iHuman.
Ever notice how the world sets up competitions that can’t be won? Like relative Beauty- you may please most, but never all.
“The whole world sees perfection but all you see
Is room for more improvement” – David Ryan Harris, lyrics to Prettygirl
Superhuman athleticism- unless you start training at age three for forty hours a week, you may never taste Olympic glory.
Static happiness- life is hard, and a single emotion won’t sustain you. In fact, if you found a way to be happy all the time, it’s probably at the expense of something or someone else.
It’s silly almost. We’ve made life so hard by throwing everyone into a competition. Don’t we see there’s already enough involuntary suffering? disaster? crises?
Reality turns victors into victims because of unbearable pressures. My new friend, Prakruthi, continued, “Yes… we’re always left feeling inadequate and defeated!” Great point.
But like the popular campaign, it’s possible to live above the influence. And for the record, living above the influence doesn’t mean redefining Reality so that we live ignorantly and self-servingly in our own kingdoms and queendoms. A lot of people tend to build up walls and stay within their safety net to escape temptation. Temptation is not the enemy. And living inside a box is not victorious. It’s cowardice. Trust me, I would know. I’m a recovering coward.
All I’m saying is, it appears that when you enter this world, you enter a race. Most people will run the 5k, the race that takes some training but doesn’t cause too much inconvenience. A handful will train for the marathon, and after running 15 miles on the treadmill they’ll realize the treadmill is actually running them, and they are bound. Others will never lace up their shoes; if they don’t lace up, they can’t lose. But who, then, wins?
Some say ‘the lucky ones’. Some say ‘love’ conquers all (..BTW, what kinda love are we talking about?). Some don’t care.
What race are you running?
Once you claim it, live it.
Godspeed.
-Alyson
Ocean Grove in 2012
Tis the season to stop typing about myself and start using my hands to give.
I FOUND THE PERFECT PLACE!
This website, kickstarter.com, helps people with creative talent/vision get their projects funded so they can share them with the world! My friends and former tour mates, Ocean Grove, set a goal of $35,000 to fund the recording, mixing, mastering, etc. of their game-changing, stupefying record! Although I’m on a budget (for real), I am making room and pledging what I can this very moment. In my eyes, it’s a great seed sown, helping four guys achieve their dream! I’m wondering if you would be willing to help me help them? It takes <5 minutes.
*To clarify, I don’t get anything out of this; they don’t even know I’m asking you.*
But, what if every person who read this clicked here and gave a little bit of their resources? Please join me! Let’s surprise them with the ultimate Christmas/New Year’s gift!
Hear their music and follow their journey at www.oceangroveband.com or on Twitter @OceanGroveBand !!!
I hope your Christmas and holiday season is filled with giving and joyful celebration! May it set the tone for a wonderful 2012!
Blessings,
Alyson
What of It?
It only takes one misstep to trip. One. And the next is usually a frantic overcompensation to reassert balance, followed by a third march that demands pride and refuses humiliation.
It only takes one misstep to slip. One. And the next usually involves shakier footing, followed by more compromise and vulnerability, during which agility and fight-or-flight are dampened.
It only takes one misstep. And yet, look at the chain reaction that happens in a flash. *PAUSE* for 30 seconds (hopefully more) and *THINK* of the millions of short link chains – sputtered out causes and effects – that combust from a single (mis)step.
These tiny occurrences set the pace and course of our day. Apply symbolism where it is due… one trip and you’ve fallen behind; one slip and you’ve lost your way.
In the time you’ve spent reading this, a new baby has been born, a job lost, car keys found, caffeine chugged, and surgery completed. Time has happened. What have you become of it?
Furthermore, time is happening. What will you become of it?