Best wishes for less Suffering, more Happiness with Good Health and Time to Enjoy it. Welcome to Armenian Calendar Year 1472.
Sharing a timely aspiration:
"You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”
Maya Angelou, American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist (1924-2014 CE)
If having no reason to celebrate this month, here are 3 prepared earlier:
- 7 August: Aged Care Employee Day (Australia)
- 9 August: International Day of the World's Indigenous People (International)
- 12 August: International Youth Day (International)
In this Re:play edition, we revisit previous topics.
Once upon a time there was an 'i'. As it grew, so too did 'u'. When 'i' and 'u' began to conspire, thus began an 'us' and 'them'. 'Us' working together makes life easier while 'they' working together make our life more difficult, take our things away or deny us equality. This is 'our' story, and in our story 'we' are the only ones who are right and count and deserve happiness. The 'us' works together to beat, conquer, hold-back or isolate the 'them'. And we all live happily ever after. The End.
Cheeky Monkey: still waiting for that happily ever after.
From a Buddha View: Something ending causes another beginning. This is just the usual Beginning, Continuance and Causing of Unlimited Cycle of Suffering.
Our perception of separation between subject, object and action is the Product, Experience and Cause of Confusion. From this Confusion, yesterday's thoughts causes today's words causes tomorrow's actions. It is a matter of choice whether these are positive (building, inclusive), negative (divisive, harmful) or neutral (have nil or neglible affect, time wasting).
If you are short of time, experiment with a short meditation:
1a. Set timer for 1min, turn phones off or to silent, press start on timer.
1b. Sit comfortably, spine upright and straight.
1c. Look straight ahead, 2m in front soften the gaze and close the eyes.
1d. Now call to mind, someone from your personal past that easily you feel affection, love or positively towards.
1e. Stay with that feeling or visual or reflecting for about a minute.
1f. Set timer for 2mins, press start on timer and read 2a.
2a. Now call to Mind someone from your present daily life that you feel neutral towards (eg, no strong feelings of 'attachment' or 'dettachment' towards).
2b. Stay with that thought, feeling or visual and reflect for about a minute.
2c. Set timer for 3mins, press start on timer and read 3a.
3a. Now call to Mind someone from your life that you feel regularly disagreeable with (eg, strong feelings of 'dettachment').
3b. Stay with that feeling or visual or reflecting for about a minute.
3c. Set timer for 4mins, press start on timer and read 4a.
4a. Now call to Mind someone well-known who is deceased whose legacy continues to inspire publicly that you feel agreeably with (eg, strong feelings of 'aspiration').
4b. Stay with that feeling or visual or reflecting for about a minute.
4c. Set timer for 5mins, press start on timer and read 5a.
5a. Now call to Mind all the virtual guests of 1-4 above, include yourself and return to the feeling of positivity, intensity and aspiration.
5b. Stay with that feeling or visual or reflecting for about a minute. Gently open the eyes and end the meditation.
What is to be learnt from active listening?
Read on to see what is to discover this edition. Subscribers decide if anything is useful.
Topics
- Guest Sings
- Stream Jives
- Wisdom Reconciles
- Media Writes
- TED Talks
- Music Challenges
- Acknowledgments
1. Guest Sings
2. Street Jives
Approx 2 min presentation3. Wisdom Reconciles
- Psych2Go: 5 Signs You've Been Emotionally Neglected In Childhood (5 mins)
- Knowledgia: History of Malaysia (13 mins)
- TheSmartLocal: Can People Be Friends With Their Exes? | Word On The Street (7 mins)
- The Advocate: 4 Tips For Coming Out To Your Parents | Queer 101 (5 mins)
- Storied Fate & Fabled: Why Does Every Culture Have Myths About Trees? (11 mins)
4. Media Writes
Approx 5 min readsJane Caro explores the value of presence, audience and encouragement when "Giving a speech can be paralysing for many. This is my one tip to surviving it” via The Brisbane Times
Dugald Jellie explores time, exploration and broadening horizons recounting how "Other dads once gave me a bigger life. Now I could do the same for Arturo” via The Age
Kylie Trask-Kerr and Brendan Ryan salutes the life, times and passing of Jennifer Anne McMahon, recalling why "Teacher and scholar had a global influence on the philosophy of art” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Intra
Tony Birch explores childhood, schooling and life learning when recounting how "A teacher said he was destined for a future as ‘factory fodder’. Two habits saved him” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Dilvin Yasa explores dawning realisations and conscious uncoupling when recounting why "‘He was a good person, he just wasn’t my person’. How Annie knew it was over” via The Brisbane Times
Vivienne Pearson explores identity, gender and respectful relationships and other reasons why "If you don’t welcome teens to sex, it could have unwelcome outcomes” via WA Times
Inter
Jewel Topsfield explores art, light and engagement when reviewing reasons why "‘People leave meetings and do something playful’: The art illuminating an office space” via The Age
Ray Edgar explores accomodation, changing fortunes and modern times when "Grubby to glitz: St Kilda’s housing rollercoaster” via The Age
Jason Steger explores childhood, family and opportunity when reviewing retelling of "Secrets and lies: Kate Grenville unravels her grandmother’s story” via WA Today
Multi
Steve Dow explores gender, incarceration and violence as "Playwright delivers the ‘spiritual sequel’ to global smash hit Prima Facie” via The Age
Susan Horsburgh explores identity, culture and freedom recounting how "‘He had to trust me now’: Lamisse’s fight to free her dad” via The Age
Barney Zwartz explores faith, belief and calling "What’s in a name? God reveals himself to us in what we call him” via The Sydney Morning Herald
All
Jason Steger explores identity, colonialisation and racism when reviewing reasons how "‘Trojan horse’ novel tackling colonisation and war wins Miles Franklin” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Dilvin Yasa explores the rising cost of living and juggling side hustles as "Gemma and her husband work four jobs between them just to afford groceries” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Richard Glover explores careers, transfer of skills and sage advices when a journalist asks "Is it your birthday? The best professional advice I have received” via The Brisbane Times
Togather
Robyn Grace explores dedication, collaboration and passion in "How The Girl from Ipanema helped win a perfect VCE score” via The Age
Lisa Jackson explores people, place and progressing when recalling "How European migrants shaped Elwood’s beachside identity” via The Age
Victoria Laurie explores heritage, discovery and conservation recounting how "The 50,000-year-old ‘drop-in centre’ that was nearly demolished” via WA Today
Nobly
Madeleine Kelly explores identity, community and connection recounting how "‘If you’d told 16-year-old me that I’d build a life in Tanzania, I’d have laughed’” via The Age
Carolyn Webb explores gender, collaborating and hospitality are continuing reasons why Warracknabeal’s "Restrooms up for heritage listing, which locals say is a ‘social meeting place’” via The Age
Jack Latimore explores identity, collaboration and recognition are some reasons why "Victorian First Peoples’ Assembly wants decision powers within four years” via The Sydney Morning Herald
5. TED Talks
5-20 min presentations- Merve Emre: Do personality tests work? (5 mins)
- Barbara Sher: Isolation is the dream-killer, not your attitude (22 mins)
- Mala Matacin: Why Gender Pronouns Matter (16 mins)
- America Ferrera: My identity is a superpower – not an obstacle (14 mins)
- TED-Ed: The best way to apologize according to science (5 mins)
6. Music Challenges
Approx 30 min presentation + reflection timesIf desired, a short selection of publicly available material on a chosen theme for personal reflection.
For best results, sit comfortably with a straight back, have headphones in a shared space, after each clicked link, allow a little reflection with your personally-held view before clicking on the next link.
Get ready to Reflect!
Choose your playing level:
Be introduced at 1.
Be soothed at 2-4.
Be shocked at 5.
Be inspired at 6.
Fuller illumination 1-6.
You be the judge. Or not.
Cryptic Clue:
- Inspire
- Perspire
- Collaborate
- Engage: Test for personal circumstances, if useful keep, if unuseful discard, if exceeds needs, share mindfully
- Endure: Adapt for present times without sacrificing intent
- Endear: (Inspiring Others To Tend the Flame) live/ demonstrate/ inspire/ teach experience with others
[ah’nom’all’uss]
From mid 17th century: via late Latin from Greek anōmalos: an- = not + homalos = even + -ous = characterized by; of the nature of.
adjective
- deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected. Ie, an anomalous situation. Ie, sentences which are grammatically anomalous.
analogous
[ah’nal’log’uss]
From mid 17th century: via Latin from Greek analogos = proportionate + -ous = characterized by; of the nature of.
adjective
- comparable in certain respects, typically in a way which makes clearer the nature of the things compared. Ie, they saw the relationship between a ruler and the subjects as analogous to that of parent and children.
- (Biology) of organs, performing a similar function but having a different evolutionary origin, such as the wings of insects and birds. Often contrasted with homologous.
bicameral
[bye’cam’eh’rall]
From mid 19th century: from bi- = two + Latin camera = chamber + -al = relating to; of the kind of.
adjective
- (of a legislative body) having two chambers. Ie, a bicameral Parliament consisting of an appointed Senate and a popularly elected House of Assembly.
malaise
[mah’lay’s]
From mid 18th century: from French, from Old French mal = bad (from Latin malus) + aise = ease.
noun
- a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or unease whose exact cause is difficult to identify. Ie, a general air of malaise. Ie, a society afflicted by a deep cultural malaise.
ennui
[en’you’eye]
From mid 18th century: French, from Latin in odio(n-), from mihi in odio est = it is hateful to me.
noun
- a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement. Ie, they succumbed to ennui and despair.
crush
[kruhsh]
From Middle English: from Old French cruissir = gnash (teeth) or crack, of unknown origin.
verb
- compress or squeeze forcefully so as to break, damage, or distort in shape. Ie, the front of the car was crushed in the collision. Ie, you can crush a pill between two spoons. Ie, a labourer was crushed to death by a truck.
- crease or crumple (cloth or paper). Ie, be careful, you're going to crush the outfit! Ie, they crushed the paper in their hands.
- violently subdue (opposition or a rebellion). Ie, the dictator’s forces crushed the rebellion.
- make (someone) feel overwhelmingly disappointed or embarrassed. Ie, I was crushed—was I not good enough?
- a crowd of people pressed closely together. Ie, a number of youngsters fainted in the crush.
- (informal) a brief but intense infatuation for someone, especially someone unattainable. Ie, some students had a crush on the pop star.
- a person with whom someone is infatuated. Ie, it turns out it was thought you were flirting with your friend's crush.
- a drink made from the juice of pressed fruit. Ie, lemon crush.
- (Agriculture) a fenced passage with one narrow end, used for handling cattle or sheep (also crush pen).
Optional
-- Chant Mantrastyle
Start today.
As the case may be.
Or not.
7. Acknowledgments
This curation is an interpretation of the universal basis of re:lig:ion (Latin = again:uniting:energy) or bodhicitta (Sanskrit = Awakening Consciousness). This email invites a sharing of countless thoughts, words and actions wishing, causing and receiving less Suffering and more Happiness. For benefit initially of the individual increasing in beneficiaries until it includes all across the 3 times and 10 directions. Or not. As each case may be.
