Yes, despite the fact that I’ve already taken a pop at the Catholic Church this month, I thought I’d link you over to this no-holds-barred cartoon at the excellent Wulff Morgenthaler site.
In Northern Ireland, well Ireland as a whole, the Catholic Chruch seem to have been pretty lax in dealing with allegations of sexual misconduct by members of the clergy. The cartoon says it all.
For the last year, I’ve been an avid reader of Steve Pavlina’s ‘personal development for smart people’ blog.
If you’re not familiar with Steve’s writing, he tends to deal with a wide range of self-help topics infused with some notes on blogging and income generation. His posts vary from the blindingly sensible to more offbeat views of life like his recent theories on subjective reality.
There’s something new-agey about Steve Pavlina’s writing, and what I particularly like about it is that he sometimes explores radically different viewpoints on life. The subjective reality ideas in particular are worthy of consideration, whether you accept them or not (I’m borderline). Some people aren’t so impressed, though.
My approach to Pavlina’s writing comes from a secular/athiest perspective. I’m sceptical of mystical explanations of life. I believe that human beings use only a small percentage of their brains. I believe that we repress a lot of our natural ability as we learn (and conform to) social trends. I believe that people like Steve Pavlina are exploring ways to reconnect with the human potential we lost during our childhood. I really do.
So, before you cart me off to the funny farm, take a look at Steve’s blog and tell me what you think. Subjective reality isn’t a good place to start. Maybe read his post on Bears and Eagles or the posts about polyphasic sleep, which I find really interesting.
Stumbled across this Top Ten Signs You’re a Fundamentalist Christian article. Here’s a taster:
10. You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours.
I love reading this sort of stuff, as it’s great food for thought. Yes, it’s utterly scathing and disrespectful, but doesn’t it take an article like this to make you realise that your point of view is screwed up? Human beings are inconsistent by nature, so when we pick a religion or a political stance or even a prefered taste in music, we build up a one-sided view of the world.
I don’t deny it - I’m the same. As an aitheist, it baffles me how people can conjure up the idea of one true God. The act of faith is too much of a leap for me, I just can’t conceive of an all-seeing, all-knowing God, especially considering the pain and injustice in the world today.
Which leads me to religion in schools: Surely instead of pushing a singular religious agenda in schools, more needs to be done to educate kids about the variety of religions that exist? Or would that raise the question of “How do we know Catholicism is the right religion, Mummy?”
I meant to write about Chris Jackson’s The Abundance Site some time ago, but this has been languishing in my drafts folder, so I thought I’d share it here.
Mrs Levee and I know (more than our fair share of) miserable people. People who feel they are downtrodden, that the world is against them in every conceivable way. People who simply don’t enjoy life. Nothing ever goes right for them, people talk behind their backs, they’re always ill with something or other. They’re incapable of caring about anything other than their own problems, such is their self-involvement.
I find one of the common characteristics of these depressing, misguided creatures is the sheer chaos that defines their mental processes. So disorganised are their thoughts that they can only concentrate on the problem, rather than considering solutions. And so they seek solace in spilling out their problems to everyone they meet, accepting short-term sympathy instead of seeking a positive fix.
I’m not disparaging these people, I know what I’m talking about! I went through a period a few years ago where I was terribly dissatisfied with my life and what I’d achieved. This led to a lot of moaning and grumbling, and I was a complete bear to live with during that time (*sorry Mrs L!).
In recent years, I’ve learned that there’s a lot wrong with modern society, and that the values and pressures of modern life are just not healthy. In realising that, I’ve spent more time seeking what is important in life. Take this quote from The Abundance Site:
A friend of mine once said of his business partner, ?He?s given up his life in the single-minded pursuit of wealth. And now, wealth is all he has. So he obsesses about losing it. Since he never had a life, he has no idea of what to do with his money, even if he had time to enjoy it, which he doesn?t because he?s so accustomed to the treadmill he can?t even imagine getting off. Of course, the beautiful thing about the pursuit of money is that you?ve never got enough. So he keeps on chasing it, simply because he has no idea of what else to do with his life.? Barry Maher
The Abundance Site offers some simple, inspirational pearls of wisdom. Sometimes, when you’re blinkered by the trials and tribulations of everyday life, a visit to Chris’ site makes you stop for a minute and reprioritise.
The beauty of The Abundance Site is that it isn’t pushing a way of life on you, but - for me - provides a gentle reminder that the relentless cycle of modern life isn’t necessary and to slow down from time to time and enjoy life.
It’s funny how easy it is to forget these to take a step back. I originally wrote this piece back in October last year, but couldn’t find a slot to post it.
In that time - as regular readers know - I hit difficulties with my job and fell into every one of the symptoms I described above! I believe that I’m overcoming those negative tendencies now, I’ll just have to re-read this post every now and again!
I’ve since discovered Jangly Ganglia, a site by Andrea Schwandt-Arbogast where she aims to post one positive experience per day to remind herself that good things happen every day! It’s a great site, and I’m looking forward to see what Andrea will build there.
I hope this post helps any of you who are in a bit of a funk right now!
No, this is not the aftermath of a night of hot lovin’. Not that it’s any of your business 
Better than that, I just found a KitKat in my drawer that I’d been saving for a rainy day! Now, all I need is a hot cup of tea and I’m all set for the day ahead!
I saw a real class act yesterday while out and about.
At that point, there was a cool breeze blowing and a clear blue sky. Driving up the Springfield Road in Belfast, just past the junction at Lanark Way I saw a man walking with two women. In his hand, a no-doubt-chilled bottle of white wine.
As I got closer, the classy fella raised the bottle to his lips, threw back his head and started draining the bottle. He was still going when I checked in the rear view mirror a moment later!
I just hope he wiped the neck of the bottle before sharing with his lady friends!
What on earth possses people to be so openly negative? I was at my daughters nursery open day yesterday when I got talking to a woman who I have met before a handful of times at most. She obviously noticed I was pregnant and began offer me her sympathies as according to her the third child is the worst. She herself has 4 but says she almost had a nervous breakdown after her third because of all the upheaval it caused in the household. She assures me that this is the case for everyone, and went on to cite many of her friends experiences.
I am under no illusions, obviously another child will bring more work, and things will be a little more hectic (if thats possible!) but I have been trying to stay positive throughout the pregnancy as I really don’t believe in worrying or obsessing about things that you cannot change. I am also hoping that 3 children will = 3 times more love and happiness in the house. Children aren’t just there to be fed, dressed, washed and brought to school, its not just a chore to me, I get immense pleasure from spending time with and watching over my brood and I am hoping that along with the extra tasks a new baby will bring, this pleasure will increase accordingly.
But its hard to stay positive if all you are hearing is horror stories, people are so quick to tell me that I will have my hands full, and how hard things will be for me. Yet for all these sympathisers very few will ever offer a helping hand. I was extremely tired yesterday and not on top form, to hear from yet another mum how hard things are going to be really brought me down. Why do people need to do that? I would never do that to another person, especially one I didn’t know very well.
The whole scenario reminds me of the months leading up to my wedding. While we were planning the wedding people often congratulated us and gushed about the arrangements and our future ahead. But that all changed as soon as the rings were on the fingers! After that all we got were commiserations, Mr Levee was bombarded with comments about the ball and chain and women felt compelled to tell me of their experiences of marriage, very few of them were positive.
I know this has turned into a bit of a ramble, maybe it won’t even make sense to anyone else, but I have just been so frustrated by people always looking for the clouds rather than the silver lining. If people are truly that negative they need to keep it to themselves, I don’t want them to bring me down with them!
Following a few years where I really lost my way, the last couple of months I really feel like I’ve got my Mojo back!
I’ve talked to Mrs Levee about this, and we both feel the same way. Elevated, lighthearted, happy. Life is great: we’re getting things done, designing websites with relative ease, selling stuff on eBay for a tidy profit, engaging with the kids, keeping up with the household chores and more!
A few years ago, things were completely different. I hated the firm I work for, hated the job I did. There never seemed to be enough time to do everything I wanted to do. And money. Never enough money.
Even if we got a babysitting offer, we couldn’t actually afford to go out. We’d stay in with a video.
How were we going to decorate our house? How would we be able to run two cars? What about clothes, food, incidental expenses? The list was bloody endless, believe me.
Recently though, possibly since we discovered we were expecting our third child, our outlook has changed. We’re not doing anything different that we can see. It just feels different. Almost everything is a joy at the moment. Websites, eBay, nappies, Spanish classes, work, children, wife and me - all clicking, all working together.
All I know is I feel brilliant at the moment. I spent two hours at a Spanish class last night and drove away with a huge grin on my face. Just happy to be with other people and having fun.
When I got back to the house Mrs Levee and I talked about it. Why is everything so good at the moment? Will it last? Where did the good vibes come from? All we can say is that our outlook has changed. For one thing, we’re no longer money-driven. We’re trying to experience life - not just muster through. We’re taking time to enjoy life, but bizarrely, we’re achieving much more.
If the business takes off, we’re not hoping to become rich beyond our wildest dreams - we’d both settle for me being able to run the business from home and be financially secure. Time together, and with the kids is the most important thing right now.
More and more recently, I’ve found myself walking around with that grin, like I’m ten feet tall! The Mojo is back. Long may it last!
Haisheng at This Is A Revolution posted the lyrics from Enigma’s Return To Innocence recently.
I know it’s hard to make out the words in the original song, but when you see them laid out like this, they are truly profound! Take note…
Wow, a new Pope. . .
Let’s get things straight - I’m a former Catholic (accident of birth, I’m afraid). These days I have precious little interest in the church, and it’s been this way for the last. . .hmmmmm. . . twelve years.
On the other hand, I was surprised at the widespread media interest when John Paul II passed away. Now, despite my beliefs, I developed a profound respect for John Paul II during these days. He was obviously a man of peace and led by example by taking an inclusive stance on people of other religeons. But this is about papal elections, not John Paul II.
I was over in Bracknell today for a meeting, and found myself in the departure lounge in Heathrow for the return flight at about 5:00pm this evening. The BBC news was on, live from Vatican City. Initially, I gave it a cursory glance while I looked in my bag for something to occupy the next half-hour. What actually drew me to the news was the focus on the small chimney above the Sistine Chapel, and a bit of babble about the colour of the smoke.
Now, this was legendary stuff! I was to young to remember the election of John Paul II on 1978, but I heard all about it from my mother. Betcha the TV coverage wasn’t as good then, though!
It slowly dawned on me how interested I’d become. Then, as I looked around, I discovered the most of the departure lounge was enraptured too. We were all watching history unfold. Whatever my own convictions, I could feel the excitement of the crowd in St Peter’s Square, and I felt happy for them. The Roman Catholic church has an estimated following of 1 BILLION people: it’s deadly important that they can unite behind a strong figurehead. Hopefully Benedict XVI will follow in the large footsteps of his predecessor.
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