Jaw Jaw, you made my jaw drop! Thanks for your admiration! Prill, thanks for posting about the anthropology professor. When I went back to college at @ age 45, I went to the college counseling office for support. I said to the counselor, "Yes, but, when I get interviewed for a job the employers will just see how old I am." The counselor changed my mind set in one sentence. He said, "No doubt that when they interview you they will see the quality you have to offer." Prill, I'm glad you inserted the comments about life events getting in the way of education. There are children who are considered stupid when what they are suffering from is PTSD. Violence in the home is an epidemic, and what youngster can concentrate on math after a family fight? .We are all experts and professors of our life herstories! Love and Light, Lynn

Prill, Polly and the Passion Project!!!

(I love it )

...keep posting - long, short, funny, serious - whatever, there is loads to learn here!!

Meredith, that is awesome about Poet Laureate. I confess that I heard of that term but I don't know what it means. Do you want to educate me? Wow. What work you went through to fulfill a heart and soul desire. I lived in Orange County: Aliso Viejo, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Costa Mesa, Santa Ana. Sounds like I have ADD of geography. Love and Light, Lynn

From my journal this morning:

". . . No god, no parent, no lover, no friend would be as unforgiving with us as we are with ourselves. Can we even fathom the courage it takes to be human? Have we ever considered that sometimes merely getting out of bed in the morning to face another day is an act of heroism?

"I don’t know why these words are spilling out of me. I don’t feel depressed. Quite the opposite: I’m excited to see what the day will bring. Maybe it’s because I’ve been reading over everyone’s entries on Dotsie's forum. I hardly know how to respond to some of the women's stories. I am so touched by their humanity, their boldness, their courage to confront the wilderness within. Even those who profess not to be bold have been just that by posting their thoughts.

"We are tiny specks of light swirling is a seemingly infinite universe. Billion year old stardust Joni Mitchell calls us. But these ladies are also giants. I hope they know that; I hope they feel it deep in their bones. . . ."

Lynn— How fortunate you were to have such a counselor say, “No doubt that when they interview you, they will see the quality you have to offer.” But what is PTSD?

Evie— Thank you!

TVC15— Every sentence of your posting contains a gem. How wonderful that your dream has finally caught up with you!

I've had several defining moments in my life. Once when my Daddy told me that you always have two choices...1) do something about it, or 2) shut up and cope. Amen. Another moment was when a fellow co-worker who was my senior told me one time that no one was indispenable and if you thought you were, put your hand in a bucket of water...the hole left when you pull it out is how big or important you are....this is sooo true. And helps put things into perspective. Then one summer I was on the beach with my cousin. It was West Palm Beach, 1969 and uncommonly cold...so we left the beach and were mingling with others at a strip mall when I noticed a poster in the window. A very large one. On it was a poem by an unknown author called Deserderada. In it the author says "do not compare yourself to others, there will always be those greater and lesser than yourself." I was feeling very unsure of myself, had just graduated high school and boy was I wandering. That one line gave me something. Hope? Maybe...confidence? I think so. I've never forgotten it.

JJ-- Great advice! Especially love the hand-in-the-water story. It's so true.

Prill I hope you don't mind me posting this here, but I just found the poem (?) and I wanted to share it. Forgive? It does go along with your message to the world.

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and agressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you will become vain and bitter, for always there will be persons greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your acchievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possesion in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you what virtue there is. Many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection.Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all ardity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of the spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and lonliness.

Beyond a wholesome disipline, be gentle with your self.You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you concieve Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.

- found in Old Saint Paul's Church, Baltimore; Dated 1692

JJ-- Do I mind that you posted a poem? Of course I don't! And you're so right that it relates to what I was saying earlier this morning:

"... be gentle with your self. [I like how "yourself" is written as two words here--as though one's self can be held in one's hands and treasured.] You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should."

No doubt.

Jawjaw,
That was wonderful, I'm going to copy this and save it.
I think it sums up perfectly what Prill has been talking about.