It is no surprise that good things follow the bad. Anger, depair, frustration, and fear (especially fear) can crack your armor and open you up so that you can really really feel the good stuff. (Eep, in comment to today’s post at Ask Moxie)

There’s something about this statement that is so simple, yet so profound. What would it take to allow myself to be that open more often so that I really CAN feel the good stuff? And how much do I have to keep myself closed up just for protection’s sake?

From the MSSP Nexus Blog: Your work-life as a suit: does it fit you?

This article’s in a medical journal, so it’s geared (somewhat, but not much) toward health professionals — but there’s food for thought there for anyone who wants it. Interestingly enough, I just started re-reading this book recently, and she quotes it. I’m getting value from it too, probably more this time around than when I first read it.

Looks like I need to finally do what (it seems) the rest of female civilization has done and read Pride and Prejudice. How could I not, after seeing this description of Mr. Darcy?

Mr. Darcy is sexy and compelling because he is a strong and powerful figure and also because he respects the strength and power of Elizabeth Bennet. Despite the fact that Elizabeth Bennet is rather unglamorous (with very embarrassing relatives, looks not quite up to par with her sister’s, and very little wealth), Mr. Darcy sees her true worth. Elizabeth Bennet is Mr. Darcy’s equal in intelligence, wit, sense, and character, and Mr. Darcy loves her for it. The fantasy is to win the utter respect, admiration and passion of a man of great intelligence and great character, especially a man who is not easily won.

Wow…sounds like a man I’d like, too — and a female protagonist with whom I’d actually identify.

hat tip Pandagon

Over the past several weeks, I’ve begun to put serious thought to my “next” direction in life. I feel that I’ve been treading water for about two years — just living/surviving rather than thriving in my life. The big question is one that we all address at times…

Who am I?
Hmmm…good question. At the moment, the role in my life that provides the most satisfaction to me is “Maya’s Mother.” That’s great, but it’s not a role that pays the bills. The roles in my life that *do* pay the bills are ones that just don’t quite work for me, for various reasons. If I ask myself how I’d feel about doing the same things now five years from now, the answer is definite: I want my life to mean something. Right now, (beyong parenting), I don’t feel that meaning exists. For better or for worse, work defines much of our identity…and I’m not satisfied with that side of my identity.

In early January of 2004, I had a “lightbulb moment” when I realized that grad school could/should be in my future. I was just adjusting to the idea of changing my life radically when something else happened that would change it for me, in a very different direction. In some respects, I’m sorry that I’ve put off further education as long as I have, but it’s been for the best reason possible, one that gives a whole new level of inspiration to my desire to find my own way of making the world a better place.

Over the next few posts, I’m throwing thoughts out, so I can stop revisiting the same ideas — writing them down helps the ideas seem more real. There may not be much coherence to these at first. (Ha! Or ever…)

So far, I’m interested in parts and pieces from four different programs, within three different colleges at DU:

Psychology: Developmental

Education: Child, Family, and School Psychology

Human Communication: Interpersonal and Social Communication

Human Communication: Culture and Communication

Next: What interests me about these programs, ideas for what I’d do post-school, and a look at how they would fit together — if DU would allow me to create my own multi-disciplinary degree.

Exceprt from a commentary in today’s NYT by the Dalai Lama:

I believe that we must find a way to bring ethical considerations to bear upon the direction of scientific development, especially in the life sciences. By invoking fundamental ethical principles, I am not advocating a fusion of religious ethics and scientific inquiry.

Rather, I am speaking of what I call “secular ethics,” which embrace the principles we share as human beings: compassion, tolerance, consideration of others, the responsible use of knowledge and power. These principles transcend the barriers between religious believers and non-believers; they belong not to one faith, but to all faiths.

Read more here.

I couldn’t agree more; I find it very frustrating when Christians seem to think that ethics and ethical behavior belong exclusively to Christianity. I’ve met ethical Christians. I’ve met (extrememly) unethical ones too. The same follows for people of other faith, and of no faith at all.

Where I really see this thought — that ethical behavior does not require Christianity — is in the education sector. It seems that many would believe that the only way to teach ethics (or good citizenship, or whatever you want to call it) is by teaching religion in school. I disagree. I’ve started listening to the new book by former president Carter, and he fairly eloquently expresses how science and religion don’t contradict each other; they’re simply not in competition. Now, if only I can express the same thoughts when/if any discussion of intelligent design comes up when my brother’s family is here to visit…

…but most likely, I’ll sit back, smile, and not say a damned thing. My sister-in-law is pretty strict on her ideas, and that’s fine. For her. As long as she stays out of my head (and my daughter’s), it’s all good!

A comment on an earlier post made me realize that perhaps I should give Anne Lamott’s work a look. (Paper bag over head…I haven’t ever read her!)

A quick search on Amazon helped me realize that I’ve actually hear her interviewed, and that I’d already considered one of her books — she was featured on the Infinite Mind’s program about Writer’s Block! After perusing the list of her books on Amazon, I picked two more, so here are my purchases:

• Bird by Bird — I have to admit that I harbor the fantasy of writing a book (NOT a novel) and becoming published someday. Next week, I actually will start a short writing workshop that one of the moms in my local group is creating — focusing on the memoir, right up my alley.
• Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith — This one will likely be one that will push my buttons just as well as Blue Like Jazz did back in May. Wow, has it really only been a few short months since I discovered this wonderful world of “progressive” Christianity? It’s amazing how much one simple book recommendation could enrich my life.
• Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son’s First Year — I had no idea that like me, she was/is also a single mom. Considering that Maya turned one Friday, this should hit home.

Woohoo! Books!