 | | Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 4:12 AM | | | |
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 United States
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| | ALCOHOLISM | | | Tuesday, October 27, 2009 (3:03 AM)
(I'm feeling drained) | | 'JustAWriting'
(I'm feeling drained)
Written for a friend who has a drinking problem
I WATCH IN SILENCE
You my friend are like a waterfall that flows the opposite direction, unphantomable that a flow could back trace it's path for all the power and dynamics involved but you do.
I think I will name you phenomenal and watch with a broken spirit helpless… from at a distance as you destroy yourself.
Ghostly specters dancing within and around your life as you dis-engage your mind from your actions.
Your loss of sight, rhyme, and reason twirl and swirl around and around as if a cosmic cyclonic storm.
Images in your dreams of life before and the now, present it self to you to reveal a direction of self renewal…
The power to alter the path of this life storm you hold with in your grasp, but who am I to ask…
Only you are the master of your life time triumphs and tribulations not I nor any others that you behold as your savior.
I am not nor are the others, the gate or a release to a utopian paradise, you my friend control your destiny
Me and them and those who become your future crutches are but stepping stones that lead down a path which forks two three different directions..
Love takes many shapes and forms, to stay and watch or leave and forget, takes it's toll, you are draining me.
So now I watch in silence stifling the anguish that builds from with in myself the helplessness and knowledge that you are drowning and I must step back and let you sink or
WILL YOU FINALLY SWIM…
Standing, watching, listening, hearing, waiting,
not judging but in silence.
© Pauline Belis…2003
Category: Writing & Poetry
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| | NATURAL HIGHS!! | | | Monday, October 26, 2009 (2:25 AM)
(I'm feeling creative) | | Natural Highs
1.. Falling in love.
2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.
3. A hot shower.
4. No lines at the supermarket ..
5.. A special glance.
6.. Getting mail.
7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.
8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio.
9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.
11. Chocolate milkshake (vanilla or strawberry).
12. A bubble bath.
13. Giggling.
15. The beach.
16. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter..
17. Laughing at yourself.
18.. Looking into their eyes and knowing they Love you
19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.
20.. Running through sprinklers.
21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.
22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.
23. Laughing at an inside joke with FRIENDS
24. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
25. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
26. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).
27. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
28. Playing with a new puppy.
29. Having someone play with your hair.
30. Sweet dreams.
31. Hot chocolate.
32.Road trips with friends.
33. Swinging on swings.
34.. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.
35.. Making chocolate chip cookies.
36. Having your friends send you homemade cookies.
37. Holding hands with someone you care about.
38. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.
39. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you..
40. Watching the sunrise.
41. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day.
42. Knowing that somebody misses you.
43. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply..
44. Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think.
Lord, keep Your arm around my shoulder and
Your hand over my mouth!!!
Lord, keep Your arm around my shoulder and
Your hand over my mouth!!!
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| | I LOVE THIS DOCTOR!!!! | | | Sunday, October 18, 2009 (8:21 PM)
(I'm feeling cheerful) | | I love this Doctor!
Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Your heart only good for so many beats, and that it...don't waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speeding up heart not make you live longer; it like saying you extend life of car by driving faster. Want to live longer? Take nap.
Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiency. What does cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So steak is nothing more than efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef also good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And pork chop can give you 100% of recommended daily allowance of vegetable product.
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that mean they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made of grain. Bottom up!
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have body and you have fat, your ratio one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio two to one, etc.
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No pain...good!
Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU NOT LISTENING! Food are fried these day in vegetable oil. In fact, they permeated by it. How could getting more vegetable be bad for you?!?
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise muscle, it get bigger. You should only be doing sit-up if you want bigger stomach.
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy?!? HEL-LO-O!! Cocoa bean! Another vegetable! It best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming good for your figure, explain whale to me..
Q: Is getting in shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' a shape!
Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.
And remember:
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO, what a ride!!"
AND....
For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.
1. The Japanese eat very little fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans...
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
5. The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
CONCLUSION:
Eat and drink what you like.
Speaking English is apparently what kills you. | | | | 92 Views | 2 Thumbs Up | 1 Comment | |
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| | Just Beautiful....................... | | | Thursday, September 3, 2009 (1:24 PM)
(I'm feeling content) | |
Just beautiful……
WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING
A message every adult should read because children
are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my
first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately
wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a
stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my
favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.
When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a
prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always
talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a
meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each other.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care
of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have
to take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't
feel good, and I learned that I would have to be
responsible when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come
from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things
hurt, but it's all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you
cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of
life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and
wanted to say,'Thanks for all the things I saw when
you thought I wasn't looking.'
I AM SENDING THIS TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE I KNOW
WHO DO SO MUCH FOR OTHERS,
BUT THINK THAT NO ONE EVER SEES.
LITTLE EYES SEE A LOT .
Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend)
influences the life of a child.
How will you touch the life of someone today? Just by
sending this to someone else, you will probably make
them at least think about their influence on others.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.
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| | THE OLD MAN AND THE DOG......... | | | Monday, August 3, 2009 (6:09 PM)
(I'm feeling calm) | | | The Old Man and the Dog
by Catherine Moore
"Watch out! You nearly broad sided that car!" My father yelled at me. "Can't you do anything right?"
Those words hurt worse than blows. I turned my head toward the elderly man in the seat beside me, daring me to challenge him. A lump rose in my throat as I averted my eyes. I wasn't prepared for another battle.
"I saw the car, Dad. Please don't yell at me when I'm driving."
My voice was measured and steady, sounding far calmer than I really felt.
Dad glared at me, then turned away and settled back. At home I left Dad in front of the television and went outside to collect my thoughts. Dark, heavy clouds hung in the air with a promise of rain. The rumble of distant thunder seemed to echo my inner turmoil. What could I do about him?
Dad had been a lumberjack in Washington and Oregon . He had enjoyed being outdoors and had reveled in pitting his strength against the forces of nature. He had entered grueling lumberjack competitions, and had placed often.
The shelves in his house were filled with trophies that attested to his prowess.
The years marched on relentlessly. The first time he couldn't lift a heavy log, he joked about it; but later that same day I saw him outside alone, straining to lift it. He became irritable whenever anyone teased him about his advancing age, or when he couldn't do something he had done as a younger man.
Four days after his sixty-seventh birthday, he had a heart attack. An ambulance sped him to the hospital while a paramedic administered CPR to keep blood and oxygen flowing.
At the hospital, Dad was rushed into an operating room. He was lucky; he survived. But something inside Dad died. His zest for life was gone. He obstinately refused to follow doctor's orders. Suggestions and offers of help were turned aside with sarcasm and insults. The number of visitors thinned, then finally stopped altogether. Dad was left alone.
My husband, Dick, and I asked Dad to come liv e with us on our small farm. We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust.
Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation. It seemed nothing was satisfactory. He criticized everything I did. I became frustrated and moody. Soon I was taking my pent-up anger out on Dick. We began to bicker and argue.
Alarmed, Dick sought out our pastor and explained the situation. The clergyman set up weekly counseling appointments for us. At the close of each session he prayed, asking God to soothe Dad's troubled mind.
But the months wore on and God was silent. Something had to be done and it was up to me to do it.
The next day I sat down with the phone book and methodically called each of the mental health clinics listed in the Yellow Pages. I explained my pro blem to each of the sympathetic voices that answered in vain.
Just when I was giving up hope, one of the voices suddenly exclaimed, "I just read something that might help you! Let me go get the article."
I listened as she read. The article described a remarkable study done at a nursing home. All of the patients were under treatment for chronic depression. Yet their attitudes had improved dramatically when they were given responsibility for a dog.
I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon. After I filled out a questionnaire, a uniformed officer led me to the kennels. The odor of disinfectant stung my nostrils as I moved down the row of pens. Each contained five to seven dogs. Long-haired dogs, curly-haired dogs, black dogs, spotted dogs all jumped up, trying to reach me. I studied each one but rejected one after the other for various reasons too big, too small, too much hair. As I neared the last pen a dog in the shadows of the far corner struggled to his feet, walked to the front of the run and sat down. It was a pointer, one of the dog world's aristocrats. But this was a caricature of the breed.
Years had etched his face and muzzle with shades of gray. His hip ones jutted out in lopsided triangles. But it was his eyes that caught and held my attention. Calm and clear, they beheld me unwaveringly.
I pointed to the dog. "Can you tell me about him?"
The officer looked, then shook his head in puzzlement. "He's a funny one. Appeared out of nowhere and sat in front of the gate. We brought him in, figuring someone would be right down to claim him. That was two weeks ago and we've heard nothing. His time is up tomorrow." He gestured helplessly.
As the words sank in I turned to the man in horror. "You mean you're going to kill him?"
"Ma'am," he said gently, "that's our policy. We don't have room for every unclaimed dog."
I looked at the pointer again. The calm brown eyes awaited my decision. "I'll take him," I said.
I drove home with the dog on the front seat beside me.. When I reached the house I honked the horn twice. I was helping my prize out of the car when Dad shuffled onto the front porch. "Ta-da! Look what I got for you, Dad!" I said excitedly.
Dad looked, then wrinkled his face in disgust. "If I had wanted a dog I would have gotten one. And I would have picked out a better specimen than that bag of bones. Keep it! I don't want it" Dad waved his arm scornfully and turned back toward the house.
Anger rose inside me. It squeezed together my throat muscles and pounded into my temples. "You'd better get used to him, Dad. He's staying!"
Dad ignored me. "Did you hear me, Dad?" I screamed.
At those words Dad whirled angrily, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes narrowed and blazing with hate.
We stood glaring at each other like duelists, when suddenly the pointer pulled free from my grasp. He wobbled toward my dad and sat down in front of him Then slowly, carefully, he raised his paw.
Dad's lower jaw trembled as he stared at the uplifted paw. Confusion replaced the anger in his eyes. The pointer waited patiently. Then Dad was on his knees hugging the animal.
It was the beginning of a warm and intimate friendship. Dad named the pointer Cheyenne . Together he and Cheyenne explored the community. They spent long hours walking down dusty lanes. They spent reflective moments on the banks of streams, angling for tasty trout. They even started to attend Sunday services together, Dad sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at his feet.
Dad and Cheyenne were inseparable throughout the next three years. Dad's bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne made many friends. Then late one night I was startled to feel Cheyenne 's cold nose burrowing through our bed covers. He had never before come into our bedroom at night. I woke Dick, put on my robe and ran into my father's room. Dad lay in his bed, his face serene. But his spirit had left quietly sometime during the night.
Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad's bed. I wrapped his still form in the rag rug he had slept on As Dick and I buried him near a favorite fishing hole, I silently thanked the dog for the help he had given me in restoring Dad's peace of mind.
The morning of Dad's funeral dawned overcast and dreary. This day looks like the way I feel, I thought, as I walked down the aisle to the pews reserved for family. I was surprised to see t he many friends Dad and Cheyenne had made filling the church. The pastor began his eulogy. It was a tribute to both Dad and the dog who had changed his life. And then the pastor turned to Hebrews 13:2. "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it."
"I've often thanked God for sending that angel," he said.
For me, the past dropped into place, completing a puzzle that I had not seen before: the sympathetic voice that had just read the right article...
Cheyenne 's unexpected appearance at the animal shelter. . ..his calm acceptance and complete devotion to my father. . and the proximity of their deaths. And suddenly I understood. I knew that God had answered my prayers after all.
Life is too short for drama and petty things, so laugh hard, love truly and forgive quickly. Live While You Are Alive. Forgive now those who made you cry You might not get a second time.
And if you don't send this to at least 4 people --who cares? But do share this with someone. Lost time can never be found.
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| | THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS BIT OF INFO! | | | Monday, August 3, 2009 (4:02 PM)
(I'm feeling accomplished) | | |
THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS BIT OF INFO!
Wasp Spray
I have a friend who is a receptionist in a church in a high risk area who
was concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday to rob them
when they were counting the collection. She asked the local police
department about using pepper spray and they recommended to her that she get
a can of "wasp spray" instead. The wasp spray, they told her, can shoot up
to twenty feet away and is a lot more accurate, while with the pepper spray
they have to get too close to you and could overpower you.
The wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to the hospital for an antidote. She keeps a can on her desk in the office and it doesn't attract attention from people like a can of pepper spray would. She also
keeps one nearby at home for home protection. Thought this was interesting
and might be of use.
KEEP A CAN IN YOUR CAR TOO! ANY "THREAT" TO YOU IN A "SHOPPING CENTER
PARKING LOT", "GRAB "THE WASP SPRAY" AND "SHOOT"...
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| | Why is the world obsessed with celebrity vs. news? | | | Tuesday, July 7, 2009 (6:02 AM)
(I'm feeling complacent) | | Why is the world obsessed with celebrity vs. news?
Raise your hand if you know who Keith Zeier is. Does his name ring a bell? He was the soldier wounded in Iraq by an improvised-explosive device on July 17, 2006. His left leg was damaged so badly that doctors told him he would only be able to walk with the help of a cane. Instead he ran 31 hours to complete a 100-mile ultra marathon to benefit fallen comrades.
Now raise your hand if you know who Landon Donovan is. Donovan is the captain for the USA men's national soccer team. Just recently during theFIFA Confederations Cup,our team showed the world that the United States is emerging as a nation capable of competing with and winning against the best on the soccer field. We did lose toBrazil, 2-3, however, respect and admiration for the USA men's soccer team has soared in the hearts of soccer enthusiasts, both American and non-American alike.
If you know the name of the woman Michael Jackson desires to leave his children to in the event his mother passes away, raise your hand.
I find it both interesting and annoying the amount of coverage the passing ofsinger Michael Jackson has received and the lack of coverage for other newsworthy material. I'm not sure what I'll be feeding my children for lunch today, but I do know plenty about Jackson's health, wealth, relationships and attorneys all because I logged on to check my e-mail.
I'll admit it; I was never a big Michael Jackson fan. The "Thriller" video scared me as a child and his hip thrusting turned me off. This could be part of the reason I find such fault in media's obsession with his passing. When animal enthusiast Steve Irwin passed away, I was devastated. Maybe I would have supported the level of information Jackson has received had it been Irwin?
But then maybe not. America is at war. Instead of hourly updates regarding Michael Jackson's funeral affairs, why not hourly updates regarding our soldiers and their acts of heroism, sacrifices and labors of love? The cap-and-trade legislation — what are the details surrounding this, what are the pros and cons, how will this affect us, and what can we do about it? I've been force-fed education regarding Jackson's will — wouldn't education regarding the cap-and-trade legislation be more worthwhile?
I respect the fact that many all over the world love, admire and will deeply miss Jackson. His is a legacy to many. At the same time, there are soldiers fighting for our freedoms; selfless efforts from those contributing to towns and societies; laws and bills being discussed and passed. This is what should be splashed all over the headlines, not the reactions of fans winning Jackson memorial tickets.
By Ericka Lasson...................................................... | | | | 212 Views | 0 Thumbs Up | 1 Comment | |
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| | 4Th Of July | | | Saturday, June 27, 2009 (10:08 AM)
(I'm feeling awake) | | 4th of July
Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
Five signers were captured by the British as traitors,
and tortured before they died.
Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army;
another had two sons captured.
Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or
hardships of the Revolutionary War.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes,
and their sacred honor.
What kind of men were they?
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.
Eleven were merchants,
nine were farmers and large plantation owners;
men of means, well educated,
but they signed the Declaration of Independence
knowing full well that the penalty would be death if
they were captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and
trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the
British Navy. He sold his home and properties to
pay his debts, and died in rags.
Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British
that he was forced to move his family almost constantly.
He served in the Congress without pay, and his family
was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him,
and poverty was his reward.
Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer,
Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.
At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that
the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson
home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General
George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed,
and Nelson died bankrupt.
Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed.
The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying.
Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill
were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests
and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his
children vanished.
So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and
silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.
Remember: freedom is never free!
I hope you will show your support by sending this to as many
people as you can, please. It's time we get the word out that patriotism
is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer,
picnics, and baseball games.
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| | Story Of Father's Day | | | Sunday, June 21, 2009 (5:49 AM)
(I'm feeling loved) | | Story of Father's Day
Father's Day is a beautiful festival that acknowledges and appreciates the important role played by a father in raising the child and consequently building a stronger society. Though fathers have been revered at all times by civilizations across the globe ironically what was missing until the last century was the official recognition of the significance of fathers in ones life. Father's Day story is the tale of realization of the need for a Father's Day festival primarily by Ms Sonora Louise Smart Dodd of Washington. The story narrates Sonora's unflagging struggle to officially set a day to honor all fathers. Thanks to Sonora, today Fathers Day is celebrated in a large number of countries around the world.
The Beginning of Father's Day Story
Historians have recorded that there was a tradition to celebrate Father's Day even thousands of years ago. Their study say that 4,000 years ago in Babylon a son called Elmesu carved a father's day message on a clay card. In his message Elmesu wished his father a long and healthy life. There is no knowledge as to what happened to this father son duo but it is believed that several countries retained the custom of celebrating Father's Day.
Genesis of Father's Day in Modern Society
The tradition of celebrating Father's Day as seen today originated in the last century. Though there are several people who are credited for furthering the cause of Father's Day, there is far greater acceptance for Ms Sonora Louise Smart Dodd's contribution. A doting daughter from Spokane, Washington, Ms Dodd is recognized as the Founder or Mother of the Father's Day Festival.
Inception of the Father's Day took place in Sonora's mind when she happened to hear a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Sonora, who was 27 then, had begun to recognize the hardships her father must have gone through while bringing up his six children alone. When Sonora was 16, her mother had died during childbirth. Sonora's father a Civil War veteran by the name of William Jackson Smart raised six children including the newborn on his own. Sonora questioned that if there is a day to recognize mothers then why is not there a day to honor fathers?
Many people laughed and joked at Sonora's idea. But her will did not droop. She began a sincere campaign lobbying for the cause of Father's Day. Her hard work began to show signs of success when Spokane celebrated its first Father's Day on June 19, 1910 with the support of Spokane Ministerial Association and the local Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). To pay tribute to her affectionate father, Sonora wished that Father's Day be celebrated on her father's birthday on June 5, but it so happened that there was not enough time for preparation and the day came to be celebrated on third Sunday in the month of June.
The noble idea of celebrating Father's Day became quite popular in US so much so that President Woodrow Wilson approved of the festival in 1916. President Calvin Coolidge too supported the idea but it was President Lyndon Johnson who signed a Presidential Proclamation declaring the third Sunday of June as Father's Day in 1966. Then in 1972, President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June.
Fathers Day Celebration in Present Time
Father's Day has become a hugely popular festival. World over people thank their father and pay tribute to them. Most commonly children gift Father's Day cards and flowers to their father. Neckties are a popular gift on the occasion of Father's Day. Due to the tradition of giving gifts, cards makers, florists and gift sellers campaign for Father's Day Festival in a big way and cash in on the sentiments of the people.
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| | SPIRITUAL THINKERS | | | Sunday, June 14, 2009 (12:04 AM)
(I'm feeling content) | | Spiritual Thinkers: Khalil Gibran
Infinite peace and poetry
If you've ever looked for a good quote about love or relationships, or for some meaningful spiritual guidance, chances are you've run across a verse or two from Khalil Gibran's
The Prophet, first published in 1923. In fact, many a wedding has dispensed favors displaying Gibran's wise words on unions:
"And stand together yet not too near together
Translated into more than 20 languages, The Prophet is Gibran's best-known work, and is illustrated with his famous charcoal drawings.
East meets West
Perhaps it was the sum total of the struggles of Gibran's early life growing up in poverty in Lebanon and later in Boston: his difficult relationship with his father, the loss of two siblings and his mother within two years, and his influential relationships with two inspiring women (who both rejected his marriage proposals) that fueled his keen insights. The wisdom expressed in The Prophet truly represents and expresses the meeting of Eastern and Western ideals.
Early on he was mentored by a priest in his native Lebanon, and later his American art teachers encouraged and recognized his artistic talents. He slowly entered the cultural artistic world in Boston by meeting people who led him to stage his first art exhibition there in 1904. He later studied with sculptor August Rodin in Paris, finally settling in New York City in 1912. Though he died there at the age of 48 from cirrhosis and tuberculosis, his wish was to be buried in his native Lebanon.
A prophet
Written in beautiful verse, The Prophet, which brought Gibran international acclaim, contains 27 much-quoted chapters, including: "On Children," "On Love," and "On Death." Though he wrote and illustrated the book, it appeared to be channeled through divine inspiration, leading many in his circle to refer to him as a mystic. Some have even called his poetry metaphysical. History has proven Gibran to be an artistic philosopher, as The Prophet has never ceased to be in print. One of the most popular books of the 20th Century, the slim volume gained popularity during the counterculture of 1960s, and has inspired lovers, artists, and writers for decades.
Today
If you go to Gibran's work for guidance now, you will find that his writing has not lost its relevance. Perhaps ahead of his time, perhaps transcending all time, his words touch us no matter what the exterior changes in society are… no matter what our religion or nationality. Stripped of today's technology and global transformations, we are all human, and there is more to us than even we sometimes comprehend, according to Gibran. This is in part the message of The Prophet's chapter "On Time":
"Yet the timeless in you is aware of life's timelessness,
And knows that yesterday is but today's memory and tomorrow is today's dream."
The next time you're looking to understand the mysteries of life, or need to be reminded of your significance in the grand scheme of life and love, pick up any of Gibran's writings, where you'll find infinite peace and inspiration.
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