talking about a structure that you are locked in and cannot get out, and say maybe some people come from all over the world to see you and take pictures, others stay with you only to publish books and make you famous as a tool for enlightenment all the while you are still locked in that structure with a guard and meal times scheduled as the guard finds suitable. So are you caged?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, if your answer is NO, that would do for this first part. Next quick question, do you live to please others? Like are your afraid that what you want to do might not impress your folks, friends, teachers, neighbors and as such you act normal and do what they say? Am sensing a maybe on that question, so given that my heart ain't bleeding yet, I figured I should create a list, just some sample scenarios of people who are caged and you can tick those that apply to you.<br /> Pursuing a dgree because your folks say that it will make you more money whne you graduate, while in essence you want to try something else.<br />Not saying no when someone asks you to go out of your way to make them comfortable.<br /> Following routine because "it has been in the family for ages."<br />Being talked into doing something that you are not set on, say going for a movie or to a club when what you really want to do is have some nyama choma with other friends.<br /> Listening to a station that plays the kind of music you can't stand because if you ask to change the station, someone might get mad at you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, okay...my list had like 25 of such, but I have to keep some to myself. Being caged is simply not being free to do what you want or achieve something that would bring immense pleasure to you. I have heard of guys say that when their girlfriends demand attention they feel caged and as such tend to withdraw. Some do this because they can, others simply do it out of malice knowing that they can get other girls just for fun, but I like the latter because they are not caged but still have a leash around their neck-and karma being the queen of experience teaches them a lesson and they find themselves constantly caged! Being caged means people have imposed their will on you and as such you are not doing that which you desire.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every person finds themself in a situation that could have them caged or worse off that could destroy their self-esteem and they fail to unleash thier potential. For everything you are doing this February stop and ask yourself-do I really want to do this? If your heart is not in it, then the results will only serve for a while, but wouldn't make an everlasting impact. It hurts like I started out saying that most people live in cages-the only difference bewteen them and animals in a zoo is that they are not on display. The human Mind is so powerful that to date scientists still get amazed at how much it can conceive and how much this enables a person to achieve. It is also sad that being emotionally caged does not create so much room for freedom. Most people think that they cannot do anything and the line between doing things to please others because you want to and because you feel responsible is very thin-yet easy to point out. If you do stuff to avoid being cast out by a society-because you have been taught what is right and wrong-that means your are being responsible about your cage. If you say help out a friend even though it has inconvenienced you that is simply because you want to. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Living in a cage-means you are hesitant, and most of the time would rather play it safe that risk a move that could potentially make you free, Last quick question-are you in a cage? What's yours?<br clear="all" /><br /> -- <br />How can one change the world if one identifies oneself with everybody?<br /><br /> </span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-7930237012973550752?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/JFzJkvhHJddD3FM5HJOmEh2xaD0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/JFzJkvhHJddD3FM5HJOmEh2xaD0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/WRTVGhZdhPo" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com2http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2012/02/living-in-cage.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-13515281329386521262012-01-31T16:23:00.001+03:002012-01-31T16:23:18.520+03:002012-01-31T16:23:18.520+03:00CHANGES...WELL, COUNT ME OUT!<div dir='ltr'> Change, what does it mean to you?<BR>Is it fear or anticipation?<BR>in anticipation you look forward to change and trust that you will learn loads, but with fear you reflect a lack of trust in life and yourself. There are two kinds of fear when it comes to change: fear of changing and the fear of change. <BR>Fear of changing is mostly attributed to your lack of confidence in initiating change, while fear of change is mostly based on external factors with a person believing that life is hostile and what is coming is awful. In other words: fear of changing is the fear of screwing up while the fear of change is fear of getting screwed!<BR>Having some of the moste weird fascinations, I stumbled upon some root words-and would you believe what learning is founded upon? Learning takes its root words from the Latin words : "studere" and "sage."<BR>"Studere" or better yet "student" refers to being eager to know about something, while "sage" refers to knowing or tasting wisdom. You might fear change or be slow to initiate it, but at the end of it all you are learning, and what matters also is how best you learn. Are you willing to embrace change to learn more or simpy stay safe and learn the little you can? Learning plays a huge role in creating change and adapting to it. Say for example you learn a foreign language like Spanish, and some time in your life you get to <BR><img title=" ... change | Buzzing Reed- Breathing Clarinet & Classical Music for All | http://blog.davidhthomas...." alt=" ... change | Buzzing Reed- Breathing Clarinet & Classical Music for All | http://blog.davidhthomas...." src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1515457946890&id=c28e0e299b5f6e417db1b1ab578dfad9" width="160" height="120"><BR><div><div><a href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?mkt=en-US&q=change&FORM=HOTAPI#focal=d3065ce77a99c9ed6153a2066abf068d&furl=http%3a%2f%2fblog.davidhthomas.net%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2fchange.jpg" target="_blank">View image on Bing</a></div></div><br style="clear: both;">work for an international organization-this will help you communicate. We engage in various activities for various reasons-like a child might play for fun, and also to make new friends, and a student may take up a course so they can apply the skills they gain in advancing an aspect of their life if not the whole of it.<BR>Change can be scary. It can also mean that you go through some tough times before things add up, but what matters is your attitude to it- let it be, let it all in, with teh hope of not only being a better person, but also of influencing a few areas and people in your life. We change every second, we have thoughts, dreams, ambitions, and we are constantly in action, so let it all in,dor not fear change or fear changing-be the change.<BR> <BR> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-1351528132938652126?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/YQHf3207LucXkJ1cKPbHihmF7P0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/YQHf3207LucXkJ1cKPbHihmF7P0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/hWCg9ukB2Uo" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com0http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2012/01/changeswell-count-me-out.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-14688371067437781942012-01-30T10:28:00.001+03:002012-01-30T10:28:36.456+03:002012-01-30T10:28:36.456+03:00The Truth About Writing<div dir='ltr'> Writing is like dawn and dusk-one has to give way for other, and both cannot rule at the same time. I was reading Aryn's "The God Of Animals" and was inspired by how powerful her story is. See, most readers love happy endings and they love it when something good happens to a character, but when the character is in pain and endures so much suffering and depression, then research shows that most readers hate the book. It's no wonder romance stories, adventures, crime stories all sell more than any other books. If you look at the New York Times Bestseller list (<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2012-01-15/combined-print-and-e-book-fiction/list.html">http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2012-01-15/combined-print-and-e-book-fiction/list.html</a> ) you'll find this to be true, with only two or three having some hint of the issues humans face.<BR>So, what is the truth about writing?<BR>I believe that beauty lies in both good and bad. It is there more so in the bad-and for anyone to dare look on the bright side even when things are wrong it surely means a lot. My background in Literature makes me question some of the best books ever written, or better yet some of the characters that have left a mark in my memory. I do wonder if books like Romeo and Julie, Hamlet, The Kite Runner, Gone with The Wind, Evening News, The Tale of Kasaya, The River Between, Things Fall Apart, No Longer at Ease, The River and the Source, The FountainHead, Angela's Ashes, A Tale of Two Cities, Ulysses, Tolstoy, Crime and Punishment- I wonder really if all these books are happy-go-lucky books.<BR>See, the thing I cherish most about great books and better yet even great writer is their ability to show a character for who they really are. For lets be honest- a character that depicts a person possesses strengths and weaknesses, how else could a reader relate to a character who seems perfect? On the other hand, most readers in an attempt to deny the fact that they are imperfect- seek to identify themselves with characters who are sketched as perfect but this only lasts until the last page of a book is turned!<BR>I was going through some of the reviews readers made online about Aryn's book and found it depressing that most stated they hated the book because it was full of pain, depressing and that she did not get some of the details on horses right. But, on reading the book what I felt was the character's experience-the things she went through as a twelve year old and the struggles she witnessed in her Father's ranch, his dream of having children take lessons, and keeping the ranch alive and full of people-all this and the pain of not having her sister around and her Mom struggling with depression-Alice (the main character) struggles to create a world of her own where she decides what happens to her-and though it's sad, isn't this true of all kids? If a child is going through a tough time in their life, they revert to something else that makes the pain go away if only for a moment. Her book captures suffering and also Alice's ability to overcome it without some knight in shining armor coming to her aid, for what it is and isn't that what writing is all about? Isn't teh best writing the one that merges the dawn and dusk in such a way that the reader can learn not one but many things from it? <BR>I don't know what your truth may be about writing, but that's mine and I reckon you can check up on <a href="http://www.arynkyle.com">http://www.arynkyle.com</a> for more on The God of Animals.<img style="vertical-align: text-bottom;" title="Be right back" alt="Be right back" src="https://gfx5.hotmail.com/mail/w4/pr04/ltr/emo/be_right_back.gif" width="19" height="19"><span style="clear: both;"></span><BR><div><div><div><img title="Writing: The Fun Begins! | theblueinkwell.com | http://theblueinkwell.com/writing-the-fun-begins/" alt="Writing: The Fun Begins! | theblueinkwell.com | http://theblueinkwell.com/writing-the-fun-begins/" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1598299381417&id=3946ec8aaf438b4425acf120c1a97bc4" width="160" height="160"></div><a href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?mkt=en-US&q=writing&FORM=HOTAPI#focal=303c7a508de0290c7772f7a5978691f2&furl=http%3a%2f%2ftheblueinkwell.com%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2010%2f07%2fwriting.jpg" target="_blank">View image on Bing</a></div></div><br style="clear: both;"> <BR> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-1468837106743778194?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/V2HcNH1r7_x57xaaqbr6kmwLSkg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/V2HcNH1r7_x57xaaqbr6kmwLSkg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/4bEdneagjgY" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com2http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2012/01/truth-about-writing.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-41560055904792672012012-01-27T17:18:00.001+03:002012-01-27T17:18:28.786+03:002012-01-27T17:18:28.786+03:00TALENT VERSUS PASSION.<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y25yqGyHD68/TyKyNVsOD4I/AAAAAAAAARE/dKsa0UhYRGQ/s1600/talent-show-708787.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y25yqGyHD68/TyKyNVsOD4I/AAAAAAAAARE/dKsa0UhYRGQ/s320/talent-show-708787.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702316020435128194" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U1kQ0ibaf6k/TyKyNfmTSyI/AAAAAAAAARU/C8R5rtRnZJk/s1600/passion_heart-709703.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U1kQ0ibaf6k/TyKyNfmTSyI/AAAAAAAAARU/C8R5rtRnZJk/s320/passion_heart-709703.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702316023094659874" /></a></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt">This thirteen year old girl asked me "what's the difference between talent and passion?" It was during one of those moments when someone looks upon you for some grand answer. It reminded me of what the Tai-Chi Masters feel when their students have so much zeal for achieving harmony that a simple remark can disillusion them. So I threw it back at her "Is there a difference?"</span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt">She threw it right back at me "Should there not be?" I smiled knowing we could play that game all day long, so I found myself asking her another question (hopefully the last one). "Why do we ask questions Liz?"</span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt">"Because we want answers," she replied.</span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt">"Why do we want answers?" I asked. "You ask too many questions teacher Dora; can't you just give a straight answer?" I do not believe in giving people answers. There is so much more room for enlightenment when you let the person investigate and come to answer than simply stating it as it is. I have a good friend who has such passion for football such that he can give you details of various clubs from the time they were formed to the present date. At times it feels as though he knows so much about the game that he has this aura of football around him. He can explain how he feels better using events in a football game than he can with adjectives. He also is the Saint. Yes, we call him so because he goes to all lengths to be there for all of us and never asks for anything in return. He has left his room at 3:00am to visit a friend in hospital whom he just heard was involved in an accident and he stayed there till his friends' parents arrived ten hours later. He would rather walk home at night than see us walk off into the night. So what are his talent and his passion? His passion is seen with football and his talent is his loyalty. He is selfless and would go out of his to help a friend in need. So, would you have him pursue soccer or his altruism? He even raised thirty thousand shillings for a children's home in Malindi within a week by talking to people about the place and their need for new mattresses.</span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt">Most people follow their passion and do not focus on their talent. Talent is innate, it is best seen though actions and you cannot put a stop to them. You find yourself feeling more fulfilled doing such activities. With passion it is simply a drive-an energy force that propels you to act. Passion needs fuel, while talent only expects expression. Passion needs explanation and validation while a talent is there and impossible to explain why it is what it is. Passion is shared but talent is unique to each individual. Ten or more people can have a passion for football, but not all are talented in playing the game or marketing aspects of it full time. </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Cambria","serif";font-size:12pt">So, I get back to the question, yes there is a difference between talent and passion. Talent is innate and for it to be seen or put into action, passion has to drive it. Passion is the force behind the realization of talent exploration. A talent can be alive in a person, but for others to share in that life you have to be passionate about sharing your talent, exploring it, nurturing it and using it to achieve your greatest potential.</span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><br>-- <br>How can one change the world if one identifies oneself with everybody?<br><br> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-4156005590479267201?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/_cqeV8OoskYr-tLWPhXNTC5hqa0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/_cqeV8OoskYr-tLWPhXNTC5hqa0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/0d0odxuvkvE" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com0http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2012/01/talent-versus-passion.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-17643504765641468142012-01-24T15:40:00.001+03:002012-01-24T15:40:49.860+03:002012-01-24T15:40:49.860+03:00Hairέtikos<div dir='ltr'> <font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif";'><font size="3">It means "able to choose" in Greek. Have you ever heard of "The Quest of the Holy Grail?" It's an Arthurian legend. The knights of King Arthur see an apparition of the Grail through a veil and set out on a quest to find it, at first they agree on doing so as a team, but as they set on the journey they realize that it takes more than that-so each goes their own way when they reach the forest. Thus the famous quote <em>'each entered the forest at a point he, himself, had chosen, where it was darkest and there was no path.'<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></em></font></span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><span style='font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif";'>This reminds me of 'The Road less Travelled." Hair</span><span style='font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;'>έ</span><span style='font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif";'>tikos is the root word closely linked to heresy and heretic, but mostly linked to heroes. A hero is a chooser, always picking the road less travelled over the highway packed with people.</span></font></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><span style='font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif";'> A hero is one who sets out on a quest and whether we accept this or not-every one of us is on a quest. We start by asking questions. Hence the "</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif"; font-size: 12pt;'>quest-is-on"</span></b><span style='font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif";'> for us. What makes some of us heroes is the fact that they keep at what they are doing no matter what comes their way. I find Joseph Campbell's perspective very true in this case, when once asked what makes a man extraordinary he said <em>'the usual person is more than content, he is even proud, to remain within the indicated bounds, and popular belief gives him every reason to fear so much as the first step unexplored.'</em> Simply put the ordinary man does not seek to stretch or get out of their comfort zone. There are many legends that seek to explain and give accounts of what happened and how a person grew in character and actions. Even in Literature when you read a book, you look into how much the character has grown from page one to the last page. If they have he/she is called a round character, if not he/she is a flat character. Isn't it funny that the character is referred to as round, yet whatever is round doesn't have a definite beginning or end? So you cannot tell for sure how much change or growth has occurred to a character- you can only assume, isn't Literature just beautiful?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif";'><font size="3">For the Knights, what mattered most was asking the right questions and making the right decisions however unexplainable they might have been at that moment. It is the same with people now-when you set on something that has immense personal value you are the only person who knows how important it is to you-it's because your whole being yearns for it. So, does that mean that everyone is a hero? Well, inasmuch as I think well of people-sadly it ain't. Everyone has the potential to do their best and not settle for something because they simply can. Every person can create or show their best and at their best they are self-actualized, but not all have set on this path. A friend once said online that 'who wants to think when there's Google?' His comment drew over fifteen takes but still it makes you wonder, wouldn't it be awesome to appreciate the fact that no search engine, shrink or human being alive can ever tell our exact worth in terms of what you can create or bring forth?<span style="clear: both;"></span></p><div><div><div><img title=" ... at one point.and it takes a lot more to be a hero at all time | http://breathnotes.wordpress.co..." alt=" ... at one point.and it takes a lot more to be a hero at all time | http://breathnotes.wordpress.co..." src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1519796822742&id=f24a175150ae9626201df4b6f94529ac" width="132" height="160"></div><a href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?mkt=en-US&q=hero&FORM=HOTAPI#focal=048c9c01797436dfc9e96b7e0e2ff793&furl=http%3a%2f%2fbreathnotes.files.wordpress.com%2f2010%2f10%2fhero3.png" target="_blank">View image on Bing</a></div></div><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><br style="clear: both;"><o:p></o:p></font></span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif";'><font size="3">Your quest is on.</font></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif";'><font size="3"></font></span> </p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif";'><font size="3"><o:p><strong><u>Check Out:</u></strong></o:p></font></span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif";'><font size="3">Ravenscroft, Trevor. The Cup Of Destiny: The Quest for the Grail. New York: Samuel Weiser, 1982.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif";'><font size="3">Jung, Emma and Marie-Louise Von Franz. The Grail Legend. Boston: Sigo Press, 1986.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif";'><o:p><font size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif";'><o:p><font size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif";'><o:p><font size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"> </font> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-1764350476564146814?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/zb2pD06a5yJtLwaSxVAwQo5oP0o/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/zb2pD06a5yJtLwaSxVAwQo5oP0o/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/UhcvnkzS5Ns" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com2http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2012/01/hairtikos.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-57287081353202418582012-01-22T14:58:00.001+03:002012-01-22T14:58:56.892+03:002012-01-22T14:58:56.892+03:00LESSONS FROM MY MOM<div dir='ltr'> <FONT face=Verdana>Well, aren't Moms just special?</FONT><BR> <FONT face=Verdana>So, before this post gets all mushy- allow me to state the inspiration for this-well, I was reading this book 'Eat the Rich' and it hit me that though the author was talking all Economics he was using layman terms to make it easier to understand. So there I was reading about how Africa has Diamonds, oil, coal, cocoa, gold...just to name a few and yet it's poor. How fourth graders in America can tell you what twitter or myspace is but they are still not sure about 9 * 7. So, that aside, the manner of his writing is what caught my attention. Mothers are the queens of reverse psychology and it doesn't help that mine is a trained Counselor! Well, she's also a Literature teacher so when it comes to parenting she does a double analysis! Both psychological and grammatical. I know I have broken one rule there but she might let this one go...hopefully!</FONT><BR> <FONT face=Verdana>While growing up, my Mom did not employ a nanny because as she often said ' we were big girls.' All the chores were divided equally and each one of us knew the penalty of not doing our chores, in fact she made it so vital that we could not have breakfast until the house was clean! We could not sit down to watch cartoons until our chores and the dishes were done. I must confess that I learned how to cook at the age of 8 and got better as I grew but all the same at that time it felt more like a burden. Other kids would be busy playing and we would be either studying or working. So, the first lesson that I learned from her was 'play comes after work.' The second was, 'a good reward is earned after a good job is done.' Third is, 'If you don't want to do something, don't waste your time in it.' Fourth was 'I need to make round chapatis, not square ones lest she tell all my relatives about my kitchen short comings.' Fifth, was 'guests are served tea in decent cups, while juice is served in glasses-the taller and slender the better.' The final lesson I learned from My Mom 'Never quit, expecially when everything is teling you to."</FONT><BR> <SPAN style="CLEAR: both"></SPAN> <BR> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV><IMG style="BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: none" title=" ... mother - daughter. To make it worse, it will make daughters lose | http://afeministblog.blogspo..." alt=" ... mother - daughter. To make it worse, it will make daughters lose | http://afeministblog.blogspo..." src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1521593816498&id=3fb9c04bb54730d13b2e1b0bad82bf6b" width=160 height=106></DIV><A href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?mkt=en-US&q=mom+%26daughter&FORM=HOTAPI#focal=80b97f2d0d22e61799e043d76019184f&furl=http%3a%2f%2f2.bp.blogspot.com%2f_Eq2V6MQyo5E%2fS8RucW06aYI%2fAAAAAAAABSU%2f6AYEvFdMxsk%2fs1600%2fmother_daughter.jpg" target=_blank>View image on Bing</A></DIV></DIV> <BR style="CLEAR: both"> <BR> <FONT face=Verdana>Yeah, she also told us that when it comes to marriage we had better pick the right guy who knows where he is headed, for a man without vision, morals and perspective is like wasted time-you only regret it but never recover it. It's because of her support that now I get to work on a program for teens in Kenya and though things seem bleak and I have lots of paperwork and registration to follow up on-I am gladly going forth with the idea-and you can check it out on <A href="http://www.caringteens.wordpress.com/">http://www.caringteens.wordpress.com</A> and let me know what you think.</FONT><BR> <FONT face=Verdana>I learned loads from Mom and at times thinking back on them makes me smile knowing that at least I am doing something good about it. I will leave you with Abigail Van Buren's take<STRONG><EM> "If you want your children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders."</EM></STRONG></FONT><BR> <SPAN style="CLEAR: both"></SPAN> <BR> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV><IMG style="BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: none" title="Three Incredible mother and daughter duos | http://www.sheknows.com/holidays-and-seasons/articles/80..." alt="Three Incredible mother and daughter duos | http://www.sheknows.com/holidays-and-seasons/articles/80..." src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1512690956567&id=71f397d413a31fbf8bc486fbb34fcad4" width=160 height=106></DIV><A href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?mkt=en-US&q=mom+%26daughter&FORM=HOTAPI#focal=a31e085d66ff40bc8fe1dcf14b565d01&furl=http%3a%2f%2fcdn.sheknows.com%2farticles%2fmother-and-daughter-vintage.jpg" target=_blank>View image on Bing</A></DIV></DIV> <BR style="CLEAR: both"> <BR> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-5728708135320241858?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/0NAFyhAkPJyD9e2Uus3b0cKWc3Y/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/0NAFyhAkPJyD9e2Uus3b0cKWc3Y/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/WGPRFGkUpuY" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com0http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2012/01/lessons-from-my-mom.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-13091022521846912152012-01-21T10:19:00.001+03:002012-01-21T10:19:53.163+03:002012-01-21T10:19:53.163+03:00Voices from the Youth<div dir='ltr'> <FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt" size=2 face=Garamond>I was watching a short documentary (28 minutes) on young people living with HIV. The short film captures the take of young people living with HIV. It's titled "Love, Life & HIV."(<A href="http://bit.ly/lovelifehiv">http://bit.ly/lovelifehiv</A>)</FONT><BR> <FONT size=3 face=Garamond>It was recorded, produced and edited by young people from the Dominican Republic, India, Mexico, South Africa and Swaziland. They talk of HIV related stigma and discrimination, accessing health services, having sex and being in a relationship, starting a family, importance of support groups and their involvement in HIV response.</FONT><BR> <FONT size=3 face=Garamond>I was shocked to learn that over 40% of new HIV transmissions each year are among young people under the age of 25. In one of the interviews a guy said that when his friend was diagnosed with the virus, his family bought him stuff that came in the color red, so anyone who saw any red item did not touch it. It was a huge blow for me looking at how even those whom we love can at times out of ignorance and fear cast us out. Another guy said he had gone as far as climbing a bridge and ready to dive into a raging river because no one wanted him around them. Some of the HIV related services that young people do need include ; psychosocial support, comprehensive sexuality eduaction, youth friendly services at clinics, positive prevention, family planning, HIV treatment and care...and employment. A young lady said that she could not be hired because she was HIV positive and this affected her so much so that she wondered what use her degree would be. </FONT><BR> <FONT size=3 face=Garamond>It also made me think of how much we are biased and how at times we do not want to associate with anyone who is HIV positive. One of the interviewees asked a good question,<STRONG> 'if it were you, what would you do?" </STRONG>and that just makes me wonder why we know of the Golden rule (do unto others as you expect them to do unto you) yet we do not live by it. I know at this point you must be thinking, rules are made to be broken, but this rule was not made, it was stated. It was stated after so many years of experiencing that what goes around does come around. It was a realization of what harmonious living is all about, so if it were you what would you do?</FONT><BR> <FONT size=3 face=Garamond>First, seek information-get your facts about HIV right. Second, interact with anyone who is HIV positive, know there side of the story and then think about it. Third,it might take you a while to get the facts straight but that does not mean that you ought to give up, I will leave you with one of my fave quotes from one of the interviewees. He said that he took AIDS and turned it into something meaningful "Am I Doing Something?"</FONT><BR> <SPAN style="CLEAR: both"></SPAN> <BR> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV><IMG style="BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: none" title="Love « Wendy Usually Wanders | http://wendyusuallywanders.wordpress.com/2010/11/18/love/" alt="Love « Wendy Usually Wanders | http://wendyusuallywanders.wordpress.com/2010/11/18/love/" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1577427798451&id=cef7c0750891e444be0d4acc0426889c" width=160 height=100></DIV><A href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?mkt=en-US&q=Love&FORM=HOTAPI#focal=26b139909f213f0c1118399f20437845&furl=http%3a%2f%2fwendyusuallywanders.files.wordpress.com%2f2010%2f11%2flove.jpg" target=_blank>View image on Bing</A></DIV></DIV> <BR style="CLEAR: both"> <BR> <FONT size=3 face=Garamond> Ask yourself that as you check out these awesome resources:</FONT><BR> <A href="http://www.ippfwhr.org/en/allonecurriculum_en">http://www.ippfwhr.org/en/allonecurriculum_en</A><BR> <A href="http://bit.ly/criminalization">http://bit.ly/criminalization</A><BR> <A href="http://bit.ly/girlsdecideHIV">http://bit.ly/girlsdecideHIV</A><BR> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-1309102252184691215?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/5WzWsX18tHhN689a3Yz0_ZeJSnA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/5WzWsX18tHhN689a3Yz0_ZeJSnA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/jWFWAdFsgJ8" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com0http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2012/01/voices-from-youth.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-66717216558029801902012-01-15T13:42:00.001+03:002012-01-15T13:42:14.487+03:002012-01-15T13:42:14.487+03:00Neighbours<div dir='ltr'>I love having neighbours. They always come in different styles like spices,and when you think you've had enough they surprise you. So y'all know that I have been staying in a hostel just around campus,and that the party never stops here. So having slept at 2am while journaling,my rest was disturbed by drunk neighbours staggering back home. The doors we have are metallic and each time they struggled to open their doors all I could do was cringe. The neighbour upstairs had yet another fight with his girlfriend-the previous night she yelled at him saying she hated him,this time she kept saying she was leaving him. They argued till 5am. I woke up today and she was still there,wonder who left the alcohol or the anger? So after attending mass, we head home with my roomie and as always she says she slept right through it! So,at 1pm we see smoke seep through our door,and before I put my pen down she is out running away from the room to catch her breath. Our new neighbour,two rooms to the right is out and her house is on fire. All the guys rushed with buckets of water to put out the fire,and this got me thinking of why I love such neighbours. They help. They may party monday to sunday,but the fact that they care for each other just blew me away. I am getting my clothes off the line now,and trying to send this post to Jodie asap! It's just like spices. They taste different,look different,and their cost varies but if mixed well they make a meal tasty.<br> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-6671721655802980190?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/SJF_WG4u5n0ZOEQkqWJOFBBL63Q/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/SJF_WG4u5n0ZOEQkqWJOFBBL63Q/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/QOCPCIuc4bI" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com0http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2012/01/neighbours.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-89094496600980167712012-01-12T10:02:00.001+03:002012-01-12T10:02:07.261+03:002012-01-12T10:02:07.261+03:00He loves me...he loves me not!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4r_odhw_wYo/Tw6Fb7O-6qI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/pp5I0h-ys8A/s1600/images-727262.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4r_odhw_wYo/Tw6Fb7O-6qI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/pp5I0h-ys8A/s320/images-727262.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696637293473753762" /></a></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in">"<font face="Cambria, serif"><font size="3">When a girl loves a boy no one knows it but the girl, when a boy loves a girl everyone knows but the girl."</font></font></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in"><font face="Cambria, serif"><font size="3">A good friend asked me to judge the accuracy of this statement some days past and in reading it all I could think of was whether my judgment was necessary. I have learned that when you make a judgment you declare whether a thing is or it is not. This in itself robs the thing of its essence and to a large extent your understanding of it becomes limited. I answered him that I could not prove it and gave an explanation. Being smart he stated that he did not ask me to prove the statement but to judge it. I would not do so, for that would limit my understanding of the phrase and the sender. When people ask you questions at times you ought to ask yourself why they do so. Some people ask questions because they truly need answers. Others ask questions to prove your understanding and/or intelligence. Others still ask questions to prove that they are smarter than you. Such people would quickly answer you when you declare that you know not the answer. Others and these constitute a large portion of the population, ask you questions not because they need answers but because they are trying to figure out aspects about your personality. This is the greatest assumption because personality is not solely based on thoughts or opinions as people think. Personality is best determined through one's actions, the spontaneous things they do. I cherish my friend because through him I learn loads about what it means to nurture and how diverse our opinions can be. So when I received the text as stated above, the first thing that came to mind was "Jodie." I had to share this with you. It's an observation and this statement is proved wrong by most girls nowadays. I know of friends who told their boyfriends that they loved them even before the boys could. They insist that they couldn't wait for the boys to admit their true feelings because they saw they would wait forever. Some guys also like it when a girl admits first that they love them because then the pressure is eased off them. It is true that so much pressure has been and still is on guys to man up! Though we say we are much advanced these days, waiters still present the man with the bill in a restaurant. Service deliverers still call guys "boss." Most touts still prefer to smile suggestively at the lady and present a stern face and an aggressive voice at the man. If you are a lady in a matatu seated adjacent to a guy and he pays first the tout would still ask "wawili?" </font></font> </p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in"><font face="Cambria, serif"><font size="3">So do girls really don't know if the boy loves them? That is something I cannot ascertain. I will take you back through history most societies have raised men to be three P's: provider, protector and procreator. Most boys are brought up to believe that they ought to take care of the girl to be a step ahead. So the girl though she can tell that the boy fancies her would dare not prompt him to admit it but would play along till he finally confesses. One of my Yoruba neighbors says that "only the ripe mango falls off the tree." She insists as I write this that indeed unless the boy is ready to tell the girl that he loves her then let him take his time. In their culture a man is respected if only he can say what he has to say, not when his wife speaks sense before him. I still have no clue for sure, for people are different. People attribute different things to love. So is the statement accurate or not? It does not matter. Can I judge the accuracy of the statement? No, it is a statement uttered in its pure form, the underlying thought and desire to know the accuracy is what matters. As such, I leave it to you.</font></font></p> <br clear="all"><br>-- <br>How can one change the world if one identifies oneself with everybody?<br><br> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-8909449660098016771?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/z_kdrKkXQBDKNmJkwvbVnMENGvU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/z_kdrKkXQBDKNmJkwvbVnMENGvU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/_9ESFtd-pIQ" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com0http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2012/01/he-loves-mehe-loves-me-not.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-43059691037404502242012-01-09T20:42:00.001+03:002012-01-09T20:42:54.723+03:002012-01-09T20:42:54.723+03:00The Stone Collector<div dir='ltr'>Before you start thinking am writing a sequel allow me to spill the beans. I am a stone collector! I do not collect precious stones like Jade, Beryl, rubies or stuff that have value around a woman's neck or finger. I collect the stones you are apt to kick as you walk. I have a few of gravel too. My room mate always says that she knows a Luo can throw a stone given the various outbursts at some football matches gone wrong. I always retort that we are descendants of David. I threw away the stones I had collected today and never have I had such peace and understanding. Each stone was valuable to me,and in throwing them it hit me that we have to let go of stuff that's beyond us. We are so talented and capable of great things but we get put down when things go wrong. If something is a constant pain,change how you perceive it,if that doesn't help-move on to understanding it. When it comes to people they are like stones: you can kick them,step on them,throw them,use them to inflict pain,they can trip you,they can support you. You can choose to put a price tag on them or not. Everyone through this analogy is a stone collector,question is what do you attribute your stones to? Do you let go when it's time or hold on with the weight hurting your shoulder?<br> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-4305969103740450224?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/lOh7LR4p_bl3pfAU2jNqDShwAvE/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/lOh7LR4p_bl3pfAU2jNqDShwAvE/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/AUC-mIPvc1U" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com0http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2012/01/stone-collector.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-9314388966219753532012-01-06T17:07:00.001+03:002012-01-06T17:07:25.759+03:002012-01-06T17:07:25.759+03:00Success is such a Delusion...<span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> </span><p style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif" class="MsoNormal"><b style><u></u></b></p><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> </span><p style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif" class="MsoNormal"><span style> </span>Yeah, success is such a delusion. Before you click or get angry and stop reading this post…stop for a moment and tell me "what is success?"</p><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> </span><p style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif" class="MsoNormal">I asked my divas (primary school graduates) the same question. Here are some of their answers:</p><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> </span><p style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif" class="MsoNormal">Success is : having what you want, being the best in all you do, having a good paying job, good friends and a stable family, being better than people you schooled with, having enough money to see you into retirement, being in Forbes list like Oprah and Bill Gates.</p><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> </span><p style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif" class="MsoNormal">So, think back again did you attribute any of what they said to success? Do any of their opinions feature anywhere in your definition of success? If they do, well….you are not wrong. I thanked my divas for their remarks and also stated that they are not wrong. One of them immediately raised her hand and asked, "So if we are all right, why did you ask the question?"</p><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> </span><p style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif" class="MsoNormal">I responded "success is such a delusion." They had got me. All their answers were right, but the best of them was "being better than people." Success is seen by people as always being a step ahead. Always being the best, and having some people if not most people inferior to you. Success is a competition where the ego rules. If the ego is happy and at peace then you are successful. <span style> </span>So is this what success is? How much money must you have in the bank in order to be successful? If a millionaire in Kenya is seen as successful, while a millionaire in France is considered middle-class or seen as struggling to make it, what does this say about success? Must success have levels that each person needs to go through? From the 16<sup>th</sup> Century success has been deemed material. Success is measured by how much stuff you have that people can see. Even in tradition the large number of wives, children and cattle all of these are material.</p><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> </span><p style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif" class="MsoNormal">So why do I insist that success is a delusion? Well, the success we are made to seek is a delusion and that's why no matter how much money, cars, friends, clothes, food, houses or properties you have you cannot fully claim to be happy. What you have is tangible, visible and envied by someone-and chances of it being stolen from you or being cheated out of it makes you lack sleep.</p><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> </span><p style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif" class="MsoNormal">We have been fooled into believing that we can <b style>become</b> successful. We seek to dwell in that state, not to simply experience it and get moving. Becoming something means dedicating your whole being, time and understanding and constantly radiating the same energy. When you become you live in that state-it intertwines with your personality as such being innate. We can only <b style>be</b> successful. This is at a certain point in time. A moment only. A good job, house, friends, lots of money, family are only by-products of success. By products do not last a lifetime….so what is success to you? Is it something you seek to become or do you look forward to living it in a certain moment. I am successful in that I have typed this article from the beginning to the end without losing my trend of thought. You are successful in reading it thus far.</p><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> </span><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif" clear="all"><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">-- </span><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">How can one change the world if one identifies oneself with everybody?</span><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> <br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-931438896621975353?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/94ZJYCgVz99Kn720m9kmbjtruzY/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/94ZJYCgVz99Kn720m9kmbjtruzY/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/9rLJBb0Z8Wg" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com1http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2012/01/success-is-such-delusion.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-72754215487516435482012-01-03T16:22:00.001+03:002012-01-03T16:22:19.180+03:002012-01-03T16:22:19.180+03:00Love,Destruction, Love...and the cycle continues<span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> </span><p style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif" class="MsoNormal">Why do people often love, then destroy then love again that which they value the most?</p><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> </span><p style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif" class="MsoNormal">I was talking to a good friend who started her year on a note that she wouldn't have wanted for herself. She had just broken up with her boyfriend. They had been dating for three years and she came to realize that he was involved with another lady. She was heartbroken and when she came to see me all I could do was offer her a cup of coffee and listen. She prompted the question and for once I had the answer to it. Yes, I have the answer to the question but it involves a History lesson. I know she hates History, so all I could say was "they do, because they do." She put the cup of coffee aside and shrieked, "What?"</p><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> </span><p style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif" class="MsoNormal">Before I could say a word she started "Dora, I am not in the mood for any your philosophical ramblings! I asked a question and I expect an answer!"<span style> </span>I smiled at her, which was very inconsiderate of me to do at the time, but here it goes: people love, then destroy and then love again things they value because it is in their nature to do so. It is them. It is in people to do this.</p><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> </span><p style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif" class="MsoNormal">So given that few people I have encountered love History I will try and break it down for you. Jesus, Gandhi,<span style> </span>Lao-Tzu, Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, Patrice Lumumba, John Kennedy, Benazir Bhutto, Various Freedom Fighters and any person fighting for social justice. These are but some few examples of people whose history I have read about and whose ideologies are still cherished to date. These people sought the best for all people. It is true that they faced so much persecution that some like Malcolm X and Martin Luther were killed before even realizing their dream. Of those mentioned the ones that died came to their death at their prime. So, question is why were they destroyed? Why did people see it fit to get rid of them? </p><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> </span><p style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif" class="MsoNormal">Worse off why did they achieve hero status or saintly status after they are dead? Well, it's human nature sadly so to be pessimistic. If something is too good to be true then it is wrong. If someone is too happy then they are high on something. The same applies to people and the things we value. Unless humans try their best to put each other down, destroy, hurt or bring to shame others then it will not be of importance to them. The people I mentioned a while back are legends because though persecuted they never hit back or hated their oppressors, so when they die, their true beauty and honesty is seen. What people are left with are memories and a desire to be like them. So could the destruction of what a person loves be attributed to envy? Partly so, but mostly cowardice, what most people do not know is how much potential they have. If someone can surely help fight bullying in schools, so can you. The only difference between you two is the other took the initiative and is determined to see his/her cause through. So that said, if you ever wonder why people love, destroy then love again things they value now you have an answer.</p><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> </span><p style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif" class="MsoNormal">What remains then is…can this be changed? Are there people who do not destroy what they love? Yes, there are and sadly enough they are seen as outcasts detained or killed. So the next time someone is doing something good for humanity, hold your tongue against speaking ill of them or undermining their work, because that in itself is hurting or destroying what they are doing.</p><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> </span><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif" clear="all"><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">-- </span><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">How can one change the world if one identifies oneself with everybody?</span><br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> <br style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-7275421548751643548?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/udHIcCOrfx9d1HPMRZBrGFvraxc/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/udHIcCOrfx9d1HPMRZBrGFvraxc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/Id49Sn9fqR4" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com0http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2012/01/lovedestruction-loveand-cycle-continues.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-80490904176863765582012-01-02T18:24:00.001+03:002012-01-02T18:24:56.759+03:002012-01-02T18:24:56.759+03:00Lessons From Taoism<div dir='ltr'>I spent a day reading Matilde Asensi's "Everything under the Sky" and was inspired by her depth of research on Taoism. Tao is simply 'the way.' To most it is a way of life that creates harmony,an inner balance at times depicted as that between the Yin and the Yang. The main character of the book- Elvira,is summoned to China to settle her late husband's affairs. The guy leaves her nothing but debt,and she learns he was murdered over a precious ancient Chinese heirloom. This takes on a journey to discover the treasure with her niece,servant,journalist and an antiquarian. It's remarkable how much patience and understanding the monks or masters of Tao possess. 'Because one is moderate,one may be said to follow the way from the start. Following the way from the start,one may be said to accumulate an abundance of virtue. Accumulating an abundance of virtue,there is nothing one cannot overcome. When there is nothing one cannot overcome,no one knows his own limits.' This is one of my fave lines by Lao-tzu. This new year work on a project be it personal or public,aim to be a better person who is full of love and understanding. Do not hold back for your potential has no limits. Happy new year and see you soon,got lots to share too this year.<br> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-8049090417686376558?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/lcwXIODDv_c-iZ999PqQD38tEhk/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/lcwXIODDv_c-iZ999PqQD38tEhk/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/HhtT7DNdSys" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com2http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2012/01/lessons-from-taoism.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-38494010037938562012011-12-19T12:43:00.001+03:002011-12-19T12:43:21.257+03:002011-12-19T12:43:21.257+03:00HEART OVER MIND?<font face="verdana,sans-serif">So for the past few weeks I have been asking myself so many questions about humanity and what happens when somehow...one person dares to change what we all know as the norm, what then? I am not talking about a huge revolution like that in the Middle East, rather, I am thinking of a huge change in mentality. What we know and believe to be the ideal, can change and when it does that's when Psychologists come in and the so does the word 'trauma.' <br> We are traumatized when we are forced out of our comfort zone and left with so many questions and no answers that seem to solve our perceived problems. So, this got me thinking a whole lot about the heart and the mind. What difference is there? Is the heart better than the mind?<br> The mind is known as the greatest gift ever accorded the human being. It is also known by most as the store of what we are taught or what we see. The hearst on the other hand is deemed as the kingdom of feelings and nothing more. It is also known to be tangible whereas the mind is not. The mind is visible through actions and thoughts, but the heart is more through emotions and intuition, so what's the difference?<br> My little sister is adorable in ways that I cannot explain, she can be so wise at times and the she can sometimes be so unbearable intellectually, but she got me writing again. In facts he got me journaling and this is because she realized my dilemma. See, when you are faced with social injustice like women taking babies to be househelps and mistreating them, or babies begging in the streets, or kids dying of hunger and the sort...the heart and the mind are in conflict. I was so sickened by it that I could not think straight, what came to mind was crying for a while because in essence that's what I wanted to do, but she told me "why not hearmin it first?"<br> I was like "uh?"<br>The she says, "just hear yourself first, then you will find a way of solving it or of feeling a little better, these things take time"<br>Imagine how shocked I was, so I decided to hear myself first and kind of accept what's happening and my disgust and pain all at once, I did cry for ten minutes, it was a good cry though-then I went straight into what I love and jotted it down. She made me see sense in being helpless and that's what I leave you with...when you are helpless, declare it then take time to hear your thoughts and allow yourself to experience all the emotions that come to you, then take it from there... just "hearmin it!" <br> </font>-- <br>How can one change the world if one identifies oneself with everybody?<br><br> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-3849401003793856201?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/tUeFRhM1VR33nb8X1w_Gze8DP-g/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/tUeFRhM1VR33nb8X1w_Gze8DP-g/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/INP8tH3Segs" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com0http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2011/12/heart-over-mind.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-55376539168284054582011-12-07T15:02:00.001+03:002011-12-07T15:02:13.705+03:002011-12-07T15:02:13.705+03:00CAMP DETAILS<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ptZyMKjtsRM/Tt9Vx9UXQoI/AAAAAAAAAOA/NrRGvBVyIU4/s1600/DSC05222-733706.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ptZyMKjtsRM/Tt9Vx9UXQoI/AAAAAAAAAOA/NrRGvBVyIU4/s320/DSC05222-733706.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683355571526779522" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ThpMu2DeHr0/Tt9VyExle9I/AAAAAAAAAOM/_PyOoNK_RR4/s1600/DSC05259-735711.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ThpMu2DeHr0/Tt9VyExle9I/AAAAAAAAAOM/_PyOoNK_RR4/s320/DSC05259-735711.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683355573528394706" /></a></p><div dir='ltr'> So after going on and on yesterday about the camp, I figured why not share some awesome pictures I took. It was a great camp and all these girls had so much to share about their life and experiences it simply made me cherish every single moment.<BR> The girls were very shy at first and so was I but we somehow got to the talking and bonding time and we couldn't stop chatting. I am glad I met three of them today and we talked about loads of stuff ranging from life to education and all through to intuition.<BR> I will be sharing more lessons from the camp as I shed light on what kids do these days and how much information they have in their hands and what they do with it.<BR> <BR> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-5537653916828405458?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/BqCW0vXf90ASTgmP9zKQqjssos8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/BqCW0vXf90ASTgmP9zKQqjssos8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/A0KifqbSJCc" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com1http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2011/12/camp-details.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-70176777128558285442011-12-06T09:45:00.001+03:002011-12-06T09:45:23.742+03:002011-12-06T09:45:23.742+03:00THE UNTOUCHABLES<div>It has been exactly a week since I posted an article and I have gone through so much that I have some clue of where to begin and what to leave out.</div> <div>For the past nine days, I have been acting as a residential matron at some camp in Kariobangi South for class eight graduates. I was to be their guide, confidante and friend. I was to be their girlfriend, mother, nurse, teacher and most of all disciplinarian. This was one of the best experiences I have had and simply talking to them about it made me cherish every single moment.</div> <div>The schedule was full of events and we mostly ended up doing more of talking and sharing experiences rather than just studying. I found myself waking up at 5:00am to get them hot water from the main kitchen, and attending mass at 6:15am, then being with them in class the whole day.</div> <div>The girls were slow to warm up on the first day but with time they opened up and we could chat about everything and the only rule I had in my class was that nothing was censored. It hit me that generations change. What I did at their age is what they did four years back and so I often found myself being schooled by 13 year olds on love, dating, marriage, the lies parents tell and also about future ambitions. I ended up calling them my divas because they were all beautiful, bold and talented. I did show them some dance moves and we danced mostly to Coldplay's "Every teardrop is a waterfall" and Britney's "I wanna Go."</div> <div>I have often shared with you about humanity and what it means to give back to the society. Most of my posts have been about doing some good deed not only for yourself but for the wellbeing of others and at times when I look back on all that has happened these past nine days-I have that feeling that I want to be a camp chaperone all my life. There is also the grand feeling of seeing them grow to be their best. The experience, was simply remarkable and it made me inspire them in one way or the other to be their utmost best. They are beautiful and with such memories they simply become untouchable.<br clear="all"> <br>-- <br>How can one change the world if one identifies oneself with everybody?<br><br></div> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-7017677712855828544?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/JlgA9NFDuQYEg00TJ4AaAhWVtqk/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/JlgA9NFDuQYEg00TJ4AaAhWVtqk/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/VIoGW5gxThQ" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com0http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2011/12/untouchables.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-11100269996792494812011-11-24T13:41:00.001+03:002011-11-24T13:41:33.916+03:002011-11-24T13:41:33.916+03:00CONVERSATION WITH A SAMURAI<div dir='ltr'> <DIV dir=ltr>I realized that there are so many ways of talking to people or simply getting to learn from them- I had the chance to talk to a Samurai, through a book<IMG style="BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; VERTICAL-ALIGN: text-bottom; BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: none" title="Winking smile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://gfx1.hotmail.com/mail/w4/pr04/ltr/emo/winking_smile.gif" width=19 height=19>. I am not crazy, just blunt-so the book was all about the way of the Samurai and what it means to be a warrior to them.<BR>Have you ever heard of the legend of the Knights? Or better yet the Knights of the Round table in Arthurian legend? The highest and most prestigious honor in this order of the knights is known as the Order of the Garter. The patron saint of this order is St. George. He is known in history as the knight who successfully slayed so many dragons, and who never lost his cool. For the warrior, they look up to George-but there's something different about his statute or emblem if I may call it.<SPAN style="CLEAR: both"></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV> <DIV><IMG style="BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: none" title="File:ST.george.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ST.george...." alt="File:ST.george.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ST.george...." src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1306404456004&id=8b577dcc8cae75b37a9fa8651735bea6" width=160 height=120></DIV><A href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?mkt=en-US&q=st.+george&FORM=HOTAPI#focal=1fbb80394db930c2af1ff81d23426688&furl=http%3a%2f%2fupload.wikimedia.org%2fwikipedia%2fen%2fc%2fc9%2fST.george.jpg" target=_blank>View image on Bing</A></DIV></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr>Take a closer look at the picture above, can you see it? For a knight who is believed to have slayed many dragons, his emblem only has him with a spear (in other emblems he has a sword) to the dragons throat! That's what makes the difference here according to me, for to be a warrior you must tame your desire for vengeance and power. According to the Samurai, a warrior does not waste his/her energy but concentrates it into an immovable determination to accomplish his/her objectives. How does this relate to the common person say like me and you?</DIV> <DIV dir=ltr>Simply put, everyone is a warrior-because we face challenges that we have to overcome. We are lucky nowadays that they are not fire breathing dragons and we don't have to wear heavy metallic armor to war, but even so our battles are more internal. We are constantly at war with ourselves and at times we lose when we let others control us for their own satisfcation or gain. So, for the samurai- you do not attack your opponent, rather before you thrust your sword in them you look in their eyes and see yourself there. It is some deep stuff to tell a warrior who expects to annihilate his/her enemy, but it is true. For the warrior there are four things expected:</DIV> <DIV dir=ltr> <OL dir=ltr> <LI> <DIV>Know there is a way.</DIV></LI> <LI> <DIV>Find a way.</DIV></LI> <LI> <DIV>Take action on the basis of the knowledge that you find.</DIV></LI> <LI> <DIV>Keep at it.</DIV></LI></OL></DIV> Their motto is "expect nothing,be prepared for anything." Shissai on the other hand, said and lived by, the motto "a warrior must only take care that his spirit is never broken." With all the struggles we have, always trying to figure out what's best for who and at what time, and how we can change and make life better and such stuff, it is always good to bear in mind that nothing comes easy because we are resistant to change. That an optimistic outlook in these times is hard to maintain, that though human beings have the power to exhibit abundance and joy, they rarely do. There are so many who are quick to shun a smile into a frown, and all that matters is the fact that, as Shissai says, your spirit is not broken.<BR> Keep smiling people....look out for good,that's the battle.<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-1110026999679249481?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/4_L-to1dTq41yCRpvqTEJUcSyoc/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/4_L-to1dTq41yCRpvqTEJUcSyoc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/A3tQEuWSjLA" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com0http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2011/11/conversation-with-samurai.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-4846599170409309042011-11-21T17:58:00.001+03:002011-11-21T17:58:56.903+03:002011-11-21T17:58:56.903+03:00ALL ABOUT FOURS'<div dir='ltr'> <font style="" face="Verdana">There are some things that come in fours' that are simply mindblowing. I will not talk about objects but rather symbols.<br>So, ever heard of Carl Jung? Well, he's a Psychologist who came up with 'archetypes' and the 'introverts-extroverts scale'. He is mostly known for the former and what archetypes meant to him was 'they are the primordial energies which underlie human consciousness.' He also believed that symbols are the language of the imagination because they can penetrate all lines of reason and enter into the subconscious. Symbols can be used for both good and bad. Looking through history and what happens today it's all about symbols. Even what businesses or major corporations call 'logos' are simply symbols that enable clients all over the world to identify them. Like Apple, has the apple that's bitten-Christians have the Cross, Nike has the tick, and so forth. Anyone across the globe can know a Nike product by looking at the tick and the direction it's taken and there you have it, Nike!<br>So, my recent encounter with Zen and volunteering led me to some very surprising if not interesting connections. All of them have loads to do with the number 4 (four). </font><span style="clear: both;"></span><div><div><div><img style="border-style: none;" title="number four Oakland and Emeryville Foreclosures for Sale | http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/05/oakl..." alt="number four Oakland and Emeryville Foreclosures for Sale | http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/05/oakl..." src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1310700668948&id=402d4b8424bafdc0234c462d66a69f54" height="160" width="119"></div><a target="_blank" href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?mkt=en-US&q=four&FORM=HOTAPI#focal=ccaf37c19f29a1aaa9f41e96add7d52f&furl=http%3a%2f%2fblog.redfin.com%2fsfbay%2ffiles%2f2008%2f05%2fnumber-four.gif">View image on Bing</a></div></div><br style="clear: both;"><br><font style="" face="Verdana"> According to Jung, on your journey in life's work there are four crucial symbols that depict certain characters or qualities that you ought to possess.These four are : The Hero, Magician, Warrior and Scholar. Simply put- when you are looking for work or employment like the Hero, you are on a quest, and like the Magician you can decide to employ your skills for better or worse, like the Warrior every action you take is a battle with your conscience on your values and in so doing you can learn and also teach others something about your journey like a Scholar does.<br>In reading this some other factors came to mind and it hit me how these four factors are closely related to other symbols in history like:<br></font><ul><li>4 wisdoms of Zen Buddhism ( Great perfect mirror wisdom, The marvelous observing mirror, The perfecting of action wisdom, the universal nature wisdom)</li><li>4 directions of the native American medicine wheel</li><li>4 rivers of the Garden of Eden</li><li>4 gardens on Islamic paradise</li><li>4 sons of Horus in Egyptian mythology</li><li>4 Holy living creatures of Ezekiel's vision (eagle, lion, man, bull)</li><li>4 elements in nature (water, air/wind, fire, earth)</li></ul>Isn't it simply remarkable how such things can come in fours and how closely related they are in terms of the various qualities that they advocate for or stand for? So, it's all about fours today and I figured since I have stumbled upon this why not share it?<br><span style="clear: both;"></span><div><div><div><img style="border-style: none;" title="Four corners Monument | | http://arizonablogging.net/2011/07/29/four-corners-monument/" alt="Four corners Monument | | http://arizonablogging.net/2011/07/29/four-corners-monument/" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1307223659978&id=7fa952fba539ccb6d1579160e86720d3" height="120" width="160"></div><a target="_blank" href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?mkt=en-US&q=four&FORM=HOTAPI#focal=72fcfd3efc2053374eeaf9db5390164b&furl=http%3a%2f%2farizonablogging.net%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2011%2f07%2ffour-corners.jpg">View image on Bing</a></div></div><br style="clear: both;"><br> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1135170931028235467-484659917040930904?l=dora-jodie.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
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<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/BKKfSx-o96QVpgXUYAXNEOndiQA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/BKKfSx-o96QVpgXUYAXNEOndiQA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/AeAJZ/~4/HozIlxmdt_w" height="1" width="1"/>dora okeyohttps://profiles.google.com/111587626371078206980noreply@blogger.com0http://dora-jodie.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-about-fours.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135170931028235467.post-44469864436216883742011-11-18T18:17:00.001+03:002011-11-18T18:17:23.171+03:002011-11-18T18:17:23.171+03:00PEBBLES<div dir='ltr'> Have you ever waned to take back the words you said to someone at some point in life?<br>Have you ever heard just one word, say at a particular moment that simply sealed your fate or so calmed your conscience?<br>Back in the late nineties when I was growing up-we used to play with pebbles (small stones). We would at times when it rained throw one or two pebbles and watch them skid across a puddle of water. The person whose pebble made the greatest ripple would go home gloating. It was also in the same century that I learned that just one pebble can cause so much hurt. My sister was hit on the head with a pebble, a little bit larger, but the effect it had on her was one I would not like to see again.<br>I was making my way around the city today as it rained and the sudden urge to toss pebbles came to mind. I tossed a few actually but the feeling I got years back did not come to me as the memory did. I could picture myself happy then, but not so much today. So, I picked a few pebbles and looked at them and also tossed some away. Being a planner, spontaneity does not come as expected but when it does it's like a mad dash! So, there I was tossing pebbles along the road and getting soaked when it hit me that I can consider my choices and expectations as pebbles. <br>Okay, before you start thinking I am crazy, let me break it down for you.<br>First you have a pebble, then you seek a puddle, through the pebble into the puddle, it will sink and create a ripple. If you try and throw it across the puddle with just enough strength, the it strikes one point of the puddle, then off it goes and you are left with your ripples.<br><span style="clear: both;"></span><div><div><div><img style="border-style: none;" title="Rippling Rain Water Puddle by =RooCat on deviantART | http://roocat.deviantart.com/art/Rippling-Rain..." alt="Rippling Rain Water Puddle by =RooCat on deviantART | http://roocat.deviantart.com/art/Rippling-Rain..." src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1290026947425&id=96754d6a2aec035f8453724d77b7e1d8" height="106" width="160"></div><a target="_blank" href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?mkt=en-US&q=puddle&FORM=HOTAPI#focal=64b123c3787733a1ee8a08978558e815&furl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.deviantart.com%2fdownload%2f113586729%2fRippling_Rain_Water_Puddle_by_RooCat.jpg">View image on Bing</a></div></div><br style="clear: both;">So, back to the idea at that time, aren't choices more like pebbles? The moment you make a choice you have set in motion so many things and then what you get back are consequences. Depending on what lens you use to view things, they can be positive or not. <br>Same goes for our actions-in our desire to make meaning of everything around us, most of us have often found it easier to label a feeling or emotion with just a general term and this at times negates the role of that feeling in making us understand what is happening around us. The greatest of these is an assumption in greeting "how are you?"<br>"Fine."<br>When I am not fine I tend to say "not so good, but I will be okay." Some of my friends would rather label a feeling as 'sad' when they can say 'depressing' or 'too painful'. So a memory jogged the idea of how to view life and how to experience it, see-you might not know it but any action you take calls out for a reaction. It's however up to you to know what meaning you assign to a re-action.<img style="border-style: none; vertical-align: text-bottom;" title="Hot smile" alt="Hot smile" src="http://gfx1.hotmail.com/mail/w4/pr04/ltr/emo/hot_smile.gif" height="19" width="19"><br><span style="clear: both;"></span><div><div><div><img style="border-style: none;" title="YAY Royalty Free Images of 'Pebble rocks background' - images. 'Pebble ... | http://yaymicro.com/sto..." alt="YAY Royalty Free Images of 'Pebble rocks background' - images. 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