The Blue Grotto

I want the focus of my blog to be the sub-title, even if it is a little bit long and abstract. Cheers to challenge.

Take comfort, the power you need to pursue your greatest passions is already inside of you.

So, as you can see, I've changed the format of my blog. The picture is from my trip to the Island of Capri on the Amalfi Coast. Friends and I took a ferry ride to the Blue Grotto, a cave along the coast. One to three people then fit into small very small rowboats (think The Little Mermaid, while Kiss the Girl is playing...or The Notebook). You must lie down in the boat to pass through the small opening into the cave with the boat.

The sunlight passes through the seawater and the small opening, giving the water inside the cave this magnificent blue color in the darkness of the cave. Take comfort, the power you need to pursue your greatest passions is already inside of you.

PS I have a video of us getting into the cave. I'll post it next time I have my computer!

Pre-Game Gradeschool Prayer

The following is an excerpt from the Diocese of Pittsburgh memo on the role of sports in Catholic schools...

"All Catholic School activities must begin with both teams coming together for prayer in the middle of the court or field. The following prayer is to be said by the home coach or player.

Dear Lord,
You have blessed us with many gifts and talents.
We thank you especially for the ability to participate in sports today.
Help us play in a Christ like manner.
Help us to play in a way that fosters good will and teamwork.
Help us play to the best of our abilities.
Win or lose we hope to have fun, make friends and celebrate life.
Amen"

I remember having to say this prayer before basketball games at my small Catholic grade school. It was just something we did, like classrooms saying the pledge of allegiance.

I was strangely reminded of having to say this specific prayer through gradeschool when my youngest brother (who just started at my Catholic high school and went to the same gradeschool) added me on facebook. I had to chuckle when I saw his information...

Age, 14
Sex, Male
Relationship Status, Single
Political Views, Republican
Religious Views, Christian-Catholic

So much of who we are, especially at the age we start high school, is taught to us in our homes, families, and schools. The things we learn, (example saying this prayer before games and my little brothers republican political affiliation at the age of 14), are the building blocks of who we are going to become... the things that we bring to the table when while we are figuring out who we are out in a bigger world. I don't say this prayer before games, but I hold the values it taught me. The values it professes hold true beyond Catholic Doctrine, anyways. And so, I'm glad I said it all of those years.

Inspired Jewelry

"Soul, spirit, search, faith, harmony, hope, balance, inspire, trust, dream, endure, love, peace, love, faith, balance, inspire, search, soul."

Walking to turn in my rent check in Shadyside at the end of summer, I stumbled upon a jewlery sale. I'm not always one to take advantage of a yard sale. Don't get me wrong, I'm strangely interested in people's old things... But I hate the awkwardness of the people selling their stuff watching you appraise their things and deciding whether you are interested or not...

It was a beautiful last summer day and I decided to stop.

The Beatles were playing and I realized that under thetent in the front yard, the tables were filled with jewlery. Only jewlery. This family collects the jewlery for the entire year, and then sells it in their front yard once a year during the Shadyside festival. Everything is sold for $2 the first day, $1 the second and third day. They aren't doing it for profit. They said, they do it for the community. Anyways, the words at the top are the etched into the metal bracelet a bought there, among other things. In a small way, it keeps you centered when you are late for work, forget your umbrella, and your bannana explodes in your purse in the middle of the confusion. Damn bannana.

"Soul, spirit, search, faith, harmony, hope, balance, inspire, trust, dream, endure, love, peace, love, faith, balance, inspire, search, soul."

Smile because...

Everday is the start of something beautiful.

Listen to it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_as3ntBxgs

"There's a joke that calorie restriction may or may not extend your life, but it will most assuredly make your life feel longer."
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/magazine/11Calories-t.html

"Passionate Life"

I was looking for a photo, googling images of abstract ideas - my search for peace and grace returned Dove women in their underwear, "power" turned up windmills, "passion" turned of images of Chirst in a crown of thorns and people going at it on the beach, "passionate life" turned up this image- which links to this blog much like my own... http://www.thecalmspace.com/2008/04/thespace-passion/

Prelude to Expectation and Gratitude

Here is some food for thought...

Can you have a genuine selfless ambition that seems to constantly fail?