The Abyss of Autonomy

September 15, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 10 Comments

Are you your own person? Congratulations but I caution you to remember the following:

A necessary component of independence will always be the ability to recognize not only one’s right to freedom, but also the acknowledgement (at the same time) of one’s own short-comings; to know that within your sphere of self- determination there also exists a need for others.

An abyss, exists as a deep and bottomless pit and if you were to find yourself within a physical chasm of this kind, there would be no way to remove yourself without the aid from others – and so it is in life. No matter how free, independent and “on our own” you wish to be, you cannot succeed without support.

Autonomy or free will of self, serves no useful function unless it is partnered with the shared need and responsibility of and for others.

Life shared is life well lived. No man or woman is an island, nor should they be. Our need for one another has never been greater than it is today.

Let us build no further gulfs between each other, instead, close the existing gaps. Let us cultivate and grow within (and in spite of) our differences. There can be no autonomous abyss where free thought is coupled with the partnership of love and understanding among all.

Have an excellent week, with great affection,

~ Penny

We Need … each other.

August 27, 2013August 27, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 29 Comments

We Need!

To be thought of …

…To be supported

To sometimes be helped out …

…To sometimes help others

To care …

… To reach out

To feel okay …

… To have value and purpose

To be all we can be …

… to be loved!

Every single one of us!

A World of Friends

Though we’re not acquainted, at least not as yet,

you’re still my friend – “we just haven’t met.”

I value your friendship and reach out my hand,

we all of us strangers – in a strange land!

Each day an adventure as life’s journey we take.

if we travel together such friends we will make.

we’re a company of strangers, but not for long,

Let’s build more relations – making us strong.

We all need each other to help us survive

we’ll weather the storms and stay alive.

We’ll conquer our fears, our worries, concerns,

depend on each other – that’s how we learn.

By needing each other … the seeds we will sow,

by sharing and giving – that’s how we grow.

I reach out my hand to you on this day –

“Hello my friend, are you going my way?”

Penny L Howe, 2013

Life isn’t fair – But we can be!

August 2, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 26 Comments

As a child most of us are told to play well with friends, be nice with our sisters or brothers. Be fair with how we treat others. So we grow up and are “nice” to others and try to be fair, but then we begin to discover (some sooner than others) that “life isn’t fair“. Some discover this rather brutally, others find it out in the bits and pieces of life’s experiences that turn out poorly or less than we might have wanted.

Life comes at us, many days fast and hard. Can barely catch our breath trying to keep up with everything that goes on … and emotionally, there are those days we think we can just barely hold on.

So where does it leave us? Life isn’t fair but … (we get to finish the sentence)!

You and I are the ones who still have the power within us to be fair. Beginning with ourselves. We are human beings living in a rich climate of evolving changes and developments. Lots of emotions out there too.

My thought for today. It is a very good thing to have loving and honorable values. Treat others well. Know that there will be better days ahead. Believe in something (it makes a big difference for you and those around you). Love, care, and reach out (and yes this does makes you vulnerable and open to pain, hurt and disappointment – so you’re going to have to toughen up!)

But … bottom line …

“Even though life isn’t fair, you can be –

and sometimes that makes all the difference

in the world – for you and … someone else!”

~ Penny L. Howe, 2013

Part II – Hidden from view

June 26, 2013June 28, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 32 Comments

Taking a second look!

When you’re raised to believe a thing it can become so deeply embedded that you can go through life convinced that what you’ve been told is true. Even when its negative, and makes you feel like you are less than you should be.

Even when you grow up and question it, you can still be convinced that you are not worthy. That bad things should happen to you. That you deserve them.

Stop just a minute, and consider this. When we are born. We all enter this life and take our first breath as a human being. Every single one of us. A truth! No difference, no one greater than … no one lesser than.

If you are born with physical or mental disabilities these must be addressed, but you are still not lesser than or greater (as a living being) than any other person on the planet. A truth!

It is through environmental and human conditioning (by others) while you’re a child, (and for many, this can continue on through life) that determine how you feel about yourself. And here’s another big truth for you.

THERE IS NOTHING YOU NEED TO CHANGE ABOUT THE “YOU” THAT YOU ARE INSIDE! Don’t feel bad because you’re not what other’s think you should be. Your “you” and that’s enough. You should feel good about that person, not what anyone, or any organization, or any belief system has decided you should be, that isn’t who you are.

If you want to do something for yourself to improve a skill, a talent, your education, your appearance, Do these things because you want to do them, not because you believe you “have to” to be okay as a human being! Self improvement is a wonderful thing, But you’re in charge of that too.

Each person on the planet is unique onto his or herself. They are made that way. It doesn’t matter their shape, size, color, gender, background, beliefs, cultural differences. They are all human beings – equal in that sense!

Now it’s time for that second look.

Do you realize how capable you really are? You start by believing the truth and you do that by believing in yourself. Your uniqueness. Your self-worth. No one has the right to take that from you. It belongs to you. And only you. The next step, well that’s up to you! It won’t be easy, but I believe you can do it. You’re you after all!

Click here to view Part I of Hidden From View

~ Penny