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Singing the Song of Myself!
April 23, 2007
My friend Tim (Hi Tim!) took this shot of me in the Bishop's Garden of the cathedral after we walked the labyrinth a few weeks ago. It seems one of the best ways to get mentioned on my blog is to art direct and take a great pic Yours Truly. I don't post images of myself very often, but this one is just too fun not to. How he figured out pushing my hair up on top of my head while standing in a dark garden would work, the world may never know. Creative hunch, I guess ~ Tim has quite a few of them.
I do believe this is my new all-time favorite shot of myself. Why?
Well, it's a good shot ~ I'm HAPPY in it ~ I'm in one of my favorite spots in the world ~ I had meditated and walked the labyrinth that night ~ and last but not least, I'd just spent dinner with a gaggle of new friends. Life doesn't get much better... does it?
My recent entries have driven home the point of our interconnectedness. In many ways, recognizing this truth will lead you to the realization that narcissism is a false refuge. If we think only of ourselves, we're missing the boat ~ stepping off the plank into a Sea of ME ME ME... It's All About Me existence. If your life is only about YOU... ya know what happens? You lose respect for other beings, and for the planet. Your connections become shallower and shallower, and those connections which remain become based upon control and manipulation. Worst case scenario? Your narcissism reaches a tipping point where the rage and lack of self-respect and respect for others skyrockets, and 32 innocent lives are snuffed out on a college campus.
Narcissism will lead you down the ugliest, emptiest, loneliest cavern a soul can experience. Without the reciprocal light of love permeating one's life, a respect for life ceases to exist.
So... why the hell am I posting a big fat picture of MYSELF today for the world to see?
Good question, glad you asked.
There's a difference between selfish egotism and self-love ~ they are worlds apart. Where selfishness drains healing for all beings, radical self acceptance fills the well the humanity's capacity for our greatest accomplishments. Blessings spring eternal for all of us, and there's more than enough happiness and enlightenment to go around for everyone. Keeping your light ~ your love ~ your brilliance ~ your gifts ~ your healing touch ~ under a bushel not only holds you back... it's holding the entire PLANET back.
So, today, I'm sending out a message to the universe that I am wonderful! I'm unique! I'm adorable! I'm creative! I'm lovable! I have so much offer!
And you know what? Every angel on this earth, every bodhisattva walking this planet, and every saint offering up prayers today is hoping beyond hope that you will wake up to the reality that you are a miracle too. I challenge you to step out of your woundedness and sorrow to celebrate and accept not only your circumstances, but also yourselves!
Every once in awhile, you have to pull your hair down.. uh... I mean UP... and celebrate what is wonderful in your life... and sometimes, that something happens to be yourself!
I SING the Body electric;
The armies of those I love engirth me, and I engirth them;
They will not let me off till I go with them, respond to them,
And discorrupt them, and charge them full with the charge of the Soul.
~ Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, 1900.
Divine I am inside and out, and I make holy whatever I touch or am touched from;
The scent of these arm-pits is aroma finer than prayer*,
This head is more than churches or bibles or creeds.
~ Walt Whitman, Song of Myself
{ Artpits, Walt? Yes... ARMPITS!}
Posted by susan at April 23, 2007 8:37 AM
Comments
[color blue][b]I praise you and rejoice in your rejoicing in yourself and your love for yourself. Because all people need to do that much more and be so self accepting. I rejoice with you. Maybe if Seung-Hui Cho could have known this miracle of self love, he might have done things differently. [/color][/b]
Posted by: Bob at April 23, 2007 1:55 AM
"I am wonderful! I'm unique! I'm adorable! I'm creative! I'm lovable! I have so much offer!"
...Yes indeed you are and do!!!!! So radical and so wonderful an idea Susan. I love this photo too as it just oozes the peace and happiness you put out into the world. Love and hugs to you girl!
Posted by: jayne at April 23, 2007 6:27 AM
Well, I don't know about the armpit thing...but I'm SO with you here! We just talked about this last night at a bible study gathering; how TRUE humility rests in knowing that you are fearfully and wonderfully made and that the spirit moving through you. You can celebrate yourself in light of God moving through you and be self-LESS. It is the exact opposite of so much false humility that many faiths (particularly, sadly, my own Christian faith) advocate. The unfortunate extreme is, as you say here, a self-absorption that tips over into murderous rage.
Hold your hair up! Celebrate! You are beautiful!
Posted by: beth at April 23, 2007 8:36 AM
I gasped when I saw that photo, Susan, for you look just like Grandma Bowman!!!!!!! Wow. Did that get my attention.
Celebrate all those things; love, happiness, new friends, old friends, good food, Spring, life, cats, work, play, flowers, great movies, symphonies, peace and family.
Who said, "You cannot love anyone else until you love yourself"?
Posted by: janet at April 24, 2007 5:50 PM
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
All I've got to say is Grandma Bowman must have been gorgeous,'cause you sure are!
Posted by: aola at April 24, 2007 7:40 PM
You are G O R G E O U S !
I am thrilled to see YOU.
Love, S
Posted by: Art Tea Life at April 27, 2007 10:38 PM
