Xochipilli

Xochipilli, Aztec God of dance and music, 900-1500 A.D.

Imagine

A wise man changes his mind, a fool never”
- Spanish Proverb quotes


The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.”
-Carl Sagan


“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”
- Albert Einstein





“Skeptical scrutiny is the means, in both science and religion, by which deep thoughts can be winnowed from deep nonsense.”
- Dr. Carl Sagan

Optimism and Laughter

Positive Attitude Month :

Optimism and laughter, while enjoyable in their own right, bring benefits like health, longevity, and a decrease in stress. You may also know that a positive attitude can be cultivated, meaning even if you're not naturally prone to bright-side looking, you can actively change that.

October is Positive Attitude Month, which reminds you to make the effort to cultivate the attitude that can bring you greater health, happier relationships, and more luck in life. 

It's true that we are all born with a certain "set point" for some traits, such as openness, agreeableness, extroversion, conscientiousness, an neuroticism (known as "The Big Five" in the world of psychology), and these inborn personality tendencies influence our levels of optimism, positivity, and happiness. 

Positive Psychology research has found, we can alter our habitual thought patterns by actively changing the way we choose to see things. 

If we challenge negative thinking patterns, for example, and replace them with more positive patterns, the new, more positive patterns become our habit, and we can actually create a new set-point for happiness.

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle."
~Plato

We are all fighting a great battle in our lives as we seek more happiness and avoid pain therefore, we need to adopt attitudes that buoy us in turbulent moments.  Having a positive outlook is a tool you can use to motivate yourself to find solutions.  Learned helplessness is an attitude to avoid because you are going face daily difficulties.  Deal with the problems as they arise and do not waste energy worrying about the future or regretting the past.  Life unfolds in moments and our power to act is in the now.    

I cannot think of a better way to counteract the pain and uncertainty of living with M.S. than to manage your attitude.  We can choose how we feel about our situation.  Feeling better about ourselves will give us the motivation to take better care of ourselves.  M.S. is a disease with no cause, no cure and no effective treatment which forces us to take some responsibility for our well-being.  Addressing areas of your lifestyle such as, diet can exert many benefits in dealing with chronic illness.  We are fighting a great battle and need a Warrior's attitude towards our enemy within.

Positive Attitude Resources From Elizabeth Scott: 

http://stress.about.com/b/2011/10/02/happy-positive-attitude-month.htm

If children are considered the future, why the smoking?

For Chinese Students, Smoking Isn’t All Bad - Businessweek:

"In dozens of rural villages in China’s western provinces, one of the first things primary school kids learn is what helps make their education possible: tobacco. The schools are sponsored by local units of China’s state-owned cigarette monopoly, China National Tobacco. “On the gates of these schools you’ll see slogans that say ‘Genius comes from hard work—tobacco helps you become talented,’” says Xu Guihua, secretary general of the Chinese Association on Tobacco Control, a privately funded lobbying group. “They are pinning their hopes on young people taking up smoking.”

Anti-tobacco groups say efforts in China to reduce sales... "


'via Blog this'

Beginner's Mind

Sit down before facts like a little child, and be prepared to give up every preconceived notion.  Follow humbly whatever and to whatever abyss nature leads, or you shall learn nothing.
- T.H. Huxley

Undocumented Picasso trove appears in France Last Updated: Monday, November 29, 2010 |

A retired couple in southern France has come forward with 271 previously unknown works by Pablo Picasso, seen in 1946. (George Konig/Keystone Features/Getty Images)

A lawyer for the administrator of Pablo Picasso's estate says a retired French electrician and his wife have come forward with 271 undocumented, never-before-seen works by the artist.

The couple for years squirrelled away the staggering trove — which is believed to be authentic — in their garage on the French Riviera, said Picasso Administration lawyer Jean-Jacques Neuer. The vast collection is estimated to be worth at least €60 million (nearly $81 million Cdn), he said on Monday.

The cache, dating from the artist's most creative period from 1900 to 1932, includes lithographs, portraits, watercolours and sketches — plus nine Cubist collages said to be worth €40 million (about $54 million Cdn) alone, according to French daily Liberation, which first reported the discovery on Monday.

Pierre Le Guennec, a 71-year-old former electrician who once worked for Picasso, and his wife showed many of the works to Picasso's son Claude and other estate administrators in Paris in September, seeking to have the works certified as authentic.

Shortly after that meeting, the lawyer filed suit on behalf of Picasso's heirs for alleged illegal receipt of the works — and police investigators are looking into how Le Guennec and his wife, Danielle, came by the pictures.

"This was a gift," Danielle Le Guennec told The Associated Press by phone from their home in the town of Mouans-Sartoux, near the tourist Riviera hotspot of Antibes. "We aren't thieves. We didn't do anything wrong."

Claude Picasso, quoted in Liberation, noted that his father was known for his generosity — but that he always dedicated, dated and signed his gifts, as he knew that some recipients might try to sell the works one day.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/arts/artdesign/story/2010/11/29/picasso-trove-unknown.html#ixzz16kZDrcyz

Ho'oponopono Simplified

Ho'oponopono Simplified

06:50 - 2 years ago

This Ho’oponopono Video explains how Dr Hew Len was able to cure an entire ward of criminally insane patients at Hawaii State Hospital by working on myself and the garbage (memories) in his subconscious mind. What Dr hew Len found, was that when he got in rhythm with The Divinity, all the patients got into rhythm too, and they soon healed. I hope you all enjoy this Ho’oponopono Video, and that is helps you better understand Ho'oponopono. I look forward to your feedback Kind regards, Saul Maraney Johannesburg, South Africa www.whatishooponopono.com Download Your Free Exclusive Ho’oponopono Secrets Interview with Mabel Katz Today!

The Beatles - And I Love Her

Tom Waits Better Off Without a Wife

Tom Waits - Warm Beer Cold Women

Treatment

Father Joseph C. Martin 

Author of Chalk Talk and Alcoholism Treatment and Recovery 

It is rare to see a true hero today, one who inspires service, sacrifice, hope and healing. Father Joseph Martin was that hero for millions of recovering alcoholics.

Joseph Martin was born on October 12, 1924 in Baltimore, Maryland, and passed March 9, 2009.

In 1942, Father Martin graduated from Loyola College and entered St. Mary's seminary. He was ordained a priest in 1948 and became a Sulpician -- a highly regarded teaching society within the Catholic Church.

“My Name is Joe Martin, and I'm an Alcoholic.”
Father Joseph Martin first uttered this statement in 1958. After ten years of alcoholic drinking with accompanying problems and consequences he entered into Guest House in Michigan, a treatment facility for the clergy for treatment of his alcoholism. His recovery was a true turning point in his life, and the start of a long career where his one goal was to help the suffering alcoholic and their families.

He became enthusiastic for his recovery and to help spread sobriety to others, and with his passion for teaching began a lifelong dedication to ease the suffering of individuals and families affected by addiction.

Chalk Talk -- the Classic
He once said that he started in the field almost by accident. He had no plans to go into alcoholism treatment, but he had some notes because of his own recovery and he used them for a talk on one occasion. The Navy filmed it, and that was “Chalk Talk” the first of his many highly recognized presentations. It became an instant success and was used in treatment programs around the country. He went on to publish the book "Chalk Talks on Alcohol" in 1982, and in total has had more than 40 motivational films to his credit.

He was a gifted speaker. Millions fondly recall his special story-telling ability and wonderful sense of humor. He inspired love, service, helpfulness to others, and recovery. While alcoholism is a serious subject, he thought that laughter was the best approach to reach the sick. He gave hope to countless alcoholics.
According to an article “Leader in Fight Against Alcoholism Founded Father Martin's Ashley in Harford County” (Frederick N. Rasmussen, BaltimoreSun.com, March 10, 2009), Father Martin liked to say, "Give me a blackboard, a piece of chalk and a bunch of drunks and I'm at home.” He has done more to educate and treat those suffering from addiction than anyone else in the past 50 years.

A Focus on Addictions
He was a recognized and celebrated speaker and educator and had international acclaim. He provided consultant services for the government, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. He was a strong supporter of the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. He founded Kelly Productions in 1972. He helped to raise funds and in 1983 co-founded with Mae Abraham Father Martin's Ashley rehabilitation center (providing treatment to more than 40,000 people dealing with alcoholism and addiction.)

According to Kelly Productions, Inc., he was recipient of the Andrew White medal in 1986 from Loyola College, the 1988 Rutgers Summer School of Alcohol Studies Distinguished Service Award, and the Norman Vincent Peale Award in 1992. He was even invited by Pope John Paul II in 1991 to participate in the Vatican's International Conference on Drugs and Alcohol, and he traveled around the world to speak and train on the addictions.

In 2008 he marked his 50th year in recovery and 60th year as a priest. He captured the minds and hearts of millions of people. He died at age 84 of heart failure at his home in Havre de Grace, Md.
He will forever be remembered for service, sacrifice, and healing. According to Kelly Productions, he once said, “I’ll die with a piece of chalk in my hands, talking with a bunch of drunks and addicts.” Fr. Joseph Martin is a true hero who will be greatly missed.