What makes something worthy of praise?

Serenity. Generosity. Kindness. Others.

These words were brought to my attention today by a lady who i'd like to call my moma.

We talk a lot about all things spritual and everything else under the sun.. And we seem to do this all while in the Greenwise section at publix. haha.

I especially like to question things that she says.. not in a rude "you're wrong" kinda way, but more so to really understand why she thinks the way she does. Where is she coming from? What stirs up within her? What is the driving force behind her passionate beliefs?
It's not because I want to be spiteful, on the contrary, because I care and I am genuinely curious.

The mystery of others fascinates me.

The conversation started with an overview of a stressful week she had just experienced. My mom is a business owner, a wife, a child and caretaker of ill parents in a nursing home, and not to mention a grandmother herself. So there is always something happening in her world. There is never a dull moment. She almost thrives in it.
If the AC doesn't go out at the studio then it's the plumbing.. and then its the car breaking down... and then it's my sister's baby with a 104 fever.. a call from the nursing home telling her my grandmother fell and she needs stiches asap.

Ah. breathe. I can't keep up with my mother's life. haha.

So anyways.. she is a woman with a faith in God. So of course this was the perfect segue into the next obvious turn in our conversation..

This week the car was fixed because a man we know who happens to be a mechanic decided to repair whatever it was that needed repairing. My mom was ready to hand over the benjamins when he said... "no, really, it's ok. i felt led to do this free of charge."
whoa.

I was totally moved by his act of gracious generosity. I mean.. that was really really nice of him to do.

To be compelled to do something nice...

So i asked my mom, (within the context of what we were talking about). What happens when God doesn't "show up" ? If you were to think of it that way. So in this case, this man charging what would be expected when doing a job. Naturally.

Maybe the story would have been told a little differently or maybe not even told at all.

What makes something worthy of praise?

Then i thought of these simple truths..

Serenity; someone who provides a deep breath and a calm spirit during a tumultuous time.
Generosity; a man who decides to fix a car for free.
Kindness; the kindness that catapults generosity.

Others.

This seems way to simple. But it's a spiritual enlightenment for me. What do I learn from other people? What can I give other people? Why do I love them?

The complexity of simplicity

http://vimeo.com/4368455

the mind of a woman while shaving her legs.
we never stop daydreaming.

Warning Sign

https://health.google.com/health/ref/Transient+ischemic+attack

Thinking the Cold play song? That's what comes to my mind immediately when I read those two words!

Check this article out!

Today in lecture we talked about the neurovascular system and disorders such as brain attacks and heart attacks. One that stuck out to me the most was a Transient Ischemia Attack. TIA.
A warning sign.
The human body is stinkin amazing.

Nurse

I felt so inspired last weekend.. the thought of being a nurse.. the thought of truly connecting with someone.. helping in their healing...rebirthing hope thats been lost along the way..reminding them that they aren't alone.
then i had the week from hell this week. it was so tempting to allow what went down with my teacher to wash away my inspiration for this passion that seemed to be confirmed within the past couple of weeks. for a couple days it felt squelched.
but i still want to post the song i wrote about a nurse. its sounds so much better on the guitar with a melody but here goes!

So i sit here with you
You seem a little tired and confused
don't worry maybe i can help diffuse
the pain
the pain

There must be some fear
The unknown followed by tears
Its ok
I'll sit here with you
With you
Oh with you

And be near
I can hear you breathing
Just rest my dear
You're not alone
You're not alone

So ill sit here with you
doing everything i can do
when its all said and done
ill be your advocate

Ani DiFranco - "Evolve" no Programa do Jô

She is so fruckin awesome.

Respiratory System (2nd Ed., Rev.) (Clip)

Did you know that we have 300 million aveoli in our lungs? that is equivalent to 70 square feet which measures out to be the size of a tennis court! so cool. atelectasis is a severe condition in which the aveoli collapse due to pulmonary edema, bronchiole obstruction, increased mucous secretions, immobility and other factors. this helps me remember so i figured i would share!

ERIK H. ERIKSON: A LIFE'S WORK ( DAVIDSON FILMS )

I'm fascinated by human development. In nursing school, they have been teaching us the developmental and cognitive process of individuals as a part of nursing care. no wonder they made us take developmental psych as a pre-req.

Although there are many theorists such as Gould, Freud, Piaget, Erickson focuses on the entire life span. our nursing professors have us primarily focus on his theory along with Maslow.

He believes these 8 stages are predetermined and one can not succeed to the next without having fulfilled the prior stage.

My immediate raw thoughts are; how could my life be summed up or predetermined in 8 stages? and who is some theorist/psychologist to say this is the order in which they happen or that there is an end to one's development?

what if one step is accomplised but years later, a regression occurs then what would you call that phase?

how can one function in society and relationships if the most fundamental steps are missing or denied?

That being Trust, Integrity, Intimacy and so on.

reminds me of the song by Ingrid Michaelson "Everybody". Everybody, everybody wants to love, everybody everybody wants to be loved.

but how can we love if we weren't shown? lame excuse. there is usually someone ( i certainly hope) that would one day show us love, befriend us, nurture and take care of us.

responsiblity.

that should be a stage! we have a responsibility to take care and to care.

that brings me to another question.

Where does this all begin? is the the ability to nurture and love innate within us? or is it learned by demonstration?

So let's take my professor's example he used in lecture. There are two cells (unknown). They are each inserted into a petri dish to study over a certain period of time. The cells begin to pulsate and move towards one another and begin to join... interesante.

so bump that Erikson! it all begins with a cell! Lol!