The Spanish author and philosopher Senor Miguel de Unamuno gave a new outlook to self-introspection. To note, two of his works — La Agonía del Cristianismo (The Agony of Christianity) and his novella "San Manuel Bueno, mártir" — are included on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum of the Catholic Church and are still considered works that orthodox Roman Catholics are encouraged not to read.

Only in solitude do we find ourselves; and in finding ourselves, we find in ourselves all our brothers in solitude.

While it is my belief much good can come from seeking solitude, we are not meant to live in a silo. We are human. And it is blessing to us to live, share and love.

Today, I turn to the country of my heritage and ponder on the words spoken by its leader. He is was last President of Czecholslovakia and became the First President of the Czech Republic. Vaclav Havel has been an inspiration to many in his country. He is also known as a gifted writed and dramatist.

The real test of a man is not when he plays the role he wants for himself, but when he plays the role destiny has for him.

I need to take Vaclav's words one more step from 'plays the role destiny has for him' to 'when he becomes the role'.

The distinction takes it beyond 'acting' to the core of believing, doing, being, living.

Rabbi Harold Kushner said these words,

None of us can be truly human in isolation. The qualities that make us human emerge only in the ways we relate to other people.

For sometime, I lived with the thought that I could handle problems all on my own. Overcome things all by myself. I can't. I'm not made to. Part of letting go, surrendering, is letting others into your life. Trusting. Respecting. Loving.

American pop singer Tori Amos is known for her expressive lyrics. Her emotional dedication has led to a loyal following and fans trusting her and her music.

Some people are afraid of what they might find if they try to analyze themselves too much, but you have to crawl into your wounds to discover where your fears are. Once the bleeding starts, the cleansing can begin.

For me, it was more difficult to make the cut into the wound, then the crawling in part. Its easier to not see or ignore that the infection grows and lies under the skin. Once deep inside, the cells of world aid in the healing process.

A Japanese Buddhist monk and philosopher, Dōgen Zenji lived during the early 1200's. He is known as the founder of the Soto school of Zen in Japan.

When we discover that the truth is already in us, we are all at once our original selves.

I wrote in my journal last night, the truth is already inside of me. I have been in darkness long enough, I need to dig deep and turn on the light.

A poet, an author, a teacher, an ordained Minister, Patrick Overton wrote a poem on Faith. This is what it says,

When you have come to the edge of all light that you know, and are about to drop off into the darkness of the unknown, Faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.

Taking myself to the edge is where I must stand. The closer to the edge, the more I discover. Black is all one color, but it is in the Light that I learn and find myself.

Sophia Loren is considered by many to be the most famous female Italian film actress. She won an Academy Award for her work in the 1960 film, Two Women.

Today we listen to one of her quotes.

If you haven't cried, your eyes can't be beautiful.

I have never felt so vulnerable, humbled, honest and free as when letting it all go and crying. It's though I'ved tapped into the inner core of me, filled with so much emotion that tears need to be released so I don't explode inside. From my eyes, the beauty Sophia Loren is talking comes from opening and sharing what's within, expressing my innermost feelings, the real me.

While I don't agree with all of his business sales advice, Tom Hopkins had these words to say. Taken in the right context, they are very good to live by.

Getting in touch with your true self must be your first priority.

I cannot serve others if I don't know the true me. I must dig deeper to find me. Let Him in me. I must lift the gates, open the doors, even break the windows that won't or that I have sealed never wanting to open.

The Salvation Army was created by ministers William and Catherine Booth. It was originally called the Christian Revival Association, then the East London Christian Mission, and once moved to beyond serving East London, The Christian Mission. It was finally named the Salvation Army in 1878, 13 years after its original founding.

The organization was established, in their words, to win the world for Jesus by bringing the whole world under the lordship of Jesus Christ.

The Salvation Army was created with God's calling to care for his children. Come as you are - broken, tattered, lost, confused.

William Booth said,

The greatness of a man's power is the measure of his surrender.

The critical question are, "Why am I surrendering?" and "Who I am you surrendering to?"

I can surrender to myself to me or to someone else, but that will be me again thinking that I have the power to heal me. The only power is that which has been given to me. Surrendering is giving up yourself to God. Undoubtedly believing and knowing that He will care for me as one of his children. As much as it hurts and tears me in two, I must release the person in my life that I hold so tight, so that He can do His work as she needs, so that He can do His work in me.

Love is not about affection and compromise. Love is not about the worldly things this society teaches. The love we are seeking is His. It is everlasting and it is His love that we will find peace, comfort and be at One.

Dr. Laurence J. Peter is labeled as one of America's foremost hierarchiologists. Don't know what that is? No worries, neither does Webster's Dictionary.

In any case, we turn to this Vancouver born educational doctor for his quote.

Speak when you are angry - and you'll make the best speech you'll ever regret.

How right he is. Its like the top being blown off the radiator with big bellowing steam shooting everywhere. I have never become uncontrollably angry. I have never been in a top of your lungs shouting match or angry enough that i thought of any type of physical harm. Instead, my anger turns to disappointment in the action. I can recall instances where anger become synonomous with confusion. I say that meaning that when confused, i can't think straight. Being thrown in a mouse-like maze with a countdown clock and only one escape route, but no ideas of how to reach it. I believe anger is a reaction in which a person fails to control their emotions. The mind is racing to regain control, or take control. Further, it reacts in defense shutting down all points of entry, closing the windows, gating the doors in self-preservation.

Where does anger come from? Is my state of confusion and neediness to understand, my comparable anger? I've spoken in anger/confusion, and regretted the conversations. Its no wonder how others can't understand when i've spoken without making sense in my own mind.

In closing for today, anger is as much about confusion or losing control, as it is about regret. I know that could have avoided angered circumstance by conscious thought, decision and action. Perhaps, the anger is only a reflection of the disappointment i feel for failing myself, and what i know to be true, of what i am truly capable of.

Today we learn from two great men.

The Pressman, Statesman, Writer and Inventor Benjamin Franklin shaped much of America's early development with this persuasive, yet humbling arguements of unity and perserverance.

He that blows the coals in quarrels that he has nothing to do with, has no right to complain.

And in much the same tone, we turn to the dedicated American scholar, pastor and professor Dr. William Arther Ward. Dr. Ward is considered to be one of America's most quoted writers of inspirational maxims.

We can throw stones, complain about them, stumble on them, climb over them, or build with them.

So quickly to judge, too often looking at the negative rather than the positive. It's a line that I find myself teetering on lately, but have now gotten to the point that I am fed-up with the teetering and the negativity. I enjoy optimism. Seeing the positive, seeing the beauty, seeing the blessings given.

Sometimes I forget the importance of friendship. A shoulder to cry on. An embracing smile. A trusted Counselor. A listening supporter. Its an unconditional love that accepts your faults without judgement. A friend sees the 'real' you, loves the 'real' you.

Today we turn to my personal favorite story-time gang, Winnie the Pooh. Christopher Robbins says to Pooh Bear,

Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

There's a Friend and Trusted Counselor already within us.

Today is a shared thought and quote in one. Thanks for stopping by.

There is a conscious decision made by a person whether to do right or wrong. I wonder though, how often decisions are made when consideration is given to cause and effect. There is relative ease to see the short-term impact, but what about long-term? What are the emotional effects? What is the message being conveyed by taking action? Or not taking action as the case may be?

A friend shared with me these thoughts and I relay them to you.

Your actions are the truest indicator of who you are as a person. Words are just words. The greateast orator can speak volumes. It is the action which defines.

In tribute to all things Swiss, we turn to the Founder of Analytic Psychology, Dr. Carl Gustav. He is best known for his pioneering work of dream analysis.

The unconscious mind of man sees correctly even when conscious reason is blind and impotent.

Inside, I know what is right and what is wrong. Why does my mind try to always be right? It fights my heart and soul. I need to master my mind. It is only a tool that I've been given. If i can control my mind, I can control myself. My conscious tells me, listen.

He is considered to be the world's pre-eminent dramatist. With more than 38 plays penned and 154 sonnets, not including his poetry, William Shakespeare expressed his emotions, his beliefs, his convictions in his works. It is the reason
he is admired and remembered.

Honesty is the best policy. If I lose mine honor, I lose myself.

I took 'honesty' foregranted. I didn't give it a second-thought, and just considered myself to be it. I lived day to day thinking that I 'was' being honest. Its weird. I had thought I doing everything right. Making the right decisions. Saying the right things. There was tough decisions inside that i made, who really made though decisions? Was it the 'real' me? I would like to think so.

Looking back on it, I was performing on a stage. The applause from the cheap seats fueled the performance. Those just outside of 'eye' sight didn't know the difference. There was a stare from the front row. When sitting front row and middle, you see it all. What's real and what is not. You see the performance for what it is. You see the person for what they are. You also see a glimpse of the person they truly want and are meant to be. I still see the stare. I see the same stare in the mirror.

I am critic of life. I believe each of us are in some accord.Cesare Pavese was not only a critic of literaure, but a poet, novelist and translator. He lived during the fascism 1930's of Italy and was persecuted because of anti-fascism viewpoints. He led a difficult life which he ended at his own choice. This quote is taken from his diaries.

We do not remember days, we remember moments. The richness of life lies in memories we have forgotten.

This is an pondering perspective that I'm not sure I grasp completely. Does he mean that we often overlook the richest memories of past? That we've forgranted them, merely as a way of everyday living?

There are moments of yesterday that I put into a storage chest, filed away, per say. As if I was a sponge soaking in the moments but not realizing that they occurred or of their signifigance. I am challenged to look into the storage chest. Sort through the files of yesteryear and learn from them. I sense that they are far 'richer' than I ever could have imagined.

I refer to a passage in the Bible, Hebrews Chapter 12, Verse 1.

God Disciplines His Sons.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.

To all the readers of this blog, embark upon this day's journey with vigor and love. Fill your heart with compassion and be grateful you slept under a Moon and awoke to a rising Sun. Act with urgency. Live with Discipline. Add Value.

Today we have a simple quote from the famed folk artist, Grandma Moses. Born with the name of Anna Mary Robertson, Grandma Moses reminded American of its roots, its values and the fruits of living life to its fullest.

Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be.

Sometimes we forget that we can take the reigns of life and make things happen. I can make it better.

William James may be more known for the company he kept than his writings. Godson to Ralph Waldo Emerson and a friend to the likes of Helen Keller, Mark Twain, G. K. Chesterton and Sigmund Freud, James wrote books on the young science of psychology.

The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.

Inside, I always knew this to be true. Someone once told me, all the answers are already inside. I just shut the door in my mind to hear only what I want to hear. Its time I open the door.

Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in India. She is most known for her work among the poverty-stricken of Kolkata (Calcutta) and is referred to as the Angel of Mercy. Her work has changed the life of millions and the way she lived continues to be a source of inspiration for even more around the world. She is remembered and she is loved, because she gave love.

Few of us can do great things, but all of us can do small things with great love.

It truly is amazing what a person can do when they allow love and gratefulness to fill their heart. Let us be reminded of that this day.

An English writer, Aldous Leonard Huxley is said to be a 'leader of modern thought' in distinguished circles. Others thought his perspective was ill-conceived and baseless, encroaching too harsh a critic.

There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.

I say to thee, all of us think we know what is best. Best for me, best for you, best for everyone. Father teaches that there is only One who knows. All else is merely a guess. All else is perception between fact and truth. Lost life will forever exist if under another's list. No one can live in self-freedom under markings of expectations. True life and love comes from chosen-disciplined living, unjudged acceptance and unconditioanal gratefulness.

Born and lived in the 1800's, Henry George was an early American economist. He was also looked upon with political influence as a philospher forming policies that helped shape the American economic infrastructure.

He who sees the truth, let him proclaim it, without asking who is for it or who is against it.

Living in a politically-correct world, we need to remain bold and stalwart to follow and live our convictions. Sometimes its not that easy though, right? I remind myself, dig a little deeper, and a little more, and a little more until all doubt has left.

CS Lewis helped changed the world's landscape, but he first started by changing himself. His faith, his strength, his courage is an inspiration.

Though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not.

There's something surreal about that phrase - How we can be loved unconditionally. Its unfathomable by the human mind, which is why you have to let mind go. Feel it with your heart. Feel it with your soul.