Nothing

fickle.


i first found out what that word meant in the eighth grade which is surprising to me because i think it describes me perfectly. "fickle" by definition means marked by erratic changeableness; liable to sudden, unpredictable change. my mind flips and flops back and forth from idea to emotion back to an idea that leads to a different emotion that could all have to do with one thing. i'm hoping it's something i grow out of. i don't find it an attractive trait. i may be fickle but at least i'm honest about it my sudden changes of thought, feeling or viewpoint. but if there's one thing i know that will never change about me it's my love for expression. all kinds of expression, so long as it doesn't cause physical harm to anyone. i want a life filled with expression. look, i'm expressing right now. i would EXPLODE if i couldn't express myself. there's nothing more inspiring, more touching, more human than the form of expression. 


there, that was my piece for today.


so Toronto, do you think we're going to have a white Christmas? i sure hope so. it's been pretty above the seasonal temperature though. oh, for those who don't know, I GOT THE JOB AT MAC! it's temporary as of right now but nonetheless, i'm estatic. Christina Aguilera's debut film, Burlesque, is out this weekend so please be sure to RUN to the theatre to see it! if not for the story, at least for her vocals in the songs. some of her best work yet. have you started thinking about your New Year's resolutions for 2011? i have . . .  like months ago. i reeeeeally hope i get to travel next year. to Europe. meaning Italy, France and Ireland. this post is really about nothing isn't it? yah, i know. 


well then, i suppose i should go until i have something useful to say?! i'll leave you with a little expression to end this right. please enjoy . . . 

Nothing beats paradise...

My mini-vacay.


I wanted to post some pics from my getaway to the Bahamas! I had a great time with my dad and my brother... it was really nice to get some down time with family. There is something so amazing about family. I come from a very good family. I don't mean well-off or picture perfect, I mean really GOOD people... the people in my family are the classiest people I know. I must have done something wonderful in my previous lives to accumulate the kind of karma to plop me into the family I have. If you believe in that sort of thing. Who knows. All I can say is, I wish everyone had a family like mine.


I won't go through every detail of my trip but the things that stood out were : the cleanness of the air, the clarity of the water, the extremely slow pace of the natives, the outstanding authentic pina coladas, the creamy white sand, the latin music, being spoiled by my dad, and being thankful for all of it. Some people never realize, that the moments you get to spend, having a blast with the people you love, is life's highest peak and the most rewarding honor. As my dad says, "This is what it's all about." Through all the suffering, obstacles, and frustration of just being citizens of this Earth, the moment you get to slow down and feel completely loved is exactly why we're here. For those moments :) Enjoy the pics!

( first day on the beach )

( on our scooter ride )

( look at that water! )

( peace, man )

( happiness )

( the marketplace )

( my brother, jake )

( riding bikes )

( jet skiing )

( love )

Avatar: more than just a movie...

My thoughts on Avatar.


Beyond the marvelous effects, touching story, and regurgitation of James Cameron's brilliant imagination -- Avatar was an answer. For me at least. I'm one of those people who never stops trying to figure it out. They say "ignorance is bliss" and I can't seem to get there. I wasn't brought up with a specific religion -- I wasn't given any religious rules or guidelines... you could say I was brought up knowing that I was loved and capable of anything; it was as simple as that. I like to look at things from a very neutral perspective. I think we make life out to be more complicated than it is. Here are my simple understandings: 

-we are all human (the same)

-we are created by something much more intelligent than we (the way our bodies heal itself is a small piece of evidence)

-no one is more "special" than anyone else... we all have the exact same equal potential

-since we were created by something brilliant, we have that same brilliance inherent in us, however, it is up to us (free will) to decide to bring it forth

-regardless of race, ethnicity, language etc. we are all given the same tools (instincts) in order for our survival.

-we all need love

-what I mean by all of us are equal is this: since we are all human, and all are given the same instincts (to survive) and the same potential for what I like to call enlightenment, than any human to ever exist never possessed anything more than what I (or you) have the potential for (there's that word again)...this means, Jesus, the Buddha, any prophets, saints, etc.

-these people, in my opinion (regardless of what any man made book says) were enlightened enough to show us (the "ordinary person") what we are ALL capable of...if we so choose.

-the purpose of the human being is to use free will (we have the power to choose good or evil, to harm or not to harm, to be enlightened or ordinary...)

How this has anything to do with Avatar...

For me, the story of Avatar is a metaphor for what life is. Let's face it - (and this will be hard for some to admit) none of us know the truth. I am fine to admit that, however, I am trying to come from the most neutral standpoint possible. Until God (I use "God" for lack of a better word) itself comes down, looks me in the eyes, and tells me whats up -- everything else is hearsay. Do I believe that God inhibits the body of man?! Yes I do, in each and everyone of us. Do I believe that only one or few human beings are/were selected to inhibit God? No, I don't. We are all the same. God does not favor. 

For starters, I don't know why it was written in history that God is a man, The Father, He, His, a male etc. It was brought up beautifully in Avatar (and in The De Vinci Code) that women are the ones who give life. We are closer to God than any man. We bare human beings (and go through hell doing it) -- why wouldn't we naturally assume that God is female? A Mother? The Na'vi people (in Avatar) refer to Eywa as The Mother. The Creator. The Na'vi people are like the enlightened version of humanity. They "get it". What they "get" is the truth inherent in all life -- we are deeply interconnected to our environment, we depend on each other, and we are all in this together. "We are The People" (all of us! around the world!!!!) I wish everyone understood this... The ordinary humans in the movie (the "enemy") don't "get it" -- they are fueled by greed, selfishness, and hate which is the other end of the spectrum. But aha! - they could choose not to be. What I also liked about the story, is that mankind had to move to Pandora (another planet) because they had destroyed Earth. We are self-destructive. If this world ends, it will be because of our doing. We have to fight against that.

There is a pivotal moment in the entire movie that took my breath away. The answer I've been looking for. Without giving anything away -- there is a moment when Jake (the lead character) is asking Eywa (substitute for God) for help as the war between the Na'vi people and the ordinary people is about to begin. His Na'vi girlfriend Neytiri approaches him and reveals this -- "The Mother does not take sides. She protects the balance of life." Whether their talking about Mother Earth or our Creator is irrelevant, it struck something in me. There has to be a balance... in everything. Of good and bad, births and deaths, love and loss... This answered a question I've been pondering for a while. It's a beautiful message and I hope an eye opener for many. I sincerely hope we (the people) keep promoting peace, helping each other out whenever possible, and protecting our Earth. It's all up to us :) Keep rockin' everyone...