The voice inside my head is not mySelf. It is my brain. My brain is an organ within my body, like my liver, my stomach, and my heart, all designed to keep my physical body alive. My brain is a survival mechanism. It is there to keep me alive. All the thoughts within my brain are the sum of all my experiences. It is my conscious mind, my ego. It is a computer that has recorded everything that my senses have experienced. More importantly, it has recorded my painful experiences most vividly, so it can steer me away from everything that may hurt me ever again in the future. My brain is reactive. It is on automatic. Our thoughts are deceptive. That is, until we realize we (our spiritual Self) can control our brain, our thoughts. If we think negative thoughts, we create unhappy lives for ourselves. We can sit in a corner all day and think all kinds of horrible things about others and ourselves. Or we can choose to think of positive things. We can look at what is good.
Think about what you are thinking about. You can choose your thoughts.
To go one better, maybe we could stop thinking. Our spiritual self dwells in the NOW, not in the past or future. An empty mind is God’s creative workshop.
I’ve found one of the nicer things about getting “older” is that this way of thinking comes easier.Wish I could have been more spiritual and truer to myself when I was younger. But its never too late is it? Thanks Karen for the wisdom and encouragement
What we think about is what we bring about….your are so right! Whether you think you can or you think you can’t your are right… why not think positive thoughts, accomplish all things that are good! Have an wonderful day, Karen! Love to you~ Julie
We can stop and think about positive things. Staying positive setting goals in life and sharing love is something contagious if you share it with others. Is good for us physicall, mentally and spirituall. Like having all of you.
I LOVE YOU!
Interesting twist, and more nuanced, than merely advocating “positive thinking.” I love that final line about an empty mind – not blank, but empty, waiting to be filled. So much of the willingness to be in that space depends on our ability to let things go, not hold on to resentments. Sure, people and circumstances do us wrong (and criminal actions demand justice) but what’s helpful about holding on to bitter thoughts?
You are writing true words Karen! Thinking positive and feeling good is what I try to do every day. Its so easy and fills yourself with happiness. What you send out you get back and positive thoughts create a positive life and enviroment. I’m with you on that.
ILY
Elle
My dear Karen, i’m 19 years old,and since i was little,no matter how hard were the times i was going through,i used to say to myself,i have to move on,i can move on,only i can do it and i was thinking that ,after the black clouds are gone, there’s always the sun coming out.
That’s one of the main reasons i admire Michael as a person,for never giving up.
The body may be just a form,but the soul is immortal.
Thank you for sharing those valuable lessons of life with us.
LOVE
Laura
Everything Is Determined in This Moment
We often fell bombarded with one situation after another that make us wonder, “What did I do to deserve this?” or, “Why is this happening to me?” Especially when we are struggling in life, some of us might perceive ourselves as victims who have no clue about why we are suffering the way we are.
How do we answer the, “Why me’s?” How do we improve our lives?
The renowned Chinese Buddhist scholar T’ien-t’ai (538–597) said: “If you want to understand the causes that existed in the past, look at the results as they are manifested in the present. And if you want to understand what results will be manifested in the future, look at the causes that exist in the present” (“The Opening of the Eyes,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 279).
Many people seem to look at life as if it is limited to this one existence. In Buddhism, however, we view life as eternal. Therefore, our lives are not just limited to this present existence. “Causes that existed in the past” refers not only to what we did yesterday or ten years ago, but also to previous existences since the remotest past. Though some of us like to wonder and even fantasize about what our past lives must have been like, because life is more vast and profound than we can imagine, it is difficult to fathom our actual past existences.
All the causes we made in the past have accumulated in lifetime after lifetime and these causes are manifested as karma. We create our own karma. The moment we do something, say something or think something, an effect is registered in the depths of our being. As our lives meet the right circumstances, the effects of those causes take shape in various forms. These various manifestations of our individual karma are what lead to the uniqueness of our appearance, the situations we face and our lives.
“If you want to understand the causes that existed in the past, look at the results as they are manifested in the present.”
In order to understand our past causes, or our karma, we do not need to go to a psychic or a guru. In light of the eternal law of cause and effect, by simply looking at our life at present, we are able to understand what causes we made in the past.
Though we cannot undo the causes we made in the past, we can determine the way their effects influence our lives in the present. Reflecting on our experiences—and based on our own decisions and the actions we take—we either stagnate or advance forward. Each moment builds upon the previous one. So, how do we create the best causes for our future?
“If you want to understand what results will be manifested in the future, look at the causes that exist in the present.”
Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism teaches us that in our present environment, regardless of how excruciating our suffering may be, we do have the power to determine our future. The actions we take at this present moment influence the outcome of our future. The greatness of Buddhism is that is shows us we are responsible for choosing how we lead our lives, and it teaches us how we can change our karma. Karma is not unchangeable like fate, which is a predestined path of what our life will be. We can change our karma based on the actions we take right here, right now. It is never too late to change our lives for the better.
For example, in the aftermath of a big earthquake, your house may have completely collapsed (with your entire family safe, of course) and you set yourself to the task of rebuilding your house. Given that you have all the resources you need to reconstruct your house, what course of action will you take? It would certainly be easier to rebuild the house according to the original plans, but how safe would you feel when the next earthquake rolls around? You are naturally determined to try and construct your new home to withstand the next earthquake. And now due to the tragedy of losing your first house, you have an idea of what kinds of adjustments you can make to try and avoid the same problem and improve your new home. The ultimate goal would be to rebuild your house to withstand all the earthquakes to come!
Likewise, instead of repeating the same cycle of suffering in our lives, we can choose to use our struggles as a springboard to fortify our inner strength. Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which encapsulates the essential spirit of the Lotus Sutra, is the greatest resource available to us for constructing an eternally indestructible fortress of happiness in our lives. Chanting this phrase is the key to fusing with the law of life that exists throughout the universe. It is the greatest cause we can make for our lives. This cause remains in our lives throughout the three existences of past, present and future.
Chanting to the Gohonzon and teaching others about Buddhism represents the greatest possible good and accords with the law of life itself. It is the way to attain a state of eternal happiness.
Though we cannot see our past or future lives, we can find clear direction on how to live in this present life based on our understanding of the causal law of life operating across the three existences of past, present ad future. Through chanting, we are able to elevate our life-condition and perceive our fundamental karma. Once we realize our karmic tendencies we are able to challenge them head on.
In “On Attaining Buddhahood in this Lifetime,” Nichiren Daishonin explains: “The Lotus Sutra is the king of sutras, the direct path to enlightenment, for it explains that the entity of our life, which manifests either good or evil at each moment, is in fact the entity of the Mystic Law. If you chant Myoho-renge-kyo with deep faith in this principle, you are certain to attain Buddhahood in this lifetime” (WND-1, 4).
Each moment of our lives is a struggle between creating good causes and giving in to our own weaknesses and negativity. We always have the choice of taking responsibility for our future and taking action with the strong conviction that it is never too late to change our lives for the better.
Nichiren Daishonin, in encouraging Shijo Kingo to live happily in the present without dwelling on past events or worrying about what might happen in the future, says: “Suffer what there is to suffer, enjoy what there is to enjoy. Regard both suffering and joy as facts of life and continue chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, no matter what happens. How could this be anything other than the boundless joy of the Law? Strengthen your power of faith more than ever” (WND-1, 681).
Happiness is not something that we will find somewhere off in the distance; it is to be found in the present. Both past and future are contained in the present, and though we know that life is eternal, everything exists in the present. There is no need to ponder too long on the “Why me’s?” since we know that we alone are responsible for our present situations. Why waste time wallowing in the misery of the unchangeable past when there is so much joy and appreciation to gain in making each moment, each day, a valuable step toward the unlimited potential of the future?
From:
http://www.sgi-usa.org/memberresources/resources/buddhist_concepts/bc24_three_existences.php
“An empty mind is God’s creative workshop.”
So true. That’s why connecting with our inner child is so important, we used to be so simple
How satisfying. My Spirit has just been fed.
I am thankful.
I echo your words.
“If we think negative thoughts, we create unhappy lives for ourselves.” “Or we can CHOOSE to think of positive things.” -Karen Faye
Karen, this is so true! Thank you for expressing it. I think the most important word you have used here is CHOOSE. Attitude is a choice. Positive thinking is a choice. Negative thinking is a choice. It’s easy to blame circumstances for our state of mind but we still can choose how we will respond to circumstances….even in light of great difficulty. I know that I can be guilty of having a bad attitude at times but I also know that I can choose to change my attitude, even if it’s not easy. I have control of that and I think that is where our spiritual side comes in. I know cancer patients in dire circumstances that choose to live each day to its fullest to the best of their ability in spite of circumstances. NO ONE wants anyone to have a potentially terminal illness, but when circumstances dictate otherwise, what amazing teacher’s people in this very difficult situation can be!!!!
Karen, thank you for this important wisdom!!!
I would like to add one more thing related to Karen’s article while it is on my mind.
Karen talked about choosing to think positive things, and by extension, do positive things. There’s an author, Greg Mortenson, that I discovered earlier in the year who models this.
What a difference attitude and positive thinking can make even in difficult circumstances, such as building schools for girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and in some cases, with Taliban approval! Two books that are brilliant reading from a brilliantly positive and persistant person named Greg Mortenson, tells how he did this. The only draw back to the books, and this is minor, is that there are a lot of difficult to pronounce middle-eastern names.
The link below shows Bill Moyers interview with the unassuming Mr. Mortenson. Very inspiring!!…and in line with Karen’s article I believe.
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/01152010/profile2.html
Two books by Greg Mortenson:
1. STONES INTO SCHOOLS: PROMOTING PEACE WITH BOOKS NOT BOMBS, IN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN.
2. THREE CUPS OF TEA
(A book that has become “required reading for our senior military commanders and Special Forces in Afghanistan.” -Bill Moyers Journal)
Thank you for your thoughts!
Sandy
“An empty mind is God’s creative workshop”
Love it! Thank you once again Karen…
“We can smile, breathe, walk, and eat our meals in a way that allows us to be in touch with the abundance of happiness that is available. We are very good at preparing to live, but not very good at living. We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma and we are willing to work very hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on. But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive.”
-Tich Nat Hahn
Sweet Karen, I love your headline, it says everything! And thank you for your heartfelt words which I totally agree.
Have a wonderful weekend – love, Gabi
This is so true. We always try to search for happiness outside ourselves….we often repeat the same models because we feel “safe”..that’s what our brain tells us….but if we listen to our true spirit…our little voice…it can tell us if we’re doing the good thing for us…..sometimes the fastest way is not the safest one. For our pains, for our happiness, for our life.
Wow…This is so true and well said, I love your headline too,thank you so much!!
love you more!!!
Thank you Karen, I totally agree with what you wrote. Our thoughts shape our vision of things and of the world, I think we spend our live fighting against that inner voice in our head that emits negative thoughts about ourselves and others, she reasons, judge, criticizes… it is a dangerous process because negative thoughts attract negative things and can lead us into a spiral of frustration, pain, hatred, misunderstanding, rejection. We are what we think and what we think shapes what we feel, never underestimate the power of positive and negative thoughts on our body and mind and on the world, they shape our happiness or not.
Lots of love to you, and for you all.
Françoise
Dear Karen,
You are so amazing… I am sure you are a sunshine in your inner circle of friends and family and your positivity light is your gift for all of us! Thank you, you are an inspiration source… LYM!
Beautiful and profoundly stated. I too believe we are a manifestation of all of our thoughts. If you choose to dwell on negativity, the resulting cause and effect will be negative also. I am striving everyday to put behind me those things that caused me pain and unhappiness in my life. It is challenging and ever present. But I consciously work on it. There is no living, breathing human being who doth not possess within them the ability to be proactive in their thought processes. But it takes work and determination to make it happen. As the saying goes, you get out what your are willing to work hard to put in. So work I must. Thank you for the words. They make me smile.
Karen, I love this piece! I am a true believer in mind over matter and that we create our lives by where our thoughts are. I believe the meaning of life is to create and to create your life, you really have to put your heart into it and be present in mind and heart to bring about what you wish!
To have an empty mind, is to put your ego aside and be ready to tune into whatever guidance you get from the creator.
Thank you, Karen! LYM!
I really appreciate the messages and insight that you’ve been sharing here Karen. Your statement, “an empty mind is God’s creative workshop” was right on target. For me, it’s only when I am able to mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually just “be still” and quiet my mind completely, that I am able to truly hear Him “speak.” It may be an image, a phrase, or a name but it has always been to reveal someone that is in distress. Sometimes it’s for those that I am close to, some have been only acquaintances, and sometimes it’s been for someone I have never even met, but know of. The purpose of revealing them to me has always been the same though, to give them a concrete way of “knowing” that God is truly listening and that he loves them. Their comments are always the same, “how did you know?” and mine is always the same too, “I didn’t, but God does. I’m just a good listener.”
One more thing I wanted to share with you, although it’s off topic here so I apologize for that. I had a very comforting dream about Michael the night after he passed away. I have never met Michael, but as I’ve heard so many people also say, I have grieved for him like he was my own brother. He was a true innocent in the world and I hated the suffering he endured while he tried so hard to be a light for so many. In my dream I was crying and it felt like my heart was being crushed by the weight of the grief itself. Michael was then in front of me, beautiful and shining. He hugged me and held me so tightly that I could feel the scratchy fabric of the jacket he was wearing on my cheek. Then he whispered in my ear, “don’t cry for me, I am free.” I woke up right after that moment and felt an enormous sense of peace and comfort for Michael and that has remained ever since. Although I still grieve for his loss in the lives of all of those who loved him, especially his family and friends, I know without a doubt that Michael is finally receiving all of the love he craved in life and is completely without pain or sorrow.
Thanks for your commitment to making a positive ripple in the world Karen. Hugs and blessings.
(((((hugs)))))))
Hi Karen! Thank you for your wonderful words!… so true…
and thank you Sparklingh2o!……….”The renowned Chinese Buddhist scholar T’ien-t’ai (538–597) said: “If you want to understand the causes that existed in the past, look at the results as they are manifested in the present. And if you want to understand what results will be manifested in the future, look at the causes that exist in the present” (“The Opening of the Eyes,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 279).”
That mean the right practise……………..
Kiss
Laura Girotto
my good little Buddha’s
~ Our destiny changes with our thought; we shall become what we wish to become, do what we wish to do, when our habitual thought corresponds with our desire. ~ by Orison Swett Marden
Thank You so much Dear Karen for this amazing lesson.
Your words are so true and right, it’s hard to do, but i also
truthly do believe we can be better people, and heal our
souls and minds if we work hard enough.
All starts with us, but this not just can be done only on our own,
we need each other,
Don’t You agree??
LOVE AND (( HUGS ))
LYM*
God Bless You*
the more you practice, the easier it gets. the most difficult step, is in the acknowledgement that CHOICE exists.
“An empty mind is God’s creative workshop.” -Karen Faye
I agree, this is a great statement, and very Biblical.
It reminded me of Psalm 46:10 in the Bible that says: “Be still, and know that I am God;”
We can’t get to know God or allow him to work through us if our minds are cluttered with the business of the world. We can’t attend to our spiritual lives in the future or reflect on it in the past. It has to be attended to at this moment.
Find somewhere quiet (not always easy to do in the moment), and get to know God and allow Him to show you who you are and what your gifts are. In this way, He will work through you. This can be done alone or in a community of friends. This is certainly a truth shared by all faiths. Awesome!!!
Thanks again, Karen!
LYM,
Sandy
you got it Sandy
Upon reading Karens blogs and great replies it seems that many of us have turned a corner since we lost MJ and the new view is wonderful and full of possibities since the experience can be contagious. His dream for the world may come true yet and that is the greatest thing we can do for him and each other.
I am so happy you have recognized that I have turned the corner, and it is my desire to help others do the same. Michael’s life was so positive and we have so much to gain by celebrating the gifts he left. It is not healthy to dwell in all the negativity, untruths and speculations, when there is so much to gain in sharing what lifts all of us to a higher consciousness level.
I do not honor myself or those around me if I get self absorbed in the pain. To grieve is a natural process that is necessary for our hearts. I do not want to live in that state. I want to use what I learned to be a better person.
One also is in danger of being defined by your grief, as if someone who grieves for Michael, for example, is who you are and what you do. It becomes an identity unless one works to change that. Know what I mean?
“To grieve is a natural process that is necessary for our hearts. I do not want to live in that state. I want to use what I learned to be a better person.” -Karen Faye
Very well said. The last few sentences stood out for me because I feel that this is what your wingheart painting says to me, and that is that learning, living and loving can emerge from, and inspite of great pain. This is definitely the best way to honor oneself, those around us, and the memory of a dear friend.
Blessings,
Sandy
So true. We are in control of our thoughts, no one else. I want to echo Seven’s quote above “We are very good at preparing to live, but not very good at living”. It’s not healthy for the mind or our bodies to keep focusing on what is out of our control or any negative thoughts. It is a natural and important part of functioning, but we need to Pause as much as possible… It helps you think differently then.
That’s the first step to healing others and the world.
Lots of love to you Karen. xxx
you remember
the power is in the PAUSE.
I will always remember that valuable lesson of the Pause.
(Very hard to stick to, but very worth it). x
Thank you for sharing this. I literally just came from a very horrible fight with my mother and my heart is very broken right now. These were words I really needed to hear. Negative thoughts have permeated my being for most of my life and although I feel I have a relationship with God, instead of trusting Him, I tend to blame Him for every negative thing that happens to me and I realize I have created an unhappy life for myself due to this. I deserve better and I know God wants better for me. I have a lot of soul-searching to do but I just wanted you to know how much this touched me today. I knew Michael led me to you for a reason.
XOXO,
Heidi
This is so true, Karen. I believe in the power of positive thinking and try to take every thought captive. I speak peace and happiness over my life daily, even at times when it seems impossible. I believe God had my life planned out for me even before I was born, that he spoke us into exsistence. That his destiny is one of LOVE and peace, happiness and joy. Yes, grief and sorrow come, and only we can decide when our time of mourning is over but I believe that every experience we have in life molds us and shapes us into who we are.
We are a continual work in progress, my thoughts control my actions and re-actions therefore I have to take every thought captive and control my re-action instead of letting my actions control me.
My brain doesn’t always want what my heart does, but I try to listen closely to what I am thinking, then choose which path to follow….. and hope that I made the right choice.
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)
Love and Hugs to you, always.
Karen
Karen, this post reminds of something I learned when I was 12, from the [i]Xena: Warrior Princess[/i] episode “The Ides of March.” It’s only when we are able to do and think NOTHING, that our bodies are able to be vessels of pure love.
Hello Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeena! lol
Never knew “Xena: Warrior Princess” show was so enlightening…. guess I shouldn’t be so surprised, after all
All we need is LOVE… its our sunlight
Your blog is definitely encouraging me to reflect and to learn already and this post was definitely no exception….. the problem is that in MY case it sometimes seems to be far easier said than done…. I guess it takes practice? I’ll keep working.
Love.
I just wanna thank all the people who joigned this blog, there are words which show us the road to follow… a way to heal… I am learning a lot from you and I have a lot more to learn !
Karen, thank you for your words of wisdom, they mean a lot to me and as someone said before : “keep an open mind” and I will follow that for sure.
LYM
Nicole.
Absolutely true. When we think positively, we can make many beautiful things. I just read Rhonda Byrne Secret, Joe Vitale books, Lisa Nicolson books, and I learn something new. We can say thanks for god or universe everyday, and this is very healing for world. I say thanks everyday for little thinks and for big thinks too.
One of my favorites
“I will help weeping ones to smile, by smiling myself, even when it is difficult.”
Paramahansa Yogananda
HI Karen,
have you ever read the book entitled “THE SECRET”?
I do believe nothing happens by chance …I recently virtually met many people who put in practice your philosophy and who often talk about the importance of recognizing the spiritual self and the need to start thinking in a right way…
Valentina
Well well well….I’m arrived! LOOOOOL
)))
Somebody is already using Janna!!!!
Hi Karen
Ya need more chocolat? LOOOOL
i often feel exactly like that. i’m glad you chose to write this blog and share love with us..i feel blessed in a way…your words are wonderful and full of meaning and i’m happy because it’s Michael the one that brought us together. You are so blessed to have been around him for so long.
. Maybe it’s a grieving effect or something but i’m not the only one that feels Michael’s presence around in all the beautiful things around and this is a wonderful thing to feel…This world has a great need of LOVE. Michael had spread LOVE to all those that knew him ( in person or from afar) and now we gotta spread it to those that were not able(ready) to receive it from him… thank you so much for your Words of Wisdom. Sending love your way, Felicia.
I read what you said about turning the corner and i agree with you… i feel the same way and i’m sure many others feel this too…
we live in a time of moral void and of asphyxia by the most refined forms of violence, and there is Michael…. for me ..a green tree in the middle of a desert … now it’s our turn to grow and turn everything green …green as in positive and hopeful and green as in changing this place like michael started to
Karen, is the email address posted in your contact section legit? There are 2 (karenfaye@aol.com and when I click that it becomes karen@karen-faye.com)…I just have something I need to share with you in private…
Dear Karen and others:
Several of my friends and I have had many “Michael Moments”. A Michael Moment is when something happens in our lives that seems to be more than just coincidental. We feel that that Michael’s spirit is still with us and he shows us through these moments. We were wondering if others have been having these kinds of experiences? I have two very special “Michael Moments” I want to share. Here is my first one.
This past year I have been subbing as an interpreter for the deaf/aide in our local school system. There is a primary school one block from my house. I was driving home late one night, and as I passed the school, I thought how convenient it would be to get a sub job there since it was so close.
When I arrived home, I turned on my computer and went to the school system website to look for sub jobs. Guess what? Yes, there was a job there the very next morning! I quickly clicked on the “accept this job” button and I was set.
The next day when I arrived at the school, I was told that I would be working with the Head Start program which was a classroom of 3 to 5 year old children. I was led to the classroom to meet the teacher and my day began.
As part of her program, the teacher played music for the children to dance to for exercise. I was watching the children dance and out of the blue, the teacher turned to me and said, “—– can dance like Michael Jackson.” I just sat there dumbfounded. The little boy was a little African-American 3 year old with autism. I looked at him and said, “You know how to dance like Michael Jackson?!” He said, “Yes!” and proceeded to do all of Michael’s moves including the crotch grab and spins! I couldn’t stop smiling!
Now, here is the part that struck me to the core. As he was dancing, I noticed he was holding a little ball that was a globe of the world!
Michael always said he felt that was God’s purpose for his life- to help the children of the world. It brought a tear to my eye to think that Michael was still influencing and helping children. I truly felt that Michael’s spirit had led me to the school that day to witness this.
There was never another job at that school advertised again…….
Karen and others:
Here is another one of my “Michael Moments” that I wanted to share:
I was driving to work at another school and I was stopped at a stoplight, and as I waited I noticed the van in front of me. The name on the van was “Peter Pan Cleaners”! Of course I immediately thought of Michael and smiled. Then a bumper sticker on the van caught my eye. It said “Pray for Gavin”! I coudn’t believe it as Gavin is not a common name. What are the odds of both of those things being on the same van and that I would be there at that moment to see them? It was definitely a “Michael Moment” for me.
I decided I had to explore this further, so I called the company to ask about the bumper sticker. A woman answered the phone and I told her what I had seen. I asked her who Gavin was and why he needed prayer. She told me that Gavin was the son of the driver and that he had cancer! She then said that he was in remission and was doing well. We all know how Michael helped so many children with cancer- including Gavin Arvizo. I thought to myself, “Michael you are still helping children, aren’t you?” Perhaps the message was for us to pray for Gavin Arvizo, that he will make the right decision and admit he lied about Michael? I’m still letting that question “simmer” in my mind.
Karen: I read where you had no plans to write a book. I do so hope that you will reconsider! There are so many horrible books out there about Michael, that we need something from those who knew him best and can share wonderful stories of the man he truly was.
The people who knew him best, say very little. I thank you so much for sharing with us about your beloved friend. You, and his other friends, are the keepers of the memories, and only you can share them with the world.
This kind of book could do much towards his vindication and, perhaps, change many individual’s perceptions of him. Many people only know what they’ve read and seen in the vicious media. This kind of book would be a permanent record of his legacy of love, music, dance and humanitarianism.
We, who also loved Michael, but were not blessed to know him personally, crave to know more of him by those who knew him best. We can read articles, but we never know what is true and what is not. I would only believe it if it came from someone like you or his other friends.
I think if you, the costumers, Elizabeth Taylor, etc. would get together and come up with personal stories, that it would be so very wonderful. It would be a book to be treasured and passed on to future generations as they discover him all over again. You could even donate the profits to Michael’s charities.
I would also like to see those who worked with Michael in the recording studio, to write their rememberances. There is a recording industry website at http://www.gearslutz.com. They have a thread with Bruce Swedien who was a guest on the site, as well as, a separate thread for those who worked with Michael in the recording studio.
There are some wonderful stories there if anyone would like to read them. A friend of mine sorted through them and copied all the personal stories. Since it is for people in the recording industry, there is a lot of technical information as well, but the stories are priceless!
There is one more thing that is heavy on my heart. Michael’s children are so young. Could you please speak to Katherine about having the children to write down their memories of their father? This too, would be a wonderful book. Even if they did not do it for publishing, they need to write them down now. Someone could transcibe whatever Blanket wanted to say. Their memories will surely fade with time- especially Blanket’s.
I know, personally, I remember hardly anything personal about my parents from so long ago when I was their ages. I don’t want them to lose their memories of their father to the passage of time. Those memories will comfort them and strengthen them as they mature. I worry so about them and what they will have to deal with because of who their father was.
I hope they will be able to have a life outside the walls of Hayvenhurst and be able to associate with a variety of people. This way they can grow normally- both emotionally and psychologically by experiencing life in a more realistic way- as those of us who were not in the public eye were able to do.
I know it can never be 100% that way, because they ARE Michael Jackson’s children, but I would hate for them to be isolated like Michael was. He gave the world his whole self-but at what cost to him personally? It breaks my heart to think about his loneliness and isolation.
I’d like to write to Katherine to suggest this, but I don’t know if she reads letters from the public or not. I just feel a strong burden on my heart about this. I hope you can help to get the word to her about the children writing down their memories.
When there is love, children’s memories never die..
sag10: I wish that were true. Maybe your memory is better than mine. Both of my parents are both gone now, and they were both wonderful, loving people. I never wanted for love. However, if you asked me to specifically tell you every event, everything we did as a family, every memory of them from birth to age 7 or even 10 or 11, I couldn’t tell you hardly anything. I am 58 years old now, and I just didn’t retain those memories. I wish someone had told me to write down my memories or to keep a diary so I COULD re-live all those wonderful times through my words as a child. I’m sorry, but I just don’t think that is going to happen with Michael’s children. I know they will remember the love, like I do, but they are not going to remember all those special times I’m sure they don’t want to forget. Time marches on and, unfortunately, memories fade. Anyway, I see nothing wrong with asking the children if they would like to write down their memories of their father to keep. I think it would be a wonderful gift to themselves and a tribute to their father.
I agree with sag10′s comment “When there is love, children’s memories never die..” This is so true!! There will be enduring memories that will stay with them for their lifetimes whether written down or not. However, I also appreciate beagleladywv’s heartfelt and sincere comments. For the children to write down their memories, or have them transcribed, while they are still fresh will be an important gift to themselves and, as beagleladywv said, a tribute to their father. A very personal and private tribute to him. (With emphasis on private.) It will also help them to re-connect themselves with him on a personal level as the years go by and many specific memories fade. Although it’s no one’s business, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were already creating private journals of their memories. Anyway, I just wanted to share my thoughts on that.
Thank you.
LYM
Sandy
@ beagleladywv i agree..that would be a wonderful tribute to their father
Karen,
You clearly have a good grip on this thing called life. Your words are wise and profound. We are what we think. Indeed if we step aside and allow God to enter our minds, we become, like Michael was fond of saying, “a force of nature.” We all have the power to create and contribute. Beginning to recognize how to live each moment is the most significant step we take.
Wishing you love and blessings, peace and light!
–Susan
I think you should remind people to smile more Karen. My motto is “Keep Smiling!” and I really mean that because smiling has changed me for the better this year in so many ways. I had noticed how much more I loved pictures taken of me when I had smiled and that it really brightened up the photo so I decided I would try to smile more. I decided I’d make a conscious effort to smile at people when I see them. When I walk down the street and pass a stramger, pull up to a fast food drive through window, when checking out at the grocery store, I had a smile on my face. My facial muscles fought me at first but I didn’t give up. I’d heard somewhere that it takes three weeks to form a habit so I kept it up every day for three weeks. The more I smiled at people, the more smiles I got back. The more smiles I got back, the happier I was feeling. I started seeing the people I had smiled at smile at others or people I had started smiling at were smiling at me first. All of this smiling, a simple act really, brought out this happiness I’d never really experienced before. It was almost contagious. Soon there was a lot more smiling going around at the places I frequented. It was amazing! I really think that the conscious act of telling myself to smile and look happy actually made me a happy person. You are so right Karen. If we think negatively we draw that energy to us and that is how our life is going to be. I am proud to say that my life is happy because I have made it that way. I hope MJ fans can find their happiness too, even amidst the sadness we have felt this past year. I encourage everyone to try smiling at others more. It really makes you feel good and makes others feel good too. Maybe together we can change the world for the better, one smile at a time.
THANK YOU so much for this words….you are so right….
L.O.V.E
This article sounds incredibly like “Abraham” and Eckhart Tolle. Ive always been wondering was Michael aware of their teachings? He does mention “Abraham” in Will you be there (my favorite song of all times btw), tho I used to think its the Biblical Abraham, I wonder if Michael knew and practiced these things… The power of thought and how we are creating with our thinking, how we are attracting to our lives everything that happens with our own vibration of energy, the power of now and being present in the moment… Many times when Id hear him speak or in his songs, it feels like he did know all these things and practiced them…. in any case I know for sure, Michael was very wise…. and o my gosh, so funny! lol <3
And another thing Ive always been really curious about, how did you get the nickname Turkle, what does that mean? <3 When you are actually a fay
))))
l.o.v.e.&hugs
K.