<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896</id><updated>2011-07-28T10:33:24.735-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Dealing with Life on Life's Terms</title><subtitle type='html'>THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
           IN THE REAL WORLD</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>27</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-5483494970797043917</id><published>2009-09-28T22:47:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-09-28T22:50:04.444-07:00</updated><title type='text'>The Essence of Marriage - September 29, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SsGc9LzpDWI/AAAAAAAAAMw/qipUJLXPVC4/s1600-h/25_veronika-pinke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SsGc9LzpDWI/AAAAAAAAAMw/qipUJLXPVC4/s400/25_veronika-pinke.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"&gt;I could not agree more that this is what a marriage should be. Imagine how much more beautiful and enriching your marriage could be with this type of relationship.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: x-small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;This type of relationship is one in which both people admit to the value of it and each other. They make a commitment to each other, a commitment to work toward intimacy and a deeper love in a monogamous state. Each person takes the responsibility to fashion a separate life, however, and each finds ways to fulfill needs without expecting the other person to meet all needs.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: x-small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;In a loving, committed relationship, partners listen to each other. They listen acceptingly and uncritically. They listen in a way that helps the troubled person reach solutions, rather than in a way that insults, demeans, or impedes understanding. Instead of ignoring, they listen. And they do not try to "fix" the problem.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: x-small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Each person hears what the other asks, and if it does not interfere with their own well-being, each will offer a part of himself to fulfill the request. And, in turn, they will ask to have some of their needs, wants and wishes fulfilled. Neither will stand in the way of the other's development.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: x-small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: xx-small;"&gt;-Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-5483494970797043917?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/5483494970797043917/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/09/essence-of-marriage-september-29-2009.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/5483494970797043917'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/5483494970797043917'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/09/essence-of-marriage-september-29-2009.html' title='The Essence of Marriage - September 29, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SsGc9LzpDWI/AAAAAAAAAMw/qipUJLXPVC4/s72-c/25_veronika-pinke.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-8820427431599998379</id><published>2009-09-14T14:01:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-09-14T14:01:05.370-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Daylight - September 14, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;h1 class="poemtitle" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sq6u8K6hZVI/AAAAAAAAAMo/gxZ7vQq3dmU/s1600-h/sunrise-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sq6u8K6hZVI/AAAAAAAAAMo/gxZ7vQq3dmU/s400/sunrise-1.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;Each day  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;I rise with the  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;Thought of light  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;the roaring brightness,  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;en-lighted contrast  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;Of beams and rays  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;in a medley of grace  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;I stand before  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;the earth and chase  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;darkness towards  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;the flames  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;deep beneath the  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;universal traits  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;you are my fame  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;"sunshine"  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;Daylight desires  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;opening a cycle  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;Of nocturnal's  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;painting away the night  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;giving birth  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;to a new life  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;a new day...  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;a simple chapter  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;starting with a thought  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;that spoke of  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;DAYLIGHT.   &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;b style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;i style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;- &lt;a href="http://www.poemsonly.com/poems/daylight.php"&gt;&lt;span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"&gt;Itumeleng Adams&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-8820427431599998379?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/8820427431599998379/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/09/daylight-september-14-2009.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/8820427431599998379'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/8820427431599998379'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/09/daylight-september-14-2009.html' title='Daylight - September 14, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sq6u8K6hZVI/AAAAAAAAAMo/gxZ7vQq3dmU/s72-c/sunrise-1.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-993850018671280968</id><published>2009-09-13T11:17:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-09-13T11:17:36.080-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Saying Yes to Love - September 13, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sq03HqKByVI/AAAAAAAAAMg/WYdX3PkbVwc/s1600-h/firerose7314482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sq03HqKByVI/AAAAAAAAAMg/WYdX3PkbVwc/s400/firerose7314482.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;"I slept, but my heart was awake," says the beloved in Song of Songs. there is a level at which all our hearts are always saying yes to love, regardless of how dulled or preoccupied our conscious minds are and regardless of how unloving our actions may be. Saying yes to love is a state in which we awaken to turn ourselves, intend ourselves, toward that which our hearts have been wanting all along.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;I find it immensely reassuring to know that deep within myself, and with all my sisters and brothers, something is always and irrevocably saying yes to love, wanting to grow into fulfillment. It helps me be more compassionate with myself and others when we fail so miserably at loving one another. It also reminds me that the journey toward greater love is not something to be instilled in people; it is already there to be tended, nurtured and affirmed.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;Moments of contemplation, moments of realizing being in love, are times when the sporadic consciousness of our minds approaches the constant wakefulness of our hearts. It is given to us, as if someone or something has said, "Hey, wake up! Here you are! Look! Taste! See! Appreciate!" It happens in little spaces and pauses, between thoughts, between activities, between demands, between breaths.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;Because we keep ourselves so dull and occupied most of the time, I am certain that these awakenings come from the power of God's grace, weaving itself through our moments and circumstances, calling us to notice the wonder of our being and empowering us, if we so choose, to intend ourselves toward our deepest desire. Grace comes as a gift. We can neither earn it nor make it happen. But grace invites us to participate; it needs our involvement. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.harpercollins.com/author/index.aspx?authorID=6407"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: x-small;"&gt;-Gerald G. May&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-993850018671280968?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/993850018671280968/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/09/saying-yes-to-love-september-13-2009.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/993850018671280968'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/993850018671280968'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/09/saying-yes-to-love-september-13-2009.html' title='Saying Yes to Love - September 13, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sq03HqKByVI/AAAAAAAAAMg/WYdX3PkbVwc/s72-c/firerose7314482.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-5221482818270639598</id><published>2009-09-08T10:03:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-09-08T10:03:58.483-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Keeping Still - September 08, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SqaOV_HNVJI/AAAAAAAAAMY/XwTHYIaqoBw/s1600-h/Stairway+to+Happiness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SqaOV_HNVJI/AAAAAAAAAMY/XwTHYIaqoBw/s400/Stairway+to+Happiness.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;If you have ever watched ants at work on a bare patch of lawn, you have seen us. They scurry this way, stop, scurry that way. They labor under the weight of the crumb they carry just so far before abandoning it. They meet and part, disappear into the grass and appear again or never do. Small things loom large-the fallen leaf, the rusty nail. Large things go unnoticed-the sky, the house, the enormous face in the air. They keep busy on their tiny errands.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;Life is busyness for all of us. Keeping still comes harder. But stillness comes. Even the ant lays down her crumb. Even at our busiest and on the move, something within us pauses from time to time between the rusty nail and the fallen leaf, between stops on the subway, between laying down the pen and picking it up again. We keep still, and we dream.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;By quieting our minds and keeping still, maybe most of all by just letting up on ourselves and letting go, I think we can begin to put ourselves back in touch with that glory and joy we come from and begin moving out of the shadows toward something more like light.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.bing.com/reference/search?q=buechner&amp;amp;FORM=K1RE"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: xx-small;"&gt;-Frederick Buechner&lt;/span&gt; - &lt;span style="font-size: xx-small;"&gt;Telling Secrets&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-5221482818270639598?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/5221482818270639598/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/09/keeping-still-september-08-2009.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/5221482818270639598'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/5221482818270639598'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/09/keeping-still-september-08-2009.html' title='Keeping Still - September 08, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SqaOV_HNVJI/AAAAAAAAAMY/XwTHYIaqoBw/s72-c/Stairway+to+Happiness.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-5671855062529756596</id><published>2009-09-07T11:41:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-09-07T11:41:47.408-07:00</updated><title type='text'>A Time to Believe - September 07, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #660000; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SqVTIm8VMTI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/tmXVzXUBimo/s1600-h/gray+november+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SqVTIm8VMTI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/tmXVzXUBimo/s400/gray+november+day.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #660000; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.photoree.com/photos/permalink/789601-94247573@N00"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: xx-small;"&gt;Lutz R.-Frank &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/b&gt;         &lt;b&gt;To believe is to know that every day is a new beginning.&lt;br /&gt;It is to trust that miracles happen,&lt;br /&gt;and dreams really do come true.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000;"&gt;         &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"&gt;         &lt;b&gt;         &lt;br /&gt;To believe is to see angels dancing among the clouds,&lt;br /&gt;To know the wonder of a stardust sky&lt;br /&gt;and the wisdom of the man in the moon.         &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;"&gt;         &lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;         &lt;b&gt;         &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         To believe is to know the value of a nurturing heart,&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         The innocence of a child's eyes&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         and the beauty of an aging hand,&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         for it is through their teachings we learn to love.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         To believe is to find the strength&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         and courage that lies within us.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         When it is time to pick up the pieces and begin again.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         To believe is to know we are not alone,&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         That life is a gift and this is our time to cherish it.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         To believe is to know that wonderful surprises&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         are just waiting to happen,&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         And all our hopes and dreams are within reach.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         If only we believe.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;         &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-5671855062529756596?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/5671855062529756596/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/09/time-to-believe-september-07-2009.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/5671855062529756596'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/5671855062529756596'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/09/time-to-believe-september-07-2009.html' title='A Time to Believe - September 07, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SqVTIm8VMTI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/tmXVzXUBimo/s72-c/gray+november+day.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-2769798201515578435</id><published>2009-09-06T13:25:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-09-06T23:22:48.675-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Beautiful Reflection of Life - September 6, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SqQaHmF1hOI/AAAAAAAAAMI/MsozNYbOQkg/s1600-h/bit+misty+marko+k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SqQaHmF1hOI/AAAAAAAAAMI/MsozNYbOQkg/s400/bit+misty+marko+k.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/marko_k/"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: xx-small;"&gt;Marko_K&amp;nbsp; photoree.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: xx-small;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"&gt;As you travel through life there are always those times&lt;br /&gt;when decisions just have to be made,&lt;br /&gt;when the choices are hard and solutions seem scarce&lt;br /&gt;and the rain seems to soak your parade!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are some situations where all you can&lt;br /&gt;do is to simply let go and move on,&lt;br /&gt;gather courage together and choose a direction&lt;br /&gt;that carries you toward a new dawn.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So pack up your troubles and take a step forward.&lt;br /&gt;The process of change can be tough.&lt;br /&gt;But think about all the excitement ahead,&lt;br /&gt;if you can be stalwart enough!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There could be adventures you never imagined&lt;br /&gt;just waiting around the next bend&lt;br /&gt;and wishes and dreams just about to come true&lt;br /&gt;in ways you can't yet comprehend!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Perhaps you'll find friendships that spring from new interests,&lt;br /&gt;as you challenge your status quo&lt;br /&gt;and learn there are so many options in life,&lt;br /&gt;and so many ways you can grow!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Perhaps you'll go places you never expected&lt;br /&gt;and see things that you've never seen,&lt;br /&gt;or travel to fabulous, faraway worlds and&lt;br /&gt;wonderful spots in between!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Perhaps you'll find warmth, affection and caring,&lt;br /&gt;a "somebody special" who's there&lt;br /&gt;to help you stay centered and listen with interest&lt;br /&gt;to stories and feelings you share.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Perhaps you'll find comfort in knowing your friends&lt;br /&gt;are supportive of all that you do&lt;br /&gt;and believe that whatever decisions you make,&lt;br /&gt;they'll be the right choices for you!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So keep putting one foot in front of the other&lt;br /&gt;and taking your life day by day.&lt;br /&gt;There's a brighter tomorrow that's just down the road.&lt;br /&gt;Don't look back, you're not going that way!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.angelfire.com/mi3/inspirations/pg41.htm"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: x-small;"&gt;Author Unknown&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"&gt;                         &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-2769798201515578435?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/2769798201515578435/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/09/dont-look-back-september-6-2009.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/2769798201515578435'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/2769798201515578435'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/09/dont-look-back-september-6-2009.html' title='Beautiful Reflection of Life - September 6, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SqQaHmF1hOI/AAAAAAAAAMI/MsozNYbOQkg/s72-c/bit+misty+marko+k.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-3987699838145028844</id><published>2009-09-01T10:38:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-09-01T10:38:19.541-07:00</updated><title type='text'>We Will Take Wings and Fly - September 01, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sp1ZZ97vObI/AAAAAAAAALw/NhCDFPSYVX0/s1600-h/16_06_2009_0238899001245135384_kadri-umbleja.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sp1bJMrbsfI/AAAAAAAAAL4/9oPG95NT40c/s1600-h/16_06_2009_0367070001245135384_kadri-umbleja.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sp1bJMrbsfI/AAAAAAAAAL4/9oPG95NT40c/s400/16_06_2009_0367070001245135384_kadri-umbleja.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;This month marks a year since the passing of my beautiful husband, Vicente A.M. Flores. Vicente was taken so violently and suddenly from my life that I did have to&amp;nbsp; "cocoon" for awhile to continue. This is to share with so many that We Can Fly and Smile Again.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;-Neva Flores &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;The process of adapting to change and loss takes energy. Grief is draining, sometimes exhausting. Some people need to "cocoon for transformation," in Pat Carnes's words, while going through grief.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;We may feel more tired than usual. Our ability to function well in other areas of our life may be reduced, temporarily. We may want to hide out in the safety of our bedroom.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;Grief is heavy. It can wear us down.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;It's okay to be gentle with ourselves when we're going through change and grief. Yes, we want to maintain and be disciplined. But we can be compassionate with ourselves. We do not have to expect more from ourselves than we can deliver during this time. We do not even have to expect as much from ourselves as we would normally and reasonably expect.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;We may need more rest, more sleep, more comfort. We may be more needy and have less to give. It is okay to accept ourselves, and our changed needs, during times of grief, stress and change.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;It is okay to allow oursleves to "cocoon" during times of transformation. We can surrender to the process, and trust that something new and exciting is being created within us.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;Before long, we will take wings and fly.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://melodybeattie.com/biography.html"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: x-small;"&gt;-Melody Beattie&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-3987699838145028844?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/3987699838145028844/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/09/we-will-take-wings-and-fly-september-01.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/3987699838145028844'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/3987699838145028844'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/09/we-will-take-wings-and-fly-september-01.html' title='We Will Take Wings and Fly - September 01, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sp1bJMrbsfI/AAAAAAAAAL4/9oPG95NT40c/s72-c/16_06_2009_0367070001245135384_kadri-umbleja.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-7505745533002542881</id><published>2009-08-31T09:56:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-31T11:42:01.751-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Valuing This Moment - August 30, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpwAgVipDvI/AAAAAAAAAKU/y7NeUEGqnI0/s1600-h/october+morning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpwMP7UYcxI/AAAAAAAAAKc/jzDko_fLpl0/s1600-h/cottage+at+night+,+Ryan+Coleman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.bestpicturegallery.com/"&gt; &lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpwSDC9IvbI/AAAAAAAAAKk/Iyy_ClRh_CY/s1600-h/wild+horses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpwStx85pNI/AAAAAAAAAKs/IVA5viy7f4w/s1600-h/jenne+farm+in+the+fall+vermont.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpwTBwyNZkI/AAAAAAAAAK0/08y_D7Qac_o/s1600-h/best-picture-gallery-Australia-Sydney-fireworks-Christopher-Chan-pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpwTURPHmMI/AAAAAAAAAK8/evHvSDDf49s/s1600-h/49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpwTegR8-II/AAAAAAAAALE/2t3k2X0_mBI/s1600-h/004Nankoweap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpwTegR8-II/AAAAAAAAALE/2t3k2X0_mBI/s400/004Nankoweap.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000; font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;How often we waste our time and energy wishing we were someone else, were doing something else, or circumstances were different.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000; font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;We needlessly confuse ourselves and divert our enemy by thinking that our present moment is a mistake. But we are right where we need to be for now. Our feelings, thoughts, circumstances, challenges, tasks-all of it are on schedule.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000; font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;We spoil the beauty of the present moment by wishing for something else.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000; font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000; font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;Come back home to yourself. Come back home to the present moment. We will not change things by escaping or leaving the moment. We will change things by surrendering to and accepting the moment.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000; font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;To trust the process, to trust all of it, without hanging on to the past or peering too far into the future, requires a great deal of faith. Surrender to the moment. If you are feeling angry, get mad. If you are setting a boundary, dive into that. If you are grieving, grieve. Get into it. Step where instinct leads. If you are waiting, wait. If you have a task, throw yourself into the work. Get into the moment; the moment is right.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000; font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;We are where we are, and it is okay. It is right where we are meant to be to get where we are going tomorrow. And that place will be good.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000; font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;It has been planned in love for us.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000; text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.hazelden.org/OA_HTML/hazAuthor.jsp?author_id=4&amp;amp;item=1271"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: x-small;"&gt;Melody Beattie-The Language of Letting Go &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br style="color: maroon; font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: maroon; text-decoration: underline;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: maroon; font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #373e68; font-size: small;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: maroon; text-decoration: underline;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-7505745533002542881?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/7505745533002542881/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/valuing-this-moment-august-30-2009.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/7505745533002542881'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/7505745533002542881'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/valuing-this-moment-august-30-2009.html' title='Valuing This Moment - August 30, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpwTegR8-II/AAAAAAAAALE/2t3k2X0_mBI/s72-c/004Nankoweap.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-4315726268392460000</id><published>2009-08-30T21:17:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-30T21:17:08.001-07:00</updated><title type='text'>A Milestone of the Heart - For my bestfriend Eva - August 30, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SptOVX-qcqI/AAAAAAAAAI4/5uRmu3IvwJU/s1600-h/the+fate+of+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SptOVX-qcqI/AAAAAAAAAI4/5uRmu3IvwJU/s400/the+fate+of+flowers.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;A milestone of the heart&lt;br /&gt;Has the wind for a friend&lt;br /&gt;Inspiration for the soul&lt;br /&gt;That stays true to the end.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A milestone of the heart&lt;br /&gt;Is a road's lightened breeze&lt;br /&gt;The spirit of a friendship&lt;br /&gt;Heard laughing in the trees.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A milestone of the heart&lt;br /&gt;May be but a disguise&lt;br /&gt;The spirit of great knowledge&lt;br /&gt;And the whispers of the wise.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A milestone of the heart&lt;br /&gt;May beat steady and slow&lt;br /&gt;Is the making of the wind&lt;br /&gt;Where kindred spirits grow.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="color: #330099; font-size: 14px;"&gt; &lt;a href="http://www.poetryamerica.com/read_poems.asp?id=200972321246&amp;amp;start=2"&gt;-M Rene Riel&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-4315726268392460000?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/4315726268392460000/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/milestone-of-heart-for-my-bestfriend.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/4315726268392460000'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/4315726268392460000'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/milestone-of-heart-for-my-bestfriend.html' title='A Milestone of the Heart - For my bestfriend Eva - August 30, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SptOVX-qcqI/AAAAAAAAAI4/5uRmu3IvwJU/s72-c/the+fate+of+flowers.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-4406103662502935960</id><published>2009-08-30T10:25:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-30T10:44:46.653-07:00</updated><title type='text'>New Life - August 30, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Spq6KzW6RpI/AAAAAAAAAIA/Juv7WKYLHKg/s1600-h/New+Life+-+Albena+Markova.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 452px; height: 307px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Spq6KzW6RpI/AAAAAAAAAIA/Juv7WKYLHKg/s400/New+Life+-+Albena+Markova.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375813799967868562" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div  style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I've been sitting around this life for years,&lt;br /&gt;Not enough laughs and too many tears.&lt;br /&gt;Trying to figure out where it all went,&lt;br /&gt;These wasted years that I have spent.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Searching for something to go beyond,&lt;br /&gt;Life's a stone skipping across a pond.&lt;br /&gt;At the last skip, it hits with a splash,&lt;br /&gt;Down the stone sinks, gone in a flash.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Pushing and pulling, it's tearing apart,&lt;br /&gt;Poking and prodding an underused heart.&lt;br /&gt;This dark velvet curtain that hides my soul,&lt;br /&gt;Living this life has taken it's toll.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In a flash of bright light, the curtain is torn,&lt;br /&gt;Tumbling down all tattered and worn.&lt;br /&gt;Revealing new life, a child within,&lt;br /&gt;Born free of hate, of suffering and sin.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now my eyes see what has never been told,&lt;br /&gt;Striving forth happy, confident and bold.&lt;br /&gt;Into a world that's unfamiliar but friendly,&lt;br /&gt;Into this new life my spirit will send me.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Living and laughing, loving it all,&lt;br /&gt;I stood myself up and answered the call.&lt;br /&gt;The darkness has gone, replaced by the light,&lt;br /&gt;I gave up the darkness with hardly a fight.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I've been sitting around this life for years,&lt;br /&gt;With laughter aplenty and hardly a tear.&lt;br /&gt;Now I can see just where it all went,&lt;br /&gt;Cherish every moment of this new life I've spent&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;-Paul Bodet&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;      &lt;/div&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.netpoets.com/poems/life/1418001.htm"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://photodom.com/photographer/_tais_"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.netpoets.com/poems/life/1418001.htm"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-4406103662502935960?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/4406103662502935960/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/new-life-august-30-2009.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/4406103662502935960'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/4406103662502935960'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/new-life-august-30-2009.html' title='New Life - August 30, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Spq6KzW6RpI/AAAAAAAAAIA/Juv7WKYLHKg/s72-c/New+Life+-+Albena+Markova.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-6918020553089913709</id><published>2009-08-27T20:15:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-27T20:27:15.156-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Transform Negativity - August  27, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpdOfJ06CYI/AAAAAAAAAHw/cRU_o35lQG8/s1600-h/01149_multnomahfalls_1024x768.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 483px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpdOfJ06CYI/AAAAAAAAAHw/cRU_o35lQG8/s400/01149_multnomahfalls_1024x768.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374850977410713986" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpdNv-ZVfqI/AAAAAAAAAHo/Q2FbBF4MZxk/s1600-h/peaceful+waters,+colorado.jpg"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"   &gt; &lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"   &gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;The energies of life come to meet us at every moment.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: normal;font-family:verdana;" &gt;Most come from other people who are either in the same room or on the flickering, Technicolor screens with which we now share most of our homes. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: normal;font-family:verdana;" &gt; The vast majority of these energies are not positive. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: normal;font-family:verdana;" &gt; So how do we handle the 'the negatives', whether it's someone's attitude, their hurtful gestures or our daily dose of world violence and mayhem?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: normal;font-family:verdana;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are three cardinal rules. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: normal;font-family:verdana;" &gt; First, do not absorb it - don't be an emotional sponge. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: normal;font-family:verdana;" &gt; Second do not reflect it back. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: normal;font-family:verdana;" &gt; Otherwise you begin a cycle of emotional exchanges which may last a long time. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: normal;font-family:verdana;" &gt; And third, do the one thing which marks us as intelligent human beings - transform it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: normal;font-family:verdana;" &gt; Even if the scene is a disaster there is some benefit somewhere in it. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: normal;font-family:verdana;" &gt; Even if you are watching two peoples beliefs or opinions slug it out to the edge of violence don't take sides. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: normal;font-family:verdana;" &gt; Instead offer a solution then stand well back. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: normal;font-family:verdana;" &gt; Even if the person hates you, accept their state of being and return the light of love. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"   &gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" &gt; In time, with patience, it will illuminate their darkness, and return to you by the bucketful! Just wait. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:&amp;quot;;font-size:12pt;color:#000000;"   &gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" &gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-6918020553089913709?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/6918020553089913709/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/transform-negativity-august-27-2009.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/6918020553089913709'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/6918020553089913709'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/transform-negativity-august-27-2009.html' title='Transform Negativity - August  27, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpdOfJ06CYI/AAAAAAAAAHw/cRU_o35lQG8/s72-c/01149_multnomahfalls_1024x768.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-2003523926414522320</id><published>2009-08-26T15:06:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-26T15:21:32.102-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Give Me The Wind - August 26, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpW0m85scBI/AAAAAAAAAHY/yQX3Fj20wMU/s1600-h/sm_f6d163fcef7f8c28.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 486px; height: 313px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpW0m85scBI/AAAAAAAAAHY/yQX3Fj20wMU/s400/sm_f6d163fcef7f8c28.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374400311612698642" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%; font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" &gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%; font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;I am at my best with the wind in my face.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:13.5pt;" &gt; &lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;When overcoming the challenge, with pace.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:85%;" &gt; The pace that requires more effort, more strength.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:85%;" &gt; But once gained momentum, endures with great length.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:85%;" &gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:85%;" &gt; It's easy to sit back, placid and calm&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:85%;" &gt; Comfort is only a relative balm.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:85%;" &gt; It seems an advantage, better than strife&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:85%;" &gt; But is dulled by stagnation, stifling life.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:85%;" &gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:85%;" &gt; Progress needs movement, energy, drive,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:85%;" &gt; No chance for improvement if you do not strive.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:85%;" &gt; Nothing's for nothing: cause and effect.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:85%;" &gt; That which you work for, you've more chance to get.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:85%;" &gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:85%;" &gt; So give me the wind, let it blow in my face,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:85%;" &gt; The more I confront, the more strength I'll embrace.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:85%;" &gt; Steps are not mounted, nor challenge overcome.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%; font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;Without certain courage or effort be done.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p  style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" &gt;&lt;a href="http://poetry.wholesomebalance.com/#Wind"&gt;Craig Nicholson&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-2003523926414522320?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/2003523926414522320/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/give-me-wind-august-26-2009.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/2003523926414522320'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/2003523926414522320'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/give-me-wind-august-26-2009.html' title='Give Me The Wind - August 26, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpW0m85scBI/AAAAAAAAAHY/yQX3Fj20wMU/s72-c/sm_f6d163fcef7f8c28.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-9168392951906842151</id><published>2009-08-25T08:59:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-25T09:06:30.775-07:00</updated><title type='text'>A Creed to Live By - August 25, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpQL3ENin6I/AAAAAAAAAHI/YBUis4Q2Obs/s1600-h/colorful+nature.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpQL3ENin6I/AAAAAAAAAHI/YBUis4Q2Obs/s400/colorful+nature.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373933296011091874" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div  style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others.&lt;br /&gt;It is because we are different —&lt;br /&gt;that each of us is special.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't set our goals by what other people deem important.&lt;br /&gt;only you know what is best for you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart.&lt;br /&gt;cling to them as you would your life;&lt;br /&gt;for without them, life is meaningless.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't let your life slip thru your fingers&lt;br /&gt;by living in the past or for the future;&lt;br /&gt;By living your life one day at a time,&lt;br /&gt;you will live all the days of your life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't give up when you still have something to give.&lt;br /&gt;Nothing is really over —&lt;br /&gt;until the moment you stop trying.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect,&lt;br /&gt;It is this fragile thread that binds us to each other.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't be afraid to encounter risks,&lt;br /&gt;It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't dismiss your dreams —&lt;br /&gt;to be without dreams is to be without hope,&lt;br /&gt;to be without hope is to be without purpose.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't run life so fast —&lt;br /&gt;that you forget not only where you've been,&lt;br /&gt;but also where you are going.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Don't shut love out of your life&lt;br /&gt;by saying it's impossible to find;&lt;br /&gt;the quickest way to receive love is to give love —&lt;br /&gt;the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly —&lt;br /&gt;and the best way to keep love is to give it wings&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;-Unknown&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-9168392951906842151?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/9168392951906842151/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/creed-to-live-by-august-25-2009.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/9168392951906842151'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/9168392951906842151'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/creed-to-live-by-august-25-2009.html' title='A Creed to Live By - August 25, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpQL3ENin6I/AAAAAAAAAHI/YBUis4Q2Obs/s72-c/colorful+nature.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-5688818965387716033</id><published>2009-08-24T11:10:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-24T11:29:03.201-07:00</updated><title type='text'>After A While - August 24, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpLZnnKra4I/AAAAAAAAAHA/1Mu7wjZcmUA/s1600-h/16_06_2009_0155827001245135384_kadri-umbleja.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpLZnnKra4I/AAAAAAAAAHA/1Mu7wjZcmUA/s400/16_06_2009_0155827001245135384_kadri-umbleja.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373596579958320002" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;blockquote  style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"&gt;After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul and you learn that love doesn’t mean possession and company doesn’t mean security.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"&gt;And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts and presents aren’t promises and you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead with the grace of an adult not the grief of a child.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"&gt;And you learn to build your roads today because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans and futures have ways of falling down in mid-flight.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"  style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"&gt;After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much so you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"&gt;And you learn that you really can endure that you really are strong and you really do have worth and you learn and you learn…&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:78%;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.thylacineslair.com/MindsRetreat.htm"&gt;Veronica A. Shoffstall&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;font-family:verdana;font-size:7.5pt;"  &gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;color:black;" &gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=";font-family:&amp;quot;;" &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-5688818965387716033?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/5688818965387716033/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/after-while-you-learn-subtle-difference.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/5688818965387716033'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/5688818965387716033'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/after-while-you-learn-subtle-difference.html' title='After A While - August 24, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpLZnnKra4I/AAAAAAAAAHA/1Mu7wjZcmUA/s72-c/16_06_2009_0155827001245135384_kadri-umbleja.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-6738589319635032743</id><published>2009-08-23T08:35:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-23T08:40:32.494-07:00</updated><title type='text'>The Mask - August  23, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpFi0ahebWI/AAAAAAAAAGI/UPRsc8wDifw/s1600-h/AncientOneFramed-m.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpFi0ahebWI/AAAAAAAAAGI/UPRsc8wDifw/s400/AncientOneFramed-m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373184483042159970" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; A mask of plastic happiness often covers her sadness&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Her beliefs hidden from most&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Afraid of, but willing to face the unknown&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Wondering where her place is in this life&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; She has come close to sharing herself&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Never completely revealing anything to anyone&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Feelings of invisible chains corner her&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; When she dreams, reality shatters before her very eyes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Accomplishments she strives for just at hands grasp&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; She feels lost sometimes, not yet finding her notch in this world&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; At times the glimmer in her calm eyes slowly disappears&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; But within her heart a silent flame burns her inside and out&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; She roams day by day, playing roles&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Strength unknowingly resides in her&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; History repeats itself once again&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; The translucent veil she so proudly wears&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Little by little answers will come, pushing it aside&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; One day there will be no more mask for her to wear&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; One day her beliefs will be known&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; One day she'll know her place in this life&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; One day she will share herself&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; ONE DAY this mask will be NO MORE&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" &gt;&lt;a href="http://100-poems.com/poems/life/0655001.htm"&gt;-Wolfgirl&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-6738589319635032743?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/6738589319635032743/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/mask-august-23-2009.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/6738589319635032743'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/6738589319635032743'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/mask-august-23-2009.html' title='The Mask - August  23, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SpFi0ahebWI/AAAAAAAAAGI/UPRsc8wDifw/s72-c/AncientOneFramed-m.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-2955665779360382109</id><published>2009-08-19T19:33:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-19T19:38:15.063-07:00</updated><title type='text'>August 19, 2009 - Standing Alone</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Soy26hIdkuI/AAAAAAAAAGA/CN-JXdrmudE/s1600-h/sunset_sailing-th.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 349px; height: 197px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Soy26hIdkuI/AAAAAAAAAGA/CN-JXdrmudE/s400/sunset_sailing-th.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371869571988689634" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I can see the flower upon which my life grows, blooming into a rose.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;See the hope and courage in the strength of the petals.&lt;br /&gt;As long as I am, I will be.&lt;br /&gt;The flower will never wilt or die.&lt;br /&gt;As my life grows back, I shall become strong.&lt;br /&gt;I shall become only dependent on one.&lt;br /&gt;That one will be me.&lt;br /&gt;I will rise with my petals high.&lt;br /&gt;My life as a flower will bloom and prosper as I grow.&lt;br /&gt;I may not be the pick of the patch, but I am just as beautiful as the rest.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I will stand as one, but not a lonely soul.&lt;br /&gt;The tears will be far from my smile.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;-Chase&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-2955665779360382109?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/2955665779360382109/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-19-2009-standing-alone.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/2955665779360382109'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/2955665779360382109'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-19-2009-standing-alone.html' title='August 19, 2009 - Standing Alone'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Soy26hIdkuI/AAAAAAAAAGA/CN-JXdrmudE/s72-c/sunset_sailing-th.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-920234463514351496</id><published>2009-08-18T08:20:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-18T08:36:55.615-07:00</updated><title type='text'>August 18, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SorJgxiHyjI/AAAAAAAAAF4/DMGY5CNEGH0/s1600-h/1242477452jRnzsGj.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 341px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SorJgxiHyjI/AAAAAAAAAF4/DMGY5CNEGH0/s400/1242477452jRnzsGj.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371327070482188850" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;How often we must bear the challenges of life;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; The endless roller coaster between happiness and sorrow;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; The constant ups and downs of daily strife.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; And always the question remains .... why?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;Life is not an easy road for most;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; It twists and turns with many forks in the road,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Although always, and inevitably, we are given a choice ...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Do we turn to the right ... or the left?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Do we take the high road ... or the low road?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Do we take the easy path ... or the difficult one?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Decisions are not easy for those struggling for direction ...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; And sometimes the many choices and signs become overwhelming.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;While standing at a crossroads in life,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; The urge is to take the most comfortable path;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; The road with least resistance ...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; The shortest or most traveled route.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; And yet, if we've been down that comfortable road before;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Have gleaned its lessons in life, and learned from our experiences;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Do we yet again follow the known?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Or does our destiny lie in another direction?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;The fear of the road less traveled is tangible and all too real;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; It manifests itself in many ways,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; And tends to cloud the issues that might otherwise be clear.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; It is in these times of confusion,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; That we must seek peace and solitude;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Time to contemplate on our life,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Our experiences and our choices past;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Time to look back, and reflect on what we have learned&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Without fear or confusion.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;For only each of us knows our own personal thoughts;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Our unique past and personal history;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; The experiences that brought us to the crossroads we now face.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;We can always learn a small degree from others experiences,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; And yet ... no one person can walk in our shoes,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Others know not, the trials and tribulations faced in private ...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; For each is individual ... unique ... and personal.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; And that is why ... while standing at a crossroads,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; Only "we" can formulate the decision for ourselves;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; The true direction that lies within;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; The choices we must deliberate on with clarity and wisdom.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For it is only through personal reflection,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; That we can now choose our destiny;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; ... Our next adventure;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt; ... And the future we will embrace.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;        &lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;a href="http://100-poems.com/poems/life/0406007.htm"&gt;- Kit McCallum&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-920234463514351496?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/920234463514351496/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-18-2009.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/920234463514351496'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/920234463514351496'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-18-2009.html' title='August 18, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SorJgxiHyjI/AAAAAAAAAF4/DMGY5CNEGH0/s72-c/1242477452jRnzsGj.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-7502194418366041709</id><published>2009-08-18T08:00:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-18T08:05:46.515-07:00</updated><title type='text'>August 17, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SorDCzGVPMI/AAAAAAAAAFY/EB1ddG4Nlvw/s1600-h/407512739_632f73a0dc_o.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SorDCzGVPMI/AAAAAAAAAFY/EB1ddG4Nlvw/s400/407512739_632f73a0dc_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371319958436658370" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;and try to love the questions themselves...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;Do not now seek the answers, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;which cannot be given to you because you will not be able to live them.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;And the point is, to live everything.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;Live the questions now.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;Perhaps you will then gradually,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;without noticing it,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;live along some distant day into the answer.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;p class="searchauthor"&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 193);"&gt;-Rainer&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 193);"&gt;Maria&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 193);"&gt;Rilke&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-7502194418366041709?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/7502194418366041709/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-17-2009.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/7502194418366041709'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/7502194418366041709'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-17-2009.html' title='August 17, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SorDCzGVPMI/AAAAAAAAAFY/EB1ddG4Nlvw/s72-c/407512739_632f73a0dc_o.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-1371798140497352604</id><published>2009-08-16T16:12:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-16T16:23:44.792-07:00</updated><title type='text'>August 16, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoiU4WgsoII/AAAAAAAAAE0/PKMFaJ4Dc_o/s1600-h/1230327523DEijrwV.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoiU4WgsoII/AAAAAAAAAE0/PKMFaJ4Dc_o/s400/1230327523DEijrwV.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370706251475624066" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;Too often, we try to gain a clear perspective before it is time.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;That will make us crazy.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;We do not always know why things are happening the way they are. We do not always know how a particular relationship will work out. We do not always understand the source of our feelings, why we've been led down a particular path, what is being worked out in us, what we are learning, why we needed to recycle, why we had to wait, why we needed to go through a time of discipline, or why a door closed. How our present circumstances will work into the larger scheme of events is not always clear to us. That is how it needs to be.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;Perspective will come in retrospect. We could strain for  hours today for the meaning of something that may come in an instant next year. Let it go. We can let go of our need to figure things out, to feel in control.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;Now is the time to be. to feel. To go through it.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;To allow things to happen. to learn. To let whatever is being worked out in us take it course.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;in hindsight, we will know. It will become clear. &lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;For today, being is enough. We can trust that things will work out for our good, even if we cannot see the place today's events will hold in the larger picture.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: right;"&gt;-Melody Beattie&lt;br /&gt;The Language of Letting Go&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-1371798140497352604?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/1371798140497352604/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-16-2009.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/1371798140497352604'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/1371798140497352604'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-16-2009.html' title='August 16, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoiU4WgsoII/AAAAAAAAAE0/PKMFaJ4Dc_o/s72-c/1230327523DEijrwV.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-3953061655404550641</id><published>2009-08-15T19:38:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-15T19:47:39.563-07:00</updated><title type='text'>August 15, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sody6oLKF7I/AAAAAAAAAEk/O7oqJVm68hA/s1600-h/smith+rock+state+park+oregon.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 498px; height: 322px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sody6oLKF7I/AAAAAAAAAEk/O7oqJVm68hA/s400/smith+rock+state+park+oregon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370387432204801970" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Everyone wants to be loved. But first we must make ourselves lovable. We must prepare ourselves to be loved. We do this by becoming ourselves loving, disciplined human beings.&lt;br /&gt;If we seek to be loved if we expect to be loved this cannot be accomplished; we will be dependent and grasping, not genuinely loving. But when we nurture ourselves and others without a primary concern of finding reward, then we will have become lovable, and the reward of being loved, which we have not sought, will find us.&lt;br /&gt;-M. Scott Peck&lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-3953061655404550641?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/3953061655404550641/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-15-2009.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/3953061655404550641'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/3953061655404550641'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-15-2009.html' title='August 15, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sody6oLKF7I/AAAAAAAAAEk/O7oqJVm68hA/s72-c/smith+rock+state+park+oregon.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-6336199005195630975</id><published>2009-08-14T19:59:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-14T20:07:59.162-07:00</updated><title type='text'>August 14, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoYmPwu9Y4I/AAAAAAAAAEM/PT2xOWA95B8/s1600-h/mist+trees.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 507px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoYmPwu9Y4I/AAAAAAAAAEM/PT2xOWA95B8/s320/mist+trees.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370021657907651458" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I was hungry and you formed a humanities club&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;to discuss my hunger.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;Thank you.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;I was imprisoned and you crept off quietly &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;to your chapel to pray for my release.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;Nice.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;I was naked and in your mind you debated the&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;morality of my appearance.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;What good did that do?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;I was sick and you knelt and thanked God for&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;your health.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;But I needed you.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;I was homeless and you preached to me of the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;shelter of the love of God.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;I wish you'd taken me home.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;I was lonely and you left me alone to pray for me.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;Why didn't you stay?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;You seem so holy, so close to God; but I'm still &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;very hungry, lonely, cold, and still in pain.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;Does it matter?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-6336199005195630975?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/6336199005195630975/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-14-2009.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/6336199005195630975'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/6336199005195630975'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-14-2009.html' title='August 14, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoYmPwu9Y4I/AAAAAAAAAEM/PT2xOWA95B8/s72-c/mist+trees.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-3878264808071633804</id><published>2009-08-13T19:03:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-13T19:24:18.880-07:00</updated><title type='text'>August 13, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoTKStMeQPI/AAAAAAAAAEE/wR9CtKe3d2w/s1600-h/after+the+storm+pennsylvania.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 441px; height: 306px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoTKStMeQPI/AAAAAAAAAEE/wR9CtKe3d2w/s320/after+the+storm+pennsylvania.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369639078450839794" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;When we have lived for a long time by the "don't talk" rule, learning to talk honestly and personally can be a real challenge.&lt;br /&gt;Our attempts to move away from self-deceit toward honest self-disclosure may be quite awkward. It's not reasonable to expect ourselves to be gifted at telling the truth when we have practiced deceit for so long.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sometimes our words will seem startling. We will feel our pain, find our voice, and the words and emotions will tumble out raw and uncensored.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;It is not easy to break the silence, to talk about what is real, to tell the truth about what we see and hear, to share what we think and feel.&lt;br /&gt; Breaking the silence is like breaking the sound barrier sometimes it can be very loud. Our words may rattle the walls. When our misery feels as if it outweighs the sand of the seas, our emotions are going to be intense and our words will sometimes be wild.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;Wild words are part of the journey and should not surprise us. Intense feelings sometimes need strong language in order to find true expression. And honest expression is a step toward healing&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;- Dale and Juanita Ryan&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-3878264808071633804?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/3878264808071633804/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-13-2009.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/3878264808071633804'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/3878264808071633804'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-13-2009.html' title='August 13, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoTKStMeQPI/AAAAAAAAAEE/wR9CtKe3d2w/s72-c/after+the+storm+pennsylvania.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-6540752941527169598</id><published>2009-08-12T16:40:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-12T17:00:57.547-07:00</updated><title type='text'>August  12, 2009 - Letting Go</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoNXO-n4UmI/AAAAAAAAAD8/UR4urEhDcNM/s1600-h/64.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 416px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoNXO-n4UmI/AAAAAAAAAD8/UR4urEhDcNM/s320/64.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369231095595815522" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;To&lt;/span&gt; let go doesn't mean to stop caring, it means I can't do it for someone else.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;To&lt;/span&gt; let go is not to cut myself off, it's the realization that I don't control another.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;To&lt;/span&gt; let go is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;To&lt;/span&gt; let go is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;To&lt;/span&gt; let go is not to try to change or blame another, I can only change myself.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;To&lt;/span&gt; let go is not to care for, but to care about.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;To&lt;/span&gt; let go is not to fix, but to be supportive.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;To&lt;/span&gt; let go is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;To&lt;/span&gt; let go is not to be in the  middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own outcomes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;To&lt;/span&gt; let go is not to be protective, it is to permit another to face reality.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;To&lt;/span&gt; let go is not to deny but to accept.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;To&lt;/span&gt; let go is not to nag, scold, or argue, but to search out my own shortcomings and to correct them.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;To&lt;/span&gt; let go is not to adjust everything to my desires but to take each day as it comes and to cherish the moment.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;To&lt;/span&gt; let go is not to criticize and regulate anyone but to try to become what I dream i can be.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;To&lt;/span&gt; let go is not to regret the past but to grow and live for the future.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;To&lt;/span&gt; let go is to fear less and love more.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-6540752941527169598?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/6540752941527169598/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-12-2009-letting-go.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/6540752941527169598'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/6540752941527169598'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-12-2009-letting-go.html' title='August  12, 2009 - Letting Go'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoNXO-n4UmI/AAAAAAAAAD8/UR4urEhDcNM/s72-c/64.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-3528983659088405020</id><published>2009-08-11T16:45:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-11T16:58:16.458-07:00</updated><title type='text'>August 11, 2009 Loving Others, Loving Self</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoIDaKGKolI/AAAAAAAAADc/mOOLtS97vc8/s1600-h/foxfires_20090531_1046147837.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 247px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoIDaKGKolI/AAAAAAAAADc/mOOLtS97vc8/s320/foxfires_20090531_1046147837.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368857453700751954" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-family: verdana;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;Since I am human and you are human, to love humans means to love myself as well as you. To be dedicated to human spiritual development is to be dedicated to the race of which we are a part, and this therefore means dedication to our own development as well as "theirs."&lt;br /&gt;Indeed, we are incapable of loving another unless we love ourselves, just as we are incapable of teaching our children self-discipline unless we ourselves are self-disciplined.&lt;br /&gt;It is actually impossible to forsake our own spiritual development in favor of someone else's. We cannot forsake self-discipline and at the same time be disciplined in our care for another. We cannot be a source of strength unless we nurture our own strength. The more we reflect on the nature of love, I believe the more it becomes clear that not only do self-love and love of others go hand in hand, but that ultimately they are indistinguishable.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-family: verdana;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;   -M. Scott Peck&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-family: verdana;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-family: verdana;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-3528983659088405020?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/3528983659088405020/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-11-2009-loving-others-loving.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/3528983659088405020'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/3528983659088405020'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-11-2009-loving-others-loving.html' title='August 11, 2009 Loving Others, Loving Self'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoIDaKGKolI/AAAAAAAAADc/mOOLtS97vc8/s72-c/foxfires_20090531_1046147837.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-5290857557522178712</id><published>2009-08-11T06:38:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-11T06:48:26.376-07:00</updated><title type='text'>August 11, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoF2IUBBizI/AAAAAAAAADU/wL4TZGCBVds/s1600-h/1650514.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 421px; height: 314px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoF2IUBBizI/AAAAAAAAADU/wL4TZGCBVds/s320/1650514.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368702115986377522" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" &gt;The Invitation&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"&gt;It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.&lt;br /&gt;I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.&lt;br /&gt;It doesn’t interest me how old you are.&lt;br /&gt;I want to know if you will risk looking a fool for love, for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive.&lt;br /&gt;It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon.&lt;br /&gt;I want to know if you have touched the center of your sorrow, if you have been opened by life’s betrayals, or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"&gt;I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine and your own, without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.&lt;br /&gt;I want to know if you can be with joy, mine and your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstacy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning to be careful, to be realistic or to remember the limitations of being human.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"&gt;It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true.&lt;br /&gt;I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"&gt;I want to know if you can be faithful and therefore trustworthy.&lt;br /&gt;I want to know if you can see beauty even when it is not pretty everyday, and if you can source your life from its presence.&lt;br /&gt;I want to know If you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver moon “YES!”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"&gt;It doesn’t interest me where you live or how much money you have.&lt;br /&gt;I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done for the children.&lt;br /&gt;It doesn’t interest me who you are or how you came to be here.&lt;br /&gt;I want to know if you stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.&lt;br /&gt;It doesn’t interest me where or with whom you have studied, I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself, and if you truly like the company you keep in empty moments.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"&gt;Oriah Mountain Dreamer ~ Indian Elder  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-5290857557522178712?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/5290857557522178712/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/invitation-it-doesnt-interest-me-what.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/5290857557522178712'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/5290857557522178712'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/invitation-it-doesnt-interest-me-what.html' title='August 11, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoF2IUBBizI/AAAAAAAAADU/wL4TZGCBVds/s72-c/1650514.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-5572587757610942516</id><published>2009-08-10T13:36:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-10T13:40:37.170-07:00</updated><title type='text'>August  10, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoCFYNIDLJI/AAAAAAAAADE/wO2m4yxJ6ag/s1600-h/012-300x187.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 187px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoCFYNIDLJI/AAAAAAAAADE/wO2m4yxJ6ag/s320/012-300x187.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368437406712409234" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;p  style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p  style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p  style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p  style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;" &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p  style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;" &gt;How simple it is to fault our troubles on others. “Look at what he’s doing.” “Look how long I’ve waited.” “Why doesn’t she call?” “If only he’d change then I’d be happy.”&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p  style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;" &gt;Often, our charges are justified. We probably are feeling hurt and disappointed . In those moments, we may begin to believe that the answer &lt;span style=""&gt; &lt;/span&gt;to our pain and disappointment &lt;span style=""&gt; &lt;/span&gt;is getting the other person to do what we wish. &lt;span style=""&gt; &lt;/span&gt;But these self-defeating fantasies put the power and command of our life in other people’s hands. We call this codependency.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p  style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;" &gt;The solution to our pain and disappointment , however legitimate , is to recognize &lt;span style=""&gt; &lt;/span&gt;our own feelings. We feel the anger, the sorrow; &lt;span style=""&gt; &lt;/span&gt;then we let go of the mind-set and unearth tranquility within ourselves. We know our contentment isn’t restricted by another person, even though we may have persuaded ourselves it is. We call this acceptance.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p  style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;" &gt;Then we decide that although we’d like our circumstances to be different, maybe our life is happening this way for a reason. Maybe there is a higher purpose and preparation forming, &lt;span style=""&gt; &lt;/span&gt;one that’s better than we could have devised. &lt;span style=""&gt; &lt;/span&gt;We call this belief.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p  style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;" &gt;Then we determine what we need to do, what is within our control to carry out to take care of ourselves and progress towards wellbeing. That’s called healing.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p  style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;" &gt;It’s simple to point our finger at another, but it’s more satisfying to kindly point it at ourselves.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:12;color:black;"  &gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" &gt; &lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;blockquote&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-5572587757610942516?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/5572587757610942516/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-10-2009_6734.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/5572587757610942516'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/5572587757610942516'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-10-2009_6734.html' title='August  10, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/SoCFYNIDLJI/AAAAAAAAADE/wO2m4yxJ6ag/s72-c/012-300x187.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136675716552246896.post-4365521930709560973</id><published>2009-08-09T22:05:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-08-10T00:32:16.391-07:00</updated><title type='text'>August  09, 2009</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-rCtV3qhI/AAAAAAAAABo/E2Uk6Q5mWBs/s1600-h/16_06_2009_0166926001245135384_kadri-umbleja.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 314px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-rCtV3qhI/AAAAAAAAABo/E2Uk6Q5mWBs/s320/16_06_2009_0166926001245135384_kadri-umbleja.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368197343868332562" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;blockquote style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-family: verdana;"&gt;Few things can make us feel crazier than expecting something from someone who has nothing to give. Few things can frustrate us more than trying to make a person someone he or she isn't.  We may have spent years negotiating with reality concerning particular people from our past and our present. We may have spent years trying to get someone to love us in a certain way, when that person cannot or will not.&lt;br /&gt;It is time to let it go. It is time to let him or her go. That doesn't mean we can't love that person anymore. It means that we will feel the immense relief that comes when we stop denying reality and begin accepting. We release that person to be who he or she actually is. We deal with our feelings and walk away from the destructive system.&lt;br /&gt;We learn to love and care differently in a way that takes reality into account.&lt;br /&gt;We enter into a relationship with that person on new terms-taking ourselves and our needs into account.  We give his or her life back. And we, in the process, are given our life and freedom in return.&lt;br /&gt;We stop letting what we are not getting from that person control us. We take responsibility for our life. We go ahead with the process of loving and taking care of ourselves.&lt;br /&gt;We get angry, we feel hurt, but we land in a place of forgiveness. We set him or her free, and we become set free from bondage.&lt;br /&gt;This is the heart of detaching in love.&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2136675716552246896-4365521930709560973?l=nevaflores.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/feeds/4365521930709560973/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-10-2009.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/4365521930709560973'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2136675716552246896/posts/default/4365521930709560973'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://nevaflores.blogspot.com/2009/08/august-10-2009.html' title='August  09, 2009'/><author><name>Neva Flores</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/09948550103308092765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='26' height='32' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-psfOt2II/AAAAAAAAABE/D20PfU2VmNo/S220/neva+redone.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WIpy9q2HI0M/Sn-rCtV3qhI/AAAAAAAAABo/E2Uk6Q5mWBs/s72-c/16_06_2009_0166926001245135384_kadri-umbleja.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
