I was checking in on one of my FaceBook Groups (for poets) today when I saw a post entitled “Down with rubbish poetry!”. Being the person I am, I had to go read it. I wish I hadn’t because it really pissed me off.

A member was deciding to start their own group for “serious poets” and had made a post about the “rubbish” stating: “Poems that are only about how you feel are self indulgent, boring pieces of crap that no discerning reader would ever care about. Keep them to yourself for goodness sake. Or put a bit more thought into it and write something interesting using craftmanship and skill. Don’t know how? Read some poetry books. Don’t have any poetry books? Read some good poetry online.”  This person also suggests looking for “rubbish” poetry, and telling the writers that it is such.

Really? I seriously wonder who died and made this person the God of Poetry. I’m not going to name names, because this person has the right to think whatever they want. However, I think it was rude, and quite frankly, wrong.

Poetry is supposed to be about expressing oneself. There is no right or wrong way to write poetry. I had a very wonderful teacher who actually admonished me for constant rhyming and trying to follow styles I thought to be “right” when it came to poetry. When I began writing from the heart, and threw style out the window, he said I’d finally become a good poet.

And what’s wrong with writing about our own feelings? If I write about my feelings, and a reader can relate, and feels the emotion of the piece, then I believe I have done well. When another writes of their emotions, and I feel it through their work, I’d say they did well also. I believe every poet should write from the heart, not write what someone else tells them they should be writing about.

I am especially appalled at the idea that one should go around telling others that their work is garbage. Now, I’m all for constructive criticism. If you don’t think someone’s work is good, then tell them what’s wrong, and be sure it is unbiased, objective advice. You not personally liking a piece doesn’t mean it’s bad, it just means it’s not for you. I have read famous poetry and thought it was crap, but the fact that I didn’t like it doesn’t mean it was bad, it just didn’t suit my taste. So constructive, objective criticism is fine. For instance, I saw a piece on that group which had no capitalization, no punctuation, poor and repetitive word use, and no flow whatsoever. If I had chosen to, I might have suggested that they try breaking up the lines, using punctuation, and keeping a thesaurus handy for more creative word options. I would not tell them it was a piece of rubbish, even if I thought it was.

Needless to say, I won’t be joining the new group. I love my work, and even readers who didn’t care for the subject matter have told me it’s all very well written. I’d rather be part of a group that encourages writers to compose with feeling, explore various writing styles or the lack thereof, and gives them confidence with constructive criticism and praise when warranted.

If you’re a writer, don’t ever let someone tell you your writing is crap. If they can’t tell you why without entering their personal preferences into it, they’re not worth listening to. Write what you feel, and how you feel it. If you want to write about your emotions, do it. If you want to write about the beauty of a streetlight or the ocean on a moonlight night, do that. Do what feels right for you. Only listen to criticism that helps you find yourself and make your work better, not the type that tries to make you write to suit someone else’s tastes.

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2. How to Write Poetry for Therapy | eHow.com
3. My Poetry

Couple Celebrates 50 Years of Once-Forbidden Love

While most young couples held hands on the streets, Laurence and Lena Nelson were forced to hide their relationship. In an era of segregation and blatant racism, it was a dangerous time for an interracial couple to be in love. But for Laurence and Lena, it was worth the risk.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on February 07 2010

Like thousands of other couples, Laurence and Lena Nelson just celebrated their golden anniversary.

Most couples who’ve been together for that long have all kinds of cute stories about meeting up at the malt shop, going on hayrides, prom dances, and other charming tales of 1950s-style love.

Things were a little different for the Nelsons, though: When they went on dates, they met in secret, afraid they’d be arrested if they were spotted together. For years, they were forbidden from marrying, but when they finally eloped in November 1957, they told only their family members and close friends about the union.

While most young couples held hands on the streets, parading their love before the world, Laurence and Lena were forced to hide their relationship behind locked doors. In an era of segregation and blatant racism, it was a dangerous time for an interracial couple to be in love.

But for Laurence and Lena, their relationship was worth the risk.

Laurence and Lena began working at the same place in 1956, but it took months for Laurence to work up the nerve to ask Lena out. He was afraid that she would never consider dating an African-American man, particularly in a time when blacks were not even permitted to drink water from the same fountains as whites. But when Laurence finally talked to Lena, he realized he shouldn’t have worried.

“She didn’t look at me as black; I didn’t look at her as white,” Lawrence told The Arizona Republic. “Our hearts,” Lena added, “didn’t know the difference.”

Still, things weren’t easy for the Nelsons in those days, and they were forced to make many sacrifices – even their own families.

“My father… told me that if I married Lawrence I didn’t need to come home anymore,” said Lena. “I cried and tried to talk him out of it. But it never worked.”

Despite the difficulties they faced, the Nelsons know that their love was worth fighting for. And their two sons, Larry and Nelson, are proud of their parents for paving the way in the struggle for racial equality and acceptance.

“The sacrifices my parents made are tremendous,” Nelson said. “I don’t think I could do what my mother did, and anything I can do for my parents, I will.”

Originally published February 14th, 2008.

*****

Personal Note:

I think this is a truly inspiring story. These two people found love, and despite everything that was stacked against them, their love held true, and they stayed together. I think every couple hopes to be able to attain this kind of happiness and longevity.

The sad fact is, that even in today’s society, people are still trying to make relationships work when society doesn’t approve. Bi-racial relationships are not nearly as taboo as they once were, as a matter of fact, in many areas, they are almost commonplace. We have begun to look past color as a reason why people should not love one another. This is wonderful, but there are still hurtles to overcome.

In today’s society, homosexual relationships are still within the realm of taboo, and gay marriage is a hot point in the government and media. But, shouldn’t marriage be open to any committed couple? As humans, we have a divine right to experience and share love. We all seek to find that other half that will make us whole. Love is love, regardless of the race, religion or sexual preference of the people sharing that love, so long as they are human and of consenting age.

I personally support gay marriage. I hope to see a day when the government and religious groups realize they have no place in people’s bedrooms, and that all humans have the right to wed the one they love. I know that there are homosexual couples, that despite their inability to marry, have had longer-lasting and more devoted relationships than most heterosexual couples could ever hope for.

I encourage you to support marriage and love for all. Tell the government to keep it’s nose out, and allow consenting adults to marry, regardless of their gender, color, religion or any other labels. Contrary to extremist beliefs, gay marriage will not lead to bestiality or pedophilia.  It will only lead to more loving happy relationships, where people are free to be themselves and not hide their love from the world. We all deserve to love and be loved.

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Austrian Multi-Millionare Karl Rabeder Sells Off Fortune and Gives Proceeds to Charity

Karl Rabeder, a multi-millionare businessman from Austria, recently decided to trade in his luxury life for simplicity, and is donating the proceeds of all of his possessions to a microfinance charity.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on February 10 2010

Now, all of his luxurious trappings are either gone or up for sale. You might guess that Rabeder got too greedy, fell into debt, and is now paying the price, but in fact, his sacrifice is completely voluntary: “My idea is to have nothing left. Absolutely nothing,” he told The Daily Telegraph. “Money is counterproductive – it prevents happiness to come.”

Born to a poor family, Rabeder had become wealthy through a combination of luck and hard work. But as he became more and more successful, instead of enjoying his wealth, he began feeling troubled by his luxurious life. A three-week Hawaiian vacation with his wife was the breaking point.

“In those three weeks, we spent all the money you could possibly spend,” he said. But in all that time, we had the feeling we hadn’t met a single real person – that we were all just actors. The staff played the role of being friendly and the guests played the role of being important and nobody was real.”

Meanwhile, he became aware of the huge chasm between his life and the lives of people in developing countries, who lack basic necessities like food and clean water. So he recently made a drastic decision: to sell off everything he owned, and give all of the proceeds to the microfinance charity he had launched, which helped people in South America launch their own businesses.

Rabeder has handed off his lucrative company. He’s already sold his gliders, and his two homes are on the market now. His next home will be something small, simple, and cheap.

And does he have even a hint of regret about giving up all of his possessions? Doesn’t seem that way: these days, Rabeder says, he feels “free, the opposite of heavy.”

****

Personal Note:

I don’t believe that having money damages your life. Personally, I’m on a journey to free myself from the shackles of poverty, and experience the good life. However, I truly applaud this man for what he’s doing. If having that much money made him feel bad, then by all means, he should get rid of it and live a life that makes him more complete. For those of us who have never experienced wealth, it may seem insane, but the real goal in life is to become whatever we are truly meant to be, and find our own happiness.

That’s one of the things that the Secret teaches. We don’t all want the same thing, so even if we all get what we want, there will still be plenty to go around. I want to have financial stability, a bit more than I really need, and a successful business. Some want massive riches, some want utter simplicity, some really want for nothing but inner peace.

I do think that there’s a lesson to be learned though. People who have amassed millions should really do some good with at least a portion of their money. There is no need for people to have multi-million dollar homes, more cars than they can drive, clothes that they throw away after wearing once, and other status possessions. Many celebrities and rich people are just trying to outdo their peers, and the ways they use their money do not truly bring them happiness. I would love to see more of the wealthy sharing their money with those in need. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if no one in the world had to want? Wouldn’t it be fantastic if everyone had enough to eat, clothes to wear, a roof over their head…? The rich people of the world could help make that happen if they would just let go of greed and feel the happiness and fulfillment of giving.

When I tap into the riches that are waiting for me, I fully intend to donate to homeless shelters, libraries, animal shelters and other worthy causes. If you have great wealth, think about sharing it. Think about getting rid of those status possessions that you don’t really need, and experience the joy of giving to someone who has never been as lucky as you are. You will be doing yourself and the world a great service.

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I’m all for people learning and growing and becoming the best person they can be, so I figured I’d share a few things that have been helping me, and hopefully they’ll help you as well.

The Secret
This is where it all started for me. I watched the movie, listened to the audiobook, and it really changed the way I think, act and view the world.

Joe Vitale
Joe Vitale talks about some of the things that were missing from The Secret, and helps you expand your awareness, and truly change the way you think and live.

Other Resources
Some other works that can help you on your path to becoming a better you.

No related posts.

I’ve taken some time today to move some things around on the blog, and clean stuff up a bit.

I haven’t done much with the blog in a while, and it seemed like the thing to do. I’ve decided to take a much-needed vacation from all the overworking I’ve been doing lately, and just do some stuff that I enjoy. I used to love blogging, so I’m going to try to get back to it a bit.

I have no idea what future blogs are going to be about, but I have a feeling I’ll be writing more in the near future. I do know that I want to share some news here. However, I’m not going to be like most people… Most people I see posting news on their blog, FaceBook or whatever, are always posting all the gloom and doom that the media is always shoving down people’s throats anyway. I intend to find GOOD news and share it.

I made a post on my FaceBook a while back asking people to stop posting negative news for 30 days, just to see if they could do it. No one could. It’s sad if you ask me. People can’t focus on anything but negativity. Even posting about the unfortunate climate and weather events is bad news. I wish people would stop. I wish they would try to spread some cheer and hope instead of reminding us of all the bad there is in the world. There is a lot of good out there, if people would only take the time to look for it. It gets buried by the media, because people, for whatever insane reason, prefer pain and suffering over hope and prosperity. I don’t know what’s wrong with people, but I’m going to do my little part to make it different.

With any luck, my positive posts will spread the way that bad news does, and others will start to post better news as well. If you think about it, it would do the world a lot of good if we could make positive news into a trend. Can you imagine how people’s emotions would shift if they were being filled with the good news of the world instead of the bad? People would have hope, they would smile and laugh and tell others, and it would spread and infect others with that happiness.

So… That’s one of the things I’m going to be working on. I’ll do it when I can, and hopefully it will do good for the world. If not, it’ll at least make me feel better that I’m pulling myself away from the ugliness and making myself feel good.

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Hi. My name is CreepShow, but everyone just calls me Creep. I’m looking for a good home. I’m a male Ragdoll. I’m at least 5 years old, but no one knows my real age. I haven’t been fixed, but I don’t have much interest in girl cats, even when they’re in season. I’ve been outdoors a long time, so when you adopt me, you’ll have to keep me inside so I won’t run away. I have big blue eyes, and they’re kinda crossed. That’s how I got my name. I love to be petted and brushed (with hair like mine, I need my ‘do taken care of!), and I’m really quiet. I’m a good boy, but I wouldn’t do well with other cats. Truth be told, I’m a big pushover. I’ll let other cats scare me off and eat my food. Speaking of food, I really like turkey and cheese, so please stock up before taking me in!

Now I’ll let my friend take the stage…

Hello. My name is Pandora. I’m looking for a good home too. I’m a female Tuxedo. I haven’t been fixed, as a matter of fact, Miss Briana adopted my daughter, Jynx (Boy has she got the good life now!). I’m at least 3 years old, but no one knows for sure. I’ve been outdoors for some time, but I love being in the house. If you feed and love me, I will stay. I’m okay with other cats, as long as they don’t mess with my food. I like to be petted and rubbed, but I don’t care for being picked up just yet. I think I could get used to it though, Jynx sure did! I’ll eat anything, and as longs as I’m warm and loved, I’ll be happy.

If you’re interested in either me or Creep, please contact Miss Briana. She will take us inside so you can come get us. She’s going to be moving soon, so we really need to have good places to live. It’s awfully cold outside! Miss Briana is keeping us fed and loved for now, but she sure wants us to get happy homes before she moves. Please contact her if you can take one or both of us in. We’d be really grateful!

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In my last post, I said that I have been making lists of the good things I’m seeing in my life. It just now popped into my head, the difference between what I’m doing, and the typical “positive thinking” that people talk about.

I know a lot of people talk about “The power of positive thinking”, and how wonderful it is. However, a lot of people think it’s a load of crap, and they’re partly right. Let me explain… The thing is, thinking positive thoughts is very powerful, and can be a great thing for your life. However, there’s a difference between REAL positive thoughts, and denial and lying to yourself. Most people want you to be in a state of denial, where you’re telling yourself things that simply aren’t true. If you’re lying on your deathbed, thinking that you’re in perfect health is a lie, and you’ll know it. If you have no money, thinking that you’re rich beyond your dreams is a lie. Lying to yourself doesn’t work.

Here’s the trick: you need to think positive things that are TRUE. If you don’t have money, but you want it, and you need positive thoughts about money, try thinking “I like paying my bills on time.”, “I love having plenty of money in the bank.”, “I do good things with my money.”, etc. If you’re sick, think things like “I’m becoming healthier every day.”, “I like it when I feel good.”, “I love having pain-free days.”, etc. Combine that with listing off the things in your life that are good, no matter how small they may be, and you start to change your way of thinking and looking at your life. Make sure you really look for the good, even if a good thing in your day is that you got to eat a food you like, or heard a song you love. No good thing is too small to be thankful for.

So, no matter what people tell you, lying to yourself and being in denial is not going to make your life better. I know people that will see something bad in their life, or in another person, and they just pretend it isn’t there. That is not going to get you anywhere. If something bad happens, denial won’t fix it. Accept that it is, and then allow yourself to think of what you would prefer. As an example, if you get in a fight with someone, instead of pretending it didn’t happen, accept that it did, and think about how you would prefer your relationship with that person to be. It is crucial that you LEARN from bad things. Every unpleasant event is a chance for you to change and grow. It happened to you, or in your view, for a reason. You should learn from it so that it won’t happen again.

So, think positive things that are true, learn from bad things and mistakes, and experience the joy of growing into a wonderful and enlightened person.

Want more? Go get:

The Secret (Extended Edition)

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I have spent a lot of my life thinking that everything just sucked. I hated myself, and everyone else. I though there was nothing good that would ever happen to me.

Some years back I really started working on changing myself, and changing my life. I’ve learned that there are some really important things you need to learn in order to grow and become a better person with a better life. You need to stop blaming, change your reactions, and be grateful. There’s more, but today I’m going to talk about being grateful.

For the longest time my life has seemed so bad, that I didn’t think I had anything to be grateful for. “I’ll be grateful when…” was something I thought a lot. “I don’t have” and “I need” came up a lot as well. Even though I’ve spent the last few years, and 2009 in particular, working on my spirituality, my self, and my life, I still felt depressed and lacking. Things would get better for a while, then they’d just go back to being lousy again.

A little over a week ago, inspiration tapped me on the shoulder and said “Hey, start making a list every day of what is good in your life.” Initially, I thought, “That’s gonna be a short list.” And it was. The first list had about 7 things on it that I thought were good that day. But it felt good knowing that there were at least a few little things that weren’t horrible. So I did it again the next day. Lo and behold, the list was longer, and I felt happier when I was writing it. I have written a list every day, and my last list had 27 things on it.

I’m writing down anything good that I notice, from having reasons to laugh, to getting a gift, to sales at the store and even my skin clearing up. At the end of each day I sit down and do this, and the lists get longer every day. I’m really starting to notice how much I already have in my life to be thankful for. Sure, I want more, and there’s nothing wrong with wanting to make my life better. I think though, that never being truly grateful for what I already had, kept me from getting anything else. I suppose God wouldn’t really want to give anything to someone who doesn’t even feel grateful for what they already have.

So now I’m seeing the good in my life, and I seem to be getting more of it every day. I feel better about myself and my life, and it really feels like things are on a certain upswing. I’m telling you this because making these lists has helped me so much, and it could help you too. Maybe you’re already grateful and happy, and your life is exactly what you want. If so, that’s awesome. If not, maybe making lists like I am would lift you up and bring you to better things.

I hope it helps you, and I know it’s helping me. I’m going to keep making these lists every day, and I bet in the future I’ll have pages and pages of wonderful things to look back on and be amazed by.

Currently Listening to:

Adam Ant – Wonderful

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I was thinking about resolutions last night. I never make them, because it seems silly to promise something just because it’s the first of the year, knowing we often make resolutions we won’t keep. However, it did get me thinking about what I want in 2010.

My goal for 2010 is to find someone to manage my Zazzle stores, and to sell my handcrafted wares, so that I can focus on creation. I don’t really enjoy managing the POD shops, I’m not a marketing guru, but I AM really into creating art and items, and that’s what I really love.

I stopped making new art and products, because I have such a hard time getting sales. So, what I want in the coming year is to find someone to take over adding items to Zazzle and Bonanzle, and marketing them, so I can focus my time and talent on creating. I want to make new art, and when I get in the groove, I can create up to a dozen new digital designs a day. With the mandalas, I can do even more! And I love making jewelry and other accessories. That’s what I want, is to be  a maker, not a seller. I’d be more than happy to cut someone in on every sale, if they would do the parts I don’t like doing.

I’d also like to have time to work on my writing. I have so many creative things I want to do, and that I CAN do, I just need someone to take over listing and advertising so I can use my talent where it counts. If you’re reading this, and maybe you’re not so much with the creative, but you’re great at listing, writing descriptions and advertising, please contact me. I’ll work out a deal that makes everyone happy.

I miss creating new things. I think that’s what I’m meant to do in life, because I have such joy when I make things. Nothing is quite as satisfying as creating something, then standing back and enjoying the beauty of it. That’s what I want in 2010.

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Luxor Amun Rising

Luxor is one of my personal favorite games. I got hooked on Zuma ages ago, and when I found the Luxor series, I liked them even better.

Luxor is a marble shooting game with an Egyptian theme, and easy-to-learn gameplay. It’s incredibly addictive. The graphics are nice, and there are some amusing images in the heiroglyphs that back each stage.

I personally prefer the side-to-side shooting that Luxor provides over the rotating center shooting of Zuma, but you may disagree.

There isn’t a whole lot to say about this game, because it’s simple, straight-forward, engaging, and just plain fun. You can open it up and play for a few minutes, or be hoovered into it for hours at a time. I definitely recommend the entire Luxor series.

Description from BigFish Games:

Play FREE for one hour (11.16 MB) Download Luxor Amun Rising OR Full unlimited version Buy Luxor Amun Rising Now $6.99 with Big Fish Game Club™! The Big Fish Games Guarantee: Quality tested and virus free. No ads, no adware, no spyware.

Luxor Amun Rising Watch Video Glory and Adventure await as you return to save Ancient Egypt from certain doom. In this sequel to the runaway hit action-puzzle game, you must defeat the rebellious Princes of Megiddo before they overthrow the Pharaoh and plunge the Two Lands into chaos. Once again, the challenge will not be an easy one as you battle through 88 awesome levels. 88 explosive levels. Exciting scorpion power-ups. Non-stop action and puzzle solving. Click images to enlarge System Requirements: OS: Windows 2000/XP/Vista CPU: 600 Mhz RAM: 128 MB DirectX: 6.0 Hard Drive: 21 MB Available For Mac

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