Anything At All

Things that strike my fancy. Unoriginal. But that's besides the point.

[annicupcakes]

I sit on a man’s back, choking him and making him carry me, and yet assure myself and others that I am sorry for him and wish to lighten his load by all means possible … except by getting off his back.

Leo Tolstoy

[annicupcakes]

[annicupcakes]

There are these two young fish swimming along, and they happen to meetan older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says,“Morning, boys, how's the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes,“What the hell is water?

[annicupcakes]

Brooklyn Bridge. #brooklynbridge

[hybrid-ity]

anything worthwhile is possible

[annicupcakes]

I am a child of the dust and wish only to cover the feet of His loved ones. Hasten forth, dear friends, hasten forth. 

[annicupcakes]

Argument Culture

Read an article by Deborah Tannen that hit close to home for my anthropology course:

“… argument culture urges us to approach the world – and the people in it – in an adversarial frame of mind. It rests on the assumption that opposition is the best way to get anything done: the best way to discuss an idea is to set up a debate; the best way to cover the news is to find spokespeople who express the most extreme, polarized views and present them as ‘both’ sides; the best way to settle disputes is litigation that pits one party against the other; the best way to begin an essay is to attack someone; and the best way to show you’re really thinking is to criticize.”

We must be more cognizant of the language  we use to address others. How can we build an ever advancing civilization if every word out of our mouth is shrouded in defense and argument?

[annicupcakes]

Island

There is a loneliness inside my bones 

that  I cannot afford

the very marrow is slipping through, paying the price 

I make a wager with the devil 

and my lungs become the sacrifice 

So I can cling tight to this irrational feeling 

It only makes sense in the dark 

at night when the weighted covers envelop my body 

and the pillow rests atop my head

protecting the thoughts and words unreleased from the day 

locked in silence

an astounding inability to converse with you 

and say that things that mean the most 

the important things, the honest things

the things your ears are straining to hear 

but I have a pathological fear of mispronunciation

and it developing into misunderstanding 

paralysis is the disease 

but you give me chances to break through it

probing questions, the antidote

but my lips remain shut 

even when they appear to be moving 

spilling out meaningless words that drip onto the carpet

creating an ocean 

but you still try and reach across the divide 

[annicupcakes]

"The woman has greater moral courage than the man; she has also special gifts which enable her to govern in moments of danger and crisis. If necessary she can become a warrior."

(Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 102)

[annicupcakes]

[thatquote]

"Compassion hurts. When you feel connected to everything, you also feel responsible for everything. And you cannot turn away. Your destiny is bound with the destinies of others. You must either learn to carry the Universe or be crushed by it. You must grow strong enough to love the world, yet empty enough to sit down at the same table with its worst horrors."

Andrew Boyd, Daily Afflictions: The Agony of Being Connected to Everything in the Universe

(via thatquote)

Importance of detachment, ya'll

[annicupcakes]

Every single time she sounds a lot like you

[nargessi]

When “i” is replaced with “we” even illness becomes wellness.

Malcolm X (via amorestavivo)

[victoriaeyton]

'Do not allow apprehension and anxiety to take hold of you, nor can any calamity you may face perturb your hearts. Immovable as the mountain, resplendent as brilliant stars, you carry out your spiritual obligations, in the midst of the present turmoil, with steadfastness, devotion and utmost wisdom.'

Universal House of Justice (via victoriaeyton)

[lifeof9]

WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT IT IS FINALLY NAW-RUZ!

[annicupcakes]

Paralysis

Pinwheel

Spinning inside the matrix of the mind

Grab the spokes

Choose a number, kind sir

Each one is different yet equal in importance

Doesn’t matter which

But you can still feel the weight of your decision

Like the impact of the earth

Ballerina

On the tip of her toes

Spinning inside the matrix of the mind

Grab the ribbon, madam

Doesn't matter which  

It will all unravel soon enough

Piles on the floor, the depth is endless

You never learned to dance properly

Turntable

Drop your needle

Spinning inside the matrix of the mind

Grab the vinyl, my dear

Doesn't matter which

The pulse and rhythm will move you regardless

But you’re afraid to listen to the first note 

[annicupcakes]

O MY SERVANT! Free thyself from the fetters of this world, and loose thy soul from the prison of self. Seize thy chance, for it will come to thee no more.

Baha'u'llah