The best way to become a better writer is to write, but it doesn't hurt to get advice. Here are 50+ writing quotes to get you started!
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Ever buy a really great dress or amazing shirt? It probably makes you feel good when you put it on and gives you confidence for the day. B...
In the personocratic consciousness, we talk about making the transfer of power from ego to soul in order to create the shift of consciousness that we hope for. But how do I know if it is my soul or my ego talking? Since it is a recurrent question, I thought it was time to write about it, and share with you some simple tools to help develop your discernment.
Preparing for marriage is exciting and many women dream of that special day. Here, we'll give you some wifely tips to prepare yourself for a lifetime commitment.
Is "don't be a stumbling block" a good way to talk about modesty?A closer look at the "stumbling block" passages, and what they really say about modesty.
Piquant • Indubitably • Ergo • Alas • Veritably • More ...
It's just my observation, but I think Christians could learn a great deal from Buddhists about evangelism. They don't do it. They live it. It's not about getting people to "join" them. It's about living it. It's not about the Wat or The Temple. It's about your home and your family. Every home and business - shops, restaurants, dental or medical clinics - have a small "Spirit House" just outside or near the entrance. Sometimes it has a statue of Buddha in it. Often times it does not. Freshly strung flowers are hung from it and, at the start of each new day, a bowl of rice, something to drink (I've noticed the Buddha apparently likes strawberry or cherry Fanta), and some incense is lit and put out in front of the Spirit House. I watch someone - sometimes male, sometimes female - from the family come out, place the "offering tray" in front of the Spirit House, bow reverently and, for just a few moments, pray. They pray, I've learned, mostly for the two pathways to Nirvana or Enlightenment - prajna (wisdom) and karuna (compassion). Wisdom comes from the awareness and understanding - and, ultimately, acceptance - that everything is dynamic. The world and all creatures are both in flux and interrelated. Compassion comes from Synyata or emptiness, understanding that the self is "no self" without others. One can not have wisdom without compassion. Neither can there be compassion without wisdom. The two are deeply, profoundly, interrelated. Well, one can have one without the other but one would be out of balance. Achieve a balance of them both, and you have a greater opportunity to achieve Enlightenment or Nirvana. Notice, please, that you don't have to go to confession a prescribed number of times, or attend church on High Holy Days and receive communion as a requirement for membership in a Temple. No sign-ins on a registry of attendance, status of membership, either As Mary Oliver writes, "You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting."And, God knows, you are not expected to tithe or pledge to your Wat. You are, however, expected to be generous and to bring food and water and clothing to the monks who are, essentially, teachers and spiritual guides. Oh, and flowers, candles and incense to Buddha which you purchase from the monks at a teeny-tiny profit to the Wat. Maybe that's because there's no guilt-tripping. No talk about "sin" or an external force of evil known as "the Devil" or how "Buddha saves" you from your sin if you only "repent and turn to the Lord". No "original sin" you were born with, only "cravings" which are a normal part of life which one learns to empty oneself of if one wants to end suffering in one's life and the world. No promises of tomorrow or what happens after you die, only instruction on how to live a moral life. At home. Where you are. With your family and friends and those who come into your life or home or school or business. I suspect the Temple gets more this way than most churches reap from well-designed well executed Evangelism or Stewardship Program. That's because Buddhism is not a religion. It's a way of life. One, I'm discovering, is highly compatible with the way of Jesus. It really is the way Jesus lived his life, isn't it? Near as I can tell, he didn't have a Temple of his own. He didn't have an office or keep office hours. He went to were people were, teaching, healing and, on at least a few occasions, preaching. I see the Buddhist monks doing the same thing. And, I see an entire nation of Buddhists who are working out and living their faith publicly. Which all causes me to wonder. What if Christianity took a page from Buddhism? What if, rather than the church and her clergy being the center and mediators of our expressions of faith, the self and the family home became the primary focus of our religious lives? What if, from the time a child drew her or his first breath, s/he breathed in prayer? What if the first sound to greet you as you ushered forth from the womb to enter the world was the chanting of prayers of joy and thanksgiving? What if, no matter who you are or what you are or how much education or money or social status you have, people bowed to you when they met you? What if every day of your life, you saw your parents making offerings and praying at the Spirit House, and they taught you how to do that, too? What if the point of your whole life was to learn wisdom and show compassion? And, what if, wherever you went - home or away - people greeted you with a sign of reverent prayer? What would happen to Christianity if we practiced our faith less in church and more in our lives and homes and families? Isn't that a better form of evangelism? Call me a heretic if you wish, but ultimately, isn't that the best form of evangelism: to help yourself and others become a better member of the human race and a member of the family of God through the attainment of wisdom and compassion than to become a member of a Church? Unless, of course, the church took more seriously the task of helping people attain wisdom and compassion and lead moral lives. Then, I think, absolutely everyone would want to belong. I know I would. Wouldn't you?
I've written about Teaching Channel before, and I'll be writing from time to time about a particular great idea I've found there. If you haven't already joined, remember that it's FREE, and signing up takes less than a minute! One of the many great Tch video clips shows middle school teacher Meagan Berkowitz teaching a poetry lesson using the SIFT Method - Symbol, Imagery, Figurative Language, and Tone or Theme. It's less than 5 minutes long, and well worth watching to see her interaction with her students, and the focus they have on the poems they are reading while using bookmark cue cards. Close analytic reading is an important feature of the Common Core; here's a tool for you to try out to see if it fits your needs! Besides the bookmark, you are given the lesson plan, a copy of the two poems used, and a transcript of the lesson. If you're a language arts teacher, you're all set to try this lesson yourself, or to adapt it to your grade level! And don't forget to "pin" the lesson by clicking "Save this in my Lesson Planner." (A note: there is a typo on the SIFT bookmark that you'll want to change before printing - "attitude and author" should be "attitude an author." I changed it in the image above. Since it's an open Word document, it's no problem!)
Confident body language can make a huge difference to how you come across. There are some simple tricks you can use to make you look more confident. Try them now... #confident #bodylanguage #confidence #selfconfidence
While I think the world would be a better place if more people were Childfree, there's no denying that communications between parents and Childfree folks are often, uh, STRAINED.
All compelling stories begin with strong fictional characters. Plot is vital but it’s well-developed characters that make the events in your plot matter. Characters drive your story, creating conflicts and resolutions as they overcome obstacles and pursue their goals. They are the lens through which
I found a little book from 1968 the other day on how to move like a model. I thought you all might get a kick out of the rules in this book...
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The more I do the feminine embodiment work with women, the more I notice when a woman uses her masculine energy to shield herself. Empowered masculine men are instinctively called to protect, give, and provide.
5 ways to not be used: 1. Believe patterns not apologies 2. Don't fall in love with potential 3. Believe all red flags! 4. Know your worth!!
Posted on my grandpa and grandma's fridge for years:
Whether you need organizing advice or want inspiration for holiday parties, we'll help you make your life at home happy and healthy.
