My poetry has been published in the Ivory Tower: Dark City Edition ezine July Issue. http://www.theivorytowerzine.com/index.htm
the walls begin
to close in around her
puffiness envelopes
her body
her thoughts
her voice
as she tries to cry out
someone please help me
help me
before I drift away
thoughts race
pulse races
silently she
screams
Claude Monet
Flowers by Georgia O’Keefe – Mozart Symphony in F (Presto)
Through the Eyes of Monet
Eggs & vokka
for breakfast, for lunch, for supper
Sitting with their rainbow children
They will still take care of their daughters.
The they is we… we the people
All hopped up on kool aid and spaghettios.
Having the time of their lives.
No worries.
No conerns.
No responsibility.
They will still take care of their daughters.
Even while they eat eggs & vokka.
My artwork is now on ebay
Visit here
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=007&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&viewitem=&item=170124522745&rd=1&rd=1
Friendship is becoming a thing of the past, true friendship that is. The news is full of people whom you thought were “friends” and are now not speaking to each other,verbally that is. In the 21st Century, the emergence of technology has created new types of friends and friendships that exist in the virtual world.Four types of friends exist in the virtual world, message board friend, email friend, instant message friend and blog friend. Have we as a society, reached a point where we are unable to maintain “real world friendships”? What’s worse are when the so called real life friendships reach a rocky point in the friendship we then become a virtual friend. Avoiding real voices. Avoiding physical contact. It’s safe in the virtual world. Don’t feel like picking up the phone and spending some real, quality time on the phone with another person, just send them a quick email and go on with life in your isolated world.Fear of commitment in the 21st Century has enabled the virtual world to be an inviting venue for many individuals seeking friendship in some form. Virtual friendships do not require a commitment, as one is able to drop out of the friendship at any time, without explanation. Why should one be loyal to someone they have never actually met in person? How strong of a bond is shared with someone with whom one never laughed and cried until the laughter turned to tears and the tears turned to laughter? Text messaging has become the 2007 way of dinner conversation. Some say it is a result of a busy world full of multi taskers. I contend that it is an excuse not to face one’s fears. To live in an uncommitted society where one’s main objective is to satisfy and stroke one’s own ego. Intimate details are often shared in the virtual world; one can personify anyone they choose, creating a virtual identity only known in the virtual world. Unfortunately, one has no way of knowing the true identity of an individual in the virtual world, making it difficult to form trusting relationships. A large majority of individuals engaged in virtual friendships are aware that the identity of their online friend may be that of something else. The virtual world of friendships has created a non-virtual world of assumed identities. Individuals are living a secret life of sorts as they sit in front of the computer screen. Does the meaning of trust change when one knows at the onset of a friendship that one is not as he or she appears? Is this trust issue spilling into the non-virtual world, creating a society of individuals who are headed for a friendless life? True friendships were first formed on the basis of goodwill as it foundation, but does goodwill truly exist in the virtual world? On message boards individuals freely post their opinions, rants and raves. It seems goodwill has disappeared in such a forum, as it is commonplace for harsh words to be exchanged as the virtual world invites one to speak one’s mind and hold nothing back. Credibility does not exist in the virtual world as it becomes difficult to discern between truths and lies. In the non-virtual world one would hesitate before exchanging harsh words with another, as consequences would arise, but in the virtual world consequences simply do not exist. What is happening to society as goodwill is slowly disappearing? In the virtual world, one can become disembodied from oneself, creating an experience unlike no other in history. 21st Century technology has enabled the virtual friendships to replace non-virtual friendships. Man is inundated with information in the virtual world, as the infinite amount of information is made available to anyone with an Internet connection. The need for friendship exists for everyone, but are virtual friendships truly filling the friendship need? The virtual world is a world of freedom, with no limitation. On a global level, not all nations believe in free speech, so the Internet becomes a forum in which one is able to speak freely. The world of virtual friendship has become a world of its own, complete with its own dialect. Virtual friends have created a way of communicating which is exclusive to the virtual world. One who does not understand the virtual dialect will soon feel they do not belong, an outsider in the virtual neighborhood. If true friendship is non-existent in the virtual world, does self-love exist? Some would argue that virtual friendships are the best types of friendship in which to take part. What could be better than a friendship which meets all one’s needs, is available around the clock and is available to anyone with a simple Internet connection? I find it hard to accept a society whose members communicate in the virtual world without ever communicating in the non-virtual world. I guess I am old-fashioned in my beliefs as I still take value in the gift of friendship in the non-virtual world. Virtual friendships are helping to create a society of individuals who no longer know how to communicate in person. When placed in front of a computer screen, younger generations in particular, cannot stop talking, or shall I say typing. But, when these same individuals are placed in a group setting, such as a classroom, social event or standing in their driveway amongst neighbors, suddenly these individuals have very little to say. There is silence as one becomes uncomfortable in one’s own skin without the security blanket of the computer screen. The computer enables these silent individuals to speak up, but what is missing in the onscreen text is the influx and tone of one’s voice, which can only be experienced in the non-virtual world. Words on the screen can be easily misinterpreted with the absence of the sound of one’s voice.
As society ages, the generations of individuals who have experienced friendship long before virtual friendship began will soon be obsolete. Will non-virtual friendships still exist, or will society become a society which exist solely in the virtual world.? If so, I am thankful to have been able to experience non-virtual true friendship. Long live the proverbial cup of borrowed sugar!
And here I sit….. blogging.. .ugghh!
copyright 2007 anne manera
1. Breathe, when you feel tense, take 10 slow, deep breaths in through your nose, out through your mouth.
2. Touch, hug someone, hold hands, stroke a pet, make non-sexual physical contact with people, brush your hair.
3. Communicate, be honest with your Self and others. Ask for what you want. Express your true feelings when they occur.
4. Drink at least eight, 8 oz. glasses of good water a day. This flushes toxins out of our body
5. See the humour in life. Laugh at your self and life. Have fun and “play” at life.
6. Meditation 15 minutes a day. Take time to relax, sit, breathe deeply, quiet your mind. Record insights and dreams in a journal
7. Be Human. Let up on yourself. Forgive your self and others. Slow down and enjoy being alive.
8. Communicate with friends. Spend time with each other. Share the good stuff.
9. Hug three people each day. Relax and enjoy the feeling of
10. Quit worrying about the Future. Concentrate on what you can do NOW.
11. Make a TO DO list of your agreements for each month. Schedule both play time and free time, and do both activities.
12. Write it down. Make notes to yourself. Make a list. Write special dates down on your calendar. Put it on tape.
13. Say “NO” Allow yourself to say “NO” to some requests. Don’t over commit yourself. Put yourself first; say YES to you.
14. Clean it up Recycle old junk and papers. Clean your physical and mental house of old garbage.
15. Wear comfortable, clean clothes, that make you feel good about yourself.
16. Avoid doing anything to excess, even having fun.
18. Express and receive love as often as possible to yourself and others.
19. You always have choices in life. Re-order your priorities. If you are not happy, choose something new.
20. Express your anger to the person involved the moment it’s experienced.
21. Be honest with yourself concerning your fears. Ask for more information or assistance.
22. Crying is nature’s way of releasing toxins from the body, releasing stress, or expressing joy.
23. Change is constant. You can choose to change your choice anytime you want to do so.
24. Trust your Self, and value your needs and choices. Follow your own intuition.
25. Live in the moment. Stop fantasizing about “What If “. Choose from what IS available, Now.
26. Feel good about yourself and your choices in life. Value what you Believe in. Walk your Talk.
27. Forgive yourself and others. Withholding Love does not nurture relationships.
28. When you do not love yourself first, you can not be satisfied by loving and doing for others.
29. Make a commitment to expand your Spiritual, Mental, Emotional, and Physical well-being.
30. Your most valuable and limited resource is your time. Value it, so others will.
31. Obtain a written job description from your boss. Make any changes needed to keep your agreements.
32. Take pride in your work. You only get One First Impression!
33. Be responsible for your work. Do your best with every opportunity.
34. Only do your job. Do not get conned into permanently assuming another person’s job responsibilities.
35. Do not play office politics. Be open and above board in all your relationships. Honour your Integrity.
36. Do not listen to, encourage, or spread gossip. It damages your credibility and others.
37. Talk with your co-workers about how to work together to solve problems.
38. Don’t be a “fix it ” person for people’s problems.
39. When you have a problem, go to the person who can solve that specific problem. Ask questions.
40. Ask questions. When you are not sure, or don’t know, get information before taking action.
41. Contribute Become a solution provider for problems, not just a problem discoverer.
42. Leave work. When you go home, Go Home ! Work can be a part of your life, not your whole life.
43. Put your family, career, and Self in perspective; know which is most important and nourish it.
44. Value your emotions. Feel your feelings. Allow yourself to express them appropriately as they occur.
45. Express your anger directly with clarity. Indirect or covert anger only prolongs distress and distrust.
46. When asked, always tell the whole truth to yourself and to others.
47. Respect your own ideas, and have respect for other people’s feelings, ideas, and choices.
48. Exercise, walk, stretch, move about. Staying physically fit keeps you mentally fit, emotionally calm, and at peace.49. Eat healthy foods and chew well. Don’t eat just because you are bored, unhappy, or angry.
50. Experience and express joy at being alive, at having choices, and at the opportunity to explore loving relationships.
