Many people these days keep referring to the Mayan predictions for the year 2012. It promises a spiritual shift in the world’s energy fields, changing our universe and consciousness for the better and forever.

A friend sent me these sites about these year-2012 predictions. They are stunningly beautiful, so I wish to share them with a larger audience.   Read more...

"If man does find the solution for world peace, it will be the most revolutionary reversal of his record we have ever known.", General George C. Marshall.

I’m always intrigued by each day’s Google quote. Invariably, I find personal meaning in each one. Meaning is my stock-in-trade. Of course, whenever they include the word peace, I am doubly pulled to them as peace is my work here on the planet.   Read more...

A friend of mine told me once that she was 'dumped' by her lover of four years through an indifferent email. Needless to say she felt acutely defenseless at that time and had plummeted into the so-called depths of despair, but after a decent mourning period now she feels like the one who has had the good riddance.

'You know Nazia', she jovially confessed, 'Some lovers live happily ever after, some live happily even after!'   Read more...

I dream about what the ultimate life experience would be if we lived in a world where every human being was emotionally conscious. I do believe that this shift in consciousness is happening right now, so hopefully my vision will come true. I thought I would share my vision here because I believe that writing and talking about visions gives them a higher probability of coming true. The whole vision may be a long way off yet, but that's okay, I will still keep talking about my dream.   Read more...

Long Hair Manifesto from B-Rilla on Vimeo.   Read more...

A quick blurb in the June/July Ode special advertising section caught my eye: United States Institute of Peace. Their website is usip.org. Their website says, “The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) provides the analysis, training and tools that help to prevent, manage and end violent international conflicts, promote stability and professionalize the field of peace-building.” Who knew there even was one?   Read more...

The subtly of Japanese behavior can be very complex. A quick glance or the hint of a frown can be pregnant with meaning. But much of that is often lost to those not brought up here. Japanese laughter, too, is one of the ongoing mysteries of this fascinating culture. What outsider can know for sure what a Japanese smile or laugh really means?   Read more...

As my children get older, I find myself wondering what their teen years will be like, in terms of our relationship. They are 12 now, so one more year until they are official teenagers. We have attended 3 unschooling conferences in the past 3 years, and I love observing the teenagers while we are there. I also love hearing about the relationships that my unschooling friends have with their teenagers. It is amazing to me to see the trust and the honesty that is present in their relationships. Before finding the unschooling path, I didn’t think this was possible! Once again, I am thrust into shifting my perspective on parenting, while learning to "grow" with the flow.   Read more...

Leymah Gbowee of Monrovia, Liberia was featured in the July issue of Guideposts, that lovely little magazine about Christian faith in action. For 14 years, Liberia’s military dictatorship along with the armed rebels against it had made the country a battleground.

Ms. Gbowee’s story begins on a steamy day in Accra, Ghana, during peace talks which were rapidly disintegrating. That was the day she ran out of hope despite the fact that it was due to her efforts that these peace talks were even occurring.   Read more...

Often when my students hand write a paper, they confuse "h" and "n", "d" and "a", or "l" and "e" because of not paying attention to the differing length (of one line) between the two letters. They always act surprised when I point out this error. And sure enough the next time they inevitably make the same mistake. I have almost given up on "l" and "r" differences, knowing my own inability to distinguish short and long vowels in Japanese.

Once after a long and trying day I was thinking about the stresses at work and also wondering what I could do about my chronic dry-eye problem. My poor eyes are constantly irritated and red. I use drops and creams and go to a doctor for treatment, but am always looking for better relief in some way. Winter is a nightmare with the dry heating systems; and summer is not much better with its allergy-causing grasses and flowers. In other words, I am in year-round discomfort.   Read more...