"Perfection is the willingness to be imperfect."
Lao Tzu
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Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Yearn for the Impossible...
"I love those who yearn for the impossible."
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Monday, April 29, 2013
The Love Dare...
The Love Dare...
What would happen if today, you simply decided to give Love. Wherever you go. To all you meet. To every stranger you pass by.
It's easy. Wonderfully easy.
I do this often. Sitting in a café. Walking down the street. Driving in the car.
To every person that passes me by, I simply and quietly in my mind and under breath say,
"I wish you Love. I give you Love. Go on in Love."
Look as many people in the eye as you can. And the more you start saying these words, it almost feels like you're giving yourself the Love first.
You surrender to it. And that's when the wonder begins.
You walk differently. Lightly. Majestically I even dare say.
And there's this smile that you'll find on your face. A soft smile. And gentle. More so, there's a smile in your eyes.
That smile will sometimes catch people off guard. And sometimes you'll find a smile returned. Or an unknowingly knowing wink of the eye.
But you radiate that Love you are reminding yourself of. And that Love you are sending out. That you are sharing.
You surrender to it. And there's no denying it. It is simple and sweet surrender. And it takes with its entirety.
But trust me when I say, in those moments, you are causing wonders and miracles you may possibly never imagine you were capable of.
Those wonders will remain unknown secrets. To all those involved.
But sometimes, that's the greatest secret of the secret's secret. To do something, without a purpose or a cause. Other than Love.
No one will hear you. No one will know what's happening within. But some will sense magic.
And you are making a difference. You are.
I dare you. I sweetly and passionately dare you to Love.
Are you with me?
As I send you my Love,
Angela.
What would happen if today, you simply decided to give Love. Wherever you go. To all you meet. To every stranger you pass by.
It's easy. Wonderfully easy.
I do this often. Sitting in a café. Walking down the street. Driving in the car.
To every person that passes me by, I simply and quietly in my mind and under breath say,
"I wish you Love. I give you Love. Go on in Love."
Look as many people in the eye as you can. And the more you start saying these words, it almost feels like you're giving yourself the Love first.
You surrender to it. And that's when the wonder begins.
You walk differently. Lightly. Majestically I even dare say.
And there's this smile that you'll find on your face. A soft smile. And gentle. More so, there's a smile in your eyes.
That smile will sometimes catch people off guard. And sometimes you'll find a smile returned. Or an unknowingly knowing wink of the eye.
But you radiate that Love you are reminding yourself of. And that Love you are sending out. That you are sharing.
You surrender to it. And there's no denying it. It is simple and sweet surrender. And it takes with its entirety.
But trust me when I say, in those moments, you are causing wonders and miracles you may possibly never imagine you were capable of.
Those wonders will remain unknown secrets. To all those involved.
But sometimes, that's the greatest secret of the secret's secret. To do something, without a purpose or a cause. Other than Love.
No one will hear you. No one will know what's happening within. But some will sense magic.
And you are making a difference. You are.
I dare you. I sweetly and passionately dare you to Love.
Are you with me?
As I send you my Love,
Angela.
It is Time for Change?
"For the past thirtythree years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself this question: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been 'No' for too many days in a row, I knew I needed to change something."
Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs
My Beautiful Words on Facebook
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Something Bigger and Stronger...
"I don't have any idea of who or what God is. But I do believe in some great spiritual power. I feel it particularly when I’m out in nature. It’s just something that's bigger and stronger than what I am or what anybody is. I feel it. And it's enough for me."
Jane Goodall
Excerpts from "Reason for Hope. A Spiritual Journey"
Jane Goodall
Excerpts from "Reason for Hope. A Spiritual Journey"
Photographer: Unknown
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Respect and Love...
"Each one of us matters, has a role to play, and makes a difference in this world. Each one of us must take responsibility for our own lives, and above all, show respect and love for all living things around us. Especially for each other."
Jane Goodall
My Beautiful Words on Facebook
Serenity. Courage. Wisdom.
"God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change,
the courage to change the one I can,
and the wisdom to know it is me."
Unknown
Unknown
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Friday, April 26, 2013
Word of a Woman...
"A woman has to be intelligent, have charm, a sense of humor, and be kind.
These are the same qualities I require from a man."
Catherine Deneuve
Catherine Deneuve
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An End is a Beginning...
"For last year's words belong to last year's language
and next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning."
T.S. Eliot
T.S. Eliot
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The Most Precious Gift...
"The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention."
Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat Hanh
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Thursday, April 25, 2013
More Lilacs and Love Letters..
"You can't always Tango through life.
But you deserve more Lilacs and Love Letters."
Unknown.
Unknown.
These words, were found over twenty years ago in the US edition of Cosmopolitan Magazine. The amazing and inspiring Sabine Asgodom read them that day, and has since held on to those words all these years. Sharing them in her books, and her speeches. Thank Sabine, I was able to find them too.
And simply for my love of lilacs. I had to share this today.
There's a beautiful and passionate and playful truth in these words.
Much Loves,
Angela
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Sincerely Faith...
"Dear You, now it is time to follow your heart's deepest calling.
Sincerely, Faith."
Kelly Rae Roberts
Sincerely, Faith."
Kelly Rae Roberts
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Wednesday, April 24, 2013
A Journey of Life...
"You get a strange feeling when you are about to leave a place. you will not only miss the people you love, but you will miss the person you are now, at this time and this place, because you will never be this way ever again. But you are excited for the person you are swimming towards and look forward to the new you that awaits in the distance."
Azar Nafisi
Excerpts from "Reading Lolita in Tehran"
Azar Nafisi
Excerpts from "Reading Lolita in Tehran"
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Your Heart's Longing...
"It doesn't interest me what you do for a
living.
I want to know what you ache for and if you dare
to dream of
meeting your heart's longing."
Oriah Mountain Dreamer
Excerpts from "The Invitation"
The Invitation
It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, 'Yes.'
It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.
It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.
---------
By Oriah Mountain Dreamer from her book, THE INVITATION (c) 1999. Published by HarperONE, San Francisco. All rights reserved. Presented with permission of the author. www.oriah.org
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It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, 'Yes.'
It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.
It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.
---------
By Oriah Mountain Dreamer from her book, THE INVITATION (c) 1999. Published by HarperONE, San Francisco. All rights reserved. Presented with permission of the author. www.oriah.org
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Your Mantra of Choice...
"Your mantra of choice is this.
'I'll figure it out.'"
Danielle LaPorte
My Beautiful Words on Facebook
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
As Only You Can...
"The one thing you have that nobody else has is you.
Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision.
So write and draw and build and play
and dance and live as only you can."
Neil Gaimann
Neil Gaimann
My Beautiful Words on Facebook
I Do Believe...
"I do believe we are all connected. I do believe in positive energy.
I do believe in the power of prayer.
I do believe in putting good out into the world.
And I believe in taking good care of each other."
Harvey Fierstein
Harvey Fierstein
My Beautiful Words on Facebook
Monday, April 22, 2013
Listening to Your Soul...
"Put your ear down close to your Soul. And listen hard."
Annie Dillard
Annie Dillard
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Sing Anyway...
"Some days there won't be a song in your heart.
Sing anyway."
Emory Austin
Emory Austin
My Beautiful Words on Facebook
Sunday, April 21, 2013
My Wish for You...
"My wish for you is that you feel the full breath of possibility.
That you feel your fears and act anyway.
That you listen to what is calling you.
That you find the sacred in the ordinary.
And that love and kindness always embrace your heart."
Kelly Rae Roberts
Kelly Rae Roberts
My Beautiful Words on Facebook
When You Practise Gratefulness...
"When you practise gratefulness,
there is a sense of great respect towards others."
The Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama
Photograph: Manuel Bauer
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Saturday, April 20, 2013
The Taurus...
The Taurus.
Patient. Persistent. Placid.
For all of Taurus.
You are Patient. You are Persistent. You are Placid.
And I would say... You are wonderful.
April 20 - May 20
Much Loves,
Angela
My Beautiful Words on Facebook
You are the Duchess...
"You are The Dutchess of everything today.
You have every reason to strut. Do just that."
You have every reason to strut. Do just that."
Maya Angelou
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Loves's Greatest Gift...
"Love's greatest gift is its ability
to make everything it touches sacred."
Barbara de Angelis
Barbara de Angelis
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Weekend Assignment...
Weekend Assignment.
"Do something entirely dedicated to you.
"Do something entirely dedicated to you.
Because you deserve it."
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
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Friday, April 19, 2013
The Power of Love...
"When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power,
the world will know true Peace."
Sri Chinmoy Ghose
Sri Chinmoy Ghose
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The Power of Decision...
"Making a decision is only the beginning of things.
When someone makes a decision, he is really diving
into a strong current that will carry him to places
he had never dreamt of when he first made the decision."
Paulo Coelho
Paulo Coelho
The Power of Decision.
Today, this is dedicated to a dear friend.
And today, this is dedicated to me.
With Love.
Angela
And today, this is dedicated to me.
With Love.
Angela
My Beautiful Words on Facebook
But What if...
"But what if it really is possible?"
The Question of the Day.
Much Loves,
Angela.
Angela.
My Beautiful Words on Facebook
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Wanderlust...
"Wanderlust. The irresistible desire to travel,
and to understand one's very existence."
Unknown
Unknown
Word of the day. Wanderlust.
And it starts in the Heart.
Much Loves,
Angela.
My Beautiful Words on Facebook
The Love of Thousands...
"Walking, I am listening to a deeper way.
Suddenly all my ancestors are behind me. Be still they say.
Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of thousands."
Linda Hogan
Native American Writer
Linda Hogan
Native American Writer
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Wednesday, April 17, 2013
To Love With All My Heart...
"I can still remember what it feels like to love with all my heart"
Elva Azzara
Elva Azzara
[June 28, 1908 - December 26, 2010]
Photograph: Joyce Tenneson
"While Joyce was photographing for her book in a senior citizen home in Sacramento, California, she happened to notice Elva Azzara. Joyce felt that Elva was fragile like a bird, with beautiful hands. As she photographed, she asked Elva to tell her readers something personal and Elva closed her eyes to think. At that moment, Joyce pushed the shutter release and caught a very special moment.
When Elva opened her eyes she said, 'I can still remember what it feels like to love with all my heart'. This photograph and these words are the last page and words of the book, 'Wise Women'."
[From Joyce Tenneson's book, "Wise Women"]
This book, is one of the most treasured books I have. I find beauty in the photographs. But more so, beautiful in these wise women, in their stories... The unspoken stories.
When Elva opened her eyes she said, 'I can still remember what it feels like to love with all my heart'. This photograph and these words are the last page and words of the book, 'Wise Women'."
[From Joyce Tenneson's book, "Wise Women"]
This book, is one of the most treasured books I have. I find beauty in the photographs. But more so, beautiful in these wise women, in their stories... The unspoken stories.
Much Loves,
Angela
Angela
My Beautiful Words on Facebook
The Most Beautiful Word...
"The most beautiful word on the lips of mankind is the word "Mother" and the most beautiful call is the call of "My Mother". It is a word full of hope and love, a sweet and kind word coming from the depths of the heart. The mother is everything. She is our consolation in sorrow, our hope in misery, and our strength in weakness. She is the source of love, mercy, sympathy, and forgiveness."
Khalil Gibran
For all the beautiful Mothers. Thank you.
And for my Mother. Thank you.
Much Loves,
Angela.
And for my Mother. Thank you.
Much Loves,
Angela.
My Beautiful Words on Facebook
And in Every Beginning...
"And in every beginning lives a magic within.
There to protect us and to help us to live."
Hermann Hesse
Hermann Hesse
My Beautiful Words on Facebook
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
You Are Beautiful...
"You are more beautiful than you think."
And pass the message. We all need to be reminded.
http://mashable.com/2013/04/15/dove-ad-beauty-sketches/
Much Loves,
Angela.
My Beautiful Words on Facebook
Take Good Care...
"I have come to believe that caring for myself is not self indulgent.
Caring for myself is an act of survival."
Audre Lorde
Audre Lorde
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Monday, April 15, 2013
Lost and Found of Love...
"We lose ourselves in the things we love.
We find ourselves there too."
Kristin Martz
Kristin Martz
My Beautiful Words on Facebook
Dear Monday...
"Dear Monday.
Thank you for having the word 'mon' in you. That is french for 'mine', in case you weren't aware and it makes me think of you as 'my day'. And quite frankly, that sounds like a much more promising way to start the week."
Unknown
Thank you for having the word 'mon' in you. That is french for 'mine', in case you weren't aware and it makes me think of you as 'my day'. And quite frankly, that sounds like a much more promising way to start the week."
Unknown
My Beautiful Words on Facebook
Sunday, April 14, 2013
When Spring Comes...
"The wonderful thing about Spring,
she comes when we most dearly need her."
Jean Paul
Jean Paul
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Say it Now...
"Life is short.
There is no time to leave important words unsaid."
Paulo Coelho
My Beautiful Words on Facebook
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Heimat Loves You...
Heimat is your roots. Heimat is where you come from. Heimat is home.
There are no borders with Heimat. And sometimes I believe, Heimat isn't even a country.
It is simply your story. It is what you were born into. But also, what you choose to live.
Stefan Strumbel, a German artist, is currently one of the most appraised artists of our time.
The New York Times acclaims him. Karl Lagerfeld loves him.
(And I am proud to call him my neighbour.)
Stefan gave new birth and meaning to the word "Heimat". He provoked it. He challenged it.
But mostly, he gave Love to it. And Respect. And he's done it without words.
He's done it with colour. With passion. With attitude. With integrity.
So tell me. If you were to define Heimat, what would it be to you?
What is your story? What is your passion?
And where are you going to take it?
Make Heimat your word. Because Heimat loves you.
Print "Heimat Loves You"
Limited Edition of 100. For Art Karlsruhe.
Copyright Stefan Strumbel