Joseph Merrick

"I am not an Elephant! I am not an animal! I am a human being! I am a man!" - Joseph Merrick

In most societies, when we see something that does not look "normal", we naturally fear it. Even if this something is hurting, sick or even dying, we run in fear because what we see is ugly. But we are drawn to these "freaks" in a way unlike no other.

This is very sad for many reasons, not the least of which is that these "freaks" usually end up in side-show attractions like Joseph Merrick did.

Joseph Carrey Merrick (Elephant Man) was born in the 1800's in England. During the fourth month of pregnancy, his mother was struck down by an elephant, and hurt. Months later, she gave birth to Joseph. He was born OK but slowly developed massive tumors all over his body causing major deformities to his face, arm and body.

At a young age he was taken by a side-show operator and spent his life being gawked at by the horrified public. He was beaten by the side-show owner, and treated like a farm dog. And because of his large head, Joseph cannot sleep like normal people; he must sleep sitting up.

One day, at age 21, he was spotted by Dr. Frederick Treves of the London hospital. Taking him away from the side-show, Treves sets Joseph up in the London hospital, to some misgivings. But once Joseph prooves himself sane, smart, and kind, he is allowed to stay for a while.

Joseph is well cared for in the hospital, and makes many friends; women, as well, even members of the Royal Family.

At the hospital, Joseph is treated humanly and is admired for his braveness and courage. Joseph lived at the hospital for about five years, as this had become his permanent home.

One day, after having tea with important people, getting presents from admirers, and making many friends, he was taken to a play at a theater: Puss in boots.

Later that night, Joseph decided that he is going to sleep like a normal person, and in doing this, he passed away.

Joseph Merrick died in his sleep as his head fell back under the weight, dislocating his neck.

Joseph was 27 years old.

This is true my form is something odd,

But blaming me is blaming God;

Could I create myself anew

I would not fail in pleasing you.

If I could reach from pole to pole

Or grasp the ocean with a span,

I would be measured by the soul;

The mind's the standard of the man.

--a poem by Joseph

Homosexuality: Is it a choice?

This is a clip from "For the Bible Tells Me So", a provocative documentary that reconciles homosexuality and Biblical scripture. To watch the whole documentary, click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04AVRslVRbY.

If it Kills Me

"If it Kills Me", a song by Jason Mraz, tells about a guy who loves a girl but is only mustering the courage to tell her about his feelings because they are bestfriends and she is already with someone else. Jason and Jeanine danced to this song in So You Think You Can Dance? and it was amazing!

If It Kills Me

Jason Mraz

Hello, tell me you know
Yeah, you figured me out
Something gave it away
And it would be such a beautiful moment
To see the look on your face
To know that I know that you know now

And baby that's a case of my wishful thinking
You know nothing
Cause you and I
Why, we go carrying on for hours, on and
We get along much better
Than you and your boyfriend

Well all I really wanna do is love you
A kind much closer than friends use
But I still can't say it after all we've been through
And all I really want from you is to feel me
As the feeling inside keeps building
And I will find a way to you if it kills me
If it kills me

Well how long, can I go on like this,
Wishing to kiss you,
Before I rightly explode?
This double life I lead isn't healthy for me
In fact it makes me nervous
If I get caught I could be risking it all

Baby there's a lot that I miss
In case I'm wrong

Well all I really wanna do is love you
A kind much closer than friends use
But I still can't say it after all we've been through
And all I really want from you is to feel me
As the feeling inside keeps building
And I will find a way to you if it kills me
If it kills me

If I should be so bold
I'd ask you to hold my heart in your hand
Tell you from the start how I've longed to be your man
But I never said I would
I guess I'm gonna miss my chance again

All I really wanna do is love you
A kind much closer than friends use
But I still can't say it after all we've been through
And all I really want from you is to feel me
As the feeling inside keeps building
And I will find a way to you if it kills me
If it kills me
If it kills me
I think it might kill me

And all I really want from you is to feel me
It's a feeling inside that keeps building
And I will find a way to you if it kills me
If it kills me
If it kills me
It might kill me

full song:

Amusing Quotes

"Operator! Give me the number for 911."

-Homer Simpson

"I am definitely going to take a course on time management... just as soon as I can work it into my schedule."

-Louis E. Boone

"Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. That's relativity."
-Albert Einstein

"Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others."

-Groucho Marx

"When I was a kid, I had two friends, they were imaginary and they would only play with each other."

-Rita Rudner

"I think we consider too much on the good luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm."

-Theodore Roosevelt

"You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 today and we don't know where the hell she is."

-Ellen Degeneres

"Lead me not into temptation - I can find the way myself."

-Ack J C

"Evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening', and then proceed to tell you why it isn't."

-anonymous

"Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new after all."

-Abraham Lincoln

"By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher."

-Socrates

"I just broke up with someone and the last thing she said to me was, 'You'll never find anyone like me again!' I'm thinking, 'I should hope not! If I don't want you, why would I want someone like you?' "

-Larry Miller

"My neighbour asked if he could use my lawnmower and I told him of course he could, so long as he didn't take it out of my garden."

-Eric Morecambe

"Money is not the most important thing in the world. Love is. Fortunately, I love money."

-Jackie Mason

Appreciation

Mark Twain, author of great american novels Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, once said "I can live for 2 months on a good compliment."

I always find myself motivated to do better when someone appreciates my work and the same goes with everyone. Whether we are willing to acknowledge it to others, or even admit it to ourselves, we all need a little praise in our lives. It is our human nature to appreciate being recognized for our accomplishments.

Never underestimate the power of sincere praise and recognition for it serves as a validation that we're on the right track. Sometimes all we need is for someone to say, "Everything's okay. You're doing the right thing." then we become inspired to go on. It is important to catch people in the act of doing good, as knowing that "someone cares" goes a long way towards making people feel a sense of purpose and serves as an incentive to do their best.

Give someone a pat on the back because they need it

Beauty is skin-deep, Ugliness is to the Bones

Real Beauty isn't what's on the outside, it sounds really cliche but its true. Most people would pick a gorgeous person over someone who lack good looks because we are all attracted to things that are beautiful to look at and want to associate ourselves with it. Then again after discovering that the person is not what you expect based from their looks, will not be able to sustain for long when you probe deeper and discover the person's beauty is just an empty shell. A person's kindness, their peaceful nature and confident attitude brings out TRUE BEAUTY that surpasses a person who only have the external beauty but deep inside they are not as beautiful , they could be very selfish , arrogant , proud and full of themselves and think they are the most desirable person on earth. This kind of superficial beauty will not last as people will age and grow old. Real beauty is on the inside, it's the content of your character, how you treat others, how you treat yourself, what you do when no one is looking and ever heard that confidence is sexy? CONFIDENCE will make you more beautiful no matter what you look like.

"You have it, I want it"

"Envy is the art of counting the other fellow's blessings instead of your own."

Most of us feel envious -- at least to some extent -- all the time without even being aware of it. Envy is clearly all around us. But what’s so bad about coveting what someone else has? On the surface, nothing. However, over time envy can eat away at you, monopolize your thoughts and make it very difficult for you to be happy with your own life.

Think about it. Why weight has become a great deal to many people? The true basis of this , is of course, envy. You have a friend who has a fit body, who seem to look good on any clothing and gets all the compliments. Then you start to want it for yourself. You become more conscious about your body, do exercise and deprive yourself from the pleasure of eating what you want. This isn't bad. In fact, envy can be good if it encourages you to do better. Letting it take over you is when envy hurts. To live with bitterness toward others just because they possess what you think you want and overlooking the good things you have.

You can be ambitious and driven to succeed without being resentful of others. Because no matter how much someone seems to have in life, they are all temporary. Money, possessions, talents, looks and youth are only on temporary loan and life is too short to look at what others have to the detriment of your own well being. These temporal things are not important in life. You can still live happily and at peace with out them.

What will you stand up for?

Gravity, throw a ball up and it comes down. It's a natural law or principle. Just as there are principles that rule the physical world, there are principles that rule the human world. These principles aren't American, Filipino or Chinese. They aren't mine or yours. They apply equally to everyone, rich or poor, old or young. They can't be bought or sold. If you live by them, you will excel. If you break them, you will fail. It's that simple.

Honesty is a principle. Service is a principle. Love is a principle. Hard work is a principle. Respect, gratitude, moderation, fairness, integrity, loyalty, and responsibility are principles. There are dozens and dozens more. They are not hard to identify. Just as a compass always points to true north, your heart will recognize true principles.

It takes faith to live by principles, especially when you see people close to you get ahead in life by lying, cheating, indulging, manipulating, and serving only themselves. What you don't see, however, is that breaking principles always catches up to them in the end.

Putting principles first is simply the most stable, immovable, unshakable foundation you can build upon. It is the key to becoming a person of character.

The EGO

Ego is the deeply ingrained, compulsive need to remain separate and superior at all times, in all places, under all circumstances. It is the part of you that has no interest whatsoever in freedom, feels victimized by life, avoids anything that contradicts its self-image, is thoroughly invested in its personal fears and desires, and lives only for itself.

Ego becomes bigger if you are successful in life. Money, education and fame create more and more ego and arrogance. The best attitude towards success is to be grateful and not be egocentric about it.

As ego grows, undesirable qualities arise: argumentative, inconsiderate, and stubborn. Learn to recognize when you are in the grip of ego. You should realize that you are limited in your perception and ego does not allow you to see what others are thinking. You need to be always looking for how ego can destroy you then you will be more balanced.

Ego kills friendship and love. Ego is being very self conscious; you are always thinking about yourself, you are not letting yourself go. When you don't let go of your ego then it becomes difficult for you to dance, to sing, in fact you will lose your life. Life is losing your ego and participating in the dance of interaction with others of participating in love. You can not love when the ego is up and this even applies to friends. An egocentric person will not have too many friends. So if you don't have friends this means there is an ego problem that you need to address.

Ego is denial. Denial is not admitting that you are wrong. Deep down in your heart you know that you goofed and you are not willing to accept within your own self and this is denial. You are in denial because it hurts the ego. If you are in denial then you will never learn because it is more important for you to protect the ego. Denial is a very self-destructive behavior, you are not going to go anywhere with denial. So you must face reality and you must suppress your ego. Then you will be learning more, then you will be authentic, then people will want to be around you.

Usually we identify ego with high self esteem; people who have money, notoriety or well educated. This ego is well understood. But ego can also produce low self esteem. We all know people who don't want to be in the public eye, they don't invite friends in their home, they don't hang out with people, and they don't want to socialize. They are hiding and why are they hiding? It is an issue of low self esteem, they don't want to be seen, and they just want to become invisible.

If you want to reach a state of bliss, then go beyond your EGO

- Dattatreya Siva Baba

Authentic Love

Love isn't blind or deaf or dumb - in fact it sees far more than it will ever tell. It is going beyond yourself and stretching who you are for someone else. Being in love entails loving someone through their flaws and all: to love them is to see who they really are and still care for them. Love isn't bitter, but you can't have love without pain: sacrifice is the hallmark of love , the coin of love.

Being in love usually is used in a romantic sense when you meet your significant other transforming a normal relationship into a deeper one without further interest in others.

Love means that you trust the person, would do anything for the person, know that person is with you through thick and thin, isn't afraid to be seen with you and who always treats you right.

You know you truly love someone when

everyday you meet is like the first time you fall in love.

Love is finding the beauty in one's self, and finding another to embrace it. No matter how strange one's beauty may be.

The Search For Happiness

The world is in a mad quest for security and happiness. Everyone is searching for a creed to believe and a song to sing.

A Texas millionare confided: " I thought money could buy happiness -- I have been miserably disillusioned." A famous film star broke down. "I have money, beauty, glamour, and popularity. I should be the happiest woman in the world, but I'm miserable. Why?" One of Britain's top social leaders once said: " I have lost all desire to live, yet I have everything to live for. What is the matter?" A man went to see a psychiatrist. He said: "Doctor, I am lonely, despondent and miserable. Can you help me?" The psychiatrist suggested that he go to the circus and see a famous clown who was said to make even the most despondent laugh with merriment. His patient said: " I am that clown." A college senior said: " I am twenty one. I have lived through enough experiences to be old, and I am already fed up with life."

Our materialistic world rushes on with its eternal quest for the fountain of happiness! The more knowledge we acquire, the less wisdom we seem to have. The more economic security we gain, the more boredom we generate. The more leisure pleasure we enjoy, the less satisfied and contented we are with life. We are like restless sea, finding a little peace here and a little pleasure there, but nothing is permanent and satifying. So the search continues! Men will kill, cheat, steal, and wage war to satisfy their quest for power, pleasure, and wealth, thinking thereby to gain for themselves and their particular group, peace, security, contentment, and happiness.

Yet inside us a little voice keeps saying: " We are not meant to be this way-- we were meant for better things." We have a mysterious feeling that there is a fountain somewhere that contains the happiness which makes life worth while. We keep saying to ourselves that somewhere, sometime we will stumble on to the secret. Sometimes we feel that we have obtained it-- only to find it illusive, leaving us disillusioned, bewildered, and unhappy.

The happiness which brings enduring worth to life is not the superficial happiness that is dependent on circumstances. It is the happiness and contentment that fills the soul even in the midst of the most distressing of circumstances and the most bitter environment. It is the kind of happiness that grins when things go wrong and smiles through tears. The happiness for which our souls ache is one undisturbed by success or failure, one which will root deeply inside us and give inward relaxation, peace, and contentment, no matter what surface problems may be. That kind of happiness stands in need of no outward stimulus.

-The Secret to Happiness by Billy Graham

Rising Above Peer Pressure

Some of the hardest moments come when facing peer pressure. Saying no when all your "friends" are saying yes takes raw courage. Whether it is pressure to conform to a group norm or pressure to act a certain way, peer pressure is something everybody has to deal with at some time in their life. One must say no when giving in means betrayal of personal beliefs and values.

Why is peer pressure so hard to resist? It's because a person is dying to belong. He strives to win the acceptance and support of his friends. He struggles to become part of a group that will help provide security and a sense of identity.

Sometimes peer pressure can be so strong that the only way to resist is to remove yourself entirely from the environment you're in. This is especially the case if you're involved with a gang, a fraternity or sorority, or a tight group of friends who persuades you to do things you believe are wrong. To overcome peer pressure, you've got to care more about what you think of you than what your peers think of you. How successfully you handle peer pressure depends a great deal on how you feel about yourself and your place in the world.

Not all peer pressure is bad. In fact, much of it can be very good. If you can find a friend who puts positive pressure on you to be you're best, then hang on to them because a true friend doesn't come around often.

Where will complaining get you?

Human life is full of trouble, which doesn't come from the dust nor does it sprout from the ground. Man is born to trouble. Compare your list of troubles with one famous man's:

1. He had a difficult childhood
2. Less than one year of formal schooling
3. Failed in business at age 31
4. Defeated for legislature at 32
5. Failed again in business at age 33
6. Elected to the legislature at 34
7. His fiancé died when he was 35
8. Defeated for speaker at 38
9. Defeated for electorate at 40
10. At 42 married a woman who became a burden, not a help
11. Only one of four sons lived past age 18
12. Defeated for congress at 43
13. Elected to congress at 46
14. Defeated for congress at 48
15. Defeated for senate at 55
16. Defeated for vice president at 56
17. Defeated for senate at 58
18. Finally elected president.

He was Abraham Lincoln, of course. When I look at his setbacks, I wonder if I've ever had a problem. I learned that it isn't troubles that make great people, but their response to troubles.

Abraham Lincoln, 16th Pres. of the United States

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other."

- Elisabeth Elliot

SMILE

"A SMILE costs nothing, but gives much. It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, and none is so poor but that he can be made rich by it. A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in business, and is the countersign of friendship. It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and is nature's best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give."

-Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch

The most beautiful face in the world won't be pleasing with down turned lips and a sour expression. In contrast, a plain face can be transformed by the power of a smile. If you want to look better, try adding a genuine smile.

It seems that nothing has more power to elevate a mood than the impact of a genuine smile.

Who do you think you are?

Being confident is healthy, outrageous amount of it is ARROGANCE. The arrogant sees himself first. He assumes his views and opinions are The Truth. In arrogance, natural confidence goes sadly awry. Rather than the self-assurance born of knowing his own strengths and limitations, arrogance admits no limits. The arrogant brooks no weakness in himself and may even secretly rejoice to find flaws in others. They learn and become vain to think they have control over everything. But like any other self-centered traits, arrogance is a mask worn by people scared of spilling their imperfections out. This is not being strong but to appear to be. It is their way of comforting themselves telling they are "always right".

We all know it. The downside of arrogance is negativity. It fosters a negative-minded culture, not to mention the animosity it breeds. So, what is a negative-minded culture? Oh, not much, just one built atop hate and disrespect! Nothing good can come from one. It also invariably leads to poor decision making. An arrogant man is rarely capable of making good decisions of a competitive nature. He does, however, create an air of superiority, sometimes one of invincibility. He becomes almost unapproachable. Such arrogance is intimidating to many people because of its power to stifle the air, purposeful of course to "acquire and maintain". In a sense, it is a tactic of a bully.

Kill arrogance with a right mix of CONFIDENCE and HUMILITY.

Insecurity

We all have felt insecure at some point in our lives. Most people have experienced lack of confidence in their own value and capability, lacks trust in themselves or others, or has fears that a present positive state is temporary and will let them down and cause them loss or distress by "going wrong" in the future.

Security is elusive, i'ts impossible. We all die, we all get old, we all get sick, people leave us, people change us, nothing is secure. That's actually the good news. Unless, of course if your whole life focuses so much on being secure. When that is the focus of your life it nearly always causes some degree of isolation as a typically insecure person withdraws from people to some extent. The greater the insecurity, the higher the degree of isolation. Like offense and bitterness, it grows in layered fashion, often becoming an immobilising force that sets a limiting factor in the person's life.

To overcome insecurity, arouse the courage to take small steps in learning to experience success and overcoming the lack of belief in self. Once the success is experienced, one can build on it to gain the courage to act out of a strong conviction in self-goodness and worth. Take a rational approach to each problem you face so that you are no longer inhibited by debilitating fears or beliefs. Have a healthy and humorous belief in self in order to overlook the exaggerated need for acceptance and approval.

Imagine You're In Their Place

I see some people and can't help but think how shallow-minded they can be. Chasing out every temporary high, very superficial and living for themselves alone. How a bad hair day can ruin their world and dating the hottest stud means everything. Not getting what they want angers them because their lives revolve around worldly joys. I hope they will realize that their day-to-day complains are nothing compared to what these children are going through.

Living by the Rules

Rejection kills. Yes, it can. But before you give in to depression, is it really worth it? Should what others perceive of you dictate how you live your life? If you always play by the rules they make, you will end up satisfying them and forgetting YOU. Society have put up certain STANDARDS, telling us to live by it unless you want scrutiny. People can be very easy to judge and won't mind destroying your self-esteem. They discredit you, then give themselves a pat in the back for being "better" than you are. The hurt it can cause lingers, it can even cause a person's life. But the people who make bad remarks won't make a big deal out of what they said and couldn't care less. So you shouldn't let them win. Why live by their rules? You can be in control and say what is "good" to you is what good should be. But don't get too selfish, of course, there is also a time to admit flaws. You should be self-assured without being arrogant. The key is to really get to know yourself first, then be educated as much as you possibly can about this world and finally standing up for what you believe is right.

Belongingness

Every person is designed to seek affection from another, a confirmation or approval of his individuality. The more people embraces his being, the greater the feeling of security and assurance. People strive to satisfy this need for it is essential in the struggle to find meaning of his own existence.