Writer's Food Pyramid

An exert from the book

I am a little nervous about putting this out there, but fear (unless appearing in the guise of an armed murderer) is to be welcomed as a signpost pointing the way to growth. One must overcome and abandon the dreaded ego. So here goes, just a couple of paragraphs:

##He stood and assayed his surroundings. Red and silver maples, sycamores, and swamp white oaks stood in the direction his European carriage pointed from its embedded station in the muddy grass just off the Parkway. The sound of the cars zooming behind him, not one of them had stopped, not a single caring or curious individual had come to his aid. He assessed his appearance in the streaked side mirror. His soiled collar all askew, tufts of grass protruded from behind it springing from his nape in an area that rendered them impossible to dislodge without disrobing. It was evening and too cold to be without a jacket, even for a moment. His face was streaked in greenish brown. He observed his hands were of the same hue, the turfed sludge extending up past his wrists, over his double cuffs and underneath the sleeves of his ruined jacket. His now mired, dishevelled car with its jagged rear parts and immoveable vulgarity, he noted, was analogous of his own appearance. 

He reached a muddy mitt into the inside pocket of his jacket and flicked open the phone. He dialled his insurance company. After briefly holding he was directed to higher powers and a polite supervisor who advised him they would send a towing service imminently. He reminded them of the car in question and they guaranteed him the best towing company, the safest most expedient service appropriate for the most valued of customers. He completed the relatively painless transaction then dialled home.##

I Believe

I believe there is nothing else than this moment, enjoying it for what it is: an opportunity for fun, forgiveness, passion, grace, compassion, love, empathy, friendships, revelry, letting go, profound conversation, light and meaningless drivel, fun, excitement, laughter and most of all, us.

I believe the ultimate compassion is for one’s self – all compassion flows from acceptance and nurturing of one’s own condition.

I believe that tomorrow may be a better day but today could be the best day, ever.

I believe in sorting out your own rubbish before attempting to help others but in doing so recognising that only the truly enlightened can eliminate their own suffering, which may take lifetimes to complete.

I believe love can be difficult but in itself is not painful. Your pain is your own pain, so own it.

I believe true happiness comes from within, and unhappiness also – do not blame others for your suffering.

I believe positive thinking is fine, unless you don’t believe it – that’s suppression and it will manifest itself sooner or later, when you least expect it, probably at an important time, and it might hurt others. So experience happiness as well as unhappiness to its fullest. Allow, accept, observe and nurture.

I believe that people can only hurt you with words if you believe on some level that they are true.

I believe helping others won’t help yourself, and your good deeds may never be reciprocated –we should give to give, not to receive.

I believe I am my own worst enemy. Who else is there? The universe and its occupants are not conspiring against us – this is not Hollywood.

I believe we fall in love with a reflection of ourselves but that true love is acceptance of the other as a person, not your projection of what that person should be, or was. We are not each other’s saviours but we can be loving companions and support each other as we work through samsara.

I believe that people who take you for granted may not know that they are, but that this is no excuse and neither is it your responsibility or a reflection of your intrinsic worth.

I believe expectation is the cousin of disappointment.

I believe you get out of life what you put in.

I believe in following your passion – there is nothing else.

I believe that suffering is inevitable but recognise that your suffering won;t cause the world to stop - if you wallow you may miss an opportunity to be present for something uplifting and beautiful.

I believe you should be conscious of how your words and actions impact others but that, as long as these aren’t consciously or unconsciously nasty, ill-conceived or malicious, you are not responsible for their pain.

I believe that believing something doesn’t make it real. It may be dogmatic thinking – be conscious of that.

I believe nature is our most precious commodity. Appreciate it, love it, bear witness to it in all its grandeur, and love even the smallest sound, smell, motion or action arising from it. Nature can anchor you in the here and now.