because sometimes asking the right questions is the answer.

1. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
2. Which is worse, failing or never trying?
3. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?
4. When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?
5. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?
6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
7. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?
8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?
9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?
10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
11. You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire.  They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend.  The criticism is distasteful and unjustified.  What do you do?
12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
13. Would you break the law to save a loved one?
14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?
15. What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
16. How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?
17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do?  What’s holding you back?
18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?
19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?
20. Do you push the elevator button more than once?  Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?
21. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?
22. Why are you, you?
23. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?
24. Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?
25. What are you most grateful for?
26. Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?
27. Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first?
28. Has your greatest fear ever come true?
29. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset?  Does it really matter now?
30. What is your happiest childhood memory?  What makes it so special?
31. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?
32. If not now, then when?
33. If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?
34. Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?
35. Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?
36. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?
37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?
38. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?
39. Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?
40. When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?
41. If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?
42. Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?
43. What is the difference between being alive and truly living?
44. When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?
45. If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?
46. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
47. When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?
48. What do you love?  Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?
49. In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday?  What about the day before that?  Or the day before that?
50. Decisions are being made right now.  The question is:  Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?

our ancient celebrities..

via (http://funnypagenet.com/if-todays-celebrity-were-living-during-the-renaissance/)

ninja turtles +artistic renditions = coolest ever

the ultimate ten commandments for becoming the super plus ultra you.

1. i am not perfect and i will not try to be.

think of how many things don’t get done in this world simply because people are waiting for the perfect time, place and circumstance.

the real world doesn’t reward perfectionists.  it rewards people who get things done.  and the only way to get things done is to be imperfect 99% of the time. 

2. i cannot, and will not try, to please everyone.

i, above anyone else, need to take this advice. i try so hard to do so much for so many people, i end up crashing and hurting everyone involved. brandon boyd once wrote in his book, "someone will inevitably find something wrong in almost everything". we must remember that it doesn’t matter how many people don’t get it, it matters how many people do.

3. i will take part in something i believe in.

to really find meaning and happiness in life, you must think less about yourself and more about what you believe in. some of the happiest, proudest moments of my life was when i felt apart of the bigger idea and beliefs i value. almost without fail, when we join efforts and become apart of a larger community, our selfish little minds begin to see the greater value of who we are.

this picture was from when i was president of the student peace alliance of idaho. this was our peace walk, we raised a lot of money and had the best time, and i felt like i was really making a difference. 

4. i will prioritize my obligations and do important things first.

action expresses priorities, so what you do really does matter. as marc says, "it’s the only way to turn a dream into a reality". 

5. i will choose my friends wisely.

my mom always tells me, your best friend  brings out the best in you. and i finally understand what she's saying. the people you surround yourself with are the people who inevitably shape who you will become. if you settle for a hurtful, manipulative group of friends, how can you not become that? understand that to become better, you must be around people who inspire you.

6. i will help others when i am able.

this commandment really hits home for me. i pride myself in being there for people who need me, but i need to  make sure i will when i'm able. otherwise, nothing will get done for both of us.

7. i will focus on the positive.

your mind is capable of powerful possibilities, for both the better and worse. where your attention goes, your energy flows. i will never stop telling people that once you change how you think, you will change your life.

the way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful.  listen to your self-talk and replace negative thoughts with positive ones.  regardless of how a situation seems, focus on the next positive step forward.

8. i can only be me.

judy garland once said, “always be a first rate version of yourself instead of a second rate version of somebody else.”  live by this statement.

there is no such thing as living in someone else’s shoes.  the only shoes you can occupy are your own.  if you aren’t being yourself, you aren’t truly living – you’re merely existing.  and ask yourself this:  if you don’t like who you really are, why should i like you?

trying to be somebody you’re not is not sexy.  be you.  that’s when you’re beautiful.

i need to start being comfortable in my own skin, including being okay with being silly.

9. i will be here now.

life is happening right now.  instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, practice being and living in the present moment.

remember, right now is the only moment guaranteed to you.  right now is life.  don’t miss it.

10. life never gets any better, only my perception of it does.

the world around you changes when you change.

if you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.  the opposite is also true.  the choice is yours to make.

this is a big list of ideas that can and will change how you live your life.. good luck babes. :) 

(i wrote these down, they're in my wallet so i can remind myself what to focus on.)

source:  Marc and Angel (http://www.marcandangel.com/)

the dalai lama rules that everybody should follow.

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 Rs:
   • Respect for self
   • Respect for others
   • 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, honourable 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.

greenie little thingies.

i may never have a green thumb, but i'll always love pretty plants :)