I onced hitch hiked from Vancouver BC to Death Valley California and every ride I got either needed something I had to offer or gave me something I needed, it was a very "Illuisons" sort of trip, so I got fancy looking for the blue feather, I decided I wanted my next ride to be with a pretty young lady and sure enough it was, next I wanted a Doctor and here he came, the next ride was with Mike O'malley who offered me a job driving cattle trucks and the rest is history.
I just want to point out that in my many years of hitching around the country, I had never had either a pretty young girl or a doctor pick me up but there one after the other they came.
What I am saying is this, it's not just a book that can be right on the mark, but also people and events....they are all there with their own special gifts, if only we are ready to receive them.
Of course being a hobo and tramping around this fine country of ours, hitch hiking, makes living Illusions a little more normal for me, I am sure it would work for others as well

Nathen, you sure are one interesting dude! While we were moving my Mom's stuff from her old apartment to the nursing home, there was a gentleman with an unusual walking stick that he had made for himself--not as fine as yours, I'm sure, no carving or decorations on it, just a limb that he had found that was the right size and shape and very nicely polished--it was beautiful, but I thought of you. I would love to see pictures of your craft one of these days, sir!

What an astounding book! I wish I'd had more mind-opening reads like this when I was younger -- but I guess I wasn't ready then. Now I am. And this is AWESOME!!
I'm giving a copy to my oldest son. I was raised in a "work harder than anyone else, defer any kind of gratification, and you'll be a success" kind of home. Great for ulcers, but not for living your dreams or your purpose.

How kind of you Pat, I have some photos but I have no way to link them.

Anna, I am glad you enjoyed the reading, it is best if you reread it a few times in order to get to know yourself a little better.

There are greater truths to be found an a young child's question then an the many excuses of an old man.

<FONT size="3">Y</FONT s>our only
obligation in any lifetime
is to be true to yourself.
<FONT size="3">B</FONT s>eing true to anyone else or
anything else is not only
impossible, but the
mark of a fake
messiah.

----

... bring your own god... your god is you!

Twice, today, I opened up "Illusions" and came right to the passage about the movies... when Don asks Richard "why are you here [at the movies]?" ...and I am beginning to understand... Richard's answers all distilled down to two possible reasons to be here... to learn, and to have fun. So now, I have to learn how to have fun... without guilt, without stressing over the 'shoulds' and 'should-nots'

And I asked myself... why am I here (at my frustrating job)... and the answer was not "to learn" or "to have fun" - it was "to make money to live on." I did get this job amazingly easily - first resume I sent out - so I know that I am meant to be in this place, at least for now. The reason I sent out my resume was only to enable me to be in this geographic location, anyway.

So now, I must discover my right work... I am putting this thought out there: I want to know what my right work is, and I want to find a way to make my living while doing my right work.

I see the question that Richard is being asked as being, why have you chosen this life, and for that there is but one of two answers,
If you read on a little, you may infer that there could be other choices to made, regarding going into the movie such as, what to eat, what to drink, where to sit, ect., these are small choices, like where to work, where to live, what school to attend ect.
To see the difference, ask this question, Will this change everything or only alter my point of view?
Going to the movies today can invole the Multi-pex and picking one of several movies, the fact remains that you have selected one illusion over another, but still the illusion picked is just as valid and no more so then any of the ones you passed on.

Okay, I am not going anywhere with this, but maybe you can see that there are but two choices, the trick is deciding which one you picked or if you decided to combine the two.

I must be here for fun, because I sure can't spell and I get out smarted by mice.

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by Nathen on Oct 07, 2002 ---</FONT></center>

One important thing for me is making connections--as many as possible. Can you connect your work to you hobbies, or your hobbies (fun) to your work? I am blessed to have a job that lets me use my quilting, my music and my (limited) teaching abilities in various combinations--it's perfect for me. Also, connecting quilting and music through the Guthrie Center quilt is another important choice. And choosing to get involved with Arlonet and the message boards--well--look at all the great friends and wonderful ideas.

Connections!! (Isn't that a song, too?) <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Nathen:
To see the difference, ask this question, Will this change everything or only alter my point of view?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That's exactly the question ...

I believe that in order to "have fun" I need to alter my point of view a bit.

And my reason for being here (job, etc.) is a learning aspect... perhaps simply learning that there is no reason not to have fun while still doing those things that "need to be done" (Yes, I want it all ! Learning and Fun all at once!)

So I am looking, now, at Pat's advice on combining things I enjoy with my job. Here, in my current situation, it doesn't seem likely, so it's time to look at the things I enjoy and figure out where I can make use of those talents/interests.

So what can I do... I like baking, reading, sewing, knitting, meeting people, decorating, camping, walking in the woods ... I like sitting on a porch to watch thunderstorms, the smell of a woodfire, music of all sorts, and laughter (the best music of all!). So now I look for a way to make something happen. I'm not sure what I will end up doing, but I can explore lots of possibilities. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

wow we enjoy many of the same things, my advice is to follow Pat's advice and do what come natural. I myself knew nothing of wood carving until I started doing it, the money is not great, so you made need to adjust your lifestyle for a while, but I myself find that life is better having less but doing what is rewarding.

fight for your limitations and they are yours, a lot of things in life are like that.

Sometimes when a relationship ends, we try to give it value by our suffering, sometimes when we think we are going to be disappointed, disappointment comes to us.

Which movie are we going to see today?

And why DO some people choose horror movies?

As to which movie...last Sunday, Arlo said they should have a taping of "The Jerk" at the church. Works for me.<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

I think that was one of ADG's favorite movies...

when the children play cowboys and native americans (always PC) does the mother of the children care who wins and how many times johnny gets killed?

ahhhh the life of illusions.