When starting this blog, Justine and I knew that we wanted to facilitate conversation. We wanted to intimately understand the way that people feel in their hearts and heads. People so rarely get to express these ideas and therefore our goal was to open a platform. You have blown us away! These responses are so heartfelt. I love that some are more analytical, while others are more reflective. The desire to love and to acquire personal growth is universal. That is so restorative to me, personally. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts! I hope that you too are able to find restoration within these responses.
Where do you find inspiration?
"I have a few go-to blogs for style and food and craft inspiration, but for life inspiration, love is what really gets me. Cornel West says that justice is what love looks like in public and tenderness is what love feels like in private. When I see or read about people acting justly and tenderly, it refocuses my vision and fosters creative energy. I am most inspired by the people who love me. The more love I receive, the more loving I become--not just towards the people who love me, but towards everyone."
"I have a few go-to blogs for style and food and craft inspiration, but for life inspiration, love is what really gets me. Cornel West says that justice is what love looks like in public and tenderness is what love feels like in private. When I see or read about people acting justly and tenderly, it refocuses my vision and fosters creative energy. I am most inspired by the people who love me. The more love I receive, the more loving I become--not just towards the people who love me, but towards everyone."
What was your greatest moment of pride?
"They say pride comes before the fall, I could say winning the 4th grade spelling bee, but then I lost in the 5th grade. I could say obtaining my dream job, but then I quit. In hindsight, I will say getting out of bed this morning."
"They say pride comes before the fall, I could say winning the 4th grade spelling bee, but then I lost in the 5th grade. I could say obtaining my dream job, but then I quit. In hindsight, I will say getting out of bed this morning."
What was the hardest lesson that you have had to learn?
"That I am human. I'm still learning what it means to be fully human, to accept it gratefully and to wear it gracefully."
"That I am human. I'm still learning what it means to be fully human, to accept it gratefully and to wear it gracefully."
Do you love or hate yourself? Why?
"I like to think that I love myself, but i actually think that I hate myself. I mean I like my curves, and I like my sense of humor, just like I like some of my little quirks. But I hate my anxiety, and I hate how needy I am. I hate that I cant get my life together, and I hate how emotional I get over the littlest of things... So, I suppose that as much as I want to love myself, I would be lying if I didn't say that I hated myself."
"I like to think that I love myself, but i actually think that I hate myself. I mean I like my curves, and I like my sense of humor, just like I like some of my little quirks. But I hate my anxiety, and I hate how needy I am. I hate that I cant get my life together, and I hate how emotional I get over the littlest of things... So, I suppose that as much as I want to love myself, I would be lying if I didn't say that I hated myself."
How do you find the calm in the storm?
"I let it find me. I can't control the storm, I can only accept its realities. Once I accept the storm and fully acknowledge my place before it, which is easier said than done, I can then find a sense of peace about the madness. It's like the old saying, "if you can't beat 'em join 'em". Once you join 'em, then you're better positioned to beat em... or at least not let them completely defeat you. This is definitely something I have to continually fail in and work at, though."
"I let it find me. I can't control the storm, I can only accept its realities. Once I accept the storm and fully acknowledge my place before it, which is easier said than done, I can then find a sense of peace about the madness. It's like the old saying, "if you can't beat 'em join 'em". Once you join 'em, then you're better positioned to beat em... or at least not let them completely defeat you. This is definitely something I have to continually fail in and work at, though."
"Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence." What makes you happy?
"Simple things: beauty of sunrises, stress less days, comfortable friendships, art"
"Cuddling. Cuddling makes me so happy. You give as much as you receive, which somehow increases what there is to give and receive exponentially. It's a powerful drug. Oh yeah, and breakfast. Particularly breakfast with a loved one. Sometimes involving bacon. Yup, and coffee. Reading aloud with friends. The internet. Perfectly arranged flower bouquets. Yoga. Pope Francis, and the republic for which he stands, namely, Love in action."
"Simple things: beauty of sunrises, stress less days, comfortable friendships, art"
"Cuddling. Cuddling makes me so happy. You give as much as you receive, which somehow increases what there is to give and receive exponentially. It's a powerful drug. Oh yeah, and breakfast. Particularly breakfast with a loved one. Sometimes involving bacon. Yup, and coffee. Reading aloud with friends. The internet. Perfectly arranged flower bouquets. Yoga. Pope Francis, and the republic for which he stands, namely, Love in action."
Define optimism.
"Critical positivity: because it means you can grow with the hopeful outcome of being better than before."
"I think optimism has a lot to do with hope. Maybe it's not hope in specific things because things can let you down, but it's a hope (and faith) in love. Maybe it's not even hope that specific someone will love you, but rather a belief that love (and therefore help) exists and is always on its way to meet you."
"Critical positivity: because it means you can grow with the hopeful outcome of being better than before."
"I think optimism has a lot to do with hope. Maybe it's not hope in specific things because things can let you down, but it's a hope (and faith) in love. Maybe it's not even hope that specific someone will love you, but rather a belief that love (and therefore help) exists and is always on its way to meet you."
Life is filled with forks in the road. What was a hard decision you have had to make that lead to a defining moment in your life?
"After dedicating myself to a single dream for half my life, to admit to myself my life's dream had changed."
"After dedicating myself to a single dream for half my life, to admit to myself my life's dream had changed."
Do you like to think about the universe or the infinite? Why or How?
"Although the finite gives you clarity of vision for the end there is much solace to be taken in the infinite being that the end ends in abstraction and thrusts you to a transcendental place within that infinite."
"Although the finite gives you clarity of vision for the end there is much solace to be taken in the infinite being that the end ends in abstraction and thrusts you to a transcendental place within that infinite."