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Topic: What books, writers or movies have heavily influenced your v
peggy122's photo
Fri 06/16/17 04:55 AM
For me its

1.the bible
2.Self matters - Dr Phil
3. Maya Angelou
4. Rich Dad, Poor Dad series

I'll add more if I think of any

Beachfarmer's photo
Fri 06/16/17 05:14 AM
Edited by Beachfarmer on Fri 06/16/17 05:18 AM
Oh my Gosh! Got a week?
Well off the top of my head, discovering Rumi was a real eye opener.

I think all of life and love's mysteries were answered by ancient Persian Poets. (Mostly Rumi, but also Hafez, Shirazi, Khayyam, and others.)

The Prophet - Khalil Gibran


(When very young)....anything by Richard Bach

Edit: and certainly #s 1 and 3 on "your" list......And Still I Rise

peggy122's photo
Fri 06/16/17 05:19 AM
I only learned about this rumi quote becsuse of you beach,

“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” ...

Its very powerful!

peggy122's photo
Fri 06/16/17 05:19 AM
I only learned about this rumi quote becsuse of you beach,

“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” ...

Its very powerful!

Beachfarmer's photo
Fri 06/16/17 05:30 AM
Edited by Beachfarmer on Fri 06/16/17 05:32 AM
At age 7 I gave a presentation from the book of Job in Church. Studying for it and "that story" had a profound effect on me.....with an added bonus of losing the fear of speaking in public later in life.

Oh, and Thank You for saying so Pegs!!flowerforyou

peggy122's photo
Fri 06/16/17 05:34 AM
No. Thank you!flowerforyou

Boy do I know about public speaking in church. I hate doing it but I do a decent job of it because of all the training I got within that institution :)

Beachfarmer's photo
Fri 06/16/17 06:30 AM
Edited by Beachfarmer on Fri 06/16/17 06:30 AM
happy flowerforyou ^^^^

There is such a simple wisdom to Dr. Seuss. (seriously :-)

peggy122's photo
Fri 06/16/17 06:46 AM
Somehow that book never picked up momentum in trinidad. Not sure why

Beachfarmer's photo
Fri 06/16/17 06:56 AM

Somehow that book never picked up momentum in trinidad. Not sure why


Oh (perhaps off subject for being "heightenly" profound) but there is an Island Girl Mingler (kissablekiss..Love Her) who has a couple of children's books out with a real Island flavor.

"Jo's Big Paws and Other Adventures"

Super fun!

peggy122's photo
Fri 06/16/17 07:27 AM
Beach knows all the cool people happy

Tom4Uhere's photo
Fri 06/16/17 07:42 AM
In high school I read all the books by Don Pendleton. Mack Bolan from the "Executioner" series influenced my breathing control during stress.

The Beatitudes from the "Bible".

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

It gave me comfort right when I needed it.

L. Ron Hubbard's "Dianetics".
Not all of it. The part I remember most is his description of how we can remember being in the womb before we were born. It brought me a feeling of completeness. I do recall those sensations, even if most people don't believe me.

David Gerrold's Compilation titled "The War of the Chtorr".
It helped me to see how life is interconnected planet-wide.

Lewis F. Presnall's "The Search For Serenity"
Helped me to see and deal with my compulsive nature.

Arthur C Clarke's film "Colors of Infinity"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lk6QU94xAb8
Helped me to see patterns in nature that opened a new level of beauty to my senses. Pink Floyd did the music which is not featured on any of their released albums. That gave me a new appreciation for music composed only for films.

Many, many books and films have influenced me over my years.
I prefer monster and creature movies because of some of the science programs I have watched on Nova (PBS).
The Universe is so immense and diverse that life could be very strange looking. Just on this one planet we have strange life and this is but one planet of hundreds of trillions. Those monster and creature movies sometimes helps me to imagine those possible forms of life. The stranger looking or acting the creature is, the better I like it because it inspires my imagination.

peggy122's photo
Fri 06/16/17 07:52 AM
Edited by peggy122 on Fri 06/16/17 08:32 AM
Im embarrassed fo admit that I haveng read even one of the titles you mentioned tom.

Are those writers didactic in their style? I tend to like books that are conversational in tone ; especially when the content matter is heavy for the brain

Omg. This damn phone and the tiny keys!

peggy122's photo
Fri 06/16/17 07:54 AM
Edited by peggy122 on Fri 06/16/17 07:55 AM
Oh! Beach and tom . You guys hax to have read the 5 love languagez! Have you?

Its almost single handedly shaped my philosophy of love :)

soufiehere's photo
Fri 06/16/17 08:23 AM

Horatio Alger, Jr. (My first books to read in my Grandparents
attic when I was 5, HUGE impact.)

Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew) age 8, I learned that girls
can have lives, too.

Robert Ludlum (Intrigue well written.)

Dick Francis (Horses in Britain, simple and consistent.)

Every writer on earth who has written a good book.

benbrooks2's photo
Fri 06/16/17 08:32 AM
hello

peggy122's photo
Fri 06/16/17 09:03 AM


Horatio Alger, Jr. (My first books to read in my Grandparents
attic when I was 5, HUGE impact.)

Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew) age 8, I learned that girls
can have lives, too.

Robert Ludlum (Intrigue well written.)

Dick Francis (Horses in Britain, simple and consistent.)

Every writer on earth who has written a good book.



I agree soufie. I cant decide on one . They ve all impacted my life so heavy!

Nancy drew and hardy boys ard big hits up to this day but i gravitated towards enid blyton as a child happy

Tom4Uhere's photo
Fri 06/16/17 09:22 AM
Edited by Tom4Uhere on Fri 06/16/17 09:34 AM

Im embarrassed fo admit that I haveng read even one of the titles you mentioned tom.

Are those writers didactic in their style? I tend to like books that are conversational in tone ; especially when the content matter is heavy for the brain

Omg. This damn phone and the tiny keys!

??? Embarrassed? Why should you be embarrassed?

Not all the books are written with an intent to teach. Lots of stuff I read inspires me to consider different thinking which opens a new learning process.
Just like music and other art forms, we all have different takes on what we experience.

One thing like that is how I have used D&D Character Alignment to classify my own nature. I am chaotic good.
This helps me when I meet new people. I look for their alignment.

CHAOTIC GOOD
A chaotic good character acts as his conscience directs him with little regard for what others expect of him. He makes his own way, but he's kind and benevolent. He believes in goodness and right but has little use for laws and regulations. He hates it when people try to intimidate others and tell them what to do. He follows his own moral compass, which, although good, may not agree with that of society.
Chaotic good is the best alignment you can be because it combines a good heart with a free spirit.
Chaotic good can be a dangerous alignment when it disrupts the order of society and punishes those who do well for themselves.


There are NINE ALIGNMENTS
The Remaining are: (With self-honesty, which one describes your nature?)

LAWFUL GOOD

A lawful good character acts as a good person is expected or required to act. He combines a commitment to oppose evil with the discipline to fight relentlessly. He tells the truth, keeps his word, helps those in need, and speaks out against injustice. A lawful good character hates to see the guilty go unpunished.
Lawful good is the best alignment you can be because it combines honor and compassion.
Lawful good can be a dangerous alignment when it restricts freedom and criminalizes self-interest.


NEUTRAL GOOD

A neutral good character does the best that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others. He works with kings and magistrates (authority) but does not feel beholden to them.
Neutral good is the best alignment you can be because it means doing what is good without bias for or against order.
Neutral good can be a dangerous alignment when it advances mediocrity by limiting the actions of the truly capable.


CHAOTIC GOOD ~ SEE ABOVE

LAWFUL NEUTRAL

A lawful neutral character acts as law, tradition, or a personal code directs her. Order and organization are paramount to her. She may believe in personal order and live by a code or standard, or she may believe in order for all and favor a strong, organized government.
Lawful neutral is the best alignment you can be because it means you are reliable and honorable without being a zealot.
Lawful neutral can be a dangerous alignment when it seeks to eliminate all freedom, choice, and diversity in society.


TRUE NEUTRAL

A neutral character does what seems to be a good idea. She doesn't feel strongly one way or the other when it comes to good vs. evil or law vs. chaos. Most neutral characters exhibit a lack of conviction or bias rather than a commitment to neutrality. Such a character thinks of good as better than evil-after all, she would rather have good neighbors and rulers than evil ones. Still, she's not personally committed to upholding good in any abstract or universal way.
Some neutral characters, on the other hand, commit themselves philosophically to neutrality. They see good, evil, law, and chaos as prejudices and dangerous extremes. They advocate the middle way of neutrality as the best, most balanced road in the long run.
Neutral is the best alignment you can be because it means you act naturally, without prejudice or compulsion.
Neutral can be a dangerous alignment when it represents apathy, indifference, and a lack of conviction.


CHAOTIC NEUTRAL

A chaotic neutral character follows his whims. He is an individualist first and last. He values his own liberty but doesn't strive to protect others' freedom. He avoids authority, resents restrictions, and challenges traditions. A chaotic neutral character does not intentionally disrupt organizations as part of a campaign of anarchy. To do so, he would have to be motivated either by good (and a desire to liberate others) or evil (and a desire to make those different from himself suffer). A chaotic neutral character may be unpredictable, but his behavior is not totally random. He is not as likely to jump off a bridge as to cross it.
Chaotic neutral is the best alignment you can be because it represents true freedom from both society's restrictions and a do-gooder's zeal.
Chaotic neutral can be a dangerous alignment when it seeks to eliminate all authority, harmony, and order in society.


LAWFUL EVIL

A lawful evil villain methodically takes what he wants within the limits of his code of conduct without regard for whom it hurts. He cares about tradition, loyalty, and order but not about freedom, dignity, or life. He plays by the rules but without mercy or compassion. He is comfortable in a hierarchy and would like to rule, but is willing to serve. He condemns others not according to their actions but according to race, religion, homeland, or social rank. He is loath to break laws or promises.

This reluctance comes partly from his nature and partly because he depends on order to protect himself from those who oppose him on moral grounds. Some lawful evil villains have particular taboos, such as not killing in cold blood (but having underlings do it) or not letting children come to harm (if it can be helped). They imagine that these compunctions put them above unprincipled villains.
Some lawful evil people and creatures commit themselves to evil with a zeal like that of a crusader committed to good. Beyond being willing to hurt others for their own ends, they take pleasure in spreading evil as an end unto itself. They may also see doing evil as part of a duty to an evil deity or master.
Lawful evil is sometimes called "diabolical," because devils are the epitome of lawful evil.
Lawful evil creatures consider their alignment to be the best because it combines honor with a dedicated self-interest.
Lawful evil is the most dangerous alignment because it represents methodical, intentional, and frequently successful evil.


NEUTRAL EVIL

A neutral evil villain does whatever she can get away with. She is out for herself, pure and simple. She sheds no tears for those she hurts, whether for profit, sport, or convenience. She has no love of order and holds no illusion that following laws, traditions, or codes would make her any better or more noble. On the other hand, she doesn't have the restless nature or love of conflict that a chaotic evil villain has.
Some neutral evil villains hold up evil as an ideal, committing evil for its own sake. Most often, such villains are devoted to evil deities or secret societies.
Neutral evil beings consider their alignment to be the best because they can advance themselves without regard for others.
Neutral evil is the most dangerous alignment because it represents pure evil without honor and without variation.


CHAOTIC EVIL

A chaotic evil character does whatever his greed, hatred, and lust for destruction drive him to do. He is hot-tempered, vicious, arbitrarily violent, and unpredictable. If he is simply out for whatever he can get, he is ruthless and brutal. If he is committed to the spread of evil and chaos, he is even worse. Thankfully, his plans are haphazard, and any groups he joins or forms are poorly organized. Typically, chaotic evil people can be made to work together only by force, and their leader lasts only as long as he can thwart attempts to topple or assassinate him.
Chaotic evil is sometimes called "demonic" because demons are the epitome of chaotic evil.
Chaotic evil beings believe their alignment is the best because it combines self-interest and pure freedom.
Chaotic evil is the most dangerous alignment because it represents the destruction not only of beauty and life but also of the order on which beauty and life depend.


Understanding all these different alignments helps me predict other people's behavior. While not a strict classification of others it is a tool to my social interactions.

For those of you on your phones the source link is http://easydamus.com/alignment.html

These alignments are written as a guide for making characters in a role-playing game.

I've studied story composition and creative writing. (idle interest)
To create believable fiction characters or environments it is important to look at details we normally don't consider. The best authors make you feel like you know the people and places that you read about. That attention to detail can be cross-applied to our own daily interactions. There's more in that book than a story.


Edit To Add:
After you read the nine alignments, think about the people you have met. Do you see semblance? Do you now see their affinity? How has that affected your interactions with those people? I gain clarity and understanding from this. It helps me to see why they do the things they do, say what they say and kinda lets me expect certain behaviors due to their nature.
It also works in a limited way in these forum interactions and personal profiles.

peggy122's photo
Fri 06/16/17 01:31 PM
I would say Im neutral good tom. But it would be interesting if peoples classification of us ,lines up with our claddification of ourselves

Tom4Uhere's photo
Fri 06/16/17 03:15 PM

I would say Im neutral good tom. But it would be interesting if peoples classification of us ,lines up with our claddification of ourselves

Interesting point Peggy, I do know that I am often told I am a good man with a free spirit.

no photo
Fri 06/16/17 03:58 PM
As a young girl...Nancy Drew Series and "Are You There God, It's Me Margaret by Judith Blume.

Teenage and young adult...Victoria Holt Novels, I liked the romance novels that also had suspense, mystery, and a little culture/history mixed in.

In the last 17 years...

"Conversation With God Series" by Neale Donald Walsch
"Illusions" and "A Bridge Across Forever" by Richard Bach
"Mutant Message Down Under" by Marlo Morgan
"Celestine Prophecy" and "The Tenth Insight" by James Redfield
"The Power of Now" and "Practicing the Power of Now" by Eckhardt Tolle
"Indigo Adults" by Jaffe & Davidson
"Apocalypse of the Mind" by Melissa Lowe Ph.D
"Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz
"Language of Letting Go" by Melody Beattie
"You Can Heal Your Life" by Louis Hayes
"Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman

And many more...

I love to read anything to do with self empowerment, spirituality, metaphysics, and other thought provoking books about the philosophy of life.

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