Thursday, December 30, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
women
Paraphrased from an excellent story I've been reading:
If a strong woman is to share her life with a man, she must have a strong man. If a man doesn't have what it takes to truly balance her strength, she is left with the choice of either running him over entirely or lessening herself to avoid overshadowing him. Both of these options are unacceptable, because both require her to be something other than what she is. With balanced strength instead, you can both become even stronger than either alone.
(Note: this goes for any relationship with a strong woman... if she chooses to share her life with another women, the concept still applies)
ETA: From another culture in the same story:
To have strength and balance in a relationship, you must both come into it from a place of strength and honor. You can't expect to be complete, finished people before even beginning, because we are constantly growing and changing and therefore never finished. But if you have strength in you, you must honor yourself in that strength before you can hope to successfully honor another.
If a strong woman is to share her life with a man, she must have a strong man. If a man doesn't have what it takes to truly balance her strength, she is left with the choice of either running him over entirely or lessening herself to avoid overshadowing him. Both of these options are unacceptable, because both require her to be something other than what she is. With balanced strength instead, you can both become even stronger than either alone.
(Note: this goes for any relationship with a strong woman... if she chooses to share her life with another women, the concept still applies)
ETA: From another culture in the same story:
To have strength and balance in a relationship, you must both come into it from a place of strength and honor. You can't expect to be complete, finished people before even beginning, because we are constantly growing and changing and therefore never finished. But if you have strength in you, you must honor yourself in that strength before you can hope to successfully honor another.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Khrystism #766: logic and reality (WIP)
Most of my Khrystisms have been developed over many years, but this is a new one. I'm not too sure about it yet, so we'll see...
We can justify anything. Which is to say, we can convince ourselves of the truth or righteousness of any situation or choice or outcome, using logic and rhetoric. But, because we can do that with anything and to any end we convince ourselves is the right one, none of those justifications are real. Only the thoughts that we *can't* logic ourselves out of or away from are real... only our instincts and feelings are real. I don't mean emotions, though I think they are higher on the reality scale than logic. I'm talking about that gut feeling of what you know is TRUE.
One of the most prevalent examples of this, of course, is love. You can't logic love: you can't explain it, you can't justify it, you can't make it go away. (You can try, but it's either there or it isn't.) To quote one of my favorite movies: "LOVE is REAL and it is TERRIFYING"
It might not make any sense, and it might go against whatever logic you attempt to apply to the situation, but you cannot deny love. Because love is real, and logic is not. And LOVE is all that matters.
We can justify anything. Which is to say, we can convince ourselves of the truth or righteousness of any situation or choice or outcome, using logic and rhetoric. But, because we can do that with anything and to any end we convince ourselves is the right one, none of those justifications are real. Only the thoughts that we *can't* logic ourselves out of or away from are real... only our instincts and feelings are real. I don't mean emotions, though I think they are higher on the reality scale than logic. I'm talking about that gut feeling of what you know is TRUE.
One of the most prevalent examples of this, of course, is love. You can't logic love: you can't explain it, you can't justify it, you can't make it go away. (You can try, but it's either there or it isn't.) To quote one of my favorite movies: "LOVE is REAL and it is TERRIFYING"
It might not make any sense, and it might go against whatever logic you attempt to apply to the situation, but you cannot deny love. Because love is real, and logic is not. And LOVE is all that matters.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Khrystism #563: Happily ever after = perfection.
At first you might read this statement and think, "Aww... how romantic."
But let me explain...
Happily ever after = perfection in that both are theoretical concepts that are chronically misconstrued in our cultural lexicon of practically-applicable concepts. The statement "happily ever after = perfection" for most people conjures thoughts of some theoretical dream state of pinnacled contentment and bliss. In reality, this statement only becomes possible when the entirety of each concept is both realized and accepted. That is, when you are able to include all of the nuances - all possible permutations - in your understanding of the concept. When you realize that "happily ever after" doesn't exist without work and strife and frustration in addition to the bliss and elation and contentment. That perfection, in practice, necessarily encompasses all the inherent "faults" of a thing and that, in fact, without the faults it is no longer "perfect".
Perfection, as a geometrical concept, implies precise balance.
But let me explain...
Happily ever after = perfection in that both are theoretical concepts that are chronically misconstrued in our cultural lexicon of practically-applicable concepts. The statement "happily ever after = perfection" for most people conjures thoughts of some theoretical dream state of pinnacled contentment and bliss. In reality, this statement only becomes possible when the entirety of each concept is both realized and accepted. That is, when you are able to include all of the nuances - all possible permutations - in your understanding of the concept. When you realize that "happily ever after" doesn't exist without work and strife and frustration in addition to the bliss and elation and contentment. That perfection, in practice, necessarily encompasses all the inherent "faults" of a thing and that, in fact, without the faults it is no longer "perfect".
Perfection, as a geometrical concept, implies precise balance.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
The here and now
Revelation:
Sometimes it's easier to be present in the moment when you're relieved from the pressure of being the one to define the moment.
(Examples: Some people do better in jobs where someone else defines what they're supposed to be doing rather than situations where they are responsible for the meta-awareness as well. Or in relationships, sometimes it's a good idea for the other partner to take the lead in deciding what to do or how to do it. Etc.)
Sometimes it's easier to be present in the moment when you're relieved from the pressure of being the one to define the moment.
(Examples: Some people do better in jobs where someone else defines what they're supposed to be doing rather than situations where they are responsible for the meta-awareness as well. Or in relationships, sometimes it's a good idea for the other partner to take the lead in deciding what to do or how to do it. Etc.)
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Oh love - I'm so jealous!
My friends are so inspiring. As I'm vainly attempting to catch up with my life, I've read newsletters today about my friends founding the largest artist workspace in MA, traveling to be a french teacher/missionary in Cote d'Ivoire, taking cooking classes in Italy, being a traveling performer across Europe... I feel like I'm missing out on so much as I scramble through my daily life feeling like I'm barely treading water to keep up with the basics. Despite all the things I've done, THIS/NOW is not who I want to be.
So, change it is.
Thanks. :)
ETA: Maybe I just need to reclaim more fire in my life. Now where'd I put those torches... :D
My friends are so inspiring. As I'm vainly attempting to catch up with my life, I've read newsletters today about my friends founding the largest artist workspace in MA, traveling to be a french teacher/missionary in Cote d'Ivoire, taking cooking classes in Italy, being a traveling performer across Europe... I feel like I'm missing out on so much as I scramble through my daily life feeling like I'm barely treading water to keep up with the basics. Despite all the things I've done, THIS/NOW is not who I want to be.
So, change it is.
Thanks. :)
ETA: Maybe I just need to reclaim more fire in my life. Now where'd I put those torches... :D
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
