Being weird Being a little weird is just a natural side effect of being awesome. — Sue Fitzmaurice

Source: Being weird by Sue Fitzmaurice

The words and phrases we choose have a powerful impact on our relationships. We should take those listed [in the source article] and do our best to eliminate them from our vocabulary. Then, focus on working in words and phrases that lift people up instead. This is the way to a healthy, lasting relationship.

Source: The Common Phrases that are Ruining Our Relationships. | elephant journal

Whenever we practice meditation, it is important to try to refrain from criticizing ourselves about how we practice and what comes up in our practice. This would only be training in being hard on ourselves! I want to emphasize the importance of maintaining an atmosphere of unconditional friendliness when you practice and as you take your practice out into the world. We can practice for a lot of years—I know many people who have practiced for countless years, decades even—and somewhere along into their umpteenth year, it dawns on them that they haven’t been using that practice to develop lovingkindness for themselves. Rather, it’s been somewhat aggressive meditation toward themselves, perhaps very goal-oriented. As someone said, “I meditated all those years because I wanted people to think I was a good Buddhist.” Or, “I meditated all those years out of a feeling of I should do this, it would be good for me.” And so naturally we come to meditation with the same attitudes with which we come to everything. I’ve seen this with students time and time again, and it is very human.

Source: Making Friends with Oneself | Tricycle

Do not hurt anyone Don’t hurt anyone. It only takes a few seconds to hurt people you love, and it can take years to heal. — Nanu Thakuri

Source: Do not hurt anyone by Nanu Thakuri

A modern day interpretation…

These two cats must have a lot to talk about, because they chatter back and forth for a minute. And then they start to give each other baths.

Source: Two cats chat with each other – Holy Kaw!

Mindfulness is the greatest (and cheapest) escape because you only need your attention to get the most out of your precious break and simply relax and renew

Source: Mindfulness: A New Way of Life – Purpose Fairy

The Fourth of July is more than America’s birthday. It’s also the time…

Source: This is what an honest 4th of July BBQ would look like – Holy Kaw!

Guitar duets can be inspirational for a lot of reasons, but this reason will catch you off guard. One of the guitarists has no hands. I have to grab this one before @davidkanigan does! :-D

Source: The most inspirational guitar duet you’ll ever see – Holy Kaw!

Spirituality is always eventually about what you do with your pain. It seems our culture has lost its own spiritual foundation and center, and as a result we no longer know what to do with universal pain. If we do not transform our pain, we will always transmit it–to our partner, our spouse, our children, our friends, our coworkers, our “enemies.” Usually we project it outward and blame someone else for causing our pain.

Source: Richard Rohr’s Meditation: Transforming Our Pain