Zen Pencils by Gavin Aung Than for September 18, 2023

“Guilt is just as powerful, but its influence is positive, while shame’s is destructive. Shame erodes our courage and fuels disengagement.”

“When you get to a place where you understand that love and belonging, your worthiness, is a birthright and not something you have to earn, anything is possible.”

“In many ways, September feels like the busiest time of the year: The kids go back to school, work piles up after the summer’s dog days, and Thanksgiving is suddenly upon us.”

“‘Crazy-busy’ is a great armor, it’s a great way for numbing. What a lot of us do is that we stay so busy, and so out in front of our life, that the truth of how we’re feeling and what we really need can’t catch up with us.”

“Social media has given us this idea that we should all have a posse of friends when in reality, if we have one or two really good friends, we are lucky.”

“I’m not a parenting expert. In fact, I’m not sure that I even believe in the idea of ‘parenting experts.’ I’m an engaged, imperfect parent and a passionate researcher. I’m an experienced mapmaker and a stumbling traveler. Like many of you, parenting is by far my boldest and most daring adventure.”

“Maybe stories are just data with a soul.” —Brené Brown

I agree, but I still want to obtain copies of the cartoonist’s books as to replace the original ones my brother and his wife dispersed when they helped me move (forcibly) to Leominster so we could be near each other – sigh!!

You must train and learn to be at the level of others who have succeeded. Mount Everest is covered with the dead bodies of those who thought they could buy their way to success on a quick hike up a trail.

For those of you such as myself who had no idea who Brené Brown is, [per Wikipedia] she is an American professor, author, and podcast host best known for her work on shame, vulnerability, and leadership and for her widely viewed TEDx talk in 2010. She has written six number-one New York Times bestselling books and hosted two podcasts on Spotify.

I used to teach “The Arena” every year in class.

There is an excellent Lindsey Stirling video to go with it. Google her and “The Arena”.

No one has power over you unless you give it to them. . . . . Here’s the secret, you can take it back anytime you want. It may hurt, but you can have your power back. . . . Are you brave enough? Are you mad enough? Do you want to make a difference in the world?

BANZAII !!!!!

This is so true. Would that I had known this decades ago.