Monthly Peace Challenge: Woman in the Mirror (Complicated) 1

Famous Quotes, Forgiveness, Life Lessons • Tags: ,
The woman in the mirror is complicated.

The woman in the mirror? It is complicated.

I continue to forgive others and myself for human flaws as I examine the woman in the mirror.

I gave one of the three speeches at my high school graduation for the theme entitled, “I Am a Part of All I Have Met …” My part was “The School.” I opened my speech with a quote that still applies to my life today.

The true purpose of education is to cherish and unfold the seed of immortality already sown within us; to develop, to their fullest extent, the capacities of every kind with which the God who made us has endowed us. — Anna Brownell Jameson

I truly am a part of all that I have met and I continue to learn and develop that seed of immortality as I continue to learn from all of the lessons life offers me. I aspire to live a life guided by the teachings of Jesus, Siddhārtha Gautama, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Teresa of Avila, Kuan Yin, etc. I want to be more like those I admire in more modern times like the His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, Pope John Paul II, Rabbi Albert Lewis, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Jr. and so many others who inspire me to be a better person.

You might have noticed the woman in the mirror is surrounded by Asian decor. It is a part of me now too as it is a part of my husband and children. Yet, I am still influenced by my southern roots in the Bible belt. And, I am influenced by the Jesuit university I attended. Thus, I am a complicated woman with complicated beliefs.

I find myself drawn to many of the Buddhist teachings and I find parallels between the lives of Jesus and Siddhārtha Gautama. I likewise find parallels between Kuan Yin and some Christian saints along with Mother Mary. The thing I note that they all have in common is a desire for a more peaceful world beginning with inner peace. This too is my desire.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Monument (Mother Nature’s) 5

Differences, Gratitude, Hawaii, photography • Tags: , , ,
Kilauea Iki Pit Crater

Kɪlauea Iki Pit Crater

Do you think of manmade when you hear the word monument?

I am always inspired by Mother Nature’s work, so naturally I had to go a different direction. Differences make our word more interesting after all.

Volcanoes are monuments to Earth’s origin, evidence that its primordial forces are still at work. — Hawaii Volcanoes National Park home page.

This week, for the WordPress Daily Post weekly photo challenge, Ben asks:

In this week’s challenge, show us your take on a monument (broadly defined). It could be a fresh angle on a well-known tourist site, or a place nobody knows outside your community. It doesn’t even have to be an official monument. A legendary coffeehouse, a churchyard cemetery, the remains of a treehouse you’d built as a kid — anything can be monumental as long as it’s imbued with a shared sense of importance.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Street Life (The Joy of Art) 2

Hawaii, Joy, photography, Snapshot Saturday • Tags: , , ,

For this week’s challenge, Cheri asks that we, “document the movement (or stillness) of a street: tell a story with your snapshot, capture a scene that reveals a bit about a place, or simply show us where you live — or a path you often take.”

In a post created specifically for this challenge, share a photo that brings a street to life.

– Cheri

Baltimore’s Gaia joined Hawaii artists, Prime, Solomon Enos, and Estria to create a mural of Queen Lili’uokalini and King Kalakaua.

Baltimore’s Gaia joined Hawaii artists, Prime, Solomon Enos, and Estria to create a mural of Queen Lili’uokalini and King Kalākaua for this year’s Pow Wow Hawaii.

Queen Lili’uokalani succeeded her brother King Kalākaua after his death in January 1891. She was overthrown in 1893 by a group of advocates of a Republic for Hawaii led by Sanford B. Dole. This was after she sought to amend the Hawaii constitution to restore some of the power lost during her brother’s reign. Ironically “Aloha ‘Oe” was composed by Queen Lili’uokalani.

Gift from Andrew Schoultz.
A beautiful day for a walk.
Hannah Stouffer’s art.
Not part of Pow Wow. Same street.
They had same idea.
More Pow Wow Art

Pow Wow Hawaii is a week-long event that started in 2011 to celebrate art and culture. I know the event brings life to the neighborhood of Kaka’ako. I think the art that remains continues to give the street life too.