Brainsprain.net » Uncategorized http://www.brainsprain.net Now Optimized for iPhones! Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:33:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 en hourly 1 Quest for Compassion http://www.brainsprain.net/2009/03/19/quest-for-compassion/ http://www.brainsprain.net/2009/03/19/quest-for-compassion/#comments Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:33:03 +0000 Colleen http://www.brainsprain.net/2009/03/19/quest-for-compassion/ My greatest challenge of late is becoming more tolerant of intolerance. I find it very difficult to deal with groups that rely on exclusion or judgment of others to build themselves up. I want to develop more compassion for people who spend more time trying to limit the choices and actions of others than to really understand their own choices and actions. I also realize that this is a contradiction because I am spending time right now concentrating on the actions of others instead of finding peace in this moment.

Western society encourages fear-based living. Most commercials are formulated “product x” is here to save you from “enemy y”. Even feminine hygiene products are referred to as protection. Protection from what? Embarrassment over our own bodies? Ruining a very expensive pair of designer pants? Why did you spend that much on those pants? Are they really THAT much better or was it a purchase based on fear of being uncool? Recently, I heard a girl say “I feel sorry for people who don’t understand how important this Louis Vuitton handbag is.” I believe that attitude is where my compassion must originate. It must be very frightening to live with that kind of fear. I hope that I can transform myself to become more accepting of the unaccepting. I hope I can find more tolerance for the intolerant. Most of all, I hope to find more love for all creatures and know that we are, none of us, better than the other.

]]> http://www.brainsprain.net/2009/03/19/quest-for-compassion/feed/ 2 Moment http://www.brainsprain.net/2009/02/27/moment/ http://www.brainsprain.net/2009/02/27/moment/#comments Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:56:48 +0000 Colleen http://www.brainsprain.net/2009/02/27/moment/ gentle wind on velvet skin
fertile moon of glow-stick blue
sated geese settle in beside the waving mirror

cool air caresses grateful lungs
gravel footsteps pass behind
hands entwine and then relax
a distant train howls unseen

a carp erupts and then returns
two travelers love without words

Colleen Miller 2-27-09

]]> http://www.brainsprain.net/2009/02/27/moment/feed/ 0