It has been observed (and rightly so), that as atheists, we tend to complain a great deal. Granted, there’s a lot wrong with this world, the way this country is run, a great many askew perspectives.
So, in an effort to march to the beat of a different drummer (which I do anywhoways), today’s rant will be bypassed entirely. Instead, I will go for the ‘warm fuzzy feeling’ that I (and most of my ‘brethren’) tend to neglect.
To each of my readers, I extend this challenge:
What do you love? Allow me to set the parameters: twenty items (This ain’t a hard-‘n-fast rule, try to keep it there though, if you could), and it should not involve harming others (by word or deed). The emphasis here, of course, is the positive side. Being a huge believer in balance, walking the middle road, etc., I try very hard (perhaps not Herculean, but I make an effort) to incorporate some balance in my life, such as it is.
Allow me to begin:
TWENTY (OR MORE) THINGS THAT I LOVE (not necessarily in order) –
- Doing Tai Chi (there’s nothing quite like that calm buzz you get).
- Watching Chinese (or any) martial arts being done well.
- A child’s smile.
- A woman’s walk.
- Getting people to laugh.
- Getting people to think.
- A good argument.
- Children.
- Computers.
- A bird flying (eagles especially!).
- The written word, done well.
- A well-turned phrase or quote.
- Comedy.
- Martial arts films (does that make me an intellectual lowbrow? Oh well).
- The feel of silk on my skin.
- Food.
- Friendly people.
- A bit of a natter.
- Sex (yeah, bit of a hedonist: who isn’t?).
- The smell of spring on the air.
I originally started with ten. Had to up it a bit. There’s quite a bit more. But twenty’s a nice even number, good enough to get the ball rolling.
15 comments:
1. My husband
2. My family
3. the smell of oil paints and art supplies
4. BOOKS
5. writing when no one else is home
6. The lakeshore or seashore
7. Chicago style hot dogs
8. visiting museums
9. photography (taking pictures and looking at photos taken by others)
10. the windows open with a fresh breeze blowing in while I sleep
11. Chicago
12. Riding the big ferris wheel on Navy Pier
13. Xmas lights (I love the pagan part of xmas...the decorations)
14. Everybody Loves Raymond and Seinfeld reruns
15. my computer
16. FLOWERS!
17. taking long showers
18. The smell of the pine trees when camping
19. Shopping when I have money
20. Traveling to new places
That felt good for a change! :-)
Maybe we need to do that more often...remember the things we love and be glad we are here to do them and not focus on the negative so much.
stardust:
Maybe we need to do that more often...remember the things we love and be glad we are here to do them and not focus on the negative so much.
Ramen, sister!
Hope I brightened your day.
It IS good to be alive, isn't it? ;)
In no particular order:
1. cats
2. my kids
3. my friends
4. my grandkids
5. most kids
6. Harrison Ford
7. blogging
8. poetry-writing and reading it
9. art- creating or experiencing it
10. chocolate
11. coffee
12. playing in the sand at the beach
13. quiet
14. laughing
15. my therapist
16. tennis
17. sleeping in
18. thunderstorms
19. camping
20. a good back scratch
Once you get going, it's hard to limit it to 20.
Nice change of pace, RA!
karen:
Thunderstorms? Hmmmm...interesting.
I'd love to read some of your poetry.
Nice change of pace, RA!
Well, we as a group keep getting stereotyped as grouchy, curmudgeonly, etc. ;)
A little more time for light, I think.
ra-
Thunderstorms? Hmmmm...interesting.
Yes! Even as a small child, I was bemused, enraptured by them. I love the way the sky darkens, the boom of thunder, the contrast of lightning against a night sky, the beginning of the rain, when the drops are huge, and they hit the hot dry ground and up comes a smell of "clean" wet dirt.
I'd love to read some of your poetry.
I'd be nervous, but I'd love an honest critique from you. I'll try to work up the nerve to find and send you something.
curmudgeonly,*wink*
karen:
Yes! Even as a small child, I was bemused, enraptured by them. I love the way the sky darkens, the boom of thunder, the contrast of lightning against a night sky, the beginning of the rain, when the drops are huge, and they hit the hot dry ground and up comes a smell of "clean" wet dirt.
Well said: very nice.
I'd be nervous, but I'd love an honest critique from you
You sure? I'm a tough critic.
I do think you express yourself well.
Twenty lovable things, huh?
In random order:
1.
People breaking the 4th wall
in a surpising,
but, more importantly, eye-opening way.
2.
Thunderstorms... I'm with Karen, there. Thunderstorms... and the earthy smell of ozone afterwards...
the way the air feels luxurious to breathe.
3.
The second time I have sex with someone. Really, it might be the third or fourth... What I mean is
when you get there together.
When the awkwardness is overcome
and there's a freedom to explore,
to have fun, to give.
4.
Writing something
that I -know-, even while writing it, is "good stuff".
Being on a roll, creatively.
It's been a while since I've felt that, but I remember it vividly.
5.
A tomato-cheese-ham-bacon-
pepperoni-cocktailsausage-pizza
from a very special pizzaria I know. Heaven? Pfft! I'll take a slice of THIS one instead.
6.
My younger brother.
He's a smartass.
Which means he's usually smart
and occasionally an ass.
A great soccer-player, too.
One of the few people I'd die
for, no matter what the circumstances.
7.
*Blank* *Blank* and *Blank*
Three other people I'd give my life for. And no, I'm not telling.
8.
Watching important people lie.
It's commonplace... and all too seldom questioned.
Seeing the obvious cracks
in their falsehoods.
Why do I enjoy it?
I'm a masochist, so sue me!
9.
The all too rare occasion when one of those important people gets
their balls (or labia) busted.
10.
An ice-cold drink
on a day like today.
11.
Love.
When it works.
12.
Love.
When it ends in utter chaos.
(Inspiration).
13.
A song called "Time".
14.
That I'm not religious.
One of the few things my
dad and I ever agree on is religion.
I'm a sort of leftwing leftover,
he's a right-wing buffoon.
But his motto, with which I agree,
is:
"Religion was invented
by the devil!".
15.
Making people laugh
without putting someone down.
Can be hard thing to do,
if you really think about it.
16.
Making people smile.
And I mean *smile*.
Even harder than making people
laugh, actually.
17.
Making people think.
Well-nigh impossible.
18.
Feeling rested and unrushed.
Happens all too infrequently.
19.
That I haven't ended up where all my teachers and such predicted I'd be: Successful and rich.
I've learned so much more
by getting lost
and I would consider
a trade-in with leering contempt.
20.
The feeling of relief...
From -what-, in particular,
doesn't matter.
--------
And there ya have it,
boys and girls,
the hairy Hairless Monkey's
20 thingies of luv.
Now, go rinse your mind's eye.
RA
You sure? I'm a tough critic.
Yeah. That's why I'd be nervous.
But what's the point otherwise? Like you said, I'd rather know that something sucked than have air blown up my skirt.
No, that's not what you said, but same difference. ;)
HMDK:
Hey, long time no viddy, droog! (shamelessly copped from a Clockwork Orange).
People breaking the 4th wall
No clue what that means.
I'm a masochist, so sue me!
Our lawyers'll do a power lunch. ;)
Now, go rinse your mind's eye.
Sure. Got some mental Visine?
I do wish you'd drop by more.
Relucty.
I, too, wish I'd drop by more...
But I'm suffering from both physical and emotional exhaustion.
Gimme a while.
As for the "4th wall"...
Well, it's a television expression.
As an example:
Imagine you're watching a tv-show
and the main character suddenly and with no warning turns to the viewer (you) and speaks directly.
That's the basis for the "4th wall"
thing, though I meant it in a metaphorical sense...
HMDK:
But I'm suffering from both physical and emotional exhaustion.
"In all things, be gentle w/thyself."
I think that's Siddhartha, unsure.
Gimme a while.
Take all the time you need, my friend.
Just don't vanish.
and the main character suddenly and with no warning turns to the viewer (you) and speaks directly.
That's the basis for the "4th wall"
That's pretty cool. Never knew that. 'Malcolm in the middle' always did that.
"Bertolt Brecht was known for deliberately breaking the fourth wall to encourage his audience to think more critically about what they were watching, the so called alienation effect (or more correctly Verfremdungseffekt)."
http://www.answers.com/topic/fourth-wall
Hmmm...yet another addition to my list:
#21 - learning something new everyday.
& merci beaucoup, mon ami.
Glad to have contributed to your already vast trove of knowledge, Relucty.
(And this is said sarcasm-free,
mind you).
As for this:
"In all things, be gentle w/thyself."
Yes... well...
Granted, I've never been one
to go easy on myself...
but in this case
it wouldn't matter.
Whatever happens, I'm screwed...
or rather, -nailed- to the wall.
Compared to me,
jesus was an abject amateur
when it comes to suffering.
What a punk!
HMDK:
Granted, I've never been one
to go easy on myself...
but in this case
it wouldn't matter.
Now here, I'm going to go a little esoteric on ya:
We have a thing called 'cold jing' in my MA. It's very hard to do.
The nutshell version?
Walk away.
Easily said, not so easily done, granted.
20 things I love.....
1) Being a mom to my bratty, but very funny and loveable kids.
2)Being best friends with my husband.
3)My closest friend, who is always there for me no matter what.
4)my career in the canine business, cuz I LOVE dogs!
5)my pets(two dogs, a cat and a rat)
6)Painting
7)Reading controversal and antichristian books
8)house plants
9)yard work (I LOVE mowing the yard!)
10)camping in a tent not a camper.
11)hiking with my dogs
12)Angry alternative and heavy rock music(it helps to get a little angry when you work out, to get the blood flowing).LOl
13)the way I feel after working out.
14)meditating to get my thoughts in order and to replenish my energy.
15)Indian food.
16)the natural world.
17) watching animals in their natural environment.
18)thinking about everything.
19)seeing happy healthy children
20) Life.
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