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| Candice Bergen
Actress
This is an anthology of individual moments of inpsiration, personal epiphanies; phrases heard that resonate so strongly that one's life course is altered. Behavioral patterns changed in the space of a few well-placed words. While I know I've often been the recipient of these transformative phrases, the trouble is now I can't remember them. So it's of no use to us here.
I have, however, had something else instead. Something that changed me irrevocably, turned my life and my psyche on a dime and continues to inspire me everyday. On November 8, 1985, I had my daughter, Chloe.
In fact, she bagan inspiring me before then, during my pregnancy, when I determined to be - for her - something more. More maternal, mature, responsible. More creative, productive, protective. I wanted in any way possible to be worthy of her. To measure up to being her mom. This has proved no easy task.
In short order, she was developing into a steller human being. In no time I came to think of her as a "Champ." A champion human being. Every year it was harder to measure up. As a baby, she was borderline hyperactive, but as a child she became compusively creative and productive. By the age of six, she was inspiring me to make better use of my time. One weekend, as I tried to catch up on some reading, she was intensely involved in building a chapel of wooden blocks. This went on for hours. She did not want to be disturbed. When at last she asked what it was and I answered two o' clock, she paled, burst into tears and wailed, "Oh no, I've wasted the whole day!" She gave Protestants a bad name.
She was a champion for others as well, always alert to the child who was excluded and unpopular, wasn't picked for teams, ate lunch alone, or the teacher who she felt was unjustly dismissed. She was passionate, standing in front of her preschool class, at four years old, tears in her eyes, to talk about the Valdez oil spill, the awful destruction of the wildlife and the environment (a word she could not yet pronounce).
Her self-confidence, her already unshakable sense of self-esteem awed me and boosted my own. (I am of a generation whose self-esteem was in short supply.) One morning, when she was seven, I woke her up for school. She had been sick the night before but insistedon going. Was she sure? Why not stay home today? No. She insisted, sleepily, raising her fists above her head like Rocky: "I am Chloe Malle. I am the Mighty One - I can do it!"
Always physically fearless, when she was nine, I took her white-water rafting in Colorado. Stopping at a calm spot on the river, the guide announced that this would be a good place if anyone wanted to swim. The water was an icy fifty-six degrees and everyone looked at him like he was nuts. Except Chloe. She raised her hand, climbed up to the nose of the raft and promptly jumped in. She is possessed of great guts and gusto, and on that count I have stopped trying to keep up. With age, the ship has sailed on recklessness, but I am inspired constantly by Chloe's appetite for life. Her joie de vivre is contagious for everyone around her.
And she is constantly inspiring in her courage and generosity. When Chloe was nine, her father bcame critically ill. Over the course of almost a year, she took care of him, she took care of me, and each morning she entered her fourth-grade classroom witha bright and cheery "Good morning!" while most of her classmates replied with a grunt.
She is a girl who in sixth grade was awarded the coveted school "Spirit Award," in part because of her unflagging support and encouragement of those around her and her positive outlook on life. I tend toward pessimistic, and it is her spirit that moves and inspires me most.
One evening Chloe, my brother Kris, her honorary Aunt Bee and I went to my mother's for dinner. My mom lives in a spotless pastel house of pale peaches and delicate mauves, immaculate ivory carpets. A challenge for a child.
Chloe, then eleven, came bounding into the living room clutching a huge glass of cranberry juice. Before we could suggest the white grap juice alternative, she plopped onto the sofa, accidentally tipping the full glass of red liquid onto the brand-new peach silk upholstry. For a second, we all froze. my mother had not yet come into the room, and although her love for Chloe is boundless, this might have pushed the envelope.
Then, as one, we sprang into action. Soda water, damp sponge, paper towels. Frantic mopping and blotting. Futile blowing. The sound of approaching footsteps. And Chloe adroitly flipped the large cushion over, sinking quickly into it, and announced, grinning to no one in particular, the words, "Life is good".
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| Do you remember your first kiss?
Response: I remember my first kiss. I was still sleeping. It was
around 5:20 in the morning and it was right after spring vacation. It
was the first day back at school. He walked into my room and his
footsteps woke me up. I am a very light sleeper. He sat down beside
my bed and he stared at me. I was still half asleep. He took my hand
and he held it on top of my stomach. I tried to get a little shut eye,
but then he asked me if he could ask a question. I said okay. He
asked "Can I kiss you?". I was still young. I didn't know what to say
so I just shrugged. He nudged me trying to get an answer. After
awhile, he finally said "If your heart keeps on beating, then it's a yes. If it stops beating, then it's a no". I shrug again. He puts his lips on my cheek and he moves toward my lips. He raises his head and then he kisses me on the lips. I didn't respond to it immediately. I mean, afterall, it was my first. My heart was threatening to jump out of my chest right at that moment. I started to kiss him back. He used his tongue and he he outlined my lips and we started kissing each other.
After that day, I was distracted in school. All I would think about was what happened and debating to myself whether I wanted to do it again or not. It felt like a dream...and it felt like...there was no possbility that it happened. But it did.
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| What would you choose between the two?
Justice?
Or
Morality?
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| 1. The Law of Divine Oneness: The
Law of Divine Oneness helps us to understand that we live in a world
where everything is connected to everything else. Everything we do,
say, think and believe affects others and the universe around us. 2. The Law of Vibration: This
Universal Law states that everything in the Universe moves, vibrates,
and travels in circular patterns. The same principles of vibration in
the physical world apply to our thoughts, feelings, desires, and wills
in the Etheric world. Each sound, thing, and even thought has its own
vibrational frequency, unique unto itself. 3. The Law of Action: The
Law of Action must be applied in order for us to manifest things on
earth. Therefore, we must engage in actions that support our thoughts,
dreams, emotions and words. 4. The Law of Correspondence: This
Universal Law states that the principles or laws of physics that
explain the physical world – energy, Light, vibration, and motion –
have their corresponding principles in the etheric or universe. “As
above, so below.” 5. The Law of Cause and Effect: This
Universal Law states that nothing happens by chance or outside the
Universal Laws. Every action has a reaction or consequence and we “reap
what we have sown.” 6. The Law of Compensation: This
Universal Law is the Law of Cause and Effect applied to blessings and
abundance that are provided for us. The visible effects of our deeds
are given to us in gifts, money, inheritances, friendships, and
blessings. 7. The Law of Attraction: This
Universal Law demonstrates how we create the things, events, and people
that come into our lives. Our thoughts, feelings, words, and actions
produce energies which, in turn, attract like energies. Negative
energies attract negative energies and positive energies attract
positive energies. 8. The Law of Perpetual Transmutation of Energy: This
Universal Law states that all persons have within them the power to
change the conditions in their lives. Higher vibrations consume and
transform lower ones; thus, each of us can change the energies in our
lives by understanding the Universal Laws and applying the principles
in such a way as to effect change. 9. The Law of Relativity: This
Universal Law states that each person will receive a series of problems
(Tests of Initiation) for the purpose of strengthening the Light
within. We must consider each of these tests to be a challenge and
remain connected to our hearts when proceeding to solve the problems.
This law also teaches us to compare our problems to others’ problems
and put everything into its proper perspective. No matter how bad we
perceive our situation to be, there is always someone who is in a worse
position. It is all relative. 10. The Law of Polarity: This
Universal Law states that everything is on a continuum and has an
opposite. We can suppress and transform undesirable thoughts by
concentrating on the opposite pole. It is the law of mental vibrations. 11. The Law of Rhythm: This
Universal Law states that everything vibrates and moves to certain
rhythms. These rhythms establish seasons, cycles, stages of
development, and patterns. Each cycle reflects the regularity of God’s
universe. Masters know how to rise above negative parts of a cycle by
never getting too excited or allowing negative things to penetrate
their consciousness. 12. The Law of Gender: This
Universal Law states that everything has its masculine (yang) and
feminine (yin) principles, and that these are the basis for all
creation. The spiritual Initiate must balance the masculine and
feminine energies within herself or himself to become a Master and a
true co-creator with God. | | |
| Have you ever wanted something really badly?
You try and you keep on spending your time trying to reach that goal and feel that emotion of achievement?
But you only end up disappointing yourself and giving up?
When do you give up and how do you know its the time?
Letting go may be one of the most difficult decisions in someones life. But how do you let go of something you never even had in the first place?
Loving someone hurts. Youre afraid of losing them
Loving someone who doesn't love you back hurts even more. Because you know you can never have them be by your side.
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