Q: What do love and pain have in common?
A: Perspective
- Elizabeth Alraune
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Sometimes I wonder
Sometimes I wonder something.
Sometimes I wonder if we realize what we,
as human beings, are doing to ourselves,
to others, to our children.
I don't know if you ever heard how
aspartame came to be on the market.
I won't go into it all here, you can
certainly ask me if you want to know,
however, the point is that from the
sound of it, it never should have ever
gotten into our food.
Of course, there are different opinions
on the topic, as there will always be on
any topic.
However, the upshot is that it appears that
people were making decisions that could
potentially adversely affect the health
of millions.
The question that lingers for me is,
what were they thinking? Don't they have
family and friends that they care about?
Couldn't they be adversely affected as well?
Then there is the dumping of chemicals in
our water, our increasing number of
landfills, the pillaging we are doing of
our resources, and...
This comes to mind for me today as on
Twitter there is a trending topic of "Eric."
He is a 27 year old that is in desperate need
of a heart transplant. His sister has been
doing everything she can to save him, and yet
is finding incredible red tape.
I am certain that this story is far from
unique. The only difference here seems to
be that somehow, some way, she has managed
to get the attention of people who want to
help, including the band Nine Inch Nails.
What I can't help but wonder is how the people
who make these decisions can make these decisions.
I can't imagine that they're easy ones to make.
However, if they were in his sister's shoes,
and someone they loved and cared about needed
the help, wouldn't they want every chance,
every opportunity, to make it happen without lots
of roadblocks? Wouldn't they want and need
understanding and answers?
The point for me is when do people come to
realize that PEOPLE are involved in the decisions
made by them? When do they realize that behind
papers and names and stats are living, breathing,
valuable people? When do they realize that life
would be so much better for us all when we think
past the boxes and limitations of a perspective
that goes no farther than ourselves and
of money?
I often say I have more questions than answers.
And often there is more to the story than what
appears. However, at the core of anything is the
fact that we're all in this together...and if we
could somehow, some way, remember that
and act accordingly,
imagine what kind of world
we would live in.
If you would like to know more about
Eric's story/situation and/or would
like to donate, you can find more
information at:
WeLoveEric.com
Tweet4Eric.com
Veronica's (Eric's Sister) Twitter Page
Sign a petition for change & help save Eric
Sometimes I wonder if we realize what we,
as human beings, are doing to ourselves,
to others, to our children.
I don't know if you ever heard how
aspartame came to be on the market.
I won't go into it all here, you can
certainly ask me if you want to know,
however, the point is that from the
sound of it, it never should have ever
gotten into our food.
Of course, there are different opinions
on the topic, as there will always be on
any topic.
However, the upshot is that it appears that
people were making decisions that could
potentially adversely affect the health
of millions.
The question that lingers for me is,
what were they thinking? Don't they have
family and friends that they care about?
Couldn't they be adversely affected as well?
Then there is the dumping of chemicals in
our water, our increasing number of
landfills, the pillaging we are doing of
our resources, and...
This comes to mind for me today as on
Twitter there is a trending topic of "Eric."
He is a 27 year old that is in desperate need
of a heart transplant. His sister has been
doing everything she can to save him, and yet
is finding incredible red tape.
I am certain that this story is far from
unique. The only difference here seems to
be that somehow, some way, she has managed
to get the attention of people who want to
help, including the band Nine Inch Nails.
What I can't help but wonder is how the people
who make these decisions can make these decisions.
I can't imagine that they're easy ones to make.
However, if they were in his sister's shoes,
and someone they loved and cared about needed
the help, wouldn't they want every chance,
every opportunity, to make it happen without lots
of roadblocks? Wouldn't they want and need
understanding and answers?
The point for me is when do people come to
realize that PEOPLE are involved in the decisions
made by them? When do they realize that behind
papers and names and stats are living, breathing,
valuable people? When do they realize that life
would be so much better for us all when we think
past the boxes and limitations of a perspective
that goes no farther than ourselves and
of money?
I often say I have more questions than answers.
And often there is more to the story than what
appears. However, at the core of anything is the
fact that we're all in this together...and if we
could somehow, some way, remember that
and act accordingly,
imagine what kind of world
we would live in.
If you would like to know more about
Eric's story/situation and/or would
like to donate, you can find more
information at:
WeLoveEric.com
Tweet4Eric.com
Veronica's (Eric's Sister) Twitter Page
Sign a petition for change & help save Eric
Monday, May 11, 2009
Perspective: Elizabeth Alraune on Looking for Answers
Sometimes
we need to hear
what we already know
Sometimes
we need to be
reminded of who we are
Sometimes
we need a loving heart,
a compassionate ear, and
to know who we are is OK.
-Elizabeth Alraune
we need to hear
what we already know
Sometimes
we need to be
reminded of who we are
Sometimes
we need a loving heart,
a compassionate ear, and
to know who we are is OK.
-Elizabeth Alraune
Friday, May 1, 2009
It's About Truth
I recently watched an excerpt of an interview with
Bea Arthur. In it she speaks of "truth" in acting. She states it
so simply, so matter of factly.
I would say that it would go for all parts of life...we could use
more "truth." I don't say truth, as opposed to lying, but
rather truth as opposed to some affected response to a
situation.
In the culture here in the United States (I won't limit it to the
US, however, it is the culture that I am the most acquainted
with, and therefore the one I feel best able to speak to)
there is a superficial culture in which many of us live - we
have the public face and the private face.
In public we act and speak one way, and behind closed doors
act and speak differently. This dichotomy stems from (or
so I would suggest) the response to potential judgments
should we ever act the way we really wanted to. We would
rather spare ourselves the judgments, rather than be true
to ourselves.
Last I knew, being human was far from being perfect in any
way that we as humans tend to define it, any way. So why
is it that we feel propelled to be something we're not? Is
it to "fit in?" But then what in the world are we fitting into?
Why should we compromise who we are to be a version
of ourselves that only fits with another's awkward - and
perceivably compromised - version of themselves?
The repercussions of this way of being and doing things are
endless and woven through every aspect of our lives.
Some might say it was a good thing, because it defines
"society," and we can know what to expect.
However, I have to wonder how much society benefits from
being a pseudo version of itself. When people are afraid to
speak their mind, to live their dreams, to say "yes this is
me" I would say it limits the possibilities of what society
is capable of. It is the people that allowed themselves to
stand out and be judged that made some of the biggest
strides for society as a whole.
In some way, every day, every moment, is an opportunity
for us to take a stand for who and how we are. It is an
opportunity for us to decide which way it is that we want
to go, what character we will personify.
I would suggest that so many of us are "hypnotized" by
the way we should be that it is way too easy to forfeit
ourselves on a regular basis. It is way too easy to
default to the "looking good" option.
As humans, we go for the comfortable - which isn't always
the option that serves us the best. It may seem that it
does, however, the key to knowing is whether or not when
you are behind the closed doors of your mind you are okay
with yourself and your deceptions. I don't know too many
people who appreciate living with the discomfort of realties
created from the distortions of their having to be some way
other than who they truly are.
If we lived more from the person we would like ourselves to
be and less from the "ideal" that others would like to experience
us as, I suspect we would be lying a whole lot less, and liking
ourselves a whole lot more. It takes a lot of effort to defend
something we're not.
The public self is very often a lie, and is a reaction to the things
and people around us. It takes so much more energy, too,
to react than act because we're not pulling from anything solid,
but rather something that can change from moment to moment.
If we know ourselves, and know our core beliefs, and know
the kind of person we want to be, I would think life would
likely seem so much easier. You'd be surprised at how many
people behind closed doors are just like you - but not in the
way that it might appear on the surface.
There is beauty in truth and truth in beauty and, in my opinion,
being true to who and how you are is the most beautiful thing
in the world.
Bea Arthur. In it she speaks of "truth" in acting. She states it
so simply, so matter of factly.
I would say that it would go for all parts of life...we could use
more "truth." I don't say truth, as opposed to lying, but
rather truth as opposed to some affected response to a
situation.
In the culture here in the United States (I won't limit it to the
US, however, it is the culture that I am the most acquainted
with, and therefore the one I feel best able to speak to)
there is a superficial culture in which many of us live - we
have the public face and the private face.
In public we act and speak one way, and behind closed doors
act and speak differently. This dichotomy stems from (or
so I would suggest) the response to potential judgments
should we ever act the way we really wanted to. We would
rather spare ourselves the judgments, rather than be true
to ourselves.
Last I knew, being human was far from being perfect in any
way that we as humans tend to define it, any way. So why
is it that we feel propelled to be something we're not? Is
it to "fit in?" But then what in the world are we fitting into?
Why should we compromise who we are to be a version
of ourselves that only fits with another's awkward - and
perceivably compromised - version of themselves?
The repercussions of this way of being and doing things are
endless and woven through every aspect of our lives.
Some might say it was a good thing, because it defines
"society," and we can know what to expect.
However, I have to wonder how much society benefits from
being a pseudo version of itself. When people are afraid to
speak their mind, to live their dreams, to say "yes this is
me" I would say it limits the possibilities of what society
is capable of. It is the people that allowed themselves to
stand out and be judged that made some of the biggest
strides for society as a whole.
In some way, every day, every moment, is an opportunity
for us to take a stand for who and how we are. It is an
opportunity for us to decide which way it is that we want
to go, what character we will personify.
I would suggest that so many of us are "hypnotized" by
the way we should be that it is way too easy to forfeit
ourselves on a regular basis. It is way too easy to
default to the "looking good" option.
As humans, we go for the comfortable - which isn't always
the option that serves us the best. It may seem that it
does, however, the key to knowing is whether or not when
you are behind the closed doors of your mind you are okay
with yourself and your deceptions. I don't know too many
people who appreciate living with the discomfort of realties
created from the distortions of their having to be some way
other than who they truly are.
If we lived more from the person we would like ourselves to
be and less from the "ideal" that others would like to experience
us as, I suspect we would be lying a whole lot less, and liking
ourselves a whole lot more. It takes a lot of effort to defend
something we're not.
The public self is very often a lie, and is a reaction to the things
and people around us. It takes so much more energy, too,
to react than act because we're not pulling from anything solid,
but rather something that can change from moment to moment.
If we know ourselves, and know our core beliefs, and know
the kind of person we want to be, I would think life would
likely seem so much easier. You'd be surprised at how many
people behind closed doors are just like you - but not in the
way that it might appear on the surface.
There is beauty in truth and truth in beauty and, in my opinion,
being true to who and how you are is the most beautiful thing
in the world.
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