My philosophy is to just be happy, take every experience as a lesson, appreciate the small stuff and be kind to others.

I’m really into art, which in my opinion, enriches every single day of my life. Like one other commemter here said, “I believe in art. I believe in creating something beautiful.”

I want to leave my mark on the world after I go, so I create art to make that mark.

Thanks for this post. It is a great read.

I also agree with breckgirl. There is a lot of truth and beauty in Christianity. Unfortunately, a few bad apples and all that.

It’s about love.

(However, I also can submit to the idea that it may be just a coping mechanism. But if it is just a coping mechanism – I NEED it.)

I believe everything really is going to be OKAY.

I also believe that “bad things” in life are really just lessons learned.

God only gives you what you can handle.

I’m watching a show tonight on Bio @ 9pm central time about near death experiences, people (including children) discussing what happened when they were clinically dead.

You should watch it too…. I believe. :)

I believe in karma too, you get back what you give out.

And I love ‘Desiderata’, it seems to say it all very well…

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

i believe in many things. among them helping others. and well, speaking up.

so to the first amy who commented here. the one who is having a crisis of faith:

please know that you can “be fruitful and multiply” without ever giving birth. you can help those in need. you can share yourself and your blessings. and while it’s got to be dang hard to want a child and not have one, you MUST KNOW you are no less of a woman for not having one.

I am loved by many friends and family, I am rich beyond reason both monetarily and spiritually, I am healthy and happy.

I question my commitment to my beliefs constantly, but what I find that if I don’t believe in God’s Grace then I have to believe that either

a) I’m randomly selected to be rich, loved and happy

or

b) I DESERVE it because I’m smarter than everybody, or my nationality or my racial background is superior, and/or because I’m all around superior person than most of the rest of humanity. This a dangerous mindset to be in and can lead to its extreme to the type of behavior that starts World Wars

So because I reject the other explanations for my abundance of riches I return to my belief in God’s Grace and Love

Thanks for letting me share. Last week I saw a sunset where the setting sun was reflecting off the Pacific and projecting its strong light on to the underside of clouds over the mountains between the ocean and SF Bay which then reflected back down onto the mountains. Each cloud,tree and ridgeline absolutely glowed in the unreal pinkish-orange light. And although my scientific mind went through the rational explanation involving reflection, refraction, diffraction and diffusion, at the end I just said Thank you God

So much for kindness to animals