One of my favorite quotes: "If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning." (Mahatma Gandhi) ♥ I am interested in taking over Lisa Ling's job someday!!! Haha - okay, I'll just name a few of my more attainable interests here. I PAINT MURALS and decorative paint finishes. (I've posted photos of a few jobs I've done here in the View My Pics link.) I love to TRAVEL to new places. So far I've been to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Canada, England, Ireland, and Wales, as well as to many of the states here in the U.S. Later this year I will travel to Alaska and to Mexico. (To see how travel inspires me, take time to read my blog titled "A Penny's Worth of Peace.") I am also interested in pursuing my post-graduate EDUCATION. I am in the process of earning my Masters Degree in Communication and Health Administration. I like to WRITE about anything that inspires me. It's such a creative outlet, and I feel relaxed and mentally stimulated when I express myself on paper. My interests go on and on, but they usually have something to do with LEARNING new things interpersonally, politically, or socioculturally. I love contemplating big ideas with few answers, like how pliable people's attitudes really are, what causes people to treat others the way they do, why and how our federal government has strayed so far from the ideals established by our founding fathers, and what I can do to help make the world a better and more peaceful place.
I'd love to meet anybody who is positive, motivated, goal-oriented, creative or fun-loving! People like that just plain inspire me and make me happy. I'd also like to get to know people who are interested in the arts - musicians, artists, writers, speakers, etc. because the creativity and talent of artistic people further ignites my own passion for art. And people who have overcome great hurdles in their personal lives, only to find their determination to succeed has become stronger than ever. Stories of personal triumph are so inspirational and motivational to me. I'd be interested in getting to know anyone coming from a different place or perspective than me, just so I can learn something new. I could list names of famous people that would be fun to meet, but I admire so many of them that I might sound like I was giving an acceptance speech at the Academy Awards! And afterall, fame is not a measure of character. I'd be just as interested in meeting YOU. ♥
Anything and everything ~ just give me something to dance to! I love listening to live music (especially with acoustic guitar or fiddles) because it reaches a place inside me where I actually "feel" the music stir emotion. Celtic Folk Rock or Rockabilly Blues are awesome to hear on stage. Jack Johnson is one of my favorite musicians because of his laid-back attitude.Other favorite artists include Ben Harper, Jewel, Lenny Kravitz, Eagles, Celine Dion, Bob Marley, IZ, Dave Matthews, Martina McBride, Sheryl Corw, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Collective Soul, Eric Clapton, Daughtry, Kid Rock, REM, John Denver, James Taylor, Enya, Keith Urban, Bryan Adams, Chris Issak, Rob Thomas, Toby Keith, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rolling Stones, Dixie Chicks, and more. Basically, I like any music that is soulful or that makes me want to shake my booty! :)
If the movies star Denzel Washington, Anthony Hopkins, Diane Lane, or Nicole Kidman, count me in! "Titanic" and "The Notebook" are my favorite films ever. I LOVE the underlying and important messages hidden wisely in "Horton Hears a Who!!!" Other favorites include A Walk in the Clouds, Indecent Proposal, Into the Wild, An Unfinished Life, Field of Dreams, Always, The Green Mile, Dirty Dancing, Defending Your Life, Trading Places, Magnolia, Misery, Zebra Lounge, Ghost, A Few Good Men, My Cousin Vinnie, As Good as it Gets, Meet the Fockers, Basic Instinct 1, Envy, Legends of the Fall, Braveheart, Fight Club, It's a Wonderful Life, and American Beauty. ♥ Also, "The Wizard of Oz" is an all-time favorite of mine. Not only does it bring back great childhood memories, but it has important metaphorical significance. "Pursuit of Happyness" and "Good Will Hunting" are two of the most inspirational movies ever. I love how in each one, the main character overcomes social and economic hurdles to achieve great things and realize his dreams.
Dexter, Ellen, Oprah, American Idol, Frontline, and Dateline.
Although I can read beyond the kindergarten level, I can't help but love the simple wisdom found in several children's books including Horton Hears a Who, Aesop's Fables, The Velveteen Rabbit, and The Little Prince. My all-time favorite: The Giving Tree (yes, seriously)! ♥ Some favorite adult books include The Alchemist, Women Who Run with the Wolves, The Artist's Way, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, The Power of Now, The Book of Vice, and many others...
Albert Einstein Anybody - famous or not - who takes the time to identify what is right (versus what is popular or easy) and takes a stand, through voice or action, to defend that choice is a hero to me. We ALL are heroes when we fight for what is right. John F. Kennedy will always be one of my heroes, because his democratic ideals and charisma made him one of the best speakers in history.Martin Luther King, Jr. because he fought brilliantly and nonviolently for freedom, equality and justice. He wrote some of the best American civic history documents ever, including "Letter from Birmingham Jail." When knocked down or threatened, he tirelessly stood back up, time and time again, to fight for the right thing.I greatly admire people who think about things independently: those who question authority and refuse to accept information and images at face value, and those who dig deeply in their search for truth and share their findings once they have discovered new information. I admire the FDNY and their heroic efforts on and following 9/11, and all those unrecognized heroes that contributed to search and rescue of victims of that tragedy. I also admire those who question the circumstances, causes and effects of 9/11. The pieces of the puzzle simply don't add up, and I strongly encourage everyone reading this to search for the truth surrounding the greatest assault on American soil in history. ♥ I am a member of the Teach Pleace Organization - a great source of information: ♥