lost my keys; then i found them

Howard Hardiman: An Open Letter to Andrew Turner, MP for the Isle of Wight

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:08:27 +0000

Howard Hardiman: An Open Letter to Andrew Turner, MP for the Isle of Wight:

Dear Andrew Turner,

In light of the vote yesterday to afford equal marriage rights to all, I thought it might be a good moment to reflect on the social changes that have happened during my lifetime.

When I was growing up, the only representations of gay men I’d encountered were on Are You…

"Oh, so you’re going to get married… or civil partnered… or whatever it is…?"

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 11:33:00 +0000

“Oh, so you’re going to get married… or civil partnered… or whatever it is…?”

- a work colleague, upon hearing the news I’m engaged.

The trouble with knowledge (May, 2004)

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 23:32:00 +0000

The more I think I know, the less I know.

- Kir-wan Queren.

Thinking we know makes it almost impossible to find out what we don’t know, and this ignorance takes us farther and farther from our truth. As we begin to recognise that we have borrowed our experience from others and have not had them for ourselves, we begin to see the trouble with knowledge. We pass information around and pretend we know things when, really, we do not.

The cure for this is to experience for yourself. Your own experience is the only reliable teacher. Borrowed wisdom is not wisdom at all.

The only way to know, is to experience. Looking for something with an idea of what you will find will colour your experience. For an experience, you need the innocence of a young child.

Open yourself to this innocence and you will find your true nature. Understand that you understand nothing. Without experience.

Experience will present itself for reflection, when it is most needed.

You've Already One: Specialness

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 17:28:13 +0000

You've Already One: Specialness:

matttolstoy:

You are not special.
Nor are you ugly.
You are whole.
And something that is whole
cannot be compared to anything else, due to its wholeness.
A hand never looks to a foot and says,
“Why aren’t you a better hand?”

You split yourself when you say,
“I am better,”
“You are worse,”
“This is good.”
All…

"It’s like trying to explain space travel to a caveman."

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 21:34:07 +0100

“It’s like trying to explain space travel to a caveman.”

"It’s nothing personal when I say I don’t trust you; I don’t trust anyone."

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 22:15:40 +0100

“It’s nothing personal when I say I don’t trust you; I don’t trust anyone.”

The Zen Mind - An Introduction

Fri, 11 May 2012 21:07:31 +0100

The Zen Mind - An Introduction

"Having to face a whole lot in my life, avoiding problems would have given me a totally different..."

Wed, 09 May 2012 09:41:00 +0100

“

Having to face a whole lot in my life, avoiding problems would have given me a totally different outcome of my life. I have Cerebral Palsy, which affects my balance and coordination when I walk. If I’d given up, I’d be sitting in a wheelchair in a Nursing Home somewhere. But going through the necessary surgeries in order to keep walking, and facing the challenges of recovery and re-learning how to walk again, a number of times, as well as dealing with day to day challenges/problems because of the Cerebral Palsy and regular day to day stuff, has made me stronger as a person. Like it or not, I’ve had to face challenges in my life, even when being scared to death of the unknown outcome (will I walk again or be in a wheelchair the rest of my life?).

Facing your challenges, and finding solutions, or at least ‘work-arounds’, is better than cowering and giving up.

”

- Sapharin

"The English language—any language—has so many words it can be very exciting, satisfying..."

Tue, 08 May 2012 21:55:00 +0100

“The English language—any language—has so many words it can be very exciting, satisfying even, to have your pick of different words to communicate similar meanings. It is not so good if your overuse of fantastic words, which may roll off your tongue with delight, also alienate your audience.”

- Adi Klem

"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."

Mon, 07 May 2012 18:33:00 +0100

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”

- Dalai Lama

"I look at where I am - it’s the only place I really own who I am, and be who I wish to be...."

Sat, 05 May 2012 22:46:00 +0100

“I look at where I am - it’s the only place I really own who I am, and be who I wish to be. Here the past doesn’t really matter.”

- Rob M. Lucas

"If you want something doing right, do it yourself."

Thu, 03 May 2012 08:02:12 +0100

“If you want something doing right, do it yourself.”

- proverb

"We shape the spaces we are in because, together, we are those spaces. Consider your relationship..."

Tue, 01 May 2012 22:29:00 +0100

“We shape the spaces we are in because, together, we are those spaces. Consider your relationship with that space. This is the beginning of understanding Oneness.”

- Rob M. Lucas

"There’s a certain kind of power in giving people an opportunity. They may not accept it, but..."

Tue, 01 May 2012 21:57:00 +0100

“There’s a certain kind of power in giving people an opportunity. They may not accept it, but the fact it is offered can make a huge difference. People can be funny like that.”

- Rob M. Lucas

"Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they’re yours."

Tue, 01 May 2012 21:55:00 +0100

“Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they’re yours.”

- Richard Bach

"It may be wise to step away and not allow yourself to be swept into baseless arguments. Take control..."

Tue, 01 May 2012 21:54:00 +0100

“

It may be wise to step away and not allow yourself to be swept into baseless arguments. Take control of your own situation; focus your time on the real, good things.

No amount of arguing is going to change a person’ opinion if it has already been decided. Instead, be the best you you can be. In time, your conduct may speak more for itself than using energy to argue for it.

”

- Rob M. Lucas

WHERE WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT ON YOUR PLANET?

Tue, 01 May 2012 19:11:00 +0100

My local public library. I haven’t visited for the past 10 years, and the recent refurbishment (and relocation) has got me thinking about loaning books again (rather than buying them), especially as the new library is only down the road from my flat.

"Life is chaotic. It’s a clash of people, personalities and personal goals. Some hard choices..."

Tue, 01 May 2012 18:40:00 +0100

“

Life is chaotic. It’s a clash of people, personalities and personal goals. Some hard choices have to be made, but they are made because it is the only way to move forward. Many things must be thrown into turmoil in order to create change. Not everything that is chaotic is bad, and not everything that is thrown into turmoil is a drama. It can feel uncomfortable but you discover what is really important to you.

If you can situate yourself within that, you may come to the realisation that you are a part of the whole… and that is a powerful position to be in. You are never disconnected from the situations you are in. If you are honest with yourself and know what you want, then you can survive and grow.

I would have it no other way.

”

- Rob M. Lucas

Would you recognise him if he was real?

Tue, 01 May 2012 18:33:00 +0100

Would you recognise him if he was real?

"…That is why it’s important to be out of the closet. Both for ones own honesty, even..."

Tue, 01 May 2012 18:20:00 +0100

“

…That is why it’s important to be out of the closet. Both for ones own honesty, even sanity, but also to be seen having a fully functional role in society. You are not a stereotype. You are not a caricature. You do exist. You are here. And be counted.

Every time another person comes out, it’s strength for others to do the same. The power of ‘coming out’ is bigger than just liberating one person. In its wake, attitudes can be changed which allows others to ‘come out,’ too.

”

- Rob M. Lucas