Let me tell you a story

There was a Grandfather who had a Grandson who came to him with anger at a schoolmate that had done him an injustice.

"Let me tell you a story," said the Grandfather.

"I too at times have felt a great hate for those who have taken so much with no sorrow for what they do. I've struggled with these feelings many times."

He continued, "it is as if there are two wolves inside me.

One is good and he does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended.

But the other wolf, ah. He is full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper.

It is hard to live with these two wolves inside me. Both of them try to dominate my spirit."

The Grandson turned to his Grandfather and said, "But Grandfather, which wolf wins?"

The Grandfather replied: "The one I feed."


Story by Loretta Todd - Cree/Métis Filmaker, transcribed from Telling Stories on Definitely Not the Opera. Listen here.
Image from Totoro Forest Project by Jackson Sze. 

Life and Love

While listening to Mo speak with an Italian client, I realized that his accent is only really audible when speaking to a non-native english speaker. He stops using articles and his words take on a farsi flair.

I think that means he'll never lose it completely no matter how great his mastery or how Canadian his tongue becomes. It reminds me of our early days together, he was so cute!
Clearly he still is.

Both of these images are from a project that featured young photographers photographing their favourite people. At least, I think they are. Of course, I can't find the link in my bazillions of bookmarks and tineye.com gave me nothing. Note to self: be better organized!

Adora Svitak at Ted

I watched Adora's talk without knowing who she was or what she has accomplished in her young life and I was surprised at how commanding she was in front of such a large and intimidating audience. Then I googled her and realized that this sort of thing is old hat for her. She's a published author, a teacher and a consultant for educators. The fact that she has experience, however, doesn't make her commanding confidence any less impressive. I love that a child is advocating for children, for the worth of imagination and idealistic belief. Watching her speak took me back to when I was younger and genuinely believed that world peace and saving the planet were possible if only we tried hard enough or all worked together. It made me miss the idealistic little kid who didn't believe in limits. Thinking like her might be a good plan for my present. If all things are possible, all things are possible.

Suggestions

Answers

In my life
why do I smile
at people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?
Social convention. Common decency. Self preservation. Laziness.

1 minute

Another one from David Horvitz. I am a big fan of covert rebellion. As long as you know, it counts.

Daniel

The first 2/3rds of this video is such a vivid visual representation of the ghosts of depression. Don't forget to watch it in HD.

Stop Being so Religious

What
do sad people have in
common?
It seems
They have all built a shrine
to the past
and often go there
and do a strange wail and
Worship.

What is the beginning of
Happiness?
It is to stop being
so religious
like that.


from Hafiz's The Gift, versions by Daniel Ladinsky

On Creativity and its Source

Elizabeth Gilbert expounds on the creative process, its roots, incarnations and the weight of creativity on the creative.

I related so well to this talk, and not just in terms of creativity. There is a lot to be said for displacing blame, externalizing it and allowing yourself less responsibility.

I often miss my 'inspirations' in the same way, they pass me by, flying through the back of my head and out the front unless I'm quick enough, determined enough to hold them still while I transcribe. Not in such grand fashion of course, but what a notion to blame those misses on the impatience of a daemon rather my own slippery mind.

I don't have a TV and TED is my answer to cable's Discovery Channel. Attending the conference, or (gulp) speaking at one is on my list of amazing-things-that-I-would-love-to-do about three spaces up from swimming with sharks. The sharks I have ticked off and they were surely far less intimidating than a room full of people followed closely by top notch genii. It's like Joni Mitchell said so wisely, we couldn't see the value of the daemon until its lack has stretched out across history.

What is this?

Have you ever felt this way?

via.

Two Thousand and Nine

My New Year's resolution is simple:

I have no clue where I pilfered this image from, please excuse my lack of credit. Let me know in the comments if you can pinpoint its origins.