Too Bright To See, Too Loud To Hear.

How am I?

2009-02-03T18:52:00.002+13:00

im just thinking of how to get past all these fake friendships, so I can not take peole for granted and build real relationships

How am I?
good. is my answer everytime. im not sure about others, but I suspect some may be the same

I was just wondering. what if I didnt say good everytime, what if I told the truth.
and what if someone else was trying to tell me the truth, would I care, would I listen? that is my responsibilty for asking is to actually be interested.

Maybe people do tell us the truth, maybe I do tell the truth when I answer good. maybe the truth isnt in the diction they use, maybe its in the expression they carry.
having been in a crap place a few times, when you feel like that, and someone asks you if you are ok, or how you are feeling, you do not want to be honest.
even if im obviously not ok, I will say I am fine, because I dont like to just blurt out how I am feeling. when in that position I kinda want people to half read my mind, and be able to understand.>
so probably, next time I ask that, I should look deeper.

Im not saying we always lie when we answer that.
But these webs, of relationships, if we want them to grow sometimes we need to take some action.
everybody hurts, everybody has problems. I guess that most want to talk about them.
not talk about them to anyone tho, just people they trust. I guess a way to show you can be trusted is to actually care. if you dont actually care, then dont pretend you do haha.

Homosexuality

2009-02-01T20:52:00.002+13:00

This is all because of the two girls I know who are gay and finding it hard with their parents, I want to say this directly to you.
Dont try to surpress it to 'fit in' or go unnoticed. I am thankful that our society is more accepting but of course not everyone accepts and can see past and see who you truly are. you are truly both children of God, no matter if you dont believe. I am heart wrenched that you got threatened to get kicked out by your parents. I do believe your parents do love you however, they just dont know how to respond, which is understandable. anyway, I just want to say I hold you both in high regard, and do not look down upon you one bit. and I admire you both for your courage, even though I dont know too much about either of you, I felt compelled to write this.

and please
"let he who is without sin cast the first stone"

Homosexuality, I dont know about it, im no expert, but I see its not easy. Imagine if my attraction to girls was wrong, and I had to force myself not to like them, and like guys instead.
I do not blame people for it. sure in the bible its a sin, not how god created us to be.
what else isnt how god created us to be?
My greed. god didnt create man originally to be greedy.probably not worse.
only god himself can judge, and if anybody tries to judge anybody else themselves, God will almsot definitely judge those who are condemning harder than those who are gay.
as in two posts back, we are all born sinful. we arent sinful because of what we do, but who we are. being born sinful, can mean being born gay. just as I was born greedy (Not wanting to share toys etc :P) its perfectly justifyable that someone could be born gay. To supress feelings about being gay is not healthy.
as a christian, I do not condemn you. your parents may look down on you, friends even, (society is pretty accepting tho) but god does not, he still sees hope in you, and has abounding love for you.
We are all on the same level, just because homosexuality might be less common than greed or 'normal' lust, it doesnt make it any better or worse. all sin is equal.
we are all so far from god because our sin, but that is why Jesus, man and god, died on the cross. (as previously said like 1 billion +543663 times)

Abortion

2009-02-01T15:03:00.002+13:00

The following is some thoughts on abortion. Im not judging you.
I know this is a touchy subject, but I will say this once and proably repeat it. Don't abrt, bring the baby to me, I will find someone to love and bring it up.

not based on scripture, as abortion wasnt an issue in jesus' time he didnt adress it
but you can apply principles of love and value from his teachings and apply them to things such as this.
I do not have a religious standpoint, and taking my views to loud aggresive protests isnt right, proclaiming love in an agressive way is not proclaiming love, it is just the sound of a cat on the piano.

I have this view believe this not because I am a christian, but because I love, and value human life. If I werent a christian I would still value human life, and probably still have this view.

if your parents wouldnt support you, or you are just a teenager,
I would say this, even if there isnt a good chance that you would be able to take care of the baby, does this mean it shall die?
for example, lets say you as parents could give it no love at all, does that justify it? I think not. just becuse they wouldnt find love from their parents that does not mean they will never find love from someone else.
the same for raped babies. they deserve love. you yourself deserve love and comfort to overcome the trauma that rape brngs. Im sure it isnt impossible to love a baby that was the outcome of rape. I can see how hard that kids life would be, especially if they found out the dad raped his/her mum. and then also if he or she found out was supposed to be aborted. [I have a friend whos dad told him he was supposed to be aborted, it made him so sad and hes not in a healthy place at the moment]
But hear this, broken people can be fixed.
People who were once broken, often can have the greatest capacity to love others. let us not give up the chance to have such a giant weapon of love in our world, a world that especially needs it.

with as little judgement as possible I say this:
Abortion is extremely selfish. we all do selfish things, that is why I wont make it harder to deal with the abortion, im sure your conscience will make it hard enough for you already.
Like, before their very first breath, they are dead because they are an inconvienience. when the baby reaches heaven tho, im sure it will be happy enough in heaven. thus raises the abortionist argument: why bring a baby into such a horrible world, arent we doing it a favour?
This person to be would hurt, yes, but they may also find hope and love through some lf those few diamonds of people we have in this world. if they do find that, they will of course share their hope with others, and to some, make the world less hurtng.
not bringing them in a hurting world, gives no chance for the world to become a bit more bearable for a few.

I guess I can sum up my thoughts with this:
If you cant take care, love, or you simply dont want your baby because it is such an inconvience, I wont judge you for it. please, bring it to me instead of abortion, I will find someone who can love it as a parent, and if I can't find someone worthy of the honour of raising this kid who deserves love, I will take care of it myself.

Better than Heaven

2009-01-31T12:31:00.003+13:00

After listening to 'Better than Heaven' by Bloc Party, This:

Original Sin.

Corinthians 15:22
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

Proof that all die in Adam, can be found not only by the scriptures, but the seen consequences of sin f our imperfect degenerated world. also Ecclesiastes references this quite heavily, mentioning the vanity of all things under the sun quite a few times.

In Christ all will be made alive.
yes. all who are in Christ. I suspect that doesn't include all who label themselves christian, but I hope it includes many of them. its true tho, Christ is the only way to fulfill the constant want for more that is so prevalent in our society. Its really a proof of god. in our society everybody always has this desire for more, but nothing on earth that anyone has ever gained has satisfied that. proves that we weren't made for earth, that rather we were created to be with god, who is the only one who satisfies. and then with the garden we ate the apple.
now the apple is eating us

2 Jess the Ladybug poems

2009-01-21T22:12:00.001+13:00

what a great way to pass time. very enjoyable to write poems about nonsense
if u ever give me a topic, I shall write u a nonsense poem about it

Ladybug
Lost in the forest
eating blueberries
Blueberry jam to be precise
ladybug, spread your wings
or ill crush you
RAWRR
lets kill some time.
we should play tag, ladybug
because you are inspirational,
you are the wonder that keeps the stars apart
consuming yourself, unabashed
growing higher than souls can hide
or minds can hope
ladybug.

&&&

SOMEWHERE. OVER THE REALLYPRETTYBUTSLIGHTLYSEXUAL RAINBOW

Jess the ladybug (nobody ever asks her name)
ran. With rainbow socks.
slightly intimate, but kinda erotic as well socks.
gives +3 to agility
Lets get kinky in woo-town, she said
At 15:22, still growing
sadder
like
ch-
imes
in
the
wind

well I’ve got enough for the both of us
enough to suspend you in time
suspended in one moment,
an instant remarkable as the quick of twilight
shooting stars, falling objects
like
[[Chad]]
Jess’ brother (the blow-up-globe)
swallowed whole by a
turtle.
on
a
bus

cant a turtle commute in peace?

Stop the Bus! laughed jess
as she played tag with the stars
and tonsil hockey with the street lamp
oh the street lamp
remember
our moments when my once more illustrious arms
were filled with fascination, when my breast
wore the intolerant brightness of your charms:
one punctured moment brighter than the rest

Charles Bukowski

2009-01-19T22:24:00.001+13:00

the best often die by their own hand
just to get away,
and those left behind
can never quite understand
why anybody
would ever want to
get away
from
them

Done with that shit.

2009-01-14T19:59:00.008+13:00

I'm sick of those who yell at their family, but put on a happy mask to everyone else.

I'm sick of those who complain but make no effort to improve it at all.

I'm sick of those who complain about taxes/prices/economic situation/anything money related.

I'm sick of those who make jokes at others expense.

I'm sick of those who announce all their good works so others will be impressed.

I'm sick of those who will be friendly and ask how you are, but wouldn't actually care if it were anything other than 'good'.

I'm sick of those who think that because they're richer or 'higher social status' makes them above everyone else. Just because you live better doesnt mean you deserve to live better.

I'm sick of caring what I look like. (haven't shaved in a week woooooh)

I'm sick of those who think by emphasising words with fuck will make people listen to them more.

I decided to make a part two. this is for things I am sick of about christians, although im sure u could apply some of these to your own life if your are not christian.

I'm sick of christians who think the best or holiest thing they can do is become a pastor.
I choose to take the role of servant leader, which may not involve pastoring a church of 3000

I'm sick of christians who get all emotional at church when th worship band is playing, but are not all emotional at the brokeness in our society, even neighbourhoods.
I will choose to worship with my whole heart, and then worship in song.

I'm sick of Christians who are just as greedy as everyone else.
"how much money should I give away to God,church,organisations etc" or
"how much of God's money should I keep for myself?

I'm sick of Churches who hold on to their traditions tighter than God's word.
Im very sick actually. surprisingly, you can even find this is some 'modern' churches too. why? go to any church around wellington and you'll find almost an identical service format. worship, notices, sermon, worship with occasional communion and prayer somewhere in there.

I'm sick of christians seeking attention from the pastors. why do you want to impress the pastors? why dont you try impress those who are hungry? impress those who are thirsty? in jail? naked? Matthew 25.

more to be added.. coming soon

maths, logic

2009-01-12T13:03:00.004+13:00

This is probably themost useless thing i have ever wrote. I find it so interesting tho, even tho its not very practical.

How can god possibly interact with us, being all poweful all knowing and all being everywhere? if time is the fourth dimension then god is outside of time so therefore he is in a higher dimensin than four (if not infinite dimension)
It seems impossible for a 3d object to interact with a 2d object, coz the 2d object wouldnt understand the nature of the third dimension, having not experienced it.
therefore how could god possibly interact with us, being in higher dimenson than us.
How could something outside of time interact with something inside time.
In scripture it refers to gods emotions changing towards us due to mans actions.(we can please god by faith, or god becme gutted after the first fall of man.) for things to change they need to occur over time. so I think god may have chosen t restrict part of himself inside time so that he can actually relate and interact with us without our minds exploding. but if he restricts himself like this is then he still all powerful? yes because it was only part of himself restricted. but that wuestion leads to another interesting question. can god do that which is logically impossible? eg make 2x2 = 3x3 or something. (can god make a rock so big that he himslf cannot move it)
I have no frikn idea how to answer that.
like, he can feed +/-12000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish.
but thats like practical applied maths not pure maths.
I guess he could change the very nature of 2 and 3, but then how would e prove he did that and it was a 'miracle'
I know of such wonders in maths. except when people divide by zero
One wonder I do know of though is this:
1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 ....
take any two consecutive terms. divide the higher one by the lower one
eg 1/1 2/1 3/2 5/3
the furhter along the sequence you picked the two terms from, the closer they are to the golden ratio, that ratio which is aestethically pleasing. (the golden ratio is the ratio of one side of a4 to the other)

A Fibonacci spiral created by drawing arcs connecting the opposite corners of squares in the Fibonacci tiling; this one uses squares of sizes 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, and 34
Looks like a fern right, or a seashell?

"Fibonacci sequences appear in biological settings, in two consecutive Fibonacci numbers, such as branching in trees, arrangement of leaves on a stem, the fruitlets of a pineapple, the flowering of artichoke, an uncurling fern and the arrangement of a pine cone. In addition, numerous poorly substantiated claims of Fibonacci numbers or golden sections in nature are found in popular sources, e.g. relating to the breeding of rabbits, the spirals of shells, and the curve of waves. The Fibonacci numbers are also found in the family tree of honeybees"
- Wikipedia

see the resemblence of the fib spiral?

Often people say the reason they dont believe in God is because there is no proof.
That stuff about the fibonacci numbers.. mindblowing.
how does random chance create something that has fascinated mathematicians for centurys something which has also fascinated all who see the beauty in all those listed above.
Is that proof of a creator?

Caterpillars

2008-12-27T22:09:00.002+13:00

I would love to be a caterpillar.
Just when you think your world is about to end, you break free and become a butterfly.
like your in your cocoon and your like WTF is happening?!?!?! We have adolescence riht and have sex ed to tell us "the penis goes in the vagina"
caterpillars dont have sex ed so they must think they are gonna die in their cocoon!
then they break free and become a butterfly :D
I think this is a really cool metaphor I just thought of

Poetry

2008-12-27T18:59:00.004+13:00

Here is a poem I wrote..
Its about tough times, Love and truth.

tonight i will write the most plaintive lines
i didn’t anticipate it would be so soon that
this wind has coasted in
and i can actually… see your breath
whether or not you are breathing.
your lungs are too preoccupied for that,
not to mention his.

to think those hands could work wonders
with their touch
theres other things hands can do.
so go ahead make the incision
i doubt you’ll feel anything at all
spill blood
just to keep your sunset red.

grey rainbows
(in the blue of the sky is the fuzz of a cloud is
a raindrop called love) falling
faking piercing safety,
shame
forgetting takes so long.

You make it longer.
don’t think to forget the cheek of crimson radiating warmth
and forget-me-not the flower which is the bud of my dreams
in full blossom, but petals withering in this drought.
what is life if love only exists in your dreams,
in which make me as sleepless as the stars.
truth is stranger than fiction
because fiction has to make sense\

so i shall stand inside these
which are as deep as the clouds in the sky,
whatever the moon has ever meant
and whatever the stars will ever sing
is hope,
the path from the wastelands.
maybe i should just turn around,
forgetting takes so long.

tomorrow, I will write plaintive lines
about tonight,
while the stars sleep.
but there is always tomorrow
sincerely.
if they wake, you’ll be a memory.

the stars still sleep till ascension
where is no beginning,
and I will be sleepless as the sun
‘till the red sunrise on that day predicts no end to rain,
I will jump to glide to fly to dive to swim to drown
to live.
and on that day
sad lines shall transform
stanzas of kisses.

oops (for below post)

2008-12-25T17:03:00.001+13:00

A fool vents all his feelings,
But a wise man holds them back.

If a ruler pays attention to lies,
All his servants become wicked.
Proverbs 29: 11 & 12

Maybe I am a fool for the previous post.
I dont understand though, holding your feelings back doesnt that just build them up?
so the wise man will eventually turn into a fool one day, because nobody can hold everybody back?
anyway, at least I vented onto a blog that probably only 1 person will read. so im not quite such a fool, but still one nevertheless

Grrr to Chrisian 'musicians'

2008-12-25T13:31:00.004+13:00

Angusss
yeah im quite angry at christians at the moment.
by the way im also a christian so some of this applies to myself.
Im getting really frustrated with christian music.
its all the same. IS IT ABSURD TO COMPOSE MUSIC NO-ONE HAS EVER HEARD?!?!?!
Theres heaps of genres out there. Why stick to the same one? coz its so frikn easy to write music for I mean youv probably got about 4-5 chord progressions to choose from.
I can worship god by listening to heavier stuff (e.g. Tool, Underoath) way better than listening to hillsong.

why? (from a drummers perspective) the drummer is actually SKILLED
he is actually using his talents from God, but also common sense. common sense says practice and youll get better. common sense says I cant teach myself everything, lessons would be wise if im gonna go on a stage everyweek.
but why do so many worship drummers fail to take lessons? it makes no sense, in a secular world musicians always take lessons. even my drum teacher takes lessons (and hes GOOD)
The reason why I am particularly angry is because of drummers. never is a worship leader a drummer, so we tend to end up with shitty drummers all the time, but nobody notices coz they dont actually play.
surprisingly, most often the worst drummers are the ones who dont take lessons. I dont know about other instruments, but if you dont get technique right for drums.. its really hard to get any good.
I cant explain this phenomenom of absurdness. but I would love it if there was some sort of 'worship' band that breaks the typical worship genre somewhere in wellington. even one church. it could be funk, metal, jazz, I mean im not really fussy. Dont get me started on the lyrics for worship music....
I guess most are ok.. but the ones where people make absurd promises?
"Jesus I will live for you
In everything I do"
maybe a little less zeal and a bit more wisdom before making promises like that..
I am going to parachute, because I am taking 3 friends.
but one thing that also annoys me at parachute is this blimmin celebrity culture that christians have. I would say if there is one unnoticedprayer warrior at parachute then she is greater than any of the members of any of the bands-
Matthew 6:5
"when you pray, dont be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the meeting places and street corners. they do this just to look good. I can assure you the already have their reward"
Surely we can take principles of this verse about prayer and being humble, and apply them to worshipping him?

Im so happy that I know in the deepest root of a bud of a tree called my heart
that God is way bigger than all this. I gues thats why im so frustrated. we cut god short, and that reaaalllyy angers me. If only his people would READ HIS WORRRD or PRAY!!!

Love

2008-12-23T23:53:00.003+13:00

Holy crap.
I just had this really cool realization after while thinking about when I was experiencing heartbreak. people say love hurts right..
but it only hurts because there is an absense of it.
i.e. love has a begininning and an end. thats what makes it painful.
God, outside time.
his love doesnt begin. doesnt end.
there can be no heartbreak with him it flows everlasting
ok once written down it has lost nearly 90% of the impact it had in my mind. still quite cool to think about and compare with my experience of 'love'
sorry. but I have to share more underoath lyrics coz I think they are really relevant. these ones kick the other ones ass tho if you care to read one post down.
taken from "and I dreamt of you" which btw imo is not a great song. it should have just been a poem haha. I think the lyrics are about comparing our human love with gods love... and the part I will quote is the bit about gods love. its just the whole song's lyrics is like 1.5 pages and nobody would bother to read them all if I posted here. so focus on this good part ^ ^

"ascension to heaven where this love can not only walk
but it runs through the endless fields of joy
where love neither ends nor begins but flows everlasting
this was thy dream this daybreak and will by thy prayer
that I will rest sleepless till the sun rises on that day
and butterflies sing with us as we write love symphony
the pages of life fill the story of our love in a time long ago
where fairy tales come true
and you and I my love will live happily everafter
I love you"

Inspiration.

2008-12-23T17:52:00.005+13:00

Here is a song that means alot to me.
and has helped me through some hard times...
it sounds cheesy. thats because it is kinda cheesy how much a song can help you.
but music is a really good emotional outlet.
in fact not just this one song, but all of underoaths songs.
but this one particularly.. another one would be 'the impact of reason'
im glad I dont have to listen to hillsong to find God.
sometimes its a much better outlet to create your own music to express yourself, but songs such as these, its really cool knowing others think the same, or the fact that someone else (the writer of the song) is behind you supporting as the lyrics are quite supportive.
Id suggest you listen to it!! its hardcore tho and not many can apprieciate that genre.
I say at least its not four on the floor repitively.. Aaron Gillespie my favourite drummer ever, and one of the few christian drummers I can actually say is good and can apprieciate.
the lyrics have a real message of hope, which without perhaps I would have died.

To Whom it May Concern - Underoath

So hold your head up high and know
It's not the end of the road
Walk down this beaten path before
You pack your things and head home
At the end of the road
You'll find what you've been longing for
You'll find what you've been longing for at the end of the road
I know 'cause my feet have the scars to show
I was lost with vague direction and no place to call home...

Yeah!
It's time for you to press on
This is not your war
Set your sights,
Set your sights to North
Press on, press on
This is not your escape,
This is not your escape
Wash away what they thought of you
Lock your sights, press on
'Cause in this place we're all as good as dead
...end cycle
'Cause in this place we're all as good as dead
...end cycle, press on
Behind the glass you'll find yourself alone
It's not the end of the road,
the end of the road for you

At the end of the road
You'll find what you've been longing for
You'll find what you've been longing for
You'll find what you've been longing for

I like this scripture.

2008-12-21T12:46:00.003+13:00

Song of Solomon 8:5-7

Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee.
Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

I come out of the wilderness. the wilderness being a place of disorder, particularly sin.
how do I come out of the wilderness? through my beloved. the grace of christ.
set thee as a seal upon thine heart? keep christ in your heart. seal it there. a seal upon your arm also because the heart is where the true motive for love has to come from, but the arm symbolises action.
Love is as strong as death. Death is the ultimate form of hate, sadness. and love is just as strong as that, in a good way. but death is also what we must undergo to be with God, and love is as strong as that too.

Proverbs 6:34
For jealousy enrages a man, And he will not spare in the day of vengeance

we mustnt get jealous. some translations have "Jealousy as unyielding as the grave"
which is like, the grave produces nothing, neither does jealousy.

a most vehement flame
but with God there is a blazing flame. his love burns and catches on.
so set yourself on fire with his love and dont roll around in sand!
a fire which water cannot put out.
Many waters cannot quench love,
it creates a thirst of which almost nothing except 3 can satisfy.
neither can the floods drown it
even though it is s hard to satisfy, it is even harder to drown; impossible.
God flooded the world in Noah's day, but his love still endures.
If we were to flood him out, and everyone were to ignore him, his love still endures.
if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.
and last, Love cannot be bought. if I man were to sell everything he still could not buy love.

that was sort of a sentence by sentence study of this passage.
but put it all together and you get God's grace. I think this is a prophecy of Jesus because of 3 particular bits.

He takes us out of the wilderness when we lean on him, by faith. you do not lean on something unless you have faith it can hold you up.
His love is as strong as death. duh. he died for us idiots! his love is even stronger IN death!!
thats why he died for us.
if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.
and the last bit about love cannot be bought. it cannot be bought by us, he already paid everything. we cant earn it at all.

the other bits dont as directly refer to Jesus, but rather describe his amazing love.
I really love this scripture.

anyone got any other thoughts or comments?

Revision

2008-12-16T19:47:00.004+13:00

currently in the process of revising everything in my life.
I have been having a moment where everything lost its meaning.
ever have those moments? I'll be walking up the hill watching all these cars
always zooming past, something 'important' to rush to. But these things do not seem important at all, at least in my current mindest.
so im revising everything.
the most important thing to me is my relationship with God.
and my relationship with God is redundant without relationships with other people.
but I need to revise some of my relationships with other people.
do more exercise. write more. Read more maybe spend a tiny less time practicing music
(atm like 3hours a day) lol.

randomly, here is my to do list:
eat a tub of gelato
go streaking
taste hippopotamus
go for a romantic date at mcdonalds
play bullrush in rebel sport
learn how to make roti
pull a 99!

wise old geisers

2008-12-14T12:12:00.002+13:00

don't you just love the gold that these wise old 17th century people give us??
Bishop Burnets preface to "the life of god in the soul of man"

"there is scare a more unaccountable thing to be imagined, than to see a company of men professing a religion, one great and main precept whereof is mutual love, forbearance, gentleness of spirit, and compassion to all sorts of persons, and agreeing in all the essential parts of its doctrine, and differing only in some less material and more disputable things, yet maintaining those differences with zeal so disproportioned to the value of them, and prosecuting all that disagree with them with all possible violence; or if they want means to use outward force, with every bitterness of spirit. they must needs astonish every impartial beholder, and raise great prejudices against such persons' religion, as made up of contradictions; professing love, but breaking out in all the acts of hatred"

coming soon..

2008-12-12T12:05:00.000+13:00

Its unofficial. a blogspot again.
like a cool one.
actually.
heres some mantra frm the dalai lama.
I wanted to share, because most of it is kinda parallel to christian values.
when people read this (probably wont get read for a while)
anyone who can answer my question??
I know that what sets apart christianity from everything else is grace.
is there 'proof' as such or a reason why we believe christianity is true and every other religion isnt? Its wierd how I have been a christian for long enough but havent answered these simple questions for myself. so yeah, one of my friends said they dont like the fact that christians think they are righ and everyone else is wrong. come to me o wise people! :P

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements
involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three R's:
Respect for self
Respect for others and
Responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a
wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great
friendship.

7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate
steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think
back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your
life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current
situation. Don't bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love
for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get
it.

19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.