"Cause I'm A Woman...DoubleU Oh Em A En"

While holding her 8 month old son, Tiffany Goodwin catches a foul ball on Sunday May 15, 2011 in Richmond, VA.  (AP Photo/Richmond Times Dispatch, Mark Gormus)

Oprah Winfrey

Rebecca Traister at the Los Angeles Times has been writing about the last shows from Oprah and I think she says it MUCH better than I. And as far as I remember, I agree with everything she's written.

These were my brief thoughts before the final episode:

Today, it ends. 25 years with Oprah Winfrey.
Thank you to Oprah for being an inspiration throughout the years.
From my vantage point, I've appreciated Oprah's honest journey through life. I'm fascinated by her drive and ambition. I'm interested by her acceptance of the wealth and power she's acquired through her television show. I'm happy for her relationships with Stedman and Gayle. I value the time she's given to her spiritual life, which helped my spiritual journey. It was through Oprah Winfrey that I became familiar with Eckhart Tolle's book A New Earth. I listened to Oprah and Eckhart discuss the book through ten weeks (in 2008?) and my world shifted.
I wasn't working when the Oprah show went national back in 1986 so I started with her. In this last year I've made it a point to watch all her shows. In between, I was an off and on viewer. Sometimes she spoke to me, and sometimes she didn't.
I gained a lot of respect for Oprah when she was contemplating how to proceed with the show during the time daytime talk was heading down a sleazy path - lurid stories about sad, misguided, and angry people. I remember Oprah talking about it at the beginning of a season and saying she only wanted to continue the show if she could use it to make the world a better place. She was taking a risk because she wasn't sure the viewers would follow her. She elevated herself; she chose light. I think that's when her influence and power started multiplying. I was proud of her.
Over the years I've been inspired by Oprah and many of her guests. I'm one of the people who laughed a lot when Oprah and Gayle went on their trips. That's what I'll miss.
I don't understand what it's like to be a person like Oprah, but I'm glad she's been a part of my life all these years.
Luckily, she's not going away. O Magazine and the OWN Network are still around for those much needed moments of inspiration.

Yesterday I watched part two of the celebration show and was moved to tears a couple times - her Morehouse men, and the young people (headed by Dakota Fanning).
Whatever Oprah has given me, I'm grateful she's helped thousands of people transform their lives.

January 28, 2001

My last day of smoking was January 28, 2001.  I would have guessed I haven't smoked for more than 15 years...but it's only been just over ten years.

My takeaway from the End of The World hub-bub

A small group of Christians, led by Harold Camping, proclaimed today as the beginning of the end of the world; the rapture.  They spent a good deal of money on billboards and other media so we'd have ample opportunity to get our Godly house in order.  A generous undertaking.  Thank you,
However, as expected, the end of the world does not seem to be upon us.

I'm curious to know how the faithful will feel at the end of this day, presuming they are still among us.
See this Slate online magazine article to find out.  In summary, it's not hard for the faithful to alter their understanding of reality to match their beliefs.

The last paragraph stood out for me:

For those not waiting for the world to end in a storm of fire and light it is easy to write off the believers as deluded, but...we adapt to even the most unlikely of contradictions using nothing more than our methods of everyday rationalization. The faithful could just as easily be those who stubbornly stand by disgraced politicians, failed ideologies, dishonest friends, or cheating spouses, even when reality highlights the clearest of inconsistencies. Armageddon is unlikely to arrive this weekend, but most of us have lived through it many times before.

In other words...
we've all been (or are) faithful to a person or idea even when we've been disappointed by reality.

Another Republican I will not vote for...

Rick Santorum doesn't think John McCain understands torture.

I'm adding Santorum to the list of Republicans I will not vote for in 2012. I think it's creepy that Santorum wants people to be tortured so badly that he doesn't even pay attention to the experience of a man who was tortured. The way some of these people talk it's like they haven't even considered the moral implications of supporting torture as a policy; they're only thinking of the political gains.

To recap: Through casual observation and reading the Internet I've eliminated Santorum, Pawlenty, and Huckabee from the list of possible Republican nominees. Sheesh at this rate I'll have no one left to vote for BUT Barack Obama! (yay!)

This Is It

Image from Tea Masters Blog

I am living my meditation.  This is it.

You are living your medititation.  This is it.

I know I am breathing in.  I know I am breathing out.

I'm reminded this morning that I'm not alone in my desire to live my best life.  Eckhart Tolle wouldn't sell so many books and Oprah Winfrey wouldn't be so popular if other people weren't looking for the best way to live a life of connection, discovery, and joy.  It's a paradox that the journey is mostly solitary, but is fulfilled when we connect with others.  I have a hard time reconciling that duality.  

The Girl Who Goes Alone

The girl who goes alone says with her body

the world is worth the risk.

That's the last line in a poem by  Elizabeth Austen called "The Girl Who Goes Alone" which can be found at this link.  

Courageous and confident, free and curious.

110 - He knows the real story.

Charles Choule - Last World War I Combat Veteran Dies in Australia

The first Wold War was thought to be the War to End All Wars.
Yet, the wars continue.
Mr Choule had a unique long view of the futility of war.
In fact, as noted in the article, he became a pacifist.

On another note, 110 is my goal.  I'd start to get an idea about the consequences of things, and know how things worked out.  I'm curious.

Chilling

Tonight, Obama announced that Osama Bin Laden was killed by an American force attacking a compound 30 miles north of Islamabad, Pakistan. 
I was taken aback by the tone of the announcement.  Obama tied the successful completion of this ten year mission to the 'can-do' spirit of America. 
He said justice has been served. 
Outside the White House and at Ground Zero, Americans are gathering to chant U! S! A!.  U! S! A!.

I'm saddened that we find joy in the death of another human. 
Yes, Bin Laden deserved to pay a price for his years of terrorism; if a man chooses to live violently, he has to expect he may die violently as well.

I don't feel it's appropriate, though, to 'rally' the people, or affirm how great America is because we killed a man.
I don't like that we cheer the violent end of a violent man.

I don't like to feel we're at the same level as the terrorists or the people who support the terrorists.
(I remember seeing people in some parts of the Middle East celebrating the horror of 9/11.  They were glad Americans had died.
It was sickening to see.)

Since 9/11, more Americans died in the effort to punish Bin Laden.   

Now, Osama Bin Laden's just dead. 
No one comes back to life because Osama Bin Laden has died.
He's just dead and gone.

I only wish we wouldn't celebrate.

I wonder what the consequences will be?