The Brown Family on Resolve

We are profoundly disappointed that the killer of our child will not face the consequences of his actions.

While we understand that many others share our pain, we ask that you channel your frustration in ways that will make a positive change. We need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen

Join us in our campaigns to ensure that every police officer working the streets in this country wears a body camera.

We respectfully ask that you please keep your protests peaceful. Answering violence with violence is not the appropriate reaction.

Let's not just make noise, let's make a difference.

Michael Brown Family Statement
November 24, 2014

In response to a Ferguson, Missouri grand jury decision not to indict police officer, Darren Wilson, in the August 2014 shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, Jr.

Use the system to change the system. Peace.

John F. Kennedy on Change

But Goethe tells us in his greatest poem that Faust lost the liberty of his soul when he said to the passing moment: "Stay, thou art so fair." And our liberty, too, is endangered if we pause for the passing moment, if we rest on our achievements, if we resist the pace of progress. For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.

John F. Kennedy 

"Address in the Assembly Hall at the Paulskirche in Frankfurt (266)," June 25, 1963, Public Papers of the Presidents: John F. Kennedy, 1963.

Source: The Kennedy Library online.

J.K. Rowling on Empowerment

We do not need magic to change the world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already, we have the power to imagine better.

J.K. Rowling

Source: The Master Shift on facebook

Angelica Hopes on Transcendence

There were times my heart broke into painful fragments then my soul perseveringly gathered an ocean of strength on my voyage towards renewal.

Angelica Hopes

Source: The Power of Change on facebook.

Kristin Martz on Purpose

We lose ourselves in things we love. We find ourselves there, too.

Kristin Martz

Source: National Equine Resource Center on facebook

Ann Landers on Self-respect

Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it.

Ann Landers

Source: The Power of Change on facebook.

Anthony Robbins on Self-determination

No matter what happens, we all have the capacity to create meanings that empower us. Revolutionize your life by creating a new meaning for a past experience.

Anthony Robbins

Source: Anthony Robbins on facebook.

Song Lyric Wisdom: Coming Home

Coming Home

And the blood will dry
underneath my nails
and the wind will rise up
to fill my sails
so you can doubt
and you can hate
but I know, no matter what it takes

I'm coming home
I'm coming home
tell the world I'm coming home
let the rain wash away
all the pain of yesterday
I know my kingdom awaits
and they've forgiven my mistakes
I'm coming home
I'm coming home
tell the world I'm coming...

Still far away
from where I belong
but it's always darkest
before the dawn
so you can doubt
and you can hate
but I know, no matter what it takes

I'm coming home
I'm coming home
tell the world I'm coming home
let the rain wash away
all the pain of yesterday
I know my kingdom awaits
and they've forgiven my mistakes
I'm coming home
I'm coming home
tell the world I'm coming...

I'm coming home
I'm coming home
tell the world I'm coming home
let the rain wash away
all the pain of yesterday
I know my kingdom awaits
and they've forgiven my mistakes
I'm coming home
I'm coming home
tell the world I'm coming... home

Shawn Carter, Holly Hafermann (Skylar Grey),
Jermaine Cole, Alexander Grant
Words and Music
©2013 Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics ©Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
From the album, Skylar Grey -
The Buried Sessions of Skylar Grey

YouTube Performance by Skylar Grey

Source: metrolyrics.com and musicnotes.com

Song Lyric Wisdom: Bad Moon Rising

Bad Moon Rising

I see a bad moon a-rising
I see trouble on the way
I see earth quakes and lightnin'
I see bad times today

Well, don't go 'round tonight
But it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise

I hear hurricanes a-blowing
I know the end is coming soon
I fear the river's over flowing
I hear the voice of rage and ruin

Well, don't go 'round tonight
But it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise

Hope you got your things together
I hope you are quite prepared to die
Look's like we're in for nasty weather
One eye is taken for an eye

Well, don't go 'round tonight
But it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise

Well, don't go 'round tonight
But it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise

John Fogerty
Lyrics and Music
Green River - Creedence Clearwater Revival
©1969 Hal Leonard Music Publishing

Source: metrolyrics.com and musicnotes.com

Chief Luther Standing Bear on Connection

Kinship with all creatures of the earth, sky, and water was a real and active principle. In the animal and bird world there existed a brotherly feeling that kept us safe among them... The animals had rights - the right of man's protection, the right to live, the right to multiply, the right to freedom, and the right to man's indebtedness. This concept of life and its relations filled us with the joy and mystery of living; it gave us reverence for all life; it made a place for all things in the scheme of existence with equal importance to all.

Chief Luther Standing Bear 

Soure: Tieroana Low Dog MD on facebook

Oliver Wendell Holmes on Home

Where we love is home - home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Source: Gander on facebook

Deng Ming-Dao on Transformation

Transformation

You hurt me years ago,
My wounds bled for years,
Now you are back,
But I am not the same

In the past, warriors fought by striking the same point that accupuncturists use.  One famous swordsman nearly died in a duel in which his opponent attacked him in such a way. After that the swordsman became a wanderer and tried to renounce the martial life.  Years later, his enemy found him and challenged him to a duel again. They fought. In the first flurry of blows, the aggressor stepped back in surprise. The swordsman smiled and said, "I trained for twenty years to move my vulnerable spots." With that, he was finally able to triumph.

Spirituality is a process of inner healing. The wounds of the past can be the greatest obstacles for self-cultivation unless we find them all and heal them. The task can take years, but we must accomplish it.

In many cases, our wounds were inflicted by other people - enemies. This is subtle. Our enemies can be others on the street, or people much more intimate with us: parents, teachers, siblings, lovers, friends.

If we move away from such people, and succeed in our practice, they will have no chance to come back in our lives. How can they? We change whatever made us vulnerable in the first place.

Deng Ming-Dao
365 Tao Daily Meditations
Day 290, Northern Hemisphere
©1992 Deng Ming-Dao, Harper San Francisco

Marianne Williamson on Transcendence

...something very beautiful happens to people when their world has fallen apart: a humility, an nobility, a higher intelligence emerges at just the point when our knees hit the floor.

Marianne Williamson

Source: The Power of Change on facebook.

Song Lyric Wisdom: I Won't Give Up

I Won't Give Up

When I look into your eyes
It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
There's so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you've come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?

Well, I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up

And when you're needing your space
to do some navigating
I'll be here patiently waiting
To see what you find

'Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it
No! I won't give up

I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily
I'm here to stay and make the difference that I can make
Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use the tools and gifts
We got yeah we got a lot at stake
And in the end, you're still my friend at least we did intend
For us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn
We had to learn, how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I got, and what I'm not
And who I am

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up
Still looking up

I won't give up (No I'm not) on us (Giving up)
God knows I'm tough enough (I am tough) (I am loved)
We got a lot (We're alive) to learn (We are loved)
God knows we're worth it (And we're worth it)

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up

Jason Mraz and Michael Natter
Words and Music
©2012 Bill Silva Management 

Source: musicnotes.com and metrolyrics.com

Jay Asher on Living

You can't stop the future
You can't rewind the past
The only way to learn the secret... is to press play.
 
Jay Asher

Source: Gander on facebook.