If Christopher Walkin Can, So Can I

Daniel, this one is for you; in reference to a conversation we had a few weeks ago about the litmus test being dancing in the house without reserve.

"I Am Human, Nothing Human is Alien to Me"

Stephanie Klein has a blog that used to be called Greek Tragedy... She is somewhat of a blogger celebrity, and many people either love or hate her. I subscribe to her blog on my Google reader because sometimes she will post something that is so profound to me, something that makes me feel like I am not the only one who feels those internal experiences that seem like other people don't. They are the private thoughts and feelings which seem to me like other people may or may not experience, but I would never know because hardly anyone talks about them. It's a faulty and self-centered assumption though, because these are the feelings which make us human.

The Roman playwright, Terence, has a famous quote in which he answered to his neighbor, who told him to mind his own business: "Homo sum: humani nihil a me alienum puto." (I am human, nothing human is alien to me.) Many other great thinkers have also been quoted as saying this; Maya Angelou and Karl Marx are a couple I can think of. Its such a simple statement, but so profound. How would life be different if more people embraced this idea?

Do you relate to Stephanie Klein's post?
Read: On the Horizon, by Stephanie Klein

New Beginnings

New Beginnings, artist Sarah Moore

I am going to try my best to get this blog up and going again... Life happens, I go through ebbs and flows of motivation and creativity. Consistency has not always been my best virtue, but I am working on it.

News:

• I am beginning a master's program in Art Therapy at George Washington University this Fall. In less than two weeks actually! In addition to taking classes, I will be starting an internship at a hospital working with children undergoing inpatient cancer treatment. I am incredibly excited, albeit a little anxious as well. I keep getting the impulse to go back-to-school clothes shopping, buy Trapper Keepers in a different color for each class, get fruit scented markers, and to get all my pencils sharpened.
  
• I got married! To my best friend, my soul mate, and the person I trust most. Neither of us are perfect, but as cliche as it may sound I truly believe we are perfect for each other. He makes me smile and feel loved and cherished. The ceremony was beautiful, right on the beach in Pacific City, Oregon. It was such an amazing experience to be surrounded by all the people we love. I will try to post a few pics later.

With new beginnings, comes a new blog. I am going to start focusing the content on subjects relating to art therapy, my journey going though grad school, art, and anything of interest that encourages the cultivation of a more extraordinary life.

One of my favorite movies of all time, Rushmore, has a quote on the subject of extraordinary living that I will always remember, and also reminds me of my older brother because this is something he always encouraged in me when I was younger:

• "When one man, for whatever reason, has the opportunity to lead an extraordinary life, he has no right to keep it to himself."--a quote by Jacques-Yves Cousteau that is written in DIVING FOR SUNKEN TREASURE, a book read by Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman)

And now, a couple of clips from the genius that is Rushmore:




So here is to new beginnings, opportunities, making extraordinary choices, and challenging ourselves to live bravely!