What would Joan Holloway do?

Mad Men season 5 premiere tonight, after a hefty year and a half wait…
Two hour 'retro cocktail party' with my man, sipping on a chilled blood orange pellegrino.
It sounds way fancier than it is in reality. But we like to have fun.
I actually created a voluptuous Sim yesterday - Rita Holloway, a fun loving red head.
Sporting red nails, I am ready for action.

Other than my obsession with retro behaviors, I feel slightly out of balance.
I let stress get to me, I feel my intestines clenching, I can't seem to relax.
I will have to start doing yoga, or something soon. And meditate. And maybe finally do that silent retreat in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
This is the time when I notice I'm not as flexible as I used to be, and I'd like to be back at that level. It won't happen magically on its own.
I have to start treating my body like a temple, not like a bunker.
I feel worn out, but now that it's been acknowledged, i can finally move in the right direction, up.
Cheers.

Really want a word tattoo on the back of my left arm. Subtle, sexy.

need a break

Spring is here, it seems

On a balmy Monday evening,

I finish my work for the day

The Art of Joyful Living*1

People look for happiness outside of themselves, not knowing how to find it from within. They attempt to find happiness in their lives by changing their environment such as seeking new relationships, making career changes, trying new hobbies, moving to another city, or reading self-help books, among other things. But because human mind changes and conditions change, happiness is fleeting.

True happiness exists when people shed the limits of being trapped in their past and always live in the present. Find unconditional happiness from within and live as the eternal never-changing mind of the true world.

The purpose of life is to attain a state of freedom from all misery and pain. That state is not given to you by God (as you understand him) - it's a human creation and attainment.

You should develop some understanding of life. You usually think about others and analyze what others are doing, just like a drunken person. You criticize others and waste your time and energy analyzing each other's faults, but you don't observe within yourself. 

You are intoxicated and hypnotized by the suggestions of others. The day you learn to see yourself independently, you'll be free from that hypnosis and then you will follow the path of Self-Realization. This path toward Self-Realization starts with work: do your duties. If I do not do my duty well, then my conscience will create an inner conflict and I will torment myself.

First, understand your duties and how to perform them skillfully. Decide every morning that no matter what happens, you will not let anything emotionally disturb you and that you will deal with the things that come. If you resolve to do this, you'll find that a great change takes place in your life. 

Love really means giving - giving without any condition, constantly giving selflessly. Whenever you are truly selfless in life, then you'll enjoy life.Your love should go beyond  the boundaries of culture, religion, and country, and should include the entire universe.

When you begin to work with your emotions it should be systematic. For example, there is some situation outside of yourself, and when you react to it, that makes you emotional. You become emotional because you have not yet correctly arranged or understood your relationships with the external world. When you are strong, nothing external will disturb you. When something disturbs you, you should know that is because you are weak, no matter what the cause is.

Your inner world is larger and more powerful than the world you see around you: there is something great inside of you. Someone is witnessing your actions, speech and mind, and that observer is actually you, the finest part of your Self. The day that you go to that level, you will no longer condemn yourself. Go there and find that Self within. Don't continue to remain lost outside yourself and ignorant of your true and inherent nature.

id like to look like that on Monday mornings

watchin Godfather

The week's going by quick, work feels satisfying while at the same time challenging me.
I feel more in touch with everything.
poof!  poof!

comfy and cozy is what feels good

fluffy hair

love this!