...particularly relevant in modern America

“People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.”

What examples can you think of? Post your thoughts in the comments section or even just post a picture!

Persian Flaw

Persian carpets are known throughout the world for their craftsmanship and quality. I think of Persian carpets as somewhat synonymous to flying carpets à la "One Thousand and One Nights" so either way they possess a magical quality. When artisans weaved these carpets they make sure to leave some sort of flaw within it which is meant to attest to perfection lying solely with God.

Here's a bit more background from persianflaw.org
"The meaning of Persian Flaw comes from a long time ago when Persian tribes made carpets while migrating from one part of the Persian Empire to other regions. The Persian tribe members worked together to weave carpets that would tell their story of trials and tribulations. Just one princely Persian carpet would take years to complete with help of many tribe members to achieve a perfect Persian carpet (well almost). The Persians believed only God or a higher power was perfect in all aspects and to show this carpet makers would intentionally place flaws or mistakes in the carpet."


This random fact really intrigued me. Such a beautiful coveted object worldwide has a deliberate flaw stitched in! People focus so much attention on being perfect that in reality its our flaws that makes us who we are and unique. That's my sappy bit for the day, now some eye candy:

April Showers Bring May Flowers?

There's a famous T.S. Eliot poem, you know, called "The Wasteland" it starts off like this:

April is the cruelest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers.

Though it's May, the poem's message is still pretty darn relevant. It's about resurrection... how Spring sort of forced the people in the poem to come to terms with the problems in their lives because of the hope for a new life that it brought them. April is cruel in its beauty. I guess there is something to the Son of God being born again in Spring. :P

I sort of feel like this happens to me every year during this time. Instead of having seasonal sadness when winter hits like a lot of people do, I have a life re-evaluation every spring and I can tell ya it ain't always pleasant to see that what I'm doing with my life in the present isn't exactly helping me to where I want to be in the future. Don't get me wrong, I'm so incredibly blessed, but sometimes I make the same mistakes over and over, without seeming to learn from them or change.

Spring comes around and I sort of go through this mini stress attack from a culmination of finals, a change in the seasons, a change in lifestyle/setting (whether that be from moving back home after staying in school and leaving a lot of people behind in the process) or getting used to a different schedule and pace to my life. And this year is no different. This sort of "Spring Cleaning" approach I'm talking to my life, has not been going so smoothly... it seems to have left me with more doubts than assurance. Though I've been getting much better about not letting the little stuff get to me, I still have a few things I need to learn to let go of.


On that note -- I'm seriously considering for the first time practicing meditation. I'll let you know how that goes.. :P