Category Archives: Short posts

Why we must stop referring to undocumented immigrants as “illegal” — immediately

You’ve heard the argument that “no one is illegal” by now, right? Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel spoke these words after fleeing a country that outlawed certain groups of people, including him. For many, these words still ring true: no human … Continue reading

Posted in Beliefs and worldview, Debate!, Short posts | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Let’s talk about how we experience challenges to our privilege. We don’t do this enough.

Have you ever been accused of being “privileged?” Of having “unearned privilege?” Have you ever had that feeling that out of virtually nowhere, people are labeling you, boxing you into a corner, suddenly putting the screws on you to somehow … Continue reading

Posted in Achieving peace and understanding, Beliefs and worldview, Conflict and dealing with negativity, Personal reflections, Short posts, Zany or uncategorized stuff | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

An anonymous letter to those “nice people” that do “favors” so they can sleep with people

Dear person interested in getting into bed with me, You have *subtlely* shown in your interactions with me that you are not paying attention to my situation beyond how it might impact your ability to get cuddles/sex. Which is a … Continue reading

Posted in Conflict and dealing with negativity, Making connection, Sex and sexuality, Short posts | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Exploring distinct kinds of attraction

Have you ever felt attracted to someone in some ways, but not others? Sure you have. We all have. You know, The person you feel relaxed around, whose therapeutic company you crave, which is not necessarily sexual; The person that lights you … Continue reading

Posted in Love and compassion, Making connection, Sex and sexuality, Short posts | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

What is not being said or noticed?

Sometimes it seems like it’s not enough just to be yourself – you have to make yourself seem interesting, you have to stand out, you have to give people a reason to be interested in you and to devote time … Continue reading

Posted in Making connection, Short posts, Zany or uncategorized stuff | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Intelligence and compassion are not two separate things

What is the point of intelligence if it doesn’t make somebody’s life better or more enriched? So much of what we think of as “intelligence” is misused. Misused so that we can hurt other people. So that we can feel better … Continue reading

Posted in Beliefs and worldview, Debate!, Making connection, Short posts | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Meet my role model for situations of high tension: the hostage negotiator

“What would Jesus do?” say some. “What would Grandma do?” say others. These figures, who often are not with us, serve as inspiration to be somebody better, to “take the high road” at challenging moments. For me, when such moments … Continue reading

Posted in Achieving peace and understanding, Conflict and dealing with negativity, Personal reflections, Short posts | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Pay as much attention to why things are right as you do to why they are wrong

Many people only turn on their brain when something is wrong. But when things are right, it’s good to reflect on how to keep them that way – especially in case they start to go wrong. If you know more about … Continue reading

Posted in Beliefs and worldview, Pass on the positivity!, Short posts | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Get off the script!

“Hi, how are you?” “Fine, thank you.” “Good! How’s work?” “It’s good, it’s good.” This gets boring and meaningless after a while, doesn’t it? It’s the dreaded script! AAAAAHHH!!! You know, those times when the conversation becomes so deafeningly predictable, when people … Continue reading

Posted in Achieving peace and understanding, Conflict and dealing with negativity, Making connection, Short posts | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

On not labeling your relationships

A friend of mine recently told me, “I’m seeing two people. But I never refer to either of them as ‘boyfriend’ … they are always just ‘friend’, both between us and with other people. The minute you give the relationship a label … Continue reading

Posted in Beliefs and worldview, Debate!, Love and compassion, Personal reflections, Sex and sexuality, Short posts | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments

I’ll have more respect for your point of view if you demonstrate respect for points of view you don’t agree with

I trust some salespeople more than others – and I’m more likely to buy from folks I trust, of course. What inspires my trust in a salesperson? Things like knowing what you’re talking about and being able to address my … Continue reading

Posted in Beliefs and worldview, Developing trust, Short posts | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

What do I want for the holidays? Nothing, actually.

A member of my family recently asked me what I wanted for Christmas. It was a beautiful gesture by somebody dear to me who knows me well and knows that I generally appreciate gifts I know about more than surprise … Continue reading

Posted in Love and compassion, Personal reflections, Short posts | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

There is no talking to someone who won’t listen. Talk to those that will listen instead

I am often witness to situations in which a conversation is going on between two people. Or, at least, that is what supposed to be happening. In reality, somebody is not listening. But often, even though somebody is not listening, … Continue reading

Posted in Achieving peace and understanding, Healing, Making connection, Short posts | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

A murderer is not just a murderer

A murderer is a person, too. Like you and me. A person who probably shares a lot in common with you and me, in fact. Some folks were reading this will no doubt ask me why I think that this … Continue reading

Posted in Beliefs and worldview, Debate!, Short posts | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

The difference between envy and jealousy

Envy is a natural feeling of wanting what somebody else has. Jealousy, however, is qualitatively different. Whereas envy simply says, “I want what you have,” jealousy says, “I can’t stand that you have something I don’t,” usually followed up with … Continue reading

Posted in Beliefs and worldview, Healthy vulnerability and weakness, Love and compassion, Short posts | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

When the weather gets ugly, keep your hands firmly on the steering wheel

As driving advice, this is pretty common sense, right? You always want your hands on the steering wheel, but most of all when conditions are tough. That’s when both hands will be firmly guiding every movement, right? The thing is, … Continue reading

Posted in Conflict and dealing with negativity, Short posts, Staying strong | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Why I hate “will you marry me?” and other such loaded on-the-spot proposals

Loaded questions are okay to ask as long as they don’t demand an answer right away. When it comes to big decisions in your life, like getting married, such questions should not be approached with an “answer me now” attitude. … Continue reading

Posted in Achieving peace and understanding, Debate!, Love and compassion, Short posts, Staying strong | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“Do I worry too much?”

The fact that one asks themself this question already reveals part of the answer, doesn’t it? Honestly, this is one of my little problems. I think about things  a lot. I reflect, contemplate, hypothesize, extrapolate, rewind, and fast-forward all kinds … Continue reading

Posted in Achieving peace and understanding, Developing trust, Personal reflections, Short posts | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

How to apologize… without meaning it?

So I’m looking through the search terms through which people come upon this blog, and one of the ones that seems to come up rather often is some variation on “how to say you’re sorry without meaning it.” Unfortunately for … Continue reading

Posted in Conflict and dealing with negativity, Developing trust, Healing, Personal reflections, Short posts | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

You’re always there (a poem about the sky :-)

I see you. You are the sky And your presence is embodied in your “self” The self I cannot touch or measure.   For science has proven that you don’t really exist That you are not a separate thing from everything … Continue reading

Posted in Personal reflections, Poetry, song, and other art, Short posts, Zany or uncategorized stuff | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Avoiding the life-wrecking scarcity model of thinking

Underlying many of our greatest fears in life is the feeling that we will be abandoned, left out. That there won’t be enough of something left for us, and our needs will be forgotten. We’ll get trampled or left behind, … Continue reading

Posted in Achieving peace and understanding, Conflict and dealing with negativity, Healing, Love and compassion, Short posts | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

ASK for clarification

When you look back on situations of conflict, so many awful things seem to happen solely because of some kind of misunderstanding. Especially between friends and loved ones – people close to you – the stakes are higher because of … Continue reading

Posted in Achieving peace and understanding, Conflict and dealing with negativity, Developing trust, Love and compassion, Short posts | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Good people finding good people – that’s what makes being alive feel special to me

Recently, I’ve gotten better at something than I used to be… I’ve always been an outgoing sort of person. Somebody who goes out there and interacts with other people (not always in the healthiest of ways – but I’ve gotten … Continue reading

Posted in Healing, Pass on the positivity!, Personal reflections, Short posts | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The joy of non-sequiturs – or, when dead lions come back to life as chickens

“Non sequitur” means “it doesn’t follow” in Latin. You know, when something just… completely breaks with the context that came before it. I think stuff like this has value, especially in speech and ideas. There is something about non-sequiturs that … Continue reading

Posted in Funny stuff, Short posts, Zany or uncategorized stuff | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sometimes I just want to come home

Home is more than just a place. It’s a very powerful concept. It’s what makes us comfortable, what we’re familiar with, what makes us feel like everything is all right. Home is our place in the world. It’s where the … Continue reading

Posted in Achieving peace and understanding, Healing, Personal reflections, Short posts | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Recommended resource: The Four Agreements

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz is a book a friend recommended to me when I was going through a lot of personal change in my life. It is a simple, down-to-earth book that elaborates on four basic guidelines … Continue reading

Posted in Achieving peace and understanding, Short posts | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Be somebody’s fresh air!

There’s a 7 foot / 2.2 meter tall guy, a person with a marked skin condition that stands out as “not normal,” a porn actress, someone who stutters, and a disabled person who moves using a wheelchair. What do they … Continue reading

Posted in Achieving peace and understanding, Love and compassion, Pass on the positivity!, Short posts | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Seeing deeper

by ~laylapersia (original post here) . The scars on my wrist represent pain; hurt which I wear just beneath my sleeve. . Also on my heart. Hidden, yet no less intense. . Moreso, for all the scars which we wear … Continue reading

Posted in Love and compassion, Personal reflections, Poetry, song, and other art, Short posts | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The power of vulnerability

I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. –2 Corinthians 12:10 (The Bible) The prevailing view of strength is one that opposes it to weakness and vulnerability. … Continue reading

Posted in Achieving peace and understanding, Beliefs and worldview, Healthy vulnerability and weakness, Short posts, Video clips | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Remember to breathe

Rant ahead! I have been having a really busy, action-packed week, and done pretty well. Got a lot done, managed to enjoy substantial time with good friends, ran errands, work is busy, et cetera et cetera. I even slept really … Continue reading

Posted in Conflict and dealing with negativity, Personal reflections, Short posts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I’ve been away for a little while

I just realized, I haven’t put up a new post in about a week! Usually I post every other day, sometimes skipping a day. But no, I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth. I just took some time … Continue reading

Posted in Personal reflections, Short posts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

When love makes the pain feel good

I’m not talking about kink/BDSM stuff here… that was covered in another post. No, I’m talking about when you feel that aching pit in your stomach for someone, when you miss them, when they have done something that they needed … Continue reading

Posted in Healthy vulnerability and weakness, Personal reflections, Short posts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sexual orientation is about much more than which gender you prefer

One of the problems with the language we use around sexuality is this business of “hetero, homo, or bi”—as if only three orientations exist. Feeling the need to categorize yourself as one of these things is a symptom of a … Continue reading

Posted in Personal reflections, Sex and sexuality, Short posts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Things to remember when listening to somebody

It’s not all about you. In fact, it’s all about them right now. The other person’s point of view is as valid as yours, no matter how crazy it might sound. In fact, if you choose to listen to it, … Continue reading

Posted in Achieving peace and understanding, Personal reflections, Short posts | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

This thread tore at my heart

Somebody on Reddit posted that she needed something that would help her to cry, and asked for others to post videos, pictures, stories, and other media that have made them cry. I clicked some of the links, took a look … Continue reading

Posted in Healthy vulnerability and weakness, Love and compassion, Personal reflections, Short posts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Do NOT compartmentalize how somebody acts toward another person

It happens all the time. You see somebody insulting, putting down, or otherwise starting conflict with another person, and you tune it out, because this doesn’t happen with you and besides, it’s unpleasant to think about. That other person could … Continue reading

Posted in Conflict and dealing with negativity, Developing trust, Short posts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

All of us – even the worst among us – are awesome…

…those among us who don’t appear awesome simply haven’t tapped into their latent awesomeness just yet.

Posted in Beliefs and worldview, Personal reflections, Short posts | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

If you have nothing nice to say…

…think of something that ain’t too mean, but makes your objection clear. If you don’t let yourself be muzzled, your expression will buy you the time and mental relief to think of something nice to follow it up with. However … Continue reading

Posted in Conflict and dealing with negativity, Personal reflections, Short posts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Have faith that there is always a reason

So much doesn’t make sense sometimes. You feel like asking why? What brought this on? Did I deserve this? There’s always a reason. You may not always be able to find it out right away. Especially if the reason is … Continue reading

Posted in Achieving peace and understanding, Beliefs and worldview, Developing trust, Short posts, Staying strong | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Need a quick laugh? You’ve got to see these

Let’s take a break from all the painstakingly deep analysis, shall we? Sometimes being positive is as simple as being lighthearted and having a laugh. You know how funny it is to read something that got lost in translation? Like … Continue reading

Posted in Funny stuff, Short posts, Zany or uncategorized stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What if you just can’t be open-minded right now?

Well, who among us is perfect? Some things will catch you off guard, and for a moment, you won’t have control. Even the things that shouldn’t be so shocking. Scary…but true. But it’s all right. You won’t always be able … Continue reading

Posted in Achieving peace and understanding, Short posts | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Is there a god?

What a loaded question! The word “god” assumes so much. What does “god” mean here? What meaning can we agree on for the word “god?” I prefer to phrase this question differently: are there powers and forces greater than us, … Continue reading

Posted in Beliefs and worldview, Debate!, Short posts | Tagged , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Thought of the day: what is a fact, anyway?

Most dictionaries give definitions like “a piece of information presented as having objective reality” or “a thing that is indisputably the case.” I’ve got a different, much more functional definition for you that I think makes more sense: A fact … Continue reading

Posted in Debate!, Short posts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

What can I do, and what do YOU do, to be a positive person?

Happy New Year! I made it a New Year’s Resolution to start this blog, all about spreading positive human energy. And though I feel as though I have a lot to write about, I know can’t be my best, personally, … Continue reading

Posted in Debate!, Personal reflections, Short posts | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

A new beginning

Introductory post for Positive Juice. I dedicate this blog to the furthering of positive energy in the world. Continue reading

Posted in Short posts, Zany or uncategorized stuff | Tagged , | 2 Comments