Wednesday, January 12, 2011

be






















(via tumbleword tumblr via wallflowerlookingin
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from Pima Chodron:

When we hold to our opinions with aggression, no matter
how valid our cause, we are simply adding more aggression
to the planet, and violence and pain increase. 
Cultivating nonaggression is cultivating peace.
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Wish it were that easy. ;-) Wish tv news personalities and politicians read this.
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.(via housingworksbooks and teachingliteracy tumblr)

I remember trying to see Maya Angelou read. We got there a bit late, and the auditorium was full. A security guard kept letting three or four more in at a time, then no more. I was with friends, stuck behind a blue velvet rope, o'so close.  They were turning us away, and the large glass doors to the auditorium with all that light on inside, called me. I saw an instant opening, ducked down and snuck past the guard (he'd been gazing over, so I thought it might work). In I went, dashing at first then walking (ladylike) to a seat.

Angelou is a Powerful woman. 
She strengthened me that night with not only her words, but her spiritual largeness. 
After the reception I walked from the building into the darkness, all a'tingle. Even the cold was invigorating. Out on the street corner wondering where I'd parked: Shit, I'd driven in with friends. New to the city, a fear smeared through as I stood with no ride home, but a new prize inside.   : )

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Some things you just gotta do, and the body acts. 
Have you done things like this too? We all have.
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"Baby I'm a Fool" Melody Gardot (makes me feel i'm in an old movie to listen)

    as always, Peace.

19 comments:

Unknown said...

a very powerful post, peace my dear and the best wishes for 2011!!

lynne h said...

AH HA!! lightning!!!!!!

xoxoxo

mansuetude said...

Thanks Line, Happy New year.

.
Lynne, Oh No!!!!! I am struck! Again and again!!(from within and without) &My hair Is on Fire! !!!!

ps (i needed a trim)
(and its very cold outside)

thank you! ;)

Seth said...

Wonderful piece/peace.

Karin Bartimole said...

such a good story - your body chose a wonderful moment to act!! love the Pema quote as well. much peace and joy ❤

Leslie said...

I love the mental picture of you ducking under the rope to see Maya and leaving so full.

Laura said...

"...but her spiritual largeness." how I do adore this woman's expansive heart and wisdom as deep and high as it is wide.

xo

ArtPropelled said...

Glad you snuck in M. She's a very sassy lady!

Anonymous said...

A worthy prize

and you got in guerilla like...

layers said...

I had the luck to see Maya Angelou in person years ago and the memory of the wonderful evening is still with me- I remember sitting with the audience as she talked and told stories and spoke poetry with a smile on my face the whole evening.

Christine Clemmensen said...

What a wonderful experience! Can almost hear the tingeling :) Yes, we must be good to each other. And maybe it is that easy ... :)

rivergardenstudio said...

"does my sassiness effect you?"
"and still I rise"
oh dear writer.
thank you for this.
I can just imagine that whole night.
and how did you get home?
roxanne

Caterina Giglio said...

spiritual largeness, ... I like that... and this, great peaceful and spiritually LARGE post....

Anonymous said...

An important message. Sometimes hard to remember, but an important one indeed.

Laura said...

I keep coming back to this...we must continue to be kind...that is the only way, the ONLY WAY to be peace...one and all.

Crafty Green Poet said...

excellent quote about aggression.

How wonderful to hear Maya Angelou read!

Anonymous said...

We can remember this message if we try. Powerful stuff.

soraya nulliah said...

Oh!!! I just love this story! I cna only imagine what it must have been like to see Ms Angelou speak...and i love how you described her...spiritual largeness. I totally agree with you re how our thoughts and words contribute to violence. Ghandi elaborated on this quite a lot...violent thoughts lead to violent actions. and I looove the Still I rise poem...am going to listen to it right now on your post! xxx

Disa said...

i missed this. so much aggression going on- everywhere. it's so disappointing to me how they (tv experts) turn life into a real life mexican wrestling match. they have no idea what it's really like; egypt, bahrain, libya. then i get angry. it worked. :(